50 Most Popular TV Shows of All Time

Monty Python are considered The Beatles of comedy. This show depicts the peculiarities of British life with observational sketches. It’s a fascinatingly bizarre and funny thing, with Cleese’s establishment sneer, Palin’s gentle performance, and Gilliam’s twisted animation a perfect storm of comedy.

Like The Sopranos, Six Feet Under is about family, in this case the Fishers – Nate, David, Claire and mother Ruth, and their day-to-day running of a funeral home in Los Angeles. It is very much a series about death. And it served TV’s one of the best finales by jumping forward in time in the last episode to show the final moments of all its leads.

Spaced is a Simon Pegg and co-star Jessica Hynes’s pop culture-drenched sitcom.  It follows the lives of newly single Tim, a comic book artist and Daisy, an aspiring writer who decide to pose as a professional couple to rent a flat. The sitcom is charming and you will absolutely fall in love with Simon Pegg.

The spectacular performances by Selina Meyer and Julia Louis-Dreyfus made it a popular and a must watch. The continued success of Veep lies in its simple premise: highlighting the inane day-to-day responsibilities of Veep, Selina Meyers. From its opening scene right, the series never fails to make the best of its ensemble cast.

OZ is one of the darkest, most horrifying TV shows of the last three decades. It consists of an astounding cast of JK Simmons, Chris Meloni and Harrold Perrineau with career-defining work. It follows the lives of the men locked up in an experimental High-Security penitentiary wrap around each other as they try and do their time. It is show that reaches Shakespearean levels of horror and humanity.

Another sitcom that we have in our list is 30 Rock. With Tina Fey in the lead you are definitely in for a laughter riot. This surreal sitcom is set behind the scenes of a dysfunctional TV show. Liz Lemon, played by Fey, is the head writer of a sketch comedy show where she not only has to run a successful TV show but also deal with her arrogant boss andeccentric stars.

South Park is gross, offensive, and is crudely made which gives it a special place in the world of conservative television. It has 23 seasons with 308 episodes. The plot follows the foul-mouthed adventures of four school boys which are deliciously subversive. Also, get ready for a lot of Weiner jokes!

Chappelle’s Show left a huge impact on the audience within no time. Every sketch is as funny and memorable as the last, with Dave Chappelle’s satirical, antagonistic bite and willingness to tackle taboo subjects making a lasting impact on the culture. His humorous takes on celebrities such as Rick James, Prince, and Sam Jackson were instantly iconic and surprisingly ripe for the internet age. There aren’t many shows are as relevant, scandalous, or funny as Chappelle’s Show. 

Fargo is a rewarding show with its first season based on the Coen brothers’ movie. It is equal parts folksy charm and blood-soaked violence. The Intelligent scripting and fantastic performances from Allison Tolman as the heroic Maggy and Billy Bob Thornton as the terrifying Lorne Malvo make it a wonderful anthology series. It follows the story of a small-town businessman does something unspeakable and the consequences affect a local cop, her father and a charming hired killer.

It’s one of the rarest TV shows that actually gets better with each season. It puts on screen a twisted tale of police corruption in LA. This show bagged numerous awards and had a huge influence on Breaking Bad. The first episode of The Shield ends with anti-gang cop Vic Mackey shooting a colleague in the face, and his crimes just get worse from there.

It is one of the HBO’s groundbreaking television at its best. Ian McShane and Timothy Olyphant lead an excellent cast of morally grey characters searching for fortune and glory in the titular town of Deadwood. Mcshane’s performanceas AI Swearengen was so powerful that he won a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama.

Parks & Recreation is good-natured, sweet and optimistic show in the world of cynicism. We have Amy Poehler’s arresting performance as Leslie Knope, a minor civil servant with big plans. This is a show about people trying to do their best, failing regularly, but occasionally getting results. It gave us Chris Pratt before Guardians Of The Galaxy and it introduced the immortal Ron Swanson.

Being the Frasier’s predecessor, Cheers’ influence looms large over today’s sitcom landscape.  The show offers the sheer wealth of laugh-out-loud lines and richly drawn characters. It has similar vibes like Friends with the major difference being its bar setup and deep characterization. The show lasted a massive 11 seasons and remains a regular fixture on TV channels around the globe. 

Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg collaborate for this extraordinary miniseries about the men who went to fight in the Second World War. Band of Brothers features a vivid imagery while its heartfelt story concerns flawed men fighting for the common good. Also, you can spot some very early performances from Michael Fassbender, Tom Hardy, and Simon Pegg throughout the 10 episodes.

