Top 100 TV Shows of ALL TIME!!!
I often find myself coming across "lists" (whether it's for tv, movies, or music) which claim to be "All Time Lists", but are filled mostly with current material. So I thought it would be fun to come up with my own list. This one will be about Television. What makes this list a little different is that there are some shows that I don't particularly care for, and some that I've never even seen. I am ranking them from Historical, Social, and Cultural relevance, and yes... There is a personal bias mixed in (starting with #1). So enjoy, and feel free to comment, but please keep it clean. Everyone won't be happy, but hopefully you will find that all generations are pretty well represented. After all it's an ALL-TIME list.
List activity
343K views
• 46 this weekCreate a new list
List your movie, TV & celebrity picks.
100 titles
- CreatorVince GilliganStarsBryan CranstonAaron PaulAnna GunnA chemistry teacher diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer turns to manufacturing and selling methamphetamine with a former student in order to secure his family's future.I had to put this one up so high because it's so different. Breaking Bad is the story of Walter White (Bryan Cranston), a struggling high school chemistry teacher who is diagnosed with advanced lung cancer at the beginning of the series. He turns to a life of crime, producing and selling methamphetamine with a former student, Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul), with the aim of securing his family's financial future before he dies.
- CreatorDavid SimonStarsDominic WestLance ReddickSonja SohnThe Baltimore drug scene, as seen through the eyes of drug dealers and law enforcement.Despite only receiving modest ratings and never winning major television awards, The Wire has been described by many critics as the greatest television series ever made and one of the most accomplished works of fiction of the 2000s
- StarsLucille BallDesi ArnazVivian VanceThe wife of a band leader constantly tries to become a star - in spite of her having no talent, and gets herself (along with her best friend) into the funniest predicaments.
- CreatorLarry DavidJerry SeinfeldStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsThe continuing misadventures of neurotic New York City stand-up comedian Jerry Seinfeld and his equally neurotic New York City friends.Seinfeld broke several conventions of mainstream television. The show, often described as being about "nothing. A critical favorite, commercial blockbuster and cultural phenomenon, the show led the Nielsen ratings in its sixth and ninth seasons and finished among the top two (along with NBC's ER) every year from 1994 to 1998
- CreatorAaron SorkinStarsMartin SheenRob LoweAllison JanneyInside the lives of staffers in the West Wing of the White House.I know that people won't be crazy about this selection, but hey........ It's my list.
- StarsOprah WinfreyNate BerkusGayle KingOprah Winfrey hosts a live audience talk-show with celebrity guests and discusses daily stories.A Talk show in the top 10? Yes!!! An American syndicated talk show hosted and produced by its namesake Oprah Winfrey. It ran nationally for 25 seasons beginning in 1986, before concluding in 2011. It is the highest-rated talk show in American television history. I accused it of being very Anti- men, but in it's last season I began to realize how far reaching it was
- CreatorMichael LeesonStarsBill CosbyPhylicia RashadMalcolm-Jamal WarnerThe goings-on in the life of a successful African-American family.According to TV Guide, the show "was TV's biggest hit in the 1980s, and almost single-handedly revived the sitcom genre and NBC's ratings fortunes. The show changed tv forever, because everyone of all races, could ralate to this family
- CreatorDavid ChaseStarsJames GandolfiniLorraine BraccoEdie FalcoNew Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano deals with personal and professional issues in his home and business life that affect his mental state, leading him to seek professional psychiatric counseling.The Sopranos is the most financially successful series in the history of cable television, and has frequently been acclaimed as the greatest television series of all-time. Bring on the Prequel
- StarsJohnny CarsonEd McMahonDoc SeverinsenHost Johnny Carson performs comedy routines and chats with various celebrities.Anyone "fortunately old enough" to have seen Johnny Carson knows that he was the best to ever do it! With his dry humor and keen wit, he litterally opened doors for other comedians to follow in his footsteps. Leno, Letterman, and Conan continue to use his jokes, and bits to this day. Heeeeeere's Johnny!!!
- CreatorDon HewittStarsAndrew RooneyLesley StahlSteve KroftThe classic long-running prime time TV investigative news magazine.Okay I know, it's a news program, but it's one of the most watched television shows of all time. As recent as 2002, TV Guide was ranked the #6 Greatest television show ever. 10 years later, the show is still going strong in it's 44th season
- CreatorJames Manos Jr.StarsMichael C. HallJennifer CarpenterDavid ZayasHe's smart. He's lovable. He's Dexter Morgan, America's favorite serial killer, who spends his days solving crimes and nights committing them.Another very original subject matter. Dexter, a blood spatter pattern analyst for the Miami Metro Police Department who moonlights as a serial killer. Set in Miami, the show's first season was largely based on the novel Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay
- CreatorDoug EllinStarsKevin ConnollyAdrian GrenierKevin DillonFilm star, Vince Chase, navigates the vapid terrain of Los Angeles with a close circle of friends and his trusty agent.This show made me wish that I was 5 years younger, and a celeb in Hollywood. Based on the life of Mark Wahlberg The series deals with themes of male friendship and real-life situations in modern-day Hollywood. The show is known for its array of guest stars, usually featuring at least two celebrities per episode.
- CreatorGene RoddenberryStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyIn the 23rd Century, Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise explore the galaxy and defend the United Federation of Planets.The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise. The show fascinates me because for a Science Fiction series in the 1960's and 70's it broke down many racial barriers. Not only was it the first tv show with an interracial kiss, but Capt Kirk also got busy with a green chick. WOW!!!
