Best and Worst TV shows (non Trek) (SPOILER)

This will cover any TV shows (except Trek) not just Sci-Fi.

My choices are as follows:
BEST
1) Farscape: The bees knees, the muts nuts.
2) CSI: The knock-down, drag out best show on at the moment.
3) Stargate SG-1: Granted I'm only up to Season 3 but it's still great.

WORST
1) Smallville: Utter garbage. In it's defense made almost watchable by waiting for Lex to go bad.
2) Law and Order: Boring.
3) The New Adventures of Superman: Almost as bad a bastardisation of the Superman story as Smallville.

Just out of interest (mostly because I don't like thinking about Smallville and this is driving me nuts), In the Smallville episode about the old lady who can see the future, what does the old lady see in Lex's future after she sees him as president? Channel 4 decided to cut what, presumably happens after that and I'm guessing that didn't kill her.

Well, I can't really list the "worst" shows, as I don't watch the shows that I don't like, but I don't pay enough attention to them to be able to rate which ones I dislike the most.

As to what I like, my choices, in no particular order (and excluding Trek shows), are:

- ER (still a favorite, despite "iffy" character changes and development over the past couple of seasons)

- West Wing (in my opinion, the best show on television)

- Smallville (I guess I'm in the minority here, but I think it's an interesting, fresh look at Superman, without being preachy, like so many other Superman incarnations)

- Beat the Geeks (a gameshow on Comedy Central, which occasionally guest stars a Star Trek geek)

- Justice League (the new Cartoon network version)

There are other shows that I like to watch, occasionally, but these are the only real shows (other than Enterprise) that I make an effort to see every week, either as they air or by taping.

As to the Smallville episode with the farseeing lady, I can't recall what she sees after seeing Lex as the President, but I think it had something to do with lots of death and destruction. I could certainly be wrong though.




Greg

Best
That 80's Show
Denis Miller Live
Daily Show

Worst
Enterprise
Earth Final Conflict
Everything else on TV that I don't watch ;)

Best
Mutant X
Andromeda
Witchblade

Worst
The Chamber
EFC
most sitcoms

Best
Jag
Andromeda
Stargate SG-1

Worst
Enterprise
EFC
Beastmaster

I've deleted my original post here, as it's what contributed to my starting a thread about Enterprise that I have summarily deleted for personal reasons.

For those that have interpreted my words as "bashing" those that don't like Enterprise, that was not my intent, nor was it my attempt to provoke people to retaliate in what would have been deemed to be "in kind".

That's all from me, on this topic...


Greg

Quote:

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Originally posted by Greg Davis
I thought that this thread was about TV shows other than Star Trek?

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Well I thought the fact that it wasn't called Star Trek: Enterprise made it fair game ;)

Also, I think the 1st season of TOS kicks Enterprise's ass, IMHO :)

Best

Mutant X (haven't seen too many eps but I like what I see)

24 (same as above, I always seem to miss it. Hope they put it out on DVD I should have a DVD player by then.)

SG-1 (By far the best sci-fi on TV)

Andromada (second only to SG-1)

West Wing (again missed most of this season, but liked the first.)



Worst

Black Scorpion (yeah, I actually watched one episode:o

Beastmaster

Tracker (Adrian what happened?)

Entrerpise (It isn't ST so I can mention it here.):mad:

I know there are many more for the bomb list, but I seem to have mind blocked them out so I will leave the list as is.

Well here are my personal choices:

Best;

1) SG-1: Best sci-fi around and some of the best characters ever.

2) Smallville: Don't know why, but I like it.

3) West Wing: The only drama I like! I usually despise the fact that it has no action although this one grabs my attention.

4) C.S.I.; My brother made me watch one and I've been hooked ever since-ever the re-runs are interesting!

Worst;

1) Enterprise: No comment:mad:

2) Andromeda: I despise Kevin Scorbo(sp?) to the core. One of the most awful character I have ever had the displeasure of seeing on T.V..

