The Top 300 Greatest TV Shows of All Time: FBG Consensus: 50 Lists received. 2: Seinfeld 1: Breaking Bad (7 Viewers)

[Gr00vus]

157 - The White Shadow​

Drama
Score: 207
Average Rank: 19.3

A white former NBA professional retires from the pro game and gets a job as a basketball coach in a predominantly Black inner-city high school.

List Breakdown

zamboni 2
simey 14
gr00vus 17
Yo Mama 44

I knew @zamboni was gonna have this high. I was in HS on the hoops team when this show was on, so it hits home. I don't think I've watched it since its original run, so I don't know how it holds up - but I recall it being grittier than anything else on primetime in the late '70s. At least two of the actors went on to be big-time TV directors.

I think three: Salami, Thorpe and Hayward

I didn't know Salami did. Thorpe & Hayward seemed to direct about half of the episodes aired on TV in the '80s/90s. I'd be watching some random show and see one of them listed in the credits - "WTF? He was on 'White Shadow!'"

Salami (Timothy Van Patten) directed a bunch of Sopranos episodes, among many other things. Also the half brother of D!ck Van Patten - not sure if his big show will show up.

Yeah, Salami directed some Game Of Thrones, Deadwood, Rome episodes, a few episodes of The Pacific plus associate director for that show, 10 episodes of Boardwalk Empire and was executive producer on that show, plus a bunch of other stuff.

 

[Gr00vus]

157 - The White Shadow​

Drama
Score: 207
Average Rank: 19.3

A white former NBA professional retires from the pro game and gets a job as a basketball coach in a predominantly Black inner-city high school.

List Breakdown

zamboni 2
simey 14
gr00vus 17
Yo Mama 44

I knew @zamboni was gonna have this high. I was in HS on the hoops team when this show was on, so it hits home. I don't think I've watched it since its original run, so I don't know how it holds up - but I recall it being grittier than anything else on primetime in the late '70s. At least two of the actors went on to be big-time TV directors.

Speaking on behalf of every middle/upper middle class white kid from the suburbs, this show meant everything. Loved all the characters on the show and was definitely drawn by Ken Reeves being from Bayside, Queens (where I grew up).

Tremendous theme song too, with Ken falling down hard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2-b0MidBjU
And loved the MTM cat dribbling the ball at the end of the closing credits: https://youtu.be/UuYwHrJMItI?t=48

Same as you two with your thoughts. I have the DVDs, have watched them several times over the last few decades, so it still holds up for me. I don't know what the viewing would be like for someone who didn't grow up in that time if they watched the show now for the first time. I think it would hold up about as well as a drama from the late 70s could, it was well written. They got some pretty good guest stars on from time to time, but the main thing was it felt like the depicted an authentic high school experience through the lens of the basketball team. It was well written and well acted.

The opening song is indeed killer.

That episode when Curtis Jackson got shot still sticks with me. And always felt bad for Goldstein the way they ranked on him.

Goldstein was pretty much a punchline most of the series, but he was great in the Russian defector episode.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

154 - Columbo​

Drama
Score: 213
Average Rank: 35.5

Los Angeles homicide detective Lieutenant Columbo uses his humble ways and disingenuous demeanor to winkle out even the most well-concealed of crimes.

List Breakdown

Sullie 2
Todem 23
Eephus 25
krista4 38
Chaos34 58
Gally 67

Ooof. I never understood how anyone could watch this. Can't stand Peter Falk.

 

[Psychopav]

160. Sons of Anarchy: 87/91
159. Westworld: 80/75
158. Golden Girls: --/94
157. The White Shadow: --/--
156. Andy Griffith: --/88
155. Cosby Show: --/68

 

[McBokonon]

White Shadow was before my time but I remember Bill Simmons referencing this show about a bazillion times back when I read his stuff.

 

[Ilov80s]

Just couldn’t rank it

Yeah I almost left it off completely because Bill has completely ruined it. But there were so many other wonderful parts to the show and honestly Bill was always my least favorite character anyway.

