The best thing on T.V. at the moment?

Ivan

The premise is simple, you have to name one program at the moment that you would describe as the "Best thing on T.V. at the moment", what would you choose?

Then provide a brief summary so people can get an idea of what the show is about and whether it would appeal to them. If there is already a summary then just put your vote for that particular show again or add a little bit more if you feel it necessary

Its rather stiff competition these days but my choice is very simple.

There is a cartoon that I have come across in my many travels, known as Avatar:The Legend of Aang or Avatar:The Last Airbender, depending on whom you ask

Anyways, its about a world of 4 races of people, each people can control a particular element. The people who can control the elements are known as benders. Its really pretty self explanatory, the Fire nation, the Water tribe, the Earth Kingdom and the Air Nomads i.e. Firebenders, Waterbenders, Earthbenders and Airbenders.

Avatar is ultimately about a boy named Aang who is believed to be the Last of the Airbenders and also the Avatar to boot. The Avatar is a being whose origin and mythos is surrounded in mystery, but what is known about him/her is that s/he can learn to control all 4 elements and is thus considered extremely powerful.

The dialog throughout the show is extremely refreshing, especially considering its a cartoon aimed at kids. The characters are instantly loveable and the villain isnt as one-sided as most shows. Also, the action itself is very stylized with many aspects of the combat coming from pre-existing martial arts forms. There is a very overall oriental style coming from the show.

Its a truly spectacular show and is now 5 episodes into its 3rd season. It gets really great around midway through season 2

So come on people, hit me with your best, I'm curious to what great shows, new or otherwise, have slipped past my never ending quest for good tv!

Dudess

Damages
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0914387/

Absolutely intriguing drama centred on a law-suit against extremely powerful billionaire (is there any other kind?!) Arthur Frobisher, played by Ted Danson. Glenn Close is Patti Hewes, the very cold and ruthless prosecutor who's not afraid to abuse her position. It's a dirty case (a class action against Frobisher by former employees he screwed over) and there are murky goings-on all over the shop.

And that's not all. Mixed in with this is random grainy footage concerning a murder case (which is yet to take place) - that of the fiancé of Glenn Close's young protégé (or, to be more specific, pawn) Ellen. And it's Ellen who is suspect number one and banged up in a cell. Ellen's fiancé did have a connection to Frobisher (his sister's restaurant was financed by the billionaire).

The time line is all over the place and it can get confusing, but it's all the more gripping for it.

Great theme tune too. http://www.myspace.com/thevlaband

Too bad the ratings haven't been great in the States so it doesn't look like there'll be a second series (although that hasn't been finalised so there may be hope yet). And it's on here at a ridiculous time on RTE1 (Saturday night around 11.00 :rolleyes:). To date, there have been four episodes on RTE1.

It's coming to an end in the States (on FX).

Full_Circle

Woohoo, I’d also like to throw my hat into the ring for "Avatar" (such a relief to know I’m not the only person on the Board watching it). The wait for season 3 was almost unbearable It’s easily the best show of the past few years! It’s just a shame that so many people write it off, just because it’s a cartoon

The animation is top notch, smooth, detailed and full of personality. Apart from anime works, the shows production and design blows every other animated tv show out of the water. The voice acting is terrific and the characters are wonderfully realised. And for a show supposedly aimed at kids, the writers chose to give the show an overarching plot for the entire series, which makes for a much more entertaining and engaging story.

Of particular note are the shows action scenes, which are always cleverly and beautifully executed and are typically on a grand scale. I’m also constantly impressed by the creative ways in which they make use of their “bending” powers. Currently it’s the only show I import from the U.S of A on a weekly basis and I’d heartily recommend everyone give it a look!

Since I limit myself to terrestrial tv for the rest of my shows, there’s not a whole lot else I can currently recommend.

Like “Dudess” above, I’m also enjoying “Damages”. Glenn Close rocks on SO many different levels

Other than that, I’ve got a real soft spot for “The Closer”. Its your typical American crime show with a lovely little ensemble cast, but its Kyra Sedgwick and her condescending “Thank you”s really make it worth watching

"Californication" is pretty darn good so far, but its only a few episodes in, so bit hard to judge. Though its great to see David Duchovney back on our screens and he's funny as HELL in it!

hot fuss

Celebrities Go Wild.

It's 'celebrities' in the 'wild'.

KevIRL

Californication, Pushing Daisies and Dexter.

Prison Break Season 3 is going v well too

Dudess

hot fuss wrote: »

Celebrities Go Wild.

It's 'celebrities' in the 'wild'.

Oooh! Sounds good!

qwertplaywert

Battlestar Galactica, but Dexter is coming up very close on it.

chalkitdown1

Brotherhood is probably the best thing on (American)tv at the moment, and that's only because The Wire doesn't return 'til January.

ixoy

Lots of people would be shocked by this choice but...

