This Is Me--2024 A to Z Theme

My A to Z Themes in the past have covered a range of topics and for 2024 the theme is a personal retrospective that I call "I Coulda Been" which is in reference to my job and career arc over my lifetime. I'll be looking at all sorts of occupations that I have done or could have done. Maybe you've done some of these too!

Monday, September 20, 2010

TV Show Top Ten Blogfest


One Year Blog Anniversary!

          Today marks the one year anniversary of active posting on Tossing It Out.  All of this week I will be looking back on how this blog came about and grew to where it is today.  Each day I'll look at a different chapter of this blog's development.  I am still hovering right at the edge of reaching 400 followers.  If you are not yet a follower of Tossing It Out, please click on the follower button and leave a greeting in the comments if you don't mind.  

             Since this week will concern itself with reminiscing and looking at the past, what better way to start the celebration than by being a part of Alex J. Cavanaugh's Top Ten TV Show Blogfest.  Anyone who has kept up with my blog for the past several months knows that I do love my lists of favorite things--and I don't mean raindrops on roses, warm woolen mittens, or brown paper packages tied up with strings.  I've already done numerous lists on music albums and movies, so favorite TV programs is a natural topic for me to explore.

             My list is in no special order.  I haven't taken the time to locate pictures or create a playlist of theme songs or sound bites.  This is just a list with brief explanations.  They are mostly older, so many readers probably weren't even born when some of these were on, though many live on through syndication. So let me present my Top Ten TV Show Favorites.




1.   Twilight Zone would rank as my first really big influence on my writing.  The stories always offered a twist and the subject matter was unique.  I also bought nearly all of Rod Serling's Twilight Zone compilations of short stories.   Honorable mentions in this category would be Alfred Hitchcock Presents, One Step Beyond, and The Outer Limits.

2.  The Fugitive starred David Janssen as the doctor falsely accused and sentenced to death for the murder of his wife.   Freed after a train wreck, he spent several hit seasons on the run from the law, each week becoming the hero in a new drama.    Honorable mention is the science fiction version of this same show:  The Invaders starring Roy Thinnes on the run each week being pursued by alien invaders who look just like regular humans--same fugitive stories with a sci-fi twist.

3.  Wagon Train  -- I was never a big fan of TV westerns, but I did watch this one every week.  I guess I just liked the on the road aspect of it.  Come to think of it, this show was kind of like The Fugitive except that a whole bunch of pioneers in covered wagons were on the run.

4.  The Ed Sullivan Show was the gold standard of TV variety shows.  My whole family would gather round our 19 inch black and white TV to watch this every Sunday night.  Ed Sullivan had just about any kind of talent that you can name on his show and introduced the masses to names like Elvis Presley, the Beatles, and Topo Gigio.  There were many other great variety shows that I enjoyed such as Hollywood Palace, The Jack Benny Show, The Smothers Brothers, and Laugh-In

5.   Leave It To Beaver is a sentimental favorite for me.  I watched it when I was quite young and watched the reruns for years to follow.  It's one of the shows that if I see it on TV, I'll stop to watch because it brings back such good memories.

6.    I Dream Of Jeannie and Bewitched  are two top choices in a tough category of comedies.   Barbara Eden and Elizabeth Montgomery were both hot ladies and the shows were wacky fun.  Then again Beverly Hillbillies was often hilarious and had the sexy Donna Douglas as Ellie May.  Though for intelligent wacky humor I'd probably have to choose Maniac Mansion, a science fiction comedy which was on briefly during the early 1990s.

7.   The Midnight Special was a ninety minute music performance series that came on late Friday nights after Johnny Carson's Tonight Show.  I used to be able to stay up much later than I do now.  This show featured live performances by rock and pop artists and acts of other types.  The Midnight Special was one of my must see television shows during my years touring on the road with a theatrical production.  I was normally working during prime time hours so I didn't watch too much more than late night programming from the late 1970s to the late 1980s.     Saturday Night Live, the early years, was another show on my must see list at that time.

8.   Twin Peaks was director David Lynch's foray into primetime television.  The show was a sensation because of its weirdness and it was exactly my cup of tea.  The show established David Lynch as one of my favorite directors.


