To ask which old TV shows should everyone watch?

[TammySwansonTwo]

Finally got around to watching Sons Of Anarachy and one of the series finales has me sobbing like a child. I often think there's nothing new to watch, but there are so many great older shows that people have missed out on.

My biggest recommendation would be The Shield - watched that back to back a few years ago, well after it aired, probably the best TV series I've ever seen.

Aside from the obvious (Breaking Bad, Dexter, Mad Men etc), which other long-since finished TV shows would you suggest?

My list would also include Carnivale, and 30 Rock because it's bloody hilarious.

Chris Morris trilogy- the day today, brass eye and jam

Teachers
The Fall
The Missing
Broadchurch
Line of duty

ER, 6 feet under, West wing, Newsroom

Desmond’s
Arrested development
Peep show
Dexter

The Muppets
Frasier
Green Wing
The Mysterious Cities of Gold
Secret Life of Us

Jam. From the sick twisted mind of Chris Morris.

Or Nathan Barley.

Malcolm in the Middle

@YouBetterWORK

Oh god Sunset Beach!...There's a YouTube account somewhere that has every episode.

Siddles in, where??!? Asking for a friend

Bread.
Some mothers do ave am.
Keeping up appearances

Sopranos. Still my favourite and I’ve watched the whole thing (all seasons) about four times

Northern Exposure
Quantum Leap
ER
The West Wing

Bread
The Wire
Ultraviolet (this is the best vampire show / movie ever in my opinion)
Stargate Atlantis
Star Trek Next Gen & DS
Firefly
Quantum Leap
Battlestar Galactica
Farscape
Torchwood

Buffy
Desperate Housewives
Will & Grace
How I Met Your Mother
Everybody Loves Raymond
Good Luck Charlie

This one is still running, but I love the first season - How to Get Away with Murder.

I second House
Yes Minister / Prime Minister (spoiler!)

Tenko. I used to watch with my mum.
Arrested Development.

Bodies was awful I agree OP!

This Life, Northern Exposure, Six Feet Under. All brilliant!

NYPD Blue
Twin Peaks
Sopranos
Mad Men

I have been watching Harriet Walter in the Lord Peter Wimsey adaptations on YouTube, she is a wonderful actress, both then and now.

Brothers and Sisters, I absolutely loved it and often ask DW what she thinks is happening to the characters now.

Edge of Darkness
Our Friends in the North, lots of great actors
Making Out

The Killing
The Bridge
Borgen

Northern Exposure, (Joel or rather the actor has just appeared in Designated Survivor)

And to piss off Giles Coren, any of the Jane Austen adaptations!

RavingRoo you have listed lots of my favourites, I was about to post again.

The West Wing-best thing ever written

Definitely Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes - we watch these every year at this time (no idea why we've chosen Christmas to watch them, but it's kind of a tradition now!) - the perfect mix of drama and humour.

Also, if you're going really old school - we recently re-watched the A Team - as an adult, you can appreciate the humour in it a little more than when you were a kid! Also, Magnum PI, Man About The House, and George and Mildred.

But seriously, if you are going to watch Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes - don't watch them on Netflix - they edit them down by about 10 minutes an episode - it really bugs me!!

Oh and have been reminded as I read the 3rd page, Teachers is also worth a look - although the final series isn't quite as good in my opinion!

Dads Army.

I'd forgotten how good Northern Exposure was.

Dallas
Juliet Bravo
Dr Who played by Tom Baker, with Romana and K9
Tom and Jerry (from the 1950s rather than the modern ones)
Crackerjack
Fame
The Generation Game
Cagney and Lacey