Along with rival NBC, CBS (originally, Columbia Broadcasting System) found success in radio before adding on the new medium of television in the 1940s. With the creation of ABC a few years later, the “Big Three” networks dominated the small screen for half a century before receiving competition from Fox network, cable stations and, later, streaming services. In the earliest days of TV, CBS and NBC vied for top spots in the ratings; by the mid-1950s, CBS commanded the lead with pioneering and groundbreaking programs across multiple genres — a trend that would continue for decades.
Like NBC, CBS transitioned radio programs over to television. One successful radio series they wanted to convert was “My Favorite Husband,” but the star refused to commit unless her real-life husband was allowed to be her lead. However, her husband was from Cuba, and CBS executives didn’t think Americans would believe an American woman would marry a hispanic. Nonetheless, they agreed, and thinking the show wouldn’t do well, allowed Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz to have financial control over “I Love Lucy,” leading to the couple’s successful production company Desilu, which was behind several series on all three networks. Their control over “I Love Lucy” led to innovative techniques such as multiple-camera filming, the use of studio audiences and the airing of “rerun” episodes.
“I Love Lucy” quickly rose on the ratings charts, and CBS began producing a string of hits; during the 1956-1957 season, CBS claimed nine out of the top ten spots, with several different genres. “The Jack Benny Show” and “The Ed Sullivan Show” helped set the standards by which variety shows are made; Sullivan was also the biggest star-maker in the industry for over 20 years. “Gunsmoke” would become one of the longest-running series on television, and helped to popularize the western genre; from 1957-1967, a western held the top spot for eight years, four of them by “Gunsmoke.” Anthology series were hugely popular in the early days of television, with a famous film director finding additional success on the small screen with “Alfred Hitchcock Presents.” Also in the top ten was one of the first successful quiz shows, “The $64,000 Question,” which would eventually go down in infamy for cheating scandals, nearly destroying the genre.
In the 1960s, the network commanded the top ten, often claiming six to eight spots, most notably with family-friendly comedies. “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” “The Andy Griffith Show,” “The Beverly Hillbillies,” “Family Affair,” “The Lucy Show,” “Green Acres,” “Hogan’s Heroes” and “Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.” are just a few of the sitcoms throughout the decade that attracted viewers. However, going into the next decade, the network would make some drastic changes that led to the “rural purge.”
In 1971, CBS cancelled many of their several successful TV series they felt attracted older audiences, and replaced them with new programs they hoped would appeal to a younger demographic. Edgier comedies like “All in the Family,” “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” and “M*A*S*H” dealt with controversial and timely topics with humor, revolutionizing the genre. They also developed the concept of spinoff series, finding more winners with shows like “Maude” and “The Jeffersons” from “All in the Family” and “Rhoda” and “Phyllis” from “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.”
In 1975, CBS claimed thirteen out of the top 20 spots; in addition to their sitcoms, audiences tuned into dramas like “The Waltons,” “Kojak,” “Hawaii Five-O” and “Mannix.” In 1978, “Dallas” premiered, popularizing nighttime soap operas and perfecting the “cliffhanger” which has become a staple for dramas and comedies alike. The news magazine “60 Minutes,” which debuted in 1968, also rose in popularity, and has been a top 20 program for most of the past 45 years. At 54 years, it’s the longest continuously-running American primetime series, and has inspired many news-magazine programs that have followed.
By the 1990s, CBS began to lose their grip on the ratings charts; however, they did find hits with “Murder, She Wrote,” “Murphy Brown” and “Northern Exposure,” as well as the addition of its first late-night talk show, “The Late Show.” Then, at the turn of the millennium, CBS once again produced shows that gained a public following that had other networks scrambling to replicate.
