Favorite: Television Show - All Time

[LittleBoyBlue]

The thing about the original Battlestar Galactica is that it was literally the Bonanza of television science fiction--pardon the pun. If ever there was an actor, who benefitted from a show that was basically created just for them, it was Lorne Green.

Don't get me wrong. It was a good show, but sometimes during an episode I could hear the Bonanza theme song playing in the back of my mind. The Colonial Warriors were dressed as cowboys (excuse that pun also)--from the jackets they wore to their sidearms. The show had too much of a Western-style series (Rawhide comes to mind) which always kept me wanted for more substance from its central plot:

"What would REALLY happen if a civilization was almost totally wiped out and the survivors were forced to find a new home?"

IMO, this is where the remake of the series succeeds and where the original series fell short. The new show digs deeper into the human element of 'What if?'. The enemy is totally ruthless and deadly cunning. The old show showcased clumsy overgrown robots in shiny tin suits. BG2 is a gritty little show and I'm going to miss it's more hard-edged dramatic vision. The final season premieres next month.

...of course, not everything about the show is hard-edged. There is Number 6 and Boomer for example...

For a very good, 8-minute, fast-paced (and funny!) summary of the series thus far, check out http://video.scifi.com/player/?id=224004 .

Yeah the old one was good for the times.

Nowadays there is more emphasis on GOOD storylines, interweaving storylines and character building.

I have only watched a few episodes of the BSG online from this past season. Its ok.

I may have to watch all the seasons to really see whats what. I liked the OLD armored cylons better than the new ones... the new ones are too terminator-like LOL

 

[burmafrd]

Actually the real problem with the new BGS is that they have gone too far the other way. Their idea of realism is not much better then the 70s version.
Hollywood rarely if ever gets anything in the Military of any kind right. If the BGS of the current series actually were fighting for their lives, they would have been dead long ago. No unit or force could be that messed up and survive against any kind of a competent enemy.

 

[Doomsday]

That is a tough one but I would hae to say Cheers and the Sopranos!

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Actually the real problem with the new BGS is that they have gone too far the other way. Their idea of realism is not much better then the 70s version.
Hollywood rarely if ever gets anything in the Military of any kind right. If the BGS of the current series actually were fighting for their lives, they would have been dead long ago. No unit or force could be that messed up and survive against any kind of a competent enemy.

That is interesting and based on the few episodes I have seen it seems right... they have too far the other way.

Can you elaborate more on "other way"... I cant put my finger on it.

 

[tomson75]

MASH
Cheers
Family Guy
West Wing - Ultimately my favorite
South Park
E.R.
Friends (no homo)
24
C.S.I.
Law and Order


...to name a few.

 

[DallasEast]

Actually the real problem with the new BGS is that they have gone too far the other way. Their idea of realism is not much better then the 70s version.
Hollywood rarely if ever gets anything in the Military of any kind right. If the BGS of the current series actually were fighting for their lives, they would have been dead long ago. No unit or force could be that messed up and survive against any kind of a competent enemy.

I've got to disagree with you. It's still television and they have to work from some sort of plot.

It's not very realistic to believe that an enemy (the Cylons) would take a whole civilization, spread out amongst multiple planets, completely by surprise. The Cylons were never been portrayed as an overwhelming enemy force--just one that took advantage of a very good lucky outcome.

In the old series, the Cylons would have had too many 'beachheads' to establish in order to wipe out mankind. In the new series, it's even more unlikely to believe that a secret sneak attack would render all military-related equipment completely inoperative throughout the armed forces everywhere. The whole Colonial fleet and support craft were rendered useless and were picked off one-by-one due to electronic sabortage (sp?). The likelihood of that happening for real in a similar scenario is highly doubtful.

No, the plot is what it was for both series. Viewers don't have to cut the creators any slack for what they decide to air, but if we're looking for complete realism, there is really no need to watch anything artificially produced anyway, right? There wouldn't be any shows worth watching.

Television would be become basically a pilot, one episode and a finale. That wouldn't be very entertaining, imo.

 

[jimmy40]

Rat Patrol

 

[burmafrd]

Dallas, I look for intelligent cognizant realistic programing. Very little of it is out there. BSG of both eras failed for me in that area. And frankly anyone that thinks that that is the best that can be done has very low standards.
I want a lot more then what TV offers right now and that is why I watch very little of it. BAND of BROTHERS did exactly that and it was a huge hit as well as being about as realistic as it was possible to get. It put BSG to shame in every way.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Dallas, I look for intelligent cognizant realistic programing. Very little of it is out there. BSG of both eras failed for me in that area. And frankly anyone that thinks that that is the best that can be done has very low standards.
I want a lot more then what TV offers right now and that is why I watch very little of it. BAND of BROTHERS did exactly that and it was a huge hit as well as being about as realistic as it was possible to get. It put BSG to shame in every way.

