I enjoy sitting down with the boxset of a good TV show, so I can watch as many episodes as I like (rather than having to wait for next Fri to see the next. Here are a few I particularly have enjoyed.

24
Kiefer Sutherland plays Jack Bauer, a Counter Terrorism Agent trying to save NY/LA/The World in a real time 24hrs.

NCIS
A Team in the Naval Criminal Investigative Service uses Detective work, computer traces & Forensic Criminology to track folk killing marines & dead Navy Lieutenants

Blue Bloods
Tom Selleck, Donnie Wahlberg & Michelle Monaghan star in this drama about a family of NYPD Cops

The Wire
Baltimore cops building a case patiently, episode by episode.

The West Wing
Behind the scenes of the US President & his staff

Always on the look out for more...

Sopranos?

Good shout - I think I got up to series 4 before I stopped watching for some reason. Great show.

The Unit another 2nd Tier series Ive enjoyed. True Blood is supposed to be good, but I never really got into it.

I highly recommend picking up the complete Battlestar Galactica (remake) boxset, it maintains a very high standard indeed throughout it's four season run .

The first season of Heroes is absolutely sublime but does drop in quality during subsequent seasons (they're still quite good though).

True Blood is also well worth picking up, first season is really good, season two is even better & season three is decent although not quite up to the standards set by the previous two season (I've seen a trailer for season four & it's looking very interesting indeed ).

Lost is also well worth your time as long as you're prepared for an ending that won't answer all of your questions ...

Criminal Minds is the latest one I am working my way through, and it happens to be my personal fav!!

Sounds like something I might like Bunners, Whats it about?

Band of Brothers. Superb, TV at its very best.

Two US programmes that aired their Series 1 on Sky Atlantic recently might be worth a look:

Treme - about post-Katrina New Orleans (by the guy who made The Wire and with two of its actors)

Boardwalk Empire - the rise of a corrupt empire in 1920s Atlantic City


How about Hill Street Blues (probably very dated now) or NYPD Blues

A few series well worth a look are:

Dexter
The series follows Dexter Morgan, an incredibly likeable forensics expert for the Miami Metro Police Department, who moonlights as a serial killer with a penchant for inflicting his own unusual brand of justice – he kills people who truly deserve it.


Breaking Bad
Walter White, high school chemistry teacher. Sleepwalking through life when, boom, a terminal diagnosis changes everything. It liberates & empowers him to use his chemistry skills anew, to man a rolling drug lab and finance the future for his struggling family. It's an uncontrolled experiment with the American dream.


Boardwalk Empire
Chronicles the life and times of Nucky Thompson, the undisputed ruler of Atlantic City, who was equal parts politician and gangster. Set in the 20's & 30's

This is on a special in HMV at the moment. As a fan of Dr Who, Torchwood and Star Trek it could be worth a dabble.

House - very enjoyable - easy viewing

Enjoyed Band of Brothers, Sopranos and getting into the Wire.

I have the entire West Wing in the wings.

If sci-fi's your thing then you're in for a real treat ...

Oz was good.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118421/

I've seen every episode of these & they are up there with the very best.

Sons of Anarchy
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1124373/
Stars - Charlie Hunnam, Katey Sagal, Ron Perlman and Maggie Siff

Supernatural
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0460681/
Stars- Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles and Jim Beaver

Loved True Blood, but if you start from Series 1 be warned it's slow to get going. Series 2 & 3 are much quicker into the action.

Deadwood.

http://www.hbo.com/deadwood/index.html

NCIS was mentioned in the first post. I'm now getting into NCIS Los Angeles. It's just as good, if not better imo.

Game of Thrones is still proving excellent viewing for me.

Loved Dexter (as previously mentioned)

And one that has slipped through the net that i loved - Fringe.

Sons of Anarchy is tremendous, one of the best things I've seen in years. Its the sopranos on motorbikes.

Battlestar Galactica is also up there, its not just sci fi. I was glad I missed it when it was broadcast, would have driven me nuts waiting a week between episodes, watched the whole thing in under 3 weeks.

Has anyone got a Prison Break box set? Missed one episode of series one and never got caught back up. Would quite happily pay postage if someone wants to lend it to me and of course you get it back when i get done with it.

Not to everyone's taste but the original Wallander always has me gripped.

Good thread.

I have watched most of the stuff people have posted on here already. Some of the series are very mainstream but still high quality such as 24, Prison Break etc.
The more interesting series are those which some of us might have missed due to being on obscure chanels or late night.
I know that I am repeating many of the earlier series people have mentioned, but I thought I would add some of my favourites and maybe try to include some that haven't been mentioned yet.

