This, our first feature post of the post-Ufford Era (*single tear*) is both broad and, except perhaps for the numbering of list, somewhat obvious if you're a TV fan. But it serves a dual purpose. First, it's an introduction to our television viewing habits that let's you know that we're not going to sell you down the river for a glimpse of Whitney Cummings a$$ crack and that "Two and a Half Men" and The Kardashians will remain fodder for mockery and never, ever viewed or spoken of in earnest.
Second, television reruns dominate the next month and you're stuck with your family, which is why December is the most popular month of the year for Netflix Instant subscribers (made-up fact) because it is both a good time to catch up on shows you've been meaning to watch and a good time to avoid talking to your loved ones. So, these 15 Netflix Instant titles also serve as a primer: For a true television junkie, this is the base of your television-viewing stew, the series you need to be familiar with to get by in this world, to understand pop-culture shorthand. It is knowledge, and knowledge is power, and power is something you can use to gain world domination. Watching "Arrested Development" is the first step in ruling your own small country of topless concubines and lazy peaceniks.
Note: Only series currently available on Netflix Instant are included.
15. Scrubs: J.D. and Turk were the original sitcom bromance, the precursors to today's Troy and Abed. There's one thing that neither Troy nor Abed have on "Scrubs," however, and that's the Turk Dance, the single greatest minute in single-camera sitcom history. Feel free to skip seasons 5, 6, and 8 ("Scrubs 2.0").
14. Archer: Only season one is currently available, but that's plenty to get you started on the best animated series on television right now. It's funny, subversive, and a little dirty. It is a crime that H. Jon Benjamin has only one Emmy nomination for voice work, and got beat out by Anne Hathaway for a cameo in "The Simpsons." The man's voice drips funny.
13. The League: Ostensibly about a fantasy football league, "The League" is really a variation on "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" misanthropy combined with sports metaphors and a "Curb Your Enthusiasm" plot structure. Also, you haven't lived until you've see Jeff Goldblum's vinegar strokes.
12. Sports Night: This is where Aaron Sorkin's walk-and-talk began and a forerunner to the modern single-camera sitcom. If you can get past the laugh track during the first season and Sorkin's occasional unctuousness, "Sports Night" -- a behind-the-scenes look at a sports network similar to ESPN -- is one of the most clever, heartfelt and passionate television shows of the last 20 years. Shoe Money!
11. Sons of Anarchy: If you look at the history of F/X's original programming, the network has never failed us, and "Sons of Anarchy" was the drama that started the ball rolling. Some describe it as "The Sopranos" with motorcycles, but it's much more akin to Hamlet with bad-a$$ motherf*$#ers. Feel free, however, to skip season three. Here's a blooper reel for SAMCRO converts.
10. Party Down: Little seen during its original run on Starz, "Party Down" has rightfully taken its place among the best cancelled-too-soon television shows. It is hilarious and biting; there's occasional nudity; you'll get to see Jane Lynch out of Jane Lynch mode; Adam "The Badger" Scott serves up the best dry wit this side of Michael Bluth; and there's even an episode that will completely change your perspective on Steve Guttenberg. Here's a taste.
9. Mad Men: There's more to "Mad Men" that Christina Hendricks' rack, the icy cold bitchiness of January Jones, and cool ad spots from the 60s. This period drama starts off slow (reasonable minds will differ, but I found the first two seasons dull in patches) but it's most certainly the best soap opera on television, and you can even get a taste of Alison Brie over there. Mostly, though, it's about Hendrick's backside.
8. Firefly: Look: Either you're one of the people who have seen "Firefly" and therefore love it, or you're one of the people who can't stand it because everyone else won't shut up about it. It's 12 episodes at 42 minutes apiece. You can knock it out in a Saturday, and then you can join the correct side of the equation. Here's the show's 32 Best Quotes (spoilers).
7. Louie: I know that Ufford was a huge fan of this show, and rightfully so: It's groundbreaking. A structureless television show built around dark themes and stand-up comedy bits, and it's one of the funniest most affecting television shows around. It may take a few episodes for you to find Louie C.K.'s rhythm, but once you do, it will rock your world.
