The 20 best shows on Freevee

Alias (2001–2006)

For those who know Jennifer Garner as the person from all those kids movies (and PEOPLE's lifestyle section), you may be surprised to learn that she was one of the most badass action stars of her generation. On Alias, Garner starred as Sydney Bristow, a CIA agent who lives in a world of constantly evolving deception. It's pure adrenaline, a masterful mix of hour-long melodrama and action-heavy intrigue. —Declan Gallagher

Where to watch Alias: Freevee

Cast: Jennifer Garner, Victor Garber, Bradley Cooper, Michael Vartan

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All in the Family (1971–1979)

Despite airing half a century ago, this Emmy-winning sitcom is more relevant the stronger the American political divide becomes. Archie Bunker (Carroll O'Connor) is a working-class man with strongly held "traditional" values who often gets into heated debates with his liberal son-in-law, Michael (Rob Reiner). Caught in the crosshairs are Archie's doting wife Edith (Jean Stapleton) and their daughter Gloria (Sally Struthers), as all four discuss some of the hot-button issues facing the country, from war to racism to equal rights. —Kevin Jacobsen

Where to watch All in the Family: Freevee

Cast: Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, Sally Struthers, Rob Reiner

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Bob Ross: The Joy of Painting (1983–1994)

Painter Bob Ross' legacy has extended far beyond the reach of this long-running PBS series. The art instructor's calming presence, his love of "happy little clouds," and his iconic perm are simply eternal. The Joy of Painting features Ross teaching how to paint an oil landscape, frequently giving a personal touch to each new object he crafts, making them come to life even further. The series is a great watch for budding painters as much as those who just need a peaceful vibe after a chaotic day. —K.J.

Where to watch Bob Ross: The Joy of Painting: Freevee

Cast: Bob Ross

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The Carol Burnett Show (1967–1978)

Carol Burnett etched her name in TV history with this long-running variety show. Alongside Harvey Korman, Vicki Lawrence, and Lyle Waggoner — and, later, Tim Conway and Dick Van Dyke — Burnett parodied pop culture and created distinctive characters of their own, such as "the Family," which eventually became a sitcom of its own, Mama's Family. Not every sketch was a winner, but when The Carol Burnett Show hit, there was nothing funnier on television. —K.J.

Where to watch The Carol Burnett Show: Freevee

Cast: Carol Burnett, Harvey Korman, Vicki Lawrence, Lyle Waggoner, Tim Conway, Dick Van Dyke

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Cold Case Files (1999–2017)

It was the only show on A&E circa 1999 that could consistently provide sleepless nights, and not much has changed since. Cold Case Files remains a high watermark of the true-crime documentary format from before the genre became a minefield of cheesy recreations with little emotional resonance. The series consistently delivers mysteries and real-life horrors that true crime fans enjoy, but crucially, it never loses sight of the victims or exploits their suffering for morbid thrills. —D.G.

Where to watch Cold Case Files: Freevee

Cast: Bill Kurtis

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Detectorists (2014–2017)

This gentle BBC dramedy about metal detectorists (Toby Jones and the program's creator, writer, and director, Mackenzie Crook) who search for treasure in north Essex is quiet, contemplative, and in its own way, often profound. It's also tremendously witty, laugh-out-loud funny, and features some of the best work that its two estimable stars have accomplished in their careers. —D.G.

Where to watch Detectorists: Freevee

Cast: Toby Jones, Mackenzie Crook

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Everybody Hates Chris (2005–2009)

Before his Golden Globe-winning role as Gregory Eddie on Abbott Elementary, the world was introduced to Tyler James Williams with this UPN-turned-CW sitcom. Based loosely on Chris Rock's life growing up in Brooklyn, Williams portrays a teenage Chris as he adjusts to a mostly-white junior high school. But the heart of the show is Chris' dysfunctional family, especially his hard-working father and strong-willed mother, creating a hilarious, relatable portrait of a family trying to get by in 1980s New York. —K.J.

Where to watch Everybody Hates Chris: Freevee

Cast: Tyler James Williams, Terry Crews, Tichina Arnold, Tequan Richmond, Imani Hakim, Vincent Martella

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Fringe (2008–2013)

Some cases simply cannot be solved with hard logic, as explored in this criminally underrated sci-fi drama. In the series, the FBI creates a Fringe Division to handle unexplained phenomena, comprising of determined FBI agent Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv), skeptical consultant Peter (Joshua Jackson), and his eccentric scientist father Walter (John Noble). What started as a case-of-the-week procedural with a sci-fi twist soon turned into a fascinating trip through parallel universes, with alternate timelines, doppelgängers, and more, while maintaining strong character dynamics between the core three, each flawed in their own way. —K.J.