The Wire
NOT over rated at all. Believe the hype for quite possibly one of the best series ever on TV
The Shield
If you like The Wire then you will almost certainly like this too.
Cop show in an NYPD Blue style (be prepared for lots of shaky camera work). Michael Chiklis is superb in the lead role as Vik Macky, the leader of a small elite team called "The Strike Team" who use morally dubious methods (putting it lightly!) to combat LA's drug culture.
Complete with many shocks along the way and a final episode that does not disapoint with one of the best endings I can recall. Understated but apt.
Mad Men
Believe the hype again. If you like thoughtful clever stuff and can tollerate it's slower than average pace then this will reward you for checking it out.
Sons Of Anarchy
On a par with The Wire almost but has more charismatic characters. Shakespere on Harleys.
Breaking Bad
Geeky teacher makes meth and becomes embroiled in local drug industry. Fantastic series and can't wait for series 3 Yo!
Boardwalk Empire
Well worth a watch. Buscemi plays, well, Buscemi! A scouser plays Al Capone (very well!) but the best character is the main character Jimmy. Can't wait to see where series 2 goes.
Dexter
Darkly comic series of a serial killer blood splatter specialist working for Miami P.D.
Each season has it's own main story line with a different adversery for Dexter. Even if you don't like it, watch season 3 for John Lithgow acting everyone totally off the screen as a psyhco serial killer.
Battlestar Galactica
I concur with all the recomendations made by others. Excellent series which is so much more than sci-fi. Would be brilliant even if not set in space. Crocket and Tubbs boss is a decent actor!
24
Edge of the seat stuff in all 8 seasons. My better half just spent the last couple of months watching this on her ipod each night!
True Blood
Don't fall into the trap of one of my work colleagues who didnt watch this because he thought it would be like Twighlight or the vampire diaries!
A series which is very different to anything I've seen before, even if the opening credits and music are a carbon copy of Natural Born Killers!
Weeds
Single mom sells weed to pay the bills and feed her 2 kids. Fantastically funny in places with a gripping story all the way.
Entourage
Don't make the mistake I made thinking this is some kind of MTV style crap. Follows an actor from New York who makes it big in LA and his buddies who tag along for the ride. Typical HBO style program, lots of swearing and sex. Lots of famous cameos including James Cameron, a porn star, Mark Whalberg (exec producer of the series). Best charcter just edging a career defing role of Jeremy Piven as potty mouth agent Ari Gold, is Kevin Dillon as "Johnny Drama". They could quite possibly put a picture of Drama in the dictionary as the definition of the word doofus!
Murder One
Can't recall off the top of my head exactly when this aired but I think it was around 94 or so? Stephen Bochco (NYPD Blue creator).
Sooo many modern series owe so much to this series. It was the first series (that I can recall) to be based around a single story line. Something which is now so common in TV that we take it for granted, before this each episode stood on it's own with little story line continuing from ep to ep. In this case a famous actor is accused of murder and this follows his trial. It introduced me to the work of Stanley Tucci who is excellent in this as is Daniel Benzali as the defence lawyer. It may have dated, I havent watched it since it aired in the mid 90's on BBC2.
Flight Of The Conchords
Kiwi duo in a band of the shows title. Fantastically original, clever and funny. Each show has at least one humourous song and music video which could cut it on MTV in their own right. With quotes such as
Mugger: What is this? Why does this phone have a camera glued to it?
Bret: It's a camera phone. Jemaine wanted one for his birthday.
it is well worth tracking down.

And now for some less heavy and generally less cool to admit you like stuff!

Hawaii 5 o
The remake staring Scott Caan and that other bloke with lots of others we've seen on other stuff!
Much more light entertainment than most stuff that people have listed. It may not be as cool to list this as the others, but I have thouroughly enjoyed this bit of escapism through it's first season which works so well mainly due to the buddy buddy relationship of the 2 main characters.
Modern Family
Whilst on the theme of main stream light entertainment I have to mention this 30 minute comedy.
The funniest new show for many years. Every character is superb, from Jay (Al from Married With Children basicly playing an even grumpier Al) to Cameron the over the top chubby gay guy to Phil the dad who thinks he is the coolest dad alive and never thinks he is wrong (mmm did they base this guy on me?!) to Manny the pre pubescent chubby Columbian kid who is 12 going on 50.
Each show has loads of laugh at loud moments and at least one proper bully busting moment.
30 Rock
An Emmy winning machine comedy with Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin. Solid comedy every show.
Peep Show
Brilliant Chanel 4 British comedy.
The Office US version
Once it found it's own identity this long running show is as good as the original if not better. Every office has a Dwight!
Eastbound and Down
Kenny *&%£$ing Powers! Danny McBride as a washed up US baseball star who as a sexist as it gets. Very funny comedy which showcases the best of McBride.
2 Season so far, 3rd to come soon.
CSI
By the book formulaic crime hijinks fun.
CSI Miami
As above but with added gratuitous slo mo sunglasses action.
CSI New York
As original, but with added NYC snow and Gary Sinise
Scrubs
Decent hopsital comedy complete with against type
My Name is Earl
White trash comedy with loads of brilliant characters, none better than Randy though.
Chuck
Nerd IT support guy gets super computer accidently put in his brain and becomes CIA agent. Very good brainless fun.
Terminator The Sarah Connor Chronicles
2 Seasons of suprisingly good action with solid story.
Episodes
Sort series 1 so far about a couple of British Comedy writers and their attempts to take their comedy show from the UK to the US. Co starring a thick cocked Matt Leblanc!



