web
counter
 

And the Whole Godd*mn Thing Starts All Over Again: Five Shows We Refuse to Quit

By Cindy Davis | Posted Under Seriously Random Lists | Comments (73)



nateclaire.jpg

Given the state of television these days, a great show can be hard to find. And of those that stand out, how many would you want to re-watch more than once? The field narrows…how many stand up to multiple viewings and which ones would make you stop any time you’re flipping through the channels? I daresay there are no more than ten. Of those ten, how many make you want to jump into any given episode? As good as (some people think) “The Wire” was, it’s not the kind of show that causes your remote finger to stop the scroll. Just as there are certain movies you can’t seem to pass by when they show up in your onscreen guide, there is a certain subset of television that manages to draw us in no matter when they show up. More than plotlines, these series feature characters that make us want to be with them, they’re people we just don’t want out of our lives—welcome anytime. It ain’t over ‘till we say it’s over.


5. “Lost”

sawyer_lost.jpg

Helloooo hot men on the beach. Okay, it’s more than that—and even though the ending sucked giant donkey balls (no, I’ll never let it go)—“Lost” has that ability to bring us right back to that Godtopus-forsaken island whenever it wants. Frakking Abrams.

4. “Six Feet Under”

SFU_.jpg

Death, death and more death; you’d think we would turn and look away. But Alan Ball drew this quirky, wonderful, crazy family and we simply cannot.


3. “Star Trek: The Next Generation”

riker-and-picard.jpg

“Star Trek’s” most enduring cast of characters brought a seriousness and depth that was sometimes lacking in the original (Love you Shatner!); Patrick Stewart and Jonathan Frakes took the show to another level. With Michael Dorn and Brent Spiner along for comic effect, Will Wheaton! bringing the pretty and John de Lancie and the Borg as ongoing foes, “Star Trek: TNG” always engages.

2. “Friends”

frie.jpg

Ross, Rachel, Monica, Joey, Phoebe and Chandler are our best television friends, always and forever. They might be small of brain and shrill to our ear, but they are goofy and lighthearted, loyal and thanks to late-night scheduling…pretty much around any time we need them.

1. “Seinfeld”

jerrygeo.jpg

Every single night, people. I’m not even sure I can go to bed without the gang (and I expect I’ll never have to). Watch any episode—no matter how many times you’ve seen it—you’ll still laugh. If you don’t, you’re a two-faced, low-talking, Mansierre-wearing soup nazi.


Cindy Davis once lost her car in a parking garage.









Each Time You Like, Share, Tweet or Stumble a Pajiba Post, An Angel Does the Paul Rudd Dance



So You're a Celebrity Baby: A Pajiba Manual for Better Living | 5 Shows After Dark 1/12/12









Comments

X Files! You forgot X Files!!!

Posted by: MRod at January 12, 2012 3:07 PM

I'd almost forgotten what Jonathan Frakes looked like before he developed the SpaderBloat(TM).

Posted by: PaddyDog at January 12, 2012 3:07 PM

Buffy.

Posted by: PerpetualIntern at January 12, 2012 3:09 PM

Yes to all but Seinfeld. Their never-ending neurosis, quirks, and hang-ups were hilarious to me the first time around, but they have become grating to me as I've gotten older. I can't watch it now without becoming depressed.

Posted by: Freller at January 12, 2012 3:12 PM

I second Friends, and also PerpetualIntern with Buffy. As long as TheMaskedEmu isn't home, Gilmore Girls is also on that list for me.

Posted by: KatSings at January 12, 2012 3:17 PM

Assuming animated shows and Arrested Development(s) don't count, I would say that, for me, It's Always Sunny has 7 pretty solid seasons that I can watch over and over again.

And I also watch Seinfeld every damn night. Thank you, TBS.

Posted by: =DocDoom1= at January 12, 2012 3:18 PM

Gilmore Girls.

No, it's not terribly realistic and yes, the last season was a huge mess. But when I spend an hour with Lorelai and Rory, all is truly right with the world.

Posted by: Steph at January 12, 2012 3:18 PM

It's a BRO!!!

Posted by: Olorin at January 12, 2012 3:20 PM

No disagreements here, C-Dawg, but just for the sake of accuracy, it should be "Frakking Lindelof!" Or, even more accurately, "Frakking Lindelof and Cuse!" Abrams did the Pilot, then he was off making movies with Tom Cruise. And he never looked back.

Maybe a more apropos way to say it would be:
"Not J.J.'s Show?"

