While Morbius actor Jared Harris is best known on television these days for playing Hari Seldon in the Apple TV subscription-exclusive Foundation, I still back fondly on when he played Lane Pryce on AMC’s Mad Men. Unfortunately, Lane had one of the most tragic exits of the show, as he died by suicide in his office towards the end of Season 5. However, there was a degree of comedy in the lead-up to this tragedy that actually made Harris fall off his chair laughing. Not only that, the actor agreed to make a big sacrifice in order to protect Lane’s fate from being leaked to the public.

The actor discussed his Mad Men experience while appearing on Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum. After mentioning how show creator Matthew Weiner met with him privately to inform him that Lane Pryce was being killed off, even offering him “really good expensive brandy” while breaking the news, Harris recalled:

For Mad Men fans who need a refresher (remember you can now stream the series in 4K quality with an HBO Max subscription), Lane Pryce had been embezzling funds from Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce in order to pay taxes he owed in the United Kingdom, as he’d spent so much of his own money to keep the advertising firm afloat. Don Draper discovered this after learning that his signature had been forged on a check, and fired Lane. Losing his job meant that Lane’s visa would be revoked. As if that wasn’t bad enough, upon coming home, he discovered his wife had bought him a Jaguar as a surprise.

So as Jared Harris, the son of OG Dumbledore actor Richard Harris, recollected, Lane initially tried to kill himself by carbon monoxide poisoning, but his brand-new Jaguar failed to start. The actor found it to be a darkly-amusing moment since it seems at first like Mad Men wouldn’t actually kill off his character. And then we learned that Lane hung himself in his office, leaving a boilerplate resignation letter on his person. It unquestionably ranks as one of the series’ most shocking moments, but when Michael Rosenbaum asked Harris if he felt the need to start telling people what was in store for Lane, he answered:

Jared Harris starred in 2011’s Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows as Dr. James Moriarty, the detective’s arch-nemesis whom was only heard in the previous Sherlock Holmes movie. This was indeed one of Harris’ biggest movies, playing the main antagonist opposite Robert Downey Jr.’s Sherlock, and he wanted to make sure he could properly help promote it. So he came up with a compromise for Matthew Weiner, explaining:

It sure was, though it’s still heartbreaking to think about what happened to Lane Pryce all those years ago. In addition to HBO Max, Mad Men can also be streamed on AMC+, albeit in HD quality. Jared Harris’ most recent movie, A House of Dynamite, can be watched with a Netflix subscription.

Remember when one of Game of Thrones’ final episodes accidentally included a coffee cup in a scene? Well, despite Mad Men, one of the other great Peak TV era shows, having ended 10 years ago, it now finds itself in a similar situation. The remastered 4K version of the hit AMC series just became available to stream with an HBO Max subscription, but one of the episodes unfortunately included some crew members and a vomit machine in plain sight.

This snafu can be seen, at the time of publication, at the end of the Mad Men Season 1 episode “Red in the Face.” Following Roger Sterling making a pass at Don Draper’s wife, Don discreetly pushes Roger to eat and drink more before their meeting with some officials from Richard Nixon’s 1960 presidential campaign. Then upon returning to Sterling Cooper, Don bribes the elevator attendant to pretend as if the elevator is out of order, prompting Don and Roger to climb up 23 flights of stairs. By the time Roger comes face to face with these men, he proceeds to spill the contents of his lunch… or at least, that’s how it’s supposed to look. Behold what you’ll find on HBO Max:

Whoops! There are some crew members just right there operating the fake vomit machine next to John Slattery. How did that happen? According to THR, Lionsgate Television, which produced Mad Men, delivered the wrong 4K file to HBO Max, resulting in the loss of post-production edits. The former company is in the process of getting the streaming service the proper file.

The 4K version of Mad Men dropped on HBO Max yesterday, December 1, but clearly this premiere didn’t go as planned. In addition to the unedited vomit scene, many of the Mad Men episodes were also listed out of order and mistitled. Presumably these issues will be fixed soon, although those of you streaming the series in its non-4K format on AMC+ or watching your own digital or physical copies don’t have to worry about any of this.

Mad Men premiered on AMC in 2007 and was quickly met with critical acclaim, catapulting actors like Jon Hamm and Elisabeth Moss to worldwide fame. It won 16 Emmys and five Golden Globes during its seven-season run, among numerous other accolades. It was also the first basic cable show to win the Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series, snagging that honor its first four years.

This vomit error aside, if you’ve read this far, yet have never seen Mad Men, I strongly urge you to rectify that immediately. Whether you watch it on HBO Max or elsewhere, this remains one of the best TV shows of the 21st century and is well worth your time. I can also confidently say that you won’t throw up while watching it… well, unless you overdo it on the oysters and alcohol like Roger did.

There is something so infectious about a dance sequence that, even in movies and TV shows in which they occur pretty much out of nowhere and, in theory, should not work, they still do in most cases. In fact, some of the most iconic and beloved numbers in pop culture history do not even come from titles categorized as musicals. Step back in time and review the following most cherished examples of the like.

Napoleon Has "Canned Heat" (Napoleon Dynamite)

While most of the dialogue is extremely quotable and Jon Heder's title character is a one-of-a-kind instant comedy icon, if you ask me, the moment that 2004's Napoleon Dynamite won audiences over is its centerpiece dance sequence. In a last-ditch effort to help his best friend, Pedro (Efren Ramirez), win class president, the nerd busts out some absolutely ridiculous, yet passionate, dance moves in an impromptu routine set to Jamiroquai's "Canned Heat," which earns a roaring round of applause from his classmates.

Nothing Suits Barney Like A Suit (How I Met Your Mother)

In the 100th episode of the beloved TV sitcom, How I Met Your Mother, Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris) contemplates whether or not he should give up his suits forever in order to score with an attractive bartender who hates men in business attire. He then imagines an elaborate song and dance number professing his love for his wardrobe called "Nothing Suits Me Like a Suit," featuring the rest of the snappily dressed cast.

Tom's Dreams Are Coming True ((500) Days Of Summer)

It is moments like this that make 2009's (500) Days of Summer one of the best romantic-comedy movies of its time. Tom Hansen (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is so high on cloud nine after starting up a romance with Zooey Deschanel's title role that he imagines the local townspeople are joining him for a brief dance set to Hall & Oates' "You Make My Dreams Come True" during his morning commute.

"The Name Game" (American Horror Story)

Some of the most unsettling moments from American Horror Story masterfully utilize the power of juxtaposition, like in one of the most dazzling moments from Season 2, subtitled Asylum. After receiving shock therapy, Sister Jude (Jessica Lange) hallucinates that she is performing a rendition of Shirley Ellis' 1964 pop hit, "The Name Game," with her fellow patients at Briarcliff Manor.

Gutterballs (The Big Lebowski)

Joel and Ethan Coen's 1998 cult favorite comedy The Big Lebowski is home to two of the most iconic movie dream sequences, with the second one easily taking the cake as the most wonderfully uproarious. Knocked out by Jackie Treehorn, The Dude (Jeff Bridges) imagines he and Maude Lebowski (Julianne Moore) are the stars of an adult film shot in the style of a Busby Berkeley dance number.

Joel Likes That "Old Time Rock And Roll" (Risky Business)

What is the exact moment that Tom Cruise became a movie star? I like to think that occurred in 1983's Risky Business when the future Oscar nominee, as Chicago teen Joel, with the house to himself, celebrates his independence by dancing and lip-synching to Bob Seger's "Old Time Rock and Roll" in his underwear.

Tina Opens The Movie (Do The Right Thing)

Writer and director Spike Lee prepares you for an unforgettable and subversive cinematic experience with an unforgettable and subversive opening to 1989's Do the Right Thing. The opening credits play over Rosie Perez's character, Tina, dancing solo to Public Enemy's "Fight the Power," making for a certainly unexpected and moving way to start a film with a lot to say about society.

Jim And Pam's Wedding Party Dances Down The Aisle (The Office)

In the episode of the U.S. version of The Office when Jim (John Krasinski) and Pam (Jenna Fischer), the wedding party, instead of the traditional walk down the aisle, dance to Chris Brown's "Forever," which was originally written as a Doublemint Gum commercial. While this act goes against the couple's wishes, it goes down in history as a memorably unique way to start the ceremony.

Nathan And Kyoko Tear Up The Dance Floor (Ex Machina)

Alex Garland is a writer and director who never fails to dazzle his audience, either with thought-provoking sci-fi concepts, brutally honest societal commentary, or epic dance sequences. All three of which are used to perfection in his 2015 technophobic classic, Ex Machina, when Oscar Isaac's shady, eccentric tech billionaire, Nathan, and his companion, Kyoko (Sonoya Mizuno), shift the tone in a rousing way by interrupting Caleb's (Domhnall Gleeson) interrogation by getting busy to “Get Down Saturday Night” by Oliver Cheatham.

"I'm Just Ken" (Barbie)

There had been a dance sequence earlier in 2023's Barbie when Margot Robbie's title hero hosts a party, but that was nothing out of the ordinary, even for a movie taking place in an alternate dimension where dolls are sentient. The film suddenly incorporates an elaborate, traditional Hollywood dance sequence when Ryan Gosling's Ken expresses his frustration with feeling undervalued by Barbie in the Academy Award-nominated track, "I'm Just Ken."

Jenna Thrills Her Colleagues (13 Going On 30)

One of the most iconic scenes from the hit fantasy rom-com, 13 Going On 30, sees Jennifer Garner's Jenna (an '80s teen trapped in the body of her future, adult self) try to liven things up at her company party by getting everyone to recreate the dance from Michael Jackson's "Thriller."

Rue's Relapse (Euphoria)

After giving in to her addictive urges, Zendaya's Rue imagines that she is in a music video for the actor's haunting single, "All For Us," which illustrates the complicated relationship she has with her family as a result of her habits. The sequence culminates in her being carried outside of her house by a sea of dancers in matching outfits, who also serve as her choir, at night, before a marching band joins in. It marks an invigorating, but also tragic, end to the first season of the provocative coming-of-age drama, Euphoria.

The Deetzes Do The Calypso (Beetlejuice)

One of the all-time greatest and funniest musical moments from a horror movie comes from 1988's Beetlejuice. Hoping to scare the Deetzes (Jeffrey Jones and Catherine O'Hara) and their dinner party guests out of the house, the lingering spirits of Barbara (Geena Davis) and Adam Maitland (Alec Baldwin) use bodily possession to manipulate them into dancing and singing to Harry Belafonte's "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)." Much to their surprise, they enjoy the experience.

Wally, Charley, And Rhonda Channel Bowie (School Spirits)

School Spirits is a TV show told from the perspective of ghosts who have passed away on a midwestern high school campus, where they struggle to cope with the parameters of their afterlife. Wally (Milo Manheim), who was a star athlete in the 1980s, lets off steam by putting on a vinyl copy of David Bowie's "Let's Dance" and leading his fellow ghostly friends in a wonderfully choreographed groove through almost the entire school.

Jamal And Latika Are Victorious (Slumdog Millionaire)

Director Danny Boyle's Best Picture Oscar winner, 2008's Slumdog Millionaire, ends with an upbeat dance number set to the Academy Award-winning original song, "Jai Ho" and led by Dev Patel and Freida Pinto as Jamal and Latika. It might have been surprising to some audiences to see this production suddenly include such a sequence, but it honors a longstanding tradition in Indian cinema.

The Kids Rock The Library (The Breakfast Club)

Many have argued that 1985's The Breakfast Club is the greatest high school movie ever made, despite never taking place during school, but a Saturday detention shared by five teens who each represent a different rung of the teen social hierarchy. The unlikely friends attempt to break up the monotony with an impromptu dance to "We Are Not Alone" by Karla Devito.

"Tequila!" (Pee-wee's Big Adventure)

One reason 1985's Pee-wee's Big Adventure remains a cherished classic is how Paul Reubens' eponymous man-child wins over the hearts of nearly everyone he meets. For instance, he earns the respect of a bar full of bikers with his signature dance to The Champs' rendition of the saxy tune, "Tequila."

Don Dreams Of Bert Cooper Dancing (Mad Men)

AMC's Mad Men had its fair share of off-kilter moments, none more perplexing than when Don Draper (Jon Hamm) suddenly has a vision of the recently passed advertising veteran Bertram "Bert" Cooper (Robert Morse) singing and dancing a performance of "The Best Things in Life Are Free."

Andy Lets The Sunshine In (The 40-Year-Old Virgin)

Judd Apatow's heartfelt, raunchy comedy, 2005's The 40-Year-Old Virgin, ends with Steve Carell's Andy finally losing his "innocence" and expressing his relief through song. The song in particular is The 5th Dimension's "Aquarius / Let the Sunshine In," which transitions into a dance in a wide-open field that the rest of the cast joins him for.

"Come On, Little Sister, Let’s Dance” (The Life Of Chuck)

There are not many Stephen King movies with scenes that leave you feeling invigorated and hopeful, but that is the general response to the centerpiece dance sequence in 2025's The Life of Chuck, from writer and director Mike Flanagan. Tom Hiddleston's title character crosses paths with drumming street performer, Taylor (Taylor Gordon), and spontaneously lets the music drive him, even inviting a random young woman named Janice (played by Annalise Basso) to join him, giving a crowd of bystanders the show of their lives.

Will Shows How They Dance In Gelderland (A Knight's Tale)

A Knight's Tale may take place in 14th-century Europe, but it boasts many modern sensibilities in everything from its dialogue to its soundtrack. For instance, in a scene when William Thatcher (Heath Ledger) is forced to come up with a dance to impress the royalty, he receives some help from his "foxy lady," Jocelyn (Shannon Sossamon), and soon the entire dance floor is rocking out to what we hear as David Bowie's "Golden Years."

Raj's Romantic Fantasy (The Big Bang Theory)

In one episode of The Big Bang Theory, Raj (Kunal Nayyar) finds himself attracted to Bernadette (Melissa Rauch), leading him to have multiple daydreams about her, including one reminiscent of an Indian Cinema dance sequence.

Donkey's Swamp Dance Party (Shrek)

At the end of the Oscar-winning, acclaimed kids movie, Shrek, Smash Mouth's cover of The Monkees' "I'm a Believer" plays during Shrek (Mike Myers) and Fiona's (Cameron Diaz) nuptials before Eddie Murphy's Donkey takes over the vocals, leading the wedding guests in a breathless celebration of the event.

Terry And Holt "Push It" (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)

In one of the best episodes of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Amy Santiago (Melissa Fumero) goes into labor in the police station during a city-wide blackout. In a hilarious effort to keep her calm and distracted, Lieutenant Terry Jeffords (Terry Crews) and Captain Holt (Andre Braugher) try dancing to Salt-N-Pepa's "Push It."

Dance Of The Dead (The X-Files)

In a Season 7 episode of The X-Files called "Hollywood A.D.," Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) investigate a murder on a movie set, where, at the end of the episode, corpses resting underneath are reanimated and indulge in a passionate ballroom dance with one another.

Harry's Dream (3rd Rock From The Sun)

In an essential and bewilderingly surreal episode of 3rd Rock from the Sun, the Solomons experience their first-ever dreams. This proves to be a startling experience for the extra-terrestrial visitors, except for Harry (French Stewart), who imagines he is in an upbeat, urban Broadway production.

Ed Livens Things Up At The Mental Hospital (Good Burger)

In Good Burger, Ed (Kel Mitchell), Dexter (Kenan Thompson), and Otis (Abe Vigoda) are wrongfully committed to a mental hospital, where Ed responds to the request of a patient played by George Clinton himself to change to the music to something funkier, and tunes it to Funkadelic's "(Not Just) Knee Deep." He then leads most of the other patients in an impressively choreographed dance routine, which Dexter uses as an opportunity to knock out the guards and escape.

The Siblings Are Alone Now (The Umbrella Academy)

Netflix's series adaptation of the hit comic book The Umbrella Academy has a clever way of introducing its superpowered main characters early on in the premiere episode. The adoptive siblings are seen grooving to Tiffany's cover of "I Think We're Alone Now," each in a different location and boasting a different style of dance.

Backstreet's Back In Heaven (This Is The End)

Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg's 2014 apocalyptic meta comedy This is the End ends with most of the main characters (actors portraying uproarious versions of themselves) meeting up in the afterlife, where they celebrate their ascent into Heaven with the Backstreet Boys, who also appear as themselves to perform “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back).”

The Study Group Is Gonna Finally Be Fine (Community)

Community Season 3 begins with Jeff (Joel McHale) daydreaming about a dance number, featuring the entire cast of characters, with a hopeful outlook on the next year at Greendale.

David's Three-Way Dance Battle (Legion)

In the Season 2 opener of FX's unconventional Marvel Comics adaptation, Legion, one of David's (Dan Stevens) memories of the past year shows him at a club where the mutant engages in an intense dance battle with Lenny (Aubrey Plaza) and Oliver (Jemaine Clement).

Lucifer Is Alright (Lucifer)

The series finale of Lucifer opens with the Devil Incarnate (played by Tom Ellis) leading an upbeat ensemble dance sequence set to Kenny Loggins' "I'm Alright," which starts at a bar before transitioning to the police station, where Lucifer and Detective Dan (Kevin Alejandro) reenact an iconic moment from Dirty Dancing.

Hollywood has conditioned audiences to expect two central characters of similar romantic preferences and with great chemistry to fall in love by the end of a film or at some point in a TV series’ run. Thus, it is typically more refreshing to see these protagonists remain compatible but without giving in to a forced will-they-won’t-they dynamic. In that spirit, here is a thankful tribute to pop culture’s best platonic couples.

Max And Furiosa (Mad Max: Fury Road)

For the fourth installment of his beloved franchise of post-apocalyptic thrillers, 2015's Mad Max: Fury Road, writer and director George Miller introduced a female hero to serve as the title character's equal in another road war. Not once is there a hint of any romantic connection between Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy) and Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron), and the modern action movie classic is beloved all the more for it.

Jerry And Elaine (Seinfeld)

One key way Seinfeld established itself early on as a groundbreaking comedy was doing away with any will-they-won't-they gimmick between Jerry Seinfeld (Jerry Seinfeld) and Elaine Benes (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) by starting them off as a couple, breaking them up before the show even started, and seeing them remain friends through the run. While the beloved TV sitcom occasionally dropped hints at rekindling their romance for laughs (such as when they became friends with benefits or Jerry's impromptu marriage proposal), there is no doubt they are stronger as pals.

Marlin And Dory (Finding Nemo)

Finding Nemo could have easily incorporated the typical "widowed father finds love again" trope by seeing Marlin (Albert Brooks) and Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) fall into a charming interbreed romance during their search for his eponymous son (voiced by Alexander Gould). However, I think most would agree that making the clownfish and Blue Tang nothing but friends is an essential aspect of what makes the Oscar winner one of Pixar's best movies.

Leslie And Ron (Parks And Recreation)

At the Paley Center for Media, Parks and Recreation co-creator Michael Schur shared that Leslie Knope and Ron Swanson were initially conceived as the "mom and dad" of the Pawnee Parks Department office, but without any intention of giving them romantic chemistry. The closest the co-workers have ever come to being more than professional is when Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman pretend to make out for the sitcom's gag reel.

Harry And Hermione (The Harry Potter Movies)

The Harry Potter movies may be named after Daniel Radcliffe's "Boy Who Lived," but the young wizard would not be able to achieve what he does at Hogwarts without the help of his very best friends, Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson). In any other blockbuster franchise, the title character might end up with the girl in the end, but the thought never seems to cross their minds, and instead, Hermione and Ron come to develop feelings for each other.

Joey And Pheobe (Friends)

There always seemed to be romance in the air for the members of the Friends cast, from Ross (David Schwimmer) and Rachel's (Jennifer Aniston) rocky, on-again-off-again relationship to Monica (Courteney Cox) and Chandler's (Matthew Perry) marriage, and even Rachel and Joey's (Matt LeBlanc) attempt at being more than roommates. However, Joey and Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) were practically brother and sister, even though they did kiss when he thought she was her twin sister, Ursula, and he did offer to marry her when he thought she was pregnant. That is, thankfully, the closest they ever came.

Hawkeye And Black Widow (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

Natasha "Black Widow" Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) and Clint "Hawkeye" Barton (Jeremy Renner) share a deeper bond than most characters from the Marvel movies in order can claim, having known each other long before forming the Avengers together. The ultimate sign of their undying, platonic love for one another is in 2019's Avengers: Endgame when neither is willing to let the other sacrifice themselves to retrieve the Soul Stone, only for Clint to fall apart when he is forced to say goodbye to Nat.

Liz And Jack (30 Rock)

They may have gotten off on the wrong foot in the pilot for 30 Rock, but TV writer Liz Lemon (series creator Tina Fey) and her boss, Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin), eventually come to form a respectable professional team. I cannot imagine anyone would have ever expected these characters to fall for one another, but it was the mere unlikelihood of their romance that made their bond one of the comedy's strongest elements.

Bob And Charlotte (Lost In Translation)

I honestly feel like I might be cheating by including Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson's characters from the 2000s-era movie classic, Lost in Translation, because the oft-discussed ending of Sofia Coppola's Oscar-winning dramedy suggests their bond evolves into something more. However, up until then, they share a friendship that each desperately needed and anyone would be lucky to have.

Mal And Zoë (Firefly)

One of the many issues that led to the premature cancellation of cult sci-fi series Firefly was creative demands from Fox executives, such as one note requesting that Zoë (Gina Torres) not be married to Wash (Alan Tudyk) to leave room for any romantic potential with Nathan Fillion's Captain Mal Reynolds. Thankfully, creator Joss Whedon stood his ground and adamantly refused, allowing the interplanetary outlaws to remain thick and thieves in the purest sense.

