What is the most influential TV show of the past decade

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I

I Wear Pants

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16,223 posts
May 24, 2010 7:49 PM
dlazz wrote: Why are LOST and 24 on the list? What a joke of a poll.
Because they are both incredibly popular and influential television shows?
May 24, 2010 7:49pm
M

MontyBrunswick

May 24, 2010 7:54 PM
I Wear Pants wrote:
dlazz wrote: Why are LOST and 24 on the list? What a joke of a poll.
Because they are both incredibly popular and influential television shows?
Influential? No.

Popular...I'd agree with.


Nothing in the past decade has been very influential, IMO. If I had to pick something, it'd have to be a shitty reality show.
May 24, 2010 7:54pm
M

MontyBrunswick

May 24, 2010 8:03 PM
I Wear Pants wrote: Haha.

"Nothing in the past decade has been very influential".

http://www.gamesradar.com/f/16-secret-lost-references-in-videogames/a-2010052110565556086

^^^ Things like that seem to indicate that Lost left an impression on people.
Yeah, I really picked up on the LOST references in those blockbuster titles Destroy All Humans: Big Willy Unleashed, and SKATE.

Just kidding. Those games sucked.
May 24, 2010 8:03pm
I

I Wear Pants

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16,223 posts
May 24, 2010 8:06 PM
SKATE is the best skateboarding franchise out there.

Did Lost touch you in an inappropriate place or something?
May 24, 2010 8:06pm
SQ_Crazies's avatar

SQ_Crazies

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May 24, 2010 8:08 PM
dlazz wrote: Nothing in the past decade has been very influential, IMO.
Well, no offense, but I think that may be one of the dumbest opinions I've ever heard. For real, ever. Just think about it for a second lol.
May 24, 2010 8:08pm
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HitsRus

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May 24, 2010 9:50 PM
I think it is ludicrous to list some of the shows that are mentioned here. They are just popular TV shows...and that's it. One could argue 'Survivor' as being influntial on other TV, but nothing on TV past or present can compare to American Idol which for almost a decade has generated HUGE ratings. As if it's own 'influence' on TV and its spawning similar shows is not enough, it has impacted the music industry like no other. Artists like Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, David Cook, Chris Daughtery continually dominate the charts. Lesser impacts include hit records from Jordan Sparks, Elliot Yamin, Clay Aiken, Bucky Covington, David Archuleta, Kris Allen, Katherine McPhee and Adam Lambert. Broadway has stars Jennifer Hudson and Fantasia....and now even Taylor Hicks. American Idol alumni are all over the charts EVERY week....and even if the show were to end tomorrow, it's influence on the music industry alone would continue for years to come. Even its summer tour is a cash cow.

Yopu may or may not like the show... but the question is not whether there is anything to rival it in the past decade, but whether there is ANYTHING in the history of television that comes close.
May 24, 2010 9:50pm
G

gut

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May 24, 2010 9:53 PM
Not a very clear poll question....Best Show does not imply most influential, and "influential" was not defined.

Best show, IMO, was The Shield, edging out the Sopranos on consistency. Lost, Entourage and The Wire were all highly acclaimed, but I haven't got into watching any of them. Will rent the DVD's at some point.

Influential in terms of pop culture? Nothing much comes to mind beyond That 70's Show. Could make a case for Sopranos and Sex in the City. Nothing comes close to the level of Seinfeld.

Influential in terms of concept/structure being reproduced in other shows? I think the only answer, really, is Survivor. But that's really not much of a question since most, myself included, would probably not recognize a concept or structure of, say, Law & Order being replicated, especially in a non-law based show.

And how about a darkhorse no one has mentioned? => UFC
May 24, 2010 9:53pm
SQ_Crazies's avatar

SQ_Crazies

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May 24, 2010 9:55 PM
UFC doesn't qualify as a show, it's a sporting event.
May 24, 2010 9:55pm
tk421's avatar

tk421

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May 24, 2010 9:59 PM
I'd argue that in terms of overall culture and impact in technology, lexicon, etc. that Star Trek has to be one of (if not the most) influential shows of all time.
May 24, 2010 9:59pm
SQ_Crazies's avatar