- CreatorLarry GelbartStarsAlan AldaWayne RogersLoretta SwitThe staff of an Army hospital in the Korean War find that laughter is the best way to deal with their situation.adapted from the 1970 feature film MASH (which was itself based on the 1968 novel MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors, by Richard Hooker). The series is a medical drama/black comedy. the finale became the most watched television episode in U.S. television history at the time, with a record breaking 125 million viewers,
- CreatorJ.J. AbramsJeffrey LieberDamon LindelofStarsJorge GarciaJosh HollowayYunjin KimThe survivors of a plane crash are forced to work together in order to survive on a seemingly deserted tropical island.A critically acclaimed and popular success, Lost was consistently ranked by critics on their lists of top ten series of all time. The first season garnered an average of 15.69 million viewers per episode on ABC
- CreatorDavid E. KelleyStarsLoretta DevineAnthony HealdFyvush FinkelThe lives of 10 faculty members at a high school in Boston weave in and out of dealing with trouble-makers, having a personal life, and keeping sanity.My favorite of the David E Kelley shows, Boston Public centered on a fictional public school in Boston Mass. It featured a large ensemble cast and focused on the work and private lives of the various teachers, students, and administrators at the school. I taught for almost three years, and it's uncanny how accurate it was.
- CreatorDavid E. KelleyStarsDylan McDermottKelli WilliamsLara Flynn BoyleWe follow the exploits and cases of defense attorneys of a Boston law firm. Bobby Donnell is the senior defense attorney and founder of the firm.Great show!!! The Practice focused on the law firm of Robert Donnell and Associates (later becoming Donnell, Young, Dole, & Frutt, and ultimately Young, Frutt, & Berluti). Plots typically featured the firm's involvement in various high-profile criminal and civil cases that often mirror current events. I always loved that "Plan B" strategy!
- CreatorMichael CrichtonStarsAnthony EdwardsGeorge ClooneyJulianna MarguliesThe doctors who work in the ER at the County General Hospital in Chicago grapple with ups and downs in their personal and professional lives while trying to give apt medical care to their patients.Mostly known as the vehichle that launched the career of George Clooney. The show ran for 15 seasons, becoming the longest-running primetime medical drama in American television history. It won 23 Emmy Awards, including the 1996 Outstanding Drama Series award, and received 124 Emmy nominations, which makes it the most nominated drama program in history.
- CreatorNorman LearStarsCarroll O'ConnorJean StapletonRob ReinerA working class man constantly squabbles with his family over the important issues of the day.This is the part of the list where the 30, and younger crowd will get very frustrated. Sorry, everything can't be current. This show is several years older than me, but it's subject matter is still cutting edge. Despite being considerably softer in its approach than its BBC predecessor, the show broke ground in its depiction of issues previously considered unsuitable for U.S. network television comedy, such as racism, homosexuality, women's liberation, rape, miscarriage, abortion, breast cancer, the Vietnam War, menopause, and impotence
- CreatorLarry DavidStarsLarry DavidCheryl HinesJeff GarlinLarry David stars as an over-the-top version of himself in this comedy series that shows how seemingly trivial details of day-to-day life can precipitate a catastrophic chain of events.I'm the younger (and black) version of Larry David. Everything I seem to do or say ends up coming off the wrong way. The Seinfeld co-creator took his act to HBO and continues his world of nothingness
- CreatorLorne MichaelsStarsThe Saturday Night Live BandDon PardoDarrell HammondA famous guest host stars in parodies and sketches created by the cast of this witty show.I can barely watch this show nowadays, but that doesn't diminish the shows importance. Throughout its more than three decades on air, (making it one of the longest-running network television programs in the United States as of 2012) the show format has been developed and recreated in several countries including Spain, Italy, Japan, and South Korea, each meeting with different levels of success. The alumni of cast members is too lengthy to list
- CreatorJames L. BrooksAllan BurnsStarsMary Tyler MooreEdward AsnerGavin MacLeodThe lives and trials of a young single woman and her friends, both at work and at home.one of the most acclaimed television programs ever produced" in US television history. It received high praise from critics, including Emmy Awards for Outstanding Comedy Series three years in a row (1975–77), and continued to be honored long after the final episode aired.
- CreatorSteven BochcoMichael KozollStarsDaniel J. TravantiMichael WarrenBruce WeitzThe lives and work of the staff of an inner city police precinct.Hill Street Blues received rave reviews from critics. The groundbreaking choice to include African-Americans as mainstays in the core ensemble cast and to feature several inter-racial and inter-ethnic cop partnerships drew notice and praise, as did the overlapping plots and examinations of moral conundrums such as police corruption, racism, alcoholism, and both interpersonal and institutional forgiveness.
- CreatorMike EvansNorman LearEric MonteStarsJa'net DuBoisRalph CarterBernNadette StanisA poor family make the best of things in the Chicago housing projects.As was the case on other Norman Lear sitcoms, the characters and subject matter in Good Times were a breakthrough for American television. Episodes of Good Times dealt with the characters' attempts to "get by" in a high rise project building in Chicago, despite all the odds stacked against them. Thelma Thelma Thelma!!!
- CreatorJoan Ganz CooneyLloyd Morrisett Jr.StarsJim HensonFrank OzCaroll SpinneyOn a special inner city street, the inhabitants, human and muppet, teach preschool subjects with comedy, cartoons, games, and songs.That's right... Sesame Street, What??? Who among us didn't start our day by watching this? Not only did the show teach us basic learning skills, such as math and reading, but it introduced us to the some of the muppets. The show is still going strong, and they're still making Muppets movies
- CreatorDavid DortortFred HamiltonStarsLorne GreeneMichael LandonDan BlockerThe Wild West adventures of Ben Cartwright and his sons as they run and defend their Nevada ranch while helping the surrounding community.Never saw it, but any show that ran hour long episodes for fourteen seasons has to be on the list.
