As a professional how do you make yourself entertain? If you ask me the same question, I’ll reply with a simple answer I used to watch my favorite TV shows for entertainment. While working on SEO projects and blogging sometimes I feel tired but watching comedy or sitcoms helps to feel better. However, I have discovered some of the best and most popular TV shows that I’m going to share with you.
From the start of the television era to now, there have been so many shows produced in television history some of them got wow recognition from audiences while many shows got flop even with casts of big stars.
Now in this guide, I have shared the list of my favorite and the most popular TV shows of all time that are must-watch. Ready to know about. Let’s get started.
12 Most Popular TV Shows to Watch with Popcorns
Without scrolling down, if you ask me about my all-time favourite show then I’ll name “Friends and 2 Broke Girls.” These two shows are something more than entertainment. Here is a list of the top 10 most popular TV shows of all time, hence many of these shows have ended but these are still available on different streaming platforms that people use to rewatch.
📽️ Short Overview Popular TV Shows
1. 2 Broke Girls: Girls struggle, Sharp humor, quirky characters.
2. Friends: A cultural phenomenon with lovable characters.
3. Family Feud: A classic game show for families.
4. The Big Bang Theory: Made geek culture mainstream.
5. Seinfeld: An unbeatable comedy
6. Two and a Half Men: Charlie Sheen’s wild antics.
7. Tonight Show with Jay Leno: A late-night staple show of celebrity interviews.
8. Wheel of Fortune: A legendary game show.
9. Wild ‘N Out: A fast-paced improv comedy battle show.
10. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air: A classic sitcom blending comedy.
11. Breaking Bad: A gripping crime drama praised for its intense storytelling.
12. Mad Men: A nostalgic look at 1960s advertising.
Let’s read in detail below:
1 – 2 Broke Girls
📽️ 2 Broke Girls
● Main Writer – Michael Patrick King
● Main Cast – Kat Dennings, Beth Behrs, Matthew Moy
● Awards – People’s Choice Award, Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Award
● Genre – Sitcom, Comedy
● Highest IMDb Rating – 7.9/10
● Running Era – 2011-2017
2 Broke Girls is one of the most viewed and favourite TV shows of all time that aired between (2011-2017) on CBS. The show is all about two girls Max and Caroline who used to work as waitresses at a Brooklyn restaurant.
While working as waitresses, they always dream and struggle to make an end of their working era and start their own Cupcake business. But they both find themself out of money to start their own business.
Also, the show is famous for its humour and dynamic between the two main characters played by Kat Dennings and Beth Behrs.
2 – Friends
📽️ Friends
● Main Writer – Marta Kauffman, David Crane
● Main Cast – Jennifer Aniston · Courteney Cox · Lisa Kudrow · Matt LeBlanc · Matthew Perry · David Schwimmer
● Awards – 79 Awards wins
● Genre – Sitcom
● Highest IMDb Rating – 8.9/10
● Running Era – 1994-2004
Friends is simply the best TV show and series ever produced. Although, it ended in 2004 but still people love to watch this show. Its addictive characters grab the audience’s attention even if you can stop referring to the characters by their real name after watching some episodes.
The show got recognition due to its relatable characters, witty humour, and memorable moments. The overall show story revolves around six persons who used to live in Manhattan. They do adventure together which creates trouble and happiness in their lives.
3 – Family Feud
📽️ Family Feud
● Main Writer – Mark Goodson
● Main Cast – Mark Goodson
● Awards – Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host
● Genre – Game show
● Highest IMDb Rating – 6.7/10
● Running Era – 1976-now
Family Feud is a well known American game show hosted by Steve Harvey since 2010. It was first aired in 1976 and produced by Mark Goodson but its format and engaging dynamics have made it a long-standing favourite among audiences.
The complete show involves rounds of questions where family members try to buzz in first and give answers that match survey responses.
The final round, Fast Money, challenges one family member to answer five questions within a time limit to win additional cash.