Ripley And Hicks (Aliens)

Writer and director James Cameron's second chapter of the Alien movies franchise introduced one of cinema's most revered platonic couples in the form of Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) and Cpl. Dwayne Hicks (Michael Biehn). There are more than enough hints at the Xenomorph survivor and the marine sharing a romantic connection, but the sci-fi movie classic leaves their level of affection ambiguous instead of ending with a big, celebratory smooch like any other filmmaker might have pushed for.

Don And Peggy (Mad Men)

With how many women on the Mad Men cast Don Draper (Jon Hamm) had affairs with, one might have expected something to happen between him and his assistant/protege, Peggy Olson (Elisabeth Moss). Of course, that was never on the cards for them, as the 1960s ad executive saw her as more of a daughter, sharing with her many winning professional successes and tender personal moments throughout the hit AMC series' run.

Daisy And Hoke (Driving Miss Daisy)

Driving Miss Daisy from 1989 traces the longtime relationship between a grumpy older woman, Daisy Werthan (Jessica Tandy), and her chauffeur, Hoke Colburn (Morgan Freeman). Seeing their friendship survive racial and ageist adversaries in the mid-1900s South makes this Best Picture Oscar winner an enduring inspiration.

SpongeBob And Sandy (SpongeBob Squarepants)

As a marine biologist like SpongeBob Squarepants creator Stephen Hillenburg would know, sea sponges do not require mates to reproduce (which does make the inclusion of the title character's parents a bit nonsensical, admittedly). Nonetheless, nothing could have ever happened between SpongeBob (Tom Kenny) and his squirrely pal, Sandy Cheeks (Carolyn Lawrence), anyway, even if some adult viewers of Nickelodeon's beloved animated series have theorized their shared passion for martial arts was a form of foreplay.

Rey And Finn (The Star Wars Movies)

It took some time for the Star Wars movies to embrace the idea of purely platonic relationships between characters of the opposite gender, specifically when the franchise was revived in 2015. In Star Wars: The Force Awakens, loner Rey (Daisy Ridley) and reformed Stormtrooper Finn (John Boyega) become fast friends and remain allies in the fight against the First Order in the last of the sequel trilogy.

Will And Jack (Will & Grace)

During the revival seasons of Will & Grace, there were hints at Will Truman's (Eric McCormack) relationship with his friend, and fellow gay man, Jack McFarland (Sean Hayes), evolving into something more. However, that would have undermined the entire spirit of the sitcom because, as Will, the duo are meant to be "girlfriends, not boyfriends."

Jimmy And Dottie (A League of Their Own)

According to SlashFilm, director Penny Marshall shot a kissing scene between Tom Hanks as Jimmy Dugan and Geena Davis as catcher Dottie Hinson for the 1992 sports movie favorite, A League of Their Own. The scene was ultimately cut, maintaining the characters' strong bond as a baseball player and her coach.

Ted And Rebecca (Ted Lasso)

In the hit Apple TV+ original series, Ted Lasso, Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham) initially hires the eponymous American football coach (played by Jason Sudeikis), hoping that he will ruin the football team her ex-husband cherished. Instead, she comes to appreciate the good he does for the team on and off the field, and a trusting, loving friend in and out of the office develops.

Shang-Chi And Katy (Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings)

Succeeding Black Widow and Hawkeye as the definitive platonic couple of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is arguably Xu "Shaun" Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) and Katy (Awkwafina). In 2021's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, when Shaun tells his best friend/co-worker/karaoke partner that he has to leave town to help protect his younger sister, she insists on coming with him without a second's hesitation.

Jake And Rosa (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)

Having come up at the police academy together, Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg) and Rosa Diaz (Stephanie Beatriz) share one of the closest bonds among the Brooklyn Nine-Nine cast. Refreshingly, the New York detectives' relationship never evolves into anything beyond strict professionalism and deeply supportive friendship, as Jake eventually marries Amy Santiago (Melissa Fumero) and Rosa goes through various relationships with both men and women, having come out as bi-sexual in Season 5.

Drax And Mantis (Guardians Of The Galaxy Movies)

In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Drax (Dave Bautista) makes it abundantly clear that he has no romantic interest in Mantis (Pom Klementieff) and, in fact, is physically repulsed by the idea of being with her. In turn, the cosmic Marvel heroes prove to have a great brother-sister dynamic, especially when they team up to find Peter "Star-Lord" Quill (Chris Pratt) the perfect holiday gift in The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special.

Jack And Chloe (24)

No one had Jack Bauer's (Kiefer Sutherland) back like Chloe O'Brian (Mary Lynn Rajskub) on 24. The CTU agent's relationship with the analyst was, essentially, one-sided at first before they became strong allies and even best friends.

Dredd And Anderson (Dredd)

To even describe Judge Dredd (Karl Urban) and Judge Anderson (Olivia Thirlby) from 2012's underrated comic book flick, Dredd, as friends would be far from accurate. However, as law enforcement officials, they could not be a better match as partners, evidenced by their impeccable compatibility while working to bring down the wonderfully over-the-top action villain, Ma-Ma (Lena Headey), and her drug operation.

Joan And Sherlock (Elementary)

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson make up one of the most iconic and influential partnerships in pop culture history. A modernized, gender-swapped reinterpretation of the characters in CBS's Elementary, starring Johnny Lee Miller as Holmes and Lucy Liu as Joan Watson, has also been recognized as a pairing for the ages.

Arthur And Iris (The Holiday)

In the acclaimed rom-com, The Holiday, Iris Simpkins' (Kate Winslet) love interest is Jack Black's L.A. film score composer Miles Dumon. However, the visiting Brit spends most of her time in the States with elderly former screenwriter Arthur Abbott (Eli Wallach), which quickly becomes the most charming relationship in Nancy Meyers' 2006 holiday season favorite.

Lexi And Stefan (The Vampire Diaries)

In his many, many years as an ageless creature of the night, Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley) took many lovers throughout the years, but there was one female The Vampire Diaries character he called one of his best friends. Arielle Kebbel plays fellow bloodsucker Lexi Branson, who, essentially, serves as Stefan's moral compass and bonds with him over the shared passion for the music of Bon Jovi.

Edgin And Holga (Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves)

What made 2023's Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves such a blast, especially for experienced players of its namesake role-playing game, was the strong sense of unity and teamwork among its cast of heroes. No characters in the fantasy adventure represent those qualities better than Edgin (Chris Pine) and Holga (Michelle Rodriguez), who are endlessly loyal to one another from the start.

Veronica And Wallace (Veronica Mars)

Kristen Bell's title hero from the teen mystery drama Veronica Mars first met Wallace Fennel (Percy Daggs III) when she saw him duct-taped to a flagpole and came to his rescue. This marked the beginning of a friendship that few high schoolers can claim.

Charly And Mitch (The Long Kiss Goodnight)

In The Long Kiss Goodnight, amnesiac mother Samantha Caine (Geena Davis) discovers, with help from private eye Mitch Henessey (Samuel L. Jackson), her past as a deadly top agent. From then on, the 1996 thriller from director Renny Harlin becomes a fun buddy action flick as "Samantha" embraces her true identity as Charly Baltimore.

Maddie And Simon (School Spirits)

The acclaimed Paramount+ original series School Spirits is a ghost story from the perspective of a ghost, namely 17-year-old Maddie Nears (Peyton List), who is unable to interact with the living... except for one person. Her unbreakable bond with her best friend, Simon Elroy (Kristian Ventura), allows him to see her, making him the only one who can help solve the mystery of her death, which she has no memory of.

Preston And Denise (Can't Hardly Wait)

Any other fun party movie would have the nerdy teen protagonist pining for the popular girl end up with his female best friend instead. However, in Can't Hardly Wait, Preston (Ethan Embry) does end up with his dream girl, Amanda (Jennifer Love Hewitt), while his best friend, Denise (Lauren Ambrose), forms an unexpected connection with Kenny (Seth Green) after getting locked in a bathroom together.

Meredith And Alex (Grey's Anatomy)

On a medical drama in which most people seemed to be getting into bed with each other, it was refreshing to see two characters from the Grey's Anatomy cast, namely Justin Chambers' Alex Karev and Ellen Pompeo's Meredith Grey, sharing a relationship that was purely friendly.

Your mileage on the best era of basic cable television likely revolves around your age. For example, some Gen-Xers might point to the late ‘90s MTV era that gave us cartoons like Beavis and Butt-Head as the best era of basic cable. Others might point to the early 2000s, where we got shows like The Shield, Monk, and Psych.

And, while I think there’s definitely something to be said about both eras, I think there’s a very strong case for the Breaking Bad-era of AMC as being the best time in basic cable history, and I have a few reasons why everyone should say its name.

You Have Two Of Arguably The Greatest Shows In TV History Airing On The Same Network At The Same Time

Now, let me just set some parameters on what is actually considered “basic cable.” It may seem obvious, but networks like HBO, Showtime, Starz, and Cinemax wouldn’t be categorized as “basic,” as they were premium networks that you had to pay extra for. In that way, even though shows like The Sopranos, The Wire, Spartacus, Outlander, Dexter, and Shameless are often considered excellent programming for their era, they were not basic cable shows.

Again, it might seem obvious, but now that pretty much everybody has migrated from cable to streaming services, there might be a segment of people who don’t remember the basic cable days. When I talk about basic, I mostly mean the channels that we got with packages, such as TNT, TBS, FX, USA, SyFy, just to name a few.

Well, out of the select channels we received, one of them was AMC, which is short for American Movie Classics. American classics were what the channel had to offer early on, but with the advent of cable networks creating television series, we got the miniseries Broken Trail in 2006. And, it was good! But, it wasn’t until the next year, when we got Mad Men, and then the year after that, when we got Breaking Bad, that AMC truly hit its stride.

Because, and I’m sure you already know this, Mad Men and Breaking Bad are often considered two of the greatest TV shows that have ever existed, and not just on basic cable. I mean period.

Often referred to as “The Golden Age” of TV (which included both Breaking Bad and The Wire), the time period from the early 2000s to the mid-2010s is usually looked back upon as the halcyon days of modern TV. That said, Breaking Bad and Mad Men weren’t on the premium networks. They were available to everybody with a basic cable subscription. Honestly, you really couldn’t get any better than those two shows. However…

We Also Got A Cultural Phenomenon In The Walking Dead, Which Was TV's Biggest Scripted Show For Several Years

I stopped watching The Walking Dead long before it ended (and I wasn’t alone), but I don’t think anybody could have predicted how big the show would be when it debuted back in 2010. Here you had this zombie show that was based on a comic book, and it just seemed to conflict with the seriousness of shows like Breaking Bad, Mad Men, and Rubicon. (My beloved, one season Rubicon).

However, The Walking Dead EXPLODED! Those first few seasons, all the way up to Glenn’s death (though, some may argue that the show fell off a cliff before that), amounted to a cultural milestone, and it was mind-blowing that AMC could juggle both its prestige shows AS WELL AS a super popular genre show.

And, to be quite honest, The Walking Dead was really good at times. Looking back, the show followed the comics as much as the creative teams could, keeping close to story arcs that were super impactful. It was honestly when the show deviated from those story beats that I felt as if it was going astray, but I digress.

What’s important to keep in mind is that The Walking Dead was, in a lot of ways, the show that people actually tuned in to AMC for. Yes, Mad Men and Breaking Bad were seen as highly lauded, respectable shows, but it wasn’t until Breaking Bad made its way to Netflix that it finally found its audience.

No, it was The Walking Dead that truly made AMC the destination for basic cable, which in turn made much lesser shows on the network seem like required viewing, which brings me to my next point.

Even AMC’s Lesser Shows Felt Like Important Television

For this one, you really had to be there, but AMC was on such a roll back in the Breaking Bad/Mad Men/The Walking Dead days that even far lesser shows seemed like important television back then.

The one that instantly comes to mind is The Killing. Based on the Danish series, Forbrydelsen, The Killing ran for 3 seasons (well, 4 if you count when it went to Netflix), and was popular…for at least the first season (Some people didn’t like how the first season ended).

Hell on Wheels, which was a western, was also well-watched. This is kind of strange when you come to think of it. Unlike neo-Western shows like Yellowstone and Justified, Hell on Wheels was an actual western-western, taking place in the 1860s (It was about the construction of the railroads).

I bring these two shows up because even though a lot of people might not talk about either of them today, back when they were both running concurrently with the big three (BB/MM/TWD), they were also seen as interesting (if not as important) television shows that people watched just because they were on AMC.

Sure, by the time we got to shows like Into the Badlands, Preacher, and Fear the Walking Dead, the channel had lost a bit of its allure, but, with Better Call Saul debuting in 2015, the network still had a reason to tune in.

This Was The Last Real TV-Specific Era Before Streaming Services Changed The Game

Lastly, the Breaking Bad-period was arguably the last true era before most people migrated to streaming services.

By the time Breaking Bad ended in 2013, you had people interested in the cast of Orange is the New Black, or engaged with shows like House of Cards on Netflix. Hell, as I mentioned earlier, Breaking Bad truly found its audience because of the streaming platform (I’ll never get over all the people who I tried to get into Breaking Bad who declined, only for them to tell ME about the show once they discovered it on Netflix).

That said, AMC truly represented a time when people actually showed up week after week to watch a program together. There was none of that binge-watching crap (yes, I called it crap) that is absolutely ruining TV. Instead, like the olden days, people had to actually wait each week to find out what happened next, which was excruciating if you really wanted to know the futures of Don Draper, Walter White, and Rick Grimes.

Yes, there were other shows in this period–I know a lot of people loved Sons of Anarchy, and Burn Notice–but no other basic cable network really had a stranglehold on viewers like AMC did back in the Breaking Bad-era.

But, what do you think? Were you there BEFORE Netflix and the rest became the one-stop shops for everybody? I’d love to hear your memories.

"We're all going to be cool like Fonzie" are the words that Jules Winfield (Samuel L. Jackson) says in Pulp Fiction. It's not random, of course, that he chose Henry Winkler's character from Happy Days to define cool. The Fonz remains one of, if not the coolest characters in television history, but he's hardly alone on the small screen for his coolness. This list includes many of those cool characters you could always see yourself being friends with.

Rico Tubbs - Miami Vice

Often on cop shows, you'll get one buttoned-up straight cop and one "cool" cop. On Miami Vice, that wasn't the case. Both detectives oozed '80s cool, but in very different ways. James "Sonny" Crockett (Don Johnson) was aloof most of the time, but cared when it mattered. Ricardo "Rico" Tubbs cared all the time, but played it off as pure cool.

Charlie Harper - Two And A Half Men

Charlie Sheen has been some wild ups and downs in his personal and professional life, but his character on Two and a Half Men has always been the definition of laid-back cool. Maybe too much, compared to the other characters around him. He does bring a great balance, though.

Bunk Moreland - The Wire

The Bunk, Bunk Moreland (Wendell Pierce), on The Wire, is well-dressed and as smooth as his silk ties. He's one of the best "murder police" in the Baltimore PD, and he never misses a trick. It's easy to understand why he's on this list.

Thomas Magnum - Magnum P.I.

There are a lot of cool TV detectives, but the top of the list has to be Thomas Magnum from Magnum P.I. He drives a Ferarri, he wears short shorts, and he's got some of the best facial hair in the game. The ladies want him, and the gentlemen want to be him. He's got all the game, and he gets to live on a giant estate in Hawaii. That's winning.

Carol Peletier - The Walking Dead

In the beginning of The Walking Dead, Carol Peletier didn't seem like much of a survivor. She suffered at the hands of an abusive husband and seemed well out of her depth when the zombie apocalypse started. She used everything she learned, though, and by the end, she wasn't just one of the baddest survivors on the show; she was also one of the coolest.

Barney Stinson - How I Met Your Mother

This one might be a little controversial because despite having a ton of amazing quotes and having a classic aloof nature, Barney Stintson is pretty swarmy. Of course, everyone has a friend like that, and almost everyone lets those friends get away with their bad behavior because they are so cool.

Sydney Bristow - Alias

Sydney Bristow (Jennifer Garner) on Alias is the epitome of cool under pressure. She always knew what to do and was as capable as any spy in Hollywood history. She deserves a spot high on any list about cool characters.

Mrs. Maisel - The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Any woman in the 1950s who chooses to strike out on her own and take a chance like Midge Maisel should be cool in anyone's book. When she's as funny as Mrs. Maisel, it's an open-and-shut case. She's the coolest.

Chandler Bing - Friends

Chandler on Friends, played by the late Matthew Perry, isn't everyone's cup of tea, but it's hard to deny his coolness. Of all the friends, he's easily the coolest. There is an aloofness to him that lends itself to cool, and compared to Joey and Ross? It's not even a race, really, Chandler wins every time.

Michael Knight - Knight Rider

Michael Knight (David Hasselhoff) had a great perm, he wore an awesome Members-Only-looking leather coat, and he drove a Trans Am that talked to him. By any standard, that is cool. By the standards of the '80s? It was the top of the mountain. Everyone loves David Hasselhoff.

Fonzie - Happy Days

Here we are, at the coolest of the cool. Arthur Fonzarelli, or "The Fonz" or "Fonzie," if you like. He could do things like fix jukeboxes just by hitting them. He rode a motorcycle and wore a leather jacket. And he had that great hair! Plus, he's everyone's favorite person, including all the parents and authority figures. It just doesn't get cooler.

Al Swearengen - Deadwood

He's mean, he's nasty, and he makes an enemy out of everyone. Yet, for some undefinable reason, Al Swearengen (Ian McShane) is definitely cool. Maybe its his verboseness, or maybe it's his confidence, it's hard to pinpoint exactly. Even though he's a violent criminal, he's still really cool.

Daria - Daria

For an entire generation of disaffected teenagers in the 1990s, Daria on Daria summed up everything they were feeling. Unimpressed with the world, beaten down by modern life, and more interested in being sullen than anything else, Daria was everything a cool kid was in the '90s.

Daryl Dixon - The Walking Dead

Of all the characters on The Walking Dead, none were cooler than the cross-bow-wielding, motorcycle-riding, complete stud, Daryl Dixon. He was soft-spoken, but when he did speak, everyone listened. He didn't have to say much to be cool, he just had to be himself. He was always ready for a fight and always backed his friends. He's just the best.

Don Draper - Mad Men

The mid-20th Century produced a lot of "cool." Don Draper, who led the charge in culture, defines that cool. There are a million moments in Mad Men where Draper (Jon Hamm) proves just how cool he is. He may have been living a lie, but man it was a cool life!

Cosmo Kramer - Seinfeld

To paraphrase Jerry on Seinfeld, Kramer does nothing, falls backward into money, mooches food off your neighbors, and hooks up without dating. While actor Michael Richards has had a checkered career since starring on one of the best sitcoms of all time, his character on the show was always cool. He was the one we all wanted to be.

Fleabag - Fleabag

Fleabag (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) is so cool, she doesn't even need a name. That's really saying something. She's smart, funny, cynical, and yeah, sometimes angry or mean, but most of the time, it's her biting wit that puts her on this list. There are a lot of people who strive to have that kind of wit, but very few ever do. Cool.

Sam Malone - Cheers

Anyone who owns a bar like Cheers is going to have to be on this list. He's loyal to his friends and regulars, he's an ex-pro athlete, and he never has problems dating beautiful women. He's also one of the funniest characters from one of the funniest sitcoms ever. We all want to be Sam, in some ways.

Face - The A-Team

Templeton "Face" Peck is the coolest character on The A-Team and usually the coolest under pressure, too. He's most likely to be the one that to go undercover because of it. He's also got some of the best lines on the show. Everyone on the team is cool in their own way, but Face takes the cake when it comes to real "coolness."

Mary Richards - The Mary Tyler Moore Show

She's gonna make it after all! Mary Richards oozes everything cool in all seven seasons of The Mary Tyler Moore Show. She showed girls and women everywhere that they, too, could make it in the corporate world and in the news business, all while looking sheik and being insanely cool.

Spock - Star Trek

Of all the characters in the original Star Trek, Spock has to be the coolest, right? Bones seems like the most fun, and Kirk would be hilarious to hang out with, but Spock has them all beat. He's cool, calm, and collected at all times, and he has just even of a human side to make him real. He has all the facts, too, which is good for all those arguments in a bar, right?

Tyrion Lannister - Game Of Thrones

The list of "cool" Lannisters on Game of Thrones is a short list. It's a list of one, really, and that one is, of course, Tyrion. From the way he dances to his trial, or the way he stays as loyal as he can to people until the end, he's the one family member you can trust. Obviously he's also a lot of fun.

Columbo - Columbo

What can we say about Peter Falk's amazing character, Columbo, in the show of the same name? He plays the bumbling detective who actually knows exactly what is going on at all times. He doesn't put on airs, and he doesn't care what people think of him at first blush. In fact, his nonchalant nature is exactly what makes him so effective - and cool.

Sonny Crockett - Miami Vice

One half of the coolest '80s TV detectives, Sonny Crockett oozes cool. He drives exotic cars, looks great in a white suit and pastel shirts, and he is, in the end, Don Johnson. Don Johnson is as cool as his character, and it all comes across on the screen. With all the wild guest stars in Miami Vice history, he had to hold his own, and he more than did.

Lucy Ricardo - I Love Lucy

Lucy Ricardo was a television pioneer in every way. She not only had one of the first legitimately huge hits on the medium, she did it as a women. That only is enough to make her cool enough for this list. The fact that her character on I Love Lucy was a little goofy and a little batty only adds to the cool factor.

Buffy Summers - Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Talk about a character who became a role model for teenagers everywhere! The way Buffy Summers from Buffy The Vampire Slayer always handled herself made her formidable, but cool as heck while she was.

Lester Freamon - The Wire

"Cool Lester Smooth" is just one of Lester Freamon's nicknames on The Wire. He does have a certain tweed impertinence, but he's got all the answers. The show is too realistic to have a real Holmsian character, but Lester, played brilliantly by Clarke Peters, is as close as the show comes, and everyone knows that's cool. Plus, he looks out for his friends and has endless patience. Oodles of coolness.

