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The Best NBC TV Shows of All Time 

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Updated May 20, 2020 38.6k votes 3.8k voters 80.5k views 113 items

List of popular NBC shows, ranked from best to worst. This list of the best NBC TV shows, which includes both current and canceled series. The best NBC TV programs of all time include the most viewed shows on NBC, as this list covers the entire history of the network. This includes some of today's most popular shows, like Community, Parks & Recreation and Law & Order SVU. Programs like 30 Rock and The Office, though recently cancelled, are considered some of the best, most influential TV shows in history. Let's not forget about television classics like Seinfeld, the original Law & Order, Family Ties, Miami Vice, ER and Cheers. These are among the best TV shows ever due their timelessness, clever plotlines and memorable characters.

Television fans in different locations grew up with NBC on different channels, but most of us got the same shows, so don't let your favorite NBC TV shows sink to the bottom of the list! And don't forget to see what new NBC shows are premiering in 2019.

The list of top NBC television shown below includes cast, creator, and premiere date when available. This list contains only TV series on the NBC network, even ones that have had their time or have been cancelled. Use this factual list to build one just like it, then re-rank it to fit your opinion.

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1
Seinfeld is listed (or ranked) 1 on the list The Best NBC TV Shows of All Time
Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Michael Richards

Premiered: 1989

Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy

Seinfeld is an American television sitcom that originally ran for nine seasons on NBC from July 5, 1989, to May 14, 1998. It was created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, the latter starring as ...more

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2
The Office is listed (or ranked) 2 on the list The Best NBC TV Shows of All Time
Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski

Premiered: 2005

Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Mockumentary

The Office (NBC, 2005) is an American mockumentary sitcom television series developed by Greg Daniels, based on the 2001 British series. Led by manager Michael Scott (Steve Carell), the office ...more

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Every Episode Of 'The Office,' Ranked #5 of 807 The Best TV Shows To Binge Watch #9 of 219 The TV Shows with the Best Writing

3
Friends is listed (or ranked) 3 on the list The Best NBC TV Shows of All Time
Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow

Premiered: 1994

Genres (Tv): Sitcom

Friends (NBC, 1994) is an American sitcom television series created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman. The personal and professional lives of six friends (Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa ...more

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The Creepiest Things Ross from Friends Ever Did #6 of 807 The Best TV Shows To Binge Watchlisted on The Longest Running US Sitcoms

4
Parks and Recreation is listed (or ranked) 4 on the list The Best NBC TV Shows of All Time
shortstop added Amy Poehler, Jim O'Heir, Nick Offerman

Premiered: 2009

Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Mockumentary, Satire, Romance TV, Comedy-drama, + more

Parks and Recreation (NBC, 2009) is an American television sitcom created by Greg Daniels and Michael Schur. The series follows Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler), a perky mid-level bureaucrat, and her ...more

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5
Saturday Night Live is listed (or ranked) 5 on the list The Best NBC TV Shows of All Time
Kenan Thompson, Kate McKinnon, Pete Davidson

Premiered: 1975

Genres (Tv): Sketch comedy, Satire, Variety show, Sketch, Comedy, + more

Saturday Night Live (NBC, 1975), also known as SNL, is an American late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels and developed by Dick Ebersol. Hosted by a ...more

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The Best SNL Cast Members of All Time #142 of 219 The TV Shows with the Best Writing #74 of 391 TV Shows That Only Smart People Appreciate

6
Frasier is listed (or ranked) 6 on the list The Best NBC TV Shows of All Time
Kelsey Grammer, Jane Leeves, David Hyde Pierce

Premiered: 1993

Genres (Tv): Sitcom

Frasier (NBC, 1993) is an American sitcom television series created by David Angell, Peter Casey, and David Lee, and a spinoff of Cheers. After his divorce, psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane ...more

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Dark Behind-The-Scenes Stories About 'Frasier' #112 of 807 The Best TV Shows To Binge Watchlisted on The Longest Running US Sitcoms

