Which TV Show Really Is The Best Ever?

Television has been around since around 1950, or at least that's when TV sets started appearing in middle-class homes across the country. Since then, it has grown to be a staple in our lives; few things entertain us more than our televisions.

This tells us that Americans love TV, but it also means that there are a lot of shows out there. Some of them are excellent, and many of them are not. 

Being so popular, TV is a frequent topic of conversation. "Are you watching any good shows?" is a regular conversation starter. It always seems that if we talk about TV long enough, we wind up having the "what's your favorite?" or "what's the best show ever?" conversation.

Naturally, once this topic is introduced, things can get intense. People are serious about their TV, and they will defend their favorite shows to no end. Of Course, everyone is also different, so hardly anyone can agree on what really is the best show ever. 

Until now.

We're tired of all the debate and want to settle the score once and for all, so we took a new approach and tried to figure out which show is "the best." Of course, we expect many of you to disagree, and when you do, please let us know so that we can continue the discussion and finally get to the bottom of this decades-old debate.

Our Methodology

To determine which show is the "best" ever, we need to first define what we mean by "best." If we don't explain our terms, then it's impossible to have a real conversation. 

For us, we want to try and be as objective as possible, so we're talking "best" to mean a combination of things – best-reviewed, longest-running, and most-watched.

This is because there are many shows out there that the critics consider the best, but they didn't last very long or had low viewing figures. Conversely, there are quite a few shows out there that have been on the air forever or have commanded huge audiences that critics don't seem to like. Yet we think this must count for something. 

Therefore, to figure out the best show, we compiled those considered by the critics (and us) to be the best and then compared them with the lists of shows people have been watching. 

From there, we were able to compile an A-list of shows that are loved by both fans and critics alike, and it's these shows that we feel truly represent the best of the best of TV since it first went mainstream back in 1950. 

The Best Shows Ever

In line with the methodology described above, we set out to find the best shows ever according to the critics, the networks, and the fans. 

Here's what we found: 

According to the Critics

The first place we looked to find the best show ever was the reviews. While film and TV critics certainly don't have the final word, their opinions do matter. 

These individuals dedicate themselves to the industry and can spot elements in shows that are genuinely new and groundbreaking. Furthermore, they can also use their extensive knowledge to place shows in a larger context, helping determine their value. Plus, they aren't always going to be swayed by what everyone is watching at the moment; their opinions tend to be more objective or more so than the average fan. 

We looked at a couple of different lists, mainly the ones prepared by Rolling Stone, The Guardian, MetaCritic, and IMDB. We also went deeper into the reviews written about these shows in other publications. 

Below we've listed 11 shows. We've put them in order based on how many Emmy wins they have, though this doesn't necessarily represent a ranking. We thought this information would be useful since Emmy wins usually come when critics love a show. Usually.

Saturday Night Live

NBC's weekly variety show, Saturday Night Live, has won more Emmys (54) than any other television show ever. That's got to count for something. 

What makes SNL such a popular TV show among critics? It's likely the edgy nature – it's a live broadcast, and we all know what crazy things can happen live – as well as its willingness to address touchy, sensitive social issues using comedy. It's a show that tries to, and often does, push the boundaries of what you can do on TV. 

Plus, how would we ever survive all the drama, passion, and negativity of a presidential race if it weren't for SNL's sarcasm? Not sure we would...

Also, the roster of stars to get their start on SNL is immense. It includes names such as John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Eddie Murphy, Mike Meyers, Chris Rock, Will Ferrel, Tina Fey, Kate McKinnon, Aidy Murray, and many, many more. 

All of this means that SNL, while not your "typical" TV show deserves a seat at the table when talking about the best shows of all time.

Game of Thrones

Although it only aired for six seasons, HBO's drama series based on the book series by George R.R. Martin, Game of Thrones, has won more Primetime Emmys than any other show like it. Perhaps it was the moment in which it arrived, or the superb production value behind the show, or just its groundbreaking nature (before GOT, shows didn't just kill off main characters on a whim. Not anymore!)

It's hard to argue with GOT being the best show of all time. It swept over the nation like no other show before it, even though its seasons came out in a painfully slow manner. The fact the show was able to keep people's attention for so long speaks to its quality. 

Remember, this show is part of the fantasy genre, one that doesn't usually go mainstream. Yet, the bold writing and storylines made this show about so much more than just dragons and zombies. It was about power, greed, ambition, and all the things that happen to humans when they see themselves atop a throne. 

Some fans may fight the inclusion of GOT on this list because they disliked how it ended. But we can't realistically remove an excellent show from the list just because half of one season was not as good as the rest. Or can we?

