Yes, not all of it sucked -- you had Mash, Columbo, Monty Python and Star Trek -- but overall it was as arid creatively as they come.
shareNight Gallery.
shareAre you trying to say Manimal wasn’t any good? :-)
Actually one of my all time favorite shows is The Rockford Files from the 70s.
Complete nonsense. And Twin Peaks sucks big time.
shareVery overrated show. A classic case of style over substance.
Yes, the show looked very nice. I gave it a shot, but it seems to me Lynch was just making things up as he went along and tried too hard to make it all quirky.
shareI tried watching it well after its original run. I didn't get through the first episode. I was struggling but held on until the scene of the school hallway and this kid just decides to bust a simple break dance move and moonwalk out of shot.
As you say it seemed like it was all just being made up as he went.
Agreed.
shareTP is awesome.
shareBlegh, no!
shareThe first season was indeed awesome. I remember the thrill of having something so unique and off-beat to watch in prime time, remember this was around the same time when Baywatch was the number one show in the world. Not to say Pammy Anderson bouncing down the beach didn't have it's own appeal, but I appreciated being challenged and was already a firm fan of Lynch's film work. Having film quality TV to watch is taken for granted now, but back then it was like a gift.
The second season had its moments, but like most people I found it way too directionless and obscure. Still to check out the revival.
Up until they solved Laura Palmer's murder TP rocked; it was unique, it was exciting, and it actually gave the audience something to ponder. Once they solved Palmer's murder the show became almost unwatchable. Silly subplots rightfully confined to the periphery suddenly got pushed to the fore.The show didn't get good again until the season two (and series) finale.
My advice to anyone watching TP for the first time would be to watch all of the first season (which, you are right, is brilliant), watch season two up until "Arbitrary Law." And then skip ahead to "Beyond Life and Death."
The Odd Couple
All in the Family
Taxi
Barney Miller
Bob Newhart
Mary Tyler Moore
WKRP
Hill Street Blues
Cheers
The Wonder Years
Family Ties
SNL
I loved all those shows back then, wonder how many I would love now. I saw a few episodes of Barney Miller on (Pluto maybe) awhile back, it was Wojack breaking up with a girlfriend, it was good. Tried to get my family interested in watching The Wonder Years but the kids couldn't relate but I think it still holds up as good TV. Watched the 2 episodes of Good Times with Janet Jackson as an abused girl, with my daughter and she was shocked at how indifferent characters were to a little girl being abused, but it held up as good TV.
shareI didn't love all from that list, but the time period is not nearly as barren as the OP suggested.
rockford files
barney miller
hill street blues
In the 1940s and 50s the new medium of television nurtured innovation and creativity. But tastes and trends change over time, and broadcast standards were different too, compared to today. Yes, there were plenty of crappy shows during that time, but also quite a few gems. With so much focus on making big $$ there are fewer creative risks taken nowadays. And hey, there's a lot of garbage on TV today, too.
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