Top 10 Best TV Shows of All Time

Television has come a long way since the days of black-and-white screens and just a handful of channels. Nowadays, there's practically an endless buffet of shows to choose from. From mind-bending sci-fi series to gut-wrenching dramas, from quirky comedies to deeply nuanced character studies - TV has something for every mood, every curiosity, and every late-night binge-watching session.
The Top Ten
1 The Simpsons The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening that originally started on April 19, 1987 as shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show. It got its own series on December 17, 1989 and is still running as of 2023, making it the longest running animated sitcom. It is about a man named Homer... read more

I love this cartoon. This show is one of my all-time favorites. Even though most people think that the old Simpsons episodes are better than the new ones, I actually love both the old and new. This show has great characters, great episodes, funny scenes, and awesome references to movies and shows. The list of things I love about it is positively endless.

I started watching The Simpsons when I was either 9, 10, 11, or 12 years old. I've watched it for a few years now and still love the show at the age of 14, which is my current age. Matt Groening is an awesome artist and is very good at drawing the characters, backgrounds, props, etc. He has to be one of my favorite artists of all time.

Besides loving the show, I also have some Simpsons comics, The Simpsons Family History book, a few clothing items, and the complete fourth season on DVD. I plan to get the rest of the complete seasons that are available. I hope that Fox, the network that airs the show, starts releasing Simpsons home media again, starting with the complete 18th through 27th seasons. I even play The Simpsons Tapped Out. It's a great app for those who love the show and are also bored. It remains one of my favorite shows.

2 Breaking Bad Breaking Bad is an American crime drama television series created and produced by Vince Gilligan. The show originally aired on the AMC network for five seasons, from January 20, 2008, to September 29, 2013.

Breaking Bad has everything you could possibly want in a show, plus more. Every second of this masterpiece is absolutely brilliant. There's not a single bad performance by anyone. Breaking Bad has the greatest assemblage of characters I've ever seen. Everyone is incredibly fascinating. Walter White is one of the finest and most complex characters ever created.

The soundtrack must be mentioned as well, as Dave Porter's score is mesmerizing, and the great songs throughout the series are perfectly placed. I'm definitely going to watch it all over again. Breaking Bad is my religion!

3 SpongeBob SquarePants SpongeBob SquarePants is an American animated television series created by marine biologist and animator the late Stephen Hillenburg for Nickelodeon. It is currently the most popular animated television show on Nickelodeon and is world-renowned by children and adults alike due to its humor, high-quality... read more

While I have to agree that the later episodes are pretty awful, they are still fun to watch. Even if they don't come close to the amazing first three seasons, even seasons 4 and 5 are pretty good.

Also, the movies are surprisingly good, which is something you don't expect from media franchises as big as SpongeBob. The TV show also spawned comics, video games (which are also pretty good), mugs, the aforementioned movies, chia pets, toothpaste, and every other thing you can stick SpongeBob's face on. There's even an actual official SpongeBob car, which wasn't that popular, but it is still cool!

I can respect The Simpsons for beating it out, but SpongeBob will always be number one in my heart. I'm ready!

4 Family Guy Family Guy is an American adult animated sitcom created by Seth MacFarlane for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series centers on the Griffins, a family consisting of parents Peter (Fat, Idiotic Dad) and Lois (Nagging Bitchy Wife), their children Meg (Socially Awkward Daughter) Chris (Fat, Idiotic... read more

Family Guy is the best show ever. Although it has faced a lot of criticism for its content and humor, it can never be ignored as the best TV show of all time. It blends satirical and sitcom comedies, which makes a great combination. It also has Stewie Griffin, the best character ever in television history.

It is the only animated show to be nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series, along with live-action real comedies. It is popular among everybody, hilarious to watch, and recognized as the best TV show of all time. It is about the Griffins, a dysfunctional family, consisting of: lovable idiot Peter, hot wife Lois, hated daughter Meg, fat stupid son Chris, diabolical genius baby Stewie, and sophisticated alcoholic talking dog Brian. They have many misadventures together or individually.

Please vote for this show. It is a superb satirical sitcom. If you have not seen it, watch and you will instantly fall in love. This is the best and perfect TV show of all time!

5 Game of Thrones Game of Thrones is an American fantasy drama television series created by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss. It is an adaptation of A Song of Ice and Fire, George R. R. Martin's series of fantasy novels, the first of which is titled A Game of Thrones.

"Game of Thrones" is what happens when you choose a book that regular people would say, "This isn't doable with TV." Reasons? Cruelty, sex, morality plus wit, fantasy, and drama.