4 – The Big Bang Theory
📽️ The Big Bang Theory
● Main Writer – Chuck Lorre, Bill Prady
● Main Cast – Johnny Galecki · Jim Parsons · Kaley Cuoco · Simon Helberg · Kunal Nayyar · Melissa Rauch · Mayim Bialik · Kevin Sussman.
● Awards – 10 Emmy Awards
● Genre – Sitcom
● Highest IMDb Rating – 8.1/10
● Running Era – 2007-2019
The Big Bang Theory is a popular American sitcom and TV show of all time to watch. It revolves around socially awkward physicists Leonard Hofstadter and Sheldon Cooper, along with their friends and colleagues.
The show humorously describes their lives, relationships, and interactions, often involving their neighbour Penny, an aspiring actress. You will feel engaged after watching a few episodes of the season.
It has a total of 12 seasons and all are fantastic, amazing acting, strong characters and humour are the essence of this series.
5 – Seinfeld
📽️ Seinfeld
● Main Writer – Jerry Seinfeld, Larry David
● Main Cast – Jerry Seinfeld · Michael Richards · Jason Alexander · Julia Louis-Dreyfus · Ruth Cohen ·
● Awards – Many Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Comedy Series
● Genre – Sitcom; Slice of life; Dark comedy
● Highest IMDb Rating – 8.9/10
● Running Era – 1989-1998
Seinfeld is the most successful sitcom and TV series of all time. It is the most-watched series of 90’s as almost 76 million people watched its final episode in 1998. The show gained popularity for its observational humour, the show revolves around Jerry Seinfeld playing a fictionalized version of himself in New York City.
Jerry Seinfeld has three friends George, Elaine, and Kramer who are also favorite characters of the series. Seinfeld has made this show format unique in that revolves around daily base situations.
6 – Two and a Half Men
📽️ Two and a Half Men
● Main Writer – Ashton Kutcher, Chuck Lorre,
● Main Cast – Jon Cryer · Angus T. Jones · Conchata Ferrell · Charlie Sheen · Holland Taylor · Ashton Kutcher · Marin Hinkle · Melanie Lynskey.
● Awards – 1 Primetime Emmy Awards · 2 Golden Globe Awards · 3 Screen Actors Guild Awards
● Genre – Sitcoms
● Highest IMDb Rating – 7.1/10
● Running Era – 2003-2015
Two and a Half Men is another popular series where Charlie Sheen plays a leading role. It is a story of the lives of two brothers, Charlie Harper and Alan Harper, and Alan’s son, Jake, who move in together after Alan’s divorce.
Charlie, a carefree bachelor and jingle writer, contrasts with Alan, a chiropractor and single father. The show’s humor often stems from Charlie’s hedonistic lifestyle and Alan’s attempts to navigate life as a divorced dad.
After Charlie Sheen’s departure, Ashton Kutcher joined the cast as Walden Schmidt, continuing the comedic dynamic
7 – The Night Show with Jay
📽️ The Night Show with Jay
● Main Writer – Anthony Caleca, Joe Medeiros
● Main Host – Jay Leno
● Awards – People’s Choice Award for Favorite Late Night Talk Show Host
● Genre – Game Show
● Highest IMDb Rating – 5.3/10
● Running Era – 1992-2014
The Night Show with Jay is among the most popular TV shows of all time to watch for entertainment. Jay Leno hosted this show and raised its popularity with monologues, celebrity interviews and musical performances that contributed to its staple of late-night television.
Also, Leno’s affable style and recurring segments like Headlines and jaywalking are the favourite part of the show. If you want to beat the boredom then you can watch its episodes that give you humor fun, interesting topics and many more.
8 – Wheel of Fortune
📽️ Wheel of Fortune
● Main Writer – Merv Griffin
● Main Cast – Vanna White, Pat Sajak
● Awards – People’s Choice Award for Favorite Game Show Host And more
● Genre – Game Show
● Highest IMDb Rating – 6.7/10
● Running Era – 1975-now
Wheel of Fortune is the most interesting American game show. It becomes more engaging when contestants solve word puzzles to win cash and prizes. Solving puzzles is a strategy game where contestants get into trouble and that trouble gives essence to the show.
