He's not the most politically correct protagonist, certainly not now, but actor Carroll O'Connor portrayed patriarch Archie Bunker as a rough-around the edges man unsatisfied with the state of things, longing for the older, better days — a character with lasting power and some fascinating modern relevance.
Yes, SNL will always have its unfunny sketches and episodes, but throughout the decades SNL has remained both a platform around which the nation can rally at major moments as well as a tremendous talent farm.
It may not have a year perfect run and what show could? Game of Thrones successfully revolutionized fantasy on TV. Whereas the likes of Hercules and Xena: Warrior Princess were previously the pinnacle of fantasy's depiction on the small screen, HBO's Game of Thrones brought the grandeur of The Lord of the Rings with a heavy dash of the politics of The Sopranos, which together snowballed into a huge success for the network.
It's easy to mark the late-Season 1 twist as the turning point for Game of Thrones' popularity — it prompted a deluge of surprise main character deaths across the TV landscape — but the show's greatness isn't just in its unpredictability. From fantastic performances to gorgeous cinematography, an iconic score and stellar writing, Game of Thrones has raised the bar for the quality of genre television. In nine seasons on the air, Seinfeld took topics previously considered taboo on mainstream television and managed to not only put them in front of millions of people, but redefined what the modern comedy could tackle.
Seinfeld eschewed every sitcom trope and instead focused on the bizarre misadventures of four flawed people and the collection of characters in their lives, and in doing so it became a cultural phenomenon. Sitcoms were never quite the same after The Simpsons. Beyond putting Fox on the map as a network, The Simpsons injected sharp writing and insightful social commentary into primetime, proving that animated shows could be for adults too.
The Simpsons has never shied away from covering real-life situations, and its initial seasons were a brilliant, subversive take on the typical dysfunctional family that quickly made the show a hit.
With over 20 years under its belt, The Simpsons is the longest running American sitcom in history. The Simpsons will have to come to an end eventually, but when it finally does it will be remembered as one of the most important and funniest shows ever made.
Lost changed network television forever, and it looked beautiful and kept us all guessing doing it. Mythology-driven, sci-fi-tinged ensemble-cast TV is still dominant more than a decade after Lost got the whole country freaked out about smoke monsters and mysterious hatches. But Lost was more under-the-hood than that. It often felt almost impossibly gorgeous, with stunning island vistas that showed off its at-the-time unprecedented budget.
And its emphasis on character-driven side stories, especially in its early seasons, allowed the writers to tell a surprising variety of high quality, self-contained short stories of love, loss, and longing. The supporting characters, most notably Peggy Olson Elisabeth Moss , allowed Weiner to show what a time of change the s were and the obstacles that were constantly placed in the path of many looking to ascend higher than the society they were raised in was often comfortable with.
And while Mad Men could be quiet and meditative, it was also incredibly witty and capable of shocking and thrilling you at just the right moment. Just ask that guy who lost his foot to an unfortunate office lawnmower accident…. Many sitcoms have come and gone over the decades, but Lucy… Lucy is eternal.
Arnaz, along with DP Karl Freund, worked to perfect the multi-camera, live studio audience system that became the standard for the many, many sitcoms that followed. This was an era, mind you, where the two leads still had to be portrayed as sleeping in separate beds. The most important and influential science fiction TV series ever produced, this Gene Roddenberry creation was never a ratings juggernaut during its initial s run it was canceled after only three seasons , but found new life and fans when it entered syndication.
Within a decade of it going off the air and following the success of Star Wars, Star Trek made the leap to feature films, becoming a franchise with a presence on both the big and small screens. As undeniably fun as the Enterprise's mission to seek out new worlds and new civilizations was, it was Roddenberry's positive vision of humanity's future and his social consciousness — from the diversity of its cast to its tackling of the hot button issues of its day — that made Star Trek important, brave, and, ultimately, timeless.
It also certainly helped that Trek's characters were so thoughtfully drawn and then brought to life by actors with an undeniable chemistry between each other.
The story of cancer-stricken high school chemistry teacher Walter White's transformation into the meth maker and drug kingpin "Heisenberg" made for addictive television. There are arguably no truly bad episodes of the Vince Gilligan-created series thanks to its impeccable writing, direction, and, of course, the performances of its cast, most notably Bryan Cranston as Walter White and Aaron Paul as his former student-turned-drug partner Jesse Pinkman.
Breaking Bad was the peak of American television's decade-long obsession with antiheroes that began with The Sopranos. The worse Walter became, the more despicable his deeds, and the more tragic the effects had on his family, the better the show became.
Breaking Bad has since spun off another acclaimed but different kind of series, Better Call Saul. The Twilight Zone broke boundaries in by going against all that television was at the time: simple, easy, and safe. Instead, it scrutinized society, often through the lens of science fiction, but without the melodramatic fear-mongering of other media from the same era. The Twilight Zone cared less about shocking viewers into submission and more about planting the seeds of new ideas within them, constantly subverting our expectations in new and profound ways with its now-iconic twists and the clever life lessons that bookended each standalone episode.
