Vacation Robo-Post: What's the Best Era of TV?

I'd say today is the best it's ever been. While the quality of most network shows has arguably never been worse, the abundance of outstanding shows on cable means there is more quality, and it has the added benefit of being spread out more evenly throughout the year so that at any time there is bound to be several great shows airing new stuff.

It's so hard to say. I wonder if shows like MASH or the Cosby Show would do well today, and whether something like Lost would succeed back in the day (I'm assuming not, right Patrick McGoohan?). All things considered, I'd take today's TV, because there's a lot of fun on TV (HIMYM, BBT, Chuck), and Lost isn't half-bad either.

I say the HBO era roughly covering the Sopranos run (1999-2007) is tough to beat. You've got the three best drama series ever produced (Sopranos, Deadwood, The Wire), two best miniseries (Band of Brothers, The Corner), great documentaries (When the Levees Broke, Baghdad ER), great movies (Elizabeth I was better than most Oscar contenders that year), influential and popular comedies (Sex and the City, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Entourage, Extras, and don't forget Da Ali G Show). Not to mention consistently strong sports programming (Inside the NFL, Real Sports, docs). Even HBO's second tier dramas (Six Feet Under, Rome, Carnivale, Big Love, Oz) were better than anything on network TV not named Lost.

I like In Treatment, True Blood, Hung and Flight of the Conchords well enough, but AMC can now claim the two best series on TV. I just don't see HBO or any other network hitting that combination of mass appeal and creative genius ever again.

I am of the opinion that the last 10 or 12 years has seen a major renaissance in quality TV programming - so my favorite era would span from the early days of Buffy through now. We've seen quality programming, effects technology that is finally catching up to the imaginations of the writers/creaters, great writing, a surge in engaging serialized storytelling, an industry that is more engaged with its fandom, shows that are boundary-pushing and thought-provoking, and an amazing variety of non-traditional/genre shows - plus increased ability (via technology) of fans to engage in discussions about television.