3) Mutant X: Lousy special effects and woody acting kill this show. And it had such potential...:(

BEST

• Smallville (so far, I like how the story is going)
• C.S.I. (always like drama with intelligence, particularly mystery)
• Stargate SG-1 (better than Enterprise without using a ship)
• Sir Arhtur Conan Doyle's The Lost World
• JAG
• The District
• Third Watch
• Crossing Jordan (something about Jill Henessy, makes a good Vulcan or Romulan)
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer
• Alias
• Dark Angel
• The West Wing (anything to advance the liberals)

WORST

• VIP (The only blonde bombshell that turns me off)
• Tracker (makes Adrian Paul look dumb)
• Special Unit 2 (forget this)

Initially, I like Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda and still like it so far, but I am wary as to what direction the show will head now that famed DS9 producer Robert Hewitt Wolfe has departed from the show's production. According to Sorbo, he wanted an action-oriented show, and that Hunt will no longer quest to have the System Commonwealth restored to her former glory.

Sadly, it is doomed to be "just another sci-fi show." I am going to relive that past 3 years I had with Voyager in a different show with Gene Roddenberry's fingerprints tainted with the executive producer's clueless direction.

At least Braga is not an actor.

P.S. The old lady psychic saw deaths and destructions in Lex Luthor's future. As if that's a shocker...

Special Unit 2? (shudder)

Only good thing about that show:

"This calls for RED ammo."

"You ever use RED ammo before?"

"Once, on an apartment building."

Otherwise, it is so bad it didn't even make my worst list.

I honestly have to say that that sequence was the best scene in any smallville episode I've seen just because it was so well planned and filmed... :) The imagery was just amazing.

You saw the opening, Lex in a white suit in the oval office. It then shifted to Lex standing a huge field of flowers. He touches one to smeel it and this causes a cascade effect of all the flowers rotting away to ash in an ever-widening circle. Then it starts to rain. Within moments, Lex (and his nice white suit) are stained crimson from the blood falling from the sky. And, to make it more dramatically appropriate, Lex never found out what she saw because that was when she went. Thus fulfillign her own prophecy to Clark.

::shrug:: I dunno. I wish I could craft a scene so well. :)

Best:
C.S.I. - One of the best series I've ever seen

Chicago Hope - hey, I'm gonna be a doctor some day, too!

Scrubs - I liked it after only seeing the announcements, actually watching an episode made me a die-hard fan.

the West Wing - Finally a human president of the USA!

Farscape - Best sci-fi I've seen in a long time. I mean, SG-1, DS9 and Voy each have episode in which they really shine, but not as much as Farscape, I mean look at the cliffhanger! "You have got to be kidding me...." it just rocks - okay this is turning into a rant isn't it?

worst:
VIP - Pamela Anderson just plain SUCKS!!

Sheena - the invincible female warrior thing is getting old, guys....

MTV Jackass - sorry people, but what's so funny about this?

Translated versions of 'the Weakest Wink' - I just don't see why they're getting away with trying to clone Anne Robinson; you just can't copycat a game show host's personality!

Same thing for 'Robot Wars' - Hey! Look at how much people watch the BBC when this is on! Let's throw our imagination out the window and steal it!

*sigh*

Also, I forgot 'Sex Sense' on Discovery Channel (Europe) in the best category. :D

My shows :

1-Whose Line Is It Anyway (with Drew Carey)
2-South Park (most right-wing, anti-pc show on TV, even though its creators didn't intend it to be)
3-Iron Chef

Honorable mention to the Drew Carey Show.

Can't stand :

-West Wing (liberal propaganda at its best)
-Ally McBeal (upper-class feminist propaganda at its best)
-Earth Final Conflict (just a bad show)

(dis)honorable mention goes to Law and Order in the New York-style liberal propaganda dept. I especially liked the "gun control" show where the cops find a cache of arms and say "take a picture and send it to Charlton Heston". Not only was that really classy, but subtle as well...

In the sci-fi category, I'm at odds with most people here; Farscape, SG-1 and Andromeda aren't my cup of tea. Especially Andromeda: on Saturdays I can watch up to 3-4 different episodes and 2 weeks ago I did just that. Sorry, but it plained sucked. Maybe I hit 4 bad eps in a row, I don't know; but if what I have seen is representative of the whole series, then :(

Oddly enough, I do enjoy Enterprise, and I find that many Voyager episodes don't suck at all... I think that the segment of Trek with the highest amount of suckiness ever must have been the first seasons of TNG and DS9.