Silvio Dante - The Sopranos

Every kingpin needs a trustworthy #2, and for Tony Soprano, that's his consiglieri, Silvio Dante. He is as loyal as it comes, and he does a mean Al Pacino impression. It helps that the character is played by a bona fide rock star, "Little" Steven Van Zandt from the E Street Band. Silvio was "peak cool" from the peak era of prestige TV.

Arya Stark - Game Of Thrones

Unlike the Lannisters in Game of Thrones, there are a lot of cool Starks. How can you pick just one among Ned, Robb, and all the rest? Well, really, it's easy. Arya is the coolest. In fact, she's pretty much the coolest character in the whole series, both on screen and in the books.

Sawyer - Lost

Okay we'll admit, Sawyer on Lost is often a jerk. But man, he's so cool sometimes. If you like bad boys, he's the ultimate bad boy and as we all know, bad boys are cool. It's just the way it goes. It's a fact. Plus, that hair... that hair is awesome.

Lisa Simpson - The Simpsons

This is a hill not a lot of Simpsons fans will die on, but those of us who will, will go down fighting. Lisa Simpson is the best. She's the best family member and the heart of the show's morality. If Lisa disapproves, you should do that thing. She's also really fun when she wants to be, even if some people disagree. Nerds are cool!

Wednesday Addams - Wednesday

Just like bad boys are always cool, bad girls are too. Wednesday Addams is as bad a girl can get, in the very best way. That means she's the coolest. The level of aloofness is frankly incredible and means she has to be on this list.

The so-called "Golden Age" or "Peak TV era" of television is broadly (and roughly) defined as the running from the debut of The Sopranos to the finale of Better Call Saul. This isn't a perfect description, as there are still some really amazing shows that continue part, like, say, Severance, just to name one. But, for this article, we're going to stick to those parameters. Without further ado, here is our list of some of the truly great shows from the Peak Era of television.

Game Of Thrones

We certainly couldn't make this list without the grand dragon on them all, HBO's Game of Thrones. Though the ending made a lot of people mad and you can argue that the show declined greatly in its last couple of seasons, it doesn't diminish the greatest of the show's early years. With some of the most shocking moments in TV history, the show was must-watch TV for all eight seasons.

Atlanta

Creator and star of Atlanta Donald Glover proved yet again that he is a once-in-a-lifetime talent. Over six years and four seasons the show and its star were showered with acclaim and industry awards, including multiple Golden Globes and Emmys. Not only did Glover win an Emmy for acting on the FX series, but he became the first African-American to win Best Director at the Emmys in the show's first season.

The West Wing

There aren't a lot of network TV shows on this list, but one that simply has to be is The West Wing. For seven seasons in the early 2000s, the NBC hit was one of the best shows in network history. Featuring a long list of stars that included Martin Sheen, Rob Lowe, Dulé Hill, Allison Janney, and many other cast members, The West Wing gave us all a look into all that government can be if we want it to be.

Lost

Pardon the pun, but it's fair to say that ABC's Lost lost its way towards the end. A confluence of events, including a writer's strike, left fans more than a little annoyed with the show's final couple of seasons, but those first few years were simply incredible. The show, which debuted in 2004, was one of the first shows that was ever described as "bingable" and with good reasons, the cliffhangers were amazing.

Mad Men

In a lot of ways, AMC's Mad Men kind of came out of nowhere. Set in the 1960s, it was unlike anything on TV at the time and the longer it went on, the better it got, which is rare for any show. It made a star out of Jon Hamm and fascinated viewers each week both with its wonderful storytelling and its look back at one of the most turbulent and interesting decades in American history.

The Office

In an era when sitcoms were evolving and struggling to keep up with their dramatic counterparts, The Office was one of the biggest shows of all time (that's what she said). Steve Carell's performance as the worst boss in the world became one of the most quotable and memed shows ever. It's true the NBC show did suffer some when Carell left after Season 7, the legacy of the show was well-established by then.

Downton Abbey

If you had bet on a period piece set on an opulent estate during Edwardian England would be a massive hit, most of the time, you'd lose. If you placed that bet on Downton Abbey, however, you'd have won big. There are no action sequences, stunts, or special effects. It's simply a wonderfully told story with fantastic characters played by excellent actors.

Better Call Saul

As a spinoff to another Peak TV era show, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul found its own place in television history. It's a very different show from the show that birthed it, as it's a little more surreal and, frankly, funny. In some people's eyes, the AMC's show's finale in 2022 marks the end of an era.

The Wire

Famously, The Wire was never a monster hit for HBO. Certainly not on the level of The Sopranos, which ran during roughly the same few years. Still, it has maintained a spot at the top or near the top of almost any list of "Best TV Shows in History." The Wire plays out like a 60-hour movie or a great book. The character development is unrivaled and the storytelling is heartbreaking, uplifting, and frustrating (in a good way). There is no doubt that the show will be remembered as one of the best for a long, long time.

Breaking Bad

What can we write about Breaking Bad that hasn't already been written. Widely considered the best (or close to the best) TV show of all time, the Bryan Cranston-led show was wildly popular with both fans and critics alike. It is one of the darkest shows in history, but that never diminished the love for it.

Narcos

Netflix landed itself a massive hit with Narcos in 2015. Wagner Moura, who played the kingpin Pablo Escobar stole the show with his uncanny and incredible performance as the notorious drug lord and Pedro Pascal found a new level of fame as one of the DEA agents trying to bring Escobar down. The show's third season, which shifted away from the Escobar story after the character's death wasn't quite on the level of the first two, but the show was popular enough to launch a spinoff, Narcos: Mexico, which ran for three seasons as well.

The Sopranos

The Sopranos' debut on HBO in January of 1999 marks the unofficial beginning of the Golden Age of Television - or at least the modern Golden Age. The production value, storytelling, and acting on the show were unlike anything anyone had ever seen. the characters were fully formed almost from the moment they first hit the screen and the story that unfolded, about a mafia boss played by the late, great James Gandolfini trying to keep both his crime family and his actual family together was simply unparalleled. Right down to the end and the show's much-talked-about finale.

Grey's Anatomy

As one of the longest-running prime-time shows in history, Grey's Anatomy has run for almost the entire era of "peak TV." Since its debut in 2005 and over more than 20 seasons and 400 episodes, the show has just kept chugging along with a devoted fanbase who stayed with it over the decades and though the endless cast changes can be frustrating, the show is remarkable.

24

One of the very first "bingable" shows would have to be 24. The Kiefer Sutherland-led action show from Fox kept viewers on the edge of their seats for nine seasons, one TV movie (24: Redemption), and a couple of spin-offs. It all made 24 one of the most bankable franchises of the era.

Six Feet Under

The early 2000s were an incredible era for HBO. Along with The Sopranos and The Wire, the network had another one of the best shows of the era with Six Feet Under. The show told the story of the Fisher family and their trials and turbulations running the family business, a funeral home. Mix in some supernatural elements and HBO had a unique hit on their hands.

Modern Family

Network sitcoms that enter the general cultural zeitgeist are few and far between these days. Certainly not like they were in their heyday of the 1970s and '80s. There are still a few that break through though, like Modern Family. For a time, it seemed as those everyone in the country was watching the ups and downs of the most dysfunctional and wonder families in TV history. For 11 seasons, the ABC hit dominated the ratings and is still a hit on streaming years after airing its finale in 2020.

Orange Is the New Black

Orange Is the New Black wasn't the first "prestige TV" show from Netflix, but it's safe to say it solidified Netflix's spot among the biggest players in the industry. For seven seasons over six years, the prison comedy-drama told the semi-autobiographical story of Piper Kerman, whose book of the same name was the basis for the show. Kerman spent a year in prison and many of the stories in the show reflected or told the experiences she had while in jail.

Deadwood

Many of the best Westerns on film came out many decades ago. On TV, there were big hits in the '50s and '60s like Gunsmoke and Bonanza, but the best Western television show of the 21st Century, Deadwood has almost nothing in common with any of those. The show was dark, crass, and unlike anything else on TV. The verbose language and insane moments made must-see TV at the time. Sadly it was never quite as popular as it should have been and that made for some herky-jerky starts-and-stops between seasons, but the show never dipped in quality.

Friday Night Lights

"Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose," from a speech by Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler) in Friday Night Lights has become part of the television canon, just as the show has. Based on the movie starring Billy Bob Thornton about the spectacle that is high school football in Texas, the show has outshined its source material in almost every way.

Veep

Julia Louis-Dreyfus is unique. She not only starred in the biggest sitcom of the 1990s, Seinfeld, but she's followed it up with two more hot shows. First in the '00s she won awards for The New Adventures of Old Christine and then in the 2010s had maybe her best performance as the hapless, power-hungry Vice President on HBO's Veep for which she won an incredible seven Emmys in a row.

House Of Cards

In 2013 Netflix loudly announced it was ready to be a player in the Peak Age of TV with House Of Cards, starring Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright. Based on a British show of the same name, the show highlighted the darkest corners of politics and despite the show losing some steam when Kevin Spacey got caught in the middle of a serious legal battle forcing him off the show and effectively ending his career, it still deserves recognition for all six seasons it ran for.

The Walking Dead

Over 11 seasons and 177 episodes, it's fair to say that not every moment on The Walking Dead was peak TV. That doesn't tell the whole story though, because when The Walking Dead was great, it was really great. The AMC zombie show was a ratings monster and cultivated one of the most dedicated fanbases ever, which led to multiple spinoffs that will seemingly run forever.

Boardwalk Empire

When Boardwalk Empire premiered on HBO in 2009, it came with a lot of hype as the mind behind it, Terrence Winter, had been of the key creative minds behind The Sopranos. While Boardwalk Empire never quite reached the lofty heights of The Sopranos, it was still one of the best shows on TV in its time.

Sons Of Anarchy

Like a few other shows on this list, FX's Sons Of Anarchy isn't a perfect show. There were some ill-advised plot decisions, like moving the gang to Ireland for a while, but like those other shows, when SOA was good, it was really, really good. The characters became our own dysfunctional family who we laughed, cried, and died with over the show's seven seasons. A spinoff, Mayans M.C., wasn't as good, but it also found a fanbase and lasted for five seasons.

The Americans

Of all the shows on this list, the one that maybe flew under the radar more than most has to be The Americans. The FX show was just... cool. It was a spy thriller that brought the Cold War back to U.S. television. Set in the '80s and starring Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys, the show ran for six great seasons and never really fell off as so many other shows do.

30 Rock

How do you follow up an incredible run as a star and head writer on SNL? Well, if you're as talented and funny as Tina Fey, you create one of the most beloved sitcoms of the 21st Century with 30 Rock. If nothing else, the show left us with the important bit of advice that you should never go with a hippie to a second location.

Justified

FX's Justified updated the Western for the 21st Century. Based on a book for Elmore Leonard and starring Timothy Olyphant as a 21st-century lawman with with his heart in the 19th Century, Justified was as noir as you'd expect from a story by Leonard and the acting is, across the board, fantastic.

True Detective

One of the darkest shows during the Peak Era of TV had to be True Detective, especially the first season. The unconventional storytelling was brought to life brilliantly by stars Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson and while the show was still great for a couple of more seasons, it really was that first season that stood out and above the others.

Succession

On HBO's Succession, the entire Roy family are all awful people. It's a show entirely made of characters we love to hate. We hated them so much, we couldn't wait to tune in each week to see what awful things they would do and it made the show unique and magical in that way.

Homeland

Showtime's Homeland started with a bang in its first season, or rather, almost ended its first season with a bang that never happened. The spy thriller starring Claire Danes and Damian Lewis was the ultimate nail-biter as no one really knew how the season would end. While the end of that first season was probably the pinnacle of the show, it ended up airing for seven more excellent seasons.

Battlestar Galactica

Interestingly, though there are some exceptions, Sci-Fi wasn't a huge part of the era. One of those exceptions was Battlestar Galactica, a reboot of the old series from the 1970s. The new version was a mystery wrapped in a space adventure and featured some of the craziest twists of any show from the time.

Barry

It's always cool to see an actor known primarily for their comedic talents take on a more serious role and Bill Hader in Barry is a perfect example. Sure, there is some dark comedy in the show of course, but, especially as the show went on, the character played by Hader was as complex as any character we've seen on TV and Hader is amazing.

Jon Hamm is one of the most acclaimed actors of his time – not just for his Emmy and Golden Globe-winning performance in the Mad Men cast as Don Draper and other dramatic works but also for his stellar comedic timing, which he has demonstrated as an all-time great Saturday Night Live host and in other hilarious TV shows and movies. Relive these moments of comedy gold with our picks for some of the funniest Jon Hamm quotes.

"On A Bed Made Of Money" - Mad Men

A defining Don Draper moment from Mad Men occurs in the first season of the hits AMC period drama series. When asked how he sleeps at night making a living perpetuating lies, Jon Hamm’s 1960s-era ad executive drops this epic comeback.

"I'm A Man Of Faith. I Believe In Gosh And His Son, Jeepers..." - Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Jon Hamm would prove that he can also play a despicable, albeit extremely kooky, villain with his role as Rev. Richard Wayne Gary Wayne on Netflix's Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, starring his former acting student, Ellie Kemper. When presenting his opening statement in a trial against him, the cult leader and captor attempts to convince the jury that he was merely exercising his religious beliefs but does not seem to have deities straight.

"I Believe We Outsource That Sort Of Thing" - Good Omens

Jon Hamm portrayed an unmerciful version of Gabriel the Archangel in the series adaptation of the satirical fantasy novel, Good Omens. He demonstrates the original Amazon Prime TV show's clever modernization of biblical lore when answering Aziraphale's (Michael Sheen) question about who summons the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

"A Lot Of Guys Come Up To Me And Say That They Totally Identify With Don Draper, Which I'm Pretty Sure Means That They Just Really Wanna Cheat On Their Wife" - Saturday Night Live

Among his many defining qualities – from his drinking and smoking habits to his talent for whipping up a winning ad slogan on the spot – Mad Men's Don Draper is, perhaps, best known as an unfaithful serial womanizer. Jon Hamm would address in his monologue from the second time he hosted Saturday Night Live.

"And I Just Refilled The Cans" - Archer

In the two-part Season 4 finale of one of the best animated TV shows, Archer, Jon Hamm lent his voice to Captain Hazel "Hank" Murphy – a character who originated on the classic animated adventure series, SeaLab 2020 and was later parodied on Sealab 2021. The misguided underwater laboratory leader meets a bitter end when he is crushed by a soda vending machine, which might have been a little lighter had he not recently replenished it.

"You Are No Longer My Number 3!" - Bridesmaids

Jon Hamm gives one of the most hilarious, scene-stealing performances in his uncredited role in the Bridesmaids cast as Ted, who shares a purely physical, one-sided relationship with Annie (Kristen Wiig). However, her status as one of his top three side pieces comes to an end when she decides she has had enough of him, prompting him to utter one of Bridesmaids' best one-liners as he drives away.

"They Used Footage Of Me From My High School Swim Team To Draw Prince Eric" - 30 Rock

In one of the best 30 Rock episodes, Liz Lemon (creator Tina Fey) starts dating Dr. Drew Baird (Jon Hamm), whose handsomeness has allowed him to live in a bubble of blissful ignorance all his life. When she compares his look to a "Disney Prince," he reveals that he was the actual inspiration for Ariel's love interest in 1989's The Little Mermaid, which is one of the most believable gags from the otherwise absurd sitcom.

"You Can't Turn The Interior Of A Car Into A Urinal" - Clear History

In the 2013 HBO original movie Clear History, Jon Hamm plays electric car manufacturer Will Haney, whose argument with marketing executive Nathan (Larry David) causes the latter to back out of the deal, which he later comes to regret. One point of their conflict is Will's rejection of an idea for a device installed in the vehicle that allows the driver to urinate while on the road.

"I Do Not Sully The Temple Of My Celestial Body With Gross Matter" - Good Omens

Being a heavenly angel blessed with eternal life means that you could probably eat any food you wanted without consequence. However, Jon Hamm's vain iteration of Gabriel the Archangel from Good Omens still balks at the idea when he spots Aziraphale at a sushi restaurant.

"Sergio!" Saturday Night Live

In the hilarious SNL Digital Short, "The Curse," Andy Samberg plays a businessman whose life is ruined by a spell that causes him to experience random, disruptive visits by a saxophone player named Sergio (Jon Hamm). The mysterious musician's appearances are capped off when breaks the fourth wall and blurts out his name in a nondescript accent, accompanied by a caption at the bottom right-hand corner.

“Imagine That It Was 2009” - Billy On The Street

Jon Hamm appears in an episode of Billy on the Street in which he and Billy Eichner ask random bystanders if they would have relations with both of them. Eichner mentions that the actor does not get the buzz he used to so Hamm asks one woman to recall a time when he was on top of the world.

"I Don't Think About You At All" - Mad Men

Perhaps the ultimate Don Draper quote (or, more accurately, insult) comes from the Season 9 Mad Men episode, "Dark Shadows." After a disgruntled Michael Ginsberg (Ben Feldman) tells Draper that he feels bad for him and his high and mighty attitude, the executive drops this scintillating burn right before leaving the elevator.

"Everyone Wants To See A Middle-Aged Superman, With The Power Of Handicapped Parking" - Conan

In 2010, Jon Hamm was rumored to be considered to play Superman, which Conan O'Brien enthusiastically brought up when the actor appeared on his self-titled TBS talk show that year. The then-39-year-old then responded by poking fun at what a version of the Man of Steel portrayed by him might be like.

"That Rat Was A Devil's Trick. Just Like When The Devil Made It SOUND Like I Was Arguing With A Pizza Guy About What A Half Hour Means" - Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

In a funny flashback from Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, the still-captive title character confronts Jon Hamm's Rev. Richard Wayne Gary Wayne about evidence she found suggesting the world had not ended after all. He tries to convince her that the rat she discovered was not real but a satanic illusion, much like when she thought she heard the reverend trying to score a free pizza delivery.

"Thank You For The, Literally, Hundreds Of Opportunities You Have Given Me" - Parks And Recreation

One of Jon Hamm's best random cameos occurs in the Season 6 finale of Parks and Recreation, in which he plays the most incompetent person Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) has ever worked with, Ed. After announcing he has lost a very important document, Knope promptly gives him the shaft, which accepts before courteously thanking her for his many undeserved chances.

"'What's Up, Hamm Solo?'" - Saturday Night Live

SNL's fake compilation of Star Wars: The Force Awakens auditions mostly features cast members impersonating famous actors but does feature a few celebrities appearing as themselves, such as Jon Hamm. The actor shows he is clearly a fan of the Star Wars movies by showing up in full costume – not as Harrison Ford's Han Solo as one might assume but as a similar character of his own creation.

"Would It Be Possible For Me To Be Sent To A Women's Prison?" - Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

In the Season 1 finale of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Jon Hamm's Rev. Richard Wayne Gary Wayne is thankfully found guilty of intentionally holding Kimmy and other young women captive for personal gain. He lets the blinds come down completely as he is being escorted out of the courtroom by requesting that he be locked up with other females.

"Stay Calm. I Just Need To Shake It Loose" - 30 Rock

Liz Lemon's absent-minded boyfriend from Season 3 of 30 Rock, Drew Baird, must have been able to become a certified pediatrician purely because of his looks and not for his intelligence. Otherwise, he would have known the Heimlich maneuver instead of assuming that shaking the obstruction loose or pushing it down were acceptable choking remedies.

"They're All Gone. I Had Them Murdered" - The Graham Norton Show

While appearing on the popular U.K. talk show, The Graham Norton Show, Jon Hamm tells a story about how Mad Men producers initially believed he was not attractive enough to play Don Draper. Fellow guest Charlize Theron then asks if they are blind and if they are "still alive and working" in the industry, which inspires Hamm to make this joke.

"We Should Definitely Start Using The 'Ambitious Susan'" - Curb Your Enthusiasm

Jon Hamm became one of the absolute best Curb Your Enthusiasm guest stars when he appeared as himself shadowing Larry David as research for a role inspired by the comedian. Through spending so much time with Larry, he begins to take on some of his most despicable characteristics, such as when he belittles a fellow dinner party guest with this joke after she says that the term "Lazy Susan" has racist and misogynistic connotations.

"If You Can Find A Better Place For Pork And Champagne, Keep It To Yourself" - Saturday Night Live

"Hamm & Bublé" (pronounced "bubbly" in this case) is both a great SNL sketch featuring the host as themselves (Jon Hamm) and a great SNL sketch featuring a famous musician (musical guest Michael Bublé). It is framed as an ad for a restaurant specializing in ham and champagne (sometimes used together), which the Canadian crooner tries to discreetly reveal he is being forced to participate in by this hilariously misguided and controlling version of Hamm.

"I Was The Number One Dead Horse Removal Service For Local Farmers" - Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

One of Jon Hamm's funniest moments as Rev. Richard Wayne Gary Wayne on Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt sees him filming an audition tape to be on The Apprentice. He discusses his successful business removing the corpses of deceased farm horses before revealing that some of his competitors became suspicious when too many horses were dying in his area.

"Apparently, I'm Here To Help You Sit Down" - The Greatest Event In Television History

The first episode of Adult Swim's four-part, mockumentary-style miniseries The Greatest Event in Television History chronicles Adam Scott and Jon Hamm's recreation of the opening credits of Simon & Simon, which is so disastrous that Hamm suddenly and mysteriously dies. In the third episode, Hamm comes back as a ghost to help Scott get over his inability to sit in a chair for his recreation of the opening titles for Too Close for Comfort.

"I Can't Believe You've Held Eye Contact This Long, Honestly" - Late Night With Conan O'Brien

During Jon Hamm's first interview with Conan O'Brien (from his last year at Late Night), the actor's reputation as a Hollywood hunk was addressed. The actor jokingly discussed the "precautions" he has had to take to make others feel more comfortable when interacting with him due to this extreme handsomeness and commended the late-night talk show host for his ability to look directly at him.

