Favorite Shows of All Time!!

1. The Wire, HBO, 2002-2008, 5 seasons
2. Freaks and Geeks, NBC, 1999-2000
3. The Sopranos, HBO, 1999-2007, 6 seasons
4. Twin Peaks, ABC, 1990-1991, 2 seasons
5. My So-Called Life, ABC, 1994-1995
6. Mad Men, AMC, 2007-2015, 7 seasons
7. Seinfeld, NBC, 1989-1998, 9 seasons
8. Breaking Bad, AMC, 2008-2013, 5 seasons

9. Succession, HBO, 2018-2023, 4 seasons
10. Friday Night Lights, NBC, 2006-2011, 5 seasons
11. Deadwood, HBO, 2004-2006, 3 seasons

12. Patriot, Amazon, 2017-2018, 2 seasons 

13. Veep, HBO, 2013-2019, 7 seasons
14. Cheers, NBC, 1982-1993, 11 sesons

15. Better Call Saul, AMC, 2015-2022, 6 seasons

16. The Simpsons, FOX, 1989-1998, seasons 1-9 only

17. Utopia, Channel 4, 2013-2014, 2 seasons

18. Lost, ABC, 2004-2010, 6 seasons

19. Moonlighting, ABC, 1985-1989, 5 seasons

20. Sherwood, BBC, 2022-2024, 2 seasons
21. The Americans, FX, 2013-2018, 6 seasons

22. Reservation Dogs, FX/Hulu, 2021-2023, 3 seasons

23. The Office, BBC Two, 2001-2003, 2 seasons
24. Parks and Recreation, NBC, 2009-2015, 7 seasons
25. The Great, Hulu, 2020-2023, 3 seasons

26. Curb Your Enthusiasm, HBO, 2000-2021, 11 seasons

27. The Office, NBC, 2005-2013, 9 seasons

28. Shrinking, Apple, 2023-2026, 3 seasons

29. Better Things, FX, 2016-2022, 5 seasons

30. Perpetual Grace, Ltd., Epix, 2019

31. Fleabag, BBC Three, 2016-2019, 2 seasons

32. Louie, FX, 2010-2015, 5 seasons

33. Homicide: Life on the Street, 1993-1995, seasons 1-3 only 

34. Rectify, Sundance, 2013-2016, 4 seasons

35. NewsRadio, NBC, 1995-1999, 5 seasons
36. Undeclared, FOX, 2001-2002

37. Broad City, Comedy Central, 2014-2019, 5 seasons

38. Derry Girls, Channel 4 (UK), 2018-2022, 3 seasons

39. Bunheads, ABC Family, 2012-2013

40. Barry, HBO, 2018-2023, 4 seasons 

41. The Larry Sanders Show, HBO, 1992-1998, 6 seasons

42. The Cosby Show, NBC, 1984-1992, 8 seasons

43. Flight of the Conchords, HBO, 2007-2009, 2 seasons

44. Arrested Development, FOX, 2003-2006, 3 seasons

45. Once & Again, ABC, 1999-2002, 3 seasons
46. The Wonder Years, ABC, 1988-1993, 6 seasons
47. Skins, E4 (UK), 2007-2008, Seasons 1-2 only
48. Sex Education, Netflix, 2019-2023, 4 seasons

