Emmy Ideas: TV Shows to Watch

I was watching the Emmy Awards the other night and realized that I need to get in to a couple of new TV shows instead of relying on Seinfeld reruns.  Although, a few Seinfeld episodes are always good to have on the DVR in case of emergencies.

I have found that I enjoy TV shows much more when I can watch them all in a row.  This creates a problem because shows typically come out over the course of 5 months.  I am left watching shows on Netflix or DVD and either way I am about a year behind.  We also do not have HBO and/or Showtime, which inevitably all the good worthwhile shows are on. 

Regardless of my faults, I noticed on the Emmys that I need to watch a few shows that dominated the awards.  Homeland, which I have heard from many a water cooler conversation is even better than Dexter, was the show that kept winning every award.  I know the new season started last night and that I can watch the episode for free on Showtime and then hopefully find a new best friend by next Sunday so I can hijack their couch but do I venture into a show mid-series like that? 

How is it that the Emmys have found a way to nominate and give awards to shows that people actually enjoy, while the Oscars continually nominates movies like that silly Brad Pitt tree movie thing that everyone who saw it left confused and annoyed.

The shows that were seemingly nominated the most all seem to pass the normal person conversation test.  Where most normal people agree that the show is good and that "oh you don't watch that show, YOU NEED TO START!"

My list of shows that I hope to watch or attempt to get caught up on includes: Downton Abbey, the previously mentioned Homeland, Mad Men, which I have on DVD a loan from my sister, Boardwalk Empire, Game of Thrones, Dexter, which I am currently up to date except for last nights episode, the mini-series Hatfields & McCoys, and the BBC show Sherlock.

If I didn't already watch Modern Family, this would be on the list. I was happy to see those actors win a handful of awards as it continually makes me laugh. I also have started to watch Parks and Rec, which I believe was nominated for an award or two.