'The Wire': A brutally honest look at life in Baltimore, from the lofty ideals of political office to way down in the hole of raw inner city life, from the bustling docks to the impoverished education system - no show has ever given us such a raw, uncompromising and true to heart view of a city.

The characters in it are all too real - heroes are flawed, the gang members have heart too. Shades of grey have never been so well utilised. All of this backed by top-notch acting, where you don't really see the player beneath the mask.

Each season, very roughly, takes one aspect of Baltimore life and forces its examination under an unforgiving light. Interpolating, intersecting, and intertwining these stories are our characters - primarily the inhabitants of the Projects, the dilapidated tenements and the special wire tap unit investigating the drug cartel working out of this area. Each character is examined as a person without summary judgement or castigation - their stories and voice speak of their own accord. As the seasons progress, so do they and it's impossible not to empathise, sympathise, and recognize them.

It's not merely the best thing that's currently being output on TV - it's the best thing that I've ever seen output on TV. Four seasons of perfection and the final capstone about to come in January. I can't wait.

TT&TO

Doc martin

Toto Wolfcastle

Saw an ad for that new Peig Sayers show on TG4, Paddywhackery. Looks pretty good, it started tonight I think.

'Look Peig, you're wrecking me head. You're giving me flashbacks to me obair baile[sic]'

Didn't watch it though, was watching, em.....Celebrities Go Wild

No laughing!!

Can't think of anything else. I haven't really got the time to commit to a series and I can't handle missing an episode so I don't bother watching.

dulpit

I'm really enjoying Dexter at the moment, it's 2nd series is as good as the first.

Also, and an odd decision here, Survivor is essential watching for me, it's all sorts of great... I don't care what anyone else says, it's class... The first major reality show (afaik) and still the best...

redfacedbear

Have to agree about 'The Wire', since the demise of 'The Sopranos' it is head and shoulders above anything else on telly at moment. Looking forward to the new series.

I also await the return of the usual suspects - '24', 'Lost' and 'Heroes'. Living in the sticks means I'll have to wait till they make their way onto the telly - none of your downloading business here I'll have you know.


Nothing currently on is 'can't miss' for me (apart from 'University Challenge' )

I'm sorry I've missed 'Damages' as it sounds very interesting - RTE's scheduling decisions continually baffle me!

Mossy Monk

Dexter

Dinxminx

I'd say there'll be no-one here agreeing with me but right now my best pick of what's on TV is The L Word and House.

House is a medical drama that makes me laugh and I can't really explain it - you have to watch it. It takes the notion that doctors are, in general, 'people persons' and turns it on its head, offering up a sardonic, people-hating misanthropist as its lead. Imagine Dr Cox only darker and meaner (and funnier!)...

The L Word is basically Sex & The City only that the characters are all lesbian/bisexual. It's hugely underrated imo - Shane ftw!!!

kevmy

Well I think (with the possible exception of 'The Wire' which I've only recently started watching from S1) there is nothing exceptional out there at the moment. 'The Sopranos' is finished and 'The West Wing' is gone a couple of years.

Best there is 'Heroes' and 'Battlestar Galactica'

'Heroes' is about ordinary people with extraordinary powers. Basically superheroes who don't really know what to do with themselves or their powers. A shadowy company seems to want to control everyone one with powers while one particular hero wants all the powers he can get - he only achieves this though by killing others with powers.

'Battlestar Galactica' is a reboot of the old BSG. It's about a race of humans who have there worlds wiped out by The Cylons, robots the created themselves who they had previously had a war with. But now the Cylons are back and they're way more bad ass. Without planets to call a home the small fleet of humans left alive are searching for a home - called Earth

Honourable mentions to Prison Break and Lost

Anyone no the deal with Dexter is it ever coming to RTE or any English channels

komodosp

Have to agree with Battlestar Galactica. It's the only thing I would make a point of watching... Other than The Panel, maybe... Oh and Reeling In The Years!

pd101

Giles, Dunphy & Brady. Anyone see them last night.

The Sparrow

pd101 wrote: »

Giles, Dunphy & Brady. Anyone see them last night.

Your actually so right! They are the only real must-see television. Its so great and we are very lucky to have such entertaining soccer coverage. No other country comes close to covering soccer as entertainingly as RTE.

Other than that I'm liking The Wire (am just at S1), Heroes, Dexter, The Black Donnellys and prob the only other show that I have to watch each week is Ultimate Fighter.

Tzetze

Been watching Russell Brand's Ponderland the last few nights on C4. He's been pondering childhood, technology and crime. There's a lot of nostalgia and, of course, top notch Branded comedy.

Made me lol quite a bit.

Lafortezza

Californication definitely, I don't watch TV much but saw this recommended and have loved every EP so far.

