IR Greatest TV Show Tournament: Round 1, Bloc 3

[Izulde]

The tournament is still searching for its first upset, despite early hopes that #12 Homicide: Life on the Street looked like it could stun #5 Star Trek.

#7 Twilight Zone might have a tough go of it against #10 Twin Peaks in the Eaglesfan27 region. Let's take a quick look.

Twilight Zone
Originally a CBS show, it ran from 1959-1964 and had two revival periods, from 1985-1989 and from 2002-2003, the latter on UPN. This was the first series that elevated science fiction from mere escapism to the realm of serious drama. In some ways, one could argue that it was the predecessor that allowed shows such as The X-Files to blossom.

Twin Peaks
Ran just two seasons, but became a cultural hit in that first year. Also took the unusual stance of each episode representing a single day (with a few exceptions). This time-specific model for each episode would provide an ancestor of sorts to 24's of each episode representing a single hour.

In the Izulde, #5 Band of Brothers goes up against #12Burn Notice.

Band of Brothers
A 10-part World II HBO miniseries that ran in 2001 and of the few tournament entrants to not actually be an episodic TV show as such. It was nominated for 19 Academy Awards and won 6, including Outstanding Miniseries, Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries, Movie or Special, and Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or Special. It also won the Best Miniseries Golden Globe and a Peabody.

Burn Notice
A rare USA Network, this show is currently in its third season and has been signed on for a fourth. The pilot episode won a 2008 Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Television Episode Teleplay.

The Solecismic features #1 seed The Sopranos taking on #16 seed The A-Team

The Sopranos
Ran for six seasons from 1999-2007 on HBO. It was nominated for the Outstanding Drama Series Emmy every year it was awarded and won in 2004 and 2007. The show also won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama series three times and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama series three times. All told, the show received 111 nominations and 21 Emmy wins, to say nothing of other awards it won from others, such as the Golden Globes and Peabodys, just to name a few.

The A-Team
NBC show from 1983-1986 perhaps most famous for Mr. T. Nominated for three Academy Awards, but won none, unlike The Sopranos.

And finally, in the Pumpy Tudors region, #8 Survivor vs #9 Frasier.

Survivor
In the midst of its 20th season and signed on for a 21st and 22nd season, this show is the one that started off the American reality TV show craze in 2000 on CBS.

Frasier
Ran for 11 seasons (1993-2004) on NBC as a spinoff of Cheers, its potential second round opponent. It won 37 Emmys in its run, crushing the record of 29 set by The Mary Tyler Moore Show and setting a new record for most consecutive Outstanding Comedy Series Emmy wins with 5 from 1994-1998.

[MollyMurphy]

Go A-Team!!

[DanGarion]

Although I love Band of Brothers, I'm withholding my vote for it this round in protest of a miniseries being included as a TV Show. Plus I love Burn Notice and it needs to get some votes.

[Greyroofoo]

A-Team up early!

"I love it when a plan comes together"

[Izulde]

Yeah to me, the Sopranos is the most vulnerable #1 seed, so I'm not surprised to see it getting a run for its money in the early voting.

[Izulde]

By the way, The Twilight Zone set a tournament record by going on a 12-0 run before Twin Peaks got a vote.

[Lathum]

Ugh. C'mon reality show fans!

[DaddyTorgo]

Izulde - Band of Brothers really shouldn't be on there. Purely from a production-values standpoint it's an apples-to-oranges comparison with a miniseries and a tv show.

[molson]

I love Twin Peaks. I've watched the series a couple of times, still really have no idea what the hell happened in that second season, but that show just has a hypnotic trance over me or something.

I'd be sad to see Sopranos go down. The A-Team is a very tough matchup.

[Izulde]

Izulde - Band of Brothers really shouldn't be on there. Purely from a production-values standpoint it's an apples-to-oranges comparison with a miniseries and a tv show.

I made the ruling that miniseries counted. It really was a no-restrictions nominating process, which is how I intended it to be. And I also don't think the decision really cost any shows a spot. I mean sure BoB got in, but Baseball and North & South, just to name a couple famous, well-doen miniseries, didn't get in.

