Best of TV, 1949-ongoing
An attempt to list my highest-ranked TV outings for each year, starting in 1949. Eligible are TV episodes, TV movies, TV specials and/or TV mini-series based on their original air dates on IMDB.
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- DirectorRobert StevensStarsMargaret PhillipsTod AndrewsBarry MacollumErnest Bowers suffers an attack of catalepsy while crossing the street, lapsing into a coma that resembles death. Believing he was killed by a passing car, his body is sent to the city morgue. His coat, with a note in the pocket describing his medical condition, is taken by the owner of a secondhand clothing store and quickly sold. The couple who purchase the jacket finds the note and begins a race to save Ernest from a premature embalming.
- DirectorRobert StevensStarsRalph BellRalph ClantonDonald BukaPrince Florizel and his cohort, Gerard, masquerade under false identities and hit the city in search of adventure. One night in a bar, they encounter a young man who says he does not wish to go on. Claiming to feel the same way, the prince and his friend soon find themselves at the Suicide Club, an organization whose members want to die. Each evening using a deck of cards, the "lucky" next victim is decided, as is the member who must commit the deed and make it look like an accident. Florizel and Gerard's charade ceases to be entertaining when a club member is actually killed.
- DirectorLaurence Schwab Jr.StarsBurgess MeredithJohn BaragreyDavid LewisAn odd professor claims he can spot Martians, who masquerade as humans, using a pair of infrared glasses he wears. Only then can you see the third eyeball in the middle of their forehead. He relates his wild theory to a photographer sitting by him in a bar--and the man believes him. While playing around with infrared film, the photographer says he's snapped a shot of a man with three eyes. The two team up to convince authorities of their find
- DirectorJack WebbStarsJack WebbBarney PhillipsLee MarvinFriday begins to question Henry Ross, a suspect in a man's disappearance, which Friday believes is actually a murder. Ross coolly and calmly denies any involvement in the disappearance, but Friday's relentless interrogation soon begin to crack the man's facade.
- DirectorJack WebbStarsJack WebbBen AlexanderGwen DelanoFriday and Jacobs look for an elderly woman who has been passing bad checks just three different months a year for nearly 10 years.
- DirectorRichard IrvingStarsAlan NapierNatalie WoodMoyna MacGillMonica is a lonely young girl who is schooled at home by her Uncle Stephen and his housekeeper. When Monica talks about her new playmates Mary and Elsie, her Uncle believes she is just imagining things. He grows more concerned when he himself begins to hear Monica's playmates throughout the house.
- DirectorAlfred HitchcockStarsAlfred HitchcockJoseph CottenRaymond BaileyWilliam Callew is involved in a bad traffic accident on a rural road, that leaves him so paralyzed he appears lifeless, and when help arrives they think he's really dead.
- DirectorHerschel DaughertyStarsAlfred HitchcockJack MullaneyPatricia HitchcockWhen Clint Ringle learns that Ellie Marsh, the schoolteacher whom he loves, is engaged to Walt Norton, Clint kills Walt and then hides in the schoolhouse's bell tower, waiting for his chance to exact further revenge.
- DirectorAlfred HitchcockStarsNancy KellyE.G. MarshallRichard LongPaul Steppe, a watch repairman, suspects his wife is cheating on him while he tends to his store every afternoon. Consumed with jealousy, he devises a time bomb set to go off at four o' clock - the same time her "lover" pays his daily visit. One day, when his wife is at the market, he sneaks into the house to plant the device. There, Paul is surprised by two burglars, who tie him up and gag him - leaving him at the mercy of his own device ticking away.
- 1955–196230mTV-148.3 (1.3K)TV EpisodeDirectorAlfred HitchcockStarsAlfred HitchcockBarbara Bel GeddesHarold J. StoneAfter Mary Maloney's police chief husband is murdered, the police investigate but have a hard time figuring out the murder weapon.
- DirectorRobert StevensStarsRod SerlingGig YoungFrank OvertonA man, fed up with where he's at in life, finds himself not only in his old hometown, but back to the time when he was a boy.
- DirectorDouglas HeyesStarsJohn CarradineH.M. WynantRobin HughesSeeking refuge from a storm, a traveler comes upon a bizarre abbey of monks, who have imprisoned a man who begs for his help. When he confronts the head monk, he is told that the man is the Devil, and he must decide whom to believe.
- DirectorBuzz KulikStarsJack KlugmanJonathan WintersDee SharonA frustrated pool champion has beaten everyone. Everyone except one man - the legendary Fats Brown. Brown is dead and the champ can only curse his name. But guess who just walked in.
- DirectorRobert AltmanStarsVic MorrowRick JasonSteven RogersSaunders is ordered to join a reconnaissance patrol whose Sergeant doesn't like him or want him along.
