TV doesn't get much better than this! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most memorable or iconic scenes from live-action scripted television series. So that means no moments from shows like “The Simpsons” and “Saturday Night Live.”
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00:00 "Doesn't that what you said one time? Try and remember the times that were good?"
00:03 "A gig?"
00:04 "Yeah."
00:05 Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most memorable or iconic scenes from live-action scripted television series.
00:13 So that means no moments from shows like The Simpsons or Saturday Night Live.
00:18 Also, spoiler alert.
00:20 [Screaming]
00:21 "Listen, that's a lot. I think this is..."
00:24 [Screaming]
00:27 Number 20. Mulder meets Scully. The X-Files.
00:31 Most shows don't have their most iconic moments in their first episode.
00:35 But in the case of The X-Files, there is one scene that is particularly memorable.
00:39 "Are you familiar with the so-called X-Files?"
00:41 "I believe they have to do with unexplained phenomena."
00:46 "More or less. The reason you're here, Agent Scully, is we want you to assist Mulder on these X-Files."
00:51 Dana Scully and Fox Mulder are household names now after having been in the pop culture zeitgeist for most of the 90s.
00:57 And the scene in which they meet is classic.
01:00 They are FBI agents with very different traits.
01:03 And when they meet for the first time,
01:05 the stage is set for what their relationship would look like throughout the show.
01:09 "Agent Mulder, I'm Dana Scully. I've been assigned to work with you."
01:13 "Oh, isn't it nice to be suddenly so highly regarded?
01:16 So who did you take off to get stuck with this detail, Scully?"
01:19 Mulder is entertained by Scully's new role trying to debunk his cases.
01:24 And while it's clear that they are total opposites,
01:26 we know in that moment they have real lasting chemistry.
01:30 Number 19.
01:32 President Bartlett's Anger and Anguish.
01:34 The West Wing.
01:35 With Aaron Sorkin at the helm and Martin Sheen taking the stage,
01:38 we know we're seeing something great.
01:40 But something about this scene in particular stands out from even the rest of the show.
01:45 In the season 2 finale,
01:46 President Bartlett is facing several dark moments in his life.
01:49 From the death of his personal secretary to dealing with the ramifications surrounding a political scandal.
01:54 "I don't know what to say. The deal's pretty rich.
01:57 Maybe you can buy some tech stocks and jack up the price."
02:01 After attending his secretary's funeral, he lets out his anger towards God.
02:06 Speaking in both English and Latin,
02:08 he impassionately demands explanations for everything that's happened to him.
02:11 "Yes, I lied. It was a sin. I've committed many sins.
02:15 Have I displeased you, you feckless thug? 3.8 million new jobs, that wasn't good?"
02:21 In this scene, the President of the United States becomes one of the most relatable characters on television.
02:27 And that in itself is truly powerful.
02:30 Number 18.
02:31 Tracking Shot - True Detective
02:34 It didn't take long for the series to find its footing,
02:36 as one of the most incredible scenes came just four episodes into the first season.
02:41 The entire scene is six minutes long and is done in one take,
02:45 tracking Detectives Cole and Papa Nia as they go undercover in a gang's compound.
02:49 "You know where the stash house is?"
02:51 "Tiger's gonna take us there."
02:53 "You got an exit plan?"
02:56 When a shootout ensues, it foils their infiltration and nearly takes their lives.
03:02 With the scene not having any cuts, we can feel the intensity,
03:06 giving us the illusion of being right there alongside the detectives in real time.
03:10 It's a masterclass in technical filmmaking.
03:13 And we are not surprised that director Kari Joji Fukunaga,
03:16 won Outstanding Director for a Drama Series at the Emmys for this episode.
03:20 Number 17.
03:30 Socks and Shoes - All in the Family
03:32 Archie and his son-in-law Michael, better known as Meathead,
03:36 famously never see eye to eye throughout All in the Family.
