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Best Dramatic TV Shows of 2011 By TVs Frank [18 more lists]
The best dramatic shows of 2011 took us back in time, allowed us to visit far away lands and most of all, pulled at our heart strings as we watched our favorite characters deal with the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. While some of the best shows on TV didn't even air in 2011 (Mad Men we're looking at you) others like Breaking Bad, Fringe, Boardwalk Empire and Game of Thrones kept us interested, toyed with our emotions and certainly kept our DVRs busy as we followed along with the dramatic story lines.
As with previous years, many of the best, most acclaimed and Emmy Award-winning drama series from 2011 came from networks like CBS, ABC, NBC and FOX while others were only available from basic cable stations like AMC and FX. Even others were limited to those with the pay channels like HBO and Showtime. Regardless of network, these series got us interested and kept us hooked to all the action throughout the year.
The best drama series of 2011 provided a bit of something for everyone. Sci-fi and horror lovers had plenty of options like Terra Nova and American Horror Story while those looking for courtroom dramas could choose from the likes of The Good Wife and The Defenders.
There were plenty of shows for the ladies as well with the likes of Desperate Housewives returning for its final season and new shows like Hart of Dixie airing. Not to leave the gory shows out of the picture, there were several options for those liking bloods and guts with Dexter and True Blood making the list.
Of course there were also plenty of new shows, including remakes of old shows like a reboot of the Charlie's Angels franchise and the return of Hawaii Five-0, as well as plenty of old favorites who returned for another seasons like the NCIS and CSI franchises.
So whether you're a fan of the warm and fuzzy dramas or the hard-hitting crime shows or any in between, one or another of the best dramatic series of 2011 is sure to keep you crying, cheering or simply entertained.
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RJ Mitte, Aaron Paul, Dave Colon, Carmen Serano, Bryan Cranston, Betsy Brandt, Charles Baker, Dean Norris, Giancarlo Esposito, Steven Michael Quezada, Anna Gunn, Bob Odenkirk, Matt L. Jones MoreVince Gilligan2008-01-20 - 2
Donald Sumpter, Maisie Williams, Harry Lloyd, Peter Dinklage, Alfie Owen-Allen, Richard Madden, Lena Headey, Emilia Clarke, Jack Gleeson, Sophie Turner, James Cosmo, Kit Harington, Carice van Houten, Jason Momoa, Charles Dance, Mark Addy, Jerome Flynn, Esmé Bianco, Sean Bean, Conleth Hill, Aidan Gillen, Rory McCann, Nikolaj Coster Waldau, Iain Glen, Michelle Fairley, Isaac Hempstead-Wright MoreDavid Benioff, D. B. Weiss2011-04-17 - 3