Agreed.

Every see that movie from the 70's "Broadcast" - ahead of its time.


Also... I agree with what TV's has to offer = nothing or close to it.... Reality TV killed TV(like Video killed the Radio song LOL)

There is "Mindless" TV and there COULD BE "mindful" TV... very little of the latter out there.... mainstream anyways...

 

[DallasEast]

Dallas, I look for intelligent cognizant realistic programing. Very little of it is out there. BSG of both eras failed for me in that area. And frankly anyone that thinks that that is the best that can be done has very low standards.
I want a lot more then what TV offers right now and that is why I watch very little of it. BAND of BROTHERS did exactly that and it was a huge hit as well as being about as realistic as it was possible to get. It put BSG to shame in every way.

Burm, Band of Brothers is based on World War II, a real, historical world event. All anyone would have to do in order to provide the viewer with a realistic adaptation is do a little honest research.

Battlestar Galactica is based on... what?

I respect your position, but I'm still going to cut them a little slack for what they're producing. If anything, the show is tons better than any "reality based" show that's aired in the past 15 years.

 

[Yeagermeister]

Burm, Band of Brothers is based on World War II, a real, historical world event. All anyone would have to do in order to provide the viewer with a realistic adaptation is do a little honest research.

Battlestar Galactica is based on... what?

I respect your position, but I'm still going to cut them a little slack for what they're producing. If anything, the show is tons better than any "reality based" show that's aired in the past 15 years.

Anything is better than all this so called reality crap

 

[PosterChild]

Anything is better than all this so called reality crap

I may be the only breathing human never to have seen American Idol. I'm somewhat proud of it...it's true. I don't normally like to boast...

 

[Yeagermeister]

I may be the only breathing human never to have seen American Idol. I'm somewhat proud of it...it's true. I don't normally like to boast...

: I actually watch AI

Not saying it's a good show but there is usually some good eye candy

 

[DallasEast]

I may be the only breathing human never to have seen American Idol. I'm somewhat proud of it...it's true. I don't normally like to boast...

I can't make the same claim, but I can say that what I have watched over the years doesn't equal two whole minutes. Now, my sister on the other hand is an A I freak. If you phone her while the show is on, it's, "Hi! Gotta go! Bye!"

Trust me, it's a true story.

 

[PosterChild]

I can't make the same claim, but I can say that what I have watched over the years doesn't equal two whole minutes. Now, my sister on the other hand is an A I freak. If you phone her while the show is on, it's, "Hi! Gotta go! Bye!"

Trust me, it's a true story.

Yeah. Chicks really dig the show. Even my sainted Mother watches it and she doesn't really watch much tv. I just don't get it. I guess the obvious response is how can I judge it if I haven't watched it, but I'm pretty sure I have a good estimate of it given the promos I've endured.

I'd rather have my hair set on fire and beat out with a golf shoe.

 

[PosterChild]

: I actually watch AI

Not saying it's a good show but there is usually some good eye candy

Hang in there man. I have great hope for you.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Anything is better than all this so called reality crap

IT IS really laughable..... the "reality" shows are scripted... so.... how the heck....?

We are the public and we are getting played. Its like the movie Trading Places.... I will be you a dollar that I can get ALOT of people to watch ANYTHING I put on TV.... and whammm... we get "sucked"

 

[burmafrd]

Right there with you Poster. NEVER have watched any reality show. NEVER will.
Dallas, BOB was of course historically based. THAT does not change the FACT that it was so much better done then BSG that its pathetic.
Just because something is fiction does not mean it cannot be done MUCH better.
There was a little seen TV show in the 90s called "Space: Above and Beyond"
I did not list it since hardly anyone saw it as the idiots at Fox put it up against 60 Minutes in its prime.
It was SO much better then BSG that its laughable.

 

[kristie]

: I actually watch AI

Not saying it's a good show but there is usually some good eye candy

i love american idol!

 

[DallasEast]

There was a little seen TV show in the 90s called "Space: Above and Beyond"
I did not list it since hardly anyone saw it as the idiots at Fox put it up against 60 Minutes in its prime.
It was SO much better then BSG that its laughable.

Loved Space: Above and Beyond. I'll bet there aren't many people who have seen it for the reason you gave. Trivia time: the young black woman soldier also played as a helmsman on Star Trek:The Next Generation during one of the latter seasons. I would still place Battlestar ahead of Space: if I were given a choice, but that's just me.