9.3 16. The Wire: Season 1 June 2, 2002 In chronicling a multi-generational family business dealing illegal drugs and the efforts of the Baltimore police to curb their trade, this series draws parallels between these organizations and the men and women on either side of the battle.The words of Gary W. Potter, Professor of Criminal Justice and Police Studies at Eastern Kentucky University, in writing about the savings and loan scandals of the 1980s, can also be used to illuminate some of the central premises of the show:"There is precious little difference between those people who society designates as respectable and law abiding and those people society castigates as hoodlums and thugs. The world of corporate finance and corporate capital is as criminogenic and probably more criminogenic than any poverty-wracked slum neighborhood. The distinctions drawn between business, politics, and organized crime are at best artificial and in reality irrelevant. Rather than being dysfunctions, corporate crime, white-collar crime, organized crime, and political corruption are mainstays of American political-economic life."Tim Goodman, the television critic for The San Francisco Chronicle, summed the show up perfectly when he wrote: "This show is precisely the reason you pay for HBO."In New York's Newsday, Diane Werts says: "Most TV crime series aspire to John Grisham's level. 'The Wire' aspires to Dostoevsky's."Season ThemesSeason One centers around a family of drug dealers and the innerworkings of their empire. It also follows the detectives who are trying to catch the high members of the empire. Season Two steps away from the drug trade (while still mentioning characters from the previous season) to a case of dead prostitutes which turns into a look at the corruption surrounding the Port. Season Three investigates politics and finishes the main stories that were left open in season one. Season Four focuses on four middle school students and their journeys through the public school system and continues to address the politics of an inner-city and the issues of an election. Season Five is rumored to be about the media's role in Baltimore. Season Five will be the show's final season.Theme MusicIn the Season One opening credits, the Blind Boys of Alabama did Tom Waits's "Way Down in the Hole". The Season Two opening credits feature Waits's version of the song. According to creator David Simon, "It was our way of saying: This is the same show (song) but this year, the tale itself (singer, tonality) will be different." The Neville Brothers's version of the song opens Season Three. The theme which plays over the end credits was composed by the show's music supervisor, Blake Leyh. International AiringsAustralia -- Monday at 12:00 p.m. on Ch.9. Currently airing Season 3. New Zealand -- Wednesday at 11:40 p.m. on TV2, beginning December 15, 2004. Metascore: 79 User Score: 9.3

9.3 17. The Shield: Season 1 March 12, 2002 The Road To Justice Is Twisted The Shield breaks the conventional formula of the cop genre. It plays out in a tough, morally ambiguous world in which the line between good and bad is crossed every day. The series focuses on the tension between a group of corrupt but effective cops and a captain torn between bringing them down and advancing his own political ambitions. The Shield stars Michael Chiklis (The Commish) as rogue cop "Det. Vic Mackey," leader of the elite Strike Team unit, who is effective at eliminating crime but who operates under his own set of rules. Benito Martinez (Outbreak & Her Costly Affair) plays "Captain David Aceveda," the young precinct head who doesn't like Mackey's tactics and wants to bust him off the force. And the Emmy-nominated CCH Pounder (ER & Boycott), plays "Det. Claudette Wyms," a veteran detective who understands Mackey and knows how to play both sides of the fence. The show made history by becoming the first ad-supported cable series to win the 2003 Golden Globe Award for Best Drama Series. In its first season, Shawn Ryan (Writing) and Clark Johnson (Directing) received Emmy nominations, which were also firsts for basic cable in those categories. The Shield has received two TCA nominations for Outstanding Achievement in Drama. As of March 2005, the show has become the longest running series on the FX Network. Metascore: 92 User Score: 9.3

9.3 18. Band of Brothers: Season 1 September 9, 2001 Band of Brothers is a 10-part miniseries produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks for HBO. The miniseries follows Easy Company, an army unit during World War II, from their initial training at Camp Toccoa to the conclusion of the war. The series is based on the book written by the late Stephen E Ambrose. Tom Hanks approached Steven Spielberg, who just finished production of Saving Private Ryan. Together they approached HBO with their idea. The station was willing to spend a industry record sum of $120m to realize the project. Metascore: 86 User Score: 9.3

9.3 19. The Sopranos: Season 2 January 16, 2000 Meet Tony Soprano: your average, middle-aged businessman. Tony's got a dutiful wife. A not-so-dutiful son. A daughter named Meadow. An uncle who's losing his marbles. A hot-headed nephew. A not-too-secret mistress. And a shrink to tell all his secrets, except the one she already knows: Tony's a mob boss whose troubles are wrapped up in his two families. These days, it's getting tougher and tougher to make a killing in the killing business. Just because you're 'made' doesn't mean you've got it made. Metascore: 97 User Score: 9.3

