A Best of Television: The Early Years
by AltonMann | created - 01 Dec 2011 | updated - 4 months ago | PublicWith the advent of DVDs and Netflix streaming, you can finally enjoy the best television has ever had to offer without commercial interruption and at your own pace. Obviously, there are plenty of omissions (but you are already aware of your own personal favorites) and not every episode of any series deserves your time and attention. There are late bloomers like Miami Vice (Season 3) and Rockford Files (Season 2) where you can skip the earliest seasons with minimum loss. Other shows peak early and hang around far too long. Saturday Night Live, West Wing and Gilmore Girls continued after the creative force behind them (that is the principal performers or writers ) had departed. Then there are brilliant shows which rarely miss like Homicide and The Wire. If movies are coming up dry for you or you'd enjoy a change of pace, try one of these TV series. And don't be afraid to dip into the black & white 30 minute shows of the 50s. Sadly, there are fine shows that have still not surfaced either on DVD or streaming: 77 Sunset Strip, Maverick, Lou Grant and Shannon's Deal are good examples. Happy hunting!
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1. Your Show of Shows (1950–1954)
90 min | Comedy
Best remembered by its posterior title, Your Show of Shows, this live variety show included comedy sketches with TV pioneers Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca.
Stars: Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Felisa Vanoff, Carl Reiner
Votes: 368
2. I Love Lucy (1951–1957)
TV-Y | 30 min | Comedy, Family
The wife of a band leader constantly tries to become a star - in spite of her having no talent, and gets herself (along with her best friend) into the funniest predicaments.
Stars: Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, William Frawley
Votes: 28,943
3. The Honeymooners (1955–1956)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy, Family
A bus driver and his sewer worker friend struggle to strike it rich while their wives look on with weary patience.
Stars: Jackie Gleason, Art Carney, Audrey Meadows, Joyce Randolph
Votes: 6,235
4. Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955–1962)
TV-14 | 25 min | Drama, Mystery
Series of unrelated short stories covering elements of crime, horror, drama, and comedy about people of different backgrounds committing murders, suicides, thefts, and other sorts of crime caused by certain motivations, perceived or not.
Stars: Alfred Hitchcock, Harry Tyler, John Williams, Patricia Hitchcock
Votes: 19,338
5. Have Gun - Will Travel (1957–1963)
Approved | 25 min | Western
The adventures of a gentlemanly gunfighter-for-hire.
Stars: Richard Boone, Kam Tong, Hal Needham, Stewart East
Votes: 3,335
6. Maverick (1957–1962)
TV-14 | 60 min | Western
Bret and Bart Maverick are well-dressed gamblers who migrate from town to town always looking for a good game.
Stars: Jack Kelly, James Garner, Roger Moore, Lane Chandler
Votes: 3,628
7. Naked City (1958–1963)
TV-14 | 60 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
The cases of the N.Y.P.D.'s 65th Precinct.
Stars: Harry Bellaver, Horace McMahon, Paul Burke, Nancy Malone
Votes: 1,434
8. 77 Sunset Strip (1958–1964)
TV-PG | 60 min | Action, Crime, Drama
Stu Bailey and Jeff Spencer are the wisecracking, womanizing private-detective heroes of this Warner Brothers drama.
Stars: Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Edd Byrnes, Roger Smith, Jacqueline Beer
Votes: 1,636
9. Peter Gunn (1958–1961)
TV-14 | 30 min | Action, Crime, Drama
Peter Gunn is a private detective with a knack for finding trouble. His cases often mean he runs into the shadiest characters, most vicious thugs and the most powerful crime bosses. Cool and resourceful, he always gets the guilty party.
Stars: Craig Stevens, Herschel Bernardi, Lola Albright, Bill Chadney
Votes: 1,657
10. The Twilight Zone (1959–1964)
TV-PG | 50 min | Drama, Fantasy, Horror
Ordinary people find themselves in extraordinarily astounding situations, which they each try to solve in a remarkable manner.