Posted by: RobP at January 12, 2012 3:20 PM

FARSCAPE!!

Posted by: DeckOfficer at January 12, 2012 3:21 PM

Deadwood
The Sopranos
Rome
Freaks and Geeks
The Office
(UK)

Posted by: Jeff in Middletucky at January 12, 2012 3:24 PM

Gilmore Girls.

As long as we can skip everything from the ep where Luke learns he has a daughter and pick up again at the one where Lorelei sings I will always love you in karaoke.

Posted by: PaddyDog at January 12, 2012 3:27 PM

That's the second list in as many days that you've forgotten to include The West Wing on. For shame.

Posted by: Zuffle at January 12, 2012 3:27 PM

Good list, personally I'd add Firefly. I've watched the series at least 3 times through.

Some episodes of Buffy can be watched over and over, others are tough to make it through once. We are re-watching the entire series with the kids and are currently stuck in the Season 4 post-Hush slog. It is rough trying to get motivated to keep going.

Posted by: TylerDFC at January 12, 2012 3:30 PM

Completely agree on LOST, Six Feet Under and Seinfeld. I would also have to add The Cosby Show and Friday Night Lights. I feel like there is another but I'm blanking on it right now.

Posted by: prairiegirl at January 12, 2012 3:33 PM

I find Friends near unwatchable. Granted, I wasn't a big fan of it in the first place. I was very much into the Seinfeld reruns for a long while, but finally after the 30th time or so, I guess they ran out of steam for me. Cheers will always be my trusty rerun comfort food. Also, I will happily stop on those reruns of The Wire.

Cindy, I hope your fish were o.k. and that you were able at least find the air conditioner you left behind.

Posted by: DarthCorleone at January 12, 2012 3:33 PM

Seinfeld never ceases to amaze me.

Posted by: Rico at January 12, 2012 3:34 PM

Oh god, how could I forget The Office?! One of my strongest friend relationships consists of texting quotes back and forth all day.

Posted by: =DocDoom1= at January 12, 2012 3:34 PM

Just remembered: Sports Night

(and Sopranos, thanks for the reminder Jeff in Middletucky)

Posted by: prairiegirl at January 12, 2012 3:35 PM

. . .and 30 Rock

Posted by: prairiegirl at January 12, 2012 3:36 PM

West Wing +2

Law&Order

Posted by: Gwen at January 12, 2012 3:37 PM

I can watch Scrubs reruns endlessly

Posted by: phaedawg at January 12, 2012 3:41 PM

Just started re-watching X-Files on Netflix a couple months ago - god damn that is a fantastic show. I think it's impossible for me to NOT like Duchovny. He has such great chemistry with every actor he plays opposite, and especially with Gillian Anderson, Skinner, and the Lone Gunmen.

I never got into Lost. The others I can kind of agree with (though I'm not as fond of Friends). I'd replace it with Arrested Development, as I think many would. That or Deadwood.

Posted by: Bert at January 12, 2012 3:43 PM

I have to confess: I was bored out of my mind by Six Feet Under circa in the middle of season 3 and I dropped it. And I hated Friends. Seinfeld I didn't get, probably because of the dubbing.

But I can't let go of Fringe or Supernatural.

Posted by: FabMax at January 12, 2012 3:45 PM

If we're talking shows that have ended: Firefly (WHY???), Deadwood (WHY??), Veronica Mars (WHY?), XFiles, Rome and Buffy.
And I refuse to watch the last season of Lost to this day.

Posted by: cinekat at January 12, 2012 4:01 PM

Everything except Friends I've always found it to be insipidly annoying from the horrid theme song to Ross and Rachel to the feel of the show which was so not NYC. If it wasn't for Lisa Kudrow there would be nothing redeemable about it.

Posted by: eris at January 12, 2012 4:02 PM

Veronica Mars
MASH
Parks & Recreation
West Wing
Gilmore Girls

Posted by: Arrogant Ambassador at January 12, 2012 4:02 PM

1. Buffy (still head over heels in love with Willlow)
2. The Wire
3. Six Feet Under (still head over heels in love with Claire)
4. Arrested Development
5. Battlestar Galactica

runners up: 'Dollhouse' and 'Gilmore Girls'

'Community' will be considered for the list once the show ends its natural run (SSAAM!)

still can't stand 'Friends' or 'Star Trek:TNG' though

Posted by: 93curr at January 12, 2012 4:06 PM

(oh. and that 70's show. wait, did i say that out loud)

Posted by: cinekat at January 12, 2012 4:12 PM

I still can't go to a family dinner without claiming I have my Thanksgiving Pants.

