With shows like Biography and The First 48 continuing to pull in large audiences, it is clear that A&E has positioned itself as a powerhouse network. With its ability to deftly balance reality shows with original dramatic programming, A&E is in its own category.
Whether it is heart-wrenching reality shows like Scientology and the Aftermath or brilliant dramas like Bates Motel, A&E is truly a network for everyone. Though the channel has produced a ton of great shows, only the best earned higher scores on IMDb.
Bates Motel (2013-2017) - 8.1
Remaking a beloved Alfred Hitchcock film is a tricky proposition, and touching Psycho seemed particularly difficult. Bates Motel stands as a prequel series and re-imagining of the horror classic and chronicles the rise and fall of the Bates family business.
Anchored by the strong performances from the two leads, Bates Motel was a pleasant surprise for the network. Mixing drama with a heaping helping of suspense, the show explores the characters like never before and completely re-contextualizes the films. After finding great success with reality shows, Bates Motel showed that A&E could still do both.
Live PD (2016-Present) - 8.2
Filling the void left by the cancelation of shows like Cops, the reality show Live PD was hard-hitting and controversial. The series follows police officers all across the U.S., as they go out on actual calls and hardships that they face day after day.
The dark and gritty nature of the series had some viewers enthralled, but it turned some viewers away because of its political divisiveness. Despite being renewed, the show was canceled at A&E but has continued to run on other networks. Though it was riveting in its own way, shows like Live PD represented a bygone era of TV that a lot of viewers would rather not be reminded of.
The First 48 (2004-Present) - 8.2
While a lot of reality shows are called out for being fake, The First 48 is celebrated for its accurate depiction of reality. Following homicide detectives during the first two days of an investigation, the show offers an in-depth look at the crucial 48-hour period that often makes or breaks cases.
The viewer really gets a sense from the show that being a homicide detective is nothing like it is in the movies, and the emotional nature of the episodes is almost overwhelming. Most reality shows attempt to spice up the story for intrigue, but The First 48 instead shows life as it really is, and the episodes mostly have down-beat endings.
Born This Way (2015-2019) - 8.3
Most A&E reality shows have somewhat dour premises, but Born This Way was made specifically to be uplifting and inspirational. The series chronicles the day-to-day lives of young adults with Down syndrome as they pursue their ambitions in the face of society's expectations of them.
Each character featured on the show is unique, and the interweaving stories are mirrors of reality show tropes, but without cynicism. Characters get married, they have careers, and they go about their lives, and it is all shown on-screen with very little manipulation. As a companion piece to shows like Love on the Spectrum, Born This Way is equally successful as both education and entertainment.
Longmire (2012-2017) - 8.3
Though the show had its best years on Netflix, many fans forget that Longmire began as an A&E original series. The show follows the sheriff of a small county in Wyoming, as he attempts to put his life back together following the sudden death of his wife.
Generally considered one of the best shows saved by Netflix, Longmire had a respectable run going on its original network before it was unexpectedly canned. What made the series so remarkable was that it managed to blend a modern sensibility with classic western tropes, which resulted in a timeless feel. Westerns aren't all that common in modern TV, but Longmire helped to put them back on the map.
A Nero Wolfe Mystery (2001-2002) - 8.4
Coming as one of A&E's first forays into dramatic TV, A Nero Wolf Mystery was the network's stab at early '00s prestige television. The show follows the adventures of the intrepid Nero Wolfe, a gumshoe detective who solves mysteries in 1950s New York City.
The throwback look of the show was one of its best aspects, and with Timothy Hutton leading the cast, it was a star-studded affair. Though it ran for less than thirty episodes, each story is better than the last, and they were made in a cinematic style that wasn't common on shows of the era. Not usually closely associated with A&E's legacy, Nero Wolfe was still one of the network's most ambitious projects.
Biography: WWE Legends (2021-2022) - 8.5
The WWE's partnership with A&E has produced a slew of great programming, and at the top of the pile is its offshoot of their classic Biography program. WWE Legends is an in-depth look at some of the wrestling promotion's greatest stars of the past.
Featuring never-before-seen backstage footage, the series pulls back the curtains on the lives and legacies of professional wrestling royalty. Having access to the stars themselves gives the show a more candid feel, and it has gone a long way to dispel rumors and reignite feuds that have simmered within the wrestling community for years.
City Confidential (1998-2021) - 8.6
Having only recently ended in 2021, City Confidential is A&E's longest-running program, and it stretched over three separate decades. Each episode features a different tale of crime and corruption from a particular city somewhere in the U.S.
Ranging from big cities all the way down to backwater townships, the show shined a light on some of the most fascinating true-crime stories in history. The consistency of the show was the most impressive part about it, and viewers could always rely on each episode being as memorable as the last.
America's Castles (1994-1999) - 8.6
America's Castles was one of the earliest original programs on A&E, and it is a far cry from the types of shows that the network broadcasts today. Each episode highlighted a particularly notable mansion in the U.S. and explained the architectural significance of the building along with the history of its inhabitants.
Opting for an informative nature instead of an entertaining one, the series is perfect for history buffs and architecture nerds. However, there is very little to keep other viewers engaged, and it is unlikely that America's Castles will be playing on the network in syndication any time soon.
Leah Remini: Scientology And The Aftermath (2016-2019) - 9.0
Dropping the cynical pretense of most reality TV shows, Scientology and the Aftermath strikes at the heart of its subject and doesn't pull any punches. Actress Leah Remini speaks with former members of the church who recount their individual experiences of abuse.
The docuseries is one of the best on the subject of cults and approaches its subject with care and dignity. It is obvious that Remini, a former church member herself, has a deep passion for the material and cares for the victims deeply. Though it isn't always the easiest show to watch, it is a cathartic experience for the subjects and viewers alike.