Here at Flavorpill, we often sing the praises of such genuinely excellent TV shows as Mad Men, Friday Night Lights, 30 Rock, and everything David Simon has ever done. But, as much as we love that stuff, we can’t deny that we have our fair share of guilty pleasures. No, we’re not talking about cult series with small, vocal followings (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Doctor Who) or shows whose main audience is little kids or raunchy sitcoms that somehow manage to double as biting social critique. For our purposes, a guilty pleasure only qualifies if we (or others whose taste we trust) know it’s bad but enjoy watching it anyway. We’ve listed our all-time top 10 after the jump; clear your conscience by confessing your own in the comments.
Gossip Girl
Yes, its predecessor, The O.C. could certainly be considered a guilty pleasure. But everything that was ridiculous about that show is blown up to ten times the absurdity on Gossip Girl — the wealthy teenagers, the backstabbing story lines, the forbidden romances, the increasing reliance on guest stars (and guest bands). We freely admit that GG, currently in its fifth season, had lost all semblance of a believable and compelling plot by the time the characters graduated from high school. Yet there we still are every Monday, glued to the TV screen, enjoying every minute of it. These days, the characters’ spendy wardrobes are the best reason to watch; the show has become a sort of video fashion magazine, and we’d be lying if we said we weren’t OK with it.
Comments (23)
Joe Millionare
Of all time? Really? Other than Dallas, nothing is more than about 15 years old. Television has been around for a long time, surely there are more interesting guilty pleasures from the past.
You seem to have missed the entire point of Entourage.
Great list, but requires the addition of Melrose Place.
True Blood might be a soap opera, but the Sookie Stackhouse books are very well written and different in tone than the series. It sounds like whoever wrote this story did not read or perhaps only skimmed the books. Charlaine Harris writes strong, fascinating, and where women are concerned, intelligent female characters who are also unapologetic about their romantic/sexual relationships. It’s a shame there aren’t more books like this.
Californication, David Duchovny is hilarious and the show is soo LA it hurts, also on LA ness is Party Down.
Dawsons Creek was also a classic.
But this list is pretty spot on, thanks Judy.
“Baywatch”, Pamela Anderson’s “V.I.P.” and, the queen of train wrecks, “The Anna Nicole Smith Show”.
I wonder what Amanda Woodward would have made of Anna Nicole.
wow. i have never watched any of these shows. i dont think i have particularly highbrow taste, but these shows really blow and make me want to kill myself. especially gossip girl.
this is not a good list
Melrose Place (the original)
I agree with you, Sheila, I do think the books would have made compelling and fascinating TV adaptations but True Blood… is not that. It is “loosely based off” if best. The female and other minority characters on that show get brutally offensive treatment which is pretty insulting to the original text.
I remember ‘Joe Millionaire’, watched every episode. I was fanatic during the first two seasons of ‘The O.C.’ I watched the first season of ‘Gossip Girl’ but was a fan of the books years before so I grew disinterested. ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ I continue to watch. I love Gordon Ramsay and I also enjoy ‘Kitchen Nightmares’ and ‘Master Chef’. (Adrian should’ve won!)
Oh, my. I have read the Southern Vampire series (the books Sheila called the Sookie Stackhouse books), and they are very poorly written. They are the literary equivalent of the corresponding TV show (which I have a love/hate relationship, but watch religiously nonetheless) – fluff. Guilty pleasures. Seriously, Sheila, there are strong female characters that exist outside of romance novels. Mainly outside of romance novels.
About them cooking shows. At least with Ramsay you get what you’re paying for. It’s all about him screaming at the poor schmuck who can’t get the risotto like Gordo wishes, get it. Always the same.
The one I really can’t stand but at the same time can’t.. change..the.. channel(It’s the friggin’ teletubbies all over again) is the mother of all faux-cool, überobnoxious, cuasi undergroundesque, ultra pretentious Anthony Bourdain and his No Reservations. Barf. The guy thinks he’s the reincarnation of Kafka, Hunter S Thompson and whatshisface Steve Irwin all in a jersey package. Can’t stand the guy. But seriously, watch the show. I’m watching the episode I tivo’ed last night. And it’s a rerun!
Gossip Girl. Despite high-school millionaires it’s very Noir in flavor – I like that so dismiss the rest as immaterial. Of the remaining 9 have only heard of some and never watched any of them.
I loved ‘Joe Millionaire’ too! I think it has a very secret cult following among those of us who pride ourselves on normally watching good TV. I have to admit that I like ‘America’s Next Top Model,’ but really only the judging. The bitchy-girl sections are painful.
Nope, never watched any of them, even once. Not even 24 and that was supposed to be sort of OK for a TV action/adventure.
24 yes
dallas ok
the rest suck donkeyballs
How could “Flavor of Love” not be on this list???
You missed Soap and Dynasty, and I think we might be able to add Cops.
what about the Hills?
Certain shows definitely deserve to be on this list while others may not. Also, there may be shows that should have been included but were left out. Let’s give it time. These things tend to sort themselves out in the end. Best wishes to all of you this year!
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