# The Best All-Time TV Show -- UPDATE **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 20, 2013, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-all-time-tv-show-update/666727 "2013-08-20T17:57:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-all-time-tv-show-update/666727/41 "2013-08-28T01:08:05Z")
I voted for “Firefly” based on its potential, really - watching and re-watching the little they gave us, I think it had potential to be one of the best shows that tv ever saw. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-all-time-tv-show-update/666727/42 "2013-08-28T01:17:25Z")
Not having HBO, I’ve never seen _The Sopranos_ or _The Wire_ (though I am resolved to catch the latter one day). So despite my love for _Blackadder, The Twilight Zone_ and _Deadwood_, I have to go with Homer, Bart & co., which I probably reference daily and which, at its height, was really without equal. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-all-time-tv-show-update/666727/43 "2013-08-28T14:20:53Z")
Here’s a look at the shows that have received multiple votes: ```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 15 11.03% The Wire 15 11.03% Breaking Bad 12 8.82% The Sopranos 10 7.35% M*A*S*H 8 5.88% Seinfeld 7 5.15% Doctor Who 7 5.15% Star Trek: TOS 6 4.41% Firefly 5 3.68% Buffy 5 3.68% The West Wing 5 3.68% Dick Van Dyke Show 4 2.94% Band of Brothers 4 2.94% The Twilight Zone 2 1.47% All In The Family 2 1.47% Northern Exposure 2 1.47% Deadwood 2 1.47% Mad Men 2 1.47% OTHER -- Post and explain 6 4.41% Voters: 136 ``` Have we already established the Top Five? ---
**Author:** ![catnoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@catnoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catnoe)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-all-time-tv-show-update/666727/44 "2013-08-28T16:34:35Z")
Thought I would get more than one pick in the poll, selected several and hit ‘vote’ and don’t know which one took. Firefly - awesome show, no need to explain that here. All in the Family - Ground breaking show, made a few people stop and re-evaluate their way of thinking while delivering laughs. The West Wing - Gave us the President we wanted and great writing. Band of Brothers - Again, great writing and history in one short series. One of those shows that when bored and channel surfing you stop to watch, again. Doctor Who - I can only comment on the reboot part of the series having only seen a few of the earlier episodes. Great character(s) and writing. My Name is Earl - Comedy with a moral. Can’t miss, great shows currently and not on the list - Justified and Luther - Awesome characters and writing. Hell on Wheels isn’t bad either. (Don’t have any of the premium cable channels.) ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-all-time-tv-show-update/666727/45 "2013-08-28T16:49:14Z")
> [@catnoe](#): > > Thought I would get more than one pick in the poll, selected several and hit ‘vote’ and don’t know which one took. > > The West Wing - Gave us the President we wanted and great writing. The vote that counted was > [@](#): > > The West Wing > amarone, catnoe, Fat Orange Cat, Gary “Wombat” Robson, RetroVertigo, ryan 6 4.32% I apologize for not making it clear that the poll was ONE VOTE per voter. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2013, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-all-time-tv-show-update/666727/46 "2013-08-29T13:39:34Z")
I voted for M_A_S\*H. They did a lot of cool special shows, the B&W interview show, Hawkeye’s dream, Hawkeye’s chicken episode, the stopwatch show, the kid who thought he was Jesus, the list goes on. Some groundbreaking television there. Sure, it got a little preachy at times but damn what a cast. Twin Peaks was my second choice. M_A_S\*H was like a brilliant star for years, Peaks was like a supernova with a brilliant flash and then gone. Some of the episodes of Twin Peaks were amazing, like Maddy’s death dance with Leland, Leland’s suicide, the dancing dwarf. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2013, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-all-time-tv-show-update/666727/47 "2013-08-29T14:33:53Z")