- StarsCarol BurnettVicki LawrenceThe Ernie Flatt DancersTelevision show featuring skits by Carol Burnett and her comedy troupe.The series won 25 prime time Emmy Awards, was ranked #16 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time in 2002 and in 2007 was listed as one of Time magazine's "100 Best TV Shows of All Time."
- CreatorJames BurrowsGlen CharlesLes CharlesStarsTed DansonRhea PerlmanJohn RatzenbergerThe regulars of the Boston bar "Cheers" share their experiences and lives with each other while drinking or working at the bar where everybody knows your name.One of the the rare shows that got better every year. it was nearly canceled during its first season when it ranked last in ratings for its premiere (77th out of 77 shows). Cheers, however, eventually became a highly rated television show in the United States, earning a top-ten rating during 8 of its 11 seasons, including one season at #1.
- CreatorSusan HarrisStarsBea ArthurBetty WhiteRue McClanahanFour previously married women live together in Miami, sharing their various experiences together and enjoying themselves despite hard times.My best friend would kill me if this show didn't make the top 30. All four stars each received an Emmy Award throughout the series' run and had multiple nominations. The series also ranked among the top ten highest-rated programs for six out of its seven seasons
- CreatorPeter S. FischerRichard LevinsonWilliam LinkStarsAngela LansburyWilliam WindomRon MasakProfessional writer and amateur sleuth Jessica Fletcher uses her intellect, charm, and persistence to get to the bottom of every crime she encounters.The series aired for 12 seasons from 1984 to 1996. It is one of the most successful and longest-running television shows in history, with close to 23 million viewers in its prime, and was a staple of its Sunday night lineup for a decade. The series is also successful around the world.
- CreatorNorman LearStarsBea ArthurBill MacyConrad Bain"All In The Family" spin-off centered around Edith's cousin, Maude Findlay, a liberal, independent woman living in Tuckahoe, New York.The program was a spin-off of All in the Family, on which Beatrice Arthur had first played the character of Maude, Edith Bunker's cousin; like All in the Family, Maude was a sitcom with topical storylines created by producer Norman Lear. They were dealing with topics such as abortion back in the early 70's "Cutting Edge"
- CreatorDavid E. KelleyStarsJames SpaderWilliam ShatnerCandice BergenBoston Legal is a spin-off of the long-running David E. Kelley series The Practice (1997), following the exploits of former Practice character Alan Shore (James Spader) at the legal firm of Crane, Poole, and Schmidt.The spinoff of the practice, Boston Legal follows the exploits of former Practice character Alan Shore (James Spader) at the legal firm of Crane, Poole & Schmidt. More comical than its predecessor, the show continued to deal with modern day cases in a more upscale environment. Denny Crane!!!
- CreatorNorman LearDon NichollMichael RossStarsIsabel SanfordSherman HemsleyRoxie RokerA nouveau riche, African-American family who move into a luxury apartment building develop close, if occasionally fractious, relationships with other tenants.Norman Lear churned out successful tv shows and spinoffs like they were reality shows. However, unlike some of his other shows, it was less sharply political in tone and The Jeffersons evolved into more of a traditional sitcom, relying more on the characters' interactions with one another rather than explicitly political dialog or storylines. It did, however, tackle a few serious topics including racism, suicide, gun control and adult illiteracy. Also, the words *beep* and "honky" were used occasionally, especially during the earlier seasons.
- CreatorDavid ShoreStarsHugh LaurieOmar EppsRobert Sean LeonardUsing a crack team of doctors and his wits, an antisocial maverick doctor specializing in diagnostic medicine does whatever it takes to solve puzzling cases that come his way.Critically acclaimed for much of its run, House was among the top-ten rated shows in the United States from its second through its fourth season. Distributed to 66 countries, House was the most watched television program in the world in 2008.[1] The show has received several awards, including five Primetime Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, a Peabody Award, and nine People's Choice Awards. I
- CreatorDavid CraneMarta KauffmanStarsJennifer AnistonCourteney CoxLisa KudrowFollows the personal and professional lives of six twenty to thirty year-old friends living in the Manhattan borough of New York City.I had a hard time ranking this show because I just couldn't relate, but I simply can't ignore the show's popularity and significance. Friends received positive reviews throughout its run, becoming one of the most popular sitcoms of all time. The series won many awards and was nominated for 63 Primetime Emmy Awards. The series, an instant hit from its debut, was also very successful in the ratings, consistently ranking in the top ten in the final primetime ratings. Many critics now regard it as one of the finest shows in television history, including TV Guide, which ranked it #21 on their list of the 50 greatest TV shows of all time.
- CreatorMatthew WeinerStarsJon HammElisabeth MossVincent KartheiserA drama about one of New York's most prestigious ad agencies at the beginning of the 1960s, focusing on one of the firm's most mysterious but extremely talented ad executives, Donald Draper.I keep waiting for this show to overwhelm me, but it just hasn't yet. You simply can't ignore the critical acclaim, particularly for its historical authenticity and visual style. The show has won fifteen Emmys and four Golden Globes. It is the first basic cable series to win the Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series, winning it in each of its first four seasons in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011.
- CreatorLee AronsohnChuck LorreStarsJon CryerAshton KutcherAngus T. JonesA hedonistic jingle writer's free-wheeling life comes to an abrupt halt when his brother and 10-year-old nephew move into his beach-front house.Honestly, I've never been a fan of this show. For some reason, I simply can't relate. But the show has been hugely successful. Although, I understand that it's really fallen off since Charlie Sheen was fired
- CreatorCarter BaysCraig ThomasStarsJosh RadnorJason SegelCobie SmuldersA father recounts to his children - through a series of flashbacks - the journey he and his four best friends took leading up to him meeting their mother.How I Met Your Mother has been a critical success, and has received consistently positive reviews throughout its run. It has won five Emmy Awards, including a nomination for "Outstanding Comedy Series" in 2009.
