The Top 300 Greatest TV Shows of All Time: FBG Consensus: 50 Lists received. 12. Mad Men (120 Viewers)

[Pip's Invitation]

18 - M*A*S*H​

Comedy
Score: 967
Average Rank: 30.7

The staff of an army hospital in the Korean war find that laughter is the best way to deal with their situation.

List Breakdown

Hastur 1
UncleZen 3
Rand al Thor 5
BlackCrowes 5
whoknew 8
Atomic Punk 9
Pip's Invitation 10
Nick Vermeil 21
Bottomfeeder Sports 25
Eephus 27
Chaos34 29
Barry2 31
Gally 32
Brutal Penquin 33
Yo Mama 35
Todem 36
Binky 41
turnjose7 44
Psychopav 47
Runkle 49
The Gator 56
Jayrod 61
John Madden's Lunchbox 62
simey 67

Like Happy Days, this was a show whose early seasons I watched in syndication but whose later seasons I watched in real time. And it was probably the first show that made me think "I really like these people and want to hang out with them."* The writing was top-notch for the time and the writers and cast were equally adept at comedy and drama. It got a little preachy in its final years but was still one of the best shows on TV.

* - preferably not in a war zone

I remember a classmate telling me about this show. I knew nothing about it. I asked him what it was about. He said something like "people are living in tents and playing jokes on each other". I was 10 or 11, so it was right up my alley.

If you look at the behind-the-scenes talent on this show, it's stacked with HOFers. They also did the best job outside of _____ in replacing characters who left,

The replacement character were all lesser than the originals though.
Potter <<<<Blake, BJ <<<<<Trapper John, Winchester <<<<<< Frank Burns.
The other show I think you mean had replacements that were as good or better than the originals.

I don't agree with that take at all. Potter and Blake were different but both great. Same with Trapper and BJ. Other than the finale, I never connected with Winchester so I would agree with that one.

Until the finale, Winchester’s first few episodes were his best. He was a Harvard-trained surgeon who insisted on doing every operation perfectly. The problem was, his way was very slow and their volume of patients was too high. Hawkeye, BJ and Potter kept telling him that he had to swallow his pride and do “meatball” surgery to keep pace with the number of wounded who needed an operation. He resisted but finally gave in. And that was his best storyline until the very end.

Also loved Radar’s line to him: “Sir, can you teach me some of those fancy words you use, like ‘adequate’?”

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

I had Secret Agent Man

it's pretty solid. I also really like Misson Impossible

 

[BlackCrowes]

I really like Blake and Potter for different reasons. The late seasons descended into a world of constant puns and double entendres, which knock Potter down a bit.

Trapper John was not funny. Without Hawkeye he was nothing. Maybe they just wrote better lines for BJ.

 

[Bottomfeeder Sports]

Until the finale, Winchester’s first few episodes were his best.

I don't know about this. I would say the Christmas episodes "Dear Sis" and "Death takes a Holiday" rank up there. Though the first one might be more about Radar and Father Francis Mulcahy, but the second one (can only find a clip from the end, but if you remember it, it is enough).

 

[Ilov80s]

MASH is one old show I never got into. When I would watch reruns on TV as a kid, the MASH theme song was my cue to turn off the TV and do something else. I wonder if I watched now if I would appreciate it.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

I know Curb was great. I just couldn’t watch it

I didn't know it was great. Couldn't watch it all. So unfunny.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

MASH is one old show I never got into. When I would watch reruns on TV as a kid, the MASH theme song was my cue to turn off the TV and do something else. I wonder if I watched now if I would appreciate it.

There's no easy answer to that because it became such a different show over the course of its run. Season 11 bears pretty much no resemblance to Season 1 aside from the presence of Alan Alda and Loretta Swit.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

18 - M*A*S*H​

Comedy
Score: 967
Average Rank: 30.7

The staff of an army hospital in the Korean war find that laughter is the best way to deal with their situation.

