Tv is great, isn't it? It ranks right up there with video games and computer things as one of my favorite recreational activities of all time. I think every family should have at least two tv's. There are some shows I like so much that when they come on I drop everything, plunk my pudgy ass on the chair, and watch the show until it's over. And I give to you, right here, my top 10 favorite shows ever.

10.) Futurama - It's been almost three years since Futurama debuted, but it hasn't really made an impact yet. And unlike the Simpsons, also made by Matt Groening, it probably never will. I think they focus too much attention on the futuristic setting rather than humor and characters. Maybe I just like it because Frye is so much like me, but there is some damn funny stuff that goes on in this show. I can't think of any good examples at the moment but it definitely belongs in Fox's Sunday prime time.

9.) Power Puff Girls - This definitely is my favorite of the shows on Cartoon Network. It has that same cute/violet attitude the other CN shows have, which is always funny. I would have ranked it higher on my list, except it's only been on the air for about 2 years and there aren't many episodes, so it'll have to earn its place in the television hall of fame. I like the way PPG makes somewhat of a parody of real superhero cartoons. The plot and characters are always simplistic, but it's SUPPOSED to be that way, that's why it's funny. Just look at the Power Puff Girls. They have no visible hands or fingers. There's nothing fancy here, but it's a great show to wake up to and start your day.

8.) King of the Hill - It debuted in the fall Fox season of 1996, since it's by the creator of Beavis and Butthead I knew it would be funny. And it damn sure was, although it never came close to reaching the caliber of da da da THE SIMPSONS. All the characters help the storylines in some way, and each character has more to them than what at first meets the eye. The episodes are very well done and always have at least two or three really great jokes. But KOTH is more than just about humor, sometimes you can learn lessons about life by watching it, such as integrity and family relationships. It's been on a while and has no reason to go off the air anytime soon. I'm just hoping that eventually we'll be able to see it on weekday evenings on basic cable. Preferably right before or after the Simpsons. Wouldn't that rule?

7.) Professional Wrestling - Three years ago, this would have easily earned the #1 spot on my list. But things are different now. I don't watch wrestling as often or as enthusiastically as I once did. It seems to be a dying fad that began in early 1997, although I'm pretty sure this fad will return again someday and it's gonna be big. I used to always prefer World Championship Wrestling, over the more popular World Wrestling Federation. Now that It's all a WWF monopoly I seem to have lost my passion for this staged sport. I'm still going to watch it though, only as a more casual fan. But if you think about it, wrestling has everything. Athleticism, acting, outlandish characters, storylines, and lotsa hot chicks. What more could you ask for?

6.) Sponge Bob Square Pants - By far, this has got to be my favorite Nickelodeon cartoon. Sponge Bob, Patrick, Squidword, Mr. Crabs, Sandy, every character brings humor value to this classic cartoon. There haven't been too many episodes, but I haven't seen one I didn't like. In fact, I've even memorized the words to the opening theme song. Every time I watch this show I laugh like a little ###### at the ongoing antics of Sponge Bob and the gang. It's nutty, it's zany, it's weird, it's awesome, so watch Sponge Bob Square Pants!

5.) Pokémon - This show is really funny, in a goofy Japanese cartoon sort of way. Have you ever been in a room with someone who was watching Pokémon, but weren't really watching it yourself? You probably giggled from listening to the ridiculous conversations the characters have, such as Ash, Brock, Misty, James, Jesse, Meowth, and sometimes Pikachu. It's hilarious. But for some reason I think Pokémon are so damn cool! I have most of the video games for 'em, and they're some of the best role playing games I ever played. Getting to catch all kinds of different monsters, training them, and even trading/battling them with your friends! Although for some reason I haven't been able to take advantage of that last attribute of the games. Anyhoo, I remember in September 1998 when Pokémon the tv series first made its debut, shortly before Pokémon Blue and Red were released on Game Boy. It came on at 7:30 every weekday morning, and since I had to leave for school I couldn't watch it. But I was able to take advantage of our VCR, and the fact that I'm the only one in our family that knows how to operate it. I recorded Pokémon every weekday, and immediately when I got home from school I watched it as a daily ritual. Unfortunately, all was not well in Pokéland. One time when watching the tape of an episode of my beloved Pokémon, I discovered that someone had changed the channel while it was recording! You can imagine how upset I was, I missed over 10 minutes of Pokémon! This show has seemed to have lost its OOMPH over the years, but I still watch it periodically to see what kinds of spectacular adventures Ash will have next.