 

[Ilov80s]

White Shadow was before my time but I remember Bill Simmons referencing this show about a bazillion times back when I read his stuff.

Yep that’s the only reason I’ve heard of it. Bill loved it.

 

[Gr00vus]

White Shadow was before my time but I remember Bill Simmons referencing this show about a bazillion times back when I read his stuff.

Yep that’s the only reason I’ve heard of it. Bill loved it.

It's a great show, particularly if basketball was ever a part of your life.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

White Shadow was before my time but I remember Bill Simmons referencing this show about a bazillion times back when I read his stuff.

Yep that’s the only reason I’ve heard of it. Bill loved it.

It's a great show, particularly if basketball was ever a part of your life.

It was a great show anyway. I'm white and non-athletic. Still great to watch.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Ooof. I never understood how anyone could watch this. Can't stand Peter Falk.

"One more thing....those shoes...."

 

[simey]

Salami (Timothy Van Patten) directed a bunch of Sopranos episodes, among many other things. Also the half brother of D!ck Van Patten - not sure if his big show will show up.

I had a big crush on Salami. If you're talking about Eight is Enough for Dick's big show, it got an honorable mention, but didn't make the Top 300. It was on my list. Scoresman mentioned that you ranked it the highest.

 

[zamboni]

Salami (Timothy Van Patten) directed a bunch of Sopranos episodes, among many other things. Also the half brother of D!ck Van Patten - not sure if his big show will show up.

I had a big crush on Salami. If you're talking about Eight is Enough for Dick's big show, it got an honorable mention, but didn't make the Top 300. It was on my list. Scoresman mentioned that you ranked it the highest.

Right - we discussed that one already. I'm definitely getting older than The Golden Girls.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

155 - The Cosby Show​

Comedy
Score: 210
Average Rank: 44.8

The goings-on in the life of a successful African American family.

List Breakdown

Psychopav 7
Gally 31
Jayrod 32
Shaft41 37
ilov80s 61
The Gator 62
Rand al Thor 64
whoknew 64

Based on how frequently I watched something at the time and how I enjoyed it at the time, this would have been on my list.

But I just can’t.

 

[turnjose7]

Just did a re-watch of the Andy Griffith Show and it still cracks me up as much as ever

 

[simey]

154 - Columbo​

Drama
Score: 213
Average Rank: 35.5

Los Angeles homicide detective Lieutenant Columbo uses his humble ways and disingenuous demeanor to winkle out even the most well-concealed of crimes.

List Breakdown

Sullie 2
Todem 23
Eephus 25
krista4 38
Chaos34 58
Gally 67

I loved Columbo's car.

 

[AAABatteries]

I’m shocked at the Golden Girls love. Shocked.

Yeah - not surprised it got some votes and some love but some of those a pretty highly ranked. I watched it some back in the day but not a lot and it wasn’t must see TV at any point. Also, when it was on we were all probably teens and 20’s so not the demographic they were after. I share in your shock.

 

[zamboni]

Just did a re-watch of the Andy Griffith Show and it still cracks me up as much as ever

Second of likely three Don Knotts appearances here.

 

[Yo Mama]

157 - The White Shadow

May be the first entry I haven't heard of or at least don't remember.

Yeah, I love basketball but have never heard of this show. Maybe before my time? I was born in 77.

You’re not that much younger than me (1970), but for me a local channel (either KTLA or KCAL) ran the reruns every summer when I was in Jr High / High School. Summer days were summer-league basketball practice in the morning, first lunch, some swimming, second lunch (coach was trying to get me to put on weight, can you imagine?), White Shadow in the early afternoon, more swimming and eating, before a game or two in the evening. This show totally equates to summer for me.

 

[AAABatteries]

Also shocked by some saying they’ve not heard of White Shadow - I’ve never watched and episode but it’s been talked about around here for years.

 

[zamboni]

Also shocked by some saying they’ve not heard of White Shadow - I’ve never watched and episode but it’s been talked about around here for years.

