A Reliable List of the 60 Best TV Shows Ever From a Pro
A list of the best TV shows since the early 60's. Looking for a new favorite show? Don't waste your time checking out lame lists recommended by amateurs, watch any one of these shows recommended by a pro and you'll be the coolest kid in school.
Notes:
Obviously, I am not familiar with every show in TV history, but for the most part, this comprises a fairly comprehensive opinion from at least the early 70's, so that means it is very possible that I did intentionally leave your favorite shows off the list. Sorry. But hey, we can still be friends.
Shows with excessive violence are usually not my cup of tea, so there are many highly rated shows that are not here.
There are only 20 or so shows on this list that I would consider "top 10" quality. Inclusion on this list does not mean I was a huge fan of the show and thought it was amazing. Heck, even Seinfeld has some episodes I didn't care for, but all of the shows on this list are at least good, with footnotes taken into account.
Please read footnotes! Many shows on this list need an explanation because only certain seasons are good (see Happy Days, for example).
IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER!
Notes:
Obviously, I am not familiar with every show in TV history, but for the most part, this comprises a fairly comprehensive opinion from at least the early 70's, so that means it is very possible that I did intentionally leave your favorite shows off the list. Sorry. But hey, we can still be friends.
Shows with excessive violence are usually not my cup of tea, so there are many highly rated shows that are not here.
There are only 20 or so shows on this list that I would consider "top 10" quality. Inclusion on this list does not mean I was a huge fan of the show and thought it was amazing. Heck, even Seinfeld has some episodes I didn't care for, but all of the shows on this list are at least good, with footnotes taken into account.
Please read footnotes! Many shows on this list need an explanation because only certain seasons are good (see Happy Days, for example).
IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER!
List activity
29 views
• 0 this weekCreate a new list
List your movie, TV & celebrity picks.
61 titles
- CreatorSteve ConradStarsMichael DormanKurtwood SmithMichael ChernusFollows the complicated life of intelligence officer John Tavner, whose latest assignment--to prevent Iran from going nuclear--requires him to forgo all safety nets and assume a perilous, non-official cover.Season 1 perhaps the best drama ever. Season 2 jumps the shark. Bloodier than I like, but it's about good guys trying to save the world, so it gets a pass. Plus it's hilarious.
- StarsScott GrimesDamian LewisRon LivingstonThe story of Easy Company of the U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division and their mission in World War II Europe, from Operation Overlord to V-J Day.Best mini series ever, hands down. Be prepared to binge watch all episodes.
- StarsChris O'DowdRichard AyoadeKatherine ParkinsonThe comedic misadventures of Roy, Moss and their grifting supervisor Jen, a rag-tag team of IT support workers at a large corporation headed by a hotheaded yuppie.One of the best sitcoms ever. The Brits are the best at sketch type comedy. Brilliantly funny. Love all the characters.
- CreatorDoug WildeyStarsMike RoadTim MathesonDon MessickThe Quest family and their bodyguard investigate strange phenomena and battle villains around the world.
- CreatorJim HensonJack BurnsStarsJim HensonFrank OzRichard HuntKermit the Frog and his fellow Muppets put on a vaudeville show at their theatre, bringing in a famous celebrity to help out for each episode.
- CreatorPaul ReubensStarsPaul ReubensJohn ParagonPhil HartmanPee-Wee Herman and his friends have wacky, imaginative fun in his unique playhouse.
- CreatorJames L. BrooksStan DanielsDavid DavisStarsJudd HirschJeff ConawayDanny DeVitoThe staff of a New York City taxicab company go about their job while they dream of greater things.
- 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.
- CreatorGreg DanielsRicky GervaisStephen MerchantStarsSteve CarellJenna FischerJohn KrasinskiA mockumentary on a group of typical office workers, where the workday consists of ego clashes, inappropriate behavior, tedium and romance.The show loses its way after season 5 when show runner Greg Daniels leaves to do Parks & Rec, but bounces back when he returns full time for the final season 9.