4.) Malcom in the Middle - Ahhh.....FINALLY a situation comedy where you don't hear that irritating fake laughter in the background. How refreshing. Most comedies go something like this.

Fred: hi Joe
Joe: hi Fred
Audience: HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
Fred: my penis is big
Audience: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
Joe: not as big as mine
Audience: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
Fran: (walking into the room) you both have a small penis, I would know
Audience: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!
Fred: that's because you're a slut
Audience: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

It gets kind of annoying after a while, doesn't it? Fortunately, M.I.T.M. has none of this. The producers shouldn't have to TELL you when something's funny. If they do, then you know the tv show is bad. There are two things that make MITM funny: it is 50% jokes and 50% action. These things are what make a tv show or movie funny. It's great to finally see something that balances these two ingredients so well. This show has hilarious one liners such as "they're probably watching ninja movies and eating low fat crackers", and also funny action scenes such as Hal dancing in roller skates. I hope MITM stays on the air for at least 10 years.

3.) 7th Heaven - It's not just the fact that all the characters are so groin-grabbingly attractive. It's not the juicy, soap opera-esque storylines you see, particularly in the more recent episodes. It's not even Lucy. What I like best about this show is that every episode is like a movie. There's usually about 3 or 4 different plots going on at once. And each character has a distinctly different personality that contributes to the plot. You see conflicts, emergencies, laughter, tears, and most importantly, morals, in every single episode. I seem to learn something new every time I watch it. You always see problems, and often a crisis, but in the end it always works out and makes me feel happy on the inside. There's nothing like a heartwarming episode of 7th Heaven to brighten your day.

2.) Family Guy - Oh man, I remember the first time I watched this show in June 1999. I was supposed to be reviewing for my final exams but I found tv to be a lot more interesting. It was the one where Peter accidentally hit the satellite so no one could watch tv, and once the tv worked again he decided he didn't want to watch it anymore. I still remember one little joke:
Narrator: What would you do for a Klondike bar?
Man: (standing there)
Narrator: Would you....stand on one foot?
Man: (stands on one foot)
Narrator: Would you....act like a monkey?
Man: (makes monkey noises)
Narrator: Would you....kill a man?
(gunshot sound)
It doesn't sound as funny with me describing it, I guess you have to watch it to get the full effect. But it was so funny, I couldn't stop laughing about that one for weeks. There's something about the humorous atmosphere in FG, an atmosphere which has never been accomplished in any other television program. Just looking at the characters makes you want to laugh. Even if there was no dialogue or plot, the show could just have the characters moving around and it would still be funny. I'll admit, they are recycling the same jokes, which is a bad sign since the show is less than 3 years old, and there haven't been too many episodes. But it's hysterical, I don't any tv show has ever taken humor to this extreme. Somehow I get the bad sign that it's going to get old though, and possibly won't last more than 6 seasons. But even after it's off the air, we'll still be able to dispense gallons of urine while laughing historically at reruns of Family Guy.

1.) The Simpsons - There has NEVER been a tv series that has remained funny and entertaining after 12 years of being on the air. As far as I'm concerned, this show is an art. It takes talent to put on a tv show this great for such a long time. It's not just its raw humor and entertainment value, it's also how The Simpsons has been consistent for so long. Its consistency is the reason I made it beat Family Guy in my top 10 list. Sure, they've had some episodes that weren't so hot, but that's nothing you can't say about any other tv show that's been on longer than a year. There really is no question about the Simpsons' true greatness among television programs. Every character on the show is important to the episodes. Keep in mind that this is a time when most "comedy" shows are nothing more than attractive young people standing around making bad jokes about sex. And worse yet, that fake laughing in the background is so annoying that it's practically unwatchable. The Simpsons is our freedom from these horrible situation comedies. It is actually funny and is a unique kind of show. I could blab on and on about how much I love the Simpsons, but that would be beside the point. The point is that it's AWESOME.

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