Rolling Stone: 100 Greatest TV Shows of All Time

[Dexter]

I think it's better to put this here than on the General Discussion Board index since I feel while both are different mediums, they are closely linked. Below is a rundown of the article:

From time-capsule sitcoms to cutting-edge Peak-TV dramas — the definitive ranking of the game-changing small-screen classics
100 Greatest TV Shows of All Time
By Rob Sheffield
http://www.rollingstone.com/tv/lists/10 ... os-w439641

There's never been a creative boom for TV like the one we are living through right now. Ever since The Sopranos changed the game at the turn of the century, we've been in a gold rush that gives no signs of slowing down. What better moment to look back and celebrate the greatest shows in the history of the art form? So we undertook a major poll – actors, writers, producers, critics, showrunners. Legends like Carl Reiner and Garry Marshall, who sent us his ballot shortly before his death this summer. All shows from all eras were eligible; anybody could vote for whatever they felt passionate about, from the black-and-white rabbit-ears years to the binge-watching peak-TV era. The ratings didn't matter – only quality. The voters have spoken – and, damn, did they have some fierce opinions. On this list you'll find vintage classics and new favorites, ambitious psychodramas and stoner comedies, underrated cult gems ripe for rediscovery, cops and cartoons and vampire slayers. You'll find the groundbreaking creations of yesteryear as well as today's innovators. (There was nothing like Transparent or Orange Is the New Black or Game of Thrones a few years ago, but who could imagine this list without them?) Our list is guaranteed to start plenty of loud arguments – but the beauty of TV is how it keeps giving us so much to argue about.

100. 'Eastbound and Down' (2009-13)
99. 'Oz' (1997-2003)
98. 'The Golden Girls' (1985-92)
97. 'Portlandia' (2011-Present)
96. 'Gunsmoke' (1955-75)
95. 'Key & Peele' (2012-15)
94. 'Jeopardy' (1964-1975, 1984-Present)
93. 'Mystery Science Theater 3000' (1988-99)
92. 'American Idol' (2001-16)
91. 'Broad City' (2014-Present)
90. 'The Dick Van Dyke Show' (1961-66)
89. 'Homeland' (2011-Present)
88. 'Party Down' (2009-10)
87. 'Doctor Who' (1963-Present)
86. 'Good Times' (1974-79)
85. 'The Real World' (1992-Present)
84. 'Real Time With Bill Maher' (2003-Present)
83. 'House of Cards' (2013-Present)
82. 'The Jeffersons' (1975-85)
81. 'Dallas' (1978-91)
80. 'The Fugitive' (1963-67)
79. 'In Living Color' (1990-94)
78. 'Thirtysomething' (1987-91)
77. 'The Walking Dead' (2010-Present)
76. 'Late Night With Conan O’Brien' (1993-2009)
75. 'American Crime Story: The People vs. O.J. Simpson' (2016)
74. 'The Ren & Stimpy Show' (1991-95)
73. 'Transparent' (2014-Present)
72. 'Girls' (2012-Present)
71. 'Mr. Show' (1995-98)
70. 'Roseanne'(1988-97)
69. 'The Ed Sullivan Show' (1948-71)
68. 'The State' (1993-95)
67. 'The Odd Couple' (1970-75)
66. 'Downton Abbey' (2011-16)
65. 'Happy Days' (1974-84)
64. 'Chappelle’s Show' (2003-06)
63. 'The Wonder Years' (1988-93)
62. 'Sex and the City' (1998-2004)
61. 'Your Show of Shows' (1950-57)
60. 'Beavis and Butt-Head' (1993-97, 2011)
59. 'Hill Street Blues' (1981-87)
58. 'Roots' (1977)
57. 'Fawlty Towers' (1975-79)
56. '24' (2001-10)
55. 'Six Feet Under' (2001-05)
54. 'The Muppet Show' (1976-81)
53. 'The Bob Newhart Show' (1972-78)
52. 'The Colbert Report' (2005-14)
51. 'Fargo' (2014-Present)
50. 'ER' (1994-2009)
49. 'Taxi' (1978-83)
48. 'The Office (U.S.)' (2005-13)
47. 'The Rockford Files' (1974-80)
46. 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show' (1970-77)
45. 'Battlestar Galactica' (2003-09)
44. 'Columbo' (1971-78)
43. 'The Americans' (2013-Present)
42. 'NYPD Blue' (1993-2005)
41. 'The Honeymooners' (1955-56)
40. 'The Shield' (2002-08)
39. 'Lost' (2004-10)
38. 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' (1997-2003)
37. 'Orange Is the New Black' (2013-Present)
36. 'Law & Order' (1990-2010)
35. 'My So-Called Life' (1994-95)
34. '30 Rock' (2006-13)
33. 'South Park' (1997-Present)
32. 'I Love Lucy' (1951-57)
31. 'Sesame Street' (1969-Present)
30. 'The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson' (1962-92)
29. 'Monty Python's Flying Circus' (1969-74)
28. 'The X-Files' (1993-2002, 2016)
27. 'Arrested Development' (2003-06, 2013)
26. 'Friends' (1994-2004)
25. 'Veep' (2012-Present)
24. 'Friday Night Lights' (2006-11)
23. 'Deadwood' (2004-06)
22. 'Louie' (2010-Present)
21. 'The Office (U.K.)' (2001-03)
20. 'Cheers' (1982-93)
19. 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' (2000-Present)
18. 'Star Trek' (1966-69)
17. 'Twin Peaks' (1990-91)
16. 'M*A*S*H' (1972-83)
15. 'The West Wing' (1999-2006)
14. 'The Larry Sanders Show' (1992-98)
13. 'Late Night With David Letterman' (1982-2015)
12. 'Game of Thrones' (2011-Present)
11. 'Freaks and Geeks' (1999-2000)
10. 'The Daily Show' (1996-Present)
9. 'All in the Family' (1971-79)
8. 'Saturday Night Live' (1975-Present)
7. 'The Twilight Zone' (1959-64)
6. 'The Simpsons' (1989-Present)
5. 'Seinfeld' (1989-98)
4. 'Mad Men' (2007-15)
3. 'Breaking Bad' (2008-13)
2. 'The Wire' (2002-08)
1. 'The Sopranos' (1999-2007)