The number one show in the 2000 season was the reality series “Survivor,” which stayed in the top 20 its first 23 seasons, leading to a surge of reality series; it has a dedicated following to this day. “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” also debuted during this time, and police procedural dramas rose in popularity. In addition to spinoffs from “CSI,” the “NCIS” franchise, “Without a Trace,” “Cold Case” and “Criminal Minds” have been ratings winners for CBS, with several of these series in the top 20 throughout the past 20 years. The network that was a pioneer in sitcoms for decades also had hits with “Everybody Loves Raymond” and “The Big Bang Theory.”
CBS has a rich history of ratings success, and is home to two of only three series (“I Love Lucy” and “The Andy Griffith Show”) to achieve the number one ratings spot for their final seasons. “All in the Family” was the first of just two series (with NBC’s “The Cosby Show”) to hold the top ranking for five years straight. Of the top 20 scripted primetime American series that have remained on air for the longest, ten were aired on CBS either for their entire runs, or part of their runs, with three still in production. Over the past decade, viewers increasingly have “cut the cord,” with many going to streaming platforms for entertainment. The Big Three have seen a decline in viewership; however, series like “NCIS,” “Blue Bloods” and “Young Sheldon” still have loyal followings.
With such a strong history, it was hard to narrow down the 30 best series from CBS, but we’ve attempted to rank the best of the best. This list doesn’t include daytime, reality, news or sports programs, and is based on longevity, popularity, innovation and/or awards.
We also considered the following series, but they did not make the final rankings:
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30. NCIS franchise (2003-present)
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS Over the past 20 years, CBS has had some of its greatest success with police procedural dramas, with the “NCIS” franchise one of its most popular. A spinoff from “JAG,” “NCIS” follows agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service as they look into high profile crimes involving the Navy and Marine Corps. Although it had a slow start with ratings, by its sixth season it was number five, and has consistently ranked in the top five TV programs since 2008, leading to spinoffs “NCIS: Los Angeles” (2009-2023), “NCIS: New Orleans” (2014-2021) and “NCIS: Hawaii” (2021-present). From 2009-2010, both “NCIS” and “Los Angeles” stayed in the top ten; from 2014-2019, “NCIS,” “Los Angeles” and “New Orleans” held spots in the top 25. The original “NCIS” is the third-longest live-action scripted series on primetime American television still in production.
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29. Cagney & Lacey (1982-1988)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image Mary Beth Lacey (Tyne Daly) is an outspoken hardworking wife and mother, and Christine Cagney (Sharon Gless) is a reserved unmarried career woman; although complete opposites, the two successfully partner as NYC police detectives. A premise that has been used many times on film and TV – however, this was the first female “buddy” series, and the two women showed that viewers were ready to see women in these lead roles, just as well as men. The show had a rocky start, with Gless the third actress to portray Cagney, but she and Daly proved a winning combination; one of the two women won the Best Drama Actress Emmy every year between 1983 and 1988 (Daly three times, Gless twice), and the series won Best Drama in 1985 and 1986.
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28. Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955-1960, 1962-1964)
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS In 1955, the master of suspense created an anthology mystery series for the small screen that proved as successful and memorable as his film creations. Hitchcock presented each episode in his trademark droll manner, after being introduced with a caricature of his profile and the theme music “Funeral March of a Marionette.” Dozens of actors appeared on the series, including already established film stars like Better Davis, Joan Fontaine and Joseph Cotten, and future film stars such as Steve McQueen, Robert Redford and Bruce Dern. Hitchcock earned four Emmy nominations for the series, and like the Oscars, failed to win. One bid was for his direction of the memorable episode “Lamb to the Slaughter,” starring Barbara Bel Geddes.
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27. Magnum, P.I. (1980-1988)
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS Has anyone on TV had a better gig? Thomas Magnum (Tom Selleck) is a Vietnam Navy vet who lives a life of Hawaiian luxury thanks to a cushy job managing the security of celebrity Robin Masters’s estate. Magnum solves cases while enjoying “the good life” provided by Masters, including zooming around the island in a red Ferrari, fine wine, beautiful women and being a beach bum. With his thick mustache, colorful Aloha shirts and frivolous lifestyle, Magnum is quintessential ’80s. Selleck won the Emmy for Best Drama Actor in 1984, while his costar John Hillerman won for Supporting Actor in 1987, for his role as Jonathan Higgins, Magnum’s pompous foil.