The Simpsons

First aired in 1989, The Simpsons is one of America's longest-running shows, and it has the third most Emmy wins of all time. But it's just a cartoon? Yes, but it's not just any old cartoon; it's made for adults. A big reason why there are so many animated shows for adults out there today is The Simpsons' success

Beyond its success, The Simpsons makes it onto this list because of its role as a cultural mirror. Through the ageless Simpson family, we get to look at many aspects of American life and culture and laugh at ourselves along the way. 

No other show has been able to do this so well for so long, and for that, The Simpsons stands tall on this list. 

The West Wing

With 27 wins, The West Wing is the fourth-most awarded TV show of all time and frequently makes it onto top ten lists. A series about fictional president Jed Bartlet, part of what made this show so successful was that it differed so significantly from reality. 

It first aired in 1999, one year before Bill Clinton left office, and was replaced by George Bush. Bartlet was level-headed, altruistic, and idealistic in the show, things we often expect from our leaders but often don't get. This gave America a glimpse into what could be while entertaining us endlessly for nearly ten years.

All in the Family

When All in the Family first hit the air in 1971, it looked like it would be just another sitcom. But America soon found out this wasn't the case. Meant to reflect what was going on in America at the time (the Vietnam War, civil rights, the cultural revolution, the Nixon administration, etc.), this show helped America have conversations it needed to have about race, gender, sex, religion, and so much more. 

However, what makes this show worthy of being on this list is that it didn't shy away from anything. The main character, Archie Bunker, was as bigoted as any white man in 1970s America. While this may have been off-putting for some, it also gave the nation the chance to look at itself and start asking questions that it is in many ways still trying to answer today.

The Sopranos

When you look at lists of the best shows ever, The Sopranos frequently comes in at number one. It's lower on our list since it won only 21 Emmys, but it deserves to be in the conversation for the best show ever. 

Based on mob boss Tony Soprano and his family, this show took a hard look at big concepts such as the American Dream, gun violence, and mental health. It also got people talking about things they hadn't been talking about before. 

Plus, that ending. What did happen? Even the show's creators won't tell us. Now that's good TV. 

Breaking Bad

One of the more recent shows to make it onto this list, Breaking Bad, definitely deserves attention in this discussion. 

The storytelling alone is incredible: Walter White, a high-school chemistry teacher, decides to cook and deal crystal meth so he can leave money behind for his family. He gets way more involved than he ever thought he would, with the story revealing some deep concepts about human nature along the way. 

The writing, the acting (Bryan Cranston is one of a kind), the drama, and the suspense (every episode) helped make this show truly special. It lasted just five seasons, but that was enough. The story was told, we were entertained, and now it rests.

30 Rock

After spending years as head writer at SNL, Tina Fey created 30 Rock, a show very much based on her experiences in that role. Alongside her were Tracy Morgan, Alec Baldwin, Jane Krakowski, and Jack McBrayer, who helped turn this into an all-star cast on an excellent comedy. 

The show explores the life of Liz Lemon (played by Fey) as she struggles to find a balance between work (which consumes her) and the rest of her life (which she spends 'getting her cheese on.')

With quick-witted humor that sometimes takes a second viewing to get, 30 Rock is one of the "smartest" TV shows ever. Its endless supply of A-list guest stars helped make the show even better. Plus, with 16 total Emmys, it's one of the more heavily-awarded comedies of all time.

In many ways, TV has been trying to find a way to make something as funny as 30 Rock since it went off the air.

Seinfeld

Seinfeld is the "show about nothing" that changed everything. 

Before Seinfeld, sitcoms seemed always to follow the same pattern. They were based around a family or workplace and had long story arcs that connected the episodes. Cheers broke from this a bit, but it wasn't until Seinfeld that things truly changed. 

Running for a total of 9 seasons that featured few if any "bad" episodes, Seinfeld was the show of the 90s. Judging by the fact that reruns still air on multiple networks at many different times, it has very much held up against the test of time. 

However, while hilarious in its own right, Seinfeld makes it onto this list because of its influence. It helped redefine what would be funny to watch on TV, and this opened the door for nearly every sitcom that has come after it. Think about it, how many shows exist about a couple of single people living in a city complaining about their lives?

Lots! And they're all trying to capture the magic of Seinfeld.

Mad Men

If we told you to go and watch a show about advertising executives in the 1960s, you might not immediately jump. But you should if that show we're talking about is Mad Men. 

The main character, Don Draper, isn't who he says he is, yet no one knows it. So, while he continues to turn the name Don Draper into a household name in the advertising industry, he lives in constant fear of being discovered and losing everything. 

Mad Men gives us a glimpse into what life was like in the 1960s, exploring various social themes in the meantime. It also gives us a penetrating look at what it means to be human and reminds us that we can't ever move forward until we turn and confront our pasts. 

