The Best "American" TV Shows
America! The red white and blue and television shows. That is the saying, right? In any case, there are lots of American TV shows, in the sense that they have the actual word "American" right there in their title in the TV guide. Most are also made in the US, for American audiences, though maybe people in New Zealand also like American Dad, who can be sure. All this list is here to tell you is that there are lots of American television shows and these are the best of them.
"Isn't it all just American Idol and American Gladiators and Real American Housewives or whatever other reality nonsense?" you're probably thinking. No, not at all. There is also The Americans, which is about spies! Spies! Then you have good American TV series like American Horror Story, which is pretty scary, but has Lady Gaga and American treasure Jessica Lange. Also on this American shows list is Fievel's American Tails. You might be thinking that was just an American movie, but come on, it's Hollywood. They'll make a TV show out of anything at all!
Vote up the best American shows listed here or even add some more, as long as the word "American" is in the name of the show. Just "America" isn't good enough; only true "American" series. Otherwise the Founding Fathers will be very upset.- Bill Loud, Pat Loud
- Premiered: 1973
- Genres: Television documentary, Documentary, Reality television
An American Family (PBS, 1973) is an American television documentary. Originally intended as a chronicle of the daily life of the Louds—an upper middle class family in Santa Barbara, California—the ...more - Juliet Rylance, Antony Starr, Virginia Madsen
- Premiered: June 22, 2016
- Genres: Drama,Mystery
The recently deceased patriarch of a Boston family is linked to murders spanning decades. - Cuba Gooding, Sarah Paulson, David Schwimmer
- Premiered: February 2, 2016
- Genres: Crime,Drama
The chaotic behind-the-scenes dealings and maneuvering on both sides of the O.J. Simpson trial. - Nick Cannon, Howie Mandel, Sharon Osbourne
- Premiered: June 21, 2006
- Genres: Music,Music,Reality
The world's most talented amateurs perform for star judges and compete for a life-changing prize. - Kevin Abstract
- Genres: Music, Reality
American Boyband (Viceland, 2017) is an American reality series. Rapper Kevin Abstract and his band Brockhampton go on a mission to translate his faithful online following into real world success. - Alicia Silverstone, Mena Suvari, Jennifer Bartels
- Premiered: June 7, 2018
- Genres: Comedy
After her marriage fails, Bonnie becomes a single woman who can't support herself or her children. - William Katt, Connie Sellecca, Robert Culp
- Premiered: March 18, 1981
- Genres: Adventure
Aliens give a high-school teacher a suit with special powers. - Mike Adamle, Joe Theismann, Todd Christensen
- Premiered: January 1, 1989
- Genres: Action
Men and women compete in games of physical strength against the Gladiators. - Simon Cowell, Demi Lovato, L.A. Reid
- Premiered: September 21, 2011
- Genres: Music,Reality
Individuals and groups compete in hope of becoming the next musical megastar. - 10Katy Mixon, Diedrich Bader, Meg Donnelly
- Premiered: October 11, 2016
- Genres: Comedy
A wife and mother of three raises her family among the seemingly perfect families in a wealthy town. - Dylan McDermott, Connie Britton, Taissa Farmiga
- Premiered: October 5, 2011
- Genres: Drama,Horror,Thriller
A family of three moves from Boston to Los Angeles to reconcile its painful past. - Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys, Noah Emmerich
- Premiered: January 30, 2013
- Genres: Crime,Drama,Thriller
Check out other shows like The Americans!
Married KGB spies pose as Americans in Washington, D.C., after Ronald Reagan is elected president. - Mike Wolfe, Frank Fritz, Danielle Colby
- Premiered: January 18, 2010
- Genres: Documentary,Reality
Antique and collectible hunters roam the country in search of rare finds. - Seth MacFarlane, Wendy Schaal, Rachael MacFarlane
- Premiered: February 6, 2005
- Genres: Animation,Comedy
A CIA agent will do anything to protect his homeland and family. - Matt Iseman, Jenn Brown, Akbar Gbaja-Biamila
- Premiered: December 12, 2009
- Genres: Action,Adventure,Reality,Sport
Competitors from all across America take on the world's most challenging obstacle course. - Dick Clark
- Premiered: October 7, 1952
- Genres: Music, Talk show, Variety show
American Bandstand is an American music-performance show that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989 and was hosted from 1956 until its final season by Dick Clark, who also served as producer. ...more - Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, Ryan Seacrest
- Premiered: January 21, 2003
- Genres: Music,Reality
Singers compete for the grand prize. - 18Michael Bell, Arthur Burghardt, Chris Latta
- Premiered: 1989
- Genres: Animation, Animated cartoon, Animated series
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero is a half-hour American animated television series based on the successful toyline from Hasbro and the comic book series from Marvel Comics. The series was produced by ...more - Paul Teutul Sr., Paul Teutul Jr., Michael Teutul
- Premiered: March 31, 2003
- Genres: Reality,Sport
A father-and-son team create custom-built choppers. - Molly Ringwald, Shailene Woodley, Mark Derwin
- Premiered: July 1, 2008
- Genres: Drama
Pregnancy jolts a high-school student's life. - John Cena, Rorke Denver, Noah Galloway
- Premiered: April 14, 2016
- Genres: Reality
American Grit (Fox, 2016) is a reality competition series filmed at the foothills of Mt. Rainier in Eatonville, WA. Sixteen competitors are divided into four teams of four, each led by a military ...more - Felicity Huffman, Regina King, Timothy Hutton
- Premiered: March 5, 2015
- Genres: Crime,Drama
Anthology series with stories revolving around preconceptions on aspects of the social experience. - Gary Cole, Jake Weber, Paige Turco
- Premiered: September 22, 1995
- Genres: Drama,Thriller
A sheriff wields his power as a weapon against the residents of a Southern community. - 24Tyler Alvarez, Griffin Gluck, Travis Tope
- Premiered: September 15, 2017
- Genres: Comedy,Crime
A true-crime satire that explores the aftermath of high school pranks. - 25Dom DeLuise, Dan Castellaneta, Kenneth Mars
- Premiered: 1993
- Genres: Animation, Animated cartoon, Animated series
Fievel's American Tails is an American/Canadian animated television series, produced by Steven Spielberg's Amblimation animation studio, Nelvana, and Universal Cartoon Studios. It aired for one ...more