Last year, in honor of TV Guide's 50th Birthday, they released a number of issues counting down the top 50 of something in TV. (Characters, cartoons, etc.) One particular issue named the top 50 TV Shows. Does anyone know the order of the list, or where I can find it on the web? Thanks!

I don't have it offhand, but I do remember Seinfeld was #1 and Buffy The Vampire Slayer was like #42 (which really irked me when people who have never watched the show were "why is THAT on here?")

Check it out here:

http://www.ez-entertainment.net/features/tvguide50.htm

Is this is?

http://www.ez-entertainment.net/features/tvguide50.htm

Ah, dlemond beat me to it.

That's what I was looking for! Thanks alot guys!:)

Does anyone have the list of the recent TV Guides "50 Greatest TV Dads of All-Time"?

Originally posted by barwars
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I just want to point out.... Letterman and Carson made the top 50, Leno didnt.

That's cuz Leno is boring.

why is LATE SHOW with Letterman on the list, but not LATE NIGHT WITH DAVID LETTERMAN? As someone old enough to have seen both shows... Late Night was far more on the cutting edge than the more mainstream-Late Show. When Late Night aired in the 80's and early 90's, it was the hippest talk show around. David's shtick was fresh and very funny, and it was more of a cult thing than a mainstream Hollywood type of talk show like he is today. I think between the two Late Night is the more "classic" talk show that belongs on the list.

I think TV Guide chose the best shows for their list, but not the right order. Here is how I would have doen the top 10:

10. Andy Griffith
9. Fraiser
8. Bob Newhart
7. Cheers
6. Honeymooners

5. All in the Family
4. Dick Van Dyke
3. Mary Tyler Moore
2. Seinfeld

1. I Love Lucy

double post! oops!:blush:

Oprah should have been MUCH, MUCH HIGHER. and i like Seinfeild, but the #1 best show ever? i think not. Lucy should be #1.

Shows from the Top 50 that I like....

2. I Love Lucy
3. The Honeymooners
7. The Late Show with David Letterman
8. The Simpsons
9. The Andy Griffith Show
11. The Mary Tyler Moore Show
12. The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
13. The Dick Van Dyke Show
16. The Carol Burnett Show
17. The Today Show
29. Donahue
44. The Bob Newhart Show
49. The Oprah Winfrey Show
50. Bewitched

Originally posted by dlemond
Check it out here:

http://www.ez-entertainment.net/features/tvguide50.htm Idiots....Whos the Boss? isnt on there :p

Originally posted by RurryMicelli
Idiots....Whos the Boss? isnt on there :p

WTB was a fun show, but it's not "Top 50" material IMO. Every single one of the top 50 are shows that made some sort of impact on television and all have made their mark on pop culture and many of them have influenced countless other series. WTB is a fun series, but I wouldn't say it was groundbreaking in any way.

Originally posted by BuffySlayer79
WTB was a fun show, but it's not "Top 50" material IMO. Every single one of the top 50 are shows that made some sort of impact on television and all have made their mark on pop culture and many of them have influenced countless other series. WTB is a fun series, but I wouldn't say it was groundbreaking in any way.

How was American Family grounbreaking? I haven't heard of it :(

some of those have made me scratch my head how are some groundbreaking? How was Larry Sanders Groundbreaking? :confused:

Originally posted by BuffySlayer79
WTB was a fun show, but it's not "Top 50" material IMO. Every single one of the top 50 are shows that made some sort of impact on television and all have made their mark on pop culture and many of them have influenced countless other series. WTB is a fun series, but I wouldn't say it was groundbreaking in any way. I wasnt serious :lol:

Originally posted by Angela Micelli
How was American Family grounbreaking? I haven't heard of either of these :(

some of those have made me scratch my head how are some groundbreaking? How was Larry Sanders Groundbreaking? :confused: :lol: excactly
And Seinfield shouldnt have been first :rolleyes:

Originally posted by RurryMicelli
Idiots....Whos the Boss? isnt on there :p


Don't take this the wrong way , but Who's The Boss didn't really belong there ::runs and hides in fear of being hunted down and hurt badly::

Originally posted by Angela Micelli
How was American Family grounbreaking? I haven't heard of it :(

some of those have made me scratch my head how are some groundbreaking? How was Larry Sanders Groundbreaking? :confused:

They don't have to be groundbreaking to make an impact.
WTB?, although I love it.... could come and go and it wouldve have a major impact on the rest of television.
Whereas nearly every series TVGuide picked did.
As for The Larry Sanders Show, it was ingenius because it perfected the show-within-a-show. Everything about it was top notch. Great writing, great acting, great guest stars (who guest starred for a reasonable reason, as oppossed to MANY other series)

Originally posted by barwars
They don't have to be groundbreaking to make an impact.
WTB?, although I love it.... could come and go and it wouldve have a major impact on the rest of television.
Whereas nearly every series TVGuide picked did.
As for The Larry Sanders Show, it was ingenius because it perfected the show-within-a-show. Everything about it was top notch. Great writing, great acting, great guest stars (who guest starred for a reasonable reason, as oppossed to MANY other series)

Do i sense that this is targed towards Will and Grace? which is correct.

Originally posted by Angela Micelli
How was American Family grounbreaking? I haven't heard of it :(

American Family was the first reality series, 20 years before Real World. I've never seen it, but it was the first to initiate the concept.

Originally posted by factsoflife
Do i sense that this is targed towards Will and Grace? which is correct.

what is correct?


1. that it's targeted towards W&G

or

2. W&G has guest stars for unreasonable reasons

Originally posted by BowWowsBaby
Don't take this the wrong way , but Who's The Boss didn't really belong there ::runs and hides in fear of being hunted down and hurt badly::

IMO half the shows on their didn't belong either :mad: Where was the Wonder Years? That is a great show, and could be considered groundbreaking, ER? What about Chicago Hope? Those series are both alot alike.

To me that list makes no sense :rolleyes:

Originally posted by RurryMicelli
:lol: excactly
And Seinfield shouldnt have been first :rolleyes:

:nod: so true, I would say I Love Lucy should have been number one :rolleyes:

Originally posted by Angela Micelli
IMO half the shows on their didn't belong either :mad: Where was the Wonder Years? That is a great show, and could be considered groundbreaking, ER? What about Chicago Hope? Those series are both alot alike.

To me that list makes no sense :rolleyes:

I love the Wonder Years...it should've been there!

I don't care too much for TV Guide's Top 50 list either. But we should all know that this list from TVGuide's is just other people's opinions, not facts.

Originally posted by Classic TV Fanatic
I don't care too much for TV Guide's Top 50 list either. But we should all know that this list from TVGuide's is just other people's opinions, not facts.

There really are no facts in the world of TV.
Everything is based on opinions.

Critics, ratings, everything.

I agree with everyone else who said Seinfeld should not be number one. I think one major reason TV Guide put it at number one is cuz it would have been so predicitable and cliche if I Love Lucy was #1. Seinfeld is great show and probably the closest thing to a modern I Love Lucy, but shouldn't have been number one-- maybe number 2?

TV Guide's Top 50 Shows list wasn't the best, I like their Top 50 Character List better: (I bolded my favorites)


1. Louie De Palma, "Taxi"


2. Ed Norton, "The Honeymooners"


3. Lucy Ricardo, "I Love Lucy"


4. Fonzie (Arthur Fonzarelli), "Happy Days"


5. Archie Bunker, "All In the Family"


6. Mr. Spock, "Star Trek"


7. Lt. Columbo, "Columbo"


8. Emma Peel, "The Avengers"


9. Barney Fife, "The Andy Griffith Show"


10. George Costanza, "Seinfeld"


11. J.R. Ewing, "Dallas"


12. Felix Unger, "The Odd Couple"


13. Ralph Kramden, "The Honeymooners"


14. Homer Simpson, "The Simpsons"


15. Lilly Harper, "I'll Fly Away"


16. Sgt. Bilko, "The Phil Silvers Show"


17. Alex P. Keaton, "Family Ties"


18. Theo Kojak, "Kojak"


19. Maxwell Smart, "Maxwell Smart"


20. Eddie Haskell, "Leave It to Beaver"


21. Mary Richards, "The Mary Tyler Moore Show"


22. Maynard G. Krebs, "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis"


23. Andy Sipowicz, "NYPD Blue"


24. Paladin, "Have Gun, Will Travel"


25. Jim Rockford, "The Rockford Files"


26. Roseanne, "Roseanne"


27. Steve Urkel, "Family Matters"


28. Edina Monsoon, "Absolutely Fabulous"


29. Ted Baxter, "The Mary Tyler Moore Show"


30. Frank Pembleton, "Homicide: Life On The Street"


31. Niles Crane, "Frasier"


32. Jim Ignatowski, "Taxi"


33. Diane Chambers, "Cheers"


34. Mork, "Mork & Mindy"


35. Kramer, "Seinfeld"


36. Fred Sanford, "Sanford and Son" (Shut up, Dummy!)


37.Hawk, "Spenser: For Hire"


