Patricia - Seems that we all have our favorite TV shows, and everyone has their own idea as to what it good, bad, etc.   Some I have in common with members who post here, but others that I really like, no one else here has ever watched.  As maryz said, the huge selection of shows is overwhelming, and it would take years to sample everything! Most people tend to stick to certain favorite channels and programs, and aren't interested in trying new shows.  I've noticed in reading other discussions here in S&F, that a lot of folks watch nothing but re-runs of their old favorites. 

There are so many new things to see, that I rarely succumb, to old TV shows that I've seen before. However, that's not true then it comes to my favorite movies!  I've lost count of how many times I've watched Doctor Zhivago and Out of Africa, or older movies like The Best Years of Our Lives,  From Here to Eternity, and all of the Alfred Hitchcock films. 

As for the so called "Reality shows" . . . there are two or three different categories.  A large number of the HGTV shows would be considered "reality", because they feature real people remodeling their homes, or real people looking at different homes to purchase in specific areas of the US, or in other countries.  ("Buying Alaska", was a show that I mentioned to you, that's shown on HGTV.). Another type of reality would be what The History Channel, has turned into.  No History there anymore!  Now it's mostly half hour or one hour shows geared strictly to men, like American Pickers, Pawn Stars, Mountain Men, Swamp People and lots more.   Then there is totally pointless reality, like The Kardashian's?  I've never figured out why that show is still around after so many, many years? I don't know anyone who watches it, (or admits to watching it).  I did see one episode, and I was truly bored silly. IMO, a totally pointless and ridiculous waste of time.

I hope others will check here and tell you what they watch and give you some suggestions?  I'll return at another time, and tell you what my personal favorites are.   

Thanks everyone for all of the input. I know of the Kardashians because they actually appear on hard news and also am aware that all but one or two are now pregnant so it must be ratings week or sweep? And when I worked at Sears, their clothing was sold through Sears and was a very bad quality back then. Unfinished seams, threads not turned off and interfacings crooked. Leggings with holes and loose threads sold for over $100.00 with cheap jewelry beginning about $80.00 and folks were stealing it!?!

What I remember was Rick Dees and another man filming their way thru Europe while Hyacinth and As Time Goes By with Dame Judi Dench was shown. Oh and a story about a British clothing store with a typical British humor. Then on History, there were great shows about WWII that often showed campaigns on the maps. One time I saw a well-done documentary about Kennedy and PT 109. A&E had mysteries if I recall.

My dad moved in with me for five months before we realized he needed more specialized care, but in the meantime, he brought his cable along, almost 24/7. What I hated was his addiction to several horrible talk shows. I can see if you watched those often you would get a very skewed idea of humanity. I actually saw the show on Jenny? Where the guy confessed his love to some idiot and the idiot's fragile manhood was so threatened that he got a gun and murdered the poor sap who loved him. I imagine that show got quite the rating boost! 

Anyway, I do like documentaries, British mysteries and the shows like "All creatures great and small." I may not have all the names right. I do like craft shows and cooking even if I can't do crafts. My sister spent a couple of decades rehabbing and I love to look at photos of houses for sale online so would probably like the HGTV?

I absolutely loved Dean Martin's show, Carol Burnet, and Tim Conway. I didn't think Lucille Ball was that great as she simply followed the same repeated formula. And remember all those great Christmas shows with Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Dean Martin, George Gobel And Sammy Davis Junior? Do they have any of that still? Oh, and dad liked a country variety show with three sisters but I don't remember their names.

Here is a great clip with Ted Knight, Tim Conway, and Dean Martin.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBm-vmAifco

Patricia, I will put my two cents in also. First you have to remember my age going on 94!! I think Marilyne put it really down.  Life is great cause we all have are own ideas, what we like. I do watch reruns  a lot Murder She Wrote, I still watch at 11, I watch the old Old Johnny Carson shows, ED Sullivans just started a few weeks ago,
Dick VanDyke eic. Carol Burnett coms on every night etc.  I do not watch any new show except DWTS.  I love The Two Hallmarks and of course HGTV.  I watch GMA every day and after that a travel show, as they do a lot of places I have been. The next time I turn the TV on is at 3, I confess I have watched Gen Hosp. from day one. I then come back to the radio and listen to that till I go to bed at 10 and read and watch some TV, I guess this is more then you wanted to know about my habits. This is the best post to write all of thisI think.

