In the past year, big-time stars Meryl Streep, Mark Ruffalo, and Steve Carell have all opted for "small screen" roles. Television's golden age, well-represented in this list and accumulated according to the combined merit of Emmy recognition and the user-based IMDb rating system, is the most exciting and recent iteration of an entertainment landscape that has been dynamic since day one.
Among just these 10 series are decades of TV history, glances into various magnificent and terrifying universes, and names like Tony Soprano and Don Draper. Looking back always makes one realize the height of the Emmy stakes.
Lost (8.3)
The familiar fictional premise of being stranded on a desert island was turned on its head in Lost's first episode with the appearance of a mystical monster. It would continue to be turned all sorts of directions, arguably to a fault.
Look to Lost to understand the turning point of the television landscape into the prestige platform it is today. While the show leaned into the serialized romances and cliffhangers of TV's yesteryear, it simultaneously invested in more ambitious storylines and its talent was considered on par with big-screen Hollywood (J.J. Abrams would go on to direct Star Trek and Star Wars installments soon after the series' close).
Hallmark's Hall Of Fame (8.4)
Hallmark's Hall of Fame programming has evolved since 1951. In what might be considered its heyday, famous stories were depicted monthly by star-studded troupes. George Bernard Shaw's Captain Brassbound's Conversion welcomed Christopher Plummer and Robert Redford in one episode. Richard Burton took on Shakespeare in another.
The series' 1960 Emmy acclaim was directed in particular at a rendition of Macbeth featuring Maurice Evans and Judith Anderson, the latter of whom did not quite become an "EGOT," but was nominated as such.
Disneyland (8.5)
In 1956, when then called Disneyland won the Emmy for 'Best Action or Adventure Series,' television and the way it was honored was completely different than today. Currently called The Wonderful World of Disney, this "series" is more like a catch-all for Disney programming, as it has aired in various prime time slots. It is long since eligible for competition with the Breaking Bad's and Mad Men's of the screen.
This is not to say Disneyland was awarded by some sort of archaic fluke. In an era where only a handful of channels were on air, it's multifaceted programming of inventive shorts, historical fiction adventures, and even Disney documentaries were not to be missed!
The Handmaid's Tale (8.5)
Handmaid's Tale has done nothing but gain momentum since the tale was first woven and spoken. Towering contemporary literary figure Margaret Atwood wrote the book in 1985. A few decades of massive advances in feminist discourse later, it was overdue to become Hulu's marquee original. In just three seasons, it has coincided with the #MeToo movement, as well as the recent re-energized emphasis on representation.
After a somewhat dystopian 2020, season four is slated to arrive just in time. Audiences can look forward to more women fighting for empowerment in the story and excelling in their craft on the screen.
Mad Men (8.6)
Who would have imagined that a slow-burn drama about a 1960s advertising firm would have something for everybody? For those raised on soap operas, Mad Men packed every bit as much surprise, scandal, and sex. Snobbish television viewers, like those voting for the Emmys, found a detrimental study of the human condition in the very same show.
Since Mad Men's airing, Jon Hamm and Elizabeth Moss have become household names. Famous scenes from the show have been used in marketing courses. A bonafide part of American pop culture - it is one of two on this list that won the Outstanding Drama Emmy four consecutive times.
Elizabeth R (8.7)
The highest-rated entry on this list not from the 21st century, BBC's 1971 miniseries Elizabeth R was an absolute spectacle. Over six eight-five minute filmed stageplays, Glenda Jackson was Emmy-winning as Elizabeth I.
This rivalry between Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary has provided dramatic fodder for decades. In the very same year as the BBC series, Glenda Jackson performed her role for a feature film. More recently, in 2018, Hollywood superstars Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie brought their interpretation to the screen.
The West Wing (8.8)
From 1999 to 2006, legendary screenwriter Aaron Sorkin put America's collective finger on the pulse of the white house with The West Wing. His signature snappy dialogue, often occurring in a "walk-and-talk" style, made it pulse pumping with excitement and adrenaline.
In the universe of President Jed Bartlet and The West Wing, every corner of Washington, D.C. is occupied by best-in-class individuals who bring to the table the ideal political combination of intellect and empathy. During its run, the show was criticized for being too rosy. Today, it has become something of a respite from a seemingly hostile political reality.
The Sopranos (9.2)
Why is organized crime so over-represented in the world of entertainment? It presents clear rules and high stakes and is nothing but a study of human nature. The Sopranos is one in a long tradition of gangster TV and it's Mt. Rushmore.
Among the iconic moments is its controversial finale. It is abrupt, to the chagrin of many first-time viewers. Ultimately, a theory has circulated which accounts for the episode, and David Chase himself recently confirmed it.
Game Of Thrones (9.3)
According to Tyrion Lannister, it's stories that unite people. In the case of Game of Thrones, one of the most ambitious television stories of all time united some of TV's largest scripted audiences in recent history Sunday and Sunday again.
Famously based on the fantasy novels of George R. R. Martin, this HBO dragon epic was a water-cooler staple amid a completely fragmented media world. This mass popularity was paid for in blood. From season one, Game of Thrones established a ruthlessness regarding its characters that required viewers' undivided attention to every episode.
Breaking Bad (9.5)
If the brilliance of the phenomenal show atop this list needs to be summarized, its very title does just that. This is one of the most perfectly executed character arcs in television history.
Breaking Bad concluded about seven years ago, but its mythos is still alive and well. Spinoff Better Call Saul, an origin story of Walter White's shady lawyer Saul Goodman with character crossovers aplenty, recently concluded its most renowned season. Meanwhile, Netflix released El Camino in 2019. The film recounts what happens to Jesse Pinkman immediately following the events of the Breaking Bad's finale.