Not sure it's been discussed more than here and there. May also be a demographic thing - many avid basketball watchers may be more familiar with Hang Time.

 

[AAABatteries]

156 - The Andy Griffith Show​

Comedy
Score: 208
Average Rank: 29.4

Widower Sheriff Andy and his son Opie live with Andy's Aunt Bee in Mayberry NC. With virtually no crimes to solve, most of Andy's time is spent philosophizing and calming down his cousin Deputy Barney.

List Breakdown

AAABatteries 8
turnjose7 9
Rand al Thor 23
Tau37 41
simey 66

I feel obligated to discuss Andy and the gang as the highest voter.

There’s several reasons I have this ranked so high:

• The biggest factor is family. I watched this with my Dad a lot as a kid. My parents divorced and Andy was always the Dad I wish I had but never did after the divorce. Years later as an adult we would occasionally talk about the show or on the rare instance we were together we would occasionally watch an episode.
• In turn, I’ve watched some of it with my kids. When they were young it was one of the few comedies I felt they could watch - something to watch together other than cartoons
• I’ll die on this hill but Barney Fife is the greatest sidekick in TV history - better than Norton, better than Constanza/Kramer, better than anyone I’ve seen. He made the show what it was.
• Small town southern charm. Lots of negative stuff has been (deservedly) said about life in the south, especially during the years the show was set but for those of us who have grown up in the south, many of us can relate to Mayberry and the inhabitants thereof.
• Rewatchability - I still feel like it holds up and can be funny for families today.
• Life lessons - people rightfully loved Ted Lasso due to the incredible life lessons the show taught us - I think Andy Griffith was that show for me growing up. It teaches us to be kind, be honest, work hard, love your family and friends, and have fun.

 

[Psychopav]

154. Columbo: --/80

 

[northern exposure]

156 - The Andy Griffith Show​

Comedy
Score: 208
Average Rank: 29.4

Widower Sheriff Andy and his son Opie live with Andy's Aunt Bee in Mayberry NC. With virtually no crimes to solve, most of Andy's time is spent philosophizing and calming down his cousin Deputy Barney.

List Breakdown

AAABatteries 8
turnjose7 9
Rand al Thor 23
Tau37 41
simey 66

I thought this would be higher (Binky: lower). Floyd the barber cracks me up to this day - it's like he's on acid in his own little world

SCTV had a great take on the show and Floyd: https://youtu.be/jGSfiUbAIrE?si=HpPH85z91Azl1thl

 

[BlackCrowes]

Also shocked by some saying they’ve not heard of White Shadow - I’ve never watched and episode but it’s been talked about around here for years.

"SHA-dow!"
- Costanza

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

I've seen a few episodes of Andy Griffith.

I know of Golden Girls. I may or may not have watched some. I don't know if my memory is that bad or if it was just that unmemorable for me.

Never even heard of White Shadow.

I don't think I've ever watched a full Columbo episode.

I have seen a few The Cosby Show episodes. It's ok.

I, of course, like Westworld.

 

[Gally]

155 - The Cosby Show​

Comedy
Score: 210
Average Rank: 44.8

The goings-on in the life of a successful African American family.

List Breakdown

Psychopav 7
Gally 31
Jayrod 32
Shaft41 37
ilov80s 61
The Gator 62
Rand al Thor 64
whoknew 64

I obviously didn't ding it for the Cosby aftermath. I treated the show for what it was and that was a phenomenon when it was going on. It was great and appt TV for everyone. Talked about at school and was must see.

 

[Scoresman]

153 - Mr. Show with Bob and David​

Comedy
Score: 219
Average Rank: 39.7

This is a sketch-comedy show. The twist here is that all of the sketches (Even the monologue) are connected in some strange way.

List Breakdown

Dan Lambskin 17
Binky 20
Pip's Invitation 26
gr00vus 32
McBokonon 55
Nick Vermeil 59
Dr Octopus 69

 

[UncleZen]

153 - Mr. Show with Bob and David​

Comedy
Score: 219
Average Rank: 39.7

This is a sketch-comedy show. The twist here is that all of the sketches (Even the monologue) are connected in some strange way.