Posted by: Johnnyseattle at January 12, 2012 4:12 PM

Comment submission error for breaking "one of the rules", yet I have no idea which rule. This is a test.

Posted by: Teresa at January 12, 2012 4:22 PM

@cinekat: I just started re-watching "That 70s Show" recently. It was a Sunday afternoon and I had nothing to do, saw it was on Netflix and thought, Eh, why not? I immediately got sucked back in. Up through season three, that was a pretty excellent show, and much more nuanced than I expected or remembered it being. It's just too bad Topher Grace is the one who left prematurely and not Ashton Kutcher.

Posted by: RobP at January 12, 2012 4:23 PM

Hate, hate, hate, HATED Friends, and Seinfeld both. Bunch a whiny-ass over-paid pretentious fucks. HOWEVER, the banner picture immediately made me smile and sigh (smigh?). God, I miss SFU, and agree with ST:TNG and Lost, X-Files, Deadwood, Rome, Sopranos, Firefly AND .... Homefront.

Posted by: dammitjanet at January 12, 2012 4:26 PM

Anyone have a list of the "rules", because I can't figure out what part of my comment is making that comment submission error keep popping up. I'm using Chrome now, tried the same comment in Firefox, no go. I am not swearing, I took out my italics that were in for 'style' (just to be safe), I'm making good use of white space, and still... I can't submit!

Flummoxed...

Posted by: Teresa at January 12, 2012 4:31 PM

Six Feet Under taught me how to be human, so I love it, but I can't just sit down and watch it.

I used to go to sleep every night to Seinfeld.

Posted by: John G. at January 12, 2012 4:35 PM

cinekat,

I am jealous of you for not having ever watched the last season. I wish I could go back and do that. Never do it. Never watch that season, and you'll always like Lost.

Posted by: John G. at January 12, 2012 4:41 PM

@Arrogant Ambassador, it's so funny you mentioned MASH because that's exactly what I was thinking. I watched every rerun of MASH I could find on TV through my high school and college years until one day I just couldn't stand to look at it anymore. It's only in the past couple of months (ten years later) that I've started watching it again, although certainly not as fervently as before. And even though it still kind of gets on my nerves, it was still like seeing a long lost friend. Plus, I cried when I heard Harry Morgan died.

Posted by: elsie at January 12, 2012 4:43 PM

X-files, Buffy, Angel, Gilmore Girls, Veronica Mars, Sopranos, The Wire, Deadwood, Rome and now Game of Thrones.

Posted by: John W at January 12, 2012 4:55 PM

ummm Friday Night Lights anyone??? i still put on season 1 every time i'm sick and stuck in bed. also:
the west wing, 6 feet under, gillmore girls, & firefly

Posted by: emilya at January 12, 2012 5:43 PM

BUFFY.

Buffy Buffy Buffy.

Also, Angel. VMars. Arrested. Probably Firefly, though I've only run through it twice. And I'd definitely say Community will get watched again and again in my house as well.

Buffy.

(In seriousness, I've watched it enough times that my DVDs are actually getting worn. I WOULD TOTES BUY THE COMPLETE SERIES ON BLURAY, WHOEVER HAS THE RIGHTS TO THAT.)

Posted by: Anna von Beav at January 12, 2012 6:21 PM

I'll take William Frakes anorexic, bloated, or anywhere in between as long as he can still make himself naked, even if Genie Francis has to help. Hell, I'd take Patrick Stewart as long as he'd play Macbeth during sex.

I do own all the seasons of Six Feet Under on DVD, which is making me even sadder about the current state of Dexter.

Also, I am still extremely bitter at HBO about Carnivàle, and not just because Tim DeKay is walking sex (for that we have the otherwise annoying Tell Me You Love Me).

Posted by: Jerry at January 12, 2012 6:32 PM

I used to watch Friends damn near religiously, but I've just tired of it now. I can barely sit through a single episode these days.

My go-to's are Frasier, Arrested Development, and golden-era Simpsons. The Good Wife will likely wind up on this list once it ends its run.

Posted by: CC at January 12, 2012 6:33 PM

Oh, damn, and I forgot to include Golden Girls. How careless of me.

Posted by: CC at January 12, 2012 6:34 PM

For me, my go-to for a re-watch, especially if I'm depressed, is It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Those idiots never cease to bring me out of a funk with their antics.

