1500 Shows Worth Recommending
I recommend a bunch of shows that lasted multiple seasons, still have tons of relevance and which mostly leave a positive impression/don’t lost most of their positive traits overtime.
Obviously tons of shows will be missing either because I feel they haven’t dated well, their last few seasons undid all the positives or because they got cancelled prematurely. But if they have two or more mostly solid seasons they can be contenders.
I also decided to have this be an alternative for the IMDb 250 Top Ranked TV Shows list currently in place.
Obviously tons of shows will be missing either because I feel they haven’t dated well, their last few seasons undid all the positives or because they got cancelled prematurely. But if they have two or more mostly solid seasons they can be contenders.
I also decided to have this be an alternative for the IMDb 250 Top Ranked TV Shows list currently in place.
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- CreatorAlan BallStarsPeter KrauseMichael C. HallFrances ConroyA chronicle of the lives of a dysfunctional family who run an independent funeral home in Los Angeles.
- CreatorShawn RyanStarsMichael ChiklisCatherine DentWalton GogginsDrama series following the lives and cases of dirty cop Vic Mackey and the corrupt LAPD unit under his command.
- CreatorNeil CrossStarsIdris ElbaDermot CrowleyMichael SmileyJohn Luther is a brilliant homicide detective with a knack for getting inside the minds of murderers. Unfortunately, his unconventional methods and personal demons put him at odds with his team.
- CreatorPaul T. ScheuringStarsDominic PurcellWentworth MillerAmaury NolascoA 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.
- CreatorDavid MametStarsDennis HaysbertRegina TaylorAudrey Marie AndersonA secret US military group conducts covert operations across the world, facing several life-threatening situations during their missions.
- CreatorDavid SchicklerJonathan TropperStarsAntony StarrIvana MilicevicUlrich ThomsenAn ex-con assumes the identity of a murdered sheriff in the small town of Banshee, Pennsylvania, where he has some unfinished business.
- CreatorGene RoddenberryStarsPatrick StewartBrent SpinerJonathan FrakesSet almost 100 years after Captain Kirk's 5-year mission, a new generation of Starfleet officers sets off in the U.S.S. Enterprise-D on its own mission to go where no one has gone before.The first few seasons didn’t age well but while I like the original and Enterprise, this had the most likeable cast of characters despite the Original Series having better movie installments.
- CreatorChris CarterStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonMitch PileggiTwo F.B.I. Agents, Fox Mulder the believer and Dana Scully the skeptic, investigate the strange and unexplained, while hidden forces work to impede their efforts.I care not what they say: all seasons of this are well worth viewing and embracing the chilling thrills, dry humor and puzzles.
- CreatorPaul AttanasioStarsRichard BelzerClark JohnsonYaphet KottoAn American police procedural television series chronicling the work of a fictional version of the Baltimore Police Department's Homicide Unit.
- CreatorJ. Michael StraczynskiStarsMira FurlanRichard BiggsStephen FurstIn 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.
- CreatorDonald P. BellisarioDon McGillStarsDavid McCallumSean MurrayMark HarmonFollows 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.JAG was close but it didn’t have neat humor, cliffhangers and other office shenanigans like this did.
- CreatorBruno HellerWilliam J. MacDonaldJohn MiliusStarsKevin McKiddRay StevensonPolly WalkerA down-to-earth account of the lives of both illustrious and ordinary Romans set in the last days of the Roman Republic.
- CreatorDavid MilchStarsTimothy OlyphantIan McShaneMolly ParkerA show set in the late 1800s, revolving around the characters of Deadwood, South Dakota; a town of deep corruption and crime.
- CreatorTom FontanaStarsErnie HudsonJ.K. SimmonsLee TergesenA series chronicling the daily activities of an unusual prison facility and its criminal inhabitants.
- StarsPhilip WinchesterSullivan StapletonMichelle LukesFollows the actions of Section 20, a secretive unit of British military intelligence. A team of special operations personnel conduct several high risk missions across the globe.
