AOL's Top 50 Dramas Ever

[Zoneboy]

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It's not easy winnowing more than 50 years of small-screen gems into a list of 50, but AOL TV's picks of the top TV dramas include the most brilliant doctors and lawyers, the angst-iest teens, sci-fi series that transcend their genre molds, family dramas that both warm and break your heart, terrorist- and mobster-fighting heroes ... and a show that combined the best of family and gangster drama into one unforgettable series.




50. 'House'
(2004-present)

In a lineup of TV's crabbiest characters, Dr. Gregory House is right up there with Archie Bunker, Mel Sharples and Oscar the Grouch. But being a smug know-it-all with no bedside manner works for House (Golden Globe winner Hugh Laurie) mostly because he does usually know it all, using his incredible diagnostic skills and intuition to ferret out treatment for even the most baffling medical mysteries.

49. 'Little House on the Prairie'
(1974-83)

Ma, Pa, Laura, Mary, Carrie and the many adopted Ingalls small fries remain one of the tube's most endearing bunches, because when the going got tough, the Ingalls always stuck together. 'Prairie' life was often difficult -- ruined crops, harsh weather, Mrs. Oleson -- but the Ingalls, particularly father Charles (Michael Landon), always stuck to their principles, and by their friends, no matter what.


48. 'Moonlighting'
(1985-89)

Dramedy, romance, fantasy, lightning-quick dialogue and even the occasional song-and-dance -- 'Moonlighting' had it all, including a will-they-or-won't-they relationship between private eyes Maddie (Cybill Shepherd) and David (Bruce Willis). Off camera, the two leads butted heads, but their on-screen chemistry was scorching, as epitomized in the series' classic spoof of 'Taming of the Shrew.'


47. 'The Practice'
(1997-2004)

Handsome Bobby Donnell (Dylan McDermott) was the face man for his scrappy Boston legal firm, whose attorneys and clients weren't exactly the cream of the crop. In fact, Bobby and his colorful cohorts often resorted to desperate, unsavory antics to win their cases, leading to outrageous courtroom drama, memorable characters and, eventually, one of TV's greatest bromances, Denny Crane and Alan Shore.


46. 'Kung-Fu'
(1972-75)

Shaolin monk Caine was trained to believe in peace and the powerful skills of kung fu. But after using kung fu against Chinese royalty, he fled to the American West. David Carradine's quiet, thoughtful portrayal made Caine a hero of few words, torn between using his skills to help others and wandering the Earth alone, avoiding Chinese agents and bounty hunters and searching for his brother.

[Zoneboy]

45. 'Mod Squad'
(1968-73)

This groovy cop drama lured younger viewers with Linc, Pete and Julie, hipster slackers who made amends for their own parole-earning misdeeds by investigating the uncool adults who were trying to prey on members of the Mod Squad's generation. Besides showcasing trendy duds and breakout star Peggy Lipton, 'Mod' also kicked off a decades-long streak of youth-oriented hits for TV legend Aaron Spelling.



44. 'Northern Exposure'
(1990-95)

Small-town America never seems more quirky and quaint than it does in TV land, and Cicely, Alaska, is the quintessential TV small town, filled with endearing characters like pushy retired astronaut Maurice; Maggie, a pilot who thought she was cursed to see all her boyfriends die; and Dr. Joel Fleischman, a big city guy who rued the day he was sent to practice in Alaska to repay his med school student loan.


43. 'Dr. Kildare'
(1961-66)

The drama set the standard for doctor shows that go beyond medicine and focus on the lives of the staff and patients of a large metropolitan hospital. 'Thorn Birds' star Richard Chamberlain became a teen star as the titular Kildare, an intern who juggled honing his medical skills and winning his mentor's respect with learning how to treat his patients humanely in life-and-death situations.


42. '24'
(2001-present)

Premiering shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks, the real-time action-packed show follows counter-terrorist agent Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) as he risks life and limb to save the country from baddies bent on destroying it. Controversial for Bauer's use of torture tactics, the drama was also ahead of its time for giving the country its first African-American President in the beloved David Palmer (Dennis Haysbert).


41. 'Lou Grant'
(1977-82)

Ed Asner's portrayal of journalist Lou Grant led him to become the only star to win Lead Actor Emmys in both comedy and drama. After being fired as a TV newser in the 'Mary Tyler Moore Show' finale, Mr. Grant moved to Los Angeles and became a newspaper editor, where he continued his gruff but lovable ways with photog Animal, reporter Billie and equally tough publisher Mrs. Pynchon (Nancy Marchand).

