TV: TOP SERIES
by qempyrean | created - 13 Jan 2015 | updated - 1 month ago | PublicThe best of the best; not including mini-series (see my separate list).
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1. The Fugitive (1963–1967)
TV-PG | 51 min | Adventure, Crime, Drama
A doctor, wrongly convicted for a murder he didn't commit, escapes custody and must stay ahead of the police to find the real killer.
Stars: David Janssen, William Conrad, Barry Morse, Paul Birch
Votes: 4,682
2. Perry Mason (1957–1966)
TV-PG | 60 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
The trials of a master criminal defense attorney handling the most difficult cases in support of the innocent.
Stars: Raymond Burr, Barbara Hale, William Hopper, Ray Collins
Votes: 11,805
3. The Big Valley (1965–1969)
TV-PG | 60 min | Western
The Wild West adventures of the Barkley family in California's San Joaquin Valley.
Stars: Richard Long, Peter Breck, Lee Majors, Linda Evans
Votes: 3,540
4. The Outer Limits (1963–1965)
TV-PG | 51 min | Fantasy, Horror, Sci-Fi
An anthology series of insightful science fiction tales.
Stars: Bob Johnson, Ben Wright, William Douglas, Robert Culp
Votes: 9,299
5. The Honeymooners (1955–1956)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy, Family
A bus driver and his sewer worker friend struggle to strike it rich while their wives look on with weary patience.
Stars: Jackie Gleason, Art Carney, Audrey Meadows, Joyce Randolph
Votes: 6,230
6. Upstairs, Downstairs (1971–1975)
TV-14 | 60 min | Drama
The lives and fortunes of the Bellamy family and their below-stairs servant staff at 165 Eaton Place play out against the social, political and historical backdrop of Edwardian London from 1903 to 1930.
Stars: Gordon Jackson, David Langton, Jean Marsh, Angela Baddeley
Votes: 3,562
7. To the Manor Born (1979–2007)
Not Rated | 30 min | Comedy, Romance
Following her husband's passing, Audrey fforbes-Hamilton is forced to sell her stately home. While she comes to terms with her downward mobility, she decides to show the new owner a thing or two about "nobility".
Stars: Penelope Keith, Peter Bowles, Angela Thorne, Daphne Heard
Votes: 2,722
8. St. Elsewhere (1982–1988)
TV-PG | 60 min | Comedy, Drama
The lives and work of the staff of St. Eligius Hospital, an old and disrespected Boston teaching hospital.
Stars: Ed Begley Jr., Howie Mandel, David Morse, Christina Pickles
Votes: 5,207
9. UFO (1970–1971)
TV-PG | 45 min | Action, Sci-Fi
The missions of the Supreme Headquarters Alien Defence Organization (SHADO), which defends Earth from extra-terrestrial threats.
Stars: Ed Bishop, Dolores Mantez, Michael Billington, Ayshea Brough
Votes: 4,126
10. Ugly Betty (2006–2010)
TV-PG | 60 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
Smart but wholesome Betty embraces her unique appearance and independent attitude in the cutthroat world of New York fashion.
Stars: America Ferrera, Eric Mabius, Tony Plana, Ana Ortiz
Votes: 47,816
11. Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1964–1968)
TV-G | 52 min | Adventure, Sci-Fi
The submarine Seaview is commissioned to investigate the mysteries of the seas. Usually it finds more problems than answers...
Stars: Richard Basehart, David Hedison, Robert Dowdell, Del Monroe
Votes: 4,202
12. Star Trek (1966–1969)
TV-PG | 50 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
In 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.
Stars: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, Nichelle Nichols
Votes: 92,826
13. All Creatures Great and Small (1978–1990)
TV-PG | 50 min | Comedy, Drama
The trials and misadventures of the staff of a country veterinary office in Yorkshire from the 1930s to the 1950s.