While it paved the way for more technologically modernized takes on its formula, like in the recent Black Mirror, the stories and ideas that unfolded in The Twilight Zone are still just as surprising and relevant today as they were nearly six decades ago. Few dramas reshaped the modern-day TV landscape as much as The Sopranos.
Not only did it manage to balance an extremely large cast of characters, which was relatively new for television in the late 90s, but every single one of those characters was as well-written, memorable, and complicated as the story arcs they served.
It was beneficial for TV dramas up until that point to stay as simple and inoffensive to the average viewer as possible, but The Sopranos — thanks in part to the exclusivity and freedom of premium cable network HBO — was bold enough to break away from that mold. Tony Soprano, his family, and his other Family live and operate in an era where the mythos of the Mafia has faded with the dawn of the 21st century — an existentially troubling and emasculating effort for Tony himself, who decides to attend therapy at a time when the stigma around anxiety and depression was finally being torn down.
In many regards, it was this very mundanity that made The Sopranos such a bold show. Its down-to-earth approach to its subject matter allowed it tell violent, shocking, and often tragic crime stories while also in the same episode exploring less extravagant affairs: teen angst, the stress of caring for an elderly parent, awkward college relationships.
It all comes together to make The Sopranos one of the best television shows ever made. On second look the show is an examination of the criminal justice system, or relentless critique of the War on Drugs. In reality The Wire is a thorough examination of one American city, specifically Baltimore, Maryland.
Another remarkable aspect of the show was its willingness to kill off lead characters in service of the story, unlike most shows, just about anyone could go at any time. The realism of the show allowed it to explore social, political and educational issues without appearing sensational or exploitative. Unfortunately many of the themes explored in the show still exist, which allows the show to continue to be just as relevant and entertaining today.
Very few TV shows have ever been able to successfully tell such a large and interconnected story at this scale. The show started with the drug trade, then abruptly switched to union longshoremen, and moved to mayoral politics, the school system and finally print journalism.
The Wire was able to elevate the TV drama to the quality and depth of a great novel, and that is why we have selected it as our greatest TV show of all time. Start at Beavis and Butt-Head. Debuted Finale Did you know? The Good Wife. Avatar: The Last Airbender. Katz, Professional Therapist.
Golden Girls. Good Times. Jesse Schedeen While Good Times was a spinoff of Maude, which in turn was a spin-off of All in the Family, the series had little trouble making a name for itself in the mids. Jesse Schedeen Soap was conceived as a parody of daytime soap operas, but in the form of a half-hour primetime comedy. Boardwalk Empire. The Real World. Finale Ongoing. Downton Abbey. The Americans. Jesse Schedeen Hannibal always faced an uphill battle when it came to escaping the shadow of Silence of the Lambs and its various sequels and prequels.
I, Claudius. The Wonder Years. Jesse Schedeen Before Forrest Gump, The Wonder Years was the best way for Baby Boomers to relive their glory years and watch a plucky young hero played here by Fred Savage come of age in one of the most tumultuous periods in American history as a kid in the s.
House of Cards US. The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Hill Street Blues. The Andy Griffith Show. The Honeymooners. Matt Fowler As one of the first TV comedies to portray a bickering, working class husband and wife — complete with tenement-style digs and relatable financial woes — The Honeymooners, which only lasted for 39 episodes, became one of the most influential and iconic sitcoms of all time.
Sex and the City. The Muppet Show. Matt Fowler Created by puppeteer Jim Henson, and starring his beloved Muppets, The Muppet Show was a whimsical musical hall-style variety show that featured skits, musical numbers, and celebrity guests as well as a continuous look behind-the-scenes as producer Kermit the Frog attempted to keep everything from falling apart — including his own mental state. Friday Night Lights.
Show with Bob and David. Doctor Who It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Cowboy Bebop. Matt Fowler One of the most popular anime titles in history, Cowboy Bebop transcended most known genres with a stylish, cinematic look at the ragtag lives of bounty hunters aboard the spaceship Bebop. Freaks and Geeks. Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Curb Your Enthusiasm. Better Call Saul. Marty Sliva Existing in the shadow of a series as iconic as Breaking Bad seems like a suicide mission, which makes it even more impressive that Better Call Saul has found an incredible identity of its own.
The Office UK. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Sanford and Son. Mystery Science Theater Scott Collura Take a guy, a couple of robots, and a bunch of terrible movies, and you know what you get?
In Living Color. Late Show with David Letterman. The Prisoner. Josh Wigler Long before Tricia Helfer came along, there was a very different but equally mysterious Number Six: the ex-spy at the heart of the s British limited series, The Prisoner.
Batman: The Animated Series. The Leftovers. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. Six Feet Under. Monty Python's Flying Circus. The X-Files. Josh Wigler Despite a hit-miss ratio that's not always skewed in a favorable direction, no one can deny The X-Files is anything but a legendary show. Star Trek: The Next Generation. Scott Collura Star Trek was already legendary and iconic by the time the first spin-off series, The Next Generation, arrived in Josh Wigler Few television endeavors are as culturally essential as Roots, the miniseries that spans more than a century, covering a generation of men and women subjected to slavery.