I like documentaries and British mysteries also.  I loved All Creatures Great and Small.  I had read the book and the TV program was just as good.  I’m not a big movie fan.  Am very picky when it comes to movies.  I tried watching La La Land the other night.  I lasted about 25 minutes and turned it off.

I don't know any of the new stuff. I used to love variety shows and someone told me that they were no longer around. Yesterday, someone here was talking about this Honey Boo-Boo and all I could think of was the little girl who was murdered and also what are these children going to have once they hit puberty and may no longer be money makers for their families and stand-ins for their mothers'? I suppose I'm cynical.

I am having bouts of buyers remorse and only really know what I see on YouTube and that is the late shows with Seth Meyers or Steven Colbert and yes, many wildlife cams and animal rescues....shhh... yes, I'm one of those.....

Patricia- I think you'll find your own personal TV niche, just like we all have done.  Start out watching just a couple of channels per day, and eventually something will interest you and you'll want to see more.  The old shows you mentioned on PBS, (the ongoing comedies like, "As Time Goes By"), are no longer playing, but this is the era of watching whatever you want, so I'm sure you could find many of them now, On Demand. 

PBS is a good place for you to start, with their regular programming.  The nighttime lineup has a variety of comedies, mysteries, and historical dramas - as well as documentaries and music. I think you might enjoy "Downton Abbey", a historical drama that starts at about the time of WWI, and goes up into the '30's.  It's finished now, but is easy to get on Demand.  PBS still has a Pledge Drive, about every six weeks, as they have aways done.  During that time, regular programming stops, and they feature more travel documentaries like Rick Steves.

Sad to say, that variety shows are long gone.   My favorites were Carol Burnett and Andy Williams.  I especially enjoyed Andy's Christmas show every year.

Just a quick note - "As Time Goes By" is still showing on my PBS channels.  Over and over again, but I still enjoy watching.   

It’s still showing on our PBS channel too.  Watched it yesterdayâ€"still funny.

I thought On Demand from what was said here in this forum, was a cable station? Or is PBS now also considered a cable station?

The lady, here in my building, who spends hours watching her TV only to break for the offered noon meal and the 2 PM mail call, is a fan of these children's pageants and told us all about this Honey BooBoo character which I find amazing as her mother evidently feeds her child a cocktail of a high-powered mixed energy and soda drinks before each appearance and that some of these children commonly have botox injections! And this is good? Isn't this illegal?

I agree I think I'll stick with PBS until I learn more. How about mysteries? Any good ones where you try to guess all the twists and turns? I really can't remember anything I was watching back in the late nineties other than the reruns.

American Idol started in 2011 because their first finale was about the same time as the Twin Towers horrific tragedy. NCIS started in 2003. A friend tells me it must have been the Homicide franchise or Hill Street Blues I remember. I know America's most wanted and Cops started in 1988 because they were on when I visited my dad.

It all starts next week or the next when I start with the cheaper antenna while I debate further expenditures and my budget.

Edit: Many of the old shows and variety shows are on YouTube.

FlaJean - Good to know I'm not the only one who didn't like "LaLa Land".  I had watched the Academy Awards, where LLL won most of the Oscars, and I had been listening to my younger daughter raving over it for months.  As soon as the DVD was released, she brought me a copy.  After all that hype, I was expecting something really special, but instead, I had to force myself to stick with it to the very end. A big disappointment. 

Patricia- 
I'm wondering why you need an antenna?  is it necessary to have one in the area where you live?  All apartments, condos, and senior living facilities here have cable available to tenants, if they want it.

On Demand, is a feature that's already loaded into your remote.  When you push that button, you can see what shows are available to you, or you can do an alphabetical search there, if you're looking for something specific. When you get hooked up to cable or satellite, or whatever you decide to get, be sure that they give you a written guide (menu),so you can see an overview of all the channels that you get. 

I know . . . Too Much Information being thrown at you!!  I promise to remain silent, unless you ask a specific question.  

