I was surprised that I was able to find this. Oh, the wonders of the Internet. This is a local newspaper list that I saw over 20 years ago, back when I used to visit Omaha, Nebraska in the summertime. This is what I would call the old-codger version of the Entertainment Weekly list that also came out in 1998. Numerous shows that wouldn't usually receive any sort of mention make the list. Again, this is kind of a '50s to '90s or 20th century or end of decade(s) list, never mind that The Sopranos debuted in January 1999 (oops with those premature end-of-the-century lists ... though I imagine it became easier to definitively rank The Sopranos in the following decade).
Omaha World-Herald (NE)
July 30, 1998
Section: Living
Edition: Sunrise
Page: 41
Here's Another Top 100 List: Prime-Time American TV Series
DOUG NYE THE STATE
This article includes opinions of the author.
With all the fanfare and discussion sparked by the American Film Institute's recent announcement of the 100 Greatest American Movies and another panel's list of the 100 greatest English - language novels published this century, I wondered if that exercise could be applied to television.
Like, what are the 100 greatest American prime - time television series of all time?
The most difficult thing about putting together a list of top 100 movies is limiting it to only 100. The biggest problem with trying to come up with a similar list for TV shows is finding enough worthy candidates to fill the 100 slots.
After combing through the prime - time schedules for the past 50 years, there was one thing I did become convinced of: There are at least 20 series for which arguments could be made that each deserves to be No. 1. Still, I managed to come up with a top 100.
Is it completely objective? No way. I don't think anyone can put together such a list and not allow his or her personal tastes to affect the selections.
My only criteria for picking a show was that it must have been on for at least one season. Thus, among this list, you'll find the all but forgotten "East Side/West Side," a fine social drama from the early 1960s starring George C. Scott. Viewers rejected its often dark view of the world.
There's also the short - lived "Palmerstown, U.S.A.," about the friendship between two young boys, one black and one white, in the South of the 1930s.
But most of the series you should recognize. Those who think there is some nostalgia at work here should consider one thing: Many of these shows are still aired today and remain as popular as ever, constantly being discovered and enjoyed by new generations.
Here are the top 100:
1. "Playhouse 90" (1956 - 61, CBS) This was the apex of live television drama during the medium's alleged "golden age." First - rate writers, directors and actors brought viewers such outstanding productions as "Requiem for a Heavyweight," "The Miracle Worker," "Days of Wine and Roses" and so many, many more. We will never see its like again.
2. "All in the Family" (1971 - 83, CBS) Norman Lear's landmark series tackled various social issues barely touched upon by previous series. And, thanks to the character of Archie Bunker, it showed us the absurdity of prejudice.
3. "The Ed Sullivan Show/Toast of the Town" (1948 - 71, CBS) Ed Sullivan didn't have any talent, but he knew how to spot it. For an hour each Sunday night, Sullivan brought Americans a wide variety of entertainment, including opera selections, animal acts, excerpts from Broadway plays and most of the era's top music performers.
4. "The Twilight Zone" (1959 - 65, CBS) Norman Lear looked at social problems through comedy; writer Rod Serling did it with science - fiction. This series featured some of the greatest and most chilling endings in TV history.
5. "Your Show of Shows" (1950 - 54, NBC) Each Saturday night, this series presented 90 live minutes featuring some of TV's most hilarious skits and spoofs. It bulged with talent, including Mel Brooks, Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner and Howard (Ernest T. Bass) Morris.
6. "M.A.S.H." (1972 - 1983, CBS) One of the few times a TV series became more popular and better than the movie on which it was based. Alan Alda, Wayne Rogers and Loretta Swit were members of the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital stationed behind the lines during the Korean War. There were plenty of comedic moments, but also plenty of serious ones, too.
7. "Hill Street Blues" (1981 - 87, NBC) This rough, gritty and sometimes funny series focused on the police officers at Hill Street Station, located in a ghetto of a large (unnamed) Midwestern city. Capt. Frank Furillo (Daniel J. Travanti) was in command. (The fact that only one show originating in the 1980s is on this list is testimony to the declining creative quality of network television.)
8. "Gunsmoke" (1955 - 1975, CBS) James Arness was Marshal Matt Dillon in this long - running series, which is considered TV's first adult Western. It was entertaining and thoughtful and had enough action to please just about anyone.
9. "The Andy Griffith Show" (1960 - 68, CBS) It was No. 1 for several seasons during its network run and time has not diminished its small - town humor. The show was filled with memorable characters: Deputy Barney Fife, Floyd the Barber, Gomer and Goober Pyle, and Sheriff Andy Taylor.
10. "Homicide: Life on the Street" (1993 - , NBC) Despite going through numerous cast changes during its run, this sometimes grim series has maintained high - quality scripts and performances throughout. One of the best edited shows ever.
The rest:
11, The Defenders" (1961 - 65, CBS); 12, "I Love Lucy" (1951 - 57, CBS); 13, "Texaco Star Theater/The Milton Berle Show" (1948 - 56, NBC); 14, "In the Heat of the Night" (1988 - 95, NBC, CBS); 14, "Victory at Sea" (1952 - 53, NBC); 15, "The Jackie Gleason Show/The Honeymooners" (1952 - 70, CBS); 16, "The Fugitive" (1963 - 67, ABC); 17, "The Red Skelton Show" (1951 - 71, CBS, NBC); 18, "Wise Guy" (1987 - 90, CBS); 19, "The Bob Newhart Show" (1972 - 78, CBS); 20, "Cheers" (1982 - 94, NBC).