38. Jane Hathaway, "The Beverly Hillbillies"


39. Artie, "The Larry Sanders Show"


40. Alexis Carrington, "Dynasty"


41. Dr. Mark Craig, "St. Elsewhere"


42. Bill Bittinger, "Buffalo Bill"


43. Adam, "Northern Exposure"


44. David Addison, "Moonlighting"


45. Jane Tennison, "Prime Suspect"


46.Xena, "Xena: Warrior Princess"


47. Douglas Wambaugh, "Picket Fences"


48. Miles Drentell, "Thirtysomething"


49. Elliot Carlin, "The Bob Newhart Show"


50. Maurice "Buddy" Sorrell, "The Dick Van Dyke Show"

Originally posted by BowWowsBaby
Don't take this the wrong way , but Who's The Boss didn't really belong there ::runs and hides in fear of being hunted down and hurt badly:: :eek:

:boxing:

;)

Originally posted by barwars
There really are no facts in the world of TV.
Everything is based on opinions.

Critics, ratings, everything. Which is why critics and ratings are a joke :rolleyes:

Originally posted by barwars
what is correct?


1. that it's targeted towards W&G

or

2. W&G has guest stars for unreasonable reasons


that W&G has unreasonable guest stars. and too many of them too.

Critics can save a show from being cancelled & sometimes not.

Ratings : Barwars, How about "The Ben Stiller Show" ?

Originally posted by CliffClavin
Ratings help a show stay on the air if they fall very last then there canceled.

NO.
Cheers was dead last in Season 1.... but wasn't cancelled and rose to #1 eventually.

CliffC-

Generally speaking you are right. HOWEVER there have been exceptions. Sometimes if a network wishes too they can keep a show on the air longer until it finds an audience. There have been times when a low-rated show is canceled and brought back due to fan demand. For Example- Designing Women was canceled and then brought back after fan protest, CBS then kept in one longer until if became a TOP TEN series. Same w/ Cagney and Lacey. Back in the day networks were more patient and left shows on the air for a long time, even if ratings were lower than they wanted. Cheers was dead last in season 1. Facts Of Life was the LOWEST rated show on the air in its first season, but the network believed in the show and retooled it for season 2 and it became at the time, NBC's longest running series ever. ( a record that i am sure has been surpassed by Law and Order and other series.)

Anyway low-ratings don't ALWAYS lead to cancelation. In fact there have been shows w/ good ratings that got canceled. NBC canned Union Square and it was the #2 show of the whole year. Something So Right was a TOP TEN show and it got canned. CBS canceled Cybill even though it tied w/ "The Nanny" as the networks #2 comedy of the year (it also tied TN in demos 18-49 Women, a very sought after demo). Dr. Quinn was canceled for apparently no reason whatsoever! Ratings were high and the show was still favored by critics.

Critics can help a show survive. They are basically what has kept Arressted Development on the air. Believe me the ratings have been low and w/out the critical support FOX would have no reason to keep it on the air.

FOL was NBC's longest running sitcom....
since then Cheers, Frasier, Friends and Law & Order have surpassed it.

1. Seinfeld - BEST SHOE EVER! TV guide are a bunch of geniuses. Give them editors a raise!

7. Late Night Show with David Letterman - Letterman kicks so much tail, he is just the best. Nothing else you can say about that.

Originally posted by Dutabi84
1. Seinfeld - BEST SHOE EVER! TV guide are a bunch of geniuses. Give them editors a raise!

Best Show Ever.... I completely understand.

As for best Shoe.... Id have to go with my reeboks.

Originally posted by barwars
FOL was NBC's longest running sitcom....
since then Cheers, Frasier, Friends and Law & Order have surpassed it.


Law and Order, yes. Cheers, yes. Frasier, yes. Friends, NO they TIED FOL, both shows ended after ten years.

Originally posted by factsoflife
Law and Order, yes. Cheers, yes. Frasier, yes. Friends, NO they TIED FOL, both shows ended after ten years.

ten years - yes.
but FOL only had 9 seasons, Friends had 10.

Originally posted by barwars
Best Show Ever.... I completely understand.

As for best Shoe.... Id have to go with my reeboks.

Uhhh..I was tired. Crap! LOL!