From what I learned here in the building was that you can get rabbit ears or another type of antenna at Walmart for five to ten dollars for around 30 channels. Or you can go with something called Sling, I did get their phone number, and they can set you up with about 100 channels. Or you can go the cable route or Direct TV route.

Another thing I learned that interested me is Friskies brand has several free and low-cost apps for a tablet, phone or kindle for your cat. These feature birds, mice, goldfish or spiders. You can use Roku which I have, to hook them up to your television screen. I wonder how Farrah would react to that?


So many companies, 43!

I'm bombarded with too much information!

Sling TV

https://www.sling.com/content/sling-tv/en/offers/twobutton.html?

Most people in the building have GCI or Sling

Here is what GCI offers and I don't know half of what they're talking about so how can I make a choice?

Smart TV Lineup starts at 39. and up

https://www.gci.com/tv/lineup/smart

Plus TV Lineup starts at 79. and up

https://www.gci.com/tv/lineup/plus

Total TV Lineup, starts at 99. and includes streaming...

https://www.gci.com/tv/lineup/total

Patricia,  I am sure you are getting overwhelmed by all the suggestions from everyone.   You will have to take your time and sort through it all.

I am sure you will find some very enjoyable shows that you will enjoy watching.

I am disappointed in a lot of the older shows that have changed so much.  I used to love the Travel Channel, as they would actually show so many interesting places to travel to.  I used to travel all over the world and never leave my recliner.  Sandra Brown used to have some wonderful travel shows showing all different kinds of venues to travel to,.  But, now they are really dumb shows, that is in my opinion.  I really miss the old TRavel channel shows.

There are several channels that do carry the old comedy shows that you mentioned.  You will just have to surf around to find the shows that you really want to watch.  Have Fun!!!

Joy

Joy, I agree with you about the Travel channel.  I used to enjoy it.  Entertainment channel has changed too.  They used to have some good British mysteries but no more.  Also HGTV has changed a lot.  I liked some of their redecorating programs but now it is so different.

I watch NBC news at 5:30, then local news on our local NBC channel at 6:00, then go to PBS for more in depth coverage.  The PBS is a one hour program. 

I am a fan of lots of PBS programs.  I watched their entire coverage of The Vietnam War--sad, but interesting--and what a waste of lives, the country, etc.  My late husband was serving as the Ordnance Officer on the U.S.S. Ticonderoga from '67-'69 and I lived in San Diego with our 3 sons and our dog Murphy.  Bob had to fly into Saigon regularly to pick up supplies, take messages to the Naval Command there, etc.  It was a horrible time for the Vietnamese, both South and North and the countryside was literally destroyed.  Other military widow friends here didn't watch it.

Poldark returned to PBS last night.  I loved this show in the 70's and am enjoying the new version with younger actors.  The man playing Poldark then is now playing a judge in this version.  I think Winston Graham wrote the series a long time ago.

I like the new PBS show Doc Martin, but some of my friends don't.  Do any of you watch it?

Sue

Sue, Doc Martin isn't a new show - it's been on for at least 5  or so years.  I guess it's just started showing in your market.  If you get On Demand, you can probably find a lot of episodes there. 

I agree that most of the the cable channels have morphed into something different from what they originally were.  Besides The History Channel, an good example is Animal Planet.  I used to really enjoy that channel - loved watching the shows about animal rescue, and the series called Meerkat Manor, was incredible. (I'm still blown away as to how they did that filming.)  Now, the top show on Animal Planet is something called, Pit Bulls and Parolees. There are lots of channels now, that I've never even looked at, like Spike, Tru, Oprah Winfrey Network, and others. Oprah's channel is probably very good . . . I can't imagine that she would allow her name on anything that isn't top quality.  Has anyone seen it?

Sue - I liked The Vietnam War series so very much. Certainly the best documentary that I've seen on TV, in many years. I learned so much that I didn't know before, or just refreshed my memory on different people and politics of the time. I remember the anti-war demonstrations, but had forgotten the extreme violence.  Sad to say, that I don’t know of anyone else who watched it besides my husband and myself.  I know that none of my three adult children watched it.  it's a shame because the old saying, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it", seems to be coming true in today's world.

