The Top 300 Greatest TV Shows of All Time: FBG Consensus: 50 Lists received. 2: Seinfeld 1: Breaking Bad (10 Viewers)

[Mr. Mojo]

127 - Lonesome Dove​

Drama
Score: 258
Average Rank: 38.8

Two former Texas Rangers renew their spirit of adventure as they and several other residents of a small Texas town join a cattle drive to the Montana Territory.

List Breakdown

kupcho1 20
Chaos34 21
Tau37 21
simey 33
ilov80s 42
BlackCrowes 50
Nick Vermeil 53
AAABatteries 70

Didn't make the Top 100?!

 

[The Gator]

127 - Lonesome Dove​

Drama
Score: 258
Average Rank: 38.8

Two former Texas Rangers renew their spirit of adventure as they and several other residents of a small Texas town join a cattle drive to the Montana Territory.

List Breakdown

kupcho1 20
Chaos34 21
Tau37 21
simey 33
ilov80s 42
BlackCrowes 50
Nick Vermeil 53
AAABatteries 70

Didn't make the Top 100?!

Maybe if you submitted a list…..

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

never seen lonesome dove

never heard of moonlighting

haven't seen either office

 

[Hastur]

never seen lonesome dove

never heard of moonlighting

haven't seen either office

Before Bruce Willis was an action star, he was mostly a comedic actor. He also was known as "Bruno" and played a mean harmonica.

 

[Tick]

never seen lonesome dove

never heard of moonlighting

haven't seen either office

I thought you were the right age for the big boom of US Office streaming.

 

[Dennis Castro]

I am REALLY enjoying The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. I haven’t found a show with this much heart since Ted Lasso. Thank you for putting this list together @Scoresman.

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

never seen lonesome dove

never heard of moonlighting

haven't seen either office

I thought you were the right age for the big boom of US Office streaming.

I was I had just never gotten around to it. Sometimes I don't like to watch shows where I haven't seen it from the start so instead of starting in s3 or whatever, I'll just backburner it until I can start s1e1.

 

[Encyclopedia Brown]

For a while I was on the fence of which Office I preferred. I tend to like the subtleties of British humor a bit more than American which is more in your face

The British version is much meaner and cynical than the American show--the very first episode has Brent tormenting the receptionist with a false accusation of theft .

Gervias and Carell approached their character from different directions. Brent was embittered with his station in life having been a failed musician, whereas Scott was a company man who had worked his way up from commission based salesman to regional manager.

That distinction changed the outlook for both shows.

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

never seen lonesome dove

never heard of moonlighting

haven't seen either office

I thought you were the right age for the big boom of US Office streaming.

I was I had just never gotten around to it. Sometimes I don't like to watch shows where I haven't seen it from the start so instead of starting in s3 or whatever, I'll just backburner it until I can start s1e1.

I think I misread your comment as "why haven't you watched this?" as opposed to "why haven't you streamed this?" I am relatively new to streaming. I had direct tv for a LONG time, longer than I should of had it. I did do the old school netflix when they sent you the dvds but I canceled it when they went up. Then I just failed to jump on the streaming bandwagon.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

never seen lonesome dove

never heard of moonlighting

haven't seen either office

I thought you were the right age for the big boom of US Office streaming.

In his defense it’s kind of hard to even find it on TV.

 

[zamboni]

never seen lonesome dove

never heard of moonlighting

haven't seen either office

I thought you were the right age for the big boom of US Office streaming.

In his defense it’s kind of hard to even find it on TV.

I'm finding that with a ton of these newer shows that have already made the countdown. I'm not a big series streaming guy, so the lion's share of these series so far have been off my radar. Only know about them if friends/family/FBGs point them out to me.

 

[Scoresman]

124 - The Jeffersons​

Comedy
Score: 261
Average Rank: 44.9

A nouveau riche, African-American family who move into a luxury apartment building develop close, if occasionally fractious, relationships with other tenants.

