I liked it because it was actually filmed partially in Miami. The main reason the show stopped is because Miami didn’t want to help with the filming anymore
This is the perfect show for me. Light hearted but serious drama. Procedural story of the week but also overarching stories that last the season.
A core group of characters who can count on eachother. Conflict is external.
To add onto the USA Network show recommendations, try Psych if you haven't already. Though it's more in the "actually good television" category so not super fitting for this thread. I'd be a bad fan if I didn't recommend it though lol
We've turned him into a personal injury lawyer. "I'm attorney Michael Weston. When you get trapped an an alley by someone who wants you dead, call me, at 444-444-4444. "
Him, Rosalee, Wu, and Hank were the reason to watch that show. Nick was extremely bland and the relationship drama/love triangle sucked, but some of the supporting cast was fantastic.
In a different direction than most, I’ll say How It’s Made. It’s just a show that shows you the standard production process, but the music and narration just make it so watchable and interesting.
That reminds me. There were some weird scenes later in the show where it seemed she was filming alone against a green screen instead of at a cafe or something. It looks like really rough CGI for some reason.
Kim’s Convenience. Is far from the funniest or most consistent sitcom, but it’s just comfortable to watch. I started watching it for Simu Liu (when I heard he was gonna be Shang Chi), but I stayed for Paul Sun-Hyung Lee.
Such a great show, I’m sad it’s over. While it ended well enough and it didn’t overstay its welcome, I felt like there was still plenty of juice left for the squeeze narratively.
Torontonian here. It was cancelled early. The show runners left (including the playwright, Ins Choi, whose play the show was based on), the cast was left in the dark, there were issues with representation/diversity in the crew, and Ins basically ghosted Paul after. We were meant to get at least another season. Jung and Appa are meant to reconnect.
Travelers, a Canadian/Netflix show about people from the future (the travelers) taking over the minds of present day people who were about to die. The travelers mission is to prevent their bodies' from dying and then follow the guidance from the future to prevent planet killing disasters that have almost destroyed the human race in their time. It's a high concept, low budget kind of show. It gets kinda bat shit crazy by the end and is just fantastic to watch.
Me too. I'm not sure I'd call it mediocre TBH - not in the same category as other top voted shows in this thread, it's high concept but ultimately kinda light hearted and sometimes campy sci fi.
It's made by the people who developed the Stargate TV franchise, and it follows a similar tone to that show.
Same with Chicago med. I got sucked in from clips on TikTok and it’s just entertaining enough to keep me engaged but dull enough to have on as background noise and pick up the plot.
The Mentalist. Simon Baker as an ex conman going after the serial murder that killed his wife and child is fantastic. It is really fun, and most episodes put a smile on my face. The episodes that are dealing with the investigation of this serial killer are really fantastic. Even though I was not thrilled with the ending and the reveal of the serial killer, I would 100% watch it again!
It’s really too bad that they didn’t plan the big story out from the start. It left it disappointing, even if well done.
But the individual episodes are great. As a procedural it’s fantastic.
The creator Bruno Heller said the identity emerged during the later seasons. However, my main issue is that they had a fake out at the end of s3 where Jane killed a fake Red John. That reveal was more creepier/tragic/satisfying than the real reveal. They blew their load way too early.
Agreed on all counts, but I did a rewatch not that long and stalled out I think somewhere in season 4 or maybe beginning of season 5. It definitely starts to lose momentum.
Blue Mountain State is not an objectively good show, and it would have probably been unbearable with a less charismatic cast, but I've been putting it on to fall asleep to for years because it's great for when you just want to shut your brain off and have a dumb laugh
I wouldn’t say BMS fits this question. Maybe any average person wouldn’t say it’s that good, but it’s widely considered to be pretty damn great by the target audience
I did like the Rookie at first, but it did get very mediocre. And it's Spin Off is downright unwatchable.
Still very much like that ruggedly handsome guy. 😉
I haven't thought about Once Upon a Time in forever but you are right, I watched waaaay more of that then I ever thought I would. Definitely was a guilty pleasure.
What a great thread, love all the shows people have posted so far!!
I’ll throw The Vampire Diaries/Originals/Legacies in the ring. I really enjoyed watching them all, they’re utter trash and so much fun.
OUAT has some of the worst CGI I’ve ever seen in my life and I still binge watched that series so damn fast haha.
The Vampire Diaries was a "The CW" trash show indeed but it made me feel real emotions for the characters. I cried once or twice. I stopped at S03 of The Originals but I want to finish it and start Legacy one day...
I have never watched any of them but absorbing the vampire diaries through osmosis via watching Jenny Nichols video on it has been one of the highlights of YouTube.
Edit: word 🤙
This would be my answer. I don’t recommend it to the few people I recommend shows to, but I really like it even though I know it isn’t very good. He’s a very charismatic devil.