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26. Good Times (1974-1979)
Image Credit: CBS/Photofest It’s the DY-NO-MITE! sitcom that brought the first series about an African American family to the small screen. The Evans family lives in a poor section of Chicago, and they’re just “keepin’ their heads above water,” “making waves when they can.” Dad James (John Amos) is a hardworking proud man who takes any job he can get, while mom Florida (Esther Rolle) takes care of their kids, “ladies man” J.J. (Jimmie Walker), smart and ambitious Thelma (Bern Nadette Stanis) and the “militant midget” Michael (Ralph Carter). After decades of TV families consisting of middle-class, “picture perfect” parents and well-behaved children, “Good Times” portrayed a relatable family, working hard to get by while dreaming of pulling themselves out of poverty.
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25. The Jack Benny Program (1950-1964)
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS The perpetually 39-year-old Jack Benny was an undisputed master of comic timing, which led to a successful radio series, then TV series, which, combined, lasted over 30 years. In numerous running gags, Benny played a skinflint version of himself, interacting with friends also playing themselves, such as Don Wilson and Phil Harris, and others who played various characters, such as Mel Blanc and Eddie Anderson, one of the first prominent African-Americans portrayed on television. Anderson’s character as Benny’s valet was as popular as the star himself; during the years of the TV program, Benny toned down racial humor and references to racial stereotypes, and offered guest-star spots to African American performers, including Louis Armstrong. “The Jack Benny Show” was immensely popular during its run, and Benny left a legacy as a pioneer of television comedy.
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24. Murphy Brown (1988-1998, 2018-2019)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image Murphy Brown (Candice Bergen) is a sharp-tongued, quick-witted, hard-as-nails reporter who goes through secretaries as quickly as she chews through number-two pencils. Her sarcasm and blunt demeanor are the perfect foil to her co-workers, stuffy Jim Dial (Charles Kimbrough), insecure Frank Fontana (Joe Regalbuto), perky Corky Sherwood (Faith Ford) and yuppie overachiever Miles Silverberg (Grant Shaud). The series touched on many controversial and timely issues, and created controversy when Brown becomes pregnant and decides to become a single mother when the baby’s father doesn’t want to settle down. Conservatives objected to a single-mother storyline, and an infamous “feud” developed with then-Vice-President Dan Quayle when he criticized the storyline. That season won the series its second Best Comedy Emmy, and Bergen won her third (of five) Best Comedy Actress Emmys for the episode in which she gives birth.
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23. Perry Mason (1957-1966)
Image Credit: CBS Erle Stanley Gardner’s series of detective books led to one of television’s first one-hour drama series, one of the longest-running legal dramas in the history of the medium and the popularity of arguably the most famous fictional lawyer ever. Each episode offers a seemingly hopeless case for the clever Mason (Raymond Burr), but with his trusty associates Della Street (Barbara Hale) and Paul Drake (William Hopper), the trio tracks down the pieces to prove his client’s innocence, while DA Hamilton Burger (William Talman) and the police collect seemingly insurmountable evidence against the accused. With its distinctive theme music, film-noir-like black-and-white cinematography and plots, and suspenseful courtroom scenes, “Perry Mason” has been a staple of television since its premiere over 60 years ago. Burr garnered two Best Drama Actor Emmys, and Hale earned one Best Supporting Drama Actress for their iconic roles.