- DirectorPaul StanleyStarsVic MorrowRick JasonSteven RogersA GI private is killed after taking over an enemy machine gun and killing dozens of Nazis, but his best friend falsely claims he did the shooting.
- DirectorByron HaskinStarsRobert CulpArlene MartelAbraham SofaerContinuance of the human race against alien invaders depends on a man with an incomplete glass computer hand and no memory of his past.
- DirectorJohn PeyserStarsRick JasonVic MorrowRobert DuvallLt. Hanley comes across three German soldiers in a deserted French town. Two are killed and he captures the third...a demolition expert. He tells Hanley that the entire town is mined and booby trapped to kill American soldiers. When Hanley finds out there is no way to prevent the returning French population from reentering the town he forces the German to disarm the mines and traps at gunpoint. Hanley must be on constant guard because the German is very clever and always thinking of escape.
- DirectorVic MorrowStarsRick JasonVic MorrowJack HoganLt. Hanley has the support of a tank to help his platoon to take the hill. However, the tank is destroyed by a German bazooka. Now Hanley plans to use the shield of the tank to attack the German bunker also with a bazooka.
- DirectorJoseph PevneyStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyIn the throes of his Pon Farr mating period, Spock must return to Vulcan to meet his intended future wife, betrothed from childhood.
- DirectorJames KomackStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyThe crew of the Enterprise struggles to cope with a planet of imitative people who have modeled their society on 1920s gangsters.
- DirectorIan MacNaughtonJohn Howard DaviesStarsGraham ChapmanJohn CleeseEric Idle'It's Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart', Famous Deaths, Italian Lesson, Whizzo Butter, 'It's the Arts', Arthur "Two-Sheds" Jackson, Cycling Race, and The Funniest Joke in the World.
- DirectorIan MacNaughtonStarsGraham ChapmanJohn CleeseEric IdleThe 127th annual Twit of the Year Show. Also: Hitler and Himmler are guests for tea in a boarding house; a BBC broadcast is interrupted when a British minister falls into a fissure.
- DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsDennis WeaverJacqueline ScottEddie FirestoneA business commuter is pursued and terrorized by the malevolent driver of a massive tractor-trailer.
- 1969–197429mTV-148.2 (839)TV EpisodeDirectorIan MacNaughtonStarsGraham ChapmanJohn CleeseEric Idle"The Money Program" features a Swiss banker, a city accountant and a song of praise.
- DirectorIan MacNaughtonStarsGraham ChapmanJohn CleeseEric IdleA highwayman steals "lupins" from the rich and tries to give them to the poor. Also: the first episode in a tatty, tedious 18th-century serial is brought to a screeching halt; peasants clamor for Titian paintings and Venetian glass.
- DirectorGene ReynoldsStarsAlan AldaWayne RogersMcLean StevensonDrama, pathos and humor combine when heavy casualties result in a long session in the O.R.
- DirectorLarry GelbartStarsAlan AldaWayne RogersMcLean StevensonHenry finds out he's been discharged from the army and everyone at the 4077th prepares to say goodbye to him as he heads home.
- DirectorGeorge TyneStarsAlan AldaMike FarrellHarry MorganFather Mulcahy, troubled by his lack of experience at the front, insists on accompanying Radar for an errand there.
- StarsRobert PowellOlivia HusseyLaurence OlivierBeginning before the Nativity and extending through the Crucifixion and Resurrection, this mini-series brings to life all of the sweeping drama in the life of Jesus, as told by the Gospels.
- DirectorCharles S. DubinStarsAlan AldaMike FarrellHarry MorganA wounded soldier being treated at the 4077th provides a narrative through his eyes.
- DirectorCharles S. DubinStarsAlan AldaMike FarrellHarry MorganB.J. and Klinger get drunk in despair at being envious of the now departed Radar.
- StarsJames MasonColleen MooreByron HaskinThe history of the American film industry in Hollywood during the Silent era.
- DirectorMary RidgeStarsPaul DarrowMichael KeatingSteven PaceyOrac has pinpointed Blake's location and reveals to Avon and the crew of Scorpio that he is on the lawless planet Gauda Prime, where Blake has given up fighting against the Federation and is now a bounty hunter. However, the crew of the Scorpio suspect Blake has betrayed them and has sold out to the Federation.
- DirectorJoe DanteStarsLeslie NielsenAlan NorthRex HamiltonIn order to infiltrate a criminal gang that bribes boxers Frank makes a contract with one of them, Buddy. This leads to a kidnapping of his girlfriend and Frank has to find her before Buddy forfeits.
- DirectorAlan AldaStarsAlan AldaMike FarrellHarry MorganIn the closing days of the Korean War, the staff of the 4077 M*A*S*H Unit find themselves facing irrevocable changes in their lives.