49. Detectorists, BBC Four, 2014-2017, 3 seasons

50. Please Like Me, ABC2/ABC (Australia), 2013-2016, 4 seasons

51. Long Story Short, Netflix, 2025

52. Square Pegs, CBS, 1982-83
53. Bored to Death, HBO, 2009-2011, 3 seasons

54. Normal People, BBC Three, 2020

55. The End of the F***ing World, Channel 4, 2017, season 1 only

56. Teenage Bounty Hunters, Netflix, 2020

57. The Rehearsal, HBO, 2022-2025, 2 seasons

58. The IT Crowd, Channel 4, 2006-2010, 4 seasons

59. True Detective, HBO, 2014, season 1 only

60. Party Down, Starz, 2009-2010/2023, 3 seasons

61. Mare of Easttown, HBO, 2021

62. The Corner, HBO, 2000

63. Dying for Sex, FX/Hulu, 2025

64. Such Brave Girls, BBC Three, 2023-2025. 2 seasons

65. The Underground Railroad, Amazon, 2021

66. Master of None, Netflix, 2015-2017, seasons 1 & 2 only

67. Bad Sisters, Apple, 2022-2024, 2 seasons

68. The Lowdown, FX, 2025

69. Brooklyn Bridge, CBS, 1991-93, 2 seasons

70. Severance, Apple, 2022-2025, 2 seasons

71. This Country, BBC Three, 2017-2020, 3 seasons

72. The Mindy Project, FOX/Hulu, 2012-2017, 6 seasons

73. Schitt's Creek, CBC (Canada), 2015-2020, 6 seasons
74. Somebody, Somewhere, HBO, 2022-2024, 3 seasons

75. Siblings, BBC Three, 2014-2016, 2 seasons 

76. Ludwig, BBC One, 2024

77. The White Lotus, HBO, 2021-22, seasons 1 & 2 only

78. Deadloch, Amazon, 2023

79. Trying, Apple, 2020-2024, 4 seasons

80. Horace and Pete, Hulu, 2016

81. The Good Place, NBC, 2016-2020, 4 seasons

82. Yellowjackets, Showtime, 2021-2022, season 1 only
83. Terriers, FX, 2010
84. Entourage, HBO, 2004-2011, 8 seasons
85. The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman, IFC, 2006-2007, 2 seasons
86. One Mississippi, Amazon, 2015-17, 2 seasons

87. True Blood, HBO, 2008, season 1 only

88. Colin From Accounts, Binge (Australia), 2022-2024, 2 seasons

89. The Mighty Boosh, BBC Three, 2004-2007, 3 seasons
90. King of the Hill, FOX, 1997-2010, 13 seasons

91. Everything's Gonna Be Okay, Hulu, 2020-2021, 2 seasons

92. Girls, HBO, 2012-2017, 6 seasons

93. Margo's Got Money Troubles, Apple, 2026
94. Six Feet Under, HBO, 2001-2005, 5 seasons
95. Enlightened, HBO, 2011-2013, 2 seasons

96. Looking For Alaska, Hulu, 2019

97. Fleishman is in Trouble, FX/Hulu, 2022

98. Happy Endings, ABC, 2011-2013, 3 seasons
99. The Jinx, HBO, 2015
100. Love, Netflix, 2016-2018, 3 seasons

101. Nathan For You, Comedy Central, 2013-2017, 4 seasons

102. The Pursuit of Love, BBC One, 2021

103. Task, HBO, 2025

104. Ted Lasso, Apple, 2020-23, 3 seasons

105. DTF St. Louis, HBO, 2026

106. First Day, ABC Me (Australia), 2020-2022, 2 seasons

107. Never Have I Ever, Netflix, 2020-2023, 4 seasons

108. What We Do in the Shadows, FX, 2019-2023, seasons 1-5 only

109. High School, Amazon, 2023

110. Back, Channel 4, 2017-2021, 2 seasons
111. American High, PBS, 2001
112. Catastrophe, Channel 4, 2015-2019, 4 seasons

