the best ever tv shows
by ryanmeldrum11 | created - 29 Sep 2012 | updated - 06 Oct 2012 | Public- Instant Watch Options
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1. 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: 404,669
2. The Simpsons (1989–2024)
TV-14 | 22 min | Animation, Comedy
The satiric adventures of a working-class family in the misfit city of Springfield.
Stars: Dan Castellaneta, Nancy Cartwright, Harry Shearer, Julie Kavner
Votes: 434,329
3. My Name Is Earl (2005–2009)
TV-14 | 22 min | Comedy
A ne'er do well wins $100,000 in the lottery and decides to right all the wrongs from his past with his newfound realization!
Stars: Jason Lee, Ethan Suplee, Jaime Pressly, Nadine Velazquez
Votes: 109,300
4. The Inbetweeners (2008–2010)
TV-14 | 25 min | Comedy
Follows four friends and their antics during their final years of school.
Stars: Simon Bird, James Buckley, Blake Harrison, Joe Thomas
Votes: 94,019
5. Two and a Half Men (2003–2015)
TV-14 | 22 min | Comedy, Romance
A hedonistic jingle writer's free-wheeling life comes to an abrupt halt when his brother and 10-year-old nephew move into his beach-front house.
Stars: Jon Cryer, Ashton Kutcher, Angus T. Jones, Conchata Ferrell
Votes: 279,667
6. Hawaii Five-0 (2010–2020)
TV-14 | 42 min | Action, Crime, Drama
When Steve McGarrett returns home to Oahu to find his father's killer, the Governor offers him the chance to run his own task force: Five-0.
Stars: Alex O'Loughlin, Scott Caan, Taylor Wily, Daniel Dae Kim
Votes: 78,440
7. 24 (2001–2014)
TV-14 | 44 min | Action, Crime, Drama
Counter Terrorism Agent Jack Bauer races against the clock to subvert terrorist plots and save his nation from ultimate disaster.
Stars: Kiefer Sutherland, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Carlos Bernard, Dennis Haysbert
Votes: 196,516
8. Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (2008–2009)
TV-PG | 60 min | Action, Drama, Fantasy
Set after the events in Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), Sarah Connor and her son, John, try to stay under-the-radar from the government, as they plot to destroy the computer network, Skynet, in hopes of preventing Armageddon.
Stars: Lena Headey, Thomas Dekker, Summer Glau, Richard T. Jones
Votes: 62,701
9. Babylon 5 (1993–1998)
TV-PG | 45 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
In the mid 23rd century, the Earth Alliance space station Babylon 5, located in neutral territory, is a major focal point for political intrigue, racial tensions and various wars over the course of five years.
Stars: Mira Furlan, Richard Biggs, Stephen Furst, Andreas Katsulas
Votes: 34,479
10. Prison Break (2005–2017)
TV-14 | 44 min | Action, Crime, Drama
A structural engineer installs himself in a prison he helped design, in order to save his falsely accused brother from a death sentence by breaking themselves out from the inside.
Stars: Dominic Purcell, Wentworth Miller, Amaury Nolasco, Robert Knepper
Votes: 577,062
11. Trauma (2009–2010)
TV-14 | 60 min | Drama
Follows a small group of flight paramedics on the job and in their lives outside of work.
Stars: Derek Luke, Anastasia Griffith, Aimee Garcia, Kevin Rankin
Votes: 2,732
12. Jericho (2006–2008)
TV-14 | 45 min | Action, Drama, Mystery
A small town in Kansas is literally left in the dark after seeing a mushroom cloud over nearby Denver, Colorado. The townspeople struggle to find answers about the blast and solutions on how to survive.
Stars: Skeet Ulrich, Lennie James, Ashley Scott, Kenneth Mitchell
Votes: 58,623
13. Sons of Anarchy (2008–2014)
TV-MA | 45 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
A biker struggles to balance being a father and being involved in an outlaw motorcycle club.
Stars: Charlie Hunnam, Katey Sagal, Mark Boone Junior, Kim Coates
Votes: 321,989
14. Robin Hood (2006–2009)
TV-PG | 60 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
After 5 years of fighting in the crusades, Robin returns to England and leads a band of outlaws to outwit the Sheriff of Nottingham.