- CreatorJeff DavisStarsKirsten VangsnessMatthew Gray GublerA.J. CookA group of criminal profilers who work for the FBI as members of its Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) using behavioral analysis and profiling to help investigate crimes and find the suspect known as the unsub.
- CreatorDavid WolstencroftStarsPeter FirthHugh SimonNicola WalkerThe missions of MI-5, the UK's domestic intelligence organization.
- CreatorChris CarterStarsLance HenriksenMegan GallagherTerry O'QuinnA former FBI profiler with the ability to look inside the mind of a killer begins working for the mysterious Millennium Group which investigates serial killers, conspiracies, the occult, and those obsessed with the end of the millennium.
- CreatorGreg DanielsRicky GervaisStephen MerchantStarsSteve CarellJenna FischerJohn KrasinskiA mockumentary on a group of typical office workers, where the workday consists of ego clashes, inappropriate behavior, and tedium.Always Sunny and Arrested Development have their moments but this is the timeless gem.
- CreatorLarry DavidJerry SeinfeldStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsThe continuing misadventures of neurotic New York City stand-up comedian Jerry Seinfeld and his equally neurotic New York City friends.
- CreatorDick WolfRick EidStarsJerry OrbachJesse L. MartinDennis FarinaNew 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.As great as the other shows are, I feel like this strikes the overall perfect balance with the realistic crimes, morally challenging issues, legal takedowns, police action, docudrama style filmmaking and snappy characterization.
- CreatorSteven BochcoDavid MilchStarsDennis FranzJimmy SmitsGordon ClappDetectives from NYPD's 15th Precinct investigate homicides within their precinct.
- CreatorJim DunnSam ErnstStarsEmily RoseLucas BryantEric BalfourMany in the coastal town of Haven, Maine have a dormant curse or "trouble" that could trigger at any time for any reason. FBI agent Audrey Parker, the sheriff and the town's black sheep must deal with the troubles' deadly effects.
- CreatorChris BrancatoStarsSebastian SpenceRob LaBelleRoger CrossFramed for murder and on the run, a former thief struggles to expose the vanguard of an alien invasion with the help of a conspiracy theorist and newly discovered prophecies of Nostradamus.
- CreatorRené EchevarriaScott PetersStarsJacqueline McKenzieJoel GretschPatrick John FluegerAs the reappearance of 4,400 missing persons on a single day confounds the global community, federal agents on the case slowly discover the ways in which the victims have been changed.
- CreatorJonathan GlassnerBrad WrightStarsRichard Dean AndersonMichael ShanksAmanda TappingA secret military team, SG-1, is formed to explore other planets through the recently discovered Stargates.Farscape has nothing on this timeless gem. Its whacky comedy, family friendly style, grim villains, gov’t cover-ups, well-done visual effects, looming mystery, likable all-star cast, organized battles and serialized plotting all still hold up well.
- CreatorGlen A. LarsonRonald D. MooreStarsEdward James OlmosMary McDonnellJamie BamberWhen an old enemy, the Cylons, resurface and obliterate the 12 colonies, the crew of the aged Galactica protect a small civilian fleet - the last of humanity - as they journey toward the fabled 13th colony, Earth.
- CreatorSteven BochcoMichael KozollStarsDaniel J. TravantiMichael WarrenBruce WeitzThe lives and work of the staff of an inner city police precinct.
- CreatorHart HansonStarsEmily DeschanelDavid BoreanazMichaela ConlinF.B.I. Special Agent Seeley Booth teams up with the Jeffersonian's top anthropologist, Dr. Temperance Brennan, to investigate cases where all that's left of the victims are their bones.
- CreatorDan HarmonStarsJoel McHaleDanny PudiDonald GloverA suspended lawyer is forced to enroll in a community college with an eccentric staff and student body.
