List of television shows considered the best

This is a list of television shows that television critics or magazines have considered among the best of all time. The television shows are included on at least three separate best-of lists from different publications (inclusive of all time periods, networks and genres), as chosen by their editorial staff.

List

Television show Genre Release Network Ref.
24 Action 2001–2010, 2014 Fox [A]
30 Rock Sitcom 2006–2013 NBC [B]
60 Minutes News magazine 1968–present CBS [C]
Alfred Hitchcock Presents Horror 1955–1965 CBS (1955–60; 1962–64), NBC (1960–62; 1964–65) [D]
Alias Spy fiction 2001–2006 ABC [E]
All in the Family Sitcom 1971–1979 CBS [F]
American Idol Reality television 2002–2016, 2018–present Fox (2002–16), ABC (2018–present) [G]
The Americans Spy fiction 2013–2018 FX [H]
The Andy Griffith Show Sitcom 1960–1968 CBS [I]
Arrested Development Sitcom 2003–2006, 2013–2019 Fox (2003–06), Netflix (2013–19) [J]
Atlanta Comedy drama 2016–2022 FX [K]
Band of Brothers War drama 2001 HBO [L]
Barry Crime drama 2018–2023 HBO [M]
Battlestar Galactica Science fiction 2003–2009 Sci Fi [N]
Beavis and Butt-Head Adult animation 1993–1997, 2011, 2022–2023 MTV (1993–2011), Paramount+(2022–23), Comedy Central [O]
Better Call Saul Legal drama 2015–2022 AMC [P]
The Bob Newhart Show Sitcom 1972–1978 CBS [Q]
BoJack Horseman Adult animation 2014–2020 Netflix [R]
Breaking Bad Crime drama 2008–2013 AMC [S]
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Supernatural 1997–2003 The WB (1997-2001), UPN (2001–03) [T]
The Carol Burnett Show Variety show 1967–1978 CBS [U]
Chappelle's Show Sketch comedy 2003–2006 Comedy Central [V]
Cheers Sitcom 1982–1993 NBC [W]
Chernobyl Historical drama 2019 HBO (US), Sky Atlantic (UK) [X]
Columbo Crime drama 1968–1978, 1989–2003 NBC (1968–78), ABC (1989–2003) [Y]
Community Sitcom 2009–2014, 2015 NBC (2009–14), Yahoo! Screen (2015) [Z]
The Cosby Show Sitcom 1984–1992 NBC [AA]
Curb Your Enthusiasm Sitcom 1999, 2000–2024 HBO [AB]
The Daily Show Talk show 1996–present Comedy Central (1996–present), Paramount+(2021–present) [AC]
Dallas Soap opera 1978–1991 CBS [AD]
Deadwood Western 2004–2006 HBO [AE]
The Dick Van Dyke Show Sitcom 1961–1966 CBS [AF]
Doctor Who Science fiction 1963–1989, 1996, 2005–present BBC1 (1963–96), Fox (1996), BBC One (2005–present), Disney+ (2023–present) [AG]
The Ed Sullivan Show Variety show 1948–1971 CBS [AH]
ER Medical drama 1994–2009 NBC [AI]
Fargo Crime drama 2014–present FX [AJ]
Fawlty Towers Sitcom 1975–1979 BBC Two [AK]
Firefly Science fiction 2002 Fox [AL]
Fleabag Comedy drama 2016–2019 BBC Three (2016), BBC One (2019) [AM]
Frasier Sitcom 1993–2004 NBC [AN]
Freaks and Geeks Comedy drama 1999–2000 NBC [AO]
Friday Night Lights Sports drama 2006–2011 NBC (2006–08), The 101 Network (2008–11) [AP]
Friends Sitcom 1994–2004 NBC [AQ]
Game of Thrones Fantasy 2011–2019 HBO [AR]
Gilmore Girls Comedy drama 2000–2007 The WB (2000–06), The CW (2006–07) [AS]
Girls Comedy drama 2012–2017 HBO [AT]
The Golden Girls Sitcom 1985–1992 NBC [AU]
The Good Place Fantasy 2016–2020 NBC [AV]
Good Times Sitcom 1974–1979 CBS [AW]
The Good Wife Legal drama 2009–2016 CBS [AX]
Grey's Anatomy Medical drama 2005–present ABC [AY]
Gunsmoke Western 1955–1975 CBS [AZ]
Hannibal Psychological thriller 2013–2015 NBC [BA]
Happy Days Sitcom 1974–1984 ABC [BB]
Hill Street Blues Police procedural 1981–1987 NBC [BC]
Homeland Spy fiction 2011–2020 Showtime [BD]
Homicide: Life on the Street Crime drama 1993–1999 NBC [BE]
The Honeymooners Sitcom 1955–1956 CBS [BF]
I Love Lucy Sitcom 1951–1957 CBS [BG]
I May Destroy You Comedy drama 2020 BBC One (UK), HBO (US) [BH]