03:39 One of the best scenes with them is when Archie hilariously shows Michael
03:42 how to put on socks in his shoes.
03:44 "Suppose there's a fire in the house and you gotta rub your leg.
03:47 Your way, all you got on is one shoe and a sock.
03:51 My way, you got on a sock and a sock. You see, you're even."
03:55 He teaches him how to put them on properly,
04:00 and even though Archie is blunt and crass in his delivery,
04:03 it really is a father-son moment that has us both in stitches and our feels.
04:08 Another memorable moment happens in a much later season
04:11 when Gloria and Mike say goodbye to Edith and Archie.
04:14 "I know you always thought I hated you,
04:17 but I love you."
04:23 But this show is a comedy at its core,
04:27 so the funnier moment shared between the two has to take the cake.
04:30 Number 16.
04:32 The Carousel Pitch - Mad Men
04:34 Don Draper is one of the most iconic TV characters in recent history,
04:38 and his client pitches and advertising prowess
04:40 deliver numerous seriously memorable moments throughout the show.
04:44 "This is the greatest advertising opportunity since the invention of cereal."
04:48 From the cigarette pitch in the pilot to the epiphany of the Coca-Cola ad in the finale,
04:52 he always impresses us.
04:54 His most impressive moment of all though is in the finale of the first season.
04:59 When pitching to Kodak, Don taps into his rarely seen sentimental side,
05:03 showing his client the carousel projector with pictures of his family.
05:06 "This device isn't a spaceship,
05:13 it's a time machine."
05:14 This brings out the emotions of everyone in the room,
05:17 and all of us sitting at home in our living rooms too.
05:20 How does he do it?
05:22 Number 15.
05:23 Chandler and Monica Come Clean - Friends
05:26 Picking just one amazing scene from Friends is not easy,
05:29 but neither is combining hilarious with heartfelt,
05:32 which the Friends do seamlessly in this scene.
05:35 "Oh look, there's Monica and Chandler. Hey!
05:37 Hey you guys!
05:40 Hey!
05:42 Hey!"
05:43 Monica and Chandler keep their romance a secret from the rest of the group for a long time,
05:47 and when they all find out, schemes are put in motion.
05:50 Phoebe hits on Chandler to try to get him to admit what's going on,
05:54 with Rachel, Joey, and Monica all in on it since they know that they know, you know?
05:58 "Nervous?"
05:59 "Me? No. You?"
06:00 "No. I want this to happen."
06:02 "So do I."
06:05 The moments shared between Chandler and Phoebe are hysterical,
06:09 and Chandler admitting his love for Monica to his friends is beautiful.
06:13 Their proposal is a beautiful moment too, but you just can't beat this one.
06:17 Number 14.
06:19 Chuck's Meltdown - Better Call Saul
06:21 This entire third season episode involves tense and explosive moments
06:25 between Jimmy and his older brother Chuck.
06:27 "Look, if you won't tell her, then I will."
06:29 "You will?"
06:29 "No. No, you will not tell her."
06:32 Jimmy is able to really show how manipulative he is as a lawyer,
06:35 and how no one is off the table when it comes to winning a case,
06:39 including using vulnerabilities only he would know about his brother
06:42 to expose him on the witness stand.
06:44 Chuck claims to have sensitivity to electromagnetic fields,
06:48 until Jimmy reveals the contrary in the courtroom, and Chuck loses it.
06:52 "And he gets to be a lawyer? What a sick joke!
06:56 I should have stopped him when I had the chance!"
06:59 It's a great performance by both actors in a moment that shocks everyone,
07:03 and reminds us, just as with Breaking Bad,
07:06 that Vince Gilligan can basically do no wrong.
07:09 Number 13 - Dinner Party Meltdown - The Office
07:13 The Office is chock full of episodes and scenes
07:15 that fans everywhere will probably never forget.
07:18 While it's hard to pick just one,
07:20 the Dinner Party episode is particularly memorable.
