[Note: Every Friday on First Thoughts we host heated, half-serious, half-cocked arguments about some aspect of pop culture. Today’s theme is the best television shows of the past ten years. Have a suggestion for a topic? Send them to me at jcarter@firstthings.com]
Over the past ten years television—long considered the most embarrassing form of mass media—has come to surpass films and novels as the dominant form of narrative fiction. The advent of the DVD revolutionized television, making it possible (and profitable) to combine the depth of novels with the visual storytelling of film. The result was the greatest period of quality and innovation in the medium’s history—and some of the greatest works of pop culture produced in a hundred years.
In compiling this list, I’ve had to stray significantly from the purpose of this series. Normally, these posts are presented in order to spur debate about pop culture. But because this top ten list is perfect there really is nothing to argue about. All people of superior taste and wisdom will completely agree with the selections, so the only remaining point of debate is where on the list they should be ranked.
(One note about the qualifications: To be included a series had to begin on or after January 1, 2000. This is why some obvious titles (The Sopranos) aren’t listed.)
The top ten television shows of the decade:
1. Friday Night Lights (NBC)
2. Battlestar Galactica (Sci-Fi)
3. The Wire (HBO)
4. Lost (ABC)
5. Veronica Mars (UPN/The CW)
6. The Office (NBC)
7. Firefly (FOX)
8. Arrested Development (FOX)
9. Big Love (HBO)
10. 24 (FOX)
Honorable Mentions:
Best show that should have ended after one season: Prison Break (FOX)
Best comedy about television: 30 Rock (NBC)
Best import: Top Gear (BBC)
Best reality show: (TIE) Survivor (CBS) / The Amazing Race (CBS)
Best show with the worst language: Deadwood (HBO)
Best representation of a Christian on a non-religious series: The Shield (FX)
Best new show of the last two years: Parks and Recreation (NBC)
Best show that I’m too ashamed to include on my list: Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO)
Best detective show: House (FOX)
Best mini-series: Band Of Brothers (HBO)
Best guilty pleasure: America’s Next Top Model (The CW)
Best show about dealing drugs/dealing with cancer: Breaking Bad (AMC)
Best dance show: So You Think You Can Dance (FOX)
Best series that has had a (mostly) beneficial impact on pop culture: American Idol (FOX) (for giving us Carrie Underwood, Kellie Clarkson, Chris Daughtery, and Simon Cowell)
Most Overrated Series of the Decade: Mad Men (AMC)
While I don’t suspect anyone will have the temerity to reveal their bad taste by disageeing with the top ten entries, I will entertain some dispute over the #10 spot (as long as you don’t argue for including Mad Men).* 24 made the cut based solely on its near perfect first season. Because of that, another series may be more worthy. What would that series be?
*Only kidding, of course. I don’t really discriminate against those with inferior taste, so feel free to advocate for the inclusion of other series. (I can’t shield you from the inevitable mockery, though, so comment at your own risk.)
December 11th, 2009 | 3:44 am
Good for you Joe for including Firefly. In fact, it deserves a whole new category: “Best show in the history of the world that was cancelled after only 14 episodes by brainless network ninnies.”
December 11th, 2009 | 6:11 am
Of your top 10 list, the only show that I watched was “Firefly”. But I didn’t watch it on television. I bought the DVD set and watched it front to back.
I loved it.
Other series I’ve watched front to back using DVDs:
Frasier, House(which is no longer worth the effort),
Burn Notice(I really enjoyed), In Plain Sight, Sons of Anarchy(2nd season ending is bogus, heading towards tedious), and Everybody loves Raymond.
I’ve watched nothing on your B list.
December 11th, 2009 | 7:04 am
1. House
2. House
3. House
And for Guilty Pleasures, Project Runway should certainly get a mention.
December 11th, 2009 | 9:33 am
I feel not the slightest tinge of temerity in disagreeing with your top ten, except possibly The Office which has improved with age. I don’t thnk I even watch 10 television programs per week, but most are on PBS: Antiques Roadshow, Nova, Nature, Masterpiece Theater (lately replaced with the execrable Masterpiece Mystery) and the cooking lineup on Saturday afternoon. None of these qualify by the criterion of beginning on or after Jan 1, 2000 so that leaves zip. Pretty sad considering the billions of dollars that flow to that wasteland.
December 11th, 2009 | 9:43 am
What about “Rome”?
December 11th, 2009 | 9:43 am
I think you forgot one great show that my family & I watch consistently….Mythbusters.
December 11th, 2009 | 10:01 am
Your #1 and #2 are also mine–exactly and in that order. If only Friday Night Lights were set in Western Pennsylvania rather than Texas, it would have been perfect!