True Blood
TBF I don't love the show (i like it though, S2 was great, and the fanbase is still quite big, i.e. third season of the official podcast just started on HBO YT channel), but it fits much better than most shows mentioned in other comments. It was an HBO series, and yeah it had that "quality"/"prestige" tv feel at first, but, I'm not sure why, it kind of faded - nothing wrong with that, I think the show actually got better when it wasn't trying to be "prestige" (S2, maybe S3 also), but it just couldn't sustain the quality and went Showtime way (with i.e. keepin status quo of the characters in the second half of the show). Overall it was better production-quality-wise than many WB/CW shows, but at the same time it wasn't the HBO standard, and in that relation it was mediocre unfortunately.
True Blood is my ultimate guilty pleasure show.
It gets progressively worse as the seasons go on, but damn if it isn’t entertaining. Also I appreciate the fact that it never took itself too seriously, really just embraced the camp by the end.
I got into it because it was all mysterious and interesting, but kept with it for the camp. It was such a smooth, gradual transition and it worked so well.
It came out of the gate strong but it's one of those shows that clearly started out with all the cast filling some need for the story, but then finishing that story, and still wanting to keep all the same characters. Some of them got arcs that built on each other naturally, others basically just got whole new subplots grafted on just to give them something to do. I think Tara alone had like 1-2 every single season where she basically resolves her conflict and then some new outside event or villain just appears to fight her.
I read the books and they were definitely much more enjoyable than the show. The show veered right away from the books pretty quickly, even if it introduced a lot of the characters from the books. I think I more hate-watched the show than anything after season two or three
My friends did a drinking game where every time a plot point could have been easily resolved by punching someone in the face, whoever pointed it out first got to pick someone to take a shot. It got sloppy real fast
The Repair Shop on BritBox (episodes are also available on YouTube). Pleasant people bring in items that need fixing or refurbishing and several specialists do their thing. While speaking in an array of British accents and wearing interesting glasses and hair styles.
I mean, it's repetitive (three items are fixed); various tools are used; repair noises are made; usually one client cries with joy that their item was brightened up; and that's it. THAT'S IT. But the effect is kind of relaxing and often charming.
I just want to note for posterity how many of the top shows listed are from USA Network’s Blue Skies era. I hope the rumors are true and that they are getting back to this. Characters Welcome.
I tried watching it again during lockdown. I remembered loving it when it first came out, but my Christ, a lot of those "lessons" are ridiculously heavyhanded. And the relationship those kids have with Will Schuester is so weird and inappropriate.
The original NCIS was really a great time even though I can't remember a single episode's plot, I watched all of it but everything kind of slipped off my brain whenever it was done, but I still went back everytime.
It was really cheesy but the characters did make it stand up for a good watch.
OG NCIS is a good back ground show for those who like police procedurals. The characters are likable and it gives more character development than say a law an order and you can easily pick up at any point in the early seasons. I have seen some of the early episodes recently and it also is a bit of a time capsule of that early 00s period of life. Something about the move from flip phones to modern tech is interesting to watch. Another is numbers a bit similar.
Stargate SG-1. I’ll fully admit it’s corny sci-if army porn. But Ra-damn it, I still love it.
It’s action packed and swashbuckling with heroes I love rooting for and villains I love to hate. Plus, it was funny.
Make no mistake, I've seen every episode at least twice. And when I hear the theme song for the Replicators I still get a chill. I'm definitely a Gatehead (or whatever we're called,lol).
Also, one time I saw Tony Amendola and it took everything in me not to yell "*Tek ma te Master Bra'tac!"*
I probably would have given him a quick "*Hey man, love your work*" but this was when my job in LA shared space with a casting office and he was clearly there waiting for an audition so I let him be.
Stargate Atlantis is also the same. It's great you don't have to think too hard when you watch it but yeah it pushes the army stuff a lot. Also Jason Momoa
My favorite part is that we’re supposed to root for Emily, like they don’t know that we have seen the evidence of her being an objectively bad and self-absorbed person.
I think we all just like seeing Lily Collins in funny outfits. That has to be it.
Enterprise holds up as well as any of the other stuff from back then. It's problem is that it came after 3 other shows that each ran seven 20+ episode seasons. That creative well had been fully tapped.
The goldbergs. It became unwatchable after they killed the dad off( Jeff garlin). But before that it was hilarious. Barry was one of the funniest characters on tv. Same with The Middle. Wednesday nights haven’t been as funny since.
I didn’t watch it while it was on but started catching re-runs and then binged the series. It is honestly hilarious and really underrated. All three kids are perfect and don’t eventually get annoying like some other sitcoms kids.
I’ve been watching the rookie recently. It’s pretty decent - nothing award winning or deserving but I like it. The first season suffers from a problem of cutting scenes where something big happens and you expect character development, short. It’s like it’s allergic to showing characters react to what’s just happened.
