They do these lists every so often, so they get updated based on the times, on new series, and on series finishing, plus you get differing opinions based on the folks they bring in to judge. The last time they did one, Game of Thrones had not yet completed and was in the top 20.

Miami Vice not on the list? Say it ain't so.

Atlanta at 9 is a joke. Lost and Game of Thrones too far down the list. And the whole 11-20 grouping makes me scratch my head.

Ozark, Cosby Show and Peaky Blinders are huge misses. Justified and The Shield are way too low. Too many shows rewarded for longevity versus quality.

Stive said:

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BenTheGoodAg said:

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Also, I don't know how I feel about shows that haven't completed being on this list. Would a show like 'How I Met Your Mother' have a better legacy had it not ended so poorly? Maybe/maybe not.

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I'm with you. If this list had come out around year 3 or 4 of GOT it could very possibly be higher. As it stands, I hope it got a major demotion based on the last 2-3 seasons.

That could definitely hold true for shows still going.

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Rolling Stone did this a few years ago and Game of Thrones was in the top 10.

An L of an Ag said:

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No Stargate?!?

What a joke.

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No Battlestar Galactica either

42?

Yep. Missed it skimming through

BenTheGoodAg said:

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Also, I don't know how I feel about shows that haven't completed being on this list. Would a show like 'How I Met Your Mother' have a better legacy had it not ended so poorly? Maybe/maybe not.

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It 100% would have a better legacy if they wouldn't have botched the ending. They lost a lot of goodwill with the way that show ended.

Also, what is the criteria for "best"? Is it characters, entertainment, story, thematic development, social impact, or something else? I feel like a lot of these have very different arguments for being in this list, and where you rank them depends on the criteria and why you chose that criteria.

The Office and Lucy in the 30s?!
Terrible list is terrible.

Since mini series are included I don't know how Band of Brothers isn't top 5.

24 not making the list is dumb.

I was not an X Files junky but 51 is low.

Any list smart enough to include the Simpsons in the top 5 is valid.

However, any list smart enough to include the Simpsons but stupid enough to exclude Futurama anywhere in the top 100 is invalid.

It's a freaking awesome list. And although my list (yes I have my own I've maintained for years) differs almost everything on my Top 50 is here.

Personal preferences can of course cause something to be higher or lower in anyones book. But there is no denying the vast majority of these belong and are within range of where they should be at least.

I was so pleasantly surprised to see some shows I love that often get overlooked due to a lack of episodes (single season shows like Freaks and Geeks, My So Called Life, and I have the UK version of the Office above the US version on points for originality, trend setting and cringe worthiness that holds up really well).

One missing for me is Firefly. But I'll allow it.

The top 5-10 can barely be argued. I mean I have a few different and in fact I'm not a Simpsons fan I just never watched it but I cannot deny it lasting imprint on entertainment and society. And even though I never really watched it consistently I've seen so much it is almost unavoidable.

*Justified is criminally low though.

The number of HBO shows especially in the top 35 is astounding considering they basically started in 1999 with Sopranos. I know they did shows in the 80s and 90s too, mostly comedies, and Oz was a few years before. But Sopranos changed television forever.

The last 23 years has been the high point of TV. And HBO is King.

10 of the top 31. And 19 of the top 100 overall. Wow.


99 Oz
80 Band of Brothers
79 'Mr. Show with Bob and David'
78 Sex and the City
65 Girls
58 Six Feet Under
52 Barry
43 Insecure
39 Curb Your Enthusiasm
31 Game of Thrones
27 Deadwood
23 Watchmen
19 I May Destroy You
17 The Leftovers
15 The Larry Sanders Show
13 VEEP
11 Succesion
4 The Wire
1 Sopranos

I'm sort of scouring for STARS of shows who are on this list TWICE or more.

EDITED ....

1.5 Tina Fey - 30 Rock and her stint on SNL was significant in an ensemble cast
1.5 Sherman Hemsley and Isabel Sanford - Jeffersons and guest spots on All in the Family
1.5 David Schwimmer - Friends and role in Band of Brothers
2 Timothy Olyphant - Justified and Deadwood
2 Julia Louis-Dreyfus - Seinfeld and VEEP both top 13 wow
2 Larry David - Curb and the creative force behind Seinfeld (not acting but I'll give it to him)
2 Mary Tyler Moore - the Dick Van Dyke Show and The Mary Tyler Moore Show
2.25 Kelsey Grammer - Cheers, Frasier, part of Simpsons ensemble
2.5 Ted Danson - Cheers and The Good Place and S2 of Fargo
3+ Bob Odenkirk - Mr. Show with Bob and Dave, Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad, writer on SNL


I'm sure there are more.... help me out.

