Some time ago I listed ten famous movies I'd never seen. This list was whittled down to five:
- Raging Bull
- Midnight Cowboy
- Rebel Without A Cause
- Goodfellas
- Shampoo
(And you all added Sophie's Choice, except for Becs, who urged me against it.)
I still haven't seen those movies, thank you,but now there's another list: The Time Magazine 100 Best TV Shows Of All Time. I gave myself full credit for a whole show if I only saw part of it (see: Lost, half of pilot and 24, half of pilot) or if I'd even seen a clip (An American Family).
Somehow there are still five "good" TV shows that I have never seen, not even one scene.
I think this line from the review of Deadwood defines all of these: "The law is as much a bludgeon as a savior."
I hope I haven't adopted Gary's criterion for a good show. "IT HAS TO HAVE AT LEAST ONE SYMPATHETIC CHARACTER!" (He has no sympathy for the flawed, at least on TV.) It looks like I don't like shows with dirty cops.
Kind of striking. Were there any trends you noticed in your list?
I have never seen those five either. Actually, I didn't do well at all. especially shows that existed before the 80s. A lot of those aren't in reruns anywhere, are they? Mary Hartman?
Posted by: Kathy | April 15, 2010 at 05:06 AM
I think you would like "Deadwood". Very gritty, lots of creative cussing. Perhaps my standards are not what they once were ...
Posted by: wyo | April 15, 2010 at 06:12 AM
There were heaps of programme I haven't seen - many of which even screened here. I don't know what I've been doing with my life...
Posted by: Big Dot | April 15, 2010 at 06:41 AM
I specifically remember not being allowed to watch Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. We were kids!
I counted 26 that I've never seen a single episode of. The only trend I could spot was "Shows Tami Has Never Seen".
Posted by: Tami | April 15, 2010 at 08:08 AM
I also had very lopsided results, in part because I saw a lot of 50s/60s show in reruns back in the day, and in part because I stopped watching episodic TV shows in 1993. I was once forced to watch an episode of American Idol, but I left the room after about 5 minutes.
However, I remember Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman very well. It was on late, and during the summer I stayed up to watch it. I also saw every episode of M*A*S*H, both first run and in reruns.
There are lots and lots of "Best Movies" I haven't seen.
Posted by: Sherri | April 15, 2010 at 08:34 AM
Homicide was a great show.
Mary Hartman - I wasn't allowed to watch that either, I used to sneak down and sit on the stairs where I could peer into the living room, out of view of my mother.
Posted by: magpie | April 15, 2010 at 12:37 PM
I see a glaring omission: Frank's Place. I loved that show.
Oh - didn't check if "Brooklyn Bridge" was on the list, but that one was splendid.
Posted by: Becs | April 15, 2010 at 01:59 PM
Goodfellas is probably your best bet among the films. Some of the others are really dated and make all of the lists because they were "great for their time."
(Rebel Without A Cause is just not all that great.)
The Wire is probably the best television series I've ever seen. Better than Soprano's.
Posted by: Seals | April 15, 2010 at 03:21 PM
Loved Deadwood. I was hoping HBO would follow up with movie sequels, but no.
I also urged you vehemently to avoid Sophie's Choice. Still do.
Posted by: 3 | April 15, 2010 at 04:32 PM
Kathy - I think I've seen it at B&N on DVD. Supposedly it was on tvLand in 2002.
wyo - I do like gritty.
Big Dot - Travelling. (I use the extra 'L' in honour of your heritage.(See what else I did there?))
Tami - I watched Mary Hartman every night.
Sherri - I somehow remember 'Star Trek' being played in primetime, not after school or late at night. So, first run I guess.
Magpie - Mom went to bed at 9, and as long as I was quiet no one bothered me as I watched MHMH.
Becs - Not on Hulu or DVD. It sounds good from the Wikipedia review.
Seals - (I'd say 'welcome', but I remember your real name!) Yeah, even the clips I've seen of Rw/oAC make it look hokey. The Wire did make me curious, but I assumed the Wire in question was a news wire.
3 - I've heard there is legendary cursing. Maybe I'll watch these when I'm done with the 7.
Posted by: TheQueen | April 15, 2010 at 09:48 PM
I do feel honored! Yet it's thanks to travelling and watching hotel room TV that I learned how to say "A pimp spat in my mouth!" in Spanish - cheers, Phoebe.
(Apparently "un chulo escupido en mi boca" - just in case you think it may come in handy.)
(Also, see how I referenced two TV classics there?)
Posted by: TravelSkite | April 15, 2010 at 11:01 PM
Big Dot - We were just talking about Cheers ("PORN") at the in-laws today. It has the same porn stamp as Frasier there.
Posted by: TheQueen | April 18, 2010 at 12:13 AM