Lacking in Emmy wins since it was airing at the same time as shows such as Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad, this shouldn't take away from what this show was and its position on this list. 

The Wire

The only show on this list to not win any Emmys, The Wire, HBO's drama about crime in Baltimore, is probably one of the most realistic looks we will ever get into the inner workings of big-city politics and law enforcement. 

Created and written by David Simon, who worked at the City Desk for The Baltimore Sun for twelve years, this show holds nothing back and is as educational as informative. No major social issue – racism, poverty, police brutality, police corruption, political corruption, addiction, etc. – is overlooked in this show. While this makes for some intense viewing, it also makes for great TV. 

The Wire is a classic example of a show that received little attention from fans and critics at the time, but that earned its position as one of the best ever after time had passed. Now, it is firmly entrenched as a TV favorite.

According to Networks

The list we've created thanks to the critics is a pretty darn good list, but only 11 shows made it. This is a tiny number when compared to how many shows have been made. So, we didn't want to stop there. 

The next place we looked was the networks, asking: which shows have run for the longest amount of time?

While this admittedly doesn't mean too much, we do think it counts for something. Shows don't stay on the air if people aren't watching them, and people don't tend to watch shows that aren't good. 

However, as you will see, a few shows on this list also appeared on the one compiled from reviews and critics. This is partly because shows that last a long time often lack originality, which loses points with the critics. 

Still, it's worth a look, and here's what we found: 


Title: Longest Running TV Shows By Number of Seasons

Saturday Night Live – 47 seasons

The Simpsons – 33 seasons

Law & Order SVU – 23 seasons 

Gunsmoke – 20 seasons

Law & Order – 21 seasons

Family Guy – 20 seasons

Lassie – 19 seasons

NCIS – 19 seasons

American Dad – 19 seasons 

Grey's Anatomy – 18 seasons

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation – 15 seasons

ER – 15 seasons

When you see this list, what stands out is that most of these shows are "run-of-the-mill" network programs. In other words, they are serial shows designed around a formula that air once a week. Each episode is somewhat connected to the last, but they can also stand alone. 

This type of show can be very successful, but does it mean it's good? Of course, it can. We're not saying these shows are bad, but instead, we're questioning if they deserve to be on the list of the best shows ever. 

To make it onto our list, the show needs to do something new and different. It needs to push the boundaries of what's possible. Some of the shows on this list do that – The Simpsons, SNL, Gunsmoke, Family Guy – but the others do not. Instead, they are more mainstream and have received much attention because of their simplicity. 

Still, this analysis has been helpful as it helped us identify a few more shows that might be deserving of the "best show of all time" award.

According to the Fans

The next place we looked to try and find the best show ever was, well, the fans. After all, part of what makes a show good is that people like it. While this isn't always an indicator of a great show, it's a valuable piece of information.

A few different publications have taken the time to survey people on what their favorite show is. Here are two lists: 


Title: Top Ten Fan Favorite Shows According to Ranker.com

1. Breaking Bad

2. Game of Thrones

3. The Sopranos

4. The Office

5. Looney Tunes

6. The Twilight Zone

7. Sherlock

8. Tom and Jerry

9. Friends

10. Seinfeld

[Source]

Here's another: 


Title: Top 24 Fan Favorite Shows According to Insider.com

1. Sherlock

2. Lost

3. Deadwood

4. In Treatment

5. True Detective

6. Justified

7. Chernobyl

8. Breaking Bad

9. Better Caul Saul

10. The Leftovers

11. Twin Peaks

12. Band of Brothers

13. Rome

14. Game of Thrones

15. Rick and Morty

16. The Shield

17. Dexter

18. Arrested Development

19. The Sopranos

20. Fargo

21. The Wire

22. Related

23. Party of Five

24. The QA

[Source]

As you can see, there are once again some parallels between this list and the one created by the critics, with some notable exceptions. For example, the list from Insider puts several new shows near the top. We do not doubt these shows' quality, but it also takes time to determine the actual quality of a show. In this case, it seems people may have responded more to the question "what's your favorite show right now?" rather than "what's the best show of all time?"

Still, these lists are informative, and we took things one step further by looking at Nielsen Ratings over the years. 

Best Show According to Nielsen Ratings

The Nielsen Rating system was developed in the 1920s and 1930s when radio was the dominant media form, but it was quickly adapted for TV. Its purpose is to try and determine the audience size of a particular show. 

It's not a perfect system, but it's still a popular way of measuring a show's popularity. We took a look at the Nielsen Ratings for some of the most popular and well-known shows of all time and compared them with the lists we've already created. Here's what we found: 

Football

Okay, so this isn't a TV show, but we thought it was worth mentioning that Sunday Night Football has been the most-watched TV program in America every year since 2011.