6. Doctor Who: This is probably where I'm most likely to differ from my other Warming Glow colleagues, where I reveal my nerdish tendencies. But lookit: If you haven't seen it, it's probably not what you think: It's a richly humane sci-fi show that's just as concerned with characters as it is with the geeky sci-fi elements. But once you get invested, those sci-fi elements will propel you into the muck of nerddom until one day, you too, will own a TARDIS iPhone cover. You don't need to watch the entire 30-year history of the show; the 2005 reboot will suit you just fine. And if the sci-fi doesn't win you over, Karen Gillan should.
5. Parks and Recreation: Another popular show in the Uproxx world for obvious reasons: Ron Swanson may be the funniest character of the last decade, but it's not just Swanson (or the hilariously dour April Ludgate): It's unlike almost any modern sitcom: Earnest, unironic, and steeped in sweet sentiment. It's funny, but it will also make your heart grow three sizes.
4. The Office (UK): The original UK version is still the best, and you can watch the entire series in a weekend's time. Ricky Gervais mastered the art of uncomfortable comedy, something that the U.S. version has steered clear of since the third or fourth season. There are moments so painful that you may feel compelled to leave the room, but it's those very moments that make the series payoff that much more satisfying. Before there was a Ron Swanson dance, there was a David Brent dance.
3. Friday Night Lights: Let me put this in terms the Warming Glow crowd will understand: "Friday Night Lights" is to football what Corgi Friday is to Corgis. It's not about the Corgis. It's about a shared sense of community, it's about being thankful, and appreciative and finding something we can all rally around. Watch "Friday Night Lights." Do it for the Corgis.
2. Arrested Development: I don't think there's anything else that can possibly be written about "Arrested Development." Either you've seen it, or you're a willfully stubborn idiot. It's appropriate, however, that this show would rank high on a list of the best Netflix Instant series because, in two years, it will be returning exclusively on Netflix ahead of the talked-to-death movie.
1. Breaking Bad: Many people will argue, accurately, that "The Wire" is the best television show of all time. It's true, but if there's one show that can sniff its gunpowder residue, it's "Breaking Bad," a slow burn of a show that burns from both ends, creating an enormous amount of intensity. It's brilliant storytelling, the best acting on television, and writing that will blow the threads out of your socks. Here's another awesome gag reel.
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TURK DANCE.
LISTS
“If you look at the history of F/X’s original programming, the network has never failed us, and “Sons of Anarchy” was the drama that started the ball rolling.”
I would argue that “The Shield” was the drama that started the ball rolling.
Also, that picture of Karen Gillan made this post worth clicking all the way through.
Quick note: Season 9 of Scrubs is the 2.0 version that’s terrible. Season 8 was very good.
What, no Weeds??
/kidding
//still love staring at MLP
No Community? Season 1 is on Netflix Instant, at least for me.
Also, I know “Terriers” is on Instant now. This post was written before that news hit. We’ll discuss it tomorrow.
Dustin’s a fan on Firefly? You have earned my respect, fellow Browncoat.
I was late to the Archer party and I’m having withdrawals. Anyone know when season 2 lands on Netflix?
*of Firefly
Sorry, Nathan Fillion gets my head all woozy.
@banditbanjo – Thanks, for reaffirming that I’m not crazy. Season 8 (the last “real” season and first on ABC) was probably one of the better ones, not as good as Seasons 1-3, but probably on par with Season 4.
Oh sure Dustin, like we can believe anything you say when you don’t mention the fact that every Power Rangers iteration is available?
Any chance we could do a similar list for Amazon Prime instant video? As a Prime member myself, I–what? Nothing? … Like, at all? Shit.
Despite Netflix sucking here in Canada, almost all of these are available to me, which is surprising. I too am among the thousands of annoying people who will recommend Firefly.
Also this list is probably every show that I’ve ever loved that’s available on Netflix plus Sons of Anarchy. I guess that just means that I need to start watching Sons of Anarchy.
A plea to the new management: some of us pour saps are on computers with less than 8GB of RAM. If you could limit posts to one or two embedded clips displaying at once, Ufford-style, that’d be the tits.
Zombie Scrubs had its moments, in particular Eliza Coupe’s character (“Jo”) was fantastically hilarious. She is woefully underutilized on Happy Endings, despite it being a decent show.
“Dexter” and “Californication” surely would have made the list but apparently Showtime pulled both series’ off Netflix earlier this year. I got hooked on both shows.
what bastards I was wondering why they didn’t have Dexter
Oh Friday Night Lights, you are a show that can warm even my black, cynical heart.
