Your View: What is the Best TV Show Ever?

Iain The Wire is right up there for sure.

jfrater Twin peaks for its time was great but if it was released now it wouldn't compare to the new shows.

I can appriciate different shows for different reasons. Acting, directing, concept, writing. The best newish show for me would have to be Dexter. The best older show I would have to say would be either Little House on the Prarie or The Waltons.

Um… Jfrater… I have a confession.
I’ve never even seen Twin Peaks.
:(
I can’t really make a good choice for this one. There are so many shows I haven’t seen.

Anyway – the correct answer is ‘The Wire’.

I´m torn between Arrested Development and Heroes, but as their so completely different I´m going to nominate them both in different categories. As far as Arrested development, I love it because it is so consistently funny, develops deep characters, works in (then) current issues, and was totally unique at the time.
I love Heroes because there is a lack of ¨good guys¨ and ¨bad guys¨. Everyone is a rounded character who works from their own motivation, whether that´s helping others or not – there is no arbitrary distinction into all good or evil.

-Tim

House, Fringe, and Family Guy are the best shows out there rite now….hands down

Outrageous fortune……… (NZ)

Dexter, Weeds, Life

Firefly was brilliant. (Not including that pathetic excuse of a tie up movie, Serenity, either.)

And House. (oh, I want to see all the disagreeing on this one)
Early episodes particularly.

Damn, I’m not good at picking definite favourites, so here are just some of the programmes I love: Ren and Stimpy, Futurama, Family Guy and South Park for cartoons….. I’ve just realised I don’t really watch a lot of programmes that aren’t cartoons. As far as TV series go, the only ones I’ve ever really gotten into are Twin Peaks, Monty Python (thanks to my dad for introducing me to them!!), The Mighty Boosh…..eh….oh there was a really cool and confusing Japanese TV series called MPD-Psycho. I used to watch the X-Files when it first came out and a lot of the earlier episodes were pretty good but I wouldn’t really watch them now. To be honest, I find a lot of TV these days to be rubbish, though it still doesn’t stop me from switching on the box every night after work. I never got into Lost, or Prison Break, or Desperate Housewives, or House or Bones or any of that shite. I watched one episode of Lost ‘cos the folks were watching it and never again. I think because the parents watch so many series just for the sake of watching something every Tuesday at 9 I rebel against them. Oh yeah, and Bottom/The Young Ones – I love Rik Mayall!! (Of course, I still watch The Simpsons but even the old ones are beginning to get tiresome).

I’ve seen the first two seasons of Red Dwarf. I’d like to check out the rest sometime …

OH.
Doctor Who.
Probably my all-time favorite TV series. All ten doctors have been completely amazing. XD

For me, Blackadder is definitely number one on my list forever. Other shows that I loved are: Arrested Development, Monk and Men(Boys?)Behaving Badly, and right now I like Grey’s Anatomy and the Office. Oh, I have also loved all the CSI’s (Las Vegas, Miami, New York).
Can we nominate reality shows: The Amazing Race and Baby Borrowers.

I’m actually confused at the fact that I’ve seen Family Guy and Gilmore Girls being mentioned but The Simpsons only once and Seinfeld ZERO TIMES, which is arguably the best show ever. For me it’s a toss-up between those two.

And people, he did say best show ever, not necessarily on tv right now.

Buffy…

Unleashed Joss Whedon and some much needed snark to the world of television.

Anyone watch Peep Show?

“Friends” anyone???

I meant Bill Cosby lol

I thought Six Feet Under was great, especially the portrayal of the mother–one of the few multi-faceted older woman characters out there. The final episode had me crying, which I believe I have done in response to a TV show only a handful of times.

MASH was, of course, wonderful. (Final show one of the other times I’ve cried.)

I love House right now, very well written, though utterly preposterous at the same time.

What is the best TV show ever? Wow, I don’t think I have the credentials to answer this question. My local radio station put the question out there a little differently a couple of weeks ago, which got me thinking on this subject. They asked listeners “If you could only watch one show ever again, which one would you pick?” Now, this I can grasp and after careful consideration, I chose The Simpsons. Tons of material, loveable characters, and consistent laughs. I guess I’m easily amused.

Mythbusters is my number one show as of now, I can watch it all day long and learn new things, very intellectually stimulating.

Family Guy is a perennial. Never misses, the randomness of the references are classic. (Hitler on a unicycle juggling fish, what more can viewers want!)

Great TV; Father Ted, The Sweeney, Boy’s from the black stuff, Life on Earth, The Flintstones, Prime suspect, Spitting image, the World at War, Match of the Day, Only fools and horses, Porridge, the Simpsons and Soap. Programs that have made me happy, sad or just think differently about life.

1. Scrubs
2. Ghost Hunters
3. Family Guy

Two and a half men!

arrested development, here’s hoping that the much talked about movie actually happens.

for fans of the show: a link to a great quote page
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0367279/quotes

The Wire by a mile.

Dramatic, real, gritty, funny, stupid, outrageous, sad, thought-provoking, engrossing and just plain damn good. Great story lines, great direction and great acting. I’ve never been so addicted to a television series than this. It had me laughing my ass off and I actually was close to tears a few times. This is what television drama should be like.

If you haven’t, you should.

It’s really hard to compare half hour shows with one hour dramas, so I will split my decision between one half hour show and an hour long show.

Best half hour show: Seinfeld

Personal Favorite: Arrested Development

Best Hour Long Show: X-Files

Personal Favorite: X-Files

Seinfeld, Lost, Southpark, Breaking Bad.

I almost forgot
Dexter – wow what a great show

MASH, Freaks & Geeks, Arrested Development, Fawlty Towers…

Best Non Fiction: Jeopardy. Love it!

Best Overall….I love Bones….but I’m going to have to go with Boston Legal. William Shatner and James Spader. It really doesn’t get much better than that.

Best British: Are You Being Served? Freakin’ hilarious!

And, yes, that’s right, I created my own “best” categories!

Arrested Development and Firefly.
Both for great writing and superb character development.
Firefly created a whole new genre of television.
Arrested Development provided us with the best social commentary in the last few years and is hilarious. The in depth writing goes so deep and amazing callbacks make it the best show ever!

I’m going to show my age and say M*A*S*H.

For animation it would be Futurama and Rocko’s Modern Life.
Live action would be Friends, Scrubs, and House.

I have to say I’m surprised that there’s nothing for ‘Battlestar Galactica’ (v2.0)yet – or ‘The Shield’.

Whose Line is It Anyway.

Probably the only show that’s ever left in stitches nearly every time.

my favourites have to be fonejacker, lost, prison break, and peep show.

I feel that any show that can hold a following since 1963 should get a pretty good mention, so Dr Who. The show is such a blend of genres; each week it might have action, romance, drama, mystery, or science fiction. The characters are still brilliant and fresh after forty-five years, which is extremely impressive.

Probably my favorite shows were Farscape, Smallville, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Alias. I was addicted to all of them.

In current shows, Dexter is simply awesome. Although I do love Chuck too.

The Sopranos
Seinfeld
The Simpsons
Arrested Development
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Fawlty Towers

Here’s a thinker: how about Saturday Night Live? It’s spawned so many stars, so many movies, so many cultural memes, even affecting political discourse, for now going on 30 years. Granted, its quality is not consistent from year to year (or even from the first 30 minutes to the last of many episodes), but the high points, from Wild and Crazy Guys to Dick in a Box, from “Jane you ignorant slut” to “I can see Russia from my house”, from Bill Murray to Eddie Murphy to Mike Myers to Ana Gasteyer to Tina Fey, are among the best quality, most lasting, most memorable moments in TV.

Good question! Oh, but there are so many great TV shows!!

Seinfeld is the first thing that comes to mind. Incredible humor, and unparalleled influence on modern pop culture.

I would then have to say The Simpsons, but only until the golden age (Conan O’Brien era and surroundings). It stopped being funny and smart loooong ago.

After that it’s pretty much free-for-all in TV greatness:

LOST
House
Arrested Development
Friends,
(and dare I say) Prison Break.

I’m glad to see so many of you agree with these already! :)

As for Twin Peaks, it was great BUT only until the murder was resolved (which was the entire point of the whole series)!!! After that, it was like, “what for?”. Or so I hear! :P

MAD MEN

The Wire

Never has there been a more realistic and compelling narrative…

If you haven’t seen it watch it…It never gets the awards it should… but all the best critics agree.. it was the best show when it was on TV and maybe the best TV show of all time

Im only 15 but how about Happy Days?i saw it the toher day and thought it was pretty good, so i try and catch as much as possible.I really like Friends, but i dont think its the best ever.Love whose line is it anyway lol.Fresh Prince of Bel Air?erm….The Simpsons,Futurama,Bottom,The young ones,Hayyr Hilss Tv burp lol you ve been framed.

This is too hard a question to answer, as there are so many different GENRES of TV show…

I would have to agree with Bill as far as sitcoms go…. WKRP in Cincinnati, with Seinfeld a close second.

I would have to say either The Office or It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Great shows. :)

I’m gratified to see one mention of DEADWOOD. It really is the closest thing to f*cking Shakespeare in my lifetime.

I dont recall a previous mention of THE WEST WING, and I dont think NYPD BLUE has gotten an earlier mention, but both are deserving of consideration.

SPORTS NIGHT and THE ADVENTURES OF BRISCO COUNTY JR are the only series that I ordered the very first day they were available.

LOU GRANT was great in its day, but I dont think it has aged as well as its (roughly) contemporaries HILL STREET BLUES or ST ELSEWHERE. And I dont know anyone who regularly watched AMERICAN GOTHIC and wasnt somehow changed by the experience. There is no question that THE SOPRANOS and SIX FEET UNDER have changed the medium.

(For what it’s worth, I may be the only one in the world, but I’d rather have all my teeth pulled that to have to watch an entire episode of either FRIENDS or -especially- SEINFELD. I guess as far as the public at large is concerned, I dont have very good taste. I can live with that.)

Damn you, Jamie, and your impossible to answer questions! How funny is it that when you ask about life-changing, important questions, I’m right on it. When you ask about someone fairly inconsequential, I’m at a loss.
21. ligeia: Oh, you are the only one I saw that mentioned Monty Python’s Flying Circus, the one that I think comes closest for me. Thank you.

As well as Monty Python’s Flying Circus, I would agree with a few people so far and say Dexter, Fringe, House, and Heroes are great. There’s just so many shows in different venues and media. Full Metal Alchemist would have to be my favorite anime and Mad, Mad House was my favorite reality television show. When I was a kid I loved Pinwheel, and when I got older it was Freakazoid and Earthworm Jim.

