After we told you the 10 longest running TV shows currently on the air it would be only fair also to tell you which ones are the best, so we prepared a list of 11 Best TV Shows of All Time. To get an overall picture of greatness, we used a few sources. The first source was a list of the Best Series of All Time made by TV Guide, American’s most influential TV magazine. For the second source we used a list of Best Written TV Series compiled by Writers Guild of America. To round it all up we added Hollywood’s favorite TV Shows list made by Hollywood Reporter. We combined the sources, giving each TV Show points from 1 to 20 based on their spot, and brought you an ultimate a list of 11 best TV shows of all time.
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Let us take a moment and explain why combining multiple sources into a single “consensus” estimate produces better results. When you are using an indirect approach to produce an estimate for anything, your estimate is always biased in one or multiple ways in various magnitudes. When you combine two or more approaches it is more likely that some of these biases cancel out and the resulting estimate is more accurate. For example if you are trying to predict an election’s outcome by using a single poll, your estimates will contain a large margin of error. However, if you combine estimates from multiple polls conducted by different pollsters, the estimates will have smaller margins of error and will usually have higher accuracy.
We have been using this same approach at Insider Monkey to identify the best stocks to invest in the stock market by calculating the consensus picks of 700+ hedge fund managers. Any hedge fund manager may be biased in one direction or the other at any point in time. However, our research had shown that their consensus stock picks actually beat the market by double digits annually in a back testing covering 13 years. At the end of August 2012 we launched an investment newsletter being encouraged by these promising results. Guess how this strategy performed in the 3 years since August 2012? One word: amazing. The strategy returned 102% in its first 3 years versus a gain of 48.8% for the S&P 500 ETF (SPY). You can read the details of this investment strategy here. Our strategy doesn’t beat the market every month but on average it produced much better returns on average. This is generally the case when we use multiple sources to calculate a consensus estimate.
Why don’t you go ahead and check whether this is a good way of identifying the best TV shows of all time:
11. Cheers
Before Frasier, there was Cheers. The story of this sitcom was centered around a bar named Cheers where a group of interesting characters gathered to drink and socialize. Overall score 23.
10. Mad Men
Regarded as one of the best television dramas of all time, Mad Men followed a life of Don Draper and his involvement in advertising company located in New York in 1960’s. During its run, Mad Men won 16 Emmys. Overall score 26.
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9. The Wire
During its original run, this crime drama had never won any major award, and had average ratings. But from the critic’s point of view, The Wire is regarded as one of the greatest TV shows ever, and on that basis it deserves to be on our 11 Best TV Shows of All Time list. Overall score 27.
8. The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Although it ended almost 40 years ago, this American sitcom about single woman named Mary Richards is still considered one of the greatest TV shows ever. It was a first time that an independent woman focused on her career was made as a lead character. Overall score 31.
7. The Simpsons
Only animated TV Show on our list, centered around family Simpson, sure deserved its place here. It is a longest running sitcom in America and was named 20th century’s best television series by Time magazine. Overall score 32.
6. All in the Family
Another good old sitcom on our list. Unlike other similar shows in 70’s, All in the Family brought controversial issues like racism and homosexuality on TV screens and became one of the most influential comedy shows of all time. Overall score 34.
5. M*A*S*H
Story about a team of doctors during Korean War was at risk to be canceled after the first season. But later it picked up and became a cult TV Show for all generations. M*A*S*H finale was most-watched television episode in U.S. television history at the time, with a record-breaking 125 million viewers. Overall score 36.
4. The Twilight Zone
This groundbreaking show was one of the first ones to bring science fiction, paranormal activities and horror on TV. The Twilight Zone was known for its stunning plot twist and unexpected endings, and received both critical and viewer’s acclaim. Overall score 38.
3. Breaking Bad
Highest rated show of all time on IMDB and one of the greatest shows of all time according to both critics and viewers. High school chemistry teacher Walter White is diagnosed with cancer and to secure his family after his death, he turns out to cooking meth. It was most talk about series in last years, and soon received a cult status. Overall score 39.
2. Seinfeld
Definitely the greatest sitcom of all times (sorry Friends). Story of the show is centered around fictionalized version of Jerry Seinfeld, who plays minor stand-up comedian, and his friends. Despite having a slow start, the show turned to be critical favorite and one of the most watched shows of all time. Overall score 54.
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1. Sopranos
Here we are, at the finish line of our 11 Best TV Shows of All Time countdown. Sopranos were ranked as best TV show by TV Guide, and best written one according to Writers Guild of America. And this is not undeserved. During its run, Sopranos had it all. Comedy, action, drama all spiced up with excitement make it the best TV show of all time. Overall score 55.
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