What are some popular TV shows recommended by a scientist?

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SUMMARY

This forum discussion centers on popular TV show recommendations from various users, highlighting favorites such as Breaking Bad, The Big Bang Theory, and Sherlock. Users express mixed feelings about shows like Dexter and Boardwalk Empire, noting a decline in quality over time. The conversation also touches on the impact of character development in series like House and How I Met Your Mother, with users debating the effectiveness of plot-driven versus character-driven storytelling.

PREREQUISITES
  • Familiarity with popular TV series and their cultural impact
  • Understanding of character development in television storytelling
  • Knowledge of streaming platforms like Netflix and BBC iPlayer
  • Awareness of narrative structures in episodic television
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the narrative techniques used in Sherlock and its adaptations
  • Explore character arcs in Breaking Bad and House
  • Investigate viewer reception and critical analysis of Dexter and Boardwalk Empire
  • Learn about the evolution of sitcoms, focusing on How I Met Your Mother and The Big Bang Theory
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for television enthusiasts, writers, and critics interested in character development, narrative structure, and the evolution of popular TV shows.

  • #31
Currently watching:

1) Dexter

2) The Office - curse myself after episode for still watching it

3) The Big Bang Theory - not as good as it used to be, which is normal as shows use up more and more possible story lines

4) The Mentalist - good, not great show

5) Elementary - the US's version of the amazing series Sherlock. It's much better than I thought and thankfully it's not the same show at all, which would have been a disaster. They changed Sherlock's background story and made Watson a woman, so it doesn't really seem like Sherlock Holmes at all. I don't know why they didn't just do the same show with different names since so little is from the original characters
 
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  • #32
Jameson said:
3) The Big Bang Theory - not as good as it used to be, which is normal as shows use up more and more possible story lines

I concur, it's not quite been the same since they introduced girls who are not Penny. After that it lost the core ideal of nerds trying to socialise with a "normal" woman.

Not much I'm watching at the moment :(
 
  • #33
SuperSonic4 said:
I concur, it's not quite been the same since they introduced girls who are not Penny. After that it lost the core ideal of nerds trying to socialise with a "normal" woman.

Not much I'm watching at the moment :(

Nothing? C'mon I don't believe that. When I say "watch TV" I really mean the next day on my computer. Watching live TV seems silly to me now because of wasted time for commercials unless it's something that cannot wait until tomorrow to witness or isn't fun anymore.

I agree that adding characters on TBBT weakened the idea of the show and Penny's character. The two female additions are brilliant, accomplished and more or less able to interact socially with others. Penny hasn't changed much comparatively and there's not much to do with her character.

All shows start getting bad eventually. I'll be curious to see if they admit it and wrap the series within a couple years or milk it for as long as possible.
 
  • #34
Jameson said:
Nothing? C'mon I don't believe that. When I say "watch TV" I really mean the next day on my computer. Watching live TV seems silly to me now because of wasted time for commercials unless it's something that cannot wait until tomorrow to witness or isn't fun anymore.

I agree that adding characters on TBBT weakened the idea of the show and Penny's character. The two female additions are brilliant, accomplished and more or less able to interact socially with others. Penny hasn't changed much comparatively and there's not much to do with her character.

All shows start getting bad eventually. I'll be curious to see if they admit it and wrap the series within a couple years or milk it for as long as possible.

I can see TBBT going on for a while but I'd like this season or next to be its last, I just don't see where they can go.

Like you I don't watch anything live (hooray for recorders) but I do have a backlog of tv to watch when I can get around to it. Usually try and find some science/military history to watch, especially in HD and on the BBC for content quality.

  • Britain's Lost Routes with Griff Rhys Jones
  • Built in Britain_20121017_2231.ts
  • Filthy Cities
  • How Britain Worked
  • How Earth Made Us
  • Indian Ocean with Simon Reeve_20121021_1731.ts
  • Order and Disorder with Jim Al-Khalili
  • Tails You Win_ The Science of Chance_20121021_1900.ts
  • The British Army of the Rhine_20121022_2100.ts
  • The Chase (x15 episodes)
  • World War Two_ 1942 and Hitler's Soft____20121021_2210.ts

The Chase is your typical teatime quiz show
 
  • #35
Like most here I also enjoy watching The Big Bang Theory.

I am wondering if Sheldon is ever going to engage in "coitus" with Amy...LOL!

I also like Rules of Engagement, although I must profess to finding Jennifer "easy to watch." (Tauri)

I also think Louis CK is a brilliant stand-up comedian...his timing is right on. I love his take on children too.
 
  • #36
I once watched The Big Bang Theory but I didn't like it . The best thing I've ever watched is Prison Break , this is some thing special !.
 
  • #37
Jameson said:
Nothing? C'mon I don't believe that. When I say "watch TV" I really mean the next day on my computer. Watching live TV seems silly to me now because of wasted time for commercials unless it's something that cannot wait until tomorrow to witness or isn't fun anymore.

I agree that adding characters on TBBT weakened the idea of the show and Penny's character. The two female additions are brilliant, accomplished and more or less able to interact socially with others. Penny hasn't changed much comparatively and there's not much to do with her character.

All shows start getting bad eventually. I'll be curious to see if they admit it and wrap the series within a couple years or milk it for as long as possible.

Knowing Chuck Lorry's choice of stretching 2 and a half men to the unreasonable limit, I know that TBBT will last a decade more until there is no more profit and the show is a piece of garbage.

TBBT has a spectacular premise. It could be a landmark in television, not the way it already is _ by bringing nerdiness out of the closet and celebrating science _ but in terms of writing.

Look at Seinfeld. It was 3 guys and a chick in New York, one of them was a stand up comedian. The premise was ordinary. But the writing was so briliant that it is the best sitcom ever made.
 
  • #38
Curb your Enthusiasm, Seinfeld, the old BBT, HIMYM, Justice League, He-man and the Masters of the universe, Batman, basically any super hero cartoon show. '

Basically any show that is light hearted and entertaining.

I stray away from any show that portrays the difficult issues of life like death, mortality, etc...
 
  • #40
I watch the Big Bang Theory, Mad Men (Glued to it!), It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Friends, and Seinfeld.;)
 
  • #41
The last 8 episodes of Breaking Bad start this Sunday. It's definitely not a show for children, so I won't go into the details of the show but I've never been so excited for a TV show to premier. I wish I could sleep from now until 9pm tomorrow! :)
 
  • #42
I like Person Of Interest and Downton Abbey now waiting for new season to begin. Don't have cable so I'm excited NBC is going to be showing Barcley's Premier League every Saturday starting August 17.

Recently I've rediscovered the old KOJAK which i had not seen before , Telly Savalas and the supporting cast are excellent!

Who loves you baby? -KOJAK

:)