Agree with Deadwood. I was crushed to see it end.

Benny Hill anyone, lol

I’d give my vote to The Simpsons…Heroes is pretty damn awesome too…

Funniest show ever-Its Always Sunny in Philidelphia
Drama-Heros..or Dexter

You have to throw Cheers in there somewhere

Oz, series that was on HBO

Doctor Who
Cheers
Blackadder
I Love Lucy

Not necessarily my faves, but a few I think are definitely in the top 10.

Oh yea! 24 season 1 only. High-brow comedy at its finest.

“”Anyone watch The Peep Show?”–Yep Brilliant. They are making an US version. also brill was Father Ted— Spaced and THE GOODIES :)

Law & Order, The West Wing, M.A.S.H., Seinfeld, Entourage, The Shield

MASH
West Wing

M*A*S*H

/discussion over

117. Callie: Tough part is, I think, that a lot of people’s favorites are clouded by them being associated with comfort or being very fresh.
I was very fond of the Simpsons, but they jumped the shark a long time ago. They’re really stretching to come up with some fresh ideas for their episodes. I haven’t watched them in years. Family Guy, as well, has been on for, what, six years? Seven? It makes me laugh a couple of times per episode, but, come on, they had a full episode where the running gag was singing the same song over and over again. LAME.
The best show ever should be innovative, expressive, portrays the genre correctly, well casted and acted, have a clear and logical plot, and know when to call it quits. This automatically disqualifies the Simpsons and, dare I say, M*A*S*H*. I’m going to stop there, though, because I really haven’t seen many of the shows hailed as being great- not enough Seinfeld, no Firefly or Law & Order or The Shield or West Wing or 24. Just not into those kinds of shows. Fringe and Heroes are too new.
TMo- Venture Bros., that’s the best you got? Really…

the best are : Star Trek, The X Files,MASH, Seinfeld…nobody mentioned China Beach? I think it’s one of the best…

I think The X-Files at least deserves to be in everyone’s top ten. It encompasses almost every genre- horror, mystery, romance, action, humor, etc. It has well-known characters and everyone knows the theme song. It was the first tv series to be put onto DVD. It spanned nine seasons and is one of very few tv series to have more than one movie. It also won several awards. It dealt with very difficult issues sometimes and although it is a show that is mainly about the paranormal, it has the most realistic characters I have ever seen in any tv show, ever. It also was one of the first tv shows to garner a huge internet fanbase which is still going strong to this day, 15 years after the show premired. It had original and engaging storylines and consistently broke boundaries in the industry. So it’s my number 1, but I think eveyone should at least consider it in the top ten.

The best show in the history of television is without a doubt the new Battlestar Galactica. It’s brilliantly written, has excellent characterization, and brutal intensity.

I can’t believe some of you guys choices. Didn’t you see the topic Best TV show EVER. Some of these haven’t been on long enough to earn that title.

My vote is for The Andy Griffith Show. Funny and great values and morals to learn from.

Top Gear
Arrested Development
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
The Office

But nothing in this world comes close to Top Gear, I can’t live with out it…

OH AND SOUTH PARK!

Blackadder! i forgot about Blackadder!

Damn, this is a hard one. I don’t watch that much tv, so I’m a little handicapped, but going back as far as I can reasonably recall I’d have to include the following (not all inclusive):
Twilight Zone
Outer Limits
Science Fiction Theater: These were all wonderfully written shows which made you *think*. You didn’t get to just sit back and watch, you were fully engaged with the story line.
The Dick Van Dyke Show: Another wonderfully written show, but this time a comedy. It starred two women who shared equal story time and talent with the men. It also featured a strong married couple, Rob and Laura Petrie who, unlike the other married couples on t.v. at the time, were a true couple. Rob didn’t “know best”, Laura didn’t didn’t kow-tow. It was engaging, hilarious, and truer than life.
Twin Peaks: This show had it all; drama, suspense, freakish red herrings, freaks, fabulous cinematography, a story line you had to keep notes to follow, characters that could break your heart or give you nightmares (or both). My kids were young, 11, 12, 13 when it started, and they immediately fell in love with the show. Even though it’s regular show time was on later than their bedtime, this was the one exception I made (but for school events), and on Twin Peaks night I always baked a cherry pie and made a pot of decaf coffee to have while watching the show. This little ritual is still one of their favorite memories.
Law&Order (in several of it’s guises): Well written, fast paced, insiders view of the legal system from both sides. I know a couple of the writers, so maybe I’m biased.
House: Again, the writing is excellent. I believe the characters. Some of the cinematography/special effects tricks are just marvelous, and the foley engineers (the sound guys) do a fabulous job matching sounds to the stretching of tendons or muscles, the firing of synapses. I like that, as in real life, everyone has a secret hurt which affects their actions.
Planet Earth/Blue Planet: These two mini-series ought to be required viewing by every man, woman, and child on the face of the earth. Only by being intimately aware of what we have, and what we have at stake, can we be expected to make all the correct actions to save our planet, our atmosphere, our oceans, ourselves.

… like Mythbusters! (dammit! There’s just too much awesomeness in TV! :P )

The Office, pretty good stuff both(US and UK)

Twin Peaks season 1 was amazing, probably the best season of television ever. However, it went downhill in season 2 with crazy plot lines. Maybe a season 3 would have cleared it up but it’s hard to name it the best show ever. Freaks and Geeks would rival Twin Peaks for greatest season ever. Both of these shows were so much different, and so much better than anything we’ve ever seen on TV.

My favorites- Wonder Years, Seinfeld, Simpsons, Monk, Veronica Mars, Law and Order. Lost might make the list but I’ll reserve judgment until it’s all said and done in May.

chris (133): Thanks for mentioning Rome – it was a brilliant series and I might rank it as 2 behind Twin Peaks. I bought the two series on DVD and watched the lot over a couple of weekends. Excellent acting and they really brought the period to life.

Warrreagl: I love Rockford Files. So did Jim Garner, too bad about his damn knees, we could have had a couple more years of reruns.

The Golden Girls

Hill street blues started a lot of good television.But now Deadwood was great and so was Sopranos.Probably not good for children
though,The office and E.r are also good

THE HONEYMOONERS!!!!
w/o it there would be no modern sitcoms
no that 70s show
no friends
not even i love lucy

Now that ‘Dexter’ was brought up, does anyone remember ‘Six Feet Under’? It was weird, but really good.

All in the Family
The Odd Couple
Timeless. Classic. Hilarious. Sad. I used to watch these in syndication. They are like no other. Original, fresh, touching.
Maybe WKRP in Cinncinnati.

WONDER YEARS!

I’m glad Charlie # 55 and Callie # 53 mentioned I Live Lucy. So many shows have tweaked or totally ripped off the plots to so many of those episodes. Hooray for Segue # 140 for mentioning Twilight Zone (I’m waiting for the next marathon) and The Dike Van Dyke Show (My Favorite).I still watch lots of other shows from the 60s. Including The Andy Griffith Show. Also some of the early Leave It to Beaver shows are just hilarious.

I forgot to mention the mini-series Centennial. Excellent – stellar cast – sweeping saga of the American west. And it was recently released on DVD, so I get to see it again – YAY!

And someone else mentioned China Beach – I have to agree that it’s one of the best.

Well, I was going to say Star Trek… Probably not a very good choice now that I think about it.

But hey! At least they relled in the first interracial kiss on TV eh? Learned that here.

24 – the acting and writing are on par with a first class movie. The fast pace and storyline keep you on the edge of your seat and keeps your interest. Season two was a little weak, as was the last season.

An honorable mention is “Damages.” Glenn Close is a wonderful actress and she and Ted Danson did a wonderful job last year.

As far as for older TV shows, “Hill Street Blues”, “St. Elsewhere”, “Homicide”, “Law and Order”, and “Twin Peaks” are absolutely wonderful.

Good topic!

Oh, and to ever said “MASH discussion over.”

No dude, discussion is on. I wanna know why?!

Has anybody even thought of “All in the family” – which still relates to a lot of todays problems. The best writing and superb acting I have ever seen on a sitcom. I could laugh and cry all in one episode.

SEINFELD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

simpsons
or family guy
or scrubs

The X-Files it has its own mystery and in every episode it has new thing (theories,conspiracies,mysteries and so on )
i think it the best show ever

One would have to say the simpsons for longevity, Familyguy for coming back from Cancellation and X Files for being so dam interesting.

People are forgetting greats like Aqua Teen Hunger Force and Metalocalypse. They’re half as long as other shows and are still greater than most of the shit on TV. Also Mythbusters, Arrested Development, Dexter, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Seinfeld(Larry David is a fucking genius!), and I think Greg the Bunny was pretty freaking hilarious. Too bad it was cut, but that’s just my opinion.

Mine are the same…

Wire
Arrested Development
Six Feet Under
Deadwood
The Office (UK and US)

The BBC America series Skins is also fabulous. I’m really into that lately.

A really important and superb show that was overlooked- Veronica Mars. Did anyone get into it? The first two seasons were great, I thought. No?

The golden girls: It was progressive, funny, and had good acting and original humor, despite the occasional cliche.

I loved Twin Peaks, I was addicted, and I still have my “treasures” (coffee mug and keychain) from a trip to the lodge and surrounding area.

Nothern Exposure was another favorite.

My taste runs to the quirky, campy, cheesy… so those are the shows that usually rate highest with me.

These days I like watching:

Pushing Daisies
Eli Stone
Heroes

…and as for the best tv show ever (in my lifetime)
or at least the last 40 years…

Seasame Street of course!

Yes, there were other children’s shows on first, (Howdy D., Bozo, ect) but Seasame Street was educational AND entertaining.. the ones before seemed to be one or the other.

You can tell this view is mainly an American one can’t you?

Personally I find it too hard to name just one Best ever but I can certainly eliminate all but about 3 shows made in the last 10 years.

Some of The Best I have watched
Steptoe & Son
Open All Hours
Porridge (Yes I am a huge fan of Ronnie Barker)
Monty Python
Deadwood (except for the last half of series 3 when they knew they were cancelled and tried to wrap it up)
The Sweeney
The Games (Oz comedy about the lead up to the Sydney Olympics)

The more observant amongst you will have noted only the one US series on here. That is because though many US series start out really well (MASH, Hill St Blues, NYPD Blue, Simpsons) they almost all outstay their creative welcome. Did you know that one of the most revered pieces of British Comedy (Fawlty Towers) consists of only 12 episodes. Yet it is still held up as one of the greatest British comedies ever. (Personally I don’t know why, I detest Basil Fawlty and that whole style of comedy). If however as some seem to indicate longevity is a sign of Greatnes then surely the Greatest show on TV MUST BE Coronation St. 47 years (or more) and still going strong.

