Sexy Beast's Top TV Shows (Expanded and Revised)

[Sexy Beast]

Hey folks,

its been a while since I made a list categorizing various forms of media in rankings like top 10 lists or whatever, so here is a new one. Now I did a TV show list back in 2011, but unlike that one this list will contain only current shows and is 33% longer...all for your reading pleasure.

Before we begin, here is a list of show that will not be on the list:

The Walking Dead: Stopped watching at the beginning of season 2
Community: I think I've seen like one episode
My Little Pony: Yeah, no
Adventure Time: I've seen like an episode or two
...and every other show that's not going to be on this list...yay.

Ok, lets have some fun. The first person to guess 4/5 of my top five gets any game on steam that's $15 or less.

Go

 

[Sexy Beast]

#20

Title: The Newsroom
Network: HBO
Status: Between Seasons, returns June 2013
Availability of Previous Seasons Seasons 1 is on HBO GO

What is it?: The show ask, what if Aaron Sorkin wrote a news program that covered important events between 2007 and today. What I mean, is that the this show is about a nightly news show on the fictional news network that decides to do the news right.

Why watch it?: The Newsroom is just shy of being a great show. Its quality weavers between excellent and mediocre depending on how fast the shows characters are talking and whether or not they are talking over each other...apparently Sorkin is under the impression that this is funny. Still, its a fun enough watch and hopefully will get better in its second season.

 

[Sexy Beast]

#19

Title: Supernatural
Network: The CW
Status: Brief mid-season hiatus
Availability of Previous Seasons mostly everything is up on Netflix

What is it?: This show follows two brothers who kill monsters, demons, and whatever else the shows creators feel like throwing at them, seriously this show is on its 8th season...they killed just about everything by now.

Why watch it?: Supernatural is essentially a show about rock music, classic cars, and killing things that aren't human. Seem simple enough, but the shows back log of mythology makes the whole experience just that more fun to follow. That and the show loves meta-humor, for example a major plot point of the show in season 5 was that it turned out that the main characters were the main characters of a book series...which gave the show an excuse to crack a couple jokes about its fan base. Unfortunately, after season 5 the show has floundered a bit, the original show creator left and the one who replaced his was replaced again this season. Its still a fun show capable of cranking out great episodes, but it feels like it nearing the end of its run.

 

[Sexy Beast]

#18

Title: Sons of Anarchy
Network: FX
Status: Just finished season five
Availability of Previous Seasons mostly everything is up on Netflix

What is it?: Its about the trials and tribulations of a motorcycle club in up state California.

Why watch it?: When Sons of Anarchy is good its fantastic...but when its bad, its pretty bad. The first two season of the show were great, with season two spinning a spectacular tale of internal politics and the internal strife of the family that makes up the upper echelon of the club. Season 3 and 4 are terrible and season 5 finally finds its footing and rights a lot of the shows wrongs. Despite this, its a show that is well worth watch...even if it does get a bit frustrating.

 

[Sexy Beast]

#17

Title: It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Network: FX
Status: Just finished season eight
Availability of Previous Seasons mostly everything is up on Netflix


What is it?: Its a show about 4 awful and self-centered individuals cooking up a plethora of different ideas ranging from getting rich in some of the most morally bankrupt ways imaginable to attempting to help their fellow man in an inept manor which usually ends poorly for all parties involved.

Why watch it?: Its funny, plain and simple. Sure its not for all tastes, but if your a fan of irreverent comedy then this should be right up your alley.

 

[Sexy Beast]

#16

Title: Sherlock
Network: BBC America
Status: Between Season
Availability of Previous Seasons Everything's on Netlfix

What is it?: Its a modern day telling of Sherlock Holmes.

Why watch it?: A season of Sherlock has a really weird quality arch; Episode 1: Very Good, Episode 2: Terrible, Episode 3: Great. See what I mean, and this is true for both season of Sherlock. If the seasons were only two episodes, then this would have scored higher on this list. Other than that weird anomaly. This is a well produced and well acted show. The characters of Watson and Sherlock and both well presented, with Sherlock being a psychopath...no literally, he presented as someone whose on such a level that he show several clear symptoms of psychopathy. Watson on the other hand is clearly suffering from PTSD. The show makes it work and a believable manner. If you like Sherlock Holmes, give this one a shot.

 

[Sexy Beast]

#15

Title: Strike Back
Network: Cinemax
Status: Between Season
Availability of Previous Seasons Everything's on MAX GO

What is it?: A Globe trotting high flying action series.

Why watch it?: Strike Back is a bit odd since most Americans, myself included will never see the first season of the show. After a successful first season the star of the show, Richard Armitage, was offered a major part in The Hobbit. He took it and the show was restructured, Cinemax offered to Co-produce the show and suddenly we have it here in the states. Of course here season two is now season one so there is a bit of confusion when Googleing the show.

Anyway, this is the best action show on television. Forget Burn Notice...there is nothing that comes close to Strike Back. Just watch it.

 

[Sexy Beast]

Off to work will update later

 

[Sexy Beast]

#14

Title: 30 Rock
Network: NBC
Status: On its final season
Availability of Previous Seasons Almost everything is on Netflix

What is it?: A series about Liz Lemon, the creator of a variety show, its cast of actors and writers, and her boss Jack Jack Donaghy, who is Alec Baldwin.

Why watch it?: 30 Rock is nearing its end, which in of itself is pretty impressive. Its a show that would have normally been cancelled in the first or second season with its ratings, but NBC is so screwed up that 30 Rock stayed.

The show's humor is close to Family Guy, but allows for a bit of character development and the random humor is a bit narrower in scope. Its a consistently funny show and its been a joy watching it during its run.