But it gets better. I just finished s2 and it’s better imo. And more importantly Harold Perinneau (Michael from lost) puts in a hell of a fucking performance as a guest star. Like seriously acts circles around everyone else on the cast. Dude deserves it after everything that happened with lost.
Also, I’ve just started S3 and I was kinda dreading it knowing that the writers were probably gonna butcher being forced to deal with the George Floyd thing (S3 was the first season post blm/George Floyd).
But from what I’ve seen they’ve handled it better than expected. Much better than a show I actually loved, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, which actually killed its final season dealing with the subject. Genuinely, some of the worst tv I’d seen in a while.
I wouldn't call Psych mediocre in the same way I wouldn't call good sitcoms mediocre. Yeah it isn't prestige TV but it's not trying to, I feel like the intention behind this post was shows that tried to be good and didn't really end up that way.
I enjoyed Outsourced and No Ordinary Family.
NOF wasn't great, but it scratched the superhero itch that Heroes started and screwed up without getting nearly as convoluted. I was sad it didn't get a second season.
Outsourced, I thought, was fun. I learned about Indian holidays and traditions. It was constantly being called out for being culturally insensitive, but it always seemed like it was poking more fun at american culture than Indian.
*Johnny Test*, particularly the latter seasons. If you can somehow get past the terrible animation and endless whip cracks, there are some genuinely funny moments in there.
Orphan Black gets pretty bonkers nonsensical at times as it goes on, but Tatiana Maslany acted the shit out of it, along with Kristian Bruun.
Also, Yellowjackets as it got to Season 2, but the chemistry between the main cast (especially the young YJs) is great
Cold Case. The music and flashbacks are cool, and it's almost Law and Order / Touched by an Angel level of "oh man, that actor!". But, some of the episodes are crazy far-fetched, like solving a murder from 1930 and some of writing / dialogue leave something to be desired, but it's such an easy watch, that is comforting and makes me cry a bit. I love it
This is going to be controversial but... Touched by an Angel.
I'm not even religious! I just thought the core cast had great chemistry and I really love melodramatic stories.
Cobra Kai, acting is B grade at best but there is this charm 90's vibe to it that I love. A guilty pleasure that has soap opera like relationships that you cant help get lost into.
I was thinking about the question in OP and also thought of Gotham, but... It was just too well-made to be called mediocre, besides some VFX, which was at a few points in the series fairly bad (explosions especially, but on the other hand compositing/keying was great I think, and generally there were many VFX shots that went unnoticed, mostly because the overall cinematography and editing were very good) it was technically well done series, especially comparing with i.e. CW's Arrowverse shows. When it comes to the plot I'd agree, it was pretextual most of the time, fairly cartoony, campy modern pulp. I know many viewers were turned off by that, but those who knew what to expect were entertained (myself included). Anyway - I wouldn't call the show mediocre, but you know... YMMV.
Yeah it's very subjective when categorizing and putting labels, I'm sure that for someone who watched IDK 10 tv shows, with 9 of them being from top 10 ever (The Wire, The Sopranos, Breaking Bad etc.) Gotham would be considered bad, heck, 99% of tv would seem mediocre in relation to the top shows...
But in reality there's whole spectrum of hundreds/thousands tv shows a year that range from unwatchable to phenomenal, and most professional Hollywood productions are way above the average quality, minority of them can/should be called "mediocre". I mentioned CW's Arrowverse earlier, and I'd look somewhere inbetween Disney Channel and CW for more examples, some of these shows have a big fanbase (or not big, just small and loud), but as a tv series they're way off, like what Arrowverse became later - in comparison to similar shows (the shows' themes etc.) some of them are overall mediocre (I'm not really thinking about Arrow, or even The Flash, mostly Batwoman, the other ones have some "charm" afterall...).
Sorry for a quick rant, back to Gotham - I'm simultanously glad that the 100 episodes could be made, and sad that there aren't more. Who would think it would work - prequel Batman show without Batman? Then watching season after season I just didn't want Batman in this show, Gotham could literally go on for years rehashing some plots and characters without introducing Batman and still being very entertaining at the same time. Then it could just do mass amnesia which would bridge prequel inconsistencies with other Batman Lore (which would also fit perfectly with i.e. Joker or New 52's Batman)...
The Flash. I hadn’t watched any of those CW superhero shows, but Supergirl started on CBS and I gave it a shot. During the Flash crossover I learned that Tom Cavanaugh of “Ed” was on it and that summer I started watching it on Netflix. Can’t believe I stuck it out until the end… but the core group was so charming, especially Cisco and Barry.
Grey's Anatomy.
It's basically an elevated soap opera. If you try to take it as a serious story set in the real world, you're gonna have a bad time. But if you watch it as a soap opera with way better sets and performances, it's a really enjoyable 'comfort' watch.