Dustin, I have to disagree. Corgi Friday was about the Corgis. I mean, look at them!
To quote Freud, “Sometimes a corgi is just a corgi”
Seconding Bandit, season 8 was my favorite season of Scrubs. Ended wonderfully and should have been the series finale.
I have tried my best to give Parks and Rec a chance on Netflix, mainly by watching and reading funny links and mashups from this site. I could only get through 2 and a half episodes of season one. IT IS TERRIBLE. Painfully unfunny. Is there a point I can skip ahead to when it gets good? Ron Swanson clips alone prove it gets really good, but I cannot take one more minute of season one.
I watched half of Season 1 and really tried to like it but it was so pointless I just couldn’t do it anymore
@UU -
Agree 100%. The Shield started it in ’02. SoA didn’t premiere until ’08. In those six years in between The Shield and SoA premieres, FX had Nip/Tuck, Rescue Me, Dirt, Damages, and The Riches, all of which were good, just not Shield or SoA good.
MUCH better, thanks!
It may take a few episodes for you to find Louie C.K.’s rhythm, but once you do, it will rock your world.
I think that is a better summary of my appreciation of Louie CK’s show than I could ever have come up with on my own. I gave the first season a couple of watches, and couldn’t tolerate it. Gave it a second go for the 2nd season and really enjoyed it.
@UU: I forgot about the Shield. You are absolutely right.
@Banditbanjoy: I stand corrected. I was thinking only 8 seasons of “Scrubs.” Also, Hooch is crazy.
@numbersix: The first season of “P&R” isn’t very good; it wants to bad to be “The Office.” It hits its stride in the second season, and now “The Office” wants to be “P&R.”
@numbersix – i stopped exactly where you did. @dustin – thanks!
I loved “Rescue Me” but it fell off badly in its later seasons. I also think “Dirt” was underrated, plus they liked to show Courtney Cox masturbating. Often.
I realize you didn’t create the Firefly clip, Dustin, but the lack of “I’ll be in my bunk.” is just criminal.
man im so glad someone besides me loves Sports Night. that show was awesome.
Season 5 of Scrubs was really good. Also, I think you could have made room for “The It Crowd” on this list.
@Smello: You are absolutely right.
Really surprised Battlestar Galactica didn’t appear anywhere on here, especially in place of stuff like The League, which had one good season and fell off hard, and Scrubs.
Holy shit. This is LITERALLY, every show I watch (plus some others).
What a fuckin way to kick off post Ufford. I think we’ll get along just fine.
@numbersix and Bobloblaw: I persnoally dont think S1 is *that* bad, but you can easily just pick up with the first ep of S2 without missing a beat.
Anyone know if Supernatural is on Instant? After all these years Dustin, I think you finally owe it to me to watch that goddamn show.
I predicted 10 of these before opening the post or reading the tags. Go me.
Also, I tried a few episodes of Sports Night and it felt really dated. I could see someone enjoying this if they caught its original run, but for a first-time viewer it was tough.
These “We’re just like Matt, we promise!” posts are hilarious. Because we all loved him, right?
The Wire is hard for me to even comprehend as a TV show, it’s more of an event. It’s hard to watch like a TV show because when I would sit down to watch one episode, I’d end up watching half a season. Breaking Bad sucks me in like that.
Also, no Vampire Diaries? Damn bush league!
I Think Parks & Rec might have outdone Arrested Development.. and this is comin from a die hard Arrested Development fan.. Amazing ensemble cast, Ron Swanson could have a show alone and i agree with the emotions towards the characters
Every show on this that I’ve seen, I absolutely love. However, your lack of “Better Off Ted” disturbs me.
(It was #16. I swear to you. — DR)
Just wanted to say this is a great idea for a list. Good job.
Trailer Park Boys didn’t get a mention yet?
I know that I’m going to get a boatload of shit for this on here (and I don’t know if it’s on Netflix) but I love me some Cougar Town.
I loved Cougar Town!
Dustin — happy or sad knowing your official inaugural post at WG will get 15x as many pageviews as a pajiba SRL? Slideshows are a hell of a drug.
