1. The Documentary Show
HBO has long been at the forefront for documentary shows on tv and this past year was no different. We've also recently been treated to short run series such as Planet Earth and Life. Technology has now afforded us the opportunity to get to know our planet and the life therein better than ever before and it's with great pleasure that there's actually television to support that. Discovery and the National Geographic channel are usually great opportunities to catch something worthwhile but the Travel Channel has really upped the ante. I want to focus on Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations. I know it's off the air and he's currently on CNN doing, Parts Unknown but in many ways it's the same show and No Reservations has the backlog of episodes to support a true analysis. First, let's get out of the way that a documentary show and reality show are different entities. Documentary shows attempt to teach you something and are almost never looking to exploit its subject. With that out of the way I urge all of you to again, hop on Netflix and catch up with Bourdain's take on the world around him. You will visit parts of the world you rarely thought about and will leave with a better understanding of its people and culture. This is a series I simply cannot recommend enough. If you've seen all of it then turn on CNN and watch Parts Unknown. Knowing that shows of this ilk are available if you look hard enough puts a smile on my face. Learning can be entertaining too! Who knew? Click "next" below to read six reasons why TV is ultimately doomed...