Top 100 TV Shows of All Time – IGN.com

We’ve been enjoying a Golden Age of Television for well over a decade now, and it’s been absolutely epic. Dramas like Breaking Bad and The Wire have kept us on the edge of our seats. Sharp and subversive comedies like Arrested Development and Parks and Recreation are fantastic to binge watch. Even “genre” TV has been elevated to new heights thanks to gorgeous and vivid shows like Lost and Game of Thrones.

There may be more great television on the air now than ever before, but the truth is that television has always been a fantastic way to tell thoughtful, slow-burn character stories, or to slowly unfurl a tightly-wound mystery. ‘90s shows like The West Wing or The X-Files feel just as entertaining and relevant today as they did when they debuted. And our course it’s nearly impossible to overstate the importance and influence of greats like I Love Lucy and The Andy Griffith Show.

But which are the best of the best? Which have shows were so far ahead of their time and so immaculately made that they stand apart, demanding recognition? IGN’s TV addicts put out heads together to find out. These are the top 100 TV shows of all time.

Our criteria:

• Questions the panel considered about each show include: How influential was it? How well has it aged? Did the show have ongoing cultural significance?
• Finally, of course, our most important consideration was pure excellence. Is it beautiful? Well-written and acted? Does it feel like must-see TV?