Others I would stop to watch (or go out of my way to watch on DvD or streaming):

Veronica Mars
Arrested Development
Freaks & Geeks
Supernatural (I've watched each season once, though I'm behind on the current, and I'd love to start over with at least the first 5 seasons again soon).
M*A*S*H
Murder, She Wrote (what?)
Homicide: Life on the Streets

Okay, so there are definitely more than 10 shows for me if I think about it. Might as well add from above: Buffy, Friends, some seasons of Gilmore Girls, Seinfeld (I know, I get sick of it, too but it's on when I get into bed!), Cheers, X-Files, and despite it only lasting for two short seasons, I've been contemplating a Life marathon lately. Oh, Golden Girls is a good one, thanks CC!

Yes, I like TV.

Posted by: Teresa at January 12, 2012 6:52 PM

Buffy.

Always.

Posted by: Phedre at January 12, 2012 6:57 PM

Whoops, I forgot Friday Night Lights. Can I marry both Coach AND Tami? No? Just Connie Britton, then? Fine by me.

Posted by: Teresa at January 12, 2012 6:59 PM

"Buffy", always and freakin' forever.

I'm watching it right now.

Posted by: Claire at January 12, 2012 7:10 PM

Breaking Bad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: jojo at January 12, 2012 7:19 PM

Murder, She Wrote?! Yes and yes. I thought I was the only one!

Also, West Wing, Law & Order, and Golden Girls. I'm a 50/60 year old woman trapped in the body of a twentysomething.

I loved LOST but I've never seen it in re-run form. Maybe there will come a time when I'll just choose to rewatch it, but there was a magic in watching it the first time then reading Dan's recaps. I don't think a rerun could live up to that.

Posted by: Monica at January 12, 2012 7:44 PM

Gilmore Girls.
As long as we can skip everything from the ep where Luke learns he has a daughter and pick up again at the one where Lorelei sings I will always love you in karaoke.
Posted by: PaddyDog at January 12, 2012 3:27 PM

YES. A thousand times yes.

Also, Picard had the original Blue Steel. I would do terrible things to that man, even now, as long as he just kept talking in that silky, commanding voice...
Excuse me while I have a fangirl moment.

Posted by: Leelee at January 12, 2012 7:50 PM

I.
Hate.
Seinfeld.

Fucking hate that fucking fuckface stoopid fucker of a dumb fucking show.

Whew .....

Posted by: handy_man at January 12, 2012 9:25 PM

On the evening of the final episode of Seinfeld, I left my apartment for a date and passed my neighbor in the hall. She saw me on my way out and said, "Aren't you going to watch Seinfeld?!" as if no other choice existed in life.

I'd seen a couple eps. Pfft. I agree with my mom, who summarized it thus: "Self-absorbed people being selfish around each other." Who needs that?

Posted by: Salieri2 at January 12, 2012 9:53 PM

Are you a bi?Do you enjoy this lifestyle?"datebi.com" is a good community you can enjoy your bisexual life.

Posted by: cathrine at January 12, 2012 10:28 PM

I watch an episode of It's Always Sunny every single day. When I was in college we had a vhs of the best of Friends, that was soon replaced by the vhs sets of the first 3 seasons of Friends. Those tapes were just played on a loop in the background of me and my friends' dorm rooms. It's Always Sunny has kind of taken the place of that background loop.

I can watch Veronica Mars any time, any place. But since it was removed from netflix instant, I haven't watched any for months.

And I don't know how anyone can just stop what they're doing and watch Friday Night Lights. That requires an emotional investment that I have to work up for every single episode.

Posted by: Austin at January 12, 2012 10:35 PM

I just realized I neglected to include Curb Your Enthusiasm in my initial list.

Shit.

Posted by: Jeff in Middletucky at January 12, 2012 10:58 PM

I shouldn't be so happy I missed every episode of Lost, but there it is.

Six Feet Under was pretty amazing at times.

ST:TNG is too dated for me to watch anymore, but it still had a tremendous impact on me. My daughter heard the theme song in the womb and every time she heard it after being borned, she would stop whatever she was doing and perk up to listen. That show re-cast the show itself as a more cerebral, less testosterone version of the future and it worked. If they'd have tried it with the weaker DS9 or Voyager, it would have failed at that.

Friends. I've tried. I really have, but it always struck me as half-ass. Even now it feels like the shitty predecessor to Two and a Half Men.

