# ...and the best TV show in the history of the universe is: **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 2, 2011, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-best-tv-show-in-the-history-of-the-universe-is/587583 "2011-07-02T00:28:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2011, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-best-tv-show-in-the-history-of-the-universe-is/587583/1 "2011-07-02T00:28:44Z")
I was watching an episode of a show the other day and this notion hit me: this is the best show in the history of television. I didn’t pose it to myself as a question, a possibility, or even a probability. I knew it in my bones, I knew (know) it as fact. I have seen lot of great television, but this is the very first time I ever articulated such a statement. Such a thought, of course, is entirely subjective; most will disagree with me. But for me, the statement stands as Truth. As for the poll, I’ve tried to compile a list of programs that I believe others may have such feelings for. I’ve overlooked some, to be sure, but I think this list is pretty comprehensive. Go ahead and use the ‘other’ option, but please make your case. I will reveal which show had this profound effect on me after there are some responses. mmm ---
**Author:** ![pope\_hentai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@pope\_hentai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pope_hentai)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2011, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-best-tv-show-in-the-history-of-the-universe-is/587583/2 "2011-07-02T00:30:00Z")
LEXX. ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2011, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-best-tv-show-in-the-history-of-the-universe-is/587583/3 "2011-07-02T00:36:43Z")
Dont’ see a poll. Mad Men is the best-made, best-written show I’ve ever seen. Doctor Who is better. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2011, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-best-tv-show-in-the-history-of-the-universe-is/587583/4 "2011-07-02T00:48:43Z")
Buffy, Firefly, Community, and 30 Rock. In that order. Honorable mention: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2011, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-best-tv-show-in-the-history-of-the-universe-is/587583/5 "2011-07-02T00:50:35Z")
> [@Hades](#): > > Buffy, Firefly, Community, and 30 Rock. In that order. > > Honorable mention: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Dang, forgot 30 Rock. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2011, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-best-tv-show-in-the-history-of-the-universe-is/587583/6 "2011-07-02T00:56:19Z")
Other: _Deadwood_ ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2011, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-best-tv-show-in-the-history-of-the-universe-is/587583/7 "2011-07-02T01:03:37Z")
some of the shows were revived and the original far better than the remake. no distinguishing in the poll. also hard to compare comedies with dramas. ---
**Author:** ![Feyrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/fbc32d/32.png) [@Feyrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feyrat)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2011, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-best-tv-show-in-the-history-of-the-universe-is/587583/8 "2011-07-02T01:05:38Z")
Pushing Daisies is not on here. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2011, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-best-tv-show-in-the-history-of-the-universe-is/587583/9 "2011-07-02T01:05:53Z")
Curb Your Enthusiasm ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2011, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-best-tv-show-in-the-history-of-the-universe-is/587583/10 "2011-07-02T01:11:41Z")
> [@Southern\_Yankee](#): > > Other: _Deadwood_ Deadwood is on there, Yankee. > [@johnpost](#): > > some of the shows were revived and the original far better than the remake. no distinguishing in the poll. Such as?? > [@johnpost](#): > > …hard to compare comedies with dramas. You are not understanding the question. Read the OP. > [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > Curb Your Enthusiasm :smack: mmm ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2011, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-best-tv-show-in-the-history-of-the-universe-is/587583/11 "2011-07-02T01:12:53Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Deadwood is on there, Yankee. Fuckin’ Wu! (How did I miss that?) ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2011, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-best-tv-show-in-the-history-of-the-universe-is/587583/12 "2011-07-02T01:14:24Z")
You left out The Rockford Files. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2011, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-best-tv-show-in-the-history-of-the-universe-is/587583/13 "2011-07-02T01:29:10Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > You left out The Rockford Files. Interesting. I’ve never really seen it and would not have considered it, but I’ll take your word for it. mmm ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2011, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-best-tv-show-in-the-history-of-the-universe-is/587583/14 "2011-07-02T01:35:08Z")
Though this is an excellent list, there are a few missing that would have been among my top choices for “this is the best thing I’ve seen” depending on my mood. I don’t think I would be able to choose among them, really. _Yes Minister / Yes Prime Minister_ (a brilliant UK comedy) _Roseanne_ (seasons 1 - 5, at least) _The Good Life_ (another UK comedy, full of warmth, heart, and wit) _I, Claudius_ (yes, it’s a 13-episode mini-series, but genius television nonetheless) I know many who would make a case for _Sports Night_, too. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2011, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-best-tv-show-in-the-history-of-the-universe-is/587583/15 "2011-07-02T01:36:41Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > some of the shows were revived and the original far better than the remake. no distinguishing in the poll. This comment continues to baffle me. I specified Battlestar Galactica was the 2003 version. I specified Dr. Who as the 2005 incarnation. I noted the Letterman show was his NBC program. I gave the titles of the two Star Trek series I included. I Identified Johnny Carson as the host of my Tonight Show entry. I even differentiated between the U.S. and U.K. versions of The Office, and included both. Was there a remake of Seinfeld with which I am unfamiliar? mmm ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2011, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-best-tv-show-in-the-history-of-the-universe-is/587583/16 "2011-07-02T01:37:17Z")
Clearly the poll is flawed: **Metalocalypse** isn’t even listed. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2011, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-best-tv-show-in-the-history-of-the-universe-is/587583/17 "2011-07-02T01:39:46Z")
Ahhhh, finally someone voted for the show that got me excited enough to construct this poll: The Wire. mmm ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2011, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-best-tv-show-in-the-history-of-the-universe-is/587583/18 "2011-07-02T01:40:20Z")
_Sports Night_ - it was _West Wing_ with an even better cast, and without the politics. (It wasn’t about Sports, either.) ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2011, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-best-tv-show-in-the-history-of-the-universe-is/587583/19 "2011-07-02T01:44:45Z")
I voted **The Wire**. All due respect to **Deadwood, The Sopranos, Breaking Bad, Mad Men, Arrested Development, Seinfeld** , etc., but **The Wire** blows them all out of the water. And I have never in my life understood the love for **M_A_S_H_**. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2011, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-best-tv-show-in-the-history-of-the-universe-is/587583/20 "2011-07-02T02:07:02Z")
I love The Wire, but the best show in the history of the universe is Six Feet Under. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-best-tv-show-in-the-history-of-the-universe-is/587583.md?page=2)