What to Watch, by a professional TV-watcher

Everyone watches TV. If you don’t, please turn your bus around and go to some dork blog, because here, we watch television and we like it.

Did I just imply that people who don’t watch TV are dorks? Yes. Yes I did.

That’s because you can’t be cool if you don’t watch TV. Simple. Now that we can watch shows online or rent and buy on DVD, you never have to miss out on something because you don’t subscribe to that channel or don’t have cable. Really, you have no excuses.

I’m a professional TV-watcher

That said, I’ve been writing about watching TV for as long as I can remember blogging, waaaayyy back into the 2000′s. It’s a part of who I am, a part of my growing up.

When I was a kid, I watched what my parents watched from This Old House to Guiding Light to Andy Griffith. Together, we watched Seinfeld, 90210 (one of my dad’s favorite shows), and Growing Pains. When I was put on restrictions from watching TV, my dad would give in and ask me and my sister watch TV because he was lonesome without us. Plus, he would say that TV was “educational” so we shouldn’t be restricted from it. I’m sure that went over well with my mom…

So to say I have knowledge of good TV-watching is an understatement. I’m pretty much a professional TV-watcher. This is why I feel highly-qualified to share with you what shows are worth watching and setting your DVR to record.

This list is a comprehensive run-down of what I’m watching currently. There are shows like Dexter, True Blood, and So You Think You Can Dance that aren’t on right now that would surely be included, but I can only do so much with my TV superpowers.

I have a list here presented in no particular order because I don’t want to see a whole bunch of drama in the comments about my rankings of the best of TV. Plus, I don’t want to embarrass my future-self when I look back and see myself putting Jersey Shore as the best show on TV.

Quality TV Dramas

The Good Wife – This legal drama has the “will she? won’t she?” suspense along with Mr Big getting busy in the bathroom.

Southland – I’ve heard from close sources (see: I don’t remember who) that this is as close to a police drama as you can get. Plus, Ben.

Grey’s Anatomy – I was thisclose to ridding Grey’s from my must-watch list until last year’s season finale. You remember it, the one we talked about all summer? They’ve pretty much kept up the good shows this season, and the Twitter is atwitter when it’s on.

Blue Bloods - I can’t recommend this show enough. Plus, Donnie Wahlberg is an incredible actor on the show. Plus plus, Tom Selleck’s mustache.

Must-See TV Comedy

The Office – My favorite comedy on TV right now. I’ll miss Michael Scott after this season, but I have confidence in the writers’ abilities to find a good replacement.

30 Rock – “Hill People milk” was added to my regular verbiage thanks to Kenneth.

Modern Family – Moon Landing. The End. [ed. Adding "it looked like dad was winning" from last night's episode as the best line on TV EVER.]

The Middle – I LOVE LOVE the Heck family and their realness to my life. I wrote a whole post about how my parenting strategy changed because of the show. Also, the girl’s name is Sue Sue Heck. I can’t make that up.

Raising Hope – The. Best. New. Show. of this TV season. I could watch every episode 3 times each and still laugh.

Big Bang Theory – Nerds, FTW.

Glee – Just. Yes.

How I Met Your Mother – Biggest reason to watch? Neal Patrick Harris.

Trash TV

Jersey Shore – It’s trashy, it’s horrible, it needs to be on your DVR for when you’re folding laundry.

Real Housewives of Everywhere – It’s a requirement to watch if you appreciate trash TV.

Hoarders – I watch to get myself motivated to clean and purge stuff.

Storage Wars – It just started a few weeks ago, and I’m sure it will get old soon, but for now, I’m addicted.

Season 25: Oprah Behind the Scenes – I’m an Oprah Kool-aid drinker, so naturally I’d like this show. But I just happened to be watching it the other night when Patrick was home, and he liked it better than Oprah’s regular show. That’s your male endorsement right there.

House Hunters/House Hunters International – It’s always on my DVR for when I need to kill some time.

Selling New York – I LOVE me some House Hunters and HH Int’l, so a show dedicated to selling New York City real estate? Win/Win for me.

Teen Mom – Parenting dos and don’ts from teenagers. Is there any better TV-watching that that?

So, what do you think? What am I missing? What show do you crave and pine for?

Angie Lynch is the founder and managing editor of the powerhouse women’s literary community, Smut Book Club. She is a Native Floridian without a tan, probably because she spends her days hard at work on the magical internet. For the past several years, Angie has worked way too hard at building clout as an influencer in food and margaritas as well as being a source for laughable pop culture commentary. You can read more from Angie on her blog, A Whole Lot of Nothing.