Favorite TV Shows from Non-Traditional Networks

[EagleFan]

Trying to find some other good shows to watch. Shows that aren't on the traditional ABC/NBC/CBS/FOX stations. In my mind that would make them much easier to miss/overlook.

I already have a couple favorites from outside the box:

Being Human on SiFy - That one really grew on me in their second season. Taken from the British show with the same theme. At first it could scare someone off as something like Twilight but it's not. Granted it has a werewolf and a vampire but I think that's about where the similarity ends.

Breakout Kings on A&E - I LOVE this show. Their second season had a few serious Oh Shit moments. The characters are really starting to gel. I hope there are several more seasons.

Leverage on TNT - I also love this show. I like the theme of the "heroes" acting quite a bit outside the law in order to complete their "missions". Also a nice mix of characters.

Storage Wars on A&E - A guilty pleasure. Nothing that I DVR but I'll watch it if it's on. Though some of them get on my nerves the way they gun for each other "I didn't want it, just wanted him to pay more" Seriously? What does it matter?

American Pickers on The History Channel - Same reasoning as Storage Wars, though they generally don't get on my nerves most the time.


Any other recommendations?

[ColtCrazy]

I'll list some my wife and/or I will watch...


American Pickers - My favorite. I like auctions and I've actually learned a thing or two from the show and have used it to buy and flip things from auctions. I still think Frank lowballs much more than Mike.

Covert Affairs - One of my wife's shows that I will watch too if I'm around when she plays it off the DVR. Simple spy show, but the lead is cute and the shows are generally good. Decent hours' entertainment. This is on USA.

Auction Kings - I used to like Storage Wars, but Dave is too much of an ass to get into the show much. Auction Wars has too much bravado. This show, however, is interesting, good host, and interesting items. It's about an auction house near Atlanta. It's on Discovery.

Royal Pains - On USA, about a doctor that treats people in upscale Hamptons. Good characters. The doctor is the anti-House, but over-the-top rich people make the show fun as do the doctor's assistants.

[cadmus2166]

The obvious one is Walking Dead on AMC, but that's done until Oct. A really good show that starts up its 2nd season next month is Falling Skies on TNT. Great Sci-Fi alien invasion show.

[Matthean]

Downtown Abbey on PBS.

[Lathum]

hmm

Pawn stars and Storage Wars are both fun 30 minute shows.

Chopped is great

We watch The Closer on TNT

We have our cable shows, most notably Dexter, True Blood, and Game of Thrones.

Deadliest Catch

Then I like the occasional Planet Earth nature type show

[rowech]

Pawn Stars -- History channel

The Soup -- E network -- making fun of reality tv with Joel McHale.

Falling Skies -- TNT -- not totally sure about this one after one season. Hope to see more development of characters.

Franklin and Bash -- TNT -- good for what it is which is mindless fun but suspend belief at the door.

Psych USA -- has fallen a bit in my opinion but still a good show.

The League FX -- helps if you're a fantasy sports player but really a funny show overall.

Chelsea Lately E network -- has moments where I get sick of listening to Handler but some of the other comedians on there are hysterical.

That Metal Show -- VH1 classic -- Annoying sometimes but if you're into heavier music, it's a great show.

Wife likes Rizoli and Iles and The Closer on TNT. The Closer is pretty good.

[ColtCrazy]

Downtown Abbey on PBS.

Was going to mention this as well, but didn't know if it was more mainstream with all the hype it's gotten. It is an excellent series. Well written and very entertaining.

Between the pawn shows, I like PawnStars and Hardcore Pawn for different reasons. PawnStars for the items they get in, Hardcore Pawn for the stupidity of everyone involved.

River Monsters is very entertaining as well.

[Bearcat729]

Walking Dead -- AMC
Game of Thrones -- HBO
Dr. Who -- BBC America
Psych -- USA
Any of the Top Chef shows on Bravo
Top Gear -- BBC America
I'll watch Chopped on Food Network if I happen upon it.
White Collar -- USA

[JonInMiddleGA]

Walking Dead on AMC -- seems like the glaringly obvious one (although probably hard to miss)

Burn Notice on USA - down a bit from the early seasons but still a fun watch

That Metal Show on VH1 Classic - happy to see it mentioned earlier, although it's admittedly a narrow target

Most of the rest of the shows that come to mind have been mentioned already and are things I catch pieces of when my wife is watching. The only unique contribution that comes to mind that's relatively current might be Billy the Exterminator on A&E. I enjoy it in the same guilty pleasure way that others mention something like Swamp People.

[stevew]

Louie on FX is coming back next month. It's pretty much the best show on TV. You're missing out in this one.

