Pick The Best TV Shows From This List And We'll Guess Your Favorite Actor
- by Jacob Ormrod
- – on
- in Movies and TV
Television may not be as big or glamorous as cinema, but we have the honor of living through the Golden Age Of Television, a time when the small screen has been allowed to shine. So many writers have stepped up to the plate, creating gripping television that we have all been allowed to enjoy. We're glad of this, and we wanted to honor this Golden Age ourselves in the form of a quiz, which we've put together for everyone!
What we've done is got some of the best television shows of all time and we're asking people to either pick or pass on them, letting us know whether they think they get more credit than they deserve or are definitely allowed to be considered one of the greats. Once everyone has done that, we will be able to tell them exactly who their favorite actor is based on their answers.
So, we think it's about time that people got started telling us what shows they like and which they don't. Think we'll be able to guess people's favorite actors? Well, there's only one way for us all to find out!
Lost
When this show first aired, there was nobody in the world that wasn't watching it, but as the show continued, opinion started to sour. There were a lot of people that hung on till the end, just because they'd committed so much time to the show at that point, but we imagine there were a lot of people who never found out the conclusion to some of the narrative threads. We still don't know the meaning of the numbers. Now, is Lost a pick or a pass?
24
This show followed Jack Bauer as he attempted to take down anyone that got in the way of the US. It got a little bit ridiculous at times, but nobody can say that it didn't have them on the edge of their seats at all times. This is the sort of show that reminds us that not everything we watch has to be smart, because sometimes it can be enough to keep us gripped. Stupid but dramatic can be just as compelling as genuine genius!
Grey's Anatomy
Where some shows decide that they want to go for realism, it seems that a lot of medical dramas don't want to do this. It's probably not too fun to watch the sad and routine lives of those that look after us, but spicing it up means that they can bring some real drama into the show. That's the sort of thing that will get audiences coming back for more, not the correct medical terminology! Now, are we picking or passing on Grey's Anatomy?
Arrested Development
This comedy show about one of the most unpleasant families of all time managed to get a cult following, a following that allowed them to come back after a long time away with a huge number of fans. In the modern world, there is nothing that can go away for too long. No matter what it is, there is always a chance that it will make its way back in some form, whether it be on the big screen or small screen.
Fargo
Based on the movie from the Coen Brothers, this television series changes up the characters each season, and yet every one of them has garnered critical acclaim, which is achieving something that most other shows haven't. A lot of people like to stick around because of the same characters, so changing them every season means that the writers have to be on their toes to keep everyone in the audience happy. Now for the real question, is Fargo getting a pick or a pass?
Breaking Bad
Before Better Call Saul, there was Breaking Bad, a show that ended up gaining acclaim from both critics and audiences. It followed a man as he was diagnosed with a terminal illness, before going on to "break bad." It's a reflection on how people can always become someone else, that we all have the ability to change for both the better and the not so better! No matter what we are, we always have to work on being a good person.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Created by Joss Whedon, this show followed a young woman as she attempted to be a demon slayer while also trying to have the sort of personal life that all young women want to have when they're growing up. People would assume that this would be impossible, but that doesn't stop this young woman from trying every day of her life! Things can get pretty dark, but most of the time it's a show that tries to keep it light.
TWD
Writers have to decide when they're adapting a book into a television show whether they want to stick strictly to the narrative already planned out or go their own way. TWD seems to have found a space in the middle. They've added their own characters and narrative strands, but they essentially followed the blueprint laid out by the comic book, that is until they ended up surpassing where the comic book was! Will we be picking or passing on TWD?
The Simpsons
One of the longest running shows of all time, The Simpsons are iconic pop culture figures throughout the world. It's pretty much impossible to find a country where this show isn't aired! Sure, it has gone on too long at this point, but that doesn't mean they didn't make a lot of good episodes for years, giving us ten seasons of high quality stuff. They definitely shouldn't have kept going for as long as they did! Surely The Simpsons deserves a pick!
Stranger Things
Taking a purposefully nostalgic approach, this show has managed to pull in a huge audience that are consistently enthralled with what shows up on their screen. It is obsessed with 1980s pop culture, which was a tricky approach as it could've alienated anyone not aware of that time in history. That being said, it has managed to entertain a lot of generations, which is always a good sign! Now for the real question, will we be picking or passing on the show, Stranger Things?
Cheers
It's odd to think that a show about a bunch of people meeting up in a bar to complain about their lives ended up being a huge success, a success that would even go on to spawn various spin-offs. People need to remember that, no matter how silly or unpopular an idea may be, there's no reason not to put it out there and see whether or not people will enjoy it. There are no regrets in trying something out!
The Office
While it may have a lot of similarities with the UK version of The Office, this version was able to throw in enough to make it its own. However, while the UK version tries to be realistic and bring the audience down from time to time, the US version doesn't want anyone leaving without an uplifting moment. For this reason, it's worth watching if somebody is in a low mood. It's always going to be uplifting! Are we picking or passing on the US version of The Office?
