From groundbreaking dramas to iconic comedies, we're diving into the most watched television series that have captured audiences' hearts and dominated pop culture. Join us as we count down the most popular TV shows that have defined generations and left an unforgettable mark on entertainment history!
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00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most frequently viewed
00:08scripted television series.
00:10To be clear, popularity doesn't always equal quality.
00:13Also, we won't be including any game shows or reality shows on this list.
00:30For many years in the late 2000s and 2010s, The Big Bang Theory was the biggest comedy
00:35on TV.
00:36A show about a group of nerds and, eventually, their love interests, it did big numbers on
00:40network television, despite the era of streaming getting underway during its 12-year run.
00:51Although often criticised during and after its time on air for engaging in stereotypes,
00:55among other reasons, The Big Bang Theory still has a broad appeal and plenty of devoted fans.
01:01Its record-setting run for a sitcom and level of success were enough to earn it spinoffs
01:05and a place in pop culture.
01:07And now for the real number 20, Bazinga.
01:21Perhaps the most popular and recognisable anthology series of all time, The Twilight
01:25Zone tells a different fantasy, sci-fi and or horror story every episode.
01:30Many of its stories remain timeless, as they frequently examine off-kilter and strange
01:34events, usually with an ironic or shocking twist ending.
01:47So much about The Twilight Zone has become embedded in our popular consciousness, from
01:50individual episodes, to its name being a shorthand for weird situations, to its opening theme
01:55music.
02:05While it has been remade, rerun, imitated and parodied countless times, there's simply
02:10no beating the original.
02:17Zombies have always been popular, but The Walking Dead brought the genre to TV and positively
02:31exploded in popularity.
02:32The post-apocalyptic series kept audiences hooked year after year, with a great balance
02:37of character drama, action and horror.
02:45Along with being a cable ratings juggernaut, The Walking Dead has also spawned more than
02:49its fair share of spinoffs.
02:51Like seriously, a ridiculous number of spinoffs.
02:54Although debate continues to rage on when or if it fell off, The Walking Dead fanbase,
02:58much like a horde of walkers, is impossible to ignore.
03:11If you haven't heard of Bluey, you're clearly not around a lot of kids.
03:14The global success of an Australian children's show may shock you initially, but once you
03:18get to know what Bluey's all about, it's really not that surprising.
03:34The story of the titular puppy, as well as the rest of her family and friends, Bluey
03:38has proven incredibly successful, not only with its target audience, but with parents
03:42and adults as well.
03:43The series not only presents silly and adorable adventures that appeal to children, but also
03:47depicts modern family life in a positive and uplifting way.
03:50It's little wonder why it's been doing huge numbers worldwide.
04:08Netflix has had a number of smash hit shows, but Stranger Things is in a league of its
04:12own.
04:13Set in the 1980s, Stranger Things follows the residents of a small town who encounter
04:18supernatural phenomena, mostly stemming from a dark parallel dimension.
04:26While it obviously appeals to fans of 80s movies, Stranger Things has attracted plenty
04:30of younger fans too.
04:31The series perfectly blends science fiction, horror, drama and comedy to provide a little
04:36something for every viewer.
04:37An overnight success, Stranger Things has continued to be a much-talked-about show throughout
04:41its run, with memes and trending topics galore.
05:00When people think of prestige television, The Sopranos is generally one of the first
05:04shows that springs to mind.
05:05The mafia drama helped usher in a golden age of high-quality TV, impacting not only the
05:10perception of the medium as a legitimate way to tell engrossing stories, but also influencing
05:14the popularity of anti-heroes.
05:20Mobman Tony Soprano is among TV's most iconic characters, and his family and fellow co-workers
05:26in waste management aren't far behind.
05:28The Sopranos had a tremendous impact on the TV landscape of the 21st century, but while
05:33it was influential, there are other premium cable series that surpassed it in popularity.
05:55Arguably the most universally loved animated series ever made, Avatar the Last Airbender
05:59is not only popular, it's dang near perfect.
06:03Based on the story of Aang, the eponymous final airbender, Avatar depicts his journey
06:06to defeat the Fire Nation and bring peace to his world.