Stars: Christopher Timothy, Robert Hardy, Peter Davison, Lynda Bellingham
Votes: 4,394
14. A Walk Through the 20th Century with Bill Moyers (1983–1984)
Documentary
Stars: Bill Moyers, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Tony Schwartz
Votes: 21
15. Gran Hotel (2011–2013)
TV-14 | 3,098 min | Crime, Drama, History
A family-owned hotel in the fictional coastal Spanish town of Cantaloa in 1905: love, blackmail, jealousies, crime, comedy, and plots and counter-plots all involving the hotel's owners, guests, detectives, and residential employees.
Stars: Adriana Ozores, Amaia Salamanca, Yon González, Eloy Azorín
Votes: 11,195
16. Battlestar Galactica (1978–1979)
TV-PG | 60 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
After the destruction of the Twelve Colonies of Mankind, the last major fighter carrier leads a makeshift fugitive fleet on a desperate search for the legendary planet Earth.
Stars: Lorne Greene, Richard Hatch, Dirk Benedict, Herbert Jefferson Jr.
Votes: 17,394
17. Dark Shadows (1966–1971)
TV-PG | 30 min | Drama, Fantasy, Horror
The rich Collins family of Collinsport, Maine is tormented by strange occurrences.
Stars: Jonathan Frid, Grayson Hall, Alexandra Isles, Nancy Barrett
Votes: 5,426
18. Another World (1964–1999)
TV-14 | 90 min | Drama, Romance
The life in the Midwestern town of Bay City, and the love, loss, trials, and triumph of its residents, who come from different backgrounds and social circles.
Stars: Victoria Wyndham, Constance Ford, Hugh Marlowe, Linda Dano
Votes: 1,146
19. Veronica Mars (2004–2019)
TV-14 | 44 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
After her best friend is murdered, and her father is removed as county Sheriff, Veronica Mars dedicates her life to cracking the toughest mysteries in the affluent town of Neptune.
Stars: Kristen Bell, Jason Dohring, Enrico Colantoni, Percy Daggs III
Votes: 78,045
20. American Experience (1987– )
TV-PG | 120 min | Documentary, Biography, History
A series showcasing documentaries on American history.
Stars: David McCullough, David Ogden Stiers, Michael Murphy, Oliver Platt
Votes: 2,197
21. The Avengers (1961–1969)
TV-14 | 50 min | Action, Comedy, Crime
A quirky spy show of the adventures of eccentrically suave British Agent John Steed and his predominantly female partners.
Stars: Patrick Macnee, Diana Rigg, Honor Blackman, Linda Thorson
Votes: 8,883
22. The Invaders (1967–1968)
TV-PG | 51 min | Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller
The Aliens are here, posing as human, and not friendly. David Vincent has seen them land and now must evade them and convince others of their presence while not being put in the booby hatch.
Stars: Roy Thinnes, Kent Smith, Max Kleven, William Windom
Votes: 3,431
23. Rawhide (1959–1965)
TV-PG | 50 min | Western
Gil Favor is trail boss of a continuous cattle drive. He is assisted by Rowdy Yates. The crew runs into characters and adventures along the way.
Stars: Clint Eastwood, Paul Brinegar, Steve Raines, Eric Fleming
Votes: 4,601
24. Jonny Quest (1964–1965)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
The Quest family and their bodyguard investigate strange phenomena and battle villains around the world.
Stars: Mike Road, Tim Matheson, Don Messick, Danny Bravo
Votes: 5,319
25. Gigantor (1964)
TV-PG | 25 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
When terrorist groups, evil criminals and aliens become too strong even for Earth's over-stretched armed forces, the virtually-indestructible robot, Gigantor, is built to combat them.
Stars: Billie Lou Watt, Ray Owens, Peter Fernandez, Gilbert Mack
Votes: 251
26. The Untouchables (1959–1963)
50 min | Action, Crime, Drama
Special Agent Eliot Ness and his elite team of incorruptable agents battle organized crime in 1930s Chicago.
Stars: Robert Stack, Walter Winchell, Nicholas Georgiade, Paul Picerni
Votes: 3,075
27. The Addams Family (1964–1966)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy, Family, Horror
The misadventures of a blissfully macabre but extremely loving family.
Stars: John Astin, Carolyn Jones, Jackie Coogan, Ted Cassidy
Votes: 21,787
28. The Streets of San Francisco (1972–1977)
TV-PG | 60 min | Action, Crime, Drama
A veteran cop with more than twenty years of experience is teamed with a young Inspector to solve crimes in San Francisco, California.