113. Hung, HBO, 2009-2011, 3 seasons

114. Starstruck, BBC, 2021-2022, seasons 1-2 only

115. Legit, FX, 2013-2014, 2 seasons

116. Station Eleven, HBO Max, 2021-2022

117. A Man on the Inside, Netflix, 2024

118. Only Murders in the Building, Hulu, 2021-2022, seasons 1-2 only

119. Bupkis, Peacock, 2023

120. Killing It, Peacock, 2022-2023, 2 seasons

121. St. Denis Medical, NBC, 2024-2026, 2 seasons 

122. The Sex Lives of College Girls, Max, 2021-2025, 3 seasons

123. Family Tree, HBO, 2013

124. Summer Heights High, ABC (Australia), 2007

125. Don't Forget the Driver, BBC Two, 2019

126. The Family, Netflix, 2019

127. Better Off Ted, ABC, 2009-2010, 2 seasons

128. Almost Fly, Warner TV Serie (Germany), 2022

129. Platonic, Apple, 2023-2025, 2 seasons

130. Rooster, HBO, 2026

131. The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins, NBC, 2026

132 English Teacher, FX/Hulu, 2024, season 1 only

133. Spaced, Channel 4, 1999-2001, 2 seasons

134. Happily Never After, RUV (Iceland), 2019
135. Friends, NBC, 1994-2004, 10 seasons

136. Vladimir, Netflix, 2026

137. Who is America?, Showtime, 2018

138. Bad Education, BBC Three, 2012-2014, 3 seasons

139. The Dropout, Hulu, 2022

140. The Serpent, BBC, 2021

141. Welcome to Flatch, FOX, 2022-2023, 2 seasons

142. Stath Lets Flats, Channel 4 (UK), 2018-2022, 3 seasons

143. Married, FX, 2014-2015, 2 seasons

144. Bent, NBC, 2012

145. The Story of Late Night, CNN, 2021

146. The History of the Sitcom, CNN, 2021

148. The History of Comedy, CNN, 2017-2018, 2 seasons

149. The Paper, Peacock, 2025

150. Forever, Amazon, 2018

151. Mulaney, FOX, 2014-2015

Currently Watching:

30 Rock, season 1

Cougar Town, season 1

M*A*S*H, season 2

Abbott Elementary, season 2

Cheers, season 3

Mary Tyler Moore, season 6

Partially Completed But Would Like to Finish Some Day:
Kimmy Schmidt, Netflix, 1 of 4 seasons
Fargo, FX, 2 of 4 seasons
Baskets, FX, 1 of 4 seasons
Casual, Hulu, 2 of 4 seasons
Silicon Valley, HBO, 2 of 5 seasons
Lodge 49, AMC, 1 of 2 seasons

Happy Valley, BBC One, 1 of 3 seasons

Extras, BBC Two, 1 of 2 seasons

Letterkenny, Crave, 1 of 9 seasons

Oz, HBO, 1 of 6 seasons

PEN15, Hulu, 2 of 3 seasons

Hacks, HBO Max, 1 of 3 seasons

Rutherford Falls, Peacock, 1 of 2 seasons

Starstruck, HBO, 2 of 3 seasons

Only Murders in the Building, Hulu, 2 of 4 seasons

Yellowjackets, Showtime, 1 of 3 seasons

Episodes Watched Non-Sequentially/Sporadically and Would Need to Re-Watch to Properly Rank: The Twilight Zone, The A-Team, Magnum P.I., C.H.I.P.s, The Dukes of Hazard, Miami Vice, Family Ties, Night Court, Gilmore Girls, Malcolm in the Middle, Community, 30 Rock, Modern Family, Roseanne, Taxi, South Park, New Girl, Ed, Frasier, My Name is Earl.

Abandoned: You, Weeds, Transparent, Big Love, How to Make it in America, The Affair, Stranger Things, A.P Bio, Teachers (TV Land), Orange is the New Black, Veronica Mars, Togetherness, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, You're The Worst, Eastbound & Down.

Watchlist: The Leftovers, Hannibal, Sports Night,  Halt & Catch Fire, The Deuce, Atlanta, Treme, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The West Wing, Russian Doll, The Queen's Gambit, The Bear, Toast of London (BritBox), Teachers (Channel 4/Amazon), Beef, Remember WENN, Bob's Burgers, BoJack Horseman, The Shield, The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd, Frank's Place, Shogun (FX), Review with Myles Barlow (Australia), Black Sands (Iceland).

Variety/Talk/Music Favorites: Saturday Night Live, Late Night with David Letterman, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Austin City Limits, Soundstage, Jeopardy! (Alex Trebek), 120 Minutes, At the Movies (Siskel & Ebert).

World Religions Map

Follow this Link. Zoom in with '+' and '-' icons. Toggle between religions by clicking on 'MENU' in upper right corner.

Source: PBS

College Mascot Family Tree

Click this Link. Left-click image to zoom in. Use scroll-bars at bottom and right of image to move across the chart.

Source: Deadspin

The Gambia

President Barrow, left, was seen off at Dakar airport by President Sall of Senegal (Getty Images)

You can read about Presdent Adama Barrow's return to The Gambia and see footage of his arrival on this BBC News page.

The Economist Intelligence Unit's Democracy Index

The Economist magazine from the United Kingdom updated their Democracy Index of the world's governments. Follow this link to visit their interactive map.