I picked M_A_S_H because, even after 40 years, I can sit down and rewatch almost every episode and enjoy it. If nothing else is on, M_A_S_H will always satisfy me if I want to watch TV. As much as I love Doctor Who and Firefly, M_A_S\*H has stood the test of “Do you want to watch it over and over again”. This week I happened to catch the ep where (_ **spoiler alert** _) Henry dies, and it still brings tears to my eyes. StG ---
**Author:** ![LibrarySpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@LibrarySpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LibrarySpy)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2013, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-all-time-tv-show-update/666727/48 "2013-08-29T15:10:05Z")
I picked other, and my vote is for NYPD Blue. Striking, powerful, long-lived, left its mark on a decade of culture. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2013, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-all-time-tv-show-update/666727/49 "2013-08-29T15:25:04Z")
The old poll linked to in the OP had 298 voters. We have passed the halfway mark to that number now and here’s the situation after 150: ```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 16 10.67% The Wire 15 10.00% M*A*S*H 12 8.00% Breaking Bad 12 8.00% The Sopranos 11 7.33% 66 Doctor Who 8 5.33% Seinfeld 7 4.67% The West Wing 6 4.00% Star Trek: TOS 6 4.00% Firefly 5 3.33% Buffy 5 3.33% Band of Brothers 5 3.33% Dick Van Dyke Show 4 2.67% 46 The Twilight Zone 2 1.33% All In The Family 2 1.33% Northern Exposure 2 1.33% Deadwood 2 1.33% Barney Miller 2 1.33% Mad Men 2 1.33% Gilligan's Island 2 1.33% 14 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart 1 0.67% Monty Python's Flying Circus 1 0.67% Cheers 1 0.67% Fawlty Towers 1 0.67% Futurama 1 0.67% 5 Star Trek: TNG 1 0.67% WKRP In Cincinnati 1 0.67% Lost 1 0.67% The Bob Newhart Show 1 0.67% The Office (Original -- UK) 1 0.67% 5 Six Feet Under 1 0.67% Freaks & Geeks 1 0.67% Rome 1 0.67% Good Eats 1 0.67% Twin Peaks 1 0.67% 5 ER 1 0.67% I Claudius 1 0.67% My Name Is Earl 1 0.67% 3 Arrested Development 0 0% NOVA 0 0% Battlestar Galactica 0 0% House 0 0% News Radio 0 0% Whose Line Is It Anyway? 0 0% Family Guy 0 0% Angel 0 0% The Shield 0 0% The Golden Girls 0 0% NCIS 0 0% The Avengers 0 0% Carnivale 0 0% OTHER -- Post and explain 6 4.00% 6 Voters: 150 ``` %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Thanks to all for the participation. Can we top 300 voters this time? And yes, there’s evidence that we need a follow-up thread to deal with those shows that people really love that weren’t on this list. Somebody else want to start such a thread? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2013, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-all-time-tv-show-update/666727/50 "2013-08-29T15:37:47Z")
I’m going to have to go with Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. It combined the virtues of TOS and TNG, lost most of their flaws, found a good balance between myth arcs and stand-alone episodes, and had characters who actually got married and had kids. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2013, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-all-time-tv-show-update/666727/51 "2013-08-29T15:59:04Z")
Here’s a recap of the “OTHER” shows already mentioned: > [@](#): > > #2 08-20-2013, 01:21 PM > terentii > > Combat! > The Avengers > > #5 08-20-2013, 01:37 PM > That Don Guy > > original (late 1960s) version of The Prisoner. > > #18 08-26-2013, 05:03 PM > Koshki > > I Love Lucy > Dexter > > #21 08-26-2013, 07:57 PM > GuanoLad > > Blackadder > Community > Pushing Daisies > > #28 08-26-2013, 09:21 PM > Gary “Wombat” Robson > > L.A. Law > > #30 08-26-2013, 09:43 PM > Baker > > Babylon 5 > > #31 08-26-2013, 09:54 PM > unwashed brain > > South Park > > #33 08-26-2013, 10:20 PM > AtomicDog > > DS9 > > #39 08-27-2013, 04:38 PM > Spoke > > The Andy Griffith Show > #40 08-27-2013, 07:56 PM > Trinopus > > “The Prisoner” > > #48 Today, 10:10 AM > Rysler > > NYPD Blue > > #50 Today, 10:37 AM > Skald the Rhymer > > Star Trek: Deep Space Nine ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-all-time-tv-show-update/666727/52 "2013-08-30T15:31:03Z")