For my own comments, none of the shows in the top 10 would qualify in my personal list except for 'The Simpsons', though I don't watch too much TV. The others are 'Roots', 'Twin Peaks', 'Game of Thrones', 'South Park', 'Friends', 'The Wonder Years', 'MTV (to be more specific the Top 20 Video Countdown)', 'Monty Python's Flying Circus' and lastly 'Angels in America', which was not even in the list. Other notable omissions are 'The Twilight Zone', 'Spongebob Squarepants', 'The Singing Detective' and let's face it, 'The Cosby Show' would have made the list 2 years ago.

[whuntva]

Predictable Top 3. Like same order as every other list even.

Of the shows in the Top 10, I think only Breaking Bad or Twilight Zone would make my personal Top 10.

Also, no Firefly or any Star Trek past the original is fishy.

Some shows I might have included are Gravity Falls, Sons of Anarchy, Stargate SG-1, Samurai Jack and Avatar: The Last Airbender.


And you call Twilight Zone an omission when it is in fact #7 on the list. Do you mean the reboot or something?

[PlasticRam]

I like that Friends is pretty high, which is my favorite (although I know some people that really dislike that show as opposed to Seinfeld).

[prosecutorgodot]

I'm not a TV buff in the slightest, but I feel like this list is not going to enrage anybody, nor is it edgy, other than the inclusion of "The People vs. OJ Simpson" that came out this year.

The three shows I had an instant positive reaction to were "Key and Peele," "Jeopardy," and "Battlestar Galactica."

I think "Spongebob Squarepants" and "Avatar: The Last Airbender" are the two TV shows for kids (at least Asian kids) that are essential. It's sad to see they're not on here. I also wish "Heroes" was on here, though it probably won't be on any critic's all-time list since the consensus is that only the first season is good.

One show I kinda hate is "The Office (U.S.)." It's also weird to see Saturday Night Live as the top variety / talk / comedy / music show. It hasn't been funny at all over the past few years. But I guess it's acclaim comes from it's early days.

I'm pretty sure my dad would like seeing this list, since he comes from the TV generation. Maybe I should get his thoughts hahaha.

[Dexter]

And you call Twilight Zone an omission when it is in fact #7 on the list. Do you mean the reboot or something?

Not the reboot. I completely did not see it at #7. Thanks for pointing it out. Great show, a couple of its episodes gave me nightmares when I was a child.

I like that Friends is pretty high, which is my favorite (although I know some people that really dislike that show as opposed to Seinfeld).

A personal favorite of mine too. I could watch reruns of it and still laugh at the same jokes and there is something to relate to with each of the characters, the same thing I can't say with 'Seinfeld.'

I also wish "Heroes" was on here, though it probably won't be on any critic's all-time list since the consensus is that only the first season is good.