In Living Color Sketch comedy 1990–1994 Fox [BI]
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Sitcom 2005–present FX (2005–12), FXX (2013–present) [BJ]
The Jeffersons Sitcom 1975–1985 CBS [BK]
Jeopardy! Game show 1964–1975, 1978–1979, 1984–present NBC (1964–75, 1978–79), Weekly syndication (1974–75), Daily syndication (1984–present) [BL]
The Larry Sanders Show Sitcom 1992–1998 HBO [BM]
Late Night with David Letterman Talk show 1982–1993 NBC [BN]
Law & Order Legal drama 1990–2010, 2022–present NBC [BO]
The Leftovers Supernatural 2014–2017 HBO [BP]
Lost Science fiction 2004–2010 ABC [BQ]
M*A*S*H Comedy drama 1972–1983 CBS [BR]
Mad Men Period drama 2007–2015 AMC [BS]
The Mary Tyler Moore Show Sitcom 1970–1977 CBS [BT]
Monty Python's Flying Circus Sketch comedy 1969–1974 BBC1 (1969–73), BBC2 (1974) [BU]
Mr. Show with Bob and David Sketch comedy 1995–1998 HBO [BV]
The Muppet Show Variety show 1976–1981 ITV (UK), syndication (US) [BW]
My So-Called Life Teen drama 1994–1995 ABC [BX]
Mystery Science Theater 3000 Science fiction 1988–1996, 1997–1999, 2017–2018, 2022 KTMA-TV (1988–89), The Comedy Channel (1989–91), Comedy Central (1991–96), Sci-Fi Channel (1997–99), Netflix (2017–18), Gizmoplex (2022) [BY]
NYPD Blue Police procedural 1993–2005 ABC [BZ]
The Office Sitcom 2001–2003 BBC Two (2001–02), BBC One (2003) [CA]
The Office Sitcom 2005–2013 NBC [CB]
The Oprah Winfrey Show Talk show 1986–2011 Syndication [CC]
Oz Prison 1997–2003 HBO [CD]
Parks and Recreation Sitcom 2009–2015, 2020 NBC [CE]
Prime Suspect Police procedural 1991–2006 ITV [CF]
The Prisoner Spy fiction 1967–1968 ATV (ITV) [CG]
The Real World Reality television 1992–2019 MTV (1992–2017), Facebook Watch (2019) [CH]
Rick and Morty Adult animation 2013–present Adult Swim [CI]
Roots Historical drama 1977 ABC [CJ]
Roseanne Sitcom 1988–1997, 2018 ABC [CK]
Sanford and Son Sitcom 1972–1977 NBC [CL]
Saturday Night Live Variety show 1975–present NBC [CM]
Seinfeld Sitcom 1989–1998 NBC [CN]
Sesame Street Educational 1969–present NET (1969–70), PBS (1970–present, HBO (2016–20), HBO Max/Max (2020–present) [CO]
Sex and the City Comedy drama 1998–2004 HBO [CP]
The Shield Crime drama 2002–2008 FX [CQ]
The Simpsons Animated sitcom 1989–present Fox (1989–present), Disney+ (2024–present) [CR]
Six Feet Under Comedy drama 2001–2005 HBO [CS]
Soap Sitcom 1977–1981 ABC [CT]
The Sopranos Crime drama 1999–2007 HBO [CU]
South Park Adult animation 1997–present Comedy Central, Paramount+ [CV]
St. Elsewhere Medical drama 1982–1988 NBC [CW]
Star Trek: The Next Generation Science fiction 1987–1994 First-run syndication [CX]
Star Trek: The Original Series Science fiction 1966–1969 NBC [CY]
Stranger Things Science fiction 2016–present Netflix [CZ]
Succession Comedy drama 2018–2023 HBO [DA]
Survivor Reality television 2000–present CBS [DB]
Taxi Sitcom 1978–1982, 1982–1983 ABC (1978–82), NBC (1982–83) [DC]
Thirtysomething Drama 1987–1991 ABC [DD]
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Talk show 1962–1992 NBC [DE]
The Twilight Zone Speculative fiction 1959–1964 CBS [DF]
Twin Peaks Horror 1990–1991, 2017 ABC (1990–91), Showtime (2017) [DG]
Veep Comedy 2012–2019 HBO [DH]
Watchmen Superhero 2019 HBO [DI]
The West Wing Political drama 1999–2006 NBC [DJ]
Will & Grace Sitcom 1998–2006, 2017–2020 NBC [DK]
The Wire Crime drama 2002–2008 HBO [DL]
The Wonder Years Coming-of-age 1988–1993 ABC [DM]
The X-Files Science fiction 1993–2002, 2016–2018 Fox [DN]
Your Show of Shows Variety show 1950–1954 NBC [DO]

Publications

The reference numbers in the notes section show which of the 9 selected publications list the television show.