- 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.Jumps the shark the final episode. Best series ever.
- CreatorRicky GervaisStephen MerchantStarsRicky GervaisAshley JensenStephen MerchantAndy Millman is an actor with ambition and a script. Reduced to working as an extra with a useless agent, Andy's attempts to boost his career invariably end in failure and embarrassment.
- CreatorGraham ChapmanEric IdleTerry JonesStarsGraham ChapmanJohn CleeseTerry GilliamThe original surreal sketch comedy showcase for the Monty Python troupe.The undisputed king of sketch shows. In a league of its own. Every episode had at least something funny. What other sketch show can you name where people memorized whole sketches? Personally, I never did enjoy the animation (sorry Terry), but just looking at John Cleese could make me laugh.
- StarsDave FoleyBruce McCullochKevin McDonaldThe TV series of the Canadian sketch comedy troupe that, more often than not, puts bizarre, unique, and insane twists in their skits.Not all sketches are funny on any sketch show, but this one did pretty good and had a lot of clever new ideas.
- CreatorLorne MichaelsStarsThe Saturday Night Live BandDon PardoDarrell HammondA famous guest host stars in parodies and sketches created by the cast of this witty show.Hasn't been funny since Kristen Wiig left in 2012. Previous seasons are very hit or miss. Sketch for sketch, the best season was 84-85 with Billy Chrystal, Martin Short, Chris Guest, Harry Shearer, et. al.
- CreatorDavid AngellPeter CaseyDavid LeeStarsKelsey GrammerJane LeevesDavid Hyde PierceDr. Frasier Crane moves back to his hometown of Seattle, where he lives with his father and works as a radio psychiatrist.
- CreatorAndrew AlexanderBernard SahlinsStarsJoe FlahertyEugene LevyAndrea MartinThe staff of Melonville's TV station put on programming that is unique in its own silly way.Many episodes are not funny. Very experimental show, but when it did hit, it was usually a grand slam. Probably the most talented cast ever assembled.
- CreatorFax BahrAdam SmallStarsMichael McDonaldDebra WilsonAries SpearsA sketch comedy show based on the seminal Mad Magazine.A funnier alternative to SNL during its run. The only sketch show that was consistently able to find funny female comedians.
- CreatorKeegan-Michael KeyJordan PeeleStarsKeegan-Michael KeyJordan PeeleMetta World PeaceProject sees Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele in front of a live studio audience bantering about a topic weaved between filmed shorts and sketches.Sketch for sketch the best sketch series ever. Well, after Monty Python, but that's in a league of its own.
- StarsEd SullivanThe Ray Bloch OrchestraRay BlochThe classic prime time variety show most famous for its vaudeville acts and rock music performances.
- StarsRik MayallAdrian EdmondsonNigel PlanerThe crazy and sometimes surreal comedic adventures of four very different students in Thatcher's Britain.
- CreatorMerv GriffinStarsAlex TrebekJohnny GilbertJimmy McGuireA returning champion and two challengers test their buzzer skills and their knowledge in a wide range of academic and popular categories.
- CreatorJoel HodgsonStarsJoel HodgsonMichael J. NelsonTrace BeaulieuIn the not-too-distant future Joel Robinson is held captive by Dr. Forrester and TV's Frank, forced to watch B-Grade movies on the Satellite of Love with the help of his robot friends: Cambot, Gypsy, Tom Servo and Crow T. Robot.
- CreatorAlex GansaHoward GordonStarsClaire DanesMandy PatinkinDamian LewisA bipolar CIA operative becomes convinced a prisoner of war has been turned by al-Qaeda and is planning to carry out a terrorist attack on American soil.First season is outstanding, then with each subsequent season the show gets worse and worse.
- CreatorBeau WillimonStarsKevin SpaceyMichel GillRobin WrightA Congressman works with his equally conniving wife to exact revenge on the people who betrayed him.
- StarsConan O'BrienThe Max Weinberg 7Andy RichterConan O'Brien, a Harvard Lampoon alumnus, hosts this late-night comedy/talk-show, which is often silly and whimsical.
