Top 50 TV Series Of All-Time

by metsfan28 | created - 02 Oct 2010 | updated - 19 Jan 2011 | Public
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1. 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: 594,798

2. Battlestar Galactica (2004–2009)

TV-14 | 45 min | Action, Adventure, Drama

When an old enemy, the Cylons, resurface and obliterate the 12 colonies, the crew of the aged Galactica protect a small civilian fleet - the last of humanity - as they journey toward the fabled 13th colony, Earth.

Stars: Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Jamie Bamber, James Callis

Votes: 175,493

3. 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: 710,632

4. The West Wing (1999–2006)

TV-14 | 42 min | Drama

Inside the lives of staffers in the West Wing of the White House.

Stars: Martin Sheen, Rob Lowe, Allison Janney, John Spencer

Votes: 85,518

5. Jericho (2006–2008)

TV-14 | 45 min | Action, Drama, Mystery

A small town in Kansas is literally left in the dark after seeing a mushroom cloud over nearby Denver, Colorado. The townspeople struggle to find answers about the blast and solutions on how to survive.

Stars: Skeet Ulrich, Lennie James, Ashley Scott, Kenneth Mitchell

Votes: 58,726

6. Friday Night Lights (2006–2011)

TV-14 | 45 min | Drama, Sport

A drama that follows the lives of the Dillon Panthers, one of the nation's best high school football teams, and their head coach Eric Taylor.

Stars: Kyle Chandler, Connie Britton, Zach Gilford, Aimee Teegarden

Votes: 72,447

7. 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: 123,107

8. Into the West (2005)

TV-14 | 92 min | Adventure, Drama, Romance

Tales from the American West in the 19th century, told from the perspective of two families, one of white settlers and one of Native Americans.

Stars: Joseph M. Marshall, Irene Bedard, Gil Birmingham, John Terry

Votes: 7,553

9. Virtuality (2009 TV Movie)

87 min | Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Spaceship crew members start dying because of an unknown defect in a virtual-reality device.

Director: Peter Berg | Stars: Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Kerry Bishé, Joy Bryant, Jose Pablo Cantillo

Votes: 4,220

10. Chuck (2007–2012)

TV-14 | 43 min | Action, Comedy, Drama

When a computer geek inadvertently downloads critical government secrets into his brain, both the CIA and the NSA assign an agent to protect him and exploit his newfound skills.

Stars: Zachary Levi, Yvonne Strahovski, Joshua Gomez, Vik Sahay

Votes: 146,794

11. Kings (2009)

TV-14 | 60 min | Drama, Sci-Fi

A modern day, alternate-reality drama about a hero who rises to become the King of his nation, based on the biblical story of King David.

Stars: Ian McShane, Christopher Egan, Susanna Thompson, Allison Miller

Votes: 8,729

12. Entourage (2004–2011)

TV-MA | 28 min | Comedy, Drama

Film star, Vince Chase, navigates the vapid terrain of Los Angeles with a close circle of friends and his trusty agent.

Stars: Kevin Connolly, Adrian Grenier, Kevin Dillon, Jerry Ferrara

Votes: 176,786

13. Man vs. Wild (2006–2020)

TV-PG | 60 min | Adventure, Reality-TV

Bear Grylls travels the world in search of challenges to his survival skills.

Stars: Bear Grylls, Chris Kratt, Will Ferrell, Joe Rest

Votes: 23,268

14. Survivorman (2004– )

TV-14 | 44 min | Documentary, Adventure

No food, no shelter, no fresh water - one man alone in the wild for seven days with only his wits and stamina to sustain him.

Stars: Les Stroud, Logan Stroud, Todd Standing, Sam Omik

Votes: 6,718

15. Scrubs (2001–2010)

TV-14 | 22 min | Comedy, Drama

In the unreal world of Sacred Heart Hospital, intern John "J.D." Dorian learns the ways of medicine, friendship and life.

Stars: Zach Braff, Donald Faison, Sarah Chalke, John C. McGinley

Votes: 270,573

16. Rome (2005–2007)

TV-MA | 60 min | Action, Drama, Romance

A down-to-earth account of the lives of both illustrious and ordinary Romans set in the last days of the Roman Republic.

Stars: Kevin McKidd, Ray Stevenson, Polly Walker, Kerry Condon

Votes: 185,256

17. 24 (2001–2010)

TV-14 | 44 min | Action, Crime, Drama

Counter Terrorism Agent Jack Bauer races against the clock to subvert terrorist plots and save his nation from ultimate disaster.

Stars: Kiefer Sutherland, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Carlos Bernard, Dennis Haysbert

Votes: 196,975

18. The Walking Dead (2010–2022)

TV-MA | 45 min | Drama, Horror, Thriller

Sheriff Deputy Rick Grimes wakes up from a coma to learn the world is in ruins and must lead a group of survivors to stay alive.

