High-Quality TV Series
by fedor8 | created - 01 Feb 2011 | updated - 10 Mar 2023 | PublicTelevision is loaded with garbage; flooded with drama serials, moronic cop shows, and laugh-track sit-coms, but to dismiss it entirely is a rather snotty and deluded attitude to take. There are always the few gems that wait to be discovered.
Listed in alphabetical order.
COMMENTS: The comments section changes introduced several years ago have basically ruined what used to be a fun interaction between list-maker and reader, hence I will be disabling comments on nearly all of my lists. (I said nearly: you're free to spend an hour perusing my other lists to find one that does allow comments.) So if you want to let me know what you think, PM me.
Oh no, wait. They've disabled PMs. So I guess there is no way you can share your views of my lists and reviews with me. That's called "progress".
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1. Everest: Beyond the Limit (2006–2009)
Documentary, Adventure
Climbers arrive at Everest Base Camp and quickly learn the dangers of the mountain.They are shocked to discover how badly their minds and bodies cope as they move to Advance Base Camp. A ... See full summary »
Stars: Phurba Tashi Sherpa, Rod Baber, Darius Vaiciulis, Fred Ziel
Votes: 1,023
2. Fawlty Towers (1975–1979)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
Hotel owner Basil Fawlty's incompetence, short fuse, and arrogance form a combination that ensures accidents and trouble are never far away.
Stars: John Cleese, Prunella Scales, Andrew Sachs, Connie Booth
Votes: 100,033
The last great project by Cleese. He would later become self-absorbed and confused.
3. Da Ali G Show (2000–2004)
TV-MA | 30 min | Comedy
Sacha Baron Cohen provides an inimitable mix of global reportage and celebrity chat via his characters Ali G, Borat Sagdiyev and Brüno Gehard.
Stars: Sacha Baron Cohen, T.N.T. Crew, Steve Ellington
Votes: 18,271
It was very funny at the time, no idea how I'd like it now.
4. Deadliest Catch (2005– )
TV-PG | 55 min | Documentary, Adventure, Reality-TV
A documentary series chronicling the real-life high-sea adventures of the Alaskan crab fishermen. This is the most deadly profession in the world.
Stars: Mike Rowe, Sig Hansen, Keith Colburn, Jake Anderson
Votes: 9,207
Read my review.
Ignore the last several seasons. Very scripted, very fake, awful and boring.
5. Dual Survival (2010–2016)
TV-14 | 60 min | Adventure, Game-Show, Reality-TV
Two survival experts, with very different mindsets, pair up and use their tactics to collaborate and overcome the challenges they face.
Stars: Cody Lundin, Paul Christie, Joe Teti, Dave Canterbury
Votes: 3,359
Regardless of how staged it is, there is nice scenery, some interesting characters.
6. Everybody Loves Raymond (1996–2005)
TV-PG | 22 min | Comedy
The comical everyday life of sports columnist Ray Barone and his dysfunctional family.
Stars: Ray Romano, Patricia Heaton, Brad Garrett, Doris Roberts
Votes: 77,079
7. Futurama (1999– )
TV-14 | 22 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Philip J. Fry, a pizza delivery boy, is accidentally frozen in 1999 and thawed out on New Year's Eve 2999.
Stars: Billy West, John DiMaggio, Katey Sagal, Tress MacNeille
Votes: 260,634
Ignore the obligatory left-wing nonsense, it's a much better show than The Simpsons.
8. An Idiot Abroad (2010–2012)
TV-14 | 43 min | Documentary, Adventure, Comedy
British comedy duo Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant send their simple and closed-minded friend Karl Pilkington on a trip around the world to experience a variety of people and cultures.
Stars: Karl Pilkington, Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Richard Yee
Votes: 34,276
One of the more unique shows out there. Whether and how much it was scripted just isn't that relevant.
9. I'm Alan Partridge (1997–2002)
TV-MA | 30 min | Comedy
A failed television presenter, now presenting a programme on local desperately tries to revive his broadcasting career.
Stars: Steve Coogan, Simon Greenall, Felicity Montagu, Phil Cornwell
Votes: 21,950
10. Jersey Shore (2009–2012)
TV-14 | 40 min | Comedy, Reality-TV, Romance
A reality-based look at the vapid lives of several New Jersey 20-somethings and their respective friends and/or hook-ups.
Stars: Paul 'Pauly D' DelVecchio, Sammi 'Sweetheart' Giancola, Nicole Polizzi, Mike 'The Situation' Sorrentino
Votes: 24,504
Everyone says they hate it, and yet the ratings are still going through the roof.