- CreatorDavid LettermanStarsDavid LettermanPaul ShafferBill WendellPopular late-night comedy/talk-show with host David Letterman, interviewing famous guests.Always entertaining.
- CreatorDavid LettermanStarsDavid LettermanPaul ShafferAlan KalterThe Late Show with David Letterman is an hour-long weeknight comedy and talk-show broadcast by CBS from the Ed Sullivan Theater on Broadway in New York City.Prior to Letterman becoming a curmudgeon on the air and a political hack, this show was always entertaining.
- StarsJohnny CarsonEd McMahonDoc SeverinsenHost Johnny Carson performs comedy routines and chats with various celebrities.Corny monologues and sketches? Yes, but Johnny's charm and quick wit outshines all that. It's comfort food. If you didn't grow up with it, you'll probably not understand.
- CreatorJohn KricfalusiBob CampJim GomezStarsJohn KricfalusiBilly WestHarris PeetRen, a psychotic Chihuahua, and Stimpson J. Cat, a dimwitted Manx cat who goes by the nickname Stimpy, have a host of unusual adventures.
- CreatorAlec BergBill HaderStarsBill HaderStephen RootSarah GoldbergA hit man from the Midwest moves to Los Angeles and gets caught up in the city's theatre arts scene.Season 3 jumps the shark. Bloodier than I normally would tolerate, but it has such a great soul in Barry (Bill Hader, who knew!?) I couldn't stop watching. Also fantastic supporting cast in all the gangsters, especially Noho Hank (Anthony Carrigan). Avoid season three, which was filmed after a hiatus for the Covid shutdown.
- CreatorMike JudgeStarsMike JudgeKristofor BrownDale RevoAnimated MTV series about two teenage heavy-metal music fans who occasionally do idiotic things because they're bored. For them, everything is "cool" or "sucks."
- CreatorGarry MarshallStarsRon HowardHenry WinklerMarion RossThe Cunningham family live through the 1950s with help and guidance from lovable and almost superhuman greaser Fonzie.First season only. Trust me. Yes, I know how bad the show was, but that was only after the first season. The show invented "Jumped the Shark" for crying out loud. But the first season was single camera (no live audience) and very well written. Plus, Ritchie had an older brother! What happened to him? Vietnam? Must have been pretty bad as nobody ever even mentions him.
- CreatorRichard LevinsonWilliam LinkStarsPeter FalkMike LallyJohn FinneganLos Angeles homicide detective Lieutenant Columbo uses his humble ways and ingenuous demeanor to winkle out even the most well-concealed of crimes.
- 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.First Season Syndrome. In season one you always knew Lost had ended because of the collective cries of "Nooo!" from those watching it. Subsequent seasons fall off in quality as though creator JJ Abrams had never imagined anything but how it started.
- 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.
- CreatorTrey ParkerMatt StoneBrian GradenStarsTrey ParkerMatt StoneIsaac HayesFollows the misadventures of four irreverent grade-schoolers in the quiet, dysfunctional town of South Park, Colorado.Filthy, inappropriate and sacrilegious, but funny.
- 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.Only the NBC series is worth watching, not the Netflix.
- 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.
- CreatorDennis KleinGarry ShandlingStarsGarry ShandlingJeffrey TamborWallace LanghamA comedic behind the scenes look at a late night talk show.
- CreatorRod SerlingStarsRod SerlingRobert McCordJay OverholtsOrdinary people find themselves in extraordinarily astounding situations, which they each try to solve in a remarkable manner.
- 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.
- CreatorElizabeth MeriwetherStarsZooey DeschanelJake JohnsonMax GreenfieldAfter a bad break-up, Jess, an offbeat young woman, moves into an apartment loft with three single men. Although they find her behavior very unusual, the men support her - most of the time.Loses its mojo as the series wears on. First few season are fantastic.
