# Best TV series of all time, ranked **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 3, 2004, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-series-of-all-time-ranked/262938 "2004-09-03T09:55:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-series-of-all-time-ranked/262938/21 "2004-09-03T13:28:33Z")
In order: 1. West Wing 2. Hill Street Blues 3. The Twilight Zone 4. Star Trek 5. Columbo ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-series-of-all-time-ranked/262938/22 "2004-09-03T13:42:23Z")
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy/ Smiley’s People (bleak spy series starring Alec Guinness) Callan (bleak spy series starring Edward Woodward) The Singing Detective Edge of Darkness I Claudius ---
**Author:** ![Dancer\_Flight](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dancer_flight/32/7601_2.png) [@Dancer\_Flight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dancer_Flight)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-series-of-all-time-ranked/262938/23 "2004-09-03T14:01:30Z")
1. West Wing (first 4 seasons) 2. Babylon 5 3. Firefly 4. Homicide: Life on the Streets 5. Buffy the Vampire Slayer 6. CSI 7. Gilmore Girls -DF ---
**Author:** ![Jamlad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b77776/32.png) [@Jamlad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamlad)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-series-of-all-time-ranked/262938/24 "2004-09-03T14:28:59Z")
I really like these three: 1. Action 2. Six Feet Under 3. Millennium ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-series-of-all-time-ranked/262938/25 "2004-09-03T14:43:39Z")
**Babylon 5 Firefly Hill Street Blues The Twilight Zone Buffy The Vampire Slayer** ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-series-of-all-time-ranked/262938/26 "2004-09-03T14:49:00Z")
I don’t watch many dramas, so I’ll go with the odd combination of: Magnum, p.i. Buffy/Angel and Mission: Impossible These are the only shows I’m willing to watch at any time. Mission: Impossible saved my sanity when I was taking a class in intensive Greek. ---
**Author:** ![Kaspar\_Hauser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b3f665/32.png) [@Kaspar\_Hauser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaspar_Hauser)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-series-of-all-time-ranked/262938/27 "2004-09-03T15:18:39Z")
1. I, Claudius 2. The Sopranos 3. Freaks and Geeks 4. The Prisoner 5. The original Star Trek ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-series-of-all-time-ranked/262938/28 "2004-09-03T16:14:28Z")
1. Buffy 2. Farscape 3. CSI 4. 24 5. Keen Eddie ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-series-of-all-time-ranked/262938/29 "2004-09-03T16:35:33Z")
This is tough. Some series that I rememeber fondly, watching as a teen, don’t hold up too well with time. I got **The Prisoner** on DVD and though the concept is still interesting, it hasn’t aged all that well, mainly because McGoohan chews the scenery way too much. So even though I and many others seem to think that tv gets worse over the years, my list will be highly slanted towrads after the 80’s. 1. **Prime Suspect** - not only the best crime series ever, Helen Mirren’s Jane Tennison is the best tv show ever. I just ordered the DVD, and even though I’m sad there are so few epsidoes, I guess that’s what keeps the show at such an extremely high level, where each episode is even better than most theatrical features. 2. **I, Claudius** - even if it feels more like filmed theatre than television, it still one of the best acted pieces ever. 3. **Buffy** - for breaking new grounds in what can be done on tv. For taking very big chances and not only stretching the envelope but throwing it away. Overall impression is brought down, because there are just too many so-so episodes. My #1+2 don’t have a single filler. 4. **Babylon 5** - for the unique storytelling. Even though there are some good stuff in S.5, the overall score is lessened by this last season. 5. **Miami Vice** - 20 years later we might laugh at the clothes and settings, but Michael Mann really changed the way television is told. Honorable mention: **Hill Street Blues, Moonlighting, Homicide** ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-series-of-all-time-ranked/262938/30 "2004-09-03T17:01:10Z")