- CreatorTony JordanStarsRobert GlenisterRobert VaughnRob JarvisA motley group of London con artists pulls off a series of daring and intricate stings.
- CreatorCraig SilversteinStarsMaggie QShane WestLyndsy FonsecaA rogue assassin returns to take down the secret organization that trained her.
- CreatorMichael HirstStarsKatheryn WinnickGustaf SkarsgårdAlexander LudwigVikings transports us to the brutal and mysterious world of Ragnar Lothbrok, a Viking warrior and farmer who yearns to explore--and raid--the distant shores across the ocean.
- CreatorHunt BaldwinJohn CovenyStarsRobert TaylorKatee SackhoffLou Diamond PhillipsWalt Longmire is the dedicated and unflappable sheriff of Absaroka County, Wyoming. Widowed only a year, he is a man in psychic repair but buries his pain behind his brave face, unassuming grin and dry wit.
- CreatorAaron SorkinStarsMartin SheenRob LoweAllison JanneyInside the lives of staffers in the West Wing of the White House.
- CreatorConan O'BrienStarsConan O'BrienAndy RichterJimmy Vivino and the Basic Cable BandConan O'Brien and his co-host Andy Richter discuss current news topics and interview celebrities and personalities.This show is so jawdropping in its outrageous skits.
- CreatorJames DuffStarsKyra SedgwickJ.K. SimmonsCorey ReynoldsDeputy Police Chief Brenda Johnson runs the Priority Homicide Division of the LAPD with an unorthodox style. Her innate ability to read people and obtain confessions helps her and her team solve the city's toughest, most sensitive cases.This and Major Crimes are all splendid but while the continuation is superior, the first show has slightly more charm.
Either way I count the whole saga as one whole continuation much like 24. - CreatorEthan ReiffCyrus VorisStarsMichael EalyOded FehrHenri LubattiAn American undercover FBI agent is assigned to infiltrate a terrorist sleeper cell that is planning an attack in Los Angeles.
- CreatorBen BestJody HillDanny McBrideStarsDanny McBrideSteve LittleKaty Mixon GreerMany years after he turned his back on his hometown, a burned-out major league ballplayer returns to teach Physical Education at his old middle school.
- CreatorJosh FriedmanStarsLena HeadeyThomas DekkerSummer GlauSet 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.
- CreatorFax BahrAdam SmallStarsMichael McDonaldDebra WilsonAries SpearsA sketch comedy show based on the seminal Mad Magazine.
- CreatorNeal BrennanDave ChappelleStarsDave ChappelleDonnell RawlingsRudy RushComedian Dave Chappelle hosts this sketch-comedy show that parodies many of the nuances of race and culture.
- CreatorKeenen Ivory WayansStarsKeenen Ivory WayansJim CarreyKelly Coffield ParkThe Wayans siblings present an African-American focused sketch comedy show.
- CreatorJonathan NolanStarsJim CaviezelTaraji P. HensonKevin ChapmanAn ex-CIA agent and a wealthy programmer save lives via a surveillance AI that sends them the identities of civilians involved in impending crimes. However, the details of the crimes, including the civilians' roles, are left a mystery.This show rules due to its wit, dialogue, plot twists and villains.
- CreatorSamuel BaumStarsTim RothKelli WilliamsBrendan HinesAbout Cal Lightman, the world's leading deception expert who studies facial expressions and involuntary body language to expose the truth behind the lies.
- CreatorMark LevesonDan PattersonStarsDrew CareyColin MochrieRyan StilesImprovisational comedy competition show in which four members of the regular cast as comedians and often with guest appearances with other comedians and celebrities and members of the audience perform various comic games and sketches.The 2013 listed title is a continuation of the American one here.
- CreatorSteve FranksStarsJames Roday RodriguezDulé HillTimothy OmundsonWhen a novice sleuth convinces the police he has psychic powers, he and his reluctant best friend are hired on as consultants to help solve complicated cases.Monk is good but this is far more diverse in its humor and instantly rewatchable.