```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 16 10.13% The Wire 15 9.49% Breaking Bad 13 8.23% M*A*S*H 12 7.59% The Sopranos 11 6.96% 67 Doctor Who 8 5.06% Seinfeld 7 4.43% Buffy 6 3.80% The West Wing 6 3.80% Star Trek: TOS 6 3.80% Firefly 5 3.16% Band of Brothers 5 3.16% Dick Van Dyke Show 4 2.53% Deadwood 3 1.90% 50 The Twilight Zone 2 1.27% All In The Family 2 1.27% Star Trek: TNG 2 1.27% Northern Exposure 2 1.27% Barney Miller 2 1.27% Mad Men 2 1.27% I Claudius 2 1.27% Gilligan's Island 2 1.27% 16 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart 1 0.63% Monty Python's Flying Circus 1 0.63% Cheers 1 0.63% Fawlty Towers 1 0.63% Futurama 1 0.63% WKRP In Cincinnati 1 0.63% Lost 1 0.63% The Bob Newhart Show 1 0.63% The Office (Original -- UK) 1 0.63% Six Feet Under 1 0.63% Freaks & Geeks 1 0.63% Rome 1 0.63% Whose Line Is It Anyway? 1 0.63% Good Eats 1 0.63% Twin Peaks 1 0.63% ER 1 0.63% My Name Is Earl 1 0.63% 17 OTHER -- Post and explain 8 5.06% 8 Voters: 158 ``` ---
**Author:** ![Andiethewestie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba9def/32.png) [@Andiethewestie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andiethewestie)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-all-time-tv-show-update/666727/53 "2013-08-30T15:38:50Z")
There were a lot of awesome contenders, but in the end I had to vote for Sopranos. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-all-time-tv-show-update/666727/54 "2013-08-30T17:24:58Z")
Here’s a comparison between today and the original poll from 2010: ```auto The Daily Show with Jon Stewart 1 0.63% The Daily Show with Jon Stewart 74 24.83% Monty Python's Flying Circus 1 0.63% Monty Python's Flying Circus 71 23.83% Cheers 1 0.63% Cheers 54 18.12% Fawlty Towers 1 0.63% Fawlty Towers 50 16.78% Futurama 1 0.63% Futurama 48 16.11% WKRP In Cincinnati 1 0.63% WKRP In Cincinnati 39 13.09% Lost 1 0.63% Lost 33 11.07% The Bob Newhart Show 1 0.63% The Bob Newhart Show 30 10.07% The Office (Original -- UK) 1 0.63% The Office (Original -- UK) 30 10.07% Six Feet Under 1 0.63% Six Feet Under 29 9.73% Freaks & Geeks 1 0.63% Freaks & Geeks 27 9.06% Rome 1 0.63% Rome 26 8.72% Whose Line Is It Anyway? 1 0.63% Whose Line Is It Anyway? 24 8.05% Good Eats 1 0.63% Good Eats 22 7.38% Twin Peaks 1 0.63% Twin Peaks 20 6.71% ER 1 0.63% ER 15 5.03% My Name Is Earl 1 0.63% My Name Is Earl 11 3.69% Arrested Development 0 0% Arrested Development 58 19.46% NOVA 0 0% NOVA 43 14.43% Battlestar Galactica 0 0% Battlestar Galactica 38 12.75% House 0 0% House 31 10.40% News Radio 0 0% News Radio 25 8.39% Family Guy 0 0% Family Guy 22 7.38% Angel 0 0% Angel 19 6.38% The Shield 0 0% The Shield 19 6.38% The Golden Girls 0 0% The Golden Girls 17 5.70% NCIS 0 0% NCIS 13 4.36% The Avengers 0 0% The Avengers 11 3.69% Carnivale 0 0% Carnivale 6 2.01% Voters: 160 Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 298 ``` ---
**Author:** ![JustinC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justinc/32/8083_2.png) [@JustinC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustinC)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2013, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-all-time-tv-show-update/666727/55 "2013-09-01T15:34:37Z")
No love for **Friends** or **Fraiser**? ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-all-time-tv-show-update/666727/56 "2013-09-02T13:15:55Z")