7
Cheers is listed (or ranked) 7 on the list The Best NBC TV Shows of All Time
Umberhaven added Ted Danson, Rhea Perlman, John Ratzenberger

Premiered: 1982

Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy

Cheers is an American sitcom that ran for eleven seasons between 1982 and 1993. The show was produced by Charles/Burrows/Charles Productions in association with Paramount Network Television for ...more

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8
The Blacklist is listed (or ranked) 8 on the list The Best NBC TV Shows of All Time
Umberhaven added James Spader, Megan Boone, Diego Klattenhoff

Premiered: 2013

Genres (Tv): Crime drama, Action, Thriller, Mystery

The Blacklist (NBC, 2013) is an American crime thriller television series created by Jon Bokenkamp. In exchange for immunity from prosecution, a high-profile criminal (James Spader) volunteers ...more

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Ranking the Best Seasons of 'The Blacklist' #27 of 807 The Best TV Shows To Binge Watch #81 of 219 The TV Shows with the Best Writing

9
Star Trek: The Original ... is listed (or ranked) 9 on the list The Best NBC TV Shows of All Time
murphycat added William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley

Premiered: 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 follows the adventures of the starship USS Enterprise and its crew. It later acquired the retronym of ...more

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10
The Tonight Show Starrin... is listed (or ranked) 10 on the list The Best NBC TV Shows of All Time
Johnny Carson, Ed McMahon, Skitch Henderson

Premiered: 1962

Genres (Tv): Talk show, Variety show, Late night television

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson is a talk show hosted by Johnny Carson under The Tonight Show franchise from October 1, 1962 through May 22, 1992. It originally aired during late-night. ...more

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11
Community is listed (or ranked) 11 on the list The Best NBC TV Shows of All Time
Joel McHale, Gillian Jacobs, Danny Pudi

Premiered: 2009

Genres (Tv): Sitcom

Community (NBC, 2009) is an American comedy television series created by Dan Harmon. After being disbarred for faking his college degree, a narcissist lawyer (Joel McHale) enrolls in community ...more

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12
The Golden Girls is listed (or ranked) 12 on the list The Best NBC TV Shows of All Time
Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan

Premiered: 1985

Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy

The Golden Girls is an American sitcom, created by Susan Harris, that originally aired on NBC from September 14, 1985, to May 9, 1992. Starring Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, and ...more

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Behind-The-Scenes Secrets From 'The Golden Girls' #77 of 807 The Best TV Shows To Binge Watchlisted on The Longest Running US Sitcoms

13
The Fresh Prince of Bel-... is listed (or ranked) 13 on the list The Best NBC TV Shows of All Time
Will Smith, James Avery, Alfonso Ribeiro

Premiered: 1990

Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is an American television sitcom that originally aired on NBC from September 10, 1990, to May 20, 1996. The show stars Will Smith as a fictionalized version of ...more

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14
30 Rock is listed (or ranked) 14 on the list The Best NBC TV Shows of All Time
Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, Tracy Morgan

Premiered: 2006

Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Satire

30 Rock (NBC, 2006) is an American satirical sitcom television series created by Tina Fey. Head writer Liz Lemon (Fey) tries to run her sketch comedy show, while dealing with an arrogant boss ...more

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15
I Dream of Jeannie is listed (or ranked) 15 on the list The Best NBC TV Shows of All Time
Barbara Eden, Larry Hagman, Bill Daily

Premiered: 1965

Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy, Fantasy

I Dream of Jeannie is an American sitcom with a fantastical premise. The show starred Barbara Eden as a 2,000-year-old genie, and Larry Hagman as an astronaut who becomes her master, with whom ...more

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16
Scrubs is listed (or ranked) 16 on the list The Best NBC TV Shows of All Time
Zach Braff, Donald Faison, Sarah Chalke

