Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother - these are my favourite American TV-shows =) And Scrubs, of course =)

Forgive me for mentioning these, as they are childrens' books... but the Dr. Seuss "Beginner Books" are so witty and so amusingly illustrated that they are entertaining for anyone, of any age. They are of course written in very simple English--so simple that I would expect that a beginner could read them <em>with pleasure</em>. 

And, in my opinion, Dr. Seuss is a part of American culture. They are a cultural universal and everybody assumes that everybody else knows them.

<em>The Cat in the Hat</em> is of course THE classic.

And, some of them are available in translation! 

-The Vampire Diaries

-Breaking Bad

-Faking It

-Pretty Little Liars

TV Shows

1. The Originals

2. Legend of the Seeker

3. The Cake Boss

4. Top Chef, etc.

TV series: White Collar and Once Upon A Time.

What comes to books, you can start with reading Mark Twain's short stories.