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22. The Honeymooners (1955-1956)/Jackie Gleason Show (1952-1957)
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS Jackie Gleason was among the first stand-up comedians to become a star on television, and his sketch comedy series “The Jackie Gleason Show” set the standards by which many others would follow. Gleason hosted the series, that featured elaborate musical numbers from the June Taylor Dancers, as well as sketches inspired by Gleason’s years growing up in Brooklyn. The most popular sketch was “The Honeymooners,” in which Gleason plays the short-tempered, loudmouthed bus driver Ralph Kramden, who often bickers with his sharp-tongued, down-to-earth wife Alice (Audrey Meadows). Kramden dallies in get-rich-quick schemes, aided by his best friend, the good-natured Ed Norton (Art Carney). “The Honeymooners” was given its own series of 39 episodes in 1955, which didn’t do as well as “The Jackie Gleason Show,” so it was cancelled and the original variety series was brought back. “The Honeymooners” might have lasted only one season, but its premise, characters and catchphrases (“to the moon!,” “one of these days. . .,” “homina, homina, homina”) are a lasting part of American culture, and have influenced comedy in the 70 years since.
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21. Everybody Loves Raymond (1996-2005)
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS There’s never been a meddling family quite like the Barones. Long-suffering Debra (Patricia Heaton) has to deal with her Mama’s-boy husband Raymond (Ray Romano), her needy brother-in-law Robert (Brad Garrett) and her overbearing mother-in-law Marie (Doris Roberts) and stubborn father-in-law Frank (Peter Boyle) – who live across the street! In a time when sitcoms had become geared to adults and often centered around groups of friends, “Everybody Loves Raymond” was a more traditional sitcom that could be enjoyed by the whole family. It steadily built a following, rising to the top ten in its fifth season, and winning the Best Comedy Emmy for its seventh and ninth seasons. The cast collectively won ten acting Emmys; Boyle was the only one to never win despite seven nominations for Best Supporting Comedy Actor – he lost to costar Garrett three times. Romano won Comedy Actor once, Heaton Comedy Actress twice and, for her portrayal of perhaps the most infamously criticizing mother-in-law in sitcom history, Roberts won four times for Best Supporting Comedy Actress (a tie for the most wins in that category).
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20. Mission: Impossible (1966-1973)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image It’s the series that’s the basis for one of the most successful film franchises in film history. Its iconic music let viewers know they were in for a thrill ride of suspense and adventure with a covert team of spies from the Impossible Missions Force committing death-defying feats, with the knowledge that, “as always, should (they) or any of (their) IM force be caught or killed, the Secretary will disavow any knowledge of (their) actions.” In the midst of the Cold War, agents like steady leader Jim Phelps (Peter Graves), master of disguise Rollin Hand (Martin Landeau), beautiful Cinnamon Carter (Barbara Bain), electronics genius Barney Collier (Greg Morris) and strongman Willy Armitage (Peter Lupus) fought corrupt politicians, amoral practices like slavery, organized crime and attempts to revive the Nazi party. The series won the Best Drama Emmy for its first two seasons, and Bain won Lead Actress three years running.
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19. CSI franchise (2000-present)
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS Police procedural dramas have been incredibly popular since the turn of the millennium, thanks in large part to this franchise that premiered on October 2000 with its first series “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” (2000-2015). The public’s fascination with crime-solving techniques made this show a hit, and led to spinoffs “CSI: Miami” (2002-2011), “CSI: NY” (2005-2012), “CSI: Cyber” (2014-2015) and the most current incarnation, “CSI: Vegas” (2021-present). Across the series, familiar TV faces, including William Peterson, Marg Helgenberger, Ted Danson, Gary Sinise, David Caruso and Sela Ward, attracted audiences, and iconic theme music from The Who (“Who Are You”) became a favorite ring tone. From 2001-2010, “CSI” maintained a top ten rating (three years at number one), with “Miami” and “NY” consistently ranking in the top 20 throughout most of their runs; from 2004-2010, this franchise had three series in the top 20.
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18. The Beverly Hillbillies (1962-1971)
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS Poor widower Jed (Buddy Ebsen) could barely keep his family fed, but one day he was shooting at food, and up came a “bubbling crude,” making Jed a millionaire. He loads up his broken-down truck, gathers his daughter Elly May (Donna Douglas), cousin Jethro (Max Baer, Jr.) and mother-in-law Granny (Irene Ryan), and heads for the hills – Beverly Hills, that is. It’s such a silly premise, but audiences came back for nine seasons for a “heaping helping of their hospitality.” It was one of the most popular sitcoms throughout its run, ranking number one for its first two seasons, and landing in the top 15 for most of the rest of its run.
