Choosing the best TV shows of all time means taking into account the best TV dramas, the best TV comedies, the best cartoons, and even the best TV miniseries to try and come up with a list that answers the question of "what are the best TV shows ever?" If you're a fan of reality television - spoiler alert - it's not one of those shows. However, if you're looking for the top TV comedy series and the top TV dramas to fill the top slots on the list, you won't be disappointed. In addition to new favorites like Lost, classic TV sitcoms like Friends and Seinfeld also fare well in the quest to answer the burning question of what are the top rated TV shows ever.
The greatest TV shows of all time also include the most popular TV shows with loyal fan bases like Sherlock and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Even though some programs are not considered the most watched TV shows of all time, they later become cult classics and remain fan favorites. This list also includes critically acclaimed TV shows such as House of Cards and Breaking Bad, both outstanding programs that have won many Emmy awards. But could they be considered the best TV series of all time? That's up to the fans to decide.
Newer shows are currently dominating the top television shows list, but classic television shows like M*A*S*H and Star Trek are hot as well, and it's up to you to vote for your favorite TV show of all time to get it closer to the top of the list of the greatest television shows of all time. If your choice for the best TV series ever isn't on this list yet, make sure to add it so others can share in the bright glow of what you consider to be the best television show ever.
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22,56513,826Breaking 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... more
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10,0637,685The 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
20,25915,386Game 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... more4
8,6797,495The 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... more5
9,6556,048The 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
15,25914,221Friends
Jennifer Aniston, Courteney CoxPremiered: 1994
Genres (Tv): Sitcom
Friends (NBC, 1994) is an American sitcom television series created by David Crane and Marta... more7
7,3775,298Looney Tunes
Mel Blanc, June ForayPremiered: 1930
Genres (Tv): Animation, Comedy
Looney Tunes is an American animated series of comedy short films produced by Warner Bros.... more8
9,0477,842Sherlock
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
11,11111,059Seinfeld
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... more10
4,4703,917The Flintstones
Alan Reed, Mel BlancPremiered: 1960
Genres (Tv): Animation, Sitcom, Animated cartoon, Children's television series, Comedy
The Flintstones is an animated, prime-time American television sitcom that was broadcast from... more11
3,4752,672The Bugs Bunny Show
Mel Blanc, June ForayPremiered: 1960
Genres (Tv): Animation, Anthology series, Comedy
The Bugs Bunny Show is an animated television anthology series hosted by Bugs Bunny, that was... more12
7,4657,077South Park
Trey Parker, Matt StonePremiered: 1997
Genres (Tv): Animation, Television comedy, Sitcom, Satire, Animated cartoon
South Park (Comedy Central, 1997) is an American adult animated sitcom created by Trey Parker... more13
7,6547,650House
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
7,1527,443The X-Files
David Duchovny, Gillian AndersonPremiered: 1993
Genres (Tv): Cryptozoology, Supernatural, Crime Fiction, Drama, Live action
The X-Files is an American science fiction horror drama television series created by Chris... more15
6,5206,689Lost
Naveen Andrews, Emilie de RavinPremiered: 2004
Genres (Tv): Supernatural drama, Science fiction, Mystery
Lost (ABC, 2004) is an American drama television series created by Jeffrey Lieber, J. J.... more16
4,1484,362Monty Python's Flying Circus
Graham Chapman, John CleesePremiered: 1969
Genres (Tv): Sketch comedy, Satire, Comedy
Monty Python’s Flying Circus is a British sketch comedy series commissioned by David... more17
8,6479,291Star Trek: The Original Series
William Shatner, Leonard NimoyPremiered: 1966
Genres (Tv): Action/Adventure, Drama, Adventure film, Action, Science Fiction
Star Trek is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry that... more18
4,0083,654The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Will Smith, James AveryPremiered: 1990
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is an American television sitcom that originally aired on NBC from... more19
7,7058,447M*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... more20
6,4663,512Tom and Jerry
Tom Kenny, Rick ZieffPremiered: 1940
Genres (Tv): Animation, Comedy, Family Film
Tom and Jerry is an American animated series of short films created in 1940, by William Hanna... more21
6,3116,430Dexter
Michael C. Hall, Jennifer CarpenterPremiered: 2006
Genres (Tv): Crime drama, Psychological thriller, Mystery, Dark comedy, Police procedural
Dexter (Showtime, 2006) is an American crime drama mystery series developed by James Manos... more22
3,2782,629The 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... more23
3,8014,127The Muppet Show
Jim Henson, Frank OzPremiered: 1976
Genres (Tv): Sketch comedy, Variety show, Children's television series, Live action, Comedy
The Muppet Show is a family-oriented comedy-variety television series that was produced by... more24
4,0354,331The Andy Griffith Show
Andy Griffith, Ron HowardPremiered: 1960
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
The Andy Griffith Show is an American sitcom, which originally ran on CBS from October 3, 1960... more25
6,0846,736Cheers
Ted Danson, Rhea PerlmanPremiered: 1982
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
Cheers is an American sitcom that ran for eleven seasons between 1982 and 1993. The show was... more
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