What are the best written TV shows of all time? The Writers Guild of America (WGA) and TV Guide recently compiled its list of the 101 Best Written TV Shows ever, and the results left things wide open for debate. So, do you agree with the choices? Was there a show left off? Vote for the TV programs that you believe featured the strongest writing. Add any shows that you believe deserve votes, and of course, feel free to re-rank this list of TV series with the greatest writing in any order you choose.
Many of the television shows listed here are considered among the best TV shows of recent memory, and with good reason: They are wonderfully scripted, featuring diverse characters and compelling storylines that made us want to keep watching, week after week. They are excellent dramas, outstanding comedies and awesome science fiction TV shows. Some of the programs here are older, but they were considered by many to be groundbreaking.
What should be the number one best written TV show ever? Certainly outstanding shows like 'The Sopranos,' 'Mad Men' and 'Breaking Bad' could be considered. They are, after all, some of the greatest TV dramas of all time.1
1,173753Breaking Bad
Bryan Cranston, Aaron PaulPremiered: 2008
Genres (Tv): Crime drama, Thriller, Neo-western, Tragedy
Breaking Bad (AMC, 2008) is an American neo-Western crime drama television series created by... more2
741677The Sopranos
James Gandolfini, Lorraine BraccoPremiered: 1999
Genres (Tv): Crime drama
The Sopranos (HBO, 1999) is an American crime drama television series created by David Chase.... more3
320220Better Call Saul
Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan BanksPremiered: 2015
Genres (Tv): Crime Fiction, Drama, Comedy
Better Call Saul (AMC, 2015) is an American television drama series created by Vince Gilligan... more4
501510The Wire
Dominic West, Lance ReddickPremiered: 2002
Genres (Tv): Crime Fiction, Police procedural, Drama
The Wire (HBO, 2002) is an American crime drama television series created and written by David... more5
497512The Office
Steve Carell, Rainn WilsonPremiered: 2005
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Mockumentary
The Office (NBC, 2005) is an American mockumentary sitcom television series developed by Greg... more6
185168Fargo
Billy Bob Thornton, Allison TolmanPremiered: 2014
Genres (Tv): Comedy, Drama, Crime
Fargo (FX, 2014) is an American black comedy drama anthology television series created by Noah... more7
322275Frasier
Kelsey Grammer, Jane LeevesPremiered: 1993
Genres (Tv): Sitcom
Frasier (NBC, 1993) is an American sitcom television series created by David Angell, Peter... more8
540600Sherlock
Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin FreemanPremiered: 2010
Genres (Tv): Crime drama, Mystery
Sherlock (BBC One, 2010) is a British crime television series created by Steven Moffat and... more9
529549The Twilight Zone
Rod Serling, Robert McCordPremiered: 1959
Genres (Tv): Anthology, Drama, Horror, Mystery, Science Fiction
The Twilight Zone is a 1959 American television anthology series created by Rod Serling. It is... more10
433480The West Wing
Martin Sheen, Rob LowePremiered: 1999
Genres (Tv): Political drama, Drama, Serial drama
The West Wing is an American serial political drama television series created by Aaron Sorkin... more11
6547The Americans
Keri Russell, Matthew RhysPremiered: 2013
Genres (Tv): Period drama, Thriller
The Americans (FX, 2013) is an American period drama television series created by Joe... more12
499542Mad Men
Jon Hamm, Elisabeth MossPremiered: 2007
Genres (Tv): Period drama, Serial drama
Mad Men (AMC, 2007) is an American period drama television series created by Matthew Weiner.... more13
560458House
Hugh Laurie, Omar EppsPremiered: 2004
Genres (Tv): Medical drama
House, M.D. (Fox, 2004) is an American television medical drama created by David Shore. An... more14
142107Mr. Robot
Rami Malek, Carly ChaikinPremiered: 2015
Genres (Tv): Drama, Techno thriller, Psychological thriller
Mr. Robot (USA Network, 2015) is an American drama-thriller television series created by Sam... more15
190209Fawlty Towers
John Cleese, Prunella ScalesPremiered: 1975
Genres (Tv): Comedy
Fawlty Towers is a BBC television sitcom that was first broadcast on BBC2 in 1975 and 1979.... more16
669757Seinfeld
Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-DreyfusPremiered: 1989
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
Seinfeld is an American television sitcom that originally ran for nine seasons on NBC from... more17
793916Game of Thrones
Peter Dinklage, Lena HeadeyPremiered: 2011
Genres (Tv): Medieval fantasy, Drama, Adventure film, Epic, Action
Game of Thrones (HBO, 2011) is an American fantasy drama television series created by David... more18
19561Anne with an E
Amybeth McNulty, Geraldine JamesPremiered: 2017
Genres (Tv): Drama, Coming of age
Anne with an E (2017, Netflix) is a Canadian television series created by Moira... more19
4839The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Rachel Brosnahan, Michael ZegenPremiered: 2017
Genres (Tv): Comedy-Drama, Period drama
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon Video, 2017) is an American period comedy-drama web... more20
461531M*A*S*H
Alan Alda, Wayne RogersPremiered: 1972
Genres (Tv): Black comedy, Medical drama, Sitcom, Satire, Military
M*A*S*H is an American television series developed by Larry Gelbart, adapted from the 1970... more21
201223Star Trek: The Next Generation
Patrick Stewart, Brent SpinerPremiered: 1987
Genres (Tv): Action/Adventure, Drama, Adventure film, Action, Science Fiction
Star Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by... more22
239286True Detective
Mahershala Ali, Matthew McConaugheyPremiered: 2013
Genres (Tv): Crime Fiction, Drama
True Detective (HBO, 2014) is an American anthology drama television series created by Nic... more23
120134Stranger Things
Winona Ryder, David HarbourPremiered: 2016
Genres (Tv): Sci-fi, Horror, Supernatural, Period drama
Stranger Things (Netflix, 2016) is an American science fiction-horror web television series... more24
75603rd Rock from the Sun
John Lithgow, Jane CurtinPremiered: 1996
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy, Science Fiction
3rd Rock from the Sun is an American sitcom that aired from 1996 to 2001 on NBC. The show is... more25
207243All in the Family
Carroll O'Connor, Jean StapletonPremiered: 1971
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
All in the Family is an American sitcom that was originally broadcast on the CBS television... more