You may be wondering how to help the people of Japan cope with the aftermath of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that occurred March 11.  You can do it by buying goods from Japanese companies online.  This post tells you the best way to shop Japan via the Internet.

One idea for economic recovery that I have not seen mentioned is to shop directly with Japanese businesses online.  Americans and others around the world have donated millions of dollars through various relief organizations, such as the Red Cross, and many others have traveled to Japan to volunteer their services.  But, while donations of money satisfy the immediate need to get supplies to the people in the towns of the tsunami-ravaged Tohoku region, dollars can be infused into the Japanese economy long-term by shopping via the Internet from anywhere in the world at Rakuten.

Click to explore Rakuten's huge online mall

Many people outside Japan have not heard of Rakuten.  It is an online shopping company.  It is Japan’s equivalent of Amazon.  The Japanese name “Rakuten Ichiba” translates to “Rakuten Shopping Mall,” which is exactly what it is — an aggregation of 33,000 Japanese shops and businesses.  This huge online shopping site offers 60 million products.  Rakuten is the second most visited site in Japan, with over 50 million registered users.  In fact, this Internet shopping giant is the reason Amazon has not been able to make much headway into the Japanese market.  It is estimated that one-third of households in Japan shop at Rakuten.  And that says something:  Japanese consumers, particularly online, are known for being finicky and demanding.  Rakuten has met their needs to the point that it is now one of the top ten Internet companies in the world, and has an international presence.  In addition to products, it also has its own extensive travel services site, which anyone in the world can use.

Rakuten is now actively expanding its shopping services in other markets throughout the world, including Europe and the United States.  Amazon may be the largest online shopping company, but sheer size is no guarantee of quality (Microsoft sells more operating systems than any other company but no one thinks their OS is the best, and General Motors became the largest automaker in the world selling cars inferior to a number of other makes), so I would not be surprised if, in a few years, Rakuten has noticeably eroded Amazon’s market share.  You can think of Rakuten as the Honda of online retailing.

What does that mean with respect to helping the Japanese economy weather the aftermath of the earthquake?

We know that the world’s economic fortunes are subject to ripple effects that transcend national boundaries.  Mortgage foreclosures in the American mid-west affect the value of the Euro.  The price of labor in China impacts how much Walmart pays its US workers.  The Russian wheat harvest affects the price of food in Delhi and Des Moines.  With respect to the world economy, Japan is a titan, boasting the third largest economy after the US and China.  So any financial woes that Japan experiences as a result of the triple whammy of the earthquake, tsunami, and radiation contamination from damaged nuclear power plants will affect not only the Japanese people but people in the United States and around the world.  (Already, it is projected that demand for the Prius will not be able to be met, since there are parts suppliers for the car in the affected region.  And US beef exports to Japan may be hampered by damaged port facilities.)  In other words, the domino effect from an economic slowdown in Japan coupled with the need to re-build infrastructure could affect your personal financial situation.  So it behooves you to help your neighbor.

Thus, if you shop for Japanese goods, you can help not only Japanese businesses and consumers as they recover and re-build, but your own economy as well.  The easiest (and most enjoyable) way to shop in Japan from outside Japan is Rakuten. Spend a few bucks there, get yourself some interesting, well-made Japanese products, and you’ll be helping float everyone’s boat.  After all, just imagine what it would have meant to a local hardware or stationery store in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina if they had had a steady influx of customers…  If they had experienced damage or hardship from the hurricane, sure, packets of freeze-dried food and blankets would have met their immediate physical needs, but long-term, it’s customers buying from businesses that sustain an economy, whether in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi or Ofunato, Japan.

You can find just about any kind of product at Rakuten, from books to ice cream to motorcycle parts.  But why not get something interesting or unusual?  How about:

• Sake
• Momotaro Jeans (maybe the best jeans in the world)
• Japanese Sandals
• Tea Sets
• Samurai Clothes and Accessories
• Edible Seaweed from Ofunato (the northeast region)

You can also try using the search field on the Rakuten homepage to search for city names in the northeast region, such as Sendai, Kamaishi, Miyako, and Kuji, in order to find stores in those cities from which to buy.  Keep in mind that operations at those stores might be curtailed or slowed for awhile — but they will still appreciate the business!

Rakuten currently ships to over 50 countries (and the list is expanding) and their site has pages optimized for a number of countries, including the USA, Canada, China, France, and the UK.  If you’re outside Japan, when you place an order you’ll usually be put in touch via email with the shop that sells the item to arrange a shipping method and cost.  (Note that some shops offer special free international shipping promotions, or $1 international shipping.)  There is a weight restriction on items shipped to the US via certain carriers, but many shops can arrange a shipping method to the US that gets around this limit.

When you first explore the site, you may wonder where to go and how to approach it, but anyone familiar with online shopping can quickly figure it out.  Explore.  In addition, they have a handy instructional page here.

Think of it as an adventure, man.  As well as a good deed.

Here’s a testimonial from a customer in the US posted on the Rakuten site:

“I recently found Rakuten via Facebook, and boy I couldn’t be happier. As a person interested in Japanese culture, this website is great. I’ve found many things I had been looking for as well as new items that have caught my eye. The website is well laid out and very intuitive to navigate. And the search feature is one of the better ones I’ve encountered for a merchant website. And this is all from a website that isn’t set up for business in the USA. If the USA website is half as good, then it’ll be better than most merchants that I’ve purchased from.   by Nick M – NJ, USA”

Hey, if Nick can do it, you can, too.  And remember, you’ll be helping the cause.  It all adds up.

If you have found something interesting or useful here on Best Stuff for Men, please consider making a donation, so others can benefit, too.  Thanks!

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Now is a good time to shop for the highest-rated, best-performing HDTVs of 2010; prices are dropping.

We all know that men are visual creatures.  After all, it was men who were busy inventing television in the 1920s while women were, well, dressing in flapper outfits (except Amelia Earhart).  Today, we are enjoying the evolved fruits of the labor of those pioneering TV engineers — the best contemporary televisions produce picture quality that can inspire near-religious awe (in human males, at least) while at the same time being sold for continually-declining prices.  There are not just 5 or 10 but dozens of models of HDTVs that are worth your consideration, depending on your viewing habits, budget, room size, and technical yearning (for example, do you only watch the evening news or are you an omni-viewer that wants to stream video from the Internet and watch in 3D?).  There is no doubt that we are in a golden age of television technology — one that shows no signs of abating.  The competition is fierce and the engineers are just as clever 80 years later.

As the holiday season — and the year – comes to a close, prices are being reduced on many of the great televisions listed below.  So now is a good time to shop.  Especially online, retailers are reducing prices and offering perks like free shipping and free recycling of your old TV.  Below are 10 superior models (and 3 blu-ray players) that will supply superlative viewing experiences.  Heck, your wife or girlfriend might even be impressed as she views the intricate detail of the products on QVC.

But you know what the good prices mean, don’t you?  Do  Not  Wait! When these deals are gone, the next-gen models will be taking their place…

Plasma or LCD?

When I wrote my post on HDTVs last year at about this time, I began with LCD televisions and moved to plasma.  This year I’ll begin with plasma, because the best plasma sets still tend to outperform the best LCD sets with respect to picture quality.  Not that there’s a huge difference, but still, it’s noticeable.  Of course, nowadays whether you prefer plasma or LCD/LED depends largely on your taste.  The picture on an LCD HDTV tends to be a bit brighter, a bit more dynamically vivid, color-wise, than the picture on a plasma HDTV, which is more subtly textured, not quite so punchy, but with greater depth.  The black levels on the best plasma sets still out-shine (if that’s the right term) those on the highest-quality LCD sets, and plasma sets also have wider viewing angles and generally better gaming performance.  On the other hand, LED/LCD sets use less power.  Really, when it comes to the most competent models, you can’t go wrong with either plasma or LCD.  Both produce stunning results, particularly with blu-ray discs.  Streaming Internet video has also come of age. And to add to the mix, 3D capability has been added this year on both high-end plasma and LCD sets.

I’m not going to go into all the technical details that I did in my post last year.  The bottom line is that the 10 HDTVs covered below are the best televisions money can buy.  If you want more in-depth technical discussion, there are plenty of AV forums to check out.  You can also study the detailed spec’s from the retailers to which I’ll be referring.  Just begin with this post, order the TV that most appeals to you (or a sibling in the same model designation from that manufacturer), and you’ll find satisfaction.  Heck, if it’s been some time since you bought a new TV, you might even be blown away.  All of the retailers to which I refer below are reputable, reliable, and have good prices.  To find the current best deal, click through the various image or text links.

Plasma HDTV

Panasonic Viera TC-P54VT25

The plasma HDTV model that received the most lavish praise this year is the Panasonic Viera TC-PVT25, a 3D-enabled platform of visual gorgeosity.  It is CNET’s Television of the Year for 2010, and the reviewing editor wrote, “It’s the second-best HDTV of any brand or technology I’ve ever reviewed” (behind the legendary 2008 Pioneer Kuro).  At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), critics were almost unanimous in selecting the TC-PVT25 as the best 3D TV.  Since it is also a superlative performer in 2D, you get the best of both worlds.  In September, 2010, Value Electronics, an independent home theater retailer in New York, assembled an audience comprised of executives and engineers from the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), National Association of TV Broadcasters, and major TV manufacturers for an “HDTV Shootout.”  The distinguished audience unanimously selected the Panasonic TC-PVT25 as the winner, particularly when it came to picture quality.  Its image is THX-certified.  And, unlike 3D TVs from certain other manufacturers, a set of 3D glasses is included when you purchase this set.  Its black levels are incredible, and CNET’s initial concern about black levels fading over time has been addressed and deemed not to be a problem – they would not have named it Television of the Year otherwise.  LCDTV Buying Guide selected the Panasonic Viera TC-PVT25 as the best movie-viewing TV, the best sports-viewing TV, and the best gaming TV.  It comes in 65-inch (TC-P65VT25), 58-inch (TC-P58VT25), 54-inch (TC-P54VT25), and 50-inch (TC-P50VT25) sizes.   See the 65-inch model at BestBuyP.C.S., Butterfly Photo and Best Buy.  Get the 58-inch model from J&R Computer/Music World with a special 3D bundle that includes a 3D-ready blu-ray player.  You can also find the 58-inch model at BestBuyP.C.S, Butterfly Photo and Buy.com.  You can get the 54-inch model from Buy.com, BestBuyP.C.S., Vann’s, and OneCall.  You can get the 50-inch with an attractive 3D bundle from J&R Computer/Music World.  You can also find the 50-inch, which is a good size for many rooms, at BestBuyP.C.S., Vann’s, Best Buy, Butterfly Photo (for a killer price as this is written), Buy.com, and OneCall.

A bonus with Panasonic 3D HDTVs:  you can get the 3D Avatar blu-ray disc with them.  Several stores have Panasonic 3D bundle deals, which includes Avatar and two pair of 3D glasses.  You can get the bundle at Vann’s, Butterfly Photo, Buy.com (for a discount, as this is written), OneCall, Best Buy, and Sears.  (Click the preceding links to see who’s offering the best deals now.)  By the way, looks like you won’t be able to get Avatar in 3D blu-ray from anyone but Panasonic until 2012.

So, if you want the best, get the amazing Panasonic Viera TC-PVT25 by clicking here or via the other links above.

Update in summer, 2011:  For a limited time (until 8/31/11), get $100 off a Panasonic TC-P50VT25 at BestBuyPCS.com using code “Summer100″ at checkout!  Click here or on the banner below.  BestBuyPCS is one of the premier online high-end electronic stores, known for excellent customer service and good prices.

Samsung PN50C8000

The next recommended plasma HDTV is Samsung’s flagship model — the Samsung PN50C8000.  This is also a 3D-capable set with many sophisticated features.  CNET rated it “Excellent,” and said it was one of the best-performing TVs this year, with deep black levels, good viewing performance in brightly-lit rooms, superior color, and excellent video processing.  It offers 2D-to-3D image conversion.  But, unlike the Panasonic set above, you have to buy the 3D glasses separately.  The Samsung also offers more streaming-video options than any other Internet-enabled TV — and all of this at an attractive price.  When you consider that CNET rated this television second only to the Panasonic Viera TC-PVT25 above, the price becomes even more of a draw.  PCMag tested this set and recommends it as a “luxury tech gift.”  But hey, luxury is in the eye of the beholder — you personally might call it a “necessity tech gift” after you see the picture.  It comes in 63-inch (PN63C8000), 58-inch (PN58C8000), and 50-inch (PN50C8000) sizes.  In addition to Vann’s, you can find the 50-inch Samsung PN50C8000 at BestBuyP.C.S., Butterfly Photo, Buy.com,  OneCall, Best Buy, and Newegg (click the links to see the best price now, as all these retailers have good service; some are also offering accessories with a Samsung purchase).   You can get the 63-inch at Vann’s, Butterfly Photo, Buy.com, Best Buy, and Newegg.  You can get the 58-inch at Vann’s, Butterfly Photo, Buy.com, OneCall, Best Buy, and Newegg (and, as long we’re here, check out the products at Newegg awarded the Customer Choice Award).

A brief digression:  3D-capable Blu-ray Players

Samsung BD-C6900

Of course, if you’re going to get a 3D television, you may as well get a 3D-capable blu-ray player.  Here are two of the best.  First, the Samsung BD-C6900.  CNET chose this 3D-compatible player as the #1 blu-ray player this year.  Of course, it handles 2D blu-ray discs just fine, too.  And its Internet -streaming capabilities are second to none.  Click the following links to see detailed spec’s, customer reviews, and to purchase:  BestBuyP.C.S.,  J&R Computer/Music World, Vann’s, Comp-U-Plus, Circuit City, and Butterfly Photo (for an excellent discount right now).  The second recommended player is the Sony BDP-S570 (pictured at right).  Actually, various reviewers traded off naming either the Sony BDP-S570 or the Samsung as the best this year.  Either should fit the bill.  The Sony BDP-S570 is a solid 3D performer with a number of cool additional features, particularly Wi-Fi.  You can find it at Vann’s, J&R, OneCall, and Butterfly Photo.

If you want a good blu-ray player that doesn’t need to handle all the latest capabilities of 3D, get the Sony PlayStation 3 160GB Slim.  In addition to gaming and Internet connectivity, it is great at playing blu-ray disks.  And it will play 3D blu-ray discs in 3D when it has firmware version 3.55 (update released Dec. 7, 2010); it just can’t output high-res audio (e.g. Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master) at present, instead it reverts to regular Dolby Digital or DTS when a 3D blu-ray disc is played.  If the audio limitation is not a big deal to you, the PS3 Slim is an excellent multi-purpose, multi-fun solution.  In addition to the preceding links, also find it at Butterfly Photo and Newegg.

Back to Plasma TVs…

LG Infinia 50PK750

Another plasma set in the 50-inch class that is highly rated is the LG Infinia 50PK750.  Consumer Reports gave this non-3D set its “Recommended Buy” designation and CNET rated it “Good,” citing its combination of style, features, and price as “compelling.”  One interesting factor about this set is that customer reviews tend to be very enthusiastic, even more so than the professional reviews — probably in large part due to the performance you get for under $1,000 (when you can find it discounted, as I’ve done here).  PCMag reviewed its 60-inch sibling (60PK750) and rated it “Good,” though, like CNET, they noted that the set’s black levels are not as impressive as higher-end plasmas and, in some cases, are not quite as good as top-of-the-line LCD/LED sets.  Still, the 50PK750 was praised for its accurate color rendition and wide viewing angle.  If you want a good-performing, attractively-priced plasma HDTV, which offers a beautiful design that will look great in whatever room you put it in, consider this model from LG.  In addition to Vann’s, you can get it discounted from Butterfly Photo, Buy.com, and Newegg.

