PBS have long garnered respect as one of the most educational stations on the TV dial. Yet to some, it is also tagged with the label of "uncool", because of shows like Charlie Rose and other programming for older adults.
Well, for young adults like myself, you want to present yourself as having the qualities of both intellect and coolness. So maybe certain shows on PBS aren't so bad for being exactly that. Here's my fave five in random order:
(1) NOVA
NOVA has kept up with the times and made their shows relevant. Sure, once in a while you would stumble upon a rerun episode about something you don't care, but with topics like the science behind "Rock Band" and "Guitar Hero" and sexual cannibalism of spiders, there is something in it for everyone.
(2) Simply Ming
Although the Food Network has no love for Ming Tsai lately, the Massachusetts-based chef still has his own show. Chef Tsai has lots of ideas to work with, being of Asian-American heritage while having attended culinary school in France.
(3) Fokus Deutsch
Why wouldn't a little show that teaches German come in handy? After all, learning a foreign language has always been mein kampf. Just kidding. I will say that this show, although old, is probably better than French in Action, which usually airs right before. This is because this show has closed captioning. Knowing how words are spelled is a huge part of language learning. Besides the benefits of knowing the written language, it can also help one learn the pronunciations more accurately.
(4) Rick Steve's Europe
Making that month-long trip to Europe after graduation has become quite the fad for America's 20-somethings. So that makes this show cool. It certainly helps to know about your destination a little bit beforehand, and this show is a great way to do research while sitting back and relaxing. Or, watching the show, you could reminisce about the places you have been to.
(5) Lidia's Italy
Why another cooking show? Because Italian cuisine is wide-ranging and awesome. If Giada can come up with all those ideas just inspired by Italian cuisine, than why can't Lidia? She can, in a big way. I saw an episode where she had a huge portion of calamari prepared on a cutting board, and I just had to put this show on the list.
