Dead Tree Alert: That Darn List! Also, Laying Down the Law

We’re watching you, Poniewozik. NBC

In this week’s TIME, of course, an excerpt from my All-TIME 100 TV shows list. Nothing you can’t already see online, but a little something for the print readers who don’t yet have the Intertube hose connected to their computing machines.

To keep the discussion of the list alive, I’m going to try posting some topics as they come up. (Because if you can’t figure out how to turn a project into several easy blog posts, you should not be a professional writer.) One of the most common from yesterday’s discussion:

Why No Law & Order? Here was my response to beerbaron yesterday–

Yes, it’s possible that I have interviewed Dick Wolf for the last time, we’ll see. And that I should fear for my security in a Fred Thompson administration.

Law & Order–I know a *lot* of people will disagree with that one. To me, it’s an example of a show that does, extremely and consistently well, something that has already been done, a lot. I mean, I have Dragnet on the list, and Wolf says himself that L&O is an homage to Dragnet. I have a *lot* of cop shows on the list, none of which–The Wire, The Shield, etc.–I could conceive dumping to make room for L&O.

Ultimately, it comes down to the fact that, for me, the serial drama has possibilities that the procedural doesn’t, and that originality and innovation count a lot toward a show’s greatness. Those are, ultimately, subjective critical priorities–but, whaddyagonnado.

You don’t have to agree with me; that’s why lists like this exist. But I’ll go it one further. I didn’t put CSI on the list either, because the aforementioned serial cop shows are so much better. But I could make the case that it belongs on the list more than L&O, at least in terms of innovation and (as people argued for L&O) influence on other shows. L&O repopularized the cop procedural and was very successful, but it didn’t generate a spinoff for, what, nine seasons? Whereas CSI influenced the visuals and narrative style of so much 2000s-era TV, not just crime shows but, for instance, House. (I analyzed the vast influence of CSI–not exactly positively–in 2004.)

Have at it. And one more bonus question:

Why the hell should you get paid to write about TV? Because otherwise I’d be slinging burgers. And trust me, you don’t want me touching your food.

Keith

Heyyyy, it sounds like Robo-James has self reactivated and is holding the Tuned In clan hostage. I’d email for help if I could get this darned intertube hose to stay connected.
Robo-James

SILENCE, HUMAN! 000100011100010001
Chaddogg

Hey James: why no Saved by the Bell? Seriously…look at all the live action “tween” shows that basically trace their existence to the clan at Bayside: Even Stevens, Hannah Montana….heck, even High School Musical could be considered an outgrowth of the “I’m Too Excited” or “Zack Attack” episodes of Saved by the Bell (and with HSM’s recent nude photo shocker, it looks like we found the Elizabeth Berkeley of the crew, too).
James Poniewozik

@chaddogg: On a 100 Most Influential List, sure. But influence was just one factor I considered here. Some great shows aren’t even that influential at all, at least in a literal sense, and their inimitability is a sign of their greatness. Not that many shows tried to directly copy Seinfeld, for instance, especially in proportion to the show’s ratings. (I suppose you could say Sex and the City did, with its foursome structure, but seems like a stretch to me.)
Amit

I’m glad someone finally said it. I too like the American version of The Office better than the British version. Go Steve Carell!