What is the smartest show on cable television?

[Cant trust em]

I know, it almost sounds like an oxymoron, but there is a little bit of intellect on cable news.

Is it Rachel? Fareed Zakaria's show?

Thoughts?

[Oceansaway]

1. Rachel in a landslide...n/t

[Taverner]

10. Rachel, hands down. And if you're dumb, and paying attention, you will become smart

[annabanana]

2. I vote for Rachel. . . .hands down.

The sharpest nail in the drawer by far.

[cliffordu]

3. Jon Stewart Hands down.

[Uzybone]

8. +1....nothing else is close

[Happy Hippy]

4. ....

Well, to get away from the political commentary, I'd say there are some gems on Discovery, Travel, or even the History Channel.

[annabanana]

9. If those channels ever actually did well researched, academic

programs I'd agree with you.

most of the time it seems to be ghosts and stories from the bible

[Happy Hippy]

27. Fair point.

I am sure there are many shows that are their equivalent of tabloid sensationalism- you have to sell the ads. Personally, I like Pickers, Pawn Stars, How Its Made, Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations, Mayan Civilizations, Shark Week, and all of the various war documentaries - especially WWII in HD. There are some channels in the higher digits here that primarily showcase innovative technology, research, and engineering. CSPAN also has some good book review segments that I try to catch whenever possible.

[Divine Discontent]

5. outside of Rachel - Hell's Kitchen - it's educational goodness at its best, by showing me never

agree to appear on a reality show.

Speaking of reality, outside of Amazing Race, are there any of them worth a darn? I've seen most of them. Don't really like 'em.

But yeah, for smart - Rachel is great, and I like Keith's interviews and detailed special comments. Also that guy on PBS (I think) is really good that interviews folks. Can't think of his name, black guy.

[mstinamotorcity]

17. Would the black guy

have a name like Tavist Smiley

[Divine Discontent]

30. that it would! :)

[Cleita]

21. I kind of like "Project Runway", but then it's an interest in fashion thing.

I don't think it would appeal to everyone.

[kctim]

6. Judging by what is currently offered

I would say Spongebob.

[kimmerspixelated]

15. My daughter would agree!

[dysfunctional press]

7. blue mountain state

:silly:

[Lex]

11. Definitely Fareed Zakaria's show on CNN.

[RKP5637]

12. Rachel n/t

[pokerfan]

13. ~

Daily Show, Colbert, Nova, Nature, Mythbusters, Demetri Martin

[Romulox]

14. Rachel Maddow is the Anti-Matthews! nt

[ThomWV]

16. Rachel

[mstinamotorcity]

18. I have three or four

Lets see theres Rachel Maddow,Fareed Zakaria,Dylan Ratigan,and Keith Olberman.And when it comes to deep ugly stories around the world I like Lisa Ling,Solo dad O Brien,I can't remember the young man who does all the middle east reporting for cnn and msnbc I think his name is Richard Engels.These are some cool people.

[damntexdem]

19. Rachel, followed by Keith.

Of course, I get ALL TV via cable, so I could include all stations -- in that case it's: Rachel, followed by Keith.

;-)

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

20. SouthPark.

[Ildem09]

22. Rachel Maddow nt

[Marr]

23. Glenn Beck.

He's doing an Andy Kaufman thing, I just know it. It's so stupid, it has to be incredibly sophisticated.

[Astrad]

24. Let's Paint,Exercise,& Blend Drinks TV!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvbL_5rH1QQ

[flvegan]

25. Top Gear.

BBCAmerica

[Cleita]

26. On HBO my vote is for "Big Love".

It really covers a lot, religious hypocrisy, polygamous cults, murder, politics, Mormon closet gays. Just recently they had Sissy Spacek playing a Washington lobbyist and what a smarmy, double-crossing snake in the grass she is. They also did a funny schtick with about Bill's fourth wife, whom he was married to for 48 hours when she decided it was too weird for her and she bailed out, but it was long enough for her to get pregnant. Ana is Serbian and she resurfaces with a Serbian fiancee. Wife No. 1 Barb visits her to convince her that Bill's baby belongs to all of wives. The fiancee and Ana have a conversation in Serbian, where Ana tells him that the cult lady wants her to drink the Kool-Aid. The guy says something like what Kool-Aid, that the wife only understands as want Kool-Aid so she's says no thank you completely unaware of what they meant.

Then there was the sad story of the married gay lover of the head of the polygamous sect who is trying to become straight, who hangs himself because he can't accept that he isn't a sinner. But previous to that it shows him going to the church run help groups that are supposed to get the gayness out of him.

[ChicagoSuz219]

28. Rachel's best for national; Zareed's for global. n/t

[NeedleCast]

29. Futurama

No question.

[TheWatcher]

31. Dexter.

Thou Shalt Have No Other Shows Before It. :evilgrin:

[rucky]

32. Cash Cab. n/t