Last weeks cover story of “TV Guide Magazine” was “7 Shows You Need to Watch.” “Justified,” “Parenthood,” “Nikita,” “Community,” “The Good Wife,” “Friday Night Lights” and “Fringe” made the list of unmissable entertainment for fans of great television. Out of the seven on the list, three of the shows have had less than desirable, almost cancel-worthy, ratings in the past. So what makes them so great you wonder? A shared quality of incredible cast performances, ambitious writing and compelling plots make this programming plenty worthy of recognition. While I agree shows like “Parenthood” and others on the TV Guide list are definitely ones “You Need to Watch,” there are plenty of others on network and cable television right now that also deserve your attention.
Whether they be old, new or almost forgotten, fans of great T.V. do have a choice of quality shows. There is no need to stick to reruns or start reading- these amazing shows will give you a reason to turn from “Jersey Shore.”
First off is the C.W.’s “The Vampire Diaries.” For those of you who are not “Twilight,” fans, I know what you’re thinking- “OMG not something else based on vampires! When will the madness end?!” Believe me, as a diehard “Harry Potter” aficionado I was the first one to swear off and discredit anything that had to do with vampires, werewolves or sparkling in the sunlight, but I am here to tell you, “The Vampire Diaries,” is not “Twilight.” The C.W.’s “The Vampire Diaries,” has everything the Twilight movies lack: depth, great acting and humor. Since its slow start in season one the series about the lives and interactions of the humans, vampires, witches, and werewolves that inhabit the town of Mystic Falls, Virginia, has picked up considerably. It is back in its second season and airs Thursday nights at 8pm.
Next are NBC’s “Parks and Recreation” and “Perfect Couples.” Each week, these half-hour comedies are hilarious. In its third season now, “Parks and Recreation” has the more notable cast of comedic geniuses such as Amy Poehler and Aziz Ansari. The show follows the workplace format of “The Office” and can deliver laughs just by a single cast member’s close-up camera expression. “Perfect Couples” is a newcomer about three very different couples that just premiered in December. If you are in a relationship and have friends that are also in relationships, you will absolutely relate to this show. Every week I can recognize the antics of one of my friends in the episode. Both “Parks and Recreation” and “Perfect Couples” air on Thursday nights.
Lastly, because there are only 24 hours in a day and seven days in a week, I sadly cannot watch every show on television. So, I surveyed a couple of my friends and asked them what they thought were some not-to-miss shows. Some of the answered I received were: “Modern Family” on ABC and new series “Camelot” and “Shameless” on Starz.
There you have it, over five shows with my must-watch seal of approval. They may not be the most popular in the ratings, but if you’re looking for great T.V., you won’t be disappointed.