List Breakdown

Todem 14
Rand al Thor 24
Keith R 26
UncleZen 38
Yo Mama 41
Shaft41 52
Eephus 57
ilov80s 65
landrys hat 65
Pip's Invitation 67

 

[Scoresman]

123 - The Kids in the Hall​

Comedy
Score: 263
Average Rank: 33.4

The TV series of the Canadian sketch comedy troupe that, more often than not, puts bizarre, unique, and insane twists in their skits.

List Breakdown

Binky 21
McBokonon 26
Atomic Punk 27
Tick 34
Pip's Invitation 36
Rand al Thor 38
gr00vus 52

 

[guru_007]

Kids in the Hall is a good pull. Probably would have just been outside my top 100 as well. Some skits had me laughing so much I'd be crying. Others were dull.
Letterkenny was so awesome, but I totally get the polarization there. It either grabs you and keeps you or the jokes fall flat and it's rinse and repeat.

Jeffersons was great, but I think it gets hurt due to age. It was super edgy at the time, including the first interracial kiss I believe. George was great, but if you didn't grow up in the 70's, well it probably doesn't have the same impact.

 

[FarFromHome]

123 - The Kids in the Hall​

Comedy
Score: 263
Average Rank: 33.4

The TV series of the Canadian sketch comedy troupe that, more often than not, puts bizarre, unique, and insane twists in their skits.

List Breakdown

Binky 21
McBokonon 26
Atomic Punk 27
Tick 34
Pip's Invitation 36
Rand al Thor 38
gr00vus 52

Hmmm. Haven't thought of this show in a long time. It was the first show as a youth that felt like the cool thing to watch for me. It was on HBO in that not everyone had cable time period. My family didn't have HBO, so when I could watch it at a friend's house it seemed like the cool thing to watch while playing with your GI Joe action figures.

 

[zamboni]

124 - The Jeffersons​

Comedy
Score: 261
Average Rank: 44.9

A nouveau riche, African-American family who move into a luxury apartment building develop close, if occasionally fractious, relationships with other tenants.

List Breakdown

Todem 14
Rand al Thor 24
Keith R 26
UncleZen 38
Yo Mama 41
Shaft41 52
Eephus 57
ilov80s 65
landrys hat 65
Pip's Invitation 67

Used to live a block away from that deee-luxe apartment in the sky-aye.

 

[AAABatteries]

124 - The Jeffersons​

Comedy
Score: 261
Average Rank: 44.9

A nouveau riche, African-American family who move into a luxury apartment building develop close, if occasionally fractious, relationships with other tenants.

List Breakdown

Todem 14
Rand al Thor 24
Keith R 26
UncleZen 38
Yo Mama 41
Shaft41 52
Eephus 57
ilov80s 65
landrys hat 65
Pip's Invitation 67

Loved The Jeffersons even more than the show it spun off from but still just missed my list.

 

[Yo Mama]

124 - The Jeffersons​

Comedy
Score: 261
Average Rank: 44.9

A nouveau riche, African-American family who move into a luxury apartment building develop close, if occasionally fractious, relationships with other tenants.

List Breakdown

Todem 14
Rand al Thor 24
Keith R 26
UncleZen 38
Yo Mama 41
Shaft41 52
Eephus 57
ilov80s 65
landrys hat 65
Pip's Invitation 67

Awesome show with one of the best theme songs ever.

 

[Scoresman]

122 - Narcos​

Drama
Score: 265
Average Rank: 41.6

A chronicled look at the criminal exploits of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar, as well as the many other drug kingpins who plagued the country through the years.

List Breakdown

Chaos34 16
McBokonon 28
The Gator 36
Rand al Thor 40
Psychopav 41
BlackCrowes 49
Scoresman 52
kupcho1 55
landrys hat 57

 

[timschochet]

124 - The Jeffersons​

Comedy
Score: 261
Average Rank: 44.9

A nouveau riche, African-American family who move into a luxury apartment building develop close, if occasionally fractious, relationships with other tenants.