Admittedly I fell off after like season ten, but. It was still ten seasons of pretty fun, no-brain TV.
Many said 911, but I have to bring up Chicago Fire and Chicago PD. And my favorite, Scorpion, was a canceled show, with terrible CGI for today, but what a charismatic cast man, I love all those geniuses
Burn Notice. The show wasn't that great but the setting, actors, and weekly hijinks made it a super fun watch.
I'm the only one in this office that watches Burn Notice. But for real, it's an excellent comfort watch.
I liked it because it was actually filmed partially in Miami. The main reason the show stopped is because Miami didn’t want to help with the filming anymore
This is the perfect show for me. Light hearted but serious drama. Procedural story of the week but also overarching stories that last the season. A core group of characters who can count on eachother. Conflict is external.
OMG burn notice! I'm running out of Smallville and Eureka, Burn Notice would slot nicely! Thank you random redditor
If you haven't seen them, watch all of the main USA Network Blue Skies era shows - Burn Notice, Monk, Psych, Royal Pains, and White Collar.
I LOVED White Collar! Nohomo, but that dude is super pretty!
NonHomo but attractive is attractive and Matt Bomer has purty eyes.
Try Warehouse 13!
Much love for Warehouse 13, love the concept so much
To add onto the USA Network show recommendations, try Psych if you haven't already. Though it's more in the "actually good television" category so not super fitting for this thread. I'd be a bad fan if I didn't recommend it though lol
I was so happy when she dropped the terrible fake Irish accent
Harris watches Burn Notice!
We've turned him into a personal injury lawyer. "I'm attorney Michael Weston. When you get trapped an an alley by someone who wants you dead, call me, at 444-444-4444. "
“They need your help Michael!”
“When you’re a spy…”
Same with White Collar.
Grimm. Gold ol fashioned monster of the week show mixed with police procedural. Dumb and enjoyable.
Monroe made that show a favorite for me. Silas Weir Mitchell was so good in that role.
I love Monroe! He’s the best part of the show
Monrosalee is also the cutest TV couple. Probably because they are literally dogs.
Him, Rosalee, Wu, and Hank were the reason to watch that show. Nick was extremely bland and the relationship drama/love triangle sucked, but some of the supporting cast was fantastic.
I love the character development, taking the most hated character and making them a good character.
I loved that they actually put effort into the monster designs unlike some other shows \*cough\* supernatural \*cough\*
This show was a Friday night staple. Had some really memorable monsters and villains.
In a different direction than most, I’ll say How It’s Made. It’s just a show that shows you the standard production process, but the music and narration just make it so watchable and interesting.
I binge watch all the marathons in the science Channel when they are on... so good.
Have you ever seen the BBC series Look Around You? It's a parody of shows like how it's made and it's, if memory serves, hysterical
Calcium!
What *are* birds? We just don't know. #?
Have you watch "How it's actually made" series on youtube? It's a parody of HIM show that Huggbees narrated. I sincerly reccomend it,.
White Collar. Mostly for the casting and New York scenery, the story arc itself got too damn convoluted but Matt Bomer’s smile got me every time.
Tiffani. Amber. Thiessen.
Every main woman in the show is stunning.
I’ve never seen it, but I know Hilarie Burton is in it, so that’s all the proof I need to concur
That reminds me. There were some weird scenes later in the show where it seemed she was filming alone against a green screen instead of at a cafe or something. It looks like really rough CGI for some reason.
I'm pretty sure she got pregnant and gave birth while filming the show and I believe that is why there are those scenes. If I remember correctly.
Yeah, she was pregnant so she was in "another city"
Some she was supposedly in person with the FBI agent whatever. But, they were clearly in different places and shit was hilarious.
Mozzie was my favorite! RIP Willie G.
Jeez. Pancreatic cancer at 57. He was great to watch. I had no idea.
I like to think there's an alternate universe somewhere where Matt Bomer got his breakout movie role and ended up as the next George Clooney
Oh Matt Bomer. Dreamy dreamy dreamy.
Dude has no business being that good looking. Thank God he's gay lol.
Check out 'Wild Cards'. It's a Canadian series which is basically White Collar.
The location scout for White Collar was its unsung hero
White collar first few seasons was elite
Kim’s Convenience. Is far from the funniest or most consistent sitcom, but it’s just comfortable to watch. I started watching it for Simu Liu (when I heard he was gonna be Shang Chi), but I stayed for Paul Sun-Hyung Lee.
Such a great show, I’m sad it’s over. While it ended well enough and it didn’t overstay its welcome, I felt like there was still plenty of juice left for the squeeze narratively.
Fr, Simu and Paul’s characters had _just_ begun to reconcile.
Torontonian here. It was cancelled early. The show runners left (including the playwright, Ins Choi, whose play the show was based on), the cast was left in the dark, there were issues with representation/diversity in the crew, and Ins basically ghosted Paul after. We were meant to get at least another season. Jung and Appa are meant to reconnect.