9.3 20. Party of Five: Season 1 September 12, 1994 Nothing could be worse than the sudden death of parents. One day Nick and Diana Salinger were killed in a terrible car crash, and left their five children all alone. Charlie (Matthew Fox), the oldest, will have to step in and take care of the family, serving both as father and brother. Bailey (Scott Wolf), the middle brother, tries to keep everything under control but undergoes an alcoholism problem when he realizes he can't do it all. Julia (Neve Campbell), a young girl who keeps jumping from one bad relationship to another. Claudia (Lacey Chabert), the youngest girl that plays the violin, who has to enter adolescence without any help of parents, and little baby Owen, who was only 6 months old when his parents died and thus will never know how it feels like to have a mother and a father. Together, they go through all sorts of problems, from handling their parents restaurant and trying to keep it running to disastrous relationships and school problems. Soon they realize that in order to survive, no one can be selfish and they all have to help each other. They're a family and have to stick together. Winner of the 1996 Golden Globe for Best Dramatic Series, this one hour show from Columbia Pictures Television empathizes the way a family uses creativity, humor and love taught by their parents to handle the conflicts and necessities of everyday life. The show ran for 6 seasons on Fox, when producers, actors and network decided to finish the show. The Opening Theme Song: "Closer to Free" performed by the BoDeans Awards and Nominations: • 2000 - Won! - ALMA Award for best emerging actor in a Drama Series - Wilson Cruz • 2000 - Nominated - GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding TV Individual Episode (for episode "I'll Show You Mine") • 2000 - Nominated - YoungStar Award (Lacey Chabert) • 2000 - Nominated - Young Artist Award (Guest Starring Young Actress - Ashley Edner) • 1999 - Nominated - YoungStar Award (Lacey Chabert) • 1999 - Nominated - Young Artist Award (Lacey Chabert) • 1999 - Nominated - Young Artist Award (Jacob Smith) • 1998 - Nominated - Young Artist Award (Guest Starring Young Actress - Allison Bertolino) • 1998 - Won! - YoungStar Award (Lacey Chabert) • 1998 - Nominated - YoungStar Award (Andrew and Steven Cavarno) • 1997 - Won! - YoungStar Award (Lacey Chabert) • 1997 - Nominated - YoungStar Award (Jennifer Love Hewitt) • 1997 - Nominated - Young Artist Award (Lacey Chabert) • 1997 - Nominated - for the Writers Guild of America Awards for best dramatic episode ("Falsies") • 1997 - Nominated - for The Golden Globe of Best TV Series Drama • 1996 - Won! - The Golden Globe for Best TV Series Drama • 1996 - Nominated - EMMY for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Sound Editing for a Series (in episode "The Wedding") • 1996 - Won! - Turner Prize • 1996 - Nominated - GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Television Series • 1996 - Nominated - Young Artist Award (Lacey Chabert) • 1995 - Nominated - Young Artist Award (Lacey Chabert) • 1995 - Nominated - by the Casting Society of America for Best Casting for TV (Pilot) • 1995 - Won! - the Humanitas Prize Metascore: 79 User Score: 9.3

9.3 21. Twin Peaks: Season 1 April 8, 1990 "She's dead. Wrapped in plastic." Date: Friday, February 24, 1989: Homecoming Queen Laura Palmer is found dead, washed up on a riverbank, wrapped in plastic sheeting. FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper is called in to investigate the murder of this young woman in the small, Northwestern town of Twin Peaks. What he doesn't know is that in Twin Peaks, no one is innocent.Twin Peaks was created by TV veteran Mark Frost (Hill Street Blues) and edgy filmmaker David Lynch, Academy Award nominated director of The Elephant Man, Blue Velvet and Mulholland Dr. It aired on ABC from 1990 - 1991. The series, with a few exceptions, followed the interesting convention that one episode equaled one day in the town of Twin Peaks. This means that after 30 episodes, the series covers just slightly more than one month.After Twin Peaks was canceled by ABC, David Lynch went on to make the prequel film, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, the story of the last seven days of Laura Palmer. Metascore: 96 User Score: 9.3

9.2 22. The OA: Season 2 March 22, 2019 In another dimension, OA (Brit Marling) is a Russian heiress and meets PI Karim Washington (Kingsley Ben-Adir), who is looking for a missing teenager. Metascore: 67 User Score: 9.2

9.2 23. Fargo: Season 2 October 12, 2015 Set in 1979, State Trooper Lou Solverson (Patrick Wilson) investigates a case that involves a local crime gang, the Mob, beautician Peggy Blumquist (Kirsten Dunst) and her husband Ed (Jesse Plemons) in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Metascore: 96 User Score: 9.2

9.2 24. Game of Thrones: Season 4 April 6, 2014 The fourth season finds King Joffrey preparing to wed Margaery Tyrell (Natalie Dormer), as Jaime Lannister seeks to rekindle his relationship with his sister Cersei, while Daenerys add more people to her army, and Castle Black is about to be attacked by Wildlings. Metascore: 94 User Score: 9.2

9.2 25. True Detective: Season 1 January 12, 2014 A 17-year hunt for a serial killer in Louisiana begins with Detectives Rust Cohle (Matthew McConaughey) and Martin Hart (Woody Harrelson) joining the search in this eight-episode anthology series. Metascore: 87 User Score: 9.2

9.2 26. Game of Thrones: Season 3 March 31, 2013 The battle for the throne continues with Ayra and Bran still out in the countryside; Sansa is married off to another; Jon Snow meets Wildlings leader, Mance Rayder (Ciaran Hinds); Dany reunited with her dragons seeks an army; and Catelyn and Rob continue to fight the Lannisters' army. Metascore: 91 User Score: 9.2