List Breakdown

Hastur 1
UncleZen 3
Rand al Thor 5
BlackCrowes 5
whoknew 8
Atomic Punk 9
Pip's Invitation 10
Nick Vermeil 21
Bottomfeeder Sports 25
Eephus 27
Chaos34 29
Barry2 31
Gally 32
Brutal Penquin 33
Yo Mama 35
Todem 36
Binky 41
turnjose7 44
Psychopav 47
Runkle 49
The Gator 56
Jayrod 61
John Madden's Lunchbox 62
simey 67

There is no such thing as a ‘perfect’ television show, but M*A*S*H comes awfully close. With over a decade of cast changes, it didn’t waver in its mission: Find humor in tragedy.

To this day, Alan Alda is the only person to win Emmy’s for acting, directing, and writing for the same series.

So many people were watching the series finale, it broke the New York Sewer system during the first commercial break due to overuse. Of the most watched television broadcasts of all time, the M*A*S*H finale is the only show in the top 20 that is not a Super Bowl.

Blake or Potter? Burns or Winchester? Who played the best drunk? All life altering questions reserved for the greatest of philosophers. OK, maybe I went a bit far…

I love this show so much, about 3 years ago I drove 3 hours to Knoxville, TN to attend one of those ‘Con’ shows just to do a meet and greet with Jamie Farr and got a signed photo of him in the Scarlett O’Hara dress(IYKYK). Long day, but worth it.

this show is home to the best "occasional character" in a sitcom in TV history.

He was great.

I didn't even consider M*A*S*H as it only had a few good seasons. The fun stopped when BJ replaced Trapper John.

Trapper was never funny

I beg to differ

Another good theme song from back in the day. A bit of a buzzkill though because this was the last show on CBS Sunday night and meant school bedtime.

I did love Madge Sinclair. Gotta love that 70's style sliding blocks thing.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

M*A*S*H somewhat owes its success to All in the Family. It was not a hit in its first season and was at risk of getting canceled. Instead, it was moved to a new time slot right after All in the Family and became a hit because it held most of that show's audience. It finished top 10 in the ratings every season except one between its second and 11th seasons.

In that time slot it replaced a show called Bridget Loves Bernie, which was canceled by CBS despite being a hit because religious groups objected to its depiction of an interfaith marriage. And it was 1973 so the network caved.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

@Scoresman - I've almost finished my rankings. How should I post them?

 

[Dr. Octopus]

a show called Bridget Loves Bernie,

Not listed yet

 

[Yo Mama]

@Scoresman - I've almost finished my rankings. How should I post them?

I’d wait until after the countdown. I’m sure others will be posting their full rankings then too.

 

[BlackCrowes]

I think my favorite MASH episode is the one where they trade Henry’s desk for hydrocortisone.

 

[Ilov80s]

MASH is one old show I never got into. When I would watch reruns on TV as a kid, the MASH theme song was my cue to turn off the TV and do something else. I wonder if I watched now if I would appreciate it.

There's no easy answer to that because it became such a different show over the course of its run. Season 11 bears pretty much no resemblance to Season 1 aside from the presence of Alan Alda and Loretta Swit.

Get better or just become different?

 

[Pip's Invitation]

MASH is one old show I never got into. When I would watch reruns on TV as a kid, the MASH theme song was my cue to turn off the TV and do something else. I wonder if I watched now if I would appreciate it.

There's no easy answer to that because it became such a different show over the course of its run. Season 11 bears pretty much no resemblance to Season 1 aside from the presence of Alan Alda and Loretta Swit.

Get better or just become different?

Become different. More of a drama than a comedy.

 

[Hastur]

MASH is one old show I never got into. When I would watch reruns on TV as a kid, the MASH theme song was my cue to turn off the TV and do something else. I wonder if I watched now if I would appreciate it.

There's no easy answer to that because it became such a different show over the course of its run. Season 11 bears pretty much no resemblance to Season 1 aside from the presence of Alan Alda and Loretta Swit.

Get better or just become different?

Become different. More of a drama than a comedy.

The writers actually acknowledged this, purposely keeping it straight comedy for the first couple of seasons due to the Vietnam war and the publics perception. They knew they could get a little more drama in later seasons after things regarding the Vietnam war cool down.

 

[Todem]

When I was a kid my parents had a cd that was the greatest tv theme songs of the 70's and 80's. This was my brother and I's favorite.

