# Your Favorite All-Time TV Shows **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 22, 2010, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-all-time-tv-shows/533331 "2010-03-22T13:28:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-all-time-tv-shows/533331/21 "2010-03-22T17:25:18Z")
In no particular order 1. Buffy 2. Angel 3. The West Wing 4. The Bob Newhart Show 5. Taxi 6. Northern Exposure 7. Murphy Brown 8. Late Night With David Letterman 9. The Daily Show With John Stewart 10 C-SPAN’s Booknotes with Brian Lamb ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-all-time-tv-shows/533331/22 "2010-03-22T18:09:28Z")
If we were to stop right now and let the shows with multiple mentions determine what went into a poll, we’d have this list: ```auto Arrested Development (2) Battlestar Galactica (2) Buffy (4) Carnivale (2) Cosmos (2) Coupling (2) Deadwood (5) Doctor Who (2) ER (2) Firefly (3) Futurama (2) House (2) Mad Men (4) M*A*S*H (2) Monty Python's Flying Circus (2) Northern Exposure (3) Nova (3) The Office (UK) (2) Seinfeld (3) The Simpsons (4) Six Feet Under (2) Star Trek (original) (4) Star Trek: TNG (4) Twin Peaks (3) The West Wing (2) The Wire (4) ``` I’m not suggesting that we stop here, but I am suggesting that those who post after this point look over shows already mentioned (not on this list) to see if your vote would elevate one to this list. If not, post away and I’ll keep collecting names into my summary file. I suggest that those who have already posted not post again. The objective, as hinted at in the OP, is to develop a list of likely candidates for a poll. I’d hope the poll would be 30 or fewer shows. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-all-time-tv-shows/533331/23 "2010-03-22T18:45:40Z")
The Wire Mad Men Breaking Bad Buffy the Vampire Slayer Angel Deadwood Rome Carnivale The Sopranos The Office Supernatural My Name Is Earl ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-all-time-tv-shows/533331/24 "2010-03-22T18:52:51Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > The Office I’m counting this as the USA version. If you meant the UK version please let me know. ---
**Author:** ![halfliquid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e57/32.png) [@halfliquid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/halfliquid)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-all-time-tv-shows/533331/25 "2010-03-22T18:57:09Z")
Buffy Angel Charmed Simpsons Family Guy ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-all-time-tv-shows/533331/26 "2010-03-22T19:19:06Z")
The Golden Girls Simpsons The Jeffersons Sanford and Son ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-all-time-tv-shows/533331/27 "2010-03-22T19:26:43Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > 1. The Daily Show With John Stewart JON, not JOHN :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-all-time-tv-shows/533331/28 "2010-03-22T19:45:26Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > JON, not JOHN :smack: Thanks. I didn’t catch it myself. Fixed it in the summary file. ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-all-time-tv-shows/533331/29 "2010-03-22T19:49:50Z")
Top five, in order: _Deadwood_ _The Sopranos_ _Rome_ _The Office_(UK) _Freaks and Geeks_ And I’ve never seen it, but I understand that a whole hell of a lot of people consider _The Wire_ to be TV drama’s absolute finest hour. Needless to say, I’m quite excited to start watching it. ETA: Some honorable mentions: _Breaking Bad_, _Lost_, _All In the Family_, _60 Minutes_, _Jeopardy!_, _Family Feud_, _Two Fat Ladies_. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-all-time-tv-shows/533331/30 "2010-03-22T19:49:51Z")
\*\*\* ATTENTION POSTERS \*\*\* I have started a separate thread [Some Issues with Cafe Society Polls](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=556801) where we can discuss methods for dealing with this large number of candidate shows in a poll or polls. Please contribute ideas if you have some – in that thread. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Fir\_na\_tine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fir\_na\_tine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fir_na_tine)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-all-time-tv-shows/533331/31 "2010-03-22T19:51:11Z")
Deadwood Northern Exposure NCIS Keen Eddie The West Wing ---