07:23 "Michael has asked Pam and me to dinner at least nine times,
07:27 and every time we've been able to get out of it.
07:29 But I gotta give him credit.
07:32 He got me.
07:33 Because I'm starting to suspect that there was no assignment from corporate."
07:38 When Jan and Michael host Pam, Jim, Angela and Andy,
07:41 they get a few unexpected guests in the form of Dwight and his babysitter.
07:45 Between Jan's singing, Michael's neon signs,
07:48 and a plethora of other awkward instances,
07:51 the night is full of cringeworthy moments.
07:54 Everything culminates in a blow-up between Jan and Michael
07:56 that is both very funny and very uncomfortable.
07:59 "If man I would want to burn your candles!"
08:02 "You burn it, you buy it!"
08:04 "Oh good! I'll be your first customer!"
08:06 "But you're hardly my first!"
08:09 "That's what she said!"
08:10 Their fight involves the TV getting smashed and the cops getting called,
08:14 and this scene perfectly encompasses Jan and Michael's relationship,
08:17 Michael's personality and the essence of the entire show.
08:21 In the third season of 'The Wire',
08:27 Avon and Stringer's relationship reaches a tumultuous peak
08:30 as they disagree on how to handle their illicit business.
08:33 "I mean, if I had taken care of that earlier, man,
08:35 it's always gonna be a Marlowe, man.
08:37 No Marlowe, no game.
08:39 But you could have dealt with that shit a little sooner, I mean, yeah,
08:43 but you know what I'm saying, don't let it lay on you like that."
08:45 Stringer betrays Avon,
08:47 and it's clear that Stringer's decision will lead to their relationship's demise.
08:51 While they're on different pages,
08:52 they spend their final conversation reminiscing about their time together in their youth.
08:56 The talk ends with them realizing that they can't trust each other,
08:59 and that moving forward things will be different.
09:03 "Dust me."
09:03 The nuances weaved throughout the discussion are powerful,
09:08 as they talk about where they've been and where they are now.
09:11 While Omar's testimony was also a significant moment on the show,
09:15 this subtle exchange just couldn't be beat.
09:17 This series has plenty of moments that left us rolling in the aisles,
09:24 but it's a scene that left us in tears that makes this list.
09:27 When Will's father, Will,
09:29 tries to reconcile with him after years of being absent,
09:32 his intentions seem good, but everyone's guard is up.
09:35 "That is not cool, man, the way you're dissing my father like that."
09:38 "To hell with your father!"
09:39 "Bill, for God's sake!"
09:40 "He waltzes in here after 15 years?"
09:43 "14!"
09:43 "Oh, excuse me, 14 years, and acts like nothing has happened!
09:47 Wake up, Will!"
09:48 Lou plans to take a trip with Will,
09:50 but bails when work opportunities come up,
09:53 which is a thin excuse at best.
09:56 When the two are on the phone,
09:57 Lou's father, Bill,
09:59 is a little bit more open than ever,
10:01 and will be able to make a thin excuse at best.
10:04 When Lou leaves,
10:05 Will realizes that his dad is walking out of his life yet again.
10:09 Although he starts out playing it cool,
10:11 the moment when he breaks down in Uncle Phil's arms
10:14 will always be one of the saddest moments in sitcom history.
10:18 "How come you don't want me, man?"
10:25 Kendall is one of the most intricate and complicated relationships on the show,
10:29 and in this scene,
10:30 Kendall tries to establish where he stands with his father.
10:33 "It's okay, Shiv.
10:34 It's okay.
10:36 It had to be done."
10:39 Up until this point,
10:41 Logan has always been one step ahead of Kendall,
10:43 or he was able to use his power to keep him in line.
10:47 When the scandal surrounding the Waystar-Royco cruise lines comes to light,
10:50 it appears as though Kendall is going to publicly take the fall.