21, "The Cosby Show" (1984 - 92, NBC); 22, "Wagon Train" (1957 - 65, NBC, ABC); 23, "Dragnet" (1953 - 59, 67 - 70, NBC); 24, "Disneyland/Walt Disney" (1954 - , ABC, NBC, CBS); 25, "I'll Fly Away" (1991 - 93, NBC); 26, "Dick Van Dyke" (1961 - 66, CBS); 27, "Sanford & Son" (1972 - 77, NBC); 28, "The Perry Como Show" (1955 - 63, NBC); 29, "Star Trek" (1966 - 69, NBC); 30, "Cavalcade of America" (1952 - 57, ABC).
31, "Magnum, P.I." (1980 - 88, CBS); 32, "The Waltons" (1972 - 81, CBS); 33, "The Steve Allen Show" (1956 - 61, NBC); 34, "The Paper Chase" (1978 - 79, CBS; 1983 - 86, Showtime); 35, "Bonanza" (1959 - 73, NBC); 36, "Newhart" (1982 - 88, CBS); 37, "Mary Tyler Moore" (1970 - 77, CBS); 38, "The Rockford Files" (1974 - 80, NBC); 39, "Law and Order" (1990 - , NBC); 40, "The Untouchables" (1959 - 63)
41, "Combat" (1962 - 67, ABC); 42, "Crime Story" (1986 - 88, NBC); 43, "Leave It To Beaver" (157 - 63, CBS, ABC); 44, "Rowan & Martin's Laugh - In" (1968 - 73, NBC); 45, "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp" (1955 - 61, ABC); 46, "The Dean Martin Show" (1965 - 74, NBC); 47, "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" (1955 - 65, CBS, NBC); 48, "ER" (1994 - , NBC); 49, "Picket Fences" (1992 - 96, CBS); 50, "Frasier" (1994 - , NBC)
51, "The Jack Benny Show" (1950 - 65, CBS, NBC); 52, "Columbo" (1971 - 90, NBC, ABC); 53, "The Rifleman" (1958 - 63, ABC); 54, "The X - Files" (1993 - , Fox); 55, "The Flip Wilson Show" (1970 - 74, NBC); 56, "Miami Vice" (1984 - 89, NBC); 57, "Tour of Duty" (1987 - 90, CBS); 58, "Lassie" (1954 - 71, CBS); 59, "The Larry Sanders Show" (1994 - 98, HBO); 60, "Father Knows Best" (1954 - 60, CBS, NBC).
61, "Palmerstown, U.S.A." (1980 - 81, CBS); 62, "Cheyenne" (1955 - 63, ABC); 63, "Dallas" (1978 - 91, CBS); 64, "The Virginian" (1962 - 71, NBC); 65, "Make Room for Daddy/The Danny Thomas Show" (1953 - 65, ABC, CBS); 66, "The Life of Riley" (1953 - 58, NBC); 67, "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" (1967 - 69, CBS); 68, "The Outer Limits" (1963 - 65); 69, "Gomer Pyle, USMC" (1964 - 70, CBS); 70, "Moonlighting" (1985 - 89, ABC)
71, "Perry Mason" (1957 - 66, CBS); 72, "Mama" (1949 - 56, CBS); 73, "Lou Grant" (1977 - 82, CBS); 74, "Naked City" (1958 - 63, ABC); 75, "L.A. Law" (1986 - 94, NBC ); 76, "Rawhide" (1959 - 66, CBS); 77, "Little House on the Prairie" (1974 - 83, NBC); 78, "Murder She Wrote" (1984 - 95, CBS); 79, "Happy Days" (1974 - 84, ABC); 80, "East Side/West Side" (1963 - 64, CBS),
81, "Seinfeld" (1990 - 98, NBC); 82, "The Wild, Wild West" (1965 - 70, CBS); 83, "Welcome Back, Kotter" (1975 - 79, ABC); 84, "Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet" (1952 - 66, ABC); 85, "Maverick" (1957 - 62, ABC); 86, "Peter Gunn" (1958 - 61, ABC); 87, "Medic" (1954 - 56, NBC); 88, "The Lone Ranger" (1949 - 57, ABC); 89, "Green Acres" (1965 - 71, CBS); 90, "Tombstone Territory" ((1957 - 59, ABC)
91, "The Beverly Hillbillies" (1962 - 71, CBS); 92, "Police Story" (1973 - 78, NBC); 93, "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." (1964 - 68, NBC); 94, "Odd Couple" (1970 - 75, ABC); 95, "Mork & Mindy" (1978 - 82, ABC); 96, "Hawaii Five - 0" (1968 - 80, CBS); 97, "Medical Center" (1969 - 76, CBS); 98, "The White Shadow" (1978 - 91, CBS): 99, "The Flintstones" (1960 - 66, ABC); 100, "The Brady Bunch" (1969 - 74, ABC).
Copyright (c) 1998 Omaha World Herald