"Automatically, We Go To Hebrew And Then It's Gonna Be A Whole Thing" - Keeping Up With The Joneses

In the 2016 spy comedy Keeping Up with the Joneses, Jon Hamm and Gal Gadot play a couple whose hidden lives as secret agents are uncovered by their average neighbors, played by Zach Galifianakis and Isla Fisher. They also discover that they do not have the perfect marriage, sometimes demonstrated by Gadot's character and her tendency to berate her husband in a language he does not understand when she is irritated with him.

"She's A Pirate, Price, And My Jolly Roger Was At Full Mast The Whole Drive Over" - Saturday Night Live

Jon Hamm delivers a gut-busting impersonation of James Mason in SNL's "Vincent Price's Halloween Special" sketch. The actor arrives at the home of the horror movie icon (played by Bill Hader) with Sunset Boulevard's Gloria Swanson who claims her Halloween costume is a pirate, prompting Mason's in-poor-taste joke.

"Can You Just Imagine That These Are On You Now?" - Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

In Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, during the trial against Rev. Richard Wayne Gary Wayne, the cult leader is, somehow, able to manipulate everyone in the courtroom by Kimmy. For instance, he fails to perform a handcuffs escape trick in front of her and just decides to see if she will play along with it, to no avail.

"If Anyone Wants To Hang, I Will Be At Subway!" - Parks And Recreation

Following his Season 6 cameo on Parks and Recreation as Ed, Jon Hamm reprises the role in the Season 7 premiere. We see him finally leave City Hall but not without letting people know they find him at a certain restaurant chain at an unspecified location. Good luck spotting him!

"That's It! Bite The Head, Gary. Bite The Head Hard!" - Saturday Night Live

In Season 36, SNL produced a partially live-action version of "The Ambiguously Gay Duo" starring Jon Hamm as Ace and Jimmy Fallon as Gary. The hilarious pre-recorded bit ends the very suggestive sight of the duo trying to defeat a giant killer eel, with Ace securing its tail from between his legs, forcing Gary to bite its head off.

“Of Course There Does! Otherwise, How Would We Win It?" - Good Omens

A main plot point in Good Omens is Gabriel's push to bring forth the Apocalypse and incite war between angels and demons. When Aziraphale pleads that there does not need to be a heavenly war, he only has this to say.

"My Ponytail Is Cool. God Said So" - Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Rev. Richard Wayne Gary Wayne attempts to fight Kimmy Schmidt's insult about his hair by claiming it has approval from the Almighty.

"To Be In Star Wars When I Grow Up" - The Tonight Show

On The Tonight Show, when gathering words and phrases for a game of "Mad Libs Theatre," Jimmy Fallon asks Jon Hamm to give him a childhood birthday wish. As he gives his answer, he glares enviously at fellow guest Keri Russell, who was in 2019's Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

One of the funniest 2024 movies that has come out lately is Sweethearts, which has Kiernan Shipka going on some hilarious college debauchery with co-stars Nico Hiraga and Caleb Hearon. When CinemaBlend spoke to the 25-year-old about her history with being funny, she sweetly recalled how being part of the Mad Men cast was a huge influence on her.

While it’ll be a decade next year since the Mad Men ending wrapped up the award-winning drama after seven seasons, Kiernan Shipka isn’t soon forgetting her experience on the AMC series. As the actress shared in our interview:

Few actors can say they literally grew up with Jon Hamm, but considering Kiernan Shipka started working with the actor when she was seven, she has the honor. While the series tackled some serious topics from the 1960s, fans of the actor know he’s a rather hilarious talent and Shipka feels like she learned from him over the years. As she continued:

While Mad Men was always racking up the Emmys for being a drama series, Shipka said that behind the scenes, there was a lot of levity on set. Throughout the show, the actress played Sally Draper, the eldest child of Jon Hamm’s Don Draper. While she started off having a rather small role, from Season 3 onward Kiernan Shipka held her own alongside her co-stars. Sally dealt with quite a lot as Don and Betty went through a divorce, and and she stepped up as a maternal figure for her younger siblings when her mom was diagnosed with cancer later in the show.

Given her words about the Mad Men cast, is it any wonder that Kiernan Shipka is hilarious in Sweethearts? The actress also shared that she was involved in improv in her hometown of Chicago, Illinois, which helped in growing her funny bone as well. In the new comedy, which is currently streaming for those with a Max subscription, Shipka plays a college freshman who plots alongside her best friend (Hiraga) to break up with their long distance high school partners in order to fully enjoy their new era of freedom.

As they return to their hometown to hatch their joint plan, their other friend Palmer experiences a powerful coming out message that Caleb Hearon talked to us about. Funny enough, the movie includes the song “Unwritten” after it was also featured in Anyone But You, but don’t worry – the filmmakers told us the story behind it. Check out Kiernan Shipka in Sweethearts now!

This list is all about the most spectacular ways that some of favorite characters - the ones we love and the ones we love to hate - have been killed off on screen. Movies and TV have both produced some pretty incredible moments like this. So whether it's the hero or the villain, here are some of the most insane deaths ever seen in movies and on TV.

Marion Crane - Psycho

Almost more than any director in film history, Alfred Hitchcock wrote his own rules. One of the most interesting things he ever did was to kill off who was seemingly the main character in Psycho, Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) in the first act of the movie. Of course, her murder in the shower has become one of the most iconic scenes in film history.

Radio Raheem - Do The Right Thing

The tension in Do The Right Thing slowly simmers just under the surface until it boils over when Buggin' Out (Giancarlo Esposito) and Radio Raheem (Bill Nunn) burst into Sal's Pizzeria and demand changes. After Sal smashes Raheem's boombox, the cops arrive and in the struggle, Raheem is choked out by the police, leading to the destruction of Sal's. It's amazing that the movie is more than 35 years old and we're still talking about the same issues.

Robb Stark - Game Of Thrones

Is there any death on this list more dramatic and shocking than Robb Stark's on Game of Thrones? The Red Wedding is a legendary TV moment, among the best ever broadcasted. It shocked anyone who had not read the books and remains one of the most spectacular deaths, along with his wife, his unborn baby, and his mother, ever filmed.

John Coffey - The Green Mile

It's one of the most heartbreaking moments in film history when John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan) meets his inevitable end in The Green Mile. Still, he goes out spectacularly with sparks flying and tears flowing.

Charlie Pace - Lost

ABC's Lost had some pretty memorable deaths, but none more so than Charlie Pace's last moments as he warned about the incoming boat and sacrificed himself in one of the most heartbreaking moments in TV history.

Hans Gruber - Die Hard

It's hard to believe that Hans Gruber in Die Hard was Alan Rickman's first movie role. His death, as he falls from Nakatomi Tower, looking up at the camera as he goes, is iconic. It's become one of the most meme'd scenes in movie history and is easily one of the most spectacular deaths in film history.

Gus Fring - Breaking Bad

For years, Gus Fring (Giancarlo Esposito) was one of the most despised characters on TV. His death was worthy of such an amazing villain as he is not only blown up but survives long enough to walk out of the room where it happened and button his jacket before collapsing to the floor.

Thelma And Louise - Thelma And Louise

When Thelma And Louise was first released, the ending completely shocked people. No one expected the movie's heroes to go out like they did, by driving their car off the cliff. Still, it was on their own terms and they did it together, making it all that much more spectacular.

Adriana La Cerva - The Sopranos

There were quite a few deaths over the seasons in The Sopranos, but the episode when Adriana La Cerva (Drea de Matteo) is rubbed out is maybe the most incredible. The tension in the episode is impressive even by The Sopranos standards as no one wanted to see Adriana go, even though everyone knew why it was happening.

The Wicked Witch of the West - The Wizard Of Oz

"I'm melting" is one of the most iconic lines in Hollywood history as the Wicked Witch of the West is dying in The Wizard of Oz. There really isn't much more that needs to be said about this spectacular death.

Maximus Decimus Meridius - Gladiator

For years, Maximus (Russell Crowe) in Gladiator obsessed over avenging his family's death and taking down Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). Despite Commodus playing dirty in their final showdown, Maximus finally prevails, killing Commodus before he collapses and dies.

Tony Stark - Avengers: Endgame

Avengers: Endgame is the 22nd movie in MCU history and so it was only appropriate that Tony Stark - the character that started it all - would be the one to finally take Thanos out by snapping his fingers with the Infinity Gauntlet on. It led to his spectacular death, of course, but it was worth it.

Col. Kurtz - Apocalypse Now

After building for two hours, the climactic death of Colonel Kurtz (Marlon Brando) at the end of Apocalypse Now is one of the most dramatic and violent moments in film history. The scene, juxtaposed with the sacrifice of a cow, is terrifying and amazing.

Glenn - The Walking Dead

The death of Glenn (and Abraham) was one of the most controversial moments of The Walking Dead. That was partly due to the extreme violence that turned a lot of people off, but it was mostly because Glenn was such a beloved character. Still, it was a death that was totally unforgettable.

Kong - Dr. Strangelove

Peter Sellers may be the most celebrated member of the Dr. Strangelove cast (and for good reason), but Kong, played by Slim Pickens steals the show at the end with his death by riding a nuke down as it drops towards it's target.

Kenny McCormick - South Park

We couldn't make this list without including poor Kenny McCormick, the hapless member of the South Park crew. Kenny has been killed over 100 times over the show's incredible run and in some of the most ridiculous and fantastic ways, like getting crushed by a tree, getting hit by a volcanic boulder, and dozens of other ways.

Rosalind Shays - LA Law

Rosiland Shays' death by falling down an elevator on LA Law was one of the most shocking moments in television history. It came completely out of nowhere in a time in television when a death like that wasn't common at all. It actually changed TV storytelling.

Mark Greene - ER

Mark Greene (Anthony Edwards) was one of the most beloved characters on ER and his death, while a different kind of spectacular than most of the others on this list. It wasn't a shocking moment, as it was a tragic slow death by cancer. It was still among the most heartbreaking moments ever.

Zoe Barnes - House Of Cards

For the first season of House Of Cards, Zoe Barnes (Kate Mara) was one of the most important characters. The journalist was both investigating and getting a little too involved with Francis Underwood (Kevin Spacey). Her surprising death shocked audiences as Frank threw her in front of a subway train. It came completely out of nowhere, and yet made total sense in the context of the show.

Roy Batty - Blade Runner

The death of Roy Batty (Rutger Hauer) at the end of Blade Runner has become one of the most legendary deaths of all time. It is not at all what anyone in the audience expected when the main villain of the movie turns into a hero at the very end, saving Deckard (Harrison Ford) before smiling as he dies. Time to die.

Alec Trevelyan - GoldenEye

You knew there was no way this list was going to be complete without including at least one death by a Sean Bean character, right? There have been so many spectacular deaths over the actor's incredible career, but for our money, you can't beat the death of his character Alec Trevelyan in the James Bond movie GoldenEye when Bond drops him to his death and he is crushed to make sure it's final.

Lane Pryce - Mad Men

Mad Men was unlike any other show on TV at the time and Lane Pryce's death by suicide is the perfect example of why. The character, played by Jared Harris was a fan favorite and while story-wise his death made perfect sense, it was still shocking.

William Wallace - Braveheart

Braveheart might be one of the most historically inaccurate films ever made, but William Wallace's death at the end is still pretty spectacular ( and not all that different from what really happened to the Scottish hero). We can't go into all the violent details here, but if you know, you know.

Nick Chevotarevich - The Deer Hunter

One of the most tragic characters in '70s cinema has to be Nick Chevotarevich, played by Christopher Walken. Even after the Vietnam War draws to a close and his best friend makes it back home after escaping a POW camp, Nick gets stuck in Saigon, playing dangerous games of Russian Roulette for months. When Mike (Robert De Niro) finds him, Nick is completely checked out, and that makes his horrible death all the more sad.

Quint - Jaws

Quint (Robert Shaw) is the grizzled fisherman who promises to catch "the fish" in Jaws, but in the end, it's the fish that catches him. As has often been pointed out, one of the most effective things about the classic movie is that the shark is rarely seen, so when Quint is eaten it's one of the scariest and most exciting moments of the movie.

Cyrus 'The Virus' Grissom - Con Air

Cyrus "The Virus" Grissom (John Malkovich) in Con Air is one of the most over-the-top movie villains of the '90s, so of course he had to get killed in an over-the-top spectacular way. First, he is knocked out and handcuffed to a firetruck that crashes into a bridge, tossing Cyrus into some powerlines, and electrocuting him, but that's not all. He then falls into the path of a pile driver doing road work, which comes down on his head.

Private Pyle - Full Metal Jacket

Private Pyle (Vincent D'Onofrio) is, at the beginning of Full Metal Jacket a hopeless Marine recruit who can't do anything right. As the first act of the movie plays out, he gets more competent but also starts to lose his marbles. It all culminates in an incredibly tense scene when he shoots and kills his drill sergeant before turning the gun on himself.

Marissa Cooper - The O.C.

Say what you want about about The O.C., but the creative decision to kill off one of the main characters and star of the show, Marissa Cooper (Mischa Barton) in Season 3 was a bold one. The way she died, in the arms of Ryan (Ben McKenzie) after a car wreck is just as dramatic as the decision to have the character die.

Jack Torrance - The Shining

That final image of a frozen Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) in The Shining is one of the most enduring snapshots of a movie filled with incredible visual moments. A spectacular villain like Jack deserves a death as memorable as it is.

Sgt. Elias - Platoon

Platoon, as is said in the movie, is a battle for the soul of Chris (Charlie Sheen) between Elias (Willem Dafoe) and Barnes (Tom Berenger). Barnes wins the battle between himself and Elias when he shoots Elias towards the end, but Elias wins Chris' soul with his spectacular death as the helicopters lift away and Elias is left with arms outstretched as the Vietnamese soldiers gun him down for good.

Gennaro - Jurassic Park

We just had to include this one. Donald Gennaro isn't the main character of Jurassic Park, in fact, he's not even one of the main supporting characters. But him getting eaten by the T-Rex while hiding on the toilet is one of the silliest, and most insane deaths, of any movie, ever.

John Doe - Se7en

The ending of Se7en is one of the most talked about and debated, moments in film history. John Doe (Kevin Spacey) completely manipulates David Mills (Brad Pitt) into doing exactly what wants, completely the complete over-the-top murder spree ever seen on the big screen.

Even the best shows have their fan-favorite seasons. The seasons that most fans are perfect, or at least close to perfect. It's hard to judge based on reviews and even on Rotten Tomato rankings which one fans think is the creme de la creme of their favorite show, so we looked at Ranker, Rotten Tomatoes, IMDB, and other spots to nail down just which season of these classic shows fans love the most.

The Office - Season 2

Season 2 holds the top spot for The Office. That makes a lot of sense as it's really when the classic sitcom came out from under the shadow of the British show on which it was based and found its own footing. Michael Scott (Steve Carrell) separated himself from David Brent (Ricky Gervais) and the rest is history.

The Sopranos - Season 3

The Sopranos is one of the few shows that most fans agree doesn't really have any bad seasons. Some are better than others, sure, but, especially out of the first four, how do you separate them? Season 3 is as good a choice as any as Junior gets out of prison and begins his power grab against Tony, Tony's mother is at her worst, and it ends with one of the most devastating murders in the show's run.

Atlanta - Season 1

It's no surprise here that the first season of Atlanta sits on top. The show's four-season run is great, but it never quite matched the incredible impact or lofty heights of that first magical season. It won a slew of awards in the first year, something it also never matched again.

Seinfeld - Season 5

"The Puffy Shirt," "The Marine Biologist," "The Dinner Party," and "The Hamptons" are just a few of the stone-cold classic episodes of Seinfeld in Season 5. This is a show where almost any season could be the favorite as there are classic episodes in all of them, even the first. But Season 5 seems to be the one fans love the most.

Cheers - Season 4

As much as hardcore fans of Cheers love Coach (Nicholas Colasanto), it's not surprising to see the first season with Woody (Woody Harrelson) rank at the top. Season 4 is when the show really came into its own and became the ratings monster it would remain for the rest of its run on NBC in the '80s.

The Wire - Season 4

This is one choice that some fans will definitely disagree with. Not because Season 4 of The Wire is bad, because, oh boy, it certainly is great, but because Season 3 is at least as good if not better in the eyes of many fans, with a bunch of the best episodes. Still, the season following the kids in school comes out on top here, as viewers are introduced to a whole new generation of corner boys and future crew members.

The West Wing - Season 2

It's hard to pick just one season out of the first four for The West Wing. What probably puts this one over the edge is the season finale, "Two Cathedrals," which is one of the best episodes of any television show, ever. The whole season is incredibly good, but the ending is magical.

Gilmore Girls - Season 3

Season 3 of Gilmore Girls hits the top spot for the WB favorite likely pushed to the top for moments like the big reveal of Jess' father towards the end of the season and other milestones throughout the season.

The Simpsons - Season 4

This one is sure to spur some debate. The general consensus of fans of The Simpsons is that basically Seasons 2 through 8 or 9 are basically perfect. Still, it's easy to see why Season 4 won out here, with classic episodes like "Marge vs. the Monorail," "Homer the Heretic," "Duffless," "Mr. Plow," "Last Exit to Springfield," and "Whacking Day," which has a number of the best quotes from The Simpsons.

This Is Us - Season 1

It's hard to argue that the first season of This Is Us isn't the best. The first episode ends with an incredible twist and throughout the rest of the season, audiences get, well, emotionally connected, to the characters in a way that few other shows have ever matched. The tears of later seasons would have never happened without that incredible foundation.

Saturday Night Live - Season 15

How do fans choose one season of a show that has been on the air as long as Saturday Night Live? Surely every generation has its own favorite, but Season 15 is as good a choice as any with a powerhouse cast that includes the great Phil Hartman, Dana Carvey, Jan Hooks, and Mike Myers in his first season as a full cast member.

Breaking Bad - Season 5

Yet another show on this list that has multiple amazing seasons that could be in contention here. There have been very few shows that have ended as well as Breaking Bad so it tracks that its final season would come out on top here. Even the Guinness Book of World Records named it the "most acclaimed" series of all time after it ended.

Friends - Season 5

No doubt that hardcore fans of Friends will have something to say here, but most will agree that if Season 5 isn't the best, it's one of the best. The season starts with the aftermath of Ross saying "Rachel," and ends with their drunken wedding in Vegas, all while Monica and Chandler's relationship grows into more than just hooking up.

Game Of Thrones - Season 4

This one was pretty surprising as well, as most might expect Season 3, with The Red Wedding to rank at the top, but maybe the death of Joffrey at The Purple Wedding and the rise of Daenerys as a conquerer is too much to resist. Not to mention the fight between Oberyn and The Mountain. And Tyrion killing Tywin... Okay, yeah it makes sense.

Abbott Elementary - Season 1

Abbott Elementary burst onto the scene as the freshest and best network sitcom in years. It won every award it could after that first season and while it's remained consistently great, it's never matched those early heights when it was all so new and so funny.

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia - Season 5

Sometimes it feels like It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia has been on since the dawn of time, and it kind of has. There have been many great seasons, dozens of great episodes, and even more legendary scenes and lines. For fans, it reached its zenith in Season 5, but it's not like they've turned away from it in later seasons.

24 - Season 5

The most impressive thing about 24 is how it continued to raise the stakes season after season. Just when it seemed like it couldn't get any better, Season 5 came out and blew everyone away. It cleaned up at the Emmys and it's easy to see why as it was Jack's most exciting adventure, and at times the most devastating, of his brutal career at CTU.

Slow Horses - Season 3

Slow Horses is one of the outliers on this list because the seasons are so short, only six episodes in each, but they pack a ton into those six. Every season of the show has been acclaimed, with most having scores of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. Still, Season 3 ranks best for fans, with Season 2 right behind it.

Sherlock - Season 2

The first two seasons of Sherlock are two of the best seasons of TV ever, even if they are only three episodes each. Season 2 ended with one of the all-time great cliffhangers - or cliff-fallers as it may be. In the third and final episode, "The Reichenbach Fall," Sherlock takes a dive off a building to outwit Moriarty, and viewers are left wondering about his fate.

Lost - Season 1

Lost is one of the most dissected, discussed, and disagreed over shows in TV history. One thing that almost no one argues over though, is how great the show's first season was. From the moment Jack's eyes open in the first episode to Jack and Locke looking down at the blown-open hatch in the last scene, it's a white-knuckle ride that takes viewers on one of the greatest adventures ever.

Grey's Anatomy - Season 6

Well, of all the seasons of Grey's Anatomy, and there are many, it's easy to understand why Season 6, which ends with a cliffhanger when multiple characters were shot in a mass shooting at the hospital. It was the peak of the show.

Mad Men - Season 4

Season 4 of Mad Men is really the downward descent into booze and bills for Don Draper as he continues to struggle with who he really is. It marked a shift in the decade in which it takes place as the wholesome early sixties start to get darker, just like Don's life. Of course fans are going to love this season most.

Blue Bloods - Season 1

Despite its controversial canceling, Blue Bloods has a ton of hardcore fans. Those fans still love Season 1 the most, which is understandable as it really sets the tone for the show and for the dynamics of the Reagan family and includes all the original members, some of whom left the show years before it ended.

Black Mirror - Season 3

Yet another show on the list that is sure to have people arguing over which season really is best. The consensus seems to be that Season 3, Black Mirror's first on Netflix is the best, though that may just be because of exposure. To be sure though, it's a great season with some powerful episodes that resonate, as well as some of the more controversial ones among fans.

Downton Abbey - Season 1

Downton Abbey is not a show anyone would have expected to gain such a large and loyal following, given that it's a period drama set in Edwardian England. But fans it has and passionate they are, especially for the show's excellent first season when we meet the upstairs and the downstairs parts of the Crawley family.

