Last Updated on 25 March 2024

I searched the Internet for lists of the best TV shows of all time. Criteria included the shows being ranked, not just listed, and generally created by groups, whether teams or committees or based on general public voting (like Ranker.com).

I was able to find 27 lists. I took the 27 lists and added all their content into a spreadsheet, noting the rank of every TV show. I ended up averaging the rankings each show got (there were 285 that were on at least 2 lists) and dividing that average by a factor of the number of lists that show was on. The lowest score meant a high ranking average on many lists. The complete spreadsheet is attached at the bottom.

The TV shows that were on the most lists (out of 27) were:

  • Breaking Bad (2008-2013) – 25 lists
  • The Sopranos (1999-2007) – 25 lists
  • The Wire (2002-2008) – 23 lists
  • Game of Thrones (2011-2019) – 23 lists
  • The Simpsons (1989-present) – 21 lists
  • Seinfeld (1989-1998) – 20 lists
  • The Twilight Zone (1959-1964) – 19 lists
  • Friends (1994-2004) – 19 lists
  • Mad Men (2007-2015) – 19 lists
  • Lost (2004-2010) – 18 lists
  • The Office (U.S.) (2005-2013) – 18 lists

Here are links to the lists I used along with dates the lists were created:

Best-TV-Shows-of-All-TimeDownload

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