29.97 fps interlaced. 25 fps if you’re not in North America. Television. Tee Vee. The boob tube. The idiot box. Whatever you call it, it has entertained us for more than half a century. Now television has given us A LOT OF SHIT in terms of programming, but every now and then a real gem comes our way. And, in the culture of what is the best, of competition we live in, Time magazine has issued a list of The 100 Best TV Shows of All-TIME (found at MCF).
A lot of great shows are included. Twin Peaks. The X-Files. South Park. WKRP in Cincinnati. Battlestar Galactica. It’s always nice to see some of my all-time favourites make the list. However, with any of these lists, there are, in my viewpoint, some glaring omissions.
First off, how on earth does Beavis and Butthead get picked and Family Guy, the most brilliant animated comedic program miss the cut? Maybe it had to do with success factors. But list author James Poniewozik says in his video blog that it was more about character, narrative, and factors film and art students pine for. Bearing that in mind, how does a show with two teenage morons with the oral skills of a near orgasm three year old beat out a show that for the last seven years, even through cancellation and unprecidented renewal, puts the animated mainstay The Simpsons to absolute and utter shame? And yet, to rub salt into the same wound, Spongebob Squarepants also beats out the Griffins in this list. James, do you watch the show, or are you humour challenged?
A few other US productions would make my list over James’. China Beach, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Dead Like Me, Hell’s Kitchen, Gene Simmons Family Jewels, Carnivale, Night Court, and Ren and Stimpy could easily top such fare from the list like American Idol, Arrested Development, The Cosby Show, Felicity, Friends, Gilmore Girls, Pee Wee’s Playhouse or The Real World. But this whole subject is opinion, and James is entitled to it. Just as I’m entitled to my opinion that his taste sucks, as do some of his picks.
Sadly though, as it should not surprise me at this point, is the sheer American tone to the programming. It almost feels that Monty Python’s Flying Circus and SCTV was put on the list to shut people like me up saying “hey, I watch international programmes.” Now both shows would most definitely make my list (if I were to submit my own), but if my guess is right, and dear James is ignorant of Canadian and British programming (as I’m appealing to the anglo audience tonight - sorry Quebec), I suggest the following fare and reconsider the list.
From Canada:
Kenny vs. Spenny
Trailer Park Boys
This Hour Has 22 Minutes
Royal Canadian Air Farce
The Red Green Show
Hockey Night in Canada
Ed the Sock
Da Vinci’s Inquest
The Beachcombers
Made in Canada
Corner Gas
Degrassi Junior High
History Bites
Kids in the Hall
The Nature of Things
The Frantics
And for the UK (and I know this is only a partial list skimming the surface):
Black Adder
Mr. Bean (cripes I can’t believe this didn’t make the US list)
Rainbow
Are You Being Served?
Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares
The Avengers
Benny Hill
Fawlty Towers
Doctor Who
Coronation Street
EastEnders
Keeping Up Appearences
Doesn’t anyone look outside their own world anymore, or am I just a freak?
That is all.
