Which format of TV do you prefer?

[Admiral Jean-Luc Picard]

Which format of TV do you prefer? I listed 5 choices: dramas & miniseries, sitcoms, and animated & anime. Most scripted shows are either going to be serious (drama), funny (sitcom), or animated (or anime). Do you have a favorite? Vote and discuss! For me personally, I enjoy all three formats, but my preference is for a good dramatic series. I'm usually looking for sci-fi or a unique premise that hasn't exploded into a genre. A good example of a unique show is Fringe. People compare it to CSI meets The X Files or Lost, but not much else.

 

[Moviefan2k4]

Generally speaking, I'm not big on anime, but I never really could pin down as to why. A lot of what passes for "humor" these days is crass beyond belief, so I don't watch it. As for dramas, I used to enjoy the original Law & Order years ago, but its become a very poor shadow of itself now, which I think is very sad. On the whole, most modern TV shows just don't interest me; the last one I saw was the first season of Wednesday, and the quality of it was surprisingly good.

 

[Admiral Jean-Luc Picard]

Generally speaking, I'm not big on anime, but I never really could pin down as to why. A lot of what passes for "humor" these days is crass beyond belief, so I don't watch it. As for dramas, I used to enjoy the original Law & Order years ago, but its become a very poor shadow of itself now, which I think is very sad. On the whole, most modern TV shows just don't interest me; the last one I saw was the first season of Wednesday, and the quality of it was surprisingly good.

If you want to try some anime (I have friends who love it), here are some recommendations. Take note, I'm not a fan, so I am picky about what little anime I do watch.

Afterlost (12 episodes, saw the first 6 before Hulu took it down)
Cowboy Bebop (26 episodes + the movie)
Erased (12 episodes)
Lu Over the Wall (film)
Neon Genesis Evangelion (26 episodes) - haven't seen the films yet.
Terminator: Zero (8 episodes)

I think that's it.

 

[Sim]

I'm clearly a drama/miniseries kind of person.

When it's good, it feels like a real meal, with beef, veggies and all ... while sitcoms or animated shows, most of the time, appear "lightweight" to me, more like candy or small snacks that don't really fill your stomach.

Also, I'll probably try 5 mediocre dramas, before I try a sitcom or animated show.

However, there are exceptions. I asked a friend who's into anime for recommendations, and thanks to him watched Death Note, Erased and Cowboy Bebop. Must say, although it's really not my kind of genre, these animes were surprisingly decent. But I guess I'd totally fall asleep during most common Shonen.

Another exception is Lower Decks. It doesn't feel to me like a fully satisfying, independent Star Trek show, because it's "only animation", but still I enjoy it a lot.

Besides that, the only animations I watched a lot were/are The Simpsons and Futurama ... although that's more "family tv" for me. I watch it with my daughters, which works, because there are jokes for every age group in it.

The only sitcom I used to watch regularly, was "The Big Bang Theory" (and "Alf", when I was a kid). But that's because my wife was into it, not sure if I had watched it alone.

 

[Admiral Jean-Luc Picard]

I'm clearly a drama/miniseries kind of person.

When it's good, it feels like a real meal, with beef, veggies and all ... while sitcoms or animated shows, most of the time, appear "lightweight" to me, more like candy or small snacks that don't really fill your stomach.

Also, I'll probably try 5 mediocre dramas, before I try a sitcom or animated show.

However, there are exceptions. I asked a friend who's into anime for recommendations, and thanks to him watched Death Note, Erased and Cowboy Bebop. Must say, although it's really not my kind of genre, these animes were surprisingly decent. But I guess I'd totally fall asleep during most common Shonen.

Another exception is Lower Decks. It doesn't feel to me like a fully satisfying, independent Star Trek show, because it's "only animation", but still I enjoy it a lot.

Besides that, the only animations I watched a lot were/are The Simpsons and Futurama ... although that's more "family tv" for me. I watch it with my daughters, which works, because there are jokes for every age group in it.

The only sitcom I used to watch regularly, was "The Big Bang Theory" (and "Alf", when I was a kid). But that's because my wife was into it, not sure if I had watched it alone.

I kind of feel the same way. Dramas come first. The sitcoms I like are I Love Lucy, The Jeffersons, Cheers, Frasier (1993), and... mostly just those. I do want to get Mad About You on DVD, mostly because cheap, and it was such a wholesome 90's show. Married couple in NYC with a dog. haha I also like animated shows, but I'm kind'a picky. I didn't watch a lot of "good" ones as a kid, mostly syndicated forgettable stuff and old stuff like Looney Tunes. So, nostalgia's not really a factor except the 90's TMNT. I'm mostly looking for cartoons I can enjoy a middle aged adult. Some good animated shows include:

Adventures of Puss in Boots (Netflix original, moved to Peacock)
Afterlost (anime)
Big Hero 6: The Series (Disney+)
Cowboy Bebop (anime)
Erased (anime)
Godzilla: The Series (gotta get the DVD)
Home: Adventures with Tip & Oh (Netflix, if it's still there)
Invincible (Amazon)
Neon Genesis Evangelion (Netflix)
Primal (Max)
Shaun the Sheep (Amazin & Netflix)
Star Trek: Lower Decks (Paramount+)
Star Trek: Prodigy (Netflix)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987 - Paramount+)
Terminator: Zero (Netflix)

 

[auntiehill]

Dramas.
Not keen on most sitcoms and was never really interested in anime.