10:54 However, in a twist no one really saw coming,
10:57 he throws Logan under the bus.
10:59 "My father keeps a watchful eye over every inch of his whole empire.
11:03 And the notion that he would have allowed millions of dollars
11:07 in settlements and compensation to be paid
11:10 without his explicit approval is utterly fanciful."
11:14 It's a turning point in the series.
11:15 It left viewers speechless,
11:17 and it's one of the greatest moments on television in recent history.
11:22 Number 9.
11:22 Robert sees the Gremlin,
11:24 the Twilight Zone.
11:25 Although this moment might seem borderline laughable
11:28 when viewed through 21st century eyes,
11:30 it was a beyond terrifying scene in the early 60s.
11:34 In this episode,
11:35 William Shatner's character sees a gremlin on the wing of an airplane.
11:38 Considering that his character has recently suffered a nervous breakdown
11:50 and no one else on the plane can see the gremlin,
11:52 it's a Hamlet-esque scene that leaves us wondering if he's gone crazy.
11:56 The entire episode is strung together by a terrific performance by Shatner,
12:00 who eventually goes to great lengths to get rid of the gremlin.
12:03 But it's the scene in which he first spots the scary creature
12:13 that has stuck with viewers decades later.
12:16 Number 8.
12:17 Sorry, we're closed.
12:19 Cheers.
12:20 Cheers gave us many laughs and tears throughout its 11-season run.
12:24 The dynamic between the characters is always fun to watch,
12:27 and we've always known that this group of patrons was more like family than friends.
12:31 In the final scene of the final episode,
12:49 Sam alone acknowledges how important the bar is to him,
12:52 has a surprisingly poignant conversation with Norm,
12:55 and turns a customer away as he closes for the night.
12:58 It's a simple scene that sums up the atmosphere of the sitcom perfectly,
13:05 and who doesn't shed a tear when Sam proclaims that he is the luckiest S.O.B. alive?
13:09 Number 7.
13:11 The sea was angry that day, my friends.
13:13 Seinfeld.
13:14 This iconic sitcom is known for being endlessly quotable,
13:17 with moments that have impacted pop culture years after its final episode aired.
13:21 From the soup Nazi, to the parking garage, to the contest,
13:24 there are almost too many choices to pick from.
13:26 But George's daunting tale of saving a whale is one we will not soon forget.
13:30 After lying about being a marine biologist,
13:38 George is forced to pull an obstruction from the fish, mammals blowhole.
13:43 George's animated storytelling is already incredible,
13:46 but when the golf ball is introduced to the story,
13:48 it takes the hilarity to the next level.
13:50 George as marine biologist is truly the ultimate fake it till you make it.
13:55 Number 6.
14:08 Desmond and Penny's phone call.
14:10 Lost.
14:11 The episode in which we see the infamous call between Desmond and Penny
14:15 is certainly one of the more memorable and emotional ones in the series.
14:18 Needless to say, the scene shared between them is tragically beautiful.
14:37 Desmond is experiencing intense flashbacks and forwards,
14:40 while being unable to anchor himself at any point in time.
14:44 No matter where he is, he's trying to find Penny.
14:47 And when he finally does,
14:48 we are as desperate for him to stay in contact with her as he is.
14:51 It's lost at its most emotional,
15:07 and we are practically holding our breath through their entire call.
15:10 Number 5.
15:12 The Red Wedding.
15:13 Game of Thrones.
15:14 This landmark series offers shocking moment after shocking moment,
15:18 so to have one stand out to this extent is remarkable.
15:21 During Edmure Tully and Rosalind Frey's wedding feast,
15:33 Rob and Talisa Stark are shockingly and brutally murdered by the Freys,
15:37 along with the Bannermen,
15:38 and Catelyn Stark also falls victim to this betrayal.
15:41 It's one of the most unexpected TV moments ever,
15:44 and viewers were absolutely beside themselves after seeing this scene.