Stars: Karl Malden, Michael Douglas, Reuben Collins, Richard Hatch
Votes: 6,892
29. Between the Wars (1978– )
30 min | Documentary, History, War
Series explores the political and diplomatic events and crises between World War I and World War II.
Star: Eric Sevareid
Votes: 67
30. Andi Mack (2017–2019)
TV-G | 25 min | Comedy, Drama, Family
A contemporary coming-of-age story about a girl who's trying to determine where she fits in. When her free-spirited older sister returns with a revelation that changes everything, it sends Andi on an uncharted course of self-discovery.
Stars: Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Joshua Rush, Sofia Wylie, Asher Angel
Votes: 2,569
31. McMillan & Wife (1971–1977)
TV-PG | 120 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
San Francisco Police Commissioner Stewart "Mac" McMillan and his amateur detective wife keep their marriage unpredictable while solving the city's most baffling crimes.
Stars: Rock Hudson, John Schuck, Susan Saint James, Nancy Walker
Votes: 3,011
32. M*A*S*H (1972–1983)
TV-PG | 25 min | Comedy, Drama, War
The staff of an Army hospital in the Korean War find that laughter is the best way to deal with their situation.
Stars: Alan Alda, Wayne Rogers, Loretta Swit, Jamie Farr
Votes: 63,732
33. Ellery Queen (1975–1976)
TV-PG | 100 min | Crime, Drama, Family
The son of a police detective solves baffling crimes.
Stars: Jim Hutton, David Wayne, Tom Reese, John Hillerman
Votes: 1,556
34. The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961–1966)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy, Family
The misadventures of a TV writer both at work and at home.
Stars: Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Rose Marie, Morey Amsterdam
Votes: 11,875
35. Last Tango in Halifax (2012–2020)
TV-14 | 60 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
After 50+ years apart, Celia (Anne Reid) and Alan (Derek Jacobi) are reunited and decide to marry.
Stars: Anne Reid, Derek Jacobi, Sarah Lancashire, Nicola Walker
Votes: 8,824
36. Inspector George Gently (2007–2017)
TV-MA | 89 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
With the help of DS John Bacchus, Inspector George Gently spends his days bringing to justice members of the criminal underworld who are unfortunate enough to have the intrepid investigator assigned to their cases.
Stars: Martin Shaw, Lee Ingleby, Simon Hubbard, Lisa McGrillis
Votes: 8,514
37. 12 O'Clock High (1964–1967)
60 min | Drama, War
A WWII bomb group commander must fill the shoes of his predecessor and get the performance rating up to snuff. He struggles with his own men, until he is able to develop pride in the group and win the men over, but at a cost to him.
Stars: Frank Overton, Paul Burke, Chris Robinson, Robert Lansing
Votes: 1,486
38. Downton Abbey (2010–2015)
TV-PG | 60 min | Drama, Romance
A chronicle of the lives of the British aristocratic Crawley family and their servants in the early twentieth century.
Stars: Hugh Bonneville, Phyllis Logan, Elizabeth McGovern, Brendan Coyle
Votes: 224,720
39. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993–1999)
TV-PG | 45 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
In the vicinity of the liberated planet of Bajor, the Federation space station Deep Space Nine guards the opening of a stable wormhole to the far side of the galaxy.
Stars: Avery Brooks, Rene Auberjonois, Cirroc Lofton, Alexander Siddig
Votes: 70,718
40. Star Trek: Enterprise (2001–2005)
TV-PG | 60 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
A century before Captain Kirk's five-year mission, Jonathan Archer captains the United Earth ship Enterprise during the early years of Starfleet, leading up to the Earth-Romulan War and the formation of the Federation.
Stars: Scott Bakula, John Billingsley, Jolene Blalock, Dominic Keating
Votes: 59,058
41. The World at War (1973–1974)
TV-PG | 50 min | Documentary, History, War
A groundbreaking 26-part documentary series narrated by the actor Laurence Olivier about the deadliest conflict in history, World War II.