Consumer Reports also rated the LG Infinia 60PK950 as a “Recommended Buy.”  And CNET suggested that plasma shoppers not overlook this “gem,” which is LG’s best-ever plasma TV.  For a few hundred dollars over the 60PK750, the 60PK950 adds a “Magic Wand” remote (that works similar to the Wii remote), a “TruBlack” filter, which helps preserve the screen’s black levels in brightly-lit rooms, and LG’s Wireless Media Box option that allows you to connect HDMI devices and other accessories wirelessly.  And its display is THX-certified.

Panasonic Viera TC-P42U2

Finally, for those seeking a slightly smaller plasma HDTV, the 42-inch Panasonic Viera TC-P42U2 is also recommended by Consumer Reports.  ZDNet rated it “Very Good,” with a score of 8.8 out of 10.  This set has been praised for its superb motion clarity, vivid color, reasonable connectivity, and superb gaming performance.  Where it really shines is in customer reviews, which are quite positive, especially in relation to performance versus price (for example, on Best Buy, reviews average 4.8 out of 5, and 95% of buyers would recommend this set to a friend).  While not the best performer in the marketplace, it’s a very good “entry-level” plasma.  This Energy-Star Qualified set will give higher-priced LCD sets a run for their money, picture-wise.  You’ll want to consider an external sound system with it, as the built-in audio is only fair.  In addition to Butterfly Photo and Best Buy, you can find it discounted at Circuit City.  Newegg has it in stock, too.

LCD HDTV

Vizio XVT553SV

The Vizio XVT553SV is the LCD HDTV that the television editor of CNET would buy if he were going to buy a TV.  It received CNET’s Editor’s Choice Award for 2010 for the best LCD HDTV.  PCMag gave it 4 stars and stated:  “The Vizio XVT553SV offers top-notch HDTV tech, wireless and wired connectivity, loads of web apps, and very good HD picture quality.”   Televisioninfo.com stated that this was the first set from Vizio ever to impress them — they particularly raved about its color performance.  Other reviewers have stated that this is probably Vizio’s best set ever, especially when considering value for the money.  Using LED technology that incorporates local dimming (to enhance black levels), the 55-inch Vizio XVT553SV has the most extensive non-3D features on the market, and includes a Bluetooth remote with a full QWERTY keyboard, built-in Wi-Fi, and a broad and useful selection of television app’s.  CNET’s reviewing editor stated that if he could spend any amount on an LCD television, he would still buy the Vizio XVT553SV.  In the XVT3SV model line-up, in addition to the 55-inch, there are also 47-inch (XVT473SV) and 42-inch (XVT423SV) models, all equally good.  You can get the 55-inch set for a good price from Buy.com.  Along with Buy.com, you can find the 47-inch at Target (online only).  The 42-inch set is available from Buy.com.  (By the way, if you click the links for one of the XVT3SV models here and find it out of stock, please be aware that holiday sales decimated the inventory of this TV at every reputable retailer.  This is one of Vizio’s most popular models ever, so presumably they will be re-stocking it — at least, according to my source at Vizio.  Some retailers offer an email notification service for when a product becomes available.  Or, if you’re interested in this model, try checking back weekly to see when it’s available again.)

LG Infinia 47LE8500

CNET also gave an “Excellent” rating to the LG Infinia 47LE8500 LCD HDTV, another LED backlit model with local dimming.  It has an extensive feature set, including Internet streaming, streaming video and audio over a home network, extensive picture adjustment options (including two THX modes), and excellent energy efficiency, as well as sleek styling and some of the best picture performance ever tested by CNET.  About the only thing this set lacks is 3D capability.  LCDTV Buying Guide rated this set 91 out of 100, and was pleasantly surprised by its price, especially when compared with the price of competing Samsung models.  You can get this all-around performer while supplies last from:  J&R Computer/Music World, Vann’s (for a huge discount), Circuit City, Butterfly Photo (for an excellent discount), Buy.com (about $2,000 off right now), Sears, and Newegg.  Click the links to see the current best price and/or special offers (such as free shipping).

Samsung LN55C650

One of the latest LCD TVs to receive PCMag’s “Editor’s Choice” award is the Samsung LN55C650 – a 55-inch, CCFL-backlit model that they named one of the 10 best HDTVs of 2010.  While not 3D-capable, that didn’t matter to the testers at PCMag; they described its picture quality as “stunning,” with very deep blacks.  In addition, its suite of web app’s came in for praise, and its audio performance (which includes SRS TruSurround HD) was rated as solid.  All in all, the LN55C650 from Samsung was judged to be an excellent all-around performer for its price, along with its 40-inch (LN40C650 at Vann’s and Butterfly Photo) and 46-inch (LN46C650 at Vann’s and J&R Computer/Music World) siblings.  Customer reviews for this set at CNET are all 5-star, and include comments such as “amazing,” “great,” and “one of the best purchases I’ve ever made.”  You can get the LN55C650 from BestBuyP.C.S., Vann’s, J&R, Circuit City, Butterfly Photo, Buy.com, and Newegg.

Samsung’s LNC630 series (an LCD cousin of the LNC650) also came in for praise this year.  Consumer Reports named the Samsung LN46C630 a “Best Buy,” and CNET stated that the picture performance of these CCFL sets “manages in some ways — chiefly screen uniformity — to produce a better image than the company’s edge-lit LED models.”  This performance comes at a price generally lower than that of competing LED models.  Check out the discounted LN46C630 at J&R, Vann’s, Butterfly Photo, Circuit City, Best Buy, and Newegg.

Sony Bravia KDL-55HX800

The Sony Bravia KDL-55HX800 is a 55-inch, 3D-ready, backlit LED HDTV that is part of Sony’s least-pricey line of 3D-capable TVs.  While PCMag complimented this set for its solid 3D performance, its 2D performance was rated even better.  As 3D content is still ramping up in the marketplace, the 2D picture-quality of the KDL-55HX800 is the chief reason to consider this set — that, along with a great suite of web app’s that includes more than 30 interactive channels.  Earlier this year it was considered a bit expensive, but online retailers are starting to offer discounts, so now is a good time to consider the Sony Bravia KDL-55HX800.  You can find it at Vann’s, J&R, Buy.com, OneCall, Best Buy, Sears, and Newegg.

Sony Bravia KDL-52NX800

As long as we’re considering Sony, you should also take a look at the Sony Bravia KDL-52NX800, an LED edge-lit model that was designated as a ”Recommended Buy” by Consumer Reports.  It was rated “Very Good” by CNET and “Good” by PCMag.  One of the drawbacks that testers mentioned with this set was that, at $2,800, it was expensive for a non-3D TV – but now, at year’s end, the price has come down substantially, so this set has become a much better deal.  Reviewers loved its beautiful, all-glass design, liked its competent HD picture, and appreciated its slew of web app’s.  It also has built-in Wi-Fi, a feature that’s missing on many more expensive HDTVs and worth the price of admission to some.  Overall, this is a well-executed television that has become attractive now that it’s cheaper.  You can find good prices at Vann’s, Sears, Butterfly Photo, and Buy.com.

And that pretty much sums up the current best-rated HDTVs at good prices.  Since it’s the end of the year, with product life-cycles being what they are in the electronics industry, your window of opportunity for grabbing one of these superior sets is not particularly wide.  In other words, if you want a top-rated television that will give you years of enjoyable viewing for a good price, get one of these now.  Take advantage of the good deals and you can be watching the NFL playoffs — or heck, PBS, or Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs in 3D blu-ray — in a few days.

Related posts:

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2. Well-reviewed Panasonic 46-inch Plasma HDTV on Sale for Over 40% Off

Who would have thought that a show about a nebbish becoming a drug dealer would last for 3 seasons?  AMC, that’s who.

 If you haven’t seen Breaking Bad — the edgiest, grittiest, most blackly humorous televsion series over the last couple of years — you have the chance to begin tonight, as season 3 caroms onto the screen in all its meth-cooking glory. 

Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher who maybe had the talent to win a Nobel Prize, didn’t.  Instead, he turned out to be a sad-sack, hen-pecked, self-doubting milquetoast teaching at an obscure school in Albuquerque.  That is, until a diagnosis of terminal cancer turns everything inside out.  Turning inside out is exactly what happens on Breaking Bad, as we see White’s inner drug dealer gradually emerge in a bid for some kind of survival — if not now, then at least to secure the posterity of his family.  Played with nuanced resoluteness by Bryan Cranston and penned by Vince Gilligan, former executive producer of The X-Files, Breaking Bad is one of those television series that is so good you can’t believe it made it to the small screen.  One of those series that provides any number of moments that stick with you — scenes where you simultaneously cringe and grin while thinking, “I can’t believe they did that.”

Thank goodness for independent cable, where some of the best new shows are seeing the light of, well, TV (including Justified, which premiered this last week FX). 

Cranston has won two Emmy Awards for Best Actor for his portrayal of White, but the entire cast does a sterling job.  White has transformed physically, mentally, emotionally,  and attitudinally before our eyes as the series has progressed.  Cranston says, “We’re attempting to do something that has never been done before on TV, and that is to completely change a person — physically, morally, everything — over the course of the story.”  I don’t know if he’s entirely right about that (see, for example, Chuck), but it’s certainly never been done to this extent, or this way, before — with poignance, violence, surrealism, and some of the blackest comedy this side of Beckett.  Don’t get scared off, though — it’s not too artistic and there’s plenty of action to liven things up.  (Dissolving rival drug kingpins in acid, anyone?)

You can get Breaking Bad’s first two seasons on DVD and blu-ray, which I mentioned in my previous post on the Best Television Shows for Men.  Check the show out tonight.  Give it some time.  Wait for your jaw to drop.  You’ll be hooked.

If you have found something interesting or useful here on Best Stuff for Men, please consider making a donation, so others can benefit, too.  Thanks!

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If you’ve been wanting a decently-rated plasma HDTV at a great price, look no further.  The Panasonic Viera TC-P46S1 46-inch class 1080p HDTV is on sale now at J&R Computer/Music World for only $749, a savings of $550 (42%) off the retail price.  That’s like getting it at cost.

 The Panasonic Viera TC-P46S1, while not uniformly rated in the stellar range, has still garnered only positive and, at times, excellent reviews for its combination of performance, price, and features.  Consumer Reports rated its TC-P42S1 42-inch sibling at the top of its class in this size range for plasma TVs (which I reported on in my post on best-buy HDTVs).  CNET rated it “good,” expressing some concerns about a diminution in black-level performance during the life of the set, and summarized their report by saying:  ”With deep black levels and generally excellent picture quality, the more eco-friendly Panasonic TC-PS1 series of plasma TVs strikes an appealing price/performance balance.”  (The ”eco-friendly” part refers to Panasonic’s new Neo PDP plasma display panel, which uses less energy than many other plasma models.  The TC-PS1 series is the least expensive series that Panasonic offers that includes the new panel.)

If you go to ZDNET, you’ll see a summary of a number of reviews rating this model anywhere from 6+ out of 10 to 10 out of 10 (you’ll also note that the price I’m linking to here at J&R is well below what you can find at any other reputable dealer).  One review even noted that the black levels of Panasonic’s TC-PS1 series were probably the best after Pioneer’s Kuro models, which is saying something.  And customer reviews across a number of retailers have been generally favorable.  So, this set at this price is an excellent deal, and it’s a size that will fit many people’s room requirements. 

J&R Computer/Music World has become legendary in New York City as a destination for shoppers searching for all things electronic and musical.  As with all the vendors mentioned here at Best Stuff for Men, I have vetted them as a high-quality retailer.  The price they’re offering this TV for is an example of the power of online selling.  And by the way, if you’re in the New York area, this HDTV is eligible for in-store pickup.

Related posts:

1. Now’s the Time to Get a New HDTV: Here Are the Best Televisions for Good Prices
2. These Are the Best High-Definition Televisions to Get Now — Plus Blu-ray Players

When you’ve been watching television as long as I have (since the ’60s), you get a sense of not only the best shows, but the shows guys will like best.  I mean, The Golden Girls was okay for what it was, but you won’t find it on this list. 

Bottom line:  a review of the best television shows for men is necessarily subjective.  You may agree or not. (Feel free to leave a comment here, either way.)  But if you haven’t seen one of the following excellent shows and you get it on DVD or blu-ray and, after watching it, stand up and say, “Thank you, ECJ, you perceptive son of a bitch,” my work here will not have been in vain.

Of course, guys will prefer the best technology to watch the best television shows, so see my other posts on buying an HDTV and blu-ray player.  Get yourself some of that new video tech and enjoy some of the following best TV shows of all time:  television shows that satisfy guys.

As a guy, you should start building a library of outstanding television shows for yourself on DVD and blu-ray.  Why?  Because then you’ll be in control of your own viewing.  You’ll know that you’ll always have something good to watch.  And you’ll control the time, pacing, pausing, and re-winding of each scene.  When you have your favorite shows on DVD or blu-ray disc, you don’t have to hassle with network scheduling quirks, lame commercials, or remember to set your Tivo.  Plus there’s the whole awesome blu-ray quality benefit.

I’ve been watching television for 5 decades.  In the list that follows, I have relentlessly winnowed hundreds of shows down to the best of the best.  I suspect you’ll find the following 50+ shows rewarding.  At least some of them.  Of course, like you, I have my preference quirks.  But I hope you’ll take advantage of this list of testosterone-fueled TV shows to at least stock up on a few of your favorites via DVD or blu-ray.  And to try something new, if you haven’t seen it before.

Criteria for selecting the best shows for men?  Sure, I’ve got some.

Why do you watch television?  To learn how to triumph against competition?  To feel like you’re on the cutting edge of culture?  To explore an interest? To challenge yourself mentally and emotionally?  To relax your brain?  We watch TV for all these reasons and more.  The best television shows for men will be by turns exciting, dramatic, funny, intelligent, quirky, sexy, gritty, instructive, and cool.  Obviously, the best shows for men will have male characters doing interesting (and sometimes dumb and/or funny) things. And, of course, encountering passion and sexual tension with hot women.

We all want to live on our own terms.  Many of the characters in the shows listed here do that.  They can inspire you and you can learn from them.

On the other hand, after a stressful day, sometimes all you want is a good laugh.  There are a few choice comedies here.

These shows will challenge you, provide insight, open your eyes, prepare you for success. Or make you squirt beer out your nose.  In any event, they’re guaranteed to entertain.

Click on the image or text links in the following reviews to buy these shows for yourself.  Or email the URL of this post to family and friends, while hinting at gift-giving opportunities.  (There’s a “sharing” function at the bottom of this post for email, Facebook, Twitter, etc.). 99% of the following shows are available for discounted prices from the online merchants I recommend. In general, the most comprehensive, customer-friendly, and economical places to get television shows on DVD and blu-ray online are:  CD Universe, Barnes & Noble, Buy.com, Best Buy, J&R Computer/Music World, and DVD Empire.  Don’t leave your entertainment to chance.

