my list of "shows that are really good at what they are"
this isn't important, mostly for my own reference when recommending shows to others. I just wanted to make a list of TV shows that I feel exhibit high quality writing and good storytelling, which in my opinion are highly successful executions of their genre. (many shows that I still love aren't on this list, but I wanted to make the distinction between shows I enjoy and shows I feel are of truly great quality).
Avatar: The Last Airbender - animated comedy/adventure/coming of age/political story -- it really has a little of everything, amazing characters, and a very coherent, well paced story. Never met someone who has seen it and hasn't liked it. 61 half-hour episodes.
Dollhouse - present day scifi/psychological thriller. In my opinion, the best Joss Whedon show. An already nail-biting premise will suck you in, and the amazingly executed twists will keep you engaged until the very end. The writing isn't perfect, but I forgive them some since the show was cancelled after only two seasons and they wrapped up the story pretty well in that time. Still, it's pretty darn good even without considering that. 26 hour-long episodes.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer - the codifier for the "supernatural sitcom" as I like to call it. This show initially does the "monster of the week" format quite well but pretty quickly delves into larger season-long arcs. The characters are both badass and fallible, the show is both gut-busting and heart-wrenching. As is inevitable in such a long show, there are some off arcs (or seasons) but overall the quality is pretty high, and definitely worth watching. 144 hour-long episodes.
Gilmore Girls - slice of life comedy/drama. Follows the small-town life of Lorelai and Rory gilmore, mother/daughter best friends. Maybe it's a "chick show", but if you want to watch ANY real-world dramady type show, this is a good one to pick, since it's got a hilarious environment full of hilarious characters in the small town of Stars Hollow, kickass self-made women who are only occasionally annoyingly wangsty (and call each other out on it when they are), and some of the best dialogue writing ever seen on TV. 153 hour-long episodes (but since it's not an adventure-type arc, you can watch it in small chunks without the experience being diluted).
Orange is the New Black - prison drama/comedy. Holy female representation!!! This show has women of all races, sexualities, shapes, and class backgrounds -- not to mention their incredibly diverse motivations. They're all in prison! And almost all the characters get episodes devoted to their backstories! (Seriously, while they start out with the major characters, by the end of season 2, a large portion of the named minor characters have backstories too!) A really wonderful example of storytelling, and only benefitted by the fact that it's not aired on TV, allowing the episodes to be longer and uncensored. 26 hour-long episodes (as of now; new episodes still being produced, new season usually released once a year).
It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia - I feel like calling this show a "crude humor sitcom" doesn't do it justice. The way I prefer to think of this show is "sitcom characters living in the real world". The five despicable main characters cannot and will not ever change, despite how much their idiotic antics hurt themselves and those around them. Unlike many sitcoms which live on status quo, this show has an even tighter continuity than many dramas. If the gang does something awful to a minor character in one episode, the next time that character appears, they will still be suffering the consequences. The characters are unrepentant, politically incorrect (to say the least) assholes, but the joke is ALWAYS on them. The joke is always, "Look at these poor pathetic assholes who can't even realize that the reason their lives suck is because they're such assholes." That's why I don't find the show offensive, even though there's a lot of offensive language -- it's always coming out of the mouths of idiots, and the show makes that clear, actually condemning the problematic behavior along with the characters. It's one of the most subversive yet in my opinion, effective shows on TV, but a lot of people don't like it, so, hey, to each their own. Currently Airing, 10+ seasons of half-hour episodes.
Parks and Recreation - mockumentary/sitcom. This is another one where I don't think I've met someone who has seen it and not loved it. This show will make you feel warm and fuzzy inside. I don't care who you are; you could be the demon lord of one of the nine circles of hell and this show would still have you going, "awww!". Delightfully lovable characters, delightfully consistent humor, and a delightfully optimistic message that if you are passionate enough, you can change the world. 7 seasons of half-hour episodes.
Community -- sitcom. A wonderfully created world with smart and unique humor and a superb cast. This show accomplishes so much it's kinda crazy. Also, the world is so well-lit and colorful it cheers me up just to see it (much better than so many shows that have crappy lighting). There's just something magnetic about this show. I binged it hardcore literally watching a season per day until i finished. (6 seasons... and maybe a movie in the future?)