Stars: Laurence Olivier, Averell Harriman, Anthony Eden, Albert Speer
Votes: 28,824
42. Queer as Folk (2000–2005)
TV-MA | 47 min | Drama, Romance
Brash humor and genuine emotion make up this series revolving around the lives, loves, ambitions, careers and friendships of a group of gay men and women living on Liberty Avenue in contemporary Pittsburgh, PA.
Stars: Gale Harold, Hal Sparks, Randy Harrison, Michelle Clunie
Votes: 22,444
43. Queer as Folk (1999–2000)
TV-MA | 48 min | Comedy, Drama
A groundbreaking gay adult drama which chronicles the lives of Stuart and Vince, as well as 15-year-old Nathan, who is in love with Stuart.
Stars: Aidan Gillen, Craig Kelly, Charlie Hunnam, Denise Black
Votes: 7,606
44. Butterflies (1978–1983)
30 min | Comedy, Romance
Ria, a happily married suburban housewife, reaches the age when she feels like life is passing her by.
Stars: Wendy Craig, Geoffrey Palmer, Bruce Montague, Nicholas Lyndhurst
Votes: 1,293
45. Hawaii Five-O (1968–1980)
TV-PG | 60 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
The investigations of Hawaii Five-0, an elite branch of the Hawaii State Police answerable only to the governor and headed by stalwart Steve McGarrett.
Stars: Jack Lord, James MacArthur, Kam Fong, Herman Wedemeyer
Votes: 8,176
46. 24 (2001–2010)
TV-14 | 44 min | Action, Crime, Drama
Counter Terrorism Agent Jack Bauer races against the clock to subvert terrorist plots and save his nation from ultimate disaster.
Stars: Kiefer Sutherland, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Carlos Bernard, Dennis Haysbert
Votes: 196,943
47. Heartstopper (2022– )
TV-14 | 30 min | Drama, Romance
Teens Charlie and Nick discover their unlikely friendship might be something more as they navigate school and young love in this coming-of-age series.
Stars: Joe Locke, Kit Connor, William Gao, Yasmin Finney
Votes: 76,350
48. 77 Sunset Strip (1958–1964)
TV-PG | 60 min | Action, Crime, Drama
Stu Bailey and Jeff Spencer are the wisecracking, womanizing private-detective heroes of this Warner Brothers drama.
Stars: Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Edd Byrnes, Roger Smith, Jacqueline Beer
Votes: 1,634
49. Young Sheldon (2017–2024)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
Meet a child genius named Sheldon Cooper (already seen as an adult in The Big Bang Theory (2007)) and his family. Some unique challenges face Sheldon, who is socially impaired.
Stars: Iain Armitage, Zoe Perry, Jim Parsons, Lance Barber
Votes: 101,773
50. The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970–1977)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
The lives and trials of a young single woman and her friends, both at work and at home.
Stars: Mary Tyler Moore, Edward Asner, Gavin MacLeod, Valerie Harper
Votes: 10,165
51. Prime Suspect (1991)
TV-14 | 104 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
A female police detective investigates a series of serial murders while dealing with sexist hostility from her male comrades.
Stars: Helen Mirren, John Benfield, Tom Bell, Craig Fairbrass
Votes: 9,209
52. Alaska Daily (2022–2023)
TV-PG | 47 min | Drama
A journalist seeks a fresh start in Alaska working for a newspaper in Anchorage.
Stars: Hilary Swank, Jeff Perry, Grace Dove, Meredith Holzman
Votes: 9,542
53. Young Royals (2021–2024)
TV-MA | 50 min | Drama, Romance
Prince Wilhelm adjusts to life at his prestigious new boarding school, Hillerska, but following his heart proves more challenging than anticipated.
Stars: Edvin Ryding, Omar Rudberg, Malte Gårdinger, Frida Argento
Votes: 43,887
54. Twin Peaks (1990–1991)
TV-MA | 50 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
An idiosyncratic FBI agent investigates the murder of a young woman in the even more idiosyncratic town of Twin Peaks.
Stars: Kyle MacLachlan, Michael Ontkean, Mädchen Amick, Dana Ashbrook
Votes: 215,205
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