Where to watch Fringe: Freevee

EW grade: B+ (read the review)

Cast: Anna Torv, Joshua Jackson, John Noble, Lance Reddick, Kirk Acevedo, Blair Brown, Jasika Nicole, Mark Valley

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The Good Wife (2009–2016)

At a time when cable and streaming drew most of the attention when it came to quality TV, The Good Wife stood as proof that network television was still capable of greatness. The legal drama stars Julianna Margulies as a Chicago mother whose husband is jailed after a public scandal, leading to her returning to her career as a litigator. Surrounding Margulies, whose powerhouse performance won her two Emmys, is a stellar ensemble including Matt Czuchry, Archie Panjabi, Josh Charles, and Christine Baranski, the latter of whom earned her own Paramount+ spinoff, The Good Fight. —K.J.

Where to watch The Good Wife: Freevee

EW grade: B+ (read the review)

Cast: Julianna Margulies, Matt Czuchry, Archie Panjabi, Josh Charles, Christine Baranski, Alan Cumming, Graham Phillips, Makenzie Vega

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High School (2022)

Based on the memoir by indie music icons Tegan and Sara and adapted by Clea DuVall, High School stars sisters Railey and Seazynn Gilliland as the duo in their teenage years. A brilliant and textured evocation of '90s grunge culture, this Freevee original series examines the twins' coming of age in a highly specific yet somehow universal fashion. The tone is expertly executed, smartly mirroring the charm of the era's girl-power comedies, while the performers always find the truth behind each moment. —D.G.

Where to watch High School: Freevee

EW grade: B+ (read the review)

Cast: Railey Gilliland, Seazynn Gilliland, Cobie Smulders, Kyle Bornheimer

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Jury Duty (2023)

Jury Duty is the show that made Freevee (and its star, Ronald Gladden) a household name. This cringe mockumentary — think Nathan Fielder adjacent, but gentler — succeeds tremendously in hitting its admittedly broad target of the American justice system. Gladden as a juror is the only participant who is not aware that the courtroom's scenario is entirely fictitious. Appearing as an insufferable version of himself is James Marsden, who is certainly having one of the most interesting careers in recent memory. (He's terrific here, which is evident by his 2023 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.) Gladden's sparring with Marsden — the former begins the series as a preening fanboy before realizing the Sonic the Hedgehog star might be the most problematic member of the jury — is the show's crowning glory. —D.G.

Where to watch Jury Duty: Freevee

Cast: Ronald Gladden, James Marsden, Alan Barinholtz

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The Middle (2009–2018)

This nine-season sitcom from the writers of Roseanne centers on a lower-middle-class family trying to get by in a small Indiana town. The Middle was lauded by critics for its realistic depiction of the everyday struggles of blue-collar families — not often seen on network TV — and for the performances by stars Patricia Heaton, Neil Flynn, Charlie McDermott, and Eden Sher, who won a Critics Choice award for her performance as the exuberant middle child, Sue Heck. —K.J.

Where to watch The Middle: Freevee

EW grade: B+ (read the review)

Cast: Patricia Heaton, Neil Flynn, Charlie McDermott, Eden Sher, Atticus Shaffer, Chris Kattan

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Nashville (2012–2018)

This soapy drama focuses on the careers and love lives of country music singers living in Nashville, Tenn. Connie Britton is Rayna Jaymes, a fading superstar who has conflict with rising country-pop star Juliette Barnes (Hayden Panettiere), who hopes to become the new queen of country music. Complicating matters is Deacon (Charles Esten), Rayna's former lover and current lead guitarist of his band, whom Juliette wants for her tour. The series also features a great soundtrack of original songs. —K.J.