- CreatorAnthony YerkovichStarsDon JohnsonPhilip Michael ThomasSaundra Santiago-Resplendent with authentic 1980s music, fashion, and vibe, "Miami Vice" follows two undercover detectives and their extended team through the mean streets of Miami, Florida.Unlike standard police procedurals, the show drew heavily upon 1980s New Wave culture and music. The show became noted for its heavy integration of music and visual effects to tell a story. It is recognized as one of the most influential television series of all time.
- CreatorNorman LearStarsRedd FoxxDemond WilsonLaWanda PageThe misadventures of a cantankerous junk dealer and his frustrated son.Another Norman Lear joint. Fred G Sanford was the black answer to Archie Bunker. Sanford and Son has long been hailed as the precursor to many African American sitcoms, such as The Cosby Show. Although sometimes gregarious in its humor, Sanford and Son was groundbreaking for African Americans on television.
- CreatorJonathan MurrayMary-Ellis BunimStarsJanelle CasanaveAlton Williams IIArissa HillA new version of the long-running MTV reality show, which looks to unite people from different backgrounds and find a common ground.Although not the first, (American Family) The Real World is considered by many to be the mother of all reality shows. The series was hailed in its early years for depicting issues of contemporary young-adulthood relevant to its core audience, such as prejudice, sexuality, AIDS and substance abuse, but later garnered a reputation as a showcase for immature and irresponsible behavior
- CreatorSteven BochcoTerry Louise FisherStarsCorbin BernsenJill EikenberryAlan RachinsThe lives and work of the staff of a major Los Angeles law firm.If not for the last three seasons, this show would hav been a lot higher. The features including a large number of parallel storylines, social drama and off the wall humor. It reflected the social and cultural ideologies of the 1980s and early 1990s and many of the cases featured on the show deal with hot topic issues such as abortion, racism, gay rights, homophobia, sexual harassment, AIDS, and domestic violence. The series often also reflected social tensions between the wealthy senior lawyer protagonists and their less well-paid junior staff.
The show was popular with audiences and critics, and won 15 Emmy Awards throughout its run, four of which were for Outstanding Drama Series. - CreatorDick WolfRick EidStarsJerry OrbachJesse L. MartinDennis FarinaNew York's finest police detectives and prosecutors fight to make the city a safer place. With integrity as the guiding force from investigation to verdict, the teams weigh every perspective in their commitment to finding justice.In 2002, Law & Order was ranked #24 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time. The show also placed #27 on Entertainment Weekly's "New TV Classics" list. The show has been so good, it just won't go away. It keeps coming back with with a revolving door ensemble cast, and several spinoffs
- CreatorShawn RyanStarsMichael ChiklisCatherine DentWalton GogginsDrama series following the lives and cases of dirty cop Vic Mackey and the corrupt LAPD unit under his command.Known for its portrayal of corrupt police officers, it was originally advertised as Rampart in reference to the true life Rampart Division police scandal, which the show's Strike Team was loosely based upon. The first season gained the most Emmy nominations for a basic cable drama. The series was created by Shawn Ryan and The Barn Productions for Fox Television Studios and Sony Pictures Television.
- CreatorRod SerlingStarsRod SerlingRobert McCordJay OverholtsOrdinary people find themselves in extraordinarily astounding situations, which they each try to solve in a remarkable manner.The success of the series led to a feature film, a radio series, a comic book, a magazine, and various other spin-offs that spanned five decades, such as two "revival" television series. The first ran on CBS and in syndication in the 1980s, and another that ran on UPN from 2002 to 2003
- StarsAlfred HitchcockHarry TylerJohn WilliamsSeries of unrelated short stories covering elements of crime, horror, drama, and comedy about people of different backgrounds committing murders, suicides, thefts, and other sorts of crime caused by certain motivations, perceived or not.The series featured dramas, thrillers, and mysteries. By the premiere of the show on October 2, 1955, Hitchcock had been directing films for over three decades. Time magazine named Alfred Hitchcock Presents one of "The 100 Best TV Shows of All-TIME"
- CreatorJames L. BrooksMatt GroeningSam SimonStarsDan CastellanetaNancy CartwrightHarry ShearerThe satiric adventures of a working-class family in the misfit city of Springfield.The Simpsons has won dozens of awards since it debuted as a series, including 27 Primetime Emmy Awards, 30 Annie Awards and a Peabody Award. Time magazine's December 31, 1999 issue named it the 20th century's best television series, and on January 14, 2000 the Simpson family was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
- CreatorSeth MacFarlaneDavid ZuckermanStarsAlex BorsteinSeth MacFarlaneSeth GreenIn a wacky Rhode Island town, a dysfunctional family strives to cope with everyday life as they are thrown from one crazy scenario to another.What makes this show so great is that they don't discriminate... I mean they do... You know what I mean. This show goes after everyone, and it's funny because it's true.
- CreatorGary David GoldbergStarsMichael J. FoxMichael GrossMeredith BaxterChronicles liberal ex-hippies Steven and Elyse Keaton, their conservative son Alex, daughters Mallory and Jennifer, and later, youngest child Andrew.Much of the humor of the series focused on the cultural divide during the 1980s when younger generations rejected the counterculture of the 1960s and embraced the conservative politics which came to define the 1980s.
- CreatorChuck LorreBill PradyStarsJohnny GaleckiJim ParsonsKaley CuocoA woman who moves into an apartment across the hall from two brilliant but socially awkward physicists shows them how little they know about life outside of the laboratory.I've never even seen this show, but I'm working with some of you younger people. The show is a huge success
- CreatorTina FeyStarsTina FeyAlec BaldwinTracy MorganLiz Lemon, head writer of the sketch-comedy show "TGS with Tracy Jordan", must deal with an arrogant new boss and a crazy new star while trying to run a successful television show without losing her mind.Tine fey is a genius!!!