Here, then, are the best television shows for men, in no particular order:

Click to get the complete MacGyver series from CD Universe

I’ll list MacGyver first and end the suspense. It’s got to be here, without a doubt — the show with the most inventive, ingenious, man-of-action ever. Most of the heavy action took place in his mind — he’s not your “Mr. T” type of hero, though he could fight (reluctantly) when he had to. The show, starring Richard Dean Anderson, was on for 7 years, from 1985 – 1992. It took a little while to hit its stride, but after the good recurring characters were added, it was reliably entertaining. Two movies were also produced after the series ended. There’s talk there may be another movie in the works. All seasons are available on DVD in various configurations, including here .

The Iliad set the definitive tone for how to deal with the ironies, paradoxes, vagaries, and tragedies of war in an artistic way over 2,500 years ago. M*A*S*H is definitely in that canon, examining the absurdities of war and military life through the lens of a mobile army surgical hospital during the Korean War. However, subsequent to The Iliad, we’ve also had Catch-22, and so this show was able to grapple with the story of war through cynical and/or ironic comedy — laughing through the madness and the tears. Essentially, this show said, war comes down to human beings and their foibles, their nobilities, and their individual ability to cope with untenable conditions — conditions they’ve brought on themselves. Viewers came to feel that the characters on this show — perhaps the most popular series ever — are their friends and neighbors. And they are. Only funnier. All seasons are available.

Firefly was one of the best science fiction series ever and it was idiotically canceled after less than one season (alas, the fate of all too many creative, unique television series). However, all 14 episodes shot for that first season are available on both DVD and Blu-ray. And there was a subsequent movie made, as well — Serenity — which was quite good. The characters (especially Nathan Fillion’s as Malcom Reynolds) are individualistic, engaging, complex, and likable; the writing shows Joss Whedon at the top of his form — witty, sophisticated, inventive — and the milieu (sort of Gunsmoke meets Battlestar Galactica) is like nothing else. It all worked, such that fans have actually wanted to live in that world and have become “Browncoats” and fan interest in the Firefly universe lives on.  Here’s one telling stat: on Amazon there are 2,914 customer reviews for this show and 2,713 are 5-star (the rest are 4-star). This is for a show that was canceled after only 11 episodes were broadcast. For comparison, the DVD of the first season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer– a very successful Joss Whedon effort that ran for 7 seasons — has 558 reviews on Amazon. People don’t just love Firefly, they are fanatical about it.  See the book Firefly: Still Flying, Vol. 3 to catch up on Firefly news and background info.  It’s not only a great science fiction series, it’s a great series period. Oh, and did I mention Morena Baccarin?

Are you a Browncoat? Then check this high-quality, limited-edition browncoat (click the image below) that’s like the coat Malcolm Reynolds wore on Firefly. This is from the creative folks at AbbyShot Clothiers.  Sold through Entertainment Earth:

Serenity Browncoat replica

Click here (as with all the images here) to get it now

Entourage showcases the fun of being rich and popular in a creative, insular, ego-driven, multi-billion-dollar industry. No, not Silicon Valley — Hollywood. The main characters are young guys navigating the ups and downs of heady success in their chosen field — movie stardom (except Johnny Drama, who is on the verge of being over the hill). So what we have here is funny entertainment about entertainment set in the Land of Oz known as southern California, complete with good witches, bad witches, munchkins, castles, and a dog.  One driving reason to watch is Jeremy Piven, who plays agent Ari Gold. The four main guys are pretty hilarious, but the screen seems to get a little brighter whenever Piven is on. Can you figure out how he does that?  If you can, you will have divined the secret of charisma.  Then ask yourself: can you duplicate it? All in all, the show is addictive entertainment, with liberal helpings of all the stuff guys like.  Some have termed Entourage the male version of Sex and the City. A total of 8 seasons are planned. Five seasons are available on DVD and Season 6 can be ordered now from J&R Computer/Music World. Season 6 is also available on Blu-ray.

After Hill Street Blues, television drama was never the same. It may be the most groundbreaking dramatic series ever. The most successful TV series since then — especially cop dramas — have had to tip their hat in some way to Hill Street Blues. It won 8 Emmy Awards in its first season and was nominated for a total of 98 in its 7-season run. It won the Emmy for best drama 4 years in a row. One television critic wrote: “Hill Street Blues is to TV what Citizen Kane was to film.” A lot of that has to do with the style of the direction. Two seasons are currently available on DVD. It’s ridiculous that the whole series is not out. Blame 20th Century Fox (which, remember, also killed Firefly; dirt bags).

There is something compelling about the way Cesar Millan works with dogs — it’s really real (as opposed to less authentic “reality” shows). It’s much more than a “dog training” show. For one thing, this guy is a true alpha male (you must watch the show to see what I mean). The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan is a show about rehabilitating dogs with serious behavioral problems. But after you watch for awhile, you begin to wonder exactly what’s going on. Is he training dogs or training people? Are the dogs training their owners? He refers to energy often and seems to be one of the few people who understands vital energy (“in tune with nature” is another way to put it). In his native Mexico, he was known as “the dogman” for his instinctive rapport with dogs. The Dog Whisperer has been the most popular show on the National Geographic Channel almost since it debuted in 2004 and it was expanded to an hour-long format in 2006. Three seasons of episodes are currently available, plus compilation DVDs. The show is quite watchable — dramatic, compelling, and inspiring (plus he’s got some cute women on from time to time). It’s not often that a “counselor” comes into a situation where, if he fails, the patient will be put to death. But Millan’s intervention is sometimes the difference between life and death for his canine clients. Watch it with your dog.

Kung Fu was the first show to introduce Asian martial arts to American audiences in a concentrated way. But what really set the show apart was all that paradoxical Buddhist and Taoist wisdom. David Carradine made it work, playing the exiled Shaolin monk Kwai Chang Kane with a combination of poignancy, grace, equanimity, and detached fortitude not seen before in a hero in an American TV show. The fight scenes were pretty good, too, accurately dramatizing the Shaolin use of “chi” and body/spirit technique, rather than devolving into a flurry of flying fists, as had been typical in most fight scenes up to that time. It was a groundbreaking series and it has held up well. The hour-long show (withsome special longer episodes and related movies) lasted for 3 seasons, from 1972 – 75. Note: the first season DVD was cropped to be in wide-screen format but thankfully the manufacturer went back to the original, full-screen format for the second and third seasons. You can get the entire series as a set by clicking on the links above — or if you’re a Member at Barnes & Noble and you have a coupon, get it here (and if you’re not a Barnes & Noble member, you should join).

The West Wing is to other political television series as…well, really, is there any other political television series? It is as immediate as the nightly news and as artistically rewarding as anything by Chayefsky, O’Neill, or Miller. Profound, funny, moving, inspiring, educational, aspirational, this show had it all. In its first season (1999) , it won 9 Emmy Awards, still the record for a first-year show. It went on to win a total of 27 in its 7-year run. Everything about this show was razor sharp, from the production values to the music to the casting (it still holds the record for the most Emmy acting nominations for a show in a single season — 12 in 2001-02). But above all, it was the writing. Just watching this show makes you feel smarter, wittier — and yes, more optimistic. And for anyone with a hardon for politics, it’s like crack. This is the way you wish the people in the White House really were. All seasons are available on DVD, including the entire series as a set. The image link at left goes to CD Universe, and you can also find it at Barnes & Noble here (currently for up to 50% off) and Buy.com here.

One reviewer called it “Television’s first true masterpiece.” The Prisoner was a cutting-edge series when it debuted in the UK in 1967 and it remains so to this day (which doesn’t say much for the pace of innovation in television creativity). It was first broadcast in the US on CBS in 1968. From the opening shots, when you see the main character driving his cool Lotus 7, you suspect that you are in for something different. The brainchild of star Patrick McGoohan, The Prisoner consists of 17 enigmatic, sophisticated episodes. When an instrument of the state (a spy) attempts to end his employment by the state, what does the state do? It attempts to find out why, and it does so by attacking and subverting the subject’s social contract by imprisoning him in a place that appears not to be a prison — sort of Jeremy Bentham meets Kurt Vonnegut. Not that this series was a dry exercise in philosophy. It is more like a puzzle box that takes on themes of control versus freedom, solipsism, and cultural conditioning — all with an underlying implication (and actuality) of violence as the consequence of going against the institutional grain. The series was meticulously filmed, produced, and directed, and it has recently been released in an outstanding Blu-ray version. Watch it and see if you can figure out its riddles. A couple of interesting factoids: the final episode, “Fall Out,” was nominated for science fiction’s highest award, the Hugo, for best dramatic presentation in 1969, but lost out to 2001: A Space Odyssey. In the movie The Matrix, in the final action sequence where the agents are chasing Neo, he runs through an apartment living room and there is an image of a man on the television — it is one of the “Number 2″ characters from The Prisoner. By the way, AMC’s recent remake of the series is, unfortunately, lame, so don’t judge the original by that.

Best. Satirical. Show. Ever. From Cartman to Mr. Mackey, Lemminwinks to Towelie, South Park has been lodging indelible characters in society’s craw for 13 years now. And we’re all the better for it (except for Kenny, who has been killed 103 times). No topic or person is too sacred for the show’s inventive creators, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, to skewer, lambaste, ridicule, lampoon, mock, caricature, or turn into a laughingstock. But they never forget that laughter is what it’s all about and the show’s humor has remained consistent and edgy year after year. Sometimes it’s just about kids and their unadulterated ability to delve into the fertile regions of the imagination. Sometimes it’s about saying “shit” 162 times in one show. Whatever, it’s funny as hell (and yes, they have ventured into hell, too, where Satan sleeps with Saddam). Nothing about South Park is lame or weak. There are now even books out by philosophy professors on South Park philosophy. Every season is available on DVD. Season 12 is available on blu-ray and Season 13 will be available on blu-ray in March, 2010.

Here are the quirky, offbeat, intelligent, irritating, delightful friends you wish you had but have never met. This is the place you wish you could live but have never found, except in the 110 episodes of Northern Exposure. One of the smartest, most original, and charming shows ever done, producers and TV writers have occasionally tried to reproduce its unique blend of chemistry and idiosyncrasy since it went off the air in 1995, but none have come close. The overall arc of the show concerns the fish-out-of-water saga of New York doctor Joel Fleischman (Rob Morrow), who is required to go to a tiny town in Alaska to pay off his med-school education. He encounters characters who eventually transform his world view, as well as his view of himself, and in that sense, he undergoes a sort of hero’s journey. His muse in that journey is bush pilot Maggie O’Connell (the radiant Janine Turner), who by turns infuriates, captivates, and injures the cranky doctor. This is one of the best examples of sexual tension between characters on a TV show ever. But a plethora of other odd things and people are encountered throughout the proceedings and you can never be sure of what will happen next, except that it will be interesting, funny, and maybe surreal. There are excellent turns by guest stars, including Adam Arkin as a Sasquatch-esque ex-Vietnam special forces operative who is a brilliant chef and Anthony Edwards as a man who must live in a bubble. Just about every viable way a man can choose to relate to life and others is examined in this show. John Cody, a professor in San Francisco, wrote: “[Northern Exposure] consistently exhilarate[s] us, the viewers, by honoring our capacity to delight in, to relish, the play of intelligence and psychological nuances. Each drama served a wonderful 10-course gourmet banquet for our starved imaginations: magic, myth, ritual philosophy, religious wisdom, folklore, fantasy, and living sparks from the moral dialectics of diverse characters.” In other words, he liked it. I love this show and have almost every episode recorded on VHS tape. Though it’s been close to 15 years since the series ended, fans still hold an annual “Moosefest” in Roslyn, WA to celebrate the show’s magic and camaraderie. Every season is available here (and a new Season 1 & 2 “Value Pack” is coming April 20, 2010).

Columbo is one of the greatest TV characters ever, famous world-wide. In addition to the nuances and charming idiosyncrasies of Peter Falk’s performance (for which he won 4 Emmys over a span of 18 years), the show was innovative in that it always began with the murder and then we saw how Columbo inexorably honed in on the culprit. The series was also known for the quality of its guest stars. It is fun to see Columbo match wits with the likes of Patrick McGoohan, William Shatner, and Leonard Nimoy and see how they become increasingly frustrated by this bumbling police lieutenant who will not leave them alone. The show was clever, stylish, humorous, and suspenseful. It was from a “simpler” time as well, and in that sense remained a classic detective drama — solving the crime through the use of observation, deduction, leg work, and knowledge of human nature. And it was not about the murder per se, but rather the life-and-death contest of wits between the murderer and this humble, unassuming, occasionally empathetic, yet relentless sleuth. Certainly one of the top 5 most successful television characters of all time, Columbo TV episodes and movies appeared from 1968 – 2003. (When the actual series began in 1971, 25-year-old Steven Spielberg directed the first episode.) Seven seasons of the show and some of the “ABC Mystery Movie” versions are currently available. Season 4 in particular is very good. And, oh, just one more thing… On a side note, as you go through this list of TV shows, you’ll notice that there are none based strictly on murder as a dramatic focus (such as CSI, Homicide, etc.). Frankly, I have little use for the aesthetic of American television that fixates so obsessively on crime, and particularly murder, as a dramatic device. It’s too easy. Our generally dysfunctional relationship with death is simple enough to exploit, as is our fearful fascination with unexpected violence, and that’s why the networks devote tens of hours of programming to it. But who wants to regularly inhabit that kind of world, even if only in the imagination? If your favorite show is Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, no problem. I suppose violence-and-retribution porn has its place, but it’s a place I rarely visit.

Wittiest robots ever. Oh, and a human. Mystery Science Theater 3000 is about a man trapped on a space station forced to watch the worst science fiction movies of all time by an evil scientist. In self-defense, the man builds some robot companions to help him deflect the badness of the movies by making sanity-saving flippant comments (“MSTing,” as it came to be known). Doesn’t sound like much, does it? But it worked as one of the most hilarious shows ever to ride out of Minnesota on a tide of viewer enthusiasm. It was picked up by Comedy Central and then the Sci Fi channel, running from 1988 to 1999, first with the original creator Joel Hodgson as the human, later replaced by Mike Nelson. The shows are available on DVD as collections rather than seasons. They feature not only commentary on some of Hollywood’s worst B-movies but original sketches and riffing on lame “shorts” as well. The show has inspired a fanatical fan base and a movie was made in 1996. This is recycling at its finest. Who knew all those crappy movies would come in so handy?

Two PI shows stand out as the best of their genre and this is one of them. The Rockford Files first aired in 1974, continued for 6 successful seasons, and remains in syndication to this day. Several “reunion” movies were made between 1994 and 1999. The show was anchored by James Garner’s easy-going, good-natured, savvy performance as a wise-cracking former convict turned private investigator. Noah Beery as his father added some character-actor gravitas and an element of family chemistry to the mix. But it is the writing that elevates this show into a place among some of the best television ever, thanks to Stephen J. Cannell, Juanita Bartlett, and David Chase (writer for Northern Exposure and creator of The Sopranos). Oh, and then there was that Pontiac Firebird… (I had a Firebird myself for a few years.) And his classy, sexy attorney, played by Gretchen Corbett. The regular series eventually ended due to the physical toll doing all his own stunts was taking on James Garner. Interesting factoid: the show’s theme song won a Grammy. All the seasons are available on DVD. Also here and here.

