An Old Persons 50 Favorite TV Shows
by mjjbinnj | created - 26 Mar 2013 | updated - 26 Mar 2013 | PublicThis list of TV Shows is based on nothing other than I enjoyed watching them; of course some of them were in reruns.
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1. The Ed Sullivan Show (1948–1971)
TV-G | 60 min | Music, Talk-Show
The classic prime time variety show most famous for its vaudeville acts and rock music performances.
Stars: Ed Sullivan, The Ray Bloch Orchestra, Ray Bloch, Johnny Wayne
Votes: 1,561
2. I Love Lucy (1951–1957)
TV-Y | 30 min | Comedy, Family
The wife of a band leader constantly tries to become a star - in spite of her having no talent, and gets herself (along with her best friend) into the funniest predicaments.
Stars: Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, William Frawley
Votes: 28,921
3. Hazel (1961–1966)
30 min | Comedy
The misadventures of the Baxter family and their live-in maid, Hazel Burke.
Stars: Shirley Booth, Bobby Buntrock, Don DeFore, Whitney Blake
Votes: 2,124
4. Combat! (1962–1967)
60 min | Action, Drama, War
Combat!, a one-hour World War II drama series, followed a front line American infantry squad as they battled their way across Europe
Stars: Vic Morrow, Rick Jason, Pierre Jalbert, Jack Hogan
Votes: 3,144
5. You're in the Picture (1961)
30 min | Comedy, Family, Game-Show
The four panelists put their heads through a cutout in a board. They did not know what was painted on the board and their job was to guess what it was.
Stars: Jackie Gleason, Johnny Olson, Dennis James, Rod Serling
Votes: 59
6. The Outer Limits (1963–1965)
TV-PG | 51 min | Fantasy, Horror, Sci-Fi
An anthology series of insightful science fiction tales.
Stars: Bob Johnson, Ben Wright, William Douglas, Robert Culp
Votes: 9,307
7. Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1964–1968)
TV-G | 52 min | Adventure, Sci-Fi
The submarine Seaview is commissioned to investigate the mysteries of the seas. Usually it finds more problems than answers...
Stars: Richard Basehart, David Hedison, Robert Dowdell, Del Monroe
Votes: 4,204
8. Bewitched (1964–1972)
TV-G | 25 min | Comedy, Family, Fantasy
A witch married to an ordinary man cannot resist using her magic powers to solve the problems her family faces.
Stars: Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick York, Dick Sargent, Agnes Moorehead
Votes: 24,392
9. The Wild Wild West (1965–1969)
TV-PG | 50 min | Action, Adventure, Western
Two Secret Service agents, equipped with a wide array of gizmos, work for the government in the Old West.
Stars: Robert Conrad, Ross Martin, Dick Cangey, Whitey Hughes
Votes: 6,502
10. Hogan's Heroes (1965–1971)
TV-PG | 25 min | Comedy, War
The inmates of a German World War II prisoner of war camp conduct an espionage and sabotage campaign right under the noses of their warders.
Stars: Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, John Banner, Robert Clary
Votes: 12,343
11. The Dean Martin Show (1965–1974)
TV-PG | Comedy, Music
Dean Martin hosts, with several celebrities as guests. There are musical acts and comedy sketches that break down comedy, racial, and sexual barriers all at the same time.
Stars: Dean Martin, The Dingaling Sisters, Ken Lane, Lou Jacobi
Votes: 1,429
12. The F.B.I. (1965–1974)
60 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
The cases of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Stars: Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Philip Abbott, William Reynolds, Stephen Brooks
Votes: 1,375
13. Batman (1966–1968)
TV-G | 25 min | Action, Crime, Fantasy
The Caped Crusader and his young ward battle evildoers in Gotham City.
Stars: Adam West, Burt Ward, Alan Napier, Neil Hamilton
Votes: 26,158
14. That Girl (1966–1971)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy, Drama
An aspiring actress moves from her hometown of Brewster, New York, to try to make it big in New York City, having to take several offbeat "temp" jobs to support herself in between her various auditions and bit parts.
Stars: Marlo Thomas, Ted Bessell, Lew Parker, Bernie Kopell
Votes: 3,264
15. Mission: Impossible (1966–1973)
TV-PG | 50 min | Action, Adventure, Crime
An elite covert operations unit carries out highly sensitive missions subject to official denial in the event of failure, death or capture.
Stars: Peter Graves, Barbara Bain, Greg Morris, Peter Lupus
Votes: 11,501
16. The Carol Burnett Show (1967–1978)
TV-G | 60 min | Comedy, Family
Television show featuring skits by Carol Burnett and her comedy troupe.
Stars: Carol Burnett, Vicki Lawrence, The Ernie Flatt Dancers, Harvey Korman
Votes: 7,305
17. Here Come the Brides (1968–1970)
TV-G | 60 min | Adventure, Western
The adventures of a logging work team and the marriageable single women sent to them in post-American Civil War Seattle in the Washington Territory.