The League-I thought last season showed growth as a show. Really funny stuff

NTSF:SD:SUV- really short show(maybe 7-8 minutes per episode) on Adult Swim. Basically a farce where Paul Scheer plays a coked out Horatio Caine.

[tarcone]

It Always Sunny in Philadelphia- Comedy Central. Love this show

Storage Wars- A&E- Its just a good time.

Hardcore Pawn- TruTV- a little more drama then Pawn Stars. And its in the ghetto. :)

House Hunters- HGTV- I like doing this type of thing. I always like to go to open houses on weekends. :)

[cartman]

ummm...

South Park - Comedy Central

:D

[Grover]

Game of Thrones - HBO

Breaking Bad - AMC, best show on tv for me.

[DanGarion]

The Walking Dead - AMC
Eureka - SyFy
Alphas - SyFy
Warehouse 13 - SyFy
Haven - SyFy
Burn Notice - USA
The League - FX
Top Gear - I download them when they are aired from Final Gear (via Bit Torrent), but you can also catch them edited with commercials on BBC America
Wheeler Dealer - Velocity
Falling Skies - TNT
The Soup - E!

And when I really bored American Pickers, American Restoration, Storage Wars, but that's only if there is nothing on.

[CrimsonFox]

ummm...

South Park - Comedy Central

:D

no one watches that shit, fatass!

[CrimsonFox]

hmm

Pawn stars and Storage Wars are both fun 30 minute shows.

Deadliest Catch

Then I like the occasional Planet Earth nature type show

My favorite of the auction/storage/hunters (I think there are like 5 of them now) shows is Auction Hunters on SpikeTV.

Absofuckinglutely Deadliest Catch. There was one season that kinda dragged (last year I think) where hardly anyone was catching anything. I think that was the year after Phil passed away. I still think it's Mike's excellent narration that holds the show together.

LOVE all those nature shows. planet earth is probably the best one. Has Sigourney Weaver doing voiceovers. I like the other one with Oprah Winfrey less.


Other shows...
Burn Notice - A must. I'm not really an action person but this show is great! Somewhat an action comedy. As someone said, the earlier seasons are better. But they show all seasons all over the place. That's the thing about cable channels. They don't have that many shows so they show what they have a LOT.

Odd animated shows - Cartoon Network has put out a number of really strange and hilarious shows over the years that are actually work your time. THey don't show most of them anymore but the two that are still on are Adventure Time and Regular Show.


M*A*S*H - what? You haven't seen each episode a thousand times? You can find them on Hallmark and FX.

Dr Who - BBC America. Just damn good. Although I have not warmed to the Matt Smith doctor at all. I blame the writing though not him. It's tough to follow in David Tennant's footsteps. Speaking of which watch the David Tennant episodes! :) (Blink and Midnight are among my many favorites)

Top Gear - Even if you are not a car person even if you hate cars, this show is great. Everything about it is great. Every segment is great. They have taken the talk show and shaken it up into something original. And if you DO like cars, well you'll need a cigarette after watching.

Top... - If you like reality shows, than anything with a "Top" in front of it will do. Some are better than others. THe thing I like about them is they usually teach me a lot about an industry I know nothing about. Unfortunately both Top Chef and Project Runway have severely gone downhill over the years. Actually I'm not big on "home and personal makeover shows" but the one I like is Tabatha's Salon Takeover on BRAVO. (Really the only watchable BRAVO show now). It's a feity British lady that comes into failing businesses and bitches at everyone until they get their head out of their ass. :)

[Easy Mac]

No Justified?

[Peregrine]

When talking about Top Gear I assume you mean the original British one - I love that show. But the new American version I find much less worth watching.

[Radii]

I'll echo what Steve said about Louie on FX, one of the best shows on TV, surprised its not being mentioned more. The AMC Shows (breaking bad/mad men/walking dead) are all varying levels of good to great.

I like Pawn Stars and American Resotration is ok. Burn Notice is a fun hour usually.

[CrimsonFox]

When talking about Top Gear I assume you mean the original British one - I love that show. But the new American version I find much less worth watching.

double absofuckinglutely. The British one ONLY. Any American version of ANYTHING british is always terrible (Fawlty Towers, Red Dwarf, Top Gear, Cash in the Attic).

Speaking of the last one the British Cash in the Attic is also fun. I describe it as Antique's road show with a fucking point.

[Peregrine]

I haven't been able to find the UK Cash in the Attic on TV lately - used to watch it all the time, just because it's pretty funny. I also like watching the British version of Antiques Roadshow - the American one is alright, but I like the British one better because of more history behind the objects, etc.