You don’t get to be named the 20th century’s best TV show by Time magazine by being shabby and, of course, The Simpsons isn’t. Shabby, that is. It’s the most successful animated show of all time and may never be surpassed (just as no playwright has ever surpassed Shakespeare). Whereas the relationship dynamic of South Park is based on friendship between kids, that of The Simpsons is based on the nuclear family (including a father who works in a nuclear power plant). Beyond that, and again similar to South Park, the show lampoons everything, parodies countless human and social foibles, and raises the ridicule of stupidity to a high art. Plus it makes you laugh. It almost always does that. The show is book-ended by the irreverent, high-spirited Bart and his indolent, loutish father, Homer. Both have become cultural icons. (“Don’t have a cow, man.”) The Simpsons is the longest-running American sitcom (21 seasons and counting), the longest-running American animated show, and the longest-running American primetime entertainment series ever. The writing, acting, and animation are all as good as it gets (the show has won 25 Emmys) and there has been a who’s-who of guest stars (including Paul Newman, ElizabethTaylor, Joe Namath, and Thomas Pynchon). The Simpsons can get a laugh with a single word (“D’oh!”) or a sequence lasting 2 seconds. It remains pretty fresh after 20 years. Twelve seasons and special compilations are available on DVD. Season 20 will be released on blu-ray in January 2010. (Factorama: Conan O’Brien was a staff writer for the show.)

One of the greatest miniseries and finest television productions ever, Brideshead Revisited captivated American audiences when it was presented on PBS’s “Great Performances” in 1981. Boasting a stellar cast that included Jeremy Irons, Laurence Olivier, Claire Bloom, and John Gielgud, it is based on Evelyn Waugh’s novel of the same title, and tells the story of an English Army captain who has been assigned to a headquarters located at an English country estate at which he had spent an idyllic summer many years before. The story of his passionate friendship with the aristocratic scion of the Marchmain family, Sebastian Flyte, as well as his subsequent embroilment with the rest of the family is told in flashback form. This story plumbs virtually every human emotion, examines some important questions about life, and delves deeply into relationships between friends, lovers, and families. The gorgeous production has an ethereal, magical quality about it, a refreshing senseof discovery, and a nostalgia so intense as to be painful. The acting is superlative, without flaw; each character is indelible. Why is it included on this list? Because it portrays things about men, women, parents, children, art, and religion that are important to consider, and because it gives one a sense that purity is possible, even as innocence is forgotten. The 25th Anniversary Collector’s Edition includes all 11 hours, plus a documentary. Also find it here and here.

The broadcast of the miniseries Roots in 1977 was one of those significant cultural events that everyone who experienced at the time will remember for the rest of their lives. Based on Alex Haley’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same title, the 12-hour miniseries followed the story of an African boy captured and forced into slavery and his and his descendants’ subsequent fortunes in the United States. It is hard to over-state the cultural impact this show had at the time. It is estimated that over 130 million Americans saw all or part of the series, and the final program, broadcast January 30, 1977, remains the third highest-rated show of all time (behind the M*A*S*H finale and the Dallas episode “Who Shot JR?”). This represents over half of the nation’s population at the time — a staggering number, when you consider that television executives are ecstatic nowadays to approach an audience of 40 million, when the population is over 300 million. Roots received 9 Emmy awards, a Golden Globe, and a Peabody. The performances and production values are excellent (especially Louis Gossett, Jr. as Fiddler, which was a breakthrough role for him). Basically, the value of the miniseries lies in its depiction of the human spirit (via characters that many whites at the time still considered not quite as human as them), the expansion of consciousness through the interplay of relationships over time, and the quest for freedom. Freedom is always the bottom line. This dramatic series leaves one feeling both freer and more hopeful. A landmark achievement.

The average person lies 3 times in a 10-minute conversation… Even though it’s only in its second season, sometimes you just know that a show is going to be worth following and recommending and that’s the case with Lie to Me. Tim Roth is one of the best actors currently working in television and his performance as Dr. Cal Lightman combines cool intellectualism with an undercurrent of brooding and at times visceral passion. The idea here is that he is an expert at reading facial expressions and body language and can thus ascertain whether someone is telling the truth or somehow attempting to deceive. The premise is like nothing that’s been done before, and it’s used to excellent dramatic effect as Cal Lightman and his team of experts assist in cases from criminal to civil to military (and sometimes just to help out a friend). The science of interpreting facial cues exists (courtesy of Dr. Paul Ekman, the source of the assertion at the top of this review), which makes it more fascinating, yet the human element is never submerged. This show does not condescend at all to the viewer; the writing is topnotch and all the cast members do a good job (including Brendan Hines as a guy who chooses to always tell the truth, regardless of consequences). And, of course, there’s sexual tension between Lightman and his most experienced colleague, Dr. Gillian Foster (Kelli Williams) — who, of course, he cannot deceive. Or can he? Season one is available on DVD and blu-ray. A show that makes you feel smarter as you watch. It’s interesting how they juxtapose give-away facial expressions of real people (politicians, criminals) with the expressions of actors playing characters on the show.

If you want to know how not to act or think about 80% of the time, all you have to do is spend time with Archie Bunker (Carroll O’Connor) on All in the Family. The genius of this show is that it managed, under the guise of comedy, to introduce all sorts of previously forbidden topics and issues to primetime network television (racism, homophobia, menopause, impotence, etc.) and in that sense it was groundbreaking. It was consistently funny, too, which is one reason it was rated number 1 from 1971 – 1976 (running 8 seasons in all). Only 3 shows have ever held the top spot in the ratings for 5 or more consecutive seasons and All in the Family is one of them (the others being The Cosby Show and American Idol). Each of the characters is a distinct individual and the cast had great chemistry. It’s like sitting down with your neighbors (or people who could be your neighbors) and experiencing all the squabbles, discoveries, frustrations, and rewards of that relationship. Like life, only with a sharper, more humorous focus. When TV Guide named its 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time, All in the Family was #4. Bravo named Archie Bunker TV’s greatest character of all time. Six seasons are available on DVD. The show was shot on tape and transferred from tape so it may not look stellar, but this timeless classic is still definitely worth watching.

If nothing else, the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) has shown the difference between the choreographed, stylized martial arts portrayed in movies and TV and what really happens in a fight (or as close to a no-holds-barred confrontation as the UFC’s minimal rules allow). It demonstrates what real martial arts look like when applied in a practical situation. It’s not much like the idealized dance you find in films. It’s brutal, it’s based on physical talent, conditioning, and efficient technique, and sometimes a little luck. And to a large extent on “heart.” Occasionally you’ll see something fancy like a spinning back kick, but mostly it’s a war of attrition using muy Thai techniques and boxing when standing and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu on the ground. As such, it is kind of fascinating. A reality show based on fighters who want to be in the UFC is therefore an intriguing concept, and that’s what we have in The Ultimate Fighter: Season One, which aired on Spike TV. The producers didn’t really know how it would all work out when it began, but it turned out to be pretty darn interesting. Two great UFC fighters (Chuck Liddell and Randy Couture) were brought in as opposing coaches along with a bunch of up-and-coming middleweight and light-heavyweight fighters. They went against each other for the prize of a six-figure contract (one for each weight class) and a shot at making it in the UFC. What sort of personality does an MMA (mixed martial arts) fighter have? Turns out, rather diverse, from college grads to neanderthal types who are sketchily house-broken. They all lived together in a house which they proceeded to beat — along with each other — to hell. What does it take to make it as a professional UFC fighter? This show answered that question and a lot more. It also culminated in a legendary light-heavyweight fight that put the UFC on the mainstream map and exponentially raised its popularity. If you want to know about men who fight, this show is the one to watch and Season 1 is still probably the best of the bunch. A number of the fighters from this show went on to success in the UFC.

George Peppard’s cool, stylish performance as freelance insurance investigator Banacek is the main reason to watch this show, which lasted for 2 seasons on NBC, from 1972 – 74. Banacek was hired for cases that no one else could solve, and if he solved them he got 10% of the value of the insured item. Since he was brilliant, this had made him a wealthy man and one of the pleasures of the show is watching him enjoy his debonair luxury lifestyle. The show was known for its intricate heist mysteries: how did an armored truck get stolen while under police escort; how could a valuable race horse disappear from a track as it was being exercised? Only Banacek could find the clues and make the correct deductions, assisted by some quirky supporting characters and, of course, cutting a swath through the ladies as he did so (not to mention periodically declaiming inscrutable Polish proverbs). An enjoyable show that combined mystery and humor, it was only canceled because Peppard didn’t want to hand over his salary to his ex-wife in his divorce settlement. Season 1 and Season 2 are both available on DVD, with the Season 2 collection containing the original pilot, and there is a “best-of” compilation as well.

24 is the most exciting, white-knuckle, pulse-pounding series currently on television, and maybe ever. It has managed to up the ante every year — not easy to do when you start off at a pretty high level. Hard to believe that there have already been seven action-packed 24-hour days wherein Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) has had to save whole cities, and sometimes the entire country, from terrorists almost single-handedly, as he is hindered, obstructed, and persecuted by the very people who are supposed to be on his side — CTU, the FBI, CIA, the President, the Secret Service, the Cabinet, police departments, postmen, etc. (It’s an interesting dichotomy that society calls on Jack to channel his dark energy to oppose the moral darkness of the enemy, and then castigates and condemns him when he does so.) It adds to the tension that no cast member is safe, meaning anybody can be killed at any time, including Jack. (Thank god Chloe is still around.) This is the ultimate anti-terror revenge fantasy. It works because of the terrific pacing (each show unfolding in more-or-less real time), action sequences, and performances. The show has won Golden Globes and Emmys for best drama, best actor (Kiefer Sutherland), best directing, and supporting actors. Seasons 1 – 7 are available on DVD; Season 7 is also on blu-ray. You can also get 24 – The Complete Series for a good discount.

I hesitate somewhat to recommend WKRP in Cincinnati — not because this fresh, funky comedy isn’t worth your time (it is) but because the only season available on DVD is Season 1, and when it was released a lot of the original songs used in the series were removed and replaced with more “generic” music due to the expense of purchasing rights (stupid IPR), and the syndicated, 22-minute versions of the episodes were used. Die-hard fans of the show howled in protest (yes, they howled) at what they thought was an unforgivable blow to the show’s artistic integrity and vowed not to buy the disc. And there the issue has sat, with no more seasons being released. I guess you could look on the positive side and say that a show that got fans that riled up would have to be awfully good. And this sitcom really is that good. In fact, many fans have been able to look past the music issue and enjoy the show for what it was — a look at the wacky, delightful, off-beat personalities who have come together to work at the bottom-rated radio station in Cincinnati. There’s Dr. Johnny Fever (Howard Hesseman), a slightly burned out, slightly stoned DJ who says, during a bomb scare on the show, “If I die, who will teach the children about Bo Diddley?” There’s Venus Flytrap (Tim Reid), hip and soulful, who thinks he’s a little too cool for it all, but isn’t. And the Laurel and Hardy and Hardy of the station: Less Nessman (Richard Sanders), Herb Tarlek (Frank Bonner), and Arthur “Big Guy” Carlson (Gordon Jump) who are, respectively, the worst newsman in Cincinnati, the worst salesman in Cincinnati, and the worst radio station general manager in Cincinnati. The sane Andy Travis (Gary Sandy) tries to hold it all together. And, of course, two of the main reasons to watch are Jennifer Marlowe (played by blond bombshell Loni Anderson), who is the station’s receptionist; and Bailey Quarters (the lambent Jan Smithers), who is the station’s shy traffic manager (but who, you come to realize, is more desirable than Jennifer). Ah, one of those classic debates: Jennifer or Bailey — who would you do? WKRP was seventh in the ratings when it was canceled by some boneheads at CBS in its fourth season. Fortunately, the first season has some of the show’s funniest episodes, including the unforgettable “Turkey’s Away.” On balance, I’d say the show on DVD is still worth watching. Get it now and see what all the fuss is about.

It’s fitting that an unknown actor named Tom Selleck guest-starred on The Rockford Files as debonair private eye Lance White — ethical to a fault, highly educated, wealthy, a ladies man — in short, everything Rockford was not, and of course he drove Rockford nuts. Thus the best PI show of the 1970s shares some television DNA with the best PI show of the 1980s, as Tom Selleck went on to star in Magnum P.I. playing a character very much like the one he played on Rockford. However, he is a little cooler as Thomas Magnum, ex-Navy SEAL and intelligence operative, who refuses to settle for the “real world” and instead hunkers down in the guest house of an estate in Hawaii and takes on various PI jobs, oftentimes for beautiful female clients. Magnum P.I.‘s ratings consistently placed it among the top twenty shows in most of its 8 seasons. In fact, when the show’s producers tried to kill off Magnum at the end of the seventh season, the public outcry was such that they brought him back for an eighth. Aside from Selleck’s laid-back charisma, there was a cadre of memorable supporting characters (including two of Magnum’s friends who had, like him, served in Vietnam), and the show was notable for its smart writing, variety of stories, and occasional wink-at-the-audience humor. Did Tom Selleck make the right move in turning down the role of Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark to star in Magnum P.I.? Watch the shows — which are all available on DVD — and decide for yourself. (At least he got to be the first TV PI to drive a Ferrari.) Many think there has never been a better PI series made.

I loved The Wild Wild West when I was a kid and the show has stood the test of time as a one-of-a-kind combination of espionage and western. Robert Conrad and Ross Martin play special agents of President Ulysses S. Grant, traveling around the west in their own tricked-out train, foiling nefarious plots, bringing evil-doers to justice, and saving the country from takeover by mad villains. The show is an engaging combination of action, James-Bond-like gadgetry, camp, humor, good acting, suspense, stunts, science fiction, and romance (James West (Conrad) did most of the seduction duties). Artemus Gordon (Martin) supplied West with all kinds of cool weaponry, including a derringer that would extend out of his sleeve. Martin also was a “master of disguise,” and got to show off his ability to speak in many different dialects in the show’s 4-year run. The show was also known for its collection of deranged villains, including one of the best of all time, Dr. Loveless (Michael Dunn), who was the duo’s arch-nemesis in several episodes. The series was filmed in black and white in its first season (for which it received an Emmy nomination for cinematography) and in color after that. It also had a bevy of beautiful but dangerous vixens with whom West and Martin had to contend. They don’t make ‘em like that anymore. All seasons are available on DVD.

There has never been a funnier sitcom than Scrubs. I’m pretty picky when it comes to sitcoms — if it doesn’t make me laugh out loud at least two or three times in a half hour, why bother? And Scrubs has been a consistent laugh-producer year after year. They managed to keep it fresh and surprising and even when you got used to a particular character’s shtick, it was still funny, unlike many other sitcoms. The writing has been consistently good; the subtle, silly touches (like sound effects and JD’s reveries) have been spot on, and the cast always seems to be having fun giving their performances. It is a true ensemble cast and every character is memorable (“I do love a moist cake”). The fact that the show never got stellar ratings means nothing — in fact, you might assume, since banality like Two and a Half Men is highly rated year after year, that it’s a sort of compliment to the show’s quality. Sure, sometimes quality and ratings converge (such as All in the Family), but there are gems out there you might have missed. If you haven’t seen it, this is one of them. And one unusual and interesting thing about the series is that they can transition between goofy slapstick and a poignant story about the fate of a patient in the same show and make it work. That means good writing. They get excellent performances out of their guest stars, too (Michael J. Fox, Heather Graham, etc.). From Perry’s rants to the Janitor’s hobby of creating an army of stuffed squirrels over which to be king, Scrubs is uniquely humorous. And if you don’t believe me, go stand in the corner and try to remember why your name is Sheila. Eight seasons are available on DVD and Season 8 is also on blu-ray (and here). (Forget Season 9; lots of changes were made and the show became a shadow of its former self.)