[Zoneboy]

40. 'Homicide: Life on the Street'
(1993-99)

'Homicide' focused less on action scenes and more on the wearing psychological effects of dealing with dead bodies and live creeps as an inner-city Baltimore cop. Ongoing and often grisly plots (the headless Felton, for example) were also standard on 'Homicide,' along with a frequently changing, but always stellar ensemble cast, led most notably by Andre Braugher and Richard Belzer's Munch.



39. 'Marcus Welby, M.D.'
(1969-76)

Welby (Robert Young) was a family doctor who put a new spin on the old doc/young doc relationship: in Welby's office, he was the more unorthodox practitioner, while his younger cohort, Dr. Kiley (James Brolin), was the by-the-numbers guy. Both physicians were compassionate about their patients' physical and mental concerns, however, tackling everything from autism to faith healers.


38. 'Oz'
(1997-2003)

Sure, the setting was an experimental prison, but take that out of the equation, and 'Oz' was just like any other engaging, well-written primetime soap ... if that soap also featured a lot of shanking and man love. Even the most hated of characters -- racist Schillinger (J.K. Simmons), plotting Adebisi (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje), daughter murderer Shirley Bellinger (Kathryn Erbe) -- were portrayed as real people, and not just cartoon-ish bad guys (and girls).


37. 'Star Trek: The Next Generation'
(1987-94)

It premiered to more than 25 million viewers and would go on to win more than a dozen Emmys. The secret to the success of this 'Trek' sequel: better special effects, series creator Gene Rodenberry at the helm, Patrick Stewart as Capt. Jean-Luc Picard and a penchant for social commentary in the show's plots, which touched on everything from racism and sexism to human rights and drug addiction.



36. 'Perry Mason'
(1957-66)

You always knew the outcome -- lawyer Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) would be victorious! -- and that was most of the show's appeal. Perry (the original Closer) would figure out who the case's real killer was, and, by badgering the witness during his cross examination, get the culprit to reveal himself in dramatic fashion. All that was left to do then was recap his sleuthing to cohorts Della and Paul.

[Zoneboy]

35. 'Kojak'
(1973-78)

Who loves ya, baby? Everyone, if your name was Kojak -- Lt. Theo Kojak (Telly Salvalas), the smooth, wisecrackin' New York City policeman known for his cool baldness and his ever-present lollipops. Though it would've been a mistake to let his easygoing demeanor fool you: Theo was more than willing to bend a rule -- or bust a few heads -- to see justice meted out. Fellow detectives Crocker (Kevin Dobson) and Stavros (Savalas' real-life brother George) worked alongside him to take down the scum of the City.



34. 'Peyton Place'
(1964-69)

The first hit primetime soap's randy citizens (including breakout stars Mia Farrow and Ryan O'Neal) brought viewers what would become standard soap plotlines, including murder, blackmail, affairs and faked pregnancies. The series, set in the titular small town in New England, also had something in common with daytime soaps: In five seasons of 'Peyton,' the show never aired a repeat.


33. 'The Untouchables'
(1959-63)

It was 1930s Prohibition agent Eliot Ness (Robert Stack) and his incorruptible team of agents vs. Chicago's most notorious mob leaders, including Al Capone, Frank Nitti and Ma Barker. The fact-based drama was controversial in its time because of the constant bloodbaths that resulted from Ness' machine gun showdowns with the gangsters, but viewers appreciated that the "untouchable" good guys often got their bad guys.


32. 'Mission: Impossible'
(1966-73)

From the theme song to the opening sequence with the self-destructing tape recorder, iconic 'Mission' elements continue to pop up in spy-themed series, movies and commercials. Jim Phelps (Peter Graves) led the Impossible Missions Force agents, who were charged with combating dictators, crime lords and other Cold War-era evildoers on behalf of an unnamed branch of the U.S. government.



31. 'Cagney & Lacey'
(1982-88)

Groundbreaking because it was the first primetime drama with two female leads (Emmy winners Sharon Gless and Tyne Daly) and because storylines included touchy topics like the bombing of an abortion clinic, date rape and racial slurs, the cop drama was actually cancelled by CBS after season 1, but a letter-writing campaign, led by Gloria Steinem, sparked fans to demand its return to the airwaves.

