"The Sopranos"? "I Love Lucy"? "Seinfeld"? "The Wire"? "Columbo"? "Breaking Bad"? What?
shareBarney Miller
shareIn terms of being consistently good all the way through, I would say The Dick Van Dyke Show.
shareAlong with the "Zone" "Dick Van Dyke" is one of the few black and white anything available on Netflix. No doubt I should capitalize on this soon before "Dyke" is taken down like "Columbo" was.
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share"Dick Van Dyke," like "Zone", puts most TV today to shame for the simple fact it's blessed with amazing writing. Few things on this planet age better than superior writing. Sure both shows have their dated elements but we forgive these occasional "hiccups" because overall both represent the apex of their respective genres in terms of the most valuable contributing factor of them all: the writing.
Do you remember "Dick Van Dyke"'s parody of "TZ" called "It May Look Like A Walnut"? Probably one of the show's better moments.
On sure. If I remember correctly the "Twilight Zone" episode they were taking a shot at was "Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up?"
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The weakest part of the episode was the ending. I was expecting it to have one more twist; sadly, it never came. Episodes of "TZ" like "Perchance To Dream" or "Person or Persons Unknown" distinguished themselves from the "it's all a dream" fray by bothering to give the audience that crucial final twist after they get the one they've been expecting all along.
Still, despite not going far enough, "It May Look Like A Walnut" remains, for me, pretty great most of the way.
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share"Few things on this planet age better than superior writing."
When you're older (as I am now), and you grew up watching well-written television like TZ, DVD, Andy Griffith, Bob Newhart, etc., and you compare that to today's television, you can certainly tell the difference. The most recent show I've watched that I considered exceptionally well written was "As Time Goes By" starring Judi Dench (on PBS in the U.S.), and that was in the 1990s.
I wouldn't say better, but on par with (not including tv sitcoms like Seinfeld or Cheers):
The X Files
The Prisoner
The Sopranos
Twin Peaks
The Outer Limits (the original show)
I hear Black Mirror and Breaking Bad although I've never seen either show.
Of this list, I like "The Prisoner" and "The Outer Limits," but not better than TZ. I think this is the first time I've seen someone mention "The Prisoner" on this board. It had the best TV theme song ever.
sharePeople who think Lynch brought weird to TV (by the way I love "Twin Peaks") haven't seen either "The Prisoner" or "Outer Limits." I agree they weren't quite at "TZ"'s level -- but, boy, were they strange. I'm surprised they even got made (considering TV then was not nearly as adventurous as it is now).
shareAll great shows.
You should check out "Black Mirror." Serling would have loved it.
You put "Seinfeld" and "TZ" in separate categories? I lump it all together. Great work is great work. "Cheers" and "Seinfeld" excel at what they do every bit as much as "TZ" excels at what it does.
"The Outer Limits" is possibly the best shot of the bunch (maybe the best shot TV show ever). Conrad Hall was staggeringly talented.
Better than? Too subjective, even for me. Equal or close enough: Route 66, Naked City; The Outer Limits, original series, first season especially; both Hitchcock series, which are somewhat different, and both of which are anthologies, compare favorably. The best episodes of Thriller and Kraft Suspense Theater do, too, though not maybe the series overall. Twelve O'Clock High, first season, was an excellent show. Some of the better western series, though most of the long running ones had good "runs", a year or two or more, then a sharp decline, change of producer or network, loss of a cast member, etc. I think of Gunsmoke, Wagon Train and The Rifleman in particular. There's no point in comparing TZ to totally different kinds of shows like sitcoms, variety shows, game shows, soaps, etc.
shareFor me its Frasier. I could (and do) watch every episode over and over and never get tired of it. Outstanding, witty writing and a fabulous ensemble cast.
shareHow cute. But you can't compare "Frasier" - a brilliant comedy - to a compelling anthology series like TZ.
Both are brilliant - and incomparable - especially to each other.
The OP is an idiot.
But then the "clique" of this board, and it's incredibly stupid comparisons are insulting and embarrassing.
I'm not comparing them, I'm stating which one I like better. They're far to different to compare. Also, if you don't like this board, why are you here?
shareNo one's comparing "Frasier" to "TZ." Or "Seinfeld" to "TZ." The OP was just curious to know what shows people might like better than "TZ." That's it. I see no reason for name-calling because of that.
shareGuess I'm hoping more intelligent viewers - and people who state "which one I like better" but, in reality, attempt to compare such diverse, brilliant shows when one CANNOT do something so stupid - will stick to the board and compare episodes of TZ...not TZ and "I Love Lucy."
It's bad enough that people attempt to lump TZ with "The Outer Limits" - two completely different series. But when
dummies try to pit TZ alongside "I Love Lucy", etc....
