100 Best TV Shows of the 2000s - IMDb

100 Best TV Shows of the 2000s

by mattdonnelly1 | created - 20 May 2011 | updated - 20 May 2011 | Public
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1. The Wire (2002–2008)

TV-MA | 60 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller

The Baltimore drug scene, as seen through the eyes of drug dealers and law enforcement.

Stars: Dominic West, Lance Reddick, Sonja Sohn, Wendell Pierce

Votes: 375,035

2. 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: 148,615

3. Arrested Development (2003–2019)

TV-14 | 22 min | Comedy

Level-headed son Michael Bluth takes over family affairs after his father is imprisoned. But the rest of his spoiled, dysfunctional family are making his job unbearable.

Stars: Jason Bateman, Michael Cera, Portia de Rossi, Will Arnett

Votes: 323,230

4. The West Wing (1999–2006)

TV-14 | 42 min | Drama

Inside the lives of staffers in the West Wing of the White House.

Stars: Martin Sheen, Rob Lowe, Allison Janney, John Spencer

Votes: 85,119

5. The Sopranos (1999–2007)

TV-MA | 60 min | Crime, Drama

New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano deals with personal and professional issues in his home and business life that affect his mental state, leading him to seek professional psychiatric counseling.

Stars: James Gandolfini, Lorraine Bracco, Edie Falco, Michael Imperioli

Votes: 466,696

6. Doctor Who (2005–2022)

TV-PG | 45 min | Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi

The further adventures in time and space of the alien adventurer known as the Doctor and his companions from planet Earth.

Stars: Jodie Whittaker, Peter Capaldi, Pearl Mackie, Matt Smith

Votes: 245,661

7. The Thick of It (2005–2012)

TV-MA | 30 min | Comedy

The Minister for Social Affairs is continually harassed by Number 10's policy enforcer and dependent on his not-so-reliable team of civil servants.

Stars: Chris Addison, James Smith, Peter Capaldi, Joanna Scanlan

Votes: 26,007

8. The Daily Show (1996– )

TV-14 | 22 min | Comedy, News, Talk-Show

A comedy news show featuring humorous takes on top stories.

Stars: Jon Stewart, Trevor Noah, Stephen Colbert, Roy Wood Jr.

Votes: 48,115

9. Life on Mars (2006–2007)

TV-14 | 959 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery

After a near-fatal car accident, smart, savvy, sharp-suited detective Sam is mysteriously transported back to 1973. Confused by his new surroundings, Sam tries to return to the present, but the police force of long ago needs his help.

Stars: John Simm, Philip Glenister, Liz White, Dean Andrews

Votes: 32,247

10. 30 Rock (2006–2013)

TV-14 | 22 min | Comedy

Liz Lemon, head writer of the sketch-comedy show "TGS with Tracy Jordan", must deal with an arrogant new boss and a crazy new star while trying to run a successful television show without losing her mind.

Stars: Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, Tracy Morgan, Jack McBrayer

Votes: 131,652

11. Planet Earth (2006)

TV-PG | 538 min | Documentary, Family

A documentary series on the wildlife found on Earth. Each episode covers a different habitat: deserts, mountains, deep oceans, shallow seas, forests, caves, polar regions, fresh water, plains and jungles. Narrated by David Attenborough.

Stars: Sigourney Weaver, David Attenborough, Nikolay Drozdov, Thomas Anguti Johnston

Votes: 219,219

12. The Office (2005–2013)

TV-14 | 22 min | Comedy

A mockumentary on a group of typical office workers, where the workday consists of ego clashes, inappropriate behavior, and tedium.

Stars: Steve Carell, Jenna Fischer, John Krasinski, Rainn Wilson

Votes: 705,552

13. The Office (2001–2003)

TV-MA | 30 min | Comedy, Drama

The story of an office that faces closure when the company decides to downsize its branches. A documentary film crew follow staff and the manager David Brent as they continue their daily lives.

Stars: Ricky Gervais, Martin Freeman, Mackenzie Crook, Lucy Davis

Votes: 122,691

14. Freaks and Geeks (1999–2000)

TV-14 | 45 min | Comedy, Drama

A high school mathlete starts hanging out with a group of burnouts while her younger brother navigates his freshman year.

