Mark Z's Top 50 TV shows
Television is arguably the greatest invention of the 20th century. Without it I would not be able to make this list.
Note that the Top 10 is my definitive top shows of all time, the rest are in no particular order.
This is my opinion and does not accurately measure how good a tv show actually is.
Note that the Top 10 is my definitive top shows of all time, the rest are in no particular order.
This is my opinion and does not accurately measure how good a tv show actually is.
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- CreatorDonald P. BellisarioStarsScott BakulaDean StockwellDeborah PrattDuring an experiment into time travel, a scientist finds himself trapped in the past, "leaping" into the lives of different people, sorting out their problems and changing history in hopes of getting back to his own life in the present.No other series could leave you hanging week after week like this one.
At the end of each episode you would be left wondering how Sam was going to handle the next leap.
Trust me if you haven't seen this series, take a "Leap" of faith, do yourself a favour and watch this classic before Hollywood come along and try and remake it. - CreatorLarry DavidJerry SeinfeldStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsThe continuing misadventures of neurotic New York City stand-up comedian Jerry Seinfeld and his equally neurotic New York City friends.Simply the funniest series to ever broadcast. It's amazing they never made a movie. Although movies based on tv series never turn out that good, see case in point below for X-files.
- CreatorChris CarterStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonMitch PileggiTwo F.B.I. Agents, Fox Mulder the believer and Dana Scully the skeptic, investigate the strange and unexplained, while hidden forces work to impede their efforts.One of, if not THE most perfectly crafted drama series ever created, avoid the movies though. Nothing can come close to this series, Supernatural tries to mimic X-files success but is way too teeny boppy and not thrilling and suspenseful like the original paranormal series created by Chris Carter.
- CreatorJames Manos Jr.StarsMichael C. HallJennifer CarpenterDavid ZayasHe's smart. He's lovable. He's Dexter Morgan, America's favorite serial killer, who spends his days solving crimes and nights committing them.Out of all the series to come on to television in the past 10 years, Dexter stands out above them all. No series just keeps getting better and better like Dexter, and has always managed to end each series on a bang. Not all shows can do that and stay fresh.
- CreatorJames L. BrooksMatt GroeningSam SimonStarsDan CastellanetaNancy CartwrightHarry ShearerThe satiric half-hour adventures of a working-class family in the misfit city of Springfield.I don't think I could have made a list without The Simpsons. Over the years the show has had it's ups and downs, but name one sitcom that has lasted 3 generations. No... COPS and Sesame Street do not count. Nor do stupid Japanese or Australian or daytime soapies.
Simpsons just keeps going and is a testament of how timeless the the show can be. Love him or hate him, Homer Simpson is the greatest cartoon character ever created. - CreatorRod SerlingStarsRod SerlingRobert McCordJay OverholtsOrdinary people find themselves in extraordinarily astounding situations, which they each try to solve in a remarkable manner.One of the oldest shows on my list, it is also one of the most influential. While not alive to witness the original airing in it's hey day, the stories are timeless and any generation can enjoy them.
I am simply amazed at how many original ideas which came from this series that are still being used in today's movies. - CreatorMitchell HurwitzStarsJason BatemanMichael CeraPortia de RossiLevel-headed son Michael Bluth takes over family affairs after his father is imprisoned. But the rest of his spoiled, dysfunctional family are making his job unbearable.Jason Bateman makes up for Teen Wolf Too.
Suprisingly before this series, Bateman was falling off the radar rapidly after many years of failed sitcoms and movies.
Most of us born before the 90's will remember the sitcom Valerie was what he was best known for...and the easy to forget Teen Wolf sequel. As I speak they are filming a movie to complete this unfinished series which was prematurely cancelled. Ironically they have also piloted a new Teen Wolf series to cash in on the Vampire Diaries/Twilight/True Blood fanbase. In risk of going way off topic, just know that this show is wet your pants funny and I recommend it to any fan of humour. - CreatorBob KaneEric RadomskiBruce TimmStarsKevin ConroyLoren LesterEfrem Zimbalist Jr.The Dark Knight battles crime in Gotham City with occasional help from Robin and Batgirl.The Animated Batman series kept the dark tone of Tim Burton's Batman alive for many years after his movies stopped and the crappy ones started.