9.2 27. Breaking Bad: Season 2 March 8, 2009 Walter (Bryan Cranston) and his friend Jesse (Aaron Paul) find their drug dealing threatened by Walt's DEA Brother-in-law and the local druglord. Metascore: 84 User Score: 9.2

9.2 28. In Treatment: Season 1 January 28, 2008 The remake of a hit Israeli show airing 5 days a week looks into therapist Paul Weston (Gabriel Byrne) practice along with his own sessions with a psychologist. Metascore: 70 User Score: 9.2

9.2 30. Dexter: Season 1 October 1, 2006 Six Feet Under's Michael C. Hall is still dealing with death, just in a different way. In this adaptation of Jeff Lindsay's novel "Darkly Dreaming Dexter," Hall stars as a forensics pathologist who moonlights as a serial killer. (He's not all evil, though; he only murders bad guys.) Metascore: 77 User Score: 9.2

9.2 31. Deadwood: Season 3 June 11, 2006 This final season of HBO's profanity-laden western will be followed by two movies that will wrap up the various storylines. Metascore: 85 User Score: 9.2

9.2 32. Rome: Season 1 August 28, 2005 "Rome" is the saga of two ordinary Roman soldiers and their families. An intimate drama of love and betrayal, masters and slaves, and husbands and wives, it chronicles epic times that saw the fall of a republic and the creation of an empire. The series begins in 52 BC, as Gaius Julius Caesar has completed his masterful conquest of Gaul after eight years of war, and is preparing to return to Rome. He heads home with thousands of loyal battle-hardened men, huge amounts of loot in gold and slaves, and a populist agenda for radical social change. Terrified, the aristocracy threatens to prosecute Caesar for war crimes as soon as he sets foot in Rome. Caesar's old friend and mentor, Pompey Magnus, attempts to foment mutiny in order to maintain the balance of power. Two of Caesar's soldiers, Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo, thwart Pompey's plan and in the process, win the eternal gratitude of Caesar and the Julian clan, affording the two plebian officers an intimate view of the ruling class. The fates of Pullo and Vorenus become entwined with those of Caesar, Mark Antony, Cleopatra and the boy Octavian, a strange and awkward child who, by political guile and bloody force, will become the first emperor of Rome.(Source: HBO Press Release) Metascore: 71 User Score: 9.2

9.2 33. Lost: Season 1 September 22, 2004 After Oceanic Air Flight 815 tears apart in mid-air and crashes on a Pacific island on September 22nd 2004, its survivors are forced to find inner strength they never knew they had in order to survive. But they discover that the island holds many secrets, including a mysterious smoke monster, polar bears, housing with electricity and hot & cold running water, a group of island residents known as "The Others," and a mysterious man named Jacob. The survivors also find signs of those who came to the island before them, including a 19th century sailing ship called The Black Rock and the ruins of an ancient statue, as well as bunkers belonging to the DHARMA Initiative -- a group of scientific researchers who inhabited the island in the recent past. Lost has won a Golden Globe, 9 Saturn Awards and 8 Emmy awards. Metascore: 86 User Score: 9.2

9.2 34. Deadwood: Season 1 March 21, 2004 In an age of plunder and greed, the richest gold strike in American History draws a throng of restless misfits to an outlaw settlement where everything - and everyone - has a price. Welcome to Deadwood...a hell of a place to make your fortune. From Executive Producer David Milch ("NYPD Blue") comes DEADWOOD, a new drama series that focuses on the birth of an American frontier town and the ruthless power struggle that exists in its lawless boundaries. The story begins two weeks after Custer's defeat at Little Bighorn, combining fictional and real-life characters and events in an epic morality tale. Located in the Black Hills Indian Cession, the "town" of Deadwood is an illegal settlement, a violent and uncivilized outpost that attracts a colorful array of characters looking to get rich - from outlaws and entrepreneurs to ex-soldiers and racketeers, Chinese laborers, prostitutes, city dudes and gunfighters. Metascore: 80 User Score: 9.2

9.2 35. Arrested Development: Season 1 November 2, 2003 The Emmy Award-winning comedy series ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT revolves around MICHAEL BLUTH (Jason Bateman), the “normal” one in a family of crazies, who is forced to stay in Orange County and run the family real estate business after his father, GEORGE BLUTH SR. (Jeffrey Tambor), is sent to prison for shifty accounting practices. While George Sr. spent the last year in the slammer discovering his newfound Judaism and recording inspirational tapes, Michael spent it picking up the pieces and trying to teach his offbeat family how to live without an endless expense account. All the while, Michael has also been trying to do right by his 14-year-old son, GEORGE MICHAEL (Michael Cera), an earnest kid who works diligently at the family’s frozen banana stand. The Bluths are led by manipulative matriarch LUCILLE BLUTH (Jessica Walter), a socialite who is as icy as her martinis. Then there’s the oldest son, GOB (Will Arnett), a womanizer and struggling magician (sorry, “illusionist”) whose biggest trick will be to make a real job appear. The youngest brother is BUSTER (Tony Hale), a neurotic professional grad student and glorified mama’s boy (he spent 11 months in the womb). The Bluth siblings are rounded out by cause-obsessed sister LINDSAY (Portia de Rossi), who is married to the hapless TOBIAS (David Cross), a doctor-turned-actor who might get more work if he wasn’t a self-proclaimed “never-nude.” Lindsay and Tobias are the ultra-permissive parents of MAEBY (Alia Shawkat), a 14-year-old who loves finding unique ways to rebel against their overindulgence. Metascore: 89 User Score: 9.2

