Don't forget Life on Mars (UK). It's short, it's brilliant and it's got Philip Glenister in white loafers. What more can one ask for before shuffling off their mortal coil?

The X-Files

In order to prepare for the afterlife, I'd recommend Six Feet Under. Really, it made me think about the hard choices, like burial or cremation? Viewing or no viewing? That show really made some things seem less scary.

Lost is awesome for sure, however, its presence on the list should be based on when you are expected to die. I mean if you are terminally ill and dying in two months, don't watch. Not that I am sick or anything but the dying before knowing the end of Lost would suck.

Man that annoys me about BSG. I watched it in a marathon after it finished, without having watched it before, and I was starting the third season after the amazing season two finale, and i was thinking, why did it end? it's just getting better...and then halfway through season three I thought, Ooh, I get it...and then season four I was thinking PLEASE JUST END. And it did. And it was one of the worst finales i have seen in my life.

The X-Files and Pushing Daisies for sure! It doesn't get any better.

If I was on my deathbed, I'd totally watch SATC. Then, I could feel cheered up and self-righteous, much like Mindy, before I croaked!

Seriously? It's not like the editors to forget the awesomeness that was Veronica Mars.

Sports Night and Firefly, y'all.

... I don't care if anyone else would watch it or not, but I'd watch every episode of the Golden Girls again.

If I was dying I could use a good laugh, so I would add Arrested Development to the list.

I completely agree with Veronica Mars (even though it didn't really finish) and the Golden Girls.

How can a list of great television exclude Deadwood?

For myself, I'd probably pick the most boring show I could. Maybe Dawson's Creek. That way, even if I only had a week to live, by the end of it, either it will seem like I've lived way longer or I'd be praying for the end to come to stop the suffering.

I agree with a few above with Six Feet Under, especially for this theme of "before you die." It's one of the most realistic (in terms of actual characters), emotional shows that really makes you think. I'm still just on season 4 but I hear the series finale is one of the best there is.

Must see: Babylon 5, which has an especially poignant final episode. In the category of great series with disappointing final seasons, the original UK Coupling. Skip season 4 and it belongs on the list.

I second My So-Called Life (only 13 eps) and Veronica Mars (maybe just season 1 though), as well as Firefly.

Agree about Pushing Daisies and will add The Middleman and Wonderfalls. You can empathize that both thier demise and yours was/will be unfair and too early.

1. 6 Feet Under, 2. Pushing Daisies, 3. X Files, 4. LOST, 5. Dr Who - you just close your eyes as the TARDIS de-materializes one last time.

Why no love for animation?
1. Futurama
2. The Venture Brothers
3. King of the Hill

@JCallejas - I completely agree! All fantastic, escapist shows with a quirky sense of humor. Perfect to take your mind off things...

I completely disagree with your choice of BSG - the BEST show that I have ever seen. The finale was better than anything else on T.V. today even though some of you might not have thought it was that great! Whatever!!!

Veronica Mars, Six Feet Under and My So-Called Life would also be on my list.

Alias, all five crazy seasons, even where the story lines get dull. What a ride.

Watch the first season of Heroes, it was worth it. It was the rest of the series that suffered.

If it were me, I'd do a Bryan Fuller marathon (and they were all cancelled so not a lot of episodes). Most deal with the afterlife and/or a higher power.

If you were to watch Heroes, watch everything but the finale. It goes downhill from there.

I'd also watch Burn Notice, Spaced, and HIMYM for the last time.

you are an idiot. the ending of BSG was unbelievable and all of the information leading up to the end supports the ending. miraculous things happened the whole time and one major thing happened at the end. you were probably just angry with the ending because you wanted them to land on the planet of steak and flowers and happy places!

Also all of heroes stinks. All the good battles go on behind closed doors. That's really entertaining. Hey let's make a show about super powered people and never show any battles.

I have an idea, for the next batman movie every batman attacks the lights should go out because it's easier for him to beat people in the dark and when the light comes back on all the bad guys are tied up. Oh and lets kill Nathan every season...oh wait they did. Oh no a painting about a bad future. we've never seen that before!

I agree, although I disagree with your description of Buffy as 'escapism'. It might've had vampires, demons, witchcraft and seriously eloquent teenagers, but it said more about real life than any other TV series I've ever watched.

The BSG ending was was so bad, it poisoned the entire series, backwards in time. Every episode had to be re-evaluated in light of the grand suckage of a literal interpretation of deux ex machina.

For those that don't think Buffy has the depth, watch it again. And again. There's a reason they teach college courses on this show. Not to mention that its story is continuing in the Dark Horse comic.

It's very rare for me to agree with all the choices in one of these lists, but this one hit 100%.

Egregious oversights, not to include The Wire and Veronica Mars.

c'mon, not one It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia? best ever, hands down.