Cheers
Lee

LazyTown

5…4…3…2…1…Thunderbirds are go!
If you are of a certain age you will already be humming the theme tune and trying that crazy puppet walk.
The Muppet show was great fun and Till death us do part is still discussed years after.

Firefly

Tough call…best ever…I would rule out any of the shows mentioned in the comments that didn’t last long enough to go into syndication. Of course, now with DVD’s new generations can see into TV’s past.

Best TV Shows by category:

For comedy I’d have to say The Dick Van Dyke Show.
For police drama: Hill Street Blues
For drama: The Twilight Zone
For Science Fiction: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
For Fantasy: Buffy/Angel
For Cartoon: Simpsons
For Variety: The Smothers’Brothers (breaking my rule there)
For Crime: The Sopranos

For a show that should have lived on and I really miss:
Veronica Mars

Best show on TV Today….Nuthin!

At the time, I used to be out at a club or party or whatever – would come home at 9:00 Friday night just to watch Miami Vice, then go back out ….

173. ElenaSFA

lol, that was me. The discussion isn’t REALLY over. It’s just that, in my opinion, M*A*S*H is the best. Fantastic characters, great writing, fun comedy, a bit of drama with the war backdrop…I simply felt that it was understood why M*A*S*H was so good, and it did not need to be discussed.

CLEARLY, i was very much mistaken, and apologize

@124. ‘Cedestra – October 14th, 2008 at 12:28 pm [Report Abuse]

The best show ever should be innovative, expressive, portrays the genre correctly, well casted and acted, have a clear and logical plot, and know when to call it quits. This automatically disqualifies the Simpsons and, dare I say, M*A*S*H*.’

You do know the final episode for MASH was the most watched program in television history, right? I’m not even a monster fan- I do really like it- but I have my own personal tastes that are different too- but not of your qualifiers actually applies to MASH.

I’ve heard more than once that All in the Family is the only show that could come close to it, as mentioned earlier.

You can tell there are a lot of younger viewers sounding off- not that the choices are bad in any way at all- just that all of the ‘best show in tv history’ just so happens to be on EVERY other channel right now. I think it’s more people being caught up in the hype for whatever show they are lovin right now.

Wire was awesome but let’s face it; it blew it on the last season- faking a serial killer, half the force in on it, no repercussions and the outlandish measures they went through? It was totally bad ass up until then, and then it became a sit com. Betcha it had something to do with writer contracts.

Firefly and Buffy? Would not even be mentioned in a serious discussion (queue the enraged hordes of Joss Whedon fanboys descent, furiously wiping cheetos grime off their orange stained fingers and slurping back mountain dews while screeching castrato pitched obscenities and frothing at the mouth, pounding their replies into their keyboards… hehe) Honestly.. fun shows… really fun. But no where near being called the exemplary piece de resistance of the entire medium. They were comic books and most people over 20 didn’t see anything new.

Hey, I have my personal loves, too, but I won’t try to convince anyone that because I think it’s awesome, that’s what makes it the best thing humanity has produced. It’s a bit… shortsighted? If, as a medium, it has certain artistic structures and contexts, then it moves out of an opinion piece and becomes a dialogue on the creation of art itself.

I’m not even middle aged, but I just don’t see anything that can claim true innovation any more. Reality TV was the last time a boundary was crossed, and that was for the worse. It’s all just rehashing with different combinations of ‘quirks’. Same formulae, new extra slick packaging to make you forget you had the same thing for breakfast. :)

Little House on the Prairie ………hands down

Okay, it seems that everyone missed one word in the title…”EVER”. Not just in the past two or three decades. And based on popularity, longevity, and quality only a few shows really qualify. There have been a ton of great shows on this list, but let’s face it, ‘Seinfeld’ is hands down one show that most people can agree on. Another classic is ‘The Honeymooners’. Gleason made 30 or so shows and ended it because he felt he could go no further. Those 30 shows are some of the funniest ever. ‘I Love Lucy’, although not a personal favorite, is on every top TV show list ever made. And there’s no denying it’s importance in TV history. Recently, ‘The Sopranos’, ‘Mad Men’ and other cable shows have pushed the boundaries and reached greatness. Again, just because a show is a personal favorite doesn’t make it the ‘greatest show ever!’ I love ‘Pushing Daisies’ ‘The Munsters’ and ‘The Tick’, but they would be on a list of ‘greatest shows EVER!!’

I think I agree with most of these but Twilight Zone from the 80´s changed my life, I still have nightmares about that Gramma episode.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gramma_(The_Twilight_Zone)

Callie: It’s a show about the beginnings of the Hells Angels, I think. Haven’t seen it myself.

209. Mr.Graves: M*A*S*H* was a great show, but it should have ended a long time before it did. So what if its last show was well watched? Lots of people have favorite baseball teams and only watch their team if they make it into the postseason. M*A*S*H* qualifies for all other standards mentioned.
142. Renee Pussman: You wouldn’t happen to be related to Randall, would you? No, no your comments aren’t nearly as clever or well thought as his, just abusive. Fail.

I absolutely HATE Seinfeld, and I don’t much care for M*A*S*H either.

Also I have to mention Heroes and the Office(US)obviously. I think it’s too early to say that either one of those is the best ever but I think potentially we could be saying that. I don’t think I have laughed more often at a show than I have with the Office. Steve Carell’s character, Michael Scott, is amazing. I don’t think I have laughed more and at the same time felt more uncomfortable with any other character on TV. One of my fav quotes:

Michael: ‘Hug it out, bitch.’ That is what men say to each other after a fight. They hug it out, in doing so they just let it go, and walk away, and they’re done. Not a good idea to say that to a woman, however, I’ve found. Doesn’t translate.

I enjoy Heroes because I love the idea of superhuman abilities. I loved watching Smallville even though I would never attempt to call it the best show ever. I’m a superman….man. But Heroes has a very engaging story with limitless possibilities and so far they are unfolding things quite nicely. You can’t miss a single episode or you are lost which I think is why they let you watch it on NBC and Netflix the day after. I just hope it doesn’t get too far fetched and weird which is what happened to Smallville.

Anyway, I think I have said enough.

SEX AND THE CITY!!!! WHOO HOOOOO!!!!!!! (sorry a bit of carrie fever)

Seinfeld

Has anybody even thought of All in the family – which still relates to a lot of todays problems.

duggandeep – the original British show that All in the Family copied was also a comedy classic (Till Death Us Do Part). The 2 shows are somewhat different in terms of style and emphasis, though. TDUDP, whilst being wonderful satire, was more in your face.

anyone who thinks “friends” is the best show ever clearly needs to watch other shows.
this is too subjective, obviously everyone likes different shows.
i’d have to say old shows were the best, the twilight zone, Alfred hitchcock presents, i love lucy, the three stooges, and right now the simpsons and…….. honestly i have no clue, tv sucks so much these days.

I think I should mention a couple of shows that I haven’t been able to see, so I don’t know how hey stack up to the others I consider the greatest ever:

The Sopranos
Curb your Enthusiasm
Star Trek
M*A*S*H

But I’ll probably think they’re great once I’ve watched them :D

The Sopranos is by far the best ever created its really the only tv show i would wait for the episode for… south park is hilarious as well, and Mutual Omaha or whatever its called, the shit where animals treck across africa that is great

Straight up

i would have to say the Golden Girls is one of the best. even years later, its one of the few shows that makes me LOL

Also, Chappelle’s Show. Goddamn that show is freaking HILARIOUS!!!!

COME BACK TO US DAVE!!!!!

I would have to say Veronica Mars.

SEINFELD.

JACKASS / WILD BOYS
MARRIED WITH CHILDREN
T.P. BOYS
LUCKY LOUIE
THE SIMPSONS
MONTY PYTHON FLYING CIRCUS
TELETUBISI :)

SORRY, COUDN’T MADE UP MY MIND!

The Wire is the closest thing to perfection I’ve ever seen on TV.

Family Guy WAS funny until they started to repeat the whole ‘remember that time when…’ over and over again. Funny at first, but not anymore.

Twilight Zone
South Park

hands down – Simpsons

honourable mentions – Friends, How I met your mother, Alias, House

it would really have to depend on your age and what was popular when you where growing up, as well as what channels you where exposed to.

as a child, I adored Galaxy Star rangers and Fraggle Rock. Belle and Sebastian was an early fave, to.

as a teen/young adult: E/R and X-files. Northern exposure.

as an older middle aged adult : Firefly. the first season of 24. Ally Mcbeal. (not the last 2 seasons… but i was young and it gave me an excuse to justify my personal theme song…)

currently: Dirty Jobs, South Park, and the original Cosmos, with Carl Sagan.

***notable mention***the original Star Trek, and even Star Trek:The Next generation where, and still are, amazing creations. I am convinced my father’s religion is a unusual mixture of Jesus and Roddenbury…

rtr

All time classics like M*A*S*H

Ahhhhhhhhhh!? Sponge bob square pants is back Ahhhhhhhhhh!

Ok! Ok! i admit it, i had a childhood crush on Bea Arthur.

BWHAHAHAHAHAHA!

The Wire

Greatest Tv Show Ever = SOUTH PARK

Why ? = 1) Unlike Family guy(which IS one
of the BEST) The ‘Funny stuff’
remain relevant to the plot.

2) Open eye on the proceedings of
the world..i mean america,, na ,,i
mean the world.na i mean,…wateva

3) Genius. Great music.

4) Finds humour even in a brain
tumour. cant deal with it?
GOD DAMNIT!! [email protected]£% YOU DONKEY
BONER!!!

5) The only reason i watch the TV.

SCREW YOU GUYZ, IM GOIN HOME!!!

BAD GENT signing out.

from the seventies taxi…eighties hill street blues …ninetes the x files and from the naughties the sopranos special mention to extras …arrested development and the wire

What is a “swim” show?

how about Monty pyhton’s Flying Circus
or Faulty towers? => BEST SHOWS EVER (South park and Blackadder are the second best :D)

Firefly for me also.

To all the people advocating children’s shows, we relate the shows to a time when we loved everything more, we were young and happy then. And on the basis of educational and fun for kids, Blues Clues is the best one, it’s been proven.