24 is one of the most exciting shows and who doesn’t love watching bad boys being caught. The adventures of Jack Bauer, a counterterrorism agent, unfold in real time, each episode filling in the 24 hours of his day. The show is tough, unflinching, and sometimes heartbreaking but offering a relentless viewing. The show also helped in revitalizing Kiefer Sutherland’s career.

The bakdrop of this show is when Oceanic Flight 815 crashes on a mysterious, purgatorial island the survivors must live together or die alone. Lost is a character drama that also incorporates time travel, parallel universes and, a malevolent column of black smoke. It is pretty addictive and no other show packs quite so many twists and turns, while its diverse cast of castaways made it boundary-pushing for the time.

It is a show that’s a virtual banquet for smart, culturally savvy audiences with a time-to-time reference to high art. The brilliance of its set-up is pitching the intellectually precious Crane brothers up against their blue-collar father, recently retired police officer Martin, now living with Cheers’ Frasier after being shot in the hip while on duty. It is really a sitcom gold whose heights manage to even surpass the charms of Cheers.

The Wire is regarded the greatest police show of the last 40 years. Also, it was through this show which introduced to us two incredible actors – Idris Elba and Dominic West. The show is set in Baltimore and deals with five subjects mainly which are illegal drug trade, the seaport system, the city government and bureaucracy, education and schools, and the print news medium.  The show showcases a parade of incredible performances and a refusal to sacrifice reality for sensationalism. It is the sort of relentless drama you get once a generation.

Mad Men ran for ran on the cable network AMC from 2007 to 2015, lasting for seven seasons and 92 episodes. It is set in 60s and 70s telling the saga of advertising men who are sometimes bad men. It might be low on action but it beautifully explores the depth of its characterization. Don Draper (an exceptional Jon Hamm) is brilliant at his job, but useless in his personal life. Initially characterized by boozy office meetings, decadent fashions, and depictions of casual sexism, the show charts the decline of the old ways and the dawn of a new, more-egalitarian culture.

The presence of Mads Mikkelsen is enough to say that show is nothing but spectacular. It welcomes you in the land of psychological horror-thriller with a focus on the relationship between FBI special investigator, Will Graham and a  forensic psychiatrist, who is also a cannibal, Dr. Hannibal Lectur. This eerily beautiful show is frightening, but it’s the elaborate and artfully fetishized gore, plus a subtle sense of humor, that makes it stand out from every other thriller. 

Rod Serling’s anthology series influenced generations of science fiction and horror fans and writers. The Twilight Zone has 5 seasons and 159 episodes in total. It ran on CBS from1959 to 1964. This show is a comprehensive collection of  mystical tales where people try to solve their problems using their own unique ideas.

With one of the best casts in history and Hugh Laurie with his outstanding work, House is a commendable show. It gives Sherlock Holmes vibes in the beginning but as the series goes on it shifts gear into a discussion on mortality, the joys and horrors of the medical life and the burden of intelligence.

Doctor Who’s appeal is so overwhelming that it can go anywhere and do anything. The unique central character, an alien time traveller who changes his entire identity every time he “dies” by regenerating, ensures the show’s popularity and longevity. Where most sci-fi shows aim for cult status, Who is inclusive, appealing to adults, kids and grandparents alike. It’s a global phenomenon now, but at home in the UK it’s something greater: a national treasure. 

The Leftovers deals with the mysteries and the diverse group of misshapen characters. It is one of the power packed series of HBO. The show adapts Tom Perrotta’s book, which looks at the world after 2% of the population mysteriously disappear. It spans over for three seasons with Justin Theroux in lead. It is a TV series that focusses on PTSD, depression, and how humanity deals with loss. It is an immeasurably valuable and a riveting watch.

This show was an instant success as it took pulp sci-fi and horror ideas and gave them a newfound respectability by setting them in a believable world. It aired for nine years with books, comics, two films, and a spin-off written for it. Mulder and Scully weren’t just TV characters – they were icons. It follows the story of these two FBI agents who investigate and dig deeper to know all about the inexplicable paranormal cases.

It was regarded as the hottest and hippiest show of 1990. Written and directed by David Lynch and Mark Frost, this mystery series is the story of a murder in a North American town. The show has a true heart of darkness, with sexual abuse, drugs, and apparent demonic possession all lurking beneath the show’s ’50s-styled facade. In fact Davud and Lynch for Its comeback in 2017 which took things to another level.

Spanning over 6 years, Buffy the Vampire Slayer follows the life of Buffy Summers who juggles between her normal life and her responsibilities as the Vampire Slayer. The central character is played by Sarah Michelle Geller who captures our hearts with her character. The show was created by Joss Whedon based on the film of the same name. This show changed TV for the better, leading the way in the feminising of the sci-fi genre, while being action-packed, laugh-out-loud funny, and shot through with tragedy.

