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The Best Guilty Pleasure TV Shows

Updated December 14, 2020 29.0k votes 1.2k voters 37.2k views1.3k items

List RulesTelevision series you hate yourself for watching -- but can't seem to quit. NO reality or game shows.

List of the best guilty pleasure TV shows, past and present, including sitcoms, dramas, reality shows, and game shows. These are the TV shows you won’t admit to watching -- even though you secretly do. Guilty pleasure television is addictive, and often horrible, but it never fails to draw in viewers. This list includes the TV shows you can’t stop watching, the greatest guilty pleasure TV shows of all time.

Why are we so ashamed to admit that we can’t get enough of these so-called guilty pleasure TV shows? Perhaps it’s because, deep down, we recognize that these ‘so bad they’re addictive’ TV programs are truly terrible. Guilty pleasure dramas take everything to the extreme, adding crazy plot lines revolving around forbidden love, backstabbing, or jealousy. Guilty pleasure sitcoms are so cheesy they’re funny. Guilty pleasure reality shows are usually, paradoxically, unrealistic and showcase the worst in human nature. But much like a train wreck, viewers can’t stop themselves from looking.

Some guilty pleasure TV shows have become so thanks to age. After all, millions of people watched “Full House” and “Beverly Hills, 90210” when they first aired -- but would you admit to watching them now? Even if you secretly do?

This list contains the best guilty pleasure television shows of all time. Although everyone has their own ideas about what should be labeled ‘guilty pleasure’ TV, it’s not hard to admit that these shows, while not the greatest examples of television, are one thing: addictive.

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Modern Family
Ed O'Neill, Sofía Vergara
Premiered: 2009
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Mockumentary, Family, Comedy, Family Film
Modern Family (ABC, 2009) is an American comedy television sitcom created by Francisco... more on Wikipedia
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The Simpsons
Dan Castellaneta, Nancy Cartwright
Premiered: 1989
Genres (Tv): Animation, Television comedy, Comedy, Family Film
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting... more on Wikipedia
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Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Sarah Michelle Gellar, Alyson Hannigan
Premiered: 1997
Genres (Tv): Supernatural, Horror, Comedy-drama, Teen drama, Action
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Once Upon a Time
Ginnifer Goodwin, Jennifer Morrison
Premiered: 2011
Genres (Tv): Drama, Mystery, Fairy tale, Comedy-drama, Fantasy
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The Vampire Diaries
Nina Dobrev, Paul Wesley
Premiered: 2009
Genres (Tv): Supernatural, Drama, Horror, Fantasy
The Vampire Diaries (The CW, 2009) is an American supernatural teen drama television series... more on Wikipedia
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136
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American Horror Story
Connie Britton, Dylan McDermott
Premiered: 2011
Genres (Tv): Anthology, Horror, Supernatural
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Friends
Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox
Premiered: 1994
Genres (Tv): Sitcom
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The Nanny
Fran Drescher, Charles Shaughnessy
Premiered: 1993
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
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Rugrats
Elizabeth Daily, Christine Cavanaugh
Premiered: 1991
Genres (Tv): Animation, Animated cartoon, Children's television series, Animated series
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Full House
Bob Saget, John Stamos
Premiered: 1987
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
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NCIS
Mark Harmon, Michael Weatherly
Premiered: 2003
Genres (Tv): Crime Fiction, Action/Adventure, Police procedural, Drama, Thriller
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The Golden Girls
Bea Arthur, Betty White
Premiered: 1985
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
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13
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The Suite Life of Zack & Cody
Cole Sprouse, Dylan Sprouse
Premiered: 2005
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Teen situation comedy, Children's television series, Comedy
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The Addams Family
John Astin, Carolyn Jones
Premiered: 1964
Genres (Tv): Black comedy, Sitcom, Comedy, Fantasy
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Charmed
Shannen Doherty, Holly Marie Combs
Premiered: 1998
Genres (Tv): Drama, Fantasy, Supernatural
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I Dream of Jeannie
Barbara Eden, Larry Hagman
Premiered: 1965
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy, Fantasy
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True Blood
Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer
Premiered: 2008
Genres (Tv): Fantasy, Horror, Drama
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Married... with Children
Ed O'Neill, Christina Applegate
Premiered: 1987
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
Married... with Children is an American sitcom that aired for 11 seasons. It featured a... more on Wikipedia
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43
The Suite Life on Deck
Dylan Sprouse, Cole Sprouse
Premiered: 2008
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Teen situation comedy, Children's television series, Comedy
The Suite Life on Deck is an American sitcom that aired on Disney Channel from September 26,... more on Wikipedia
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52
43
Hannah Montana
Miley Cyrus, Emily Osment
Premiered: 2006
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Teen situation comedy, Children's television series, Musical, Comedy-drama
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The Magic School Bus
Lily Tomlin, Daniel DeSanto
Premiered: 1994
Genres (Tv): Animation, Children's television series, Educational television
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Good Luck Charlie
Bridgit Mendler, Leigh-Allyn Baker
Premiered: 2010
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Children's television series, Comedy, Family Film
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Celebrity Family Feud
Steve Harvey, Al Roker
Premiered: 2008
Genres (Tv): Game show
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62
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I Love Lucy
Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz
Premiered: 1951
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
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Batman
Adam West, Burt Ward
Premiered: 1966
Genres (Tv): Action/Adventure, Sitcom, Comedy, Action, Camp
Batman is a 1960s American live action television series, based on the DC comic book character... more on Wikipedia
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