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Celeb News: Greatest TV Shows of All Time According to 2 Experts
Member Since: 1/6/2014
Posts: 2,937
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Greatest TV Shows of All Time According to 2 Experts
TV finally gets the book it deserves
Article here.
Quote:
A couple decades ago it might have been one of the jokes in the list of "World's Shortest Books": A collection of the greatest TV shows of all time.
Now, in the midst of a sustained run of outstanding work across the ever-expanding shows-on-screens industry, you can read 400 pages on the subject of great television shows and still feel some worthy titles were left out.
Those 400 pages come from longtime TV critics Alan Sepinwall and Matt Zoller Seitz, who have taken on the assignment -- which truthfully seems more fun than challenge -- of not only naming and analyzing the top 100 shows in the history of the medium, but actually ranking them. As in: "Freaks and Geeks" is a greater achievement than "The Dick Van **** Show." And "In Treatment" beats out "The West Wing." And "Batman" somehow scores higher than "Gilmore Girls." (Not with my wife, it doesn't.)
At least one point of "TV (The Book)" -- the parentheses are part of the title -- is to stimulate the same kind of argument that attends the evaluations of other archetypes of American culture, like outfielders (Williams or Musial); rock icons (Elvis or Bruce); or movie candy (Sno-Caps or Twizzlers.) That is to say: it's going to have readers comparing and contrasting their own preferences, accompanied by shock or awe about the authors' opinions.
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Because I'm nice like that, here's the list (along with 3 bonus lists in the book) that wasn't included with the article:
Ranked based off of how they scored in the following categories: Innovation, Influence, Consistency, Storytelling & Peak.
WHAT SHOWS WERE CONSIDERED?
We made the following rules:
1. US television shows only.
2. Completed shows only. Mostly.
3. Narrative fiction only.
4. One-season shows are eligible, but with some penalties.
 Top 100- The Simpsons (Fox, 1989–present) Total score: 112
- The Sopranos (HBO, 1999–2007) Total score: 112
- The Wire (HBO, 2002–2008) Total score: 112
- Cheers (NBC, 1982–1993) Total score: 112
- Breaking Bad (AMC, 2008–2013) Total score: 112
- Mad Men (AMC, 2007–2015) Total score: 110
- Seinfeld (NBC, 1989–1998) Total score: 110
- I Love Lucy (CBS, 1951–1957) Total score: 109
- Deadwood (HBO, 2004–2006) Total score: 107
- All in the Family (CBS, 1971–1979) Total score: 106
- M*A*S*H (CBS, 1972–1983) Total score: 105
- Hill Street Blues (NBC, 1981–1987) Total score: 104
- The Shield (FX, 2002–2008) Total score: 102
- The Twilight Zone (CBS, 1959–1964 and 1985–1989; UPN, 2002–2003) Total score: 101
- Arrested Development (Fox, 2003–2006; Netflix, 2013) Total score: 100
- The Larry Sanders Show (HBO, 1992–1998) Total score: 100
- The Honeymooners (CBS, 1955–1956) Total score: 99
- Louie (FX, 2010–2015) Total score: 99
- The Mary Tyler Moore Show (CBS, 1970–1977) Total score: 98
- The X-Files (Fox, 1993–2002) Total score: 97
- Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO, 2000–2011) Total score: 96
- SpongeBob SquarePants (Nickelodeon, 1999–present) Total score: 96
- Twin Peaks (ABC, 1990–1991) Total score: 96
- Lost (ABC, 2004–2010) Total score: 95
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer (WB, 1997–2001; UPN, 2001–2003) Total score: 94
- Freaks and Geeks (NBC, 1999–2000) Total score: 94
- My So-Called Life (ABC, 1994–1995) Total score: 94
- Oz (HBO, 1997–2003) Total score: 93
- The Dick Van **** Show (CBS, 1961–1966) Total score: 92
- Friday Night Lights (NBC, 2006–2008; DirecTV/NBC, 2008–2011) Total score: 92
- NYPD Blue (ABC, 1993–2005) Total score: 91
- Frasier (NBC, 1993–2004) Total score: 90