This was my favorite

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtu.be

 

[Scoresman]

@Scoresman - I've almost finished my rankings. How should I post them?

I’d wait until after the countdown. I’m sure others will be posting their full rankings then too.

I agree. A lot of the top 10-20s are similar and it could be a bit of a spoiler. Unless you have a very unique list like a couple I received.

This will be wrapping up this week.

 

[zamboni]

When I was a kid my parents had a cd that was the greatest tv theme songs of the 70's and 80's. This was my brother and I's favorite.

This was my favorite

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtu.be

The shrieking at the beginning of S.W.A.T. kind of freaked me out as a kid.

 

[zamboni]

One more theme that some may recall actually existed: Bad News Bears

Talk about an all-star cast: Jack Warden, Corey Feldman, the kid from Voyagers, Buddy from Just One of the Guys, and the older sister from It’s Your Move.

 

[northern exposure]

18 - M*A*S*H​

Comedy
Score: 967
Average Rank: 30.7

The staff of an army hospital in the Korean war find that laughter is the best way to deal with their situation.

List Breakdown

Hastur 1
UncleZen 3
Rand al Thor 5
BlackCrowes 5
whoknew 8
Atomic Punk 9
Pip's Invitation 10
Nick Vermeil 21
Bottomfeeder Sports 25
Eephus 27
Chaos34 29
Barry2 31
Gally 32
Brutal Penquin 33
Yo Mama 35
Todem 36
Binky 41
turnjose7 44
Psychopav 47
Runkle 49
The Gator 56
Jayrod 61
John Madden's Lunchbox 62
simey 67

Like Happy Days, this was a show whose early seasons I watched in syndication but whose later seasons I watched in real time. And it was probably the first show that made me think "I really like these people and want to hang out with them."* The writing was top-notch for the time and the writers and cast were equally adept at comedy and drama. It got a little preachy in its final years but was still one of the best shows on TV.

* - preferably not in a war zone

I remember a classmate telling me about this show. I knew nothing about it. I asked him what it was about. He said something like "people are living in tents and playing jokes on each other". I was 10 or 11, so it was right up my alley.

If you look at the behind-the-scenes talent on this show, it's stacked with HOFers. They also did the best job outside of _____ in replacing characters who left,

The replacement character were all lesser than the originals though.
Potter <<<<Blake, BJ <<<<<Trapper John, Winchester <<<<<< Frank Burns.
The other show I think you mean had replacements that were as good or better than the originals.

I don't agree with that take at all. Potter and Blake were different but both great. Same with Trapper and BJ. Other than the finale, I never connected with Winchester so I would agree with that one.

I might concede on Trapper and BJ, but Potter caused me to quit tuning into the show. His yelling, grumpy old man persona grated on me.
The show got very "preachy" too.

 

[Gatorade]

18 - M*A*S*H​

Comedy
Score: 967
Average Rank: 30.7

The staff of an army hospital in the Korean war find that laughter is the best way to deal with their situation.

List Breakdown

Hastur 1
UncleZen 3
Rand al Thor 5
BlackCrowes 5
whoknew 8
Atomic Punk 9
Pip's Invitation 10
Nick Vermeil 21
Bottomfeeder Sports 25
Eephus 27
Chaos34 29
Barry2 31
Gally 32
Brutal Penquin 33
Yo Mama 35
Todem 36
Binky 41
turnjose7 44
Psychopav 47
Runkle 49
The Gator 56
Jayrod 61
John Madden's Lunchbox 62
simey 67

Like Happy Days, this was a show whose early seasons I watched in syndication but whose later seasons I watched in real time. And it was probably the first show that made me think "I really like these people and want to hang out with them."* The writing was top-notch for the time and the writers and cast were equally adept at comedy and drama. It got a little preachy in its final years but was still one of the best shows on TV.

* - preferably not in a war zone

I remember a classmate telling me about this show. I knew nothing about it. I asked him what it was about. He said something like "people are living in tents and playing jokes on each other". I was 10 or 11, so it was right up my alley.