This edges out both Monk and Chuck. - CreatorAlex GansaHoward GordonStarsClaire DanesMandy PatinkinDamian LewisA bipolar CIA operative becomes convinced a prisoner of war has been turned by al-Qaeda and is planning to carry out a terrorist attack on American soil.
- CreatorJoe GaytonTony GaytonStarsAnson MountColm MeaneyRobin McLeavyThe Civil War is past, but former Confederate soldier Cullen Bohannon can't put it behind him. Fresh are the memories of the death of his wife, killed at the hands of Union soldiers, an act that sets him on a course of revenge.
- CreatorAaron KorshStarsGabriel MachtPatrick J. AdamsMeghan MarkleOn the run from a drug deal gone bad, brilliant college dropout Mike Ross finds himself working with Harvey Specter, one of New York City's best lawyers.
- CreatorMichael PillerShawn PillerStarsAnthony Michael HallNicole de BoerChris BrunoJohnny had the perfect life until he was in coma for six years. When he awoke, he found his fiancee married to another man. His son doesn't know him. Everything's changed, including Johnny. With one touch, he can see things.
- CreatorDenis LearyPeter TolanStarsDenis LearyMichael LombardiSteven PasqualeTommy Gavin deals with the fears of his job as a firefighter and seeing his ex-wife dating other men.
- CreatorDavid AngellPeter CaseyDavid LeeStarsKelsey GrammerJane LeevesDavid Hyde PierceDr. Frasier Crane moves back to his hometown of Seattle, where he lives with his father and works as a radio psychiatrist.
- CreatorBryan FullerStarsEllen MuthCallum BlueJasmine GuyAfter being hit on the head by a toilet seat that fell from Mir space station, a young temp clerk becomes a grim reaper in death.
- CreatorGlenn KesslerTodd A. KesslerDaniel ZelmanStarsGlenn CloseRose ByrneTate DonovanA law school graduate becomes the protégée of a successful high-stakes litigator.
- CreatorDavid E. KelleyStarsJames SpaderWilliam ShatnerCandice BergenBoston Legal is a spin-off of the long-running David E. Kelley series The Practice (1997), following the exploits of former Practice character Alan Shore (James Spader) at the legal firm of Crane, Poole, and Schmidt.
- CreatorMark FrostDavid LynchStarsKyle MacLachlanMichael OntkeanMädchen AmickAn idiosyncratic FBI agent investigates the murder of a young woman in the even more idiosyncratic town of Twin Peaks.
- CreatorSteven BochcoTerry Louise FisherStarsCorbin BernsenJill EikenberryAlan RachinsThe lives and work of the staff of a major Los Angeles law firm.
- CreatorVince GilliganPeter GouldStarsBob OdenkirkRhea SeehornJonathan BanksThe trials and tribulations of criminal lawyer Jimmy McGill in the years leading up to his fateful run-in with Walter White and Jesse Pinkman.
- CreatorStephen ChboskyJosh SchaerJonathan E. SteinbergStarsSkeet UlrichLennie JamesAshley ScottA 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.
- CreatorSteven KaneHank SteinbergStarsEric DaneAdam BaldwinCharles ParnellThe crew of a naval destroyer is forced to confront the reality of a new existence when a pandemic kills off most of the earth's population.
- CreatorBarbara HallStarsTéa LeoniTim DalyErich BergenA political drama which looks into the life of the Secretary of State as she tries to balance work with family.
- CreatorJoseph WeisbergStarsKeri RussellMatthew RhysKeidrich SellatiAt the height of the Cold War, two Russian agents pose as the average American couple, complete with family.
- CreatorBrian KoppelmanDavid LevienAndrew Ross SorkinStarsPaul GiamattiDamian LewisMaggie SiffNew money means no mercy as Mike Prince takes the Axe Capital throne. Chuck Rhoades is convinced no one should have that much wealth - or power. As all the players seek out new alliances, only one thing's for certain - wealth means war.