December 11th, 2009 | 11:45 am
Just curious as to why not even honorable mention to Rome, Joan of Arcadia, The Mentalist, CSI, John Doe (or did it start in 1999?), The Unit, and Lie to Me (who knew Tim Roth could be so appealing). Of your list I had only watched Firefly–I’d watched Arrested Development but thought it was too mean spirited or something similar.
December 11th, 2009 | 12:02 pm
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December 11th, 2009 | 12:06 pm
Dexter is the best show I have ever seen! It keeps getting better and better each season!
December 11th, 2009 | 12:14 pm
Mad Men is only the 2nd most overrated.
The most overrated: Lost (and I watched 3 seasons)
Glaring omission from your list: Deadwood
My #1: The Wire
December 11th, 2009 | 12:15 pm
The #1 spot is correct, and that’s all that matters. So, good list!
December 11th, 2009 | 12:15 pm
While certainly not deserving any top ten position, I thought the 1st season (and ONLY the first season) of Heroes would get an honorable mention.
December 11th, 2009 | 12:55 pm
“Scrubs” began in 2001. Just saying, is all.
December 11th, 2009 | 1:08 pm
Dennis Leary’s “Rescue Me” has had plenty of appalling downturns over the course of a perhaps overlong run, but I think at least seasons 1 and 2 deserve mention: the dark humor, the camaraderie and brotherhood among the firefighters grappling with their 9/11 losses, and Leary’s finely acted struggle with alcoholism and grief all seemed so real. It’s like nothing else on TV.
December 11th, 2009 | 1:24 pm
Barry <em“Best show in the history of the world that was cancelled after only 14 episodes by brainless network ninnies.”
Yep. And now Josh Whedon is wasting his talents on the soon-to-be-cancelled “Dollhouse” while Mal is pretending to be a writer on “Castle.”
Bill most are on PBS: Antiques Roadshow, Nova, Nature, Masterpiece Theater (lately replaced with the execrable Masterpiece Mystery)
Nerd. ; )
Tom What about “Rome”?
I watched the first season and was underwhelmed. It was good, just not HBO-good.
Keith If only Friday Night Lights were set in Western Pennsylvania rather than Texas, it would have been perfect!
They play football in Pennsylvania?
Zombywolf Just curious as to why not even honorable mention to Rome, Joan of Arcadia, The Mentalist, CSI, John Doe (or did it start in 1999?), The Unit, and Lie to Me (who knew Tim Roth could be so appealing).
Joan of Arcadia and John Doe weren’t around long enough to gel into great shows. The Mentalist is too new, as is Lie to Me. CSI is one I’ve never been able to get into and I’ve never seen The Unit (though I want to watch it on DVD).
Lee Dexter is the best show I have ever seen!
I tried to watch Dexter but it gave me an uneasy feeling. I’m willing to look for the redemptive aspects of pop culture, but rooting for a viscious serial killer is more than I can do.
Pat Glaring omission from your list: Deadwood
Deadwood’s one the list. I liked that show more than I care to admit.
Matthew The #1 spot is correct, and that’s all that matters.
Isn’t FNL a great show? I didn’t see what all the fuss was about when I watched the pilot on TV. But then I watched it again on DVD and was hooked. I can’t wait to start watching the new season.
Tim I thought the 1st season (and ONLY the first season) of Heroes would get an honorable mention.
I stuck with it until the “save the cheerleader” arc ended. After that I gave up.
Craig “Scrubs” began in 2001. Just saying, is all.
I had it on my original list so I’m not sure how it dropped off. Scrubs is a great show and would come in at #11.
Nicole Dennis Leary’s “Rescue Me” . . .
That’s another one I need to catch up on now that it’s out on DVD.
December 11th, 2009 | 1:50 pm
The Wire is the best television I’ve ever seen. I’ve never heard of Friday Night Lights, but Battlestar Galactica is definitely inferior (far inferior, I would say) to The Wire.
December 11th, 2009 | 1:52 pm
Joe,
Castle is a ton of fun. It’s no Firefly, but Fillion might as well be Mal. He’s got the same sarcastic wit that made Firefly so awesome. My hope is that the whole crew of Serenity will find their way over there eventually (yes, it’s a pipe dream, but let me have it!).
matt
December 11th, 2009 | 2:26 pm
House is my favorite by far. It has a formula, but the character of the protagonist is the most fascinating I’ve seen on TV.
December 11th, 2009 | 4:00 pm
2 1/2 seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer were in the 2000s – not the best 2 1/2 seasons, but still superior to at least 7 of your 10.