My favorites are usually dramas that occasionally have a funny moment or episode here and there.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I don't like sitcoms for one very specific reason:

I hate laugh tracks.

Even ones that are a live studio audience.

The sole exception being The Red Green Show, because in that case, the audience is literally part of the show! Characters speak directly TO the audience, sometimes the audience shouts something back...it's the only sitcom-ish thing where the laughs aren't fake.

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[Admiral Jean-Luc Picard]

I don't like sitcoms for one very specific reason:

I hate laugh tracks.

Even ones that are a live studio audience.

I don't mind laugh tracks if the show is legitimately that funny, but most sitcoms, it just feels like fake laughter. With some shows, you can tell the actors are trying not to laugh, waiting for the audience to chill out. LOL

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

most sitcoms, it just feels like fake laughter.

Exactly.

Any show where they have to put in laughs to let you know when it's time to laugh, are by definition not funny. They don't trust you to laugh on your own, you have to be told.

Except, as I said, for Red Green.

 

[Admiral Jean-Luc Picard]

Exactly.

Any show where they have to put in laughs to let you know when it's time to laugh, are by definition not funny. They don't trust you to laugh on your own, you have to be told.

Except, as I said, for Red Green.

I like I Love Lucy, The Jeffersons, Cheers, 90's Frasier, because these four are genuinely funny! They are all long-running to, so you don't run out of episodes, needing something else to watch. I also feel like sitcoms forgot how to be funny after 2000. Malcolm in the Middle and The Office are exceptions.

 

[Rowdy Roddy McDowall]

Heavy-hitting dramas with intermixed comedy with a large ensemble casts with three to six plots per week.
PRISONER CELL BLOCK H did it somewhat two years before HILL STREET BLUES. And WENTWORTH was a tougher but equally great reimaging of CELL BLOCK in which the majority of its classic characters were molded into virtual opposites of who they once were. (Innocent/guilty, strong/vulnerable, homely/sexy, blonde/Aborigine, evil/generous, spinsterish/raunchy, upstanding/corrupt, fair/cynical, and so on.)

 

[Alexander Corrino]

I love my 80s soap operas the most. Guess they fall under "drama". (They sure feature a lot of drama, haha.)

The only sitcoms I can stand are ALF and the Golden Girls.

Yeah, I'm old, I like old TV shows.

 

[Nerys Myk]

All of the above. My viewing habits are a mix of all three.

 

[Ray Hardgrit]

I tend to prefer series that make verisimilitude a priority, so live-action drama's got an advantage there by being more grounded by default. But I still love Lower Decks and Looney Tunes, and lately I've been working my way through Steins;Gate and superhero cartoons. (I give Batman: Caped Crusader S1 a rating of 'Meh', My Adventures With Superman S2 was a lot more bearable than S1, and X-Men '97 S1 kicked ass).

I like sitcoms too, but it's rare that I ever get around to watching one so my favourites are all from the ancient times when I used to watch whatever my family had on (Blackadder, Bottom, Red Dwarf, Father Ted etc.) That's probably why I've never had a problem with live studio audiences laughing at all the jokes; that's just how sitcoms work, right?

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

That's probably why I've never had a problem with live studio audiences laughing at all the jokes; that's just how sitcoms work, right?

But they shouldn't have to work like that.

Why should audiences need to be told when to laugh? Shouldn't it be obvious? If the show's funny enough, they'll know. They SHOULD know. There's no excuse for them NOT to know.

Like I said: If you have to be told when to laugh at something, then it's not funny!

And if there are viewers who won't watch a sitcom because they don't hear other people (real or machine-generated*) laughing at it: That's their ing problem.

*That's no joke, BTW. Early laugh tracks, like I Love Lucy and its ilk, were indeed created by a machine. Now if that's not bullshit, what is?

 

[Ray Hardgrit]

Yeah, no argument from me. I'm just saying that my personal experience with sitcoms has been mostly limited to the ones with an actual live studio audience in the room with the actors, laughing at all their jokes, so that's my default concept of what a sitcom is. I'm sure most sitcoms these days do fine without, probably.

 

[BillJ]

Documentaries and Sports.

 

[Rowdy Roddy McDowall]

But they shouldn't have to work like that.

Why should audiences need to be told when to laugh? Shouldn't it be obvious? If the show's funny enough, they'll know. They SHOULD know. There's no excuse for them NOT to know.

Like I said: If you have to be told when to laugh at something, then it's not funny!

Must we pick on SNL?

 

[Nerys Myk]

I've laugh along with the laugh track on occasion.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Must we pick on SNL?

SNL is like Red Green in that regard. The Audience is part of the show.

So, LIKE Red Green (and stand-up comedy), SNL gets a free pass.