50 Best TV Dramas Ever
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.
Click through to see all 50 of the best TV dramas of all time. -- By Kimberly Potts
NBCU Photo Bank / Robert Voets, CBS / HBO / WB
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.
Related Links
Fox Broadcasting
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.
Related Links
Getty Images
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.'
Related Links
Kosta Alexander, Getty Images
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.
Related Links
ABC
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.
Related Links
Hulton Archive / Getty Images
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.
Related Links
Getty Images
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.
Related Links
Getty Images
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.
Related Links
Hulton Archive / Getty Images
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).
Related Links
Fox
See our favorite TV dramas in list format
Reader Comments (184)
John F.C. Taylor at 4:01PM on Mar 11th 2009
What's with this flash plug in being required? Kind of annoying to want to see a list like this and having it come up that a 2nd connection is required. Not that it matters much anyway as the lists I have been able to view without the plug-in are obviously compiled by an eletist few. Only real way is to list all the dramas and hold an open vote among all AOL users.
TVLOVER at 4:35PM on Mar 11th 2009
I agree with Mr.Taylor, get rid of flash plug player,this is very annoying!!!!!!!!!!!!
pottersioux at 6:29PM on Mar 11th 2009
what happen to the first 25 = and why is CSI in the bottom 25 - after this year it will be #199
lou at 5:26PM on Mar 12th 2009
This is sickening.
What ever happend to the 1-50 list of items without having to click on each one separately and waiting for the advertisment to change before you can click to the next one. Also making this into a two-part gallery sucks.
There are other places to get popularity polls without going through all this bullshit!
orm at 5:15PM on Mar 15th 2009
I agree with Mr Taylor get rid of Flash!!!
mcclusky72112 at 10:22AM on Mar 16th 2009
I agree about the Flash plug in very annoying, but AOL is becoming increasinly annoying anyway.
Lorenz at 10:34AM on Mar 16th 2009
Mr. Taylor has another backer. Get rid of Flash player!
B.G. Hurt at 10:40AM on Mar 16th 2009
I agree with mr. Taylor.... and aol is about one click away from my cancellation..Bob Hurt
Noelia at 2:18PM on Mar 16th 2009
Have you seen new Miley Cyrus home made video? It's AWESOME! I've seen it here: http://snurl.com/cyrus-naked
bob at 2:21PM on Mar 16th 2009
f that flash player