This the original series which inspired generations of writers, scientists and astronauts. It broke new ground by featuring TV’s first interracial kiss. It is all the more radical for its inspiring vision of an optimistic future that we might actually want to live in as compared to other sci-fis which lean towards a dystopian future. The fact that multiple spin-offs and sequel series are still on air is a testament to the greatness of Trek.

Sex And The City is a smart, effervescent comedy-drama bursting with swaggering confidence rarely seen on television. The show’s frank and funny foray into its unashamedly glamorous foursome’s sex lives more or less created a subgenre itself. Other hits such as Desperate Housewives and Cougar Town took huge inspiration from this show.

This show gained its popularity for being different from other shows consisting of zombies, dragons, epic battles, and superheroes, This Is Us is a more down-to-earth, yet equally compelling, drama. The series follows a group of people who share the same birthday and shows how their lives are different but share similarities. Optimistic and heartstring-tugging, it makes you care for each character in a surprisingly short amount of time. 

It premiered on September 3, 2008, and ran for seven seasons totaling 92 episodes. Sons of Anarchy is a 2008 American crime television series that follows the day-to-day lives of an outlaw motorcycle club operating in the fictional Californian Central Valley town of Charming.

Hands down it is one of the the best TV shows of all time. It is a phenomenal show which never fails to entertains by keeping you on the edge all the time. This American post-apocalyptic horror television series was based on the comic book series by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. It’s about a group of survivors that are trying to stay alive while being consistently hunted by flesh-eating zombies, known as “walkers.” 

Based on Piper Kerman’s memoir; Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women’s Prison (2010), it documents her experiences in a minimum-security federal prison.The TV show debuted on Netflix on July 11, 2013, and went on to become Netflix’s most-watched original series. It is such a moving and powerful show that one needs to watch in his/her lifetime.

Stranger Things premiered on Netflix on July 15, 2016 and became an instant hit. It is a science fiction drama-horror. It ran for three seasons, with a total of twenty-five episodes. The shows begins with the investigation into the disappearance of a young boy and the strange goings-on in and around the town in which it’s set: Hawkins, Indiana. Further the show unravels a lot of mysteries.

SNL has been pure late night laugh genius, with many memorable skits and iconic characters becoming a part of pop culture history. The Blues Brothers, The Coneheads, Wayne’s World, Land Shark, Gumby, and Mr. Bill, are just a few that became household names and kept viewers tuning in each and every week and still do.

This show gave us Barney, played by Neil Patrick Harris. How I Met Your Mother successfully shows amazing character development and the right mix of situations and sadness, mixed with happy and funny. The characters are lovable and almost real, the creator, cast, director and writers did an awesome job on the story line and the characters. The cast is amazing and lovable and easily get your attention hooked in the deep story line.

The ensemble is perfect from genius/autistic savant Sheldon and gentle and humane Leonard as Watson to Sheldon’s Sherlock. The rest of the cast aren’t just supporting characters. They are integral to the chemistry from smarter-than-she-looks Penny, Sheldon’s adoring wife, and equal opportunity nerd, Amy, nebbish-cum-mensch Howard Wolowitz and his cute-as-a-button/go-for-the-jugular wife Bernadette, to the original Indian metrosexual Koothrapali. It looks like as if these actors were born for their roles and provide perfect foils for each other.

Modern Family is a hilarious comedy show where each episode has you clutching at your sides and roaring with laughter. It revolves around the perspectives of 3 connected families, not only by blood but by their unhindered and unconditional love towards one another. Each episode always has a meaningful message disguised by witty antics and relatable situations that we might find ourselves in. The show incorporates a wide variety of people you would find in your life like the competitive, the aggressive, the optimist, the spontaneous, and the socialist (just to name a few).

With Kevin spacey in the lead, this show is a gamechanger ; not just with the screenplay, but with the socio-economic issues tackled through various characters, including racism, women’s rights, sexual assaults, LGBTQ+ relationships, religion, corruption, mental illness, and so much more. House of Cards is also one of the only shows that tackles corruption issues within politicians and prominent public figures. The influence of power through Frank and Claire is chilling, yet entertaining.

Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock is undeniably so powerful and outstanding. From the astonishing and astounding genius of Sherlock to the uncommon commonness and perfection of John, and most importantly, their remarkable, incandescent and unbreakable bond of friendship, this show has it all. It has the thrill of the chase, the mysteries for all the world to solve, it can make you laugh and unexpectedly, can make your eyes filled with tears on occasions and it just carries you with its flow and you don’t realize when you fell in love with it.

