The Best of My Favourite TV Shows
by frogsaroyan | created - 28 Sep 2014 | updated - 10 Dec 2017 | PublicThere's no accounting for taste in all my favourite tv shows, but here are the ones I most recommend based on quality. This isn't a list of the "best" tv shows of all time, just the best of my favourites. I don't include mini-series.
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1. Cracker (1993–1996)
TV-MA | 100 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Dr Edward "Fitz" Fitzgerald is a criminal psychologist. He is rather anti-social and obnoxious but he has a gift for solving crimes. Thus he is employed as a consultant by the Manchester Police.
Stars: Robbie Coltrane, Geraldine Somerville, Kieran O'Brien, Barbara Flynn
Votes: 7,878
The character of Fitz is played errantly and with majestic depravity by Robbie Coltrane, who proves himself the Orson Welles of television crime drama. To me, this show is legendary. Relentlessly challenging and sorrowfully uncomfortable, somehow, above it all, rises some sort of incalculable romance.
2. Jeopardy! (1984– )
TV-G | 30 min | Short, Game-Show, Reality-TV
A returning champion and two challengers test their buzzer skills and their knowledge in a wide range of academic and popular categories.
Stars: Alex Trebek, Johnny Gilbert, Jimmy McGuire, Sarah Whitcomb Foss
Votes: 8,225
This show is psychiatrically soothing. Playing right into our superiority complex as we look down at the "dummies" who didn't know the answer when we did, then keeping us humble whenever we shout our wrong answers at the screen. More than that, it's so damn dependable. This is my "desert island" tv show.
3. Game of Thrones (2011–2019)
TV-MA | 60 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
Nine noble families fight for control over the lands of Westeros, while an ancient enemy returns after being dormant for millennia.
Stars: Emilia Clarke, Peter Dinklage, Kit Harington, Lena Headey
Votes: 2,286,477
The brutality of Game of Thrones sneaks up on you because of how much glee you take in cheering on the endless clashes. It's a show not without its faults, but one *look* at allllllllllllllll those dreamy costumes and I'm hooked. Best tv costumes ever. Peter Dinklage/Tyrion Lannister has captured our hearts.
4. Sesame Street (1969– )
TV-Y | 55 min | Animation, Adventure, Family
On a special inner city street, the inhabitants, human and muppet, teach preschool subjects with comedy, cartoons, games, and songs.
Stars: Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Caroll Spinney, Jerry Nelson
Votes: 15,386
Pre-1989 is where it's at. This is a show that had more funk, heart and soul than everything else on tv put together, ever. The early songs are classic. I still sing them today.
5. Homeland (2011–2020)
TV-MA | 60 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
A bipolar CIA operative becomes convinced a prisoner of war has been turned by al-Qaeda and is planning to carry out a terrorist attack on American soil.
Stars: Claire Danes, Mandy Patinkin, Damian Lewis, Rupert Friend
Votes: 361,050
The chemistry between Claire Danes and Mandy Patinkin is electric. A risky show about risk. There are genuinely terrifying moments in this series, scarier than many horror films.
6. Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990–2000)
TV-PG | 44 min | Drama, Romance
A group of friends living in Beverly Hills, California make their way through life from their school days into adulthood.
Stars: Jason Priestley, Shannen Doherty, Luke Perry, Jennie Garth
Votes: 37,615
7. The Returned (2012–2015)
TV-MA | 418 min | Drama, Fantasy, Horror
In a small French mountain town where everyone knows each other, the dead begin to inexplicably return as if their death never happened. Forcing the townsfolk to confront their difficult past as they seek to understand this phenomenon.
Stars: Anne Consigny, Clotilde Hesme, Frédéric Pierrot, Céline Sallette
Votes: 21,327
8. Little House on the Prairie (1974–1983)
TV-PG | 60 min | Drama, Family, Romance
The life and adventures of the Ingalls family in the nineteenth century American Midwest.
Stars: Melissa Gilbert, Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, Rachel Lindsay Greenbush
Votes: 26,913
9. Sex and the City (1998–2004)
TV-MA | 30 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
Four female New Yorkers gossip about their sex lives (or lack thereof) and find new ways to deal with being a woman in the late 1990s.
Stars: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon
Votes: 143,078
10. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994)
TV-PG | 45 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
Set almost 100 years after Captain Kirk's 5-year mission, a new generation of Starfleet officers sets off in the U.S.S. Enterprise-D on its own mission to go where no one has gone before.
Stars: Patrick Stewart, Brent Spiner, Jonathan Frakes, LeVar Burton
Votes: 136,180
11. Lost (2004–2010)
TV-14 | 5,445 min | Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
The survivors of a plane crash are forced to work together in order to survive on a seemingly deserted tropical island.