Season one of 'Heroes', and also 'Prison Break' were one of the best I've ever watched on TV. The latter should have stopped after season 1 and the former just wasn't able to sustain its excellence. Also, I really don't get the critic's love for 'Freak and Geeks' and 'My So-Called Life', yeah they were ok and the stars in the show went on to become stars but they were cancelled after 1 season. On the other hand, 'The Wonder Years', which also a coming-of-age themed show with more relatable characters (and superb soundtrack) that lasted several (admittedly, uneven) seasons, has a lower rank.

Lastly, how I wish there would a publication that would rank the greatest TV shows of all time from a global perspective, I would be intrigued where Marimar (Mexico), O Clone (Brazil), Winter Sonata (S. Korea), Neon Genesis Evangelion,Cowboy Bebop and Nobuta wo Produce (Japan) would rank.

[bootsy]

Six Feet Under and The Shield way too low.

The Wire should be number 1. I like the Sopranos but those middle seasons were average and made the series too bloated.

[prosecutorgodot]

Lastly, how I wish there would a publication that would rank the greatest TV shows of all time from a global perspective, I would be intrigued where Marimar (Mexico), O Clone (Brazil), Winter Sonata (S. Korea), Neon Genesis Evangelion,Cowboy Bebop and Nobuta wo Produce (Japan) would rank.

Cowboy Bebop for #1! Haha
Also, has anyone heard of "Dae Jang Geum" (or Dai Cheung Gum in Cantonese) from South Korea? It's a 2003-2004 drama that takes place in ancient Korea, about a woman who becomes a famous chef and doctor? It's pretty much the only show I know outside of US, UK and anime, but I think it is pretty good.

[Dexter]

Also, has anyone heard of "Dae Jang Geum" (or Dai Cheung Gum in Cantonese) from South Korea?

It's titled 'Jewel in the Palace' in my country which was dubbed and shown on local TV. So popular was the show that the lead actors' visit made headlines. Excellent show and would make my personal list considering the story (based on a true story) strong woman overcoming rivalries, sexism, social discrimination to eventually become the chief royal doctor. Young-Ae Lee is a very pretty and very talented actress.

I'm currently watching 'Descendants of the Sun,' another popular S. Korean TV drama series, worth checking out but it's not as great as 'Jewel in the Palace.'

[Midaso]

Six Feet Under and The Shield way too low.

The Wire should be number 1. I like the Sopranos but those middle seasons were average and made the series too bloated.

I always thought of Six Feet Under as being right up there with any of those top 3 (didn't see all of The Shield). It's lack of violence/crime is what makes it less popular than those...

Too American-biased,there are quite a few weak American entries,at the expense of some strong BBC shows. The real shock for me is David Letterman at #13,I just never thought of him as a great host,he did have great longevity though I suppose. Also,it's a surprise Frasier isn't there,they showered it with Emmys for years,and Cheers is in a decent position

[bootsy]

The people complaining about its too American biased what are you expecting. Rolling Stone is an American publication. It's like expecting a French magazine not having any American shows. Rolling Stone isn't going to appeal to people that watch shows on BBC. That's just be honest and real.

[Henrik]

French magazines would have American shows on their lists though. And if a list is just supposed to give the readers what they want that's not good journalism.

[Dexter]

RS as an US publication obviously will favor American show, good journalism or not. The British shows in the list: Downtown Abbey, Monty Python's Flying Circus and Doctor Who are really the only ones I can think of (aside from Sherlock) that truly have wide appeal, otherwise the readers will be left scratching their heads. I'm not even familiar with a tenth of the Top 100 British shows of all time.

[bonnielaurel]

81. 'Dallas' (1978-91)
63. 'The Wonder Years' (1988-93)
58. 'Roots' (1977)
57. 'Fawlty Towers' (1975-79)
54. 'The Muppet Show' (1976-81)
49. 'Taxi' (1978-83)
44. 'Columbo' (1971-78)
32. 'I Love Lucy' (1951-57)
31. 'Sesame Street' (1969-Present)
29. 'Monty Python's Flying Circus' (1969-74)
20. 'Cheers' (1982-93)
17. 'Twin Peaks' (1990-91)
6. 'The Simpsons' (1989-Present)

These are the thirteen that would probably make my own top 100. Remarkable: they're all from before 1990. That boom of "quality" has gone by me. I've watched the first episodes of "Breaking Bad", which I found terrible, and of "The Sopranos", which I found mediocre. Some of my favorites not in this top 100:

Blackadder (1982)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955)
Tales of the Unexpected (1979)
Lou Grant (1977)
Yes Minister (1980)
Not the Nine O'Clock News (1979)
Derrick (1974)
The Avengers (1961)
Diagnosis Murder (1993)
Secret Army (1977)
Zorro (1957)
The Cosby Show (1984)
Diff'rent Strokes (1978)
Not Going Out (2006)
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1984)
Agatha Christie's Poirot (1989)
Murder, She Wrote (1984)
Ally McBeal (1997)
Mr. Bean (1990)
Married with Children (1987)
You Rang, M'Lord? (1988)
All Creatures Great and Small (1978)
'Allo 'Allo (1982)
Borgen (2010)
Matlock (1986)
House of Cards (1990)
Tess of the d'Urbervilles (2008)

I'm not as old as this list makes me look, but I used to watch lots of reruns and DVD-boxes. Lately I'm mostly watching films and not following any series. "Borgen" is the most recent I really found worth following.