House - Season 1

Medical Procedurals often go on and on, but House is a show that only works with its main character so when Hugh Laurie was ready to go, so was the show. There is no question it felt like it was just running through the motions at the end, but in the beginning, there was no other show like it and that's what makes its first Season the fan favorite.

Dexter - Season 4

Season 4 of Dexter was unquestionably the peak of the show. The race to find the Trinity Killer was in full swing and by the end of the devastating season, viewers learned that maybe there was a killer out there more resourceful, more evil, and more cunning than Dexter as it ends with one of the most tragic seasons in TV history.

Luther - Season 1

Idris Elba got everyone's attention as Stringer Bell on The Wire but he proved he was more than a one-hit wonder with Season 1 of Luther. He could play a cop with loose morals as well as he could a criminal and we loved him for it.

True Detective - Season 1

Until the fourth season of True Detective, called True Detective: Night Country, there was no question that Season 1 would be at the top of fan favorites. Even now, with the show back on its feet after a couple of misses, Season 1 still wins, at least for now.

Law & Order - Season 5

Of all the Law & Order seasons, it makes total sense that Season 5 would top the list of favorite seasons. it's when the show cast really coalesced into the characters fans really love. Most notably, Sam Waterston joined as Jack McCoy and Chris Noth took his final bow on the show.

Curb Your Enthusiasm - Season 6

Is there really a "best" season of Curb Your Enthusiasm? There are great, cringy moments in every season but Season 6 comes out on top for fans for one important reason: it introduced Leon (JB Smoove) and the rest of his family to the show and the show began to reach new heights it never would have without them.

Westworld - Season 1

This one really isn't a huge surprise, as many fans really didn't like Seasons 2 or 3 of Westworld, but Seasons 1 and 4 are so good we had to include them. Season 1, especially, is brilliant.

We've been experiencing a TV renaissance for years now, to the delight of superfans like myself who love watching my weekly stories. But even before the small screen became a place for A-listers, there were a number of iconic moments that stuck with fans. And this will be all about the single most memorable moment of 32 iconic TV shows.

Obviously not every beloved TV title can be on this list, so apologies in advance if your favorite isn't included. The small screen is simply an embarrassment of riches in this regard, especially once you factor in streaming shows that have arrived in recent years. In no particular order, here are the biggest moments from 32 beloved shows. But be warned: a major SPOILER ALERT is needed, as some of these episodes feature big plot twists and/or character deaths. You've been warned!

The Red Wedding, Game of Thrones

During its run on HBO, Game of Thrones was jam-packed with wild, violent, and truly memorable sequences. And while fans are still debating the final season, perhaps the most iconic scene occurred during the Season 3 episode "The Rains of Castamere". This is the infamous Red Wedding, where Walder Frey betrays the Starks, resulting in the brutal deaths of Robb, Catelyn, and Talisa (as well as her unborn baby).

Nomi's Wedding, Sense8

When Netflix was rolling out expensive and ambitious new content early into its run, The Wachowskis helmed the sci-fi series Sense8. The show followed eight strangers who were connected psychically and was canceled after two seasons, but fan campaigns resulted in a Sense8 finale movie being produced. After beating the bad guys, the show ends with Nomi and Amanita's wedding on the Eiffel Tower, followed by one last, wild, party.

Fonzie Jumps The Shark, Happy Days

The beloved sitcom series Happy Days is known for bringing the phrase "jumping the shark" into the pop culture lexicon. This originates from a Season 5 episode of the classic series, where Henry Winler's Fonzie jumps over a live shark while on waterskis. Say what you want about this plot point, but it's remained the most lasting and iconic plot line from the show's tenure on the air.

"Pick Me, Choose Me, Love Me", Grey's Anatomy

During its long tenure on the air, Grey's Anatomy had a number of iconic love stories. But the biggest has always been Meredith and Derek. Fans waited a long time for them to be together, and one of the show's most iconic moments is when she pleads for McDreamy to "pick me" instead of his wife Addison.

Rory's Graduation Speech, Gilmore Girls

When Gilmore Girls began its run on TV, it followed as Alexis Bledel's Rory struggled to adjust to life at her new fancy school, Chilton. Eventually, she becomes a leader in the school and delivers a graduation speech in Season 3. Not only did it make characters like Lorelai and Sookie cry, but it's one of the most iconic scenes of the entire show, where she pays tribute to all that her mother has given her.

Negan Kills Glenn And Abraham, The Walking Dead

For fans who watched The Walking Dead at the height of its popularity, there's life before Negan and after Negan. Jeffrey Dean Morgan's villain made a horrifying splash when he entered the scene, brutally killing fan favorites Abraham and Glenn with his bat Lucille. Some folks thought that killing was too much for the brutal apocalyptic drama.

The Plane Crash, Lost

Lost's pilot episode started a new must-see television show, with the sci-fi series instantly becoming water cooler talk. While some folks stopped watching as it ran, the first (wildly expensive) episode remains the most iconic, thanks to the thrilling plane crash sequences.

Tyra Banks Screams At Tiffany, America's Next Top Model

There are a handful of reality TV show moments on this list because of their impact on pop culture. America's Next Top Model might not be considered one of the best reality shows of all time, but it left its mark. Particularly the episode where host Tyra Banks screamed at one of the contestants after her elimination.

The Gift, Buffy The Vampire Slayer 

The first five seasons of Buffy The Vampire Slayer aired on the WB, before it eventually changed networks to UPN for the final two entries. Season 5 went out with a serious bang, with Buffy dying after sacrificing herself to save Dawn and the world. After wondering for half the season, we finally understood that death was her gift.

The Movements, The OA

The OA was an ambitious series that ran on Netflix for two seasons and was canceled far too soon. In the Season 1 finale, the group of teenagers (plus Phyllis Smith's BBA) decide to use the reality-traveling movements to distract a school shooter, saving the day in the process. It's a moment we waited all season for, and is an emotional and epic sequence.

The Lake House Fight, Girls

HBO's Award-winning comedy series Girls was a huge hit when it was on the air, and has been getting a lot of positive attention in the years since it wrapped. One of the best episodes of all time is Season 3's "The Lake House", where the four titular girls drink, dance and have an epic argument that shows just how messed up their friendships truly are.

Dexter Finds Rita's Dead Body, Dexter

Dexter was hugely popular during its original run on Showtime, and many consider Season 4 to be its strongest chapter. While Michael C. Hall's character eventually manages to murder the Trinity killer, he doesn't realize that the villain has already murdered his wife Rita. This represented a huge switch for the series and showed the consequences of Dexter's dark passenger.

The Final Scene, The Sopranos

The Sopranos' ending is one that has lived in infamy since it aired back in 2007. With an all-out mob war looming, fans expected Tony and the rest of the crew to go out with a bang. Instead, the finale famously cut to black during the final sequence, with audiences thinking their cable broke when it originally aired.

I Am The One Who Knocks, Breaking Bad

Breaking Bad was a delightful slow burn, with audiences following as Bryan Cranston's Walter White goes from chemistry teacher to bonafide drug lord. Things got more and more dangerous for Walt and his family throughout the show's run, to the dismay of his wife Skyler. When she finally confronts him in Season 4, he gives a truly iconic speech where he claims that he isn't waiting for someone dangerous to knock on the door because "I am the one who knocks."

The Final Sequence, Six Feet Under

Six Feet Under goes in the long list of quality shows to come from HBO. But it stands out as having arguably the best series finale of all time, where the audience is shown how the characters live and (more importantly) die. Set to the tune of Sia's "Breathe Me", try to get through that final sequence without crying.

The Departure, The Leftovers

The Leftovers was a thrilling drama with a super fascinating concept: on October 14th, 2% of the world's population suddenly vanished. While the show follows the fallout of that event, the pilot episode opened on The Departure, with a mother desperately searching for her baby after he disappeared.

Jessie's Song, Saved By The Bell

During its run in the late '80s and early '90s, Saved By The Bell was a favorite show among young people. While it was largely a comedy, certain episodes got more serious. Case in point: the episode "Jessie's Song", where Elizabeth Berkley's character becomes addicted to caffeine pills.

Fiona confronts Monica, Shameless

The US version of Shameless had a super long run on Showtime, ending after a whopping 11 seasons on the air. But it was best during its early years, and perhaps the most iconic moment came back in Season 1. When Monica returns to the Gallagher family and tries to take Liam away with her, Emmy Rossum's Fiona reaches her breaking point and confronts her over years of neglect.

Ross Says The Wrong Name, Friends

Throughout all of Friends' decade-long run on the air, the biggest question was whether or not Rachel and Ross would end up together. They had plenty of starts and stops (they were on a break!) but perhaps the most dramatic part of this saga came during Ross' wedding to Emily. In the middle of his vows, he accidentally refers to Emily as Rachel, ending his marriage before it even began.

The Hallway Fight, Daredevil 

While Charlie Cox's Matt Murdock is taking center stage in the MCU with Daredevil: Born Again, his tenure as the hero began with the Netflix Daredevil show. The series was gritty and featured dizzying fight choreography, with the most iconic being the long hallway fight, which was a thrilling one.

The Family Portrait, Modern Family

The Emmy-winning comedy Modern Family had a long life on the air, with the audience watching as the child actors grew up before their eyes. Season 1 was especially great, and the first finale "Family Portrait" is the show at its best. After stressing to try and pose for the perfect picture, the mixed family ends up throwing mud on each other and letting it all go in a heartwarming story.

Don Draper's Happy Ending, Mad Men

While it had a wildly successful run on AMC, arguably the most iconic moment from Mad Men came from its series finale. Fans have long debated the meaning behind the final shot, where Don Draper is seen happy and meditating, seemingly leaving the advertising world behind him. Although Jon Hamm's interpretation of the ending offers another, less hopeful perspective.

Pam And Jim's First Kiss, The Office

The Office had plenty of long love stories, with fans rooting for the staff of Dunder Mifflin. Jim and Pam's is the biggest example of this, and fans had to wait years for them to finally get together. In Season 2 the pair finally share their first kiss, although they didn't end up together just yet.

Teresa's Table Flip, The Real Housewives of New Jersey

The Real Housewives franchise is a huge behemoth at this point, but in the beginning, there were just a handful of cities. Chief among them was The Real Housewives of New Jersey, which entered the pop culture zeitgeist forever when OG Teresa Giudice flipped a table during a heated argument with Danielle Staub in the Season 1 finale.

Sue Hawk's Speech, Survivor

The first season of Survivor changed the TV world forever, and the show is still running to this day. Perhaps the most memorable moment from that prolific first chapter was Sue Hawk's scathing speech about snakes and rats, where he let out her rage about runner-up Kelly Wiglesworth.

Poussey's Death, Orange Is The New Black

Orange is the New Black was one of the first original Netflix shows, and it remained wildly popular until it ended. Fans know that the show was forever changed when Poussey was tragically killed in Season 4, inspiring a prison-wide riot that would take up all of Season 5.

Nina Kills Teri, 24

24 became a wild sensation when it started airing on Fox, with an entire season of action taking place in just one day. The Season 1 finale offered one more gut punch for audiences, when Jack finds the body of his wife Teri, realizing that she was killed by his former friend and colleague Nina.

Diane And Sam Breakup For Good, Cheers

Diane and Sam were the will they/won't they couple in the comedy Cheers, and fans all had their own opinions about them. In the series finale, we finally get some closure, and the pair realizes they shouldn't be together after all.

Nancy Burn Her House Down, Weeds

When Weeds started airing on Showtime, it was about a single mother who resorts to selling drugs to her suburban neighborhood. In Season 3 she burns down her house to avoid being caught, and the show was never the same after.

Kurt Dances To 'Single Ladies', Glee

Season 1 of Glee hit the world by storm, thanks to its colorful cast of characters and non-stop stream of hit songs. The first season was a huge deal, and there are perhaps no more iconic episodes when Kurt dances to Beyonce's "Single Ladies", and has to try and keep his identity from his father.

'Let's Go To The Mall', How I Met Your Mother

During the How I Met Your Mother episode "Slap Bet" the group of friends (and the audience) are introduced to Robin's teen pop culture persona Robin Sparkles. The song "Let's Go To The Mall" is a hilarious spoof on '80s stars like Tiffany, and is arguably the most iconic moment of the comedy series' run on TV.

Eleanor Realizes The Truth, The Good Place

The Good Place ran for four seasons on NBC, offering a hilarious and complex story. Season 1 was arguably its best, and the most memorable moment came when Kristen Bell's Eleanor realizes that they've been in the Bad Place all along.

Some TV shows stumble their way to the finish line, such as these series that went on way too long. But others end the race cruising to victory, with final seasons and series finales that satisfyingly wrap up the journey their characters were on over the years. From classic comedies like Cheers to acclaimed dramas like The Americans to sci-fi standouts like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, here are TV 32 shows that absolutely nailed their farewells. (WARNING! Obviously there are spoilers ahead!)

Succession

Succession creator Jesse Armstrong could have milked all of that Shakespearean family drama for one or two more seasons but smartly decided to end the hit HBO drama after four seasons because "this was simply how this story had to go," Armstrong told Vulture. And it ended in brutally brilliant fashion, with outsider Tom Wambsgans (Matthew Macfadyen) sniveling his way to the top of Waystar Royco over Roy siblings Connor (Alan Ruck), Kendall (Jeremy Armstrong), Roman (Kieran Culkin) and Shiv (Sarah Snook). 

Breaking Bad

It was inevitable: after five seasons of greed and ruthlessness, chemistry teacher-turned-meth cooker Walter White (Bryan Cranston) had to die. But what a way to go, with an explosive, critically acclaimed final run — both halves of season five won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in 2013 and 2014 — that not only offered up some of the drama's greatest episodes ("Ozymandias" is one for the history books) but cemented the TV series as one of the best ever.

Newhart

Nowadays, the "it was all a dream" twist has become a cliché but when the CBS sitcom Newhart pulled that very move back in 1990, it cemented itself as one of the most memorable moments in pop culture history. In the final minutes of the comedy's series finale, lead character Dick Loudon (Bob Newhart) woke up after getting knocked out by a golf ball in Vermont — the surprise was that he was now in a Chicago bedroom as Bob Hartley, his famous The Bob Newhart Show character, with TV wife Emily (special guest Suzanne Pleshette) by his side.

Mad Men

Fitting for an iconic and complicated character like Don Draper (Jon Hamm) — and finally earning the actor that much-deserved Emmy for Best Actor — Mad Men left viewers with quite an ambiguous conclusion when it ended in 2015 after seven seasons. The existential finale saw the advertising executive searching for inner peace at a meditation retreat, or was he really just tapping into some Zen as inspiration for that famous Coca-Cola advert? We'll never know!

The Leftovers

Grounded by a standout performance by Carrie Coon as Nora Durst, the conclusion of HBO's The Leftovers was ambiguous yet sentimental, a gratifying and thematically fitting send-off for the complex drama. Following Nora in her decision to enter a radioactive machine that could reunite her with her husband and children who vanished in the "Sudden Departure," the series finale didn't so much answer all of our questions about all the ones who left — we still don't entirely understand the quantum mechanics of it all — as it did give hope to the ones left behind. 

30 Rock

The seventh and final season of 30 Rock said goodbye to Liz (Tina Fey), Jack (Alec Baldwin), Tracy (Tracy Morgan), Kenneth (Jack McBrayer) and Jenna (Jane Krakowski) in equal parts hilarious and heartfelt fashion, with all of the nostalgic callbacks, witty one-liners and delightful absurdism that fans have come to know and love from the NBC sitcom. The series finale also movingly said farewell to the real-life behind-the-scenes folks from 30 Rock by casting them as the TGS crew. 

Parks And Recreation

Co-written by lead Amy Poehler, the series finale of Parks and Recreation warmly said goodbye to both beloved characters and the city of Pawnee. The sweet two-parter took place mostly in the future, with happy endings for all: Garry (Jim O'Heir) being elected mayor (with Christie Brinkley as his wife, no less); Andy (Chris Pratt) and April (Aubrey Plaza) becoming parents; Ron (Nick Offerman) taking over as superintendent of the Pawnee National Park; and Leslie (Poehler) continuing her life of political service...potentially all the way to the White House?

Fringe

The final episode of the Fox sci-fi drama Fringe was a bittersweet one for Olivia (Anna Torv), Peter (Joshua Jackson) and Walter (John Noble). The fifth season had jumped far into the dystopian future overtaken by the Observers. Walter sacrificed himself and took Michael (Rowan Longworth) into a wormhole even farther into the future to stop the Observer invasion from ever happening in the first place. In the process, the story reset back to 2015, where Walter sadly no longer existed, but through time-travel magic, he still managed to send his son a drawing of a white tulip.

Justified

The story of Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant) continued with the sequel series Justified: City Primeval, but the end of its predecessor Justified was a more than satisfactory closing chapter in and of itself, especially in wrapping up Raylan's rivalry with friend-turned-foe Boyd Crowder (Walton Goggins). The Harlan County criminal was an endlessly quotable character across all six seasons of the FX drama, but his final words — “We dug coal together" — prove he saved the best line for last.

The Shield

One of the most gripping crime dramas of the 2000s, The Shield lived up to its own reputation with its bold finish, which saw Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis) trying so hard to stay out of prison that he got a fate worse than incarceration: with blood on his hands, his family running from him, and him banished to a desk job. With police sirens blaring in the distance, Vic grabbed the gun from his desk drawer and left the ICE building. Where he went, we'll never know, but it surely can't be good. 

Cheers

It can be hard to leave those special places where everybody knows your name, but if you have to, at least take "One for the Road." Such is the title of Cheers' standout series finale, which poured one out for all of our beloved barflies: Woody (Woody Harrelson) was elected Boston councilman; Norm (George Wendt) finally got his coveted city job; Cliff (John Ratzenberger) was promoted at the Post Office; and Sam (Ted Danson) chose between reconciliation with the one who got away, Diane (Shelley Long), and the real love of his life, the bar itself. 

MASH

It's the most-watched finale of all time for a reason: seen by a TV audience of 121.6 million, the 1983 end of MASH beautifully brought closure to the dysfunctional members of the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital. With the Korean War coming to a close, the camp had to go their separate ways, but no departure tugged at our hearts quite like the one between Hawkeye (Alan Alda) and B.J. (Mike Farrell), which saw the former leave on a helicopter only to spot the latter's parting message: the word "GOODBYE" spelled out with rocks on the ground below.

The Sopranos

One of the most polarizing TV finales of all time was also one of the most powerful. That shocking The Sopranos ending was a masterclass in embracing ambiguity and racking up tension, with Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) seemingly enjoying a simple diner meal and some Journey tunes with his wife (Edie Falco) and son (Robert Iler) while keeping an eye on every patron entering the establishment. As the diner door opened and the bell rang, Tony looked up — and the screen cut to black. Was it Meadow (Jamie-Lynn Sigler), who finally found a parking spot? Or was it someone far more nefarious? Frustratingly and fantastically, we will never know. 

Six Feet Under

It seems so obvious now to end a series about a family that owns a funeral home by fast-forwarding into the future to see how each character dies, but the laying to rest of the HBO drama Six Feet Under felt clever and emotional when it aired back in 2005. An episode of television dominated by death doesn't sound all that cheerful, but getting to see the Fishers years down the line — particularly Claire (Lauren Ambrose), the last one standing at 102 — felt as right and cyclical as life itself. 

Friday Night Lights

"Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose." Such was the motto of football coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) and the showrunners of Friday Night Lights took it to heart when it came to graduating the high school-set drama series. Despite the gleam of game glory blurring his vision — the East Dillon Lions happily won that tense match-up against the Dillon Panthers — Coach Taylor clearly saw that it was only right for him to leave Texas behind by the series' end, moving to Philadelphia to support his beloved wife Tami (Connie Britton) and her new job as dean of admissions at Braemore College. Couple's goals, much?

The Wire

One of the best episodes of The Wire is its last, which managed to wrap everything up while also leaving things intriguingly open. It showed that Baltimore and all of its complexities would continue long after the credits roll. Things could change — Carcetti (Aidan Gillen) could become governor, Templeton (Tom McCarthy) could win a Pulitzer, Michael (Tristan Wilds) could become the new Omar, McNulty (Dominic West) could leave the police department — but, devastatingly, many things would always stay the same. 

The West Wing

The end of The West Wing was the end of an era — literally, as the seventh and final season chronicled the last weeks of President Jed Bartlet's (Martin Sheen) administration. The series finale was a heartfelt farewell to the former POTUS as well as all of the government employees and officials in his orbit, including C.J. (Allison Janney), Leo (John Spencer), Josh (Bradley Whitford) and Donna (Janel Moloney). But it didn't languish in nostalgia: "What are you thinking about?" Stockard Channing's Abbey asked Jed at the show's end. "Tomorrow," he replied. 

ER

The medical drama came full circle for its grand finale, which echoed its premiere episode 15 years prior by taking place over the course of 24 hours in the emergency room of Cook County General Hospital. The cases are dramatic and dizzyingly varied, from emergency cesarean sections to terminal cancer diagnoses to triage patients from an industrial explosion. As the theme music played, the camera pulled out for ER's final, effective shot: the entire exterior of the hospital, seen for the first and only time in the show's history, with all of that curative frenzy happening within. 

Battlestar Galactica

After years spent traversing the stars and avoiding being blown to smithereens by enemy Cylons, the Battlestar Galactica crew and the last remaining humans finally made it to Earth — well, the Earth of the distant past — at the end of the Sci-Fi Channel series. That primitive planet eventually evolves into modern-day civilization and the epilogue picks up 150,000 years in the future, where half-human, half-Cylon Hera has been announced as a "Mitochondrial Eve," the progenitor of modern-day humanity. Leaving us with Jimi Hendrix's warning cry "All Along the Watchtower," the finale chillingly questioned whether humans are doomed to repeat themselves. 