9.   Quantum Leap was probably, in my opinion, the best science fiction series of all time.  It dealt with my favorite topic--time travel.  Unlike other time travel stories, the time traveler was trapped in some kind of time warp where instead of physically travelling through time his mind and spirit would exchange places with someone else who had lived during his lifetime.  The show was innovative, often touching upon spiritual themes and interesting dilemmas.  Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell starred in this great series.

10.  Millenium came from the same folks who gave us The X Files.  This was a very dark and sometimes puzzling program.  Lance Henrikson was the star of this show.  The acting and production quality was always top notch and the stories were compelling.


              See any of your favorites on this list?   Are there any that you don't like?   Jump in and join us if you haven't done so already and make sure to sign up on the linky list.   Tune in tomorrow for the first episode of the Tossing It Out blog history.


73 comments:

  1. I agree! Congratulations on making it a full year. I also agree with your choices on Bewitched and I dream of Jeannie. Those were really great shows for their day.

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  2. Congrats on the year Lee! :)

    Great shows on your list. I didn't even think about Quantum Leap for mine - and I loved that show! There are so many favourites out there - hard to choose just 10.

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  3. Congratulations on reaching a year of blogging!

    I've heard of a few of those shows, but not the rest of them . . . The Twilight Zone sort of freaked me out the few times I watched it, but I suppose that was the point. :P

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  4. Great Shows, Lee. Congrats on the 1 year and I hope your reach 500!
    Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow

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  5. congrats on the birthday, when's the party? :)

    I must admit I've only heard of two shows from your list - MILLENIUM (never watched it) and TWEAN PEAKS (which was super popular in my country as well when I was in primary school, I loved FALLING, the opening song from Julie Cruz)

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  6. Congratulations on your one year blog anniversary. Enjoyed your list. The Fugitive and Millenium were good shows I had for about.

    Mason
    Thoughts in Progress

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  7. Oh Dear....

    I remember them all, yikes, I guess that dates me too!!!!!!!!!!
    Twilight Zone, Alfred Hitchcock, The Outer Limits and Bewitched being my favorites!
    But one question Arlee. Don't you have any favorites today?

    HAPPY ANNIVERSARY DEAR!!!!!!!
    Love Di ♥

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  8. You went for some older shows! Amazed at the variety today. Thanks for participating in the blogfest!

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  9. Happy Bloggiversary, Lee! And great list! I've piqued my curiosity for Quantum Leap--sounds very cool.

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  10. First congrats on your one year anniversary. I was really surprised and pleased when I hit my on February 6th. I am glad you blog and enjoy reading you.

    Great list! I forgot about Wagon Train - what a great western. I also didn't even think of I Dream of Jeannie or Bewitched.

    I used to watch the Fugitive every week simply because my mother liked David Jansen and she watched it religiously. It was a great show also.

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  11. "Twilight Zone" was a big favorite as was "One Step Beyond." I also liked the soap "The Secret Storm" - those were pretty much all in the same era as was "American Bandstand." Again, congratulations Lee on your one year anniversary! :)

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  12. Quantam is totally on my list too!

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  13. Rayna -- Thank you, but I don't think I'm going to be matching your amazing blog record. A bigger congratulations to you!

    Jeffrey -- Thanks. Yes the ladies in those shows made them especially worth watching.

    Jemi -- Thank you for all the support you've given me over the past year.

    Golden Eagle -- Twilight Zone was a ground breaking achievement in mind bending TV. It inspired a lot of shows that came after it.

    Jules --Thank you. Once I hit this 400 mark I going to try to stop looking at the followers section. Yeah, right!

    Dezmond -- This is the party! I'm not one to throw big bashes. I'm more into nerdy discussions while sipping drinks with classical music softly in the background. You can be assured that my parties are not big hits with the rowdy crowd.

    Mason-- Thanks. The Fugitive and Millenium were both kind of dark and moody shows, but they had such fine acting and good stories.

    Diana -- About the only things I watch now are American Idol and America's Got Talent. My mother and sisters got me watching those and it's always one of the things we talk about while they're in season. I don't watch much TV these days.

    Alex -- Thanks for hosting. Older shows are mostly the ones I know about.

    Hart -- If you haven't seen Quantum Leap, you must. It has the right mix of humor, deep thinking, and good drama--a great show.