Stars: Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, Melissa McBride, Lauren Cohan

Votes: 1,081,263

19. Rubicon (2010)

TV-14 | 45 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery

Will Travers is an analyst at a New York City-based federal intelligence agency who is thrown into a story where nothing is as it appears to be.

Stars: James Badge Dale, Jessica Ann Collins, Lauren Hodges, Dallas Roberts

Votes: 11,088

20. Modern Family (2009–2020)

TV-PG | 22 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

Three different, but related, families face trials and tribulations in their own uniquely comedic ways.

Stars: Ed O'Neill, Sofía Vergara, Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell

Votes: 483,114

21. Damages (2007–2012)

TV-MA | 60 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery

A law school graduate becomes the protégée of a successful high-stakes litigator.

Stars: Glenn Close, Rose Byrne, Tate Donovan, Zachary Booth

Votes: 31,592

22. Walking with Dinosaurs (1999)

TV-14 | 30 min | Documentary, Animation, History

Documentary-style series about the era of the dinosaurs, mixing real locations and CGI.

Stars: Nikolay Drozdov, Kenneth Branagh, Avery Brooks, Craig Sechler

Votes: 6,874

23. The Daily Show (1996– )

TV-14 | 22 min | Comedy, News, Talk-Show

A comedy news show featuring humorous takes on top stories.

Stars: Jon Stewart, Trevor Noah, Stephen Colbert, Roy Wood Jr.

Votes: 48,180

24. By the People: The Election of Barack Obama (2009)

116 min | Documentary

Nearly a year before Barack Obama announced his candidacy for the presidency, two filmmakers began to roll cameras on the young senator. Over the next 19 months, across the USA, the daily events of the presidential campaign are chronicled.

Directors: Amy Rice, Alicia Sams | Stars: Barack Obama, Neil Abercrombie, Dick Armey, David Axelrod

Votes: 1,151

25. Destination Truth (2007–2012)

TV-14 | 60 min | Reality-TV

A globe-trekking reality show that follows Josh Gates around the world as he explores different sites of supernatural import.

Stars: Josh Gates, Gabriel Copeland, Mike Morrell, Erin Ryder

Votes: 3,174

26. Sherlock (2010–2017)

TV-14 | 90 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery

The quirky spin on Conan Doyle's iconic sleuth pitches him as a "high-functioning sociopath" in modern-day London. Assisting him in his investigations: Afghanistan War vet John Watson, who's introduced to Holmes by a mutual acquaintance.

Stars: Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman, Una Stubbs, Rupert Graves

Votes: 997,468

27. America: The Story of the US (2010)

Documentary, History

Why did the United States become a global superpower? America The Story of Us is an epic 12-hour television event that explores the country's remarkable journey.

Stars: Daniel Webb, Liev Schreiber, Tom Brokaw, James Meigs

Votes: 1,966

28. Lone Star (2010)

60 min | Drama

A FOX series that was cancelled after the second episode that involves a con man who lives a double life. He's married to two different women in two different Texas towns.

Stars: James Wolk, Adrianne Palicki, Eloise Mumford, David Keith

Votes: 904

29. Parks and Recreation (2009–2015)

TV-14 | 22 min | Comedy

The absurd antics of an Indiana town's public officials as they pursue sundry projects to make their city a better place.

Stars: Amy Poehler, Jim O'Heir, Nick Offerman, Chris Pratt

Votes: 287,826

30. Fringe (2008–2013)

TV-14 | 46 min | Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi

An F.B.I. agent is forced to work with an institutionalized scientist and his son in order to rationalize a brewing storm of unexplained phenomena.

Stars: Anna Torv, Joshua Jackson, John Noble, Jasika Nicole

Votes: 257,400

31. The Good Guys (2010)

TV-14 | 60 min | Action, Comedy

Jack is a by-the-book detective whose habit of undermining himself has resulted in a dead-end position with the Police Dept. His partner Dan, a drunken, lecherous veteran hangs onto his job only because of one heroic act years ago.

Stars: Bradley Whitford, Colin Hanks, Jenny Wade, Diana Maria Riva

Votes: 7,573

32. Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog (2008)

TV-PG | 42 min | Short, Comedy, Musical

An aspiring supervillain must balance his career and his pursuit of a beautiful do-gooder.

Stars: Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Fillion, Felicia Day, Simon Helberg

Votes: 44,242

33. The Colbert Report (2005–2014)

TV-14 | 30 min | Comedy, News, Talk-Show

Satirical newscaster Stephen Colbert provides humorous commentary on the big issues going on in the United States and the rest of the world, with his larger-than-life ego and overly-patriotic spirit along with him every step of the way.

Stars: Stephen Colbert, Jay Katsir, Jon Stewart, Paul Dinello

Votes: 39,167

34. Star Wars: Clone Wars (2003–2005)

TV-Y7 | 6 min | Animation, Action, Adventure

The events and battles of the Galactic Republic's last major war are recounted.