- Homicide: Life on the Street (NBC, 1993–1999) Total score: 90
- Battlestar Galactica (Sci Fi, 2003–2009) Total score: 89
- In Treatment (HBO, 2008–2010) Total score: 89
- South Park (Comedy Central, 1997–present) Total score: 89
- The West Wing (NBC, 1999–2006) Total score: 89
- Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (Syndication, 1976–1977) Total score: 88
- The Andy Griffith Show (CBS, 1960–1968) Total score: 87
- The Cosby Show (NBC, 1984–1992) Total score: 87
- Moonlighting (ABC, 1985–1989) Total score: 87
- Taxi (ABC, 1978–1982; NBC, 1982–1983) Total score: 87
- East Side/West Side (CBS, 1963–1964) Total score: 86
- Hannibal (NBC, 2013–2015) Total score: 86
- ER (NBC, 1994–2009) Total score: 85
- Parks and Recreation (NBC, 2009–2015) Total score: 85
- Roseanne (ABC, 1988–1997) Total score: 85
- 30 Rock (NBC, 2006–2013) Total score: 84
- The Bob Newhart Show (CBS, 1972–1978) Total score: 84
- Malcolm in the Middle (Fox, 2000–2006) Total score: 84
- Miami Vice (NBC, 1984–1990) Total score: 84
- The Office (NBC, 2005–2013) Total score: 84
- St. Elsewhere (NBC, 1982–1988) Total score: 84
- Community (NBC, 2009–2014; Yahoo!, 2015) Total score: 83
- The Golden Girls (NBC, 1985–1992) Total score: 83
- Police Squad! (ABC, 1982) Total score: 83
- 24 (Fox, 2001–2010) Total score: 82
- The Defenders (CBS, 1961–1965) Total score: 82
- Gunsmoke (CBS, 1955–1975) Total score: 82
- Sex and the City (HBO, 1998–2004) Total score: 82
- Star Trek (NBC, 1966–1969) Total score: 81
- Firefly (Fox, 2002–2003) Total score: 80
- Law & Order (NBC, 1990–2010) Total score: 80
- Maude (CBS, 1972–1978) Total score: 80
- The Rockford Files (NBC, 1974–1980) Total score: 80
- China Beach (ABC, 1988–1991) Total score: 79
- Enlightened (HBO, 2011–2013) Total score: 79
- Everybody Loves Raymond (CBS, 1996–2005) Total score: 79
- The Wonder Years (ABC, 1988–1993) Total score: 79
- Barney Miller (ABC, 1974–1982) Total score: 78
- Frank’s Place (CBS, 1987–1988) Total score: 78
- It’s Garry Shandling’s Show (Showtime, 1986–1990) Total score: 78
- The Jack Benny Program (CBS and NBC, 1950–1965) Total score: 78
- Justified (FX, 2010–2015) Total score: 78
- The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show (ABC, 1959–1961; NBC, 1961–1964) Total score: 78
- thirtysomething (ABC, 1987–1991) Total score: 78
- Columbo (NBC, 1971–1978; ABC, 1989–2003) Total score: 77
- Friends (NBC, 1994–2004) Total score: 77
- Futurama (Fox, 1999–2003; Comedy Central, 2008–2013; various direct-to-video movies) Total score: 77
- The Outer Limits (ABC, 1963–1965) Total score: 76
- Northern Exposure (CBS, 1990–1995) Total score: 76
- Batman (ABC, 1966–1968) Total score: 75
- King of the Hill (Fox, 1997–2010) Total score: 75
- Veronica Mars (UPN, 2004–2006; CW, 2006–2007) Total score: 75
- Cagney & Lacey (CBS, 1981–1988) Total score: 74
- EZ Streets (CBS, 1996–1997) Total score: 74
- Wiseguy (CBS, 1987–1990) Total score: 74
- Gilmore Girls (WB/CW, 2000–2007) Total score: 74
- Six Feet Under (HBO, 2001–2005) Total score: 74
- Sports Night (ABC, 1998–2000) Total score: 74
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (Syndicated, 1993–1999) Total score: 73
- Batman: The Animated Series (Fox, 1992–1995) Total score: 72
- Boardwalk Empire (HBO, 2010–2014) Total score: 72
- NewsRadio (NBC, 1995–1999) Total score: 72
- Picket Fences (CBS, 1992–1996) Total score: 72
- Scrubs (NBC, 2001–2008; ABC, 2009–2010) Total score: 72
- WKRP in Cincinnati (CBS, 1978–1982) Total score: 72
- How I Met Your Mother (CBS, 2005–2014) Total score: 70
- Soap (ABC, 1977–1981) Total score: 70
- Terriers (FX, 2010) Total score: 70
Best Series Finales
1.The Shield
2.The Fugitive
3.The Sopranos
4.Six Feet Under
5.Cheers
6.M*A*S*H
7.St. Elsewhere
8.Angel
9.Newhart
10.The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Best Pilots
1.Twin Peaks
2.Cheers
3.Police Squad!