Funny, hilarious, heartbreaking and serious at the same time, Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a masterful comedy infused with serious discussion about current affairs while having powerful and lovable characters that will stay with you long after you finish the episode or season. The main character, Det. Jake Peralta is played by the talented and wonderful Andy Samberg. This show has the elements of what it means to be a 21st century show with characters of different races and sexualities, big questions about identity and a wonderful, clear storyline of what it means to be human, flaws and all, but at the end of the day, you know that you will always have friends who have your back.

This is the most remarkable and hilarious workplace comedy created in this decade unarguably. It makes you feel relaxed and wanting more and more from these characters as the story lines keeps you hooked on the ever changing plot. The writers have marvelously twisted the flow of the show adding suspense, a little bit of drama and romance and a whole lot of insanely funny pranks, jokes and it really bond us with the characters.

There’s lots of humor, relatable situations, the fun yet gory dark side as well as the suspense in every season. The unpredictability and fear of Dexter getting caught is what keeps you glued to your seats. Every time you watch it, you always find something new and that keeps you coming back for another round. Michael C Hall’s acting is everything!

Certainly, Game Of Thrones  is the grandest epic TV has ever seen. It’s theme song is literally engraved in our hearts. It really became massive within less time and why not, it really justified its grandeur.  The show narrates the story of the great families of Westeros who squabble over the Iron Throne and are caught in the crossfire. Bloody, brutal and jaw-droppingly well-realised, it’s a fantasy masterpiece. The final season may have received some blowback for certain character arcs, but everything before then was pure magic. 

The popularity of The Simpsons is unmatchable and the fact that it is still attracts a lot of audience around the globe is incredible in itself. It began in the year 1989 and is still an ongoing show. The show is based on the yellow-skinned family of troublemakers. It is set in the fictional town of Springfield and parodies American culture. Their humor is silly enough for kids and the struggles of Homer and Marge are relatable to every parent the world over. 

Raphael Bob-Waksberg’s Bojack Horseman became one of Netflix’s crowning jewel with its daring plotline. It started off as a protagonist plying himself with drugs, booze, and women to mildly humorous effect but quickly transformed to comment on depression, dementia, asexuality, and so much more. And all under the guise of an animated show about a horse named Bojack Horseman.

Ross, Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Joey, Chandler – names that need no introduction. Friends influenced haircuts, coffee shop culture and the English language, bringing “How you doing?” into the lexicon. It’s fearsomely well written, a non-stop barrage of joke-after-joke-after-joke. And the best part is that it has a timeless plotline, you can watch it any point of time and still feel relatable.

The show is created by Larry David and the eponymous stand-up comedian himself, Jerry Seinfeld. This sitcom is a living proof that you don’t need a “situation” to make a great comedy – just memorable characters combating life’s petty irritants. It follows the life of Jerry Seinfield and his neurotic trio of friends, where they help Seinfeld in getting answers for life’s most perplexing yet trivial questions. The show garnered respect of every ’90s critic, and was on air for good nine years.

Premiered in the year 1999 and culminated in 2007, the charisma of The Sopranos is still charming to this day. It has 6 seasons with a total number of episodes being 86. It literally revolutionised television by bringing movie-style production values to the small screen. It follows the life of Tony Soprano, played by James Gandolfini. The series details the life of an Italian-American mafia head Tony based in New Jersey, who struggles to manage his family and criminal life. And the best part is that we are allowed to enter into Tony’s mind as he confides his affairs to his psychiatrist Jennifer Melfi. Also, not just Tony, we aere given an insight into the troubled and troubling characters. This show has the best-ever anti-climaxes: just when you think Tony’s world is about to erupt, something will happen and, somehow, the problem almost always sorts itself out in an unexpected way.

With a rating of 9.5/10 on IMDb, Breaking Bad takes the crown of being the number one show in our list of most popular TV shows of all time. A show which makes you to love and hate the central character at the same time. It came in the year 2008 and everyone went crazy. Bryan Cranston’ remarkable performance made everyone’s jaw dropped. It narrates the story of Walter White – a genial high school chemistry teacher who starts cooking crystal meth following a terminal cancer diagnosis – is a bleak but hilarious crime epic. He absolutely epitomizes Bad’s genius. As each season progresses you find yourself thinking, that even at Walter’s most despicable, you can always see his lethally pragmatic point of view.

Hope you enjoyed our list of 50 most popular TV shows of all time. Tell us in the comments how many of these gems you have watched and which one do you like the most? Do not forget to give this video a big thumbs up!