Best T.V. show ever has gotta be either Spaced or It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia.

P.S. I ‘ctrl’ F’d to find what how many times the simpsons has been mentioned. Thats how hardcore I am.
Best. Show. Ever.

So far my favs have been “Six Feet Under” and “The X-Files”. “South Park” is a close third. Gotta say though, probably gonna be checking out “Dexter” now after reading all the comments on it.

Umm, I hope you guys all know that Family Guy is easily one of the WORST shows on tv. it is so poorly written, one dimentioned characters, the voice acting is absolutly terrible. and 10 solid minutes of flashback and drag scene’s that have NO relevance to the plot is not funy. also falling down really ast isnt funny, and EVERY TIME someone falls down in family guy, their arm is always thrown over their back. what the hell is that, you guys need to open your eyes and see that family guy is a TERRIBLE show. Simpsons is at 20 seasons and is still better then family which is at what 6 or 7 seasons? and whoever here thinks stewie funny is an absolute idiot.

you guys should go watch simpsons or seinfeld or frasier, those shows are about 46 times better than family guy.

SpongeBobSquarePants. Centuries from now it will be a timeless classic. It’s the perfect combo of ridiculous in the sense of hilarious and touching~

Remember the time when Sponge Bob forgot to feed Gary for weeks(?) because of trying to pass the challenge of the Dirty Bubble and the poor snail (Gary) fled? A grandma then took care of him and fed him luxuriously. Spongebob realized this, and so he attached many billboards that say “Have you seen Gary?” or “Come back to me Gary” (although I’m not really sure if those are the exact words). Try to watch it again. Don’t call me a fag, but I cried. ~boohoo!

Ahh, Mythbusters is a darn good show. Good call. Hadn’t thought of that. (and if someone else posted that before #284, no worries, I am just not reading nearly 300 comments to find out what you had to say)

I dont understand all the hype about Southpark if you’re over the age of 15. It just seems so infantile. Family Guy is a much better animated comedy.

Twin Peaks? WTF is wrong with you?

Lost is the best show on tv because it’s completely brilliant. Each week adds a new element to the story, and the writing, acting, and music are all fantastic.

I enjoy Mythbusters too, and South Park is good as far as comedy goes.

I would’ve said Heroes, but since season 3 started I’ve decided that the writers don’t give a damn about their characters at all anymore, and have completely given up on their development.

I also noticed while skimming the comments is that nobody has voted for any reality shows (with good reason)…yet at least half the shows on TV today are reality shows.

Illustrates how much TV has gone downhill since The Honeymooners.
(you all know that “Everybody loves Raymond” is just an updated Honeymooners, right?)

288. psychosurfer: “Takeshi’s Castle” is known as “Most Extreme Elimination Challenge” in the U.S. And it is damn funny.

Copperdragon, I think most people watch the ‘reality’ shows out of sheer morbid curiosity. I’ve seen an episode or two of most that have cropped up over the last 5-8 years, and have not been thrilled by any of them.

jardojo, south park is just a very unqieu show, especially when it started. and I dont understand how people think family guy is good comedy. twin peaks is awesome by the way

and CRSN, people dont like know it alls because they point out the reason why their stupid, the only reason your mad about me saying that is because you know its 100 percent true.

Dexter
West Wing
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Arrested Development
The Office

I hope someone at Fox sees this list, realizes what a following Arrested Development has, and brings it back. Micheal Cera and Jason Bateman are gods among men.

Dexter is just amazing… in every way.

West Wing… largely ignored here but superbly written.

Cedestra: You’ve made a huge mistake!! (nyuk nyuk :P )Arrested Development was certainly canceled, and TV has never been the same since.

Twin Peaks! I’m glad to see I’m not alone in saying that

Also… Dexter, It’s Always Sunny in Phildelphia and Scrubs

Charmed, Buffy, Angel and Greys Anatomy. Love the three first because I can loose myself completly thinking “Wow, wish I could do that!!!” The last one, couse of all the drama. But for a good laugh, that you can relate to at some point, the one and only FRIENDS!!!

trigger happy tv and the whitest kids u’know!

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia gets my vote.

I still think the old Muppet Show was awesome… something for everyone….

Monk

forever and ever. XD

Spongebob Squarepants too. :}

Comming from the anglo-saxon channels:

7 X Files
6 StarTrek
5 Beakman’s World
4 The Young Ones
3 The Black Adder
2 Futurama
1 Monty Python’s Flying Circus

BONUS:
Saturday Night
Dr. Who
I’ve fairly seen those but I know they deserve to be there.

Worldwide (or at least what i know):
Takeshi’s Castle
And from home
Redes (I bet the best science-filosophy program ever)
Any Buenafuente’s show (better “la Cosa Nostra” and “BNF”)

My husband would say M*A*S*H* hands down for it’s era, still today he watches the reruns everyday and tapes one or two. For the current shows, I would have to say The Shield on F/X. By far the most gripping and shocking show in a long time. To bad this is the last season!

Wow, no one has said Friday Night Lights yet? Really? It s definitely not all about football, and it deals with real life issues for teenagers and adults alike. Football probably only takes up about 5% of the show’s time each episode.

Monty Python
Laugh In
Chappelle Show
South Park
Bob Newhart
House
Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations
Saturday Night Live (often sucks, but over time, classic)
X-Files
The Tick
Daily Show

Friends!

Scrubs. I’ve just got to.
But Arrested Development is a close, close second.

I overlooked Slings and Arrows, which is probably my all-time favorite show. from the BBC: Life On Mars, Foyle’s War, Sharpe’s Rifles, Prime Suspect, Extras, and Monty Python of course.

Ummm…Baseball Tonight?

1. FRIENDS!!!
2. Greys Anatomy
3. Desperate Housewives
4. Brothers and Sisters
5. Ugly Betty

wow. 332 posts and not one (yea it’s slow at work) mentioned QUANTUM LEAP! Loved that freakin show.

Both of my choices have already been named. :D

I’ll say Dr. Who, and House. The first time I saw Dr. Who I was just lazing around in my mom’s room when it came on, and I watched it- it was awesome! That was the ninth doctor, Christopher Eccleston. I like the tenth doctor more. Who else was pissed when they got rid of Donna?

House is really good, I love it, but I’m also sometimes wary about watching it, just cause that medical stuff can make me squirm. XD

Does anyone plan to include morality in their thoughts

JJ: Is that an irreverent TV series?

those tee vees look like a couple of happy sputniks
only cubelike and not spherical chrome

i luv that photograph
goil and all.

Was it called “Real People”? a kinda copy-cat of “That’s Incredible!”

OZ

189. greg:
Tha Goldie Goils?
really?
best ever?
wow.

Based on long-term popularity, entertainment value, production values and effect on the American people as a whole, no other Anerican show equals the anthology show variously called Disneyland / Walt Disney Presents / Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color and Wonderful World of Disney. It was on from the fifties to the nineties, on all three major networks and cable. and may have been the most influential show on television from 1955 to 1966 when Walt died.

SEINFELD

I’d have to say I loved 1st & Ten
and Sledgehammer. They were both so funny!

DARIA! hands down. what is wrong with you people?!

Wow, sledgehammer good call! Haven’t seen that show in in twenty years, but i remember it being hilarious. I grew up with Night Court, I used to love that show. There is only one show that made me tense, uneasy, nervous, and made me laugh at the same time. The Soprano’s. The best show ever!!

1.LOST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2.Seinfeld is a very close second (hard to compare)
3. Southpark
4. Dexter
5. That 70’s show, the first seasons

For all those out there who mention Heroes, try watching the 4400. Heroes sucks.

1/ Quantum Leap
2/ MacGyver
3/ Outrageous Fortune!!! YES!!!

yup thats about it for me.

fishing4monkeys:

Ok maybe saying it sucks is exagerating a bit but the best show ever?! It’s a show full of plot holes and I mentioned the 4400 because Heroes is nothing more than a (bad) more expensive and more marketed copy of the 4400. And the 4400 is the one that gets canceled…
Seriously, I don’t understand the excitement about herous at all.

family guy, the simpsons, southpark, or the new beverly hills 90210.

Tobias. you have the screenname of one of the characters in the greatest show ever made. It is such a shame you don’t think so. Arrested Development.
Tobias Funke – Analrapist(analytical therapist)

Spaced, cause simon pegg rules
South Park, old standard always funny
Family guy, funny as hell
Top Gear

Discover Channel’s How It’s Made.

Hill Street Blues
Sopranos
All In The Family
Mission Impossible

Oh yeah- The Planet Earth mini series on Discovery… the coolest nature show ever!

Ive got to say,
south park
the simpsons
familyguy
24
friends
seinfeld
and ive just started watching the wire and it think its brilliant.

I don’t care if this is irrational:
The Sopranos, The Sopranos, The Sopranos, The Sopranos, The Sopranos, The Sopranos, The Sopranos, The Sopranos, The Sopranos, The Sopranos, The Sopranos, The Sopranos, The Sopranos, The Sopranos, The Sopranos, The Sopranos, The Sopranos, The Sopranos, The Sopranos, The Sopranos.
And animated shows – The Simpsons deserves credit for bringing popularity… but seriously, nothing other than South Park deservess mention.

Wow. A lot of you folks have pretty questionable taste in television… I can’t say i could ever really enjoy shows like CSI, Grey’s Anatomy, Family Guy etc. they’re crap.
Although, a lot of my favourite shows were mentioned as well.

Comedy: Flight of the Conchords, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Arrested Developement, Strangers With Candy, The Sarah Silverman Program.

Drama: Battlestar Galactica, Carnivale, Six Feet Under, Weeds.

Animated: King of the Hill (currently the best animated show on television), the Simpsons (in the olden times), Rocko’s Modern Life, Futurama.

Kids Shows: Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, Fraggle Rock, Sesame Street (circa late 60’s – early 70’s)

It’s impossible to pick which is the best. the last episode of season 2 of weeds was one of the most exciting moments in my television watching history… The last 3 episodes of Six Feet Under had me in tears. Battlestar Galactica constantly brings relevance and high octane entertainment to a genre (sci fi) that i never really payed much attention to. It’s easily possible that the final episodes of Battlestar will be some of the best ever … I’m just getting sick of waiting for them.

My vote goes to either Weeds or Battlestar.
(… I haven’t seen Twin Peaks. before my time. I’m a Lynch fan though and i plan on downloading both seasons (there were only 2, right?) in the future.

