# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2013, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/final-round-best-all-time-tv-show/670006/61 "2013-10-14T21:57:16Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > 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? Variety shows (_ **Carol Burnett** _, _ **SNL** _) Talk shows (_ **David Frost** _, _ **Johnny Carson** _) Documentaries (_ **World War I** _, _ **The Valiant Years** _) Costume dramas (_ **Poldark** _; _ **I, Claudius** _) Thrillers (_ **Alfred Hitchcock** _, _ **Tales of the Unexpected** _) Superheroes (_ **The Adventures of Superman** _; _ **Batman** _) Also, according to decade. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/final-round-best-all-time-tv-show/670006/62 "2013-10-15T13:28:54Z")
> [@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 > [@Zeldar](#): > > 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? > [@terentii](#): > > Variety shows (_ **Carol Burnett** _, _ **SNL** _) > Talk shows (_ **David Frost** _, _ **Johnny Carson** _) > Documentaries (_ **World War I** _, _ **The Valiant Years** _) > Costume dramas (_ **Poldark** _; _ **I, Claudius** _) > Thrillers (_ **Alfred Hitchcock** _, _ **Tales of the Unexpected** _) > Superheroes (_ **The Adventures of Superman** _; _ **Batman** _) > > Also, according to decade. Just how many new/other/additional polls are we looking at now? 🙂 ---
**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 15, 2013, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/final-round-best-all-time-tv-show/670006/63 "2013-10-15T18:16:40Z")
Enough to keep us busy for a while! I’ll do a couple of my suggs after a little bit. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/final-round-best-all-time-tv-show/670006/64 "2013-10-15T18:24:56Z")
> [@NoClueBoy](#): > > Enough to keep us busy for a while! > > I’ll do a couple of my suggs after a little bit. Can hardly wait! (pant, pant…) ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/final-round-best-all-time-tv-show/670006/65 "2013-10-16T14:06:15Z")
It’s back to looking like a Top Half and Bottom Half thing to my eyes. Anybody else see something different here? ```auto View Poll Results: What's the Best All-Time TV show? This poll will close on 10-31-2013 at 10:07 AM M*A*S*H 28 15.82% Breaking Bad 27 15.25% Seinfeld 18 10.17% The Simpsons 17 9.60% The Wire 17 9.60% Star Trek: TOS 14 7.91% Buffy 10 5.65% Doctor Who 10 5.65% The West Wing 10 5.65% Firefly 9 5.08% The Sopranos 9 5.08% Band of Brothers 8 4.52% Voters: 177 ``` ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/final-round-best-all-time-tv-show/670006/66 "2013-10-16T22:27:22Z")
I tried to vote, but did not find Curb Your Enthusiasm on the ballot. ---
**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 16, 2013, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/final-round-best-all-time-tv-show/670006/67 "2013-10-16T22:31:45Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > I tried to vote, but did not find Curb Your Enthusiasm on the ballot. It was in earlier threads. This is the last of a series of threads. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/final-round-best-all-time-tv-show/670006/68 "2013-10-17T11:21:02Z")
See Post #49 for the rationale behind this comparison: Just now in this thread: ```auto ============================================= View Poll Results: What's the Best All-Time TV show? This poll will close on 10-31-2013 at 10:07 AM M*A*S*H 29 15.76% Breaking Bad 28 15.22% Seinfeld 18 9.78% The Simpsons 17 9.24% The Wire 17 9.24% Star Trek: TOS 15 8.15% Doctor Who 13 7.07% Buffy 11 5.98% The West Wing 10 5.43% Firefly 9 4.89% The Sopranos 9 4.89% Band of Brothers 8 4.35% Voters: 184 ============================================= ``` > **[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 ``` We’re 11 votes shy of this older poll’s participation. Anybody want to offer an interpretation? 🙂 ---
**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 17, 2013, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/final-round-best-all-time-tv-show/670006/69 "2013-10-17T13:28:37Z")
Do not interpretations belong to God? Your days are numbered. Your kingdom will be divided between the Medes and Persians. sorry … ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/final-round-best-all-time-tv-show/670006/70 "2013-10-17T13:36:24Z")
> [@NoClueBoy](#): > > Do not interpretations belong to God? > > Your days are numbered. Your kingdom will be divided between the Medes and Persians. > > sorry … That is so close to what I had figured. We think too much alike. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/final-round-best-all-time-tv-show/670006/71 "2013-10-17T13:56:26Z")