See also

Notes

The reference numbers show which publications include the television show.

  1. ^ 24:[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
  2. ^ 30 Rock:[2][10][4][5][6][11][12]
  3. ^ 60 Minutes:[8][13][12]
  4. ^ Alfred Hitchcock Presents:[14][4][5][8]
  5. ^ Alias:[1][3][4][9]
  6. ^ All in the Family:[15][4][5][6][11][8][13][12]
  7. ^ American Idol:[10][6][8][13]
  8. ^ The Americans:[2][4][5][6][11][7][12]
  9. ^ The Andy Griffith Show:[15][4][13]
  10. ^ Arrested Development:[1][2][14][4][5][6][11][8][9][12]
  11. ^ Atlanta:[2][5][11][12]
  12. ^ Band of Brothers:[1][2][4][5][11][7]
  13. ^ Barry:[2][5][11]
  14. ^ Battlestar Galactica:[1][2][10][4][5][6][11][7][8][13][9]
  15. ^ Beavis and Butt-Head:[10][4][6][8][9]
  16. ^ Better Call Saul:[2][4][5][11][7]
  17. ^ The Bob Newhart Show:[16][6][11][8][13][12]
  18. ^ BoJack Horseman:[2][5][11][7][12]
  19. ^ Breaking Bad:[2][14][4][5][6][11][7][13][12]
  20. ^ Buffy the Vampire Slayer:[1][2][15][4][5][6][11][7][8][13][9][12]
  21. ^ The Carol Burnett Show:[16][11][8][13][12]
  22. ^ Chappelle's Show:[10][4][6][11][9][12]
  23. ^ Cheers:[2][14][4][5][6][11][7][8][13][12]
  24. ^ Chernobyl:[2][5][7]
  25. ^ Columbo:[2][16][5][6][11][13][12]
  26. ^ Community:[4][5][11][12]
  27. ^ The Cosby Show:[14][4][8][13][12]
  28. ^ Curb Your Enthusiasm:[1][2][4][5][6][11][7][12]
  29. ^ The Daily Show:[4][5][6][11][8][13][12]
  30. ^ Dallas:[10][6][8][13][12]
  31. ^ Deadwood:[1][2][10][4][5][6][11][7][8][12]
  32. ^ The Dick Van Dyke Show:[5][6][11][8][13][12]
  33. ^ Doctor Who:[1][2][10][4][5][6][7][9]
  34. ^ The Ed Sullivan Show:[6][8][13]
  35. ^ ER:[1][2][16][4][5][6][11][13][12]
  36. ^ Fargo:[2][4][6][11]
  37. ^ Fawlty Towers:[1][2][4][6][11][7]
  38. ^ Firefly:[1][5][7][9]
  39. ^ Fleabag:[2][5][11][7][12]
  40. ^ Frasier:[1][2][16][4][5][11]
  41. ^ Freaks and Geeks:[10][4][5][6][11][8][9][12]
  42. ^ Friday Night Lights:[2][16][4][5][6][11][12]
  43. ^ Friends:[1][2][14][4][5][6][11][7][8][13][12]
  44. ^ Game of Thrones:[2][3][4][5][6][11][7][12]
  45. ^ Gilmore Girls:[2][16][7][8][12]
  46. ^ Girls:[2][6][11][12]
  47. ^ The Golden Girls:[16][4][5][6][11][7][13][12]
  48. ^ The Good Place:[5][11][12]
  49. ^ Good Times:[3][4][6][11]
  50. ^ The Good Wife:[2][4][13]
  51. ^ Grey's Anatomy:[3][7][12]
  52. ^ Gunsmoke:[6][8][13]
  53. ^ Hannibal:[2][4][5][12]
  54. ^ Happy Days:[4][5][6][12]
  55. ^ Hill Street Blues:[16][4][6][11][8][13][12]
  56. ^ Homeland:[10][6][12]
  57. ^ Homicide: Life on the Street:[2][10][8][13]
  58. ^ The Honeymooners:[14][4][6][11][8][13]
  59. ^ I Love Lucy:[14][4][5][6][11][7][8][13][12]
  60. ^ I May Destroy You:[2][5][11][12]
  61. ^ In Living Color:[3][4][5][6][7][12]
  62. ^ It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia:[2][4][5][11]
  63. ^ The Jeffersons:[5][6][11][12]
  64. ^ Jeopardy!:[6][11][13][12]
  65. ^ The Larry Sanders Show:[16][4][5][6][11][7][8][13][12]
  66. ^ Late Night with David Letterman:[6][11][8][13][12]
  67. ^ Law & Order:[14][4][5][6][13]
  68. ^ The Leftovers:[2][4][5][11][7][12]
  69. ^ Lost:[1][2][14][4][5][6][11][7][8][13][9][12]
  70. ^ M*A*S*H:[2][16][4][5][6][11][7][8][13][12]
  71. ^ Mad Men:[2][15][4][5][6][11][7][13][12]
  72. ^ The Mary Tyler Moore Show:[15][4][5][6][11][7][8][13][12]