List Breakdown

Todem 14
Rand al Thor 24
Keith R 26
UncleZen 38
Yo Mama 41
Shaft41 52
Eephus 57
ilov80s 65
landrys hat 65
Pip's Invitation 67

Awesome show with one of the best theme songs ever.

The theme song is incredibly good. The show had an outstanding cast but the humor was silly, IMO. The main character was funnier on All In the Family, playing off Archie.

 

[Scoresman]

121 - Star Trek: Deep Space Nine​

Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror
Score: 265
Average Rank: 18

Orbiting the liberated planet of Bajor, a Federation space station guards the opening of a stable wormhole to the far side of the Galaxy.

List Breakdown

Scoresman 6
gr00vus 10
Runkle 19
titusbramble 23
turnjose7 32

 

[Scoresman]

I think Deep Space Nine is the best Trek series by a lot. It's the first to establish a serial storyline with the Dominion War and IMO has the best characters.

Also has two of Trek's best villains in Gul Dukat and Kai Winn.

 

[Todem]

124 - The Jeffersons​

Comedy
Score: 261
Average Rank: 44.9

A nouveau riche, African-American family who move into a luxury apartment building develop close, if occasionally fractious, relationships with other tenants.

List Breakdown

Todem 14
Rand al Thor 24
Keith R 26
UncleZen 38
Yo Mama 41
Shaft41 52
Eephus 57
ilov80s 65
landrys hat 65
Pip's Invitation 67

Man I love this show......to this day. Criminally low.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

124 - The Jeffersons​

Comedy
Score: 261
Average Rank: 44.9

A nouveau riche, African-American family who move into a luxury apartment building develop close, if occasionally fractious, relationships with other tenants.

List Breakdown

Todem 14
Rand al Thor 24
Keith R 26
UncleZen 38
Yo Mama 41
Shaft41 52
Eephus 57
ilov80s 65
landrys hat 65
Pip's Invitation 67

I always found this hilarious. Sherman Helmsley and Marla Gibbs were great comic actors. And the scenario was not something depicted on TV very much at the time.

Eventually my mom forbade us to watch it because she thought George Jefferson was racist.

 

[FarFromHome]

Narcos sucked me in pretty quick. I also enjoyed the follow up ones. Just as not as much as this one. Wagner Moura just nailed Pablo in this

 

[Todem]

124 - The Jeffersons​

Comedy
Score: 261
Average Rank: 44.9

A nouveau riche, African-American family who move into a luxury apartment building develop close, if occasionally fractious, relationships with other tenants.

List Breakdown

Todem 14
Rand al Thor 24
Keith R 26
UncleZen 38
Yo Mama 41
Shaft41 52
Eephus 57
ilov80s 65
landrys hat 65
Pip's Invitation 67

Awesome show with one of the best theme songs ever.

The theme song is incredibly good. The show had an outstanding cast but the humor was silly, IMO. The main character was funnier on All In the Family, playing off Archie.

You must be a riot at dinner parties.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

123 - The Kids in the Hall​

Comedy
Score: 263
Average Rank: 33.4

The TV series of the Canadian sketch comedy troupe that, more often than not, puts bizarre, unique, and insane twists in their skits.

List Breakdown

Binky 21
McBokonon 26
Atomic Punk 27
Tick 34
Pip's Invitation 36
Rand al Thor 38
gr00vus 52

A spiritual successor to Monty Python and SCTV. “Girl Drink Drunk” is one of my favorite sketches of all time.

 

[Gr00vus]

Kids in the Hall is a good pull. Probably would have just been outside my top 100 as well. Some skits had me laughing so much I'd be crying. Others were dull.
Letterkenny was so awesome, but I totally get the polarization there. It either grabs you and keeps you or the jokes fall flat and it's rinse and repeat.

Jeffersons was great, but I think it gets hurt due to age. It was super edgy at the time, including the first interracial kiss I believe. George was great, but if you didn't grow up in the 70's, well it probably doesn't have the same impact.