I am literally turned off by all the sketchy info of what is offered for my area. There isn't enough information to be able to make a valid choice. So I will probably go with the antenna for now. I do not watch sports, have Pandora jazz on the PC so wouldn't need six to nine music channels on the TV.

For the news, I have notifications turned on for Euronews, BBC, Washington Post and The New York Times.

I've watched several episodes of Masterpiece Theater on Youtube and on British sites.

I have not watched the series on Vietnam for obvious reasons but if it had been available I probably wouldn't.  My first husband came back damaged from the war as he was trained to go out alone as a fighter and an assassin and the training broke him inside. The last I heard, he has been missing out somewhere in the woods out west for decades if still living.

My second husband had three brothers killed in Nam and he was sent home as the last surviving son. He felt made worthless by that decision and his parents deifying his brothers made that worse and alienated him from his family. That war was wrong on so many levels.

The offerings shown by Infinity by Comcast, Time Warner and 43 others such as GCI expect you to be familiar with the shows offered. I am not and it is really confusing. Why so many music channels on a TV for example! I don't want to spend my money and be locked into spending it for a specific amount of time perhaps foolishly. The ones I've spoken to in my building watch hours of television and rarely do anything else.

The reason I didn't purchase a TV and take advantage of that cable offer thrown in with the Internet in  2005 or 2006 holds true today. So much dreck involved with a few gems thrown in. How to know before you buy? What I am reading here in this forum, helps so much and I am grateful, but I'm beginning to realize that I felt for the poor woman caught up in her mother's death and acted rashly.

Patricia, I just read a past Consumer Report (August 2017), and the lead article is about "Cutting the Cord", i.e. getting rid of cable.  I'm happy with what I have, but did look through it.  There are a number of suggestions of ways to get more specialized service, gauged to what YOU really want.  I'd recommend checking that out before making a decision.

Thanks, Mary, I know they post the report on YouTube as well as at their site so I'll go look it up.

Regarding the series on Vietnam..... 

My brain is so inundated with devastating news about our
government at this time,  that I have no room or
inclination to re live the Viet Nam Era.....

I hate  terrorism and war talk about North Korea
and the Middle East.. 

At 74,  I choose to be very selective about what news
programs that I subject myself to .... MSNBC is my choice
and I am very selective about the time I spend
watching called "news" ----  "fake or real" 
Personally I believe that all our "news" is fake, and
twisted to reflect the political leanings of what ever
station one choses to watch.

I think that this has been going on for years and years,
back to when JFK got elected (for me) and before that
for older people,  who lived through WWII...   

I could go on and on but I shall not,  as this is not
the place for controversial discussions... 
I have said enough, probably more then enough....  sorry! 

I pray for the people  who's lives have been
destroyed by hurricanes and mad,  crazy, lunatic gun
owners  who believe murdering innocents is an acceptable
fom of protest. 

I hope that today can be a better day for all those
personally affected by these disasters.

I love tv and have mine on daily ...  It is  my human
connection.   I also have Roku with a Spectrum cable
connection for tv and internet.   

I have HBO NOW,  Acorn (british and austrailian movies and series),
NetFlix,  Amazon Prime,,  show time, and starz..   

I run everything through Roku which is connected to spectrum cable.
I can pick and choose what cable stations I want and can
cancel them anytime I want. (they go month to month,  so I
can add and cancel at will to keep the cost of my entertainment,
with in my budget)   

Life is good


Sandy 

Well said, Sandy.  I watched the first episode and it is a well done documentary.  My husband was on an ammo ship in the war zone and I was raising a family on my own.  I really don’t want to relive a bad war.  At 81 years I’ll stick with casting my vote and hope it’s being counted.  I’m counting on you Mr. Mueller.

I looked at “Spotlight” on Starz for the second time.  A really good movie on a sad topic.

Good afternoon, started out cool and sunny, but now clouds are rolling in.

Sandy I agree with everything you wrote. At 93 I have seen so much, that I do not want to live through the sad years.  I think when i first got married we had practically nothing, but we were so happy, just listening to the radio programs all day.  Oct.12th we would have been married 72 years.  My only special channel I pay extra for is the golf one, which I enjoy, as I was a golf nut, even played with colored ball in light snow.
I watch GMA, and do not watch news shows at night.  Still listen to a lot of radio, they are still playing my music.