[DaddyTorgo]

double absofuckinglutely. The British one ONLY. Any American version of ANYTHING british is always terrible (Fawlty Towers, Red Dwarf, Top Gear, Cash in the Attic).

Speaking of the last one the British Cash in the Attic is also fun. I describe it as Antique's road show with a fucking point.

The exception to this is Shark Tank, which is an American takeoff of an original BBC idea ("Dragon's Den"). Shark Tank is definitely NOT terrible.

[stevew]

I'll echo what Steve said about Louie on FX, one of the best shows on TV, surprised its not being mentioned more. The AMC Shows (breaking bad/mad men/walking dead) are all varying levels of good to great.
.


Like I can't even think what my favorite Louie moment is, cause there are just so many. The double episode with the insane guy getting decapitated and "blueberries". Or his old great aunt with the "brazil nuts". The 2 parter with the duckling "why can't you tell Christian jokes" dancer.

This show should be in the wheelhouse of so many people here.

[Peregrine]

Hmm I've never watched Louie, or heard of it much, maybe I'll take a look.

[ColtCrazy]

Guess I took for granted the BBC stuff when I originally posted. I assumed most of those shows would be obvious to many of us...but without a doubt BBC America is my most watched channel. The shows I mentioned earlier are great, but probably only Downton Abbey comes close to my favorite shows:


1. Top Gear - doesn't matter if I've seen it before, it's my go-to show if I just want something on. Several episodes are absolute classics.

2. Doctor Who - Will admit I'm a season or so behind this one, but still thoroughly enjoy it when I can. Need to just sit and catch up on this one.

3. Whitechapel - I think there's been 2 seasons of this crime drama. The first season was all about a Jack the Ripper copycat. Damn good show. Gripping, dark British crime drama

4. Law & Order UK - Don't laugh. This has something none of the America versions have...and it's not just cool accents. I always thought the earlier seasons of the original Law & Order were the best. These remind me of those early seasons. It's about the plot, not about style.

5. Come Fly With Me - From the guys from Little Britain. It was on BBC America for a bit, might be back. Totally inappropriate, completely hilarious spoof on Airline, a documentary about the day to day operations in an airport. The two guys play several characters each. Very good.

[stevew]

I thought Law and Order UK feels like early Law and Order because they essentially used the US scripts for many of the early episodes(same killer/basic resolutions)

[OldGiants]

1. Justified (F/X) -- best show on TV. Terrific acting and dialogue with plot twists that are legitimate surprises. And they kill off characters you'd think they couldn't afford to (Mags).

2. Pretty much all the USA series. Psych (even if its down and should be nearing the end), Burn Notice (Jere Burns as a villain is not quite as good as he is in Justified, but close), White Collar (NY classy, not many shows like that any more), Covert Affairs and Fairly Legal are easy watches with cute sexy leads. Royal Pains is currently the highest rated cable network show and another well-written show.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Archer on FX. I'm still not caught up, but we finished watching season one last night and moved on to season two. It's a cartoon about a mostly bumbling spy network that is full of inappropriate humor. It's fantastic.

[cody8200]

The exception to this is Shark Tank, which is an American takeoff of an original BBC idea ("Dragon's Den"). Shark Tank is definitely NOT terrible.

Obviously the earlier American The Office is classic stuff as well.

[cartman]

Another one I enjoy that I haven't seen mentioned is "How It's Made" on the Science Channel.

[Matthean]

Archer on FX. I'm still not caught up, but we finished watching season one last night and moved on to season two. It's a cartoon about a mostly bumbling spy network that is full of inappropriate humor. It's fantastic.

I thought of mentioning it, but didn't. Funny as hell kind of stuff. Season two was equally good.

I like what I have seen of Breaking Bad, but it's theme is basically the beauty of the downward spiral of a man, and it's sometimes hard to get motivated to watch it.

[DanGarion]

Archer on FX. I'm still not caught up, but we finished watching season one last night and moved on to season two. It's a cartoon about a mostly bumbling spy network that is full of inappropriate humor. It's fantastic.

Ah yes, Archer I knew I forgot something!

[stevew]

I'll shamefully admit to being addicted to The Client List on Lifetime. Every episode is a new exercise in hate watching.

[Young Drachma]

I don't watch much TV, so I never know of new shows unless someone tweets or tumbls about them or talks about it here.

So I never heard of Alphas on SyFy before until I was just reading an article that had nothing to do with it and one of the actors (in the comments, no less) decided to post and mentioned it.

So now I'm checking it out, as it seems interesting.

