The Best Non-Fiction TV Series
The very best non-fiction shows on television are truly unscripted and range from feeling like reality TV to having the energy of documentaries while being neither and everything in between. What separates the best non-fiction shows from regular reality shows or docuseries is a sense of informative documentation. Many news broadcasts or public television shows are non-fiction. Non-fiction TV shows have been a popular staple of television for years, so there's often debate about not just what non-fiction shows are but which series are the most best non-fiction shows of all time. This list of the greatest non-fiction shows is ranked from best to worst thanks to your votes.
Don't let your favorite non-fiction television programs in history get to the bottom of the list - be sure to vote them up so they have the chance to reach the top. The list of non-fiction television shows includes series such Mythbusters, American Experience, Ancient Aliens - even The Joy Of Painting is a non-fiction TV show. It's easy to get "non fiction shows" confused with "unscripted shows" as both terms imply a truthfulness to the content, but lists like this one - can help clear up the definitions.
What are television's best non-fiction shows? Did the shows you think were the best make this list? Vote up the non-fiction shows you think are the best and see where your favorites rank.
- Jon Lung, Brian Louden
- Premiered: January 23, 2003
- Bob Ross, Ben Stahl, Steve Ross
- Premiered: January 1, 1983
- Chip Demarest, Andy Michaels, Brian Plaisier
- Premiered: September 30, 1997
- William Shatner, Gene Babb, Ken Parham
- Premiered: April 18, 1989
- Joan Lunden, Peter Graves, David Hart Smith
- Premiered: 1987
- Jonathan Frakes, Don LaFontaine, James Brolin
- Premiered: 1997
- Bruce Campbell, Dean Cain, Marie Osmond
- Premiered: 1949
- Michael Moore, Karen Duffy
- Premiered: April 11, 1999
- Edward Mulhare
- Premiered: 1988
- Valerie Castillo, Elijah Horland, Cannan Huey-You
- Premiered: December 28, 2018
- Angie Greenup, Marc Horowitz, Chad Zdenek
- Premiered: 2010
- Josh Gates, Gabriel Copeland, Mike Morrell
- Premiered: June 6, 2007
- Philip Glenister
- Premiered: 1994
- David McCullough, David Ogden Stiers, Michael Murphy
- Premiered: October 4, 1988
- Anthony Clare, Helena Kennedy
- Premiered: 1987
- Helena Jansson
- Premiered: 2009
- Giorgio Tsoukalos, Erich von Däniken, David Childress
- Premiered: March 8, 2009
- Mary Beth Bonaventura
- Premiered: 2007
- J.V. Martin
- Premiered: 2007
- Jess Harnell
- Premiered: 2003
- Valek Sykes, Bill Duggan
- Premiered: 2009
- Jackson Rogow, Ali Sepasyar, CJ Manigo
- Premiered: 2009
- Jared Rushton, Stacy Keach, Marianne Muellerleile
- Premiered: 1991
- Julianna Margulies, Laura Linney, William Hurt
- Premiered: June 23, 1986
- Molly Shaiken
- Premiered: 2003