In the days of yore, before streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Max, and the like allowed us to stream our favorite shows whenever we pleased, people used to plan their evenings and weekends around cable schedules. In other words, television has always been among America's most cherished pastimes. These days, modern technology has given us the gift of getting to pick from, oh, just every single TV show ever, all of which are available to watch at any moment of your choosing. And it's overwhelming! We can end up frozen on the couch, endlessly scrolling through Netflix's "New Releases" category, struggling to narrow our options.
That's why we made this list—to narrow things down for you. Whether you love classic TV, iconic sitcoms, award-winning prestige dramas, campy supernatural series, or something in between, you've come to the right place. Behold: the 50 best TV shows of all time.
'30 Rock' (2006–2013)
30 Rock is a hilarious comedy about what goes on behind the scenes of a Saturday Night Live-like sketch comedy show filmed at 30 Rockefeller Plaza (NBC's real-life headquarters). The jokes are witty and spew out of the quirky cast of characters at a mile a minute.
'American Horror Story' (2011– )
When this horror anthology series dropped, television got a little bit creepier. Who knew blood and gore could have a deeper meaning? Seasons range from stories of a coven of witches to a killer clown. Picking a favorite season would be like a parent deeming their favorite child, but if we had to choose, we recommend just starting with season 1.
'The Americans' (2013–2018)
Elizabeth and Philip Jennings (Matthew Rhys and Kerry Russell) are a perfect married couple, living in the sleepy Washington, D.C., suburb of Falls Church, Virginia, in the 1980s. Oh, except they're secretly spies for the KGB who are deep undercover as they try to get the dirt on state secrets. Classic family stuff!
'Arrested Development' (2003–2006; 2013–2019)
When it comes to dysfunctional family comedies, no one does it better than Arrested Development. Also notable: AD kicked off the trend of Netflix bringing back beloved canceled shows.
'Barry' (2018–2023)
A former marine who now works as a hitman gets sent on a mission to L.A. and ends up catching the acting bug. Unfortunately, leaving a life of crime isn't always easy. Yes, since its leading man is SNL alum Bill Hader, it has some laughs, but it also tackles serious topics of PTSD, acceptance, and more.
'Big Little Lies' (2017– )
A group of well-to-do moms in affluent Monterey try to keep up appearances...until they're all involved in a murder. We'll never get over how great this A-list cast is, and how expertly the series, based on a beloved Liane Moriarty novel, balances humor with an exploration of trauma and domestic violence. And we still can't wait for the long-awaited season 3.
‘Black Mirror’ (2011– )
Basically the modern-day Twilight Zone, this spooky series imagines the often nefarious lengths to which our current and near-future technology could possibly (and reasonably) be stretched. It’s creative and terrifying and will definitely have you adding screen time limits to all your devices.
'BoJack Horseman' (2014–2020)
This could get some heat, but this is arguably the best show on Netflix. What looks like a less crude version of Family Guy is anything but. Over six seasons, you watch BoJack Horseman (voiced by Will Arnett), a once-famous '90s star turned alcoholic, and his friends navigate life in "Hollywoo." It's a show we wish had lasted forever. Bring tissues, and lots of them.
'Breaking Bad' (2008–2013)
An average high school chemistry teacher (Bryan Cranston) gets diagnosed with cancer and turns to a life of crime—cooking meth. You know, normal. So many prestige shows centered around anti-heroes hold their candles to this one.
'Broad City' (2014–2019)
This comedy was for the girls, and oh my god was it ours. Out of all the television shows about 20-somethings living in a big city, this is one of the more realistic ones, while also being plenty ridiculous. Broad City followed two friends, Abbi and Ilana (Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer), and their all-too-relatable troubles of living in New York.
'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' (1997–2003)
High school is hell—but, like, literally—and Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) has to juggle the terrors of adolescence with the terrors of the supernatural. It's a cult classic for a reason.
'The Crown' (2016–2023)
As reigning king of streamers, it only makes sense that Netflix would tackle the British monarchy. And it did so with aplomb: This prestige drama series, which ran for six seasons, with the cast switching to age up the characters every two seasons, was widely hailed as a close-up portrayal of much of the last century of British rule.
'Curb Your Enthusiasm' (2000–2024)
Larry David, the misanthropic creator of Seinfeld, plays a much (much) cringier version of himself in this hysterical cringe comedy set in L.A. (Look out for copious cameos!) The hit ran for 12 seasons, and there's a reason to laugh in every episode.
'Downton Abbey' (2010–2015)
A glimpse into the inner lives of an English estate during the sunset of the British aristocracy, Downton Abbey is a quiet show that occasionally breaks your heart.