[Zoneboy]

30. 'CSI'
(2000-present)

The Las Vegas crime scene investigators, led by William Petersen's Gil Grissom, have spawned two spin-off series, as well as video games, a magazine and a museum exhibit. The show's influence has also spread to real world trials, as people have come to expect more sophisticated forensic work and DNA evidence after seeing the 'CSI'-ers' meticulous handiwork solve the most complicated crimes.


29. 'St. Elsewhere'
(1982-88)

The Emmy-winning hospital drama was known for its well-crafted storylines that combined the harsh realities of illness with dark humor; helping launch the career of Oscar winner Denzel Washington; tackling tough topics like AIDS, rape and breast cancer; and for its series finale,

 in which the entire show turned out to be a figment of the imagination of young Tommy, one of the doctor's autistic sons.

28. 'Dragnet'
(1951-59)

Producer/actor Jack Webb's series struck a chord with viewers as the first realistic look at L.A. police work, from the mundane to the dramatic crime solutions. Webb's Sgt. Joe Friday also peppered viewers with police lingo (and his memorable "Just the facts, ma'am" catchphrase), while the show's "dum-de-dum-dum" theme is as classic as the "doink-doink" that's become a 'Law & Order' trademark.


27. 'Dallas'
(1978-91)

The saga of a Texas oil family led to a revival for primetime soaps, which had been in decline after 'Peyton Place.' Thanks to the double-dealing ways of wily Ewing son J.R. (Larry Hagman), the J.R. vs. Bobby (Patrick Duffy) struggle for Ewing Oil and cliffhangers like the famous 'Who Shot J.R.?' and Bobby-in-the-shower season finales, 'Dallas' became the most popular show on TV for several seasons.


26. 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer'
(1997-2003)

It's the simple, yet spot-on accuracy of comparing teen life to Hell that's the true genius of Joss Whedon's masterpiece, which used Buffy's (Sarah Michelle Gellar) monster slaying as a metaphor for the heartbreak and loss she'd deal with. Whedon and the Scooby Gang also deftly met Buffy's sometimes harrowing dramas with a hefty dose of dark humor and an endless supply of pop culture references.

[Zoneboy]

25. 'Mad Men'
(2007-present)

The series about enigmatic Don Draper (Jon Hamm), a 1960s Madison Ave. ad exec, is both stylistically and historically compelling, from the fashion and office architecture to the social mores and obsessive drinking and smoking. It's no surprise that Draper is at the center of the action; his seemingly perfect persona hides devastating secrets, the unrest roiling just beneath the surface sets him on a path to compulsive womanizing and (possibly) permanent unhappiness.


24. 'thirtysomething'
(1987-91)

Angst ... it's not just for teens. In this moody, 'Big Chill'-ish drama it was rife amongst a group of Philly yuppies, whose relationships and career dramas kept them well stocked in worry about the future and regrets about the past. Michael (Ken Olin) and Hope (Mel Harris) were the steady ones, surrounded by cheating Elliot (Timothy Busfield) and wife Nancy (Patricia Wettig) and playboy Gary (Peter Horton), whose season 4 death was one of the series' major shockers.


23. 'L.A. Law'
(1986-94)

Part legal drama, part soap, womanizing divorce attorney Arnie Becker (Corbin Bernsen) and his fellow legal eagles never shied away from controversial cases, including AIDS, the outing of prominent gays and the 1992 L.A. riots. The series is also remembered for one the most outrageous death scenes in TV history, when hated attorney Rosalind Shays (Diana Muldaur) stepped into an elevator shaft and fell to her demise.


22. 'Bonanza'
(1959-73)

The only show to inspire a chain of steakhouses, 'Bonanza' followed the adventures of the wealthy Cartwrights: rancher papa Ben (Lorne Greene) and sons Adam (Pernell Roberts), Hoss (Dan Blocker) and Little Joe (Michael Landon). Unlike most westerns, the show focused on the fellas' relationships more than shoot-outs, and gave heartthrob Landon directing and writing opportunities that would lead to his multi-hyphenate career.


21. 'My So-Called Life'
(1994-95)

A teen queen for the outcast scene, Claire Danes' Angela Chase swaddled herself in flannel and spent hours moodily musing about her unfair 'rents, her friendship woes and her love for bad boy Jordan Catalano (Jared Leto). It was typical teen agita, but 'MSCL' writers gave the characters the respect, development and dialogue that had previously been reserved only for the much older primetime set.