06:16The series has a phenomenal cast of characters, most of whom experience significant development
06:20throughout.
06:21It has phenomenal fight scenes, beautiful animation, hilarious comedy and some incredibly
06:25heartwarming moments.
06:26Avatar the Last Airbender's popularity, like the Avatar themselves, is always getting
06:31passed on to the next generation.
06:44Dramedies may be everywhere nowadays, but back in the 70s and 80s, M.A.S.H. was helping
06:49pioneer the idea on TV.
06:51The series followed a group of army surgeons during the Korean War.
06:54While it was initially more of a comedy, its satirical elements, wartime setting and topical
06:59reflection of the then-current Vietnam War all lent well to drama as well.
07:16It made for riveting viewing then, and it remains fantastic today.
07:20And if all that isn't enough to convince you of the show's popularity, there's
07:23the fact that M.A.S.H. continues to hold the record for the most watched episode of American
07:27television ever, decades after its conclusion.
07:40Popular, funny and influential, Lucy had it all.
07:43Possibly the most influential multi-camera sitcom of all time, I Love Lucy set the standard
07:48for most of the comedies that followed it, including using multiple cameras and a live
07:52audience.
08:05Lucy and Ricky's misadventures in love are hysterical, and despite being a product of
08:09their time, have remained beloved for decades.
08:23The series holds the record for the highest average rating for a season of television.
08:26I Love Lucy has been enjoyed by millions for nearly as long as television has existed,
08:31and will no doubt continue to be loved for years to come.
08:47Children's television tends to have enduring popularity, and Sesame Street is not only
08:52one of the longest-running kids' shows in the world, it's one of the longest TV series
08:56period.
08:57Generations of children and adults around the world have enjoyed getting to know Big
09:00Bird, Bert and Ernie, Elmo and the rest of the gang on Sesame Street.
09:16Through its catchy songs, muppets and various animated segments, Sesame Street has helped
09:20educate and entertain.
09:22And while it may be aimed at developing minds, the show never talks down to children either.
09:26No matter how you get to Sesame Street, everyone finds themselves there eventually.
09:44People seem to forget just how gigantic this show was.
09:47Millions tuned in every week to see what the survivors of a plane crash on a mysterious
09:51island would get up to next.
09:53And it wasn't just viewing figures.
09:54Once an episode aired, its content were discussed extensively online with every detail, every
10:00clue examined from every angle.
10:13Along with its many mysteries, Lost also delivered gripping drama and emotional storytelling,
10:18with an extensive use of flashbacks.
10:20The performances were exceptional, the music still haunts us, and it was among the first
10:25network TV shows to bring a truly cinematic level of quality to its production.
10:29Whether you think it stuck the landing or not, Lost never lost out on attention.
10:45Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name, and everybody knows the name of
10:49this sitcom.
10:50The ultimate comfort show of the 80s and early 90s, cheers followed the staff and regulars
10:55of the titular bar, getting away from their troubles and discovering a found family in
10:59each other.
11:04The witty writing, unforgettable characters and fantastic chemistry between the ensemble
11:08cast turned the series into one of the most consistently watched American TV shows throughout
11:13its run.
11:14If we were to raise our glasses to this show, we would be among good company.
11:29When it comes to the most-watched and most-discussed shows of the 2010s, Game of Thrones reigns
11:34nearly unopposed.
11:35The dark, epic fantasy series had nearly everyone talking with each new epic battle, twist or
11:41betrayal.
11:48The power struggles of Westeros managed to grip our world in a way few shows can in the
11:53era of streaming.
11:54The positively massive cast is stacked with incredible performances, and every level of
11:58production, from the music to the visual effects to the costumes, set new bars for excellence
12:03and expense in the TV industry.
12:11Its success has also seen an increase in epic fantasy on the small screen.
12:15While it doesn't take our Iron Throne, there's no denying how massive Game of Thrones has
12:19been.
12:26While scripted dramas and comedies tend to dominate the airwaves, variety shows have
12:40always been tremendously popular, and easily the biggest and longest-running name in the
12:44game is Saturday Night Live.