[ISiddiqui]

Most of what I'd mentioned have already been spoken for, so I'll mention the critically popular "Mad Men" on AMC, which some decry as style over substance, but is a fascinating character study on identity (just as Breaking Bad on the same network is a fascinating character study on a man's descent into utter darkness). It's about who we are and what makes us that way.

[ntndeacon]

I am a HUGE Warehouse 13 fan, I can't wait for the new season.

Dr. Who is also awesome.

I stop and watch Chopped over and over.

[Suicane75]

Any and every version of a Nigella Lawson cooking show. I love to cook.

[Logan]

I didn't see a Sons of Anarchy (FX) mention. I think the last couple seasons have been a little tougher but still well worth watching, and the first two were completely awesome.

[Young Drachma]

Caught an episode of Suits (http://www.hulu.com/suits) on USA during a flight this past weekend. Came home and got caught up on Season 2. Well-acted and interesting.

[DanGarion]

Only 18 more days!
I am a HUGE Warehouse 13 fan, I can't wait for the new season. <br />
<br />
Dr. Who is also awesome. <br />
<br />
I stop and watch Chopped over and over.

[Scarecrow]

I don't watch network TV anymore - almost everything I watch is on 'the other networks'. In addition to the others mentioned, I'll add:

Merlin - SyFy
Restaurant Impossible - Food Network
Hotel Impossible - Travel Channel
Dance Moms - Lifetime (I have 2 daughters that are competitive dancers, so I get to keep my man card)

Also, there's only one (I guess 2) reason to watch Storage Wars:

http://www.brandipassante.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/brandi-passante-first-time-8-black-top-storage-wars1-300x224.pnghttp://www.brandipassante.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/brandi-passante-smoke-em19-300x221.png
http://img.ffffound.com/static-data/assets/6/23f4bde7cd6f55fb35178ba0d9f03e57267e5985_m.jpg

[Grover]

Also, there's only one (I guess 2) reason to watch Storage Wars:

http://www.brandipassante.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/brandi-passante-first-time-8-black-top-storage-wars1-300x224.pnghttp://www.brandipassante.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/brandi-passante-smoke-em19-300x221.png
http://img.ffffound.com/static-data/assets/6/23f4bde7cd6f55fb35178ba0d9f03e57267e5985_m.jpg

+2

[tyketime]

Also, there's only one (I guess 2) reason to watch Storage Wars:

http://www.brandipassante.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/brandi-passante-first-time-8-black-top-storage-wars1-300x224.pnghttp://www.brandipassante.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/brandi-passante-smoke-em19-300x221.png
http://img.ffffound.com/static-data/assets/6/23f4bde7cd6f55fb35178ba0d9f03e57267e5985_m.jpg

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeep!

[DanGarion]

Eh, I've seen her in person, she's ok. Their shop is about 1000 feet from my house.

[A-Husker-4-Life]

Peep Show - Channel 4 British TV, Check it out on Netflix. Mix between Always sunny and seinfeld. High Recommended!

Misfits - British TV, check it out on Hulu. This is what heroes should have been.

[JediKooter]

I have to admit, I like the new Sherlock Holmes tv show.

[stevew]

Eh, I've seen her in person, she's ok. Their shop is about 1000 feet from my house.

I was wondering this when I saw the shop was in orange.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Peep Show - Channel 4 British TV, Check it out on Netflix. Mix between Always sunny and seinfeld. High Recommended!

Misfits - British TV, check it out on Hulu. This is what heroes should have been.

Peep Show is awesome. I've also been recommended The Inbetweeners, but haven't had a chance to watch it yet.

[Buccaneer]

Rizzoli & Isles - TNT. :fap: :fap: :fap:

[sterlingice]

I have to admit, I like the new Sherlock Holmes tv show.

Which one? The one on PBS or is there another one?

SI

[stevew]

There's a new one on CBS this fall staring Johnnie Lee Miller and Lucy Lui

[A-Husker-4-Life]

Peep Show is awesome. I've also been recommended The Inbetweeners, but haven't had a chance to watch it yet.

Just started watching it today, its pretty damn good..

[stevew]

NTSF:SD:SUV has been back a few weeks now for its second season. I'd strongly recommend setting your DVR for it. It's only like 8 minutes long, but usually there are enough laughs in an episode to merit the (small) time commitment. It's on at 1230 in the morning I think during adult swim.

[stevew]

Dave Hester is supposedly in a pretty big bruhaha with the producers of Storage Wars, alleging that the show is fake and that they routinely plant items.