First interracial t.v. kiss is from a show that I imagine will show up on this countdown at some point - a show from the 60's.

 

[Jayrod]

I think Deep Space Nine is the best Trek series by a lot. It's the first to establish a serial storyline with the Dominion War and IMO has the best characters.

Also has two of Trek's best villains in Gul Dukat and Kai Winn.

[austinpowers] Nerd alert!! [/austinpowers]

 

[Gr00vus]

I think Deep Space Nine is the best Trek series by a lot. It's the first to establish a serial storyline with the Dominion War and IMO has the best characters.

Also has two of Trek's best villains in Gul Dukat and Kai Winn.

Man, only 5 of us even ranked it. It will always be my #2 Star Trek series, but that's not a slight in any way.

"In The Pale Moonlight" is one of the best episodes of t.v. ever. There were a ton of other great episodes as well. The show maintained the tradition of great sci-fi expositions of current day issues cast through the lens of other times/places, while also moving farther away from the episodal format.

 

[Todem]

I think Deep Space Nine is the best Trek series by a lot. It's the first to establish a serial storyline with the Dominion War and IMO has the best characters.

Also has two of Trek's best villains in Gul Dukat and Kai Winn.

Man, only 5 of us even ranked it. It will always be my #2 Star Trek series, but that's not a slight in any way.

"In The Pale Moonlight" is one of the best episodes of t.v. ever. There were a ton of other great episodes as well. The show maintained the tradition of great sci-fi expositions of current day issues cast through the lens of other times/places, while also moving farther away from the episodal format.

I really liked DS9....my third favorite Trek series.

 

[Hastur]

I think Deep Space Nine is the best Trek series by a lot. It's the first to establish a serial storyline with the Dominion War and IMO has the best characters.

Also has two of Trek's best villains in Gul Dukat and Kai Winn.

Man, only 5 of us even ranked it. It will always be my #2 Star Trek series, but that's not a slight in any way.

"In The Pale Moonlight" is one of the best episodes of t.v. ever. There were a ton of other great episodes as well. The show maintained the tradition of great sci-fi expositions of current day issues cast through the lens of other times/places, while also moving farther away from the episodal format.

Confession time: I've watched every episode of STNG multiple times(love it), and Voyager(also love it). I've watched about a seasons worth of Enterprise(with Scott B.).

I've watched maybe a total of 3 episodes of DS9. Can't tell you why. I like the premise. Just haven't gotten to it.

I will now go stand in the corner.

 

[Scoresman]

120 - The Queen's Gambit​

Drama
Score: 268
Average Rank: 46.6

Orphaned at the tender age of nine, prodigious introvert Beth Harmon discovers and masters the game of chess in 1960s USA. But child stardom comes at a price.

List Breakdown

Hastur 2
Brutal Penquin 19
landrys hat 22
ilov80s 43
Tau37 55
John Madden's Lunchbox 58
Jayrod 59
AAABatteries 59
McBokonon 61
timschochet 66
Don Quixote 69

 

[Dan Lambskin]

KITH is good, toyed with adding it but went with a few other sketch comedy shows instead

Chicken lady and I’m squishing your head probably the most memorable for me

 

[Dan Lambskin]

120 - The Queen's Gambit​

Drama
Score: 268
Average Rank: 46.6

Orphaned at the tender age of nine, prodigious introvert Beth Harmon discovers and masters the game of chess in 1960s USA. But child stardom comes at a price.

List Breakdown

Hastur 2
Brutal Penquin 19
landrys hat 22
ilov80s 43
Tau37 55
John Madden's Lunchbox 58
Jayrod 59
AAABatteries 59
McBokonon 61
timschochet 66
Don Quixote 69

This was really good, did not come up when I was searching for stuff for my list. Don’t think it would have made my list regardless but I remember enjoying it

 

[McBokonon]

122 - Narcos​

Drama
Score: 265
Average Rank: 41.6

A chronicled look at the criminal exploits of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar, as well as the many other drug kingpins who plagued the country through the years.