'Fleabag' (2016–2019)
The award-winning play-turned-TV show follows a woman (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) and her life in London, and should be subtitled, "A series of unfortunate events." The episodes are quick, the jokes are insanely witty, and you'll finally understand the pop culture reference of "Hot Priest."
'Freaks and Geeks' (1999-2000)
This show from Judd Apatow followed two groups of high schoolers in 1980, centering around painfully nerdy Sam (John Francis Davey) and his misfit older sister Lindsay (Linda Cardellini). Both of them are just trying to get through high school without being too humiliated, and the results are hilarious, poignant, and sometimes a little beautiful.
'Friday Night Lights' (2006–2011)
Who knew that a '00s show about a high school football team in Texas would make for must-watch TV, and remain eminently bingeable even years after it first aired? Friday Night Lights never garnered the audience it deserved during its original run, but its legacy lives on.
'Friends' (1994–2004)
In Friends, six best friends hang out in New York, drink coffee, and live way beyond their apparent means. Could this show be any funnier? Though some episodes haven't held up, many are still incredible and LOL-worthy.
'Full House' (1987–1995)
A recently widowed father (Bob Saget) calls in his brother-in-law (John Stamos) and best friend (Dave Coulier) to help raise his three young daughters. The Tanner family gave us laughs and a hunky, young Stamos, launched the careers of the Olsen twins, and became one of our favorite families to watch on TV. "Have mercy!"
'Game of Thrones' (2011–2019)
Game of Thrones follows an epic battle for the Five Kingdoms, complete with political intrigue, a startling amount of incest, ice zombies, and, frankly, not enough dragons.
'Gilmore Girls' (2000–2007)
This dramedy follows the relationship of a close-knit single mother (Lauren Graham) and daughter (Alexi Bledel) and their lives in the town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut. While the community alone feels like something out of a Hallmark Christmas movie, the narratives of first loves, friendship, and family will make you wish you were a Gilmore girl, too.
'Girls' (2012–2017)
For a certain subset of millennial women, the Lena Dunham-created Girls was something of a how-to guide for navigating your 20s. The characters may have been mostly insufferable and wildly self-centered, but if that isn’t an incredibly accurate portrayal of nearly everyone you meet in your 20s, we don’t know what is.
'The Golden Girls' (1985–1992)
Four older women live together as roommates in Miami and share adventures, memories, and lots (and lots) of cheesecake.
'The Good Place' (2016–2020)
A not-so-good woman (Kristen Bell) is mistakenly sent to the Good Place (basically heaven) when she dies and has to try to figure out a way to stay. Pretty much every episode ends with a twist.
'How I Met Your Mother' (2005–2014)
Throughout nine seasons, we follow Ted Mosby (Josh Radnor) as he tells the story of how he met the mother of his children. It's a love story told in reverse, through the memories of Mosby and his equally crazy but charming friends. When the season finale of the last season aired, there were a lot of opinions—but we'll let you be the judge.
'I Love Lucy' (1951–1957)
We all know this one. Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz) is the band leader at the Copacabana. His wife Lucy (Lucille Ball) is an aspiring and usually overzealous wannabe entertainer. Cue mishaps. Cue Lucy crying. Cue laughter.
‘Insecure’ (2016–2021)
Created by and starring Issa Rae, Insecure was an often-hilarious, often-touching look at the ups and downs of navigating life, love, work, and friendships in your late 20s and early 30s—so, basically the older, wiser, and more mature cousin to Girls.
'Law & Order' (1990-2010; 2022– )
Even though the O.G. crime series has aired over 400 episodes, it's still always surprising to find out who dunnit. And if its 20-plus seasons aren't enough for you, there's plenty more to watch in offshoots like Criminal Intent and Special Victims Unit.
'Lost' (2004–2010)
In the late aughts, you were hard-pressed to find anyone who wasn’t tuning in to Lost every week. The ABC series ran for six seasons, plaguing viewers with the increasingly tangly mysteries that befell the survivors of a plane crash on an island seemingly imbued with supernatural powers.
'Mad Men' (2007–2015)
A story about an ad executive in the 1960s and the women in his orbit, Mad Men made Don Draper (Jon Hamm) one of TV's most legendarily complicated characters. Bonus points for the series's final reveal that the show was actually kind of all about its female characters all along.
'Modern Family' (2009–2020)
This sitcom follows three branches of the same family, and hilarity ensues. Yes, "family comedy" is a tried and true premise in television, but Modern Family's execution is next-level.
'The Office' (2005–2013)
This was initially just a remake of the Ricky Gervais-starring U.K. workplace show of the same name. However, the Steve Carell-starring version took the premise of cringingly terrible bosses and the employees that suffer under them and injected it with a surprising amount of heart.
