|
 |
Party of Five
FOX, 1994-Present
When their parents are killed in an accident, the five Salinger children find themselves on their own, with oldest brother Charlie (Matthew Fox) legally responsible for his siblings. The family's tumultuous relationship holds through good times and bad, but the soap-opera like relationships are what keeps viewers coming back again and again. |
 |
Hawaii Five-0
CBS, 1968-80
Iron jawed Steve McGarrett and his team of state police officers fight crime in paradise. Archnemesis Wo Fat pops up occasionally to wreak havoc. Book 'em, Danno. |
 |
CHiPs
NBC, 1977-83
Highway patrolmen Ponch and John fight crime and look for love on the busy California freeways. The episode where Ponch gets a club full of hardcore punkers to sing a round of Kool and the Gang's "Celebration" is on its own worthy of the list. |
 |
St. Elsewhere
NBC, 1981-88
Long before "ER" hit the airwaves, this medical drama delved into the day to day workings of busy St. Eligius hospital. Its style, mixing whimsy, black humor and heartfelt drama, has influenced many shows in its wake. |
 |
Green Acres
CBS, 1965-71
Successful attorney Oliver Wendall Douglas moves from Manhattan to a ramshackle farm outside of Hooterville, dragging his socialite wife along with him. With the help of handyman Eb and brother and sister carpenters the Monroes, Oliver and Lisa decide to make a go of it. |
 |
Cagney & Lacey
CBS, 1981-88
Mary Beth Lacey has a husband, two sons and a house in Queens. Chris Cagney has her own apartment and a busy personal life. Together the two police detectives fight crime and chauvinism on the streets of New York. Known for its fierce loyal fans, the show was once brought back from cancellation because of overwhelming fan response. |
 |
Baywatch
NBC/Syndication, 1989-Present
Hard-hitting and grittily realistic exploration into the lives of L.A. County Lifeguards. Well, not this show. Mitch Buchanan and his team of starlets (female and male) patrol the beaches of Malibu, saving lives, fighting crime and often falling in love. The most-watched show in the world. |
 |
Soap
ABC, 1977-81
Soap opera spoof detailing the complicated personal lives of two sisters and their families. Mary Campbell is married to the local sheriff. Her sister Jessica Tate is married to a pompous, unfaithful businessman. Each couple has grown children. Everyone but Mary and the Tate's butler is nuts. |
 |
Mad About You
NBC, 1991-1999
Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt star in this look at two New York yuppies and their adventures in marriage and (eventually) parenting. |
 |
L.A. Law
NBC, 1985-94
Ensemble drama featuring a large cast of lawyers in a prestigious Los Angeles law firm. Notable for its mixture of broad comedy and timely drama drawn from the headlines. |
 |
The Odd Couple
ABC, 1970-75
Prim Felix, a photographer, and slovenly Oscar, a sportswriter, are mismatched roommates. Adapted from the hit play and movie, both of which were written by Neil Simon. |
 |
Taxi
ABC/NBC, 1978-83
Ensemble comedy about a group of New York City cab drivers. One is an aspiring boxer, another an aspiring actor, and another dreams of opening an art gallery. Only Alex, the wisest, seems content to drive a cab. They deal with a wacky foreign born mechanic, a space cadet fellow cabbie and a scheming dispatcher. |
 |
Murphy Brown
CBS, 1988-98
This sitcom about a news show on a fictional network relied heavily on real-life political and news figures to lend authenticity. The team was headed by veteran newsreporter Murphy Brown (expertly played by Candice Bergen), who never failed to let opinion be known. The rest of the newsteam was just as interesting, led by Jim Dial (Charles Kimbrough), Frank Fontana (Joe Regalbuto) and Corky Sherwood (Faith Ford). |
 |
The Burns and Allen Show
CBS, 1950-58
The married couple played "themselves," a couple living in the suburbs. While Gracie constantly involved herself in harebrained schemes with her neighbor Blanche, the unflappable George served as onscreen narrator. |
 |
Night Court
NBC, 1984-91
Eccentric Judge Harry Stone holds court in Manhattan, using humor and compassion to do his job. With the help of his loyal court clerk and his wacky bailiffs, Harry heard arguments from a sexy public defender and a sex-starved prosecutor. Antics ensued. |
 |
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
CBS, 1993-98
Jane Seymour starred in this drama about a woman who moved to the frontier to practice medicine, and soon found herself in charge of three children whose mother, a friend, passed away. The show, though set in the Old West, tackled many issues that were more timely, including race relations and feminism. |
