It's relatively easy to prove that a television show is important. If, for example, you can't miss an episode of One Tree Hill, then it's important to you. But it's harder to prove that a show is influential—especially if it's only been around for about ten years. An influential show has to start a noticeable trend— like how Judge Judy begat Judge Mathis or The Osbournes spawned Newlyweds—but remain cultural staple in its own right—like CSI or Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Those are just the honorable mentions from the 2000s, the decade that brought punditry, reality shows, and single-camera comedies into the mainstream. We think these next fifteen shows are the most influential of the last ten years. They've already made their mark on other shows and on pop culture—and they're not stopping, either.
15. Desperate Housewives (2004-present, ABC)
What it accomplished: With one simple question, "How much do we know about our neighbors?" this ABC powerhouse sparked a 21st-century fascination with suburbia. By injecting a healthy dose of film noir into a suburban-set soap opera, the show was able to entertain and please while providing social commentary on everything from adultery to parenthood to revenge. Plus, the careers of Teri Hatcher, Marcia Cross, Felicity Huffman, Nicolette Sheridan, and Eva Longoria Parker got a hefty boost.
Where it came from: Sex and the City,The Stepford Wives
What it influenced: Real Housewives series, Weeds, Cougar Town, Accidentally on Purpose, The Good Wife, Army Wives
14. The West Wing (1999-2006, NBC)
What it accomplished: Besides forecasting the election of President Obama, this drama was the first in a long line of intelligent, attention-demanding, behind-the scenes dramas. Creator Aaron Sorkin also perfected the witty, fast-paced walk-and-talk narrative.
Where it came from: Sports Night, Law and Order, Saturday Night Live
What it influenced: NCIS, 24, 30 Rock, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, The Wire
13. Lost (2004-present, ABC)
What it accomplished: One third of ABC's mid-decade triple threat (with Desperate Housewives and Grey's Anatomy), Lost is best described as a serial mindf@*k. Or, as Tim Surette put it, "the first show that required homework and was a full-time job." Books, courses, and manuals have been created in an attempt to explain the series, which centers around a group of people stranded on a desert island after a plane crash. In fact, college students are still trying to schedule study time around reruns and marathons of this show.
Where it came from: J.J. Abrams, Survivor
What it influenced: FlashForward
12. Chappelle's Show (2003-2006, Comedy Central)
What it accomplished: Chappelle's Show became a larger-than-life hit for Comedy Central, and it still rakes in the DVD-sales dough. Dave Chappelle brought "what would blindly be called 'ethnic comedy' to the masses," according to Tim Surette. This sketch comedy series redefined a network previously limited to South Park reruns, stand-up specials, and The Daily Show, but "also showed what the demands of TV can do to one of its biggest stars."
Where it came from: Richard Pryor, In Living Color, Def Comedy Jam, Seinfeld, Home Improvement, Roseanne
What it influenced: Carlos Mencia, Larry the Cable Guy
11. Battlestar Galactica (2004-2009, Syfy)
What it accomplished: This legendary show, about a group of humans aboard a spaceship in search of Earth, put the SciFi channel on the map (so much so that it even switched to Syfy) and proved that re-imagined shows could be big hits. And it gave The Office's Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson) something to talk about besides beets and bears.
Where it came from: the original Battlestar Galactica, Star Trek, Firefly, Stargate series
What it influenced: Sanctuary, Warehouse 13, Stargate Universe, Life on Mars, V, The Prisoner.
Comments (287)
I'm really curious.Why isn't Star Trek on here? They have a whole TV show of how that show influenced the world. And amazingly, it did. You just have to watch that show for a little bit to realize that Trek did a lot to influence to world. Even if you don't like trek (I'm not a huge fan of it myself) you have to admit, they did have a lot of novel ideas that have become reality since then. Say.. the cell phone.
Most of these are not influential. Just stupid...except for BSG, Shield and of course Oprah. Why would anyone care about which reality show started?
LOST was not stupid
Why is NCIS not on here...
cops started the reality trend
american idol number 1... sorry but you have no right to say bets and influential show sin the decade. hate to break it to you but real world started it all off on reality based shows
It's true these shows have been super-influential. Some in positive ways, some in negative ways. Some of these inane reality shows and dramas pretty much singlehandedly ruined TV. And who needs nuanced, independent thinking about political issues? No, if you're not screaming agreement with one party while automatically shouting down anything and everything said by the other, yours isn't a real opinion! That is the influence of Bill O'Reilly. 24 is definitely the biggest snub in terms of being influential. It just so happens, it's been on a continuous downward spiral of script quality since the first season. House is also a pretty big snub. And if you're going to give The Office credit for influence, shouldn't it be the UK Office? You could also still make a huge case for Saturday Night Live, crusty and repetitious though it has become. It's still launching careers singlehandedly and influencing the way people see political figures.moreless
24 deserves a spot... It was revolutionary when it premiered, and it changed the way television is watched... It took the storyline twist and made it substantial. Lost's main guys cite 24 as one of their biggest influences...
lost was never influenced by 24?:S that doesnt even make sense...the writers have always mentioned shows like twilight zone etc..