If you look at the behind-the-scenes talent on this show, it's stacked with HOFers. They also did the best job outside of _____ in replacing characters who left,

The replacement character were all lesser than the originals though.
Potter <<<<Blake, BJ <<<<<Trapper John, Winchester <<<<<< Frank Burns.
The other show I think you mean had replacements that were as good or better than the originals.

I don't agree with that take at all. Potter and Blake were different but both great. Same with Trapper and BJ. Other than the finale, I never connected with Winchester so I would agree with that one.

I might concede on Trapper and BJ, but Potter caused me to quit tuning into the show. His yelling, grumpy old man persona grated on me.
The show got very "preachy" too.

You don't like grumpy old men but you hang out in here. Go figure ?

 

[Leroy Hoard]

18 - M*A*S*H​

Comedy
Score: 967
Average Rank: 30.7

The staff of an army hospital in the Korean war find that laughter is the best way to deal with their situation.

List Breakdown

Hastur 1
UncleZen 3
Rand al Thor 5
BlackCrowes 5
whoknew 8
Atomic Punk 9
Pip's Invitation 10
Nick Vermeil 21
Bottomfeeder Sports 25
Eephus 27
Chaos34 29
Barry2 31
Gally 32
Brutal Penquin 33
Yo Mama 35
Todem 36
Binky 41
turnjose7 44
Psychopav 47
Runkle 49
The Gator 56
Jayrod 61
John Madden's Lunchbox 62
simey 67

Like Happy Days, this was a show whose early seasons I watched in syndication but whose later seasons I watched in real time. And it was probably the first show that made me think "I really like these people and want to hang out with them."* The writing was top-notch for the time and the writers and cast were equally adept at comedy and drama. It got a little preachy in its final years but was still one of the best shows on TV.

* - preferably not in a war zone

I remember a classmate telling me about this show. I knew nothing about it. I asked him what it was about. He said something like "people are living in tents and playing jokes on each other". I was 10 or 11, so it was right up my alley.

If you look at the behind-the-scenes talent on this show, it's stacked with HOFers. They also did the best job outside of _____ in replacing characters who left,

The replacement character were all lesser than the originals though.
Potter <<<<Blake, BJ <<<<<Trapper John, Winchester <<<<<< Frank Burns.
The other show I think you mean had replacements that were as good or better than the originals.

I don't agree with that take at all. Potter and Blake were different but both great. Same with Trapper and BJ. Other than the finale, I never connected with Winchester so I would agree with that one.

I might concede on Trapper and BJ, but Potter caused me to quit tuning into the show. His yelling, grumpy old man persona grated on me.
The show got very "preachy" too.

You don't like grumpy old men but you hang out in here. Go figure ?

It's a good thing Walter Matthau or Jack Lemon didn't take over the role.

 

[Encyclopedia Brown]

55 - Star Trek

I have never been a Trekkie of any sort, but tonight I was flipping around and landed on MeTV. It was the episode where Kirk and Spock go back in time to the Depression and Kirk falls in love with Joan Collins who is an anti-war pacifist. Ultimately he has to let her get struck and killed by a car otherwise world history is irrevocably altered.

As a little kid, I can remember being shocked by the episode, and even tonight when Kirk turns his back on Joan as she crosses the street, it still packed an emotional punch.

 

[Hastur]

This will be wrapping up this week.

17 or so left in 5 days? Of a thread that has been building for over 2 months? I may quit my job just so I can refresh this page 10 times a minute!

 

[Manster]

Letterman is the best late show of all time, imo

 

[Manster]

The last episode of MASH was a thing! We had 3 channels.....no cable! Vertical hold knob on the TV!

 

[Cowboysfan8]

The show got very "preachy" too

Absolutely

 

[Andy Dufresne]

I'm a barbarian I guess - when either Taxi or MASH come on I can't turn the station fast enough.

 

[Hastur]

I'm a barbarian I guess - when either Taxi or MASH come on I can't turn the station fast enough.

You barbarians ! You Visigoths ! You have taken the last vestige of Western Civilization and you have trampled it under your pagan wheels!

 

[Andy Dufresne]

I'm a barbarian I guess - when either Taxi or MASH come on I can't turn the station fast enough.

You barbarians ! You Visigoths ! You have taken the last vestige of Western Civilization and you have trampled it under your pagan wheels!

