Rug Burn Junky on 8/1/2010 at 15:24

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You know, one time I was having a conversation with a friend about my experience at (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alinea_%28restaurant%29) Alinea and comparing his experience at (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Laundry) The French Laundry.

These are two of the world's finest restaurants, renowned for the skill and talent of the chefs, and preparing subtle and amazing dishes using extremely fresh -- and some very rare -- ingredients.

In response to this, one girl that we were acquaintanced with piped up with "Have you guys ever been to The Cheesecake Factory? That's REALLY good!"

Cheesecake Factory is slop. It's a chain restaurant that pumps out oversize portions of comfort food made with industrial grade food-products. There's a time and a place for that, but she couldn't even fathom that we were discussing something entirely different.

That's what's happening here.

To use Dusty's whisky analogy: [INDENT]Suppose we're sitting around discussing whiskys. The focal point of the conversation is a bottle of 50 year old Macallan, bought at auction for somewhere in the deep 4 figures. Several other connoisseurs bring up other high end whisk(e)ys, including a 20 y.o. Laphroiag, and a small batch bourbon available only from a master distiller deep in the mountains of Kentucky that requires a trip through Deliverance country in a canoe. All of us have different opinions on which is the best, but are reasonably supported by both the reputations of the products and our own varying tastes.

Into this mess, tBm comes along and says "You're all nuts. Wild Turkey is the best whiskey there is."

He would be laughed at. It's a commercial grade liquor that's not even in the same ballpark. Now don't get me wrong, I enjoy shots of Wild Turkey as much as the next guy. But it's cheap and indistinguishable. [/INDENT]

The Wire is on an entirely different level from shit like NCIS. It's a carefully crafted show, with intricate plotlines, and payoffs for close and careful attention. It deals with politics, class relations, and the far reaching consequences of seemingly innocent (or not so innocent) actions. It challenges you with moral ambiguity and confronts social problems quite thoughtfully. This may or may not be your cup of tea, but it is almost universally acknowledged as being an extraordinarily well done show, and is trying to do something entirely different than your average network drama.

NCIS, in comparison, is utter fucking schlock. It may be well-done schlock. It may be enjoyable schlock, and if you like it, more power to you. But it is cheap Product, manufactured to be nonoffensive and noncomplicated for simple easy viewing by the widest audience possible. It has cardboard cut-outs for characters, and paper thin plots. It is the Cheesecake Factory of television, designed to get the most number fat and happy without making them too violently ill.

If you want to disagree that the Wire was the best show on television during its run, fine. There are a number of other contenders, all with varying claims to the title. Obviously, The Sopranos and Deadwood are also high on my list, but if you wanted to throw out Arrested Development, Friday Night Lights, Freaks and Geeks, The Shield, Mad Men, Battlestar Galactica, The Office (UK), or even Lost, you could do so with a straight face, and I'm sure there are plenty of others that I'm missing. Each and all of these were innovative or groundbreaking in some way, and were all done with a high level of quality by talented creators as part of their particular vision.

NCIS, on the other hand, is a cynical ploy by one network to rip-off another cheaply made crime drama that happened to get killer ratings. It has no purpose but to make money for the network and is virtually indistinguishable from a legion of similar shows on the air. It's not part of the conversation. Do I personally watch it? Oh, fuck no. it's execrable. But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy it. I've watched plenty of my fair share of crap TV over the years, and gotten hours of enjoyment out of it. But I wouldn't have the gall to suggest that that crap TV is on anywhere near approaching the level of "Best."

So yeah, everybody is entitled to their own opinions, but not everybody has credibility. When you suggest shows like NCIS and Soap, it's pretty much fair game to say that your opinion is utter fucking crap.

SubJeff on 8/1/2010 at 16:04

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I can't believe you're saying what I'm thinking, but those analogies are 100% on the money RBJ. I get too wound up to put it so clearly and/or I just can't be arsed.

One point though; of the other shows you've mentioned I've seen a few, and whilst I enjoy them (heck I like to watch CSI Vegas and Miami if I'm at a loose end) I realise that nothing is as good as the Wire. Given, I've not seen TheSopranos, The Shield (saw a couple of episodes mid season, wasn't impressed, should try again) or Deadwood. However, its not black and white and that's why we're all able to enjoy high and lower end stuff. I can't put my finger on it but there is a line, with TV shows, food and drink, that I will not cross.

NCIS is on the wrong side of the line. Far over.

oudeis on 8/1/2010 at 17:13

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YOU are getting mad at needless, unprovoked attacks?

:wot: :erm: :weird:

oudeis on 8/1/2010 at 18:49

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"Know Caesar doth not wrong, but with just cause"

irony ftw

oudeis on 8/1/2010 at 19:27

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You really bruise quite easily, don't you?