TReehouse Magazine

In my recent essay on Mad Men, I argued that the show’s first three seasons had established the AMC drama as one of the greatest

programs in the history of television. And that got me thinking: What are the greatest TV shows of all time? I couldn’t resist extending another invitation to contributors and readers to compile their own lists.

While some people think our penchant for lists is overdone, most people I know never tire of them. They’re great conversation starters. But they’re more than that: Considered thoughtfully, they invite us to think critically about our cultural values and sensibilities. With this in mind, we’ve decided to publish monthly lists in TReehouse.

Whenever I get into these exercises, my mind starts reeling. Before you know it, I’ve compiled 40 or 50 possible candidates. Then I have to start setting parameters. In this case, I considered the following.

Should the list be limited to shows that hold up—shows you could watch today with the same enjoyment they once gave you—or should it include programs that once meant a great deal to you but now seem dated? Should each show on the list stand up to some semi-objective criteria—good writing, acting and design—or is it enough that they have touched you personally? (Hey—if you love The Bachelorette, who am I to judge?) And what about categories? Should the list be limited to sitcoms and dramas, or might it include talk shows, variety shows and skit comedy.

Read more: The August List: Top 10 TV Shows of All Time

By Michael Pearson

Mark Twain once remarked that "one must travel to learn."  Between May 13 and May 30, 2011, you'll have your chance to follow his advice by joining me for "Adventure in Travel Writing"—along the Santiago de Compostela Pilgrimage Path in Northern Spain.  The journey, which will start with a 2-day stay in the elegant city of Madrid, with visits to parks, museums, and restaurants, will be a trip into the soul of Spain.  The heart of the trip will be a 9-day hike through the country and villages between Astorga and Santiago de Compostela.  Along the way, students will learn the basics of travel writing and have the opportunity to workshop ideas and drafts of stories.

Read more: Pilgrim's Progress

By Tom Robotham

If I had created a television show that had been hailed—rightfully so—as one of the best in the history of the medium, here’s what I wouldn’t do: I wouldn’t jettison or minimize more than half the cast; I wouldn’t skip a year in the lives of the characters and abandon several fascinating storylines; I wouldn’t erase the souls of the few remaining characters—and I wouldn’t write scripts that suck. At least I’d try my best not to do so.

And yet, this is precisely what Matthew Weiner has done with Mad Men. In fact, I can’t help wondering whether he’s gone mad.

Before I explain myself, let me give you a little background, in case you haven’t seen the show. Mad Men, set in the early 1960s, revolves around a group of advertising executives and their clients, friends and families. Its first three seasons hold up as stellar achievements in televised drama. Indeed, it’s hard to know where to begin when attempting to explain why those first three seasons are so good. If you haven’t seen them, I strongly recommend renting or purchasing them on DVD. Meanwhile, let me see if I can cite a few examples of the show’s brilliance.

Read more: Mad Man

By Tom Robotham

Reports of our demise have been greatly exaggerated. – Paraphrase of a comment attributed to Mark Twain

This morning after I got up and grabbed my walker, I hobbled into my home office and turned on my computer. I don’t really understand these new fangled devices, but with the help of some young friends I’ve managed to master the basics.

You see I am quite old. Last month, I turned 54. I thought about staying home and celebrating my birthday with a glass of lukewarm prune juice, but instead I decided to go to the Taphouse in Ghent. I’m especially fond of that particular tavern because in addition to young people I run into some old fogies like me. Some are over 60! We know that our time is running out, and we figure we might as well enjoy a few beers from time to time while we can; before you know it, after all, we’ll have to resign ourselves to drinking Ensure through straws.

I was reminded of this harsh truth just the other day by an article on AltDaily.com, under the headline, “Youth in Revolt: How the Norfologists Will Inherit the City.”

“It’s an ugly truth,” co-editor Hannah Serrano began, “(although to some, perhaps heartening): the people in power in today’s Norfolk are eventually going to retire and then die.”

Read more: The Best and Brightest