Some TV shows are just like candy: They're sweet, they're satisfying, but when they're over, I don't think about them anymore. Other TV shows, though, are like a long-term relationship: I analyze the characters, pick apart the plot lines, and dream — like, actually in-my-sleep dream — about joining the cast on some wacky adventure.
There's a new study out that claims to measure which TV shows make viewers feel a true, genuine connection to the plots and characters. It's an interesting concept, but the results seem a little off to me. Their no. 1 show is Survivor, which . . . OK, obviously, it has fans, and it's been around a long time, but every year's cast is different; can you even be emotionally connected to a show with that much built-in turnover? On the other hand, Heroes, House, and Grey's Anatomy all show up in the top 10, and they certainly seem like more plausible candidates.
That got me thinking about my own emotional connections to TV shows. There was a time when I couldn't get Grey's Anatomy out of my head, but that's mostly over; these days, I suppose I do the most thinking about Friday Night Lights. What about you? Which shows make you feel the most emotionally attached?

















Valentino
Dress for Less
Fornarina
Definitely Gilmore Girls. no question, those characters were all so real. And I enjoyed having something funny and light to watch every week, the episodes never get old.
1I used to be really invested in Boston Public. More recently, Six Feet Under ruled my life.
2MASH and 24.
3Arrested Development, Lost, Heroes, Gossip Girl, Ugly Betty, Weeds, Sex and the City, Gilmore Girls, Veronica Mars, and Battlestar Galactica.
Battlestar Galactica is the big one though. I can't even put my love for the show into words! I do have a BSG tattoo though!
4Lost, Buffy, Oz, My So-Called Life, House, Six Feet Under, Dexter...
5Grey's Anatomy, and getting really into Greek
6Skins. Im unhealthily obssesed with it and waaay too attached.
7Also Greys Anatomy.
sex and the city
gossip girl
8Freaks and Geeks, Gilmore Girls, Gossip Girl, and Greek.
I watch each of those shows religiously and I always overanalyze each episode. Especially Freaks and Geeks. I've definitely worn out my season 1 DVD.
9Grey's, Gossip Girl, and Lost. And FNL, definitely.
10gossip girl is my number one
11and degrassi... i know, weird. but it was my first teen drama ever since i was younger, so i know all the characters like the back of my hand.
Friends
12The OC
Friends, Gilmore Girls, and Sex and the City. I felt such a deep attachment to those characters, their relationships, and the setting of those shows. I cried when all of those shows ended.
I also feel so nostalgic whenever I watch Boy Meets World and Full House, those shows were big parts of my childhood.
13Friends and Scrubs. I'm so attached to the characters. I love Friends so much that I still can't watch the final episode when it comes on in syndication... it makes me too sad.
14SIX FEET UNDER.... my boyfriend and i were so attached we talked about the characters like they were family. Analyzing reasons why Ruth did this or Nate did that. I pretty much cried straight through the last 3 episodes of the series. I miss the Fishers....
15arrested development and the office
i can somehow get stuff in everyday life to relate to these shows....really gets on my friends nerves
16The Wire, Gossip Girl and FNL
17Amen, foxie and buckley! Six Feet Under was so amazing. I had a complete emotional attachment to that show. I still miss it.
18Grey's, Gossip Girl, and Gilmore Girls
19Felicity and The Office
20i am so attached to house c: wilson especially.
21Full House
22Def Skins....I'm so obsessed with it. I've already seen all the eps so far and I can honestly say certain eps made me cry like a baby. Also, Degrassi, which I watch obsessivly and have also cried like a baby thru. And as for shows from my home land (USA) probably House, however, only one ep made me cry (but thats not really a bad thing).
23I was very attached to Veronica Mars, probably in an unhealthy way for awhile.
24Prison Break. My affair with Michael Scofield is going strong. I'm also very into Without A Trace.
25House is definitely my big one. Can't get enough of all the amazing (and strange) relationships on that. I occasionally have dreams where i've got some terrible illness and the House team saves me.