 |
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Syndication, 1993-Present
This spin-off of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" featured some of the same characters from "Next Generation," but was an animal all its own. Set primarily aboard a space station located in near a wormhole, Deep Space Nine has been the destination for many starships and the target of many attacks. |
 |
WKRP in Cincinnati
CBS, 1978-81
Young programming director Andy Travis takes a new job at the titular radio station when it switches to a rock and roll format. He covers for the ineffectual station manager, whose mother owns the station. He also must deal with a neurotic newsman, an obnoxious ad man and two eccentric deejays, all with the help of his enthusiastic assistant and the voluptuous receptionist. |
 |
Remington Steele
NBC, 1981-86
When she opens her own private detective agency, Laura Holt isn't taken seriously enough. She invents a fictional employer named Remington Steele. The scheme works until a mysterious stranger shows up claiming to be Steele. Holt hires the stranger to be a beard for the agency, but he can't help sticking his nose into the company's cases. |
 |
Three's Company
ABC, 1977-84
When their third roommate moves out Janet and Chrissy are desperate for a new one. Along comes Jack, a student at a nearby cooking school. Because the landlord doesn't approve of cohabitation, Jack pretends he is gay. Antics ensue. |
 |
Adam-12
NBC, 1968-75
Realistic look at the day-to-day life of a pair of Los Angeles police officers. Veteran Pete Malloy and his rookie partner Jim Reed patrolled the streets, responding to several calls each episode. The series focused on authenticity instead of action. Its low-key nature made it a favorite among real-life law enforcement officers. |
 |
Emergency
NBC, 1971-77
John and Roy are paramedics assigned to Squad 51 of the Los Angeles Fire Department. They respond not only to fire calls, but other medical emergencies as well. They often make appearances at the local hospital. |
 |
Babylon 5
Syndication / TNT, 1994-Present
An ambitious series about an ongoing war in the year 1158 and the role of the space station Babylon 5 in the battle. Though peace is sometimes at hand, the exciting mix of aliens on the station and in the universe keeps the series moving. The show is finishing up its run on cable network TNT and will wrap-up the series through several TV-movies. |
 |
The Rockford Files
NBC, 1974-80
Jim Rockford lives in a trailer on the beaches of Los Angeles. Sent to jail for a crime he was later cleared of, Rockford makes his living as a private detective. With a little help from his father Rocky, a shady pal named Angel and the gruff Police Sergeant Dennis Becker, Rockford clears his cases for $100, plus expenses. |
 |
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
NBC, 1968-73
Comedy duo Dan Rowan and Dick Martin hosted this fast paced series. It featured sight gags, short skits, one-liners and blackouts, all performed by a large cast of regulars, many of whom were unknown at the time. |
 |
Picket Fences
CBS, 1991-96
How a little town like Rome, Wisconsin could be the center of so many strange events was a question never quite answered during this show's run. However, strange things did happen, and usually the town's Sheriff (a strong, but feeling, Tom Skerritt) was involved in some way, as was the town's judge (Ray Walston) and main defense lawyer (a feisty Fyvush Finkel). The show's creator, David E. Kelley , has also created "The Practice" and "Ally McBeal." |
 |
Alice
CBS, 1976-85
A recently widowed aspiring singer heads west from New Jersey with her precocious son to pursue her dream. She finds herself waylaid in Phoenix, where she takes a job as a waitress at Mel's Diner. Adapted from the Martin Scorsese film "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore." |
 |
Knight Rider
NBC, 1981-86
Michael Knight spends his days driving around in a customized Trans-Am known as the Knight Industries Two Thousand (KITT for short). With a little help from their friends, Michael and KITT traveled across the country, fighting crime and helping those in need. Did we mention that KITT could talk? |
 |
Star Trek: Voyager
UPN, 1995-Present
The "Star Trek" saga continues with the journey of the starship Voyager and her continuing quest to return home after being stuck in the Delta quadrant. |
 |
Mork & Mindy
ABC, 1976-81
Robin Williams shot to fame as Mork from Ork, an eccentric alien studying life in Boulder, Colorado. His friend, Mindy, knew his story but let him stay in her attic anyway. Antics ensued. |