Julie Benz, Erik King, James Remar, Christian Camargo, Jennifer Carpenter, Jaime Murray, Courtney Ford, Julia Stiles, Michael C. Hall, David Zayas, C.S. Lee, Lauren Vélez, Jonny Lee Miller, Devon Graye, Preston Bailey, Molly Parker, Christina Robinson, Desmond Harrington, Mark Pellegrino, Edward James Olmos, Jimmy Smits, Keith Carradine, John Lithgow, Margo Martindale MoreJames Manos, Jr.2006-10-01 - 4
Damian Lewis, Diego Klattenhoff, Claire Danes, Morena Baccarin, Mandy Patinkin, David Harewood MoreHoward Gordon2011-10-02added by: Lons - 5
Lauren Cohan, Steven Yeun, Emma Bell, Jeryl Prescott, Jeffrey DeMunn, Laurie Holden, Chandler Riggs, Norman Reedus, Michael Rooker, Andrew Lincoln, Sarah Wayne Callies, Jon Bernthal, Melissa Suzanne McBride, Madison Lintz MoreFrank Darabont2010-10-31added by: Kel Varnsen - 6
Jacob Pitts, Raymond Berry, Natalie Zea, Joelle Carter, Larenz Tate, Timothy Olyphant, Walton Goggins, William Ragsdale, Erica N. Tazel, Nick Searcy, Kristin Bauer, Damon Herriman, David Meunier MoreGraham Yost2010-03-16added by: cdu827 - 7 Kelly Macdonald, Michael Stuhlbarg, Aleksa Palladino, Vincent Piazza, Kevin Carolan, Michael Shannon, Gretchen Mol, Jack Huston, Paz de la Huerta, Dabney Coleman, Michael Pitt, Steve Buscemi, Michael K. Williams, Stephen Graham, Shea Whigham, Anthony Laciura, Mark Wahlberg MoreTerence Winter2010-09-19
- 8 James Caviezel, Natalie Zea, Michael Emerson, Taraji P. Henson, Kevin Chapman More2011-09-22
- 9 Jessica Lange, Christian Serratosadded by: Lons
- 10 Jennifer Morrison, Jesse Spencer, Olivia Wilde, Ricky Ullman, Amanda Seyfried, Jeremy Renner, Dominic Purcell, Tamara Braun, David Morse, Jayma Mays, Jennifer Grey, Khleo Thomas, Sunny Mabrey, Carla Gallo, Sasha Alexander, Sherilyn Fenn, Jack Coleman, Marin Hinkle, Sela Ward, Eva Amurri, Felicia Day, Samantha Mathis, Robert Sean Leonard, Peter Jacobson, Hugh Laurie, Omar Epps, Lisa Edelstein, Leigh-Allyn Baker, Elle Fanning, R. Lee Ermey, Tyler James Williams, Taraji P. Henson, Michelle Trachtenberg, Laura Prepon, Jessy Schram, Mira Sorvino, Stephanie Courtney, Amber Tamblyn, Meagan Good, Thomas Dekker, Kal Penn, Lyndsy Fonseca, Lucas Till, Odette Yustman, Charlyne Yi, Sasha Pieterse, Franka Potente, Matthew Lillard, Jurnee Smollett MoreDavid Shore2004-11-16
- 11 Kim Coates, Johnny Lewis, Charlie Hunnam, Ron Perlman, Katey Sagal, Drea de Matteo, William Lucking, Ryan Hurst, Mark Boone Junior, Theo Rossi, Dendrie Taylor, Jeff Wincott, Dayton Callie, Maggie Siff, Emilio Rivera, Stevie Long, Maggie Siff, Ally Walker, Danny Trejo, Khleo Thomas MoreKurt Sutter2008-09-03added by: cdu827
- 12 Leonard Nimoy, John Noble, Seth Gabel, Michael Gaston, Kirk Acevedo, Jasika Nicole, Anna Torv, Chance Kelly, Ari Graynor, Mark Valley, Blair Brown, Lance Reddick, Michael Cerveris, Joshua Jackson, Jared Harris, Diane Kruger, Deborah Ann Woll MoreJ.J. Abrams, Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman2008-09-09
- 13 Silas Weir Mitchell, Dave Giuntoli, Russell Hornsby, Reggie Lee, Sasha Roiz, Bitsie Tulloch MoreJim Kouf, David Greenwalt2011-10-21added by: OldSoul