[Zoneboy]

20. 'Columbo'
(1971-78)

It was a mistake, but criminals and his fellow law enforcement types often underestimated Peter Falk's Detective Columbo, the seemingly absent-minded, rumpled detective whose keen attention to detail always landed him his perp. The show was also known for its reverse storytelling: episodes began with the revelation of whodunit, and backtracked to tell how the baddie got sussed out by Columbo.


19. 'The Waltons'
(1972-81)

One of the most wholesome family dramas of all time, the show revolved around a tight-knit rural Virginia clan with little cash but a lot of love as they maneuvered through the Great Depression and World War II. Tearjerker stories abounded, but the show is most beloved for its signature sign-off, which found John-Boy (Richard Thomas) and his large lot of siblings bidding each other goodnight.



18. 'The Fugitive'
(1963-67)

It sparked a hit movie and a remake series, but David Janssen's original 'Fugitive' remains the best telling of falsely convicted Dr. Richard Kimble's life on the lam as he tried to prove he hadn't murdered his wife. The real culprit -- the One-Armed Man -- wouldn't be caught until the series finale, a ratings hit in which One-Armed Man admits his guilt in an amusement park showdown with Kimble.



17. 'Twin Peaks'
(1990-91)

A tad too quirky to attract a large enough viewership to sustain it, 'Twin Peaks' did gain a loyal cult fan base who tuned in every week to watch Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) try to solve the murder of teen angel-turned-prostitute and coke head Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee). Demons, possession and cherry pie would factor in before Cooper finally realized it was Laura's papa, Leland (Ray Wise), who had done his baby in.


16. 'Six Feet Under'
(2001-05)

The Fisher family, proprietors of Fisher & Sons Funeral Home, grew up surrounded by mortality, which became, with each episode's opening death, a metaphor for their lives. Depressed mom Ruth (Frances Conroy), womanizing son Nate (Peter Krause), repressed son David (Michael C. Hall) and wild child daughter Claire's (Lauren Ambrose) often reckless behavior lent the show a somber mood, which was often tempered with dark humor and the more chipper mortician, Federico (Freddy Rodriguez).

[Zoneboy]

15. 'The Rockford Files'
(1974-80)

He lived in a trailer at the beach, was a former con and liked to avoid fights by speeding away in his Firebird with his signature "J-turn" move -- James Garner's private eye Jim Rockford was not like other TV sleuths. He had a circle of informants and a willingness to play loose with the rules, so he always managed to solve his cases, but he rarely got paid his '$200-per-day-plus-expenses' fee.



14. 'The X-Files'
(1993-2002)

The truth was out there, but was paranormal-minded FBI Agent Fox Mulder's (David Duchovny) truth the same truth more skeptical people chose to believe? Apparently so, as the sci-fi series amassed a zealous following during its run, which included mutants, cloned evil children, telekinesis, sewer-dwelling parasites, UFOs, and, in a more down-to-Earth storyline, a budding romance between Mulder and his cohort Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson).


13. 'The Shield'
(2002-08)

Police detective Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis), described as "Al Capone with a badge," was as shady as the gang members he and his Strike Force chased. The brutal drama (more than one murder involved Mackey and his men offing one of their own) was heavy on acting talent and inspired storylines, including the series finale that saw Mackey face well-deserved consequences for his years of corruption.


12. 'Battlestar Galactica'
(2004-09)

Starbuck (Katee Sackhoff) became a girl and the camp factor became a thing of the past in this re-do of the '70s series, which became one of the best written and produced sci-fi dramas on the tube. Producers put a darker, deeper, more modern spin on humans' attempts to find Earth and save their race from extinction after the Cylon war. The mission proved heartbreaking, but always fascinating, by the bleak finale.



11. 'Deadwood'
(2004-06)

Writer David Milch created the series to show how a civilization can spring from chaos, with the transformation of 1870s Deadwood, South Dakota, from drifter camp to settled town as his forum. Order was the end result, but much of the show's notoriety came from ornery characters like pimp-of-all-trades Al Swearengen (Ian McShane) and Milch's love of the F-word, which was uttered nearly 3,000 times according to one fan Website.

[Zoneboy]

10. 'Friday Night Lights'
(2006-present)

Being filmed more like a documentary than the average TV drama is largely responsible for 'FNL''s realistic feel, as the show follows the hard-knock lives of a small-town Texas high school football team. The show's strength is the quietly poignant moments between characters, led by great writing and acting that leaves viewers hooked on their sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes uplifting lives.