[molson]

There's going to be ridiculous comparisons across genres and timeframe (Sopranos v. A-Team, for example), so I think it's fine there's a documentary thrown in there.

People could have nominated game shows, news shows, etc.

[Izulde]

There's going to be ridiculous comparisons against genres and timeframe (Sopranos v. A-Team, for example), so I think it's fine there's a documentary thrown in there.

People could have nominated game shows, news shows, etc.

I'd have to look at the list again, but I believe The Daily Show got nominated, and I know a couple of the late night talk shows got nominated.

[larrymcg421]

Yeah I nominated both The Daily Show and Late Night w/ David Letterman.

[Peregrine]

Is it really fair to include a miniseries in a poll of TV shows? I guess it works anyway as I can just vote for Burn Notice which is a decent show and works as sort of a protest vote.

[Eaglesfan27]

Glad to see Frasier getting the early love. One of the top 3 comedies on TV for multiple years during it's pinnacle.

[Drake]

Is it really fair to include a miniseries in a poll of TV shows?

Not unlike including the Ivy League or ...insert just about any other small conference here... champion in the NCAA tournament, eh? ;)

[Lathum]

Some pretty big blow outs here.

[Kodos]

I know a lot of people hate reality shows, but Survivor deserves better than this. It's certainly been a more influential show than Frasier. And I am saying this as a fan of Frasier. Obviously, the outcome here is not really important in the grand scheme of things. Just thought I would show Survivor a little support. :)

[Lathum]

I know a lot of people hate reality shows, but Survivor deserves better than this. It's certainly been a more influential show than Frasier. And I am saying this as a fan of Frasier. Obviously, the outcome here is not really important in the grand scheme of things. Just thought I would show Survivor a little support. :)

My opinion is there are 2 types of reality TV. There is Survivor, Amazing Race which are well done and give you a really fun and interesting product. Then there are the Rock of Loves, Whose Your Daddies...of the world that bring the whole genre down.

[Bad-example]

My opinion is there are 2 types of reality TV.

I was talking with a friend about this the other day. I would agree there are 2 types of reality television. There are the documentary-style shows like Ice Road Truckers and the game shows like Big Brother/Hell's Kitchen/Survivor.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Ugh. C'mon reality show fans!

Fuck that shit. No reality show should win any of these games.

Down with reality TV! It's a plague on our air/digital waves.

[Honolulu_Blue]

I know a lot of people hate reality shows, but Survivor deserves better than this. It's certainly been a more influential show than Frasier. And I am saying this as a fan of Frasier. Obviously, the outcome here is not really important in the grand scheme of things. Just thought I would show Survivor a little support. :)

Influential in a very, very bad sort of way. You don't congratulate the kid on your block who was the bad influence who got other kids smoking or into trouble or things.

[Lathum]

I was talking with a friend about this the other day. I would agree there are 2 types of reality television. There are the documentary-style shows like Ice Road Truckers and the game shows like Big Brother/Hell's Kitchen/Survivor.

Fair point. I just think there is a lot of trashy reality shows out there, mostly on MTV and VH1 that give really good shows like survivor a bad name.

[Honolulu_Blue]

I love Twin Peaks. I've watched the series a couple of times, still really have no idea what the hell happened in that second season, but that show just has a hypnotic trance over me or something.

It has a similar effect on me. The fact that it had a number of super hot chicks certainly plays a factor.

[Izulde]

I'm stunned Frasier's winning by as large a margin as it is. I find it one of the most boring shows on television, so I'm also shocked it won as many awards as it did.

[Kodos]

I don't think it is fair to hold Survivor responsible for the poor quality of imitators that it spawned. Judged on its own merits, Survivor is a high-quality show. It was certainly ground-breaking in the U.S.

[Mustang]

I don't think it is fair to hold Survivor responsible for the poor quality of imitators that it spawned.

I really hate reality TV that depicts people in the worst possible light.. I just don't get it. I get enough people scheming and being little bitches at work so, I don't need another hour on TV. I would have voted for any show against Survivor other than Full House, then and only then I would have voted for Survivor.

