The TV Shows with the Best Writing

Originally by Ranker Community

Updated September 3, 2020 57.6k votes 4.6k voters 69.4k views201 items

List RulesVote up the television series with the most consistently great writing

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.

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Breaking Bad
Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul
Premiered: 2008
Genres (Tv): Crime drama, Thriller, Neo-western, Tragedy
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The Sopranos
James Gandolfini, Lorraine Bracco
Premiered: 1999
Genres (Tv): Crime drama
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Better Call Saul
Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks
Premiered: 2015
Genres (Tv): Crime Fiction, Drama, Comedy
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The Wire
Dominic West, Lance Reddick
Premiered: 2002
Genres (Tv): Crime Fiction, Police procedural, Drama
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The Office
Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson
Premiered: 2005
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Mockumentary
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Fargo
Billy Bob Thornton, Allison Tolman
Premiered: 2014
Genres (Tv): Comedy, Drama, Crime
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Frasier
Kelsey Grammer, Jane Leeves
Premiered: 1993
Genres (Tv): Sitcom
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Sherlock
Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman
Premiered: 2010
Genres (Tv): Crime drama, Mystery
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The Twilight Zone
Rod Serling, Robert McCord
Premiered: 1959
Genres (Tv): Anthology, Drama, Horror, Mystery, Science Fiction
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The West Wing
Martin Sheen, Rob Lowe
Premiered: 1999
Genres (Tv): Political drama, Drama, Serial drama
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65
47
The Americans
Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys
Premiered: 2013
Genres (Tv): Period drama, Thriller
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499
542
Mad Men
Jon Hamm, Elisabeth Moss
Premiered: 2007
Genres (Tv): Period drama, Serial drama
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House
Hugh Laurie, Omar Epps
Premiered: 2004
Genres (Tv): Medical drama
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Mr. Robot
Rami Malek, Carly Chaikin
Premiered: 2015
Genres (Tv): Drama, Techno thriller, Psychological thriller
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Fawlty Towers
John Cleese, Prunella Scales
Premiered: 1975
Genres (Tv): Comedy
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Seinfeld
Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Premiered: 1989
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
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Game of Thrones
Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey
Premiered: 2011
Genres (Tv): Medieval fantasy, Drama, Adventure film, Epic, Action
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Anne with an E
Amybeth McNulty, Geraldine James
Premiered: 2017
Genres (Tv): Drama, Coming of age
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The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Rachel Brosnahan, Michael Zegen
Premiered: 2017
Genres (Tv): Comedy-Drama, Period drama
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M*A*S*H
Alan Alda, Wayne Rogers
Premiered: 1972
Genres (Tv): Black comedy, Medical drama, Sitcom, Satire, Military
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201
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Star Trek: The Next Generation
Patrick Stewart, Brent Spiner
Premiered: 1987
Genres (Tv): Action/Adventure, Drama, Adventure film, Action, Science Fiction
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True Detective
Mahershala Ali, Matthew McConaughey
Premiered: 2013
Genres (Tv): Crime Fiction, Drama
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Stranger Things
Winona Ryder, David Harbour
Premiered: 2016
Genres (Tv): Sci-fi, Horror, Supernatural, Period drama
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3rd Rock from the Sun
John Lithgow, Jane Curtin
Premiered: 1996
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy, Science Fiction
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25
207
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All in the Family
Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton
Premiered: 1971
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
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