**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:** [March 22, 2010, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-all-time-tv-shows/533331/32 "2010-03-22T19:57:49Z")
Older series: The Twilight Zone Alfred Hitchcock The Avengers Mission: Impossible Star Trek Have Gun, Will Travel Wanted: Dead or Alive Barney Miller WKRP in Cincinatti Taxi Bob Newhart (the first one) Fawlty Towers Absolutely Fabulous Newer series: Deadwood Six Feet Under Rome Band of Brothers (mini series, does that count?) Seinfeld The Planet Nova Antiques Roadshow ---
**Author:** ![maplekiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@maplekiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maplekiwi)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-all-time-tv-shows/533331/33 "2010-03-22T20:04:14Z")
All time favourites Fawlty Towers The Good Life (the Brit one, not an awful American show with the same name) 3rd Rock From the Sun I Claudius Pride & Prejudice (the Colin Firth version, althugh I enjoyed an earlier version as well) Can I give an honourable mention to NZ show Outrageous Fortune? ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-all-time-tv-shows/533331/34 "2010-03-22T20:06:37Z")
1. The Wire 2. Arrested Development 3. The Sopranos 4. Seinfeld 5. The Shield 6. NewsRadio 7. Deadwood 8. Breaking Bad 9. Soap 10. 30 Rock 11. Lost ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-all-time-tv-shows/533331/35 "2010-03-22T20:44:59Z")
These 42 shows have been mentioned more than once. Lacking other guidance, I would make the poll on these if we were to stop now. If you haven’t already posted, see if there are others already mentioned (not on this list) that you can endorse. ```auto As of Post #34 Angel (3) Arrested Development (3) The Avengers (2) Band of Brothers (2) Barney Miller (2) Battlestar Galactica (2) Breaking Bad (3) Buffy (6) Carnivale (3) Cosmos (2) Coupling (2) Deadwood (10) Doctor Who (2) ER (2) Fawlty Towers (2) Firefly (3) Freaks & Geeks (2) Futurama (2) House (2) Lost (3) Mad Men (5) M*A*S*H (2) Monty Python's Flying Circus (2) My Name is Earl (2) News Radio (2) Northern Exposure (4) Nova (4) The Office (original) (UK) (3) Rome (4) Seinfeld (5) The Simpsons (6) Six Feet Under (3) The Sopranos (4) Star Trek (original) (5) Star Trek: TNG (4) Taxi (2) 3rd Rock from the Sun (2) 30 Rock (2) Twin Peaks (3) The West Wing (3) The Wire (7) WKRP in Cincinnati (2) ``` ---
**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:** [March 22, 2010, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-all-time-tv-shows/533331/36 "2010-03-22T20:50:14Z")
Am I the only person with any love for Twilight Zone or Mission: Impossible? I’d also like to add **The Man From UNCLE**. Solo and Kuryakin rocked, man. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-all-time-tv-shows/533331/37 "2010-03-22T20:58:00Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Am I the only person with any love for Twilight Zone or Mission: Impossible? I’d also like to add **The Man From UNCLE**. Solo and Kuryakin rocked, man. Gotcha covered, Bubba. I saw Illya in [Coming Home (1997)](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0158653/)lately. Boy’s shriveling up. Loved him in _The Great Escape_. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-all-time-tv-shows/533331/38 "2010-03-22T21:38:04Z")
1. _Prisoner_ (known as _Prisoner: Cell Block H_ outside Australia) 2. _Fawlty Towers_ 3. _The Simpsons_ 4. \*Dick Van Dyke Show \* 5. _King Of Queens_ (Note: if _Big Bang Theory_ keeps up it’s quality, it’ll move into my personal 5th place) ---
**Author:** ![In\_Winnipeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a8b319/32.png) [@In\_Winnipeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/In_Winnipeg)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-all-time-tv-shows/533331/39 "2010-03-22T23:05:37Z")
Top 5? Wow, talk about limiting… 1. The Fugitive 2. The Twilight Zone 3. The Prisoner 4. Wojeck 5. Combat! And to round it out to ten, just because I want to: 6. Tour of Duty 7. Tales of the Gold Monkey (hey, _I_ liked it!) 8. Hawaii Five-O 9. China Beach 10. ER ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-all-time-tv-shows/533331/40 "2010-03-22T23:08:57Z")
Chefguy, how could I forget TZ. It was my dad’s and I beloved half hour together, watching it in reruns my parents’ bedroom, while my mom and sisters and brother watched sitcoms in the living room. I miss my dad! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-all-time-tv-shows/533331.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-all-time-tv-shows/533331.md?page=3)