Do us all a favor....and DON'T post.
Hey man, we're all just here having a good time. No need to take it so seriously.
shareYou must be the life of the party!
shareI don't consider any better because I think the Twilight Zone is the best show of all time. That said I do love many other shows including most of the ones mentioned.
shareIt's all subjective, but TZ could never place as "the greatest show of all time" when there are so many lousy episodes.
I can name tons of other series that are just as great as TZ, but have a much, much higher ratio of consistently
strong offerings.
As to kr-1959, HOW do you expect people to "have a good time" when this board is loaded with "clique-like" posters
(most of whom, slithered over here from imdb) who C O N S T A N T L Y compare TZ to "The Outer Limits" (two
different shows, folks, and anyone with brains knows this).
These TZ boards seem to consist of really immature 19 year-old nerds (you know, the kind who think "It's a Good
Life" and other sci-fi eps trump "Walking Distance" because they're too immature to "get" this brilliant offering) and
aging 60 something nerds who sit around eating Cheetos and still J/O to Penthouse between TZ viewings.
Pathetic.
WOW! I had no idea. Do people really feel this way about the folks who enjoy this show?
These TZ boards seem to consist of really immature 19 year-old nerds (you know, the kind who think "It's a Good
Life" and other sci-fi eps trump "Walking Distance" because they're too immature to "get" this brilliant offering) and
aging 60 something nerds who sit around eating Cheetos and still J/O to Penthouse between TZ viewings.
Pathetic.
kr-1959 has one thing right. We ALL "slithered over here from IMDb."
I don't consider any fan of TZ pathetic. We are people of all ages who simply enjoy a TV show.
We can all agree that there is a variety of episodes. We all have our favorites. We have also seen episodes that we don't care for......
Nothing wrong with that!I'm just happy that I "slithered over here from IMDb!"
Margo,
No, most "people" don't feel this way about the show. Most people on this board are decent and respectful to others. Then there's Gary (a.k.a gbennett), whose idea of meaningful discourse is to make disparaging remarks about other people's opinions and intellect.
Stay well,
Jennie
Thank you, Jennie_Portrait. These sort of people just grind my gears!
We aren't a clique. We simply enjoy this show. If there are people who do not like it, they should move on to something they do like. They could really contribute to this site in such a positive way!
Miss Margo, Of course, it is impossible for anonymous people posting on a public board to be a "clique." Some folks just like to complain.
Stay well!
Jennie
I fail to see the point of him constantly returning to a board that he seems to hate. Surely there is a better use of his time than intentionally suffering through us.
sharekr-1959,
Just checked back here after being away a few days. Gary is the reason the "ignore" button option was invented. What is the sound of one hand clapping? Total silence. His rantings do not merit responses or respect. Don't trouble yourself with him. It will make no difference at all. His troll-like behavior is a cry for attention. We do not feed trolls...
Stay well,
Jennie
Ugh! YOU. One of the worst offenders.
Does anyone have any RAID?
This person is the one who actually believes that "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" has no redeeming qualities.
So, aside from clique-ish morons who want to "compare" TZ to "Seinfeld" and "I Love Lucy", we have
this dolt who trashes a truly classic series simply because she doesn't like it (BTW, hon, AHP has many
more consistently strong episodes than TZ, which has three clunkers for every classic).
Later, Toots.
I'm trying to refrain from stooping to your astoundingly low level of name calling, but you certainly bring a few to mind. Dare I hope that "Later, Toots" means that you're going away?
shareNo, indeed most people do not feel that way. This man seems to like just going online and making enemies. He contributes nothing to this board. Quite the opposite, actually, he detracts from it.
shareYou replied to the wrong post, buddy, but I managed to see it anyway. You seem to be the only person here with such a terrible mentality. I don't know if it is from some superiority complex, or if you're just a miserable person in general.
As you responded to one of my earlier posts "Do us all a favor....and DON'T post", I would extend the same invitation to you. Honestly, why personally attack people that have done nothing to you? If you don't like us then leave.
Clique. Clique. Clique. That says it al...doesn't it?
shareNo it doesn't. Namely the consistently-dodged question of why you keep coming back. You're making everyone dislike you and you contribute nothing of value. That would make your presence here rather pointless. I also think it takes a pretty large lack of self awareness not to realize that you are the only one behaving this way and insisting that it is everyone else, but *not* you.
shareThese people who "slithered"over from IMDB are friends and a community! Troll on, but you will find no traction here. Sad, ignorant, loner who's only pleasure is thinking that he affects people. Human white noise machine.
shareHere are the 10 greatest television shows of all time:
I Love Lucy
The Twilight Zone
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Perry Mason
The Prisoner
All in the Family
Taxi
Twin Peaks
Seinfeld
Breaking Bad