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17. The Toast of the Town/The Ed Sullivan Show (1948-1971)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image On Sunday nights, Ed Sullivan hosted his variety show (titled “The Toast of the Town” until 1955), and featured just about every type of performer on the series, from opera singers to pop singers, from ballerinas to circus acts, from dramatic actors performing monologues to comedians. Before people found fame on internet platforms, and even before they found fame on late night shows or music shows, Sullivan helped launch the careers of hundreds of up-and-coming artists. The conservative Sullivan struggled with changing times in the early days of rock ‘n’ roll, but reluctantly booked “controversial” performers like The Doors and the hip-swiveling Elvis Presley. He was instrumental in helping the “British Invasion” in music by hosting The Beatles at the start of their career – both Presley and the Beatles performed multiple times, with up-to-that-time unprecedented ratings and huge boosts to both careers. He supported African-American artists at a time when they weren’t given such opportunities, and welcomed onto his stage many black entertainers, including The Supremes, Ike & Tina Turner, Ray Charles and Ella Fitzgerald. In 1967, CBS renamed the studio Sullivan had used since 1953 to the Ed Sullivan Theater, which remains today; “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” is shot there.
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16. The Jeffersons (1975-1985)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image Norman Lear’s “All in the Family” had several spin-offs, but “The Jeffersons” was the longest-lasting, and one of the most influential sitcoms to primarily feature an African-American cast. After living next door to the racist Archie Bunker, George (Sherman Hensley) and Louise (Isabel Sanford) Jefferson “move on up” to a high-rise apartment in Manhattan thanks to George’s successful dry cleaning business, making this the first series to prominently feature a successful black man. Like Bunker, George enjoyed trading barbs with people he didn’t understand, especially their neighbors Tom and Helen Willis (Franklin Cover and Roxie Roker), one of the first interracial couples represented on television, whom George calls “zebras.” Sanford received seven consecutive Best Comedy Actress Emmy nominations; her victory in 1981 made her the second African-American woman to win any Emmy, and the first, and to date only, to win in this category.
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15. The Late Show (1993-present)
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS CBS hadn’t had luck with late night shows, and quickly swooped up David Letterman when Jay Leno was chosen over him as the successor to “The Tonight Show.” After legal disagreements over whether NBC or Letterman had the rights to his segments, Letterman’s new show premiered August 30, 1993, and he and Leno fought for top ratings over the next 20 years. Letterman kept much of his successful formula on this series, including the Top Ten List and Stupid Pet Tricks, and continued to host a variety of performers, with especially memorable appearances by Madonna, Drew Barrymore and Paul McCartney. During Letterman’s run, the program won the Emmy for Best Variety Series six times. Stephen Colbert took over hosting duties upon Letterman’s retirement in 2015, helping CBS to continue to thrive in the late-night market.
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14. The Big Bang Theory (2007-2019)
Image Credit: CLIFF LIPSON/ CBS Entertainment It’s the series that made being a geek cool. Although it took a while to catch on with audiences, the antics of the nerd-culture-obsessed Sheldon (Jim Parsons), Leonard (Johnny Galecki), Howard (Simon Helberg) and Raj (Kunal Nayyar), as well as their often-times awkward romances with Amy (Mayim Bialik), Penny (Kaley Cuoco) and Bernadette (Melissa Rauch), soon endeared them to audiences and their ratings steadily increased. By season five, it was a top ten show, and ranked in the top three from season six on. Parsons brilliantly played the neurotic, self-absorbed Sheldon, making him lovable despite his flaws, and won the Best Comedy Actor Emmy four times.