Rawr!

 

[Scoresman]

16 - Deadwood​

Drama
Score: 1061
Average Rank: 24.9

A show set in the late 1800s, revolving around the characters of Deadwood, South Dakota; a town of deep corruption and crime.

List Breakdown

gr00vus 2
McBokonon 7
landrys hat 8
kupcho1 9
Dan Lambskin 11
Sullie 13
Binky 14
Tau37 14
Runkle 16
shuke 17
Brutal Penquin 20
whoknew 20
ilov80s 22
Chaos34 22
Dr Octopus 23
AAABatteries 31
krista4 34
BlackCrowes 36
The Gator 41
Nick Vermeil 47
Yo Mama 49
Frostillicus 53
Keith R 63

 

[Scoresman]

Deadwood's another I put off due to being cancelled, although I hear the movie wraps things up fairly well. Also have never been into westerns at all.

 

[McBokonon]

 

[Dr. Octopus]

16 - Deadwood​

Drama
Score: 1061
Average Rank: 24.9

A show set in the late 1800s, revolving around the characters of Deadwood, South Dakota; a town of deep corruption and crime.

List Breakdown

gr00vus 2
McBokonon 7
landrys hat 8
kupcho1 9
Dan Lambskin 11
Sullie 13
Binky 14
Tau37 14
Runkle 16
shuke 17
Brutal Penquin 20
whoknew 20
ilov80s 22
Chaos34 22
Dr Octopus 23
AAABatteries 31
krista4 34
BlackCrowes 36
The Gator 41
Nick Vermeil 47
Yo Mama 49
Frostillicus 53
Keith R 63

It was so disappointing that the show did not get a real conclusion (haven't watched the movie) - but the acting and dialogue was so incredible the show deserves this ranking anyway,

 

[Dan Lambskin]

Dan vs Captain Turner is one of the all time best fight scenes in any tv show or movie

 

[Scoresman]

15 - Jeopardy!​

Game Show
Score: 1075
Average Rank: 24.3

A quiz show with a twist: contestants are provided with the answers. But what are the right questions?

List Breakdown

Don Quixote 3
ilov80s 8
turnjose7 8
Eephus 10
titusbramble 14
Brutal Penquin 14
Tick 15
Frostillicus 15
Pip's Invitation 18
Jayrod 20
krista4 21
Nick Vermeil 22
Dr Octopus 24
Dan Lambskin 27
Yo Mama 27
Todem 28
Shaft41 28
Rand al Thor 29
Psychopav 35
zamboni 43
Runkle 46
AAABatteries 48
Scoresman 55

 

[Ilov80s]

16 - Deadwood​

Drama
Score: 1061
Average Rank: 24.9

A show set in the late 1800s, revolving around the characters of Deadwood, South Dakota; a town of deep corruption and crime.

List Breakdown

gr00vus 2
McBokonon 7
landrys hat 8
kupcho1 9
Dan Lambskin 11
Sullie 13
Binky 14
Tau37 14
Runkle 16
shuke 17
Brutal Penquin 20
whoknew 20
ilov80s 22
Chaos34 22
Dr Octopus 23
AAABatteries 31
krista4 34
BlackCrowes 36
The Gator 41
Nick Vermeil 47
Yo Mama 49
Frostillicus 53
Keith R 63

It was so disappointing that the show did not get a real conclusion (haven't watched the movie) - but the acting and dialogue was so incredible the show deserves this ranking anyway,

At least we got John from Cincinnati in its place. I expect that to be appearing here sometime soon…

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

15 - Jeopardy!​

Game Show
Score: 1075
Average Rank: 24.3

A quiz show with a twist: contestants are provided with the answers. But what are the right questions?

List Breakdown

Don Quixote 3
ilov80s 8
turnjose7 8
Eephus 10
titusbramble 14
Brutal Penquin 14
Tick 15
Frostillicus 15
Pip's Invitation 18
Jayrod 20
krista4 21
Nick Vermeil 22
Dr Octopus 24
Dan Lambskin 27
Yo Mama 27
Todem 28
Shaft41 28
Rand al Thor 29
Psychopav 35
zamboni 43
Runkle 46
AAABatteries 48
Scoresman 55

You are all my huckleberries.