12:53Along with showcasing up-and-coming and established musical acts, SNL provides a variety of sketches
12:58each week, with each show hosted by a new celebrity guest.
13:02The series is half a century old, and counting, with many of its bits becoming iconic practically
13:07overnight.
13:08Plus, SNL has been a launching point for the careers of practically every comedic actor
13:19you can name.
13:20While how popular it is may fluctuate depending on the year or the cast, Saturday Night Live
13:25remains a fixture of TV.
13:40There are dozens of wildly popular police procedurals, but few of them have achieved
13:44the kind of longevity and popularity of Law & Order.
13:53Its formula of showcasing not only the investigation into crimes, but also the prosecution of them,
13:58proved a winning one.
13:59So popular, in fact, that, in addition to being on the air for 20 years, Law & Order
14:03has spawned numerous spin-off shows, including international versions, as well as a revival
14:08in the 2020s.
14:09The fact that its cases often take inspiration from real-world crimes, and the frequently
14:13revolving cast is consistently fantastic, it's little wonder why Law & Order has remained
14:17so popular for so long.
14:33This iconic crime drama broke all expectations.
14:36The story of Walter White, a dying science teacher who turns to producing drugs to provide
14:40for his family, should be much familiar to anyone watching this.
14:43Even if you haven't seen the show yourself, chances are you've heard about it, because
14:47fans never stop singing its praises.
14:57The acting and character development are among the best television has ever seen.
15:01The writing is intricately plotted.
15:03Even the cinematography is great.
15:04It's funny, it's scary, it's thrilling, it truly fires on all cylinders.
15:09A hit with critics and audiences alike, Breaking Bad repeatedly broke the internet, and it
15:13still blows our minds how good this series was.
15:31There are workplace sitcoms, and then there's The Office.
15:34It may be a remake, but the American version vastly eclipsed the original in popularity.
15:39The workers at Dunder Mifflin Paper Company, led by the affably incompetent Michael Scott,
15:43have become an iconic part of pop culture.
15:52The relatable, yet outrageous characters, heartwarming romances and gut-busting comedy
15:57have helped turn The Office into one of the go-to comfort comedies of the 21st century.
16:01Although highly acclaimed and watched when it was on air, The Office has maintained its
16:05popularity thanks to being streamed almost constantly since it concluded.
16:09I mean, it takes something this big to satisfy millions.
16:21It was only a matter of time, right?
16:22The Simpsons holds several records when it comes to long-running TV series.
16:26The eponymous animated family and the residents of their town have entertained audiences for
16:30decades.
16:38Their catchphrases have been added to dictionaries.
16:40Various moments and episodes are forever ingrained in our minds.
16:49The series has spawned merchandise, video games and a movie.
16:52Whether you feel its golden age is behind it, or it's just as strong as ever, The
16:55Simpsons has left a big yellow mark on the television landscape, and on pop culture in
17:00general.
17:15While even described by itself as a show about nothing, there's nothing negligible about
17:19Seinfeld's popularity.
17:21Jerry, George, Elaine and Kramer's various misadventures toed the line perfectly and
17:25captured the absurdity of everyday life with a cynical and sarcastic edge unlike anything
17:31at the time.
17:41Quotes from the show are part of everyday vernacular now, and even the little musical
17:45embellishments are iconic.
17:46The series was one of only a handful of series to finish on top in the ratings, and thanks
17:51to being absolutely everywhere in syndication and online, it has remained a fixture of television.
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18:29There have been a lot of sitcoms centred around a group of friends, before the show and since.
18:33But none of them have achieved the kind of explosive, widespread appeal as Friends.
18:47The ensemble of six actors are all perfectly hilarious in their own ways.
18:51There's great character development, romance and quotable lines galore.
18:55The ratings were gigantic while it was airing, and syndication and streaming have only proved
19:00Friends, much like one of the series' many thanksgivings, is often chaotic, yet entirely
19:12comforting at the same time.
19:14Whatever wholesomeness or laughs you're seeking, Friends will always be there for
19:18you.
19:24So is there a highly-liked TV show we forgot?
19:27Increase your own popularity by sharing your picks in the comments.
19:57Thanks for watching.
19:58See you next time.