29 out of the 30 most-watched TV programs of all time are Super Bowls.

So, when it comes to popularity, maybe the best "show" of all time is simply live sports.

That's a bit anticlimactic in our debate, but it's still worth mentioning. 

M*A*S*H

Remember when we said 29 out of the 30 most-watched TV programs of all time were Super Bowls? Well, that one other show is the series finale of M*A*S*H*. 

M*A*S*H* could have made it onto the first list; it is frequently reviewed as one of the best shows of all time. 

Based on the characters working at a "mobile army surgical hospital" during the Korean War, this show gives us a bit of everything, laughter, sadness, nostalgia, pain, love, and much more. 

When it ended, America was in shock, and the show still airs on several channels today. It is more than worthy of being on this list. 

Friends

Shortly after Seinfeld came Friends. Although many shows have since been created to capture the magic of Friends, no one has quite been able to do it. The dynamic between the six cast members was too unique to be recreated anywhere else. 

Plus, Friends was the most-watched show in 2000 and was right near the top in almost every other year it was on the air. 

While the show's plotline may be one we're used to, Friends did it differently than a lot of other shows, and because of this, it's worth including on a list of the best shows of all time.

I Love Lucy

To find the highest-rated season of any show, we need to go back to the 1950s for I Love Lucy. One of the first real hits in the television world, I Love Lucy, was groundbreaking and incredibly funny. It also holds up to the test of time. Go watch an episode today, and we bet you'll laugh all the way through. 

According to Nielsen, more than one season makes it into the top ten highest-rated television seasons ever.

The Cosby Show

The most popular show in America from 1985-1989, The Cosby Show, was the crowning achievement of now-disgraced comedian Bill Cosby. It followed the lives of the Huxtables, an upper-middle-class Black family living in New York, and featured all of Cosby's usual antics. 

Critics are still undecided as to how this show pushed forward conversations around race. On the one hand, it was one of the first mainstream shows to depict a black family as "successful," but it also took for granted that "making it" meant fitting into the mold of white society. 

This and the news of Cosby's misconduct have caused this show to fall from grace, but its popularity in the 1980s is tough to beat, and so it must be included in this discussion, even if it's unlikely to earn the title of "best show ever."

All in the Family

In addition to being well-reviewed by critics both past and present, All in the Family was the most popular show in America from 1971-1976. This is one of the longest runs in history. With its popularity coupled with critical reviews, there's a solid case for All in the Family being the best show of all time.

Bonanza

If you were to look at a list of the most successful seasons of television when it comes to ratings, you’d see the western Bonanza quite a few times. The show, which lasted 14 seasons running from 1959 to 1973, was about the Cartwright family that live near Virginia City, Nevada. Yet unlike many westerns of the time, Bonanza was often character-focused, making it stand out among the crowd. The show was so popular that it still runs in syndication and has fans to this day.

Arrested Development

Sometimes a show can be excellent but simply not make it into the mainstream. Such is the case with Arrested Development. Despite a star-studded cast that featured Jason Bateman, Michael Cera, Will Arnett, and Jeffrey Tambor, plus rave critical reviews, the show did not play well with audiences and was canceled after just three seasons. 

However, since then, it has only grown in popularity and is often featured on fan and critic lists of the best show ever. It seems this show just needed some time to find its audience. 

The show became so popular that Netflix decided to make a fourth season nearly 15 years after the original went off the air. It received mixed reviews, but that they even made it shows how important this short-lived show was and how much people do love it, despite not showing it this love back in its day.

American Idol

As a reality show, American Idol doesn't fit into this conversation. However, it was the most popular show in America from 2003-2011, the longest run of any show. 

American Idol introduced the world to this type of reality format, and it has inspired countless spin-offs. For this, it deserves a mention on this list, even if it will not take home the grand prize.

Gunsmoke

Lastly, Gunsmoke, which was also one of the longest-running shows in history, has four seasons in the top twelve most-watched of all time, according to Nielsen. This is more than any other show, and this, combined with how long it was on the air, put it into the conversation. Also, Gunsmoke usually makes it onto lists made by critics, which boosts its case for being the best show ever.

And The Winner Is…

So now that we've looked at all the sources, we're ready to declare what the best show ever really is. 

And the winner is…

A bunch of shows! Mainly these:

· The Sopranos

· Breaking Bad

· Game of Thrones

· The Wire

· Seinfeld

· The Simpsons

· All in the Family

These shows are all loved by critics, networks, and fans alike, and so while we can't say for sure which one is "best," we can say that the best show is probably going to come from this list. 

What do you think? Do you like our list? Or is something missing? We tried to settle the debate once and for all, but all we did was stoke its fires! This is likely to be a debate that rages on for many years to come.


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