User45701

BattleStar Galactica
House

For years its been BSG is the best show *FULL STOP* Unrivled and so forth but House this season has blown me awayt like the start of season 3 of battlestar galactica did almost a year ago

Now if i had a to pick a favurate i would say BSG followed by house in 2nd with all these being Joint 3rd

Dexter
Weeds
Heroes
South Park
Pushing Dasies
Family Guy
Stargate SGA

And since its back tonight im going to add Scrubs to the list

lafortezza wrote: »

Californication definitely, I don't watch TV much but saw this recommended and have loved every EP so far.

Only seen up to episode 5, will wait till ive seen them all to add it to the list or not.

beanyb

I'm not sure what the reaction to this will be...

Friday Night Lights - it's brilliantly written and the acting is amazing. If only some more people would watch it... It's about a High School American football team in a small Texas town called Dillon. I know that doesnt sound appealing, but it is actually very good. You dont really need to like or know anything about American football because it's really about the town itself. It's adapted from the book and the film of the same name, but it's not the same story, just the same basic outline.

ixoy

C'mon people list ONE show - the one that's the best THING not THINGS. It goes against the whole premise of the thread to spew out a list of your favourites. Which is the one that stands out above all.

anotherlostie

Desperate Housewives, Season 4.

Competition for Bree in the form of a woman who can keep house better than her (but also has the obligatory dark secret).

Gabby Solis in a sexy nurse's uniform rubbing ointment into Victor's loins.

Edie Britt - being Edie (with added crabcake crushing power).

And new 'gaybors' for Susan (who is actually being well written this year) to upset at every opportunity.

corblimey

Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe.

Been following Brooker's work since TVGH, Nathan Barley and the Screenburn Guardian tv reviews but this is him at his best. He's the most untelegenic person I've ever seen, but this show is absolutely amazing, including venemous reviews and hilarious swipes at some of the more ridiculous aspects of the "gitbox"

Wertz

It'd be a bit premature to call it a favourite but the only current thing I'm watching that hasn't been mentioned above is Masters of Science Fiction. I've only seen the first 3 , but the idea is pretty simple; one-off stories like you'd have on the Twilight Zone, Outer Limits or something, but wwith bigger budget, star cast (some great names in every ep so far who'll be familiar to any scifi fan) and good effects/cinematography.
I saw an ad on some sky channel earlier that it was starting soon here (maybe tonight?), take a look if you like your scifi....the lack of a story arc in this is a plus IMO, in these days of long convoluted plots across several seasons type-fare that is the mainstay of primetime TV, it's nice to just sit down and take in an hour of something and then forget about it, or wonder what happens next...

Cloud

Favourite at the moment:

CSI Season 7

Other honourable mentions: Battlestar Galactica, Heroes, Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe

(I need to watch The Wire, got the DVDs 'recently'. Also saw that Paddywhackery on TG4 last night; it's fun.)

kevmy

beanyb wrote: »

I'm not sure what the reaction to this will be...

Friday Night Lights - it's brilliantly written and the acting is amazing. If only some more people would watch it... It's about a High School American football team in a small Texas town called Dillon. I know that doesnt sound appealing, but it is actually very good. You dont really need to like or know anything about American football because it's really about the town itself. It's adapted from the book and the film of the same name, but it's not the same story, just the same basic outline.

Forgot to mention that. More people should check it out

starman100

Wertz wrote: »

It'd be a bit premature to call it a favourite but the only current thing I'm watching that hasn't been mentioned above is Masters of Science Fiction. I've only seen the first 3 , but the idea is pretty simple; one-off stories like you'd have on the Twilight Zone, Outer Limits or something, but wwith bigger budget, star cast (some great names in every ep so far who'll be familiar to any scifi fan) and good effects/cinematography.
I saw an ad on some sky channel earlier that it was starting soon here (maybe tonight?), take a look if you like your scifi....the lack of a story arc in this is a plus IMO, in these days of long convoluted plots across several seasons type-fare that is the mainstay of primetime TV, it's nice to just sit down and take in an hour of something and then forget about it, or wonder what happens next...

Yup, tonight at 10 pm, Bravo. I will Sky+ it as Prison Break overlaps.

blow69

Grey's Anatomy.Season 3 finale on tuesday

Jesus Wept

ixoy wrote: »

C'mon people list ONE show - the one that's the best THING not THINGS. It goes against the whole premise of the thread to spew out a list of your favourites. Which is the one that stands out above all.

What Ixoy said.

lostexpectation

curb your enthusiam

Bounty Hunter

IMHO best show that airs first on a

monday: The Boondocks closely followed by Heroes, Weeds & Prison Break
Tuesday: Pushing daisies
Wednesday: South Park
Thursday: The Office (US)
Friday: Friday night lights
Saturday: still looking
Sunday: Family Guy

out of all of those going on current quality being produced i surprise myself by saying Pushing Daisies is the best thing on TV at the moment.