- 14 Chris Noth, Matt Czuchry, Gillian Jacobs, Katie Walder, Miranda Cosgrove, Michael J. Fox, Josh Charles, Alan Cumming, Julianna Margulies, Michael Ealy, Leelee Sobieski, Jerry Stiller, Mary Beth Peil, Archie Panjabi, Makenzie Vega, Graham Phillips, Martha Plimpton, Titus Welliver, Christine Baranski, Sarah Silverman, Carrie Preston, Elizabeth Reaser MoreRobert King, Michelle King2009-09-22
- 15 David McCallum, Cote de Pablo, Scottie Thompson, James Morrison, Brigid Brannagh, Mark Harmon, Joe Spano, Zac Efron, Sharni Vinson, Alan Dale, Nina Foch, Victor H. Webster, Taylor Cole, Tania Raymonde, Ralph Waite, Sean Murray, Michael Weatherly, Brian Dietzen, Pauley Perrette, Lauren Holly, Stephanie Mello, Jessica Steen, Don Franklin, Susanna Thompson, Tamara Taylor, Abigail Breslin, Courtney Ford, Bob Newhart, Rocky Carroll, China Anne McClain, Claudia Black, Madeline Carroll, Shanna Moakler, Eric Stonestreet, Pancho Demmings, Chris O'Donnell, Josh Holloway, Carla Gallo, Sasha Alexander, Julie Benz, Danneel Ackles MoreDonald Bellisario2003-09-23
- 16 Kevin Alejandro, Chris Bauer, Lois Smith, Evan Rachel Wood, Raoul Trujillo, Alexander Skarsgård, Lynn Collins, Michael Raymond-James, Carrie Preston, William Sanderson, Christina Moore, Joe Manganiello, Anna Paquin, Lindsay Pulsipher, Anna Camp, Fiona Shaw, Jessica Stroup, Nelsan Ellis, Danielle James, Denis O'Hare, Kristin Bauer, Ryan Kwanten, Jessica Tuck, Rutina Wesley, Lizzy Caplan, Courtney Ford, Jim Parrack, Stephen Moyer, Sam Trammell, Jim Parrack, Adina Porter, Stephen Root, Michelle Forbes, Mehcad Brooks, Michael McMillian, Marshall Allman, Deborah Ann Woll, Todd Lowe, Mariana Klaveno, Janina Gavankar, Lauren Bowles, Wes Brown MoreAlan Ball2008-09-07added by: Kel Varnsen
- 17 Sean Faris, Ian Somerhalder, Courtney Ford, Lauren Cohan, Nina Dobrev, Sara Canning, Spencer Locke, Paul Wesley, Michael Trevino, Zach Roerig, Katerina Graham, Kayla Ewell, Matthew Davis, Steven R. McQueen, Candice Accola, Arielle Kebbel, Mia Kirshner, Joseph Morgan, Daniel Gillies, Kelly Hu MoreKevin Williamson, Julie Plec2009-09-10added by: CarlaBarrosM
- 18 Jane Curtin, Kevin Rankin, Michael Gaston, Poppy Montgomery, Dylan Walsh More2011-09-20
- 19 Michelle Forbes, Annie Corley, Eric Ladin, Alona Tal, Mireille Enos, Kristin Lehman, Billy Campbell, Brendan Sexton III, Joel Kinnaman More2011-04-03
- 20 Louise Lombard, Peter Cambor, Barrett Foa, Rocky Carroll, Victor H. Webster, Linda Hunt, Daniela Ruah, LL Cool J, Chris O'Donnell, Adam Jamal Craig, Eric Christian Olsen, Brian Avers, Renée Felice Smith, Claire Forlani, Devon Sawa MoreDonald Bellisario, Shane Brennan, Shane Brennan2009-09-22
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- 21 Donnie Wahlberg, Will Estes, Andrew Terraciano, Jennifer Esposito, Lola Glaudini, Flex Alexander, Tom Selleck, Tony Terraciano, Bobby Cannavale, Amy Carlson, Bridget Moynahan, Len Cariou, Andrea Roth More2010-09-24