- CreatorTim KringStarsJack ColemanHayden PanettiereMilo VentimigliaCommon people discover that they have super powers. Their lives intertwine as a devastating event must be prevented.This show had such an opportunity to be way higher on this list, but after season 1 it lost its way. When you begin to feature Dania Ramirez, you're in trouble. Pretty girl, but she can't act!!! Note to Hollywood, there are other young pretty latina actresses, stop hiring the same one!!!
- CreatorShonda RhimesStarsEllen PompeoChandra WilsonJames Pickens Jr.A drama centered on the personal and professional lives of five surgical interns and their supervisors.The show has attained commercial success and critical acclaim. The first episode was watched by 16.25 million viewers, and the first season finale attracted 22.22 million viewers.
- CreatorRyan MurphyStarsDylan WalshJulian McMahonJoely RichardsonTwo plastic surgeons--one a dedicated family man and one an unscrupulous playboy--strive to maintain their business whilst having to work their way through numerous hardships ranging from personal to clients with criminal connections.Brilliant!!!
- CreatorAnthony E. ZuikerStarsWilliam PetersenLaurence FishburneTed DansonIn Las Vegas, a squad of forensic investigators are trained to solve crimes by meticulously examining the evidence. They employ advanced technology and their rationality to detect the perpetrators.The thing about this show that bothers me is that they always seem to solve the crime. CSI has been recognized as the most popular dramatic series internationally by the Festival de Télévision de Monte-Carlo, which has awarded it the "International Television Audience Award (Best Television Drama Series)" three times. CSI's worldwide audience was estimated to be over 73.8 million viewers in 2009. In 2011, CSI is the most watched drama series in the world, again.
- CreatorJackie GleasonStarsJackie GleasonArt CarneyAudrey MeadowsA bus driver and his sewer worker friend struggle to strike it rich while their wives look on with weary patience.The first time I saw this show I said, "this reminds me of the Flintstones". Later on I found out that the cartoon was based on this show. Once I figured that out, I fell in love with it
- CreatorJoseph BarberaWilliam HannaStarsAlan ReedMel BlancJean Vander PylThe misadventures of two modern-day Stone Age families, the Flintstones and the Rubbles.Speaking of the Flintstones... It became the first animated series to be nominated for an Outstanding Comedy Series Primetime Emmy Award. The birth of Pebbles is still one of the most tv episodes in tv history
- CreatorBill CosbyStarsBill CosbyGerald EdwardsLou ScheimerThe educational adventures of a group of Afro-American inner city kids.When you're a young African American growing up in the inner city in the mid 70's and early 80's you simply couldn't find many shows that you felt spoke specifically to you. The show always had an educational lesson emphasized by Cosby's live-action segments, and the gang would usually gather in their North Philadelphia junkyard to play a rock song on their cobbled-together instruments at the end of the show.
- CreatorAndy BorowitzSusan BorowitzStarsWill SmithJames AveryAlfonso RibeiroA streetwise, poor young man from Philadelphia is sent by his mother to live with his aunt, uncle and cousins in their Bel-Air mansion.Truth be told I've never been a Will Smith fan, but Carlton, and Hillery were the ones that had me coming back. One of the funnier shows of the 90's and Big Willie style hasn't looked back
- CreatorGreg DanielsRicky GervaisStephen MerchantStarsSteve CarellJenna FischerJohn KrasinskiA mockumentary on a group of typical office workers, where the workday consists of ego clashes, inappropriate behavior, and tedium.Great show! Steve Carell, playing the Michael Scott is one of the funniest tv characters I've ever seen
- CreatorRicky GervaisStephen MerchantStarsRicky GervaisMartin FreemanMackenzie CrookThe story of an office that faces closure when the company decides to downsize its branches. A documentary film crew follow staff and the manager David Brent as they continue their daily lives.I usually favor the original to the spinoff, but in this case I give steve Carel the nod
- StarsNeil EverettScott Van PeltElle DuncanDaily sports news, results, and features.Booyah!!!Bet you didn't see this coming. It's such an important show, it simply had to make the list.
- CreatorBill CosbyStarsLisa BonetKadeem HardisonJasmine GuyA group of students at a historically Black university struggle to make it through college.While it was a spin-off from The Cosby Show, A Different World typically addressed issues that were avoided by the Cosby Show writers (race and class relations). One episode that aired in 1990 was one of the first American network television episodes to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The show also caused a substantial increase in the matriculation of African Americans in Historically Black colleges
- CreatorSimon FullerStarsRyan SeacrestMark ThompsonRandy JacksonTwelve American finalists (six men and six women) compete in a singing contest.The show was described by rival TV executives as "the most impactful show in the history of television. It has also become a recognized springboard for launching the career of many artists as bona fide stars. It's given us Kelly, Carrie, Rubin, and J. Hud. Idol rules the reality roost because the winners of Fox's ratings juggernaut actually do go on to greatness. And Taylor Hicks? He's the exception that proves the rule."
- CreatorPaul FeigStarsLinda CardelliniJohn Francis DaleyJames FrancoA high school mathlete starts hanging out with a group of burnouts while her younger brother navigates his freshman year.Despite a quick cancellation and only one season with 18 episodes, Freaks and Geeks developed a devoted cult following. The series appeared on Time magazine's 2007 "100 Greatest Shows of All Time" list, as well as placing 3rd on their list of the greatest television shows of the 2000s (decade). In 2007, Freaks and Geeks ranked #21 on TV Guide's Top Cult Shows Ever. In 2008, Entertainment Weekly ranked it the 13th-best series of the past 25 years.
