most universally – A run of TV milestones—from The Queen’s Messenger’s September 1928 debut to today’s binge-era blockbusters—sets the stage for a ranked list of eight shows widely regarded as universally loved, from Breaking Bad and The Sopranos to Sesame Street and The Twiligh
The centenary celebrations are set to begin for the debut of The Queen’s Messenger, a one-act drama first broadcast in September 1928—an early spark in what would become nearly 100 years of television reinvention.
Television has shifted with the habits of the people watching it. from the invention of the TV dinner in 1953. helping lure families around their sets at meal times. to the sudden and rapid rise of big-budget TV productions over the past 20 years. And through all of it. a select handful of series have endured—titles that keep drawing new viewers while holding tight to the affection of longtime fans.
Here are eight of the most universally loved shows of all time, ranked.
8. ‘Cheers’ (1982–1993)
Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name. For many viewers, that place is Cheers. The beloved sitcom follows former Red Sox pitcher and neighborhood bar owner Sam Malone (Ted Danson). building its charm around ensemble comedy and the kind of character storytelling that feels personal.
Over 270 episodes, Cheers became a template for the ensemble sitcom, influencing later hits like Friends. The cast includes Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Nicholas Colasanto, Rhea Perlman, a young Woody Harrelson, and Kelsey Grammer as Frasier Crane.
7. ‘The Twilight Zone’ (1959–1964)
The original Twilight Zone has earned its staying power. An anthology series spanning the horror, fantasy, and sci-fi genres, it ran for 150 episodes across five successful seasons.
Unlike other classic series that can feel dated, many of Twilight Zone’s episodes still land—thanks in part to the writing team behind them. Creator Rod Serling led the show, with Charles Beaumont and Richard Matheson among the writers credited.
The series title itself became a phrase ingrained in popular culture, later echoed by Black Mirror.
6. ‘Sesame Street’ (1969–Present)
To be beloved by young people is a major accomplishment in children’s television. To win the hearts of adults too—and keep that connection for nearly six decades—is far rarer.
Sesame Street has managed exactly that. The educational blend of live-action and puppetry was created by Joan Ganz Cooney and Lloyd Morrisett, and it has produced over 3,000 episodes to date.
It has also been recognized with six Primetime Emmys, while continuing to function as a mainstay in the lives of generations of children and their parents.
5. ‘Seinfeld’ (1989–1998)
Turning a show “famously about nothing” into one of the most universally loved series is its own kind of magic trick. Seinfeld follows a fictionalized version of Jerry Seinfeld as he navigates life on and off the stand-up stage.
The show leans on hilarious friends, including George (Jason Alexander), Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), and Kramer (Michael Richards). It has held up over time thanks to sharp observational humor and intricate character dynamics.
Seinfeld also earned a standout reputation for its ability to keep punching up the laughs episode after episode—culminating in an eye-catching total of 10 Primetime Emmys.
4. ‘I Love Lucy’ (1951–1957)
The oldest title on this list remains among the most-loved shows ever to grace television screens. I Love Lucy helped reshape situational comedy into the form many people recognize today, using a multi-camera set-up and a live studio audience.
Starring Lucille Ball and her real-life husband, Desi Arnaz, the show follows Lucy as she dreams of breaking out of housewife life and into show business. The result is still funny—still warm—and still built on a mix of humor and heart.
3. ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ (2005–2008)
Animated series may be everywhere, but few manage to become timeless classics. Avatar: The Last Airbender is treated that way by fans for good reason.
Set in a world where individuals control one of four elements—water, fire, earth, or air—the series follows Aang (Zach Tyler Eisen) as he is taught to master those elements in the hope of saving the world.
The show is widely regarded as a masterpiece of both visual and narrative storytelling, combining emotional impact with intelligence. It also draws heavily from Japanese animation style, and it marked an important milestone in Western admiration for anime and anime-influenced television.
2. ‘The Sopranos’ (1999–2007)
When people talk about the greatest shows of all time, The Sopranos often comes up first. The series follows Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini), a family man and the head of an Italian-American mob.
Across 86 episodes, it keeps landing with a mix of shocks, dazzling turns, and moments that move audiences through Tony’s point of view. David Chase’s writing is credited as a stroke of genius—both for scriptwriting and for helping usher in an era of prestige TV.
The show also established HBO as best-in-class.
1. ‘Breaking Bad’ (2008–2013)
There’s a short list of series that feel truly unrepeatable, and Breaking Bad is often placed at the very top. It follows high school teacher Walter White (Bryan Cranston), who begins a transformation into a drug lord after receiving a tragic diagnosis of inoperable lung cancer.
When a show is cited as the greatest ever, detractors often follow. But with Breaking Bad, negativity is framed as rare—because it’s consistently hard to find a weak episode. The show’s reputation rests on elements fans point to again and again: some of the finest cinematography in television history. and Cranston’s generation-defining lead performance.
The list traces an arc of television itself: from early milestones like the September 1928 debut of The Queen’s Messenger to genre-shaping experiments. to sitcoms that shaped ensemble comedy. to prestige drama eras that raised the bar. Over almost 100 years. TV has changed how people watch—but the shows above have managed to keep their pull. season after season. across decades.
MISRYOUM Entertainment TV series Breaking Bad The Sopranos Cheers The Twilight Zone Sesame Street Seinfeld I Love Lucy Avatar: The Last Airbender television milestones ranking