And boy did HBO's gamble pay off. "Game of Thrones" is the most clever, atmospheric, and epic show out there. The cruelty, sex, and bad morals of some characters that you may find yourself rooting for actually work because of how quality everything is on the show! The acting is too real - I mean, too real. I don't remember questioning one thing. The world of "GoT," for lack of a better word, is too real as well for its fantasy elements. Ice zombies, dragons, real. Damn.

And since when did fantasy become for non-fantasy fans if its name isn't "Lord of the Rings"? Good work to every working person on the show who contributed.

6 South Park South Park is an American adult animated sitcom created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. The show is about four boys, who are Stan Marsh, Kyle Broflovski, Eric Cartman, and Kenny McCormick, and their adventures in South Park, Colorado.

LOVE THIS SHOW! I hated when 200 and 201 got banned, but we all know why it happened, and hated when Chef died since he was a good character. I thought Cartman was funny, yet aggressive most of the time, and Kenny, a lovable boy who keeps on getting killed. I thought Cthulhu being in the show was a great choice.

A lot of funny scenes made me laugh, like in the movie when Bill Gates told the general about the new software and got shot (don't ask). Sometimes I think some of the jokes kinda cross the line, like that puzzle Randy did and said the word BLEEP out loud, and Chef's death! This show should go on for the years to come.

7 The Walking Dead The Walking Dead is an American horror drama television series developed by Frank Darabont, based on the comic book series of the same name by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. Andrew Lincoln plays the show's lead character, sheriff's deputy Rick Grimes, who awakens from a coma discovering... read more

What got me into the show? The characters are just real people fighting for survival in all the ways you've seen before, and yet none of them are completely safe. One minute, they can be smiling over finding a can of food. The next, they get bitten, or they get kidnapped, or they get into a shootout with bandits or anything else that could go wrong.

Add awesome zombies, great acting, great effects, great writing, one of the best scores in all of history, likable actors portraying lovable characters you find yourself learning from, favoring, and even identifying with, and you have the greatest TV show ever made, based on a comic book or not.

8 Friends Friends is an American television sitcom, created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which originally aired on NBC from September 22, 1994, to May 6, 2004, lasting ten seasons. It now airs on Nick at Nite... read more

Whenever I feel low, this is the only serial I watch, and it really lifts my spirits. I grew up watching these friends, almost like my next-door neighbors. I feel I am a part of them, and they are a part of my life whenever they come into my living room.

I can't stop smiling even now after watching all the episodes 'n' number of times. They are like a ray of sunshine in my dark, cloudy days. Thank you, Rachel, Phoebe, Monica, Ross, Joey, Chandler - not necessarily in that order - for being my best friends through the years. I have laughed and cried along with you. That is why my choice of the best serial goes to Friends.

9 The Office (US) The Office is an American television comedy series that aired on NBC from March 24, 2005 to May 16, 2013.

Now, I may not exactly be an expert TV/film critic, but The Office is most definitely one of the best comedies out there, likely the best. It's also one of the best shows ever made. I have to give props to the original The Office in the UK, but the US adaptation is better (considering it had more seasons).

This show is genuinely funny and smart. The documentary-like style they went for absolutely works. Everyone kills their roles, and it all feels very real. This level of realism in a show is nearly unmatched. Did I also mention this show is absolutely hilarious? Jim's pranks on Dwight, Kevin doing Kevin things - just the comedic timing is impeccable.

Although this show is mostly a comedy, this show can blend in with many other genres as well, like drama. Most of all, it is so rewatchable, and I have no idea why anyone would not like this show or at least appreciate the work put into it.

10 Avatar: The Last Airbender Avatar: The Last Airbender is an American animated television series that aired for three seasons on Nickelodeon from 2005 to 2008. Avatar: The Last Airbender is set in an Asiatic-like world in which some people are able to manipulate the classical elements by use of psychokinetic variants of Chinese... read more

It's hard to explain it all in one comment, but the show is well-balanced in everything. Great animation, epic music, awesome actions, well-developed characters, amazing actors and actresses, etc.

Though what's nice is the fact that the show can balance out serious moments and funny moments. It's not at all inappropriate or so kid-friendly that it's corny. Also, the show touches on concepts that most kids' shows wouldn't even think about, and yet they explain it in a way that kids won't be completely bored by it.

Either way, everything about the show is perfect and has obvious effort and pure optimism put into it. Both adults and children can find something to enjoy in this beautiful masterpiece of a show. Avatar: The Last Airbender is a one-of-a-kind show and honestly, I don't know if anything else will ever be like it. So for me, it is my favorite show of all time. For others, maybe not, but my experience with the show has been completely positive. Rating: Infinity points/10.

