WGA's Top 101 television shows all time

[stj]

Overall the participants appear to treat TV like opera: They only remember the hummable arias and ignore plots, characterization, staging, sets and whether or not anyone should really give a shit about the show.

The fact that they apparently could have just farmed it out to Alan Sepinwall doesn't suggest intense thought on the respondents[ part.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

IMO a show where every scene has compelling writing is better than a show that just as a good over-arching plot.

That's why I forgive Lost for failing to connect in the 6th season, and why I'm not that impressed that Babylon 5 did have a more satisfying ending. Take any individual scene in Lost out of context, it's far more entertaining than an individual scene in B5 out of context.

I think it'd be cool to see a separate list where only TV shows not produced in English were eligible. Then things like The Kingdom would show up, which were fantastic shows but didn't get worldwide attention because they happened to be in a language fewer people speak.

 

[sidious618]

The Sopranos is rightfully number one. Good call. Some silly things, though. Why is Homeland on the list? It's still on and only has had two seasons, one of which received very mixed critical reaction. Seems like a premature call.

 

[Shaka Zulu]

Doctor Who is conspicuously missing from that list.

I mean, it's only the longest running sci-fi show in history, no big deal.

Not an American show, therefore not included.

 

[Miss Chicken]

Doctor Who is conspicuously missing from that list.

I mean, it's only the longest running sci-fi show in history, no big deal.

Not an American show, therefore not included.

There are other British shows on the list i.e. Monty Python, Upstairs Downstairs, Fawlty Towers, Absolutely Fabulous so I see no reason for Doctor Who to be omitted.

 

[MacLeod]

It's rather biased towards American shows, or American financed shows. So biased in fact as others have mentioned it should be titled WGA's 101 American TV shows of all time.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

I don't have a problem with including shows that are still running but I think Homeland is seriously overrated. It's basically the same sort of show as CSI except serial.

But things like Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad absolutely belong on the list even though they are still running.