Ever watch a show that had a ridiculous plot, insulted your intelligence or had characters performing unbelievable feats and they weren't superheroes--and yet you wouldn't miss an episode?

Try '24'. You know, starring Kiefer Sutherland. My sister told me to watch it; I thought it was stupid. Then I watched a second episode, then a third. And, before I knew it, I bought the first three years of the show on DVD. I considered having a feeding tube and a catheter hooked up; I didn't want to miss a second of this 'edge of your seat' taut drama.

It's plot is a bit unrealistic. Each episode represents one day in the life of Sutherland et. al.; they work for an anti-terrorist secret government agency. A typical episode is counted in minutes and it's not unusual for Sutherland to have prevented World War III, stopped two terrorista from blowing up Peoria, killed a rapist and uncovered three spies working in the agency. And it's only 10:30am.

It's so full of talented actors and effective writing and filming, the plot takes a back seat and the unbelievable plots suddenly become exciting nail-biting realities.

And it's one of the only shows to leave political correctness out of the story line. Middle East terrorists are Arabs...they speak Arabic, and are Middle Eastern actors. Same with Hispanic, Afro-American, etc. A realistic welcome addition.

Watch a few episodes and you'll be hooked.

Yes. I'm ashamed to admit to being a fan of "Murder, She Wrote". Probably just because I like Angela Landsbury. Certainly not because it has any basis in anything even remotely nearing reality. I mean, lets face it. What police detective would let a curious mystery writer hang around a murder scene let alone make her privy to investigation reports? Totally lucicrous. It's also amazing how she manages to make every police investigator look totally inept. Of course they would NEVER have managed to solve the crime without the indispensible aid of Mrs. Fletcher.
Another thing....I would be scared to death to be anywhere near Jessica Fletcher. Wherever she is, a murder takes place. Talk about your bad luck!

In summary: in spite of its complete insult of a person's intelligence, I still will watch. What does that say about me??

Hmmm. I have to admit that I've never seen 24. Or Alias. Or Joey. I have caught Murder, She Wrote a couple of times. I thought it OK fun - and I heartily agree, BKA, I quickly observed that everytime Fletcher showed up somebody was iced in no time flat! Then there is this new show House. A surly abusive doctor figuring out all these bizarre health disorders? It sounded too off the wall to be paid any mind to. Now, however, I can't get enough of it. Sure, no hospital I can think of would put up with a doctor like that - but it certainly makes for a fascinating weekly hour!

Well, Bally, I wouldn't be so hard on myself if I were you! We watch this stuff to a - muse ourselves, after all. [which in the Greek translates roughly as 'not to think'!] And I promise you -my list will make "Murder" look like educational television...

My mindless favorites are several - The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Andy Griffith Show, Boy Meets World...but if I have really been tapped out emotionally by my day - Spongebob Squarepants. My Emmy and I can sit in a glazed - over heap and watch it together.

I confess to being a hard core McGyver addict back in the 1980's, too.Who wouldn't be drawn to a guy who could save your life with a stick of gum and a Chuck E Cheese token?

I love Murder She wrote anf McGyver too.
McGyver makes me laugh because it's so funny. I also like Diagnosis Murder and The A-Team. The 80's had some great shows!

"America's Next Top Model"

It makes me feel smart and not so bad about not caring that I don't realyl care about makeup...

Get Smart is one on my list. It's so dumb, but it's funny. And my husband loves MacGyver.

However, I don't consider The Dick Van Dyke Show to be "mindless," ktstew. It's one of the smartest sitcoms of the '60s. Many of those '60s sitcoms get on my nerves (Green Acres, Mr. Ed, The Beverly Hillbillies, I Dream of Jeannie, to name a few), but Van Dyke is a class apart. Just my two cents' worth.

Oh dear, I do apologise for that! I should've specified lighthearted for Dick Van Dyke - because, of course the writing is funny, sophisticated, and very dry. I 've loved it ever since I can remember. There are few shows to equal it, in any decade.

Andy Griffith has the same effect on me. The show is light hearted -but also a masterpiece of comic timing with sound writing and incredibly funny, three dimensional characters.

Please don't take a swat at me!

The Dukes of Hazzard was as corny as they come, but I loved it!

How DID the General Lee survive those ludicrous jumps over rivers, bridges, etc, and every cop car was wrecked trying the same trick?

(And I did NOT watch it because of Daisy Duke, either, hehe).

I just figure if I'm watching it, surely it can't be stupid. (It's not and don't call me Shirley!)

And just a correction vendome, each episode represents one hour of one day, hence 24 episodes in a season and the countdown timer. So, after a season of "24" you have watched one day in the life of Kiefer Sutherland.

"Ever watch a show that had a ridiculous plot, insulted your intelligence or had characters performing unbelievable feats and they weren't superheroes--and yet you wouldn't miss an episode?"

I can't believe no-one's mentioned "Desperate Housewives". It's mindless but hilarious! I wouldn't miss it!

Shirley:

You've got to be kidding! This means that he saves the world, captures three terrorists, prevents two rapes and uncovers spies in fifteen minutes?

Damn. He's good.

My motto is: "I do more by 10:00am than most people do by 7:00am!" But all of that in a 24 hour period is pretty darn amazing! But like I say, movies is magic!

I have a couple I just find myself making sure I catch every week...

1. House (mentioned already)
2. Hell's Kitchen - I worked with a chef just like this once...
3. and a blast from the past, however I loved CHiPs....living in LA I neve saw the kinds of accidents that occured in every episode.

The Red Green Show.

It is taped around the area and I like to see if I can recognize where they are.

Oh man, I have NEVER watched "Desperate Housewives", "Alias", "McGyver", "24", "The Dukes of Hazzard", "The Andy Griffith Show", "The Dick Van Dyke Show", "House" or many of the other's mentioned here.

For my mindless fav's I'll say... "America's Next Top Model" don't know why, I just got hooked on the first season and haven't looked back since. "Rescue Me" it seems it's more about sex and swearing then actually fighting fire, but I like it. "Six Feet Under", sometimes I watch and will say out loud "this is so stupid", but I still watch it. "Survivor"... it seems that since the first season it's been getting sillier and sillier, and the challenges are just regurgitations of other season challenges, but I still never miss an episode. I'd say "LOST" as well, but since I don't consider it mindless (although a lot of people do), I'll save it for the "Great shows you're hooked on" thread.

Quote:

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The Red Green Show.

It is taped around the area and I like to see if I can recognize where they are.

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I was recently in upper New York State and caught this show. It was so stupid, and yet, I couldn't seem to tear myself away from the screen. I wish I could see it more often; I thought it was hilarious.

Lol, Red Green has a way of trapping viewers! I can't help but watching it when I come across it on TV, it's so ridiculously silly that you can't help but laugh and wonder what the heck he's gonna do next. Some of those characters are way off the wall too, but so much like people I know.

ClaraSue - Red Green has a movie you would like. It's called "Duct Tape Forever"

<The Dukes of Hazzard was as corny as they come, but I loved it!

How DID the General Lee survive those ludicrous jumps over rivers, bridges, etc, and every cop car was wrecked trying the same trick?

(And I did NOT watch it because of Daisy Duke, either, hehe)>

Same here Ozz In retrospect yes it was a very corny show where nothing that actually happened could possibly happen in real life, or at least not in the way that it did on the show. If you buy the dvds like I am from the US, they give commentaries with a few of the episodes where they explain just how the jumps really worked out (or didn't work out) although you could tell anyway with most of them that the car did not land where the film said it did... he he

Coo coo... I love it I love it