- 22 Harry Endo, Taryn Manning, Joseph Sirola, Scott Caan, James Marsters, Nadine Velazquez, Michelle Borth, Jean Smart, Colin Egglesfield, Jason Scott Lee, Sharon Farrell, Larisa Oleynik, Lauren German, Maggi Parker, Teila Tuli, Lyle Bettger, Moe Keale, Daniel Dae Kim, Alex O'Loughlin, Grace Park, Teilor Grubbs, Vanessa Minnillo, Nick Lachey, Norman Reedus, Michael Copon, Mark Dacascos, Masi Oka MoreRoberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman, Leonard Freeman2010-09-20added by: cdu827
- 23 Melissa Joan Hart, Maggie Grace, Hayden Panettiere, Rooney Mara, Maria Bello, Morgan Fairchild, Logan Marshall-Green, Melissa Sagemiller, Jeremy Irons, Amanda Seyfried, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Dana Delany, Kellie Martin, Jennifer Esposito, Ryan Kwanten, Isabel Gillies, Paz de la Huerta, Marin Hinkle, Tamara Tunie, Lynda Carter, Paul Wesley, Will Arnett, Marlee Matlin, Abigail Breslin, Jeri Ryan, Naveen Andrews, Janine Turner, Leven Rambin, Marcia Gay Harden, Gabrielle Anwar, Angela Lansbury, Matthew Lillard, Heather Tom, Seth Gabel, Martha Plimpton, Dean Winters, Ricky Ullman, Judith Light, Christopher Meloni, Michaela McManus, Michael Pitt, Malinda Williams, Paget Brewster, Bradley Cooper, Kelli Giddish, Paula Garcés, Charles Shaughnessy, Ezekial Dann Florek, Skeet Ulrich, John Gallagher Jr., Lance Reddick, John Cullum, Adam Beach, Elle Fanning, Mary Steenburgen, Richard Belzer, Leslie Hendrix, Lewis Black, Bill Pullman, Ron Eldard, Ice T, Jennifer Love Hewitt, A. J. Cook, Ally Walker, Mariska Hargitay, Stephanie March, Paula Patton, Ann-Margret, Emily Deschanel, Sarah Hyland, Deborah Ann Woll, Arielle Kebbel, Geoffrey Arend, Eddie Cahill, Rory Culkin, Bernadette Peters, Raquel Castro, Tyler James Williams, Mark McGrath, Karen Allen, Henry Winkler, Lee Pace, Richard Lewis, Rob Estes, Cynthia Nixon, Diane Neal, B.D. Wong, Michelle Hurd, Zoe Saldana, Sharon Stone, Danny Pino, Elizabeth Banks, Michelle Monaghan, Julie Bowen, Alexis Dziena, Colin Egglesfield, John Stamos, Hunter Parrish, Donna Murphy, Norman Reedus, Kal Penn, Drea de Matteo, Jane Krakowski, Rick Gonzalez, Gale Harold, R. Lee Ermey, Michelle Borth, Hilary Duff, Lena Olin MoreDick Wolf1999-09-20
- 24 Rachel Bilson, Scott Porter, Jaime King, Cress WilliamsJosh Schwartz2011-09-26
- 25 Louise Lombard, Emily Procter, Liz Vassey, Charisma Carpenter, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Alison Pill, Autumn Reeser, Arielle Kebbel, Thomas Dekker, Lucas Grabeel, Anthony LaPaglia, Khleo Thomas, Marcia Cross, Lauren Lee Smith, Tricia Helfer, Aisha Tyler, Sean Young, Sierra McCormick, Tahyna Tozzi, Nichole Hiltz, Kristin Bauer, Allison Scagliotti-Smith, Jason Dohring, Eric Szmanda, Taraji P. Henson, Tamara Braun, Wallace Langham, Cam Gigandet, Ann-Margret, Brianna Brown, Kyle Howard, George Eads, Marg Helgenberger, Jorja Fox, Gary Dourdan, David Berman, Paul Guilfoyle, Robert