9.1 36. Making a Murderer: Season 2 October 19, 2018 Moira Demos and Laura Ricciardi return with another 10 episodes as Steven Avery's lawyer Kathleen Zellner and (Avery's nephew) Brendan Dassey's lawyers Laura Nirider and Steven Drizin work on reversing their convictions. Metascore: 67 User Score: 9.1

9.1 37. Better Call Saul: Season 4 August 6, 2018 A death causes Jimmy to put his relationship with Kim and his career as a lawyer in danger as the Saul Goodman seen on Breaking Bad begins to emerge. Metascore: 87 User Score: 9.1

9.1 39. Better Call Saul: Season 3 April 10, 2017 Jimmy and Kim's law practice and relationship are tested by Chuck's (Michael McKean) con as Mike (Jonathan Banks) tries to find the person who seems to knows a lot about what he is doing. Metascore: 87 User Score: 9.1

9.1 40. Rectify: Season 2 June 19, 2014 A week after Daniel's release from jail finds him in a coma and the community still divided. Metascore: 92 User Score: 9.1

9.1 41. Game of Thrones: Season 2 April 1, 2012 The Seven Kingdoms are at war with three kings claiming the Iron Throne: Joffrey Baratheon, Renly Baratheon, and Robb Stark. Jon Snow and the Night Watch seek to discover who the mysterious people living north of The Wall are. In the East, Daenerys Targaryen plans her move to return to Westeros and claim the throne for herself. Metascore: 90 User Score: 9.1

9.1 42. Sherlock: Season 2 January 1, 2012 Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are on the case again in stories based on A Scandal in Bohemia, The Hound of the Baskervilles, and The Final Problem. Metascore: 91 User Score: 9.1

9.1 43. Game of Thrones: Season 1 April 17, 2011 The series is based on George R.R. Martin's novel about a fantasy world where royal houses battle for the Iron Throne. Metascore: 80 User Score: 9.1

9.1 44. Archer: Season 2 January 27, 2011 Archer Sterling and the ISIS spies return for a second season of espionage. Metascore: 88 User Score: 9.1

9.1 45. Sherlock: Season 1 July 25, 2010 Part of PBS's Masterpiece Mystery, the three Sherlock Holmes stories set in modern-day London were created and written by Stephen Moffatt and Mark Gatiss. Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman play the detective and Dr. John Watson. Metascore: 85 User Score: 9.1

9.1 46. Justified: Season 1 March 16, 2010 The new series based on Elmore Leonard's short story "Fire in the Hole" follows US Marshal Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant) as he is transferred from Miami back to his hometown of Harlan, Kentucky, after causing trouble for his superiors with a high-profile shooting of a suspect. Metascore: 80 User Score: 9.1

9.1 47. The Wire: Season 5 January 6, 2008 The crime drama returns in its final season with the hot seat applied at creator David Simon's previous occupation (journalist). Metascore: 89 User Score: 9.1

9.1 48. Flight of the Conchords: Season 1 June 17, 2007 A New Zealand folk duo (played by the real-life comedy-folk duo of Jermaine Clement and Bret McKenzie) tries to survive in their new home of New York City in this quirky, music-filled comedy. Metascore: 68 User Score: 9.1

9.1 49. Battlestar Galactica (2003): Season 3 October 6, 2006 The 20-episode third season of the acclaimed series picks up where season two unexpectedly ended: pitting humans against Cylons on the planet of New Caprica. Metascore: 94 User Score: 9.1

9.1 50. Friday Night Lights: Season 1 October 3, 2006 This drama about high-stakes high-school football is based on the movie of the same name (itself based on the book of the same name by Buzz Bissinger). The film's director, Peter Berg, returns as an executive producer on the show. Metascore: 78 User Score: 9.1

9.1 51. 24: Season 5 January 15, 2006 Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) has tried both retirement and death, but he still finds himself dragged back into CTU for another long day of work without a single bathroom break. New cast members this season include Sean Astin and Jean Smart. Metascore: 89 User Score: 9.1

9.1 52. Deadwood: Season 2 March 6, 2005 In an age of plunder and greed, the richest gold strike in American History draws a throng of restless misfits to an outlaw settlement where everything - and everyone - has a price. Welcome to Deadwood...a hell of a place to make your fortune. From Executive Producer David Milch ("NYPD Blue") comes DEADWOOD, a new drama series that focuses on the birth of an American frontier town and the ruthless power struggle that exists in its lawless boundaries. The story begins two weeks after Custer's defeat at Little Bighorn, combining fictional and real-life characters and events in an epic morality tale. Located in the Black Hills Indian Cession, the "town" of Deadwood is an illegal settlement, a violent and uncivilized outpost that attracts a colorful array of characters looking to get rich - from outlaws and entrepreneurs to ex-soldiers and racketeers, Chinese laborers, prostitutes, city dudes and gunfighters. Metascore: 93 User Score: 9.1

