The Top 100 TV Shows of My Lifetime
First the list. Then the commentary...
1. MacGyver (1985-92)
2. 24 (2001-present)
3. Prison Break (2005-2009)
4. Seinfeld (1990-98)
5. Hardcastle and McCormick (1983-86)
6. Growing Pains (1985-92)
7. The Fall Guy (1981-86)
8. Miami Vice (1984-89)
9. New York Undercover (1994-98)
10. The A-Team (1983-87)
11. La Femme Nikita (1997-2001)
12. The Wonder Years (1988-93)
13. Lost (2004-2010)
14. Crime Story (1986-88)
15. Burn Notice (2007-present)
16. Survivor (2000-present)
17. Night Court (1984-92)
18. Desperate Housewives (2004-present)
19. Sledge Hammer! (1986-88)
20. Wiseguy (1987-90)
21. American Gothic (1995-96)
22. Traveler (2007)
23. The Equalizer (1985-89)
24. The Practice (1997-2004)
25. Harper’s Island (2009)
26. The Office (2005-present)
27. Magnum, P.I. (1980-88)
28. The X-Files (1993-2002)
29. Vengeance Unlimited (1998-99)
30. The Disney Sunday Movie (1986-88)
31. Boomtown (2002-03)
32. Hill Street Blues (1981-87)
33. Perfect Strangers (1986-93)
34. St. Elsewhere (1982-88)
35. FX: The Series (1996-98)
36. Family Ties (1982-89)
37. Alias (2001-06)
38. High Incident (1996-97)
39. Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher (1996-2002)
40. Spenser: For Hire (1985-88)
41. Roseanne (1988-97)
42. U.C. Undercover (2001-02)
43. Midnight Caller (1988-91)
44. Threat Matrix (2003-04)
45. Remington Steele (1982-87)
46. Hart to Hart (1979-84)
47. The Simpsons (1989-present)
48. Quantum Leap (1989-93)
49. Airwolf (1984-86)
50. Simon and Simon (1981-88)
51. Without a Trace (2002-09)
52. K-Ville (2007)
53. Twin Peaks (1990-91)
54. Tour of Duty (1987-90)
55. L.A. Law (1986-94)
56. The Commish (1991-95)
57. Spin City (1996-2002)
58. Kids in the Hall (1990-95)
59. Law and Order (1990-present)
60. Our World (1986-87)
61. Cheers (1982-93)
62. The Pretender (1996-2000)
63. T.J. Hooker (1982-86)
64. Knight Rider (1982-86)
65. Smallville (2001-present)
66. Mission: Impossible (remake) (1988-90)
67. Street Hawk (1985)
68. Cracker (1997-98)
69. Soldier of Fortune, Inc. (1997-99)
70. Tales of the Gold Monkey (1982-83)
71. Cold Case (2003-present)
72. Cover-Up (1984-85)
73. Stingray (1986-87)
74. The Flash (1990-91)
75. CSI (2000-present)
76. Scarecrow and Mrs. King (1983-87)
77. The Fugitive (remake) (2000-01)
78. Viper (1994, 1997-2000)
79. 21 Jump Street (1987-90)
80. Line of Fire (2003-04)
81. Moonlight (2007-08)
82. Houston Knights (1987-88)
83. Vanished (2006)
84. The Cosby Show (1984-92)
85. The Twilight Zone (remake) (1985-88)
86. Life on Mars (2008-09)
87. Flashpoint (2008-present)
88. Sable (1987-88)
89. American Gladiators (1989-96)
90. In the Heat of the Night (1988-94)
91. Misfits of Science (1985-86)
92. Kid Nation (2007)
93. Dynasty (1981-89)
94. Shadow Chasers (1985-86)
95. Dark Angel (2000-02)
96. Automan (1983-84)
97. Brimstone (1998-99)
98. Stargate SG-1 (1997-2007)
99. Close to Home (2005-07)
100. Mike Hammer (1984-87)
What's on here:
1) alot of action-adventure/crimefighter shows...those are my favorites
2) shows that had flashes of all-out brilliance even if they sputtered at various points in their run
3) shows that were rarely brilliant but were consistently above-average for several years
4) shows I watched at least semiregularly...sadly there are undoubtedly plenty of classics I never watched
5) shows that I have a nostalgic attachment to even if they're pretty hard to take watching as an adult
What's not on here:
1) anything on pay-per-view cable...I have resisted that genre despite hearing about all the great shows produced for it
2) with one exception, medical dramas....not my genre of choice
3) hard-core science fiction shows...again, not my genre
4) shows that had one or two good seasons but five or six weak seasons (i.e. Murphy Brown)
With that said, I tried to present a decent cross-section of genres and even included a couple reality shows despite my not being a fan of that genre. I make no apologies for elevating my personal favorites to the top despite the "flaws" that more snobbish TV critics may apply to those shows. The most important part of TV for me is the fun factor.
The toughest balancing act was trying to judge shows that lasted eight episodes versus shows that lasted eight years. Even my favorite short-lived series failed to crack the top-10 because it's not fair to suggest a very limited-run series is worthy of an iconic, long-lasting series that faced both the benefits and drawbacks of endurance.
Anyway, there's my list, subject to change in the months and years ahead of course.
