List of television shows listed among the best

This is a list of television shows that television critics or magazines have considered among the best of all time. These television shows have been included on at least four separate best-of lists from different publications (inclusive of all time periods, networks and genres), as chosen by their editorial staff. Almost all the television shows that qualify for this list were produced in the United States, with just 11 of the 127 shows having been produced by other countries.

List There are currently 127 television shows in this list. Television show Genre Release Network24Action2001–2010, 2014Fox30 RockSitcom2006–2013NBCAlfred Hitchcock PresentsAnthology1955–1965AliasSpy fiction2001–2006ABCAll in the FamilySitcom1971–1979CBSAmerican IdolMusic competition2002–2016, 2018–presentThe AmericansSpy fiction2013–2018FXThe Andy Griffith ShowSitcom1960–1968CBSArrested DevelopmentSitcom2003–2006, 2013–2019AtlantaComedy drama2016–2022FXBand of BrothersWar drama2001HBOBarryCrime drama2018–2023HBOBattlestar GalacticaScience fiction2003–2009Sci FiBeavis and Butt-HeadAdult animation1993–1997, 2011, 2022–2023, 2025–presentBetter Call SaulLegal drama2015–2022AMCBeverly Hills, 90210Teen drama1990–2000FoxBlack MirrorAnthology2011–2014, 2016–presentBoardwalk EmpireCrime drama2010–2014HBOThe Bob Newhart ShowSitcom1972–1978CBSBoJack HorsemanAdult animation2014–2020NetflixBorgenPolitical drama2010–2022DR1Breaking BadCrime drama2008–2013AMCBuffy the Vampire SlayerSupernatural1997–2003The Carol Burnett ShowVariety show1967–1978CBSChappelle's ShowSketch comedy2003–2006Comedy CentralCheersSitcom1982–1993NBCChernobylHistorical drama2019HBO, Sky AtlanticColumboCrime drama1968–1978, 1989–2003CommunitySitcom2009–2015The Cosby ShowSitcom1984–1992NBCThe CrownHistorical drama2016–2023NetflixCurb Your EnthusiasmSitcom2000–2024HBOThe Daily ShowTalk show1996–presentDallasSoap opera1978–1991CBSDeadwoodWestern2004–2006HBOThe Dick Van Dyke ShowSitcom1961–1966CBSDoctor WhoScience fiction1963–1989, 1996, 2005–presentDownton AbbeyHistorical drama2010–2015ITVERMedical drama1994–2009NBCFargoCrime drama anthology2014–2024FXFawlty TowersSitcom1975–1979BBC TwoFireflyScience fiction2002FoxFleabagComedy drama2016–2019FrasierSitcom1993–2004NBCFreaks and GeeksComedy drama1999–2000NBCThe Fresh Prince of Bel-AirSitcom1990–1996NBCFriday Night LightsSports drama2006–2011FriendsSitcom1994–2004NBCFuturamaAdult animation1999–2003, 2008–2013, 2023–presentGame of ThronesFantasy2011–2019HBOGilmore GirlsComedy drama2000–2007The WB (2000–2006), The CW (2006–2007)GirlsComedy drama2012–2017HBOThe Golden GirlsSitcom1985–1992NBCThe Good PlaceFantasy2016–2020NBCGood TimesSitcom1974–1979CBSThe Good WifeLegal drama2009–2016CBSGrey's AnatomyMedical drama2005–presentABCHappy DaysSitcom1974–1984ABCThe Handmaid's TaleDystopian fiction2017–2025HuluHill Street BluesPolice procedural1981–1987NBCHomelandSpy thriller2011–2020ShowtimeHomicide: Life on the StreetCrime drama1993–1999NBCThe HoneymoonersSitcom1955–1956CBSHouseMedical drama2004–2012FoxHouse of CardsPolitical thriller2013–2018NetflixI Love LucySitcom1951–1957CBSI May Destroy YouComedy drama2020BBC One (UK), HBO (US)In Living ColorSketch comedy1990–1994FoxIt's Always Sunny in PhiladelphiaSitcom2005–presentFX (2005–2012, 2025–present), FXX (2013–present)The JeffersonsSitcom1975–1985CBSJeopardy!Game show1964–1975, 1978–1979, 1984–presentNBC (1964–1975, 1978–1979), syndication (1984–present)The Larry Sanders ShowSitcom1992–1998HBOLate Night with David LettermanTalk show1982–1993NBCLaw & OrderLegal drama1990–2010, 2022–presentNBCThe LeftoversSupernatural2014–2017HBOLostScience fiction2004–2010ABCLouieComedy drama2010–2015FXM*A*S*HComedy drama1972–1983CBSMad MenPeriod drama2007–2015AMCThe Mary Tyler Moore ShowSitcom1970–1977CBSModern FamilySitcom2009–2020ABCMonty Python's Flying CircusSketch comedy1969–1974BBC1 (1969–73), BBC2 (1974)The Muppet ShowVariety show1976–1981ITV (UK), syndication (US)My So-Called LifeTeen drama1994–1995ABCMystery Science Theater 3000Science fiction1988–1996, 1997–1999, 2017–2018, 2022KTMA-TV (1988–1989), The Comedy Channel (1989–91), Comedy Central (1991–1996),Sci-Fi Channel (1997–99), Netflix (2017–18), Gizmoplex (2022)NYPD BluePolice procedural1993–2005ABCThe OfficeSitcom2001–2003BBC Two (2001–02), BBC One (2003)The OfficeSitcom2005–2013NBCThe Oprah Winfrey ShowTalk show1986–2011syndicationOrange Is the New BlackComedy drama2013–2019NetflixOzPrison1997–2003HBOParks and RecreationSitcom2009–2015, 2020NBCPrime SuspectPolice procedural1991–2006ITVThe PrisonerSpy-fi1967–1968ATVThe Real WorldReality television1992–2019MTV (1992–2017), Facebook Watch (2019)Rick and MortyAdult animation2013–presentAdult SwimRootsHistorical drama1977ABCRoseanneSitcom1988–1997, 2018ABCSaturday Night LiveVariety show1975–presentNBCSeinfeldSitcom1989–1998NBCSesame StreetEducational1969–presentNET (1969–70), PBS (1970–present), HBO (2016–20),HBO Max/Max (2020–25), Netflix (2025–present)Sex and the CityComedy drama1998–2004HBOSherlockMystery2010–2017BBC OneThe ShieldCrime drama2002–2008FXThe SimpsonsAnimated sitcom1989–presentFox (1989–present), Disney+ (2024–present)Six Feet UnderComedy drama2001–2005HBOThe SopranosCrime drama1999–2007HBOSouth ParkAdult animation1997–presentComedy Central, Paramount+St. ElsewhereMedical drama1982–1988NBCStar Trek: The Next GenerationScience fiction1987–1994syndicationStar Trek: The Original SeriesScience fiction1966–1969NBCStranger ThingsScience fiction2016–2025NetflixSuccessionComedy drama2018–2023HBOSurvivorReality television2000–presentCBSTaxiSitcom1978–1982, 1982–1983ABC (1978–82), NBC (1982–83)The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonTalk show1962–1992NBCTrue DetectiveCrime drama anthology2014–presentHBOThe Twilight ZoneAnthology1959–1964CBSTwin PeaksHorror1990–1991, 2017ABC (1990–91), Showtime (2017)VeepComedy2012–2019HBOWatchmenSuperhero2019HBOThe West WingPolitical drama1999–2006NBCWill & GraceSitcom1998–2006, 2017–2020NBCThe WireCrime drama2002–2008HBOThe Wonder YearsComedy drama1988–1993ABCThe X-FilesScience fiction1993–2002, 2016–2018FoxYour Show of ShowsVariety show1950–1954NBC

