Top 3 "Gotta Watch" Television Series

This is how bad summer television is. I am seriously considering watching “American Ninja Warrior”, a show that a fellow at a barbeque this weekend was raving about. He is 29, not 39; a sports trainer, not an English professor and into martial arts, not Mod Podge. Clearly, there are differences between us that may influence our viewing tastes. Why -- even for a minute -- would I think I would like “American Ninja Warrior” (ANW)? Because network television is so bad right now.

I got over my fascination with ANW without having watched even one. Because ANW guy’s fiancé confided that it is truly a boring show, even for her. And when she watches it, she sits next to her fiancé on the couch. A fiancé who -- did I mention -- is a trainer. This likely means he is very good at massages, and so she probably gets a foot massage out of the whole deal too.

Were I to watch this show, I would have no such luck. My guy wouldn’t even be sitting next to me on the couch. He would be sprawled on the floor in front of it, practicing the moves with our daughters.

Nothing about this scenario says good escapist entertainment. Instead, it pretty much screams tears, rug burn and band aids. But here’s a scenario that does promise to transport us to another dimension, one filled with good hair, witty banter and frothy plot twists.

Rent or buy some television series. These are the top 3 I’d recommend. They’re all off-the-beaten-path, and they’re all fantastic.

Greek – Hijinks at a fictional college where sororities and fraternities rule. The writing is funny and fresh. Don’t let the fact that it aired on “ABC Family” deter you. Don’t let the fact that you’re, oh, 20 years out of college yourself deter you. It’s a really good show. It got cancelled just before its final season, and there were tears shed at our house. That’s how much we loved it.  

Sports Night – Hijinks at a fictional, ESPN-ish sports show. Great banter between the two sports anchors. Sizzling sexual tension between Anchor #1 and his producer, the lovely Felicity Huffman. And a chance to see Josh Charles, who plays Anchor #2, when he was young and even hotter than he is now, living it up over at “The Good Wife”.

Rubicon – Government conspiracy theory television at its finest. No hijinks here. Lots of “I’m going dark”/“I’m off the grid” type dialogue. Kind of like at our house when it’s my turn to watch “Entertainment Tonight”, and it’s my guy’s turn to oversee the chaos, I mean, bedtime routine.

Rent any or all of the above on Netflix. Buy them on amazon. (Available on amazon by the episode or entire series.)And if you hate them, remember there’s always “American Ninja Warrior”.