# What is THE Best Show on TV **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 2, 2013, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-show-on-tv/645826 "2013-01-02T14:39:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![chargerrich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chargerrich/32/5399_2.png) [@chargerrich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chargerrich)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-show-on-tv/645826/1 "2013-01-02T14:39:28Z")
Lots of great shows on TV, but which is your absolute favorite? ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-show-on-tv/645826/2 "2013-01-02T14:52:59Z")
None of those. Do you want to know our favorite, or our favorite of those shows? ---
**Author:** ![Oedipus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Oedipus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oedipus)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-show-on-tv/645826/3 "2013-01-02T14:56:37Z")
I’d be hard to find a truly great show that is currently airing that is not on that list. Homeland is amazing, but Breaking Bad really just breaks the mold and I feel it is better than Homeland. ---
**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:** [January 2, 2013, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-show-on-tv/645826/4 "2013-01-02T15:14:58Z")
I don’t watch a single one of those listed. My top 3: Big Bang Theory How I Met Your Mother 2 Broke Girls ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-show-on-tv/645826/5 "2013-01-02T15:30:46Z")
So this poll is really “Which (American) (drama/genre) show on TV is the best”? Of the ones listed, I’m going with _GoT_, but that’s not even the best (American) (drama/genre) show on TV (right now I’m loving _Haven_ and _The Mentalist_) never mind the best (unqualified) show on TV (that’s _QI_, BTW) ---
**Author:** ![chargerrich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chargerrich/32/5399_2.png) [@chargerrich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chargerrich)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-show-on-tv/645826/6 "2013-01-02T16:29:24Z")
Certainly feel free to add your own if you don’t like any listed 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-show-on-tv/645826/7 "2013-01-02T16:31:16Z")
Archer. It’s one of the three shows I make sure I watch, and probably buy on Amazon. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-show-on-tv/645826/8 "2013-01-02T16:32:30Z")
Oedipus: > [@](#): > > I’d be hard to find a truly great show that is currently airing that is not on that list. Revenge. The Simpsons. Futurama. South Park. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-show-on-tv/645826/9 "2013-01-02T16:33:38Z")
BBC’s Sherlock. Doctor Who. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-show-on-tv/645826/10 "2013-01-02T16:33:46Z")
I don’t watch any of the shows you listed. Why did you list only dramas? A season or two ago I would have said How I Met Your Mother, as I feel it was as much the 2nd coming of Seinfeld as is possible. But the most recent season or two haven’t been holding up. I guess I’ll go with Modern Family as the best TV show on right now. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-show-on-tv/645826/11 "2013-01-02T16:34:56Z")
I saw a few episodes of Weeds from Season One. I thought it was good. Haven’t seen any of the others listed in the poll (haven’t even heard of a couple of them). Maybe I’ll stick around and see which show wins and give it a try. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-show-on-tv/645826/12 "2013-01-02T16:41:46Z")
You know, you’d think you’d list the #1 show, NCIS. I also enjoy Vegas, the #9 show. In fact none of the shows listed crack the top ten. In other words, the OP listed _his_ favorite shows. I actually think about six of those shows are absolute dreck, headed by the Mayor of crap town, Revolution. > **[Insights](https://www.nielsen.com/insights/)** > > Discover the latest Nielsen insights based on our robust data and analytics to connect and engage with today’s audiences. I watch NCIS, Survivor, Vegas, Go On, and a few others. The only show on that list I watch and enjoy is Game of Thrones. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-show-on-tv/645826/13 "2013-01-02T16:43:41Z")
> [@Oedipus](#): > > I’d be hard to find a truly great show that is currently airing that is not on that list. Anything would make you hard. (Even your mom). ---
**Author:** ![Apocalypso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Apocalypso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apocalypso)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-show-on-tv/645826/14 "2013-01-02T16:51:26Z")
I didn’t vote because there isn’t an “other” option and I’ve not seen any of the shows listed except a couple episodes of Sons of Anarchy. I don’t really watch a lot of television but what I do watch are mostly documentaries (science/space programs) and The Big Bang Theory (although I am getting to the point where I’ve seen every episode at least 3 times and am getting sick of it). ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-show-on-tv/645826/15 "2013-01-02T16:53:47Z")
The Big Bang Theory ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-show-on-tv/645826/16 "2013-01-02T16:59:30Z")
I’m coming to the conclusion that people have different tastes when it comes to TV shows (and perhaps other things as well). ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-show-on-tv/645826/17 "2013-01-02T17:03:20Z")
None of the list: Top Gear (UK) Castle ---
**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:** [January 2, 2013, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-show-on-tv/645826/18 "2013-01-02T17:44:56Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > You know, you’d think you’d list the #1 show, NCIS. I also enjoy Vegas, the #9 show. In fact none of the shows listed crack the top ten. > > In other words, the OP listed _his_ favorite shows. I actually think about six of those shows are absolute dreck, headed by the Mayor of crap town, Revolution. I think the OP meant to list the most critically-acclaimed shows on television right now (though I’m not sure why Revolution is on there). This thread is about the “best” show, not the most popular. I voted for Homeland. Wish there was a way to negative-vote for Breaking Bad though…I think it’s overrated. ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-show-on-tv/645826/19 "2013-01-02T17:47:39Z")
Wait, are we trying to guess _your_ favorite show, or just the show that you think is best? ---
**Author:** ![mkecane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9e8a1a/32.png) [@mkecane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mkecane)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-show-on-tv/645826/20 "2013-01-02T17:53:46Z")
I’ve seen a handful of episodes of Justified, and I enjoyed it, but I’ve otherwise not seen a single episode of the other shows on the list. I don’t have any appointment television and don’t have HBO/Showtime. The shows I see fairly often and like are The Good Wife, The Mentalist, and Castle. If I ever get around to buying the dvds for any of the great 00s/10s shows from HBO, etc, The Wire is at the top of my list followed by Breaking Bad. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-show-on-tv/645826.md?page=2)