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Rolling Stone Destroys Their Original 100 Greatest TV Shows List

Jordan Ruimy

Here’s an interesting topic. Do you just nullify “The Cosby Show” from history? That’s what Rolling Stone has just done with their “updated” list of the 100 Greatest TV Shows of All-Time.

As far as seminal and historically important television shows go, “The Cosby Show” was right up there. An all-black television family that ultimately became “America’s Family.” It paved the way for so many imitations. Rolling Stone is politely saying “CANCELLED.” ‘Cosby’ appears nowhere in their top 100.

“Roseanne,” another seminal show, is nowhere to be found. Gee, I wonder why.

I’m also calling bullshit on “Louie” not being here at all, especially when it heavily inspired shows like “Atlanta” and “Fleabag.” Louie CK’s series was #22 just a few years ago on Rolling Stone’s original list. That 2016 list was, of course, before CK was outed as a serial masturbator.

I’m a huge fan of “Atlanta,” but the ninth greatest show of all-time? Laughable. “Fleabag” at #5? #inclusivity. “I May Destroy You” at #19. “Watchmen” at #23? This is simply a rewriting of history.

Of course, “The Sopranos,” “The Simpsons,” “Seinfeld,” “Breaking Bad,” “Mad Men,” and “The Wire” all deserving of their top 10 slots.

I cringed reading their blurb for News Radio (#94) and how the author describes Joe Rogan:

“It can be difficult now to watch scenes with Joe Rogan as the station’s electrician without thinking about who and what Rogan has become.”

Just to recap, “Fleabag” over both “Mad Men” and “Seinfeld” as the 6th greatest show of all time. “Atlanta” ahead of “The Twilight Zone,” “Twin Peaks,” “All in the Family,” and “David Letterman.” We live in a clown world.

I’ll spare you from clicking on five pages of RS rankings and just post the top 100:

  1. The Sopranos

  2. The Simpsons

  3. Breaking Bad

  4. The Wire

  5. Fleabag

  6. Seinfeld

  7. Mad Men

  8. Cheers

  9. Atlanta

  10. The Mary Tyler Moore Show

  11. Succession

  12. The Twilight Zone

  13. Veep

  14. The Americans

  15. The Larry Sanders Show

  16. Twin Peaks

  17. The Leftovers

  18. Saturday Night Live

  19. I May Destroy You

  20. 30 Rock

  21. All in the Family

  22. Star Trek

  23. Watchmen

  24. Freaks and Geeks

  25. M*A*S*H

  26. Sesame Street

  27. Deadwood

  28. Friday Night Lights

  29. Roots

  30. Parks and Recreation

  31. Game of Thrones

  32. Better Call Saul

  33. Monty Python's Flying Circus

  34. The Office (U.S.)

  35. Lost

  36. I Love Lucy

  37. Arrested Development

  38. Hill Street Blues

  39. Curb Your Enthusiasm

  40. The Good Place

  41. BoJack Horseman

  42. Battlestar Galactica

  43. Insecure

  44. Late Night With David Letterman

  45. Columbo

  46. The West Wing

  47. My So-Called Life

  48. The Shield

  49. Friends

  50. Jeopardy!

  51. The X-Files

  52. Barry

  53. The Office (U.K.)

  54. ER

  55. Halt and Catch Fire

  56. Community

  57. Russian Doll

  58. Six Feet Under

  59. Key & Peele

  60. Taxi

  61. The Underground Railroad

  62. The Dick Van Dyke Show

  63. South Park

  64. The Golden Girls

  65. Girls

  66. The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

  67. NYPD Blue

  68. Fawlty Towers

  69. Chappelle's Show

  70. SCTV

  71. Better Things

  72. Good Times

  73. Buffy the Vampire Slayer

  74. The Honeymooners

  75. Frasier

  76. Justified

  77. The Jeffersons

  78. Sex and the City

  79. Mr. Show with Bob and David

  80. Band of Brothers

  81. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

  82. Party Down

  83. I'm Alan Partridge

  84. Fargo

  85. Orange Is the New Black

  86. The Bob Newhart Show

  87. The Kids in the Hall

  88. The Crown

  89. The Carol Burnett Show

  90. The Wonder Years

  91. The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson

  92. The Muppet Show

  93. The Rockford Files

  94. NewsRadio

  95. Squid Game

  96. Rick and Morty

  97. The Odd Couple

  98. The Good Fight

  99. Oz

  100. What We Do in the Shadows