All time, top five...

Favourite TV Shows. As requested (or not) here, for your reading enjoyment, are my all time, top five favourite TV shows. Again in no particular order...

LOST (2004-2010)

When Lost started in 2004 I refused to like it. Perhaps because I wanted to be counter-cultural at the time and didn't appreciate its (then) bandwagon following. Needless to say, I was hooked after watching the first couple episodes of season two and it kind of went from there. I never watched these on TV (thanks to Rupert Murdoch hatin' on Richard Branson) but rather, extensive DVD marathons. That's how it should be done though, really. Season six was great but the week wait between episodes was awful and I would never want to re live it. In fact, I am proud to admit that I have watched seasons one to five twice now. Anyway, great characters and story line worthy of its own encyclopedia, and yes, there is one.

Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000-present)

I never got into Seinfield, and that's not because I didn't like it, I just never actually watched it (until recently of course). Larry David, however, Seinfield's co-creator and long time writer, is without doubt one of my favourite human beings of all time (the top five is coming). I love dry, dark, and hide-behind-things-because-you-can't-take-the-embarrassment kind of humour and this has it and then some. Favourite episodes are easily Season two's 'Shaq' and 'The Shrimp Incident' and I cannot wait until season eight airs in 2011! Pretty good, preeety, preeeeety preetty good!

The Simpsons (1989-present)

People who either shun or in any way look down on this series, go away now and never come back. I don't like you and I don't want to be your friend, ever. A show that i've enjoyed since I was old enough to remember watching it and still enjoy today unquestionably deserves to be in this list. A ridiculously awesome cast of insanely developed primary, secondary and even tertiary characters (see my first post for my comic book guy obsession) is what makes this show what it is. That, and an outstanding writing team that, contrary to popular opinion, pen some of the most consistently brilliant family based humour you can find on TV. Awesome.

The Office - UK version (2001-2003)

My girlfriend (being American) loves, and understandbly loves, the later US version of this comedy. Ricky Gervais' 14 episode original however, will and shall never be beaten. No question. Perhaps the sheer brevity of episodes is what makes this show so good in a short and sweet way, or perhaps it's just because it is that funny. Awesomely dry and again embarrassing (to the point of my Dad having to leave the room repeatedly) will always make this a favourite and conditioned viewing for my future children's upbringing.

Prison Break (2005-2009)

There were a few other contenders for this spot, namely HBO's Entourage, but this just cut it for its addiction factor. Seasons one and two are quite easily some of the best cliffhanger tinged pieces of programming I've ever seen and if you have the time to spare (which I'm sure you might if you've read this far) I urge you to sit down and watch the first season on DVD over a weekend or holiday. Then you'll see what I mean.

Jonty x