Stars: Linda Cardellini, John Francis Daley, James Franco, Samm Levine

Votes: 152,769

15. Band of Brothers (2001)

TV-MA | 594 min | Drama, History, War

The story of Easy Company of the U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division and their mission in World War II Europe, from Operation Overlord to V-J Day.

Stars: Scott Grimes, Damian Lewis, Ron Livingston, Shane Taylor

Votes: 523,102

16. Peep Show (2003–2015)

TV-MA | 25 min | Comedy

Mark and Jez are a couple of twenty-something roommates who have nothing in common - except for the fact that their lives are anything but normal. Mayhem ensues as the pair strive to cope with day-to-day life.

Stars: David Mitchell, Robert Webb, Matt King, Olivia Colman

Votes: 66,273

17. 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: 404,631

18. 24 (2001–2014)

TV-14 | 44 min | Action, Crime, Drama

Counter Terrorism Agent Jack Bauer races against the clock to subvert terrorist plots and save his nation from ultimate disaster.

Stars: Kiefer Sutherland, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Carlos Bernard, Dennis Haysbert

Votes: 196,507

19. State of Play (2003)

TV-14 | 312 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery

Journalists uncover a government conspiracy when a young politician's assistant and mistress is killed.

Stars: John Simm, David Morrissey, Kelly Macdonald, Bill Nighy

Votes: 10,493

20. Mad Men (2007–2015)

TV-MA | 45 min | Drama

A drama about one of New York's most prestigious ad agencies at the beginning of the 1960s, focusing on one of the firm's most mysterious but extremely talented ad executives, Donald Draper.

Stars: Jon Hamm, Elisabeth Moss, Vincent Kartheiser, January Jones

Votes: 259,533

21. The Shield (2002–2008)

TV-MA | 45 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller

Drama series following the lives and cases of dirty cop Vic Mackey and the corrupt LAPD unit under his command.

Stars: Michael Chiklis, Catherine Dent, Walton Goggins, Michael Jace

Votes: 87,672

22. Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000–2024)

TV-MA | 30 min | Comedy

Larry David stars as an over-the-top version of himself in this comedy series that shows how seemingly trivial details of day-to-day life can precipitate a catastrophic chain of events.

Stars: Larry David, Cheryl Hines, Jeff Garlin, Susie Essman

Votes: 144,572

23. Outnumbered (2007–2016)

TV-14 | 30 min | Comedy, Drama

A part-improvised comedy about a couple bringing up their three young children.

Stars: Hugh Dennis, Claire Skinner, Tyger Drew-Honey, Daniel Roche

Votes: 12,132

24. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003)

TV-14 | 44 min | Action, Drama, Fantasy

A young woman, destined to slay vampires, demons and other infernal creatures, deals with her life fighting evil, with the help of her friends.

Stars: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Anthony Head

Votes: 159,131

25. Spaced (1999–2001)

TV-14 | 25 min | Comedy

Friends Tim and Daisy, 20-something North Londoners with uncertain futures, must pretend to be a couple to live in the only apartment they can afford.

Stars: Simon Pegg, Jessica Hynes, Julia Deakin, Nick Frost

Votes: 57,503

26. Sex and the City (1998–2004)

TV-MA | 30 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

Four female New Yorkers gossip about their sex lives (or lack thereof) and find new ways to deal with being a woman in the late 1990s.

Stars: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon

Votes: 141,672

27. Dexter (2006–2013)

TV-MA | 60 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery

He's smart. He's lovable. He's Dexter Morgan, America's favorite serial killer, who spends his days solving crimes and nights committing them.

Stars: Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Carpenter, David Zayas, James Remar

Votes: 761,566

28. MI-5 (2002–2011)

TV-14 | 60 min | Action, Crime, Drama

The missions of MI-5, the UK's domestic intelligence organization.

Stars: Peter Firth, Hugh Simon, Nicola Walker, Rupert Penry-Jones

Votes: 18,258

29. The Street (2006–2009)

TV-MA | 60 min | Drama

Series of one-off dramas, each focusing on a different house within the same street.

Stars: Timothy Spall, Ger Ryan, Lee Ingleby, Christine Bottomley

Votes: 1,304

30. Generation Kill (2008)

TV-MA | 70 min | Drama, War

A Rolling Stone reporter, embedded with The 1st Recon Marines chronicles his experiences during the first wave of the American-led assault on Baghdad in 2003.