Kelsey Grammer- Frasier, Cheers, the Simpsons

Anybody else really like Party Down but still think it is sacrilegious for it to be on any list hanging out between Rick and Morty and IASIP.

That seems like the oddest addition.

Zombie Jon Snow said:

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I'm sort of scouring for STARS of shows who are on this list TWICE or more.

1.5 Tina Fey - 30 Rock and her stint on SNL was significant in an ensemble cast
1.5 Sherman Hemsley and Isabel Sanford - Jeffersons and guest spots on All in the Family

2 Timothy Olyphant - Justified and Deadwood
2 Julia Louis-Dreyfus - Seinfeld and VEEP both top 13 wow.
2 Larry David - Curb and the creative force behind Seinfeld (not acting but I'll give it to him)
2 Mary Tyler Moore - the Dick Van Dyke Show and The Mary Tyler Moore Show
2 Bob Odenkirk - Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad

2.5 Ted Danson - Cheers and The Good Place and S2 of Fargo


I'm sure there are more.... help me out.

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Odenkirk was also star/writer of Mr Show #79, and a writer for SNL.

Must admit to not knowing that show. Thanks for the info that's interesting giving Bob O at least 3. Wow. Even though he was not in S1 of BB his impact was huge.

And actually he had a recurring role in The Larry Sanders Show as well.

1. Top Gear

Also Simpsons is great if you consider the first 7 seasons. Trash after that. Southpark got better with time.

Was thinking Bob Odenkirk was Simpsons too, but he's only done one episode. His brother, Bill, however, was writer and executive producer on many episodes

Also David Schwimmer was in 2. Friends, of course, and he played the Drill Sergeant in Band of Brothers

true - relative small part in BoB. Ep. 1 and a couple of cameos later.

Home improvement was fairly entertaining but not great. Basically the same plot every show. Tim does something to upset his wife and consults with Wilson to figure out how to make up.

Sponge said:

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1. Top Gear

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Truth. How did they get it so wrong?

All in the Family is easily top 10 all time. I disagree with the previous poster - shows which influence a one or two other shows aren't necessarily better but when they redefine television it's because they are better. All in the family has to be higher.

Side question: is Atlanta really all that good? Looked like Dynasty or Dallas to me on previews.

Brian Earl Spilner said:

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The fact that Dark isn't on this list is an absolute shame. One of the best shows of the last decade easily. Too bad no one's watched it.

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I'm curious how many times you've trumpeted Dark since first discovering it, but I'm too lazy to review your entire posting history. I'd guess at least 100. (Great show, btw.)

CapCityAg89 said:

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All in the Family is easily top 10 all time. I disagree with the previous poster - shows which influence a one or two other shows aren't necessarily better but when they redefine television it's because they are better. All in the family has to be higher.

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The fact that it spawned 3 other Top 10 shows is incredible. And another Top 20.

Maude - Top 10 in 4 of its 6 seasons
Jeffersons - top 10 in 4 of its 6 seasons, top 20 in another 2
Good Times (a spinoff from Maude) - Top 10 its second season and top 25 in 3 other years
Archie Bunker's Place - highest was 11th but Top 20 for its first 3 years and Top 25 the last

I'm an unabashed fan of All in the Family.

It was #1 for 5 consecutive seasons (after its first partial mid season run) and Top 10 for every season except for one after that.

CapCityAg89 said:

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Side question: is Atlanta really all that good? Looked like Dynasty or Dallas to me on previews.

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You must be thinking of a different show because they couldn't be more polar opposites.

If they ever do a top 100 TV stars of all time, Tony Shaloub is a national treasure.

Wings
Monk
Marvelous Mrs Maisel, which could be a top 100 if it was my list

Wow. Ozark wasnt on there, good call.

Girls > Ozark? Really?

I mean I get it. I liked the show Dave, it was a funny show, but it doesnt belong on this list either.