Continuing my countdown of the Top Ten TV shows ever made.
8: Battlestar Galactica
The updated Battlestar Galactica owes as much to Babylon 5 as it does to its original 1978 namesake. It has the same emphasis on complex interweaving plot arcs as Bab 5, the same melding of sci-fi and political drama, and of course the same use of CGI spaceships.
It has slightly less aliens with prosthetic foreheads however, which can only be a good thing.
The themes of Battlestar Galactica are fascinating. Moral dilemmas, love, hate, pride, prejudice, it’s all laid out for the audience to pick over. The show treats it’s viewers as intelligent individuals, and we respond with an almost fanatical and evangelical enthusiasm for it.
The show is one of the few that Kerry and I make a point of watching together. We’ve made our way through the first and second season and have just started the third. I must admit there are some things I don’t like about it, which is why it doesn’t rank higher in this chart. I’m not too keen on the increasing focus on the Cylons, or the whole humanity settling on New Caprica thing, but these are just niggles and I’m willing to see how things develop.
And of course there is Starbuck. Mmmm fiesty.
7: The Phil Silvers Show
I bet you thought that all my choices were going to be geeky sci-fi shows didn’t you? Well a lot of them are, but my tastes are nothing if not eclectic. The Phil Silvers Show is the very definition of timeless comedy classic.
The show, of course, is better known as Sgt. Bilko and I’ve waxed lyrical about it’s charms before. In fact after gushing about Bilko perviously Gary pointed me in the direction of ebay where I managed to pick up a (legally dubious) set of every Bilko episode ever made. I’ve been slowly making my way through all 143 episodes and can honestly say I’ve yet to come across a duff one. It just sparkles with wise-ass wit.
Slivers of course was a comedy god. But his supporting cast was fantastic too. Unfortunatley the large cast was ultimately the shows downfall There was never any decline in ratings but the large number of speaking parts in each show made it economically unviable to carry on. Still, it had to end sometime and 143 episodes isn’t half bad.
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on Apr 12th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
casey’s last blog post..Updates
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on Apr 12th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
w00t!
Great series and I am sad that it is ending, but WHAT A RIDE!!
“And of course there is Starbuck. Mmmm fiesty.”
YUMMY!!!
:)
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on Apr 12th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
Funny thing… I’ve watched a lot of TV in my life. Too much, in fact. The TV was my babysitter when I was a kid and I waited for my mom to get home from work. I’ve seen just about every show that’s ever been made.
Except for The Phil Silvers Show. I don’t believe I’ve even seen a CLIP of that show! Weird how one TV show has eluded me all these years. I’ll make it a point to rent these discs. Looks like a good one for the whole family.
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on Apr 12th, 2008 at 11:53 pm
I know most people hate the Sgt. Bilko movie with Steve Martin, but I absolutely love it.
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on Apr 13th, 2008 at 11:17 am
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on Apr 13th, 2008 at 11:54 am
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on Apr 13th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
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on Apr 13th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Of course I know that Last of the Summer Wine probably won’t make Dan’s list which is a real shame considering he grew up on the set.
My last prediction is that Mrs. Slocombe’s pussy fromAre You Being Served? didn’t make the cut either.
Dwayne’s last blog post..No more THUNDERSNOW!!
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on Apr 13th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
Jeff S – You like it then?
Phil – Apparently the Phil silvers show was more popular over here than overthere, so you can be excused from not seeing it.
And watch your mail.
Avitable – I saw the movie the other day and to be honest it was better than I anticipated.
Lee – OK, you are entitled to your opinion. No matter how ludicrous it may be.
Jo Beaufoix – The space opera genre can be a little wearing. I ducked out of the whole geeky TV shows for a few years so am perhaps coming at them more fresh.
Dan Leone – I have never ever seen an episode of Gilligans Island. I have a feeling it is no great loss.
Dwayne – You shall have to wait and see. Did you enjoy those Dad’s Army DVD’s I sent you?
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on Apr 13th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Dwayne’s last blog post..No more THUNDERSNOW!!
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on Apr 14th, 2008 at 2:04 am
I read that. It was named Best Comedy Series in a BBC poll, or something like that.
I hope this isn’t like how the French think Jerry Lewis is a comedy god.
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