David Hall, Jason Segel, William Petersen, Taylor Cole, Amanda Seyfried, Ted Danson, Chad Michael Murray, Marlee Matlin, Will Patton, John Krasinski, Donna Murphy, Rick Gonzalez, Judd Nelson, Andrea Roth, Joey King, Deborah Ann Woll, Michael Trevino, Kay Panabaker, Natalie Zea, Andy Dick, Eric Winter, Jeffrey Ross, Jennifer Tilly, Sara Foster, David Caruso, Alona Tal, Seth Gabel, Susan Gibney, Danneel Ackles, Krista Allen, Jana Kramer, Josh Holloway, Laurence Fishburne, Joanna Krupa, Christopher Gorham, Constance Marie, Jane Lynch, Sam Jones III, Moon Bloodgood, Zachary Quinto, Sienna Guillory, Eric Stonestreet, Laura Vandervoort, Hunter Parrish, Elisabeth Harnois, Lyndsy Fonseca, Elizabeth Berkley, Kate Walsh, Summer Glau, Ally Walker, Shanna Moakler, Julie Benz, Adam Jamal Craig, Jolene Blalock, Judith Scott, Kaley Cuoco, Joe Manganiello, Jeremy Renner, Grace Park, Sasha Alexander, Wil Wheaton, Liev Schreiber, Ben Feldman MoreAnthony E. Zuiker, Jerry Bruckheimer2000-10-06
- 26 Christine Adams, Shelley Conn, Stephen Lang, Alana Mansour, Jason O'Mara, Mido Hamada, Allison Miller, Naomi Scott More2011
- 27 Clarke Peters, Steve Zahn, Michiel Huisman, Rob Brown, Wendell Pierce, David Morse, Jon Seda, India Ennenga, John Goodman, Khandi Alexander, Melissa Leo, Kim Dickens, Lucia Micarelli MoreDavid Simon2010
- 28 Dana Delany, Maiara Walsh, Gale Harold, Marcia Cross, Chloë Moretz, Carrie Preston, Eva Longoria, NaShawn Kearse, Nicollette Sheridan, John Barrowman, Shane Kinsman, Sheryl Lee, Drea de Matteo, Brian Green, Lupe Ontiveros, Doug Savant, Zachary Gordon, Brent Kinsman, Alfre Woodard, Kevin Rahm, Lily Tomlin, John Slattery, Kyle MacLachlan, Bob Gunton, Jeff Doucette, Brenda Strong, Jesse Metcalfe, Kathryn Joosten, Christine Estabrook, Marlee Matlin, Erinn Hayes, Zane Huett, Steven Culp, Armie Hammer, Kristin Bauer, Nichole Hiltz, Tuc Watkins, Dougray Scott, Bob Newhart, Ricardo Antonio Chavira, Neal McDonough, Sunny Mabrey, Jonathan Cake, Lyndsy Fonseca, Mehcad Brooks, Roger Bart, Sharon Lawrence, Mark Moses, Richard Burgi, Felicity Huffman, Sarah Paulson, Erika Eleniak, Shawn Pyfrom, Page Kennedy, Cody Kasch, Andrea Bowen, Joy Lauren, Teri Hatcher, Josh Henderson, James Denton, Charisma Carpenter, Vanessa L. Williams, Lesley Ann Warren, Jeffrey Nordling, Nathan Fillion, Julie Benz, Jane Lynch, Charles Mesure, Tahj Mowry, Peri Gilpin, Madison De La Garza MoreMarc Cherry2004-10-03
- 29 Margo Martindale, Rachelle Lefevre, Jennifer Ehle, Patrick Wilson, Julie Benz, Liam Aiken, Pablo Schreiber MoreSusannah Grant2011-09-23
- 30 Peter Krause, Craig T. Nelson, Monica Potter, Erika Christensen, Bonnie Bedelia, Mae Whitman, Lauren Graham, Sarah Ramos, Sam Jaeger, Joy Bryant, Dax Shepard, Marguerite Moreau, Miles Heizer, Max Burkholder, Minka Kelly, Erinn Hayes, William Baldwin, Khleo Thomas, Mike O'Malley, Jason Ritter, Tyree Brown, Savannah Paige Rae MoreJason Katims2010-03-02added by: blueeyedjock