Alias is the best series about a female spy ever. This is a truly modern suspense drama, with complex characters worrying about their purpose in life, as well as stewing over the meaning and quality of their relationships. But the fight scenes are good. And there’s a 500-year-old prophetic manuscript to deal with. Combined with having to save the world from the depredations of shadowy terrorist cabals, the show is a multi-faceted experience. It’s interesting that the show premiered in September, 2001 (it lasted 5 seasons). One unique aspect is that we follow the career of Sydney Bristow (Jennifer Garner) from before it begins and takes her through numerous adjustments and transformations (her own “hero’s journey”) in an increasingly complex search for, ultimately, truth and love. Along the way there’s plenty of intrigue, style, humor, and action (love those scenes where Sydney’s running). The male characters are all interesting, individualistic, and entertaining, especially Sydney’s father, Jack Bristow (Victor Garber), who is one of the most emotionally-controlled and cold-blooded “good guys” ever. It’s intriguing to watch as the layers of his character are revealed over the course of the series. Another favorite is Kevin Weisman playing Marshall Flinkman, the show’s “Q”-type genius, who can always be counted on for a laugh. The show was known for having interesting guest stars, too, including David Cronenberg, Richard Roundtree, Quentin Tarantino, and Faye Dunaway. Factorama: the show was a big hit with CIA employees, who appreciated its portrayal of the world of espionage. The agency had Jennifer Garner make a recruitment video to show to grad student prospects. Find it here and here.

This is the show that made Bruce Willis a star. Moonlighting is about a detective agency run by David Addison (Willis) and Maddie Hayes (Cybill Shepherd). The show was groundbreaking in that it was one of the first series to combine drama and comedy, as well as throwing in “departure” shows where the cast would do something completely different (e.g. perform Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew). The writing was good, the dialog clever (with rapid-fire patter and verbal jousting), and the plots featured serviceable who-dunnits. It was primarily the sparks generated by Willis’s manic, youthful wise-cracking and the elegant Shepherd’s sophisticated, exasperated tolerance that made the show entertaining. As oil and water, of course they created a lot of sexual tension. Their witty byplay is still some of the best ever in a TV show. The mix of elements that led to the term “dramedy” was exemplified by the fact that the show was nominated for Emmy Awards in the dramatic series category and for Golden Globe Awards in the comedy series category in several of its 5 seasons. Factorama: Al Jarreau wrote the lyrics and performed one of the most popular theme songs for a series ever. All seasons are available on DVD.

Breaking Bad is another new show that makes the cut here because it’s excellent and like nothing else that’s ever been done. Walter White is a high school chemistry teacher who is informed that he has terminal cancer. Being not just some schlemiel HS teacher but actually a good-enough chemist to have partnered with a Nobel Prize winner in the past, and, his financial situation not being the greatest — and under the influence of too many broken dreams and self-castigating thoughts — he decides to begin cooking and selling crystal meth in order to secure his family’s financial future. That is the premise of one of the most original and unpredictable shows of recent years. There are hilarious moments; there are tragic moments. There are sometimes both together. There are moments that make your jaw drop. The first season was consistently unpredictable, funny, gritty, and excellent. The second season descends into the blackest of black comedy. It will be interesting to see how season 3 plays out. Set in Albuquerque, New Mexico (which provides a different and effective type of atmosphere), and penned, directed, and produced by Vince Gilligan (former producer of the X-Files), it features an outstanding performance by Bryan Cranston as he begins a journey into the heart of darkness and yet finds himself more vividly alive than ever before. Cranston has won the Emmy for best actor in a drama series for Breaking Bad’s first two seasons, which are available on DVD and blu-ray. The show has also won an Emmy for editing. There are no weak spots — the cast is superb (great touch to have his brother-in-law be a DEA agent, which also adds an undercurrent of absurdity to the whole war-on-drugs thing), the writing is vigorous and insightful, and the plot holds your attention. As you watch, you keep being blown away that something this edgy and good made it to TV (thank god for the cable networks).  For more perspective on Breaking Bad, see Chuck Klosterman’s evaluation that it is the best show of the last 10 years.

When Robin Williams was at the height of his newfound fame from Mork & Mindy, I went to see him do his standup act at the Boarding House in San Francisco. It was the most blatant display of creative genius I had ever seen. Whether performing prepared material or improvising off audience input, he was brilliant. And totally funny. And that’s the reason to watch this show. There will never be another performer like Robin Williams, and here he was unleashed on the world for the first time. The series, a spinoff from a single guest appearance Williams made on Happy Days, appeared for 4 seasons on ABC from 1978 – 1982. It starred Williams as an alien from Ork, sent to earth to report on human behavior, and Pam Dawber as Mindy, the girl from Boulder, Colorado who he rooms with. Mork has a lot to learn about how things work from a human perspective, and that unleashes Williams to do all kinds of riffs, double-entendres, misunderstandings, and faux pas on human thinking and relationships. After awhile, the writers of the series left gaping holes in the script where it would say, in effect, “Robin improvises.” And the show is funny to this day, especially to young people who’ve never seen it (and even to us older folk who might better get some of the jokes that went over our heads when Williams was unleashing them at breakneck pace). The show became a hit in its first season. After that, the network messed with it to try to “improve” it and, while it remained entertaining, it became a little uneven. But each season is still worth watching. (The second season featured a guest-star appearance by Racquel Welch as “Captain Nirvana” of the Necrotons, an alien race of beautiful women who were enemies of Orkans (hubba hubba).) Tom Poston also appeared as Mork and Mindy’s grumpy, greeting-card-writer neighbor, Mr. Bickley, and his comedic talent and timing added to the humor. Factorama: in the second season, ABC moved Mork & Mindy into the time slot where the canceled Battlestar Galactica had been. If you haven’t seen it (or even if you have), try Season 1. You’ll be hooked (or re-hooked). Just think what the world would be like without Robin Williams… A lot less funny. To date, three seasons are available on DVD. Also find it here.

Baa Baa Black Sheep was the kind of TV show my father liked. In 1976, Stephen J. Cannell (who also created The Rockford Files, among others) created a series about a squadron of Marine pilots in the south Pacific in World War II. The show was loosely based on the real-life exploits of Major Gregory “Pappy” Boyington, who commanded squadron VMF-214, which flew F4U Corsairs against the Japanese. Boyington became an ace and led the “Black Sheep Squadron” to fame (in one 12-week period in 1943 they downed or damaged 197 enemy planes). Boyington himself was eventually shot down, captured by a Japanese submarine and was a prisoner for 18 months. He was awarded the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross. The opening credits of the show state: “In World War II, Marine Corps Major Greg “Pappy” Boyington commanded a squadron of fighter pilots. They were a collection of misfits and screwballs who became the terrors of the South Pacific. They were known as the Black Sheep.” This indicates the fictional direction that was taken with this series. It doesn’t go as far toward comedy as M*A*S*H, but Boyington and his pilots are portrayed as hard-drinking, hard-fighting, laissez-faire kind of guys, chasing nurses and cutting loose whenever they aren’t engaging in dog fights. Robert Conrad (after his stint on The Wild Wild West) played Boyington and was nominated for a Golden Globe for his portrayal. One great thing about the show is that the flying scenes were done with real F4U Corsairs (no CGI in those days), and they pioneered the use of helmet-mounted cameras to capture aerial footage. I love warbirds, so maybe that skews my interest a bit toward this show. But then again, my father liked it. It lasted for 2 seasons and all Season 1 episodes plus the 2-hour pilot are available, spread over two DVD volumes.

Bosom Buddies was a fun 1980s comedy that just happened to co-star a guy who would become only the second man (Spencer Tracy was the first) to win back-to-back Academy Awards as Best Actor. Here is Tom Hanks getting his first big break at age 24 and making the most of it, along with Peter Scolari and the ever-smoldering Holland Taylor. Hanks and Scolari play Kip and Henry, two guys who work at an ad agency as an artist and writer, respectively. The apartment they’re sharing gets condemned so their coworker (Wendy Jo Sperber), who has a crush on Henry, suggests they move in with her. The only problem is that she lives in a place that’s for women only. So begins a riff on Some Like It Hot: Kip and Henry must dress in drag in order to inhabit their new digs. And there, Kip meets Sonny(Donna Dixon), who he decides is the love of his life. Complications, as they say, ensue. The series lasted for 2 seasons (37 half-hour episodes). Apparently the network wasn’t paying much attention so the show’s young writers and actors were free to experiment, and Hanks and Scolari discovered comedic chemistry together, frequently improvising in their scenes. It made for some good laughs. And once again, two words: Donna Dixon. The entire series is available as a package on DVD or as separate seasons.

In 1952, Superman made his first appearance in a TV series in The Adventures of Superman, and many feel that this is in many respects the best series featuring Superman that has been made. It was groundbreaking, thoughtfully-produced, well-acted, and well-written. It deservedly made a star of its leading man, George Reeves; it was popular when it was broadcast and remains popular to this day — a feat accomplished by few series from the vintage days of television. George Reeves was the quintessential man of steel — smart, confident, and a kickass superhero fighting for “truth, justice, and the American way.” His Clark Kent was not a bumbler, but was instead professional about his job, cool, and well-rounded. The show used some special effects that were advanced at that time to portray Superman flying. Many of the cast members became popular, particularly Phyllis Coates as Lois Lane in the series’ first two seasons (she would be replaced by Noel Neill in the remaining four). The producers wanted to create a show that would appeal to both adults and kids and they succeeded admirably. The first two seasons in particular have the feel of the noir crime films of the day. After shooting the first two seasons in black and white, the producers decided to move to a color production, one of the first TV series to do so. Even though the network had not yet committed to broadcasting in color, the producers saw the handwriting on the wall and realized that it would eventually increase the value of the series. The series added science fiction elements in later seasons and even became somewhat campy, though the final season toned down the camp and returned to more of the serious style with which it began. Every season is available on DVD. A feature film entitled Hollywoodland, which deals with the show’s production and the deathof George Reeves, was released in 2006. Not too many series or their stars warrant the making of a feature film about them. This series is well worth adding to your library of classic television — it will entertain you and inspire your kids.

One of the few military dramas that isn’t cheesy, The Unit was created by writing heavyweights David Mamet (Glengarry Glen Ross, The Verdict) and Shawn Ryan (The Shield) in 2006, based on the book Inside Delta Force: the Story of America’s Elite Counterterrorist Unit, by Eric Haney. It ended after 4 seasons in 2009. It follows the adventures, missions, training, and family life of 5 – 7 of Delta Force’s elite soldiers, as they travel around the world clandestinely fighting terrorists and other elements that pose a threat to the United States. The episodes are smart, suspenseful, and the action is well-done. Dennis Haysbert (formerly President David Palmer on 24) plays Sergeant Major Jonas Blane, the non-commissioned officer in charge of the unit’s 5-man team, as a no-nonsense, creative commander, who can be both ruthless and compassionate as circumstances require. Robert Patrick (Terminator 2, The X-Files) plays Colonel Tom Ryan, The Unit’s overall commander, who presumably reports only to the President. There is a strong element of family and relationship dynamics involved, as the show examines the toll taken on the soldier’s wives and families due to the top-secret and dangerous nature of their work. All the main characters, including the wives, are well-acted, and the dynamic situations the characters confront always keep one’s interest as they are presented in a non-clichéd, “realistic,” morally-ambiguous way. All seasons are available on DVD and Season 4 is also on blu-ray.

St. Elsewhere is the reason ER* is not on this list. It is the original, the granddaddy of all serial ensemble medical shows. But it was much more than that — so much more that critics have acknowledged it as one of television’s finest series ever. The writing was superb, the cast excellent, and the directing served the show’s combination of drama, black humor, inside jokes, pop culture references, and surrealism. It concerns the fortunes of a staff of doctors at St. Eligius Hospital in Boston’s South End neighborhood. The hospital is run down and the butt of many jokes, one of them being that it is known as “St. Elsewhere.” In that environment, a slew of medical cases and issues are grappled with in ways that are both funny and tragic. The show is legendary for its ensemble of actors, some just launching careers that would lead to stardom. The cast includes: Ed Flanders, Norman Lloyd, William Daniels, David Morse, Alfre Woodard, Bruce Greenwood, Helen Hunt, Ed Begley, Jr., Stephen Furst, Howie Mandel, Christina Pickles, Mark Harmon, and Denzel Washington. The show, which was created by Joshua Brand and John Falsey (who would go on to create Northern Exposure – which just goes to show once again that good writing is the most important aspect of a successful series), was nominated for over 60 Emmys in its 6-season run, winning 13 of them. It is #20 on TV Guide’s list of the 50 greatest shows of all time. Now the bad news: there is only one freakin’ season available on DVD. For some misbegotten reason, Fox has chosen not to release the remaining 5 seasons. But one season (22 episodes) of St. Elsewhere is worth just about any 10 other television series. Maybe if you buy Season 1 and then write to Fox and ask them nicely? In the meantime, if you haven’t seen this show (which premiered in 1982), you are in for a treat. Watch the first 2 – 3 episodes and you’ll see what I mean. [*ER was good in its first few seasons but when the stars started to leave it began to die the death of a thousand paper cuts. Plus, one medical drama is enough -- watching too many isn't healthy.]

Remington Steele showcased the talents of future-James Bond Pierce Brosnan and helped make him famous in the U.S. after some early success on the British stage. Stephanie Zimbalist (daughter of actor Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., who was well-known for 77 Sunset Strip and The F.B.I.) plays Laura Holt, owner of a private detective agency. She finds that clients are reluctant to hire a woman and so makes up a fictitious boss named Remington Steele in hopes of drumming up more business. A white-collar thief and con man (Brosnan) overhears the name and decides to take on the identity as his own. As he and Laura Holt work things out, it turns out that he is a good detective, and a new team (sort of an updated Thin Man concept) is born. The mysteries are pretty good, sometimes borrowing from classic plots such as The Maltese Falcon, and there is an element of romantic comedy that worked well between Brosnan and Zimbalist (of course, the sexual tension was milked for all it was worth). The show had style (including a 1936 Auburn Speedster), both stars had charm and panache, the writing was good, and it became one of the best male/female detective series ever. In its later seasons it was in competition with Moonlighting — which is ironic, since Moonlighting creator Glen Gordon Caron wrote and produced the first 10 episodes of Remington Steele (once again demonstrating the influence of a good writer on a show’s success). The rivalry between the shows led to Brosnan making a cameo appearance as Remington Steele on a Moonlighting episode entitled “The Straight Poop.” The NBC network supported Remington Steele pretty aggressively, which led to the capability to shoot episodes in foreign countries. Factorama: when it appeared that Remington Steele was about to be canceled in 1986, film producer “Cubby” Broccoli offered the part of James Bond to Pierce Brosnan, whom Broccoli assumed was about to become unemployed. The offer of the James Bond part generated a lot of buzz in the U.S. and fans of the TV show wrote in asking that it not be canceled. Since the network had Brosnan under contract for another year, they brought him back and shot a 5th season of Remington Steele. Timothy Dalton got the part of Bond instead, and Brosnan had to wait until 1995 to utter those immortal words: “Bond… James Bond.” All seasons of Remington Steele are available on DVD.