However, the show has been hosted by Pat Sajak and co-hosted by Vanna White, the show has been a staple on television since its debut in 1975. It creates curiosity when contestants spin a large carnival wheel to determine prize amounts and guess letters to solve the puzzle displayed on a giant board.
To win a final round, contestants have to go through different rounds. In the final round “Bonus Round” winner gets a grand prize.
9 – Wild ‘N Out
📽️ Wild ‘N Out
● Main Writer – Nick Cannon
● Main Cast – Nick Cannon
● Awards – NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Reality Series, MTV Movie & TV Award for Best Host
● Genre – Comedy; Game show, Improv
● Highest IMDb Rating – 6.5/10
● Running Era – 2005-now
Do you love comedy and battle together? Wild ‘N Out show by Nick Cannon is such an interesting show filled with comedy and competition. Cannon is leading this show but he has also other comedians as partners and co-hosts such as Tamera Kissen, B.simone, Mikey Day, and DJ D-Wrek.
The show is a favourite among audiences for its humor, celebrity roasting, and freestyle rap battles. The show format has different segments like “Wildstyle” where competitors engage in rap battles with improvised insults.
10 – The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
📽️ The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
● Main Writer – Andy Borowitz, Susan Borowitz
● Main Cast – Will Smith · James Avery · Alfonso Ribeiro · Tatyana Ali · Karyn Parsons · Joseph Marcell · Daphne Reid · Janet Hubert.
● Awards – NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
● Genre – Sitcom
● Highest IMDb Rating – 7.9/10
● Running Era – 1990-1996
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is considered one of the great sitcoms of the ’90s with a total of six seasons. It is the story of a teenage boy who was sent to West Philadelphia to live with his wealthy relatives in Bel-Air, Los Angeles.
Many well-known personalities and actors have worked in this series such as Will Smith, James Avery, Nia Long, and Alfonso Ribeiro.
It has grabbed a larger audience’s attention with its humor, cultural impact and memorable characters. Also, it highlights the social issues, especially of black lives.
11 – Breaking Bad
📽️ Breaking Bad
● Main Writer – Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould
● Main Cast – Walter White · Skyler White · Jesse Pinkman · Hank Schrader · Marie Schrader · Walter White Jr.
● Awards – Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, and Critics’ Choice Awards.
● Genre – Crime drama; Thriller, Black comedy
● Highest IMDb Rating – 9.5/10
● Running Era – 2008-2013
Breaking Bad is a popular TV series among a larger audience due to its compelling characters and intense storytelling. It has morally ambiguous characters like Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher turned methamphetamine manufacturer.
It captivates viewers with its surprising plot, depicting Walter White’s transformation from a gentle teacher to a ruthless drug lord. Actually, its ripping narrative, complex characters, and moral dilemmas exploration make it stand out in television storytelling.
12 – Mad Men
📽️ Mad Men
● Main Writer – Matthew Weiner, Kater Gordon, Maria Jacquemetton
● Main Cast – Jon Hamm · Elisabeth Moss · Vincent Kartheiser · January Jones · Christina Hendricks · Aaron Staton
● Awards – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series and more
● Genre – Period drama; Serial drama
● Highest IMDb Rating – 8.7/10
● Running Era – 2007-2015
Mad Men is must must-watch series if you are a professional and want to maintain your professional and personal. The series revolves around a person who is trying to make his life balance.
It has gained widespread popularity for its engaging characters, historical authenticity and thematic depth. You will never ever regret wasting time if you watch some of its seasons. Just because it is more than entertainment like exploring some social issues.
Sum Up
These are the top and Most popular TV shows of all time that are still popular among TV lovers. All these are from different genres like sitcoms, comedy, games and battles. Although, some shows have ended with seasons but these are still favourites among TV lovers.
If you are you are also a Telephilia you can amaze yourself with these shows that are filled with humour, comedy, sensations and moral lessons.