- DirectorPeter WhitmoreStarsPaul EddingtonNigel HawthorneDerek FowldsSir Humphrey Appleby receives his just reward when he's told by Sir Arnold Robinson that he is to be his successor as Cabinet Secretary. Jim Hacker has mixed feelings about the whole thing and while he appreciates all of the advice he's received from Sir Humphrey over the years, they have also had their fair share of disagreements. When the Prime Minister suddenly announces his resignation, Hacker decides to take a run at the party leadership. His primary campaign issue is new regulations from Brussels on the content of sausages which point to the demise of the British banger.
- DirectorPaul LynchStarsRay BradburyJames CocoLeslie NielsenMysterious Fantoccini offers an unhappy overworked suburbanite husband the services of his high tech company. He'll be replaced by a robot duplicate both at home and work. However, the man becomes jealous of his perfect double.
- DirectorNorman CampbellDouglas CampbellStarsColm FeoreGeraint Wyn DaviesKeith ThomasA taping of the Rogers & Hart musical comedy, as performed at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival.
- DirectorSydney LotterbyStarsPaul EddingtonNigel HawthorneDerek FowldsWhen the French hold out for primacy over a sub-Channel tunnel, P.M. Hacker uses the info that they planted a bomb in their own embassy to obtain more favourable terms.
- DirectorSteve DiMarcoStarsEugene LevyDiane D'AquilaPeter BlaisA hypochondriac feels there is something wrong with his bones so he consults a creepy "bone specialist" who promises to help him; sometimes the cure really is worse than the disease.
- DirectorRichard BodenStarsRowan AtkinsonTony RobinsonStephen FryBlackadder pretends that he's insane to avoid certain death carrying out the General's order for the "big push".
- 1987–199445mTV-PG9.3 (5.8K)TV EpisodeDirectorCliff BoleStarsPatrick StewartJonathan FrakesLeVar BurtonResponding to a distress call on one of the Federation's outer-most colonies, the Enterprise arrives...only to find a big hole in the ground where the town used to be, and discovers the Borg are behind the attack.
- 1988–19991h 36mTV-148.2 (537)TV EpisodeDirectorJim MallonStarsTrace BeaulieuJoel HodgsonJim MallonThe Mads force Joel and the 'bots to watch Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973), the cheesy Japanese monster mash featuring Godzilla's infamous flying kick.
- DirectorEric RadomskiStarsKevin ConroyMark HamillArleen SorkinWhile hiding from the police, Batman's deadliest enemies exchange stories about their mutual nemesis: Batman.
- DirectorJames L. ConwayStarsAvery BrooksRene AuberjonoisAlexander SiddigA Cardassian suffering from Kalla-Nohra, a disease that indicates he served in a labor camp, visits DS9. Kira is determined to convict him as a war criminal.
- DirectorBoyd KirklandStarsKevin ConroyLoren LesterBob HastingsPoison Ivy has apparently settled for a normal life. Batman and Robin are suspicious because semi-sentient plant-like creatures are committing mayhem all over Gotham.
- DirectorDavid LivingstonStarsAvery BrooksRene AuberjonoisMichael DornMelanie, an aspiring writer, wants to know why Jake Sisko stopped writing at 40. Jake tells how his father died in an accident and then suddenly reappeared.
- DirectorHenri SafranStarsMorgan WeisserKristen ClokeRodney RowlandAs a new, "unbeatable" Chig fighter emerges that's equipped with a new source of energy, it could possibly be the prototype of a deadly weapon that could change the course of the war against Earth. McQueen eventually realizes that he's the only pilot able to confront the new threat.
- DirectorAllan KroekerStarsAvery BrooksRene AuberjonoisMichael DornWith Dominion warships continuing to enter the Alpha Quadrant, Deep Space Nine prepares for a confrontation with the Dominion and Cardassia.
- 1993–199946mTV-PG9.4 (4.3K)TV EpisodeDirectorVictor LoblStarsAvery BrooksRene AuberjonoisMichael DornTo save the Federation in a critical scheme, Sisko comes to realize that he must violate its fundamental principles to do so.
- DirectorRegis KimbleStarsSarah Michelle GellarNicholas BrendonAlyson HanniganA mouthless demon infects Buffy with the ability to hear everyone's thoughts, but what starts out as a useful power soon turns into a curse.
- DirectorDavid GreenwaltStarsDavid BoreanazCharisma CarpenterAlexis DenisofA scythe-wielding demon targets Angel's allies as Wolfram and Hart lawyers attempt to summon a powerful force from beyond.
- 1997–200350mTV-PG9.7 (11K)TV EpisodeDirectorJoss WhedonStarsSarah Michelle GellarNicholas BrendonEmma Caulfield FordIn this musical extravaganza, Sunnydale residents find themselves bursting into song, and flame, when a demon attempts to make Dawn his bride.