4.Lost
5.The Sopranos
6.The Shield
7.The Wonder Years
8.My So-Called Life
9.Miami Vice
10.Hill Street Blues
11.The Larry Sanders Show
12.Kolchak: The Night Stalker
13.The West Wing
14.Arrested Development
15.Wonderland
16.Friday Night Lights
17.ER
18.Breaking Bad
19.Alias
20.The Walking Dead
21.Mad Men
22.The O.C.
23.WKRP in Cincinnati
24.Night Gallery
25.Modern Family
Best Miniseries
1. Roots (ABC, 1977); and Roots: The Next Generations (ABC, 1979)
2. Angels in America (HBO, 2003)
3. Lonesome Dove (CBS, 1989)
4. Band of Brothers (HBO, 2001)
5. Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows (ABC, 2001)
6. From the Earth to the Moon (HBO, 1998)
7. The Corner (HBO, 2000)
8. Olive Kitteridge (HBO, 2014)
9. Generation Kill (HBO, 2008)
10. Show Me a Hero (HBO, 2015)
11. Rich Man, Poor Man (ABC, 1976)
12. The Thorn Birds (ABC, 1983)
13. Top of the Lake (Sundance, 2013)
14. John Adams (HBO, 2008)
15. Hatfields & McCoys (History, 2012)
16. Mildred Pierce (HBO, 2011)
17. Andersonville (TNT, 1996)
18. It (ABC, 1990)
19. The Winds of War (ABC, 1983)
20. Horace and Pete (LouisCK.net, 2016)
Top 100 Scorecards
WORKS IN PROGRESS; Current series that could be Pantheon-worthy
Adventure Time (Nickelodeon, 2010–present)
American Crime (ABC, 2015–present)
The Americans (FX, 2013–present)
Better Call Saul (AMC, 2015–present)
Black-ish (ABC, 2014–present)
BoJack Horseman (Netflix, 2014–present)
Broad City (Comedy Central, 2014–present)
Fargo (FX, 2014–present)
Game of Thrones (HBO, 2011–present)
Girls (HBO, 2012–present)
Jessica Jones (Netflix, 2015–present)
The Leftovers (HBO, 2014–present)
Mr. Robot (USA, 2015–present)
Orange Is the New Black (Netflix, 2013–present)
Rectify (Sundance, 2013–present)
Review (Comedy Central, 2014–present)
Scandal (ABC, 2012–present)
Transparent (Amazon, 2014–present)
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Netflix, 2015–present)
UnREAL (Lifetime, 2015–present)
Veep (HBO, 2012–present)
American Crime Story (FX, 2016–present)
Archer (FX, 2010–present)
Bob’s Burgers (Fox, 2011–present)
Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Fox, 2013–present)
The Carmichael Show (NBC, 2015–present)
Casual (Hulu, 2015–present)
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (CW, 2015–present)
Empire (Fox, 2014–present)
Fresh Off the Boat (ABC, 2015–present)
Halt and Catch Fire (AMC, 2014–present)
Silicon Valley (HBO, 2014–present)
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FX/FXX, 2005–present)
iZombie (CW, 2015–present)
Jane the Virgin (CW, 2014–present)
Master of None (Netflix, 2015–present)
The Mindy Project (Fox, 2012–2015; Hulu, 2015–present)
New Girl (Fox, 2011–present)
Rick and Morty (Adult Swim, 2013–present)
You’re the Worst (FX/ FXX, 2014–present)
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 9/14/2010
Posts: 78,921
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The Sopranos (HBO, 1999–2007) Total score: 112
The Wire (HBO, 2002–2008) Total score: 112
Breaking Bad (AMC, 2008–2013) Total score: 112
Mad Men (AMC, 2007–2015) Total score: 110
Twin Peaks (ABC, 1990–1991) Total score: 96
Lost (ABC, 2004–2010) Total score: 95
Hannibal (NBC, 2013–2015) Total score: 86
+ Lost with the forth-best pilot of all time  You can tell miniseries is US only because the Brits would takeover the list.
