LU's Favourite TV Show: #15 - #11
#15: Rome (2005 - 2007) - 208 points
Creator: John Milius, William J. McDonald, and Bruno Heller.
Network(s): HBO & BBC Two.
Cast: Kevin McKidd, Ray Stevenson, Ciaran Hinds, Kenneth Cranham, Tobias Menzies, Kerry Condon, and Lindsay Duncan.
Awards: Emmy Awards for Outstanding Visual Effects, Outstanding Art Direction, Outstanding Cinematography, and Outstanding Hairstyiling.
Another show that many would argue was gone before its time, HBO's big-budget retelling of key events from the empire of the same name. While it focused on large scale events such as the Gallic War and the Ides of March, its central characters were a pair of ordinary soldiers mixed up in some of the most significant events in Roman history.
A hugely successful first season might have led HBO & BBC to think they'd struck a gold mine, but a less popular second season coupled with the costs of a period drama meant that
Rome only ever got the two seasons.
#14: The Late Show with David Letterman (1993 - 2015) - 216 points
Creator: David Letterman
Network: CBS
Cast: David Letterman and Paul Shaffer.
Awards: Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series (1993-94, 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-00, 2000-01, and 2001-02).
A fixture on US late night television and on televisions around the world,
The Late Show with David Letterman is one of the most instantly recognisable talk shows in television history.
While it was hardly a new concept (the network had tried and failed on several occasions to compete with the hugely popular Tonight Show for decades), CBS' decision to poach David Letterman from NBC in 1993 proved incredibly successful from both a ratings and critical acclaim perspective.
The three war 'feud' with Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien led to something of a golden age for late night television, and many are the people who would wrap up their day watching David Letterman rattle off a 'Top 10'.
#13: The West Wing (1999 - 2006) - 225 points
Creator: Aaron Sorkin
Network: NBC
Cast: Rob Lowe, Moira Kelly, Dule Hill, Allison Janney, Richard Schiff, Martin Sheen, Mary McCormack, Alan Alda, Jimmy Smitts, and Kristin Chenoweth.
Awards: Golden Globes for Best Drama (2000) and Best Actor (Martin Sheen - 2000) and Emmy Awards for Outstanding Drama (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003), Outstanding Supporting Actor (John Schiff - 2000, Bradley Whitford - 2001, John Spencer - 2002, Alan Alda - 2004), Outstanding Supporting Actress (Allison Janney - 2000, 2001, Stockard Channing - 2002), Outstanding Directing (2000, 2001, 2003), Outstanding Writing (2000), Outstanding Lead Actress (Allison Janney - 2002, 2004)
One of the most critically acclaimed dramas in recent memory, NBC's
The West Wing was a hugely popular political drama documenting the events of a fictional Democratic president in the White House's Oval Office. Seen as a thinking man's drama, it enjoyed immense popularity with politically savvy viewers, and is still considered one of the best shows in modern television history.
#12: The Office (2001 - 2003) - 364 points
Creator: Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant.
Network: BBC Two
Cast: Ricky Gervais, Martin Freeman, Mackenzie Crook, and Lucy Davis
Awards: Golden Globe for Best Comedy (2003).
Before the hugely popular US adaptation, the cynical British tale of miserable bosses, miserable employees, and the low-stakes world of paper sales was capturing and shattering hearts in both the UK and abroad. The first non-US show to be nominated for the Best Comedy Golden Globe,
The Office was a cult success thanks largely to the insufferably wormy David Brent, as portrayed by show creator, Ricky Gervais.
While this cynical tone did not translate as well to US audiences (prompting a wildly different US interpretation), there are few who won't list off
The Office as one of the greatest comedies of not only the modern era, but of all time.
#11: Community (2009 - 2015) - 369 points
Creator: Dan Harmon
Network: NBC and Yahoo! Screen
Cast: Joel McHale, Gillian Jacobs, Danny Pudi, Chevy Chase, Donald Glover, Jim Rash, Ken Jeong, Alison Brie, and Yvette Nicole-Brown.
Awards: Outstanding Animation (2011).
Another show that many would argue was gone before its time, cult favorite
Community detailed the lives of a group of lovable losers attending an increasingly fanciful community college in Colorado. While early episodes were relatively grounded, it was Dan Harmon's ability to create homages to other cinematic styles that found the quirky show its true home.
Dogged by ratings drama, the clash between Chevy Chase and Dan Harmon, shortened seasons, and meddling executives,
Community still managed to irk out six unforgettable seasons (well, season four was relatively forgettable) and unearthed some of modern cinema's most influential directors - including
Avengers directors, Joe & Anthony Russo.