Buffy The Vampire Slayer

There's a lot of pressure with being the "Chosen One," as Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) no doubt learned through seven seasons of the iconic fantasy series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. But after 140-plus episodes of single-handedly saving Sunnydale and suffering greatly in the process, Buffy recognizes that she doesn't have to do it all alone. In the series finale, the Hellmouth crumbles and Sunnydale is destroyed but Buffy has the Scooby Gang and a new crop of Slayers by her side, and a whole future ahead of her.

The Mary Tyler Moore Show

"We kept putting off writing that last show," said executive producer Allan Burns as he accepted The Mary Tyler Moore Show's Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in 1977. "I think it said what we wanted it to say. It was poignant." Poignant, yes, but also plenty funny, with Mary (TV icon Mary Tyler Moore), Lou (Edward Asner), Murray (Gavin MacLeod) and Sue Ann (Betty White) ultimately getting fired from WJM-TV. From that group shuffle to the tissue box to the swan song of "It's a Long Way to Tipperary," the finale had us laughing and crying in equal turns.  

The Americans

With a high-stakes show like The Americans, it seemed only inevitable for Russian spies Elizabeth (Keri Russell) and Philip Jennings (Matthew Rhys) to be exposed and have to flee the United States for Mother Russia. Despite that eventuality, the FX drama still managed to end on a tensely unexpected and devastating note, with both their American-born children Paige staying behind. That shot of Paige (Holly Taylor) standing on the platform as Philip and Elizabeth's train pulled away will haunt us for years to come.

Parenthood

Over six seasons, Parenthood fans came to love the Braverman clan like their own family, which made it all the harder to say goodbye when the show ended in 2015. But even though the series finale was a tearjerking one, with patriarch Zeek (Craig T. Nelson) dying peacefully in his sleep, a hopeful time-jump showed that all would be well with the Bravermans, with weddings, pregnancies, graduations, vacations and puppies at Christmas all happily in their futures. 

Better Call Saul

It's hard enough to make a great spin-off of an already great show. But to end that spin-off with as much acclaim as its predecessor is a whole other thing entirely. Better Call Saul, part of the Breaking Bad universe, did just that with its sixth season, which saw Jimmy McGill-turned-Saul Goodman-turned-Gene Takavic (Bob Odenkirk) finally facing the consequences of his choices. However, as co-creator Peter Gould told AMC, Saul's end can actually be seen as hopeful: "In spite of the fact that he's in prison, which is terrible, Jimmy is Jimmy again. He's recovered his soul."

The Good Place

Though diehards of The Good Place would have wanted to spend eternity with all of its beloved characters, the NBC afterlife comedy did come to an end in 2020 after four seasons and 53 episodes. But it did so with a characteristically funny and cathartic conclusion, which saw Eleanor (Kristen Bell), Chidi (William Jackson Harper) and Jason (Manny Jacinto) ready to step through the door and move on from the Good Place, and Michael (Ted Danson) made human and allowed to live out a normal life down on Earth. 

Angel

Trying to save the world from evil forces is a nearly impossible but always worthwhile task, as the Angel series finale "Not Fade Away" powerfully showed. After a season of loss, including the deaths of both Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) and Fred (Amy Acker), it would have been very easy for Angel (David Boreanaz) and the rest of the Angel Investigations team to wallow in their grief and raise a white flag. But, even knowing that it would likely end in their own demise, Angel, Spike (James Marsters), Gunn (J August Richards) and Illyria (Acker) chose to go into battle against the supernatural baddies and fight for good.

Friends

What Friends got so right in its tenth and final season was showing how transient of a town New York City is, especially when you grow from those lively twentysomething years to your more settled thirties. "The Last One" saw Monica (Courteney Cox) and Chandler (Matthew Perry) adopt twins and move out of that famously purple-walled West Village apartment for the suburbs. After Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow), Joey (Matt LeBlanc) and the recently reunited Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) and Ross (David Schwimmer) returned their keys, Chandler landed one final hilarious quote before they went — where else? — to Central Perk one last time.

The Office

Sure, there's an argument to be made that The Office should have ended after Steve Carrell's Michael Scott left Dunder Mifflin Paper Company and Scranton, PA, at the end of season seven. But though the show was shaky in the years following that character's exit, if it had ended years earlier, fans wouldn't have gotten that sentimental happy ending, with Michael pulling off the perfect surprise at the wedding of Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson) and Angela Martin (Angela Kinsey) to serve as best man and drop the final "That's what she said." 

Star Trek: The Next Generation

All good things must come to an end, and that includes the adventures of the Starfleet crew of the Federation starship Enterprise-D. In the farewell to sci-fi favorite Star Trek: The Next Generation, Captain Jean-Luc Picard mentally jumps around in time: from the present, then back to the ship's first mission seven years ago and then 25 years into the future. In each era, Picard makes it so that the Enterprise stops a temporal anomaly, which destroys the ship but saves humanity. It all ends up being a test from Q (John de Lancie) but Picard passes, and in the present, he finally joins the crew's poker game.

Fleabag

After the brilliance of Fleabag's first season, it seemed impossible that Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Co. could match the sharp wit and gut-punching emotion with a season 2 of the BBC One dramedy. But PWB managed to prove every naysayer wrong with that devastatingly romantic and electrifyingly funny second — and, judging by that fourth-wall-breaking final scene, last — season, which famously saw our nameless heroine meet and fall for a "quite hot" priest, played by Andrew Scott. 

Veep

The end of Veep, one of the most consistently hilarious shows in all of television, saw Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) get everything that she always wanted: namely, the Oval Office. Yes, the seemingly perpetual Vice President became POTUS by the series finale, a ruthless political rise that saw her betray those closest to her, especially her loyal aide Gary (Tony Hale). But Selina gets a viciously hilarious comeuppance when, 24 years in the future, coverage of her funeral is interrupted by the breaking news that American icon and "Philadelphia 2 star" Tom Hanks has died. 

Avatar: The Last Airbender

The epic four-part finale of Avatar: The Last Airbender not only gave every major character their chance to shine but also cemented it as one of the best-animated shows of the 21st century. In his spectacular final face-off against Ozai, Aang stays dedicated to pacifism and decides not to kill Fire Lord Ozai, instead using energy bending to remove his firepower as punishment for his crimes. In doing so, the final installments offer up a philosophical exercise that's far more mature and sophisticated than anyone would expect from a "kiddie" show. 

Age-rap relationships aren't a rarity on television: in fact, they pop up in seemingly every genre, whether a big fantasy blockbuster like Game of Thrones, a beloved network sitcom like Modern Family, or an acclaimed drama like Succession. And in many cases, the TV wife is much younger than her onscreen spouse — here are 32 TV couples where the bride is married to a much older groom. 

Daenerys Targaryen (Game of Thrones)

There was a 15-year age difference between royal teen Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) and her much older husband, Khal Drogo (Jason Momoa), on HBO's Game of Thrones. Even more surprising, Khaleesi was even younger in the George R. R. Martin novels upon which the fantasy show was based: though she's aged 17 in season one, she's only 13 in the book. 

Gloria Delgado-Pritchett (Modern Family)

Gloria Delgado-Pritchett (Sofia Vergara) is not only 25 years younger than her 60-something Modern Family hubby Jay (Ed O'Neill), but she's also only 14 months younger than her stepdaughter Claire (Julie Bowen). And while that hefty age disparity definitely lends itself to plenty of comedy throughout 11 seasons of the ABC sitcom, their relationship is actually one of the show's staples. 

Ethel Mertz (I Love Lucy)

Though Vivian Vance was only two years older than her onscreen BFF Lucille Ball when the classic comedy I Love Lucy began in 1951, the actress was a whopping 22 years younger than her TV spouse William Frawley, who played the Fred to her Ethel. Rumor has it that Vance wasn't too pleased to be paired with the older actor and their offscreen relationship was less pleasant than their famous chemistry suggests. 

Skyler White (Breaking Bad)

Skyler White (Anna Gunn) got a lot of hate during Breaking Bad's six-season run, but her husband Walt (Bryan Cranston) was running an entire meth empire behind her back so yes, she very much had reason to be upset with him. Walt was actually 12 years older than his wife, so he was definitely grown enough to know better than to get involved with the world of drug cartels. 

Julie Cooper (The O.C.) 

Marissa Cooper's mom Julie (Melinda Clarke) participated in her fair share of May-December romances as part of The O.C. cast, even having an affair with her daughter's ex-boyfriend Luke Ward (Chris Carmack). But it was her age-gap marriage to Caleb Nichol (Alan Dale) — the two-decades-older father of her friend Kristen — that earns her a spot on this list. 

Megan Draper (Mad Men)

The second wife of Don Draper (Jon Hamm) was the already younger Betty (January Jones), who was six or seven years his junior. But his third bride, Megan (Jessica Paré), was even younger than that: per The Daily Beast, Megan was somewhere between 25 and 26 years old this season, about 15 years younger than her husband and little more than a decade older than his daughter Sally (Kiernan Shipka).

Fran Fine (The Nanny)

Mr. Sheffield (Charles Shaughnessy) was a fortysomething widower and father of three when Fran Fine (Fran Drescher) ended up on his doorstep selling makeup and later became not only the nanny but the stepmother of his children. And though Fran lying about her age is a running joke throughout the CBS sitcom — in one late episode, even the FBI can't verify her real birthdate — it's clear that she's at least a decade younger than her husband. 

April Ludgate (Parks and Recreation)

There was an eight-year age difference between coworkers-turned-spouses April Ludgate (Aubrey Plaza) and Andy Dwyer (Chris Pratt) in Parks and Recreation. It was revealed during the first season of the beloved NBC sitcom that April was 19 years old while Andy was 28, an age gap which, though totally legal, didn't actually adhere to Andy's "half my age, plus seven" dating rule. 

Cheryl Mabel (According To Jim)

Though we actually don't learn the age of suburban mom Cheryl (played by Courtney Thorne-Smith) during eight seasons of the ABC sitcom According to Jim, it's safe to assume that the TV wife is more youthful than her onscreen hubby Jim (Jim Belushi), given that the actress playing her is 12 years younger than her co-star. 

Laura Petrie (The Dick Van Dyke Show)

Mary Tyler Moore was 24 when she began playing Laura Petrie, the stylish, capris-panted wife of TV writer Rob Petrie (Dick Van Dyke), on The Dick Van Dyke Show in 1961. Moore was eleven years younger than the show's eponymous star, an age difference that Van Dyke revealed to Entertainment Tonight initially gave him pause. However, show creator Carl Reiner assured the actor: "I said, 'Nobody's going to know...Nobody ever even mentioned it. The first time they kissed on the pilot, that was it. They were together."

Princess Diana (The Crown)

Some TV couple age gaps are rooted in reality. Case in point, the age difference between the then-Prince of Wales, Charles III, and his 12-years-younger bride, Princess Diana, portrayed in Netflix's historical drama The Crown by Josh O'Connor and Emma Corrin in seasons 3 and 4, and Dominic West and Elizabeth Debicki in seasons 5 and 6. 

Alicent Hightower (House Of The Dragon)

The fact that King Viserys Targaryen (Paddy Considine) married his daughter's best friend, Queen Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke), isn't the only awkward part about their relationship — there's also that considerable age difference. In George R. R. Martin's Fire & Blood, 30-year-old Viserys is 11 years older than his young bride; however, the onscreen age gap is much larger, with Viserys played by 50-year-old Considine and frequently in poor health in the fantasy series. 

Joanna Loudon (Newhart)

Mary Frann, best known for her role as Joanna Loudon, the wife of Bob Newhart's character on the CBS sitcom Newhart, was 13 years older than her iconic co-star. Per that infamous series finale, the storylines from the small-town sitcom all ended up being a dream inside the mind of Bob Hartley from The Bob Newhart Show, so it seems like a much younger TV wife was simply wishful thinking. 

Wanda Maximoff (WandaVision)

Given that WandaVision picked up just a few weeks after that big old Blip in Avengers: Endgame, we know that Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) was still 28 years old in the Disney+ miniseries. As for her android husband, Vision (Paul Bettany) was technically only six at the time of the show, since he was "created" in 2015's Age of Ultron. But things get even more complicated when you consider that Bettany is nearly two decades older than his onscreen wife. 

Rhonda Volmer (Big Love)

HBO's polygamy drama Big Love saw many big age-gap marriages in its five seasons, which ran on the network from 2006 to 2011, but the couple with the largest disparity was octogenarian Juniper Creek prophet Roman Grant (Harry Dean Stanton) and his teen bride-to-be Rhonda Volmer (Daveigh Chase).

Peg Bundy (Married... with Children)

Katey Sagal started her role as Peggy Bundy on Married... with Children when she was 33 years old, eight years junior to her male counterpart Ed O'Neill, who played Al Bundy. However, Sagal mentioned in several interviews over the years that she always imagined Peg to be even younger than Al; in a season 11 episode, her character jokes that she was 9 years old and Al 18 when they wed. 

Sansa Stark (Game of Thrones)

As is the case with many Game of Thrones characters, both Tyrion Lannister (played by Peter Dinklage) and his younger missus Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) were aged up a few years from the A Song of Ice and Fire books for the HBO series. In the fantasy novels, Sansa is said to be 13 years old and Tyrion 26 at the time of their marriage; in the TV show, however, the Stark daughter was 15 and the Lannister lad around 34. 

Fiona Gallagher (Shameless)

With an absentee mother and an alcoholic father, Fiona Gallagher (Emma Rossum) was forced to grow up early as the matriarch of the Gallagher clan in Showtime's Shameless. So it wasn't too much of a surprise when the 23-year-old was set to wed Sean Pierce (Dermot Mulroney), the fortysomething owner of her employer Patsy's Pies. However, their marital plans fell through when his troubled past came back to haunt them. 

Meredith Grey (Grey's Anatomy)

In the season 1 script for the long-running medical drama, then-surgical intern Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) was described as 32 years old, making her older than the rest of the mid-twenties interns but about seven years younger than her McDreamy one-night stand and eventual husband, Dr. Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey). 

Anna Smith (Downton Abbey)

Anne Smith (Joanne Froggatt) met her future husband, John Bates (Brendan Coyle) in the very first episode of Downton Abbey, when the man is hired as the new valet to Robert Crawley, the Earl of Grantham (Hugh Bonneville). By the end of season 2, they would marry, despite a solid 15-year age difference between them. 

Connie McDowell (NYPD Blue)

Even the producers of the ABC procedural NYPD Blue were concerned about pairing up Dennis Franz's Andy Sipowicz and Charlotte Ross's much younger Connie McDowell for the detective's third marriage. Executive producer Bill Clark likened turning the characters into a romantic couple to "walking onto a minefield," telling The Los Angeles Times: “I can say I don’t think in all of the years on the show any decision has had as much effort put into it like this one.”

Penny Hofstadter (The Big Bang Theory)

Onscreen, the age difference between Leonard Hofstadter (Johnny Galecki) and his neighbor-turned-wife Penny (Kaley Cuoco) is about five years, but behind-the-scenes, the IRL discrepancy is even larger: born in 1975, Galecki is a whole decade older than his co-star. 

Natasha Naginsky (Sex and the City)

The youthfulness of Natasha Naginsky (Bridget Moynahan), the 26-year-old second wife of fortysomething Mr. Big (Chris Noth), is a major point of contention for Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) and the rest of the Sex and the City girls. However, despite being younger than the rest, Natasha proves to be the only one with real maturity, handling Carrie and Big's messy affair with strength and dignity. 

Abishola Wheeler (Bob Hearts Abishola)

Looks like Bob hearts younger women. In the CBS sitcom Bob Hearts Abishola, Bob Wheeler (Billy Gardell) falls for Nigerian nurse Abishola Adebambo (Folake Olowofoyeku) while being treated at the hospital for a mild heart attack. Along with their cultural differences, there is also a generation gap between the couple: Bob is in his fifties and while Abishola's age is never stated in the show, it's safe to assume she's in her thirties like actress Olowofoyeku. 

Margot Sauerbruch (Charité at War)

In the German drama Charité at War, Doctor Margot Sauerbruch (Luise Wolfram) is nearly three decades younger than her husband Ferdinand Sauerbruch (Ulrich Noethen), who is the head of surgery at Berlin's Charité hospital. In fact, Margot is much closer in age to her stepson Peter (Maximilian Klas) than his father.

Esther Keyes (The Handmaid's Tale)

In the dystopian drama The Handmaid's Tale, women and girls are taken as wives as long as they are fertile to boost birthrates. For example, Esther Keyes (Mckenna Grace), is only 14 years old when she is placed into an arranged marriage to the elderly Commander Keyes (Bill MacDonald). However, Esther rebels against the oppression and ends up slowly poisoning her older husband. 

Barbra Jean Hart (Reba)

It's become a cliché for a man to move on from his first marriage by marrying a much younger bride for his second, but that's exactly what happened in The WB comedy Reba. Reba Hart's (Reba McEntire) life was upended when her husband of 20 years, Brock (Christopher Rich), decided to divorce her after getting his dental hygienist, Barbra Jean (Melissa Peterman) — who was half his age — pregnant. 

Marcia Roy (Succession)

Even at two decades younger than her husband, the in-her-60s Marcia Roy (Hiam Abbass) was a significantly more age-appropriate partner for powerful media-mogul Logan Roy (Brian Cox) than his even younger secretary-slash mistress Kerry Castellabate (Zoë Winters), who was only in her thirties. 

Sara Sidle (CSI)

CSI fans were in for a surprise in the season 6 finale of the CBS police procedural, when Sara Sidle (Jorja Fox) and Gil Grissom (William Petersen) ended up in bed with each other. The coupling was even more unexpected, given the age gap between the two characters, who later married in season 10: Grissom was not only Sara's boss but also 15 years older than her. 

Shelly Tambo (Northern Exposure)

Shelly Tambo (Cynthia Geary) was first introduced on the Alaska-set CBS dramedy Northern Exposure as the young girlfriend of sexagenarian Holling Vincoeur (John Cullum). She initially has a difficult time getting Holling down the altar, as the storied lifespans of the Vincoeur males has him worries that, despite being more than 40 years older than Shelly, he could outlive her for decades with a broken heart. 

Rachel Gatina (One Tree Hill)

The name "Rachel Gatina" is pretty notorious among One Tree Hill fans and for good reason: Danneel Harris's character had a long history of manipulation and promiscuity in the teen drama. And that drama didn't stop when she married Dan Scott, the father of her former Tree Hill schoolmates Lucas (Chad Michael Murray) and Nathan (James Lafferty).

Elena Gilbert (The Vampire Diaries)

Though Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev) looked around the same age as her primary love interests Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley) and Damon Salvatore (Ian Somerhalder) — the latter of whom she married in the season 8 finale episode — both men were significantly older than her as they were, of course, vampires. (Damon was 169 years old and Stefan was seven years younger in The Vampire Diaries pilot.) 

Nicole Wright (True Blood)

In the sixth season of HBO's fantasy drama True Blood, Merlotte's Bar and Grill owner Sam Merlotte (Sam Trammell) meets the much younger supernatural rights activist Nicole Wright (Jurnee Smollett-Bell). Despite the large age gap (there are 17 years between the performers) and the fact that they're different species (he a shapeshifter, she a mere human), the twosome goes on to leave Bon Temps together, marry and have children, as revealed in the show's epilogue. 

Warning: SPOILERS for Unfrosted are in play. If you haven’t sat down to this balanced breakfast of bonkers just yet, you’ve been warned.

From the moment I first saw the Unfrosted trailer, two things stuck out in my mind. First, the crazy comedy tone of Jerry Seinfeld’s directorial debut looked like it was going to be absolutely nuts. However, the second thing was a pair of names that seemed ripe for a cameo opportunity that could make television fans even happier.

As it turns out, my hunch on those cameos was correct, and when sitting down with Jerry Seinfeld and Jim Gaffigan during the Unfrosted press day, I was able to ask how this pair of wild appearances came to pass. Now since what we’re about to discuss is probably the largest spoiler in the roster of inspired cameos that fill Jerry Seinfeld’s film, I have to warn the uninitiated.

If you want to avoid spoilers, but want to learn more, I suggest you check out CinemaBlend's Unfrosted review in the meantime. Those ready to proceed into the future and get a little mad can move forward, as we’re going to hop on the carousel for some fun.

Unfrosted’s Mad Men Scene, Explained

Unfrosted’s fictional story of Pop Tarts’ invention includes a couple of moments with, as Jim Gaffigan’s Edsel Kellogg III calls them, "a couple of can't miss Madison Avenue ad men.” But to the world at large, they’re known as Roger Sterling and Don Draper, played respectively by John Slattery and Jon Hamm.

As one could expect, the scene where Kellogg and his cohorts Bob Cabana (Jerry Seinfeld) and Donna Stankowski (Melissa McCarthy) plays out like a classic Mad Men pitch session gone beautifully wrong. With the Kellogg's team unable to decide on a name for their product, Don takes the idea of the Pop Tart and injects some sexiness into it. If you thought the process of unwrapping and heating up this classic confection couldn’t be turned into borderline TV-MA dialogue, you haven’t heard Jon Hamm’s spiel introducing what he eventually renames the “Jelle Jolie.”

Unfortunately, Edsel and company don’t take that suggestion, leading Don and Roger to leave the room in a huff. However, that's not before Donna shares her own moment of sparks with Don, because would it be a Mad Men moment without Mr. Draper trying to close the deal?

How Jerry Seinfeld Landed Those Mad Men Cameos In Unfrosted

Those who have missed Mad Men’s presence on the airwaves are going to love this scene, as there are plenty of pleasing references and nods to the series’ characters and events sprinkled onto this cinematic pastry. This includes some rather strong memories of Season 7’s final moments, which tracks since in a recent GQ interview, Jerry Seinfeld named the series finale as one of the best in the business.