Game Of Thrones
Based on a hugely popular series of fantasy books, this is a show that takes the audience into a world that they will never be able to experience in real life. It exists in a place filled with dragons and conflicts that see Machiavellian attempts to swing the power dynamic from one side to the other on a regular basis. Some argue that the show can tell us a lot about the world we live in, but we're not so sure about that...
The Sopranos
This show follows the personal and professional life of a mob boss, a man who attempts to see if he's able to live a life of crime while also keeping a stable domestic life at the same time. He doesn't always manage it, but that's exactly why it's interesting and exciting for the rest of us to watch. The audience is drawn in by the writing, by the way that the various characters interact with each other while living completely different lives.
Friends
Quite possibly the most famous sitcom of all time, this show followed the lives of six friends as they attempted to live an enjoyable life where they were able to balance professional and personal lives. They don't always manage it, but watching them try has given a lot of people entertainment over the past couple of decades. Who would've thought that twenty-somethings would enjoy watching people pretending to be twenty-somethings so much? Do we pick or pass on the popular show Friends?
The Wire
We all know that we're living in the Golden Age Of Television, with this being one of the main examples of why people should be tuning in more these days than turning up to the cinema! It explores the duality of human nature among a bunch of criminals and police officers, with all of them engaging in both good and not so good actions. That's a lot closer to reality than other shows. So how 'bout it, do we pick or pass on The Wire?
It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia
Until recently, Seinfeld was really the only comedy filled with characters that the audience disliked. However, once It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia hit the screens and built an audience, they were able to create an entire series based on exactly this concept. Unlike Seinfeld, the show It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia removes all of the reality and takes the audience on a journey that no other television show has done before. So, what do we think of It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia?
Curb Your Enthusiasm
After the major success that was Seinfeld, it must have been hard for Larry David to figure out what to do next, which is why it was amazing to see this become just as much of a success for Larry David! The man decided that he would move the show even closer to his own life, choosing not to put up a fictional veil in front of his real life opinions, just making them a little more extreme to keep it funny!
Frasier
A spin-off series is never usually as good as the original franchise, the thing that everybody loved enough to warrant a spin-off. However, shows like Frasier ended up going on to expand on the original show in a way that nobody could've imagined would happen. The success of this show essentially gave Kelsey Grammer money for life as well, so we imagine he must be pretty happy about it! Now it's time to make a choice, pick or pass on Frasier!
Parks And Recreation
While the first season did not exactly receive rave reviews from critics, it hit its stride during the second season and people later came to love it. Building on the success of shows like The Office US, it brought a surreal and pretty ridiculous sensibility to an otherwise mundane environment. Nobody would consider a show based on a Parks And Recreation department to be worth a laugh (or tons of them), but this show has more than proved everyone wrong about that!
Deadwood
Westerns give us all a look at the excesses that humanity can end up going to when they're not patrolled by law and order. Deadwood is what could happen if we returned to the same set of rules and values. That is exactly why many people find this sort of show interesting, as it offers up a world that we hope we will never have to return to, at least not during our own lifetimes anyway. Pick or pass on the show Deadwood!
Doctor Who
One of the longest running series of all time, Doctor Who was revamped years after it was taken off the air. Now it's one of the most successful shows on television, bringing a whole new audience of people to what was once a finished show. The fact that the main character is constantly changing offers the writers a chance to mix it up between seasons if they so choose as well. It means a lot of actor have a chance to give it a go as well!
ER
For some reason, there have been a lot shows about doctors and hospitals, but they always end up taking the real drama and blowing it up to a place that it never reaches in real life. It has been a long time since this show was taken off the air, but it's not as if audiences haven't got a lot of other shows about doctors to take a look at to fill the void that has been left by ER for years at this point.
Battlestar Galactica
Dark sci-fi is one of those things that only appeals to a niche amount of people out there, and yet this show was able to get a huge amount of fans that stuck around through a lot, enjoying every second of it. It just shows that, if something is good enough, it can push through the expectations of a mainstream audience before truly striking a chord with people. An optimistic outlook on life that we can all enjoy! Now, pick or pass!
SATC
At the time, this show was considered quite an amazing feat, but moving forward we think people realized that there wasn't much about it that painted women in a very positive light. That being said, it provided a lot of entertainment, and not everything on the television has to be making a social point. If people are just looking for something easy to get lost in then they could do a lot worse than this show! Now, pick or pass on popular show SATC!
Better Call Saul
The Breaking Bad prequel has proven to be a huge hit among fans, with some saying that it tops the original hit TV show. As it comes closer to the end, we can see the main character slowly turn worse and worse till he becomes the Saul Goodman we know. It's amazing to think that characters can be moved into a different show and be just as successful, if not more successful than they originally were. Do we pick or pass on Better Call Saul?