Stars: Alexander Skarsgård, James Ransone, Lee Tergesen, Jon Huertas

Votes: 58,921

31. Black Books (2000–2004)

TV-PG | 25 min | Comedy

Bernard Black runs a book shop, though his customer service skills leave something to be desired. He hires Manny as an employee. Fran runs the shop next door. Between the three of them many adventures ensue.

Stars: Dylan Moran, Bill Bailey, Tamsin Greig, Paul Beech

Votes: 61,780

32. Malcolm in the Middle (2000–2006)

TV-PG | 22 min | Comedy, Family

A gifted young teen tries to survive life with his dimwitted, dysfunctional family.

Stars: Frankie Muniz, Bryan Cranston, Justin Berfield, Erik Per Sullivan

Votes: 141,989

33. In Treatment (2008–2021)

TV-MA | 25 min | Drama

A psychotherapist questions his abilities and gets help by reuniting with his old therapist, whom he has not seen for ten years.

Stars: Gabriel Byrne, Uzo Aduba, Dianne Wiest, Michelle Forbes

Votes: 18,223

34. Green Wing (2004–2007)

TV-14 | 65 min | Comedy, Drama

Funky hospital-based sketch-comedy-drama type show.

Stars: Sally Bretton, Oliver Chris, Olivia Colman, Michelle Gomez

Votes: 12,727

35. Flight of the Conchords (2007–2009)

TV-MA | 28 min | Comedy, Music, Musical

Bret and Jemaine are Flight of the Conchords, a folk-rock band from New Zealand living in New York City in search of stardom.

Stars: Jemaine Clement, Bret McKenzie, Rhys Darby, Kristen Schaal

Votes: 65,836

36. Lost (2004–2010)

TV-14 | 5,445 min | Adventure, Drama, Fantasy

The survivors of a plane crash are forced to work together in order to survive on a seemingly deserted tropical island.

Stars: Jorge Garcia, Josh Holloway, Yunjin Kim, Evangeline Lilly

Votes: 592,575

37. Criminal Justice (2008–2009)

Not Rated | 584 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery

Drama series following people accused of crimes and their journey through the British Criminal Justice System.

Stars: Ben Whishaw, Maxine Peake, Bill Paterson, Alice Sykes

Votes: 2,096

38. Deadwood (2004–2006)

TV-MA | 60 min | Crime, Drama, History

A show set in the late 1800s, revolving around the characters of Deadwood, South Dakota; a town of deep corruption and crime.

Stars: Timothy Olyphant, Ian McShane, Molly Parker, Brad Dourif

Votes: 117,156

39. Brass Eye (1997–2001)

TV-MA | 25 min | Comedy

Controversial spoof of current affairs television, and the role of celebrity in the UK.

Stars: Christopher Morris, Mark Heap, Kevin Eldon, Doon Mackichan

Votes: 11,519

40. Oz (1997–2003)

TV-MA | 55 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller

A series chronicling the daily activities of an unusual prison facility and its criminal inhabitants.

Stars: Ernie Hudson, J.K. Simmons, Lee Tergesen, Dean Winters

Votes: 106,298

41. Shameless (2004–2013)

TV-MA | 90 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama

The lives and relationships of a group of siblings and their estranged father Frank Gallagher on a rough Manchester estate.

Stars: David Threlfall, Rebecca Atkinson, Alice Barry, Nicky Evans

Votes: 18,384

42. Weeds (2005–2012)

TV-MA | 28 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama

When a suburban mother turns to dealing marijuana in order to maintain her privileged lifestyle after her husband dies, she finds out just how addicted her entire neighborhood already is.

Stars: Mary-Louise Parker, Hunter Parrish, Alexander Gould, Kevin Nealon

Votes: 117,105

43. Gavin & Stacey (2007–2024)

TV-14 | 29 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

Gavin and Stacey have been continuing their romance on-line and by telephone for the last six months. Now they want to be together but will their friends and family let them?

Stars: Joanna Page, Mathew Horne, Alison Steadman, Ruth Jones

Votes: 22,567

44. Entourage (2004–2011)

TV-MA | 28 min | Comedy, Drama

Film star, Vince Chase, navigates the vapid terrain of Los Angeles with a close circle of friends and his trusty agent.

Stars: Kevin Connolly, Adrian Grenier, Kevin Dillon, Jerry Ferrara

Votes: 1