List Breakdown

Dan Lambskin 17
Binky 20
Pip's Invitation 26
gr00vus 32
McBokonon 55
Nick Vermeil 59
Dr Octopus 69

ok, I have never heard of this show and I have watched a LOT of TV.

 

[Dan Lambskin]

153 - Mr. Show with Bob and David​

Comedy
Score: 219
Average Rank: 39.7

This is a sketch-comedy show. The twist here is that all of the sketches (Even the monologue) are connected in some strange way.

List Breakdown

Dan Lambskin 17
Binky 20
Pip's Invitation 26
gr00vus 32
McBokonon 55
Nick Vermeil 59
Dr Octopus 69

ok, I have never heard of this show and I have watched a LOT of TV.

If you like sketch comedy it’s some of the best. Great cast of comedians led by Odenkirk and Cross

Blow Up The Moon

The Joke The Musical

Coupon the Movie

Oh and Taint Magazine

 

[Gally]

153 - Mr. Show with Bob and David​

Comedy
Score: 219
Average Rank: 39.7

This is a sketch-comedy show. The twist here is that all of the sketches (Even the monologue) are connected in some strange way.

List Breakdown

Dan Lambskin 17
Binky 20
Pip's Invitation 26
gr00vus 32
McBokonon 55
Nick Vermeil 59
Dr Octopus 69

ok, I have never heard of this show and I have watched a LOT of TV.

Right there with you. I have no idea what this is.

 

[BrutalPenguin]

153 - Mr. Show with Bob and David​

Comedy
Score: 219
Average Rank: 39.7

This is a sketch-comedy show. The twist here is that all of the sketches (Even the monologue) are connected in some strange way.

List Breakdown

Dan Lambskin 17
Binky 20
Pip's Invitation 26
gr00vus 32
McBokonon 55
Nick Vermeil 59
Dr Octopus 69

ok, I have never heard of this show and I have watched a LOT of TV.

Right there with you. I have no idea what this is.

Ditto, and I, too, watch an unhealthy amount of tv.

 

[Nick Vermeil]

153 - Mr. Show with Bob and David​

Comedy
Score: 219
Average Rank: 39.7

This is a sketch-comedy show. The twist here is that all of the sketches (Even the monologue) are connected in some strange way.

List Breakdown

Dan Lambskin 17
Binky 20
Pip's Invitation 26
gr00vus 32
McBokonon 55
Nick Vermeil 59
Dr Octopus 69

ok, I have never heard of this show and I have watched a LOT of TV.

Right there with you. I have no idea what this is.

Ditto, and I, too, watch an unhealthy amount of tv.

You’re welcome, lads.

 

[Dan Lambskin]

It’s 4 seasons but the episodes per season are 4 6 10 and 10 so it’s pretty short to binge

 

[Scoresman]

153 - Mr. Show with Bob and David​

Comedy
Score: 219
Average Rank: 39.7

This is a sketch-comedy show. The twist here is that all of the sketches (Even the monologue) are connected in some strange way.

List Breakdown

Dan Lambskin 17
Binky 20
Pip's Invitation 26
gr00vus 32
McBokonon 55
Nick Vermeil 59
Dr Octopus 69

ok, I have never heard of this show and I have watched a LOT of TV.

I hope its good because this show caused all sorts of problems while tabulating the lists.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

153 - Mr. Show with Bob and David​

Comedy
Score: 219
Average Rank: 39.7

This is a sketch-comedy show. The twist here is that all of the sketches (Even the monologue) are connected in some strange way.

List Breakdown

Dan Lambskin 17
Binky 20
Pip's Invitation 26
gr00vus 32
McBokonon 55
Nick Vermeil 59
Dr Octopus 69

ok, I have never heard of this show and I have watched a LOT of TV.

Right there with you. I have no idea what this is.