Oh, and for francophone Montrealers, you gotta hate "La Fureur". Veronique Cloutier would be selling shoes at Aldo at minimum wage if it weren't for her "parvenu" father.

Disclaimer: I am just writing what I feel, and I don't intend to make any claims that you have to agree with me. :)

Best Shows ON AIR currently:

1)Andromeda: VERY good, I actually care about and am interested in fates of the people, FX are so-so, but in true honor to Roddenberry, it is about people.

2)The Man Show: Adam, Jimmy, Beer and Girls jumping on Trampolines. I have to have my mindless don't take it seriously fun.

3)Iron Chef: If you don't have the Food Network, get it for this show.

Honorable mention: Beat the Geeks, Win Ben Steins Money,Whose Line? (BOTH),South Park, Cowboy Bebop, West Wing, New Detectives,Becker, King of Queens and CSI.

Best NOT ON AIR Currently:

Babylon 5: Enough said.

SeaQuest: Seasons 1 and 3 rocked, 2 needed work, but was more better than not.

Martial Law: Seaon 1, awesome martial arts cop comedy. Season, made into dark and gritty, ugh. Bring back Sammo with the season one attitude, funny is better.

Brisco County Junior: Do I have to justify this one?? It was cut down far too soon.

Honorable mention: MST3K,Space Above and Beyond, Dilbert the Animated Series,That's My Bush and Northern Exposure.

Worst currently ON AIR:

7th Heaven: Don't get me started.....

Ally McBeal: Can't get into it, shallow people with no depth or sympathy.

Reality TV: Survivor, Big Brother, 5th wheel, Temptaion Island, Blind Date, all this crap burger TV has to go on without me.

Honorable Mention: Talk TV, PrimeTime Glick, soaps, etc.........

Worst currently NOT ON AIR:

Hercules: Too non traditional for me, liked the action pack movies, hated the series.

Walker Teaxas Ranger: Should have died after first episode, sadly, didnot, rest of family loved show, pure torture.

Who's The Boss?: Hated Danza on Taxi, to base ashow around him, and then to be stuck in a one TV household, at a young age, scars run deep, mustn't hate, but the scars..... ARRRRRGH!

Honorable mention: Too many to list, and they are gone now anyway.

I may not know art, but I know what I like, this is just an opinion, na dis in no way meant to influence.

As for Enterprise, it was not mentioned because it is Trek, but I love it, it is third after DS9 and TOS in my favorites.

Wow, I feel better now,
Homer

Best (currently on air only):
1) CSI - Quincy for the 2000s.
2) Becker - Started watching it for Terry Farrell but stayed for Danson's sarcasm. (And Terry and Shawnee...)
3) Gilmore Girls - Lauren Graham!!!!

HM: ED, ER, Boston Public. (Not ranked due to issues with current season)

Worst (currently on air only):
1) Blackfly - This would make Ishtar look like a classic. How did Colin Mochry(sp?) get forced into doing this crap?
2) That 70s show - I won't go into the reasons. I don't have all day.
3) That 80s show - see above; add six more days.
4) Southpark - Not just because of the Blame Canada thing. It is just so juvenile.
5) The Tick - At least they could not say it wasn't given a chance. It was not cancelled after 1-2 eps.

Best:

Friends - Eight years and still going strong... the show manages to find ways to stay fresh and invigorating.

ER - Just like friends, still going strong.

The X Files - It had an awkward period during it's eight season but now it's back on track. It's a shame so many people are "Duchovny or no show" types.

Family Guy - Hilarious.

Andromeda - Fascinating storylines and I care about the characters.

Enterprise - A nice look at the beginning of the saga.

Roswell - A show still finding itself and managing to be innovative while using story arcs and individual episodes.

Quote:

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Originally posted by Caretaker
Best:


Roswell - A show still finding itself and managing to be innovative while using story arcs and individual episodes.

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And how about the actor who played Sloan as the sherriff. Hmmm, maybe 31 had an earlier start then everyone thinks. ;)

Andromeda is my favorite show still being made. The Tick had a really strange, quirky humor and was a lot of fun, and I'm sorry to see it go.