9.1 53. Futurama: Season 1 March 28, 1999 Futurama follows the comic exploits of Fry, a pizza delivery boy, who was accidentally cryogenically frozen in 1999, and awakens in the year 3000, finding much has changed, and, yet, is seemingly familiar. Together with an assortment of alien, robot, and human friends, he works for an intergalactic delivery service, Planet Express, run by his descendant nephew, and finds many adventures along the way. Metascore: 72 User Score: 9.1

9.0 54. Barry: Season 2 March 31, 2019 The second season of the comedy from Bill Hader and Alec Berg. Metascore: 87 User Score: 9.0

9.0 55. The Americans: Season 4 March 16, 2016 Elizabeth and Phillips are given a new dangerous bio-weapon assignment as they deal with the potential repercussions from Paige's confession to her pastor. Metascore: 95 User Score: 9.0

9.0 56. Making a Murderer: Season 1 December 18, 2015 Moira Demos and Laura Ricciardi's 10-part documentary series focuses on the case of Steven Avery, a man convicted of sexual assault, before being exonerated by DNA evidence 18 years later. A few years later, he is convicted in the disappearance and murder of another woman. Metascore: 84 User Score: 9.0

9.0 57. The Leftovers: Season 2 October 4, 2015 Season two finds Kevin Garvey (Justin Theroux) retired and moving with Nora Durst (Carrie Coon) and his daughter Jill (Margaret Qualley) to the Jarden, Texas, a town untouched by The Departure. Also coming to town are Matt Jamison (Christopher Eccleston) has moved with his wife, Mary (Janel Moloney). Metascore: 80 User Score: 9.0

9.0 58. BoJack Horseman: Season 2 July 17, 2015 BoJack (Will Arnett) has a new role and a new romance (Lisa Kudrow) in the second season of the animated comedy. Metascore: 90 User Score: 9.0

9.0 59. Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll: Season 1 July 16, 2015 25 years after New York rock band The Heathens broke up due to sex and drugs, lead singer Johnny Rock (Denis Leary) wants to stage a comeback with the help of lead guitarist Flash (John Corbett) and a 22-year singer named Gigi (Elizabeth Gillies) in this comedy created by Leary. Metascore: 60 User Score: 9.0

9.0 60. Rectify: Season 3 July 9, 2015 Another dead body appears in town as Daniel faces a decision about his freedom. Metascore: 89 User Score: 9.0

9.0 61. Fargo: Season 1 April 15, 2014 The series based on the Coen brothers’ Oscar-winning film begins with the arrival of Lorne Malvo (Billy Bob Thornton) to Minnesota town. Lorne's actions brings major changes to the lives of insurance salesman Lester Nygaard (Martin Freeman); Officer Molly Solverson (Alison Tolman), the daughter of former chief (Keith Carradine); and single father Duluth Deputy Gus Grimly (Colin Hanks). Other people in town include grocery chain owner Stavros Milos (Oliver Platt), widow Gina Hess (Kate Walsh), and Deputy Bill Oswalt (Bob Odenkirk). Metascore: 85 User Score: 9.0

9.0 62. Longmire: Season 1 June 3, 2012 Walt Longmire (Robert Taylor) is a sheriff in a small Wyoming town in this adaptation of the mystery novels by Craig Johnson. Metascore: 67 User Score: 9.0

9.0 63. Justified: Season 3 January 17, 2012 Season three picks up where we left Raylan and Boyd. Also expect to see Neal McDonough and Mykelti Williamson as new adversaries. Metascore: 89 User Score: 9.0

9.0 64. Parks and Recreation: Season 3 January 20, 2011 The comedic minds that brought you The Office and Saturday Night Live have now conspired to create Parks and Recreation. Amy Poehler plays Leslie Knope, a mid-level government employee who is trying to convert an abandoned construction pit into a usable community park while a documentary camera crew follows her every step and misstep. Metascore: 83 User Score: 9.0

9.0 65. Mad Men: Season 4 July 25, 2010 Season four continues with Don Draper's divorce from his wife while the new agency Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce begins business. Metascore: 92 User Score: 9.0

9.0 66. Dexter: Season 4 September 27, 2009 Dexter's balancing life as a new father this season, while another serial killer, the Trinity Killer (John Lithgow) stalks Miami. Metascore: 77 User Score: 9.0

9.0 67. Archer: Season 1 September 17, 2009 The animated comedy from the same people who brought you Adult Swim introduces Sterling Archer, a spy for ISIS, whose boss is also his mother and his ex-girlfriend is a fellow spy. A sneak peak of episode one was shown in September 2009. Metascore: 78 User Score: 9.0

9.0 68. Eastbound & Down: Season 1 February 15, 2009 Will Ferrell coproduces this comedy about a baseball player returning to North Carolina who finds a job as a gym teacher. Metascore: 61 User Score: 9.0