It was an HBO sketch comedy show with all the skits having a thread - it starred Bob Odenkirk and David Cross. Both went on to nice careers with Odenkirk very well known now.

 

[The Gator]

It’s 4 seasons but the episodes per season are 4 6 10 and 10 so it’s pretty short to binge

Those clips you posted were already too long

 

[McBokonon]

153 - Mr. Show with Bob and David​

Comedy
Score: 219
Average Rank: 39.7

This is a sketch-comedy show. The twist here is that all of the sketches (Even the monologue) are connected in some strange way.

List Breakdown

Dan Lambskin 17
Binky 20
Pip's Invitation 26
gr00vus 32
McBokonon 55
Nick Vermeil 59
Dr Octopus 69

Couldn’t be prouder to be associated with this group of men.

 

[Gr00vus]

153 - Mr. Show with Bob and David​

Comedy
Score: 219
Average Rank: 39.7

This is a sketch-comedy show. The twist here is that all of the sketches (Even the monologue) are connected in some strange way.

List Breakdown

Dan Lambskin 17
Binky 20
Pip's Invitation 26
gr00vus 32
McBokonon 55
Nick Vermeil 59
Dr Octopus 69

ok, I have never heard of this show and I have watched a LOT of TV.

If you like sketch comedy it’s some of the best. Great cast of comedians led by Odenkirk and Cross

Blow Up The Moon

The Joke The Musical

Coupon the Movie

Oh and Taint Magazine

Titanica

Drugachusettes

This show was genius. Don't forget to breathe!

 

[Encyclopedia Brown]

Also shocked by some saying they’ve not heard of White Shadow - I’ve never watched and episode but it’s been talked about around here for years.

Way back when on Old Yeller we had a thread devoted to Ken Reeves' NBA career. It was serious business to the extent where we were posting his points and rebounds per game, his FT percentage, arguing over his defensive prowess and nitpicking everyone else's stats that did not align with our own.

I don't recall what my numbers were, though I am sure I thought I was the most accurate. If you assume that Howard was playing Reeves at the same age, (he was 35 when the show began), and guess at the distance between his injury and becoming the coach at Carver--one, maybe two years--at a minimum Reeves spent ten years in the NBA. You have to be a pretty good player to last that long.

Bob Love was the Chicago Bulls All-Star small-forward in the years Reeves was on the team. I have always pictured Reeves as his backup, with the occasional time on the floor as a shooting guard--a decent 7th man.

 

[Dan Lambskin]

153 - Mr. Show with Bob and David​

Comedy
Score: 219
Average Rank: 39.7

This is a sketch-comedy show. The twist here is that all of the sketches (Even the monologue) are connected in some strange way.

List Breakdown

Dan Lambskin 17
Binky 20
Pip's Invitation 26
gr00vus 32
McBokonon 55
Nick Vermeil 59
Dr Octopus 69

ok, I have never heard of this show and I have watched a LOT of TV.

Right there with you. I have no idea what this is.

It was an HBO sketch comedy show with all the skits having a thread - it starred Bob Odenkirk and David Cross. Both went on to nice careers with Odenkirk very well known now.

Tom Kenny also the voice of SpongeBob

 

[BlackCrowes]

153 - Mr. Show with Bob and David​

Comedy
Score: 219
Average Rank: 39.7

This is a sketch-comedy show. The twist here is that all of the sketches (Even the monologue) are connected in some strange way.

List Breakdown

Dan Lambskin 17
Binky 20
Pip's Invitation 26
gr00vus 32
McBokonon 55
Nick Vermeil 59
Dr Octopus 69

ok, I have never heard of this show and I have watched a LOT of TV.

Same. But I’ll check it out.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

Okay. I reckon I'm never watching the Mr. Show. Nothing funny to see there.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Okay. I reckon I'm never watching the Mr. Show. Nothing funny to see there.

And I am the one accused of not having a sense of humor around here?