[bootsy]

French magazines would have American shows on their lists though. And if a list is just supposed to give the readers what they want that's not good journalism.

Would have? That's nice but that doesn't mean Rolling Stone Magazine has to have foreign shows to satisfy you.
It is giving readers of this particular magazine what they want, the greatest shows of all time. It doesn't have to clarify that it is all American shows. This is one magazines view of what they think are the greatest shows of all time.

And having a list with a lot of foreign TV shows in a US publication wouldn't appeal it's subscribers/readers so in this case that is good journalism.

[bootsy]

RS as an US publication obviously will favor American show, good journalism or not. The British shows in the list: Downtown Abbey, Monty Python's Flying Circus and Doctor Who are really the only ones I can think of (aside from Sherlock) that truly have wide appeal, otherwise the readers will be left scratching their heads. I'm not even familiar with a tenth of the Top 100 British shows of all time.

Agreed.

[BleuPanda]

TV is such a strange beast, and one where I'm not going to give a publication trouble over their failure to include a lot of foreign stuff. I can't think of much that has really, fully penetrated the market here; television is a much bigger commitment than other media (the only one I would say is comparable is video games, and that largely depends on genre) that it's already hard enough being familiar with the essentials from your own culture.

The fact they're so lacking in children's animation is strange, since that is an area they should be familiar with. Through a quick glance, the only one that I noticed was Ren and Stimpy, which feels like a poor choice (and fits too nicely with the crude adult works). If we're going to make an America-centric list, Spongebob and Avatar seem essential, and quite a few recent works are at least on the border (Gravity Falls, Adventure Time, Steven Universe).

I guess another problem is that, between the time commitment and variety there is in television, how much use does a list like this have? As someone who leans towards animation, I'm not going to find much here. Even people who generally stick with live action American television likely already know these picks. It feels like one of those things that exists more as a way to make their readers happy than to introduce anyone to anything.

[JR]

"Soap" is a glaring omission for me. And "I Love Lucy" that low? Scandalous.

Some of my favorites are present.

[bootsy]

"Soap" is a glaring omission for me. And "I Love Lucy" that low? Scandalous.

Some of my favorites are present.

Soap, yes I loved that show as a little kid.

[Nick]

Not a TV buff in the slightest, but these 4 would make my top 5 TV shows ever...

3. 'Breaking Bad' (2008-13)
27. 'Arrested Development' (2003-06, 2013)
33. 'South Park' (1997-Present)
48. 'The Office (U.S.)' (2005-13)

The only one in my top 5 that didn't make the list was Futurama, the absence of which is mindbogglingly absurd, especially considering they put the also great (though slightly less great, imo) Simpsons at number 6.

[Dexter]

If you're wondering how a British publication would rank the best TV shows of all time, check this one out by Empire:

Empire's The 50 best TV shows ever
James Dyer, Owen Williams, Ed Gross, James White, John Nugent, Phil De Semlyen, Chris Hewitt
15 Jun 2016

The Wire. Breaking Bad. Sex And The City. Um, Airwolf. We asked and you voted – in your droves – for the greatest TV shows/series ever committed to the small screen. The numbers have been crunched and the results are in. Here, in descending order of greatest, are Empire's 50 finest TV shows in history. It's bad news for Stringfellow Hawke...
http://www.empireonline.com/movies/feat ... hows-ever/