Now it’s so easy to just accept Monty Python as another given of life, like pop-top cans, professional wrestling, and the Milky Way, that we may forget that this was an actual group of individual human beings who came together from diverse backgrounds and managed, serendipitously, using their own minds and leveraging their inventive chemistry, to remake not only comedy, but to change the way we think about what’s funny. I mean, yeah, a naked guy playing the organ is funny, but who first thought of it? Python. Who first thought it would be funny to have German and Greek philosophers play soccer against each other? Python.  Who first sang a song about a lumberjack who likes to dress in women’s clothing? Python. Who treated Spam the way it ought to be treated? Monty Python’s Flying Circus is the smartest, most original, silliest, and sneakily subversive sketch show of all time. We can all remember the first time we cracked up at a Python routine (for me, I heard them on radio before the show had even made it to the United States). One response, as you are laughing, is that you can’t believe that these guys are making something funny that seems not at all suited to humor. I mean, if someone said: I have an idea for a comedy sketch — this guy goes into a cheese shop and asks for different kinds of cheese and they don’t have any — would you think that would be funny? Yet it’s routines like “The Cheese Shop” that make one think there may still be hope for western civilization — or, if not hope, at least we’ll have a pretty good time watching it degrade into oblivion and making fun of it. Monty Python have an interesting way of attenuating reality. And, just as important, they have the acting chops to pull off their best ideas. There are many collections and specialized sets available on DVD. You can get the entire series plus extras, for example, with the 16-Ton Monty Python Megaset. And you can find Season 1′s first bits and see how it all started. One way or another, the best sketch show is alive and kicking for your viewing pleasure. What Tolkien did for elves, Monty Python did for dead parrots. They weren’t kidding when they said, “And now for something completely different.”

In The Equalizer, Edward Woodward stars as Robert McCall, a former secret service agent with no illusions about life, a set of lethal skills, and too much regret. To atone for past sins, he decides to use his experience as a spy to help people who are somehow overmatched — in too deep with the wrong crowd, facing dire threats alone, victimized by bullies… Each show starts off showing McCall’s newspaper classified ad: “Got a problem? Odds against you? Call the Equalizer.” And equalize things he does, with an efficient ruthlessness and British style that ‘s a breath of fresh air among otherwise run-of-the-mill suspense television. As played by Woodward (one of the great actors of his generation), McCall is a man who’s stared too long at something that will, in the end, overwhelm him. But he’s not done yet.  He kicks ass and takes names on behalf of average citizens at the end of their rope. Broadcast on CBS from 1985 – 89, The Equalizer is an urban revenge fantasy that isn’t afraid to be raw and poke at the tension between strength and compassion.  A spare, driving theme song and musical score by Police drummer Stewart Copeland helps create a noirish yet contemporary feel. Of course, McCall is aided by former intelligence associates and lowlife buddies.  He has lived on the ugly underside of life too long and hopes, if not to earn his angel’s wings, at least to thumb his nose at the devil before he’s called to answer for his transgressions. The show is notable for some of the guest stars — young actors who would go on to popular success — who play both victims and victimizers: McCauley Culkin, Vincent D’Onofrio, Kevin Spacey, Christian Slater, Bradley Whitford, Adam Ant, Lori Petty, Laurence Fishburne, William H. Macy, Stanley Tucci, Tony Shalhoub, and Ving Rhames, among others. But it’s Woodward’s performance (for which he was nominated for an Emmy for Best Actor all 4 seasons the series was on, and for which he won a Golden Globe) that drives this drama. Season 1 (22 episodes) is currently available on DVD. Also purchase it here.

If you are one of the four people in the western hemisphere who hasn’t ever seen an episode of Cheers, you are in for a pleasant discovery — namely, the best male-bonding-as-women-monkey-wrench-everything sitcom ever. If any show doesn’t need an introduction, it’s this one. 11 seasons. 273 episodes. World-wide syndication. 117 Emmy nominations (the most ever for a comedy series) and 28 wins. Pretty good for a show about guys sitting around a bar having a beer. In most dramatic situations where a character goes into a bar, the cliché is that the bartender dispenses wise advice that the character uses to solve some problem. Cheers turned this paradigm on its head. The bar’s patrons often dispensed advice to the bartenders and, really, except for the cool Sam Malone, the other Cheers bartenders (Coach and Woody) were too clueless to offer anything but misunderstanding. In that respect, it was the bartenders and the staff (Diane, Carla, Rebecca) who changed the most during the show’s run, while the patrons stayed pretty consistent. The flawed humans (who all thought they were correct) and their relationships made for comedy gold. The cast was outstanding, the writing better, and America eventually agreed (after the show almost got canceled in its first season), propelling Cheers to #1 in the ratings. No show has ever made more effective use (to the point of self-parody) of sexual tension between characters. Nor has any show ever elevated the put-down to a higher level. Cheers was the human condition bottled and fermented each week into a humorous concoction. It didn’t shy away from touching and poignant moments, either. There was nothing weak about Cheers — that’s why it was the place you wanted to go. Every season is available on DVD. (Factorama: John Cleese, of Monty Python fame, won an Emmy in 1987 for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his portrayal of marriage consultant Dr. Simon Finch-Royce on Cheers. He counseled — who else? — Sam and Diane.)

This is the broadest, deepest, most varied and creatively fertile of the various Trek series and that’s why it gets top billing here. Make no mistake, the whole Star Trek franchise is rewarding and the original Star Trek deserves its legendary status. But for repeated viewing, longevity, complexity, and science fiction inventiveness, Star Trek: The Next Generation can’t be beat. Some of the best television writing, bar none, took place in this series. (Can you ever forget the episode where the opening teaser shows the Enterprise blowing up — and it then blows up every 15 minutes throughout the show (before every commercial break) as the crew tries desperately to figure out how to avoid this disastrous time continuum? Kelsey Grammar, of Cheers and Frasier fame, makes a cameo in this season 5 episode.) It comprises 178 episodes over 7 seasons (1987 – 1994). In the Star Trek universe, it begins about 80 years after the original series left off, with a new Enterprise and a new crew. As the Captain, Jean Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) is about as different from James T. Kirk as you can get and still be a starship captain. But his strong performance, more than any other, anchors the series and harmonizes the dynamics among the other characters. Yet all the other characters are strong and memorable in their own right and the series simply worked on many levels (excpet maybe sex — there wasn’t enough of that). It added interesting new characters, too, such as Q and Data, and was successful enough that 3 more Star Trek series followed. Star Trek: The Next Generation won 18 Emmy Awards, 2 Hugos, and was the first syndicated television show to be nominated for the Emmy for Best Dramatic Series. It provided the basis for 4 Star Trek feature films. Fifteen years after it ended, it is still being re-run around the world. The whole series is available on DVD, and it’s recommended to get individual seasons rather than the whole series if you can afford it, since the packaging of the entire series collection is a little flimsy. You can also find many specialized compilations — such as The Borg Fan Collective.

The Office (U.S. version) generates big laughs but it does something that few successful sitcoms have ever accomplished — it walks the razor’s edge between hilarity and tragic embarrassment so precariously that at times it is painful to watch. It never falls over the edge into unredeemable humiliation and that is part of its genius — but as it approaches that point, you can’t help but cringe. And then it pivots right into silliness and your laughter is tinged with relief. Few shows are more precise in their ability to explore the nuances of humor. A lot has to do with the performances. The main character is Michael Scott, the manager of a paper wholesaler, who is a prism of stupidity through which all the colors of idiocy are refracted. He is played so well by Steve Carell that it hardly seems to be acting (which, of course, is what the best actors do). He rarely takes a wrong step in portraying a man who has so many deficiencies that you wonder how he could have survived to the age of 40-something — and then he flips aside the curtain for just a few moments to reveal the redeeming qualities of a human being who at other times personifies the phrase “a waste of space.” Part of the effectiveness of Carell’s performance, along with all the other cast members, is the show’s style of being shot as though it’s a documentary. An unidentified someone is filming the day-to-day operations, experiences, problems, and progress of a paper company. So we get not only dramatic scenes but interviews of characters either before or after the scene has taken place. Quite frequently, the interview provides the delightful cherry on top of the comedic sundae. This aura of verisimilitude makes The Office just a bit more intense and realistic than the average 1-camera sitcom. It is not easy to make performances of this type work. Steve Carell has won a Golden Globe and an Emmy, Jenna Fischer (Pam) was singled out by the Women’s Image Network Awards, and the cast has twice been honored by the Screen Actors Guild for best ensemble acting in a television comedy. Awards aside, every cast member is effective, especially Rainn Wilson as the monomaniacal geek-troglodyte Dwight Schrute, and John Krasinski and Jenna Fischer as Jim Halpert and Pam Beesly, who provide a lifeboat of sanity in a shipwreck of loopiness, not to mention a romance that still works even though it’s been consummated. (Guys, if you want to know how to be cool and charming, pay attention to Jim.) The writing, directing, and editing are all razor-sharp, so it’s no surprise that The Office has won the Emmy for best comedy series. It has become such an indelibly memorable part of the American comedic landscape that it’s hard to believe it only premiered in 2005 (to very shaky ratings). Yet we know so much about these vivid characters that it’s amazing they continue to develop and surprise us. Re-live the madness by acquiring all the seasons, which are available on DVD. Season 5 and others are also on blu-ray. Dismaying fact: Bosses like Michael Scott actually exist (which is part of the show’s cathartic appeal, I think). I had one.

Boston Legal is a delicious blend of drama, weirdness, charm, offensiveness, earnest activism, and elitist snobbery. Oh, and sexual harrassment. Along with writer/producer/director David E. Kelley’s typical blend of facts and fancy (which doesn’t quite shade into magic realism in this series, unlike Ally McBeal), the main reason to watch is James Spader’s mesmerizing performance as Alan Shore, a predatory lawyer with a wit exponentially greater than his rivals’, a voracious libido, and the naughty charm of a Girl Scout selling crack. The cast of this show (or should I say, foils for Shore) is effective across the board, especially William Shatner as larger-than-life Denny Crane — an infectious combination of unapologetic chutzpah and uncontrolled id. The show was so irreverent, different, and good that it was treated shabbily by the network and often threatened with cancellation — this despite James Spader twice winning the Emmy for Best Actor in a drama series and William Shatner winning an Emmy and a Golden Globe as Best Supporting Actor. One thing that helped the show last as long as it did was that it drew the viewer demographic with the highest income in all of televsion. (This is borne out in my experience — the richest guy I know liked it.) The show toyed withand satirized concepts of masculinity, bothon individual and societal levels, and it was at times bothtouching and funny in presenting the friendship between Alan Shore and Denny Crane. James Spader’s portrayal of Alan Shore is masculine to the core, projecting both strength and seductive sensuality. It is a stylish and intelligent show, by turns dramatic and goofy, educational and over-the-top (check the episode where a female objectophiliac falls in love with a clock radio). It took on important topics yet was not afraid to poke fun at itself. I also like that it parodied the subject of prime-time murder, including having Betty White wield a frying pan in a preemptive way. All 5 seasons are available on DVD.  Also here.

There’s nothing like a good farce at the end of the day, and there’s never been a better one than Fawlty Towers, John Cleese’s paean to bad hoteliers and second-rate lodgings everywhere. That it’s set in England has not hampered the show’s popularity; it has been shown in more than 17 countries and has inspired a fanatical fan base. In 2000, when the British Film Institute created a list of the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes and asked for votes by industry professionals, Fawlty Towers placed first. It is likely the most successful 12-episode-only series ever produced. But those 12 episodes, spread over two seasons, are gems (and one of the least politically-correct series ever). John Cleese and his then-wife Connie Booth (who also appeared as a player in several Monty Python productions) would work for at least 6 weeks to write each script for the half-hour sitcom (which first appeared in 1975). Their efforts yielded comedic gold. Cleese plays Basil Fawlty, an unpromising wretch of a man, who runs a second-rate hotel that he wishes were first rate and longs to have recognized by the finer elements of society. Instead, what he actually gets is a sharp-tongued wife critical of his hare-brained schemes, an incompetent waiter from Spain who barely understands English, and a parade of guests, both normal and eccentric, who never meet his snobbish standards. The show employs both physical and verbal comedy, with each episode generally culminating in an apoplectic Fawlty desperately trying to hold together the shambles of some stupid project he has cooked up to increase his social status and bolster his diminished sense of self-worth. As performed by Cleese and the rest of the cast, it is a window into what happens when the polite veneer of society gets gradually ripped away to reveal the desperation underneath. Somehow, the hotel (named, of course, Fawlty Towers) survives for another week until the next crop of inconvenient guests arrives. All 12 episodes are available on DVD in a variety of packages, including a remastered set with commentary by Cleese that just came out in October, 2009 and is quite good. Factorama: if you watch the opening credits, the marquee in front of the hotel degrades over time (perpetrated by the unappreciated paper boy), with the name of the hotel becoming more and more garbled: Fawlty Tower, Watery Fowls, Flay Otters, Fatty Owls, Flowery Twats, Farty Towels, etc. The creators of Cheers, among others, have credited Fawlty Towers with being an inspiration for their own show. Four books have been written about the series.

The Wire has been hailed by critics (and many impressed viewers) as the finest TV series of all time. Though it never won any major awards or even garnered a huge audience in its 5-season run, it is being increasingly recognized for the brilliant quality of its writing, acting, and approach to telling the story of a big city and how living in one affects, and is affected by, its human inhabitants. David Simon was a crime reporter for the Baltimore Sun before instigating this project with HBO, and in that respect (and in many others) The Wire is atypical of how most shows have been done. It is set in Baltimore and each 12-episode season deals with a different facet of the city, including the drug trade, the port system, the city government, the schools, and the print news media. No big stars appeared on the show but instead a large ensemble of excellent character actors were cast who temperamentally and physically fit the wide diversity of roles. Another major departure was the writers that Simon assembled to create scripts for the show. He himself did most of the writing but he also brought in a distinguished group of authors and journalists (several of whom had not worked in television) to write or collaborate on a number of episodes. His main series writing partner was Ed Burns, a former Baltimore police detective and public school teacher. Other writers include detective novelist George Pelecanos, novelist Richard Price (Clockers), Rafael Alvarez (a reporter for the Baltimore Sun for 20 years), and novelist Dennis Lehane (Mystic River; Gone, Baby, Gone; Shutter Island). Once again, this demonstrates the fundamental need for high-quality writing in order to create something of true artistic substance on television. In that sense, critics cited The Wire as being “broadcast literature.” Entertainment Weekly named it the best show of 2004 and described it as being “the smartest, deepest, and most resonant drama on TV.” After season 4 had appeared, the critic for Newsday wrote: “A critic for the paper once declared The Wire ‘the greatest dramatic series ever produced for television’ and as the fourth season gets under way Sunday night, there’s no reason to quibble with that assessment.” The San Francisco Chronicle wrote: “The breadth and ambition of The Wire are unrivaled and [when] taken cumulatively over the course of a season — any season — it’s an astonishing display of writing, acting and storytelling that must be considered alongside the best literature and filmmaking in the modern era.” The Chicago Tribune said, simply: “If you have only one hour a week for television, give it to The Wire.” The entire series is available on DVD.

