List RulesVote up the best dramatic procedural series, whether they follow crimes, courts, or high-tech problems.
Procedural dramas can get your adrenaline pumping and keep you hooked from the get go, but which procedural dramas are the best? With stories and cases that are wrapped up by the end of the episode, the greatest procedural dramas have been staples of TV nights for years. From the Law and Order franchise to shows like Bones and Scandal, pick your favorites below!
The best procedural drama TV shows may focus on episodic cases from medical to criminal, they also have memorable casts of characters that audiences are easily invested in. Shows like Psych, Castle, and even Criminal Minds have tight-knit casts of characters who work to solve cases as a team, even when they are in the midst of a dramatic disagreement. The list of procedural drama television shows below includes information like the program's cast and premiere date when available.
This list answers the questions, "What is the best procedural drama show of all time?" and "What are the greatest procedural drama shows?" Don't let your favorite procedural dramas in history get to the bottom of the list - be sure to vote them up so they have the chance to reach the top.
1
8340The Mentalist
Simon Baker, Robin TunneyPremiered: 2008
2
6930Castle
Nathan Fillion, Stana KaticPremiered: 2009
3
8551Bones
Emily Deschanel, David BoreanazPremiered: 2005
4
6132Psych
James Roday, Dulé HillPremiered: 2006
5
5023White Collar
Matt Bomer, Tim DeKayPremiered: 2009
6
4117Monk
Tony Shalhoub, Bitty SchramPremiered: 2002
7
328The Wire
Dominic West, Lance ReddickPremiered: 2002
8
3917Lie to Me
Tim Roth, Kelli WilliamsPremiered: 2009
9
4627Criminal Minds
Shemar Moore, Matthew Gray GublerPremiered: 2005
10
2912Luther
Idris Elba, Warren BrownPremiered: 2010
11
3824NCIS
Mark Harmon, Michael WeatherlyPremiered: 2003
12
3115Murder, She Wrote
Angela Lansbury, William WindomPremiered: 1984
13
2916NUMB3RS
Rob Morrow, David KrumholtzPremiered: 2005
14
2516Law & Order
Jerry Orbach, Jesse L. MartinPremiered: 1990
15
1610Body of Proof
Dana Delany, Jeri RyanPremiered: 2011
16
2217Hawaii Five-0
Leonard Freeman, Alex KurtzmanPremiered: 2010
17
1815Medium
Patricia Arquette, Miguel SandovalPremiered: 2005
18
2727Scandal
Kerry Washington, Henry Ian CusickPremiered: 2012
19
127Major Crimes
Mary McDonnell, G. W. BaileyPremiered: 2012
20
149Cold Case
Kathryn Morris, Danny PinoPremiered: 2003
21
1918Blue Bloods
Donnie Wahlberg, Bridget MoynahanPremiered: 2010
22
97The Shield
Michael Chiklis, Catherine DentPremiered: 2002
23
98NYPD Blue
Dennis Franz, Gordon ClappPremiered: 1993
24
1110CSI: Miami
David Caruso, Emily ProcterPremiered: 2002
25
86CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Laurence Fishburne, Marg HelgenbergerPremiered: 2000