‘Storage Wars’ Star Admits Show is Faked After Being Fired – Is He Right? (http://screenrant.com/storage-wars-fake-dave-hester-controversy/)

A&E regularly plants valuable items or memorabilia. By way of example, in one episode a pile of old newspapers announcing the death of Elvis Presley was discovered. In another episode, a BMW mini car was found buried under a pile of trash. When Plaintiff David Hester (“Hester”) complained to producers that A&E’s fraudulent conduct of salting and staging the storage lockers was possible illegal, he was from the Series.

Defendants Original Producers, LCC (“Original”), the producer of the Series, and A&E Television Networks, LLC (“AETN”), the distributor of the Series, would like the public to believe that the Series present a genuine and accurate portrayal of the abandoned storage locker auction process. The truth, however, is that nearly every aspect of the Series in faked, even down the plastic surgery that one of the female cast members underwent in order to create more “sex appeal” for the show, the of which was paid for by Original. Original regularly “salts” the storage lockers that are the subject of the auctions portrayed on the Series with valuable or unusual items to add dramatic effect, even going so far as to stage entire storage units. Original also manipulates the outcome of certain auctions by paying for storage units on behalf of the weaker cast members who lack both the skill and financial wherewithal to place winning bids.

I guess it's like reality show pro wrestling. Most sensible people probably thought it was faked and didn't really care anyways.

[chinaski]

Not a traditional network in America, but BBC's Luther is excellent. Just finished the first season and im hooked.

[EagleFan]

Dave Hester is supposedly in a pretty big bruhaha with the producers of Storage Wars, alleging that the show is fake and that they routinely plant items.

‘Storage Wars’ Star Admits Show is Faked After Being Fired – Is He Right? (http://screenrant.com/storage-wars-fake-dave-hester-controversy/)



I guess it's like reality show pro wrestling. Most sensible people probably thought it was faked and didn't really care anyways.

It actually ticks me off that it may be fake, though I had suspected as much when they started finding freaking gold mines in some of these units. Though I bet it really pissed people off who started trying to bid on lockers after seeing the show.

[RainMaker]

The show is completely fake. I have a friend who used to do it on the side (along with auctions for closed bars and such) and you never come across that kind of stuff. The lockers also never go for much and most of the storage places cut deals behind the scenes with people to go through and take the best ones in advance. They also overvalue every item they come across (old books for $5 each!).

[Raiders Army]

Breaking Bad on AMC
Duck Dynasty on A&E
Workaholics on Comedy Central

[Lathum]

I guess it's like reality show pro wrestling. Most sensible people probably thought it was faked and didn't really care anyways.

The show is completely fake. I have a friend who used to do it on the side (along with auctions for closed bars and such) and you never come across that kind of stuff. The lockers also never go for much and most of the storage places cut deals behind the scenes with people to go through and take the best ones in advance. They also overvalue every item they come across (old books for $5 each!).

I like the show but these are spot on. Any semi intelligent person has to know it is fake. There are to many holes, such as how come it only seems like the cast members win auctions, eventhought there are always several other people there. Plus there aren't that many hidden gems out there.

I also always found it silly that they based the "profit" off what the person who found it thought they could sell it for ( the book one was always the silliest to me as well).

I still like it for background noise if I am in the kitchen or playing with my kid, but I'll take Pawn Stars over it any time.

[stevew]

When the cast members were getting 10k/episode in appearances, its really hard to care about them making a cool "hundred dollar bill" on a few items. I always had some moral issues with the practice of rifling through someone's stuff and monetizing their possessions like jackals. I'd much rather see the story as to how economic conditions had caused a family to be unable to pay for a shed and lose so much. Like did someone move home due to unemployment and then never get a good job again? Ah well.

[Easy Mac]

Not a traditional network in America, but BBC's Luther is excellent. Just finished the first season and im hooked.

I just finished the first season last week. For some reason, I made it about 15 minutes into the first episode of season two and completely lost interest.

[Grover]

Workaholics on Comedy Central

Absolutely hilarious show.

[DaddyTorgo]

Hardcore Pawn > Pawn Stars

I like the yelling and screaming (by the owners as well as the customers).

[RainMaker]

When the cast members were getting 10k/episode in appearances, its really hard to care about them making a cool "hundred dollar bill" on a few items. I always had some moral issues with the practice of rifling through someone's stuff and monetizing their possessions like jackals. I'd much rather see the story as to how economic conditions had caused a family to be unable to pay for a shed and lose so much. Like did someone move home due to unemployment and then never get a good job again? Ah well.

If it makes you feel better, most abandoned units are just filled with shit that the owners didn't want to bother moving and stuck the company with. They are taking out all the valuable stuff before the unit gets padlocked. They don't end up rifling through old coin collections, they end up getting 20 year old couch and some shitty old books.