9.0 70. Dexter: Season 2 September 30, 2007 Based on Jeff Lindsay's novels Darkly Dreaming Dexter and Dearly Devoted Dexter this crime thriller follows Dexter Morgan. Dexter is a forensic blood spatter expert for the Miami Dade Police Department. He is the main support for his sister. He has a steady girlfriend, with two kids who adore him. He also has an active "night life". Based on a code instilled in him by his foster father, Harry, he hunts down people who have escaped justice and makes sure they don't get away with a crime again. Metascore: 85 User Score: 9.0

9.0 71. Moonlight: Season 1 September 28, 2007 CBS rehashes the formula with a vamp PI named Mick (not Nick or Angel eh?), but will it have bite or just bite? Metascore: 38 User Score: 9.0

9.0 72. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Season 2 June 29, 2006 It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia revolves around four friends who run a bar in the City of Brotherly Love and have to overcome their relentless self-involvement to make their friendship and business work. Metascore: 70 User Score: 9.0

9.0 73. Life on Mars (UK): Season 1 January 9, 2006 A present-day Manchester police detective is hit by a car and wakes up to find himself seemingly living in the year 1973 in this hit British drama from the creators of "Hustle." Metascore: 79 User Score: 9.0

9.0 74. Bleak House: Season 1 October 27, 2005 Masterpiece Theatre tackles the Dickens classic for the second time with this miniseries (adapted by Andrew Davies) airing in six weekly installments. Metascore: 93 User Score: 9.0

9.0 75. Prison Break: Season 1 August 29, 2005 This drama focuses on a prison designer who gets himself thrown into one of his own prisons to help his falsely accused brother escape death row. Described as in the vein of The Great Escape (and also compared to "24" due to its compressed time frame and season-length plotline), the series will unfold over 22 episodes, charting the course of a single break. Metascore: 65 User Score: 9.0

9.0 76. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Season 1 August 4, 2005 It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia revolves around four friends who run a bar in the City of Brotherly Love and have to overcome their relentless self-involvement to make their friendship and business work. Metascore: 64 User Score: 9.0

9.0 77. The Wire: Season 2 June 1, 2003 In chronicling a multi-generational family business dealing illegal drugs and the efforts of the Baltimore police to curb their trade, this series draws parallels between these organizations and the men and women on either side of the battle.The words of Gary W. Potter, Professor of Criminal Justice and Police Studies at Eastern Kentucky University, in writing about the savings and loan scandals of the 1980s, can also be used to illuminate some of the central premises of the show:"There is precious little difference between those people who society designates as respectable and law abiding and those people society castigates as hoodlums and thugs. The world of corporate finance and corporate capital is as criminogenic and probably more criminogenic than any poverty-wracked slum neighborhood. The distinctions drawn between business, politics, and organized crime are at best artificial and in reality irrelevant. Rather than being dysfunctions, corporate crime, white-collar crime, organized crime, and political corruption are mainstays of American political-economic life."Tim Goodman, the television critic for The San Francisco Chronicle, summed the show up perfectly when he wrote: "This show is precisely the reason you pay for HBO."In New York's Newsday, Diane Werts says: "Most TV crime series aspire to John Grisham's level. 'The Wire' aspires to Dostoevsky's."Season ThemesSeason One centers around a family of drug dealers and the innerworkings of their empire. It also follows the detectives who are trying to catch the high members of the empire. Season Two steps away from the drug trade (while still mentioning characters from the previous season) to a case of dead prostitutes which turns into a look at the corruption surrounding the Port. Season Three investigates politics and finishes the main stories that were left open in season one. Season Four focuses on four middle school students and their journeys through the public school system and continues to address the politics of an inner-city and the issues of an election. Season Five is rumored to be about the media's role in Baltimore. Season Five will be the show's final season.Theme MusicIn the Season One opening credits, the Blind Boys of Alabama did Tom Waits's "Way Down in the Hole". The Season Two opening credits feature Waits's version of the song. According to creator David Simon, "It was our way of saying: This is the same show (song) but this year, the tale itself (singer, tonality) will be different." The Neville Brothers's version of the song opens Season Three. The theme which plays over the end credits was composed by the show's music supervisor, Blake Leyh. International AiringsAustralia -- Monday at 12:00 p.m. on Ch.9. Currently airing Season 3. New Zealand -- Wednesday at 11:40 p.m. on TV2, beginning December 15, 2004. Metascore: 95 User Score: 9.0

