Cool TV Shows??

Those of you that know me well, know that I'm not a big fan of watching TV for the sake of watching TV. Even as a kid, when I watched a lot more TV than I do now, I have noticed that I'm more interested in watching shows with a good story than "generic" stuff where nothing changes. Thanks to the invention of DVD, it is now possible to buy an entire TV series that, just like a good book, has a beginning, a middle, and an end.

In my mind, very few shows stand the test of time, and the shows on this page fit that bill, at least to me.

Series Available on DVD

Babylon 5

There are only two contenders for the best science fiction series ever produced, and this is one of them. Babylon 5 is a story about humanity, covering five years of future history and our place in it. This series is, without a doubt, the closest any TV series has ever come to being a book in film format. We will likely never see one of its kind ever again.

The entire series is available on DVD. There is also a movie collection, containing all the Babylon 5 made-for-TV movies and is also highly recommended.

For all the inside stuff, nitpicks, questions and the like about the series, I recommend the Lurker's Guide to B5 as the best source to accompany watching of this series.

Reboot

Reboot was the first 100% CGI television show ever made (although Toy Story, which came out around the same time, stole some of its thunder). Created in Canada, this TV show had an interesting set of characters and a very cool setting for a cartoon - inside your computer! Some of the series is available on DVD, but sadly, the first two seasons of the show are not due to copyright issues.

Mainframe Entertainment has produced a number of CGI cartoons and short films that are also worth checking out, especially if you're interested in animation.

Firefly

This is the other contender for best science fiction series. It only lasted one season, but it won critical acclaim for being so original with its handling of the science fiction setting, and for its storytelling (which was, rightly, put before the setting).

Not only is this series available on DVD, but Serenity, a full-length motion picture, is already in production due to popularity of the series!

Futurama

Futurama is the "other" cartoon series created by Matt Groenig. It's a great spoof of everything we've come to expect from "generic" science fiction, which is no surprise given its source.

This series, now completed, is available on DVD and well worth the price if you are a science fiction or cartoon fan. For more information on the show, I recommend visiting Can't Get Enough Futurama.

TV I Actually Watch

These are the only TV shows I watch with any regularity. I've been known to go for weeks at a time without watching any TV at all!

Whose Line is it Anyway?

Whose Line is it Anyway? is an improv comedy show featuring some of the best stand-up comedians North Americans have ever seen. The series is not being made any more, but a lot of episodes were made, and are very re-watchable because everything is made up live on stage in front of a large audience! Most of the cast also participate in live Whose Line? tours which are well worth the ticket price.

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart is a half-hour show that takes a humorous look at the day's news, issues, and other off-the-wall topics. It airs four times a week, and sometimes will air repeats if they don't tape a show on a particular night. It's an excellent show for all the cynics among us (you know who you are...) and I recommend a large dose of it for anyone who takes life a little too seriously.

To get a taste of what the show covers, try visiting The Daily Show Experience, which features clips from previous shows and other great tidbits!

Runners-Up

There are a number of lesser shows that I have been known to watch when I have nothing better to do (ie. rarely). This is an attempt to document them if the above doesn't fill your TV cravings.

• M*A*S*H - Still very topical for some reason
• Daily Planet - Science, technology, and nature news
• Just For Laughs - Highlights from the well-known Quebec comedy festival
• Samurai Jack - Innovative cartoon storytelling
• Ren and Stimpy - Stick to seasons 1 & 2
• Star Trek: TNG - I can still watch this occasionally