THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, October 18, 1994 TAG: 9410180045
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: LARRY BONKO
LENGTH: Medium: 81 lines
``SEINFELD'' ON NBC is a terrific half hour of television - still a fresh, clever, offbeat sitcom with a cast that does things which viewers buzz about for weeks.
They've been eating Snickers with a knife and fork on ``Seinfeld.''
I expect the fad to sweep the nation.
``Seinfeld'' is plenty good. I never miss it. But is ``Seinfeld'' good enough to be included among the 20 all-time top television shows?
In a survey of television critics who work for 388 U.S. daily newspapers, ``Seinfeld'' and two other contemporary series were included among the best 20 TV shows ever. The survey was conducted by Robert Thompson, a professor at Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communication as part of the research for a book he is doing about a second golden age of prime time, ``Masterpiece Television.''
``Seinfeld'' finished 19th in the critics' poll below ``The Simpsons'' on Fox at No. 16 and ABC's ``NYPD Blue'' at No. 17.
The all-time best show on television?
The critics picked ``Hill Street Blues.''
Following it in the top 10 were ``M*A*S*H,'' ``The Mary Tyler Moore Show,'' ``All in the Family,'' ``Cheers'' and ``I Love Lucy'' tied for fifth, ``60 Minutes,'' ``The Dick Van Dyke Show,'' ``St. Elsewhere'' and ``Twilight Zone.''
``St. Elsewhere''?
Now that's a surprise.
The NBC series, in which local actor Steven Furst was part of an ensemble cast, showed life as it really is (sort of) in the emergency room of an overworked inner city hospital. Nice show. Quirky casting. But was it better than ``Gunsmoke'' or ``The Andy Griffith Show''?
I don't think so.
``It had a large and loyal following,'' Thompson said of ``St.Elsewhere,'' a series that ended with a letdown - a final scene in which viewers were led to believe that all they had seen were the fantasies of an autistic youngster.
``L.A. Law'' didn't make the top 20.
That surprises me.
It surprised Thompson, too.
``Apparently the critics forgot what an excellent series in was in its early years and remembered only the last few seasons when the show infected itself with mediocrity. If `L.A. Law' had come and gone in five seasons, I'm sure that it would have been voted among the top 20 television shows of all time.''
It came in 22nd in the tally by Thompson and his assistant, Ian Bruce.
The original ``Star Trek'' finished 11th in the critics poll followed by the Griffith show, ``Gunsmoke,'' ``The Honeymooners,'' ``The Ed Sullivan Show,'' ``The Simpsons,'' ``NYPD Blue,'' ``The Show of Shows,'' ``Seinfeld'' and ``thirtysomething.''
Who would choose ``thirtysomething'' among TV's 20 all-time best?
I'd pick it as TV's most annoying series ever. All that whining.
It is just short of astounding to see ``NYPD Blue'' on the list after only one season on ABC. This is the series that became famous for not being on TV, for being boycotted by station owners who thought its language and bedroom scenes were too hot to handle. Only lately has the series been seen on the Hampton Roads ABC affiliate, WVEC.
Thompson said he didn't like ``NYPD Blue'' at first. He called it the new ``Miami Vice.'' Now he's a fan.
``I was converted several shows into last season. It's evolved into a really strong television drama.''
So what do you think about Thompson's poll, dear readers?
The Perry Mason series finished way down in the voting. Isn't it among TV's best ever? Let me know what you think of the Syracuse U. poll by writing to me at 150 W. Brambleton Ave., Norfolk, Va. 23501 or sending a fax to 446-2963.
Is ``Hill Street Blues'' your favorite show ever?
I can't decide between ``Hogan's Heroes'' and ``Happy Days.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
NBC
Michael Conrad, left, and Daniel J. Travanti helped make ``Hill
Street Blues'' the critics' favorite.
by CNB