I have no idea what the worst shows on TV are. If I don't like it, I don't watch it or waste any time trying to figure out which one is worst.

Quote:

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Originally posted by Caretaker
Roswell - A show still finding itself and managing to be innovative while using story arcs and individual episodes.

---

Unfortunately it is nearly over. Majandra Delfino is reported to have said it has been all but cancelled. :(

And yet, Willaim Sadler (Roswell's ex-Sheriff Valenti, aka DS9's Sloane) says the set is being overhauled.

Quote:

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Originally posted by REG
And yet, Willaim Sadler (Roswell's ex-Sheriff Valenti, aka DS9's Sloane) says the set is being overhauled.

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I hope he's right. Although it took me some time to get into this show, I would hate to see it disappear.

Here is the link I was referring to:
http://www.canoe.ca/AllPopShowbiz/fe...swell-can.html

Do you have Sadler's link?

This message has been removed on request by the
poster

Best non-Trek on air...

Farscape -- excellent sci-fi, and one of the few non-Trek, non-SW sci-fi shows I've really enjoyed in the last 10 years.

Law & Order (original, CI, SVU) -- Fantastic crime drama, and with excellent ensemble casts. Diane Wiest was an excellent choice to replace Stephen Hill as the DA!

CSI -- I agree, 21st C. Quincy.

ER -- Starting to slip...too many things are starting to get sappy...why kill Marc off? The show has been so successful, I think they're just trying too hard to keep it there.

NYPD Blue -- I used to hate this show with a passion, but decided to give it a chance when Jimmy Smits joined the cast. Now I watch it religiously. They got it right when they finally centered it around Dennis Franz.

West Wing -- Hey, I'm a Martin Sheen fan. What do you want? ;) The show is good, even though they're all Democrats... :rolleyes:

Who's Line is it Anyway? -- I usually end up nearly busting a seam watching this show.

Secret Adventures of Jules Verne -- Okay, it's not technically on the air, but they're running eps on my local WB station. I'm a huge fan of Frank Chadwick's Space:1889 game (and have been working on a d20 conversion for it), and SAJV catches the feel for Victorian sci-fi perfectly IMO. I was extremely disappointed when Sci-Fi Channel dropped it.

Thieves -- It's no longer on the air, only lasting half a season, but it was funny, witty, and had a lot of potential to be the next Moonlighting/Mod Squad/Avengers. ABC ticked me off on this one. :mad:

Worst on-air:

Anything "reality" -- Come on, give me a break here. If this is reality, I'm glad I'm not a part of it.

Modern Sit-Coms -- With rare exceptions (Seinfeld was tolerable sometimes), most sitcoms that last more than a season or two seem to appeal to the lowest common denomenator. And that just doesn't work for me. So, no Friends for me. :p

That doesn't mean that I don't like all sitcoms. I loved Working in it's first season (Fred Savage's first "adult" show, and proved he was a decent actor), but it got too silly in season two (mainly because some of the characters changed and the chemistry was lost). Drew Carey was great for a number of years, but has also become too silly in recent seasons. Similar problem with Spin City, but that was because I got tired of the direction they were heading with Michael J. Fox's character (I did watch his last ep, tho. :) ).

Another sitcom I really liked was Sportsnight (partially because it was centered around a, well, sports show). :rolleyes: Both seasons were pretty good, but they just didn't get the ratings to continue (a shame, I think, but that's the way many of my favorite shows go).

As quoted by Sea Tyger
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Secret Adventures of Jules Verne -- Okay, it's not technically on the air, but they're running eps on my local WB station. I'm a huge fan of Frank Chadwick's Space:1889 game (and have been working on a d20 conversion for it), and SAJV catches the feel for Victorian sci-fi perfectly IMO. I was extremely disappointed when Sci-Fi Channel dropped it.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How the frell could I have forgotten SAJV, the best ever TV show, bar none (do you get the feeling that I liked it). Man, it's so good that in the cross table Star Trek game I'm running one of the players has her character spend time on the Holodeck basically playing Rebecca (at present I'm running a chunk of the episode 'Queen Victoria and the Giant Mole', the really fun thing being that the character's a Caitian and the player hasn't seen any episodes of the show.

