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Alright so, here's the idea, it's kind of a forum game, but it's practical for those of us who want to find good TV to watch.

1) Everyone will list a few of their favorite shows (make it 3-5, this gives people an idea of what you like).

2) Then pick someone else (it can be anyone in the thread, multiple times are fine as well) who has made a list.

3) Recommend a show or 2 for them to try (they can even be the same shows you listed as your favorites or shows you just think the person will like).
3.1) Make sure you say who you are picking to recommend to, especially if it's not the person you post right after.

Make sense?

Now I'll throw a few out there to start but since no one else has gone yet I won't recommend anything.

Some of my favorites:
1) Breaking Bad - Just finished all 3 seasons. Wow. Great storytelling and complicated characters
2) Battlestar Galactica - Watched it all except for The Plan. Thats up next.
3) The Wire - Classic and possibly the greatest TV show ever to air.

Now if someone else had already gone I would throw out some recommendations to them based on their favorites.

1. Community - hilarious, and possibly the best thing on television
2. Justified - I admit to having a man-crush on Timothy Olyphant, but the characters are interesting and the stories are superb. And the dialogue can be just... outstanding.
3. Parks & Recreation - consistently funny; I was skeptical about it being an Office ripoff, but it has become something I refuse to miss week after week
4. Bored to Death - just... hysterical. I don't even know how to describe it. It's quirky and whimsical and Ted Danson tries to call his daughter while high.
5. The Thick of It - British comedy that I've heard described as a cynical, sardonic version of the West Wing. It's about the lives of people in a small British Ministry, and the PM's Director of Communication, the most hilariously angry man alive.

And then a whole bunch of shows that have been cancelled. So... sad.

Espy, you should watch Justified, I definitely think it has compelling characters for you. You also might enjoy the one season of the now-cancelled Kings, which I miss dearly.

1. The Shield - Tied for best show ever in my eyes
2. The Wire - The tying show, complicated cop shows are my thing.
3. Sons of Anarchy - I dig the other side of the law too.
4. Sooooopranos - See.
5. Deadwood - HBO and FX make good tv shows.

Espy - I recommend The Shield, because it is fucking awesome and if you dig the wire, you may dig it, even though they are very different shows.

Mr. Sexington ESQ - Deadwood, because Olyphant makes me a little wet too. Though because you like both Kings and Olyphant, I imagine you've already watched at least a little of it.

Babylon 5 - it totally ruined non planned SF TV shows for me.

Pushing Daisies - the fact that it got cancelled proves that the majority of tv watching people have no souls.

Stargate SG-1 (s1-s7) - ok, i lied, some shows work without B5's overarching story (and i din't even dislike the Ori seasons, as unnecessary as they where).

Sanctuary - i would really go as far as to say it's great, but a classic SF show in this day and age is very rare.

Espy said:

2) Battlestar Galactica - Watched it all except for The Plan. Thats up next.

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Hint: The Plan is a Lie!!!!

The West Wing - Snappy, entertaining dialogue, and the show managed to meld comedy and drama perfectly.

Modern Family - I don't watch many sitcoms. I usually find the jokes to be cheesy. Modern Family has me laughing my ass off week in and week out. It is seriously one of the funniest shows I've ever seen.

The Shield - A dark, compelling drama that examines humanity. Is Vic a good guy? A villain? The show is so well written that he defies neat categorization.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Admittedly it's been a while since I watched it so it may not have stood the test of time, but when this was on it was pure entertainment. Geekery at its finest.

Justified - One of the most amazing backdrops for any TV show in recent memory. The characters and story are fascinating.

Parenthood - The most underrated show on TV right now. Funny, dramatic, always interesting. Great cast.

A recommendation for Chad Sexington: Modern Family seems like it would be right at home on your list.

Frankie Williamson said:

Mr. Sexington ESQ - Deadwood, because Olyphant makes me a little wet too. Though because you like both Kings and Olyphant, I imagine you've already watched at least a little of it.

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I looooved Deadwood. But I will have to try both the Shield and the Wire. I've always been interested in the Wire, and only recently heard of the Shield, but colour me interested.

Tress said:

A recommendation for Chad Sexington: Modern Family seems like it would be right at home on your list.

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Hmmmm I keep hearing about this. I'll have to give it a shot.

Oh I have watched every living second of Justified. Believe me. DAMN good TV. I'll have to check out The Shield. I was thinking about watching "The Killing" since AMC has done such a great job with shows so far... anyone watched it?