I’m sticking with dramas, not miniseries (which leaves out **The Singing Detective** and **I, Claudius** ). They’re two different things. 1. **Hill Street Blues** – certainly the most influential TV drama ever. 2. **Homicide: Life on the Streets** – Gritty (of course), but a great portrayal of working cops. Probably the least violent cop show ever (you saw dead people, but rarely saw anyone die). 3. **Babylon 5** – technically, I suppose you could count this as a miniseries (since it had one big story arc), but it was certainly the most sophisticated science fiction ever to be on television. Because of its five-year plan (marked down to four, unfortunately), it was one of the few to have foreshadowing, making the original run especially exciting: you had to pay attention to everything, since they might be important later. 4. **Buffy the Vampire Slayer** – The one-year “big bad” story arcs made the Babylon 5 concept manageable and allowed for a lot of long-term character development. 5. **My So-Called Life** – Terrific show that died too soon. People thought it was a teen angst drama, but I loved it and was 42 when it ran. 6. **The West Wing** – up until Sorkin left. It’s OK now, but not what it was. 7. **Picket Fences** – up until Kelly left. Wierd town, with great characters and interesting plots. 8. **Twilight Zone** – I prefer the New Twilight Zone (for its lack of gratuitous nastiness), but the original was so good it became a catchphrase. A bit dated now, but many episodes are quite good. 9. **Star Trek** – The original, of course. Good SF comes to TV. And, of course, it’s influence is huge. 10. **Twin Peaks** – The early episode were incredible. There was some floundering, but it was on a new track when the plug was pulled. Very influential (Picket Fences was in many ways just Twin Peaks Lite). ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-series-of-all-time-ranked/262938/31 "2004-09-03T18:18:06Z")
I must have been watching TV on another planet: Blackadder Fawlty Towers Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Ripping Yarns Yes Minister / Yes Prime Minister and another galaxy: SeaChange ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-series-of-all-time-ranked/262938/32 "2004-09-03T18:21:00Z")
> [@Aesiron](#): > > Thanks, **MGibson**. Ummmmm, you’re welcome. Marc ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-series-of-all-time-ranked/262938/33 "2004-09-03T18:32:13Z")
Band of Brothers Roots Deadwood Twilight Zone Mission: Impossible Star Trek I would have added The Sopranos, but they’ve not been consistent. ---
**Author:** ![Waenara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@Waenara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waenara)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-series-of-all-time-ranked/262938/34 "2004-09-03T19:11:14Z")
West Wing Firefly 24 CSI Star Trek DS9 Simpsonses Quantum Leap Star Trek TNG Futurama ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-series-of-all-time-ranked/262938/35 "2004-09-03T19:21:01Z")
Dramas, eh? The 5 I’d most enjoy revisiting: **The Twilight Zone Hill Street Blues Crime Story Mission: Impossible The Equalizer** I don’t include _The Singing Detective_ because I consider that a mini-series, not a TV series. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-series-of-all-time-ranked/262938/36 "2004-09-03T20:19:51Z")
I’d forgotten about _ **Prime Suspect** _. Wedge that into my list. And I included a “miniseries” in my OP to let you know that I included them, at least the standout ones that cannot be overlooked, in the question. ---
**Author:** ![raindog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@raindog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindog)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-series-of-all-time-ranked/262938/37 "2004-09-03T20:34:23Z")
**1) NYPD Blue 2) Law & Order 3) Hill Street Blues** ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Bongo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a9adbd/32.png) [@Winston\_Bongo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Bongo)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-series-of-all-time-ranked/262938/38 "2004-09-03T20:41:05Z")
I’m sure I am overlooking some, but the first few that pop into my head as shows I could watch repeatedly are . . . 1. The Prisoner 2. The Twilight Zone 3. The Avengers 4. Mission: Impossible 5. The Adventures of Brisco County Jr. Admittedly, #3 and #5 weren’t strictly dramas, and could probably be called comedies just as fairly. But they had dramatic elements, so I’m countin’ em. ---
**Author:** ![Hambil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3be4f8/32.png) [@Hambil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hambil)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-series-of-all-time-ranked/262938/39 "2004-09-03T20:53:41Z")
I had to dismiss any show, no matter how good, that had a bad season. This kills West Wing, X-Files, Andromeda, Le Femme Nikita, and a number of other really good shows. I also dismissed shows that didn’t run at least two full seasons. Which kills Carnival, Nip/Tuck, Dead Wood, Firefly, and some other great shows. I mean, we are talking greatest ever, I have to have some criteria… 1. Buffy 2. The Waltons 3. Angel 4. M.A.S.H. (The orginal dramady) 5. Sopranos ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2004, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-series-of-all-time-ranked/262938/40 "2004-09-04T05:18:41Z")
1. West Wing 2. Star Trek: The Next Generation 3. (Really tied for 2, but lost out because of longevity) Sports Night 4. Family Ties 5. M_A_S\*H [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-series-of-all-time-ranked/262938.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-series-of-all-time-ranked/262938.md?page=3)