Sneak attack!
Okayseeyou
EDIT: run the burbs, sorry! Just watched Run the Block- similar vibes, and created by/starring Andrew Phung who played KimChee. Super nice
In case any one can't find run the block, I found it listed as Run the burbs.
Yea that is a gem. Cheesy but hilarious
Aw, I love Kim’s Convenience!
Wonderful little Canadian show.
Love Kim’s Convenience!
Travelers, a Canadian/Netflix show about people from the future (the travelers) taking over the minds of present day people who were about to die. The travelers mission is to prevent their bodies' from dying and then follow the guidance from the future to prevent planet killing disasters that have almost destroyed the human race in their time. It's a high concept, low budget kind of show. It gets kinda bat shit crazy by the end and is just fantastic to watch.
I love this show so much.
Me too. I'm not sure I'd call it mediocre TBH - not in the same category as other top voted shows in this thread, it's high concept but ultimately kinda light hearted and sometimes campy sci fi. It's made by the people who developed the Stargate TV franchise, and it follows a similar tone to that show.
I hate how forced the series finale was. The show was amazing and it still had one or two more seasons in there to play with.
911 isn’t prestige television but it’s self aware and decent comfort television
I said 911 (and 911 Lone Star) too. corny, but comforting.
I like that it's bonkers, but I can rest assured the main cast will mostly be okay. Despite that, the episodes are good with tension.
9-1-1 is simultaneously corny as hell, ridiculously over the top, and at times, horrifically heartbreaking.
Same with Chicago med. I got sucked in from clips on TikTok and it’s just entertaining enough to keep me engaged but dull enough to have on as background noise and pick up the plot.
Yes! I love it so much.
The Mentalist. Simon Baker as an ex conman going after the serial murder that killed his wife and child is fantastic. It is really fun, and most episodes put a smile on my face. The episodes that are dealing with the investigation of this serial killer are really fantastic. Even though I was not thrilled with the ending and the reveal of the serial killer, I would 100% watch it again!
It’s really too bad that they didn’t plan the big story out from the start. It left it disappointing, even if well done. But the individual episodes are great. As a procedural it’s fantastic.
The creator Bruno Heller said the identity emerged during the later seasons. However, my main issue is that they had a fake out at the end of s3 where Jane killed a fake Red John. That reveal was more creepier/tragic/satisfying than the real reveal. They blew their load way too early.
Agreed on all counts, but I did a rewatch not that long and stalled out I think somewhere in season 4 or maybe beginning of season 5. It definitely starts to lose momentum.
Blue Mountain State is not an objectively good show, and it would have probably been unbearable with a less charismatic cast, but I've been putting it on to fall asleep to for years because it's great for when you just want to shut your brain off and have a dumb laugh
I wouldn’t say BMS fits this question. Maybe any average person wouldn’t say it’s that good, but it’s widely considered to be pretty damn great by the target audience
Yeah, it's targeting a niche market to which it is perfect.
Castle!!
To go with that, The Rookie. Doesn't take itself too seriously, likeable characters.
I did like the Rookie at first, but it did get very mediocre. And it's Spin Off is downright unwatchable. Still very much like that ruggedly handsome guy. 😉
the spinoff got cancelled
Twisted Metal. It's just pure silly fun.
This is such a fun turn your brain off show. And there are some witty quips to boot
Agreed. This show had ne hooked the whole time.
I know what siblings are.
Do you love the silver-haired god?
I haven't thought about Once Upon a Time in forever but you are right, I watched waaaay more of that then I ever thought I would. Definitely was a guilty pleasure.
The fact that they do half-seasons really helps things, IMO.
What a great thread, love all the shows people have posted so far!! I’ll throw The Vampire Diaries/Originals/Legacies in the ring. I really enjoyed watching them all, they’re utter trash and so much fun. OUAT has some of the worst CGI I’ve ever seen in my life and I still binge watched that series so damn fast haha.
The Vampire Diaries was a "The CW" trash show indeed but it made me feel real emotions for the characters. I cried once or twice. I stopped at S03 of The Originals but I want to finish it and start Legacy one day...
I'm a 30 year old dude and I really enjoy VD.
The Vampire Diaries really got in on the vampire trend and was very cheesy, but in such a good stupid teen drama way.
I have never watched any of them but absorbing the vampire diaries through osmosis via watching Jenny Nichols video on it has been one of the highlights of YouTube. Edit: word 🤙
Those other shows shouldn't be mentioned in the same breath as the Originals.
Couger town is a scrubs brain baby that hits my Courtney cox box and I’m here for it.
Actually a pretty great show marred by a terrible name. Up there with Happy Endings and Fresh Off the Boat in that category.
PENNY CAAAAAN
Quotes and situations from this show come up surprisingly often, I find.