Espy said:

I was thinking about watching "The Killing" since AMC has done such a great job with shows so far... anyone watched it?

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I haven't watched it, but I heard the show got bogged down about 2 episodes ago. As someone explained it, a slow and steady pace was to be expected but it's hit a standstill where episodes are pointless. Hopefully it will recover.

Tress said:

Is Vic a good guy? A villain? The show is so well written that he defies neat categorization.
.

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I say that Vic is a very bad person that you won't be able to help but root for throughout the entire series. That's how well written it is.

Gryfter said:

I say that Vic is a very bad person that you won't be able to help but root for throughout the entire series. That's how well written it is.

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I'd say that that's because they started him out as simply a ruthless asshole who was in it for the money (boom, headshot) and then kinda back-paddled on it. They just did it pretty well.

@Li3n said:

I'd say that that's because they started him out as simply a ruthless asshole who was in it for the money (boom, headshot) and then kinda back-paddled on it. They just did it pretty well.

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They didn't backpedal. They did that by design. His actions in the first episode were meant to be the culmination of his fall, whereas the rest of the show was following the results of his actions.

Tress said:

They didn't backpedal. They did that by design. His actions in the first episode were meant to be the culmination of his fall, whereas the rest of the show was following the results of his actions.

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^ This right here.

Tress said:

They didn't backpedal. They did that by design. His actions in the first episode were meant to be the culmination of his fall, whereas the rest of the show was following the results of his actions.

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In s1 he was practically running his own drug operation, it wasn't just that one scene... and then he got a bit softer so you can relate better.

But it does look by design because they did it so well...

Tress said:

Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Admittedly it's been a while since I watched it so it may not have stood the test of time, but when this was on it was pure entertainment. Geekery at its finest.

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We just watched the first four seasons over the second half of last year. It stands.

For everyone interested in the whole Cops and Robbers genre (is that a thing?), Boardwalk Empire is very, very good. I haven't finished the first season, but what I've seen so far has been amazing. It's great to see Steve Buscemi finally getting a leading role, and he fills those shoes admirably after decades as a great supporting actor.

For slightly slower paced, moody, political thrillers, the first (and only) season of Rubicon (from AMC) was far better than the ratings indicated.

Another one-shot wonder: Terriers is another show with a great sense of setting. It's a buddy cop / private detective show with a terrible marketing campaign that might have caused it to fail. It was made by the creator of The Shield, even though it's not that similar.

This one isn't to anyone in particular, but just a good show that didn't get enough love really, but to anyone that is a little tired or bored of the procedural parts of House: Nurse Jackie. Edie Falco is the lead character, and it's a bit of a lighter (on the soap opera drama), 30 minute long version of House. It also manages to treat the "addicted to pills" part semi seriously. But it's still more funny than not.

To fans of good humor in general (Community, P&R, Modern Family, etc), FX's Louie is really amazing. It's unlike anything else on television. Louis CK truly got free reign to do whatever the fuck he wanted with his 30 minutes a week, and he takes full advantage. Sometimes poignant, sometimes absurdist, sometimes hilarious, this show does it all and changes gears between anything flawlessly. It also helps that almost all of the guest stars are other very very funny stand-up comedians.

For Bored to Death and the above "good comedy" shows, East Bound & Down. It's a little hard-line in the "mean humor" sort of stuff, but I love it. The second season was a little uneven, but it was worth it for some of the huge hilarious moments. Don't let the kind of shittyness of Your Highness color your opinion of Danny McBride, because he is very very funny in this show.

For fans of Sci-Fi/Supernatural type shows that don't really take themselves seriously, True Blood. I would never call this show great, or emmy-worthy, or in any way consistent. But it's a really fun ride. The good characters work amazingly well. The bad ones...ehh... just try to ignore their subplots. When the wheels go off this show, it's insane like no other. It's an awesome, adult, x-rated version of Twilight with buckets more of sex and gore. Oh, and actually attractive people too.

So I gave Modern Family a shot. I've watched the first ten episodes... I may finish off the season. But so far, I'm not too impressed. It has some excellent lines, and I've laughed pretty hard (though I was getting progressively drunker...) at moments, but overall the feel of the show doesn't seem to suit me. But for one, I'm not that close to my family, so shows/movies where 'family sticks together' just seem sappy and unreal to me.

Man, I need to get on Bored to Death.