Went to the breathing doctor Friday, he said I should use the oxygen at night, but only if I think I need it during the day. But now if I use the oxygen a lot I get nose bleeds.

Jenny, I just read in Sunday paper, that it is against the law in NYS to keep a snapping turtle..

My daughter used to buy lots of DVD movies but started streaming instead.  So when she changed her entertainment center last year, she gave us about 150 and kept just a few.  Larry put them up in our office closet and there they have been sitting.  With all the repeat bad news (same news over and over) I’ve been lookin at the selection.  Some we wouldn’t care to watch but we have looked at a few the last couple of days.  A couple we have watched are “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” and “Munich”.  Not great movies but interesting.  I notice she has a few oldies like “Rear Window” which I’ve seen several times but enjoy each time I see it.

Just finished watching "Our Souls at Night" on Netflix, starring Redford and Fonda.
Somehow parts of it did not seem familiar, (I read the book and liked it).  I may have to do a re-read to see where the differences might lie (maybe in my head, LOL). It is a very  "quiet", slow moving movie (as befits the characters and subject matter).  If anyone else has seen it, give me your thoughts!

Tome,  "Our Souls At Night" is on my Netflix List but I haven't had time to watch it, yet.  I've also read the book - and the others by the same author set in the same small town on the Colorado prairie. 
I'm familiar with the area and hope they haven't moved it somewhere more "glamorous".
The "cosmetically enhanced" Redford and Fonda don't fit my mental picture of the characters, either,  but I'm willing to give it a chance.
Now if I could just find that elusive "Round Tuit".       Too many t.v. shows starting new seasons.

Speaking of.....I didn't watch the first season of "This Is Us" but, after watching the first episode of the new season, I think I'm going to like it.

Some more "overload" ---

I do believe that if you currently have an internet connection you should be able to get that ROKU to stream some stuff to your TV even without a "TV Hookup".  It goes from your internet source thru the ROKU to the TV.  So dig out the ROKU and read  (for sure there are some fine instructions     ).

It would be likely that whoever provides your current internet service also can provide a TV signal (for $).  It would probably be cheaper to get all your services from one provider.

Newer TVs are equipped to receive digital signals and there are likely some being transmitted over the air. A digital antenna, much smaller than the old antennas, could possibly be set up in your apartment in or near a window.  Check with some neighbors who might know

Our Souls At Night:  I have read the book and saw the movie and in my humble assessment the book provided a moving story of two lonely seniors who find love and comfort in each other's company, only to have that setting shattered by the cruel, self-serving interests of the widow's son.  In short, a well written novel that portrayed the sorrow and conflict of a woman who was forced into a "Sophie's Choice" that would affect the rest of her life.
The movie, on the other hand, did not portray that inner turmoil. It did not portray the confrontation between the mother and son and those two omissions diminished greatly the emotional impact those circumstances demanded.
I read the book first and I'm glad I did, but at the conclusion of the movie I felt as if I had been short-changed.

I watched Souls At Night last night.  Will change my opinion about Redford and Fonda; they did well with the characters they portrayed, although I think the movie was a vehicle to show off their fit figures and good looks.

Don, I agree with your views.  However, I think the movie was meant for those who haven't read the book and don't know the details. I also think the screenwriters had to cobble some things together to keep the story from wandering back and forth. There were subtle dialog and scenic "hints" about the conflict with the kids that one who had read the book might catch but one who had not read it would have to pay close attention to make the connections. I didn't realize some of them until later.
I could have done without the long sequences of driving on the prairie and through the mountains - but I wonder if that was symbolic.   Empty prairie:  loneliness.....Narrow mountain roads:  becoming closer.

However,  good movie and I enjoyed it.

Haruf wrote other novels set in Holt (a fictional town but towns mentioned in the books indicate it would be located way out on the Colorado plains east of Greeley/northeast of Denver.

Trilogy is:  Plainsong,  Eventide and Benediction  They all center around two or three characters with others being brought into the story.