How many TV shows are worth owning?

[Tuzenbach]

And when I ask this question, I'm obviously referring to the phenomenon of whole seasons of television programs being placed in convenient DVD boxsets. Sure, there've been a lot of good shows over the 6 or so decades that TV's been around. But there's also been a lot of GREAT shows and, sadly, a nearly endless supply of "crap" shows.

When answering this question, keep in mind budget, space, and time. I mean, even if I had $10 million just to spend on DVD's of TV shows, that's still an awful lot of time devoted to starring at a box!

For me, I think the magic number is 50. I mean, after you've bought show #51, you have to check out your shelf capacity, commitment to other things in life, bank account, and really ask yourself "Hmmmm. Was I was a bit over-zealous in my acquisition of the 'Knight Rider' complete boxset?"


PS: Gimme a minute to construct the poll......

 

[Crothian]

For me it isn't about good or great TV shows, it is about rewatchiability. Lost I enjoy and I watch religiously, but have zero interest in the DVDs and watching the series over and over. 24 I feel the same way with. But shows like Smallville, Wonderfalls, and Sports Night I enjoy watching over and over again.

 

[Starman]

How many TV shows are worth owning?

As many as you like and want to watch over again.

 

[Digital M@]

Zero, they run as reruns all over the cable and dish networks.

 

[Servitor of Wrath]

At least 1: Arrested Development.

 

[Ed_Laprade]

Actually, there are plenty of shows that will probably never be released. Science Fiction theater probably, not to mention all the shows that simply don't exist any more in any form.

 

[drothgery]

As many as you like and for one reason or another want to have around so they can be watched whenever.

 

[Tuzenbach]

Wow! I can't believe my vote is the single, highest amount! I guess I just assumed that everybody owns tons and tons of TV shows on DVD by now. But perhaps I made this assumption based upon all my recent visits to places like Costco, Best Buy, Target, & whatever. Wall to wall boxsets of TV on DVD!

The ironic part? Due to my present financial situation, I currently own ZERO shows on DVD, though could see myself buying up to 50 when the time is right.

Here's a list of about 30 I'd like to own:

1) Monty Python's Flying Circus
2) Fawlty Towers
3) The Office
4) The Young Ones
5) Coupling
6) Black Adder
7) Garth Marenghi's Darkplace
8) Red Dwarf
9) Classic Doctor Who
10) Ghost Hunters
11) The Prisoner
12) The Avengers
13) Blake's 7 (haven't seen this, but have heard great things)
14) Space:1999
15) The X-Files
16) Babylon 5 (haven't seen this, but have heard great things)
17) Stargate SG-1 (would also say Atlantis, but I've seen all the Atlantis eps.)
18) Original Battelstar Galactica
19) Kolchack: The Night Stalker
20) Seinfeld
21) Original Star Trek
22) Star Trek: DS9 (I only watched the first 2 seasons)
23) The Twilight Zone
24) Robotech
25) Battle Of The Planets
26) The Tripods
27) South Park
28) Farscape (this makes me curious & Claudia Black is amazing on SG-1!)
29) Star Trek: TNG (I've only seen about 30 episodes. Wasn't impressed 20 years ago, but maybe I've matured to the point of liking it.)
30) Carl Sagan's "Cosmos"

Not at the top of my wish list, but other things I'd consider:

31) Star Blazers (I vaguely remember being a fan of this when I was 4!)
32) MST3K (for the hell of it!)
33) Elvira's Movie Macabre(sp?) (see above!)
34) *some* New Series Doctor Who (sadly, it's mostly crap!)
35) Mission: Impossible (good morning, Mr. Phelps!)
36) The Incredible Hulk
37) Ren & Stimpy (just because!)
38) Police Squad
39) Moonlighting (hey, this was funny once!)
40) Doomwatch (70's Brit Sci-Fi, heard it was good)

And I suppose there's another 10 shows out there that might catch my interest, but 50 would definitley be my limit.

EDIT: I remembered Ghost Hunters, so thought I should slide it in there.

 

[Tuzenbach]

41) The Monkees (how could I have forgot? LoL!)
42) The Beatles animated series
43) Star Trek: The animated series
44) Who Wants To Be A Superhero? (hey, this was inspiring!)
45) The Three Stooges/Our Gang/Little Rascals
46) Inspector Gadget (?..... LoL!)/Get Smart
47) Connections (a science/culture/history series I saw on PBS 20 years ago)
48) Outback Jack (yep...the reality show about 12 hot chicks fighting over some Australian dude named Jack. I'll buy this soley for Maria. Jack, you're a schmuck for not choosing Maria!!!)


Another EDIT: How could I have forgotten The Three Stooges? Sorry Munsters, no room for you!

 

[Tuzenbach]

49) Is there some sort of series which chronicles the absolute best of David Letterman spanning his entire career? If so, I'll buy it. The man's a comic genius with unequaled excellence when it comes to line delivery.