30 Rock
After working for a long time on SNL, Tina Fey decided that she wanted to move away to create her own TV show, which she ended up starring in as well. Liz Lemon attempts to run a show while being surrounded by some true morons. It almost seem as if nobody out there wants to help her get her show on the screen, even though it would be best for everyone involved. Throw in the fact that she has a new boss and people can see why she's stressed...
The Thick Of It
Another show about the people that rule the world, this one takes a satirical swipe at the nature of the UK, rather than attempting to show a more realistic depiction of it. It's also known for bringing one of the angriest men onto television. The creator of this show then went on to work on another show called Veep, giving the US a chance to enjoy people screaming at each other but within their own set of rules and regulations!
Mad Men
The show that really put Jon Hamm on the map, Mad Men follows a group of people as they attempt to come up with the best ways to advertise various products. While this doesn't really sound like the greatest narrative at first, it's leaving out a lot of personal and professional betrayal. The audience is taken behind the curtain to look at a time when men were men and women were expected to respect that... Do we pick or pass on the show Mad Men?
The Shield
Shows about police officers and crime will often take a slanted view to reality, a view that places one above the other, but the best ones show that we are all human beings and that there is no such thing as a perfect person. That duality is what actually ends up being the interesting concept, rather than a show that offers no dramatic tension whatsoever. Why watch something when we know how everything is going to roll out by the end?
Cracker
It's shows like Cracker that prove that television shows don't have to have likeable main characters for audiences to find them enjoyable. This guy is very unpleasant, and yet it's impossible for people to turn away while he's on the screen. If people haven't seen this show before then we think it should be the next on their list. It's an older show at this point, but the writing continues to hold up. Now it's time to make a choice, pick or pass on the show Cracker!
Sherlock
Once something becomes public domain, that's when things can get interesting. It allows other creators to take an established character and universe but put their own spin on it. Sherlock Holmes is one of the oldest characters of all time, but hasn't stopped people in the present day from creating highly successful work based on the character. People continue to create new narratives about the character to this day! Are we picking or passing on the popular UK show, Sherlock?
Twin Peaks
David Lynch's move onto television proved that he was able to bring the weird no matter what the size of screen. Seriously, this was a surreal show that, if people haven't seen, they should go and watch it now just for how original it is. It's also another example of a show that came back from the brink, having been taken off the television years beforehand. Somebody decided to give Lynch another chance. Who wants to pick Twin Peaks and who wants to pass on it?
Columbo
Unlike other detective shows where the point is to try and guess who did the crime before it's revealed to the audience, Columbo went the other way with it. Each episode started by showing the audience who committed the crime, and watching Columbo solve it was the enjoyable part. Not many other detective shows have taken on this format, which we think is a mistake. All of the best detective shows start out like this! Do we pick or pass on Columbo?
The West Wing
Whether we like it or not, other people rule our world, so it's no surprise that many writers out there have attempted to bring the life of these people to the television numerous times in the past, especially with shows like this. While it certainly takes liberties with the truth, shows like this offer an important look into the world of government, a world that they would otherwise never bother to discuss or consider! Who will be picking The West Wing?
Oz
There have been a lot of shows about life behind bars, but this one is notable by the amount of controversy that it stirred up. To this day it is known for being a brutal look at life behind bars, a fictional yet true to life portrayal of what some people have to go through everyday. There may be harder things to watch on television these days, but at the time, this was the most unpleasant thing on the small screen.
I'm Alan Partridge
This man took parody to a new level. Steve Coogan took this character from radio, to television and then to the big screen, but we think that most people would admit that this show is the best thing the character has ever been in. Following Alan Partridge as he attempts to get another series at the BBC, even those in the US can enjoy the ridiculous antics of a man who is perpetually in over his head! Pick or pass on I'm Alan Partridge!
Fawlty Towers
It's amazing to see which shows are able to become successful with an international audience and which can't move past the country that they were made in. It takes a lot to find something universal, something that can speak to people of all cultures, but it's definitely easiest in comedy. This comedy has managed to get laughs from across the planet, due to a mixture of good writing and acting. Now, it's time to pick or pass on the show Fawlty Towers!
The Twilight Zone
While we may have the likes of Black Mirror now, that sort of future fantasy was started out by The Twilight Zone, a show that took a look at some of the most surreal situations that had ever been seen on television. There's news that Jordan Peele will now be working on a revamped version of this show. Would there be a better time than now to appeal to people's surreal sensibilities?! We think not. Now, pick or pass on The Twilight Zone!
Blackadder
A famous UK programme, this show has become a perfect example of a show that takes humanity's past to make some humor for a modern audience. It may not have aged perfectly, but a lot of it is still very funny. Who would've thought that by looking backwards, people would be able to make people laugh in the present day?! We suppose that humor is the sort of thing that ends up being timeless! Pick or pass on the show, Blackadder!
