8 TV Shows You Need To See Before You Die

yourmothershouldknow26 made THE definitive list of awesome TV shows. Did she forget anything? —Sparkitors

TV has evolved quite a bit over the past 50 or so years; we've gone from the family-friendly shows like Leave It To Beaver or the Brady Bunch to current-day "reality" shows, like American Idol or (shudder) Jersey Shore. But there are certain shows that are timeless, and will always be looked upon fondly. Here's my list of 8 TV shows that will always hold a special place in my heart, no matter old I get.

8. Phil of the Future

Phil of the Future is, by far, my favorite Disney Channel show. It was a little different than most DC shows—maybe that's why I like it so much, and maybe that's why it only lasted two seasons. It was very well-written, with funny jokes that weren't quite as obvious as other kids' sitcoms. I like that it had the odd/random sound effects and didn't have a laugh track. Sometimes when you look back at your favorite shows as a kid, you think, "Did I really watch that?" But when I watch Phil of the Future now, I still find it as entertaining as I did back then.

7. Top Gear

Do you like people with British accents doing absolutely ridiculous things? Of course you do! Sure, this is a car show, but you don't need to be a total gearhead to enjoy it. A majority of the episodes are based around a challenge the three main characters have to complete. These challenges range from finding an SUV that can drive through a Bolivian rainforest to building a boat out of a car to riding bikes across the length of Vietnam. It doesn't matter whether they fail or succeed with the task at hand, they always run into some kind of ridiculous problem, and offer hilarious commentary along the way.

6. Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries

If you love detective shows, guys with fabulous hair, and/or cheesy '70s awesomeness, look no further than this show. I'm sure a lot of us read Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys when we were younger (heck, I still do). The shows tend to stay fairly true to the basic storylines of the books, with a few differences: Ned goes from being a nice guy in the books, to a total dweeb in the first season, then a total hottie in the second season. You never see Bess and George together, and the Hardys don't have steady girlfriends. But this allows Frank to flirt with Nancy and Joe to hit on every female schizophrenic arsonist he meets. The acting may not be the greatest, and the plots are fairly easy to figure out, but if you love ND/HB, this show is a must-watch.

5. Home Improvement

When it comes to '90s family sitcoms, Home Improvement has the rest beat. I always liked Home Improvement because it was easier to relate to. (Not that I have a dad who glues his head to a table  or blows up the toaster every week). But the Taylors always seemed like a real family, who dealt with real issues. Plus the show is hilarious AND still family-friendly. Oh, and three words: Jonathan Taylor Thomas. Need I say more?

4. How I Met Your Mother

This show is awesome in every way. The story is a little quirky compared to most sitcoms (when I first heard about this show, I totally didn't get what it was about). All the characters are uber-likable. Even Barney, the jerky womanizer, has a heart of gold, and you can't help but love him. (It also helps that he's played by Neil Patrick Harris.) Then there's the running gags throughout the show, such as Ted's "Vomit free since '93!" and the Slutty Pumpkin. Awesome.

3. Psych

Psych is probably my favorite show that's still putting out new episodes. Normally, I'm not into the whole crime/detective show thing, because they're too depressing and all the episodes seem the same. But Psych is different; it's more comedy than drama. There isn't one episode that doesn't have more than one laugh-out-loud moment, but the show can still be serious when it needs to be. (See the Yin/Yang trilogy.) Also, it doesn't just stick to the murder/kidnapping/embezzling formula. There's episodes with supposed aliens, vampires, werewolves, and ghosts. Add in Shawn's love for referencing John Hughes movies, and Psych is the most adorkable show on TV. Plus, it's all worth it to see what nickname Shawn has for Gus this week and what he tells Gus not to be.

2. Friends

This is the show I grew up with. Friends will always hold a special place in my heart. It's a really funny show about six mostly single people living in New York. The thing is, they all really care about each other, and you start caring about the characters, too. I mean, who wouldn't want friends like Joey and Chandler living across the hall? It's also very well written, and the jokes stay with you forever. I can stop watching the show for a few months, start watching some random episode, and still remember all the funny parts.

1. Monty Python's Flying Circus

There are two types of people in this world: people who get Monty Python and think it's hysterical and people who don't get it and think it's the stupidest thing ever, and people who haven't heard of it. Ok, three types of people in this world: people who get Monty Python, people who don't get it, and people who haven't heard of it... and I suppose there are some people who just find it kinda funny. So four types of people in this world.... (BTW, anyone who gets the above reference gets virtual hugs and kisses.)

What can I say about Monty Python? It's comedy at its finest. Even if you're one of those people who "don't get it," you still need to see it. Otherwise, you'll be doomed to a lifetime of being the awkward person who doesn't get the hamster/elderberries insults, or "ex-parrot" references. From the Dirty Fork sketch to the Exploding Penguin, Monty Python will always be witty and hilarious.

What are your favorite TV shows?

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