Invader Zim for being the most original cartoon evah! They really too all the details of every episode seroiously.

What? Nobody else for Chaser’s War on Everything?

Last of the Summer Wine was the best until Bill Owen had the discourtesy to _die_.

Personally, I liked The X-Files a whole lot… It was a fantastic television show when it was on the air, especially when it was in it’s beginning seasons…

Best of British TV: Spaced; Shameless; The Mighty Boosh; Extras; Skins

But I loved Twin Peaks early 90’s as well during my school days..
Sex & The City was great, as was x files – man I love tv!

The three best shows of all time are I Love Lucy, Seinfeld, and The Office. I cannot choose between them. Each are hilarious and were ground-breaking shows.

Let’s see: I earlier mentioned Heroes, and The X-Files…
Okay, here’s some more… Quantum Leap, Get Smart, Batman The Animated Series, Superman The Animated Series, and some of my personal Faves from Canada, North Of 60, Corner Gas and The Beachcombers… Due South, Too…
Soon As I think of some more, I’ll let us all know…

PRISON BREAK is my favorite. 24 is the best.

Adam – I’m sorry, but the new Beverly Hills 90210? I hate to suppress a point of view, but man alive…

Space 1999 (1st year) was AMAZING.

Monty Python’s Flying Circus.
Enough said.

For me (a brit), Fawlty Towers & Blackadder were two of the best, simply because they knew when to stop.

I love the Simpsons, but as PaulyIcecubes points out, Seasons 3 to 9 were brilliant. The later ones are just poor. They should give it up.

Family Guy is excellent. I’ve never known a programme to make me laugh out loud so often, especially the first couple of seasons.

Maybe its just me, but I hate Seinfeld with a passion. I’ve watched about 5 or 6 episodes, and it just isn’t funny (having said that, I really like Home Improvement. Don’t judge me).

Other programmes I love at the moment are Dexter, Fonejacker, Friends (over and over again), Desperate Housewives, and far too many others. I’m sure I’ll be back…

My best tv show ever is FRIENDS, i watch it every night on E4. But my other 2 favourite shows are Desperate Housewives, and all of the CSI programmes. Love ’em.

M.A.S.H. , unequivocally

Friends

SOPRANOS!!!!!! The character development and just overall pacing of the series has been unmatched(except season three, minus the Pine Barrens ep.) Second is The Shield, did anyone else see that episode last week? Blows my mind.

Doctor Who! yes, just yes!

and, Dizo, I was way sad when they got rid of Donna. I think Catherine Tate is one the most beautiful women alive

Have Gun, Will Travel.

The Shield. Hands down one of the most engrossing series ever. A very well crafted and spun plot that constantly keeps you guessing. And the acting is very realistic and phenomenal.

Dragon Ball Z. Enough said

Life on Mars
House, MD
Dexter

and animated: The Simpsons of course, South Park, the family guy…

422. Yeah well if your in to sitting there watching peole bitch thats fine, but it just shows that there is no creativity out there if we are subjected to watching people sitting in their loung rooms.

i may as well be watching CCTV with the sound.

Without a doubt, this is the worst list/item I have ever seen on this site. On a positive note, everything else ties for first because its really good.

Its not the question that spells dooms; its the answers. They start off Gawd-awful and, based on random sampling, never recover. Alicia at #418 seems to be the only list that show breadth and diversity; Anekrel at #252 comes close. I didn’t agree with all their choices, but I respected the fact that they cover a good time and genre spectrum.

Putting so I don’t have to shut up:

Old, Old School
Perry Mason (excellent writing)
The Dick Van Dyke Show

Old School
All in the Family
Star Trek TOS & TNG
Hawaii Five-0 (Guilty Pleasure)

Yesteryear:
X-Files
Homicide: Life on the Street
Original Law and Order (First Dozen or so seasons)
Seinfeld

New School
Lost
The Shield
The Office

I figured that Family Guy would be the big choice for everyone. I don’t get. The show was great. Now it’s absolutely horrid. That aside, I feel Arrested Development is the best show. Unfortunately, it was thrown down the drain and comedies with dumbed down jokes were thrown in it’s place.

Oh and Alf and Perfect Strangers.

Yo Gabba Gabba!
“There’s a party in my tummy…”

Anyone here ever watch “Corner Gas”? It’s a Canadian comedy show.

La Femme Nikita

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Femme_Nikita_(TV_series)

Lost . . I know half of us can’t understand it . . but thats what makes it so much more appealing to me

Oh, good, I don’t have to convince you about Twin Peaks then :)

– OZ:
why: the show is about the fictional Oswald State Correctional Facility, a maximum security prison. First of all it was fantastically cast. Secondly, it completely broke the notion of what can be shown on American television. It was also really well written.

– The Mighty Boosh:
why: because it challenges how we are used to perceive tv entertainment. I know many people doesn’t like this show, but I think it is because you have to be able to step out of your everyday life and accept something a little more magical.

The OC.
duhh
its funny, cute, romantic, twisted, and unpredictable.
what more could you want?

Got rid of cable 2 years ago; 130 channels of crap and now with the “reality TV” garbage on every F***ING station I see it was not a moment too soon. However, back in its first season Family Guy was great.

What about Roseanne, All in the family,or 60 minutes.Barney Miller had a great ensemble cast. Rerun classics like Brady bunch and Gilligan’s island. star trek TOS and TNG are always good. I think Breaking Bad is the best show on now, But I don’t watch tv like I used to because the internet rules!

Mystery Science Theater 3000

It is and will always be I Love Lucy. I created the three camera scene and was groundbreaking in showing a real life interracial couple(albeit not AS controversial as a black and white couple).

Rod Serling’s original Twilight Zone. Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Playhouse 90. They didn’t call the golden age of television, the golden age of television for nothing.

In comedy, That Was the Week that Was, Monty Python, Mary Hartmann Mary Hartmann.

Then there are the Brits: Yes, Minister, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, Smiley’s People and, of course, The Avengers.

‘Long Way Down’ & ‘Long Way Round’ featuring Ewan McGreggor and Charley Booreman is fantastic. Can’t get enough.

What show do I think is the best? I think we need to consider what show has really affected our lives. Affected what we do, how we think. Our plans and our future. A show that makes us laugh or cry many times.

To that end, I recommend The Weather Network.

lol

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

Jeremy Kyle! For non UK residents, I will explain: people with problems go on TV to be shouted at by Jeremy. 75% of guests are total losers, so it makes you feel better about yourself to watch ;D

King of the hill
The Simpsons
Spongebob Squarepants
Jimmy Neutron
Magic’s biggest secrets revealed

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia – watch the episode from last week “Dee has a heart attack” and you will see.

24 – last couple of seasons have sucked but the first 4 are all great and the new one looks promising.

Seinfeld – nothing that really needs to be said here.

Entourage – Ari Gold is probably my favorite character ever.

King of Queens – Kevin James is

Northern Exposure.  It had quirky characters, a love story, an awesome soundtrack.  Just a really good show.

the man show

this is easy man in order
1.srubs
2.the office
3.the wonder years
4.the x files
5.space ghost coast to coast
6.south park

X-Files.

X-Files X-Files X-Files.

FRIENDS, Heroes, Gilmore Girls….I can think of a ton, but Friends is at the top of the list.

My favorite ever is FRIENDS.

Honourable mention,The OC,Desperate H/wives,One tree hill,grey’s anatomy,Brothers and Sisters,and ofcourse my guilty pleasure,Gossip Girl.lol

Seinfeld by far

@Hiamn:

You’re absolutely right about Father Ted, absolute perfection.

It is kind-of like Fawlty Towers: very short, but powerful like a picture of bishop Brennan being kicked up the arse. *VERY* powerful. ;)

Bridezilla on tlc or watever has a pretty great intro.

Best TV show ever: Seinfeld

Dr Who – I agree with 05tbray. 45 years and still going strong. Firefly is excellent too.

scenes*

Also, Since no one else seems to have mentioned them, Weeds, Law and Order (the original, not the countless parasitic devil spawns) Aeon Flux, Skins and The Mighty Boosh! For best Programs though, I have to say Nick at Nite, Adult Swim, and MTV Oddities get a three way tie.

One thing I’ve noticed that people tend to have really short memories, they keep saying that the show they’re currently into is the best of all time, that being said, I’m gonna do the same…

Here are my personal favorites:

Best Sitcom – Seinfeld
Best Animated – Futurama (Simpsons, is a close runner up)
Best Suspense – LOST
Best Drama – Entourage
Best Sci-Fi – Firefly and Battlestar Galactica

But for histories sake, I should mention the following popular shows:

M*A*S*H, Twin Peaks, MTST3K

And more recently,

Friends, The Sopranos

Heavens, Only Fools And Horses.. one of the best shows ever, in the history of the universe. I’m just in a process of re-watching the whole series again for the millionth time and it is still as hilarious as the first time.

NB: OFAH is a very popular show here in Croatia, you Brits are not the only people enjoying the astounding performance of David Jason ;-)

@ Mongoose post 95: Your ignorance is of a gigantic proportions. You included TVguide as a reference on how great Seinfeld is/was, you think they KNOW what they are talking about and yet you accuse FRIENDS of being a stupid show??,,,well you can look further down the list and you will see FRIENDS is the number 21 greatest show of all time IN TVGUIDE’S LIST you moronic hypocrite…It is one of the best shows ever wether you like it or not.

Anyways my list is:

1-FRIENDS (kinda obvious :P)
2-the simpsons

Excuse but FAMILY GUY?! Are you guys 12?

Seems that no-one who has seen the Wire has put it any lower than first. I’ve really got to get hold of a box set

It’s like mankind has only to shows in existence: Seinfeld and Friends…don’t you guys know any other shows?

What about the wire? entourage? arrested development? newsradio? curb your enthusiasm?

Deadwood!

The X-Files
Battlestar Galactica
Star Trek : TNG

Green Acres

Absolutely Fabulous

maybe it’s me? But it doesn’t seem fair to include Pay channel shows. I mean they get to do stuff that regular tv doesn’t get to do. Imagine “Deadwood” on CBS, it just wouldn’t be the same. Or “Weeds” on ABC. There are a bunch of pay channel shows I would pick. But since I’m not including pay channel shows, my vote for best TV show is ………………. Drum Roll please …………………
“Boston Legal”

All In The Family, by Norman Lear. Far and away the best television show ever, was not only funny, but held up a mirror to the country and things like racism and discrimination. Not to mention that this show was the first time ever that the audience heard a toilet flush (quite the taboo in those days).
It also was the springboard to many other shows, and also allowed Rob Reiner to become one of Hollywood’s better movie directors.
Today’s shows are only judged against other currently running shows. Frankly, they stink. What passes for brilliance today would be mediocre yesterday.

i personally think that spongebob, seinfeld, and planet earth are the best tv shows ever

I can’t believe how many people list shows that are either on now or within the past couple years.