The Newcomers

? Sledge Hammer!
The Contenders
11 Gravity Falls Gravity Falls is an American animated television series produced by Disney Television Animation that first aired on Disney Channel, and then on Disney XD from June 15, 2012 to February 15, 2016. The series follows the adventures of Dipper Pines and his twin sister Mabel in the fictional town of Gravity... read more

I love Friends, but all in all, Gravity Falls is undeniably my favorite show. I love it for so many reasons, so I'll just touch on a few. First of all, it has balance. It has mystery and the supernatural like the X-Files or Twin Peaks, but it also has humor like The Simpsons or Friends. It has outstanding character development, and every character has more than one side. The series-long love story (as all TV shows have) is actually interesting. (Blendin's Game!)

Dipper and Mabel have an awesome sibling relationship. They care about each other a lot but also fight sometimes. The main cast has great chemistry with each other. There are countless outside references, making it a show for kids and adults. The humor is clever and mature, not random, gross, dorky, or childish. The graphics are unique but cool.

Every episode works both on its own and as part of the series. The plots are well developed and cleverly resolved, not solved deus ex machina. The episodes are thirty minutes, which is one of the reasons everything else can happen. The show has a perfect mix of humor, mystery, emotion, development, and everything in between.

Every time I think, "This episode wasn't that great," and I rewatch it, it is always way better than I remembered. Somehow, the episodes get better each time you watch them. I could go on, but I think I've made my point.

12 Stranger Things Stranger Things is an American science fiction-horror Netflix original television series created, written, directed and co-executive produced by the Duffer Brothers, Matt and Ross Duffer, as well as co-executive-produced by Shawn Levy and Dan Cohen.

This is one of the only TV shows that I couldn't get enough of. I finished the entire season 1 in about a week, and now I am just patiently waiting for season 2. The horror vibe, characters, and storyline were simply amazing. There were actual plot twists, and I felt sympathy for the characters - even for Steve, for some odd reason.

The characters were made perfectly and still have mysteries tied to them. What is Eleven's backstory? What's going to happen to Will now? How about Hopper? Hopefully, these questions will be answered in the next season.

There were plenty of funny moments, like when Eleven was about to change in front of the boys or when Lucas spat into Dustin's hand to demonstrate a spit shake, and Dustin just looked at his hand confused and possibly disgusted. Definitely one of my favorite shows, and I hope season 2 will be just as wonderful as the first.

13 Seinfeld Four single friends -- comic Jerry Seinfeld, bungling George Costanza, frustrated working gal Elaine Benes and eccentric neighbor Cosmo Kramer -- deal with the absurdities of everyday life in New York City.

It changed my opinion of "All sitcoms are s***." It opened my mind to many other shows. Man, every character - Jerry, Kramer, George, and Elaine - they're all so unique in their own way. And the fact that the show is about the trivial and miscellaneous... it's so... aah, can only explain with the laughter watching this show! I fell off the couch laughing about Jerry and George's story about "Art Vandelay."

I am 17, and Seinfeld is my favorite TV show. My favorite character is Kramer. I could watch this show all day and all night. Every time I watch, I get a great laugh.

This is a show that I enjoy, and my parents enjoy as well. It's so much better than Cheers, The Wonder Years, Frasier, Friends, or Modern Family.

14 The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory is an American sitcom created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, both of whom serve as executive producers on the series, along with Steven Molaro, and also some wasted guest stars from time to time.

Hilarious! I remember watching it the first time and nearly splitting a rib! I couldn't believe it because before, no other comedy had actually made me laugh. The entertainment wasn't ever that funny! But this show did it for me.

Then I binged the show over and over and over again, and now I've seen every episode like, five times. Haha, I don't know if that's healthy or not.

The Big Bang Theory must have some sort of force field around it that alters the laws of social hierarchy. While nerds are ridiculed in other situations by the general populace, they are found entertaining in the case of this show.

Being a nerd myself, I find it great that there is a show which requires a certain degree of scientific savviness to understand.

15 Adventure Time Adventure Time is an American animated television series created by Pendleton Ward for Cartoon Network. The series follows the adventures of a boy named Finn (voiced by Jeremy Shada) and his best friend and adoptive brother Jake (voiced by John DiMaggio)—a dog with the magical power to change shape... read more

I completely respect your opinion if you don't like this show. I'll listen to your opinion and try to understand, even if I don't agree. However, I am in love with this show, so of course, my opinion will be biased. I could write a whole essay (and I actually did) on why this is my favorite show, so I'll just shorten it a bit.