List Breakdown

Chaos34 16
McBokonon 28
The Gator 36
Rand al Thor 40
Psychopav 41
BlackCrowes 49
Scoresman 52
kupcho1 55
landrys hat 57

I celebrate the entire Narcos catalog. I think it gets better each season.

123 - The Kids in the Hall​

Comedy
Score: 263
Average Rank: 33.4

The TV series of the Canadian sketch comedy troupe that, more often than not, puts bizarre, unique, and insane twists in their skits.

List Breakdown

Binky 21
McBokonon 26
Atomic Punk 27
Tick 34
Pip's Invitation 36
Rand al Thor 38
gr00vus 52

Jesus, the bad carpenter
Daves I Know - not their best, but I want to ensure this song gets stuck in other peoples' heads for 30 years, too.
I speak no English
lonely sarcastic Guy

Dave Foley's interview on the Marc Maron podcast is worth a listen. Crazy life, kind of sad with his marriage falling apart and his inability to return to Canada or face financial ruin, etc.

 

[zamboni]

124 - The Jeffersons​

Comedy
Score: 261
Average Rank: 44.9

A nouveau riche, African-American family who move into a luxury apartment building develop close, if occasionally fractious, relationships with other tenants.

List Breakdown

Todem 14
Rand al Thor 24
Keith R 26
UncleZen 38
Yo Mama 41
Shaft41 52
Eephus 57
ilov80s 65
landrys hat 65
Pip's Invitation 67

Awesome show with one of the best theme songs ever.

The theme song is incredibly good.

Sung by Ja'Net Du Bois, aka Willona from Good Times.

Forgot that there was actually a spin-off from The Jeffersons featuring Florence, called Checking In.

Lasted 4 episodes - woof

 

[Hastur]

120 - The Queen's Gambit​

Drama
Score: 268
Average Rank: 46.6

Orphaned at the tender age of nine, prodigious introvert Beth Harmon discovers and masters the game of chess in 1960s USA. But child stardom comes at a price.

List Breakdown

Hastur 2
Brutal Penquin 19
landrys hat 22
ilov80s 43
Tau37 55
John Madden's Lunchbox 58
Jayrod 59
AAABatteries 59
McBokonon 61
timschochet 66
Don Quixote 69

(Obviously) One of my favorite shows ever. I have watched it several times in just the few years since it came out.

 

[Runkle]

I had Star Trek: Deep Space Nine ranked higher than any of the other Trek iterations.

It accomplished more in the sci-fi genre than almost any other show in my opinion, syndicated or otherwise.

 

[simey]

126 - Moonlighting​

Comedy
Score: 259
Average Rank: 42.2

The only show I remember "watch partying" in college. Bruce and Cybill had the chemistry goin'!

Their fun back and forth banter seemed natural.

 

[Scoresman]

119 - Roseanne​

Comedy
Score: 269
Average Rank: 32.6

The story of a working class family struggling with life's essential problems: Marriage, Children, Money and Parents in Law.

List Breakdown

Brutal Penquin 10
Dan Lambskin 13
Scoresman 20
simey 39
UncleZen 41
ilov80s 51
Bottomfeeder Sports 54

 

[titusbramble]

I probably would have included Kids in the Hall if I had the time to rank a full 70

 

[Bottomfeeder Sports]

119 - Roseanne​

Comedy
Score: 269
Average Rank: 32.6

The story of a working class family struggling with life's essential problems: Marriage, Children, Money and Parents in Law.

List Breakdown

Brutal Penquin 10
Dan Lambskin 13
Scoresman 20
simey 39
UncleZen 41
ilov80s 51
Bottomfeeder Sports 54

Roseanne (1988)

I didn't see the revival, but the first time around was a recognizable household. Not mine, but more than one friend's.

 

[Ilov80s]

119 - Roseanne​

Comedy
Score: 269
Average Rank: 32.6

The story of a working class family struggling with life's essential problems: Marriage, Children, Money and Parents in Law.