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 17,938
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cmd + f "Grey's Anatomy"
this list is invalid 
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Member Since: 8/7/2015
Posts: 4,725
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I'm sorry but BTVS should be in the top 5
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Member Since: 11/2/2011
Posts: 9,796
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Came in for Buffy and it's there.
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Member Since: 2/2/2014
Posts: 3,404
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I won't take this list seriously when Simpsons is #1 and Friends is #60
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Member Since: 4/27/2012
Posts: 9,977
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Quote:
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2. The Sopranos (HBO, 1999–2007) Total score: 112
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Stopped reading 
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Member Since: 8/18/2013
Posts: 14,905
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this one was probably omitted because it is a remake but it's so good
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Member Since: 8/18/2013
Posts: 14,905
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Quote:
Originally posted by Travis Bickle
Stopped reading
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literally sopranos is so overrated
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Member Since: 5/19/2011
Posts: 34,328
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Quote:
48. Hannibal (NBC, 2013–2015) Total score: 86
49. ER (NBC, 1994–2009) Total score: 85
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Amazing shows. Well deserved, though I would've placed them higher.
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Member Since: 9/1/2013
Posts: 20,932
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Where is Penny Dreadful? 
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 7,700
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Quote:
Lost (ABC, 2004–2010) Total score: 95
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (WB, 1997–2001; UPN, 2001–2003) Total score: 94
Parks and Recreation (NBC, 2009–2015) Total score: 85
30 Rock (NBC, 2006–2013) Total score: 84
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Where's Grey's tho 
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 9/14/2010
Posts: 78,921
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Quote:
Originally posted by ReachOut
Where is Penny Dreadful? |
It's British.
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Member Since: 4/4/2014
Posts: 13,522
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The Sopranos (HBO, 1999–2007) Total score: 112
The Wire (HBO, 2002–2008) Total score: 112
Twin Peaks (ABC, 1990–1991) Total score: 96
Lost (ABC, 2004–2010) Total score: 95
Gilmore Girls (WB/CW, 2000–2007) Total score: 74
Love these. GG making it 
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Member Since: 8/18/2013
Posts: 14,905
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Quote:
Originally posted by Shelter
Came in for Buffy and it's there. |
I tried watching buffy and i could only make it through like 4 episodes 
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Member Since: 8/7/2015
Posts: 4,725
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Member Since: 5/27/2016
Posts: 239
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Friends at #60?
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Member Since: 2/2/2009
Posts: 20,174
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Quote:
Originally posted by lightstheyblindme
I tried watching buffy and i could only make it through like 4 episodes |
The fun begins after you made It through Season 1 sis...
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 9/14/2010
Posts: 78,921
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I'm surprised Smallville didn't make the cut. Considering all the other young demographic shows did.
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Member Since: 9/1/2013
Posts: 20,932
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Quote:
Originally posted by J a y
It's British.
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I've didn't read "American"
thank you 
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