These are the leaders at this point: ```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 17 10.18% The Wire 16 9.58% Breaking Bad 14 8.38% M*A*S*H 12 7.19% The Sopranos 12 7.19% Doctor Who 8 4.79% Seinfeld 7 4.19% The West Wing 7 4.19% Firefly 6 3.59% Buffy 6 3.59% Star Trek: TOS 6 3.59% Band of Brothers 5 2.99% Dick Van Dyke Show 4 2.40% Deadwood 3 1.80% 11 shows with 2 votes each 14 shows with 1 vote each OTHER -- Post and explain 8 4.79% Voters: 167 ``` ---
**Author:** ![Molesworth\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9dc877/32.png) [@Molesworth\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Molesworth_2)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-all-time-tv-show-update/666727/57 "2013-09-02T14:43:36Z")
I voted for Seinfeld. Thought about voting for Doctor Who. But I’d encourage anyone who likes mockumentaries to watch this episode of “People Like Us” on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/embed/1SwECTyXaA4?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=PLBCC1F9E623AC8036 Easily the funniest thing I’ve ever seen. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-all-time-tv-show-update/666727/58 "2013-09-02T15:25:24Z")
> [@zoog](#): > > I’m always torn between The Sopranos and The Wire when I think about best ever. I lean toward The Sopranos. I just think it’s a little more cohesive and accessible. I could not have phrased it better - and also chose Sopranos by the thinnest of hairs. But Deadwood and Six Feet Under were very close in my runners up category. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-all-time-tv-show-update/666727/59 "2013-09-04T16:43:22Z")
Which will be the next show to gain double-digit votes? ```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 17 10.06% The Wire 16 9.47% Breaking Bad 14 8.28% The Sopranos 13 7.69% M*A*S*H 12 7.10% Seinfeld 8 4.73% Doctor Who 8 4.73% The West Wing 7 4.14% Firefly 6 3.55% Buffy 6 3.55% Star Trek: TOS 6 3.55% Band of Brothers 5 2.96% Dick Van Dyke Show 4 2.37% Deadwood 3 1.78% ``` ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-all-time-tv-show-update/666727/60 "2013-09-06T21:00:56Z")
Here’s how the Top Ten shows have been shifting around: ```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 Breaking Bad 5 15.63% Doctor Who 4 12.50% The Simpsons 3 9.38% The Wire 3 9.38% Buffy 3 9.38% Star Trek: TOS 3 9.38% M*A*S*H 2 6.25% Voters: 32 =============================== 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 5 10.00% The Wire 5 10.00% Doctor Who 5 10.00% Breaking Bad 5 10.00% Star Trek: TOS 4 8.00% M*A*S*H 3 6.00% The Sopranos 3 6.00% Buffy 3 6.00% Firefly 2 4.00% Mad Men 2 4.00% Voters: 50 =============================== 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 11 11.00% The Wire 11 11.00% The Sopranos 8 8.00% M*A*S*H 7 7.00% Breaking Bad 7 7.00% Doctor Who 6 6.00% Star Trek: TOS 5 5.00% Buffy 4 4.00% Dick Van Dyke Show 4 4.00% Band of Brothers 4 4.00% Voters: 100 =============================== 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 16 10.67% The Wire 15 10.00% M*A*S*H 12 8.00% Breaking Bad 12 8.00% The Sopranos 11 7.33% Doctor Who 8 5.33% Seinfeld 7 4.67% The West Wing 6 4.00% Star Trek: TOS 6 4.00% Firefly 5 3.33% Buffy 5 3.33% Band of Brothers 5 3.33% Voters: 150 ============================== 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 16 10.00% The Wire 15 9.38% Breaking Bad 14 8.75% M*A*S*H 12 7.50% The Sopranos 12 7.50% Doctor Who 8 5.00% Seinfeld 7 4.38% Buffy 6 3.75% The West Wing 6 3.75% Star Trek: TOS 6 3.75% Voters: 160 ============================== 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 17 9.77% The Wire 17 9.77% Breaking Bad 15 8.62% The Sopranos 13 7.47% M*A*S*H 12 6.90% Seinfeld 9 5.17% The West Wing 8 4.60% Doctor Who 8 4.60% Firefly 6 3.45% Buffy 6 3.45% Star Trek: TOS 6 3.45% Voters: 174 =============================== ``` [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-all-time-tv-show-update/666727.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-all-time-tv-show-update/666727.md?page=4)