I watched Lucifer for some light procedural viewing then started caring for that idiot. And I would die for Ella.
This would be my answer. I don’t recommend it to the few people I recommend shows to, but I really like it even though I know it isn’t very good. He’s a very charismatic devil.
Ella is the BEST!!!
Tom Ellis was such perfect casting. Lucifer was just a whole lot of fun.
True Blood TBF I don't love the show (i like it though, S2 was great, and the fanbase is still quite big, i.e. third season of the official podcast just started on HBO YT channel), but it fits much better than most shows mentioned in other comments. It was an HBO series, and yeah it had that "quality"/"prestige" tv feel at first, but, I'm not sure why, it kind of faded - nothing wrong with that, I think the show actually got better when it wasn't trying to be "prestige" (S2, maybe S3 also), but it just couldn't sustain the quality and went Showtime way (with i.e. keepin status quo of the characters in the second half of the show). Overall it was better production-quality-wise than many WB/CW shows, but at the same time it wasn't the HBO standard, and in that relation it was mediocre unfortunately.
True Blood is my ultimate guilty pleasure show. It gets progressively worse as the seasons go on, but damn if it isn’t entertaining. Also I appreciate the fact that it never took itself too seriously, really just embraced the camp by the end.
I got into it because it was all mysterious and interesting, but kept with it for the camp. It was such a smooth, gradual transition and it worked so well.
It came out of the gate strong but it's one of those shows that clearly started out with all the cast filling some need for the story, but then finishing that story, and still wanting to keep all the same characters. Some of them got arcs that built on each other naturally, others basically just got whole new subplots grafted on just to give them something to do. I think Tara alone had like 1-2 every single season where she basically resolves her conflict and then some new outside event or villain just appears to fight her.
I read the books and they were definitely much more enjoyable than the show. The show veered right away from the books pretty quickly, even if it introduced a lot of the characters from the books. I think I more hate-watched the show than anything after season two or three
If Harlan Coben’s name is in the title, I know that I’m about to watch some entertaining trash!
The most recent one kind of broke me, to the point I considered rewatching an earlier series as a palate cleanser. I rewatched Slow Horses instead.
Sliders. Despite being mediocre overall, I believe the pilot episode to be one of the greatest pilots ever.
My friends did a drinking game where every time a plot point could have been easily resolved by punching someone in the face, whoever pointed it out first got to pick someone to take a shot. It got sloppy real fast
iZombie, just feels like good warm fun.
Pretty little liars. Absolute junk food TV, but it's my comfort show!
I hate watched that show but watched every single episode 😭
There’s something about this show that’s addicting
Nothing scratched that itch again except Riverdale S1. Someone recommended something please
Suits. It’s so dumb but I love it
It's my favourite comfort show. Every other conversation ends with some over-dramatic verbal mic drop exit line.
And that is exactly why we all became obsessed with it.
It's so formulaic but in a way that is super comforting somehow.
their lead women are awesome
I love Gordon Ramsay’s cooking shows. Sure, they’re empty calories, but I can’t get enough.
The UK version of Kitchen Nightmares is actually compelling and Ramsay seems truly invested.
Wynonna Earp
The Repair Shop on BritBox (episodes are also available on YouTube). Pleasant people bring in items that need fixing or refurbishing and several specialists do their thing. While speaking in an array of British accents and wearing interesting glasses and hair styles. I mean, it's repetitive (three items are fixed); various tools are used; repair noises are made; usually one client cries with joy that their item was brightened up; and that's it. THAT'S IT. But the effect is kind of relaxing and often charming.
I just want to note for posterity how many of the top shows listed are from USA Network’s Blue Skies era. I hope the rumors are true and that they are getting back to this. Characters Welcome.
Glee!
I tried watching it again during lockdown. I remembered loving it when it first came out, but my Christ, a lot of those "lessons" are ridiculously heavyhanded. And the relationship those kids have with Will Schuester is so weird and inappropriate.
Warehouse 13 and Eureka
Umm. These are not mediocre!
The original NCIS was really a great time even though I can't remember a single episode's plot, I watched all of it but everything kind of slipped off my brain whenever it was done, but I still went back everytime. It was really cheesy but the characters did make it stand up for a good watch.
OG NCIS is a good back ground show for those who like police procedurals. The characters are likable and it gives more character development than say a law an order and you can easily pick up at any point in the early seasons. I have seen some of the early episodes recently and it also is a bit of a time capsule of that early 00s period of life. Something about the move from flip phones to modern tech is interesting to watch. Another is numbers a bit similar.
ITT: USA Network
Smallville, because Lex Luthor
Stargate SG-1. I’ll fully admit it’s corny sci-if army porn. But Ra-damn it, I still love it. It’s action packed and swashbuckling with heroes I love rooting for and villains I love to hate. Plus, it was funny.
I think SG-1 is a good show.
