It’s an odd time to be a sportswriter given every American sports league has been postponed or cancelled. Lucky for you, I am also obsessed with TV and movies. Now that we don’t have any sports to watch, there has never been a better time in the history of the world to binge watch TV shows. But what should you watch? So often we forget about how good shows from the past were, given we’re usually just trying to keep up with what’s current. In doing that however, we miss out on so much. Based on conversations with other people my age (early 20’s), I’ve come to realize that most either haven’t heard of these shows at all or just haven’t watched them. It’s true, these were our parents’ shows, but they are just as enjoyable today as they were when they originally aired. They all stand the test of time and are definitely worth a binge. Here are the top 5 shows young(er) people might’ve missed but definitely need to watch during the age of social distancing and quarantines.
5.Mad Men (2007-2015)
The most recently-aired show of the group, Mad Men will introduce you to the world of advertising in the turbulent 1960’s. Arguably the wildest decade of the twentieth century, ranging from the Civil Rights movements, counterculture, the assassination of JFK, the space race, etc. you get it all. This show introduced Jon Hamm to the world as Don Draper: advertising creative executive. Draper is the epitome of what every 15-year-old boy strives to be when they grow up – wealthy, handsome, and suave (in business and with the ladies). Every girl likes Don and every guy wants to be him. He’s also hiding a huge secret that is essential to understanding why he is the way he is. If I made this show seem like it’s only for testosterone-filled men I apologize…the show also dives deep into the women’s empowerment movement with characters like Peggy Olson (Elisabeth Moss) and Joan Holloway (Christina Hendricks). Women were still thought of as second-class citizens behind men in the 60’s, and these ladies prove to be strong-willed role models that young and old women of today can look up to. If I’m still not enticing you to watch this show, then I’ll let the Emmy awards speak for themselves.
4.Entourage (2004-2011)
The lone comedy on the list, Entourage follows Hollywood rising star Vinny Chase (Adrian Grenier) and his boys: E (Kevin Connolly), Drama (Kevin Dillon), Turtle (Jerry Ferrara), plus his agent Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven). Most of us will never be famous actors, and will never experience the sex, drugs, and rock and roll that go along with it. Be so that it may, Entourage is the closest we will ever get to that lifestyle, and shows why fame can also be exhausting despite the money and girls. As entertaining as Vinny and his boys are, the show isn’t what it is without Ari Gold. Early on in the show, Ari’s character isn’t much more than a pervy-douche Hollywood agent, but the smartest thing the writers ever did was make him a likeable character. His one-liners usually aimed at his gay Asian assistant Lloyd would be too taboo for TV nowadays but are hilarious nonetheless and remind you just how much society has changed in the last 15 years. Unlike Game of Thrones or Breaking Bad, where viewers are required to follow the story attentively, Entourage is not that type of show; It’s easily digestible show with episodes ranging from 20-30 minutes. Sit back, relax, and enjoy.
P.S. The movie is much better than the reviews say.
3.The Wire (2002-2008)
Stated by me to be the most underrated show of all time since it never won a single Emmy, The Wire is one of the most entertaining shows I’ve ever seen. Set in Baltimore “B-more”, Maryland, the show revolves around the Baltimore Police Department and their relationship with the crime scene largely centered on drugs. One of the most interesting things about the show is that you aren’t necessarily seeing things through the eyes of one person. You could consider the main character to be Detective Jimmy McNulty (Dominic West), but you see things through the lens of various cops and criminals throughout the show which gives you a more well-rounded view of the characters. Idris Elba and Michael B. Jordan also played key roles in the show, with Elba acting as the mastermind of the “Barksdale crew”. A fan favorite is Omar Little (Michael K. Williams), who is the sawed off shotgun-wielding gangster who robs drug dealers. There are so many aspects of this show show you just how complicated the police department and crews run in the city. After watching this show you’ll feel like you know “Bawlmer” like the back of your hand.
2.The Sopranos (1999-2007)
As one of the most famous TV shows of all time, I’m surprised more people my age haven’t watched The Sopranos. It’s commonly referred to as the show that changed TV and it solidified HBO as a premium cable network. Plus, everybody loves the mafia. Some of the best movies ever made dealt with the mob, and The Sopranos is basically a prolonged, modern day (in 1999) Goodfellas. You get to see the world through the eyes of New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini), who tries to balance life between the mob and his family. Trying to hide the fact that he’s in the mob isn’t easy for him in an age where his kids have access to TV and the internet, and it’s a constant struggle for him to keep that side of his life hidden. While constantly in the high-intensity, masculine environment of the mob, Tony’s confides in his wife Carmela (Edie Falco) and therapist Dr. Jennifer Melfi (Lorraine Bracco) proving that he’s not the average mobster. It’s popularity has never dwindled for those that watched the infamous series, as they are making a prequel movie about the early life of the show’s protagonist Tony Soprano, who is portrayed by his real life son, Michael. Better watch the show now before the movie comes out!
1.Band of Brothers (2001)
I’m not sure how long this coronavirus pandemic is going to last, so if there’s one show you NEED to watch over the course of the next few weeks/months it’s Band of Brothers. It’s a ten episode miniseries that chronicles the story of Easy Company of the U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division, and their mission in World War II Europe, from Operation Overlord, through V-J Day. What makes this show so unbelievably good is that they used accounts from the actual men who served in Easy Company, making it arguably the most historically accurate depiction of WWII in television and movie history. The great thing about miniseries’ is that they get straight to the point. Over the course of ten hours you learn everything about what these men went through to (spoiler alert) defeat the Nazi’s. Executive produced by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg and a cast featuring Damian Lewis, Ron Livingston, Donnie Wahlberg, and David Schwimmer, every person needs to watch this show. Even if you’re not a war show/movie person, the shot of patriotism it’ll give you is more than enough reason to watch. ‘MERICA.
If you’re keeping track, that’s 4/5 HBO shows on the list. I don’t have a bias toward premium cable television, it just so happens that they’ve made some of the best TV shows of all time. And if you think I left a show off my list, there’s a reason why Breaking Bad didn’t make the cut: most people I know have seen it. While it was on at the same time as Mad Men, it was absolutely the more popular of the two, even among the younger demographic. However, it you haven’t seen Breaking Bad, it is a must-watch as well. I clearly have watch a lot of TV in my day, and I’m proud to say I feel like I’ve chosen the right shows. I love bad reality TV as much as the next person, but instead of filling your head with that nonsense while quarantined, try out one or more of these shows listed above and experience what well-written TV is like. If you could care less about my recommendations, at least watch them to understand more Family Guy references.
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