    Gregg-- Thanks. I happened to run across David Janssen's grave when I went to see Al Jolson's grave at a cemetary in Culver City or that vicinity. He is in a mausoleum there kind of close to where Jack Benny is interred.

    Paula -- My mom used to watch "Secret Storm". The only soap operas I ever watched were "All My Children" and "General Hospital" in 1980.

    Jennee -- You have good taste if you were a fan of "Quantum Leap".

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  14. Karen -- "Twilght Zone" was a show that was a writer's workshop in my thinking. Great stories which came from some of the best writers at that time.

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  15. Happy anniversary, Lee! And no I'm gonna have the theme to I Dream of Jeannie in my head all day.

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  16. Congrats! on the mileston. I liked I Dream of Jeanie too. Who didn't. As a boy transitioning to a teen, this rerun was watched faithfully.

    Stephen Tremp

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  17. I see we share a number one pick. I enjoyed a great multitude of other shows you listed as well.

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  18. Congrats Lee! Great picks too. I'm not old enough to fully appreciate all of these, but still ...

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  19. A whole year of blogging?! Congratulations. I won't comment on your tossing it out blog post as I've not been around before, but what a great choice of TV programmes. Quantum Leap - how did I leave that one off the list!

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  20. Hi Lee I am sorry I am late writing I went out at 8am this morning and arrived home at 6pm,

    First Congratulations on your blog anniversary,
    If it was not for you many of us would not be where we are today in Blogsphere. The A to Z was a masterpiece that many of us got many new followers who still follow today,
    You also encouraged my love of music with the other challenges you set up for that I thank you as I re-discovered classical music.
    Here's to many more years of blooging.

    Now your choice of TV SHOWS.
    I remember many of those in the past and they brought back many happy memories.
    Thank you,Lee.

    Yvonne.

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  21. L.Diane -- You made me laugh. Now that you mention that theme song....

    Stephen Tremp-- Barbara Eden was a very fine Jeannie from a bottle.

    Budd -- "Twilight Zone" is where sci fi TV really began. Anything before that was just a rehearsal or experimentation.

    Clarissa -- I'm a big fan of favorite list blogfests.

    Matthew -- Yeah, mine is definitely primarily an old school list. But they are good shows.

    Ellie -- Thanks and glad you stopped to comment. I bought the entire "Quantum Leap" box set series and watched it from beginning to end so I could see all of the ones I missed and see everything in sequence. It is a great show.

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  22. Happy Blogiversary!

    I've been visiting blogs all morning about these TV shows. I wish I'd signed up. I'm making my list from everyone else's favorites - LOL.

    From yours I pick Quantum Leap. I'd forgotten about that. I loved it.

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  23. Yvonne -- Thank you for your continued support through the majority of the first year. It's been a fun ride and I think we all learned a lot and grew as bloggers. I look forward to another year, albeit with less posting and blogwork.

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  24. Carol -- Thank you so much! And it's not to late to add your list to the fest. Add your name. You don't have to put up anything elaborate.

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  25. r-LEE-b ~
    Congratulations on a year of daily blogging. You made it, McBuddy!

    The Twilight Zone - great. I mentioned that on my list as being one of only two dramas that I feel are really worth watching regularly.

    Not a big fan of The Beaver, but that one episode when his older brother cut the Beav's hair for him is REALLY FUNNY!

    Knowing how much ya like the weird stuffs, I half expected to find THE PRISONER on your list.

    ~ D-FensDogg
    'Loyal American Underground'

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  26. Congratulations on a year! I love your list. I used to watch reruns of Twilight Zone on Saturdays with my dad. We loved when they would have a marathon!

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  27. Happy Bogiversary!

    And I love your list. I also *love* Twilight Zone, I Dream of Jeanie and Quantum Leap. Yeah!

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  28. Very unique list, I don't think I've watched any of those shows before. I'm more of a new show guy myself.

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  29. I couldn't imagine not watching I Dream of Jeannie when in the mood. I love the first season the best. Especially when she plays with his feelings. Or when she decides she wants to be like a normal woman.

    CD

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  30. Alexong-- Thank you. TV needs another Midnight Special--- or maybe it does? There are so many channels now that I don't really know what's on.