9.0 78. Malcolm in the Middle: Season 1 January 9, 2000 Created and executive-produced by Emmy Award-winning writer Linwood Boomer, this inventive half-hour series is seen through the eyes of MALCOLM (Frankie Muniz), a regular high school kid trying to navigate his way through life despite the various obstacles thrown in his way – a complete misunderstanding of girls, the constant burden of masterminding plans to get himself and his brothers into or out of trouble, and a miserable job at the Lucky Aide… not to mention a severe case of teen angst. Although Malcolm has a genius IQ, he can't seem to make sense of the opposite sex, much less his embarrassing family. Lois (Jane Kaczmarek) is the outspoken, opinionated mom, who still manages to rule the roost even though her boys are growing wise to her crafty ways. Hal (Bryan Cranston), a dad who is just a bumbling, big kid at heart, often finds himself creating more chaos than his five boys combined. Reese (Justin Berfield) has mastered the art of a perfect blank stare, and makes up for his lack of intelligence with deviance. Francis (Christopher Masterson), Malcolm's oldest and favorite brother, is willing to move from Alabama to Alaska to New Mexico – as long as its keeps him from moving back home. Dewey (Erik Per Sullivan), no longer the youngest, has learned his tricks from the best and often pulls the wool right over his brothers' eyes. And then there's Jamie, the newest member … and family scapegoat. Timeslot History on Fox and Global January 2000 - July 2002 .... Sundays, 8:30pm August 2002 - October 2004 .... Sundays, 9:00pm November 2004 - August 2005 .... Sundays, 7:30pm September 2005 - January 2006 ... Fridays, 8:30pm January 2006 - Present .... Sundays, 7:00pm Metascore: 88 User Score: 9.0

9.0 79. The Simpsons: Season 2 October 11, 1990 Originally created by cartoonist Matt Groening, "Our Favorite Family," has graced the small screen in one form or another for over 20 years. The Simpson family first appeared on television as the subjects of interstitial "shorts" on The Tracey Ullman Show in April of 1987. The Simpsons remained a staple on The Tracey Ullman Show for three seasons until they premiered in their own half-hour series, on December 17, 1989. With the help of Jim Brooks and Sam Simon, Matt Groening's cartoon family turned into an instant success. Set in Springfield, the average American town, the show focuses on the antics and everyday adventures of the Simpson family; Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie, as well as a virtual cast of thousands. Since the beginning, the series has been a pop culture icon, attracting hundreds of celebrities to guest star. The show has also made name for itself in its fearless satirical take on politics, media and American life in general. Currently in its 21st season, The Simpsons has piled up over 440 episodes, over 20 Emmy Awards, a handful of music albums, countless endorsements and merchandise, and even made the jump to the silver screen in the summer of 2007 with The Simpsons Movie. And according to Matt Groening, "There is no end in sight." Metascore: 92 User Score: 9.0

9.0 80. Seinfeld: Season 1 July 5, 1989 This is a show about nothing; however, for a show about nothing, this show has many complex plots, sub-plots, is very well written and put together. So much so that until the public caught onto the series, the television critics were responsible for helping to keep it alive. The critics further went on and made the series victorious in every category it was eligible for in the 1st Annual American Television Awards. Seinfeld has also won a few Emmy Awards, the George Foster Peabody Award for 1992 and many more. Many of the early episodes were based on the life experiences of series co-creator, Larry David. Stories such as The Stock Tip and The Jacket really happened, as did many others. Across the hall from Larry lived a man named Kenny Kramer, who aside from the physical comedy aspects, lives the life of TV Kramer. Find out all about him at the real Kramer's web site. Some aspects were based on Jerry's life. Jerry's real address in NYC when he was struggling comic was 129 W. 81 St., this is the address used for his building in the series. In the series, Jerry lives in apartment 5A, Kramer in 5B. Viewer Jason Dean Vaupel notes that in a couple of episodes of the second season, Jerry lives in apartment 3A. And Newman's apartment has usually been 5E, but viewer Jeff Holland notes that it sometimes is 5F and that 5E was rented out to someone else as already noted in the episode, The Conversion. Their building is called The Shelley according to viewer Kipp Teague whose discerned that from the awning on the building. However, that building is actually located in Los Angeles, the building at the real address in NYC is much different. Jeff Holland also notes that The Shelley has no visible fire escapes, but there is one outside of Jerry's window. Other aspects are composite of both lives. For example, Elaine's character is half based on Jerry's ex-girlfriend Carol Leifer. Carol joined the production staff in the 5th season. An ex-girlfriend of Larry David's, named Monica Yates, whose father was a noted writer in the other half of the Elaine equation. Larry David once wore a suede jacket that got wet while meeting her father. Another viewer, Bobby Bank, notes that a tribute to Jerry's father is seen in occasional episodes. Jerry's father, named Kal, worked in the sign business, so occasionally in the background you may see a sign that says Kal's Signs. Bobby stated in a trade magazine for the sign industry called Signs of the Times that he... Quote: had the pleasure of meeting and working with Kal in the early 70s when we were producing Jewelite (Bobby's company) letters for him. I remember Kal saying, 'Bobby, you should meet my son Jerry. He's a real funny guy.' Viewer Robert Buchanan also reminds me that it is ironic that Jerry's father's name is Kal, and Superman's real Kryptonian name is Kal-El. Most every episode takes place in Jerry's apartment; however, there are (of course) a few exceptions: The Chinese Restaurant, The Pen, The Parking Garage, The Subway, The Limo, The Airport, The Movie, The Hamptons, The Merv Griffin Show & The Dealership. While no activity occurs there, an empty apartment is shown in The Puerto Rican Day. First Telecast: July 5, 1989 Last Telecast: May 14, 1998 Episodes: 180 Color Episodes + 1 Special Ratings History Season 1= Not in the Top 30 Season 2= Not in the Top 30 Season 3= Not in the Top 30 Season 4= 25 Season 5= 3 Season 6= 1 Season 7= 2 Season 8= 2 Season 9= 1 Metascore: 79 User Score: 9.0