Stars: Rod Serling, Robert McCord, Jay Overholts, James Turley
Votes: 93,253
11. The Avengers (1961–1969)
TV-14 | 50 min | Action, Comedy, Crime
A quirky spy show of the adventures of eccentrically suave British Agent John Steed and his predominantly female partners.
Stars: Patrick Macnee, Diana Rigg, Honor Blackman, Linda Thorson
Votes: 8,897
12. The Prisoner (1967–1968)
TV-PG | 1,010 min | Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi
After he resigns, a secret agent is abducted and taken to what looks like an idyllic village, but is actually a bizarre prison. He refuses to give his warders information while attempting to escape.
Stars: Patrick McGoohan, Angelo Muscat, Peter Swanwick, Peter Brace
Votes: 15,057
13. It Takes a Thief (1968–1970)
TV-PG | 51 min | Action, Adventure, Crime
The adventures of suave cat burglar Alexander Mundy, who plies his trade for the U.S. Government.
Stars: Robert Wagner, Fred Astaire, Malachi Throne, Murray Pollack
Votes: 2,197
14. Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969–1974)
TV-14 | 30 min | Comedy
The original surreal sketch comedy showcase for the Monty Python troupe.
Stars: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle
Votes: 78,833
15. The Rockford Files (1974–1980)
TV-PG | 50 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
The cases of an easy-going ex-convict turned private investigator.
Stars: James Garner, Noah Beery Jr., Joe Santos, Luis Delgado
Votes: 10,889
16. Fawlty Towers (1975–1979)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
Hotel owner Basil Fawlty's incompetence, short fuse, and arrogance form a combination that ensures accidents and trouble are never far away.
Stars: John Cleese, Prunella Scales, Andrew Sachs, Connie Booth
Votes: 100,228
17. Saturday Night Live (1975– )
TV-14 | 90 min | Comedy, Music
A famous guest host stars in parodies and sketches created by the cast of this witty show.
Stars: The Saturday Night Live Band, Don Pardo, Darrell Hammond, Kenan Thompson
Votes: 52,774
18. SCTV (1976–1981)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
The staff of Melonville's TV station put on programming that is unique in its own silly way.
Stars: Joe Flaherty, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Dave Thomas
Votes: 2,885
19. The Muppet Show (1976–1981)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy, Family, Musical
Kermit the Frog and his fellow Muppets put on a vaudeville show at their theatre, bringing in a famous celebrity to help out for each episode.
Stars: Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz
Votes: 26,249
20. Lou Grant (1977–1982)
TV-PG | 60 min | Crime, Drama
The trials of a former television station manager, turned newspaper city editor, and his journalist staff.
Stars: Edward Asner, Robert Walden, Mason Adams, Jack Bannon
Votes: 2,407
21. Miami Vice (1984–1989)
TV-14 | 48 min | Action, Crime, Drama
-Resplendent with authentic 1980s music, fashion, and vibe, "Miami Vice" follows two undercover detectives and their extended team through the mean streets of Miami, Florida.
Stars: Don Johnson, Philip Michael Thomas, Saundra Santiago, Olivia Brown
Votes: 30,242
22. Wiseguy (1987–1990)
TV-14 | 60 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Vincent Terranova is an agent with the Organized Crime Bureau infiltrating dangerous criminal organizations, struggling to remain true to himself while becoming close to the criminal leaders he is sworn to bring down.
Stars: Jonathan Banks, Jim Byrnes, Ken Wahl, Dwight Koss
Votes: 2,923
23. The Newsroom (1996–2005)
TV-14 | 22 min | Comedy, Drama
Resuscitation of the acclaimed 1996-97 series that picks up nearly a decade later. We again follow the exploits of George Findlay in this biting satire of the day-to-day operations of the mainstream news media.
Stars: Ken Finkleman, Peter Keleghan, Karen Hines, Matt Watts
Votes: 581
24. Homicide: Life on the Street (1993–1999)
TV-14 | 60 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
An American police procedural television series chronicling the work of a fictional version of the Baltimore Police Department's Homicide Unit.
Stars: Richard Belzer, Clark Johnson, Yaphet Kotto, Kyle Secor
Votes: 14,203
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