> [@NoClueBoy](#): > > Do not interpretations belong to God? > > Your days are numbered. Your kingdom will be divided between the Medes and Persians. Hey, one man’s Mede is another man’s Persian. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/final-round-best-all-time-tv-show/670006/72 "2013-10-17T13:59:26Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Hey, one man’s Mede is another man’s Persian. I’m going to guess that’s not original to you but either way it’s fucking genius. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/final-round-best-all-time-tv-show/670006/73 "2013-10-17T14:01:11Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > I’m going to guess that’s not original to you but either way it’s fucking genius. Close to perfect, I will say! ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/final-round-best-all-time-tv-show/670006/74 "2013-10-17T14:03:41Z")
The Intarweb is attributing it to Bennett Cerf, which sounds about right. Still, kudos to **TOWP** for a perfect delivery. ---
**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 17, 2013, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/final-round-best-all-time-tv-show/670006/75 "2013-10-17T16:54:08Z")
See? Now this makes all the other polls and this thread totally worthwhile! Quite a long set up when you look at it that way… ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/final-round-best-all-time-tv-show/670006/76 "2013-10-17T16:56:43Z")
> [@NoClueBoy](#): > > See? Now this makes all the other polls and this thread totally worthwhile! > Quite a long set up when you look at it that way… How do you spell shaggy dog? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/final-round-best-all-time-tv-show/670006/77 "2013-10-17T18:20:28Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > The Intarweb is attributing it to Bennett Cerf, which sounds about right. Still, kudos to **TOWP** for a perfect delivery. I read it in Asimov; can’t remember if he was referencing Cerf. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2013, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/final-round-best-all-time-tv-show/670006/78 "2013-10-18T14:55:11Z")
Voting has slowed down a lot and it may just be that we can’t make it to the 195 voters we had in the earlier “UPDATE” thread/poll. Just six votes away. But I thought you might enjoy this comparison with how the votes have changed from when you had one choice out of 51 to when it was one out of 12. I hope this makes sense without a lot of explanation: ```auto http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=699986 The Best All-Time TV Show -- UPDATE View Poll Results: What is the Best TV Show of All Time? This poll will close on 11-18-2013 at 12:06 PM View Poll Results: What's the Best All-Time TV show? This poll will close on 10-31-2013 at 10:07 AM The Simpsons 19 9.74% The Simpsons 17 8.99% -2 The Wire 19 9.74% The Wire 17 8.99% -2 Breaking Bad 15 7.69% Breaking Bad 29 15.34% +14 The Sopranos 13 6.67% The Sopranos 9 4.76% -4 M*A*S*H 12 6.15% M*A*S*H 30 15.87% +18 Seinfeld 10 5.13% Seinfeld 19 10.05% +9 The West Wing 9 4.62% The West Wing 11 5.82% +2 Doctor Who 9 4.62% Doctor Who 13 6.88% +4 Star Trek: TOS 8 4.10% Star Trek: TOS 15 7.94% +7 Firefly 7 3.59% Firefly 10 5.29% +3 Buffy 7 3.59% Buffy 11 5.82% +4 Band of Brothers 6 3.08% Band of Brothers 8 4.23% +2 Voters: 195 Voters: 189 ========================================================================================== M*A*S*H 12 6.15% M*A*S*H 30 15.87% +18 Breaking Bad 15 7.69% Breaking Bad 29 15.34% +14 Seinfeld 10 5.13% Seinfeld 19 10.05% +9 Star Trek: TOS 8 4.10% Star Trek: TOS 15 7.94% +7 Doctor Who 9 4.62% Doctor Who 13 6.88% +4 Buffy 7 3.59% Buffy 11 5.82% +4 Firefly 7 3.59% Firefly 10 5.29% +3 The West Wing 9 4.62% The West Wing 11 5.82% +2 Band of Brothers 6 3.08% Band of Brothers 8 4.23% +2 The Simpsons 19 9.74% The Simpsons 17 8.99% -2 The Wire 19 9.74% The Wire 17 8.99% -2 The Sopranos 13 6.67% The Sopranos 9 4.76% -4 Voters: 195 Voters: 189 ========================================================================================== ``` ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2013, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/final-round-best-all-time-tv-show/670006/79 "2013-10-25T13:10:19Z")
Surely there are five people who have yet to vote in this poll that closes in six days… ---
**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:** [October 25, 2013, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/final-round-best-all-time-tv-show/670006/80 "2013-10-25T14:00:04Z")
I’d be willing to bet that if you redo this poll in 5 years, _Breaking Bad_ won’t make the Top 5, let alone be contending for #1. It’s way too soon for any evaluation of the show to be meaningful. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/final-round-best-all-time-tv-show/670006.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/final-round-best-all-time-tv-show/670006.md?page=5)