If I had 6 months, I'd go out with the DVDs of:
1. Pushing Daisies(just plain fun)
2. Dr. Who (the David Tennant series)
3. Babylon 5 (great SF and I loved the series finale - get me in the right state of mind)
4. Battlestar Galactica (reimagining) (the best SF series ever broadcast; bleak but worth it. And I liked the ending.
5. Avatar: The Last Airbender (kid's series on Nickelodeon, but I saw a few eps and got hooked. Great American anime!)
6. Starblazers, seasons 1 & 2 (the anime that introduced many American teens to Anime...with one of the best theme songs ever!!)
7. All 10 years of Stargate: SG1 (a long haul, but worth it.)
8. Buffy, the Vampire Slayer (everyone needs a guilty pleasure...and it's got smart writing.)
9. Angel (Same thing)
10. Titus (a show so politically incorrect it made All in the Family look like safe TV)
11. Yeah, an odd number, but I had to end with South Park. (Hopefully, I'd get the latest season before checking out.)

firefly, veronica mars, definitely buffy, and eureka.

I agree that laughter is the best way - Cheers (the ones with Coach and Diane are best), Sanford and Son, All in the family (you just cannot say that stuff on tv with every group protesting), and the episode of family ties called "my name is alex" where he talks to a shrink about the death of his friend - one of the greatest episodes of television of all time.

Highway to hell, stairway to heaven, or dirt food it'd have to be Farscape, followed by Buffy, Angel, South Park and just to make life seem really long and in need of ending... Dawson's Creek.

The Gilmore Girls
Minder

Six Feet Under, sure, but I'd suggest skipping the episode where David is tortured if your time is drawing near. Yikes. I close my eyes today and I still see that guy. Probably the most wrenching hour of scripted tv I've ever watched.

Homefront's 42 episodes are perfection, so there's that. I'm also surprised no one has mentioned Everwood. A great, life affirming show that dealt with life and death in such a humane way, especially the first two seasons. The Wire, too; both shows in their own way ultimately argued that life was worth the hard work, and that's a good thought to keep.

Also the comedies, too many to mention, but I'll be the first (I think) to add the wonderful 14 episodes of the one, the only Spaced.

The original BBC Life On Mars absolutely, although you'd still need a region-free player to watch series 2 on DVD. But, if you haven't got much time left to spend it, not a bad investment for your final days.

You forgot to mention another awesome British show called "Skins". I only recommend Season 1 and 2 though. Season 3 doesn't do a thing for me. Also True Blood should've gotten a mention.

What a crap list. BSG and Sopranos should not be watched because of their unsatisfying final episodes? What the hell? But you're going to subject people to the last 2 seasons on Buffy, which were just painful to sit through? And let's hold off judgment on Lost till AFTER we see if it's final ep is satisfying or not.

I would have to watch Are You Being Served?, no matter how many times I watch them I still laugh.
Also Dr. Who, Fawlty Towers, Pushing Daisies.

I would watch Carl Sagan's Cosmos once more. A great way to appreciate the world we live in before we have to say goodbye. Also, I would watch every episode of Monty Pythons Flying Circus. Always look on the bright side of death... Apart from that, I agree with the recommendations of Buffy, Angel, B5 and Firefly and share the hate for the ridiculous BSG finale. And I'd like to add The Prisoner and Nowhere Man to the recommendations.

FARSCAPE! And Arrested Development and Dead Like Me (for practice). And maybe HIMYM, depending on how the rest of that series goes.

A big yes to Veronica Mars (and not even just for entertainment value). Though it did have its low moments, VM had a well-woven, smart, satisfying run-- with the exception of its lack of closure.

Battlestar Galactica was superb from beginning to end, if only because it was ended on the creative teams terms. "We went out on our terms" it makes perfect sense for this list. Doesn't matter if you liked it or not.

How could you skip season 2? Love Ziggy and Frank. But to add a few more:

Generation Kill
Firefly
Deadwood
Damages
Sons of Anarchy
and Summer Heights High

Arrested Development should be on this list.

Whoops, Jenn, 'twas Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell in Quantum Leap. Still a great show.

And after reading the other suggestions, I have to add to my original list:

Red Dwarf
Arrested Development
The Avengers
Jonathan Creek

And how about Barney Miller and the old Bob Newhart show?

I'd add the three seasons of "Friday Night Lights" as a must-watch before you die. In fact, if Tim Riggins' gorgeous face and body is the last thing I see on this earth, I'd be a happy camper.

And I second all of the votes for "Firefly".

Surprised to see anyone knocking BSG as a whole because of the way the series ended. I don't recall hearing anything bad about the series as a whole while it was still airing?

The ending was fine, especially given what came before it. Im not sure what kind of ending would satisfy some people. The only problem was with the coda, and I just pretend that bit doesn't exist.

My picks re: topic are Farscape and The Wire. Two of the absolute best. First couple seasons of Rescue Me.

