I’m a creature of habit when it comes to entertainment so starting a new TV show is kind of a big deal. I also stick with shows way too long, even after they have ceased to entertain me and I only watch out of loyalty to the characters. Occasionally the creativity picks back up but most of the time I guess I’m just wasting my time. (Although I vaguely remember something about reading bad books is better practice for writers than reading good books, and since being a screenwriter is my end game I’m hoping it works the same way with TV and movies. But I doubt it!)
I’m also going to admit that I choose TV shows based on the level of attachment I have to an actor or show creator. What this usually means is that I will watch anything with any member of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer alumni. Read my love story with Buffy here. Sometimes this turns out to be a mistake (re: How I Met Your Mother. WHY WON’T IT END!? Who is the mother? I stopped caring 5 years ago.) But mostly it has resulted in some of my favorite shows, like Angel, Firefly, Dollhouse, Veronica Mars and Dexter.
For being such a TV aficionado it might come as a surprise that I don’t actually own a TV and haven’t for almost 10 years. I live on my computer, it’s my entire entertainment system. I own a camera, a Kindle and an iPod shuffle, I stole my boyfriend’s PSP, and that’s the extent of my gadgets. My phone is only used for calls and text messages. Yes, I am an online pirate. At least that part of my childhood came true. I’ve been torrenting since Bearshare and downloading one episode of Alias took four days at 3.4 kb/s in 2003. Since I 100% believe in supporting the arts I try to make up for my thievery by purchasing DVDs of my all-time favorite shows, and I usually end up reading any book series when a show is based on books so that’s a hundred dollars that the author wouldn’t otherwise receive. I just refuse at all costs to support the advertising industry, since they are the root of all evil (or close to it).
If you are uncomfortable with downloading torrents but still want to check out a show before committing to buy 1channel is a pretty safe and decent place to find online streams of almost anything.
Sometimes I just buy into the hype, like with Lost, Desperate Housewives, Breaking Bad, Californication, Pretty Little Liars and Game of Thrones. The latter actually ended up taking over most of my life in 2011 and I read the entire series instead of working on my thesis, oops. I also love crime shows, especially profiling and forensics. Apparently most people do, judging by ratings and what is being made. I still watch the original CSI. The first three seasons of Criminal Minds were amazing! I loved trying to find out which real serial killer the episodes were based on. The past couple of years have been weak in comparison but I understand that eventually you run out of real life material to base the weekly cases on. Law and Order: SUV is still going strong – 14 years!
Sometimes the random discoveries are the best. Spartacus was such a show for me. I’m usually not into gratuitous violence but I missed a show like Rome so I gave it a chance. Holy crap! First of all, where did they find all these women? One is more breathtaking than the other. Real life goddesses. The men are ok, too. Apparently Australia is where it’s at. But I digress. Given the nature of the storyline, Spartacus, gladiator and the liberator of slaves, it is going to be violent and intense. But it is just really masterful writing, too. I don’t remember the last time I felt so much for pretty much all the characters, whether that is hate for the Romans, sadness for unspeakable cruelty or passion from the love stories. It’s just an excellent show. I give it 9.5/10 and it’s the first on my list to re-watch now that it is complete after four seasons.
Honorable mentions: Roswell, Carnivale, Fringe, Nikita (every version), Secret Diary of a Call Girl, Shameless, Supernatural, The Borgias, Newsroom, Vampire Diaries, X-files.
I was really going to review the NEW shows I have been starting in this post but it’s already long with nostalgia, so I will do that tomorrow. What is your favorite show, old or current? Do you have a top five list? Mine changes a lot!
honeythatsok 
I just found your blog because you liked one of my posts–Thanks! Even though it’s been a while since you wrote this, I’ll tell you my current watch list. I’m in the middle of a Fringe rewatch (DVD) and Eureka (also DVD), plus I’m addicted to Castle and Bones (both on reruns all the time!).
Thanks for stopping by! Those are great choices. I loved Fringe and I’ve been meaning to rewatch it but there is just so much new stuff to get through. I’m currently watching American Crime Story and Black Sails. I still dig Shameless and Game of Thrones and I’ve been meaning to get to Fargo, Deadwood and the man in the high castle. Whew! :)
Right now? Orphan Black, definitely! It’s hilarious! I also loved “Orange is the New Black”. I’m pretty finicky about shows, and I tend to have TV on in the background while I’m doing 20 other things. Right now I’m rewatching Star Trek: Voyager. I like NCIS, but lately it seems like deja vu with the new episodes. Started watching Killjoys…we’ll see how that turns out.
Old shows? X-Files. Twin Peaks. The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Ah, Firefly. Man, talk about a great show cancelled too soon. I like to follow actors as well; Castle is another favorite, but Nathan Fillion’s title character isn’t as interesting as Mal was. Other faves: Grimm, Blue Bloods (still riding Tom Selleck’s appeal from his Magnum days), and I have to admit Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. holds some appeal. And the only reason I watch Hawaii 5-0 is for the theme music, the scenery, and Alex O’s abs. Sigh.
Thanks for checking in on my blog. I enjoyed your article. Somewhere back in my archives, I did an ambitious review of who I considered to be the top 5 television detectives (some of whom appear on shows you mentioned). It was a lot of fun.
Thank you for stopping by my blog and the like. You have an interesting one and I will follow you to read more.
Thank you so much. I enjoyed your post as well :)
Breaking Bad, the first season of True Detective, The Wire and Game of Thrones are perennial favourites. Currently I have just finished the second season of Ray Donovan and I am now watching The Walking Dead, The Leftovers and for ‘switch off my brain’ it’s Gotham, which is pretty to watch but doesn’t offend me especially.
spartacus is the far best of all.
Sherlock Holmes, the BBC version. That is all.
Noted! I’m really bad with British shows, the only ones I could really get into were Secret Diaries of a Call Girl and Downton Abbey. Aaaand I’m embarrassed :)
Waitaminute… you haven’t watched Dr. Who?! Go watch Dr. Who!
I actually tried Dr Who but despite my love for Billie Piper I couldn’t get into it. A little too sci-fi for me :(
You break my tiny little heart! :(
Did you get to Tennant? Surely he makes up for anything sci-fi-ish?
It’s not that Doctor Who is scifi (I like scifi), it’s that you have to slog through seven poor shows to get one good show (I made up the stat, but it feels about right).