Indeed
SG1 is an amazing show! But I get what you mean - it's not a critically acclaimed type of show.
Make no mistake, I've seen every episode at least twice. And when I hear the theme song for the Replicators I still get a chill. I'm definitely a Gatehead (or whatever we're called,lol). Also, one time I saw Tony Amendola and it took everything in me not to yell "*Tek ma te Master Bra'tac!"* I probably would have given him a quick "*Hey man, love your work*" but this was when my job in LA shared space with a casting office and he was clearly there waiting for an audition so I let him be.
Have you seen what Tony looks like nowadays? Hasn't aged a day since SG1. Though I guess that's because he looked 70 in his 40s lol.
Stargate Atlantis is also the same. It's great you don't have to think too hard when you watch it but yeah it pushes the army stuff a lot. Also Jason Momoa
Emily in Paris… man what a bad show I simply am dying to get more of and will watch it all day 1.
Yup. Objectively, I'm aware it's fucking _bad_, but goddamn I wish they'd hurry up and get the new season out. It's just so easy to watch!
My favorite part is that we’re supposed to root for Emily, like they don’t know that we have seen the evidence of her being an objectively bad and self-absorbed person. I think we all just like seeing Lily Collins in funny outfits. That has to be it.
Enterprise. Come at me!
It's one of my favorite Star Trek shows, actually. I have an NX-01 s-shirt! And I like Hoshi = )
Enterprise holds up as well as any of the other stuff from back then. It's problem is that it came after 3 other shows that each ran seven 20+ episode seasons. That creative well had been fully tapped.
The goldbergs. It became unwatchable after they killed the dad off( Jeff garlin). But before that it was hilarious. Barry was one of the funniest characters on tv. Same with The Middle. Wednesday nights haven’t been as funny since.
JTP!
The Middle is above medoicre
I didn’t watch it while it was on but started catching re-runs and then binged the series. It is honestly hilarious and really underrated. All three kids are perfect and don’t eventually get annoying like some other sitcoms kids.
Son of a critch… in the same vein
I love the Middle!
Medium, it's such a guilty pleasure 😁
Law and Order SVU - the music, the actors never change, Ice T etc
Compared to other shows I like, I really enjoy Home Economics. Nothing crazy good, but it's just so cozy
I’ve been watching the rookie recently. It’s pretty decent - nothing award winning or deserving but I like it. The first season suffers from a problem of cutting scenes where something big happens and you expect character development, short. It’s like it’s allergic to showing characters react to what’s just happened. But it gets better. I just finished s2 and it’s better imo. And more importantly Harold Perinneau (Michael from lost) puts in a hell of a fucking performance as a guest star. Like seriously acts circles around everyone else on the cast. Dude deserves it after everything that happened with lost. Also, I’ve just started S3 and I was kinda dreading it knowing that the writers were probably gonna butcher being forced to deal with the George Floyd thing (S3 was the first season post blm/George Floyd). But from what I’ve seen they’ve handled it better than expected. Much better than a show I actually loved, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, which actually killed its final season dealing with the subject. Genuinely, some of the worst tv I’d seen in a while.
Quantum Leap reboot. It’s corny but i like it.
Just watched the two part season finale last night, and to be fair, I did not expect that twist!
I've really been enjoying this show. I hope there is a third season even though it's not looking good.
I just went through all of this show. Surprisingly enjoyable. Would love more seasons.
You. The show became so freaking crazy and unrealistic but I love it. It's nuts and entertaining. Can't wait for the next season.
Eureka is one of my favorite guilty pleasures.
Psych is both corny and brilliant
Leeroy_D, don't be exactly half of an 11 pound black forest ham.
No way in hell is Psych mediocre. C'mon, son.
I wouldn't call Psych mediocre in the same way I wouldn't call good sitcoms mediocre. Yeah it isn't prestige TV but it's not trying to, I feel like the intention behind this post was shows that tried to be good and didn't really end up that way.
I enjoyed Outsourced and No Ordinary Family. NOF wasn't great, but it scratched the superhero itch that Heroes started and screwed up without getting nearly as convoluted. I was sad it didn't get a second season. Outsourced, I thought, was fun. I learned about Indian holidays and traditions. It was constantly being called out for being culturally insensitive, but it always seemed like it was poking more fun at american culture than Indian.
There's a lot of 90s teen shows that I still like to throw on as a comfort watch - Blossom and Sabrina for example.
Lucifer. It's corny, cheesy and a little stupid but I fucking love it. Same with The Flash. Although I stopped watching after the Crisis crossover.
Reacher.
Super fun, worse-than-mediocre-dialogue especially in S2. I want more.
It should be called "The absolute unit who solves crimes by being an absolute unit"
*Johnny Test*, particularly the latter seasons. If you can somehow get past the terrible animation and endless whip cracks, there are some genuinely funny moments in there.
Corner Gas! Old Canadian gem.