15:48 The significance of the scene also cannot be overstated,
15:55 as this signifies a switch in power dynamics,
15:57 and the fallout would be felt for many seasons to follow.
16:00 Number 4.
16:02 Hank's Death.
16:03 Breaking Bad.
16:04 Speaking of shows with endlessly shocking moments,
16:07 particularly surrounding characters' deaths,
16:09 we would be quite remiss if we didn't include this one.
16:12 While Gustav Fring's face-off death at the hands of Hector is mind-blowing,
16:16 the complexities surrounding Hank's death are definitely noteworthy.
16:20 Hank spends most of the series tracking down Heisenberg,
16:28 and chaos ensues when he realizes he's actually been searching for his brother-in-law the whole time.
16:33 Hank tries to take him down,
16:35 which instead leads to this scene where Hank is killed by Jack
16:38 even after Walt offers him millions not to,
16:41 and the death is ultimately a catalyst for Walt's downfall.
16:44 Did we mention that this episode has a whopping 10 on 10 on IMDb?
17:04 Iconic.
17:04 Number 3.
17:06 Candy Factory.
17:07 I Love Lucy.
17:08 We couldn't talk about the greatest TV scenes of all time
17:11 without talking about the OG sitcom queen Lucille Ball.
17:14 In her role as Lucy Ricardo,
17:16 she broke barriers on the small screen and always left us with a laugh.
17:19 This scene encompasses her character perfectly.
17:33 The irrepressible Lucy enlists her best friend Ethel to work with her at a candy factory
17:37 while their husbands tackle the housework.
17:39 But at the conveyor belt,
17:41 the women simply can't keep up with the very fast-paced work
17:44 and end up resorting to tossing chocolate into their mouths to avoid messing up.
17:48 It is a testament to Lucille Ball's impeccable physical comedy
17:59 and a groundbreakingly funny scene.
18:01 Number 2.
18:02 The Diner.
18:03 The Sopranos.
18:04 This legendary show is widely regarded as one of,
18:07 if not the, greatest TV series of all time.
18:11 And its finale has become particularly iconic.
18:14 Just as we felt throughout most of the episode,
18:22 the final scene is filled with tension and uncertainty as Tony sits alone in the diner,
18:27 observing people coming in and out of the restaurant.
18:29 Although he's waiting for his family,
18:31 who eventually start arriving one by one,
18:33 you're never sure who's gonna show up or what might happen next.
18:37 Set to the soundtrack of Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'",
18:39 we hear the bell ring from the door opening before it all cuts to black.
18:43 It's genius.
18:44 It's maddening.
18:45 It's The Sopranos.
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19:04 This show may be a comedy drama,
19:11 but its most famous scenes are definitely not comical.
19:15 One of the most shocking moments came in the finale episode of the third season,
19:19 when Colonel Henry Blake's plane is shot down.
19:21 "Lieutenant Carle, Henry Blake's plane...
19:24 was shot down over the Sea of Japan."
19:31 But nothing beats the record-breaking finale.
19:35 As the Korean War comes to a close,
19:37 Hawkeye's revelation leads to a breakdown
19:39 that leads him to confront his demons before he returns home.
19:42 Watching all of the characters saying goodbye to one another,
19:45 and ultimately us,
19:46 is gut-wrenching.
19:47 "Maybe you're right, maybe we will see each other again,
19:49 but just in case we don't...
19:50 I want you to know how much you've meant to me."
19:55 When Hawkeye says farewell and boards the helicopter,
19:58 seeing the word "goodbye" written out in rocks,
20:00 there wasn't a dry eye among 125 million viewers.
20:04 Hard to beat a moment like that.
20:06 Did your favorite TV scene make the list?
20:09 Let us know in the comments.
20:10 "And I suppose...
20:11 if it's my last chance to say it...
20:16 Rose Tyler."
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20:33 [Music]