One of the best, most entertaining, and most underrated animal documentary series ever. So much better than "Monkey World" or "Lamas Gone Wild".
I would love to see the unification of two great franchises in a TV series called "Two Idiots Abroad", featuring Karl Pilkington and Snooki. The first episode could see them going to Chile in search of Snooki's heritage. Could that possibly break all viewership records? Methinks yes.
Read my review... IF you can find it. IMDb has made changes that make it impossible for me to isolate separate reviews hence provide you with a link.
11. Judge Judy (1996–2021)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy, Crime, Reality-TV
Judge Judy Sheindlin , a former judge from New York, tackles actual, small claims cases with her no-nonsense attitude in which damages of no more than $5,000 can be awarded.
Stars: Petri Hawkins Byrd, Judy Sheindlin, Jerry Bishop, Bea Arthur
Votes: 5,600
If you're a left-winger and you enjoy the show...
Why?
Judy Scheindlin has a very no-nonsense attitude toward immoral and criminal behaviour. She is FAR more on the side of the victim than the perpetrator, so if you're a left-winger and a fan, I ask again...
Why?
Fun fact: Judge Judy likes Trump.
12. Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge (1994–1995)
TV-14 | 45 min | Comedy
Alan Partridge hosts his own chat show on the BBC. He insults and belittles almost all of his guests and is humiliated by the rest.
Stars: Steve Coogan, Rebecca Front, Patrick Marber, Steve Brown
Votes: 6,842
13. Lipstick on Your Collar (1993)
360 min | Comedy, Drama, Musical
7 men work in a military intelligence office in 1956 London. Hopper is bored translating Russian and imagines rock'n'roll musicals set in the office. Francis dreams of Berry's wife.
Stars: Giles Thomas, Ewan McGregor, Louise Germaine, Douglas Henshall
Votes: 1,425
Quirky, non-commercial, not for mainstream audiences.
14. Lockup (2005– )
60 min | Documentary, News
An insight, to the many lives of the women and men that enter jail.
Stars: Rasha Drachkovitch, Tracy Powell, Jacob Hekter, Susan Carney
Votes: 607
15. Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969–1974)
TV-14 | 30 min | Comedy
The original surreal sketch comedy showcase for the Monty Python troupe.
Stars: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle
Votes: 78,714
The sketches range from hilarious/memorable/legendary to utter and total garbage. However, even the dull sketches are watchable due to the excellent cast.
16. Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988–1999)
TV-14 | 90 min | Comedy, Sci-Fi
In the not-too-distant future Joel Robinson is held captive by Dr. Forrester and TV's Frank, forced to watch B-Grade movies on the Satellite of Love with the help of his robot friends: Cambot, Gypsy, Tom Servo and Crow T. Robot.
Stars: Joel Hodgson, Michael J. Nelson, Trace Beaulieu, Kevin Murphy
Votes: 25,830
Episodes ranked rated and reviewed.
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls000158336/
17. The Office (2001–2003)
TV-MA | 30 min | Comedy, Drama
The story of an office that faces closure when the company decides to downsize its branches. A documentary film crew follow staff and the manager David Brent as they continue their daily lives.
Stars: Ricky Gervais, Martin Freeman, Mackenzie Crook, Lucy Davis
Votes: 123,028
18. Penn & Teller: Bullshit! (2003–2010)
TV-MA | 30 min | Comedy, Documentary
The comedy illusionist duo explore various topics and debunk what they consider misconceptions about them.
Stars: Penn Jillette, Teller, Shera Pollins, Michael Goudeau
Votes: 11,917
They say it like it is 90% of the time.
That's a pretty high %, especially compared to Jon Stewart's 5%, or Stevie Colbert's 3%.
19. Police Squad! (1982)
TV-PG | 24 min | Comedy, Crime
Sight gags, puns and non-sequiturs abound bumbling Sgt. Det. Lt. Frank Drebin and his colleagues at Police Squad solve various puzzling cases.
Stars: Leslie Nielsen, Alan North, Ed Williams, William Duell
Votes: 20,608
20. The Prisoner (1967–1968)
TV-PG | 1,010 min | Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi
After he resigns, a secret agent is abducted and taken to what looks like an idyllic village, but is actually a bizarre prison. He refuses to give his warders information while attempting to escape.
Stars: Patrick McGoohan, Angelo Muscat, Peter Swanwick, Peter Brace
Votes: 15,024
The core of the series are the first 11 of the 17 episodes. After that the quality slips markedly.
21. The Ricky Gervais Show (2010–2012)
TV-MA | 30 min | Animation, Comedy, Talk-Show
Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant talk to Karl Pilkington about important things in life whilst Karl provides anything but intelligent answers. Comedy at its finest with wonderful animation.
