20 Shows Actually Worth Watching
by wanderinginthecity | created - 13 May 2011 | updated - 13 May 2011 | PublicNo guilty pleasures here, just pure goodness!
- Instant Watch Options
- Genres
- Movies or TV
- IMDb Rating
- In Theaters
- Release Year
- Keywords
1. 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: 153,308
The top of any good tv list.
2. Wonderfalls (2004)
TV-PG | 60 min | Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
24-year-old loner B.A. Jaye lives in a trailer park and sells souvenirs in Niagara Falls. Animal figurines and dolls speak to her and force her to interact with people and try to help them.
Stars: Caroline Dhavernas, Katie Finneran, Tyron Leitso, William Sadler
Votes: 13,113
3. Pushing Daisies (2007–2009)
TV-PG | 44 min | Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
A pastry chef with the power to bring dead people back to life solves murder mysteries with his resurrected childhood sweetheart, a cynical private investigator, and a lovesick waitress.
Stars: Lee Pace, Anna Friel, Chi McBride, Jim Dale
Votes: 59,577
Too bad for the writers strike, and too bad it really picked up its swing towards the end.
4. Dead Like Me (2003–2004)
TV-14 | 60 min | Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
After being hit on the head by a toilet seat that fell from Mir space station, a young temp clerk becomes a grim reaper in death.
Stars: Ellen Muth, Callum Blue, Jasmine Guy, Mandy Patinkin
Votes: 43,921
Please don't bother with the movie.
5. Undeclared (2001–2003)
TV-14 | 404 min | Comedy
College freshman Steve Karp, his girlfriend and their fellow dormmates embark on one of the greatest experiences of their lives. Unfortunately for Steve, his lonely and recently divorced father is tagging along for the ride.
Stars: Jay Baruchel, Carla Gallo, Charlie Hunnam, Monica Keena
Votes: 17,490
6. Dorm Life (2008– )
Comedy
A mockumentary web series created by former students of UCLA. It follows the fictional lives of the inhabitants of the college dorm floor 5 South.
Stars: Jack De Sena, Chris W. Smith, Brian C. Singleton, Jim Brandon
Votes: 516
This mini internet series is absolutely great.
7. How I Met Your Mother (2005–2014)
TV-14 | 4,576 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
A father recounts to his children - through a series of flashbacks - the journey he and his four best friends took leading up to him meeting their mother.
Stars: Josh Radnor, Jason Segel, Cobie Smulders, Neil Patrick Harris
Votes: 728,801
8. American Dreams (2002–2005)
TV-PG | 60 min | Drama, Family, History
In the 1960s, a family experiences life and the struggles of the era, accompanied by the well-known pop songs of the period.
Stars: Gail O'Grady, Tom Verica, Brittany Snow, Jonathan Adams
Votes: 3,256
Maybe just because I love my city of Philly so much, but this is a good story, with good music performances.
9. Top Chef (2006– )
TV-14 | 44 min | Game-Show, Reality-TV
A reality competition show in which chefs compete against one another in culinary challenges and are a judged by a panel of food and wine experts, with one or more contestants eliminated each episode.
Stars: Tom Colicchio, Padma Lakshmi, Gail Simmons, Richard Blais
Votes: 6,843
Just because it's reality doesn't make it bad.
10. Clone High (2002–2003)
TV-14 | 30 min | Animation, Comedy, Sci-Fi
The greatest minds of the world have been cloned, and are now attending high school together.
Stars: Will Forte, Phil Lord, Michael McDonald, Christa Miller
Votes: 9,018
11. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (2008–2009)
TV-PG | 60 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama
Precious Ramotswe launches the first-ever female detective agency in Botswana. She embarks on various adventures while investigating cases and must also overcome several challenges in her quest.
Stars: Jill Scott, Anika Noni Rose, Lucian Msamati, Desmond Dube
Votes: 3,847
12. Planet Earth (2006)
TV-PG | 49 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: 220,349
13. 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: 324,333
14. Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969–1974)
TV-14 | 30 min | Comedy
The original surreal sketch comedy showcase for the Monty Python troupe.
Stars: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle
Votes: 78,817
15. Heroes (II) (2006–2010)
TV-14 | 45 min | Drama, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Common people discover that they have super powers. Their lives intertwine as a devastating event must be prevented.
Stars: Jack Coleman, Hayden Panettiere, Milo Ventimiglia, Masi Oka
Votes: 251,693
Well, the first season.
16. Being Erica (2009–2011)
TV-14 | 45 min | Adventure, Comedy, Drama
"Therapist" Dr. Tom - who is constantly spouting famous and not so famous historical quotes - is Erica Strange's savior and worst enemy.
Stars: Erin Karpluk, Reagan Pasternak, Michael Riley, Kathleen Laskey
Votes: 10,203
Borderline, but worth a watch.
17. Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations (2005–2012)
TV-PG | 60 min | Documentary, Adventure, Reality-TV
Anthony Bourdain, chef, writer, traveler, visits places all around the world sampling various foods.
Stars: Anthony Bourdain, Tom Vitale, Zamir Gotta, Todd Liebler
Votes: 7,889
It's food, traveling, and Anthony Bourdain...
18. 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: 85,621
19. Life on Mars (2008–2009)
TV-14 | 60 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
A present day car accident mysteriously sends a detective back to the 1970s.
Stars: Jason O'Mara, Michael Imperioli, Gretchen Mol, Jonathan Murphy
Votes: 10,730
20. Project Runway (2004– )
TV-PG | 60 min | Reality-TV
Aspiring fashion designers compete for a chance to break into the industry in this reality competition. Each week, a designer is eliminated from the competition after exhibiting their work in front of a judges' panel.
Stars: Nina Garcia, Tim Gunn, Heidi Klum, Michael Kors
Votes: 11,664
Once again, reality, but quality.
Tell Your Friends