- CreatorCarlton CuseGraham RolandStarsJohn KrasinskiWendell PierceMichael KellyUp-and-coming CIA analyst, Jack Ryan, is thrust into dangerous field assignments.
- CreatorEric Ellis OvermyerStarsTitus WelliverJamie HectorAmy AquinoAn L.A.P.D. homicide detective works to solve the murder of a 13-year-old boy while standing trial in federal court for the murder of a serial killer.
- CreatorD.J. NashStarsDavid GiuntoliRomany MalcoAllison MillerA group of friends becomes motivated to live fuller lives after the unexpected death of a close friend.
- CreatorRene BalcerStarsRoxy SternbergKeisha Castle-HughesAlexa DavalosIt follows the division of the FBI tasked with tracking and capturing the notorious criminals on the FBI's Most Wanted list.
- CreatorDaniel AbrahamMark FergusTy FranckStarsSteven StraitDominique TipperWes ChathamThe disappearance of rich-girl-turned-political-activist links the lives of Ceres detective, accidental ship captain and U.N. politician. Amidst political tension between Earth, Mars and the Belt, they unravel the greatest conspiracy.
- StarsAdrian PaulStan KirschJim ByrnesDuncan MacLeod is Immortal, and must live in modern society, concealing his true nature while fighting other Immortals.
- CreatorJoseph MallozziPaul MullieStarsMelissa O'NeilAnthony LemkeAlex Mallari Jr.In the dystopian 27th century, six people wake up on a deserted spaceship with no memory of who they are or what they're doing there. They reluctantly team up and set off to find answers with the help of a female android.
- CreatorKim CoghillAndrew De AngelisJeff DetskyStarsTatiana MaslanyDylan BruceJordan GavarisA streetwise hustler is pulled into a compelling conspiracy after witnessing the suicide of a girl who looks just like her.
- CreatorMichelle LovrettaStarsAnna SilkKris Holden-RiedZoie PalmerWhen a succubus finds it difficult to adapt with her unusual traits inspite of being born in a human family, she sets off on a journey to find out the truth of her origin.
- CreatorJ. Michael StraczynskiLana WachowskiLilly WachowskiStarsBae DoonaJamie ClaytonTina DesaiA group of people around the world are suddenly linked mentally, and must find a way to survive being hunted by those who see them as a threat to the world's order.
- CreatorJim ByrnesAlbert S. RuddyStarsJames ArnessBruce BoxleitnerKathryn HolcombThe Macahans, a family from Virginia, headed by Zeb Macahan, travel across the country to pioneer a new land and a new home in the American West.
- CreatorRod SerlingStarsRod SerlingRobert McCordJay OverholtsOrdinary people find themselves in extraordinarily astounding situations, which they each try to solve in a remarkable manner.
- StarsVic MorrowRick JasonPierre JalbertCombat!, a one-hour World War II drama series, followed a front line American infantry squad as they battled their way across Europe
- CreatorDanny ArnoldTheodore J. FlickerStarsHal LindenAbe VigodaMax GailThe Captain of the NYPD 12th Precinct and his staff handle the various local troubles and characters that come into the squad room.
- StarsHelen MirrenJohn BenfieldTom BellA female police detective investigates a series of serial murders while dealing with sexist hostility from her male comrades.
- CreatorCourtney A. KempStarsOmari HardwickLela LorenNaturi NaughtonJames "Ghost" St. Patrick, a wealthy New York nightclub owner who has it all; dreaming big, catering to the city's elite, and living a double life as a drug kingpin.
- CreatorAnn BidermanStarsLiev SchreiberEddie MarsanDash MihokRay Donovan, a professional "fixer" for the rich and famous in Los Angeles, can make anyone's problems disappear except those created by his own family.
- CreatorTom KapinosStarsTom EllisLauren GermanKevin AlejandroLucifer Morningstar has decided he's had enough of being the dutiful servant in Hell and decides to spend some time on Earth to better understand humanity. He settles in Los Angeles - the City of Angels.