Many people who've never seen the show (which is perfectly fine) say it's either too weird, confusing, or immature. And I admit, that description pretty much sums up the earlier seasons when the main focus was about a boy and his best friend going on wacky adventures with lots of childish humor. But it evolved into so much more than that, as the characters grew up and matured along with us.

I can't begin to describe how much I love this show. Hopefully, others understand. The characters, the dialogue, the relationships, the drama, the happiness, the emotion, the bad, the good - the whole show is a rollercoaster. It has had very high highs and very low lows, all presented in such a simple way, but with so many layers.

I don't know, maybe it's not as good as I think. It certainly has some very questionable episodes and moments I can barely watch without being disgusted or offended. I mean, I'm not really sure why this is a kids' show. There are themes of cannibalism, lots of kidnapping, lots of killing, depression, and numerous relationship issues. In a few episodes, they get a little too suggestive with innuendos and such. Also, it's worth mentioning that without Adventure Time, several other shows probably wouldn't exist. I've laughed incredibly hard watching this, and I've cried more times than I can count. It has made me question so much in life and is one of the primary things keeping me going, one of the only things I have to look forward to lately.

This is getting very long, so if you haven't watched it, maybe check it out. Or not. You definitely don't have to agree with me or anyone who likes this show. But I... more

16 Regular Show Regular Show is an American animated television series created by J. G. Quintel for Cartoon Network that premiered on September 6, 2010. The series revolves around the lives of two friends, a blue jay named Mordecai and a raccoon named Rigby—both employed as groundskeepers at a local park.

My favorite show of all time. Other than seasons 3 and 5 (season 3 had some of the absolute worst episodes in the show and had good episodes that weren't even that good for this show's standards, and season 5 was very forgettable for the most part), the entire show was always top quality up until the very last episode.

The plots were always at least somewhat original to the show, even in the episodes with similar plots. There was nothing regular about this show. In fact, it's probably the most unique show that I have ever watched, and I also love it for that reason. Other than Margaret and C.J., I adored all of the characters and the way each one acted.

There were some other very small problems in the show, such as seasons 1 and 2, as well as the first episode of season 3, having very choppy animation. Overall, I can't forgive this show enough for even existing. It's just that good.

17 Doctor Who Doctor Who is a British science-fiction television programme produced by the BBC since 1963. The programme depicts the adventures of a Time Lord called "the Doctor", an extraterrestrial being from the planet Gallifrey. The Doctor explores the universe in a time-travelling space ship called the TARDIS... read more

The best, most detailed show in the history of television. It has so many qualities other shows have failed to meet. It has amazing actors and actresses. The show breaks boundaries by including so many different people. The show shows that being gay is okay. It embraces variety and tells you it's okay to be who you are. No one will judge. Doctor Who embraces everything. That's why I and so many other people just adore it.

With new and old faces, lesbian lizard women, evil yelling salt shakers, aliens, and Captain Jack Harkness's pickup lines, there's nothing to hate about this show. Sci-fi, horror, action, adventure, historical fiction, drama, romance - Doctor Who has it all. Consider watching Doctor Who, the best show in all the universes.

18 Lost Lost is an American television drama series that originally aired on the American Broadcasting Company from September 22, 2004, to May 23, 2010, over six seasons, comprising a total of 121 episodes.

After thinking about the question for a while, I have to conclude that LOST is the best television series to ever air. It's just incredibly well-written and thought-out. It can get confusing, especially in season 5, but that's one of the great things about it. It's intelligent because that's how the story happened to turn out, not because it had to be or wanted to be. I will forever regret not watching it until five years after it finished.

Now, how the hell is it that the likes of Family Guy, South Park, even The Simpsons are higher than this? I know that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not even that is an appropriate excuse for something as grotesque as this.

GET LOST!

19 Supernatural This haunting series follows the thrilling yet terrifying journeys of Sam and Dean Winchester, two brothers who face an increasingly sinister landscape as they hunt monsters. After losing their mother to a supernatural force, the brothers were raised by their father as soldiers who track mysterious... read more

You'll fall in love with everyone in this show, including villains like Lucifer and Crowley. And why is it the best show ever? Because Sam and Dean have a chemistry better than any other couple that ever lived. I promise. Sam and Dean. They are the reason this show is so good. The actors are amazing people in real life too, and that reflects in the show. The directors are geniuses! The music in the show is bound to make your taste in music better.

You'll fall in love with every single thing about the show: the Impala, Sam's puppy eyes, Dean's pie, his burger, our cute angel Cas. And you'll be so emotionally attached to them, you won't be able to leave them, because they are your family. That's why SPN is a family.

