introducing my dad to pop culture - TV

[Vehn]

OK I hang out with my dad a couple times a month. He's 63, and basically he knows nothing about pop culture past say 1975, and thinks most of it is total garbage. I tried with music but he just couldn't get the stuff I was giving him, which is OK, whatever. Now I want to try with TV - he of course thinks anything on TV now is junk (and he obv doesn't own a TV but can watch stuff on his PC). I am thinking of good things to give him made in the past 10-15 years. I put together a CD and am thinking about the next one. The stuff I give him has to be <u>accessible</u>, stuff that you could get the premise of easily on the first viewing.

First CD is:

2 Simpsons episodes, I randomly grabbed S6 so put my two favorites from there in it, the stonecutter's episode and the SLH-has-25-puppies episode.

The Office - The Client (michael/jan/tim meadows in chilis, jim/pam "date") episode, this is probably my favorite episode of the show and I figured it was a decent introduction to it also. Definitely better than giving him the crappy pilot.

Lost - Pilot.

Only thing I have lined up for next one is Sopranos pilot. Any thoughts?

[Cry Me A River]

There's a lot of really obvious answers (The Wire, The Shield, Deadwood, Rome, Veronica Mars, Six Feet Under, Dexter) but really, what does your dad like? Depending on his tatstes, you could also go with stuff like House, Heroes, Boston Legal, My Name is Earl, Masters of Horror, The Closer, Penn &amp; Teller's [censored], Numb3rs.

You know your dad, we don't...

[TIEdup14]

House is probably a good choice

P&amp;T BS

[Vehn]

He is a very conservative straight laced guy. We had a "movie swap" and his choice was his favorite movie.. High Noon. House I considered but don't think he would like it, I think he would just think the protagonist is a jerk (which is right of course). He def. wouldn't like vulgar stuff like P&amp;T. Heroes might be a good choice. Rome/Deadwood too but I haven't seen either yet.

[Kimbell175113]

The West Wing

I'd suggest "In Excelsis Deo" from the first season.

EDIT: spelling, and more typing:

Seriously, if he doesn't love that episode, something is wrong. Also, "A Proportional Response" from the same season, maybe.

[death_blooms]

My dad is somewhat similar and he really enjoys Boston Legal. Id recommend showing him that.

[Vehn]

[ QUOTE ]
The West Wing

I'd suggest "In Excelsis Deo" from the first season.

EDIT: spelling, and more typing:

Seriously, if he doesn't love that episode, something is wrong. Also, "A Proportional Response" from the same season, maybe.

[/ QUOTE ]

I haven't really seen it but would a conservative like it? He's not die hard but..

[ QUOTE ]

My dad is somewhat similar and he really enjoys Boston Legal. Id recommend showing him that.

[/ QUOTE ]

Got an episode? I've seen maybe 1-2 and thought it was pretty mindless spader/shatner mugging though.

[Kimbell175113]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The West Wing

I'd suggest "In Excelsis Deo" from the first season.

EDIT: spelling, and more typing:

Seriously, if he doesn't love that episode, something is wrong. Also, "A Proportional Response" from the same season, maybe.

[/ QUOTE ]

I haven't really seen it but would a conservative like it? He's not die hard but..

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, I tried to take that into account when choosing the episodes. The show gets pretty liberal every once in a while, but not so much in the first season. Anyway, "In Excelsis Deo" is sort of a feel-good Christmas episode (while still being very sharply written, and it still includes pills and a prostitute, and now that I think about it, maybe you should watch the thing first...) and it's nearly impossible to dislike.

I'll try to think of a perfect episode, but that one was my first thought because it was their first Emmy winner and is usually talked of as one of the series best. Hmm.

EDIT SOME MORE: He would love "A Proportional Response"

[Dominic]

Do we even no if Vehn actually has a father? He's obviously making this up.

[kordothebear]

have him meet george and kramer