Hey folks! Its me, Sax Carr, that loud and boisterous co-host of Crave Online’s television podcast The Idiot Box. Now I’ve got a list for you of some of the smartest shows on air today and boy is it a great collection of series for your viewing pleasure.
But what is “smart TV" you may ask?
Well, it's not just “book learning” that’s for sure. Smart TV is not just about facts and figures, but instead about something more. The smartest shows combine original concepts, with perfect execution and they teach lessons in all disciplines from math to humanity. Don’t confuse these shows for drippy documentaries either. Even comedies can be smart.
Hear that comedy? One day you could grow up to be a Dramedy! Of course, we are also look for examples of good television. You can’t be smart if you don’t take television to a new and better place. It’s a combination of a lot of things!
So the formula is as follows:
Innovation + Implementation (casting, shooting, writing) x the number of consistent seasons + bonuses for heady content and depth.
Make sense? Probably not. But lets dive into the list and see if you can’t follow me:
10: HOUSE:
I’m starting off the list with what is probably going to be one of the more hotly contested entries. "House" has been much maligned of late for being formulaic, and that’s a serious charge. I would say that the "House" detractors are missing the point. "House’s" big claim of innovation was that it created a “medical detective” show. They blended 1 part "ER" and 2 parts Sherlock Holmes. (House, Holmes… OH!) But that’s not where it stops. The character dynamics on "House" represent a push forward in how we look at interactions, status and growth over time. That’s where people get this show wrong.
Sure, every episode appears the same on the surface. Somebody gets sick, then the team thinks that they cured them, but they don’t, and this goes on until the very end when somebody figures it out just at the last second (or after it). But those are just the mechanics of how the show works. You don’t begrudge a crime drama because every episode focuses on a crime. Nor would you begrudge all of your family car trips for all involving your car.
"House" uses the comfortable trappings of the medical mystery to investigate not only medicine (an area where it pulls no punches), but also the doctors themselves. In a world of life and death and one big titular jerk, it shows us how they grow and change.
Speaking of change, this show consistently changes the game to reflect the passage of time. New team members and new dynamics. House evolves with his show, from drug user to recovery and back again. His understanding of himself and his teammates (as well as everyone else in his life) has changed too.
Keeping it fresh is the key to "House’s" smart side just as much as medical jargon or challenging cases. "House" is a show about solving the tough cases by making tough choices, and it makes the show smart. Very smart.
Almost as smart as House himself.