8.9 81. Our Planet April 5, 2019 The eight-part series from Planet Earth and Blue Planet director Alastair Fothergill was filmed over four years with 4k cameras and narrated by David Attenborough. Metascore: 83 User Score: 8.9

8.9 82. Stranger Things: Season 1 July 15, 2016 Set in Indiana, a young boy named Will (Noah Schnapp) disappears into thin air in 1983 and the search for him that includes Will's best friend Mike (Finn Wolfhard), leads to top secret experiments and a strange little girl (Millie Brown) in the woods. Metascore: 76 User Score: 8.9

8.9 83. Silicon Valley: Season 3 April 24, 2016 Richard (Thomas Middleditch) seeks to become CEO of Pied Piper in the third season of the Mike Judge comedy. Metascore: 90 User Score: 8.9

8.9 84. Ash Vs. Evil Dead: Season 1 October 31, 2015 The comedic horror series from by Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell finds Ash (Bruce Campbell) trying to keep away from the Evil Dead for the past 30 years. When a Deadite plague breaks out, a reluctant Ash with the help of Pablo Simon Bolivar (Ray Santiago) and Kelly Maxwell (Dana Delorenzo) try to end Evil once and for all. Metascore: 75 User Score: 8.9

8.9 85. The Knick: Season 2 October 16, 2015 The staff are preparing for The current Knickerbocker Hospital to be closed and moving to new building uptown in the second season set in 1901. Metascore: 85 User Score: 8.9

8.9 86. Narcos: Season 1 August 28, 2015 The drama depicts the 1980s Medellin cocaine cartel run by Pablo Escobar (Wagner Moura) and the efforts of DEA agents Steve Murphy (Boyd Holbrook) and Javier Peña (Pedro Pascal) to capture Escobar. Metascore: 77 User Score: 8.9

8.9 87. Hannibal: Season 2 February 28, 2014 Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) must find a way to get himself out of the situation he ends up in due to what happened at the end of the first season. Metascore: 88 User Score: 8.9

8.9 88. Rectify: Season 1 April 22, 2013 After 19 years in prison for the rape and murder of his girlfriend, Daniel Holden (Aden Young) is released due to DNA evidence. His return home brings new challenges including new family members and a divided community. Metascore: 82 User Score: 8.9

8.9 89. House of Cards (2013): Season 1 February 1, 2013 The US remake of the 1990s British political miniseries moves the shenanigans to Washington DC. After learning he won't be appointed to a coveted Cabinet position, House Majority Whip Francis Underwood (Kevin Spacey) and his wife Claire plan revenge on the administration he helped elect. Metascore: 76 User Score: 8.9

8.9 90. Justified: Season 4 January 8, 2013 While Raylan investigates a cold case that is connected to his father, Boyd finds his business slowing down with the arrival of Preacher Billy. Metascore: 90 User Score: 8.9

8.9 91. Southland: Season 2 March 2, 2010 Southland returns with its second season on TNT after having been renewed by NBC but dropped by the peacock network to ostensibly make room for The Jay Leno Show. Metascore: 77 User Score: 8.9

8.9 92. Damages: Season 3 January 25, 2010 The third season finds Patty Hewes working on a Ponzi scheme case, where she has to deal with an attorney (Martin Short) and the accused's wife (Lily Tomlin). Metascore: 81 User Score: 8.9

8.9 93. White Collar: Season 1 October 23, 2009 A con man is given the choice of taking a job as an FBI consultant or face going back to jail. Metascore: 79 User Score: 8.9

8.9 94. Mad Men: Season 3 August 16, 2009 Sterling Cooper is in transition after its merger with a British company and secrets continue to play a part in people's seemingly happy lives. Metascore: 87 User Score: 8.9

8.9 95. Mad Men: Season 2 July 27, 2008 The second season of the multi-Emmy-nominated series picks up two years ahead in 1962 where the questions left hanging in season one are slowly answered. Metascore: 88 User Score: 8.9

8.9 96. Kitchen Nightmares: Season 1 September 19, 2007 Chefs may have escaped from his version of hell, but Gordon Ramsay haunts Fox with his American adaptation of his UK show of the same name. Metascore: 66 User Score: 8.9

8.9 97. Rome: Season 2 January 14, 2007 The second and final season of this joint production of HBO and the BBC picks up where season one left off: in the ancient Roman Empire, immediately after the death of Julius Caesar. Metascore: 68 User Score: 8.9

8.9 98. Men in Trees: Season 1 September 12, 2006 A famous relationship coach (Anne Heche) has a hard time finding a good man for herself, so she moves from New York to a small town in Alaska. That's not quite the decision we'd make. Metascore: 48 User Score: 8.9

8.9 99. Psych: Season 1 July 7, 2006 Paired with "Monk" in USA's Friday night lineup is this new dramedy about a Santa Barbara detective who poses as a psychic in order to explain his incredible observational skills. Metascore: 59 User Score: 8.9