Looking for a good online TV guide

January 27, 2013 6:00 PM

As of not very long ago we have an expensive cable TV subscription and a little time to watch it, but no patience for lowest-common-denominator entertainment (we're in the US). Is there a website or even blog that can give us the lowdown on the week's and day's programming that is worth watching? We're interested in smart, thought-provoking documentaries, news-programmes and critically acclaimed movies/TV shows, especially independent and foreign ones.
posted by Dragonness to media & arts (5 answers total)

I like the A.V. Club's T.V. reviews -- they only review shows they think are worth watching and it's a pretty high bar. They also have their top pick for what to watch each day, followed by a short list of what else they think is worth watching.
posted by Margalo Epps at 6:51 PM on January 27

I've found my subscription to the print magazine Entertainment Weekly to be incredibly helpful. Easy to flip through and quickly get a good idea of what everyone's talking about and why. Who knows, maybe a magazine would work... you could take it with you and read while waiting in line somewhere, eating your lunch, or whatever?
posted by belau at 6:52 PM on January 27

I think that you might find Television Without Mercy a friend for finding series to bother watching.

I disagree with some of their writers, but it's fairly fair.
posted by porpoise at 7:25 PM on January 27

Only a little time to watch TV and a desire to watch only quality stuff sounds like you are looking for a Netflix subscription, not cable. Instantwatcher will let you sort available programming by RottenTomatoes rating, genre, etc.
posted by escabeche at 7:55 PM on January 27

Thanks, everyone. I've decided cable is just not worth it after all.
posted by Dragonness at 12:15 PM on February 27