 

[Raul Tha Monk]

Its always sunny is the best show ever

 

[Sexy Beast]

#13

Title: Downton Abbey
Network: PBS
Status: Season 3 Premier 01/06/2013
Availability of Previous Seasons Season 1 on Netflix

What is it? Its a soap opera about an upper class British family and their servants.

Why watch it?: I don't know, its freaking addictive. I watched the first episode on a lark and wound up burning through season 1 and 2 in like 2 days. I have no idea why this show is worth watching, all I know is that it just is worth watching.

 

[Sexy Beast]

#12

Title: Parks and Recreation
Network: NBC
Status: Mid-season break, returning 01/17/2013
Availability of Previous Seasons First 4 season on Netflix

What is it?: This show is about Leslie Knope the hard working deputy director of the Parks and Recreations department in Pawnee, a fictional town in Indiana.


Why watch it?: I remember the first time I saw this show, it was an episode in season 1...and it sucked. I hated it and I turned it off. Then someone said I should give it another go, so I started to watch season one again and once again it sucked. But instead of just giving up on the show, I skipped to season two and was pleasantly surprised by what I found. It was good, better yet it was funny. Soon I liked every character on the show and I began to look forward to the shows future. Its not only a funny show, but its populated with character that you grow to like and kind of care about. Its also struggling in the ratings a bit and this is a show worth watch just to keep it afloat.

 

[Sexy Beast]

#11

Title: Fringe
Network: Fox
Status: On Final Season
Availability of Previous Seasons DVD, really Fox? Really?

What is it?: At this point its nearly impossible to describe Fringe. It initially started as JJ Abrams version X-Files, but by season 2 and onward the series has radically shifted gears. Of course I can't explain it, because that would spoil like a hundred different plot twists.

Why watch it?: It doesn't matter at this point, Fringe is going to get an actual ending. Something which seemed impossible a year ago, given the shows ratings. Fox hasn't made it easy for people to view this show...possibly because they're betting a lot that this show will make money in syndication. Of course this means that the show is only available in DVD, which means if you ever want to see Fringe then you better find someone with the DVDs or wait for the Syfy channel to air the series.

It worth the trouble though, Fringe goes places that very few shows would even dare go. This last season essentially throws caution to the wind and goes for something radically different that what was shown in previous seasons. So if you want to see one of the most imaginative shows on television give Fringe a shot. If you're already watching it, January 18th is when it ends.

 

[Sexy Beast]

#10

Title: Justified
Network: FX
Status: Season four premiering 01/08/2013
Availability of Previous Seasons DVD, really FX? Really?

What is it?: This show is about U.S. Deputy Marshal Raylan Givens and his propensity to shoot people.

Why watch it?: Its an incredibly well written show with a revolving cast an magnificent character expertly acted by a cast of excellent actors. There is really not much more I can say other than this is one of the finest shows on television and you should be watching it...which would be a whole lot easier if FX put the damn show on Netflix like...well every other show on FX.

 

[Sexy Beast]

#9

Title: The Venture Bros
Network: Adult Swim (Cartoon Network)
Status: Between Seasons
Availability of Previous Seasons DVD, really Adult Swim? Really?

What is it?: This show revolves around Dr. Thaddeus Venture, a miserable failure of a man, his two sheltered sons who are a little off, and his body guard Brock Samson.

Why watch it?: This is pretty much the only animated show with character development. Seriously, its a really funny show, but over the last four season they've built up the characters of the show into something worth caring about. The humor is mostly based on pop-cultural references...more like Archer than Family Guy. This is just a genuinely funny and enjoyable show.

 

[Sexy Beast]

#8

Title: Game of Thrones
Network: HBO
Status: Between Seasons
Availability of Previous Seasons Available on HBO GO

What is it?: An epic sweeping fantasy series about war, family, politics, and dragons.

Why watch it?: The show is impressive as all hell, its easily the most expensive show on the list an as such it has a very impressive production. Its also just fun to watch, the massive cast of characters are all great the acting for the most part is top notch and it looks to be getting better and better. I'm looking forward to season 3 and if you have HBO...you really should be watcher this show.

 

[Sexy Beast]

#7

Title: Veep
Network: HBO
Status: Between Seasons
Availability of Previous Seasons Available on HBO GO

What is it?: The show is about the Vice President and her staff.

Why watch it?: The humor of the show derives the almost comedic lack of power the Vice President holds. Show runner Armando Iannucci, known for The Thick of It and In the Loop, has been writing political satire for quite some time now and this show displays just how adept he is at lampooning political systems. The humor can be best described as bitingly cynical and brilliantly profane. Julia Louis-Dreyfus is brilliant as the embattled and beleaguered Vice President whose only with is to get a couple bills passed while she holds this useless position...only to be beaten back at every turn either by political opponents or the incompetence of those around her.

A satire like this doesn't come around all to often, and if you have any interest in the insanity of politics...give this one a shot.

 

[Sexy Beast]

#6

Title: Archer
Network: FX
Status: Season 4 premiers 01/17/2013
Availability of Previous Seasons Season 1 & 2 on Netflix

What is it?: This is a show about the worlds greatest spy, Sterling Archer...who happens to by a womanizer, an alcoholic, a gigantic narcissist, worlds biggest Burt Reynolds fan, and a total idiot.

Why watch it?: Archer is from the same minds behind Sealab 2021 and Frisky Dingo. The humor is fast paced and flies at roughly a joke or two a minute. Now its not for everyone, the humor is irreverent and pull no punches. If your not into that kind of thing then I'd avoid this show...and Veep as well now that I think of it.

 

[Sexy Beast]

Ok, lets have some fun. The first person to guess 4/5 of my top five gets any game on steam that's $15 or less.

Go

 

[Why so serious?]

family guy, simpsons, dexter, true blood, walking dead.... BOOM, nailed it!