Stars: Mat Lucas, James Arnold Taylor, André Sogliuzzo, Grey Griffin

Votes: 28,900

35. The National Parks: America's Best Idea (2009)

690 min | Documentary, History

The history of the U.S. National Parks system, including the initial ideas which led to the world's first national parks and the expansion of the system over 150 years.

Stars: Peter Coyote, William Cronon, Dayton Duncan, Shelton Johnson

Votes: 1,947

36. Boardwalk Empire (2010–2014)

TV-MA | 60 min | Crime, Drama

An Atlantic City politician plays both sides of the law by conspiring with gangsters during the Prohibition era.

Stars: Steve Buscemi, Kelly Macdonald, Michael Shannon, Shea Whigham

Votes: 203,074

37. Prison Break (2005–2017)

TV-14 | 44 min | Action, Crime, Drama

A structural engineer installs himself in a prison he helped design, in order to save his falsely accused brother from a death sentence by breaking themselves out from the inside.

Stars: Dominic Purcell, Wentworth Miller, Amaury Nolasco, Robert Knepper

Votes: 579,048

38. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990–1996)

TV-PG | 22 min | Comedy

A streetwise, poor young man from Philadelphia is sent by his mother to live with his aunt, uncle and cousins in their Bel-Air mansion.

Stars: Will Smith, James Avery, Alfonso Ribeiro, Tatyana Ali

Votes: 144,602

39. Whose Line Is It Anyway? (1998–2007)

TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy, Game-Show

Improvisational comedy competition show in which four members of the regular cast as comedians and often with guest appearances with other comedians and celebrities and members of the audience perform various comic games and sketches.

Stars: Drew Carey, Colin Mochrie, Ryan Stiles, Laura Hall

Votes: 46,378

40. Community (2009–2015)

TV-14 | 22 min | Comedy

A suspended lawyer is forced to enroll in a community college with an eccentric staff and student body.

Stars: Joel McHale, Danny Pudi, Donald Glover, Chevy Chase

Votes: 293,318

41. Wallander (2008–2016)

TV-PG | 90 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery

Unable to unsee the dark crimes he's tasked to investigate, Wallander's job comes at a cost to his family and relationships.

Stars: Kenneth Branagh, Richard McCabe, Jeany Spark, Sarah Smart

Votes: 16,481

42. Man v. Food (2008– )

TV-G | 30 min | Reality-TV

Host Adam Richman (and subsequently Casey Webb) travels around the U.S., taking on a variety of local eating challenges involving meal size, spiciness and other daunting factors.

Stars: Adam Richman, Casey Webb, Gladys Knight, Andrew Zimmern

Votes: 7,432

43. The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien (2009–2010)

TV-14 | 62 min | Comedy, Music, Talk-Show

Opening monologues, sketches, celebrity interviews, and musical performances are commonly featured.

Stars: Conan O'Brien, The Tonight Show Band, Andy Richter, Jimmy Vivino

Votes: 9,021

44. United States of Tara (2009–2011)

TV-MA | 30 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

A woman struggles to find a balance between her dissociative identity disorder and raising a dysfunctional family.

Stars: Toni Collette, John Corbett, Rosemarie DeWitt, Keir Gilchrist

Votes: 25,161

45. 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: 52,701

46. Spartacus (2010–2013)

TV-MA | 60 min | Action, Adventure, Biography

The life of Spartacus, the gladiator who lead a rebellion against the Romans. From his time as an ally of the Romans, to his betrayal and becoming a gladiator, to the rebellion he leads and its ultimate outcome.

Stars: Andy Whitfield, Lucy Lawless, Manu Bennett, Daniel Feuerriegel

Votes: 256,875

47. I Shouldn't Be Alive (2005–2012)

TV-PG | 60 min | Documentary, Biography, Drama

Re-enactments of real-life tales of human survival against the savage elements, dangerous climates and physical hazards.

Stars: Eric Meyers, Paul McGann, Zam Baring, Ian Porter

Votes: 2,335

48. The Triangle (2005)

Not Rated | 85 min | Action, Adventure, Drama

A shipping magnate hires four experts from various fields to investigate what happened to his ships that went missing in the Bermuda Triangle. The team discovers a threat that might unravel time itself and cause the world to end.

Stars: Eric Stoltz, Catherine Bell, Lou Diamond Phillips, Bruce Davison

Votes: 9,769

49. Justified (2010–2015)

TV-MA | 45 min | Action, Crime, Drama

Enforcing his own brand of justice, U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens, a strong-willed, quiet law-man haunted by his past, returns to his native town to see that justice is served to those in need.

Stars: Timothy Olyphant, Nick Searcy, Joelle Carter, Jacob Pitts

Votes: 118,609

50. Bored to Death (2009–2011)

TV-MA | 28 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama

A well-meaning but struggling writer decides to lead a sort of double life by pretending to be a private detective using the methods he read about in old detective novels.

Stars: Jason Schwartzman, Zach Galifianakis, Ted Danson, Heather Burns

Votes: 34,607



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