50. Columbo (1968-78, 1989-2003)
Best Episode: Forgotten Lady (Season 5, Episode 1)
49. Sex and the City (1998-2004)
Best Episode: The Agony And The Ex-tacy (Season 4, Episode 1)
48. 30 Rock (2006-2013)
Best Episode Tracy Does Conan (Season 1, episode 7)
47. M*A*S*H (1972-83)
Best Episode: Point Of View (Season 7, episode 10)
46. The Americans (2013-present)
Best Episode: The Magic Of David Copperfield V: The Statue Of Liberty Disappears (Season 4, episode 8)
45. ER (1994-2009)
Best Episode: Hell And High Water (Season 2, Episode 7)
44. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993-1999)
Best Episode: In The Pale Moonlight (Season 6, Episodes 19)
43. Arrested Development (2003- )
Best Episode: Pier Pressure (Season 1, episode 10)
42. The Bridge (2011- )
Best Episode: Series 1, episode 10
41. Fargo (2014- )
Best Episode: Loplop (Season 2, episode 8)
40. Parks and Recreation (2009-2015)
Best Episode: Ron & Tammy Part 2 (Season 3, episode 4)
39. The Walking Dead (2010- )
Best Episode: Here’s Not Here (Season 6, episode 4)
38. Monty Python’s Flying Circus (1969-1974)
Best Episode: Impossible to pick one but How To Recognise Different Types Of Trees From Quite A Long Way Away has the best name
37. Doctor Who (1963-1989/2005- )
Best Episode: Genesis Of The Daleks (Series 12)
36. Six Feet Under (2001-2005)
Best Episode: It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year (Season 2, episode 8)
35. Friday Night Lights (2006-2011)
Best Episode: Mud Bowl (Season 1, episode 20)
34. Only Fools And Horses (1981-2003)
Best Episode: Yuppy Love (Series 6, episode 1)
33. I'm Alan Partridge (1997-2002)
Best Episode: The Colour Of Alan (Series 2, episode 2)
32. The Thick Of It (2005-2012)
Best Episode: Spinners And Losers
31. Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000- )
Best Episode: Opening Night (Season 4, Episode 10).
30. Star Trek (1966-1969)
Best Episode: The City On The Edge Of Forever (Season 1, episode 28)
29. Sherlock (2010- )
Best Episode: A Scandal In Belgravia (Series 2, episode 1)
28. Twin Peaks (1990-1991)
Best Episode: Episode Twenty-Nine (Season 2, Episode 22).
27. The Office UK (2001-2003)
Best episode: Charity (Series 2, episode 5)
26. Lost (2004-2010)
Best Episode: Exodus (Season 1, Episodes 23-24)
25. Seinfeld (1990-1998)
Best Episode: The Contest (Season 4, episode 11)
24. Fawlty Towers (1975-1979)
Best Episode: The Germans (Series 1, episode 6)
23. 24 (2001-2015)
Best Episode: 6:00 AM - 7:00 AM (Season 3, Episode 18) – the death of Ryan Chapelle
22. Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)
Best Episode: Becoming: Part 2 (Season 2, episode 22)
21. The X-Files (1993-2016)
Best Episode: Squeeze (Season 1, episode 3)
20. The Shield (2002-2008)
Best Episode: Post Partum (Season 5, Episode 11)
19. Frasier (1993-2004)
Best Episode: The Show Must Go Off (Season 8, episode 12)
18. Homicide (1993-1999)
Best Episode: Prison Riot (Season 5, episode 3)
17. Spaced (1999-2001)
Best Episode: Chaos (Series 1, episode 5)
16. Mad Men (2007-2015)
Best Episode Far Away Places (Season 5, episode 6)
15. Hill Street Blues (1981-1987)
Best Episode: Trial By Fury (Season 3, episode 1)
14. The Sopranos (1999-2007)
Best Episode: Long Term Parking (Season 5, episode 12)
13. Deadwood (2004-2006)
Best Episode: Requiem For A Gleet (Season 2, episode 4)
12. The Twilight Zone (1959-1964)
Best Episode: To Serve Man. (Season 3, episode 24).
11. Cracker (1993-1996, 2006)
Best Episode: To Be A Somebody (Series 2, episode 1)
10. The Killing (2007-2012)
Best Episode: Season One, episode 20
9. Blackadder (1983-1989)
Best Episode: Bells (Series 2, episode 1)
8. Oz (1997-2003)
Best Episode: Revenge Is Sweet (Season 4, episode 11)
7. Game of Thrones (2011- )
Best Episode: Blackwater (Season 2, episode 9)
6. Battlestar Galactica (2003-2009)
Best Episode: 33 (Season 1, episode 1)
5. Friends (1994-2004)
Best Episode: The One With The Prom Video (Season 2, episode 14)
4. The Simpsons (1989- )
Best Episode: Marge Vs. The Monorail (Season 4, episode 12)
3. The West Wing (1996-2006)
Best Episode: Two Cathedrals (Season 2, episode 22)
2. Breaking Bad (2008-2013)
Best Episode: One Minute (Season 3, episode 7)
1. The Wire (2002-2008)
Best Episode: Middle Ground (Season 3, episode 11)


I should definitely look for episodes of Blackadder, Mr. Bean and Dr. House at peak comedic form should be a treat!