In no numbered order the best

Combat Missions (USA) - I hate reality TV but this has completely won me over.

My Wife and Kids (ABC) - Waynes is the modern Cosby with this show.

Scrubs (NBC) - Wake up newbies and realize how incrediably great this show is.

Six Feet Under (HBO) - There is no such thing as a TV Taboo anymore!

Sopranos (HBO) - Worried after a somewhat mediocre third season, but hopefull with the full year and half hiatus between seasons.

Third Watch (NBC) - getting better even though the middle of this season got way to dark for me.

Will and Grace (NBC) - Excellant writting and no political agenda

Honorable mentions - King of Queens, CSI, Crossing Jordan, Enterprise, and Drew Carry

Disappointments - these are show I can't say are the worst but were have turned into disappointments and have eventually turned me off.

X Files, NYPD Blue, Law and Order, Malcum in the Middle, West Wing, Darma & Greg,

Best:
Farscape (never miss it when it's new ones.)
The O'Reilly Factor (don't always agree with him, but he's balanced...something the other networks aren't.)
Babylon 5 (for me, the bet sci-fi show ever done to date.)

Worst:
LEXX (utter crap. Only watched a few.)
Voyager (drek, with the one episode a season worth watching.)
Don't watch enough to name more.

I am limited my picks to series that are in my interest spectrum. I will avoid rating anything that I wouldn't watch under the best of circumstances.

Despite the numbers the picks aren't in any particular order.


Still Great:

1. Farscape (Great plot, interesting characters, and pretty good continuity)
2. Lexx (An often irreverant look at everything through a sci-fi lens - this season its the USA that gets the spotlight...)
3. Stargate SG-1 (see Farscape above for my thoughts)
4. Dark Angel (The First Season kicked butt, the second one languished a bit but has picked up towards the finale).
5. Smallville (Started strong but the Villian of the Week formula is going to get old fast, especially with a small town as the setting).


Waning but Marginally Good.

1. Buffy (The plot is getting too cyclic and a tad predicadable...)
2. X-Files (I am rather glad its ending since the last season is barely keeping my interest).
3. Special Unit 2 (I like the humour, so sue me ;). Too bad the plots weren't as interesting as the one-liners).

Dislike

1. The Lost World (I am a sucker for the Pulp age but not even that could get me to like this series... blech).
2. Andromeda (I have a feeling its trying to be the next Babylon 5 - however the lack of interesting aliens, plots, or characters kills it for me).
3. Mutant X (This cross between the X-Men and the Matrix does little for me - standard episodic garbage without even recognizable heroes to interest me)
4. Earth: Final Conflict (I actually liked this program but this last season is pure drek. I expected so much more after the last season too...)


My Fave of the Dead Series (and often Obscure)

1. Max Headroom (I loved the series for some strange reason)
2. Millennium (A great spinoff of the XFiles Universe until poor decisions came up with the drek that was season three)
3. VR5 (Despite the impossible tech, it grabbed my interest with its X-Files-ish episodic format.)
4. Babyon 5 (Metaplots at their best...)
5. Brisco County Junior (Bruce Campbell - Nuff said).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by qerlin

Best:
Farscape (never miss it when it's new ones.)
The O'Reilly Factor (don't always agree with him, but he's balanced...something the other networks aren't.)

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HA! :D HA! :D HA! :D HA! :D HA! :D

Boy, if I had a dollar for every time O'Reilly threw a liberal off his show or told someone who didn't agree with him to "Shut up!" I'd be a bloody millionaire !

Rent or buy the documentary Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War On Journalism and you'll see how "fair and balanced" the network really is.

Actually, I now have a new list of best on TV...

Hands down -- the best new show is Rescue Me. Simply phenomenal writing and acting.
#2: The Shield ...another F/X show.
#3: Battlestar Galactica ...as good as the old one was bad.

The worst: undoubtably 30 Days . A great premise that is immediately compromised by the producer's biases. Not surprising considering his Supersize Me was anti-corporatist crap (his favorite word.)
#2: Just about every SciFi made for TV movie.
#3: Don't watch enough to know much more than that...