How can you not mention Pushing Daisies?! It's like my ultimate mood lifter, I watch it when I'm down and without fail it picks me right up.

Same with Wonderfalls. And they're both very short series (poor Bryan Fuller...) so you're more than likely to finish it.

Doctor Who is just plain fun! Adventures through time and space!

I like your shows to watch list but I have to disagree with your don't watch list, mainly Sex and the City. I mean, when death is near, I think something fun and vapid is quite preferable. And it's a fantasy too! No way can a journalist afford all those fabulous things!

Lo, O/T but RE: American Dreams--I heard there's talk between Jonathan Prince (exec producer) and Universal for all three seasons released on DVD (as in, together and with the alternate, in-the-future ending we never got to see [eight minutes that should've at least been a two-hour TV movie, but whatevs]) and a syndication deal. The fan club website, in conjunction with Prince, was requesting emails for him to forward to Universal saying that we want the dvds and how much we loved the show/what it meant to us, and so on, so you might want to look into it. In the meantime, if you don't have seasons 2 and 3 at all, you can always buy the bootlegs or download them online. I had most of season 3 on VHS but none of season 2 until I got them from some place in Canada. It's not the best method, of course, but it allows me to have my bi-annual American Dreams marathons which cleanses my psyche after all the crime shows and depressing stuff on tv.

How did get Grey's Anatomy on the Not-watch list? Just skip the Gizzie episodes and you'll have an awesome time. And even if you don't find it to be quality television, McDreamy will be the last thing you see!

WONDERFALLS!!

And I second or third Veronica Mars.

Firefly!

Also Friends and Gilmore Girls -- but only the first five seasons of GG.

Jenn, thanks: I just recently came across the news that Prince was assembling seasons 2/3 dvd set. Fingers crossed. As it was, it lacked some closure, so you'd definitely want the never-aired epilogue if you're watching under the circumstances we're talking about.

Paul, for me what's so great about Spaced and why it'd be probably make my shortlist, is not only is it hilarious but also the friendship between Daisy, Tim, Mike, Marsha, and, yes, even Twist (and Colin) that makes it appropriate for discussion.

If we're talking about comfort before you go, Cheers/Frasier/Wings fit the bill for me. I find them very "homey." While I LOVE Seinfeld, it's just too misanthropic for the end of days.

And I never got why people are so down on s2 of The Wire. All The Pieces Matter! Not only is Frank Sobotka awesome, but it introduces the Greek and Beatie to the mix. The Barksdale stuff may be more background, but there's still movement on that storyline.

Veronica Mars - the first 2 seasons must go together.

Smallville (the 4th season; the 'worst' year is a great guilty pleasure)

Pushing Daisies and Buffy, of course, and Psych...yes, the little known James Roday show is hilarious and I'd want that to be the show I watch.

It never got any love from TWOP, but Boston Legal is the only show that I own every season of on DVD. I loved it from beginning until it's amazing final season, and would totally watch it on my deathbed.

I'm happy to see some awesome shows in the watch category (Buffy and the West Wing are amazing), but I have to say that while you were trying to not be biased by placing to Aaron Sorkin shows on the list, but Sports Night deserved to be on it. And, I can't believe Friday Night Lights and Veronica Mars weren't up there. Or any of Bryan Fuller's masterpieces. Now my only real problem is that you said not to watch BSG. And while it might be bleak, and while the finale pissed me off for a few reasons (mostly lee/kara related) the show is definitely one that needs to be seen before you die. I don't care why you think its not so. Because it's just THAT good. And to think you put it in the same category as HEROES, GREY'S and SEX AND THE CITY? You should be ASHAMED.

Whoops, almost forgot Buffy, Angel and Veronica Mars!

There's no [frakking] way you can put Lost on there before it's conclusion (which could easily be unfulfilling and contrived and is certainly not *guranteed* to be great) and still bag on BSG. I get it. your whole website hated the ending. Get OVER IT. It's still one of the best series ever on television. To put it in the company of the completely-off-the-rails Heroes is just plain wrong!

Supernatural. And make sure you get salted and burnt once you're dead.

All of star trek (or if you only have time for one series, then The Next Generation, or Voyager, skip Deep Space Nine and Enterprise if you're short on time)
Dead Like Me
Buffy
Angel
Firefly
True Blood
Dollhouse
Heroes
Supernatural
Saving Grace
Six Feet Under (watch the torture scene, the show's not complete without it, even if it is disturbingly graphic)
Battlestar Galactica (you could never find a better show for... existential contemplation, PLUS killer robots in hot chicks' bodies)
Dr Who (the new ones - personally loved Eccleston Doc, Tenant was okay)

And that's all i can think of from mine for the mo...

p.s. avoid the Dead Like Me movie... you may die wondering what happened to them all in the end, but the movie's not worth knowing... i promise you...