Sometimes the guy gets the girl. That’s what happens in Once and Again — and, along with the girl, he gets the family (including teenagers), two careers, in-laws, ex-husband, and various and sundry other associates and colleagues. Once and Again is a beautiful show about modern romance and relationships and their attendant challenges. It is human and moving, artistic and down-to-earth. One of those heartfelt gems that comes along every few years on television and never manages to please its network with its ratings, Once and Again was able to last for 3 seasons due mostly to the heroic efforts of its fans to keep it alive. Created by the esteemed Ed Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz (Thirtysomething; My So-Called Life; Traffic; The Last Samurai; Shakespeare in Love; Blood Diamond), the writing is stellar and the cast terrific, headed up by the luminous Sela Ward. She plays Lily Manning, a single mother raising two daughters and working at her sister’s book store. Billy Campbell plays Rick Sammler, a single father with his own architectural firm raising a teen boy and girl (Evan Rachel Ward at the start of her career). They meet at a school function and the rest is chemistry — and angst, adjustment, drama, and passion. This show has a little bit of everything. It’s easy to relate to, while at the same time being dramatic enough to take you out of your own life. As an added bonus, all the women on the show are hot. Admittedly, watching a number of the shows listed on this page will not necessarily make you feel “good” (though they will entertain you), but watching Once and Again will. Only two of the three seasons are available on DVD and it’s been discontinued by the manufacturer so it’s becoming hard to find; your best bet is to rent it from Netflix. Even though it’s only two seasons, what you get are 44 excellent 1-hour episodes of a show that’s got more depth than 85% of the derivative cop/doctor/lawyer dramas currently available on network TV.

“Honorable mention”: Sea Hunt; Lost in Space (“Danger, Will Robinson!”); The Waltons; Upstairs Downstairs; The Sopranos; Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip; Chuck. (And a really promising new show, Men of a Certain Age, is about to begin season two on TNT. The first season will be available on DVD on November 9, 2010.)

If you can’t find something enjoyable to watch out of the 50+ shows listed here, then you don’t like television. Re-visit old favorites or discover a new love.

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HDTV’s just keep improving — and now retailers are going out of their way to make them more affordable than ever.  Go ahead, you know you want one.  Here are 21 of the best LCD and plasma HDTV’s in a variety of sizes.

Update, December, 2010:  See my latest post on the best plasma and LCD televisions you can get now (plus blu-ray players), including the best of all current televisions, the Panasonic Viera TC-PVT25 series.

While LED and Plasma HDTVs keep getting better, prices relative to quality are dropping.  These reviews cover some of the best deals out there — top-rated sets at the lowest prices I can find from reputable dealers.  Have you checked out the latest in HDTVs?  Nowadays, the best televisions will cause you to exclaim in ecstasy and wonder as you behold what appears to be a window into a more vivid version of reality (especially when you’ve got a Blu-ray player playing a hi-def movie).  (Kind of like Scrat, the squirrel in Ice Age, when he finds an acorn.)  Your favorite TV shows and sports are scrambling to provide the crispest, most colorful, most realistic images ever.  With the jaw-dropping performance now available for reasonable prices, there has never been a better time to be a TV shopper.  Check out the following sets in a variety of sizes and prices.  Get one for yourself.  And maybe for someone else.  But for yourself, definitely.  We’ll begin with LCD HDTVs…

Best Deal Overall (55-inch set)

The Toshiba Regza 55-inch 1080p LCD HDTV (55ZV650U) was rated as a best buy by Consumer Reports.  Its ClearScan 240 technology combines 120 frames-per-second with advanced backlighting for excellent rendering of motion (creates a 240 Hz effect).  Consumer Reports cited its picture quality, which features a wider viewing angle and less motion blur than many other LCD sets, as well as its very competitive price for an HDTV of this size.  PCMag also recommended the Regza model as a good choice.  You can click to see spec’s at Buy.com and order for much less than the $2,599 suggested retail.

46-inch Sets

The Sony Bravia XBR 46-inch 1080p 120 Hz LCD HDTV (KDL-46XBR8) was also rated at the top by Consumer Reports (CR).  PCMag put this set through a battery of tests and came away impressed, stating that the “picture quality is second to none.”  Its dynamic LED backlight produces a dynamic contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1.  (That’s quite good.)  It’s got 4 HDMI inputs, 2 HD inputs, and a PC input.  Its built-in digital amplifier features a Dolby Digital decoder for great sound.  And there’s a whole host of other features.  Out of 18 reviews on Amazon, 14 are 5-star and 3 are 4-star.  There are 5 customer reviews on Best Buy and all gave it 5 out of 5 stars.   One concern of early professional reviewers was the price.  That is really no longer an issue, because you can find it here for about half off.

 CNET’s editors rated the Samsung UN46B7000 46-inch 1080p 120 Hz LED HDTV ”excellent,” and CR chose it as one of their top buys.  CNET’s extensive review praised its deep black levels (a dynamic contrast ratio of 3,000,000:1),  accurate color, sleek styling (only 1.2 inches thick), extensive feature set (including network streaming), and extreme energy-efficiency, while stating that the set did not receive perfect marks due to the cost, poor off-angle viewing, the shiny screen, and the fact that not everyone liked the red-edged frame.  (I think it looks cool myself.)  The price has since come down, and this set is still one of the best HDTV’s you can buy.  All the reviews on Amazon but one (which did not seem credible) were glowing in their praise, using words and phrases such as “stunning,” “best set ever,” etc.  The 27 reviews on Best Buy (for the UN46B7100) averaged 4.7 out of 5.  (Note:  the Samsung UN46B7100 46-inch HDTV at Best Buy is a retailer-specific version with a gray frame instead of red.)   If you get this set, check out CNET’s recommended picture settings.

We pause in our TV review to ask:  do you need a Blu-ray player?   Here are 3 good ones for low prices…

 Of course, to get the best out of your new 1080p HDTV, you’ll need to hook up a Blu-ray player.  A couple of good, inexpensive players are the Panasonic DMP-BD60K (an up-converting player that is highly rated by Consumersearch) and the Sylvania NB530SLX.  If you would like a higher-end Blu-ray player, one that can do just about everything except wash your dishes, the Panasonic DMP-BD85 has come out this year and, as of today, is well under $250 here.

But why buy just a Blu-ray player when you can get a PlayStation 3 that is one of the better Blu-ray players around and does so much more (like, play games)?  For a limited time, Best Buy is offering a great deal on a Sony system with a PS3 and an HDTV:   buy a Sony 120 Hz or 240 Hz HDTV 46″ or larger, a PS3, a game, a movie and save $789 – 1,118 on the whole package.  See details here.  (If you select the Sony Bravia XBR8 described above, for example, you can get the whole package from Best Buy for about $1,960.  No, that is not a typo!)  On most HDTV purchases of $999 and up, Best Buy also offers delivery, hook-up, and recycling of your old set at no extra charge, plus free shipping.  (Limited-time offer.  If you miss it, keep checking back to see other great deals at Best Stuff for Men!)

 40 – 42-inch Sets

 Another model in Samsung’s 2009 line-up of ultra-thin LED-backlit LCD TV’s , the 40-inch UN40B6000 1080p 120 Hz HDTV is the least expensive of the bunch.  The TV is sleek, technically sophisticated, and green (minimal energy consumption).  CR rated it a top buy and CNET rated it “very good.”  CNET praised its black levels, accurate color, dejudder processing, and extensive picture controls.  They were less sanguine about the uniformity of its screen performance, backlight fluctuation, and slight blue tinge to dark areas of the picture.  Everyone — televisioninfo.com, youreviewelectronics.com, reviewed.com, etc. — was impressed by the ultra-thin styling.    Hang it on your wall and it’s thinner than a traditionally-framed painting (1.2 inches).  But you get so much more performance for your money (than the painting).  It’s got a bevy of those elaborately-named functions — Wide Color Enhancer Pro, Auto Motion Plus, Picture-in-Picture, SRS TruSurround HD for virtual surround sound, InfoLink for Internet news, weather, and sports, and so on.  This is a good set for a slightly smaller room, such as a bedroom, family room, den, or apartment living room.  CNET thought this set held its own with respect to color accuracy and video processing when compared to the more expensive models in the Samsung line-up.  You can find it at Buy.com with free shipping.

 The JVC LT-42P300 42-inch 1080p LCD HDTV is another good example of how sets are improving and prices are dropping.  If this TV was a tennis player, it would be Jim Courier — not superlative in any one area, but does everything well.  And at less than $800, its performance (rated as a top buy by CR) is readily accessible.  Actually, this set does have one claim to fame that many of its owners rave about — it will dock with your iPod or iPhone and play back downloaded video content as well as music and photos.  And it will charge the device as long as it’s docked.  CNET called it “the most Apple-friendly TV available today” and gave it an overall “good” rating.  It’s also economical in that it doesn’t use much energy.  Click here for detailed spec’s and to purchase.

37-inch Sets

 The Samsung LN37B650 37-inch 1080p 120 Hz LCD HDTV got one of the higher scores in Consumer Reports’ ratings, and CNET rated it “very good.”  CNET stated:  “While not up to the picture quality of Samsung’s topflight models, the feature-rich, uniquely styled LNB650 series still outperforms most LCDs on the market.”  On Best Buy, 94% of the set’s owners would recommend it to a friend.  One customer with a rather different perspective chose it as a good TV for its size, performance, and ruggedness for his RV.  Some customers noted that the rear-mounted speakers leave a little to be desired with respect to sound quality and recommend adding external speakers.  Try it first with the onboard speakers and see what you think.  Also note that the optimum viewing distance for a screen this size is about 5 to 9 feet.  Originally listed at nearly $1,150, you can now get it for a good discount here.

 Panasonic’s Viera TC-L37S1 is part of their mid-range line of LCD televisions introduced in 2009.  Unlike the top-of-the-line G1 series, the 37-inch TC-L37S1 1080p HDTV has a 60 Hz refresh rate rather than 120 Hz.  However, it does share the IPS panel technology with the G1 – which features an impressive 178-degree viewing angle — and a Game Mode so you can hook your PS3, Xbox, or other game console to this set and expect impressive image quality.  It also has a slot for an SD card, making it easy to present an instant slide show with your digital photos.  The audio quality was also praised by reviewers.  CR rated it a top buy.  On Amazon, 52 out of 54 reviewers rated this set highly.  And now you can get it for 25% off.

 32-inch Sets

 HDTV’s in this size range are either intended for use in a small room or are considered by those who have budgeted less for a TV (or both).  That does not mean that performance suffers.  Good performance is what you get with the Samsung LN32B650 32-inch 1080p 120 Hz LCD HDTV.  It’s got a 100,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, Samsung’s Wide Color Enhancer 3 technology, Auto Motion Plus (motion blur and image judder reduction), SRS TruSurround HD,  2 USB ports, 4 HDMI ports, an ethernet port that works with InfoLink to get online news, weather, stock quotes, and sports, a built-in digital tuner, a variable sleep timer, and a partridge in a pear tree.   (No, no partridge — just seeing if you’re paying attention).  This set tied for top score in Consumer Reports’ ratings of LCD TVs (with larger $3,000 Sony and $2,000 Samsung models).  CNET rated it “very good,” and their bottom-line evaluation was:  “While not up to the picture quality of Samsung’s topflight models, the feature-rich, uniquely styled LNB650 series still outperforms most LCDs on the market.”  It used to retail for almost $1,000, but prices are down — find it here for a little over $800.

 The Insignia NS-L322Q-10A 32-inch 1080p 60 Hz LCD HDTV was rated as a top buy by Consumer Reports.  It is the house brand sold by Best Buy.  Customer reviews on Best Buy tend to be quite positive.  For the price, it’s a competent performer.  Aside from watching television and DVDs/Blu-ray discs, it would also make a good, dedicated monitor for your gaming console.  As of today, the price is less than $450.  And it comes with a 2-year limited warranty. 

 Vizio has risen from a start-up company in 2002 to the #1 seller of LCD HDTV’s in North America in 2009, so they must be doing something right.  The Vizio VO320E 32-inch 720p LCD HDTV is part of their ECO line of HDTVs.  The company is committed to using greener methods to produce their products, and what this means regarding this set is that it exceeds current Energy Star guidelines by 15%, the User Manual and Quick Start Guide are printed on recycled paper using vegetable ink, and all packaging material is recycled.  Aside from that, how does it work?  Consumer Reports named the Vizio VO320E the best LCD TV under $500.  Customer reviews on Amazon are overwhelmingly positive.  And at a current price of less than $400, you can hardly afford not to buy it.  This set actually gives the Toshiba Regza at the top of this post a run for its money as “Best Deal.”  Get yours now, because they’re going fast…

26-inch Sets

Most people are interested in a larger HDTV than this, but there are those who can use them so, for the sake of completeness, I will mention two that were rated as top buys by CR:  the Sony Bravia KDL-26L5000 and the Insignia NS-L26Q-10A.  As of today, the Insignia is under $300 at Best Buy.  Click the links here to see spec’s and customer reviews (which are very positive for both sets), and to purchase.

And now for Plasma TVs

You didn’t think we were done, did you?  For those who want the best video quality and performance, plasma HDTVs are still the way to go.   The strength of plasma sets is their consistent picture, which does not exhibit color shifts, unsaturated colors, or reduced contrast when viewed from angles other than straight-on to the screen and, as PCMag so eloquently put it, ”…plasma’s fast-pulsing pixels are inherently well-suited for minimizing detail loss when displaying motion video.”  Though backlit LED LCD TVs are catching up, plasma TVs still look the best, especially in the larger screen sizes and with regard to rendering the deepest blacks.  However, they are generally heavier and consume more electricity than LCD sets.

 So which are the best?

60-inch Set

The Pioneer KURO (“kuro” means black) plasma HDTV is legendary and if you want one, get it now, because they’re going away forever in March, 2010 (though you’ll still be able to get service for them).  The remaining stock is dwindling so it may be harder to find one at a good price.  I wrote extensively about this television in my post on “The Best Television in the World,” so check that out for more detail.  Best Buy has one model left and it’s on sale — the Pioneer KURO PDP-6020FD 60-inch 1080p 60 Hz Plasma HDTV.  You can get it for $500 off, which is a pretty good deal.  And remember, if you’re a home theater afficianado, viewing the Pioneer KURO is close to a religious experience.  Or even if you’re not.  (If you click the link here and it’s gone, sorry — check here for more top-flight models.  Or consider one of the top-rated plasmas below.)

54 – 58-inch Sets

 There are only three major players still committed to making plasma TVs — Samsung, Panasonic, and LG — and Samsung and Panasonic are duking it out for bragging rights in the larger screen sizes.  The Samsung PN58B650 58-inch 1080p Plasma HDTV tied for top score of all plasma TVs reviewed by Consumer Reports this year and so is a top buy.  CNET rated it “excellent,” stating:  “The PNB650 series can’t quite match the best plasmas on the market, but it comes close enough to offer a viable alternative.”  (Meaning it performs well for what you pay.)  CNET praised its deep black levels, accurate color with superb saturation, its proper handling of 1080p/24 sources, extensive feature set with Yahoo widgets, solid connectivity options, and reduced power usage compared to other 1080p plasma sets.  On the “con” side, they thought it was a bit expensive and found a glitch when trying to combine the Cinema Smooth mode in “Film Mode” with their preferred picture settings (it wouldn’t hold the settings and blacks became lighter).  There has been a lot of discussion about that CNET report on AV forums — some customers did not have the problem CNET mentioned and some did, and some figured that CNET was not using Cinema Smooth correctly.  Some reviews stated that Samsung’s firmware update in mid-October fixed the glitch.  Another concern for some customers has been receiving sets that buzz enough to bother them (but most customers haven’t experienced this).  Bottom line?   This set is still one of the best.  Read the customer reviews and decide for yourself. 