Publications The reference numbers in the notes section show which of the 17 selected publications list the television show. Business Insider – 2019 Cosmopolitan – 2017 Empire – 2008, 2025 Entertainment Weekly – 2013 (1–10, 11–25, 26–50, 51–75, 76–100) Fotogramas – 2025 IGN – 2017, 2023 Marie Claire – 2025 Radio France – 2019 Reader's Digest – 2024 Rolling Stone – 2016, 2022 Screen Rant – 2024 Télérama – 2023 – 2018 Time – 2007 TV Guide – 2013 UGO – 2009 Variety – 2023 – 2018

See also Television List of most-watched television broadcasts List of television awards List of television episodes listed among the best List of television shows notable for negative reception TV (The Book), a collection of essays by television critics Alan Sepinwall and Matt Zoller Seitz, which includes narrative fiction only TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time, which excludes miniseries

Other art forms List of anime series listed among the best List of films voted the best List of video games listed among the best

Notes The reference numbers show which publications include the television show.

References

External links The New York Times' 100 Best TV Shows of the 21st Century The BBC's 100 Best TV Shows of the 21st Century Highest rated television shows on IMDb and Metacritic Hollywood's 100 Favorite TV Shows on The Hollywood Reporter, which distinguishes between best and favorite The 101 best TV shows of all time you have to watch on Time Out, which excludes non-fiction shows 101 Best Written TV Series on Writers Guild of America West