The New York Times just dropped one of the most talked-about entertainment lists of the year. The publication unveiled its ranking of the 100 Best TV Shows of the 21st Century, compiled from a voting pool of more than 500 television industry insiders including Hollywood stars, showrunners, executives, and critics.
The list considered only shows that premiered on or after January 1, 2000, which means The Sopranos, premiering in 1999, was excluded entirely despite its cultural footprint.
Breaking Bad took the top spot overall. At number two, HBO’s The Wire, David Simon‘s landmark drama about the drug trade, law enforcement, and institutional failure in Baltimore, landed just behind it, cementing what many already believed: that The Wire is among the greatest television achievements in the medium’s history regardless of where any list places it.
Donald Glover‘s Atlanta rounded out the top ten at number ten, a placement that will spark its own debate for a show that genuinely redefined what television comedy could do. The surreal, genre-defying FX series sits alongside Mad Men at three, Succession at four, Fleabag at five, Game of Thrones at six, Veep at seven, 30 Rock at eight, and Curb Your Enthusiasm at nine.
Key & Peele landed at number 29, recognized for its sharp satirical command of race, culture, and absurdity. Issa Rae‘s Insecure came in at number 55, honored for its authentic and deeply funny portrayal of Black womanhood and friendship in Los Angeles. And Shonda Rhimes‘ Scandal with Kerry Washington as Olivia Pope, the show that made live-tweeting appointment television, rounded out the entire list at number 100.
Other notable placements include Michaela Coel’s I May Destroy You at number 18, Dave Chappelle‘s Chappelle’s Show at 58, and Reservation Dogs at 87.
Check out the full list here.