'Parks and Recreation' (2009–2015)
A chronically optimistic city employee named Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) works tirelessly to help make her apathetic hometown of Pawnee, Indiana, a better place.
'Saturday Night Live' (1975– )
Hilarious live sketch comedy, delivered weekly—courtesy of so many of our most beloved comedians—for the last half century.
'Saved by the Bell' (1989–1993)
Oh, to be a high school student at Bayside High School in Palisades, California. Whether you watched this when it was on the air or caught a rerun on TBS when you couldn't sleep, Saved by the Bell made you want to relive high school again. Sure, the episodes always ended in some cheesy life lesson, but we ate it up like there was no tomorrow.
'Scandal' (2012–2018)
Scandal was groundbreaking for many reasons. First, it further proved that Shonda Rhimes's power to make an entire night of television worth tuning into, at a time when networks were feeling a little passé. Second, Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) became an icon for women who get things done. And third, it showed that a diverse cast didn't pigeonhole a show, but in fact just made it more relevant to everyone who tuned in. And TV hasn't been the same since.
'Seinfeld' (1989–1998)
Comedian Jerry Seinfeld plays comedian Jerry Seinfeld in a show that is literally about nothing. Seriously. Some of the best episodes are about things like waiting for a table at a restaurant and looking for a car in a parking garage.
'Sex and the City' (1998–2004)
Four 30-something best friends in N.Y.C. talk frankly about friendship, family, and, of course, sex in this legendary HBO series. Though parts of it seem a little dated now, it opened the door to other shows that wanted to finally take women's lives seriously—and did it in style.
'The Simpsons' (1989– )
The longest-running animated series on television, The Simpsons follows a dysfunctional family and ruthlessly parodies American culture in the process.
'The Sopranos' (1999–2007)
Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) is just a guy trying to balance his home life and job. And that job just so happens to be in the mafia. This one might just be the best TV show of all time; if you haven't watched it yet, you're in for a treat (or should we say baked ziti?).
'Star Trek' (1966–1969)
The beloved sci-fi show follows the crew of the USS Enterprise as they explore the galaxy and "boldly go where no man has gone before."
'Stranger Things' (2016–2025)
If Stephen Spielberg did TV, boom, you'd have Stranger Things. Season 1 begins in 1983 in Hawkins, Indiana, when a boy (Noah Schnapp) goes missing out of thin air and it's up to his mom (Winona Ryder in a role that relaunched her career), preteen friends, a girl who goes by the name Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and a struggling police chief (David Harbour) to find him before the mysterious thing that took him takes him away forever.
'Succession' (2018–2023)
Succession is about siblings fighting to succeed their icy father (Brian Cox) as the head of a major media conglomerate. While that may not sound entertaining, you haven’t met the Roy family. This multi-award-winning HBO series is so sharply and smartly written, with plenty of laugh-out-loud dark comedy mixed in with all the backstabbing.
'The Twilight Zone' (1959–1964)
Anthology series are enjoying a major comeback today, but nothing (nothing!) beats The Twilight Zone.
'Twin Peaks' (1990–1991, 2017)
This is what happens when you let a film auteur like David Lynch play with a serialized format—a concept that seems like a no-brainer now, but which was somewhat unheard of in 1990. The story of FBI Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan), sent to the Pacific Northwest to investigate the murder of teen girl Laura Palmer, paved the way for a bunch of the other shows on this list—though we're still waiting for that gum we like to come back in style.
'Veep' (2012–2019)
A former senator becomes the vice president of the United States (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), and she realizes it's nothing like she thought it would be. The comedy wasn't like the usual all-too-serious shows about life in the White House. Instead, we got a vulgar, funny, and honest look at life on Capitol Hill, and for that, we're thankful.
'Veronica Mars' (2004–2007, 2019)
Veronica Mars (Kristen Bell) is a teen private eye (like so many teens are!) working to solve the mystery of her best friend's murder. The first season, in particular, is pitch-perfect.
'The West Wing' (1999–2006)
A feel-good look inside the inner workings of the Oval Office and the role the POTUS's senior staff plays in running the government.
'The Wire' (2002–2008)
Season by season, The Wire focuses on the shady underbellies of different groups in Baltimore, from drug dealers to the press. It's from what's been dubbed the golden era of HBO, and rivals The Sopranos in terms of its greatness and influence on television.
'The X-Files' (1993–2002, 2016–2018)
Two FBI agents (played by Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny)—a skeptic and a believer—investigate paranormal cases. Also: aliens. Lots of aliens. We want to believe!