Stars: Robert Brown, Bobby Sherman, David Soul, Bridget Hanley
Votes: 1,044
18. The Ghost & Mrs. Muir (1968–1970)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy, Fantasy
Derived from the 1947 movie with the same name, a house is haunted by a deceased sea captain who wreaks havoc with the new tenants who were not advised of his existence.
Stars: Hope Lange, Edward Mulhare, Reta Shaw, Harlen Carraher
Votes: 1,607
19. Mod Squad (1968–1973)
TV-PG | 60 min | Action, Crime, Drama
A trio of reformed juvenile delinquents work as undercover cops.
Stars: Michael Cole, Clarence Williams III, Peggy Lipton, Tige Andrews
Votes: 2,354
20. Laugh-In (1967–1973)
TV-PG | 60 min | Comedy, Music
The original rapid fire sketch comedy show.
Stars: Dan Rowan, Dick Martin, Gary Owens, Ruth Buzzi
Votes: 3,659
21. Hawaii Five-O (1968–1980)
TV-PG | 60 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
The investigations of Hawaii Five-0, an elite branch of the Hawaii State Police answerable only to the governor and headed by stalwart Steve McGarrett.
Stars: Jack Lord, James MacArthur, Kam Fong, Herman Wedemeyer
Votes: 8,192
22. The Courtship of Eddie's Father (1969–1972)
Not Rated | 30 min | Comedy, Family
Widower Tom Corbett raises his young son Eddie.
Stars: Bill Bixby, Brandon Cruz, Miyoshi Umeki, Kristina Holland
Votes: 1,602
23. Marcus Welby, M.D. (1969–1976)
TV-PG | 60 min | Drama
Dr. Marcus Welby, a general practitioner, and Steven Kiley, Welby's young assistant. The two try to treat people as individuals in an age of specialized medicine and indifferent physicians.
Stars: Robert Young, James Brolin, Elena Verdugo, Pamela Hensley
Votes: 1,793
24. The Odd Couple (1970–1975)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy
Two men, a neat freak and a slob separated from their wives, have to live together despite their differences.
Stars: Tony Randall, Jack Klugman, Al Molinaro, Penny Marshall
Votes: 7,185
25. The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970–1977)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
The lives and trials of a young single woman and her friends, both at work and at home.
Stars: Mary Tyler Moore, Edward Asner, Gavin MacLeod, Valerie Harper
Votes: 10,177
26. The Bob Newhart Show (1972–1978)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy
The professional and personal misadventures of a psychologist and his family, patients, friends and colleagues.
Stars: Bob Newhart, Suzanne Pleshette, Bill Daily, Marcia Wallace
Votes: 6,736
27. M*A*S*H (1972–1983)
TV-PG | 25 min | Comedy, Drama, War
The staff of an Army hospital in the Korean War find that laughter is the best way to deal with their situation.
Stars: Alan Alda, Wayne Rogers, Loretta Swit, Jamie Farr
Votes: 63,824
28. Are You Being Served? (1972–1985)
TV-PG | 28 min | Comedy
The misadventures of the staff of a retail floor of a major department store.
Stars: Mollie Sugden, John Inman, Frank Thornton, Wendy Richard
Votes: 9,232
A BBC show watched on PBS.
29. Nova (1974– )
TV-PG | 60 min | Documentary
Science documentaries about various topics.
Stars: Jay O. Sanders, Craig Sechler, Stacy Keach, Eric Meyers
Votes: 3,096
A PBS series.
30. Family (1976–1980)
TV-PG | 60 min | Drama, Family
The joys and heartaches of the Lawrence family of Pasadena, California.
Stars: Sada Thompson, James Broderick, Gary Frank, Kristy McNichol
Votes: 2,057
31. Fantasy Island (1977–1984)
TV-G | 60 min | Adventure, Family, Fantasy
The mysterious Mr. Roarke runs a unique resort island in the Pacific Ocean that can fulfill any fantasy, but they rarely turn out as expected.
Stars: Ricardo Montalban, Hervé Villechaize, Wendy Schaal, Christopher Hewett
Votes: 8,979
32. Dynasty (1981–1989)
TV-PG | 60 min | Drama, Romance
The trials and tribulations of two feuding families, the Carringtons and the Colbys, both oil rich families in Denver, Colorado.
Stars: John Forsythe, Linda Evans, Joan Collins, Gordon Thomson
Votes: 8,471
33. Brothers (1984–1989)
22 min | Comedy
When their youngest brother comes out as gay, two conservative men support him and help him navigate being openly gay in 1980s Philadelphia.
Stars: Robert Walden, Paul Regina, Brandon Maggart, Hallie Todd
Votes: 420
A Showtime series.
34. The Golden Girls (1985–1992)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy, Drama
Four previously married women live together in Miami, sharing their various experiences together and enjoying themselves despite hard times.
Stars: Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, Estelle Getty
Votes: 47,240
35. American Experience (1987– )
TV-PG | 120 min | Documentary, Biography, History
A series showcasing documentaries on American history.