List Breakdown

Brutal Penquin 10
Dan Lambskin 13
Scoresman 20
simey 39
UncleZen 41
ilov80s 51
Bottomfeeder Sports 54

Roseanne (1988)

I didn't see the revival, but the first time around was a recognizable household. Not mine, but more than one friend's.

Yep has a unique POV that we didn’t see represented too often on TV.

 

[Ilov80s]

It’s interesting to me how many shows come from before the year 2000. I will be 60 this year so I watched almost all of those shows, but didn’t select almost any of them. I have realized that I began my list with an unspoken but firm assumption:

The quality of television in the 21st century is such that even mediocre shows are superior to the best television of the 20th century.

There are, of course, many exceptions to this rule, but they are exceptions and for me the rule is generally true. But maybe a lot of you disagree?

I agree with this overall. Like you said some strong exceptions but TV has gotten much more adventurous and less formulaic.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

120 - The Queen's Gambit​

Drama
Score: 268
Average Rank: 46.6

Orphaned at the tender age of nine, prodigious introvert Beth Harmon discovers and masters the game of chess in 1960s USA. But child stardom comes at a price.

List Breakdown

Hastur 2
Brutal Penquin 19
landrys hat 22
ilov80s 43
Tau37 55
John Madden's Lunchbox 58
Jayrod 59
AAABatteries 59
McBokonon 61
timschochet 66
Don Quixote 69

I really liked this but had a hard time ranking limited series - which are basically just long movies.

 

[Eephus]

It’s interesting to me how many shows come from before the year 2000. I will be 60 this year so I watched almost all of those shows, but didn’t select almost any of them. I have realized that I began my list with an unspoken but firm assumption:

The quality of television in the 21st century is such that even mediocre shows are superior to the best television of the 20th century.

There are, of course, many exceptions to this rule, but they are exceptions and for me the rule is generally true. But maybe a lot of you disagree?

I agree with this overall. Like you said some strong exceptions but TV has gotten much more adventurous and less formulaic.

Creators are no longer required to target the widest possible demographics like they did in the era of the three broadcast networks. They also don't have to churn out 22 episodes per year on deadline, each with a complete storyline with few loose ends.

 

[FarFromHome]

Roseanne was solid. Good writing. Good cast. Surprised to Google it began in 1988. Some of us are getting up there in age.

 

[Runkle]

It’s interesting to me how many shows come from before the year 2000. I will be 60 this year so I watched almost all of those shows, but didn’t select almost any of them. I have realized that I began my list with an unspoken but firm assumption:

The quality of television in the 21st century is such that even mediocre shows are superior to the best television of the 20th century.

There are, of course, many exceptions to this rule, but they are exceptions and for me the rule is generally true. But maybe a lot of you disagree?

I agree with this overall. Like you said some strong exceptions but TV has gotten much more adventurous and less formulaic.

Creators are no longer required to target the widest possible demographics like they did in the era of the three broadcast networks. They also don't have to churn out 22 episodes per year on deadline, each with a complete storyline with few loose ends.

Also, Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Max, and Amazon Prime are 5 services streaming 24/7 with catalogs that are literally centuries of content. But 40 years ago, it was just ABC, NBC, and CBS programming 3 hours a night. There's just a lot more being made nowadays.

 

[Dan Lambskin]

119 - Roseanne​

Comedy
Score: 269
Average Rank: 32.6

The story of a working class family struggling with life's essential problems: Marriage, Children, Money and Parents in Law.

List Breakdown

Brutal Penquin 10
Dan Lambskin 13
Scoresman 20
simey 39
UncleZen 41
ilov80s 51
Bottomfeeder Sports 54

Probably my wife’s favorite show, and obviously I rated highly too. We still watch the reruns every Saturday

I don’t think any show captures what life was like as a blue collar midwestern family in the 90s better than this.

It definitely goes off the rails in the final season or two, but at its peak it’s a great mix of comedy and drama