Panasonic had two plasma models in Consumer Reports’ final cut for this size class and I’ll mention the one that got the best score and was chosen as a top buy:  the Panasonic Viera TC-P54V10 54-inch 1080p 600 Hz Plasma HDTV.  Besides CR’s recommendation, CNET rated it “excellent” and named it an “Editor’s Choice.”  Their summary:  “The high-end Panasonic TC-PV10 series of plasmas delivers the overall best picture quality of any flat-panel HDTV we’ve tested so far this year.”  They also stated that it outperforms any LCD-based display they’ve ever tested, bar none.  It’s got a THX-certified display; Digital Cinema Color; a slew of inputs; an SD card slot to display your photos; easy hookup (via Viera Cast) to the Internet  for Youtube, Amazon OnDemand video service, and other content; simulated surround-sound speakers (though you will probably want to use  your own home theater audio system); the capability to play back Picasa slide shows; etc.   The life of the panel is rated at 100,000 hours.  That should cover your viewing for awhile.  (Plus it’s got the capability to upgrade its firmware over the Internet.)  The panel is slim and has a striking “single sheet of glass” design.  This is the first television I’ve ever seen on Best Buy where 100% of the reviewers would recommend it to a friend.   I liked what one customer reviewer had to say:  “HD channels like ESPN and Discovery look amazing and I find myself watching the most bizarre shows just to take in the amazing picture quality.”   Customer reviews are almost uniformly positive.   By the way, it has been rumored that a number of Pioneer’s former plasma engineers have been hired by Panasonic.  So it will be interesting to see what plasma products they will be bringing to market in the next couple of years.  For now, this may be the most affordable, high-end plasma model you can get.  It’s not cheap, but a lot of happy customers think it’s worth it.  (Best Buy is currently out of stock but has other Panasonic Viera models.)

50-inch Sets

The Samsung PN50B650 50-inch 1080p Plasma HDTV is the other plasma set that tied for top score (with its PN58B650 sibling above) in Consumer Reports’ review of plasma TVs.  It shares almost identical appearance, features, and performance, which include 3,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 600 Hz, Mega Dynamic Contrast, Wide Color Enhancer 3, 0.001 ms pixel-response time (I know I haven’t mentioned pixel-response time yet, but this set’s is extremely fast), Cinema Smooth, 4 HDMI ports, Energy Star qualified, Ultra FilterBright, DLNA comptatible (meets Digital Living Network Alliance guidelines), etc.  And it’s even got a swiveling stand!   As of today, get it for almost 30% off here.  By the way, for what it’s worth, I’ve had a Samsung TV for years and it’s always worked well. 

 If you want to spend a little less on a plasma TV but still get near-top performance, try the Panasonic Viera TC-P50X1 50-inch 720p Plasma HDTV (pictured at left), which was recommended as a top buy by CR.  It’s got a 720p display that, combined with Panasonic’s 600 Hz Sub-field Drive, provides superb high-definition motion clarity.  It’s got 3 HDMI slots, a Game Mode, and an SD slot that combines with Viera Image Viewer to display your own high-def images and videos.  The panel is rated for 100,000 hours of service (that’s 8 hours of viewing per day for 30 years), and the panel is manufactured without the use of mercury or lead, making it more environmentally friendly when you finally recycle it.  CNET praised its black levels, saying:  “…the TC-P50X1 delivers the best black-levels-to-dollars ratio of any HDTV we’ve tested.”  However, they thought its green and red primary colors were somewhat inaccurate and they noticed faint diagonal lines visible in lighter areas.  39 out of 44 reviews on Amazon are quite positive (and the 3 1-star reviews were, as often happens on Amazon, either irrelevant or bogus (e.g. one guy who said he had it for 27 months and it failed; he wrote the review in September and this set has only been available in 2009).  The overall rating on Best Buy is 4.7 out of 5.  

42 – 46-inch Sets

 In this size range, Consumer Reports rated 5 Panasonic models at the top, followed by an LG.  The best-rated overall was the Panasonic Viera TC-P42S1 42-inch 1080p 600 Hz Plasma HDTV.  It offers full HD resolution at 1080p, 600 Hz Sub-field Drive, Anti-Reflective Filter, 2:3 pulldown with 24p playback for accurate reproduction of film-based sources, and many other features, some of which I’ve covered for other Panasonic models above.  CNET rated it “very good,” summarizing their findings thus:  “With deep black levels and generally excellent picture quality, the more eco-friendly Panasonic TC-PS1 series of plasma TVs strikes an appealing price/performance balance.”  Customer reviews run very positive.  Some have reported a problem with the power supply.  Click here to get it.   

The next best-rated set in this class was (surprise!), the Panasonic Viera TC-P46S1 46-inch 1080p 600 Hz Plasma HDTV.  While there is a fairly large difference in price between this model and the 42-inch S1, the dimensions can make a difference when it comes to viewing distance.  One customer had a good suggestion:  make some cardboard cutouts to match the size of the various screen-sizes you’re considering — say, 42, 46, and 50 inches — and put them where you’d put your set.  See which size appeals to you.  Amazon generally has the actual product dimensions for each set in its “Product Details” section.

 The least expensive Panasonic model highly-rated by CR was the Panasonic Viera TC-P42X1 42-inch 720p 600 Hz Plasma HDTV.  This is known as a very good “entry-level” plasma television.  It performs similarly to the 50-inch X1, meaning it’s got everything you’d want in a basic plasma model.  Customers are enthusiastic about this set and its value for the price.  There are 68 reviews on Best Buy and the average rating is 4.8.  Remember, with Best Buy you can also order online and pick up the item at your nearest Best Buy store.

Consumer Reports’ sixth-rated plasma model in this size range — and still a recommended buy — is the LG 42PQ30 42-inch 720p 600 Hz Plasma HDTV.  It’s got a Mega Contrast ratio of 2,000,000:1;  Clear Voice II audio, which enhances and amplifies the frequency range of the human voice; sports, cinema, and video game modes; a USB port so you can import your own video and images; 3 HDMI ports; Intelligent Sensor to optimize the screen brightness for the room’s conditions; and an Energy Star rating of 3.0 (though some viewers like to turn off the energy-saving feature to enhance picture brightness).  Customer reviews are positive — most people were very satisfied to get plasma performance of this quality for only about $700.

Remember when you order your LCD or plasma HDTV to order an HDMI cable or two with it. 

That wraps up this review of some of the best-bang-for-the-buck LCD and plasma TVs available today.  Among these 21 top-rated models, you should be able to find a set that will provide years of viewing pleasure.  If you still have questions, or would like to broaden your search to other makes and models, Best Buy has an excellent guide to buying TVs on its website.   All of Best Buy’s “Magnolia” category TVs are top-of-the-line, plus they include home theater options. 

One more reminder… J&R Computer/Music World is a fine establishment (see their intro video on my Good Deals and Outlets page).  Click the banner below to get the latest excellent deals:

If you support this site by buying a product through a link here — thanks!   Please leave a comment below if you have a question or would like to share your own experience with any of the video technology discussed here.  Happy viewing!

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Related posts:

1. Well-reviewed Panasonic 46-inch Plasma HDTV on Sale for Over 40% Off
2. These Are the Best High-Definition Televisions to Get Now — Plus Blu-ray Players

Update on 11/25/09:  This post orginally mentioned the sale that Best Buy was having on the Pioneer KURO 50″ Plasma HDTV.  Those sets are now gone from Best Buy.  Accordingly, I’ve left the general review info on the KURO models and updated the links to the last model Best Buy has — the Pioneer KURO 60″.  I had said that these TV’s are going away.  They are…  If you want one, get yours now.  Still at a good discount.

There is probably more pent-up demand for TV’s and other high-end entertainment components right now than there has been for awhile, due to folks taking a wait-and-see attitude regarding their finances before making bigger purchases.  But it seems things might be easing up a bit and we are also coming into the gift-giving (and getting) season, so now is starting to look like a good time to buy.  Some retailers are recognizing that and are beginning to offer some pretty good deals.  And this is one of the best.

In fact, many say this is the best televsion in the world, and you can get the Pioneer KURO 60″ Class PDP-6020FD Plasma HDTV right now at Best Buy.  And when I say “right now,” I mean that this deal might not last too much longer because these sets are going away.

The Pioneer KURO line of HDTV’s has been recognized as top-of-the-line for several years.  The current, 9th-generation models are still blowing away the competition with respect to picture quality.  There has never been anything better.

“KURO” means “black” in Japanese and the black levels of these screens have become legendary in the world of AV technology in the years since they came to market.  If you haven’t shopped for a television for awhile and you want the best, then check out the reviews of the Pioneer KURO’s at, among others:

• CNET
• UltimateAV
• Sound+Vision
• Home Theater

You can also go to the various AV forums (e.g. AVForums.com) to see favorable discussions regarding the Pioneer KURO models.

Reviews on consumer sites are glowing as well.  On Amazon, for example, there are 65 reviews of the Pioneer KURO PDP-6020FD 60″ 1080p 60 Hz Plasma HDTV.  Forty-nine of the 65 are 5-star reviews and 7 of the remainder are 4-star (and, as usual on Amazon, the lesser ratings have little or nothing to do with the performance of the TV).  On Best Buy, 96% of owners (49 of 51) would recommend this TV to a friend.  Owners tend to rave about these sets.  Such as:  “This review is coming from somebody who has owned every top-of-the-line plasma/LCD HDTV in the past 6 years, including the LED backlit $14,000 Sony Qualia 005.  I have owned the PDP-5020FD for exactly 1 week now and I am in video heaven.  I haven’t done any major calibrations yet (want to wait at least 100 hours before doing that), but the out-of-the-box video quality is unbelievable…”.   And another:  “I decided to return the [other set] and replace it with a Pioneer KURO 50″ Plasma.  It was on sale, which helped my decision, but it turned out to be the best television purchase I have ever made.  What a fabulous viewing experience!  Deep, rich, natural colors.  Bright and clear, day or night.  So much depth it is almost 3D.  Pioneer is/was known as the top-of-shelf in Plasma or any other HDTV, now I know why.  My advice…get one while you still can, you won’t be sorry.  Superb viewing.”    

I can understand.  Being a photographer, I am particularly visually-oriented and watching a Pioneer Plasma HDTV borders on a religious experience, particularly if you have not viewed a good HDTV before.

When viewed next to other LCD and plasma HDTVs, the black level superiority of the KURO plasma is not subtle. Note the dark grey background of the set on the right (Sony XBR5 LCD TV) vs. the left (Pioneer PDP-5020)

Is the Pioneer better than the new generation of Samsung LED HDTV’s that have been getting good reviews?  I asked that question of one of the most knowledgable AV sales guys at my local Best Buy, who had recently purchased a 50-inch Pioneer KURO himself.  (By the way, in case you’re wondering, when a television size is followed by the world “Class”, such as a ”60-inch Class HDTV,”  it means that the screen size is not exactly that dimension and might be slightly larger or smaller, so the TV size fits into that “class.”)  This guy did not have any of the Pioneer models currently in stock but he did have the Samsungs (so, in other words, he could have tried to sell me one), yet he said that, as far as he was concerned, the Pioneer still blew everything out of the water when it came to picture quality.  I asked him why he thought the Pioneer was better than, say, a Samsung or Sony LED and he gave three reasons:

1. Motion:  There is no contest when it comes to portraying motion on the Pioneer as compared to any LED HDTV.  Hands down, motion that blurs on the LED unit (even the 240 Hz models) is not blurred on the Pioneer.  There is also the issue of viewing angle.  With an LED TV, the image generally does not look as good when viewed from the sides.  This is not an issue with the Pioneer.
2. Picture Noise:   Here the guy got fairly technical and I learned about display problems such as “mosquitoes,” “dancing ants,” and the “rainbow” effect caused when something that is striped (such as a person’s striped shirt or a flag) appears on the screen.  The Pioneer outperforms all other sets with respect to minimizing or eliminating these visual limitations.  (Interesting factoid:  television and movie directors are aware of the rainbow problem and almost never have their actors wear striped clothing.  The rainbow effect can be observed in the space between the stripes.)
3. Screen brightness optimization:  He really liked the “Optimum Mode” feature of the Pioneer KURO, which adjusts and optimizes the brightness of the screen based on the ambient lighting of the room.

Still not quite convinced?  Here is an excerpt from the review of an earlier-generation Pioneer KURO model from UltimateAVmag:

“The only word I can think of to describe the Pioneer’s picture is ‘spectacular.’ Much of the credit for this must go to the set’s ability to reproduce strikingly deep blacks.

Project KURO has really paid off. The Pioneer’s black level is darker than any other flat panel display we’ve reviewed to date, and by a factor of two or more.

Don’t underestimate the importance of these deep blacks. They’re obvious, of course, in the darkest scenes. But even in brighter scenes they form the foundation that gives the image added punch and depth. 

3.66" deep, without stand

One of the best tests I’ve ever seen for blacks and shadow detail came to me recently by way of a new Pioneer test disc.  OK, I know Pioneer wouldn’t have put this on the disc without knowing how good it could look on their new sets.  But it’s impresive nevertheless.  It shows a photographer working in his studio.  virtually everything in the studio is in varying shades of dark gray or balck, including the photographer’s black clothing.  But even in this dark, nearly monochromatic image, the PDP-5800HD shows loads of detail.  Other sets either miss this detail or capture it only by lightening the scene too much, rendering everything in mid-gray shades, rather than a believable black and dark gray.

No display I’ve seen has yet earned a perfect score for both the deepest black and shadow detail, but if there’s another available set that can approach the Pioneer’s overall performance in both black level and shadow detail, short of a few exceptional video projectors and the best of the rapidly disappearing CRTs, I have yet to see it.

The Pioneer exceeds expectations in other areas as well, though none of them are as quite as dramatic. Motion lag is nearly non-existent, and off-axis viewing is pristine as far to the side as you can go. But these are characteristics in which most plasmas excel other digital technologies.”

The set includes a number of cool features:  4 HDMI inputs, a USB port, 3 composite inputs, an input for your PC, an 18-watt stereo digital amplifier with 2-way stereo speakers, a headphone jack.  It comes preinstalled with Home Media Gallery, allowing you to connect to your home network through an ethernet port or a thumbdrive to play back digital photos, video, and music.  It’s Energy Star qualified.  Smooth Film mode eliminates motion jitter in 3:2 Pulldown (60 Hz), providing natural, even playback of film content.   It has 7 viewing preference options, including Dynamic, Movie, Sports, and Game.  (Imagine what “Uncharted 2” will look like on this screen.)    And it has a remote control!  (Which glows in the dark).

Now for the bittersweet news:  Pioneer is exiting the plasma TV business and will no longer be selling these HDTV’s after March, 2010.  It’s a little sweet because you can still get this model for thousands of dollars less than it was selling for just a few weeks ago.  It’s bitter because that means another best-in-class technology has bitten the dust, victim of a slow marketplace.  The technology might not be gone forever, however, since some of the KURO engineers at Pioneer are going to work for Panasonic.  But who knows how long it will be before their knowledge makes its way into Panasonic products?

In the meantime you can buy the best television in the world for less than $4,000.  The time for wait-and-see is over.  This deal will not last.

Here’s a video review of the Pioneer KURO 50″ Class 1080p 60 Hz Plasma HDTV, model PDP-5020FD, from CNET:

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