- StarsFab 5 FreddyDoctor DréEd LoverInterviews and music videos from the biggest and most notable rap artist of the time. This show gave the rap genre a platform to be seen and heard by mainstream viewers far and wide.The advent of Yo! MTV Raps in the late 1980s was crucial to the spread of hip-hop around the world. Through MTV, African-American and Latino style and sound was instantly available to millions of people across the globe. This helped to create a worldwide appreciation and interest in the hip-hop scene,
- CreatorSteven BochcoDavid MilchStarsDennis FranzJimmy SmitsGordon ClappDetectives from NYPD's 15th Precinct investigate homicides within their precinct.set in New York City, exploring the internal and external struggles of the fictional 15th precinct of Manhattan. Each episode typically intertwined several plots involving an ensemble cast.
- CreatorKeenen Ivory WayansStarsKeenen Ivory WayansJim CarreyKelly Coffield ParkThe Wayans siblings present an African-American focused sketch comedy show.The sketch comedy show helped launch the careers of male comedians/actors Jim Carrey (then credited as "James Carrey", a future Golden Globe winner and one of only two caucasian members of the original cast), Jamie Foxx (a future Academy Award winner, who joined the cast in the third season) and David Alan Grier. It also gave us J-Lo... well three out of four ain't bad.
- CreatorNeal BrennanDave ChappelleStarsDave ChappelleDonnell RawlingsRudy RushComedian Dave Chappelle hosts this sketch-comedy show that parodies many of the nuances of race and culture.The show is notorious for its handling of the topic of sexuality and Chappelle's casual usage of racial epithets, categorizing the show as a racial comedy. The show also handles such topics as prostitution, the entertainment industry, gun violence, numerous drug references (particularly marijuana, alcohol, PCP, Crystal Meth and crack cocaine) and music, all performed in a comedic fashion with a touch of antagonism.
- CreatorSherwood SchwartzStarsRobert ReedFlorence HendersonAnn B. DavisThe misadventures of a large family united when a widower and a widow marry.Just saw it the other day. They don't continue to show it in syndication for no reason. The movie spawned a number of television movies and tv specials, as well as two feature films 25 years after the show was cancelled.
- CreatorSteven LevitanChristopher LloydStarsEd O'NeillSofía VergaraJulie BowenThree different, but related, families face trials and tribulations in their own uniquely comedic ways.The series has received positive reviews from critics and received multiple award nominations. President Barack Obama said it is his favorite show to watch with his family. The series has won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series and the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series twice so far, as well as the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. It also won the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series
- CreatorGlen A. LarsonRonald D. MooreStarsEdward James OlmosMary McDonnellJamie BamberWhen an old enemy, the Cylons, resurface and obliterate the 12 colonies, the crew of the aged Galactica protect a small civilian fleet - the last of humanity - as they journey toward the fabled 13th colony, Earth.
- CreatorIan BrennanBrad FalchukRyan MurphyStarsLea MicheleJane LynchMatthew MorrisonA group of ambitious misfits try to escape the harsh realities of high school by joining a glee club headed by a passionate Spanish teacher.Glee has received a number of awards and nominations. In 2009, the series won five Satellite Awards: "Best Musical or Comedy TV Series", "Best Actor" and "Actress in a Musical or Comedy TV Series" The show also made a star out of veteran actress Jane Lynch
- CreatorRon LeavittMichael G. MoyeStarsEd O'NeillChristina ApplegateKatey SagalAl is the quintessential working class dad. Peggy, his wife, always wants more from him. With their children, they go through the highs and lows of ordinary life.The show litterally jump started the Fox network. The series' 11-season, 259-episode run makes it the longest-lasting live-action sitcom on the Fox network
- CreatorJeff HarrisBernie KukoffStarsGary ColemanTodd BridgesConrad BainThe misadventures of a wealthy Manhattan family who adopted the children of their late African American housekeeper from Harlem.Too bad that the child actors fell victim too the "Special episodes" that were often featured on the show. I have a real soft spot for this show. Gary coleman was about 4 years older than me, but was playing a character that was my age. In many ways, I felt that this show was just for me. The show knocked down racial, and socioeconomic walls
- CreatorStephen J. CannellFrank LupoStarsGeorge PeppardMr. TDwight SchultzFour Vietnam vets, framed for a crime they didn't commit, help the innocent while on the run from the military.The show remains prominent in popular culture for its cartoonish, over-the-top violence (in which people were seldom seriously hurt), formulaic episodes, its characters' ability to form weaponry and vehicles out of old parts, and its distinctive theme tune. The show boosted the career of Mr. T, who portrayed the character of B. A. Baracus, around whom the show was initially conceived.[
- CreatorJohn BowmanTopper CarewMartin LawrenceStarsMartin LawrenceTisha CampbellThomas Mikal FordSassy sitcom centering on radio and television personality Martin Payne. Series focuses on his romantic relationship with girlfriend Gina, her best friend Pam and escapades with best friends Tommy and Cole.Reflecting the rising popularity of the Fox network throughout the 1990s, Martin was one of the network's highest-rated shows during the sitcom's five-season run. In contrast to the popularity of NBC's "Must See TV" on Thursday nights in the 1990s, many African American and Latino viewers flocked to Fox's Thursday night line-up of Martin, Living Single, and New York Undercover.
