Criteria:
Must be a television series, not a miniseries or television movie (although I could make a list of those sometime in the future)
Does not have to be a show that has run it's course, can be a still ongoing series
All networks are fair game, whether they're standard (Fox, NBC, CBS, FX, BBC, Comedy Central, TBS) or premium (HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, Encore, Starz).
Let's begin
20. Samurai Jack: This short-lived cult animated series from Genndy Tartokovsky (Dexter's Laboratory, Powerpuff Girls, Hotel Transylvania) and Cartoon Network only ran four seasons, but it deserved to run much longer. Despite having a set ending for it's epic storyline, it was cancelled due to slipping ratings. One of my childhood favorites, it has a vast range of interesting cultural influences, from old television shows to traditional Japanese art forms, to classic cinema. It had a lot of talent behind it, not only from an animation standpoint, but it had a strong cast, featuring beloved actor Mako Iwamatsu and Phil LaMarr (a voice actor also known for his live-action role as Marvin in Pulp Fiction). The animation, action sequences, story, and voice acting make Samurai Jack one of the most underrated animated series of all time.
19. Louie: This quirky FX comedy about a fictionalized version of real-life comedian and writer Louis C.K. is not only well-written, but extremely unique in how its' episodes truly have no plot, a stream-of-consciousness comedy series with a great stand-up comic to hold it all together. Not to mention the plethora of guest stars in great roles.
18. Doctor Who: In this popular BBC sci-fi series, several actors fill the role of the eccentric hero The Doctor, a 900-year-old, basically immortal alien known as a "Time Lord", one who can travel through time and space. The Doctor, along with an endless stream of companions, uses his ship the TARDIS (which, from the outside, looks like a typical police call box) to travel through time and save the world time and time again from dangerous and sometimes frightening foes, such as the Daleks and their leader Davros, The Silence, The Master, The Great Intelligence, The Weeping Angels, and The Cyber-Men. Despite sometimes having contrived and confusing plots, DW is an entertaining, thrilling, quirky, and sometimes scary program that continues to surprise viewers with how much it can do with its' very small budget.
17. Firefly: In Joss Whedon's western sci-fi series, Captain Mal Reynolds leads his rag-tag crew across the galaxy in their starship Serenity (a "Firefly-class" spacecraft), fighting off criminals, "Reavers" (psychotic cannibals and rapists who wear the skin of those they kill), and men with blue hands who apparently work for an evil corporation. Although it only lasted one season (14 episodes) the show has reached cult status and spawned a 2005 theatrical film entitled Serenity, which functions as a conclusion to the show and features more of the Reavers than the actual show did.
16. The Office: Both the UK and US versions of this hit series are hilarious, but I prefer the US version for only one reason: Steve Carrel. Steve Carrel is one of the few comedians out there who can really perfect the idiot character. From Brick Tamland in Anchorman to Michael Scott in this series, he really nails these types of characters. Following the dysfunctional office environment in a branch of the Dunder-Mifflin Paper Company, this series (along with the original UK version) is unique because it was one of the first sitcoms to be shot in a mockumentary style. An interesting factoid is that the series features absolutely no music except for the opening title sequence. A subtly funny and sometimes bittersweet show, there's a reason this show lasted nine seasons: it's comic genius.
15. Law & Order: SVU: In Dick Wolf's spin-off of his original series Law & Order, we follow the detectives working in NYPD's Special Victims Unit, and the many disturbing and gruesome cases they must deal with. Probably the darkest of the L&W series, it also has the best writing and cast, including Christopher Meloni, Mariska Hargitay, Richard Belzer, Ice-T, B.D. Wong, Tamara Tunie, and Dann Florek. It also has a huge assortment of guest stars filling very interesting roles, some cast against type, which is a good thing.
14. House, M.D.: In Fox's popular medical drama, Dr. Gregory House (Hughe Laurie), a hard-to-work-with drug addict, medical genius, and all-around-asshole, must lead a crack team of skilled doctors and deal with the toughest cases their New Jersey hospital receives. House is a character who is extremely unrelatable, but is awesome to watch work, and is one of the best-written leads in TV history. Despite the series (like many others) going downhill towards its' final seasons, it's still one of the most entertaining medical dramas on television.
13. Mad Men: In Matthew Weiner's dark and expertly crafted drama series, we get to explore the troubled lives and psyches of 1960's ad men and their employees. We also get to focus on the especially troubled Don Draper, a creative director at his ad firm with a mysterious past, and witness his life and the lives of those around him slowly begin to crumble. A cleverly written, perfectly cast, and historically accurate period piece, I definitely would recommend giving this drama a chance. You won't be disappointed.
12. Batman, The Animated Series: In Warner Bros.' award-winning animated series, Batman and his allies defend Gotham City from common criminals, super-villains, and mobsters alike. Despite being primarily for children, this series could tackle issues such as organized crime, drugs, and murder as well as any of the adult dramas of the time, and had a fantastic visual style, mixing gothic with art deco. The episodes were sometimes dark and grim, or colorful and cartoonish, but they were always able to entertain (although I prefer the darker episodes, as they showcase how far this show could go for an animated series). The cast, featuring talented voice actors such as Mark Hamill, Kevin Conroy, Arleen Sorkin, and John Glover, all do fantastic jobs capturing the character's emotions, and Conroy and Hamill have become the iconic voices of Batman and The Joker, respectively.
11. Wilfred and The Simpsons (tie): Although these series couldn't be more different, I couldn't decide which one to put in this spot, so I put both. The first series, from FX, follows Elijah Wood as Ryan, an awkward and troubled young man contemplating suicide. After a sweet girl moves in next door, he begins seeing her dog Wilfred as a man in a dog suit (Jason Gann). Mixing dark comedy with philosophy and psychology, Wilfred is a unique and strange comedy-drama that is definitely worth a watch. On the other hand, The Simpsons is cartoonist Matt Groening's creation, and is one of the most influential and long-running television shows of all time. A classic series which follows the misadventures of the dysfunctional Simpson family of Springfield, everything, from the opening title sequence and theme music, to the couch gags and the huge cast of characters, almost everything in this series is a staple of pop culture and can be recognized by everyone and their mother. Despite the show's recent decline in quality (what do you expect after over 20 years?), this program is funny, timeless, and sometimes heartwarming.
To be continued....
(Images: Wikipedia)
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