- CreatorJames BobinJemaine ClementBret McKenzieStarsJemaine ClementBret McKenzieRhys DarbyBret and Jemaine are Flight of the Conchords, a folk-rock band from New Zealand living in New York City in search of stardom.
- CreatorMel BrooksBuck HenryStarsDon AdamsBarbara FeldonEdward PlattMaxwell Smart, a highly intellectual but bumbling spy working for the CONTROL agency, battles the evil forces of rival spy agency KAOS with the help of his competent partner Agent 99.
- CreatorJim AbrahamsDavid ZuckerJerry ZuckerStarsLeslie NielsenAlan NorthEd WilliamsSight gags, puns and non-sequiturs ensue as bumbling Sgt. Det. Lt. Frank Drebin and his colleagues at Police Squad solve various puzzling cases.
- CreatorDanny ArnoldTheodore J. FlickerStarsHal LindenAbe VigodaMax GailThe Captain of the NYPD 12th Precinct and his staff handle the various local troubles and characters that come into the squad room.
- CreatorDan HarmonStarsJoel McHaleDanny PudiDonald GloverA suspended lawyer is forced to enroll in a community college with an eccentric staff and student body.
- CreatorSheldon LeonardAaron RubenDanny ThomasStarsAndy GriffithRon HowardDon KnottsWidower Sheriff Andy Taylor, and his son Opie, live with Andy's Aunt Bee in Mayberry, North Carolina. With virtually no crimes to solve, most of Andy's time is spent philosophizing and calming down his cousin Deputy Barney Fife.
- 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.
- CreatorRob McElhenneyGlenn HowertonStarsCharlie DayGlenn HowertonRob McElhenneyFive friends with big egos and small brains are the proprietors of an Irish pub in Philadelphia.
- CreatorLinwood BoomerMichael GloubermanGary MurphyStarsFrankie MunizBryan CranstonJustin BerfieldA gifted young teen tries to survive life with his dimwitted, dysfunctional family.
- In January 1969, The Beatles set out to write and record new songs for their first live show in more than two years, culminating in an impromptu concert atop their Savile Row studio.It can get a little tedious, but it's the most amazing documentary you'll ever see. You get to watch Beatles songs get created right before your eyes. You get to see the Beatles break up, for crying out loud, then get back together.
- StarsDavid McCulloughSam WaterstonJulie HarrisA comprehensive survey of the American Civil War.
- CreatorMatt DufferRoss DufferStarsMillie Bobby BrownFinn WolfhardWinona RyderWhen a young boy vanishes, a small town uncovers a mystery involving secret experiments, terrifying supernatural forces and one strange little girl.First season syndrome. The decline is not as steep as other series, but it definitely falls off
- CreatorAdam ReedStarsH. Jon BenjaminJudy GreerAmber NashCovert black ops and espionage take a back seat to zany personalities and relationships between secret agents and drones.
- CreatorRowan AtkinsonRichard CurtisStarsRowan AtkinsonMatilda ZieglerRobin DriscollBumbling, childlike Mr. Bean has trouble completing the simplest of day-to-day tasks, but his perseverance and resourcefulness frequently allow him to find ingenious ways around problems.
- StarsMel BlancJune ForayDaws ButlerTV series featuring the classic Looney Tunes animated shorts.
- CreatorMike ClattenburgStarsJohn Paul TremblayRobb WellsMike SmithThree petty felons have a documentary made about their life in a trailer park.The funniest least-known-show ever.
- CreatorEric Ellis OvermyerStarsTitus WelliverJamie HectorAmy AquinoAn L.A.P.D. homicide detective works to solve the murder of a 13-year-old boy while standing trial in federal court for the murder of a serial killer.
- 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.Riveting. As a big shot celebrity myself, I can tell you, this is exactly how it feels.
- CreatorAaron KorshStarsGabriel MachtPatrick J. AdamsMeghan MarkleOn the run from a drug deal gone bad, brilliant college dropout Mike Ross finds himself working with Harvey Specter, one of New York City's best lawyers.Honorable mention