Stars: Jorge Garcia, Josh Holloway, Yunjin Kim, Evangeline Lilly
Votes: 595,617
12. The Amazing Race (2001– )
TV-PG | 60 min | Adventure, Family, Reality-TV
Multiple teams race around the globe for $1,000,000 to 'amazing' locations.
Stars: Phil Keoghan, Joyce Agu, Uchenna Agu, Jet McCoy
Votes: 15,543
13. Pond Life (1996–2000)
TV-14 | 30 min | Animation, Comedy
Animated comedy, following the rather self-obsessed Dolly Pond and her quest to live the kind of life she thinks she should be living, while never getting it quite right. Observational, modern humour from Candy Guard.
Stars: Sarah Ann Kennedy, Emma Chambers, Charlotte Mitchell, Brian Murphy
Votes: 153
14. The X-Files (1993–2018)
TV-14 | 45 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Two F.B.I. Agents, Fox Mulder the believer and Dana Scully the skeptic, investigate the strange and unexplained, while hidden forces work to impede their efforts.
Stars: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Mitch Pileggi, William B. Davis
Votes: 250,003
15. American Horror Story (2011– )
TV-MA | 60 min | Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi
An anthology series centering on different characters and locations, showcasing different aspects of horror.
Stars: Lady Gaga, Kathy Bates, Angela Bassett, Sarah Paulson
Votes: 344,149
16. Mad Men (2007–2015)
TV-MA | 45 min | Drama
A drama about one of New York's most prestigious ad agencies at the beginning of the 1960s, focusing on one of the firm's most mysterious but extremely talented ad executives, Donald Draper.
Stars: Jon Hamm, Elisabeth Moss, Vincent Kartheiser, January Jones
Votes: 260,707
17. Astro Boy (1963–1965)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
As long as trouble's brewing across the universe, the small but powerful robot, Astro Boy, will have adventures, assisted by his mentor, Dr. Elefun.
Stars: Billie Lou Watt, Mari Shimizu, Esperanzita Martínez, Ray Owens
Votes: 1,040
18. Avonlea (1990–1996)
TV-G | 60 min | Adventure, Drama, Family
A young girl is sent to live with her late mother's relatives in Prince Edward Island. Set in the early 1900's, the series follows her adventures, as well as that of her family and the town's people as she grows up in Avonlea.
Stars: Zachary Bennett, Lally Cadeau, Mag Ruffman, Cedric Smith
Votes: 4,852
19. Mr. Dressup (1967–1996)
30 min | Family
An amiable man teaches preschool subjects with his puppet friends using games, songs, and the infinite number of costumes inside his tickle trunk.
Stars: Judith Lawrence, Ernie Coombs, Jani Lauzon, Jonathan Whittaker
Votes: 833
20. The Golden Girls (1985–1992)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy, Drama
Four previously married women live together in Miami, sharing their various experiences together and enjoying themselves despite hard times.
Stars: Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, Estelle Getty
Votes: 47,255
21. Top of the Lake (2013–2017)
TV-MA | 750 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Obsessed with the disappearance of a 12-year-old pregnant girl near a freezing lake in New Zealand, a brave detective will find herself up against small-town secrets and a side of herself that was meticulously kept at bay.
Stars: Elisabeth Moss, David Wenham, Peter Mullan, Thomas M. Wright
Votes: 37,732
22. Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown (2013–2018)
TV-PG | 42 min | Documentary, Adventure
Anthony Bourdain visits countries, delving into their political issues as well as indigenous food and culture.
Stars: Anthony Bourdain, Tom Vitale, David Scott Holloway, Eric Ripert
Votes: 6,930
23. The Cosby Show (1984–1992)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy, Family, Romance
The goings-on in the life of a successful African-American family.
Stars: Bill Cosby, Phylicia Rashad, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Tempestt Bledsoe
Votes: 36,374
24. The Ren & Stimpy Show (1991–1996)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Ren, a psychotic Chihuahua, and Stimpson J. Cat, a dimwitted Manx cat who goes by the nickname Stimpy, have a host of unusual adventures.