    StMc - "Beaver" brings back such fond memories for me and just takes me back to a time tha seemed so pure and simple. If you haven't seen "Quantum Leap" you should check it out. It has a good sense of humor and poses some intelligent philosophical and moral questions--it's one of the few sci fi shows where God is attributed as playing a role. I did watch "The Prisoner" when it came on and kind of liked it--wanted to like it--- but maybe it was a little too odd, but not odd in the way I like odd.

    Jennie - Thank you. I like it when they have the "Twilight Zone" marathons.

    Ali -- Thanking and appreciate that you expressed your approval.

    Bry -- A lot of these are shows that I grew up with and they were shows that pioneered TV in a sense.

    Clarissa -- Indeed, Jeannie was fun and it was an interesting situation to ponder. What man wouldn't want to find a genii in a bottle who looked like Jeannie.

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  31. I enjoyed Twin Peaks for a while, but got tired of it.

    And congrats with one year >:)

    Cold As Heaven

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  32. happy anniversary!
    and quantum leap was awesome!

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  33. Congratulations on this wonderful milestone!

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  34. Cold -- I can see where the novelty of "Twin Peaks" would wear thin. It would not have had the legs to keep going for very long.

    AX -Thanks. Quantum Leap was one of the best.

    Karen -- Thank you so much!

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  35. I still love watching old episodes of The Twilight Zone. In fact, I recently caught a classic William Shatner episode that is, apparently, very rarely played. It was the one where he and his wife go into the diner.

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  36. How could I forget Quantum Leap and the Twilight Zone?? They were awesome!!!

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  37. Wagon Train, Leave it to Beaver are both shows I enjoyed but haven’t thought about in years as well as I Dream of Jeanie and Bewitched. So many great shows out there, it would be hard to pick only ten.

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  38. Karen --"Twilight Zone" (the original episodes) will never get stale.

    Lynda -- They were awesome. Shame on you!

    Jane -- I hadn't that about "Wagon Train" until I started making this list and wanted to include a western. "WT" was the one I watched more than any other westerns. Good stories as I recall, but I haven't seen it in 40 years.

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  39. Happy one year! I really had no idea you hadn't been at this longer than that.
    Oh, I loved Twin Peaks. And I Dream of Jeannie and Bewitched. Excellent choices.

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  40. Oh my gosh! The Midnight Special-where I found the Bee Gees, KC & The Sunshine Band, and so many others! Pre-MTV!!!!

    Because of I Dream of Jeannie (re-runs in the early seventies) I always wanted to learn to belly-dance :P

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  41. I used to watch Twilight Zone occasionally as a young kid. It freaked me out!

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  42. Debbie -- Thank you. Yes, only one year and it has flown by.

    Words Crafter-- The Midnight Special was such a great show to see acts performing live. I was obsessed with watching it every Friday night.

    Kelly --- "Twilight Zone" had some pretty freaky episondes. But usually it was pretty subtle and intelligent.

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  43. Congrats on your anniversary!!!! I liked Leave It To Beaver too.

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  44. Congratulations on your anniversary!!

    I love David Lynch and Twin Peaks was brilliant.

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  45. I had totally forgotten about the Fugitive and The Midnight Special...
    great list!

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  46. Congrats on your Blog Anniversary!~
    I love Twilight Zone and Quantum Leap~ Fun list
    I remember Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie; I often wanted to dress up like them for Halloween~

    Great memories attached during these times of our lives~

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  47. Excellent choices!!! How fantastic on the one year!!! What an awesome accomplishment!!! I'm still quite a few months away but I'm in awe of your blogging talents!

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  48. Rashelle-- Thank you. The Beav was someone who I could identify with as a child and loved his adventures.

    Hannah -- Thanks. David Lynch has done some great movies.

    Pat -- Thanks. I've been watching old Fugitive episodes of late. I got the first season sets. They are still great drama.

    Ellie -- Thank you. I guess TV memories are just as valid as any other memories we might have.

    Jen -- Thank you for the kind words and there is a mutual respect on this side as well.

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  49. You have so many good ones on here, and so many other great honorable mentions! I loved the Smothers Brothers. Great idea to list them by category. Super post!

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  50. ishta --- Guess that was my sneaky way of naming more than 10. Thanks for the comment.