Votes: 17,144
22. Ripping Yarns (1976–1979)
TV-PG | 30 min | Adventure, Comedy
This show is a collection of tales that make for "ripping good" television. Sir Michael Palin played a different lead character in each yarn.
Stars: Michael Palin, Charles McKeown, Barbara New, David Griffin
Votes: 1,700
23. Seinfeld (1989–1998)
TV-PG | 22 min | Comedy
The continuing misadventures of neurotic New York City stand-up comedian Jerry Seinfeld and his equally neurotic New York City friends.
Stars: Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Michael Richards, Jason Alexander
Votes: 350,852
24. The Singing Detective (1986)
70 min | Drama, Musical, Mystery
Tormented and bedridden by a debilitating disease, a mystery writer relives his detective stories through his imagination and hallucinations.
Stars: Michael Gambon, Patrick Malahide, Joanne Whalley, David Ryall
Votes: 4,804
25. The Sopranos (1999–2007)
TV-MA | 60 min | Crime, Drama
New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano deals with personal and professional issues in his home and business life that affect his mental state, leading him to seek professional psychiatric counseling.
Stars: James Gandolfini, Lorraine Bracco, Edie Falco, Michael Imperioli
Votes: 469,694
One of extremely few high-quality drama shows. The only major drawback is the casting of Soprano's wife. WHY the hell would he marry such a woman? Lorraine Bracco turned down that role. God know what the producers were thinking when they turned to THAT afterward.
26. South Park (1997– )
TV-MA | 22 min | Animation, Comedy
Follows the misadventures of four irreverent grade-schoolers in the quiet, dysfunctional town of South Park, Colorado.
Stars: Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Isaac Hayes, Mona Marshall
Votes: 405,526
The quality of the show had picked up around season 5, and stayed at a high and consistent level until the 10th season. After that the quality gradually dropped until roughly the 15th season when the writers started selling out to the Cultural Marxist Establishment.
27. Star Trek (1966–1969)
TV-PG | 50 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
In the 23rd Century, Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise explore the galaxy and defend the United Federation of Planets.
Stars: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, Nichelle Nichols
Votes: 92,768
Wonderful 60s cheese, for nostalgics only. The only fun series of the entire franchise. Very untalented Cultural Marxists completely ruined it with various spin-offs.
Check out the Top 125 Goofiest Moments in the link.
http://vjetropev.blogspot.com/2013/11/star-trek-cheesiest-moments.html
28. Strutter (2006–2007)
22 min | Comedy
Michael 'Mike' Strutter is a fictional character of an MTV show, Strutter. He was created and is played by Paul Kaye, the comedian and actor behind the character Dennis Pennis.
Stars: Paul Kaye, Paul Garner, Lucy Montgomery, Thaila Zucchi
Votes: 1,043
Little known MTV comedy show, read my review for more.
29. The Twilight Zone (1959–1964)
TV-PG | 51 min | Drama, Fantasy, Horror
Ordinary people find themselves in extraordinarily astounding situations, which they each try to solve in a remarkable manner.
Stars: Rod Serling, Robert McCord, Jay Overholts, James Turley
Votes: 92,987
The level of quality is fairly uneven, ranging from excellent episodes to total crap.
Check out my Episodes List, with many reviews,
ranked and rated.
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls046483873/
30. The Universe (2007–2015)
TV-14 | 45 min | Documentary, History
This educational show explores many scientific questions and topics about the universe (Big Bang, the Sun, the planets, black holes, other galaxies, astrobiology etc.) through latest CGI, data and interviews with scientists.
Stars: Erik Thompson, Alex Filippenko, Laura Danly, Clifford V. Johnson
Votes: 5,927
Before attention-seeking quasi-comedic liars such as Tyson DeGrasse, there were real science shows. This series was made before EVERYTHING had to be inundated with climate change BS. I.e. before Greta Thunberg and of course Tyson - the biggest sell-out in the world of science since...
No, don't know anyone as bad as he is.
He now has a NatGeo talk show (wut?) in which he desperately tries to mix mediocre humour with science. Sorry, I meant with climate change propaganda. He comes off as a failed comedian cashing in checks from Manbearpig and company.
31. Wildboyz (2003–2006)
TV-MA | 30 min | Documentary, Adventure, Comedy
The "Wildboyz", Steve-O and Chris Pontius, interact with different animals and travel around the globe.
Stars: Chris Pontius, Steve-O, Manny Puig, Johnny Knoxville
Votes: 5,129
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