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13. The Bob Newhart Show (1972-1978)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image No one can do deadpan humor quite like Bob Newhart, making him the perfect comic to play straight man psychologist Bob Hartley to a variety of patients, most notably the self-absorbed Elliot Carlin (Jack Riley), the hen-pecked Emil Peterson (John Fiedler) and the obssessively-knitting Lillian Bakerman (Florida Friebus). With additional characters including his supportive wife Emily (Suzanne Pleshette), blunt-speaking secretary Carol Kester (Marcia Wallace) and pals Howard Borden (Bill Daily) and Jerry Robinson (Peter Bonerz), “The Bob Newhart Show” perfected the double entendres and dry wit Newhart had made famous on his comedy albums. Although the series never made a splash at the Emmys, it was a solid top-20 show during most of its run, and its unique, eccentric characters have been ingrained on pop culture, popping up on various TV series since the end of its run – most memorably with Pleshette’s surprise appearance at the end of Newhart’s 1980s sitcom “Newhart.”
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12. Dallas (1978-1991)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image The storylines were so big that they took not one, but two, primetime series (with “Knots Landing”) to lay out their tales – and audiences have eaten it up for over four decades. On Friday nights, viewers eagerly tuned in to root on Bobby Ewing’s (Patrick Duffy) forbidden romance with Pamela (Victoria Principal), daughter of the rival Barnes family, and to see what schemes the manipulative J.R. (Larry Hagman) was plotting, while his wife Sue Ellen (Linda Gray) buried her woes in a bottle of liquor. Love affairs, backstabbing, adultery and manipulations – “Dallas” had it all. From 1981-1985, it ranked number one or number two, and was one of the programs that led to the popularity of nighttime “soaps” in the 1980s, and was instrumental in the increased use of cliffhangers on television, especially after the greatest cliffhanger of all time – “Who Shot J.R.?”
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11. Murder, She Wrote (1984-1996)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image CBS found a top-ten ratings hit with a show about a middle-aged retired schoolteacher and writer who acts as an amateur sleuth. Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) is content to write her mystery books that have brought her unwanted fame, but real murders seem to follow her wherever she goes, and her “meddling” brings attention to details that “real” law enforcement officials, who are quick to hone in on the most likely suspect, seem to miss. Lansbury had already achieved fame on film and stage, and this series made her a TV star to a whole new generation. As beloved as the series became, Lansbury never earned an Emmy for the role, despite a record-setting 12 nominations for Best Actress. However, she was THE star of the show, the only main cast member in a 12-season series centered solely around her – a pretty amazing feat for a 60-year-old actress who would have been, in many instances, considered “past her prime.”
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10. The Andy Griffith Show (1960-1968)
Image Credit: CBS Perhaps more than any other show in the history of television, “The Andy Griffith Show” represents days gone by in small-town America, and has remained well-loved for its nostalgia as well as its humor. From its famous whistled tune and image of a father and civil servant (Andy Griffith) “goin’ to the fishin’ hole” with his young son (Ron Howard), to its zany characters, Mayberry, N.C., is the image of a beloved piece of our country. Although the series never won the Emmy for Best Comedy, it remained in the top ten all seven seasons, and is one of only three series (with “I Love Lucy” and “Seinfeld”) to rank number one in its final season. Remarkably, Griffith was never nominated for an Emmy for his portrayal of Sheriff Andy Taylor; however, Frances Bavier won once in supporting for her role as Aunt Bee, and Don Knotts won all five of his nominations for his supporting work as Deputy Barney Fife, making him the record-holder for most wins in that category.