Law & Order: SVU is a close second. Seeing the main team grow together and apart and together, through all of the things they've seen and dealt with has been quite a ride over the years.
26Gilmore Girls used to be my life and I've actually learned a lot from it, and since then I haven't been really attached to any other show. I do love Gossip Girl though.
27Buffy and Angel, Veronica Mars, Forever Knight, Battlestar Galactica
28Oh and I wept like a baby during the last 7 minutes of Six Feet Under.
29I love Brothers and Sisters, The Closer and Grey's Anatomy.
30Heroes and In Treatment. I get more emotionally attached to dramas, even though I love comedies like Ugly Betty and The Office.
31Obviously Sex and the City. Most recently Veronica Mars. Logan and Veronica are my fave tv romance of all time I think.
I also spent a lot of spare time thinking about Mad Men, and after last night's episode, I could see myself becoming obsessed with Lipstick Jungle.
Probably nothing will ever beat Lost Season 1 though. I thought about it literally 24/7.
32I haven't been emotional about a show since The Cosby Show went off... I tolerate television when I'm too lazy to pick a movie. Other than that, I haven't watched a show I could stand longer than 2 or 3 episodes.
33Gilmore Girls, 90210, Saved by the Bell.
34Grey's Anatomy and Friends.
35every once in a while i will go back and watch all the friends episodes and itll leave a weird feeling in my stomach that it's all over.
36but i also love battlestar galactica, scrubs, how i met your mother. i dont think i've ever dreamt of them though.
Lost means the world to me right now.
37Felicity, Lost, House, Freaks and Geeks, Undeclared, Arrested Development, Degrassi, and Alias
38Well, as I sit here watching entire Veronica Mars for the 4th time in probably 9 months, yes there there is a definite emotional attachment with TV characters. Veronica and Logan are my 2nd favorite tv romance... Josh and Donna from West Wing being my 1st. I always get attached when there is a romance involved. Gilmore Girls is another one I am attached too. No matter how many times I have seen the episodes I still laugh and LOVE them!
39I used to be very emotionally attached to Friends, but know I very, very attached to both Lost and Brothers and Sisters.
40Joan of Arcadia
General Hospital
Friends
Veronica Mars
Brothers and Sisters
Pushing Daisies
I adore those shows very much.
4124
Grey's Anatomy
Ugly Betty
Burn Notice
There is a list of shows I would get attached to if I was actually faithful and diligent in watching them but these are the top on my list.
Did anyone see the season finale of Burn Notice tonight?!?!?! ABSOLUTELY GREAT! And, the new season starts in the winter!!! Woooohooooo! No more waiting until summer for some short season. The show deserves so much more. Time to get ready for Grey's and Betty. 24, oh how I miss you.
Big Shots was on the list but someone was stupid enough at ABC hq to cancel the show.
42the l word. words can't describe how much i love that show. especially shane.
umm... what else. boy meets world.. back in the old days. grey's anatomy, oh and the office!
sometimes i get really attached to movies too...
43Monk, Psych, Scrubs, Gavin and Stacey, Buffy, Angel, House, Bones, Will and Grace, Life on Mars/Ashes to Ashes, Doctor Who, Torchwood, Golden Girls/Palace, Growing Pains, Hana Yori Dango 1 & 2, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, Takin' Over the Asylum, One Tree Hill.
44One Tree Hill is the only show I have ever become emotionally attached to.
45From the top of my head: Friends, The Office, Gilmore Girls, Ally McBeal
46Gilmore Girls, Six Feet Under, House, Buffy, Grey's Anatomy (back in the Denny days), Dexter, Californication, Lost, Heroes...
47Gilmore Girls, Greys Anatomy and How I Met Your Mother.
48Bones and Scrubs..
I almost died when Booth got shot in the last season finale!
49And I can't live without J.D. and the rest of the gang. I wonder what I'll do after this last season coming up.
House and Ugly Betty are my TV obsessions at the moment. These seem to change with every season, though. Like last season, it was Law & Order SVU and the Tudors.
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