Seinfield I can still watch, though it feels a bit dated as well. I also find I have less love for Costanza and Kramer. They grate on my nerves now.

Additions?

Firefly
Rome (damn I miss that show and wish they hadn't had to cut it down to two seasons.)

No to Scrubs. Hated.

and Farscape?! srsly?

Posted by: Protoguy at January 12, 2012 11:53 PM

Will and Grace
Designing Women
Golden Girls
30 Rock
Facts of Life

Yeah, I know. Shocker.

Posted by: The Pink Hulk at January 13, 2012 1:02 AM

...and "Roseanne." Seriously, it still cracks me up.

Posted by: The Pink Hulk at January 13, 2012 1:03 AM

Ooooh, MASH! It starts with the theme song and never lets up. Thanks for that reminder!

Posted by: cinekat at January 13, 2012 3:30 AM

do yourself a favor and never EVER watch that final season of lost

Posted by: splinter at January 13, 2012 7:33 AM

"I loved LOST but I've never seen it in re-run form. Maybe there will come a time when I'll just choose to rewatch it, but there was a magic in watching it the first time then reading Dan's recaps. I don't think a rerun could live up to that. "

This is why I CAN'T watch reruns of Lost. I loved it and will defend even the final episode, but the magic is gone now because I know what's going to happen.

The fun in it was the mystery and reading Dan's and a few selected others' recaps and the days long discussions with friends about what it all meant.

Posted by: elsie at January 13, 2012 8:00 AM

Scrubs
Designing Women
The Golden Girls

Posted by: daria at January 13, 2012 10:24 AM

I find that I can watch a good sitcom over and over but not so much with episodic dramas. Once I know what happened I'm not so inclined to go back and watch again but with a sitcom...well, I just like hanging with them and their witty repartee

That 70's Show- Love getting high in the basement. Love Jackie and Hyde

Friends- Pretty people, large NYC apartments, funny lines, what's not to love. It really amused my bouche.

Seinfeld- Not for everyone, but we know who we are. Right Amigos?

Scrubs- Ridiculous and heartbreaking at the same time, and Turkdance, which is a more rythmic, less noisy Riverdance with fewer, darker, balder people.

Posted by: kirbyjay at January 13, 2012 10:48 AM

Simon Pegg once described Friends as a "screensaver for the mind", and that's how it functions in my house. I turn it on while I do dishes.

And thanks to Netflix Instant, I've watched the new seasons of Doctor Who approximately 273 times. For serious. I can quote "Partners in Crime" in real time. It... well, it is kind of sad.

Posted by: Patty O'Green at January 13, 2012 12:05 PM

buffy
firefly
gilmore girls
supernatural
friends
how i met your mother

Posted by: hippyherb at January 13, 2012 1:28 PM

west wing

Posted by: marigi at January 13, 2012 2:44 PM

Spaced!

Posted by: ZombieNurse at January 13, 2012 4:31 PM

I DVR and rewatch Arrested Development and Scrubs in an infinite loop. Seinfeld is always watchable. Also...Dr. Katz? Yes. The answer is yes.

Posted by: Mentalcase at January 13, 2012 8:20 PM

I like the addition of "Six Feet Under". I only show on this list that I ran through more than once

Posted by: Stephen Landry at January 14, 2012 4:03 AM

Life is sometimes boring. Have you ever felt that something wonderful should be injected? Come--onenightcupid.c0m--, you are bound to find your saucy match with hundreds of thousands of cute guys and pretty girls from around the world eager for hookups, one night stands, and discreet affairs!

Posted by: Alice at January 14, 2012 8:07 AM

Seinfeld will always be near and dear to my heart, and I could watch it at basically any time.

I really feel like I should give Six Feet Under another chance. I thought the first season was brilliant but I got a bit bored during the second and never went back -- mostly I just found it too depressing. Someone showed me that killer sequence from the end of the finale and it haunted me for months. I may just have too weak a constitution for that show! But Rachel Griffiths... gah! I'll watch it in the summer when I am less inclined to find the world heartbreaking.

I would add:

Daria
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Alias (seasons 1 & 2)
Arrested Development

Posted by: Colin at January 14, 2012 8:33 PM

I'm having some issues viewing your blog here. I'm running windows 7, firefox 3.6. Any idea what might be wrong? The content doesn't seem to be aligned correctly.

Posted by: criminal records check at January 17, 2012 3:13 AM

I am still learning. - Michelangelo

Posted by: Martina Butler at January 24, 2012 7:21 AM