SQ_Crazies

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May 24, 2010 10:06 PM
When did this become an "all time" debate?
May 24, 2010 10:06pm
tk421's avatar

tk421

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May 24, 2010 10:09 PM
I just threw that out there. I haven't watched hardly any of the TV shows mentioned for this decade, so I have no opinion on that.
May 24, 2010 10:09pm
C

cat_lover

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2,388 posts
May 24, 2010 10:11 PM
LOST
May 24, 2010 10:11pm
Z

ZeroCool

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264 posts
May 24, 2010 10:29 PM
first 4 years of 24 were the shizznit!
May 24, 2010 10:29pm
Non's avatar

Non

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May 24, 2010 10:36 PM
American Idol I'd say
May 24, 2010 10:36pm
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krambman

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May 24, 2010 10:54 PM
For those that don't think LOST has been influential, just look at this website. I think there are at least five separate threads up right now as a direct consequence of the LOST finale.

And dlazz, just because you haven't been directly influenced by any of these shows doesn't mean they haven't been influential. In fact, if you have participated in anything in pop culture in the last 10 years then there's a high probability that you have been influenced by them and you just didn't realize it. If you haven't seen the scope and influence of these shows then you've likely been living under a rock or on an island somewhere for the past 10 years. I honestly wonder if you even have a television.
May 24, 2010 10:54pm
G

gut

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May 24, 2010 11:03 PM
SQ_Crazies wrote: UFC doesn't qualify as a show, it's a sporting event.
And that's different from "contests" like AI or Survivor how?

UFC has been on television regularly and it's made fights popular again and has had a noticeable impact on pop culture, as well.

They have background stories, even had a show "Ultimate Fighter" or whatever it was. Very similar in structure to AI.

Sporting events are the original reality tv.
May 24, 2010 11:03pm
H

holy_buckeye

Member

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May 24, 2010 11:03 PM
krambman wrote: I honestly wonder if you even have a television.
You say that as if it's a bad thing.
May 24, 2010 11:03pm
Red_Skin_Pride's avatar

Red_Skin_Pride

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May 25, 2010 1:04 AM
It's CSI and it's not even close. Show launched in 2000, was the most popular show on network TV for like 6 straight years.
May 25, 2010 1:04am
I

I Wear Pants

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May 25, 2010 1:12 AM
gut wrote:
SQ_Crazies wrote: UFC doesn't qualify as a show, it's a sporting event.
And that's different from "contests" like AI or Survivor how?

UFC has been on television regularly and it's made fights popular again and has had a noticeable impact on pop culture, as well.

They have background stories, even have a show "Ultimate Fighter" or whatever it is. Very similar in structure to AI.

Sporting events are the original reality tv.
The Ultimate Fighter is on it's 11th season.
May 25, 2010 1:12am
karen lotz's avatar

karen lotz

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May 25, 2010 1:14 AM
No mention of Temptation Island?
May 25, 2010 1:14am
Heretic's avatar

Heretic

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May 25, 2010 1:14 AM
No debate. Joe Millionaire.

*Slurp, gulp, slurp*

Bigger than Jesus.
May 25, 2010 1:14am
Red_Skin_Pride's avatar

Red_Skin_Pride

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May 25, 2010 1:22 AM
karen lotz wrote: No mention of Temptation Island?
This is my shocked face


:-O
May 25, 2010 1:22am
G

gut

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May 25, 2010 2:14 AM
Heretic wrote: No debate. Joe Millionaire.

*Slurp, gulp, slurp*

Bigger than Jesus.
LMAO! That was THE best reality show EVER. Actually liked that one. Such a classic.

Very disappointed they pulled the plug on the show where they had some 24 bachelors, but the catch was half were gay and trying to convince her they were straight. Pure comedy gold. Can't believe they bailed.
May 25, 2010 2:14am
SQ_Crazies's avatar

SQ_Crazies

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May 25, 2010 3:14 AM
I Wear Pants wrote:
gut wrote:
SQ_Crazies wrote: UFC doesn't qualify as a show, it's a sporting event.
And that's different from "contests" like AI or Survivor how?

UFC has been on television regularly and it's made fights popular again and has had a noticeable impact on pop culture, as well.

They have background stories, even have a show "Ultimate Fighter" or whatever it is. Very similar in structure to AI.

Sporting events are the original reality tv.
The Ultimate Fighter is on it's 11th season.
Nah. It's different, doesn't qualify here. Isn't close to American Idol anyways even if it did.
May 25, 2010 3:14am