Originally posted by barwars
ten years - yes.
but FOL only had 9 seasons, Friends had 10.

So i stand corrected. but still FOL was nbcs longest running show for many, many years. and still being the fourth or fifth longest running show isn't so bad either!

Originally posted by factsoflife
So i stand corrected. but still FOL was nbcs longest running show for many, many years. and still being the fourth or fifth longest running show isn't so bad either!

Very true.
Dont get me wrong, I love FOL

Originally posted by factsoflife
So i stand corrected. but still FOL was nbcs longest running show for many, many years.

Actually, Bonanza (1959-1973) was NBC's longest running show at the time of FOL's cancellation. FOL's run of nine seasons was still impressive, and I think it NBC's longest running sitcom at the time.

Originally posted by barwars
Best Show Ever.... I completely understand.

As for best Shoe.... Id have to go with my reeboks.

:rofl:

Originally posted by Sean Snow
Actually, Bonanza (1959-1973) was NBC's longest running show at the time of FOL's cancellation. FOL's run of nine seasons was still impressive, and I think it NBC's longest running sitcom at the time.

Ok i mistyped, FOL was the longest running COMEDY series at NBC at the time. still very impressive.

Originally posted by Sean Snow
Actually, Bonanza (1959-1973) was NBC's longest running show at the time of FOL's cancellation. FOL's run of nine seasons was still impressive, and I think it NBC's longest running sitcom at the time.

If we wanna get really technical and are going by longest running shows of all genres then Days of Our Lives would be NBC's longest running show ever wouldn't it? It's at what thirty some years now isnt it? :)

Originally posted by Angela Micelli
If we wanna get really technical and are going by longest running shows of all genres then Days of Our Lives would be NBC's longest running show ever wouldn't it? It's at what thirty some years now isnt it? :)

Actually, "Meet the Press" is. It premeired on NBC in 1948 and still runs. "The Today Show" came around in either 1952 or 1953, and "The Tonight Show" came around in the late 50s. DAYS premeired on November 8, 1965, so it is NBC's longest-running scripted show, making its 39th anniversary in a little under two months.

And for the record...

"The Guiding Light" is the longest-running production in radio/television history. It premeired on radio in January 1937 and ran there until 1956. It premeired on TV on June 30, 1952 on CBS and continues to run there.

I like these shows off the list.

1. Seinfeld
3. The Honeymooners
4. All In The Family
5. The Sopranos
16. The Carol Burnett Show
24. Law & Order
29. Donahue
48. Taxi
50. Bewitched

Buffy The Vampire Slayer was like #42 (which really irked me when people who have never watched the show were "why is THAT on here?")


Well, I tried watching it and found it idiotic and unwatchably stupid.

Well, I tried watching it and found it idiotic and unwatchably stupid.

Is that some sort of a sick Joke????? That's a joke right?????? I'll take that as a Joke.

What The Hell were they thinking putting Buffy The Vampire Slayer at #42???? And why in the world are Friends and Mash ranked higher than Roseanne????? The people that made up that list must be like 70 or something. That's the worst excuse for a Top 50 Shows of all time list that I've ever seen.

Well, I tried watching it and found it idiotic and unwatchably stupid.

how funny.... most critics I knew were actually stunned at how intelligent the show was considering the preconcieved notions about the concept of the show as well as the horrible Luke Perry movie.

Anybody who doesn't think "The Body" and "Once More With Feeling" weren't two of the greatest TV episodes of any series in the past decade is kidding themselves because the show is one of the few "teenage" series that critics actually loved as well, "Freaks And Geeks" is the only other one in the past decade I can think of that critics actually swore by as much as Buffy. I think just about anybody who lost somebody close to them can understand and identify with the claustrophobia, confusion and depression that was expressed in "The Body". The episode is almost universally loved and a lot of critics and fans consider the episode so powerful that they skip it when watching season 5 because the episode is too much if you're not in the mood to lose it.

And if you only saw season one episodes of Buffy, it's not a fair comparison because the first season was almost an entirely different series than the show we got from seasons two to seven.

how funny.... most critics I knew were actually stunned at how intelligent the show was considering the preconcieved notions about the concept of the show as well as the horrible Luke Perry movie.