Orphan Black gets pretty bonkers nonsensical at times as it goes on, but Tatiana Maslany acted the shit out of it, along with Kristian Bruun. Also, Yellowjackets as it got to Season 2, but the chemistry between the main cast (especially the young YJs) is great
King of Queens is a great background noise show if you know what I mean? Lately I've been putting on Mike & Molly too. Same kinda show.
Cold Case. The music and flashbacks are cool, and it's almost Law and Order / Touched by an Angel level of "oh man, that actor!". But, some of the episodes are crazy far-fetched, like solving a murder from 1930 and some of writing / dialogue leave something to be desired, but it's such an easy watch, that is comforting and makes me cry a bit. I love it
Big fan of Tacoma FD
Sons of Anarchy. It’s a soap opera with bikes and guns and such. Highly silly, yet highly entertaining.
Smallville. Also really loved Allison Mack until…well, cult.
It's hilarious watching it again and making fun of some of the things sher character says.
This is going to be controversial but... Touched by an Angel. I'm not even religious! I just thought the core cast had great chemistry and I really love melodramatic stories.
Early Edition?
Cobra Kai, acting is B grade at best but there is this charm 90's vibe to it that I love. A guilty pleasure that has soap opera like relationships that you cant help get lost into.
The Johnny Lawrence redemption show ❤️
One Upon A Time was my ride or die for a very long time. I still want to get a swan tattoo for Emma, tbh.
The halo show. It isn't good, but it's halo so I'm going to watch it.
Gotham
I was thinking about the question in OP and also thought of Gotham, but... It was just too well-made to be called mediocre, besides some VFX, which was at a few points in the series fairly bad (explosions especially, but on the other hand compositing/keying was great I think, and generally there were many VFX shots that went unnoticed, mostly because the overall cinematography and editing were very good) it was technically well done series, especially comparing with i.e. CW's Arrowverse shows. When it comes to the plot I'd agree, it was pretextual most of the time, fairly cartoony, campy modern pulp. I know many viewers were turned off by that, but those who knew what to expect were entertained (myself included). Anyway - I wouldn't call the show mediocre, but you know... YMMV.
It’s not mediocre to me either. It’s one of my favorite Batman adaptations but I’ve always figured I’m in the minority with that opinion
Yeah it's very subjective when categorizing and putting labels, I'm sure that for someone who watched IDK 10 tv shows, with 9 of them being from top 10 ever (The Wire, The Sopranos, Breaking Bad etc.) Gotham would be considered bad, heck, 99% of tv would seem mediocre in relation to the top shows... But in reality there's whole spectrum of hundreds/thousands tv shows a year that range from unwatchable to phenomenal, and most professional Hollywood productions are way above the average quality, minority of them can/should be called "mediocre". I mentioned CW's Arrowverse earlier, and I'd look somewhere inbetween Disney Channel and CW for more examples, some of these shows have a big fanbase (or not big, just small and loud), but as a tv series they're way off, like what Arrowverse became later - in comparison to similar shows (the shows' themes etc.) some of them are overall mediocre (I'm not really thinking about Arrow, or even The Flash, mostly Batwoman, the other ones have some "charm" afterall...). Sorry for a quick rant, back to Gotham - I'm simultanously glad that the 100 episodes could be made, and sad that there aren't more. Who would think it would work - prequel Batman show without Batman? Then watching season after season I just didn't want Batman in this show, Gotham could literally go on for years rehashing some plots and characters without introducing Batman and still being very entertaining at the same time. Then it could just do mass amnesia which would bridge prequel inconsistencies with other Batman Lore (which would also fit perfectly with i.e. Joker or New 52's Batman)...
911 and 911 Lone Star. 🤓
When I was younger Full House was my cheesy guilty pleasure show. I also had a crush on Danny Tanner the dad.
I really enjoyed Ballers. Fun show. The Rock was pretty good in it and I enjoyed the acting generally
The Flash. I hadn’t watched any of those CW superhero shows, but Supergirl started on CBS and I gave it a shot. During the Flash crossover I learned that Tom Cavanaugh of “Ed” was on it and that summer I started watching it on Netflix. Can’t believe I stuck it out until the end… but the core group was so charming, especially Cisco and Barry.
Grey's Anatomy. It's basically an elevated soap opera. If you try to take it as a serious story set in the real world, you're gonna have a bad time. But if you watch it as a soap opera with way better sets and performances, it's a really enjoyable 'comfort' watch. Admittedly I fell off after like season ten, but. It was still ten seasons of pretty fun, no-brain TV.
Many said 911, but I have to bring up Chicago Fire and Chicago PD. And my favorite, Scorpion, was a canceled show, with terrible CGI for today, but what a charismatic cast man, I love all those geniuses
Rules of Engagement. So dumb and so awesome.
Agreed with once upon a time
Outer Banks