 

[Encyclopedia Brown]

I think Golden Girls should be higher. One of the best written sitcoms of all time

I saw an interview with Betty White where she talked about the unusual amount of creative control they had over the show. She said it had a lot to do with the juggernauts of Miami Vice, and Cosby and Cheers.

Those shows took up a tremendous amount of focus and attention, and kind of left the Golden Girls off in the corner all by themselves. Betty and Bea Arthur had been in over two hundred TV episodes, they were "old pros" who knew when something was working and when it was not, and because of that they spent a lot of time working on the scripts to get them right.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

153 - Mr. Show with Bob and David​

Comedy
Score: 219
Average Rank: 39.7

This is a sketch-comedy show. The twist here is that all of the sketches (Even the monologue) are connected in some strange way.

List Breakdown

Dan Lambskin 17
Binky 20
Pip's Invitation 26
gr00vus 32
McBokonon 55
Nick Vermeil 59
Dr Octopus 69

The funniest comedy show of the '90s (barely beating out one that we will presumably see later) and, due to the way it was sequenced and edited, the closest an American show has come to Monty Python's Flying Circus. The cast and writing staff had a number of folks who would go on to higher-profile gigs, including David Cross, Bob Odenkirk, Tom Kenny (the voice of Spongebob), Sarah Silverman, Jack Black, Jay Johnston, Brian Posehn and Paul F. Tompkins.

 

[Dan Lambskin]

Okay. I reckon I'm never watching the Mr. Show. Nothing funny to see there.

Try it with Mayostard

 

[Pip's Invitation]

153 - Mr. Show with Bob and David​

Comedy
Score: 219
Average Rank: 39.7

This is a sketch-comedy show. The twist here is that all of the sketches (Even the monologue) are connected in some strange way.

List Breakdown

Dan Lambskin 17
Binky 20
Pip's Invitation 26
gr00vus 32
McBokonon 55
Nick Vermeil 59
Dr Octopus 69

ok, I have never heard of this show and I have watched a LOT of TV.

Right there with you. I have no idea what this is.

Ditto, and I, too, watch an unhealthy amount of tv.

It ran on HBO from 1995 to 1998. Presumably none of you had HBO during those years?

Neither did I. But it got so many raves on the then-nascent internet that when I got a Netflix subscription in the early '00s, it was one of the first things I put in my queue. (Remember those?)

 

[McBokonon]

153 - Mr. Show with Bob and David​

Comedy
Score: 219
Average Rank: 39.7

This is a sketch-comedy show. The twist here is that all of the sketches (Even the monologue) are connected in some strange way.

List Breakdown

Dan Lambskin 17
Binky 20
Pip's Invitation 26
gr00vus 32
McBokonon 55
Nick Vermeil 59
Dr Octopus 69

ok, I have never heard of this show and I have watched a LOT of TV.

If you like sketch comedy it’s some of the best. Great cast of comedians led by Odenkirk and Cross

Blow Up The Moon

The Joke The Musical

Coupon the Movie

Oh and Taint Magazine

Titanica

Drugachusettes

This show was genius. Don't forget to breathe!

What is up Satan’s ***?

- 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

 

[rockaction]

153 - Mr. Show with Bob and David​

Comedy
Score: 219
Average Rank: 39.7

This is a sketch-comedy show. The twist here is that all of the sketches (Even the monologue) are connected in some strange way.

List Breakdown

Dan Lambskin 17
Binky 20
Pip's Invitation 26
gr00vus 32
McBokonon 55
Nick Vermeil 59
Dr Octopus 69

I am King **** of **** Mountain.

IYKYK

 

[McBokonon]

153 - Mr. Show with Bob and David​

Comedy
Score: 219
Average Rank: 39.7

This is a sketch-comedy show. The twist here is that all of the sketches (Even the monologue) are connected in some strange way.

List Breakdown

Dan Lambskin 17
Binky 20
Pip's Invitation 26
gr00vus 32
McBokonon 55
Nick Vermeil 59
Dr Octopus 69

I am King **** of **** Mountain.

IYKYK

Just seconds late - literally seconds.