I’ll take a crack a it:

The Tonight Show (With Johnny Carson)
The Twilight Zone (Rod Serling’s Original)
M.A.S.H
Cheers
Planet Earth (Discovery Channel)
The Universe (The History channel)

Star Trek (The Original)
Star Trek TNG (Ran for many years)
Star Trek DS9/Voyager
(Enterprise was a disaster – Gene Rodenberry would be turning in his grave)

I’m sure ER, Friends and the like would be on there too.

1. Buffy the Vampire Slayer – most underrated show ever (by people who have never seen it who are so quick to insult it, fans and critics adore it)
2. Angel – best spin-off ever. Period.
3. Scrubs – For some of the same reasons I love the two shows mentioned above.
4. The Simpsons- No need for explanation
5. The Boondocks – there’s deep and eerily true underlying messages underneath all the funny!
6. Rocko’s Modern Life – Just cuz.

These are some of the “best” shows ever.

doctor who for sure

I don’t have a favorite myself. But, if I had to choose… it would be a tie between Avatar and That 70’s Show.

I would have to say the best TV show ever is I Love Lucy. I am sixteen and I watch the reruns. Lucy is hilarious and she is always doing things that Ricky tells her she is not supposed to do. Lucy is very ingenious. I Love Lucy is one of those pioneering shows that started the whole physical comedy craze.

South Park
Because if you underneath all the “offensive language” etc
There is a lot of truth in what they say
And it’s so much better than Family Guy (which is just NOT funny at all).

But yes, I liked Twin Peaks
Despite the fact that it was rather confusing…

It is clearly the West Wing, or perhaps M.A.S.H. Both are products of masterful writing, and superb acting. Furthermore both represent the collaboration of drama and comedy ever seen, and subsequently maintain a compeling story line.

Favorite ever… Seinfeld
Never gets old
Favorite right now… Entourage
Always keeps me wanting more. Ari rocks. Amazing use of cameos. Great character development.

Favorite light-hearted sitcom at the moment… “How I met your mother”
Hilarious. Witty writing. Speaks to our Generation (older 20 somethings). Great progression.

I did not get a chance to read through all of the entries, but I agree with M.A.S.H as # 2;
I can’t believe that you people are not yelling the name:
SEINFELD,

Seinfeld is by far and away the best show ever on T.V.

ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT for sure. Only problem is you can’t be an occasional watcher or else you won’t get the jokes. MOVIE in the works though =)

532. Tom Ewing: Nova, especially COSMOS! 1979-80
****
Spot on! My children were babies, toddlers, at the first run of the show, yet I allowed them to stay up to watch the series that time and every time it reran throughout their school years.
It had such a positive effect on them, particularly my son, that he selected an observatory as his wedding site, and the full set of Cosmos DVD’s as a wedding gift!

Sorry thought I had embedded the youtube link but it seems not so

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2ifyi8-lxo

Cheers
Lee

The X-Files is definitely one of my fave non-comedies. It works as a suspenseful sci-fi, conspiracy, mystery show, yet also has many well-developed characters and themes.

As far as comedies go, the Office (u.s.) is probably the funniest. The genius of the show is its completely exaggerated yet realistic characters.

Almost any news program, especially ABC News and SBS World News Australia. It’s the only television show that I always watch whether it be on ABC, SBA, 7 or 10, I nevere ever miss it.

Seinfeld.

hilarious, and genuis for Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld to make a show…about nothing.

I think my favorite at this moment would be bones humerous at times but it can quickly turndramatic or even funnier.

Obviously this is an incredibly subjective topic, so I don’t feel the need to agree or disagree with any previous comments. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and mine is thus:

My favourite all-time tv show is definitely Seinfeld. The way that the show highlights the little quirks of life is brilliant. Favourite episode: The Soup Nazi.

In second place is the early series of the Simpsons. Back when I was at school we actually studied this show as part of a topic on humour and parody for English Studies. This show has lost the magic though imo, and I think that is mainly because it has been running for so long the writers are running out of things to parody! I also find the earlier series to be much more subtle which appeals to me.

The final spot on the podium is Fawlty Towers. The thing that I like most about this show is that the humour is still funny today, despite the show being decades old. My only problem with this show is that only 12 episodes were made!

Other favourite shows of mine:
– Black Books
– The Sopranos
– Planet Earth
– ‘Adult’ cartoons (i.e. Family Guy, Futurama etc)

Ok,this is my first post ever.I had to register on this one. I would have to go with X-files or Seinfield. I could stay up allllll night watching X-files. Also CSI (Las Vegas is the ish) suprised no ones mentioned Martin,that was a great show. Also I really like The big bang theory right now. I’ve really gotta find out what all the fuss about Dexter is, I do like Family guy alot too. Also, I like the first 48 and Mythbusters as well. Oh and how can you not like Two and a Half men,Charlie Sheen at his best. Oh yea and Flava of love!! HAHAHA, that’s a joke.

Bones
Firefly
Buffy/Angel
MONTY PYTHON’S FLYING CIRCUS

The Andy Griffin Show(B&W)a moral with every show.
Seems lost today.

I think definitely either Its Always Sunny or Seinfeld

Survivor….no other reality show even comes close. The castaways are put through the wringer, and the drama is real. Also, I haven’t seen “Northern Exposure” mentioned much. That show set the standard for quirky ensemble shows.

Dick Van Dyke show was the best ever, in my opinion

My choices (in no particular order):
Married With Children
Dream On
Flight of the Conchords
The Sopranos

bonus: Sam & Max: Freelance Police

Homicide: Life on the Street

Northern Exposure

Twilight Zone

Blackadder & Red dwarf are top for cheering you up. Hilarious. I also like X-Files and the new copy Fringe. They always get me thinking whether any of the stories might just be possible.

The Sopranos!!!
and am i the first one to say:
“First few seasons of sliders” was pretty good for a while.
Also Night visions… It was great while it lasted. I don’t think many people know about it though… anybody else know about it? or sliders?
Did i imagine them or did they really exists? Man maybe i went crazy…. hopefully they were real…

Ctrl-F: Seinfeld
Results:none
Over 500 entries without Seinfed? What’s going on here? It was a clever, witty sitcom that didn’t have the drama of Friends or blandness of other 90’s sitcoms. It was even named in TV Guide as the best sitcom of all time. I believe it at least deserves a mention.

Peterman:
You must have hit something wrong beacuase…
CTRl+F to me = 69 times! first one at comment 28…
But what about night visions? or sliders?
I do think i’m going crazy…

A few things:
1) Television as a whole I think is not a great thing. It explores issues which in a sense are deprived in your real life. Studies show there is a positive correlation with how much tv you watch and depression… im not surprised. I think TV will be dead in 50 yrs.
2) Comedies would NEVER be a top show in my book. Im sorry but I have enough comedy in my life, and dont need some trite remake of what happens to me every day. I however do find the office, and the simpsons (first 10 seasons) hilarious… but thats ONLY when I have nothing to do.
3) Family Guy, sadly… is not a good show. Its an embarrassing attempt at “random” humor (BTW the use of the word ‘random’ is used grossly incorrectly in modern talk) and it simply tries too hard. Its slapstick humor which isnt innovative, thought provoking nor takes skill to write. I cant stand watching it for more than 1 episode! and leaves nothing to the imagination. The only clever character is Bryan and he doesnt get enough screen time. There I said it FAMILY GUY SUCKS.
4) If I really hard to choose the best comedy, it would be Seinfeld, truly clever sitcom.
5) Right now, the best still running show is Battlestar Galactica. Brilliant previous shows are Star trek TNG, Voyager, DS9, Stargate SG1, the outer limits (90s),the simpsons, beast wars transformers… can only think of sci fis now hahaha but thats because (unlike star wars) these shows relied on the brilliance of the writing… and in galactica… the insanely good acting, and stupid effects like star wars OR moronig “funny” one liners like in the millions of shows mentioned. You know the ones that wait for the audience to laugh (stupid ‘friends’).

ooohh
I agree with the outer limits, forgot about that one…
And family guy is supposed to be dumb! don’t you know that the more time passes they’re trying to make each generation dumber? Don’t get me wrong i CAN find family guy, American Dad, South park, etc. hillarious its just that i really have to dumb myself down…

House, MD!

the twlight zone

what doesnt any one here remember baywatch

Father Ted. Best comedy series ever made.

To each his own, I say.

NBC The Office. Fav eva.
Hitchikers guide UK.
Red Dwarf.

The Sopranos was great but I really dislike every single character lots.

I love Bones.
I love Bones and Booths relationship. i love all the Squints. everything about the show is great. My personal choice. Second would be House :)Also i love the Xfiles.

okay, I’m surprised that barley anyone has put”It’s always Sunny In Philadelphia”. That show is hilarious! I also think “family Guy”, “the office” and “House” are great shows too. but “It’s always Sunny in Philadelphia” is definitely my first pick.

I’ve enjoyed reading all of the posts, and I’ve become nostalgic… so here are my favorites, too:

The Mary Tyler Moore Show (the clown’s funeral*)
The Bob Newhart Show (the “therapy” sessions)
Designing Women (“They Shoot Fat Women, Don’t They?” episode)
The Office (Jim’s proposal, finally)
Six Feet Under (the opening scenes of each episode)
The Sopranos (the “Whitecaps” episode)
Boston Legal (“Denny Crane… still cuckoo for CocoaPuffs”)
30 Rock (Kenneth!)

Such very, very good shows. Too many choices to make just one, sorry!

*”A little song, a little dance, a little seltzer down your pants.”

I am voting NCIS as the best TV show of all time. I can watch it for hours on end. It is smart, funny and dramatic all at the same time.

Friends. So FUNNY -all seasons. Hated to see it end.

FRIENDS! :) :)

oh and House md

i might change my opinion here

blackadder goes forth

very funny, and the last episode is particularly touching, mixing intelligent comedy and slight drama

arrested development.

I have never found another show that made me laugh so hard. If I got to pick two my second vote would be for Lost. No other show has kept me on the edge of my seat for longer.

