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Guilty Pleasure TV Shows

News
05 January 2016
Looking at five guilty pleasure shows, plus new series The Player.
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We think The Playerย is going to be something of a guilty pleasure TV show for us. What with Strike Back star Philip Winchester and former Expendable Wesley Snipes, we would expect nothing less.

Itโ€™s set in Las Vegas, and follows a risky game of creating complex crimes and betting on the outcome. Thrown into the mix is Alex Kane, a former military operative turned security expert who vows to take down the group from inside, all while getting revenge for his wifeโ€™s death.

Letโ€™s be honest: itโ€™s not a show weโ€™re expecting to win awards or set new standards. Itโ€™s just a healthy dose of entertainment to help you unwind after a long day.

With that in mind, we decided to take a look at a few other โ€œguilty pleasure showsโ€ weโ€™ve enjoyed over the years.

24

With the unique concept of playing the show out in real time, 24 started on a strong note, reaping awards and praise along the way. As it marched towards its seventh and eight seasons, the concept starting wearing thin and really stretched our imaginations. We loved it anyway, and stuck with Jack Bauer like no one else (except perhaps Chloe) could.

CSI: Miami

Two words: Horatio Cane. David Caruso played this entire show with tongue firmly in cheek, and we smirked right along with him. Less serious than its original counterpart in Vegas, the sun-drenched shores of Miami, along with hot crimes and even hotter bodies ensured that we tuned in week after week.

Greyโ€™s Anatomy

While fans may ardently defend its brilliance, thereโ€™s just a bit too much drama to take Greyโ€™s Anatomy too seriously โ€“ especially after twelve seasons. Nevertheless, with one medical melodrama following another, we canโ€™t help loving the thrill of being swept along by its frenetic pace, then being calmly reined in by contemplative characters, before being thrust back into a turmoil of emotion.

Revenge

The title says it all. A show whose premise hinges entirely on this juicy dish best served on your television, Revenge is wicked fun. An opulent location, a conflicted anti-hero and a delectable villain make for great entertainment. The best part? The antagonism between Emily and Victoria. The worst part? After four seasons, the show has been cancelled. Weโ€™re going to miss visiting the Hamptons every week.

Strike Back

Starting on a fairly serious note, the show made an about turn when Richard Armitage left the show due to dwarf duties on The Hobbit. Casting American Philip Winchester as a British sergeant and Aussie Sullivan Stapleton as an American ex-Delta Force operative, the show leaped into an exhilarating swirl of chases, explosions, gunfire and raunchy encounters. The best thrill of them all? The first four seasons made us swell with pride as we continuously spotted Cape Town and Joโ€™burg (often cast as themselves), and lots of local talent.

Share your favourite guilty pleasure TV show on social media and tune into The Player.