9. 'Hill Street Blues'
(1981-87)

'Blues'' frenetic pace and talented ensemble cast set a new standard for crime dramas, as the Emmy darling (98 nods in seven seasons) focused not just on police work but on the personal relationships of the caring Capt. Furillo (Daniel J. Travanti) and his men and women in blue. After all, Sgt. Esterhaus' (Michael Conrad) morning greeting "Let's be careful out there" became the show's signature catchphrase.


8. 'The West Wing'
(1999-2006)

'The West Wing' is the best series to ever shed light on the inner workings of a White House administration, which is no small feat considering the real-world dramas that were unfolding during the show's run. In fact, 'Wing' often paralleled current events, though viewers in all political parties wished for a real-world leader like tough, smart, compassionate POTUS Josiah Bartlet (Martin Sheen).



7. 'Gunsmoke'
(1955-75)

John Wayne was offered the part of Marshal Matt Dillon, but recommended his pal James Arness instead. The role of Dillon, who tried to insure peace in Dodge City when the Old West was settled, was a star-making one for Arness, whose co-stars included Burt Reynolds, Dennis Weaver and guest stars like Harrison Ford, Jodie Foster, Dennis Hopper, Ed Asner and Angie Dickinson during the Emmy-winning show's 20 seasons.


6. 'Law & Order'
(1990-present)

The venerable series keeps on ticking because even after more cast changes than, well, an NYPD lineup, the cop-and-lawyer show provides gripping (often ripped-from-today's-headlines) stories each week. Sure, the show's always been slim on character development, but an impressive cast of guest stars has helped make the series the longest-running crime drama in primetime history.

[Zoneboy]

5. 'ER'
(1994-2009)

The secret to 'ER''s success? Dr. Ross' (George Clooney) heroic rescue of a child in a flood, the frenetic live episode, Dr. Greene's (Anthony Edwards) tragic brain tumor, Hathaway's (Julianna Margulies) suicide attempt and the gruesome helicopter death of Dr. Romano (Paul McCrane), all showcasing the show's ability to unfold medical and staff dramas with amped-up intensity and a gorgeous, ever-changing, cast.


4. 'The Wire'
(2002-08)

The drama focused on a new aspect of Baltimore, from the drug dealers to the schools to the media, for each of its five seasons, with the city's cops a constant presence throughout. At turns gritty, crushing, violent and darkly funny, the multi-layered series gave credence to the good guys and the bad guys throughout Charm City, and showed how the lines that divided the two were often blurry.


3. 'Lost'
(2004-present)

It started with what remains one of the best pilots ever, and five seasons later fans are still poring over the minutiae of each episode to find answers about the survivors of Oceanic flight 815 and the mysterious island they crashed on. The twist-filled series has made stars of its diverse cast, and successfully blended elements of suspense, sci-fi and action drama to create a classic serial.


2. 'NYPD Blue'
(1993-2005)

'Blue' was a gritty cop drama that dared to show the harsher aspects of cops' personal and professional lives, with the occasional dose of controversial nudity and profanity thrown in for good measure. Bed-hopping, breakups, shootouts and cast shake-ups abounded, and Dennis Franz's Andy Sipowicz survived them all, earning well-deserved promotions to sergeant and precinct leader in the final season.


1. 'The Sopranos'
(1999-2007)

Tensions between his family and the "family" led mobster Tony Soprano into weekly shrink sessions and viewers to one of the best-written, best-acted, most introspective and, yes, brutally violent dramas ever. James Gandolfini's Tony was at turns thuggish and charming, and often sympathetic, largely because his problems -- whackings aside -- weren't so different from those of the average boss and family guy.

[Marvo301]

My favorites, in no particular order, are:

Little House on the Prairie

Kung Fu

Northern Exposure

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Bonanza

The Waltons

The Rockford Files

[dawsongirl]

No Criminal Minds??? NOT ACCEPTIBLE.

[ryan423]

I'm glad House, Law & Order and ER were there. I'm shocked that Everwood isn't there, and even more shocked a show like Buffy is there!

[Mr. Television]

Some on that list makes me shake my head. Thirtysomething used to make me want to scratch my eyes out. lol

[JulieSomoski]

Originally Posted by ryan423

I'm glad House, Law & Order and ER were there. I'm shocked that Everwood isn't there, and even more shocked a show like Buffy is there!

Agree about Everwood - it was one of the few watchable shows on The WB, one of the best family dramas on television IMO. It deserved a spot, along with a few other shows.