BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES
Batman’s mood in this animated series was darker than ever. Bruce Wayne was shown to be moodier, while Robin’s alter ego, Dick Grayson, was given a more mature personality. In this series, Batman had to win over villains such as Two-Face (a former district attorney) Clay Face, Man-Bat, Poison Ivy, Scarecrow, Mad Hatter, and many others. It garnered positive reviews for its storytelling, great voice casting, and a spectacular soundtrack. The Batman: The Animated Series was shown from 1992 to 1995.
THE PRISONER
Considered to be of the best British series in the late 60s, The Prisoner impressed fans with its vibrant storytelling. The story, however, was not about prisoners who either needed a lawyer or a breakout plan. Co-created by Patrick McGoohan in 1967, The Prisoner starts with a secret agent, known as Number Six, who found himself in a deserted and mysterious yet beautiful island and had to fight for survival against enigmatic enemies. It focused on themes such as paranoia and mistrust. The show also had a multitude of twists and turns in each episode. The Prisoner aired 17 episodes before it bid its goodbye in 1968.
IN LIVING COLOR
In Living Color was a sketch comedy show that competed with Saturday Night Live, and gave it a run-for-its-money. It featured a diverse cast of comedians from different walks of life and had topics ranging from plain comedy to risky ones. The show was created by the Wayan brothers, Damon and Keenan Ivory, who were both clear in their goal of making a contemporary show tackling different points of view. This show also deserves credit for serving as the platform through which comedian Jim Carrey became famous. In Living Color had 127 episodes from its five seasons.
MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000 was a simple yet effective TV series that turned itself into a cult phenomenon. The concept was about a host and a couple of robots who were forced to watch terrible movies by an evil scientist. Creator Joel Hodgson got a lot of credit for this creative genius; he revealed that he got the idea when he got bored doing a job in a T-shirt printing factory.
M*A*S*H
It was on television from 1972 to 1983 on CBS. The show had amassed a whopping 125 million viewers for its series finale, proving that it is one of the best television shows ever. Based on the 1970 satirical war comedy of Robert Altman, this show, created by Larry Gelbart, featured the story of the doctors and staff of Mobile Army Surgical Hospital during the Korean War. It focused on how characters lived their lives in the face of war while in the line of duty. The characters’ personalities were presented with a degree of humanity as they had to depend on each other to survive the call of their duty while being away from home.
SANFORD AND SON
NBC’s Sanford and Son was based on BBC’s Steptoe and Son. The show follows the story of Fred Sanford (played effectively by comedian Redd Fox), a South-Central Los Angeles junk dealer. Foxx’s portrayal made him a household name throughout the six seasons. Also in the show was Demond Wilson, who played Fred’s son Lamont. The show gained recognition for its catchy theme song, and the show is said to be the first successful African-American sitcom. Sanford and Son also took credit for inspiring the creation of follow-up sitcoms Good Times and The Jeffersons, both of which were also created by Lear.
THE X-FILES
Cris Carter’s The X-Files delved into the lives of FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully (played by David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson, respectively) as they investigate a series of paranormal cases. The two went on to fight extraterrestrial life and other forces that attempt to invade the Earth. Fans loved their chemistry. Fans were rooting for the two as the degree of their friendship progressed after each episode. With 11 seasons since 1993, the show left fans at the edge of their seats with the combination of sci-fi and horror.
FRIENDS
There were many iconic scenes in this sitcom that many fans would always remember. The lives of six young, reckless characters were all joined together. The show delivers humor and inspiration from their respective experiences. The life of this group of friends in Central Park made a mark in their viewer’s lives by imparting lessons on family, friends, and unconditional love, while being presented through humor, romance, and drama with different degrees of emotion. Throughout its 10 seasons, Friends has gathered six Emmy Awards and has catapulted the stardom of their cast including Jennifer Aniston, Matthew Perry, Courtney Cox, and Lisa Kudrow.
30 ROCK
Fictional and satirical comedy show 30 Rock is Tina Fey’s take on her stint as head writer for Saturday Night Live. As its creator and lead actress, Tina Fey delves into the comical life of Liz Lemon, a head writer for a sketch comedy show named TGS with Tracy Jordan as she deals with an arrogant boss and unconventional stars in the show. Liz gives her best foot forward to shrug off challenges of one degree or another. Also starring Alec Baldwin, Tracy Morgan, Jane Krakowski, Scott Adsit, and Jack McBrayer, the cast pulled off an unconventional approach to sitcom with their product placement, advertising, and incorporation of current events and trends.
THE OFFICE (UK)
The Office has gained a lot of popularity not only for office workers who can totally relate to the format but also for the general viewing public. Thanks to its creators Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, The Office became a sitcom that many consider as the best in terms of sartorial humor. The show followed socially clumsy boss David Brent (who thinks too highly of himself and gives himself too much credit for his accomplishments) and his team who all have their own distinct personalities.