- DirectorDavid SolomonStarsNathan FillionGina TorresAlan TudykWhen Serenity's life support system fails, Mal orders the crew off the ship - but he stays behind.
- DirectorJefferson KibbeeStarsDavid BoreanazJames MarstersJ. August RichardsWesley's father comes for a visit. With his father overseeing and critiquing everything he does, his old feelings of insecurity arise. Also, Wolfram and Hart is besieged by robot ninjas.
- DirectorDavid FuryJohn BlushStarsDavid BoreanazJames MarstersJ. August RichardsCordelia awakens from her magically induced coma and returns to help Angel fight an old enemy who has reappeared even more powerful than ever.
- DirectorDan RibaStarsGeorge NewbernJeffrey CombsAmy AckerThe Question, fearing disaster, decides to kill Lex Luthor to avert it.
- DirectorJoaquim Dos SantosStarsJ.K. SimmonsChris CoxKin ShrinerThe paranoid General Eiling turns himself into a superstrong brute to kill Superman and only seven non-powered soldiers of the JL can deny him victory.
- DirectorRobert de LintStarsBrent ButtGabrielle MillerFred EwanuickWhen Davis buys a table hockey game for the police station Brent and Karen show down to see who is the ultimate champion. Hank, in seeing how Brent is preparing for the big game decides that maybe Karen is a better role model to follow. Meanwhile, Lacey, thinking Emma is quite deserving of the award, decides to nominate her as a Woman of Distinction.
- DirectorGraham LinehanStarsChris O'DowdRichard AyoadeKatherine ParkinsonAnnoyed by the fact that Jen has inexplicably been declared the Employee of the Month, Moss and Roy play a prank on her to expose her ignorance about the Internet; Douglas and a hot newswoman with a secret past fall madly in love.
- DirectorBill LawrenceStarsZach BraffSarah ChalkeDonald FaisonJ.D. continues his last day at Sacred Heart, and tries to hold out hope for a great sendoff.
- StarsJames Badge DaleJoseph MazzelloJon SedaThe Pacific Theatre of World War II, as seen through the eyes of several young Marines.
- StarsPeter CoyotePete HamillCatherine Gilbert MurdockThe story of the American activist struggle against the influence of alcohol, climaxing in the failed early 20th century nationwide era when it was banned.
- DirectorJay RoachStarsEd HarrisJulianne MooreWoody HarrelsonGovernor Sarah Palin of Alaska becomes Senator John McCain's running mate in the 2008 Presidential election.
- DirectorCathleen O'ConnellStarsCharissa AllenJulian ArahangaEdgar BergenAn account of Orson Welles' 1938 radio drama broadcast that inadvertently started a mass panic.
- DirectorDavid StraitonStarsClark GreggMing-Na WenBrett DaltonDark secrets are revealed as Coulson and his team put everything on the line to stop Garrett and the forces of HYDRA.
- StarsAunjanue Ellis-TaylorLyriq BentBen ChaplinKidnapped in Africa and subsequently enslaved in South Carolina, Aminata must navigate a revolution in New York, isolation in Nova Scotia, and the treacherous jungles of Sierra Leone, in an attempt to secure her freedom in the eighteenth century.
- StarsKeith DavidJamie FoxxDocumentary chronicles the personal and professional life of Jackie Robinson from his birth in 1919 to his death in 1972. Robinson's rise from humble beginnings to became an American hero and pivotal figure in American history are detailed.
- StarsFrancis Ford CoppolaSteven SpielbergMeryl StreepThe wartime contributions of five prominent Hollywood film directors during World War II are profiled.
- DirectorJed WhedonStarsClark GreggMing-Na WenChloe BennetThe team must choose between Coulson's life or death; the wrong decision will cause the destruction of Earth.
- CreatorCraig MazinStarsJessie BuckleyJared HarrisStellan SkarsgårdIn April 1986, the city of Chernobyl in the Soviet Union suffers one of the worst nuclear disasters in the history of mankind. Consequently, many heroes put their lives on the line in the following days, weeks and months.
- DirectorTom MarshallStarsJason SudeikisHannah WaddinghamJeremy SwiftRebecca hosts the team's annual charity benefit, where Ted stages a reconciliation between Roy and Jamie.
- DirectorDeclan LowneyStarsJason SudeikisHannah WaddinghamJeremy SwiftRichmond gets their final chance to win promotion as Ted deals with the fallout of Trent Crimm's painfully honest exposé.
- DirectorBenjamin CaronStarsMuhannad BhaierDenise GoughAdria ArjonaCassian returns home to Ferrix, a tinderbox that is experiencing a spark of rebellion.
- StarsNikole Hannah-JonesConnects the centrality of slavery in history with an unflinching account of brutal racism that endures in so many aspects of American life today.