[Logan]

I skipped over the Twilight Zone/Twin Peaks matchup for some reason, and intended to vote for TZ. So if the next 47 votes end up for Twin Peaks, consider me the tiebreaker.

[Izulde]

Well this one has turned out just brutal.

[Greyroofoo]

I know a lot of people hate reality shows, but Survivor deserves better than this. It's certainly been a more influential show than Frasier. And I am saying this as a fan of Frasier. Obviously, the outcome here is not really important in the grand scheme of things. Just thought I would show Survivor a little support. :)

Survivor didn't even deserve to get 1 nomination.

[DanGarion]

I know a lot of people hate reality shows, but Survivor deserves better than this. It's certainly been a more influential show than Frasier. And I am saying this as a fan of Frasier. Obviously, the outcome here is not really important in the grand scheme of things. Just thought I would show Survivor a little support. :)

I consider Survivor's showing is a protest to ALL reality shows! Good job FOFC!

[RainMaker]

I'm kind of shocked Twin Peaks is getting destroyed. Didn't think it would win but the show seems like one that would be right up this board's alley.

[DanGarion]

I'm kind of shocked Twin Peaks is getting destroyed. Didn't think it would win but the show seems like one that would be right up this board's alley.
After the ridiculous voting for South Park I thought Twilight Zone wouldn't have a chance.

[sabotai]

If this were being done right after Survivor's 2nd season, I might vote for it. The first two seasons were pretty good. Then they did one in the desert which just sucked. Tried to get back into in for the 4th season, but seemed like most of them just cared about getting on TV, they started to obviously play characters they invented in their own minds....they did a "guys vs. girls" gimmick....All-Stars...now Heroes vs. Villians?

Too many gimmicks, too many phony people. The show has been a parody of itself for while now.

[ISiddiqui]

Poor Burn Notice... that's a tough competitor its up against :(

[DaddyTorgo]

Poor Burn Notice... that's a tough competitor its up against :(

i abstained from that vote out of protest

[hoopsguy]

Fuck that shit. No reality show should win any of these games.

Down with reality TV! It's a plague on our air/digital waves.

Huge +1!

[CrimsonFox]

If this were being done right after Survivor's 2nd season, I might vote for it. The first two seasons were pretty good. Then they did one in the desert which just sucked. Tried to get back into in for the 4th season, but seemed like most of them just cared about getting on TV, they started to obviously play characters they invented in their own minds....they did a "guys vs. girls" gimmick....All-Stars...now Heroes vs. Villians?

Too many gimmicks, too many phony people. The show has been a parody of itself for while now.

Yeah I've followed many seasons, enjoyed some, but mostly it goes downhill pretty fast. Nowadays it gets gimmicky in so many ways and actually goes out of its way to injure people with the challenges, adding sharp things everywhere or forcing them to tackle each other or whatever, something they didn't used to do. Giving so much airtime to the big egos is really a drag now so much its unwatchable.

[CrimsonFox]

I do love Burn Notice. Quite original. Only new show I've really liked. Sopranos and Band of Brothers are both way overrated IMHO. Blahblahblah SOpranos, I get it, the mob and mobsters killin people and each other blahblahblah. Predicatable as all get up. Goodfellas is far superior if you want mob.

[Radii]

I do love Burn Notice. Quite original. Only new show I've really liked. Sopranos and Band of Brothers are both way overrated IMHO. Blahblahblah SOpranos, I get it, the mob and mobsters killin people and each other blahblahblah. Predicatable as all get up. Goodfellas is far superior if you want mob.

Huh. Now I do discount the Sopranos a bit because the last two seasons got kinda shitty, but "Predictable" was never really one of the problems I had with the show... and when I say I discount it, that means I might have made it a 2 seed instead of a 1, still an incredible show.

I don't really see how you can't say goodfellas isn't predictable in the same way... its the mob and mobsters and killing people and each other!

[CrimsonFox]

Just more about how its done really. Style and filmmaking and all that. Yes Sopranos was groundbreaking but after breaking the ground, eh, I was kinda done with it. That's all I meant. LIke I said, just my opinion. Just don't like it.

[tarcone]

Blow out city