Top 50 All-Time TV Shows

AintItCoolNews recently discovered a list created by Empire Magazine out of Great Britian. Empire chose their 50 best TV shows of all time - and most of those are US-made!

The full list can be found at the AICN or Empire sites. However, what struck me about the list was the strong representation of Sci-Fi shows scattered throughout the ranking. Just take a look:

#50-41: Quantum Leap, Veronica Mars (honorary - she said 'Frak!' in an episode), Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Farscape, Star Trek

#40-31: Star Trek: The Next Generation, Alias (somewhat honorary...but there was Rambaldi), Babylon 5

#30-21: Red Dwarf, Futurama, Twin Peaks, Angel

#20-11: Doctor Who, Heroes, Firefly, Battlestar Galactica

and...in the top 10:

#9. The X-Files
#5. Lost
#2. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (totally deserved!)
(Just for the record, #1 was "The Simpsons")

Although I can quibble over the order (how is "Heroes" higher than "Doctor Who", the original "Star Trek" or "Angel"?) and some big omissions (not Sci-Fi, but M.A.S.H?), the main fact is that about 40% of the best TV *ever* was in our genre. That's big.

I feel like a proud papa. Now, I just wish the networks would read this type of list and let a few of the Sci-Fi shows mature. Where would "Firefly" rank if it was not cancelled after half a season?

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