980 lists is how many we’ve done in the last 3 years. That’s 980X10/15x page views we’ve missed out on! I want to buy one of these slideshows for my other home. — DR)
@SHough610 – I picked up Cougar Town DVDs on the cheap from Amazon. It’s a pretty solid show.
Sports Night is amazing. It gets even better when they abandon the damn laugh track. I did appreciate when they’d get super Aaron-Sorkin-dramatic-funny and the audience had no idea how to react.
Proclaiming The Wire as the best show ever while dangling photos of leggy redheads in a successful attempt to get me to finally check out Dr. Who is the surest way to keep me from shoving you in a locker, NERD.
I enjoy the hyper-violence of The Tudors. Hot Poker Sodomy FTMFW
@QueeferSutherland: Maybe it’s because the ending of Battlestar Galactica was so terrible
I think I like this NEW guy who’s already proven himself about 1,000 times over in other arenas. ROWLES ON, DUSTIN.
Great list, but Better off Ted and Trailer Park Boys should be here. Parks&Rec really got going in Season 2, and when Louis CK, Adam Scott and Rob Lowe joined, it achieved greatness.
I found Sports Night to be just unbearable.
@mutabaruka — Qualms about the ending aside (I thought it worked quite well outside of the last 1:30), I think the body of work was strong enough to merit inclusion in this list. I enjoy most of the selections (sans Scrubs) but at the risk of sounding a pretentious dickhole, BSG was an ambitious remake that turned a shitty 80s TV series into a fascinating, well-written post-9/11 allegory, and did it without being overtly political.
If that doesn’t work, uh, the chicks were hot?
Firefly, Shmirefly. Doctor What?
Every hour of Star Trek TV ever produced is currently on Instant. Literally like 600 hours. Plus the Animated Series. Plus some Shatner special with all the Captains. Plus the reboot movie. But not the old movies for some reason.
Anyway, on sheer volume of good episodes (as hard as they might be to find, in , say, Voyager) alone, it should be on the list.
Re: SportsNight…
Glad to know I’m not a dick for hating season 1′s laugh track. It made the show COMPLETELY unfunny. Wasn’t the laugh track removed for the DVD release? Why can’t we get that?
Battlestar Galactica was not overtly political? Could have fooled me.
Re: SportsNight…
I would argue that the lack of jokes are what made this show unfunny.
“Look, can you do me a favor? can you please just die of AIDS? Does anyone have AIDS and they can just put their dick in her face and get her started?”
“You’re the worst thing to ever happen to American. It goes: You. Slavery. And then Pearl Harbor and 911 combined.”
How did Louis NOT get laid?
If you’re going to go back and suggest Star Trek, then let me say that the 270 episodes of Cheers available for streaming are alone worth the price of my Netflix subscription.
Peep Show is pretty funny too
I could watch The Wire or The West Wing any day over and over.
Those shows were about what is happening.
I loved LOST, but have never had any desire to watch it again.
Because LOST was about what happens next. And I know what happens next.
I’d submit an honorable mention for Top Gear. It’s almost as fun for non-gearheads as for car guys, as evidenced by my roommate and I watching all ~100 episodes in less than two months.
You forgot The Larry Sanders Show.
I cannot enjoy Scrubs or Sports Night, but Archer should be granted at least three spots all its own. I dare you to find another show that can use the term quadroon and make it sound adorable. It is also criminal not to include BSG.
Also, Party Down but no Veronica Mars? Come on man.
U U: Yes, The Shield was mind blowing. “Did you suck”…that whole situation was insane.
Also, Sports Night RULEZ!!! but I hated how the writing went at the end with the guy at the bar.
I can only assume that Deadwood isn’t on Netflix Instant?
No BSG?!
@ Evan – I am going to check for Community right now. If it’s become available, I will die of happy!
Nope. No community.
Jeff Goldblum isn’t in The League. I’m guessing you mean Nick Kroll?
#corrections
There are 14 Firefly episodes, not 12 and they are 44 minutes, not 42. C’MON! At least pretend to not just slap this stuff together in a drunken stupor in 15 minutes.
At the risk of breaking the interwebz, Arrested Development is awful. It’s “The Royal Tennenbaums” for television only, somehow, less funny. A major accomplishment, for sure, but not worthy of the tremendous amount of bandwith wasted on it. Perhaps we’ll get lucky and Netflix will fold before they get around to making more of them.