Stars: David McCullough, David Ogden Stiers, Michael Murphy, Oliver Platt
Votes: 2,205
A PBS series.
36. Tales from the Crypt (1989–1996)
TV-MA | 25 min | Comedy, Crime, Fantasy
"Tales from the Crypt" was a 1989 horror story anthology series based on the gruesome E.C. comic books of the 1950s presented by the legendary "Crypt Keeper", a sinister ghoul obsessed with gallows humor and horrific puns.
Stars: John Kassir, Roy Brocksmith, Miguel Ferrer, Cam Clarke
Votes: 27,085
HBO series
37. In Living Color (1990–1994)
TV-14 | 30 min | Comedy, Music
The Wayans siblings present an African-American focused sketch comedy show.
Stars: Keenen Ivory Wayans, Jim Carrey, Kelly Coffield Park, Terrence Brown
Votes: 12,763
38. Keeping Up Appearances (1990–1995)
TV-PG | 60 min | Comedy
A snobbish housewife is determined to climb the social ladder, in spite of her family's working class connections and the constant chagrin of her long suffering husband.
Stars: Patricia Routledge, Clive Swift, Geoffrey Hughes, Judy Cornwell
Votes: 17,881
A BBC show watched on PBS.
39. Law & Order (1990– )
TV-14 | 45 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
New York's finest police detectives and prosecutors fight to make the city a safer place. With integrity as the guiding force from investigation to verdict, the teams weigh every perspective in their commitment to finding justice.
Stars: Jerry Orbach, Jesse L. Martin, Dennis Farina, Sam Waterston
Votes: 44,634
40. The Nanny (1993–1999)
TV-PG | 22 min | Comedy, Family, Romance
After being fired from her job and dumped by her boyfriend, a cosmetics saleswoman becomes the nanny to the three children of a rich English widower. As time passes, the two fall for each other.
Stars: Fran Drescher, Charles Shaughnessy, Daniel Davis, Lauren Lane
Votes: 49,336
41. NYPD Blue (1993–2005)
TV-14 | 45 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Detectives from NYPD's 15th Precinct investigate homicides within their precinct.
Stars: Dennis Franz, Jimmy Smits, Gordon Clapp, James McDaniel
Votes: 16,343
42. The Drew Carey Show (1995–2004)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
A sitcom about Drew's personal and professional life.
Stars: Drew Carey, Diedrich Bader, Kathy Kinney, Ryan Stiles
Votes: 19,319
43. South Park (1997– )
TV-MA | 22 min | Animation, Comedy
Follows the misadventures of four irreverent grade-schoolers in the quiet, dysfunctional town of South Park, Colorado.
Stars: Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Isaac Hayes, Mona Marshall
Votes: 406,067
44. Dharma & Greg (1997–2002)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy, Romance
A free-spirited yoga instructor finds true love in a conservative lawyer and they get married on the first date. Though they are polar opposites, he fulfills her need of stability and she fulfills his need of optimism.
Stars: Jenna Elfman, Thomas Gibson, Joel Murray, Mimi Kennedy
Votes: 32,148
45. Trading Spaces (2000– )
TV-G | 60 min | Reality-TV
Two teams, two days, $1000. This show pits neighbor against neighbor in a race to redecorate a room in each-other's homes. Can a friendship survive this weekend?
Stars: Paige Davis, Hildi Santo Tomas, Frank Bielec, Faber Dewar
Votes: 832
A TLC show.
46. Six Feet Under (2001–2005)
TV-MA | 60 min | Comedy, Drama
A chronicle of the lives of a dysfunctional family who run an independent funeral home in Los Angeles.
Stars: Peter Krause, Michael C. Hall, Frances Conroy, Lauren Ambrose
Votes: 149,480
HBO series.
47. Reba (2001–2007)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy, Drama
Reba McEntire stars as the titular character in this smash sitcom about a single mom of three, navigating life in a Houston suburb.
Stars: Reba McEntire, JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Steve Howey, Christopher Rich
Votes: 17,221
48. Smallville (2001–2017)
TV-PG | 60 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
A young Clark Kent struggles to find his place in the world as he learns to harness his alien powers for good and deals with the typical troubles of teenage life in Smallville, Kansas.
Stars: Tom Welling, Michael Rosenbaum, Allison Mack, Kristin Kreuk
Votes: 138,142
49. Carnivàle (2003–2005)
TV-MA | 60 min | Drama, Fantasy, Mystery
During the Great Depression, an Oklahoma farm boy and a charismatic minister learn that they are key players in a proxy war being fought between Heaven and Hell.
Stars: Michael J. Anderson, Adrienne Barbeau, Clancy Brown, Debra Christofferson
Votes: 46,880
HBO series.
50. American Horror Story (2011– )
TV-MA | 60 min | Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi
An anthology series centering on different characters and locations, showcasing different aspects of horror.
Stars: Lady Gaga, Kathy Bates, Angela Bassett, Sarah Paulson
Votes: 343,941
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