It also boasted some of the best animation never seen in cartoons before it's time, and most cartoons today pale in comparison. - CreatorTom FontanaStarsErnie HudsonJ.K. SimmonsLee TergesenA series chronicling the daily activities of an unusual prison facility and its criminal inhabitants.No other series left you feeling like you could get shanked or raped in your own house. Seriously gritty, thrilling drama that was not always easy to watch yet is easy to put this in my top 10.
- StarsJohn CleesePrunella ScalesAndrew SachsHotel owner Basil Fawlty's incompetence, short fuse, and arrogance form a combination that ensures accidents and trouble are never far away.Possibly the funniest series ever made, with the only down side being they made just 12 episodes. On the plus side every single episode is an instant classic and highly replayable.
- CreatorJ.J. AbramsJeffrey LieberDamon LindelofStarsJorge GarciaJosh HollowayYunjin KimThe survivors of a plane crash are forced to work together in order to survive on a seemingly deserted tropical island.
- CreatorMark FrostDavid LynchStarsKyle MacLachlanMichael OntkeanMädchen AmickAn idiosyncratic FBI agent investigates the murder of a young woman in the even more idiosyncratic town of Twin Peaks.
- CreatorJenji KohanStarsMary-Louise ParkerHunter ParrishAlexander GouldWhen a suburban mother turns to dealing marijuana in order to maintain her privileged lifestyle after her husband dies, she finds out just how addicted her entire neighborhood already is.
- CreatorRon LeavittMichael G. MoyeStarsEd O'NeillChristina ApplegateKatey SagalAl is the quintessential working class dad. Peggy, his wife, always wants more from him. With their children, they go through the highs and lows of ordinary life.
- CreatorSeth MacFarlaneDavid ZuckermanStarsAlex BorsteinSeth MacFarlaneSeth GreenIn a wacky Rhode Island town, a dysfunctional family strives to cope with everyday life as they are thrown from one crazy scenario to another.
- CreatorMike BarkerSeth MacFarlaneMatt WeitzmanStarsSeth MacFarlaneWendy SchaalScott GrimesThe escapades of Stan Smith, a conservative C.I.A. Agent dealing with family life, and keeping America safe.
- CreatorJoss WhedonStarsNathan FillionGina TorresAlan TudykFive hundred years in the future, a renegade crew aboard a small spacecraft tries to survive as they travel the unknown parts of the galaxy and evade warring factions as well as authority agents out to get them.
- CreatorTrey ParkerMatt StoneBrian GradenStarsTrey ParkerMatt StoneIsaac HayesFollows the misadventures of four irreverent grade-schoolers in the quiet, dysfunctional town of South Park, Colorado.
- StarsChris O'DowdRichard AyoadeKatherine ParkinsonThe comedic misadventures of Roy, Moss and their grifting supervisor Jen, a rag-tag team of IT support workers at a large corporation headed by a hotheaded yuppie.
- CreatorRowan AtkinsonRichard CurtisStarsRowan AtkinsonMatilda ZieglerRobin DriscollBumbling, childlike Mr. Bean has trouble completing the simplest of day-to-day tasks, but his perseverance and resourcefulness frequently allow him to find ingenious ways around problems.
- StarsAlan YoungKeye LukeRonnie SchellA five-member superhero team called G-Force fights to defend Earth and its space colonies from the threat of the planet Spectra.
- CreatorBill LawrenceStarsZach BraffDonald FaisonSarah ChalkeIn the unreal world of Sacred Heart Hospital, intern John "J.D." Dorian learns the ways of medicine, friendship and life.
- CreatorJim HensonJack BurnsStarsJim HensonFrank OzRichard HuntKermit the Frog and his fellow Muppets put on a vaudeville show at their theatre, bringing in a famous celebrity to help out for each episode.
- StarsPeter CullenMichael BellJack AngelThis series focuses on five lion robots and their pilots as they fight the evil forces of King Zarkon and Prince Lotor.
- CreatorDale McRavenStarsBronson PinchotMark Linn-BakerMelanie WilsonA high-strung and cynical man's life is never the same when his naive but good-natured cousin comes to America to live with him.