Stars: Jonas Armstrong, Gordon Kennedy, Sam Troughton, Joe Armstrong
Votes: 17,267
15. Lost (2004–2010)
TV-14 | 5,445 min | Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
The survivors of a plane crash are forced to work together in order to survive on a seemingly deserted tropical island.
Stars: Jorge Garcia, Josh Holloway, Yunjin Kim, Evangeline Lilly
Votes: 592,641
16. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000–2015)
TV-14 | 60 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
In Las Vegas, a squad of forensic investigators are trained to solve crimes by meticulously examining the evidence. They employ advanced technology and their rationality to detect the perpetrators.
Stars: William Petersen, Laurence Fishburne, Ted Danson, George Eads
Votes: 88,701
17. CSI: Miami (2002–2012)
TV-14 | 43 min | Action, Crime, Drama
An elite unit, led by an ex-homicide cop, which is linked to the Miami-Dade Police Department, uses all possible resources and skills at their disposal to solve complex crimes in cross-cultural Miami.
Stars: David Caruso, Emily Procter, Adam Rodriguez, Rex Linn
Votes: 61,001
18. CSI: NY (2004–2013)
TV-14 | 43 min | Action, Crime, Drama
Forensic scientists and investigators of the New York City Police Department unveil the circumstances behind mysterious and unusual deaths.
Stars: Gary Sinise, Carmine Giovinazzo, Hill Harper, Eddie Cahill
Votes: 49,445
19. Law & Order (1990– )
TV-14 | 45 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
New York's finest police detectives and prosecutors fight to make the city a safer place. With integrity as the guiding force from investigation to verdict, the teams weigh every perspective in their commitment to finding justice.
Stars: Jerry Orbach, Jesse L. Martin, Dennis Farina, Sam Waterston
Votes: 44,227
20. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999– )
TV-14 | 60 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
This series follows the Special Victims Unit, a specially trained squad of detectives in the New York City Police Department that investigate sexually related crimes.
Stars: Mariska Hargitay, Christopher Meloni, Ice-T, Dann Florek
Votes: 123,643
21. Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001–2011)
TV-14 | 60 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
This series focuses on the NYPD's Major Case Squad, a force of detectives who investigate high-profile cases, while also showing parts of the crime from the perpetrator's point of view.
Stars: Kathryn Erbe, Vincent D'Onofrio, Jamey Sheridan, Courtney B. Vance
Votes: 27,748
22. NCIS (2003– )
TV-14 | 60 min | Action, Crime, Drama
Follows the Major Case Response Team (MCRT) from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), as they get to the bottom of criminal cases connected to Navy and Marine Corps personnel.
Stars: David McCallum, Sean Murray, Mark Harmon, Brian Dietzen
Votes: 162,105
23. NCIS: Los Angeles (2009–2023)
TV-14 | 43 min | Action, Crime, Drama
The Naval Criminal Investigation Service's Office of Special Projects takes on the undercover work and the hard to crack cases in LA. Key agents are G. Callen and Sam Hanna, streets kids risen through the ranks.
Stars: Chris O'Donnell, Daniela Ruah, LL Cool J, Eric Christian Olsen
Votes: 57,364
24. Taggart (1983–2010)
TV-14 | 120 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
The Maryhill CID investigates gruesome murders against the bleak backdrop of the city of Glasgow.
Stars: Blythe Duff, James MacPherson, Robert Robertson, Iain Anders
Votes: 1,984
25. The Bill (1984–2010)
TV-14 | Crime, Drama
Police drama series following officers and detectives from Sun Hill Police Station in East London.
Stars: Graham Cole, Jeff Stewart, Trudie Goodwin, Simon Rouse
Votes: 4,075
26. The Mentalist (2008–2015)
TV-14 | 43 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
A famous "psychic" outs himself as a fake, and starts working as a consultant for the California Bureau of Investigation so he can find "Red John", the madman who killed his wife and daughter.
Stars: Simon Baker, Robin Tunney, Tim Kang, Owain Yeoman
Votes: 199,674
27. Human Target (2010–2011)
TV-14 | 60 min | Action, Adventure, Crime
A unique bodyguard protects his clients by secretly infiltrating their lives in order to draw out and eliminate threats.
