Writers Guild of America Lists the 101 Best Written TV Shows of All Time

[Brandon]

Mad Men isn't even finished but may end up being #1 by the time it's finished. I was surprised it was ahead of The Wire.

I haven't seen it, but looking at that list, I'm surprised The Shield isn't on there based on reviews and word of mouth.

[Ray McKigney]

Cop Rock should also be on there.

[St1ck]

Cop Rock should also be on there.

 

 

 

It would have if they editing wasn't so awful. 

[Blarg]

DowningRules is going to lose his shit when he sees Miami Vice didn't make the list.

[IEAngelsfan]

 

IMO, Twilight Zone should be on top.

I completely agree.

Rod Serling wrote many of the classic episodes and they've withstood the test of time.

[stevestevens]

Miami vice is still ahead of its time

[gotbeer]

Mad Men isn't even finished but may end up being #1 by the time it's finished. I was surprised it was ahead of The Wire.

I haven't seen it, but looking at that list, I'm surprised The Shield isn't on there based on reviews and word of mouth.

 

Shield was on there tied for 71.

[Brandon]

You're right, I missed it.

How do you have such a long list but still have sporadic ties thrown in?

[Adam]

No My Two Dads? 

 

List = Irrelevant 

[Ray McKigney]

They missed a ton:

 

Magnum P.I.

Knight Rider

Remington Steele

Sanford and Son

Touched By An Angel

Good Times

Highway to Heaven

The A-Team

S.W.A.T.

What's Happening!!

 

 

Just to name a few...

[Thomas]

I wonder if they are basing it off of a mean, median, or a high water mark. Like SNL has some amazingly high points but it is the definition of hit or miss. A lot of the scifi too. MASH's first 4 or 5 seasons was amazing but they started running out of prime material.

[Lhalo]

They missed a ton:

 

Magnum P.I.

Knight Rider

Remington Steele

Sanford and Son

Touched By An Angel

Good Times

Highway to Heaven

The A-Team

S.W.A.T.

What's Happening!!

 

 

Just to name a few...

LOL at the A-Team and Knight Rider as best written shows. Child please.

[Ray McKigney]

LOL at the A-Team and Knight Rider as best written shows. Child please.

 

You think it's easy to write dialog for a talking Trans Am?

[Lhalo]

You've got a point.

[Tank]

"76. Barney Miller and I, Claudius (tie)"

 

i'll take improbable pairings for a thousand, alex.

[2002_halos_II]

"shows" should not include mini-series.

Roots/Shogun/North&South/Thornbirds etc. were worth watching.

[DowningRules]

Consider it lost.  I gave up when I saw how high up '30 Rock' was on this list.  I could write that show in my sleep.  Throw in some hipster-isms and feed a few lines to the bearded fat guy with the kooky hats and you got yourself an episode.

 

Let's just say that who ever voted from the WGA never saw the Miami Vice episode "Evan."

 

 

DowningRules is going to lose his shit when he sees Miami Vice didn't make the list.

[RallyMo]

Where the hell is Sports Night?

[Brandon]

How does Salute Your Shorts or Hey Dude! not make this list?

Ridiculous.

[Sam Sanchez]

No Small Wonder?

[HaloCory22]

No Married With Children? I know some others brought it up earlier, but come on. Al ****ing Bundy! 

[InsideThePark]

Married with children got very stale the last several seasons. I'm guessing that had to have been a big factor.

Glad to see Downtown Abbey on the top half of the list, very solid show.

Lost ranked ahead of Battlestar Galactica is pretty iffy.

[stevestevens]

Dowtown Abbey?  My wife watches that.  I could watch season 1 with her, season 2 turned chick, season 3 was an unwatchable soap opera.  Season one was interesting when they explained how a house was ran and the different classes worked.  Once that was established, it was all chick flick soap opera crap.

 

Sherlock, needs to be on the list.  IMO, there has been nothing better on TV in the past 5 years.  That show is just completely awesome.  Can't wait for season 3!!

[gotbeer]

I've never watched it.  But I hear people rave over Doctor Who.

[InsideThePark]

Dowtown Abbey? My wife watches that. I could watch season 1 with her, season 2 turned chick, season 3 was an unwatchable soap opera. Season one was interesting when they explained how a house was ran and the different classes worked. Once that was established, it was all chick flick soap opera crap.

I've only seen season 1 but its maintained a very high user rating so I assumed that it would stay good. Guess I'll have to see about that.