List the best TV Shows when it comes to acting, scripts, directing.

[The Voice of Reason]

Just a few of my favorites. Please add to the list.

All in the Family
The Fugitive
The Shield
24
Sanford and Son

 

[BRNout]

Just a few of my favorites. Please add to the list.

All in the Family
The Fugitive
The Shield
24
Sanford and Son

Just one: The Twilight Zone - and by that, I am referring to the original series by Rod Serling. Some of those episodes featured world-class acting.

 

[FreddyE1977]

I rather liked the script writing on Star Trek TNG (once Gene Roddenberry passed away and they gave up on his vision of
a non-violent action-adventure series), and on The X Files (even though David Duchovny put in some of the most wooden
performances I'd ever seen). And although it had its clunker episodes, I thought Hawaii Five-O was usually well written and
nicely directed. For comedy I thought WKRP in Cincinnati was very tight all-around.

 

[benwolf]

Perry Mason. Twilight Zone definitely. And as Star Treks go, I was impressed with the writing and character development on Voyager.

 

[notalkallstatic]

#1 - Twilight Zone (original, but some from 1980s were pretty good)
#2 - Mystery Science Theatre 3000 (the cheesiness of the show matched the bad movies they showed)
#3 - 30 Rock
#4 - It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia
#5 - Gilligan's Island

 

[buster2]

HOMICIDE: Life on the Street. Outstanding, writing, direction and editing. And the acting - especially Andre Braugher - was top-notch.

 

[LKellerIII]

HOMICIDE: Life on the Street. Outstanding, writing, direction and editing. And the acting - especially Andre Braugher - was top-notch.

The problem with putting this thread on the "Classic" TV page, is that (in my opinion) most of the best writing, direction, editing and acting is new or recent.

Current Examples: Breaking Bad, Mad Men, Treme, Nurse Jackie.

Examples within the last few years: The Wire, The Sopranos, Deadwood, The Shield, Rescue Me (first 2 seasons).

This really is the "Golden Age of TV" in terms of drama. Not so much with comedy, perhaps, though 30 Rock, Parks and Recreation and The Office come close. But it's hard to beat some of the classics in this category Seinfeld, and even I Love Lucy[/i].

 

[therealjm12]

Hill Street Blues
St. Elsewhere
Gunsmoke
B & W episodes of Andy Griffith
From DVD's:
The Untouchables
Wagon Train

 

[71dude]

Lost
NYPD Blue
Friday Night Lights
Taxi
All in the Family

 

[Bob1370]

The best combinations of performers, writers and directors;

Situation Comedy;

Seinfeld (1990-98)
All In The Family (1971-82)
Mary Tyler Moore (1970-77)
Bob Newhart (1971-78, 1980-89)
Dick Van Dyke (1960-66)
I Love Lucy (1951-57)
Cheers (1982-93)
The Simpsons (1989-)
Family Guy (1999-)

Variety/Satire;

Texaco Star Theater with Milton Berle (1948-56)
Your Show of Shows/Caesar's Hour (1950-59)
Red Skelton (1951-71)
Jackie Gleason (1952-70)
Tonight Show with Jack Paar (1957-62)
Tonight Show with Johnny Carson (1962-92)
Carol Burnett (1967-80)
Saturday Night Live (seasons 1975-80, 1982-87, 1995-2006)
Late Night/The Late Show with David Letterman (1982-)

Drama/Action

Studio One (1948-57)
Twilight Zone (1959-65)
Star Trek (1966-69, 1987-94)
Miami Vice (1984-90)
Law and Order (1990-2010)
CSI (2000-)

News/Nonfiction

See It Now (1951-57)
Huntley-Brinkley Report (1956-70)
CBS Reports (1959-)
CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite (1962-81)
60 Minutes (196
McNeil-Lehrer News Hour (1976-)

 

[dmargalotti]

The Rockford Files