# Final Round -- Best All-Time TV Show **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 30, 2013, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/final-round-best-all-time-tv-show/670006 "2013-09-30T15:04:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![I\_Made\_French\_Toast\_For\_You](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/858c86/32.png) [@I\_Made\_French\_Toast\_For\_You](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Made_French_Toast_For_You)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2013, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/final-round-best-all-time-tv-show/670006/41 "2013-10-05T15:44:33Z")
I wish I could vote to remove a vote from Breaking Bad, but since I can’t: The Sopranos. Breaking Bad is a good show! But it’s not a great show, and it’s certainly not “the best” show. I predict that time will make these poll results look a bit silly. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2013, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/final-round-best-all-time-tv-show/670006/42 "2013-10-05T15:51:19Z")
> [@I\_Made\_French\_Toast\_For\_You](#): > > I wish I could vote to remove a vote from Breaking Bad, but since I can’t: The Sopranos. > > Breaking Bad is a good show! But it’s not a great show, and it’s certainly not “the best” show. I predict that time will make these poll results look a bit silly. I have little doubt that you’re right about how long the sparkle will stay on _Breaking Bad_. After all, there was a time when _democracy_ – or at least the _republican_ version of it – was thought to be a good idea. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2013, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/final-round-best-all-time-tv-show/670006/43 "2013-10-05T22:15:57Z")
> [@I\_Made\_French\_Toast\_For\_You](#): > > I wish I could vote to remove a vote from Breaking Bad, but since I can’t: The Sopranos. > > Breaking Bad is a good show! But it’s not a great show, and it’s certainly not “the best” show. I predict that time will make these poll results look a bit silly. Exactly. How has it influenced 5 decades of TV and movies, books, games, and conventions, even inspiring some to become involved in science and tech careers? To me, it’s not just how entertaining a show it is (because I LOVED Firefly!) but has it shown itself to be great by the shear volume of influence it’s had over the entertainment industry? I just wish I could have voted for _both_ Trek and Doctor Who! I can see M_A_S_H_ and The Simpsons having a valid claim like that, as well. They’re just not my tastes. AS ALWAYS on SDMB… IMHO, YMMV ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2013, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/final-round-best-all-time-tv-show/670006/44 "2013-10-06T13:57:04Z")
Those Top Half and Bottom Half groups haven’t changed much since 10 yesterday, but here’s a checkpoint: ```auto View Poll Results: What's the Best All-Time TV show? This poll will close on 10-31-2013 at 10:07 AM Breaking Bad 19 15.45% M*A*S*H 19 15.45% Seinfeld 14 11.38% The Simpsons 12 9.76% Star Trek: TOS 11 8.94% The Wire 10 8.13% Doctor Who 9 7.32% Buffy 8 6.50% The Sopranos 6 4.88% The West Wing 6 4.88% Band of Brothers 5 4.07% Firefly 4 3.25% Voters: 123 ``` What’s going to be the first “20”? The next “10”? ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/final-round-best-all-time-tv-show/670006/45 "2013-10-07T14:22:12Z")
Those groups of six are still holding strong: ```auto View Poll Results: What's the Best All-Time TV show? This poll will close on 10-31-2013 at 10:07 AM Breaking Bad 21 15.91% M*A*S*H 21 15.91% Seinfeld 15 11.36% The Simpsons 12 9.09% The Wire 12 9.09% Star Trek: TOS 11 8.33% Doctor Who 9 6.82% Buffy 8 6.06% The West Wing 7 5.30% The Sopranos 6 4.55% Band of Brothers 5 3.79% Firefly 5 3.79% Voters: 132 ``` ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2013, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/final-round-best-all-time-tv-show/670006/46 "2013-10-09T01:56:06Z")
This is beginning to be like watching paint dry. ```auto View Poll Results: What's the Best All-Time TV show? This poll will close on 10-31-2013 at 10:07 AM Breaking Bad 22 15.83% M*A*S*H 21 15.11% Seinfeld 16 11.51% The Simpsons 13 9.35% The Wire 13 9.35% Star Trek: TOS 12 8.63% Doctor Who 9 6.47% Buffy 8 5.76% The West Wing 8 5.76% The Sopranos 7 5.04% Band of Brothers 5 3.60% Firefly 5 3.60% Voters: 139 ``` ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2013, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/final-round-best-all-time-tv-show/670006/47 "2013-10-09T13:11:07Z")