- StarsEd SullivanThe Ray Bloch OrchestraRay BlochThe classic prime time variety show most famous for its vaudeville acts and rock music performances.In 2002, The Ed Sullivan Show was ranked #15 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time. From 1949 until its cancellation in 1971, the show ran on CBS every Sunday night from 8 – 9 P.M. E.T., and is one of the few entertainment shows to have been run in the same weekly time slot on the same network for more than two decades. The show helped launch the careers of The Beatles, Elvis Presley, and The Supremes
- DirectorGene SaksStarsJack LemmonWalter MatthauJohn FiedlerA New Yorker newly separated from his wife moves in with his best friend, a divorced sportswriter, but their ideas of housekeeping and lifestyles are as different as night and day.The success of the 1968 film version of the stage play of The Odd Couple, which starred Jack Lemmon as Felix and Walter Matthau as Oscar, served as the catalyst to bringing the characters to television. During its original run the show had mediocre ratings at best. Nonetheless, both actors were nominated for Emmy Awards in each year of the show's run. The show led to Another television version with two African American actors (Ron Glass, and Demond Wilson) and an cartoon version, with a Dog, and Cat
- CreatorGene RoddenberryStarsPatrick StewartBrent SpinerJonathan FrakesSet almost 100 years after Captain Kirk's 5-year mission, a new generation of Starfleet officers sets off in the U.S.S. Enterprise-D on its own mission to go where no one has gone before.It premiered to 27 million viewers with the two-hour pilot With 178 episodes spread over seven seasons, it ran longer than any other Star Trek series, In 2002, Star Trek: The Next Generation was ranked #46 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time list. In 2008, was ranked #37 on Empire's "The 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time".
- CreatorDarren StarStarsJason PriestleyShannen DohertyLuke PerryA group of friends living in Beverly Hills, California make their way through life from their school days into adulthood.The series gained popularity during the summer of 1991, when Fox aired a special "summer season" of the show while most other series were in reruns. The series became one of Fox's top shows when it began its next season that fall. Viewership increased dramatically and the cast members became teen idols.
- CreatorFrank DarabontStarsAndrew LincolnNorman ReedusMelissa McBrideSheriff Deputy Rick Grimes wakes up from a coma to learn the world is in ruins and must lead a group of survivors to stay alive.It is based on the comic book series of the same name by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. The series stars Andrew Lincoln as sheriff's deputy[2] Rick Grimes, who awakens from a coma to find the world dominated by flesh-eating "walkers", resembling the zombies of George A. Romero's horror movies. He sets out to find his family and encounters many other survivors along the way.
- StarsArsenio HallBurton RichardsonMichael WolffArsenio Hall hosts this hip, late-night talk show.Hall's show was aimed primarily at the younger urban audience, with Eddie Murphy (a personal friend of Hall's) and other performers often featured. The show quickly appealed to young people of all races and began to attract a wide variety of guests (although this popularity with audiences was short-lived, leading to the show's cancellation). It became the show for entertainers to go to in order to reach the "MTV Generation."
- StarsJim McKayHoward CosellMuhammad AliABC's weekend extravaganzas about everything that can be called a sports event.Spanning the Globe to bring you the constant variety of sport. The thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat. Before there was ESPN, this is what we had, and we loved it. I can still see that poor skier tumbling down that slope. Howard Cossell, Muhammed Ali, Mike Tyson, Sugar Ray Leonard,Tiger Woods, and Wayne Gretzky all gained popularity through this show.
- StarsFrank GiffordAl MichaelsHoward CosellCoverage of professional football featuring teams from the National Football League airing on Monday nights during the NFL's regular season.In 1970 ABC gambled that people actually wanted to watch Football on Monday nights, and it paid off big! With the controversial Howard Cossell, Calling the games with former players Frank Gifford, and Don Meredith, the show took off, and despite the move to ESPN, the show is still going strong
- CreatorDavid JacobsStarsLarry HagmanKen KerchevalPatrick DuffyJ.R. Ewing, a Texas oil baron, uses manipulation and blackmail to achieve his ambitions, both business and personal. He often comes into conflict with his brother Bobby, his arch-enemy Cliff Barnes and his long-suffering wife Sue Ellen.The show debuted in April 1978 as a five-part miniseries on the CBS network, and then was subsequently broadcast for thirteen seasons from April 2, 1978 to May 3, 1991. Dallas was included in Time magazine's 2007 list of "100 Best TV Shows of All-TIME." The show was also famous for its cliffhangers, including the "Who shot J.R.?" mystery, and the "Dream Season", in which the entirety of season eight was revealed to have been a dream of one of the characters.
- CreatorEsther ShapiroRichard Alan ShapiroStarsJohn ForsytheLinda EvansJoan CollinsThe trials and tribulations of two feuding families, the Carringtons and the Colbys, both oil rich families in Denver, Colorado.Ratings for the show's first season were unremarkable, but the second season arrival of Joan Collins as Blake's scheming first wife Alexis heralded Dynasty's rise into the Top 20, by the fall of 1982, it was a top ten show and by 1985, it was the #1 series on television. Dynasty was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best TV Drama Series every year from 1981 to 1986, winning in 1984. Dynasty spawned a successful line of fashion and luxury products, and also a spin-off series called The Colbys.
- CreatorJoss WhedonStarsSarah Michelle GellarNicholas BrendonAlyson HanniganA young woman, destined to slay vampires, demons and other infernal creatures, deals with her life fighting evil, with the help of her friends.Reviews for the show were positive; it has been included in many "best of" lists, including being ranked #41 on the list of TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time, #2 on Empire's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time, voted #3 in 2004 and 2007 on TV Guide's Top Cult Shows Ever and listed in Time magazine's "100 Best TV Shows of All-TIME."