Are you people seriously saying that the best TV show is something made in the last 5 years. Gilmore Girls? spare me…

I think you can not ignore the brilliance of MASH. Amazing, timeless poetic and poignant storyline, humor that has stood the test of time, and outstanding performances by an incredible ensemble cast.

In 30 years time, my children will find little joy in a show like Family guy, because of the use of pop culture references and themes. I however love mash, as my mother did at my age.

I also think you cant go past the Simpsons. It changed the face of prime time TV.

House
Mash
Married with children
CSI
Northern Exposure

catdog

“The Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson–There will never be another one like him.

Twin Peaks was amazing up untill they revealed who the murdere was, then it kinda went down hill from there…like that boring story about James and the rich woman who killed her husband…who cares??

So my number one is: Buffy the vampire slayer

Followed by Lost, just because it is amazing that they can make us wacht every week even though we have no idea what the hell is going on!

Wow!!! This is sure a long held debate! If I could only watch one show ever again, (i know thats not the question, but thats how I would judge it) I think it would be… *Dexter*
It always leaves me wanting mooooree!!!!!!!
For those of you who love House… I understand the appeal and the humour, and but whoever said it always has original plotlines… really? It’s the same week after week. They get a new sick patient, misdiagnose them four or five times an hour until they almost die, and figure it out and fix em within the last couple hours or days of their life. The only thing that changes is the diseases!! Nothing original there…
Sorry, I just think anyone that is that consistently bad at their job should be canned!!

best shows ever
old: andy griffith,twilight zone, sanford and son(lol), happy days, gilligans island, i love lucy

new: arrested develpment, its always sunny in philadelphia, office US(best show ever), CSI, Lost, criminal minds, my name is earl, snl(could also go under old)

animated: simpsons(first nine seasons esp.), early family guy, king of the hill

worst:jerry springer( although i love it), shitty reality shows on vh1, the wiggles( creepy as shit), knight rider(old and new), soap operas,

One Tree Hill, The Closer. In my opinion those are two of the best dramas EVER…then again those are the two shows I watch!

All in the Family. Best ever!

CSI (Vegas)
House
Family Guy
Ghost Whisperer
Gossip Girl

Deep Space 9. Lord knows it’s an acquired taste and it took a while before it really hit its stride, but it is definitely my favorite.

I’m not seeing enough love for these GREAT shows:
dragon ball z, the boondocks, FLCL, avatar: the last airbender, chappelle’s show, rescue me

these are all amazing and have been barely mentioned if at all.

other worthy, obvious, posted-a-million-times-already shows:
xfiles, twilight zone, seinfeld, south park, simpsons, arrested development, it’s always sunny in philadelphia, dexter

as for the best of the best? entourage. my college buddies just got me hooked to it. jeremy piven as character ari gold is just so entertaining!

This is difficult one. Just from reading the other comments you can see that there are so many categories it can be made up of.

Mine at the moment are: Dexter, Super Natural

Hi folks: You’re not going back far enough. The best comedy ever was The Dick Van Dyke Show, with All in the Family a close second. Best Drama: Hill Street Blues, followed by the first Twilight Zone Best Variety: The Ed Sullivan Show, and Ed Skelton had some wonderful shows Best Kids Show: DeGrassi Junior High

However, I don’t want to give the impression that there’s nothing good today. House is excellent, 30 Rock is un-missable, Corner Gas is a hoot, The Sopranos was gutsy & surprising.

I’m interested in your comments.

Entourage!!!!

seinfeld? anyone?? i love that show

Lost is easily the best show to every be shown on a television. followed closely by arrested development.

cheers, strangers with candy, family guy, most evil, barney miller, all in the family,

what there just one mention of wwe in 641 posts its been on for as long as i can remember of course back then it was called something else and its still goin strong

house monk and friends rock, by the way

I’m gonna have to say The X-Files.
Hands down greatest show ever made. IMO.

I must say that CSI ( original ) is the best show out there
Prison Break comes next
and then If theres nothing else on
House is third.

Scrubs. It covers a variety of humor styles all in creative and unique ways. Marriage, best friends, coworkers, children, assholes you hate to see every day, life and death… It’s an eye opener and it is pretty damn hilarious. Something there for everyone regardless of your lifestyle.

1 spongebob square pants
2 that 70 show
3 southpark
4 scrubs
5 freinds
6 mythbusters – because of the hot geeky girl
7 daily news with jon stewart
8 fox – the supidity – makes way more fun after watching the daily show ;)

This seems to be a generational and a gender opinion… But even though I do not watch these shows much anymore.. They stand out through time… Hands down.. The Simpsons in their prime and Saved by the Bell…… I have watched plenty of other good shows.. but I do not think I could ever get the enjoyment that i got out of those two….

HANDS DOWN THE WIRE!!!
THE WIRE
THE WIRE
THE WIRE

Honorable Mentions: Curb Your Enthusiasm, Wonder Years, Dexter, Scrubs.

wheel of fortune

I’m gonna follow the crowd somewhat and say The X Files, for all the reasons already stated. I could watch that show again and again.

Also Battlestar Galactica I think would be a serious contender for the best show still airing on tv.

I’m a big sci-fi fan though, so I’m more than a little biased :P

Comedy: Seinfeld/Simpsons(Seasons 1-9)/I Love Lucy/Curb Your Enthusiasm
Cartoon: South Park/Simpsons
Mini Series: Band of Brothers/John Adams
Drama: The Wire
Other: Tonight Show w/ Johnny Carson
Overall Channel: History
Future Contenders: It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia/30 Rock

The Wire is, hands down, the best written and most ambitious show ever on TV that I know of.
South Park is also amazing (still).

Hands down – without a doubt…The Cosby Show.

I agree with those who say that it can’t be the greatest show EVER if it was made in the last 10-15 years. I’m only 20 and I am aware of all those classics of each decade. The 90s (my generation) brought Full House, Seinfeld (never watched) Saved By the Bell, Friends (eh, not my cup of tea but from what I heard it was funny) Family Matters, The Simpsons (seasons 1-8) Rocko’s Modern Life, Doug, The Nanny (has anyone mentioned THE NANNY?) My favorites were Full House, Family Matters, Rocko, and The Nanny.

My favorite 80s sitcoms are ALF and The Golden Girls. Cosby was funny and I’ve never really watched Cheers.

Nothing really in the 70s–maybe the comedy shows like Carol Burnett and The Muppet Show.

My favorite show from now is The Big Bang Theory. I think that is the funniest sitcom I’ve watched in a long time–since the Nanny.

I think I Love Lucy is the greatest show ever, hands down. It practically INVENTED the sitcom and the rerun and hasn’t stopped showing reruns since the day it first aired. Those who say Family Guy is obviously have never seen real comedy.

Lost is the best show i’ve ever seen bar none and I’ve seen alot of shows. Lost really redefines what a show can be and I’ve never had a problem following it. The problem most people seem to have with it is that they don’t invest in it. But if you do, wow. Best show ever easily.

The Office, Dexter, A Double Shot at Love (don’t lie you all think its the greatest).

but the best of all time: KENNY VS SPENNY!

1/ Are you being served
2/ George and Mildred
3/ The Littlest Hobo
4/ Anne of Green Gables

(These are all classics)

otherwise now:

1/ Police 10/7
2/ Outrageous Fortune
2/ 20/20
and thats it! :)

The Simpsons~!

Lost

uk version of the office. hands down. 12 epsiodes, 2 part xmas special, pure bliss. it never misses, and hits all the right notes.

10)Everybody Loves Raymond
9)Family Guy
8)Honeymooners
7)Office
6)Cheers
5)Sanford and Sun
4)Lost
3)Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
2)Baseball Tonight
1)The Simpsons

THE Simpsons, Cheers, and Seinfeld
Frasier is class too and family guy and king of the hill

Oooooh. Tough one. I’m gonna try to limit it to my personal top te (some of which barely lasted one season, sadly – I guess they were too intelligently written to last in a society that thinks Survivor and American/Canadian Idol are quality entertainment). In no particular order….

M*A*S*H
All in the Family
The Twillight Zone (the original series, that is)
New Amsterdam (Who the Hell approved the cancellation of something THAT clever?!?)
Heist (I guess waiting a whole season to see the crew pull one robbery was asking too much in our rapid-fire society)
Law & Order
House
Lost
Family Guy (C’mon… it was resurected due to popular demand, guys!)
And, of course, The Simpsons.

Cult classics such as X-Files, Xena, Myster Science Theatre 3000, Star Trek, or Buffy. Who dosen’t love South Park? It eases the tension of current events with satirical comedy! Mike Rowe is halirous on Dirty Jobs! However unparallel it is to the lives of real Dr’s, Grey’s Anatomy is great! Bones is about the only crime show that I can stand (unless ou count X-Files as a crime show). Oh yeah- best news show ever- The Daily Show with John Stewart.

My favorites are Curb Your Enthusiasm and Freaks and Geeks.

The Phil Silvers Show

SIENFELD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

KID”S SHOWS- Spongebob Squarepants/ Avatar: The Last Airbender
COMEDY- Seinfeld, Fawlty Twoers, and Monty Python
Drama- HEROES was good for Season 1 but Season 3 sucks IMO, not the best show ever
AND THE ALL AROUND BEST SHOW EVER FOR COMEDY, DRAMA, ACTING, ADVENTURE, ETC.
Is without a doubt BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
That show makes me laugh and cry and analyze more than any other. It’s was alternately hilariously random and witty, incredibly sad and moving, metaphorical,progressive( an infamously gay-friendly show) and occasionally pretty scary ( The Gentlemen in ‘Hush’ anyone)
This is a show that is often ignored because of the awful movie and weird name, but I guarantee if you give it a chance ( season 1 is the only season I don’t like that much) you will love it.

Best TV Shows by category:

For Comedy: Seinfeld
For Police drama: Hill Street Blues
For Drama/Mystery: Veronica Mars
For Science Fiction: Battlestar Galactica
For Fantasy: Buffy/Angel
For Cartoon: Simpsons
For Crime: The Sopranos

I vote Dr Who, for its sheer “Stick-to-itivness”.

Family Guy!? Seriously?

*facepalm*

6′ Under

family guy
friends
heroes
tour of duty
x-files
dexter
sopranos
a team
lost
V,you know the alien series

I’d have to say….Falty Towers is up on top of my list…!Also: Twin Peaks beacuse ofcourse the owls are never what they seem…..then, Monthy Python…..I’ll leave it at that!Going on might take up too much space…..

One for the sub-monty-python generation.

“The Goodies” the perfect combination of insanity and inanity.

