Best.Shows.Ever

McNulty and Bunk, from ‘The Wire.’ Photo Credit: HBO

by Guest Contributor Brian Robinson

Last night I was taking in another season of the brilliant British series  “Prime Suspect”, starring Helen ( “The Queen”) Mirren. Its one of those series that is kind of precursor to American series like  “The Closer” or  “Saving Grace” that have strong, but troubled women at the heart of the show. In the case of Mirren’s crime-fighting character, Supr Tennyson (for the moment, but she’s definitely headed for a demotion), is as flawed as any real human being which certainly adds to the fullness of character and makes her decisions seem as 50/50 as they might in real life — you don’t get the sense she can never go wrong. And that makes for some great drama.

It got me thinking, what are some of the best TV series/mini-series of the past decade or so? Yeah, we can always go back to  “MASH” or  “Roots” to name some well made shows, but I think in the past decade or so, with the rise of Pay Cable TV networks like Showtime and HBO, shows have the opportunity to go to another level of entertainment and craft. Its hard to compare shows like  “Dexter” or  “Damages”  to  “Hunter” or  “Hart to Hart” when trying to think of which shows are more entertaining/meaningful than others; with the freedom of language and theme that the pay channels allow, its a tough comparison to make.

Now, of course, I realize there is NO WAY I can list all of the shows that I have enjoyed this past decade or two, nor will you necessarily agree with me. But, I do hope that perhaps there is one thing I can say to you that may encourage you to check out these shows to see how wrong or right I may be.

“Arrested Development” — a Fox comedy that always seemed as though it belonged on HBO, which became an explicitly mentioned joke towards the end of the series and there was talk of it going to the network ( “Do you think the House Builders Organization is an option here?”  “What, the HBO? Nah, they will never help us!”) This was a wildly anarchic series with the largest group of talented comedic actors (Jason Bateman, Wil Arnett, Jeffery Tambor, Portia de Rossi, David Cross, Michael Cera and Ron Howard – who is heard, but never seen) ever brought together for a network show about a MAJORLY dysfunctional family. It also was the best use of guest stars that I have probably ever seen since  “The Larry Sanders Show”. Liza Minelli has NEVER been this funny, trust me.

Ken Burns’  “Jazz”/ “Baseball” — now this MAY be cheating as they are about two distinctly different subjects, but once you watch them you realize they are both heavily about one important and very American subject: race. Burns’ series not only give you amazing images to look at, good sound effects, great stories told by historians and fans of either genre, but also a depth of context. Burns spends both multi-episode series telling us how much both subjects are tied to race relations on America. Now, with “Jazz” you may have guessed it would come up, but with “Baseball” its a revelation how closely the the development of America’s racial outlook is tied to its “national pastime”.

“Band of Brothers” — if you know Ian at all, ladies and gentlereaders, you know that he’s at the end of his rope when it comes to WWII movies and shows. And, really, I can’t blame him as its generally been done to death by now. (Cue some great filmmaker giving us an all new take on the last Great War….) But, this show was a fine example of taking the familiar and making it brand new. If you think you got all you could learn from  “Saving Private Ryan”, then this will surprise you. Over multiple episodes you see the depth of the relationships and meaning of what these GI Joes went through and they meant to each other and the country.

“Deadwood” — one cannot help but think of Shakespeare when watching this series about the old American west, and that’s one of its goals. If you do give this series a try, watch the extra bits where the creator/writer David Milch explains himself, you will hear how it was a goal of the show to invoke the spirit of the great playwright. There are Shakespearean level goings on in this show and it will keep you smiling as you try to keep up with how things twist and turn in the hands and minds of characters like Al Swearengen (the BEST TV villian I have ever seen — sorry  “The Wire”s Omar) and Seth Bullock; the two characters that fought for the soul of the town. WARNING: the language of this show MIGHT make your toes curl based on your tolerance for creative use of every four-, ten- and twelve letter vulgaritiy. BUT, check out the Milch extras as there IS a purpose behind the language in every way.

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Photo Credit: HBO

“Six Feet Under” — I only own the entire series of two shows on DVD, and this is one of them. I am glad, in a sense, that I came to see this show on DVD and not as it aired — it would have been torture to have to wait week to week to see what would happen to the Fishers next! Its one of the most honest, dramatic, overdone, understated and damn dramatic shows I have ever had the pleasure of watching. There is no way you can watch this show and NOT think of your own life, family, friends and dreams and not see yourself on that screen in some way. Gay, straight, man, woman, black or white and any combination you can think of — its on the screen. And, really, some of the consistently best acting TV has ever had to offer.

“The Wire” — if any of you have been reading this blog for longer than 3 months, you probably already knew this was coming. If its not me crowing about this show, its Ian. I can speak for him when I say we LOVE this show. I can only speak for myself when saying its THE BEST TV show I have ever seen. I have never before seen such a finely honed combination of drama, realism, and character development before. It can shock and surprise you with its bluntness and then turn on a dime in the same scene with a totally dramatic and theatrical note, which only underlines the depth of the reality of the given situation. How do they do that?? The ultimate shame is that with all of the critical acclaim it received and notices from fans, the show never got an Emmy. I think some of the acting and/or the writing got a nomination here or there, but it never won. And, honestly, its not only the show that lost.