Where to watch Nashville: Freevee

Cast: Connie Britton, Hayden Panettiere, Clare Bowen, Eric Close, Charles Esten, Jonathan Jackson, Sam Palladio, Robert Wisdom, Powers Boothe

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Person of Interest (2011–2016)

This prescient crime procedural examines the ethical implications of using state-of-the-art technology to predict future crimes. Jim Caviezel stars as a former soldier who teams up with a reclusive billionaire (Michael Emerson) who develops a surveillance machine that reveals social security numbers of those suspected of terrorist activity. The power of the machine creates further ramifications as rivals try to gain access to it. Not unlike another show on this list, Fringe, Person of Interest began with a simple twist on your average crime procedural but eventually blossomed into an inventive serialized thriller with a lot on its mind. —K.J.

Where to watch Person of Interest: Freevee

Cast: Jim Caviezel, Taraji P. Henson, Kevin Chapman, Michael Emerson, Amy Acker, Sarah Shahi

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Primo (2023)

Shea Serrano's warm-hearted, semi-autobiographical series is one of Freevee's sharpest original works, following teenager Rafa (Ignacio Diaz-Silverio) as he navigates his chaotic home life while dreaming of a successful future. The on-location filming in New Mexico gives the series a realistic heft that plays nicely against the more traditional (though well-devised) sitcom shenanigans. —D.G.

Where to watch Primo: Freevee

Cast: Ignacio Diaz-Silverio, Christina Vidal, Henri Esteve, Carlos Santos, Stakiah Lynn Washington

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Raising Hope (2010–2014)

A 23-year-old man living in a small town impregnates a serial killer and finds himself suddenly raising their baby daughter after the mother is sentenced to death. Not exactly a standard sitcom setup, but Raising Hope finds the dark humor in it, telling the story of the Chances, a working-class family that comes together to raise their newest member, and all the hijinks that come therein. The series, which aired for four seasons on Fox, was at its best when blending the wackiness of the Chance family's circumstances with the realism of everyday life for a lower-middle-class family just trying to find peace of mind. —K.J.

Where to watch Raising Hope: Freevee

Cast: Lucas Neff, Martha Plimpton, Garret Dillahunt, Shannon Woodward, Gregg Binkley, Cloris Leachman

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Schitt's Creek (2015–2020)

This brilliant comedy concerns a wealthy family who goes bankrupt and is forced to move to the titular town, which they bought years ago as a joke. Industry legends Catherine O'Hara and Eugene Levy star as the mom and dad, while their sniping, preening adult children are Annie Murphy and Dan Levy (real-life son of Eugene). Schitt's Creek premiered on the little-known Pop TV network in 2015 before becoming a comfort viewing staple on streaming platforms. It's one of the most irreverent and consistently witty — not to mention surprising — series on television. Much of its indelible success comes from the stellar cast (who swept the Emmys in 2020) who carry the absurd comedy without missing the inherent pathos of the writing. If you've not watched it yet, six seasons of bliss await you. —D.G.

Where to watch Schitt's Creek: Freevee

Cast: Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Annie Murphy, Dan Levy, Chris Elliott

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Spaced (1999–2001)

This delightful series stars co-creators Simon Pegg and Jessica Hynes as two new friends who decide to take the leap of moving in together. Edgar Wright directs while Nick Frost appears in a supporting role that echoes his and Pegg's relationship in the Wright-helmed Shaun of the Dead. In fact, there's a lot here that gestures broadly at both the director's forthcoming filmography and the careers of Pegg and Frost. It's also one of the funniest and most creative series the BBC has seen. —D.G.

Where to watch Spaced: Freevee

Cast: Simon Pegg, Jessica Hynes, Nick Frost, Mark Heap

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The Twilight Zone (1959–1964)

The prototypical anthology series, created and hosted by Rod Serling, is still one of the very best examples of the format. Its episodes are by turn funny, sad, and socially relevant, but also always horrifying. There are moments in the original Twilight Zone run that, without using any overt violence or gore, manage to be some of the most nightmarish and enduring images of all time (in black and white, no less). —D.G.

Where to watch The Twilight Zone: Freevee

Cast: Rod Serling

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Weeds (2005–2012)

The breezy Showtime series Weeds is inarguably at its best during its first four (of eight) seasons. Even after the plots get a bit outlandish, the brilliant central performance of Mary-Louise Parker as a widow forced into dealing drugs to support her family remains unimpeachable. —D.G.

Where to watch Weeds: Freevee

EW grade: B+ (read the review)

Cast: Mary-Louise Parker, Elizabeth Perkins, Justin Kirk, Andy Milder, Tonye Patano

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