TV Shows (Your Top 10)

Member Name: Wezzo

Product:	Your Top 10
Date:	23/07/07 (72 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: I like all of these shows!

Disadvantages: ..You might not

..I couldn't keep it to 10, so have a top 20 instead!

1. "The Simpsons" (USA, 18 s.)

Animated sitcom

Despite several recent lacklustre years, The Simpsons at its peak is unbeatable television. It redefined every aspect of television comedy; the characters are among the best of all-time; and for an animated show it can certainly tug at the heartstrings when it wants to. Outstanding.
Best episode: Homer's Barbershop Quartet

2. "Frasier" (USA, 11 s.)

Live-action sitcom

The sharpest, tightest scripts on television; the best ensemble cast the world will ever see portraying some of television's funniest, move loveable characters. Unequivocally hilarious. The only show that consistently rivals The Simpsons at its best.
Best episode: Ham Radio

3. "Malcolm In The Middle" (USA, 7 s.)

Live-action sitcom

Despite a couple of weak seasons towards the end, the show has consistently remained at the peak of family-themed sitcom; the characters are fantastic and the plots first-rate. The pioneer of mainstream non-laugh track sitcom, too.
Best episode: Rollerskates

4. King Of The Hill (USA, 11 s.)

Animated sitcom

Clever, subtle, wry and hilarious - consistently underrated and consistently fantastic. Some of the best plot lines in television stem from King of the Hill. A gem hidden away among Fox's Sunday Night line-up.
Best episode: Keeping Up With Our Joneses

5. ER (USA, 13 s.)

Medical drama

Exceedingly well-fleshed-out characters, the most powerful emotion the small screen has seen, and story arcs to die for. The definitive hospital drama.
Best episode: On the Beach

6. Only Fools and Horses (UK, technically 7 s.)

Live-action sitcom

The best British show of all-time, lasting over 20 years and still delivering sharp, witty and emotional scripts until the very end. Combined traditional British humour with ambitious storylines and dramatic subplots flawlessly.
Best episode: Danger UXD

7. Futurama (USA, 4 s.)

Animated sitcom

Consistently brilliant throughout its (thus-far) four short years, Futurama is the second stroke of genius to emerge from the mind of Matt Groening. Gorgeously animated, sharply written, emotional, intelligent and wry.
Best episode: The Luck of the Fryrish

8. Scrubs (USA, 6 s.)

Medical comedy-drama

Combines raw emotion with brilliantly sharp scripts and hilarious visual gags and succeeds every time. "My Screw-Up" and "My Old Lady" are two of TV's all-time greatest achievements. Superb soundtrack, too.
Best episode: My Old Lady / My Screw-Up

9. 24 (USA, 6 s.)

Action drama

Innovative, addictive, sharp and thrilling; superb storylines and acting allow 24 its rightful place among the all-time television greats.
Best episode: Day 2 - 10:00pm to 11:00pm

10. Arrested Development (USA, 3 s.)

Live-action sitcom

Its praises have been sung by many before me, yet the viewers still failed to tune in. A great shame indeed, as this was probably the most intelligent comedy on the airwaves for its' three short years.
Best episode: Development Arrested

11. The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air (USA, 6 s.)

Live-action sitcom

It may not be acclaimed, but it's damned hilarious. Smith and a brilliant supporting cast carry this sharply-written show through six fantastic seasons. An often underrated gem.
Best episode: Poppa's Got A Brand-New Excuse

12. Seinfeld (USA, 9 s.)

Live-action sitcom

Often accredited as the greatest sitcom of all-time. Not quite so for me, but it's still outstanding; the style of humour is unique, the stories always believable and entertaining and the cast of characters excellent. A gem of a show.
Best episode: The Outing

13. Father Ted (UK/IRL, 3 s.)

Live-action sitcom

Some claim this is the best sitcom since Fawlty Towers - for me, this F.T. surpasses that F.T. by miles. Hilarious through and through, this is Channel 4's greatest achievement. Shame it only lasted 26 episodes.
Best episode: A Song for Europe

14. Friends (USA, 10 s.)

Live-action sitcom

At times dismissed for not being as intelligent as Frasier or Seinfeld, this is still a very enjoyable show, its greatest asset being the addictive soap opera-like story arcs. The cast work very together, and for straightforward, mainstream sitcom-with-a-laugh-track, Friends has set an impossibly high standard.
Best episode: The One With The Prom Video

15. Everybody Loves Raymond (USA, 9 s.)

Live-action sitcom

If Friends wins the mainstream sitcom stakes, Raymond is a close runner-up. Sporting an immensely talented cast and some of the finest, most realistic familial conflict in sitcom, it is fully deserving of the numerous accolades bestowed upon it.
Best episode: The Breakup Tape

16. Curb Your Enthusiasm (USA, 5 s.)

Unscripted live-action sitcom

Proving Larry David wasn't a one hit wonder, along comes CYE, the genius semi-scripted HBO sitcom that leads David into the most hilarious situations ever seen in sitcom.
Best episode: The Surrogate

17. House, M.D. (USA, 3 s.)

Medical/mystery drama
The finest dialogue on television. Excellent plotlines, razor-sharp wit and brilliant characters, portrayed superbly. Less a medical drama, more a mystery series.
Best episode: No Reason

18. Gilmore Girls (USA, 7 s.)

Comedy-drama

Sublimely witty scripts, faultless cast chemistry and a perfect balance between the dramatic and the comedic make this one of modern TV's finest achievements. Not just for girls!
Best episode: A House Is Not A Home

19. Cheers (USA, 11 s.)

Live-action sitcom

Not quite as good as its spinoff Frasier, but very sharp, and certainly ahead of its time. Standout performances from all concerned - and remarkably, it was as good at the end as it was at the start.
Best episode: Pick A Con, Any Con..

20. Family Guy (USA, 6 s.)

Animated sitcom

An animated show that makes no pretenses about emotion, characterisation and drama, and instead goes straight for the laughs - which it delivers in huge quantities. What it lacks in intelligence it makes up for in all-out stupidity.
Best episode: Wasted Talent

Summary: A bit sitcom-heavy, but hey, I likes my comedy