Twin Peaks. Chloi Rad The balance between light and dark is an iconic one, but coming from the mind of cult filmmaker David Lynch, it took on new life in Twin Peaks. Josh Wigler Remember the one with the blackout? Votes: , A royal woman living in rural Russia during the 18th century is forced to choose between her own personal happiness and the future of Russia, when she marries an Emperor.
Votes: 33, As Alfred the Great defends his kingdom from Norse invaders, Uhtred--born a Saxon but raised by Vikings--seeks to claim his ancestral birthright. Follows the political rivalries and romance of Queen Elizabeth II's reign and the events that shaped the second half of the twentieth century.
Chronicles the lives of a group of midwives living in East London in the lates to lates. Votes: 24, In April , an explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics becomes one of the world's worst man-made catastrophes.
The story of Easy Company of the U. An anthology series that chronicles the civil rights movement as told by the women behind it. Votes: The life of Spartacus, the gladiator who lead a rebellion against the Romans. From his time as an ally of the Romans, to his betrayal and becoming a gladiator, to the rebellion he leads and its ultimate outcome.
An Atlantic City politician plays both sides of the law by conspiring with gangsters during the Prohibition era. Modern, honest, and authentic. Told from the perspective of her closest confidants, the series takes a new look at the empress' life and reveals a multi-layered woman.
In s NYC, the "Torso Killer" preys on women to fulfill his grotesque fantasies while eluding police. A docuseries dive into crime's darkest places. Votes: 1, Votes: 72, A charismatic fisherman struggling with debt. A troubled woman wrestling with demons. A gifted accountant ostracised from his family and people. In this ground-breaking first season of The Chosen see how Jesus reaches each of these and more as He works His first miracles and embarks on His ministry to change the world.
See Him through the eyes of those who knew Him. Votes: 23, A show set in the late s, revolving around the characters of Deadwood, South Dakota; a town of deep corruption and crime. A down-to-earth account of the lives of both illustrious and ordinary Romans set in the last days of the Roman Republic. TV 60 min Drama, History, Romance. Ross Poldark returns home after American Revolutionary War and rebuilds his life with a new business venture, making new enemies and finding a new love where he least expects it.
Votes: 29, A chronicle of four friends during a decade in which everything changed, including the rise of AIDS. Votes: 26, After being struck by lightning, Barry Allen wakes up from his coma to discover he's been given the power of super speed, becoming the Flash, fighting crime in Central City.
TV 42 min Action, Adventure, Crime. Spoiled billionaire playboy Oliver Queen is missing and presumed dead when his yacht is lost at sea. He returns five years later a changed man, determined to clean up the city as a hooded vigilante armed with a bow. An unusual group of robbers attempt to carry out the most perfect robbery in Spanish history - stealing 2.
A 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.
An anthology series exploring a twisted, high-tech multiverse where humanity's greatest innovations and darkest instincts collide. TV 88 min Crime, Drama, Mystery. A modern update finds the famous sleuth and his doctor partner solving crime in 21st century London. Vikings transports us to the brutal and mysterious world of Ragnar Lothbrok, a Viking warrior and farmer who yearns to explore - and raid - the distant shores across the ocean. TV 44 min Drama, Mystery, Romance. Four friends band together against an anonymous foe who threatens to reveal their darkest secrets, while also investigating the disappearance of their best friend.
TV 43 min Drama, Fantasy, Horror. The 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.
An anthology series centering on different characters and locations, including a house with a murderous past, an insane asylum, a witch coven, a freak show circus, a haunted hotel, a possessed farmhouse, a cult, the apocalypse, a slasher summer camp, and a bleak beach town and desert valley.
A high school chemistry teacher diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer turns to manufacturing and selling methamphetamine in order to secure his family's future. TV 42 min Crime, Drama, Fantasy. Lucifer Morningstar has decided he's had enough of being the dutiful servant in Hell and decides to spend some time on Earth to better understand humanity.
He settles in Los Angeles - the City of Angels. TV 44 min Drama, Fantasy, Horror. Two brothers follow their father's footsteps as hunters, fighting evil supernatural beings of many kinds, including monsters, demons and gods that roam the earth.
TV 44 min Action, Crime, Drama. Due to a political conspiracy, an innocent man is sent to death row and his only hope is his brother, who makes it his mission to deliberately get himself sent to the same prison in order to break the both of them out, from the inside.
TV 43 min Crime, Drama, Mystery. A group of ambitious law students and their brilliant criminal defense professor become involved in a twisted murder plot that promises to change the course of their lives. TV 41 min Action, Drama, Fantasy. An average high school student and his best friend get caught up in some trouble causing him to receive a werewolf bite.
As a result they find themselves in the middle of all sorts of dramas in Beacon Hills. A young woman with a troubled past is drawn to a small town in Maine where fairy tales are to be believed.
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