However, when it came to landing Jon Hamm and John Slattery in the Unfrosted galaxy of talent, it actually wasn’t too hard to land. Seinfeld shared with CinemaBlend how simple it all really was, in these remarks:

As if the Unfrosted cast wasn’t already stacked with an insane roster of talent, Jerry Seinfeld decided to jump in and include the reunion of Sterling and Draper almost a decade after we bid farewell to Mad Men and its characters. While getting the actors to agree to this appearance was one thing, even during Jon Hamm's TV comeback year, making sure that the proper clearances were obtained was a whole other issue.

The Process Involved In Clearing Roger Sterling And Don Draper For Unfrosted

Plenty of historical figures and icons of foodstuff history are shown off in Unfrosted. In fact, there’s no other movie where you could see John F. Kennedy criticize a drawing of a Pop Tart, Snap, Crackle and Pop overseeing a funeral with military-style honors, and legendary actor Hugh Grant continuing his “Orange Era” of performances.

However, Mad Men's leading men are trademarked characters of fiction, which leads to much stronger copyright rules at play. Even then, as Jerry Seinfeld described the thought process executed to make it all happen, co-star and friend Jim Gaffigan also brought up another interesting concern. Here's what they told CinemaBlend further along in this interview:

"Jim Gaffigan: Also asking someone who’s done these iconic characters are they gonna be ok to do that?

Jerry Seinfeld: Yeah. It wasn’t that bad. It was a really long shot, to be honest with you, because Matthew Weiner is [a] very highly respective guy. For example, if someone wanted to take two characters from my TV series, and put it in their movie, that wouldn’t happen. … But they had a great sense of humor about it, they wanted to do it. But that took a couple phone calls."

While there were “a couple phone calls” made to jump through the hoops to secure these cameos, Mad Men fans will notice a rather interesting distinction that probably helped seal the deal. If you listen closely through the Unfrosted sequence that includes Messrs. Hamm and Slattery, there’s barely a mention of their character’s names; save for one utterance of, “Roger?”

Even in the end credits to Jerry Seinfeld’s directorial debut, the gents are credited as “Ad Man #1” (Jon Hamm) and “Ad Man #2” (John Slattery). So while we definitely know these are Mad Men’s shining stars at work, there’s just enough room for doubt that could distance the official legacy of Matthew Weiner’s television legend.

To make this whole matter seem even funnier is the meta video that Jerry Seinfeld did with Pop Tarts brand. As one could assume, there probably wasn’t much collaboration between Kellogg’s and Seinfeld’s camps. However, there was enough of a relationship to create this sketch where the President of Pop Tarts (Geoff Pierson) gives the comedian a hard time for making Unfrosted as an unsanctioned comedy. You can watch that bit below:

Leave it to a picture like Unfrosted to inspire some real life stories as crazy and intriguing as the fabricated history of the Pop Tart. While there aren't exactly any hopes of a Mad Men revival or sequel series in the air, I wouldn’t be surprised if someone at least tried to pitch an idea or two in the week to come.

Though if anything should come from this inspired moment of madness, it’s the suggestion that maybe Kellogg’s should take some inspiration from Don Draper and add that hint of chocolate to some of their fruit based Pop Tart flavors. You know, for those who dare.

If you dare to welcome the comedic chaos of Unfrosted into your own home, you need not wait any longer. All anyone needs is a Netflix subscription, a comfortable seating arrangement and enough time to flash back to their personally haunting origin story. Ok, maybe that last bit is optional, but you get the idea.

I don't know about you, but I love a good character arc. Whether it's someone bad turning good, someone good turning bad, or just a character growing up and maturing over time, a good character arc makes a TV show a million times better. 

Don't forget that a good character arc also makes fans favorites, and these characters certainly became major fan favorites after their well-deserved character arcs on their television shows. 

Alexis (Schitt's Creek)

The Schitt's Creek cast is incredibly talented in many ways, but everyone had a better character arc than Alexis. Starting as a pretty, spoiled girl who didn't have a clear direction in life, she seriously matures toward the end of the series and begins to figure out what she wants – through hilarious moments. However, it's still a great character arc. 

Zuko (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

It's well-known that Zuko has one of the most significant character arcs of all time, especially in television, but most definitely in Avatar: The Last Airbender. 

Starting as a banished prince, Zuko had to undergo serious self-reflection, punishment, and much more to realize his true destiny. In the end, he was willing to sacrifice his life for the Avatar and his friends rather than try and earn the honor of his father over and over again. 

Loki (Loki)

Loki is a curious character because he had character arcs in both the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the Loki television show, but we'll talk specifically about the series. 

Throughout its two seasons, Loki changes immensely, from the villain he was at the end of the first Avengers film to someone who would lock himself away forever to ensure his friends survive in timelines and keep the universe intact. I mean, talk about a change. 

Walter White (Breaking Bad)

We could say that Walter White had one of the best character arcs ever on television. Breaking Bad was an incredible show for many reasons, but I think the Breaking Bad cast was one of the main things that made it fantastic, including that of Bryan Cranston as White. 

In the beginning, we can almost see White as a savior, desperate to do anything to help his family after his inevitable death from cancer. Still, over time, we see how he changes into this power-hungry fool, ostracizing himself from his life and the people he loves. 

John Silver (Black Sails)

Black Sails is one of the best pirate shows, and John Silver was one of the best characters. I mean, think about it – he started off with nothing, just working as a cook due to being captured and taking out another cook. Silver had a brilliant mind, and through the show, we see him turn into a great strategist behind Captain Flint. He was always able to find a way out of any issue, making him more interesting. 

Jamie Lannister (Game Of Thrones)

For years, I have considered Jaime Lannister one of the best character arcs on television. As part of the Game of Thrones cast, Jaime Lannister was as selfish as a Lannister could be when the series started and then began to change throughout the following seasons, fighting for what was right, denying his sister, and so much more. Let's ignore what happened in Season 8 of the show. He was still a great character – just not his sad death. 

Octavia (The 100)

Good god, I remember when I first watched Octavia, a character a part of The 100 cast, I could not stand her. She was bratty, selfish, and straight-up annoying. 

But it wasn't long before she began to mature, and sooner or later, she learned how to fight, lead, and kill, which is needed in this world. What makes her even better is that she's a flawed character at best—she has moments of morally grey instances that really make you either root for her or hate her—which is why she's a fan-favorite. 

Jimmy McGill (Better Call Saul)

Oh, Jimmy McGill. Better Call Saul was a spinoff of Breaking Bad and told the story of Jimmy McGill or Saul Goodman. He started as someone genuinely trying to make it as a lawyer, but as the seasons go on, we see him sink more into criminal activity to get ahead since no one would give him a chance, thanks to his past. It's a slow, depressing character arc, but it's still fantastic either way.

Roy Kent (Ted Lasso)

He's here, he's there, he's every-well, you know the chant. 

Roy Kent of Ted Lasso began the series as a crude, mean, and old (in the eyes of sports) man, bitter about his past and despising Lasso coming in as their coach. But through the help of his close friends, significant others, and more, we see how much of a heart he has. He starts to show his true colors, and sooner or later, we see him even making friends with Jamie Tartt.  

Daryl Dixon (The Walking Dead)

Out of everyone on The Walking Dead, I think Daryl Dixon's character arc is among the most intriguing and fun to witness. When we first meet Daryl, he's super selfish and only cares about himself and his brother, but by the end of the series, he has a family, a life, and so much more that he's willing to die for. He was so beloved that there was a phrase called, "If Daryl Dies, We Riot." I would know, I had a shirt that said it.

Diane Nguyen (BoJack Horseman)

BoJack Horseman focuses on so many traumatized characters, but one of the best they really did a good character on is Diane Nguyen. She starts off as BoJack's ghost-writer, and while she's a bit passive at first, we start to see her grow into herself as time passes, confronting her past and future and even dealing with her own mental issues. 

Steve Harrington (Stranger Things)

I'm pretty sure everyone during the first season of Stranger Things was not the biggest fan of Steve, played by the excellent Joe Keery. But of course, we all ended up loving Steve Harrington because he learned to care for others and also became the best babysitter ever for the kids we loved. 

Nick (New Girl)

I could do any of the boys from the apartment, but Nick began New Girl as the type of guy I don't think any girl would want. He was immature and didn't have any direction in life. But towards the end of the series, even if he was still silly, he committed to fixing his life, growing stronger bonds with others, and opening up about his feelings instead of keeping it all closed inside. You have to love him. 

Carol (The Walking Dead)

Carol's timeline on The Walking Dead is something special. Her character arc makes me smile every time I think about it. Carol began the show as an abused wife of a beating husband, but once he's gone, she begins to get stronger every season, becoming a kick-butt zombie slayer and doing anything to protect the ones she loves. 

Starlight (The Boys)

Starlight from The Boys is the epitome of the phrase "never meet your heroes," literally in the sense of this show. She joins The Seven with bright ideas and discovers that it's not all it's cracked up to be. Over the course of three seasons so far, she's truly stood out and tried to make change—even going as far as breaking the law to do so. 

Jamie Tartt (Ted Lasso)

Jamie Tartt from Ted Lasso was so immature and selfish when we first met him, but he gets his time to shine in Seasons 2 and 3, where we start to see him change. He begins to grow and understand his role as a leader, making amends with old rivals and past relationships and building new bonds. 

Lexa (The 100)

While Lexa wasn't in the series for nearly as long as she should have been, she was an impactful character in The 100. Lexa's character arc, from being Clarke's enemy to doing a full 180 and becoming her lover before her tragic demise, will haunt every The 100 fan. This reminds us of all the great 'enemies to lovers' movies. 

Negan (The Walking Dead)

Negan was one of the best characters on TV when he appeared on The Walking Dead. His character arc not only made him stand out but also made him an easy fan favorite. Clearly one of the franchise's antagonists from the very beginning, Negan ended up finding his morally grey middle line and helping his once-enemies while also learning to find people to truly love and care about. 

Ahsoka (The Star Wars Franchise)

Ahsoka was one of the most hated characters in the Star Wars franchise when she first debuted because many thought her immature. Years later, through the Clone Wars and the Disney+ Star Wars shows, she matured into a Jedi master, was calm and collected, and was one of the most versatile warriors out there.

The Big Three (This Is Us)

As someone who loves the This is Us cast, the Big Three certainly had some of the best character arcs. These three go through so many heartbreaking hardships and moments throughout the franchise that it's a miracle they turn out fine by the end. 

But they didn't just end up surviving – they faced some of their worst moments, from drug addiction to racism to body issues to so much more, and came out on top. That's a character to root for – well, three characters in this case. 

Lydia (Teen Wolf)

There are plenty of great supernatural teen dramas with superb casts, but Lydia from Teen Wolf certainly has the best character arc. She starts as a popular girl who only cares about herself embraces her powers, and helps her friends down the line with whatever they need, even risking her life on multiple occasions. 

Arabelle (I May Destroy You)

I May Destroy You is a miniseries, but Arabelle's character arc is top-tier. Through nine episodes, we see Arabelle face one of her darkest and loneliest moments as she tries to figure out who sexually assaulted her one night, and she must face her grief, trauma, and so much more to find inner peace towards the end. 

Eren Yeager (Attack On Titan)

There are plenty of character arcs in anime, but the one I have to do is Eren Yeager from Attack on Titan. He started off this anime as a brat who only wanted to kill Titans and would do anything to achieve it, but towards the end, he wound up becoming one of the most complex anime characters out there, with deep, hidden intentions and feelings that we could barely comprehend. 

Eleanor Shellstrop (The Good Place)

Out of the many characters in The Good Place, I have to give the character arc award to Eleanor. Her whole journey in the afterlife literally begins with a lie and being super selfish, but towards the end, she is filled with wisdom and selflessness and is willing to fight for what is right. It's a beautiful story. 

Bubbles (The Wire)

Surprisingly, The Wire is a show that has never won Best Drama at the Emmys, but it should have these character arcs, and I have to give it to Bubbles. One of the show's many characters, Bubbles' road to recovery, made you want to root for him from the very beginning and support him no matter what. 

Sokka (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

Sokka was probably one of the most misogynistic characters in Avatar: The Last Airbender. At first, he believed that women could not fight, but towards the end of the series, he becomes a valuable leader, leading both men and women and becoming the man he was always meant to be. 

Sansa Stark (Game Of Thrones)

I know for a fact that many people did not like Sansa in the first few seasons of Game of Thrones, but she had some serious character growth that turned her into a fan favorite. From spoiled brat to Queen of the North, Sansa's maturity shines through. 

Spike (Buffy The Vampire Slayer)

Starting as a villain in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Spike was initially super unlikable. Over time, as he realized there was more than watching everything that went against him fall, he eventually worked with Buffy and became a trustful person.

Rebecca (Ted Lasso)

Rebecca's entire journey began with her as a villain in Ted Lasso, where she specifically hired Ted for the team to do poorly so it would shut down for revenge towards her ex-husband. But she is changed through Ted's kindness; towards the end, we miss her as much as we miss Ted. 

Peggy Olsen (Mad Men)

Peggy Olsen was a boss, and she wanted you to know. Mad Men was an AMC show that followed advertising executives in NYC, and Peggy was a character who worked her way up in power, beginning as a secretary unaware of the world she was entering and becoming an absolute leader despite her being a woman in the workplace in the 1960s. 

Theon Greyjoy (Game Of Thrones)

While Game of Thrones’ last season had issues, Theon Greyjoy's character was not one of them. Starting off as selfish and a betrayer who would do anything for power, Theon devotes his life to the Starks' cause in fighting against the Night King and dies in Season 8 defending Bran—but he dies a hero. 

April (Parks And Recreation)

April from the Parks and Recreation cast really started off as a slacker, but over the course of the series, through the help of her friends, relationships, and more, we start to become a heck of a lot more trusting—and still keeping that same deadpan humor that fans love. 

Which one of these classic fan-favorite character arcs is your favorite? This makes me want to rewatch all these shows again, just for fun. 

For as long as the medium has been around, TV has given audiences unforgettable characters, iconic moments, and beloved storylines we still talk about months, years, and even decades later. In addition to all of that, these small-screen staples have introduced us to some big businesses that we cherish just as much. That being said, here are 32 TV shows with fake businesses that everyone knows…

Dunder Mifflin (The Office)

Dunder Mifflin Paper Company, Inc. from The Office is undoubtedly one of the most well-known fake businesses from a TV show, even by those who’ve either never watched the beloved workplace sitcom or only caught a few episodes here and there. Central to many of the best episodes of The Office, this paper and office supply wholesaler might not have the best products, but it’s got the best people.

Moe's Tavern (The Simpsons)

The Simpsons has given fans countless fake businesses over the years, so much so you could build an entire list with nothing but locations from Springfield. One of the most iconic, and most prolific, is Moe’s Tavern. Homer’s favorite watering hole and Bart’s favorite prank call target, this dimly-lit, smoke-filled bar has been central to many episodes of the long-running animated series.

Cheers (Cheers)

As noted in the timeless opening credits song, the titular bar in Cheers is a place “where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came.” Over the course of 11 seasons, this Boston pub became one of the most well-known sitcom settings thanks to its cast of bartenders and extremely faithful patrons. 

Waystar Royco (Succession)

Waystar Royco, the massive conglomerate at the center of most of the drama in Succession, has become one of those corporations like Ewing Oil or the Bluth Company that prove that family and business don’t always mix. In fact, the mergers, acquisitions, deals, and in-fighting are enough to rip a family apart. 

Los Pollos Hermanos (Breaking Bad)

On the surface, Los Pollos Hermanos was a fast-food chain owned and operated by Gustavo Frig and Max Arciniega, but we all know it for its money laundering and various other schemes on Breaking Bad. It would be nice to try some of that tasty fried chicken, but only if we keep our wallets and heads intact.

Planet Express (Futurama)

With a slogan like “Our crew is replaceable, your package isn’t!” it’s hard not to find the humor in Planet Express’ business model on Futurama. This futuristic intergalactic delivery service was at the center of a large portion of the animated series’ best episodes and created some unforgettable moments along the way.

Central Perk (Friends)

Besides Monic and Rachel’s apartment, there are no locations from Friends that are more recognizable as Central Perk. This New York coffee shop, which is a play on Central Park, gave audiences all kinds of great moments, both scripted and improvised like Billy Crystal’s hilarious appearance alongside Robin Williams.

Sterling Cooper (Mad Men)

Sterling Cooper, and its various incarnations and name changes, made the world of advertising look like the coolest profession when the agency was introduced alongside Mad Men back in 2007. Sure, a lot that went on at the New York-based company wouldn’t fly today, but the ‘60s were a much different, smoke-filled time when nothing was off the table.

Good Burger (All That)

Before there were two movies set at this fast-food restaurant, Good Burger got its start on an unforgettable skit on the Nickelodeon sketch comedy show, All That. Kel Mitchell’s Ed could be the most dim-witted and frustrating cashier known to man, but there is no denying his charm or those delicious burgers and shakes (just as long as he’s not in the ice cream tank again).

Pendant Publishing (Seinfeld)

Pendant Publishing, Elaine’s longtime employer on Seinfeld popped up quite often during the show’s run. This includes some hilarious episodes like the one where Kramer tries to get a coffee table book published and another where George briefly gets a job, one of many career changes for the neurotic and opinionated character.

Strickland Propane (King Of The Hill)

Strickland Propane, known for its propane and propane accessories, could very well be the most well-known gas-based company in the history of animated television. It’s hard to not quote Hank Hill whenever going to refill a propane tank, or when you just randomly pass a rack of them when going to the grocery store.

The Bluth Company (Arrested Development)

Sure the Bluth Company helped Saddam Hussein, committed all kinds of fraud, and was led by an extremely wealthy family who lacked self-awareness or a connection to normal society, but it had a lot of charm, and that’s what matters. Can you imagine Arrested Development without this massive headache of a company?

Paddy's Pub (It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia)

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia has been on the air since 2005, and it’s hard to find an episode that doesn’t at least partially take place in Paddy’s Pub. That gang’s bar, which somehow manages to stay in business despite small crowds and various other issues, is essentially the sixth lead on the long-running comedy series.

Vandelay Industries (Seinfeld)

Okay, Vandelay Industries doesn’t really exist, even in the context of Seinfeld, but there’s no way we were going to leave one of George’s best schemes off this list. One of the best jokes from the show’s long run on NBC, this fake latex company is classic Seinfeld.

The Android's Dungeon & Baseball Card Shop (The Simpsons) 

The Android’s Dungeon & Baseball Card Shop, home to the Comic Book Guy, is one of those locations from The Simpsons everyone had to find on the once-booming The Simpsons: Tapped Out mobile game more than a decade ago. Host of several great episodes, and even more hilarious interactions, this comic book store is a staple of Springfield.

Casa Bonita (South Park)

Okay, Casa Bonita exists in real life, but we would be remiss to leave it off our list of great TV businesses. This over-the-top and absurd Mexican restaurant is at the center of one of the best South Park episodes and remains one of the most well-known businesses in the show’s massive universe.

Vought International (The Boys)

Who doesn’t love an evil, pompous, destructive, and merciless corporation filled with villains who’ve convinced the world they are the good guys? Well, Vought International from The Boys definitely falls into that category. We just wouldn’t want to visit the headquarters or cross paths with any of its executives, especially Homelander.

Ewing Oil (Dallas)

One of the most well-known TV shows of the latter part of the 20th century, Dallas gave audiences so many unforgettable moments involving J.R. Ewing and his Ewing Oil company. This is another company we wouldn’t want to do business with, considering all the scheming, murder, and whatnot.

ACME (Looney Tunes)

Decades before all the drama surrounding Coyote vs. Acme, Wile E. Coyote used the fictional company’s products time and time again in his endless quest to capture that pesky roadrunner. Acme, Corp. had it all: dynamite, bird food, excavating equipment, you name it, but the products just never seemed to work. 

WKRP (WKRP In Cincinnati)

WKRP in Cincinnati will forever be remembered as one of the best sitcoms from the ‘70s and ‘80s, and not just because it gave us the best Thanksgiving episode of all time. The AM radio station at the center of this beloved classic was full of all sorts of misfits and outcasts trying to give you the news and some tunes you could find in a small-market Midwest town.

Bob's Burgers (Bob's Burgers)

Maybe it’s the charm that makes the titular restaurant in Bob’s Burgers so beloved because it certainly can’t be the location (right next to a crematorium) that’s bringing in its admittedly small customer base. Regardless of its issues and trappings, Bob’s Burgers is a fast-food joint that many of us know all too well.

Sanford And Son Salvage (Sanford And Son)

Sanford and Son Salvage, the family business on the classic sitcom, Sanford and Son, could very well be the most recognizable junkyard in the history of television. Sure Fred G. Sanford was more prone to faking a heart attack than giving someone a deal on some junk, err treasures, but he sure did make it all the more fun.

Gary's Shoes & Accessories For Today's Woman (Married... With Children)

One of the best aspects of Al Bundy’s character on Married… with Children was the fact that he worked at Gary’s Shoes & Accessories for Today’s Woman. This manly man who liked to drink, bowl, and sit a certain way on the couch would spend his days peddling shoes for the “modern” woman. Oh, the irony. Oh, the comedy.

MacLaren's Pub (How I Met Your Mother)

Can you count how many nights we spent with the How I Met Your Mother cast at MacLaren's Pub, their main hangout spot? It has to be dozens upon dozens, if not more. Several of the characters first met at this iconic New York City bar, a place we would certainly like to visit if it existed in the real world.

Kruger Industrial Smoothing (Seinfeld)

Jerry had all the girlfriends but George had all the jobs on Seinfeld, including a stint at Kruger Industrial Smoothing. Following his stint with the New York Yankees, George lied his way into a job with this company, which would ultimately lead to Festivus, one of many phrases Seinfeld introduced to the English language.

The Max (Saved By The Bell)

Every sitcom has a go-to hangout for its cast of characters, and Saved by the Bell had The Max. Over the course of the series’ run in the early ‘90s, the students of Bayside High treated this neon-filled diner as their personal hangout where A.C. Slater would do the coolest and most ‘90s thing ever by turning his seat backwards before sitting down.