- 31 Claire Forlani, Hill Harper, Nick Offerman, Robyn Lively, Andrew Lawrence, Jake Abel, Michael Clarke Duncan, Gale Harold, Brianna Brown, Jordana Spiro, Tania Raymonde, Vanessa Ferlito, Sharni Vinson, Nadine Velazquez, Kristin Cavallari, Judd Nelson, Greg D'Agostino, Anna Belknap, Emmanuelle Vaugier, Sarah Carter, Shiloh Fernandez, Michael Trevino, Skeet Ulrich, Sean Maguire, Joe Manganiello, Tahyna Tozzi, Melina Kanakaredes, Carmine Giovinazzo, Chad Lindberg, Shantel VanSanten, Kim Kardashian, A. J. Buckley, Robert Joy, Marguerite Moreau, Holly Valance, Jana Kramer, Eddie Cahill, Edward Furlong, Craig T. Nelson, Lauren Cohan, Elle Fanning, Sela Ward, Gary Sinise, Kyle Gallner, Vanessa Minnillo, Paul Wesley, Edward James Olmos, Charles Shaughnessy MoreAnthony E. Zuiker, Ann Donahue, Carol Mendelsohn, Jerry Bruckheimer2004-05-17
- 32 Margot Robbie, Michael Mosley, Kelli Garner, Mike Vogel, Jonah Lotan, Christina Ricci, Karine Vanasse More2011-09-25
- 33 Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ioan Gruffudd, Kristoffer Polaha, Nestor Carbonell, Tara Summers, Mike Colter, Lea Thompson More2011
- 34
Private Practice
added by: Konnoisseur411 - 35 Emily Procter, Khandi Alexander, James Morrison, Elizabeth Berkley, Vanessa Lengies, Leven Rambin, Jake Abel, Lucy Lawless, Chris Pine, Tia Carrere, Peta Wilson, Brendan Fehr, Sofia Milos, Zac Efron, Victor H. Webster, Leslie Bibb, Michael Trevino, Taylor Cole, Eddie Cibrian, Rebecca Gayheart, Christopher Titus, Cassie Scerbo, Jonathan Togo, Nadine Velazquez, Dante Basco, Matthew Morrison, Rob Estes, Sheri Moon, Omar Benson Miller, Julie Benz, Rory Cochrane, Kim Delaney, Chelsea Hobbs, Alice Greczyn, Joe Manganiello, Holly Valance, Erika Eleniak, Austin Nichols, Melina Kanakaredes, Sônia Braga, Sarah Mason, Rex Linn, Andrea Roth, Jack Coleman, Patricia Velásquez, Aisha Tyler, Brian Green, Arielle Kebbel, Aries Spears, Bridgette Wilson, Maggie Grace, David Caruso, Adam Rodriguez, Jessica Szohr, Alana de la Garza, Brianna Brown, Leighton Meester, Paul Wesley, Rick Gonzalez, Jeffrey Donovan, Lance Reddick, Terry Crews, Boo Boo Stewart, Elle Fanning, Jessy Schram, Paula Garcés, Kim Coates, Eva LaRue, Ayla Kell, Sasha Pieterse, Jeremy Sumpter, Tamara Taylor, Megalyn Echikunwoke, Stana Katic, Tyler Hoechlin, Danneel Ackles, Joel McHale, Michael Copon, Natalia Cigliuti, Jean Louisa Kelly, Erin Sanders, Ben Browder, Sunny Mabrey MoreAnthony E. Zuiker, Ann Donahue, Carol Mendelsohn, Jerry Bruckheimer2002-05-09
- 36 Rachael Taylor, Annie Ilonzeh, Robert Wagner, Victor Garber, Minka Kelly, Ramon Rodriguez MoreIvan Goff, Ben Roberts2011-09-22added by: RyanPerry1
- 37 Amy Hill, Mike White, Laura Dern, Timm Sharp, Diane Ladd, Luke WilsonMike White2011-10-10added by: Lons
- 38 David Keith, Adrianne Palicki, James Wolk, Mark Deklin, Jon Voight, Bryce Johnson More2010-09-20
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Game of Thrones at 10/21/2011 9:47 AM