If you are looking for a good geeky BBC comedy show on Netflix, try The IT crowd. Matt Fuller is my hero.
@Word id Bond
As long as you weren’t using the /sarcasm font, you should know that Jeff G. plays Nick Kroll’s dad on this season of the show. But if you were being sarcastic, don’t. It doesn’t translate online.
Lost?
Shocked by the lack of BSG. Good list otherwise, although if I hear one more person call “The Wire” the “best show ever,” I’m going to punch a baby.
The fuck is the X-Files?
Oh I can’t be mad at you, that Who picture was just so badass.
So not a neighbor, the rest of the internet, Troy & Abed, but it’s this post is what nudged me to start Firefly. Now that it’s done (well, after Serenity gets watched), I’ll just take this dunce cap to the corner.
I completely agree about Breaking Bad! However, I was sadly surprised that 30 Rock wasn’t on the list. You have a show like Sport’s Night, and Parks and Rec which is its little sister, but no 30 Rock?! That show is witty out it’s a$$ and every minute is filled with something meaningful.
Alright for all of you who said breaking bad is the best would have to agree. Until you left out “the Sapranos”. I do agree with all who said “the wire” is the best because it gives a raw look at the not so glamorous life of living in the hood and the every day struggles of both partys involved police and the criminals. Thats not even the best thing of the show it allows the viewer to view any of the characters to be looked at as heros in this carefully woven story.But I cannot say that one show is better then the other they give totally differents stances on drugs same idea. Breaking bad is the cook the “kingpin” and Walter white and Jesse Pinkman despite they know how to cook it that is not the problem the problem enlies in getting rid of the product which is where i connect with the show and i sure alot of viewers can to. where The wire give a more gritty look at the steets of Baltimore. They are both absolutely amazing shows not one is better then the other they stand equal on their pedestals of television greatness.
are you serious!? How is LOST not on here?? It is the best show ever created! And How I Met Your Mother??? How is that not on the list. I do love breaking bad, arrested development the office, scrubs and the league. But you left off two of the best shows period.
…That 70′s Show?
The Wire is not available to watch instantly
[movies.netflix.com]
How I met your mother, blue mountain state and that 70′s show?
Breaking bad is by far the BEST series I have ever watched. It deserves to be at number one! Keeps you interested through every season! Love it!
Prison Break #1 Psych #2 Blue Mountain State #3
1. Heroes 2. Lost 3. Monk 4.psych
how anyone could say heroes is a good show, I dunno. you have lost your mind. It had a chance right till the ending of the 1st season finale. So dumb.
I watch Netflix and Im running out shows.. I loved prison break & persons unknown… any suggestions ??
……… Were the fuck was 24, hands down the fucking best TV series on netflix
Oh my Gosh, I think there’s something wrong with me because I literally hate every tv show listed here. Although the creator of firefly is a genius and I like his other shows.
Hey i know whats missing here…TRAILER PARK BOYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m guessing that this person is really into either sports metaphors or burp and fart jokes. Probably both. I dislike every single show you’ve mentioned. What about Downton Abbey? Frasier? Cheers? Lost? How I Met Your Mother? That 70s Show? C’mon!
Ummmmmmm, I don’t know what Netflix you are watching, but the best show around is TRAILER PARK BOYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
thats right! go watch trailer park boys right now its too funny man
EVERYONE should watch the new Sherlock season 1 and 2: [movies.netflix.com]
Brilliant!
Hey everyone, thanks for all the recommendation. Very good list. I got desperate when i ran out of shows until now. BTW, check out REAPER if your list is running low. Thanks for the advise on shows to watch.
Doc Martin
The Tudors
White Collar
Jekyll. Its another Steven Moffat show (Doctor Who, Sherlock), and James Nesbitt is fantastic in it.
United States of Tara is one of the best TV shows I have ever seen! I watched 3 seasons in a day and a half! I don’t know why they canceled it but I’m even sadder that its not on the list :C booo!
Breaking Bad is awesome as all hell but the rest I either haven’t watched, lost interest in, or no not like. Parks and Recreation sux! I really tried but just couldn’t do it. SoA I’m going to have to try watching from the begining, other wise I wont be able to get a good feel for it
Lost? The X-Files?
seriously? every time i click ‘next’ it scrolls to the bottom. this website sucks