Dexter
I agree with a few. housewives, Idol, the daily show, oprah.
wow all of these shows are soooooo boring
Stupid, stupid top !!! Where is 24 ?
24 shouldn't even be in tha top 24 shows of the decade - like it or not!
24 is tha Numba 1 show of all time - like it or not !
Wow not a single show I watch. Not that I'm upset about that. The shows I watch always seem to be on the "canceled before their time" lists.
My family and myself, adore Warehouse 13...Why is iton no longer? Rats..it always happens when everyone likes a show, they take it off. Everyone who really liked this show, should sound off, loud and clear. I have always just been aggrevatted but kept quite. So many shows that are thought provoking and so interesting, are gone.
Woe is me (LOL),
b.g.
List of shows that were influential to society. I think in the broad strokes it is right. I challenge anyone to say that they have not been influenced in any way by these shows.
Where is Buffy the Vampire Slayer?!
Uh, wheres Extreme Makeover?
The O.C!Loved it,if only it had run longer.
Idol didn't exactly launch Paula's career since she was huge in the 80's and early 90's...I guess you could say it re-launched it though.
You can't tell me The X-Files doesn't make it onto this list... It brought Sci-Fi and the supernatural back into the living room and out of the closet!
i agree x files was the best and twilight zone
Why wasn't 24 on this list?! I haven't watched most of these.
i don't agree with desperate housewives, and i deffernatly don't agree with oc because all the shows are to similar to aaroon speeling original 90210 format
The wire is the best of course but you can't question that The OC caused a dozen rip offs, and Bill O'Reily should never be mentioned in any sort of positive light. Also you can't say that the Office (US) influenced Arrested Development since AD was on first
the wire is the best show (along with deadwood), but neither of those two hold much weight in terms of influence (at least thus far), unfortunately.
SOUTH PARK, FAMILY GUY, & KING OF THE HILL [R.I.P., LUANNE] all started airing in 1997!
This just shows how far down we've become. All worship the Oprah
come the f**k on !!! where is 24 ! it's one of th best of 2000' along with Lost and SAMLLVILLE !
you just ruined it by mentioning smallville in the same line as 2 of the greatest shows ever
come the f**k on !!! where is 24 ! it's one of th best of 2000' along with Lost and SAMLLVILLE !
Seinfeld?? I find the inclusion of The OC very surprising... i'd hardly call it influential.
what about 24 - one on the first real action shows, Simpsons - Made cartoons for everyone.Please make a new list!
what about 24 - one on the first real action shows, Simpsons - Made cartoons for everyone.Please make a new list!
And Friends?? Where is it?
Where is Nip/Tuck???!
While I don't watch American Idol, you have to admit that it's been rather influential on reality television. Without it, all of those other singing/dancing/talent shows wouldn't really exist, and plenty of Americans (and people abroad) watch them. Again, it's not a question of quality or whether someone likes a show, but whether it's been influential, which Idol certainly has--can't argue that.
And I'm agree with Kiscico85 American Idol is a real garbage!!!
And what about X-Files, 24 and many others???
Maybe I misunderstood what "decade" means. I'm fine with 1999, but really 1986? Decade means ten years, people, not twenty-four. I admit that Oprah has been influential, but it did not start in the past ten years, or even thereabouts. This list is ridiculous- if American Idol is the most influential show of the past ten years the world is farther gone than I thought.
you forgot to mention Battlestar Galactica also influenced The Office..... well at least Dwight
what about buffy the vampire slayer??
24 it's the best one
Perhaps I'm sounding like a broken record, but people are still ignoring that this is a list of INFLUENTIAL shows, not the shows they like. All you House and Grey's Anatomy shippers need to realize that those shows haven't really done anything influential for television--they're too new. And LOST, while a good series, hasn't influenced squat. I'll agree with the lack of CSI, as it has spawned a ton of procedurals, as well as ER for mixing the drama and medical genres and causing that phenomenon (causing Grey's Anatomy and a zillion others like it, for example), as well as Law and Order for the same reason. But things like NCIS and Criminal Minds don't deserve spots on here--they're the influenceD, not the influenceS. Get it straight, people.