- CreatorMike ClattenburgStarsJohn Paul TremblayRobb WellsMike SmithThree petty felons have a documentary made about their life in a trailer park.
- CreatorJohn LinsonTaylor SheridanStarsKevin CostnerLuke GrimesKelly ReillyA ranching family in Montana faces off against others encroaching on their land.
- CreatorDavid KohanMax MutchnickStarsEric McCormackDebra MessingMegan MullallyGay lawyer Will and straight interior designer Grace share a New York City apartment. Their best friends are gleeful and proud gay Jack and charismatic, filthy-rich, amoral socialite Karen.
- CreatorMisha GreenJoe PokaskiStarsJurnee SmollettAldis HodgeJessica De GouwWith the country on the brink of Civil War, the struggle for freedom is more dangerous than ever. Underground follows the story of American heroes and their moving journey to freedom.
- CreatorLaeta KalogridisStarsChris ConnerRenée Elise GoldsberryDichen LachmanSet in a future where consciousness is digitized and stored, a prisoner returns to life in a new body and must solve a mind-bending murder to win his freedom.
- CreatorDavid E. KelleyStarsMandy PatinkinAdam ArkinHector ElizondoThe lives and trials of the staff of a major hospital in Chicago.IMO, it far surpasses ER or any of the 911 shows. Such pitch perfect characterization.
- CreatorMarshall HerskovitzEdward ZwickStarsTimothy BusfieldPolly DraperMel HarrisSeven tricenarians living in Philadelphia struggle with everyday adult angst.
- StarsRyan EggoldJanet MontgomeryJocko SimsA new medical director breaks the rules to heal the system at America's oldest public hospital.
- CreatorEric KripkeStarsBilly BurkeTracy SpiridakosGiancarlo EspositoFifteen years after a permanent global blackout, a group of revolutionaries seek to drive out a tyrannical militia that's taken over the former United States of America.
- CreatorJ. Michael StraczynskiStarsLuke PerryMalcolm-Jamal WarnerPeter StebbingsIn a post-apocalyptic future, a deadly virus has wiped out most of humanity. The only ones who survived, were those who hadn't yet reached puberty.
- CreatorLeslie StevensStarsKevin ConwayAlex DiakunEric SchneiderA modern revival of the classic science fiction horror anthology show The Outer Limits (1963). Episodes often have twist-endings and involve aliens. Sometimes, a story from one episode continues in a later episode.
- CreatorStephen CarpenterDavid GreenwaltJim KoufStarsDavid GiuntoliRussell HornsbySilas Weir MitchellA homicide detective discovers he is a descendant of hunters who fight supernatural forces.
- CreatorRoy HugginsStarsDavid JanssenWilliam ConradBarry MorseA doctor, wrongly convicted for a murder he didn't commit, escapes custody and must stay ahead of the police to find the real killer.
- CreatorBill DubuqueMark WilliamsStarsJason BatemanLaura LinneySofia HublitzA financial advisor drags his family from Chicago to the Missouri Ozarks, where he must launder money to appease a drug boss.
- CreatorDavid GuggenheimStarsKiefer SutherlandAdan CantoItalia RicciA low-level Cabinet member becomes President of the United States after a catastrophic attack kills everyone above him in the line of succession.
- CreatorEd SpielmanHerman MillerStarsDavid CarradineRadames PeraKeye LukeThe adventures of Shaolin Monk Kwai Chang Caine as he wanders the American West armed only with his skill in Kung Fu.
- CreatorBruce GellerStarsPeter GravesBarbara BainGreg MorrisAn elite covert operations unit carries out highly sensitive missions subject to official denial in the event of failure, death or capture.
- CreatorLee David ZlotoffStarsRichard Dean AndersonDana ElcarBruce McGillThe adventures of a secret Agent armed with almost infinite scientific resourcefulness.