- CreatorJulie PlecKevin WilliamsonStarsNina DobrevPaul WesleyIan SomerhalderThe lives, loves, dangers and disasters in the town, Mystic Falls, Virginia. Creatures of unspeakable horror lurk beneath this town as a teenage girl is suddenly torn between two vampire brothers.The pilot episode attracted the largest audience of any series premiere since the CW network began in 2006. During its course it maintained admirable ratings for a show that airs on a relatively new, small and not so famous network. The first season averaged 3.60 million viewers.[3] The show initially received average reviews, but critics agreed that the series improved over the course of the season; the second season premiered to generally favorable reviews. The show has received numerous award nominations, winning a People's Choice Award and many Teen Choice Awards. On April 26, 2011, The CW renewed the series for a third season which began on September 15, 2011
- CreatorTrey ParkerMatt StoneBrian GradenStarsTrey ParkerMatt StoneIsaac HayesFollows the misadventures of four irreverent grade-schoolers in the quiet, dysfunctional town of South Park, Colorado.The series has received numerous accolades, including four Primetime Emmy Awards, a Peabody Award, and a #3 ranking in the 2004 documentary The 100 Greatest Cartoons. The series' almost instant popularity resulted in a feature-length theatrical film, South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut which was released less than two years after the show's premiere, in June 1999 and became a box office success
- CreatorMichael PoryesSusan ShermanStarsRaven-SymonéOrlando BrownAnneliese van der PolA teenage girl periodically receives brief psychic visions of the near future. Trying to make these visions come true results in trouble, and hilarious situations, for the girl and her friends.I know, I know...Raven Symone is annoying, but she is by far the most successful Cosby Show Alum, and the show had a four year run on the Disney Network, followed by syndication on ABC and ABC Family. The show is a modern-day sitcom with a teenage twist in the vein of Bewitched. I know I'm going to hear it now
- CreatorPeter BergStarsKyle ChandlerConnie BrittonZach GilfordA drama that follows the lives of the Dillon Panthers, one of the nation's best high school football teams, and their head coach Eric Taylor.Friday Night Lights never obtained a sizable audience. It was a critical success, however, lauded for its realistic portrayal of Middle America and deep personal exploration of its central characters. The show was awarded a Peabody Award, a Humanitas Prize, and a Television Critics Association Award, as well as several technical Primetime Emmy Awards. At the 2011 Primetime Emmy Awards the show was nominated for Outstanding Drama Series.
- CreatorFernando GaitánSilvio HortaStarsAmerica FerreraEric MabiusTony PlanaSmart but wholesome Betty embraces her unique appearance and independent attitude in the cutthroat world of New York fashion.The series revolves around the character Betty Suarez and is based on Fernando Gaitán's Colombian telenovela soap opera Yo soy Betty, la fea. Coming to TV on the heels of The Devil Wears Prada, Ugly Betty, unfortunately was One of the few shows that I could think of where the Latin actors had prominent roles and representation. The show was executive produced by Selma Hyek
- CreatorMarc CherryStarsTeri HatcherFelicity HuffmanMarcia CrossSecrets and truths unfold through the lives of female friends in one suburban neighborhood after the mysterious suicide of a neighbor.Since its premiere on ABC in 2004, the show has been well received by viewers and critics alike. The show is a multiple Emmy, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild award winner. The series premiere drew 21.6 million viewers
- CreatorDon NichollMichael RossBernard WestStarsJohn RitterJoyce DeWittSuzanne SomersThe misadventures of two women and one man living in one apartment and their neighbors.the show lasted for eight years, and although very tame by today's standards, the show was considered extremely over the top for its sexual (jiggly) nature. The show defined the career of John Ritter, one of the all time great physical comedy actors
- StarsWally AlbrightSherwood BaileyBobbie 'Cotton' BeardTelevision syndication package of the classic 1929-1938 shorts from the "Our Gang Comedies" movie series.The series is noted for showing children behaving in a relatively natural way. Our Gang notably put boys, girls, whites and blacks together in a group as equals, something that "broke new ground. Such a thing had never been done before in cinema but has since been repeated after the success of Our Gang
- CreatorAaron McGruderStarsRegina KingJohn WitherspoonGary Anthony WilliamsBrothers Huey and Riley Freeman experience a culture clash when they leave Chicago to move in with their grandfather in the suburbs.Aaron McGruder is the man! The Boondocks began its life as a comic strip in The Diamondback, the student newspaper at McGruder's alma mater, the University of Maryland, College Park. The strip later found its way into The Source magazine. "Each episode is beautifully crafted, with an eye on lush, shadowy visuals and a pulsing, jazz-like rhythm... the show is almost consistently funny, consistently brilliant, and, best of all, compulsively watchable."[
- CreatorAli LeRoiChris RockStarsTerry CrewsTichina ArnoldTequan RichmondA young African-American teen attempts to survive with his dysfunctional family and his all-white school in the 1980s.This show is personal! It's litterally about me. It's really too bad that it didn't get more fanfare. Growing up in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York (often referred to in the show as Bed-Stuy). The show is set from 1982 to 1987. ( I actually moved to DC in 84, but still...) I'm so glad that Chris Rock made this show.
- CreatorKevin ArkadieDick WolfStarsMalik YobaMichael DeLorenzoPatti D'ArbanvilleNew York Undercover is notable for being the first police drama on American television to feature two people of color in the starring roles. In contrast to the popularity of NBC's "Must See TV" on Thursday nights in the 1990s, many African-American viewers flocked to Fox's Thursday night line-up of Living Single, New York Undercover, and Martin. In fact, these were the three highest rated series among black households (in this respective order) for the 1996-1997 season.
- CreatorMitchell HurwitzStarsJason BatemanMichael CeraPortia de RossiLevel-headed son Michael Bluth takes over family affairs after his father is imprisoned. But the rest of his spoiled, dysfunctional family are making his job unbearable.Since debuting on November 2, 2003, the series has earned six Emmy awards, one Golden Globe, and widespread critical acclaim and has attracted a cult following, including several fan-based websites. In 2007 it was listed as one of Time magazine's "100 Best TV Shows of All-TIME." In 2008, the show was placed #16 on Entertainment Weekly's "New TV Classics" list.