Things I am ashamed I have not watched but intend to watch asap.

The Sopranos
I know I will love it, just never got around to watching it.
Deadwood
The West Wing
Community
Good comedy where I have watched the first 5 or 6 episodes. 2 seasons to watch.
NCIS
House
7 whole series to watch!
Treme
Loved the wire, so should love this.
Arrested Development
Family Guy



There are so many more I simply can't remember them all.
Hope this list points some of you in the direction of some quality stuff you haven't caught before.

I vote for this to be stickied as a reference for all decent TV series we should watch.

good post chap.
have watched alot of those but especially glad you mentioned entourage.
i got into that recently and other half and i have worked through 6 seasons of dvds.
great lol show, great lines and characters well worth 6-7 quid for early seasons to test it out. really recommended

dexter we love too, and mad men.

Latest new fave is game of thrones, top show on at present imo

+1

Really enjoying this at the moment and it definitely has the potential to become something really rather special indeed ...

Enjoyed this & I'm looking forward to the second season but I will say the first season wasn't quite so great that I'd actually have a desire to catch it again.


Enjoyed this a lot at the time but if I watched it now I think I'd view it as pretty mediocre.


The first season was by far my favourite, seasons two through to four were pretty solid as well but from season five onwards it got a little bit repetitive, however I will say that the most recent season turned out to be very decent indeed as it contained quite a few surprising twists & turns and went to places I wasn't expecting it to .


Why would anyone not want to admit to liking this It's one of the few genuinely hilarious 'homegrown' sitcoms to have been released in the last decade or two.


I'm rewatching these at the moment (via Sky Alantic & FX), both of them represent essential viewing IMO ...

A few more that deserve a mention:

Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Despite it's candy coated topping, this goes to some really dark places indeed (especially during the final two seasons) and is easily one of my all time favourite series.

Firefly

Cancelled midway through it's first season, this really is an unseen gem & it's well worth picking up both this & the big screen finale (Serenity) if you have any interest in the sci-fi genre.

The Walking Dead

If you like expertly made post apocalyptic zombie flavoured dramas then you really need to catch this at some point, the only criticism I can make of this show is that the first season is waaaaaaaaay too short & ends before it really had a chance to get going (hopefully season two will rectify this issue).

Twin Peaks

Without a doubt my all time favourite, easily David Lynch's greatest work & it still amazes me that they managed to get the money men to sign off on something that so clearly wasn't designed to appeal to a mainstream audience.

I agree that it was not as good as it could have potentially been, plus all the marketting of Scorsese's involvement was over egging it somewhat. He only directed the first episode and was one of the exec producers. I won't be rearranging anything I do to watch it "live" on TV but will certainly be recording it to ensure I dont miss it.


I know, I know! Need to start converting them to ipod for the daily train commute. It's the only time I really get to watch much TV lol.

Oops, forgot to give both of these a mention:

Bored To Death

Caught this on Sky Altantic recently & really enjoyed it, it's filled with some very likable characters & is well worth catching if you appreciate comedies with a gentler type of humour.

Raising Hope

A bit of strange one, I never ever look forward to watching this but after I get to the end of each episode I've always had a throughly good time . As with 'Bored To Death', it's pretty much down to the quality & likeability factor of the characters that makes catching this show a worthwhile experience.

Good call!
I've been enjoying this one a lot through season 1.
A few nice cameos from Joy and Randy from My Name Is Earl as a married couple in one episode. If you like My Name Is Earl then I also recomend this one.
Good, but not as funny as Modern Family which I think is by far the funiest thing on TV currently and possibly the funniest since Father Ted.

More that maybe some people haven't seen that are well worth checking out are:-
Burn Notice
Michael Weston used to be a spy. Then some "unknown" persons burned him. Waking up in Miami with no money, ID or bank accounts and none of his old spy contacts will speak to him. Apart from gun and explosive happy ex girl friend Fiona (Gabrielle Anwar from Bodysnatchers and as "that stunning bird that danced with Al Pacino in Scent of a Woman) and Sam (Bruce Campbell from the Evil Dead movies hamming it up superbly).
An excellent hammy series which doesnt take itself seriously but still has solid plot lines. Michael tries to find out who burned him and why so that he can get back to a "normal" spy life again.
Leverage
The best way to describe this is probably Oceans 11 lite meets Robin Hood.
A gang of con artists put their collective skills together to help people in need who have come up against nasty characters.
A strong cast including oscar winner Timothy Hutton, Gina "Blackeyes" Bellman and Jeri "7 of 9" Ryan help make what would probably be an average programme into something very entertaining.