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9. The Waltons (1972-1981)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image During the years of the Great Depression and WWII, the house on Walton’s Mountain is bursting with family: John and Olivia (Ralph Waite and Michael Learned), John’s parents Zeb and Esther (Will Geer and Ellen Corby), and their seven children, with the oldest being John-Boy (Richard Thomas), an aspiring journalist. Over 13 years, the kids grow from barefooted, carefree innocents to adults faced with responsibilities and a world war, but end each day with members fondly bidding each other “goodnight.” The program was inspired by the rural Virginia childhood of creator Earl Hamner, Jr., who acts as narrator (as the adult John Boy) for the series. The first season won the Emmy for Best Drama, with Thomas winning Lead Actor that year. Learned and Corby each won three times, for Best Drama Actress and Supporting Actress, respectively, and Geer won once for Best Supporting Actor. So well-loved was the series, six reunion movies were made, and the Waltons remains one of the “model” American families, reflecting back to a simpler time.
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8. Gunsmoke (1955-1975)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image Westerns ruled the small screen in throughout the 1960s, due in large part to the popularity of “Gunsmoke.” For 20 years, U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon (James Arness) preserved law and order in Dodge City, Kansas, and became as big a western legend as the real-life Wyatt Earp. Along with Dillon, Doc Adams (Milburn Stone) and Miss Kitty (Amanda Blake) helped the series rise in the ratings, and it held the number one spot from 1957-1961, and was in the top ten for nine other seasons. During its 20-year run, 30 westerns debuted and were cancelled, and “Gunsmoke” was the last series to premiere in the 1950s to be cancelled. It was the longest-running live-action series until “Law & Order SUV” achieved its 21st season in 2019, and remains the longest-running American western series of all time. Its enduring popularity led to a series of made-for-TV movies in the 1980s and 1990s, with Arness portraying Dillon in five separate decades over a 40-year period. Arness is to TV westerns what John Wayne is to Golden Age western films – fittingly, Wayne recommended Arness for the role and introduced the pilot episode.
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7. The Carol Burnett Show (1967-1978)
Image Credit: CBS She was told that variety shows were “a man’s genre,” but Burnett made good use of a clause in her contract with CBS to prove the executives wrong. With her cast of regulars and a list of guest stars that ranged from Hollywood royalty like Rita Hayworth and Mickey Rooney to Broadway royalty like Gwen Vernon and Ethel Merman to TV royalty like Andy Griffith and Imogene Coca, Burnett parodied soap operas, films and even real royalty (with her Queen Elizabeth II-styled monarch), and kept audiences tuned in for 11 years. Not only did Burnett prove those execs wrong with longevity, but the series won 25 Emmys, had some of the most iconic costumes in TV history (from creator Bob Mackie, with her curtain dress from “Went with the Wind!” now in the Smithsonian), and is still enjoyed nearly six decades after its premiere.
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6. The Twilight Zone (1959-1964)
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS You never know what will happen once you enter “The Twilight Zone.” Alien invasions, time travel, murderous dolls, twists of fate – anything could happen to those caught unaware in the fifth dimension. Each week, Rod Serling presented a new episode in which a bizarre event or circumstance ended with a surprise event, usually with a moral message. Although sci fi, horror and fantasy are the genres most easily dated, Serling was a master at blending these genres to create timeless stories that remain relevant over 60 years later. It’s not surprising that Serling won two Emmys for writing, and that the program continues to greatly influence generations of writers. And it has one of the greatest TV theme songs ever – which likely goes through your head anytime something weird happens.
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5. The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970-1977)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image An unmarried woman who puts her career ahead of wedding bells? This is a common plot element now, but in 1970, this was almost unheard of – especially on TV, where picture-perfect families had ruled for 20 years. But Mary Richards (Mary Tyler Moore), who could turn the world on with her perky smile, changed that. She balanced her job in a newsroom, first as a secretary and later as a producer, with her dating life and her female friendships. With one of the greatest ensemble casts ever for a sitcom (including Ed Asner, Gavin MacLeod, Ted Knight, Valerie Harper, Cloris Leachman, Betty White and Georgia Engel), “TMTMS” set a record for most Emmys won by a sitcom at 29, which remained unbroken until “Frasier” earned its 30th in 2002. The series won Best Comedy and Best Comedy Actress (Moore) three times each, while the most of the rest of the cast won in supporting over the years. With her pessimistic attitude and confident hat toss in the air, we just knew she was gonna make it after all – even if she couldn’t throw a successful dinner party. . .
