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What Are Some Documentaries and TV Shows That You Recommend To Others?

Posted by msmash on from the enjoy-joshtops dept.

Reader joshtops writes: Wow thanks for the overwhelming response on my previous post. I'm taking notes and intend to give all of the suggested books a go in the near future. If I may, and I hope the editors approve of this, could you also list some of your favorite TV shows and documentaries? Also, is there any show or documentary you think that changed or influenced your life, or at least your perception on any particular subject?

11 of 278 comments (clear)

  1. James Burke by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Anything by James Burke:
    - Connections
    - The Day The Universe Changed
    - The Real Thing

  2. The Expanse by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    The Expanse, pretty awesome Sci-Fi series.

  3. The Civl War by Ken Burns by dysmal · · Score: 4, Informative

    It's THE documentary that all documentaries are measured against in the US.

    1. Re:The Civl War by Ken Burns by RandCraw · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Yeah, this is still the best TV I have *ever* seen, documentary or not. Burns' style of combining still photo montage with low key multiple voice narration has spoiled me forever for actor-based recreations. They all seem disingenuous to me now.

  4. PBS - NOVA and Nature by enjar · · Score: 4, Insightful
    I've been watching NOVA on PBS for ages. Their "Intelligent Design on Trial" episode detailing how creationists, er, intelligent design proponents try to push it as science along with the corresponding court case was absolutely fantastic, but generally the episodes are well made, well directed and in depth enough for casual viewers. It's also generally acceptable for watching with kids, too.

    Nature is also in a similar vein as NOVA, although more focused on ... nature. Also good family viewing in many cases.

  5. Triumph of the Nerds by whh3 · · Score: 4, Informative

    I always liked Triumph of the Nerds. Wikipedia

    I know that Robert X. Cringely is not a favorite around here, but the documentary series was really interesting. Great interviews with key players and lots of contemporaneous accounts of companies that were awesome but now no longer exist (e.g., Excite!).

    There are plenty of others that are must see, too, but this is the one that I thought of first!

    Will

    --
    remove nospam. to email!
  6. Louis Theroux by Gussington · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Anything by Louis Theroux

  7. Penn and Teller Bullshit by Gussington · · Score: 4, Informative

    That's the name of the show, it was a series on debunking common myths

  8. Idiocracy by avandesande · · Score: 4, Insightful

    We watch it every couple of years. It's not really a documentary but seem to increasingly resemble one each time we watch it.

    --
    love is just extroverted narcissism
  9. Re:iZombie by Athanasius · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Seconded, it's a fun mix of police procedural, sci-fi/fantasy arc and a wonderful sense of humour.

  10. Century of The Self by l0n3s0m3phr34k · · Score: 4, Informative

    It's a BBC 4-part documentary, about "how those in power have used Freud's theories to try and control the dangerous crowd in an age of mass democracy" and "explores the various ways that governments and corporations have utilized Freud's theories." It's amazingly eye-opening, going into modern PR, how advertising got women to smoke, and includes info about the Lehman Brothers, the Labor Party, the Clintons, use of focus groups...

    Once you see it, you will grok why many politicians are amorphous flip-floppers, how advertisers and politicians are using our basic human nature and base psychology against us. You can catch the whole thing on Youtube.