  73. ^ Monty Python's Flying Circus:[1][2][16][4][5][6][11][7][8][13]
  74. ^ Mr. Show with Bob and David:[4][6][11][9]
  75. ^ The Muppet Show:[16][4][5][6][11][9][12]
  76. ^ My So-Called Life:[14][5][6][11][8][12]
  77. ^ Mystery Science Theater 3000: [3][4][5][6][8][9]
  78. ^ NYPD Blue:[2][10][4][5][6][11][13][12]
  79. ^ The Office:[1][2][14][4][6][11][8]
  80. ^ The Office:[2][3][4][5][6][11][7][8][9][12]
  81. ^ The Oprah Winfrey Show:[8][13][12]
  82. ^ Oz:[2][3][4][5][6][11][7]
  83. ^ Parks and Recreation:[2][4][5][11][7]
  84. ^ Prime Suspect:[2][16][8]
  85. ^ The Prisoner:[10][4][5][8]
  86. ^ The Real World:[16][4][6][8][12]
  87. ^ Rick and Morty:[2][4][5][11]
  88. ^ Roots:[4][5][6][11][7][8][12]
  89. ^ Roseanne:[14][4][5][6][8][13][12]
  90. ^ Sanford and Son:[3][4][8]
  91. ^ Saturday Night Live:[14][4][5][6][11][7][8][13][9][12]
  92. ^ Seinfeld:[1][2][15][4][5][6][11][7][8][13][9][12]
  93. ^ Sesame Street:[4][5][6][11][8][13][12]
  94. ^ Sex and the City:[1][2][10][4][5][6][11][7][8][13][12]
  95. ^ The Shield:[1][2][10][4][5][6][11][8][13][9][12]
  96. ^ The Simpsons:[1][2][15][4][5][6][11][7][8][13][9][12]
  97. ^ Six Feet Under:[1][2][10][4][5][6][11][7][8][12]
  98. ^ Soap:[10][4][8]
  99. ^ The Sopranos:[1][2][15][4][5][6][11][7][8][13][9][12]
  100. ^ South Park:[1][3][4][5][6][11][8][9][12]
  101. ^ St. Elsewhere:[16][8][13][12]
  102. ^ Star Trek: The Next Generation:[1][2][10][4][5][7][9][12]
  103. ^ Star Trek: The Original Series:[1][2][3][4][5][6][11][8][13]
  104. ^ Stranger Things:[2][7][12]
  105. ^ Succession:[2][5][11][7][12]
  106. ^ Survivor:[16][4][5][8][13][12]
  107. ^ Taxi:[16][6][11][8][13][12]
  108. ^ Thirtysomething:[10][6][12]
  109. ^ The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson:[4][5][6][11][8][13][12]
  110. ^ The Twilight Zone:[2][14][4][5][6][11][7][8][13][9][12]
  111. ^ Twin Peaks:[1][2][16][4][5][6][11][7][8][9][12]
  112. ^ Veep:[2][4][5][6][11][7][12]
  113. ^ Watchmen:[2][5][11][12]
  114. ^ The West Wing:[1][2][10][4][5][6][11][7][8][13][12]
  115. ^ Will & Grace:[10][4][12]
  116. ^ The Wire:[1][2][15][4][5][6][11][7][8][13][9][12]
  117. ^ The Wonder Years:[4][5][6][11][12]
  118. ^ The X-Files:[1][2][16][4][5][6][11][7][8][13][9][12]
  119. ^ Your Show of Shows:[15][6][8][13]

References

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  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Staff, EW (11 July 2013). "TV: All-Time Greatest, Nos. 100-76". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 12 March 2025. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
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  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax Team, ScreenRant (20 July 2024). "The Best TV Shows Of All Time, Ranked". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on 9 March 2025. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm Poniewozik, James (2007). "The 100 Best TV Shows of All-TIME". Time. Archived from the original on 26 February 2009. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa Team, UGO (30 December 2009). "Top 50 TV Shows of All Time". UGO. Archived from the original on 3 November 2011. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
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