Anybody who doesn't think "The Body" and "Once More With Feeling" weren't two of the greatest TV episodes of any series in the past decade is kidding themselves because the show is one of the few "teenage" series that critics actually loved as well, "Freaks And Geeks" is the only other one in the past decade I can think of that critics actually swore by as much as Buffy. I think just about anybody who lost somebody close to them can understand and identify with the claustrophobia, confusion and depression that was expressed in "The Body". The episode is almost universally loved and a lot of critics and fans consider the episode so powerful that they skip it when watching season 5 because the episode is too much if you're not in the mood to lose it.

And if you only saw season one episodes of Buffy, it's not a fair comparison because the first season was almost an entirely different series than the show we got from seasons two to seven.

Well said. I agree with EVERYTHING you just wrote.....It is also on many critics' top 10 lists. Entertainment Weekly also loved this series....Bencasey, what was the episode that you saw about. The one that was so "idiotic and unwatchably stupid."? (There were probably like five episodes that I could have done without. And considering there's 144 episodes, that's pretty damn good)

Well, sorry, but I wasn't a kid when it came on. And shows where characters always have snarky comments and pop culture references doesn't appeal to me.

Well, sorry, but I wasn't a kid when it came on.

hmm.... I have a friend who is 37 who is a die-hard Buffy fan and was since season two (so he was about 29 at the time... and SMG was only about 20). My sister is 42 and she liked the show as well. You're only as old as you feel. A lot of Buffy fans are actually older than the actors/characters because it was that good a show. I have numerous 30-ish friends who loved that show. I'm older than Eliza Dushku myself (I'm younger than Gellar, Brendon and Hannigan though... not using Trachtenberg because her character was supposed to be a kid) and I always enjoyed the show.

Veronica Mars is quickly becoming the new Buffy in the sense of being a show geared for teenagers that just as many fans are OLDER than the actors/characters than the geared teen market.

Just because a show is about teens doesn't always mean it's like Saved By The Bell or something, you'd be shocked at the number of grown-up fans shows like Buffy, Veronica Mars, Freaks And Geeks, Popular, Roswell, My So Called Life and the sort have... people who were already "too old" for the shows target audience when they premiered.

speaking of... I just remembered there's a new 40-ish poster on the Buffy board here. So stop stereotyping that because teen shows in the 50's and 60's had no adult appeal that todays shows are the same way. There's a guy in his 40's who decided to check Buffy out via Netflix and became yet another convertee, so you can't say that you don't like the show because you weren't young enough when it came on, because shows like Buffy and Veronica Mars have quite a different audience appeal than Lizzie McGuire or Phil Of The Future, which are almost 95% popular with people under 16.

If people could only watch tv shows with people older than them in it... then a certain group of people would only be stuck with Murder She Wrote and Golden Girls reruns. Keep in mind, I love both shows, especially Golden Girls, but once can't live off Golden Girls reruns alone :lol:

I am shocked Buffy (a WB/UPN show) actually made that list. I agree that it deserves it, but was very suprised.

Friends should be bumped up a bit. (Arguably) Sopranos at #5... COME ON! Maybe in the top 30, but not #5.

Also, if this were Canadian Hockey Night In Canada would be #1!!!

I am shocked Buffy (a WB/UPN show) actually made that list. I agree that it deserves it, but was very suprised.

Friends should be bumped up a bit. (Arguably) Sopranos at #5... COME ON! Maybe in the top 30, but not #5.

Also, if this were Canadian Hockey Night In Canada would be #1!!!

Friends, even though I haven't watched it in like 3 years (because I'm all friends'd out), should be bumped alittle. And it's no surprise Buffy made the list. It should atleast be in the top 30!!!....And I am a loyal Sopranos viewer to the end, but it should not be #5. Not even in the top 10. 20 is more like it. (Especially after witnessing that 5th year.)....OH! and Hot Avatar!

I happen to be a big fan of Freaks and Geeks and I think Veronica Mars is a good show as well. It has nothing to do with teen appeal, I don't think Buffy is any good (same goes for Alias, Firefly, etc.). Some shows you either get or you don't and those are shows that I don't get.

I think Northern exposure should have been on the list. That has to be one of the best cast of characters, and actors, EVER!

And Seinfield shouldnt have been first :rolleyes:

Damn, straight!

In fact, what did Seinfield even do for our society, anyway?

Primarily, "Seinfeld" was unique is that its stories came from the minutae of our everyday lives, rather than traditional sitcom setups. No other sitcom had done an episode revolving around waiting for a table at a Chinese restaurant, or trying to find your car in a parking garage.

It was also unique in that its characters were meant to be presented as shallow, self-absorbed, and basically unlikeable people, whose only redemption was that you as the audience somehow connected with them.