1. MacGyver (1985-92)
2. 24 (2001-present)
3. Prison Break (2005-2009)
4. Seinfeld (1990-98)
5. Hardcastle and McCormick (1983-86)
6. Growing Pains (1985-92)
7. The Fall Guy (1981-86)
8. Miami Vice (1984-89)
9. New York Undercover (1994-98)
10. The A-Team (1983-87)
11. La Femme Nikita (1997-2001)
12. The Wonder Years (1988-93)
13. Lost (2004-2010)
14. Crime Story (1986-88)
15. Burn Notice (2007-present)
16. Survivor (2000-present)
17. Night Court (1984-92)
18. Desperate Housewives (2004-present)
19. Sledge Hammer! (1986-88)
20. Wiseguy (1987-90)
21. American Gothic (1995-96)
22. Traveler (2007)
23. The Equalizer (1985-89)
24. The Practice (1997-2004)
25. Harper’s Island (2009)
26. The Office (2005-present)
27. Magnum, P.I. (1980-88)
28. The X-Files (1993-2002)
29. Vengeance Unlimited (1998-99)
30. The Disney Sunday Movie (1986-88)
31. Boomtown (2002-03)
32. Hill Street Blues (1981-87)
33. Perfect Strangers (1986-93)
34. St. Elsewhere (1982-88)
35. FX: The Series (1996-98)
36. Family Ties (1982-89)
37. Alias (2001-06)
38. High Incident (1996-97)
39. Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher (1996-2002)
40. Spenser: For Hire (1985-88)
41. Roseanne (1988-97)
42. U.C. Undercover (2001-02)
43. Midnight Caller (1988-91)
44. Threat Matrix (2003-04)
45. Remington Steele (1982-87)
46. Hart to Hart (1979-84)
47. The Simpsons (1989-present)
48. Quantum Leap (1989-93)
49. Airwolf (1984-86)
50. Simon and Simon (1981-88)
51. Without a Trace (2002-09)
52. K-Ville (2007)
53. Twin Peaks (1990-91)
54. Tour of Duty (1987-90)
55. L.A. Law (1986-94)
56. The Commish (1991-95)
57. Spin City (1996-2002)
58. Kids in the Hall (1990-95)
59. Law and Order (1990-present)
60. Our World (1986-87)
61. Cheers (1982-93)
62. The Pretender (1996-2000)
63. T.J. Hooker (1982-86)
64. Knight Rider (1982-86)
65. Smallville (2001-present)
66. Mission: Impossible (remake) (1988-90)
67. Street Hawk (1985)
68. Cracker (1997-98)
69. Soldier of Fortune, Inc. (1997-99)
70. Tales of the Gold Monkey (1982-83)
71. Cold Case (2003-present)
72. Cover-Up (1984-85)
73. Stingray (1986-87)
74. The Flash (1990-91)
75. CSI (2000-present)
76. Scarecrow and Mrs. King (1983-87)
77. The Fugitive (remake) (2000-01)
78. Viper (1994, 1997-2000)
79. 21 Jump Street (1987-90)
80. Line of Fire (2003-04)
81. Moonlight (2007-08)
82. Houston Knights (1987-88)
83. Vanished (2006)
84. The Cosby Show (1984-92)
85. The Twilight Zone (remake) (1985-88)
86. Life on Mars (2008-09)
87. Flashpoint (2008-present)
88. Sable (1987-88)
89. American Gladiators (1989-96)
90. In the Heat of the Night (1988-94)
91. Misfits of Science (1985-86)
92. Kid Nation (2007)
93. Dynasty (1981-89)
94. Shadow Chasers (1985-86)
95. Dark Angel (2000-02)
96. Automan (1983-84)
97. Brimstone (1998-99)
98. Stargate SG-1 (1997-2007)
99. Close to Home (2005-07)
100. Mike Hammer (1984-87)
What's on here:
1) alot of action-adventure/crimefighter shows...those are my favorites
2) shows that had flashes of all-out brilliance even if they sputtered at various points in their run
3) shows that were rarely brilliant but were consistently above-average for several years
4) shows I watched at least semiregularly...sadly there are undoubtedly plenty of classics I never watched
5) shows that I have a nostalgic attachment to even if they're pretty hard to take watching as an adult
What's not on here:
1) anything on pay-per-view cable...I have resisted that genre despite hearing about all the great shows produced for it
2) with one exception, medical dramas....not my genre of choice
3) hard-core science fiction shows...again, not my genre
4) shows that had one or two good seasons but five or six weak seasons (i.e. Murphy Brown)
With that said, I tried to present a decent cross-section of genres and even included a couple reality shows despite my not being a fan of that genre. I make no apologies for elevating my personal favorites to the top despite the "flaws" that more snobbish TV critics may apply to those shows. The most important part of TV for me is the fun factor.
The toughest balancing act was trying to judge shows that lasted eight episodes versus shows that lasted eight years. Even my favorite short-lived series failed to crack the top-10 because it's not fair to suggest a very limited-run series is worthy of an iconic, long-lasting series that faced both the benefits and drawbacks of endurance.
Anyway, there's my list, subject to change in the months and years ahead of course.
posted by Mark at 7:39 PM
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