TV viewers have been treated to countless hours of great shows in recent years, and in the streaming era, even better television is as accessible as it's ever been. For binge-watchers who feel like they've seen it all, it's worth considering which shows are viewed by fans to be the best ever.
Whether looking for something new to watch or just trying to decide which shows are worth jumping back into for another viewing, the list on the fan rankings website Ranker has all-time classics from as far back as 1951 with I Love Lucy. With thousands of fans voting on dozens of shows, the competition for the top spot is ferocious.
South Park (1997- ) - Stream On HBO Max
Premiering in 1997, this animated sitcom features four elementary-school boys in the fictional town of South Park, Colorado. Stan, Kyle, Eric, and Kenny deal with friends and family in what is only occasionally a quiet, normal town.
Though many wild and supernatural events transpire, including the recurring death of a main character, the show's satirical takes on popular current events are often astutely observant. While many moments have encouraged onslaughts of controversy and uproar throughout the years, South Park's ability to impart moral lessons without seeming preachy has helped redeem the less appropriate nature of the show.
Looney Tunes (1930-1969) - Buy Two Seasons On Amazon
Premiering in 1930, this animated series of short comedic sketches features beloved characters like Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Wile E. Coyote, and many more. The earliest episodes had little to no dialogue, but remakes of the series in the decades since have brought full color and audio capabilities to the lovable cast of hilarious characters.
Whether its Bugs eluding capture from Elmer Fudd, Tweety being a sweety in the face of Sylvester's bloodlust, or the Road Runner remaining more wily than Wile E., the adventures of this crew have entertained fans for nearly a century. Being accessible to all ages, with old-school slapstick comedic principles, has been one of the keys to Looney Tunes' enduring success.
Seinfeld (1989-1998) - Stream On Netflix Beginning 10/1/21
Premiering in 1989, this sitcom features a stand-up comedian and his close friends in New York City. Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer explore the minutia of social interactions in this "show about nothing," which often provides material for Jerry's comedy routines.
The iconic Seinfeld has provided countless memorable moments for fans to quote and reference since the show's creation. From the competition to see who's the "master" of their "domain," to the "Soup Nazi," to "these pretzels are making me thirsty," the show almost seems to have too many classic moments. While the main characters are indubitably flawed and self-centered, the most heartwarming scenes from the series demonstrate the redeeming qualities of the main four.
Friends (1994-2004) - Stream On HBO Max
Premiering in 1994, this sitcom features six close friends living in a New York City apartment. Rachel, Monica, Pheobe, Ross, Chandler, and Joey endeavor to find marital and financial success while dealing with many hilarious situations that arise.
On top of being an incredibly funny sitcom with entertaining characters and plots, it also had inspirational, loving relationships and friendships. And as Cheers did with Sam and Diane, Friends had a will-they-won't-they scenario with Ross and Rachel that captured the attention of millions of TV viewers for years.
Sherlock (2010-2017) - Buy On Apple TV
Premiering in 2010, this crime drama features Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's characters Sherlock Holmes and John Watson in modern-day London, England. Holmes and Watson solve the trickiest of mysteries and catch the most villainous of criminals in this re-telling of quintessential Sherlock Holmes stories.
The professional relationship between the brilliant detective Holmes and the former Army doctor Watson quickly turned personal, so much so that many fans have shipped them as the perfect romantic couple. Terrifically witty dialogue, stellar acting performances, and engagingly reimagined plots from Sir Doyle's wealth of timeless tales made Sherlock one of the best shows in recent years.
The Office (2005-2013) - Stream On Peacock
Premiering in 2005, this mockumentary sitcom features the daily lives of office workers at a paper company in Pennsylvania. A remake of the British TV show of the same name, the American version has Steve Carrell in the leading role of Michael Scott, who struggles to walk the lines between being a friend, an employer, and an entertainer.
The American version of The Office helped popularize cringe comedy to a wider audience, and lasting for seven more seasons than its British counterpart allowed fans to have a deeper connection to the characters. Jim and Pam are arguably the preeminent romantic couple for a generation of TV viewers, but as well-known as they are, there are still many secrets about their relationship for fans to discover.
The Twilight Zone (1959-1964) - Stream On Hulu
Premiering in 1959, this anthology series features a variety of short stories in themes of horror, fantasy, science fiction, and more. Narrator Rod Serling introduces the various episodes with an eerie and ominous tone, and the episodes often have stunning twists and haunting allegories.
While The Twilight Zone may be best known for its shocking turns and bizarre scenarios, it's the great acting performances and perfect narrative pacing therein that were possibly the true pillars of this lauded series. Each episode brought its own cast of interesting characters in intriguing circumstances, and the concepts were explored and concluded with near-perfect efficiency. This helped provide that elusive "all killer, no filler" feeling that embodies many of the best episodes from the show.
Game Of Thrones (2011-2019) - Stream On HBO Max
Premiering in 2011, this fantasy drama series features several noble families vying for power in the fictional kingdom of Westeros. Complicating matters, the exiled children of a former ruler conspire to invade with a savage army from across the sea, and a mythical undead force returns to bring apocalyptic destruction.
Impressively, Game of Thrones became popular as a fantasy show that appeals to people who don't like fantasy by having interesting and relatable characters who care about each other. As much as it was about fire-breathing dragons and giants riding mammoths, it was even more so about the interpersonal struggles among the characters. The best side plots from the show often fleshed out the fascinating world even further.
The Sopranos (1999-2007) - Stream On HBO Max
Premiering in 1999, this crime drama features an Italian-American mob boss in New Jersey. With the frowned-upon aid of a psychiatric therapist, Tony Soprano balances his professional and personal life as the leader of the Soprano criminal organization.
During its run, The Sopranos earned their seven Emmy nominations for Outstanding Drama Series through the strength of a terrific acting ensemble and world-class writing. Portraying the protagonist as a rather vulnerable, personable crime lord allowed viewers to easily become invested in the engrossing narratives that transpired around him. Despite the vengeance and violence, there are still many heartbreaking moments from the show.
Breaking Bad (2008-2013) - Stream On Netflix
Premiering in 2008, this crime drama features a high school science teacher who begins makings and selling crystal meth after being diagnosed with cancer. Walter White recruits Jesse Pinkman, a former student, to help him acclimatize to the dangerous world of drug-dealing.
From the first episode to the last, Breaking Bad captured the attention and imagination of fans and never let go. With some of the best character development ever brought to the small screen, Walter White undergoes a wild but believable transformation from mild-mannered working dad to ruthless drug kingpin. Despite such a change, every small step along the way is believable, relatable, and most importantly, entertaining.