Premiered: 2001

Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Medical drama

Scrubs (NBC, 2001) is an American medical comedy-drama television series created by Bill Lawrence. In the unreal world of Sacred Heart Hospital, intern John "J.D." Dorian (Zach Braff) ...more

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17
Quantum Leap is listed (or ranked) 17 on the list The Best NBC TV Shows of All Time
Umberhaven added Scott Bakula, Dean Stockwell, Deborah Pratt

Premiered: 1989

Genres (Tv): Procedural drama, Drama, Science Fiction

Quantum Leap is an American television series that originally aired on NBC for five seasons, from March 1989 through May 1993. Created by Donald P. Bellisario, it starred Scott Bakula as Dr. Sam ...more

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18
ER is listed (or ranked) 18 on the list The Best NBC TV Shows of All Time
Anthony Edwards, George Clooney, Julianna Margulies

Premiered: 1994

Genres (Tv): Medical drama, Drama, Medical fiction

ER is an American medical drama television series created by novelist Michael Crichton that aired on NBC from September 19, 1994, to April 2, 2009. It was produced by Constant c Productions and ...more

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19
Will & Grace is listed (or ranked) 19 on the list The Best NBC TV Shows of All Time
Eric McCormack, Debra Messing, Megan Mullally

Premiered: 1998

Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy

Will & Grace is an American sitcom, based on the relationship between Will Truman and Grace Adler, and is set in New York City. It was broadcast on NBC from September 21, 1998 to May 18, ...more

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20
The Big Bang Theory is listed (or ranked) 20 on the list The Best NBC TV Shows of All Time
Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco

Premiered: 2007

Genres (Tv): Sitcom

The Big Bang Theory (CBS, 2007) is an American television sitcom created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady. A woman (Kaley Cuoco) who moves into an apartment across the hall from two brilliant but ...more

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21
Chuck is listed (or ranked) 21 on the list The Best NBC TV Shows of All Time
Zachary Levi, Yvonne Strahovski, Joshua Gomez

Premiered: 2007

Genres (Tv): Espionage, Action/Adventure, Drama, Adventure film, Comedy-drama, + more

Chuck (NBC, 2007) is an American action-comedy/spy-drama television series created by Josh Schwartz and Chris Fedak. When a twenty-something computer geek (Zachary Levi) inadvertently downloads ...more

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22
Law & Order: Special... is listed (or ranked) 22 on the list The Best NBC TV Shows of All Time
Mariska Hargitay, Christopher Meloni, Ice-T

Premiered: 1999

Genres (Tv): Crime Fiction, Police procedural, Drama, Live action, Legal drama, + more

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC, 1999) is an American police procedural, legal, crime drama television series set in New York City. In the style of the original Law & Order, ...more

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23
Night Court is listed (or ranked) 23 on the list The Best NBC TV Shows of All Time
MimoNielsen added Harry Anderson, John Larroquette, Richard Moll

Premiered: 1984

Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy, Legal

Night Court is an American television situation comedy that aired on NBC from January 4, 1984, to May 31, 1992. The setting was the night shift of a Manhattan court, presided over by the young, ...more

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24
How I Met Your Mother is listed (or ranked) 24 on the list The Best NBC TV Shows of All Time
riyachopra1505 added Josh Radnor, Jason Segel, Cobie Smulders

Premiered: 2005

Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Romantic comedy

How I Met Your Mother (CBS, 2005) is an American sitcom created by Craig Thomas and Carter Bays. Through a series of flashbacks, Ted Mosby (Josh Radnor) recounts to his children the journey he ...more

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25
Law & Order is listed (or ranked) 25 on the list The Best NBC TV Shows of All Time
Jerry Orbach, Jesse L. Martin, Dennis Farina

Premiered: 1990

Genres (Tv): Crime Fiction, Police procedural, Drama, Legal drama, Legal

Law & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series, created by Dick Wolf and part of the Law & Order franchise. It originally aired on NBC and, in ...more

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