Band of Brothers will not finish last on _my_ watch. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2013, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/final-round-best-all-time-tv-show/670006/48 "2013-10-09T14:49:32Z")
Despite my love for **The Wire** , I voted for **Band of Brothers** this time. Mostly because you can watch any episode, in or out of order, and get excellent value. You don’t have to be familiar with the back stories. It’s not overdone, there are no contrivances, the “characters” (real people) aren’t sentimentalized or dehumanized or demonized. It’s not easy (a pun!) viewing, because of the realism, but it’s not as difficult as **The Wire**. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2013, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/final-round-best-all-time-tv-show/670006/49 "2013-10-10T15:24:31Z")
The next voter gets to be #150! For those who like comparing statistics and such, here’s the latest breakdown: ```auto View Poll Results: What's the Best All-Time TV show? This poll will close on 10-31-2013 at 10:07 AM Breaking Bad 25 16.78% M*A*S*H 23 15.44% Seinfeld 17 11.41% The Simpsons 14 9.40% The Wire 13 8.72% Star Trek: TOS 12 8.05% 104 Doctor Who 9 6.04% Buffy 8 5.37% The West Wing 8 5.37% Band of Brothers 7 4.70% The Sopranos 7 4.70% Firefly 6 4.03% 45 Voters: 149 ``` And here’s how those same 12 shows are doing in the still open > **[The Best All-Time TV Show -- UPDATE](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=699986)** > > If you’ll refer to The Best All-Time TV Show \[vote for up to 10\], which was active a couple of years ago, you’ll see the basis of the 51 shows in this poll. Vote for YOUR FAVORITE in this group. If your favorite isn’t on the list, vote OTHER and let... The Best All-Time TV Show – UPDATE ```auto View Poll Results: What is the Best TV Show of All Time? This poll will close on 11-18-2013 at 12:06 PM The Simpsons 19 9.74% The Wire 19 9.74% Breaking Bad 15 7.69% The Sopranos 13 6.67% M*A*S*H 12 6.15% Seinfeld 10 5.13% 88 The West Wing 9 4.62% Doctor Who 9 4.62% Star Trek: TOS 8 4.10% Firefly 7 3.59% Buffy 7 3.59% Band of Brothers 6 3.08% 46 134 The rest 61 Voters: 195 ``` Can there be any serious objection to the idea that we are narrowing down the “SDMB Top All-Time TV Show”? ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2013, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/final-round-best-all-time-tv-show/670006/50 "2013-10-10T18:22:49Z")
_M_A_S_H\* and _Band of Brothers_ are definitely the top two. I voted for _M_A_S_H\* because there’s so much more of it. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/final-round-best-all-time-tv-show/670006/51 "2013-10-11T12:56:06Z")
We now have seven shows with double-digit votes: ```auto View Poll Results: What's the Best All-Time TV show? This poll will close on 10-31-2013 at 10:07 AM Breaking Bad 25 15.92% M*A*S*H 24 15.29% Seinfeld 17 10.83% The Simpsons 16 10.19% Star Trek: TOS 14 8.92% The Wire 13 8.28% Doctor Who 10 6.37% Buffy 8 5.10% The Sopranos 8 5.10% The West Wing 8 5.10% Band of Brothers 7 4.46% Firefly 7 4.46% Voters: 157 ============================================= ``` ---
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/final-round-best-all-time-tv-show/670006/52 "2013-10-11T16:50:50Z")
I voted for The Wire. I was a narc and so much of that show rang true. Mobsters and meth cooks may like different shows. ---
**Author:** ![HenryDorsettCase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f19dbf/32.png) [@HenryDorsettCase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HenryDorsettCase)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/final-round-best-all-time-tv-show/670006/53 "2013-10-11T18:20:16Z")
Maybe there are so few posts because the choice of the best is so difficult! I wound up voting for _Firefly_ (if for no other reason than there were so few episodes made and I definitely wanted more) but more for the authenticity of the characters, the story lines, and the basic concept of the show. Kudos to Whedon! My other contenders were _The Sopranos, The West Wing, The Wire, and The Simpsons._ ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/final-round-best-all-time-tv-show/670006/54 "2013-10-11T18:34:17Z")
