THE 35 BEST SHOWS ON TV--EVER

New York Post ^ | April 27, 2008 | ROBERT RORKE AND STEPHEN LYNCH

[ConservativeStatement]

Our parents told us TV would melt our brains. While it's possible "Punky Brewster" and "A-Team" did just that, along the way we saw some genius art. Television can't play 90 minutes on the big screen and vanish into the bargain bin. And it lacks one author to take it from introduction to the final page. Yet within these boundaries, there are a small number of shows that capture our attention, our obsession, and create enduring stories. How many? 35. They're listed here.

[devere]

“I’d have to put “Lonesome Dove” right up there with it.”

Yes, that was also superb.

[Lancey Howard]

I think the hardest I ever laughed at a sitcom was the “Step Brothers” episode of ‘Soap’.

[n230099]

"Obviously compiled by folks under the age of 40."

Exactly!

Sex and the City? they cannot be serious!

Conspicuously absent: Gilligan's Island, The Munsters, Have Gun Will Travel, The Avengers, The Prisoner, and on and on.

[The Ghost of Rudy McRomney]

THE FUGITIVE.

HAVE GUN, WILL TRAVEL.

77 SUNSET STRIP.

NAKED CITY.

DRAGNET (original version).

[tacticalogic]

Where's MacGuyver? A-Team? The Sentinel? The Shield? Cops? Sportscenter?

Wild Kingdom? The 20th Century? Heck, Junkyard Wars blows Oprah out of the water.

[nkycincinnatikid]

“Our parents told us tv would melt our brains” By the look of your list Father Knows Best.

[mombonn]

LOL, I've only recently discovered Home Improvement on Nick at Nite, and am really enjoying it! It could certainly replace one of the 35 mentioned.

In fact, it's on right now.

[eyedigress]

Wild Kingdom was a Sunday staple in the day and I’m glad you mentioned it.

[Marie2]

Survivor, Amazing Race, Lost, the Biggest Loser. Come on now.

[gridlock]

Absolutely. There is Star Trek, and then there is everything else.

[ThreePuttinDude]

Gilligans Island!

Mary Ann....OH YA

[humblegunner]

THUNDERCATS!

[yarddog]

Every list of this type has to be subjective to a large degree but come on. That has to be one of the worst lists imaginable, especially the first five which I would rate among the worst five.

[tacticalogic]

Remember the “shooting a BIC pen through a block of wood” commercials?

[bmwcyle]

[GreenHornet]

They missed several:

The Phil Silvers Show (Sgt. Bilko)
Car 54 Where Are You?
The Twilight Zone
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
The Untouchables (the original)
The Andy Griffith Show
The Odd Couple
The Bob Newhart Show
Newhart
Taxi

[lakey]

Absolutely! Soap belongs up there but I don’t recall the “Step Brothers” episode.

[MarkL]

Agreed, and I think that it's impossible to list just 35 shows... I agree 100% that the Carol Burnett show should be there, but there should also be other variety shows as well. The Red Skelton show should be there, as was mentioned, as should (IMHO) the Flip Wilson show. And how the hell could they have missed "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson?" The list simply goes on and on. ER was mentioned, but would it have ever made it to TV without St. Elsewhere, or Marcus Welby? What about Taxi or Cheers?

I would contend that we could easily fill up at least 5 to 50 shows in each genre.

And then there's that one show, where there's a special place in hell reserved for TV execs who canceled this show, along with child molesters, and people who talk at the theater: The FOX execs who canceled "Firefly!"

Mark

[mombonn]

“As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly.” I never laughed so hard in my life. Everyone on that show was perfect.

LOL, I have to agree.

Thinking about Lucy, her classics were the chocolate production line, and the grape stomping episode. No matter how many times I see those, I still collapse laughing!

Not to mention, Carol Burnett as Scarlett O'Hara!

[frankiep]

Why is ‘The Shield’ not on this list?

The Shield is head and shoulders above most of the shows on the list. It has some of the finest writing you will ever see on screen and will keep you on the edge of your seat in its entirety.

The last two episodes of season five, ‘Of Mice and Lem’ and ‘Postpartum’ are simply amazing. The best hour and a half of television you will ever see IMO.