Latitude and Longitude

Here is a video to help you understand Latitude & Longitude:

MLS Cup!!

Sounders advance to MLS Cup, defeating Colorado Rapids 1-0!

Nico Lodeiro

Roman and Herculez

Coach Schmetzer

Jordan Morris' Winning Goal

Photo credits: Major League Soccer, Major League Soccer, Sounders FC, Sounders FC, Major League Soccer, Q13FOX, MLS Watercolors, Joe Towner

Surabhi Mundada: Science Hero!!

Surabhi Mundada is a senior at Olympia High School and a NOVA graduate. In this video she discusses her MyHealth and MyGlove project. Surabhi has devoted over 100 hours per month over the past year working on this project. So very impressive, Surabhi!

Leonard Cohen 1934-2016

Leonard Cohen, a truly great poet and musician, passed away today at the age of 82. He wrote many, many great songs, and I've posted a few favorites below. If you're intrigued I'd encourage you to explore YouTube; there are so many Leonard Cohen gems. Cohen's most recent album, You Want It Darker, was released just three weeks ago. The song below, "It Seemed a Better Way," is from this album. Leonard Cohen will be missed.

Battleground Map

Mr. Gacek created this map using the website 270toWin.com. Click on the map below to create your prognostication for the 2016 United States Presidential Election.

Click the map to create your own at 270toWin.com

Chicago Cast of Hamilton Sings "Go Cubs Go!"

It has come to my attention that some members of the sixth grade class are fans of the musical "Hamilton." I thought you might enjoy this rendition of the Chicago Cubs' theme song "Go Cubs Go!" as sung by the Chicago cast. Enjoy!

Dia de los Muertos 2016

Sounders 'Til I Die

Happy Halloween 2016!!

To see this year's eighth graders as sixth graders on Halloween click here.

Gerrymandering Explained

The Washington Post's Christopher Ingraham wrote an excellent article about gerrymandering and how it will affect the 435 elections for the House of Representatives on November 8. Watch the video first and then read the article here.

The Hip-Hop Story of Henrietta Lacks

"The Immortal Rap of Henrietta Lacks" was written and produced by eighth grade students from KIPP Bridge Charter School in Oakland, California. To learn the background of Henrietta Lacks and the production of the video, read this article from PBS. If you want to read the full story of Henrietta Lacks, please read the book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot.

Senator Al Franken drawing map of United States from memory

Senator Al Franken from Minnesota has gained some renown for his ability to draw the United States quickly from memory. Watch him in action!

Schoolhouse Rock: Nouns

I saw the Schoolhouse Rock shorts many times while watching Saturday morning cartoons during my childhood. The tunes are still familiar these many years later. "A Noun is a Person, Place, or Thing" was created in 1973 (the year Mr. Gacek was born). In 1973, for some reason, abstract nouns were not included in the basic definition of noun.



And, for the record, this is Chubby Checker.

Map of the Day: United States River Basins

This is a stunning map of the river basins of the United States created using GIS software. I highly recommend this article from the Daily Mail (U.K.). Yes, maps can be art. Bonus: Knowing these rivers will be helpful for the Geography Bee.

Country Travelogues 2016

Here are the Links to the Projects created by 2016 Geography students:

Aaron: Mongolia
Andrea: Iceland
Annette: Poland
Aris: New Zealand
Arshawn: Ecuador
Arthur: Germany
Aspen: Spain
Avery: Greece
Ben: Peru
Bryn: Japan
Eliza: Egypt
Ella: Thailand
Ellen: Czech Republic
Evan: Finland
Freja: Croatia
Gabby: Russia
George: Sweden
Jacob: Nepal
Kaito: Mexico
Kate: Romania
Labib: Austria
Lucia: Italy
Madison: Jordan
Malcolm: France
Mia: Brazil
Nadia: India
Naomi: Belgium
Nate: China
Oliver: Netherlands
Sadie: Switzerland
Sahej: United Kingdom
Sam: Chile
Spencer: Tanzania
Uli: Australia
Zack: Ecuador

Southeast Asia Study Set

White Tigers at the Singapore Zoo (Wikimedia Commons)