Stars: John Kricfalusi, Billy West, Harris Peet, Bob Camp
Votes: 24,649
25. Lidia's Italy (2007– )
Lidia Bastianich journeys through Italy to sample local specialties from Rome, Naples, Padua, Sicily, Trieste and Istria. Back in her US kitchen, the warm and engaging host demonstrates 2 ... See full summary »
Stars: Lidia Bastianich, Joe Bastianich, Tanya Bastianich, Fortunato Nicotra
Votes: 70
26. The Bugs Bunny and Tweety Show (1986–2000)
Animation, Family, Comedy
Bugs Bunny, Tweety Bird, and all their cartoon friends, with the exception of Speedy Gonzales, are featured in this long-running series consisting of classic theatrical cartoons, often ... See full summary »
Stars: Mel Blanc, June Foray, Julie Bennett, Jeff Bergman
Votes: 3,498
27. The Good Wife (2009–2016)
TV-14 | 43 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Alicia Florrick has been a good wife to her husband, a former state's attorney. After a very humiliating sex and corruption scandal, he is behind bars. She must now provide for her family and returns to work as a litigator in a law firm.
Stars: Julianna Margulies, Chris Noth, Josh Charles, Matt Czuchry
Votes: 82,797
28. The Hilarious House of Frightenstein (1971– )
60 min | Adventure, Comedy, Family
"The Hilarious House of Frightenstein" was as hosted spooky show aimed at a children's audience.
Stars: Billy Van, Guy Big, Mitch Markowitz, Joe Torbay
Votes: 838
29. The Mindy Project (2012–2017)
TV-14 | 30 min | Comedy
A young Ob/Gyn doctor balances her personal and professional life, surrounded by quirky co-workers in a small office.
Stars: Mindy Kaling, Ike Barinholtz, Ed Weeks, Chris Messina
Votes: 34,957
30. Episodes (2011–2017)
TV-MA | 30 min | Comedy
A couple of British TV producers move to Hollywood to export their most popular series, and find it is not what they expected.
Stars: Matt LeBlanc, Stephen Mangan, Tamsin Greig, John Pankow
Votes: 36,572
31. Wok with Yan (1980– )
Reality-TV
Stephen Yan demonstrates various Chinese food stir-fry recipes prepared on the wok.
Star: Stephen Yan
Votes: 227
32. French in Action (1987– )
TV-G | 30 min | Documentary
This educational series teaches the French language and profiles cultural attributes. No attempt is made to use English in presenting skills and concepts.
Stars: Pierre J. Capretz, Valérie Allain, Charles Mayer, Virginie Contesse
Votes: 167
33. House of Cards (2013–2018)
TV-MA | 50 min | Drama
A Congressman works with his equally conniving wife to exact revenge on the people who betrayed him.
Stars: Kevin Spacey, Michel Gill, Robin Wright, Kate Mara
Votes: 531,078
34. Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries (2012–2015)
TV-PG | 60 min | Crime, Drama, History
A female sleuth sashays through the back lanes and jazz clubs of Melbourne in the late 1920s, fighting injustice with her pearl-handled pistol and her dagger-sharp wit.
Stars: Essie Davis, Nathan Page, Hugo Johnstone-Burt, Ashleigh Cummings
Votes: 17,728
35. The Office (2005–2013)
TV-14 | 22 min | Comedy
A mockumentary on a group of typical office workers, where the workday consists of ego clashes, inappropriate behavior, and tedium.
Stars: Steve Carell, Jenna Fischer, John Krasinski, Rainn Wilson
Votes: 712,580
36. The Office (2001–2003)
TV-MA | 30 min | Comedy, Drama
The story of an office that faces closure when the company decides to downsize its branches. A documentary film crew follow staff and the manager David Brent as they continue their daily lives.
Stars: Ricky Gervais, Martin Freeman, Mackenzie Crook, Lucy Davis
Votes: 123,209
37. The Magical World of Disney (1954–1997)
TV-G | 120 min | Adventure, Drama, Family
A Disney-produced anthology covering many different genres.
Stars: Walt Disney, Paul Frees, Clarence Nash, Slim Pickens
Votes: 2,292
38. Lady Chatterley (1993)
Unrated | 205 min | Drama, Romance
A young woman's husband returns wounded after the First World War. Facing a life with a husband now incapable of sexual activity she begins an affair with the groundskeeper.
Stars: Joely Richardson, Sean Bean, James Wilby, Shirley Anne Field
Votes: 1,877
39. Gilmore Girls (2000–2007)
TV-PG | 44 min | Comedy, Drama
A dramedy centering around the relationship between a thirtysomething single mother and her teen daughter living in Stars Hollow, Connecticut.
Stars: Lauren Graham, Alexis Bledel, Keiko Agena, Scott Patterson
Votes: 148,212
40. A Year in Provence (1993)
360 min | Biography, Comedy, Drama
Based on the 1989 best-selling memoir of the same name by Peter Mayle about his first year in Provence, and the local events and customs.
Stars: John Thaw, Lindsay Duncan, Jean-Pierre Delage, Jo Doumerg
Votes: 480
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