December 11th, 2009 | 5:02 pm
The Wire is amazing. Hands down the most well written and well acted show I’ve ever watched.
I must say I found it slow at first and it was difficult trying to keep the cast straight — there are so many characters. I didn’t even realize that Wee-Bey was a person for a few episodes.
It wasn’t long before I was hooked. I found season 4 to be the most interesting. Good of you to include it on your list.
And Arrested Development is the funniest show I’ve ever seen. Amazing writing and great characters.
December 11th, 2009 | 5:21 pm
I am stunned, stunned I say, that no one has mentioned “The West Wing.” Minute for minute, it had the tightest, most compelling and thought-provoking script of any show, at least while Aaron Sorkin was at the helm. Hey, a President with a working knowledge of Latin? What’s not to like?
December 11th, 2009 | 5:48 pm
You people are nuts.
Best Show of the The Decade: Entourage. Jeremy Piven eats cringe comedy shows for breakfast.
Best Reality Show: Reality Hell. It’s even more real than real reality shows, and that takes some doing.
Best Show To Start a Drinking Game To: Mad Men. Every time the gay guy does something really gay and nobody else notices, take a shot. Every time a black person appears in a menial position, take a shot. Every time a married woman looks miserable with her lot in life, take a shot. The possibilities are as endless as the identity politics.
Best MTV Show: Is She Really Going Out With Him? Though Jersey Shore shows all kinds of promise.
Best Late Night Show: Craig Kilborn, assuming he didn’t start in the 90s. If so, then Red Eye.
December 11th, 2009 | 6:17 pm
any thoughts on iron chef america? granted, there are millions of people dying of starvation around the world, but even so, the show is gripping, methinks.
December 11th, 2009 | 6:43 pm
Entourage is great if you like to watch spoiled free-loaders living a pointless existence in a seemingly consequence free environment OR you just like Piven. That guy is hilarious.
If we’re talking about reality shows I’ll have to add Intervention to the list. Its done in a way that you can really enter into the experience of an addict or their family members. I feel it provides some interesting insight into a human experience.
December 11th, 2009 | 9:09 pm
Come on Joe, “give the Todd some love!”
The first few seasons of Scrubs were ridiculously creative…as thought-provoking as any comedy in recent memory.
But I would be so bold as to bump Arrested Development to the top of the list.
I also thought that the first three seasons of Alias were very good.
December 11th, 2009 | 11:45 pm
For best import – I thought Dr Who would have been your choice, given your penchant for Sci-Fi. How can you argue with a show that totally revived a British legendary cult following, with great scripts, well-developed narratives, compelling story arcs covering each season, much-improved special effects (though that wasn’t hard to do considering the original series!) and a time travelling Police Call Box?
Still, to each his own. Great Top 10 list.
December 12th, 2009 | 9:51 am
I’m apparently really out of it as far as TV in concerned. The only show on the list I have watched is Firefly and I loved it. I am amazed that no one has mentioned Dead Like Me. I thought it was really good and the actors were all superlative. Hubby loved Burn Notice and 24.
December 12th, 2009 | 8:53 pm
ISN’T “BEST TV SHOW” AN OXYMORON?
December 12th, 2009 | 10:29 pm
Well, the best show on T.V. right now is
Burn Notice, The Closer also really good. Have tried to watch Friday Night Lights but haven’t been able to get into it maybe on DVD. The Unit, liked a lot. House definitely in the top 10. I like Battlestar and Firefly but not sure they should make the top 10. The Office I find very obnoxious and offensive, people who work at normal jobs are idiots, ha, ha, ha. 30 Rock much funnier and they’re at least making fun of the rich and powerful. Band of Brothers definitely. And I really like Mad Men.
December 14th, 2009 | 7:36 am
You don’t get Burn Notice in all parts of the northern hemisphere?
December 16th, 2009 | 10:21 pm
The Shield!!!Superbly written with a story arc that spans the entire run of the series.
Acting, adrenaline, and all that other good stuff that makes you spend (or should i say INVEST) time in watching the crooked path Vic Mackey walks on. You’ll always want to see what happens next….even till the end. Even if you’ve never heard of the show, or have never watched an episode, the price is too good to pass up on the entire series. YOU cannot watch television the same way and in this day and age where pure narrative/fictional shows are getting drowned out by reality garbage, THE SHIELD set a new standard. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS SHOW. YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT. The Shield has the best elements of every other show: 24, The Sopranos, Law and Order, and much more.
January 13th, 2010 | 6:00 pm
The middle is a new series about a real family. really great and hillarious. check it out!
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