Time Magazine's All-TIME TV Shows (1923-2007)
"First, I apologize. I know I left some of your favorite shows off this list. How do I know that? Because I left some of my favorite shows off this list. The happy and unfortunate fact is that there are far more than 100 great shows, and more created every year. Lists are incredibly important: they are how we define what matters to us, what we want entertainment and art to do, what we expect of our culture." —TIME TV critic James Poniewozik
List activity
19K views
• 51 this weekCreate a new list
List your movie, TV & celebrity picks.
99 titles
- StarsBud AbbottLou CostelloSid FieldsBud and Lou are unemployed actors living in Mr. Fields' boarding house. Lou's girlfriend Hillary lives across the hall. Any premise would lead to slapstick, puns, lots of gimmicks from their movies.
- StarsJim McKayHoward CosellMuhammad AliABC's weekend extravaganzas about everything that can be called a sports event.
- StarsAlfred HitchcockHarry TylerLillian O'MalleyStories of terror, horror and suspense presented by Alfred Hitchcock.
- CreatorNorman LearStarsCarroll O'ConnorJean StapletonRob ReinerA working class man constantly squabbles with his family over the important issues of the day.
- StarsPatricia LoudBill LoudLance LoudFollows the real lives of the Loud family, a motley group of suburbanites.
- CreatorSimon FullerStarsRyan SeacrestMark ThompsonRandy JacksonTwelve American finalists (six men and six women) compete in a singing contest.
- CreatorMitchell HurwitzStarsJason BatemanMichael CeraPortia de RossiLevel-headed son Michael Bluth takes over family affairs after his father is imprisoned. But the rest of his spoiled, dysfunctional family are making his job unbearable.
- CreatorGlen A. LarsonRonald D. MooreStarsEdward James OlmosMary McDonnellJamie BamberWhen 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.
- CreatorMike JudgeStarsMike JudgeKristofor BrownDale RevoThe show is about two slow-witted teenagers Beavis and Butt-Head and their everyday exploits, including trying to get laid (or "score," as they like to call it), breaking things, pulling pranks, skipping school and watching TV.
- CreatorDavid DavisLorenzo MusicStarsBob NewhartSuzanne PleshetteBill DailyThe professional and personal misadventures of a psychologist and his family, patients, friends and colleagues.
- StarsJeremy IronsDiana QuickRoger MilnerThe life, friendships and romances of the protagonist Charles Ryder-including his friendship with the Flytes, a family of wealthy English Catholics who live in a palatial mansion called Brideshead Castle.
- CreatorTom PatchettJay TarsesStarsDabney ColemanJoanna CassidyMax WrightEgotistical Buffalo TV host Bill Bittinger bullies crew and guests, driving station manager Karl Shub mad with lawsuits. Only director Jo Jo White stands up to Bill's tantrums as he fails to break into bigger markets.
- CreatorJoss WhedonStarsSarah Michelle GellarNicholas BrendonAlyson HanniganA young woman, destined to slay vampires, demons and other infernal creatures, deals with her life fighting evil, with the help of her friends.
- StarsCarol BurnettVicki LawrenceThe Ernie Flatt DancersLegendary long-running television variety show featuring skits and songs by Carol Burnett, her comedy troupe, and their celebrity guests. Stars Carol Burnett, Vicki Lawrence, Harvey Korman, Lyle Waggoner, and Tim Conway.
- StarsWalter CronkiteRoger MuddCharles KuraltIn 1962, the veteran news anchor Douglas Edwards was replaced with Walter Cronkite. The news show initially used the title "Walter Cronkite with the News", but was soon re-titled to "CBS Evening News". It was the first half-hour weeknight news broadcast on network television. The show dominated the ratings among the network evening news programs for nearly two decades, and Cronkite became known as "the most trusted man in America" (after being given this title in a poll). Cronkite faced mandatory retirement in March 1981, at the age of 65. He was soon replaced by a younger news anchor, Dan Rather.
- DirectorBill MelendezStarsAnn AltieriChris DoranSally DryerDepressed at the commercialism he sees around him, Charlie Brown tries to find a deeper meaning to Christmas.
- CreatorJames BurrowsGlen CharlesLes CharlesStarsTed DansonRhea PerlmanJohn RatzenbergerThe regulars of the Boston bar "Cheers" share their experiences and lives with each other while drinking or working at the bar where everybody knows your name.
- CreatorMichael LeesonStarsBill CosbyPhylicia RashadMalcolm-Jamal WarnerThe goings-on in the life of a successful African-American family.
- CreatorMadeleine SmithbergLizz WinsteadStarsJon StewartTrevor NoahStephen ColbertA comedy news show featuring humorous takes on top stories.
- CreatorDavid JacobsStarsLarry HagmanKen KerchevalPatrick DuffyJ.R. Ewing, a Texas oil baron, uses manipulation and blackmail to achieve his ambitions, both business and personal. He often comes into conflict with his brother Bobby, his arch-enemy Cliff Barnes and his long-suffering wife Sue Ellen.
- DirectorNicholas MeyerStarsJason RobardsJoBeth WilliamsSteve GuttenbergThe effects of a devastating nuclear holocaust on small-town residents of eastern Kansas.
- CreatorDavid MilchStarsTimothy OlyphantIan McShaneMolly ParkerA show set in the late 1800s, revolving around the characters of Deadwood, South Dakota; a town of deep corruption and crime.
- CreatorCarl ReinerStarsDick Van DykeMary Tyler MooreRose MarieThe misadventures of a TV writer both at work and at home.
- CreatorJack WebbStarsJack WebbHal GibneyBen AlexanderFollows Sergeant Joe Friday of the Los Angels Police Department (LAPD) and his various partners as they methodically investigate a different verity of crimes in Los Angeles, California.
- StarsEd SullivanThe Ray Bloch OrchestraRay BlochThe classic prime time variety show most famous for its vaudeville acts and rock music performances.