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4. The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961-1966)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image One of the first successful TV series to poke fun at Hollywood, Dick Van Dyke’s sitcom had him starring as a head writer of a fictional TV series, interacting with his fellow writers (played by Rose Marie and Morey Amsterdam) and his lovely dedicated wife, played by a young starlet named Mary Tyler Moore. Carl Reiner created the series based on his days writing for “Your Show of Shows,” and played the star of the fictional series Alan Brady, originally as one of the first prominent unseen characters on a TV series. It won 15 of 25 Emmys it was nominated for, with Van Dyke and Moore earning for acting, and Reiner earning multiple for writing and for the series itself, which won Best Comedy four times. From its opening sequence with Van Dyke prat falling over an ottoman, to Moore’s stylish look (including “scandalous” capri-wearing) to Marie’s strong female presence to Amsterdam’s verbal wit, the series’s influence has been seen through the generations, and remains as entertaining today as it was 60 years ago.
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3. M*A*S*H (1972-1983)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image A three-year war spawned a book series, a successful film that took home an Oscar for writing and a sitcom that lasted 11 years, nine of which it stayed in the top ten. Led by Alan Alda as Hawkeye Pierce, a changing ensemble cast brought to life the 4077th MASH unit, as the doctors and nurses used humor, especially pranks, to deal with the horrors of war – most famously when one of their own dies tragically. It was the first series to receive 11 nominations for Best Comedy (“Cheers” matched this record a decade later), winning for its second season. Alda won three acting Emmys, and one each for writing and directing; Loretta Swit, Harry Morgan and Gary Burghoff each won Emmys for supporting. The two-hour series finale remains the most-watched single episode of any American TV series, and one of the most-watched TV events of all time. Over 50 years after its debut (during the controversial Vietnam War), the storylines, the humor and the poignancy are just as funny and as relevant.
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2. All in the Family (1971-1979)
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS There are very few series that impacted American culture as much as “All in the Family” did. The sitcom changed television, becoming the first comedy series to incorporate serious topics, such as racism, homosexuality, rape, religion and abortion, into its humor. It was the first series to portray the clashes between the older generation, represented by the bigoted conservative Archie (Carroll O’Connor) and the younger generation, represented by his liberal son-in-law Mike (Rob Reiner), which are made even more hilarious by Archie’s daffy but sweet wife Edith (Jean Stapleton) and his “baby girl” Gloria (Sally Struthers). In another time, it was a series that likely would have crashed and burned; however, America loved this family, making it the first of only three primetime TV shows to rank number one five years running. The Emmys rewarded them as well, making it the first series to win Best Comedy four times (since tied and beaten), and the first of only four sitcoms in which all the leads won at least one Emmy. So iconic is the show, Archie and Edith’s chairs are on display at the Smithsonian.
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1. I Love Lucy (1951-1957)
Image Credit: CBS/Paramount It was one of the first TV programs to record in Los Angeles, the first sitcom to rank number one in the Nielsen’s, the first American TV series to depict a pregnant woman, one of the first to air a holiday special and the series that invented the concept of “reruns.” Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz are the most influential pioneers in the history of the medium; their method of using an ensemble cast that filmed in front of a live studio audience using a multi-camera format on 35mm film revolutionized the way TV programs were made. Their business savvy and comical antics continue to influence 70 years after it was on the air, and Lucy Ricardo is likely the most recognizable fictional redhead in the history of entertainment – even though the series was in black and white. “Lucy” was the number one show for four seasons, in the top three the other two and won two Best Comedy Emmys, while Ball won two Best Actress awards and Vivian Vance won one supporting. These are all the facts that make this sitcom among the best and most influential shows of all time – the zany comedy, the comic timing of Ball, Arnaz, Vance and William Frawley and a roster of the most iconic Hollywood stars making guest appearances make it a timeless classic and the reason we all love Lucy.