Stars: Mark Valley, Chi McBride, Jackie Earle Haley, Indira Varma
Votes: 18,751
28. Midsomer Murders (1997– )
TV-14 | 90 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
A veteran Detective Chief Inspector and his young Sergeant investigate murders around the regional community of Midsomer County.
Stars: John Nettles, Jane Wymark, Barry Jackson, Neil Dudgeon
Votes: 39,120
29. A Touch of Frost (1992–2010)
TV-MA | 105 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
DI Jack Frost is an unconventional policeman with sympathy for the underdog and an instinct for moral justice. Sloppy, disorganized, and disrespectful, he attracts trouble like a magnet.
Stars: David Jason, Bruce Alexander, John Lyons, Arthur White
Votes: 8,696
30. Inspector Morse (1987–2000)
TV-14 | 100 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Chief Inspector Morse has an ear for Western classical music, a taste for beer, and a nose for crime. He and Detective Sergeant Robert Lewis solve intriguing cases in and around the Oxford area.
Stars: John Thaw, Kevin Whately, James Grout, Peter Woodthorpe
Votes: 14,261
31. Poirot (1989–2013)
TV-14 | 100 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Hercule Poirot, a famous Belgian detective, who has an impeccable knack for getting embroiled in a mystery, solves crimes along with Captain Hastings and Scotland Yard Chief Inspector James Japp.
Stars: David Suchet, Hugh Fraser, Philip Jackson, Pauline Moran
Votes: 51,735
32. Blue Murder (1995)
198 min | Crime, Drama
Set in 1980s Sydney, this acclaimed mini-series tells the story of the relationship between corrupt Detective Roger Rogerson and one of Australia's most infamous criminals Neddy Smith.
Stars: Richard Roxburgh, Tony Martin, Steve Bastoni, Gary Day
Votes: 1,108
33. MI-5 (2002–2011)
TV-14 | 60 min | Action, Crime, Drama
The missions of MI-5, the UK's domestic intelligence organization.
Stars: Peter Firth, Hugh Simon, Nicola Walker, Rupert Penry-Jones
Votes: 18,259
34. Silent Witness (1996– )
TV-14 | 120 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
A team of exceptional forensic pathologists and scientists investigate heinous crimes and use their skills to catch the people responsible.
Stars: Emilia Fox, David Caves, William Gaminara, Tom Ward
Votes: 12,602
35. Emmerdale Farm (1972– )
TV-PG | 30 min | Adventure, Crime, Drama
A soap opera set in a fictional village in the Yorkshire Dales.
Stars: Christopher Chittell, Lucy Pargeter, Mark Charnock, Dominic Brunt
Votes: 3,513
36. Coronation Street (1960– )
TV-PG | 30 min | Drama, Romance
The world's longest-running television soap, Coronation Street focuses on the everyday lives of working-class people in Manchester, England.
Stars: William Roache, Helen Worth, Barbara Knox, Sally Dynevor
Votes: 5,990
37. Days of Our Lives (1965– )
TV-14 | 60 min | Drama, Romance
A chronicle of the lives, loves, trials and tribulations of the citizens of the fictional city of Salem.
Stars: Deidre Hall, Kristian Alfonso, Drake Hogestyn, Alison Sweeney
Votes: 7,401
38. EastEnders (1985– )
TV-PG | 30 min | Crime, Drama, Romance
The everyday lives of working-class inhabitants of Albert Square, a traditional Victorian square of terrace houses surrounding a park in the East End of London's Walford borough. The square includes the Queen Vic pub and a street market.
Stars: Adam Woodyatt, Steve McFadden, Letitia Dean, June Brown
Votes: 9,188
39. Hollyoaks (1995– )
TV-PG | 30 min | Drama, Romance
Hollyoaks takes a look at the lives, loves, and careers of a group of teenage friends and their families as they graduate through GCSEs, A-Levels, and College into the world of work.
Stars: Nick Pickard, Ashley Taylor Dawson, Kieron Richardson, Jennifer Metcalfe
Votes: 4,479
40. Appropriate Adult (2011)
133 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Dramatisation of the case of serial killers Fred and Rose West, focusing on the way in which they were brought to justice.
Stars: Emily Watson, Dominic West, Robert Glenister, Sylvestra Le Touzel
Votes: 4,313
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