# Top 5 TV series of all time **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 9, 2018, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-5-tv-series-of-all-time/822711 "2018-10-09T17:48:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2018, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-5-tv-series-of-all-time/822711/21 "2018-10-09T21:33:02Z")
Simpsons Futurama Breaking Bad Venture Brothers Metalocalypse (yes, I like cartoons) ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2018, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-5-tv-series-of-all-time/822711/22 "2018-10-09T21:38:39Z")
The Wire Homicide: Life on the Street The Sopranos The West Wing Those 4 came to mind almost immediately…I think there’s about a 13-way tie for 5th place. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2018, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-5-tv-series-of-all-time/822711/23 "2018-10-09T21:39:24Z")
The Twilight Zone (original) Star Trek NG The Big Bang Theory MASH Frasier Mary Tyler Moore Show Yeah, another “6” ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2018, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-5-tv-series-of-all-time/822711/24 "2018-10-09T21:44:28Z")
I’m glad to see _Homicide: Life on the Street_ appearing in so many lists. Certainly an honorable mention for me. ---
**Author:** ![Sefton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Sefton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sefton)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2018, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-5-tv-series-of-all-time/822711/25 "2018-10-09T22:46:25Z")
No mention of _The Prisoner_ anywhere? Damned conformists. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2018, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-5-tv-series-of-all-time/822711/26 "2018-10-09T22:53:09Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > 1. The Wire (indeed) > > 2. The Sopranos > > 3. Breaking Bad > > 4. Deadwood > > 5. Longmire > > Honorable mentions: > Stranger Things > Ozark > Lost (before the final season) I’m there with you on 1-4; couldn’t think of a #5 in the same league, though. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2018, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-5-tv-series-of-all-time/822711/27 "2018-10-09T22:57:35Z")
The Walking Dead deserves a mention. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2018, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-5-tv-series-of-all-time/822711/28 "2018-10-09T23:10:52Z")
> [@Sefton](#): > > No mention of _The Prisoner_ anywhere? Damned conformists. Great in many ways, but still- only 17 epis. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2018, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-5-tv-series-of-all-time/822711/29 "2018-10-09T23:56:55Z")
The West Wing Justified Sons of Anarchy Firefly Friends Yes, I still watch Friends. Go soak your head. ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2018, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-5-tv-series-of-all-time/822711/30 "2018-10-10T00:10:07Z")
As an ardent Trekkie, I’m tempted to give all five spots to Star Trek series so I’m just going to name my favorite 10 TV shows that aren’t Star Trek: 1. Simpsons 2. Futurama 3. Law & Order (the original series with Lennie Brisco) 4. Breaking Bad 5. Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. 6. South Park 7. Law & Order: Criminal Intent 8. Night Court 9. King of the Hill 10. Bob’s Burgers ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2018, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-5-tv-series-of-all-time/822711/31 "2018-10-10T00:10:46Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > The West Wing > Justified > Sons of Anarchy > Firefly > Friends > Yes, I still watch Friends. Go soak your head. Why? After the first seasons with the monkey, when it hit it’s stride, and before it jumped the shark, it was quite fun entertainment. I wouldn’t put in my Top five, but I dont regret the time spent watching it. Firefly was a very poor\* series-\* it was shown out of order, and then canceled just after it hit it’s stride. Watching it on the DVD shows how great it might have been…☹ ---
**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:** [October 10, 2018, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-5-tv-series-of-all-time/822711/32 "2018-10-10T00:54:38Z")
Today, right now, it is: (alphabetically) All in the Family Better Call Saul Breaking Bad Frasier The Wire mmm ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2018, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-5-tv-series-of-all-time/822711/33 "2018-10-10T01:01:14Z")
Really! I can’t believe _The Prisoner_ had to wait until the 25th post. 1. The Prisoner 2. The Wild Wild West 3. The Twilight Zone 4. The Avengers 5. My Mother the Car Be seeing you… ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2018, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-5-tv-series-of-all-time/822711/34 "2018-10-10T01:35:31Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Great in many ways, but still- only 17 epis. ☹ Okay, I’ll go with Top 5 TV Series That Ended Too Soon: Freaks and Geeks Firefly The Prisoner Do No Harm and… Coronet Blue\* \*not just a [swingin’ theme song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_Xi3f6Jr1E)… I caught one episode in 5th grade and could never find more. But it was just released [on DVD](https://www.amazon.com/Coronet-Blue-Complete-Frank-Converse/dp/B06ZZP3MJR/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8)! ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2018, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-5-tv-series-of-all-time/822711/35 "2018-10-10T01:53:45Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Okay, I’ll go with Top 5 TV Series That Ended Too Soon: > > Freaks and Geeks > Firefly > The Prisoner Absolutely, and I will add the original New Amsterdam. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New\_Amsterdam\_(2008\_TV\_series)Better](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Amsterdam_(2008_TV_series)Better) off Ted I would add Pushing Daisies, Dead Like me, and Joan of Arcadia, but they all had a decent run. How about The Unusuals? Would you contribute if I started a thread? ---
**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:** [October 10, 2018, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-5-tv-series-of-all-time/822711/36 "2018-10-10T13:40:49Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > I’m there with you on 1-4; couldn’t think of a #5 in the same league, though. I thought the same thing. I’d replace Longmire (which was really mediocre) with either **Six Feet Under** or **Rome** , or even **Justified**. ---
**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:** [October 10, 2018, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-5-tv-series-of-all-time/822711/37 "2018-10-10T17:46:02Z")
1- Andy Griffith Show 2- All in The Family 3- Twin Peaks 4- M_A_S\*H 5- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2018, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-5-tv-series-of-all-time/822711/38 "2018-10-10T17:49:34Z")
NOVA Frontline American Experience Austin City Limits Nature ---
**Author:** ![SykoSkotty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@SykoSkotty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SykoSkotty)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2018, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-5-tv-series-of-all-time/822711/39 "2018-10-10T20:19:43Z")
Sitcom: 1. MASH 2. Friends 3. Roseanne 4. Archer 5. Modern Family Drama: 6. Breaking Bad 7. ER 8. Sons Of Anarchy 9. The Walking Dead 10. Preacher ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2018, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-5-tv-series-of-all-time/822711/40 "2018-10-10T20:57:59Z")
1. Sanford and Son. 2. The Rockford Files. 3. Lou Grant. 4. Dick Van Dyke Show (especially the episodes that featured Buddy and Sally). 5. Kojak. Yes, I haven’t watched TV since the 1970s… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-5-tv-series-of-all-time/822711.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-5-tv-series-of-all-time/822711.md?page=3)