And for pure lunacy…

Spike Milligan’s “Q” series.

My personal GREATEST tv shows are the ones i can watch repeatedly without getting bored….therefore my list would include

L-Word……Cannot ever see any of those episodes too many times

Boy Meets World….always brings me joy

and while i love house i get bored if i watch a repeat

Nope. Its “Cheers”. Hands down.

Sci-Fi: Farscape,firefly,SG1,kyle xy.
horror/supernatural:moonlight,supernatural,dresden file,master of horror
mystrey:x-file,fringe,eleventhour,jerico,twin peaks
drama: the thon birds,gilmore girls,return to eden,dallas.
adventure:mcgyver,relic hunter,remington steel,The A team
funy:i dream of jenny,bewitched,takarch witch.
Detective:CSI miami,Night riders (old).murder she wrote.
action:Raven(old),incredible hulk,24,allias.charlies angels

Im fond of seriels frm early, here are some fun stuff i enjoyed.These may nt be best 4 u.but at least ull thank me 4 the choice

SEINFELD! DERRRRRRRRR!

LOST

In no order:

Rome
True Blood
Sons of Anarchy
House
Entourage
Northern Exposure
Fawlty Towers!
Reaper
Dark Shadows :-)

also, what about Tudors?? historic my ass, but if you like hot people fucking like rabits its a great show :P

In my opinion I find House, M.D. to be a very excellent show. The medical mysteries paired with the sarcastic comedy and hilarious observations make it very entertaining. I also love that the main character is a general douchebag but is still caring in his own way.

It’s basically the only reason i even still own a tv.

Oh yes Sugarplum (see 713)..how could i forget The Twilight Zone!I was so addicted to it!

MYSTERYSCIENCETHEATRE3000

I like Flight Of The Conchords

My top favorite shows:
Buffy, Angel, Firefly, & dollhouse are in first place(anything Joss Whedon!)

My second favorites:
Six Feet Under, Supernatural, Bones, Weeds, Gilmore Girls, Dexter, and a bunch of others

BSG

I have seen about every show ever made lol yess i have no life one of the only shows on this list alot that I have never seen that may top out house for my 5 favorite shows all time from what I here is Sopranos ill have to pick it up.

5. House

4. Freinds

3. Seinfeild

2. Dexter

1. X-FILES

the only dissappointment with xfiles was the last 2 seasons barely had David Duchonvy aka (Fox Moulder) in ’em. But his replacement (john daugget) did pretty well you will recognize him as the bad liquid terminater in terminator judgement day. GREAT SHOW

Seinfeld
Friends
Numb3rs

And again… Seinfeld :)) The best in my opinion.

i have to choose south park
check there new season, the best comedy ever made

Oz
Southpark
Sopranos
Office

Do you like fishsticks?

:-)

RIP Robert Stack

The X-Files. No question bout’ it

I think The X-files was leagues above any other show it was just Ace week in week out. No question bout’ it

The top 5 TV shows are, Lost, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Beverly Hills 90210, Family Ties and Seinfeld

degrassi is boring as hell lol

1-Friends

2-Southpark

3-Seinfeld

4-Family guy

5-CSI > really great show in mid seasons

Two shows that deserve a mention (though not the best ever):

1. Home Improvement
2. Yes, Minister

Arnold
http://fairmaidenintrouble.blogspot.com

I hate typos.

American Idol (I know, I’m Canadian, but Canadian Idol sucks)

Nip/Tuck.

Great storyline. The Carver was an excellent villain.

Got a few favourites
– Scrubs
– Family Guy
– Skins

My top 5 fav shows are:
5)Married with children-Al is my fav character of all time
4)X-Files
3)Degrassi JR. High and D. High
2)The Simpson
1)The Sprannos

The Junior Christian Science Bible Lesson Show!!!!!!!

my favorite show ever is M*A*S*H. i also loved the carol burnette show, the lucy show (where she and vivian vance played widows with children). my current faves include bones, house, lie to me, the big bang theory, csi new york, and the mentalist. i can only offer the term “my favorites” because the “best” is just an opinion.

Firefly

Also amazing: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Doctor Who, Dead Like Me, Lost, Monty Pythons Flying Circus, MSt3K, Star Trek, Stargate SG-1, The X-Files, Xena

I probably forgot a couple great ones.

Friends.
Sex and The City.
Coupling (british version).
Mad About You.

I watch these shows over and over again and always enjoy them. Highly, highly, highly recommended.

Hill Street Blues

Deadwood, if you can get past the language.

In my lifetime (32), Seinfeld is probably the most loved show. But lately Dexter and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia give Seinfeld a run for its money – for me, anyway.

So many to choose from but “there can be be only one” for the top spot
1. The Wire
2. The X-Files
3. Friends
4. Heroes , well season one anyway
5. Band Of Brothers
6. The Sopranos
7. Dexter
8. Brotherhood
9. Ally McBeal
10. Match Of The Day

Essentially this list comes down to two things:

1) People who have seen the wire, and;
2) People who haven’t.

All there really is to it.

1.Simpsons
2.Southpark
3.Kenny vs Spenny
4.Melcolm in the Middle
5.Family Guy

…or something like that

Good once:

The Wire
Entourage
Six Feet Under

The best:

No question about it, Sopranos… pure genius.

1.Simpsons
2. Father Ted
3. Flight of Concords
4. Arrested Development
5. X files (early on )
6. Quantam Leap
7. The Office
8.South Park
9. Full Frontal
10. Seinfeld

Over rated show of all time
Family Guy
Scrubs
Little Britain
Twilight the movie (So overated that I had to Mention it i TV)

House Hunters, House Hunters International, NCIS, Forensic Files, Allo Allo, The Office.

My all time favorite is “The Prisoner” series from the 1960s, because it was perhaps the one program that made people actually think about what they are watching. It was subject to so many different interpretations, from allegory to convoluted spy drama to one man’s struggle against the facts of his existence to total nonsense. It is definitely applicable to life in 2010 as it was back in 1967. After all, we are all numbers living in our own little villages. A very prescient masterwork and excellent work of art. Portmeirion itself has an intriguing history as well.

My other faves include:

The Fugitive (1963-67; an excellent moody film noir piece)
All In The Family (a pioneering show; it’s the reason for all the dross on today)
The Twilight Zone (1959-64; I’m not fond of remakes)
Star Trek (1966-69; definitely ahead of its time)
The Virginian
Bonanza
The Rockford Files (police drama plus humor)
Kolchak The Night Stalker (again, ahead of its time)
Get Smart (1965-1970)

Hands down it has to be LOST

The greatest show ever.

Greatest comedy has to be Seinfeld.

Best comedies ever:
I love Lucy
Seinfeld
Fawlty Towers
Blackadder 2
the Simpsons

the best dramas ever:
Twilight zone
Mad men
6 feet under.
Lost
the Sopranos

I'd have to pick Dollhouse, It wasn't on for very long and I think it only lasted for 24 episodes, 25-26 or something, but it was still very enjoyable and I just think it was written perfectly (by the wonderful Joss Whedon) and wonderfully directed and acted (Eliza Dushku, Amy Acker, Olivia Williams, Deichen Leichman, Enver Ijkolaj), every thing the show did was good and it sucked that they had to end it early because, while we got to see an ending, it wasn't the ending we wanted to see, It could've went on for a lot longer, but was great otherwise.

Modern Family, Tosh.0, 1000 Ways to Die, ORIGINAL Hawaii 5-0, SNL, Important Things With Demitri Martin, ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, 30 Rock, Soap, SEINFELD

dragon ball the best all times

I think Monty Python’s Flying Circus is the best show ever. The runers up are The Office (british version) and The Mighty Boosh. Yeah, I like my comedies.

And for everyone who says The Office (UK or US) or Modern Family or any single camera comedy along those lines, those shows WOULDN’T EXSIST WITHOUT ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT

The Twilight Zone. Such a heavily inspiring show with a wide variety of classic, genius moments and episodes. And the best aprt is, you can watch any episode you want because it’s all a different story each time, so there’s no continuity to follow. Absolutely brilliant show that I think will never be beaten as my all-time favorite.

“All In The Family” It had everything that was eye opening with all of its hotly debated topics at that particular time (the early to mid 1970’s). Archie’s Bigotry and he being a staunch Republican. Mike (meathead) as Archie’s son-in-law who was a staunch liberal, The Vietnam War, a tad bit of Anti-Semitism. The Bunker’s next door neighbors, The Jeffersons who we’re Afro-American, Archie’s “strict” Christians values, Edith’s falsetto voice and Archie calling her dingbat and calling his daughter Gloria “little girl”, Archie’s Chair (which has been on display at the Smithsonian Institute at the American History wing of the museum for many year now), Kelsey’s Bar, and of course Archie’s reference of World War II as he would call it “WWII, ”The Big One’ ”

And Let’s not forget “Sanford And Son” with the great Redd Foxx and the characters in that show. Fred and his son Lamont (Afro-Americans with Fred being the shyster and Lamont being the level-headed one), Julio (Hispanic), Achoo (Asian, played by Pat Morita), Rollo (the jail bird), Aunt Esther (A very devout Christian) and her husband Woody (Who couldn’t lay off the booze), Donna (who was a very decent and kind lady) Fred’s girlfriend, Fred’s best friends Grady and Bubba, and of course, Fred’s late wife Elizabeth and when Fred would feign a heart attack would put his right hand over his heart and say “Elizabeth, I’m coming to join ya honey” or “I feel a bad one coming on”. That was comedy at its best.

That 1970’s comedy show starring a Blackman and his son who ran a junkyard and was always putting his right hand over his heart when he heard or saw something shocking and would say, “I feel a bad one coming on. Elizabeth, I’m coming to join you, honey. And would also say, “I’m gonna give you five across your lip !!”. And let’s not forget “YOU BIG DUMMY !!” and their friends Grady, Bubba, Julio, Rollo, Aunt Esther (who was Fred’s “Favorite”, YEAH RIGHT !!), Donna, Achoo, Woody who was Aunt Esther’s husband (and was never sober). Of course, its the legendary TV show “Sanford And Son”

VAMPIRE DIARIES!!!!!!!!!!

i hate the news, it’s so deppressing. to me, no news is good news

the best anime of all time is Dragon Ball Z!

for me i have a lot of all time Favorite TV shows old and new in no particular order.
buffy the vampire slayer
angel
saprina the teenage witch
charmed
dark angel(jessica alba)
desperate housewives
alias
up pixar i now its not a series but i had to but it there cuz its so good