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Tuesday, September 4, 2018

Top Ten Tuesday: TV Shows I've Binge Watched

Oh, how I love when a Top Ten Tuesday post is about television! I'm a bit of a TV junkie ... my earliest memory of being addicted to a TV show was when I was about five years old, and I would rush home from supper to turn on The Cosby Show. (My parents were dorm parents at a boarding school, so we ate in the cafeteria.) This topic, Bingeworthy TV shows, makes me very happy!

For my list, I'm going with shows that I've actually binged at one time or another—so this is not a list of my top ten favorite shows of all time or anything like that, as many of my favorites I've watched one week at a time (like Lost).

Clicking on a show's title will take you to the IMDb page, and if it's streaming anywhere, I'll link that at the end.

Dawson's Creek (1998-2003)

Any discussion of bingeworthy shows has to start with Dawson's Creek for me. I binged the entire six seasons on Netflix during the summer of 2012, then I bought the series, and now I revisit my favorite episodes every year while I'm finishing up the yearbook. Pacey & Joey forever!!!

*If you choose to watch, know that Season One was a hot mess. Things improved drastically in Season Two. Stream on Amazon Prime, Hulu.

Fuller House (2016-present)

I don't know if I've ever been more excited for a revival! Full House was my favorite show when I was a kid, and I always hated the way it ended. So ... when the first season hit Netflix, I watched the entire thing. In one day. Twice. (I was watching with two different groups of people, and both times we watched the whole season in a day.) #TeamSteve

*Watch on Netflix.

What I Like About You (2002-2006)

I didn't discover this Amanda Bynes/Jennie Garth show until its final season, but then I learned that our WB/CW station (this was at the time of the WB-UPN merger into the CW) showed back-to-back episodes every weekday. So I set my VCR to record the episodes, and I ended up with 8 or 9 videotapes full of the entire series. I kind of miss the VCR days ... Anyway, my sister Val and I had a few What I Like About You marathons over the years, most memorably one New Year's Eve when we stayed up until 4:30 a.m. watching, and then we had to go to our family Christmas celebration the next day!

We're tired because of crazy bingewatching. Cousin Mark is tired because he has a newborn. Mom is bewildered.
*Tragically, this isn't available to stream as part of Amazon Prime, Netflix, or Hulu. Seasons 1 & 2 are available on DVD, and individual episodes are available for purchase on Amazon.

The West Wing (1999-2006)

I never watched The West Wing when it was airing, but a few years ago, I decided to give it a shot, and I was hooked. I'm fairly conservative politically, so I wasn't sure what to expect, but I felt like conservatives were treated fairly on the show, at least most of the time. (Dear Washington: please take note—conservatives and liberals can coexist!) And nothing made me happier than when (SPOILER ALERT) Danny came back, and he and C.J. got their happy ending! It was a slow burn romance for sure, but soooooo worth it!

*Watch on Netflix.

The Newsroom (2012-2014)

Another Aaron Sorkin show, The Newsroom was so engaging! Totally worth the watch (as long as you don't mind some language).

*Watch on Amazon Prime.

Friends (1994-2004)

Everyone watched Friends in the 90's ... except me! My mom caught me watching it once and banned it. So it wasn't until college that I started watching again. Later, I caught a few episodes here and there, but then the series hit Netflix. I've now seen every episode at least once ... and practically every time I watch one episode, I "have" to watch another...and another...and another.

*Watch on Netflix.

NCIS (2003-present)

Can we say USA's NCIS marathons? About six years ago, I got the flu worse than I'd ever had it before. I was flat on my back for more than a week ... and I spent nearly all of that time watching NCIS on USA Network. I wouldn't have thought a procedural would be bingeable, but oh, how it is!

*Watch on Netflix.

One Tree Hill (2003-2012)

File this one under "Blendy Was Right." Once I finally gave One Tree Hill a chance, I was hooked ... for six seasons, anyway. After Chad Michael Murray and Hilarie Burton left, the show just wasn't the same. They can make it up to me, though: both Murray and Burton are now in Hallmark Channel's stable of actors, so I think they should make a Christmas movie. They certainly have loads more chemistry than many of the Hallmark movie pairings! #TeamPeyton

Emily Owens, M.D. (2012-2013) 

Talk about a "gone too soon" TV show: Emily Owens only had a half-season run. And that is tragic, as it was so good! Starring Mamie Gummer, post-Green Arrow/pre-This Is Us Justin Hartley, and the adorable Michael Rady, Emily Owens is charming and romantic ... and totally worth the watch (just know you'll have to complete the story in your head). #TeamMicah

Austentatious (2015)

Production-wise (and basically acting-wise), this is not a good show. But, somehow, I loved it! Probably because I love all things Jane Austen. There are only ten episodes, so you can blow through it quickly, and it's easily the cleanest show on the list.

*Watch on Amazon Prime.

I've talked about many of these shows before: Dawson's Creek; Fuller House here and hereThe West Wing here and here; The Newsroom; Friends here, here, and here; NCIS; One Tree Hill; Emily Owens, M.D.; Austentatious.

These are just the first ten shows that came to mind—I've binged a lot of TV! Others I could have mentioned: Prison BreakHart of DixieDollhouseFirefly. Which shows have you binge watched? Let me know in the comments!

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

6 comments:

  1. I haven't watched NCIS in a while, but I loved the early seasons of it.

    Check out my TTT and my plans for Fall Bookish Bingo

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Lauren! Your list was great, by the way—oh, how I loved Early Edition back in the day :-)

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  2. You definitely have some good ones listed above...One Tree Hill, NCIS (early years), and Friends. And I LOVE Fuller House! #team Matt

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    1. #TeamMatt makes me a little sad, but I guess we can still be friends ;-) I totally agree on the "early years" of NCIS thing. I'll admit that now that Tony and Ziva are gone, my interest has completely waned ... but I'll still get sucked into a USA Channel marathon now and again!

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  3. It's been a while, but I watched Fuller House (without having seen much or any of the original) earlier this year. (This is why I know I watch too many shows: I watch one or two faithfully, and then jump to something new. :D) Also, 'Emily Owens' is SO cute. LOVED that one.

    ...new characters or no, NCIS is still my go-to favorite. It's one of the best, and its earned the many years it's enjoyed a network time slot. :)

    Thanks so much for the Finding Wonderland visit, Becky.

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    1. Fun fact: I watched Emily Owens because you posted about it long ago. And it was wonderful :-)

      Since you're not a Full House diehard fan, does that mean you were #TeamMatt? I have a theory that most of the #TeamSteve people grew up with Full House and loved Steve & DJ back in the day ...

      I'm sure I would still enjoy NCIS if I watched it--but no DVR and the same time slot as The Flash means I have to choose one or the other ... (OK, so technically I could watch The Flash the next day, since the CW puts their shows up for free, but I'd much rather watch live!)

      Thanks for visiting, Rissi!

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