 

[Yo Mama]

I’ll take Anal Bum Cover for $100, Alex.

 

[AAABatteries]

15 - Jeopardy!​

Game Show
Score: 1075
Average Rank: 24.3

A quiz show with a twist: contestants are provided with the answers. But what are the right questions?

List Breakdown

Don Quixote 3
ilov80s 8
turnjose7 8
Eephus 10
titusbramble 14
Brutal Penquin 14
Tick 15
Frostillicus 15
Pip's Invitation 18
Jayrod 20
krista4 21
Nick Vermeil 22
Dr Octopus 24
Dan Lambskin 27
Yo Mama 27
Todem 28
Shaft41 28
Rand al Thor 29
Psychopav 35
zamboni 43
Runkle 46
AAABatteries 48
Scoresman 55

Suck it, @The Gator

 

[AAABatteries]

I’m still unsure which of the 15 shows I have in my list that gets left out but have it narrowed down to 2 (IMO) and either being left out of the top 300 is kind of shocking to me.

 

[BlackCrowes]

I’m still unsure which of the 15 shows I have in my list that gets left out but have it narrowed down to 2 (IMO) and either being left out of the top 300 is kind of shocking to me.

Same

 

[Don Quixote]

When I thought about it, no show has provided me more hours of entertainment than Jeopardy. I don’t think there is another show even close. Obviously not the sole factor, but that has to count for something.

 

[Runkle]

It's gone downhill in recent years for sure, but, still glad Jeopardy! is out there celebrating even in a small way the intelligent people out there.

 

[The Gator]

15 - Jeopardy!​

Game Show
Score: 1075
Average Rank: 24.3

A quiz show with a twist: contestants are provided with the answers. But what are the right questions?

List Breakdown

Don Quixote 3
ilov80s 8
turnjose7 8
Eephus 10
titusbramble 14
Brutal Penquin 14
Tick 15
Frostillicus 15
Pip's Invitation 18
Jayrod 20
krista4 21
Nick Vermeil 22
Dr Octopus 24
Dan Lambskin 27
Yo Mama 27
Todem 28
Shaft41 28
Rand al Thor 29
Psychopav 35
zamboni 43
Runkle 46
AAABatteries 48
Scoresman 55

BOOOOOOOOOOO

 

[Pip's Invitation]

I’ll take Anal Bum Cover for $100, Alex.

It always bugged me a little that Ferrell used this whiny patrician voice for Trebek when he didn't talk like that at all. Other than that, those sketches were gold.

 

[AAABatteries]

When I thought about it, no show has provided me more hours of entertainment than Jeopardy. I don’t think there is another show even close. Obviously not the sole factor, but that has to count for something.

That's how I felt about some other shows and definitely let it impact my ranking.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

15 - Jeopardy!​

Game Show
Score: 1075
Average Rank: 24.3

A quiz show with a twist: contestants are provided with the answers. But what are the right questions?

List Breakdown

Don Quixote 3
ilov80s 8
turnjose7 8
Eephus 10
titusbramble 14
Brutal Penquin 14
Tick 15
Frostillicus 15
Pip's Invitation 18
Jayrod 20
krista4 21
Nick Vermeil 22
Dr Octopus 24
Dan Lambskin 27
Yo Mama 27
Todem 28
Shaft41 28
Rand al Thor 29
Psychopav 35
zamboni 43
Runkle 46
AAABatteries 48
Scoresman 55

The best game show of all time and it's not close. It rewards intelligence, as others have said, yet is easy to play along with at home. I've watched it since the '80s (and made it to an in-person audition in 2015, though wasn't picked to go on) and other than sports it probably accounts for the highest volume of my TV viewing.

Some folks don't like that they now have more tournaments, but I like seeing returning players.

 

[Yo Mama]

I’m still unsure which of the 15 shows I have in my list that gets left out but have it narrowed down to 2 (IMO) and either being left out of the top 300 is kind of shocking to me.

I think I know which two on my list didn’t make the top 300 (pretty sure we share one of them). Pretty surprised neither made the top 300 - I’ll call them out once the countdown is complete.