The Writers Guild of America (WGA) released a list of the 101 Best Written TV Shows of All Time. Lists like these are prone to the vagaries of compilation, and a number of other factors (how to measure shows that have not yet completed their runs, for example, with finished shows), but it’s an interesting list nonetheless. The Top Ten:
- The Sopranos
- Seinfeld
- The Twilight Zone (1959)
- All in the Family
- M*A*S*H
- The Mary Tyler Moore Show
- Mad Men
- Cheers
- The Wire
- The West Wing
I can’t help myself from opining on the list: Mad Men is far too high; Louie and Downton Abbey far too low. The Wire and Breaking Bad feel about right, although for my money, assuming the final bits of season 5 don’t disappoint, Breaking Bad may end up in the top 5. And of course, Arrested Development‘s only competitor in comedies is, in my humble opinion, Seinfeld. It’s fun to debate, though.