Best:
I'll save space and say "The Friday nite Sci-Fi line-up"

Justice League Unlimited- As a comic geek, this is a given

NCIS---Only Cbs would make a 'family-friendly' version of one of it's own shows (CSI)

Oh, CSI's and Laws and orders (Exception: LaO: Trial by Jury)

The Whedon shows (Buffy, Angel, and Firefly)

Worst:

Andromeda (I loved the first couple of seasons, but i have no fricken idea whats going on now)

Most Reality shows (Exception MTV's Fear....the whole show was the premise for a bad horror movie waitning to happen)

Mutant X (yeah, I know i'm the comic geek, but knowing what they had planned, and what we got, it depresses me!)

My best of list:

Stargate SG-1
Battlestar Galactica (the new one, of course)
Boston Legal
Empire
Carnivale (recently cancelled :mad: )

My Must Watch List:

Justice League Unlimited
Alias (even though its starting to suck hard)
Battlestar Galactica
Smallville


Most hated

ANY Reality TV Show
ANY Pop Idol-style Show

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sea Tyger

Best on-air:

Farscape
Law & Order (original, CI, SVU)
CSI
ER
NYPD Blue
West Wing
Who's Line is it Anyway?
Secret Adventures of Jules Verne
Thieves

Worst on-air:

Anything "reality"
Modern Sit-Coms

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Well, I last posted on this thread over three years ago (is Methuselah hiding around in here or something? :p)!

So, how have things changed for me since then?

Let's see,

Best:
NCIS -- this has replaced er and CSI on my schedule. They built some great chemistry with the crew, but I was shocked by Kate's death. Now I have to be sure to watch the season opener to find out what the hell's going on! :)

West Wing -- This is my favorite show on television.

Law & Order and L&O: CI -- Both shows are still top-notch. I'm not sure about Borja at this point (just don't like her style) on L&O, but I love the fact that Dennis Farina is on the show. Looking forward to Fontana and Green building a good chemistry between them.

CI is going to a different format, with Chris Noth returning as Mike Logan to split lead duties with Vincent D'Onofrio (apparently, Logan and his partner will be doing half the shows, and Goran and Reems {sp?} will do the other half). I'm looking forward to it.

Crossing Jordan -- I've been a Jill Hennessey fan since her L&O days, so I was sure to catch her new vehicle from Day 1. I'm a little tired of them messing with Jordan and Woody's relationship (it seems that most shows just don't want to build a regular relationship between the main characters...they just haveto screw with them too much), but I otherwise love the show. It certainly makes Sunday nights pretty regular.

Of course, I wonder what NBC's going to do with the Sunday lineup in the Fall of 2006, when they get their Sunday night NFL game.

MXC -- Yeah, it's sophomoric most of the time. But, it's hilarious, too. They just need to put out more "new" episodes (of course, I guess that all depends on how much usable Takeshi's Castle footage is left :D).

(Of course, all of the above takes a back seat to my sports -- major league baseball, college and NFL football, hockey {yeah, it still exists, apparently ;)}, rugby and, occasionally, lacross and cricket.)

Worst:
Still anything Reality -- 'Nuff said.

Still modern sitcoms -- My sitcom watching has decreased to 'nil since 2002, especially since "Whos Line..." is now only in reruns (which is still watch regularly on ABC Family).

I can't believe someone revived a thread that I once replied three years ago. :p

Quote:

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Originally Posted by REG

I can't believe someone revived a thread that I once replied three years ago. :p

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You can blame Ezri and his inappropriately-placed political commentary. :)

Well, so far, I haven't liked "O'Really." His latest slight includes mispronouncing our state Governor (How the effin' hell did he get "Lin-gell" from "Lingle"???) and singling out Hawaii as one of the states with poor enforcement of child protection law.

I hate to say this but he makes his rival Al Franken look good, and even I don't care for him either.

BEST

Dark Angel :cool:
Pretender ummmmm Jarod :D
Relic Hunter :)

WORST

Smallville
Charmed
Reality TV

Hmmmmm....

Best:

Not showing: B5, although the last series struggled, but with reasons.
Showing: Nothing REALLY grabs me at the moment I am sorry to say.

Worst:

Smallville sucks. Mutant X, sorry but it just seemed a bit of a struggle for me to get a handle on, and ANY un-reality TV shows

Cheers

Tas