Jesus Wept

Someone should wield the axe in this thread, too many lists being posted.
There are plenty of 'List all the tv shows you watch/ like' threads.

User45701

BattleStar Galactica

MikeHoncho

Flight Of The Choncords. - Freeking hilarious. Its musical comedy about 2 New Zealanders and there manager living in New York. The best thing is the songs. My particular fav song would be "Tape Of Love" its up on youtube and if you like it you will love the show.

MoominPapa

MikeHoncho wrote: »

Flight Of The Choncords

+1

heres Tape of Love

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fycGFGSeKpc

although this is my fave

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmHTXiNNO48

yes, it is, I'm mean affirmative

Missy Moo

Csi vegas,ugly betty and the closer(its on chanel 6 and more 4)

Xavi6

Californication all the way. Duchovny is brilliant, delighted to see him back. The story lines are brilliant and the dialogue is intelligent and funny at the same time. Yay for casual swearing and a ridiculous amount of sex scenes!

dlambirl

definitely Grays Anatomy!

Season Finale on tonite

beanyb

Prepare to be disappointed. Worst season finale EVER.

dlambirl

You were right beanyb, a quite disappointing Season Finale of Grays Anatomy.
Anyone know whats happening for a next season? Is there one? Is there a new cast (the girls surname that was talking to George was Gray...??)

beanyb

The first 5 episodes have been aired in the States. It's been an improvement on the end of the 3rd season, but it's still not great.

It's not really a spoiler since she was in the season 3 finale, but I'll put spoiler boxes anyway.

Yeah, that girl talking to George is Lexie Grey - Meredith's sister. She was also the girl that was talking to Derek in Joe's in the previous episode. She's an intern, and is a full time cast member in the 4th season.

This is all kind of OT I suppose.. so yeah, Friday Night Lights is still great!

Flamey-o Hotman

have to say it's gotta be Avatar. glad to see other fans of it:). the fighting styles are amazing and all based on the different martial arts; Tai Chi for waterbending, Hung Gar for earthbending, Northern Shaolin for firebending, and Ba Gua for airbending. the animation is beautiful. book 3(series 3) is great so far(it's on epi 9) can't wait for the day of black sun!:D

Ivan

Its on episode 6, or am I misinformed!? oO
[Edit]
Zomg, it is on episode 9... how did this happen?!
Awesome, cheers dude. Best thread evar!
[/Edit]

Flamey-o Hotman

Ivan wrote: »

Its on episode 6, or am I misinformed!? oO
[Edit]
Zomg, it is on episode 9... how did this happen?!
Awesome, cheers dude. Best thread evar!
[/Edit]

yeah uk nicktoons got all 9 episodes last week so we're actullly ahead of the americans

Ste05

The Wire without question, I can't wait for the new series, I can't believe there are still boardies who read this forum who haven't seen it. It's a slow burner to begin with, but it's so incredibly good.

If we could mention more I would, but I won't....

ScruffySlayer

I am dying to see all the proper, well written, beautifully acted TV like the Wire, House and BSG

BUT
I'm going to make a recommendation on the trashier side of things.

*inhales*

The Hills on MTV.

Seriously. Yes it's about overly pampered rich American idiots. But it's genius. Snappily put together and utterly addictive. It's the perfect thing to watch for 20-30 minutes. It's absorbing and addictive and completely shallow. It's the perfect easy watch. It's on sundays at half 8 on MTV but you can stream the episodes at mtv.co.uk. It's actually well worth a look. Not going to pretend it's on a level with all the fine dramas and comedies mentioned here but in the trash stakes it's kind of a gem.

Mr E

I just wanted to come in here and say thanks to Ivan for the Avatar recommendation.... its such a well written show, set in a superbly realised universe, and its beautifully animated. Balancing drama, humour, innocence, morals and a fantastic storyline is commendable.

Not just for kids. Watch it....

Mark Hamill

Psych

Here's the description from tv.com:

Psych follows Shawn Spencer who has developed a keen eye for detail after being instructed by his police officer father to note even the most minute details of his surroundings. After Shawn calls in a tip on a crime to the police, he is actually accused of committing the crime. To try to clear his name, Shawn convinces the police that he is a psychic and he begins solving cases for the police.


I amazed no-ones mentioned Psych yet as its half way through its second series in the US and its gotten the go ahead for series 3.

And thanks to Ivan for reminding me that Avatar had started up again, I had forgotten about that.

PS: I heard that there is a live action film coming out of Avatar being directed by M. Night Shyamalan:
http://www.tv.com/avatar-the-last-airbender/show/28841/story/8025.html?tag=story_list;title;1