> [@HenryDorsettCase](#): > > Maybe there are so few posts because the choice of the best is so difficult! I agree with that thinking. It might make for more fun if reasons would have been given for the choices. But since it’s a “public poll” where voters’ names are shown, that may be enough to identify preferences. The earlier polls that led to this one had room for multiple votes and thus allowed a little less commitment. Even then it was hard to pick just a few when that meant leaving off really good shows. I still think some categories such as the ones used in the Emmy Awards might make it a little easier to pick “best of category” than “best all-round.” ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/final-round-best-all-time-tv-show/670006/55 "2013-10-11T19:28:53Z")
It now would appear that we have three groupings to replace the Top Half vs. Bottom Half divisions: now it’s the Over 10%, the Under 5%, and The Middle. ```auto View Poll Results: What's the Best All-Time TV show? This poll will close on 10-31-2013 at 10:07 AM Breaking Bad 26 15.95% M*A*S*H 24 14.72% Seinfeld 18 11.04% The Simpsons 16 9.82% Star Trek: TOS 14 8.59% The Wire 14 8.59% Doctor Who 10 6.13% Buffy 9 5.52% The West Wing 9 5.52% Firefly 8 4.91% The Sopranos 8 4.91% Band of Brothers 7 4.29% Voters: 163 ``` ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2013, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/final-round-best-all-time-tv-show/670006/56 "2013-10-14T13:54:41Z")
It’s looking like there’s no clear #1 and that there’s not even a clear #3: ```auto View Poll Results: What's the Best All-Time TV show? This poll will close on 10-31-2013 at 10:07 AM Breaking Bad 27 16.17% M*A*S*H 24 14.37% Seinfeld 18 10.78% The Simpsons 16 9.58% Star Trek: TOS 14 8.38% The Wire 14 8.38% Buffy 10 5.99% Doctor Who 10 5.99% The West Wing 10 5.99% The Sopranos 9 5.39% Firefly 8 4.79% Band of Brothers 7 4.19% Voters: 167 ``` Maybe the next 17 days will clarify things. Maybe not. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2013, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/final-round-best-all-time-tv-show/670006/57 "2013-10-14T14:53:46Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > It’s looking like there’s no clear #1 and that there’s not even a clear #3: > > ```auto > > View Poll Results: What's the Best All-Time TV show? > This poll will close on 10-31-2013 at 10:07 AM > > Breaking Bad 27 16.17% > M*A*S*H 24 14.37% > > Seinfeld 18 10.78% > The Simpsons 16 9.58% > Star Trek: TOS 14 8.38% > The Wire 14 8.38% > Buffy 10 5.99% > Doctor Who 10 5.99% > The West Wing 10 5.99% > The Sopranos 9 5.39% > Firefly 8 4.79% > Band of Brothers 7 4.19% > > Voters: 167 > > ``` > > Maybe the next 17 days will clarify things. Maybe not. I think it’s because “best” means too many things to different people. Some new poll suggestions: Most influential to the entertainment industry TV shows Most enjoyable to watch/follow TV shows Must Watch (very popular) TV that you don’t/didn’t really like Best Ideas for TV shows that you ended up not caring about Most surprising\* TV shows \*for any variety of reasons ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2013, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/final-round-best-all-time-tv-show/670006/58 "2013-10-14T15:23:49Z")
> [@NoClueBoy](#): > > I think it’s because “best” means too many things to different people. > Some new poll suggestions: > > Most influential to the entertainment industry TV shows > > Most enjoyable to watch/follow TV shows > > Must Watch (very popular) TV that you don’t/didn’t really like > > Best Ideas for TV shows that you ended up not caring about > > Most surprising\* TV shows \*for any variety of reasons There’s little doubt that you’re right as far as “best” goes, and I’d love to vote in such polls. Maybe some preliminary thread(s) to get nominations would be the first step(s) there? I still feel that categories like the ones used in the Emmy Awards could help to clarify the “All Time Best Ever” confusion. Please somebody else take the reins on the next such TV Show polling. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2013, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/final-round-best-all-time-tv-show/670006/59 "2013-10-14T18:42:48Z")
But, you’re so good at it! ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2013, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/final-round-best-all-time-tv-show/670006/60 "2013-10-14T19:05:16Z")
> [@NoClueBoy](#): > > But, you’re so good at it! Tou’re too kind. 😉 Okay, then, help me come up with categories: Crime Drama Situation Comedy Sci-fi/Fantasy Drama Animated Comedy War Drama/Western Political Drama What else? There’s nothing to say you couldn’t do some polls on your topics. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/final-round-best-all-time-tv-show/670006.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/final-round-best-all-time-tv-show/670006.md?page=4)