20 Pokemon Pokémon, abbreviated from the Japanese title of Pocket Monsters and currently advertised in English as Pokémon: The Series, is a Japanese anime television series, which has been adapted for the international television markets. It was first broadcast in Japan on April 1, 1997, in the United States... read more

Pokémon! I watch it with my little sister all the time! We criticize trainers' battle strategies, call out what they should do, and make fun of certain characters. But watching this show with my little sister has made some of the best memories in my childhood. I remember giving my sister a Jigglypuff stuffed animal. It was awesome. All of the games, shows, and Pokémon characters have a special place in my heart. Anyone saying this is a bad show just hasn't watched the whole thing. The first episode with Pikachu and Ash is so emotional! Anyways... Pokémon all the way!

21 Futurama Futurama is an American animated science fiction sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company.

I like Futurama, but it's not better than The Simpsons. It was not going to last as long as The Simpsons. This was a parody of sci-fi shows and in the year 3000.

If the year 3000 ever happens, then do you think it would be like Futurama? Even though we wouldn't know unless there would be a time machine invented to see the future. Do you want to drink some Slurm? Anyway, I'd prefer Busted with the underwater.

This show had so much potential and needs to be brought back. The comedy was perfect. There were so many interesting characters that could have had whole episodes about them.

22 Rick and Morty Rick and Morty is an American adult animated science fiction sitcom created by Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon for Adult Swim.

Rick and Morty is just a blast of adult animated comedy sci-fi thrown in our faces. And it's awesome. The characters are just funny. Rick is an amazing grandfather and scientist. Morty is just a funny, enjoyable character to watch. Definitely recommend this show.

I LOVE THIS SHOW! My dad introduced me to it, and it always makes me laugh. Rick is hilarious, Morty is basically me, and Jerry is just... Jerry. A 10/10 for me.

How is Family Guy 5 and this 98? This is the best adult cartoon ever, even better than The Simpsons.

23 How I Met Your Mother How I Met Your Mother is an American sitcom that originally aired on CBS from September 19, 2005, to March 31, 2014. The series follows the main character, Ted Mosby, and his group of friends in Manhattan.

Okay, I agree all the other shows are excellent, but trust me, How I Met Your Mother is the best among them. It's because it has everything: comedy, romance, friendship, love lessons, life lessons, philosophy, etc.

It teaches you how to live your life and how to deal with it! I've learned a lot in these nine seasons of How I Met Your Mother. I've watched the whole series more than five times. Still, if you ask me whether I feel bored watching the same thing again, my answer will be no!

Watch it, and you'll understand the greatness of this sitcom!

24 American Dad American Dad! is an American adult animated sitcom created by Seth MacFarlane, Mike Barker, and Matt Weitzman for the Fox Broadcasting Company and currently on TBS. American Dad! is the first television series made to premiere on the network's Animation Domination block. The series premiered on February... read more

Like any adult animated comedy, it can be a real pick-and-mix bag. If you decide to marathon a show like this, expect to notice significant shifts in both quality and themes between seasons.

Of all the adult animated family sitcoms, though, this is the one I have least often found boring, disgusting, or abhorrent. Let's not dance around the issue - those kinds of moments come with the genre. American Dad is the one I've seen get the most visible effort put into it, to the point it does have real changes in the status quo that span seasons sometimes, and (while silly) plotlines that can span over multiple episodes. It creates a bit of intrigue when they pop up, but you know it's pretty much all a massive joke anyway.

Last time I watched this show was about a year ago, and it still felt like it had people who cared about the show and characters working on it. When a show manages to get over 10 seasons and has that sort of dedication, it's worth a look.

25 The Sopranos The Sopranos is an American crime drama television series created by David Chase. The story revolves around fictional New Jersey-based, Italian American mobster Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini). The series portrays the difficulties that he faces as he tries to balance his home life and his criminal organization... read more

How is this not #1, and Breaking Bad is? In Breaking Bad, everything is handed to you on a silver platter. The Sopranos leaves so many unanswered questions that there have been essays written about it. Even to this day, nobody has explanations for them. This is another reason it should be #1. It started TV drama with characters and story. If it wasn't for this show, you wouldn't have The Wire, Breaking Bad, or even Game of Thrones. The Sopranos kicked down the door for all that.

I was expecting this to be at least on the first page, but, 28? Really? For one of the most beloved shows of all time that gives such a detailed insight into mob life?

Apparently "Doctor Who", "Spongebob Squarepants" and "Friends", 3 family-friendly shows which are just there for entertainment and not for intricate story-telling, are considered better than this masterpiece.

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