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  51. Congrats on your blog b-day! It can get tough keeping it up sometimes.

    You may have some oldies, but they're darn goodies. Quantum Leap was a great one for sure. And I've loved Lance Henrikson since Pumpkinhead! I agree David Lynch is the king of weird, an original. I still watch TZ when I catch it on. I really really miss the old TZ magazine!!

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  52. Congratulations on your one year anniversary! That is wonderful.

    Loved I Dream of Jeannie and Bewitched, which also reminded me of I Love Lucy. I've seen every episode!

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  53. I like the choices of your TV show and especially the twilight zone.

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  54. Congratulations on your one year blanniversary! (Okay, I just made that up - why is it that when I make up words they are so darned bad? lol)

    While I didn't have it on my list, I loved Quantum Leap! Good list. :)

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  55. Angela -- Thank you! Yes mine is a pretty retro list, but I'm kind of a retro guy.

    Julie -- and thank you too! I have seen Lucy shows so many times in my lifetime. They are classics.

    Sony -- Thank you and yes Twilight Show was my biggest TV inspiration.

    DL -- One words works as good as another I guess. Thanks. Everyone should have had Quantum Leap on their list--TV doesn't get much better than that.

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  56. Happy blogoversary!

    It's so funny that you list the Ed Sullivan show - I've heard of it as a reference point in movies and television, but I don't think I've ever heard of anyone who actually watched it. I almost started to believe it was a myth (like the Twilight Zone. Oh, wait...)

    Cool list :)

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  57. Ah yes Bewitched and I Dream of Genie! Most of the others I never followed, some I recognise though Thanks for dropping by my blog, too :O)

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  58. I too love some of your choices: Twilight Zone, The Fugitive. It would have been better to choose the top 100. I would have forgotten some then too.

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  59. Quantum Leap and Bewitched, loved them as well. You won't have heard of much on my list as I'm a Brit, but you MUST have heard of Star Trek :-)

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  60. Cruella --Ed Sullivan was indeed a real show that is now of mythical proportions. In the early days of television the vaudeville style variety was a natural genre to go to for programming. Those shows were very popular back then. I wish there were some more good professional variety shows on TV today.

    Madeleine --I had some older shows for sure!''

    Teresa -- I might have thought I would come up with 100 shows, but now I'm not so sure.

    Eliza--I've watched those original Star Treks repeatedly.

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  61. Some great shows there Arlee! Quantum Leap should have been on my own honorable mention list.

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  62. Thank you for following me. I am now following you as well. Congrats on your year! I've read a couple of your entries and really enjoy your style. Keep on!
    Peace.

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  63. Mes -- Quantum Leap should have been on everyone's list and if they haven't seen it then they need to.

    Ivy -- Thanks to you as well. You might enjoy some of my earlier music posts from June and July.

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  64. This list makes me feel really young :/ but i have seen some episodes on rerun or late and night and they look good :)

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  65. Love this list! I admit that many of these shows I was hooked on because of reruns courtesy of Nick at Nite, but that doesn't change my adoration of them. Twin Peaks is another favorite of mine and, sadly, one I never saw the second season of. Thanks for sharing, Arlee!

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  66. Kelley -- So I guess that could mean this list makes me old. Well, I was around when they all aired--for what that's worth.

    Kimberly-- Cable networks have really helped to keep a lot of shows alive. Thanks for stopping to leave your comment.

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  67. Congrats on your blogaversary! Every list I read I catch myself wondering how certain shows were left off my list

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  68. Lee-

    I was surprised to see "Millenium" over "X Files."

    I liked "Millenium" but did not think the subplot was as well thought out as on "X"

    Although, by the end, the alien conspiracy kind of fell apart as well.

    LC

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  69. Congrats and the one year actively posting and I really dig some of your choices...most notably Peaks and Quantum Leap. Two shows dear to my heart.

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  70. baygirl -- Thank you for stopping by to say hi.

    Disc -- I liked the apocalyptic visionary aspect of Millenium. Actually I think I only saw about 2 episodes of X Files. If I remember correctly I think the show came on the air on Sunday nights and I usually don't watch TV on Sunday nights.

    Geof -- Thanks for stopping. Peaks and Quantum Leap were two of the best.

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