The Smash Club (Full House)

Uncle Jesse was always up to something to not lose touch with his younger and more daring self on Full House, whether it was running away from his family for a weekend in Tahoe to starting the Smash Club. This San Francisco nightclub was a major location during later seasons of the ABC sitcom’s run and gave us some hilarious, and thoughtful moments along the way.

MomCorp (Futurama)

Though the leader of MomCorp puts on the appearance of a gentle, kind, and good-natured elderly woman running a robot company, behind closed doors she’s anything but. Throughout Futurama, Mom runs her business with an iron fist. Well, except for whenever the Professor is around.

Mega Lo Mart (King of the Hill)

Mega Lo Mart, a clear parody of the real-life Walmart, came up time and time again on King of The Hill, including with its trademark commercials starring flugelhorn icon Chuck Mangione. Appearing in the first and last episodes of the long-running Fox animated series, the store was a major part of several arcs and unforgettable moments.

Outdoor Man (Last Man Standing)

Tim Taylor had “Tool Time” on Home Improvement but Mike Baxter, also played by Tim Allen, had Outdoor Man on the popular sitcom, Last Man Standing. As its name suggests, this outdoor and recreation store had everything an adventurer, fisherman, or hunter would want in life.

Packard Sawmill (Twin Peaks)

One of the great things about Twin Peaks was the fact that the Pacific Northwest town and its various businesses and industries had a tremendous amount of lore. This includes the Packard Sawmill, which was at the center of several of the major subplots and arcs in David Lynch’s mystery thriller. It was also predominantly featured in the Twin Peaks title sequence, which is one of the best in the history of TV.

Krusty Krab (Spongebob Squarepants)

We may never really know what’s in a Krabby Patty, but one thing that is for sure is that the Krusty Krab is one of the most well-known locations on Spongebob Squarepants. The better of two burger joints in Bikini Bottoms, Mr. Krab’s signature sandwich has to be one of the tastiest-looking food items in the history of animated television.

Though these fake businesses can’t be visited in real life (aside from an occasional pop-up shop marketing ploy), we can go back and watch these various shows time and time again.

They say mama knows best, but television has shown us time and time again that isn't always the case. Whether it's a show as sinister as Sons of Anarchy or one as innocent as Modern Family, there's no shortage of moms who don't give the best advice. I'm sure there are plenty of dads as well, to be sure, but that's not what we're here to talk about today. 

Moms make the world go round, but they're not infallible. The following are some shining examples of mothers who aren't always giving the best advice, though I'll concede that some give worse advice far more often than others. Let's dive in!

Roseanne

The point of Roseanne was that the Conners weren't picturesque parents, but they somehow made it work anyway. Pull up any old episode with a Peacock subscription, and you'll hear Roseanne giving some ill-informed advice. Her heart is always in the right place, though, and that's what matters. 

Cersei Lannister

If Cersei Lannister hadn't told her son Joffrey that anyone outside their family was an enemy, he wouldn't have turned into the despicable monster we witnessed on Game of Thrones. Cersei's twisted mindset ultimately led to Joffrey's death, and I don't think I need to bring up her other two children that didn't survive the series, either. 

Connie Tucker

Better known as Meemaw on Young Sheldon, some might not know that Connie Tucker's daughter is Mary Cooper even if they saw them side by side. Between her underground gambling operation in the backroom of the laundromat, and the time she got her grandson Georgie arrested while bootlegging cigarettes across the border, she's not the best role model. 

Linda Belcher

Linda Belcher has her own issues she picked up during her upbringing, and she's instilled some of those values in her children. Encouraging Tina and Louise to cheat in school rather than do the work is a great example, and a hilarious lesson that makes this one of the best animated shows of all time. 

Norma Bates

I think it's possible that if your son turns out to be a mass murderer, you might've had a couple of missteps in instilling some advice. Norma Bates certainly had an unhealthy relationship with her son, and her general advice not to trust other women not only led to their deaths, it eventually led to her own. 

Lucy Ricardo

I can't even imagine the shenanigans Little Ricky got up to having Lucy Ricardo as his mother. The I Love Lucy character was always getting into hijinks, and landed herself in quite a bit of trouble with her various schemes from time to time. It's hard to imagine she didn't cook up some shenanigans with her son, and landed him in some trouble as well. 

Bonnie Plunkett

Bonnie Plunkett being an imperfect mother was more or less the point of Mom, as the recovering addict helped her daughter, Christy, work through her own recovery. She wasn't the best mother during Christy's upbringing, and she made her mistakes during the series, too. That said, she does love her daughter, and the family she helped raise. 

Lois Griffin

You don't need to see more than ten minutes of a Family Guy episode to see that Lois Griffin isn't the best parent. That said, she's definitely changed throughout the series, and become almost as unhinged as Peter in recent episodes. 

Skyler White

Skyler White gets a lot of flak, considering Walter White was the true villain of Breaking Bad, but it's hard to not fault her from taking Walt Jr. and getting out of the drug ring operation the moment she became aware of it. Other than that she was a good mother, but that one mistake is pretty hard to overlook. 

Kitty Forman

Whether it was That '70s Show or That '90s Show, Kitty Forman had a knack for instilling some bad to occasionally twisted advice to teenagers with a heavy dose of sugar. It's hard not to love her anyway, despite that, and the characters were so iconic that it's always worth keeping tabs on what Debra Jo Rupp and the rest of the That '70s Show cast is up to now. 

Cookie Lyon

I can honestly say that Cookie's decision-making and advice is no worse than any other member of the Lyon family in Empire, but they all make some terrible decisions. Between her spitefulness and scheming, she landed her sons in some sticky situations, some of which were more than a little dangerous. 

Betty Draper

Mad Men's Betty Draper might have the worst maternal instincts of any other TV mom on this list. Unfortunately, a lot of the ways she brought up their children was likely inspired by her own childhood, and gave many viewers the impression she disliked them or didn't care about them. 

Marge Simpson

I would say that, for the most part, Marge Simpson is a great mom. The Simpsons' matriarch does have her moments, however, and in those chaotic times can impart some bad advice. Perhaps the worst was telling her children to aim low in life as to not disappoint others, which seems like terrible advice for Bart, in particular. 

Joyce Byers

Joyce Byers has had a rough number of years, so it feels unfair to judge her based on the last time we saw her in Stranger Things. With that said, she was barely holding the homefront down and seemingly only had bad haircuts to hand out to the teens as they all dealt with life. 

Catelyn Stark

The Seven Kingdoms takedown of the Stark family was pretty wild, but Catelyn's campaign to avenge her husband might've led to some tactical missteps on her own end. Let's not forget the trauma we all endured watching the Red Wedding, which she had a part in.

Jessica Huang

Jessica Huang is a fantastic tv mom, but she also has a way of getting things done that may not always be the best way of doing things. She can be crafty and devious, but almost everything she ever does is out of love for her sons and family. 

Selina Meyer

Veep's Selina Meyer progressively gets more unsympathetic throughout the series, but her parenting skills may make some people dislike her from the start. Pushing her daughter into ending relationships due to political optics for her own career is just one of many ways she was a bad parent to come to with a problem. 

Wendy Byrde

When you loop your children into your operation of laundering drug money for the cartel, you're bound to give a lot of bad parenting advice along the way. Wendy doles out plenty of bad advice throughout the course of Ozark, making her one of the worst offenders on the list. 

Malory Archer

Malory Archer wasn't the best mother to her child, Sterling, and her self-centered nature and skewed view of the world due to her extreme wealth made her even worse to come to for advice. With that said, it's a bit ironic that her line "Do you want ants? That's how you get ants," is some great advice fans frequently reference. 

Claire Dunphy 

Claire Dunphy's advice to her children, at times, could come off as controlling. There are definitely points in Modern Family where her advice is molded by what she would like her children to do, rather than what is best for them. Her advice to Haley about not living in the past when Dylan came back into her life feels like a great example.  

Benny Lopez

George Lopez's mother, Benny, often created more problems for him than not on The George Lopez Show, and from what we know about his upbringing, she wasn't a great mother. Part of this was due to the fact Benny was also raised by bad parents, but fortunately, George was able to break the cycle and be able to overcome the mistakes of his upbringing despite his mother's poor advice. 

Sophia Petrillo

Sophia Petrillo doled out countless pieces of advice to her daughter and roommates on The Golden Girls, and I would say a good chunk of it was solid. Sophia is a wildcard, however, and occasionally, some of her advice was informed by her occasionally reckless lifestyle, which made it less useful to the women, but hilarious for viewers. 

Francine Smith

Francine Smith gives out tons of bad advice, but given the kookiness that can go down on American Dad, it's hard to fault her for it. Sometimes, you just gotta train your son to fight a school bully when you've had about two-hundred, or "two-fiddy," battles of your own back in the day. 

Dr. Beverly Hofstadter

The Big Bang Theory plays Leonard's relationship with his mother for laughs a lot, but the fact that she treated her child more as a test subject and imparted advice that crushed his self-confidence and shaped his anxiety definitely makes her one of the worst mothers on the list. Despite that, they do reconcile, if only because she felt like him marrying Penny was something he did right for once. 

Gemma Teller-Morrow

Gemma Teller-Morrow never had to drag her son into the life of motorcycles, guns, and crime, but every time Jax tried to leave she pulled him back. I think it's more than fair to say Gemma was driven by her own interests and would actively work against any others, which led to quite a few times where she offered bad advice. 

Evelyn Harper

Two And A Half Men's Evelyn Harper was a terrible mother, and in the small number of times she'd actually parent her sons, she had a litany of bad advice. Some would argue her upbringing is what led both Alan and Charlie to have such dysfunctional relationships with women, which I totally get. 

Livia Soprano

Livia Soprano gave out her fair share of bad advice, and even worse, tried to push it off like she was innocent in it all. Her subtly pushing Uncle Junior to put out a hit on Tony is just one of the moments that makes The Sopranos one of the best shows streaming on Max. 

Lucille Bluth

Neither Lucille or George Bluth were great parents when their kids were growing up, and that continued when they turned into adults. Whether it's her business advice to her children or the coddling of Buster, it's surprising the Arrested Development matriarch wasn't treated like a child more than the actual teens.  

Peg Bundy

Peg Bundy's parenting style was just about as outrageous as her clothing choices, but there's no denying she loved her kids. The mom from Married...with Children bucked just about every cultural norm of the traditional housewife, and wasn't the best at giving out advice. In her defense, she owned it, and never claimed to be someone she was not. 

Briana Barksdale

Not many mothers would convince their sons to not tell on drug dealers if it meant they'd spend a considerable time behind bars. Brianna Barksdale from The Wire isn't most people, however, and was able to convince her son, D'Angelo, to do just that rather than to sell the operation out to the authorities. She also managed to pull him back into the business when he'd try to pull away, so she's not winning mother of the year awards any time soon. 

Marie Barone

Raymond's mother, Marie, was number one at meddling, and would even use her advice as opportunities to conspire against her daughter-in-law, Debra. It seemed like Marie was always working an angle to get what she wanted, and she was not above doling out bad advice if it got her that much closer to the goal she ultimately had. 

Monica Gallagher

Monica Gallagher wasn't around her children often in Shameless, but did try to give advice with the best intentions. Unfortunately, someone in her position wasn't really able to always give the best advice even if she meant well, and the children often ended up trusting themselves more than their mother.  

As I mentioned before, some moms are better than others, and no mom is perfect. I'd reckon that, provided someone is at least making sure they aren't in line with the worst offenders on this list, they're doing a solid job. 

Many would agree that Jon Hamm is a bonafide leading man and definitely proved that through his work on the critically acclaimed AMC series Mad Men. So it’s somewhat surprising that the Emmy winner has served as the lead of a TV show since the celebrated drama ended in 2015. Hamm fans have likely missed seeing him in that capacity and, luckily for them, there’s good news on that front. The actor has officially scored his firsting leading role since his tenure as Don Draper ended. And interestingly enough, it’ll see him sticking around Apple TV+, where he’s appeared as of late. 

The 52-year-old actor has most recently been featured on Season 3 of The Morning Show (which has been viewed by Apple TV+ subscribers). The Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston-led show tapped him for a supporting role, and Jon Hamm’s casting was apparently crucial. Now, Hamm has been cast to play the lead in Your Friends and Neighbors, a crime drama. It was reported by TVLine this week that the production had received a series order from Apple’s streaming platform. 

Created by See and Warrior’s Jonathan Topper, Your Friends and Neighbors will have the A-lister playing the role of Coop. The official logline describes the character as “a recently divorced hedge fund manager who, after being fired, resorts to stealing from the wealthy residents in his tony upstate New York suburb in order to keep his family’s lifestyle afloat.” That sounds interesting enough, but it sounds like the story will really take a turn when the “petty crimes begin to reinvigorate him until he breaks into the wrong house at the wrong time.” Topper also serves as an EP alongside Connie Tavel, who worked on the leading man’s (underrated) 2022 mystery comedy, Confess, Fletch.

John Hamm’s TV comeback with The Morning Show was exciting enough, but this sounds like a truly perfect role for him. He’s an actor who knows how to tow the line between comedy and tragedy and, based on the premise, it sounds like he’ll be leaning more into the latter with this latest production. Also, that description alone is incredibly intriguing, and it honestly makes me think of an AMC character who once opted to “break bad” while going through a tough time. 

TMS isn’t the only TV-related fare that the No Sudden Move alum has been working on as of late. He’s also featured amongst the ensemble of FX’s Fargo Season 5, which we know a bit about. The show has earned him praise thus far and, just this past week, he scored a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film. Unsurprisingly, Jon Hamm also has some big-screen work on the horizon. He’s part of the cast of the musical Mean Girls movie, in which he plays Coach Carr, and is lending his voice to the role of Sentinel Prime in Transformers One.

One would hope that Your Friends and Neighbors ushers in a glorious new era of TV for the actor and results in him showing up on our screens for at least the next several years. There’s still much more to learn about the series, but I’m confident that the lead actor and his colleagues will knock it out of the park. 

Keep your eyes on the 2024 TV schedule in case Jon Hamm’s upcoming show lands a release date there. At present, you can check out new Fargo episodes, which air Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET on FX and are subsequently available to stream with a Hulu subscription.

Have you ever caught a rerun of an older TV show and during the opening credits sequence, you spotted someone who made you say, “Hey, I know that person!”? This is actually a more common occurrence than you may realize, as there many A-list celebrities whose first IMDb credit (or one of the first) was a supporting role on a series long before they earned the honor of being a leading presence on the big (or small) screen. The following are some of our favorite examples of famous actors who appeared a bit further down the the line on the call sheet on a TV show when they were starting out.

Chris Pratt (Everwood)

Before Guardians of the Galaxy made him a leading man, Chris Pratt really began to gain traction from starring in the Parks and Recreation cast as Andy Dwyer. However, even earlier than that, he starred on a WB family drama called Everwood as high school joke Bright Abbott alongside fellow future MCU star Emily VanCamp, who played his sister, Amy.

Jennifer Lawrence (The Bill Engvall Show)

Before her Academy Award-nominated performance in 2010’s Winter’s Bone, her star-making role as Katniss in The Hunger Games and Oscar-winning turn in Silver Lining’s Playbook, Jennifer Lawrence was a sitcom star — specifically a cable network sitcom star. On The Bill Engvall Show, which lasted three seasons on TBS, she starred opposite the eponymous stand-up comedian as his on-screen alter ego’s teenage daughter, Lauren Pearson,

Austin Butler (Zoey 101)

The musical talents that earned Austin Butler the title role of Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis can be traced back to his part on Ruby & the Rockits, which lasted 10 episodes on ABC Family (now Freeform) in 2009. However, the Oscar nominee’s first major TV role was on the final season of Nickelodeon’s Zoey 101 as James Garrett — a character missing from Paramount+’s feature-length follow-up, Zoey 102.

Margot Robbie (Pan Am)

While her earliest role was actually the long-running soap opera, Neighbours — much like many other Aussie A-listers — we thought we would highlight American audiences’ first true introduction to Margot Robbie on Pan Am. An interesting fact about Robbie is that the future Oscar nominee and DC movies star was actually roommates with co-star Christina Ricci while playing 1960s-era flight attendant Laura Cameron on the short-lived ABC drama from 2011 to 2012.

Seth Rogen (Freaks And Geeks)

While still part of the main ensemble, Seth Rogen’s role as the initially arrogant Ken Miller pretty much got the short end of the stick amongst the Freaks and Geeks cast, for the most part. Ironically, Rogen, arguably, went on to become the painfully short-lived coming-of-age dramedy’s biggest star, which is really saying something, given his co-stars include Jason Segel, Linda Cardellini, and John Francis Daley.

Brie Larson (Raising Dad)

A notable moment in Academy Award winner Brie Larson’s evolution from child star to modern A-list actor was her role as the late Bob Saget’s youngest on-screen daughter on Raising Dad — a sitcom that ran for one season on The WB (now The CW) in the early 2000s. Following her success as the MCU’s Captain Marvel, Larson returned to TV in 2023 — reprising her Scott Pilgrim vs. the World role for Netflix’s animated series reboot, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, and leading the Lessons in Chemistry cast for Apple TV+.

Leonardo DiCaprio (Growing Pains)

While doing press for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt recalled how they both appeared on the hit ABC sitcom Growing Pains much earlier in their career. Of course, Pitt had a one-episode guest appearance while the Oscar-winning The Revenant star and Titanic cast member had a prominent role as Luke Brewer — a homeless teen taken in by the Seavers in Season 7. 

Ana De Armas (The Boarding School)

One of the films that earned Academy Award nominee Ana de Armas a spot on the A-list was Rian Johnson’s hit whodunit, Knives Out, from 2019. More than a decade earlier, the Cuban-born actor landed a role on a coming-of-age mystery TV show called El Internado (or The Boarding School), which originally aired in Spain from 2007 to 2010.

Michael B. Jordan (The Wire)

After getting his start as a Toys ‘R Us kid, the fascinating Michael B. Jordan made his official acting debut on an episode of The Sopranos, but later landed a more prominent role on another acclaimed, gritty HBO series in 2002. He appeared amongst The Wire cast as Wallace — an orphan whose tragic story had a profound impact on the Emmy-nominated series beyond his 13-episode stint.

Anne Hathaway (Get Real)

Anne Hathaway fans should know that before she broke into the mainstream by leading Disney’s The Princess Diaries cast, the Academy Award winner made her acting debut on a 1999 Fox TV show called Get Real as a high school senior who shocks her family with the decision to refuse college. Coincidentally, the short-lived dramedy was also the debut of Hathaway’s Rio co-star, Jesse Eisenberg, and was an early gig for NCIS' Eric Christian Olsen as well.

Denzel Washington (St. Elsewhere)

With two Oscars to his name, it’s hard to imagine a TV screen big enough to contain the talent of one Denzel Washington, yet it was a TV show that helped launched the young actor’s career in the early 1980s. Following his official debut in the 1977 TV movie Wilma, the future Training Day lead played Dr. Philip Chandler on NBC’s hit medical drama, St. Elsewhere.

Michelle Williams (Dawson's Creek)

For years, Michelle Williams was known best from the Dawson’s Creek cast as Jen Lindley. Now — after receiving multiple Academy Award nominations for acclaimed dramas like Manchester by the Sea and Steven Spielberg’s The Fabelmans — that role on the hit teen drama is, typically, among the last things mentioned in regards to her career.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt (3rd Rock From The Sun)

As a child actor, Joseph Gordon-Levitt starred in some good movies and made a few notable TV guest appearances before landing his first successful series regular gig with 3rd Rock from the Sun. He played the eldest member of a group of extra-terrestrial visitors, and the character resembles a teenager in human form on the Emmy-winning sci-fi sitcom.

George Clooney (The Facts Of Life)

As a TV star, George Clooney is best known from his main role on the popular ‘90s show, ER, on which he played Doug Ross. Much earlier, however, the future two-time Oscar winner had a memorable recurring role on Diff’rent Strokes' (very different) spin-off, The Facts of Life, as George Burnett — a carpenter who would become close to the girls living under Mrs. Garrett’s roof.

Woody Harrelson (Cheers)

With multiple Academy Award nominations to his name, Woody Harrelson is known today as one of Hollywood’s most versatile movie stars, but his first big break came when he joined the Cheers cast in the mid-1980s. In fact, he won his first Emmy Award for playing the naive, but lovable, Woody Byrd, whom Sam (Ted Danson) hires on as a new barkeep following he death of Coach (Nicholas Colasanto).

Jason Bateman (Little House On The Prairie)

At least before he led Netflix’s Ozark cast, Jason Bateman has always best known on the small screen as a sitcom star, with his roles as David Hogan on Valerie (later changed to The Hogan Family) and Michael Bluth on Arrested Development being the famous examples. However, his very first gig was playing James Cooper Ingalls for 21 episodes of Little House on the Prairie during the early 1980s.

Don Cheadle (The Golden Palace)

An early Don Cheadle role you may have forgotten about was featured on a TV show spin-off you may not have heard of, either. The future Academy Award nominee and MCU actor starred alongside most of the Golden Girls cast on The Golden Palace as Roland Wilson — the young manager of the titular hotel where the short-lived sitcom took place. 

Jason Momoa (Baywatch)

Even long before he landed the role of Aquaman in the DC movies, Jason Momoa was no stranger to saving lives in the water. The Hawaiian-born actor made his debut in his home state when he joined the Baywatch cast as a character also named Jason from 1999 to 2001.

Marisa Tomei (A Different World)

We know her from her Academy Award-winning role in My Cousin Vinny as Mona Lisa Vito (who she'd love to revisit) or as Peter Parker’s (reinvented) Aunt May in the MCU, to name a few examples. Yet before many people knew who Marisa Tomei was, she was on the first season of The Cosby Show spin-off, A Different World, as Hillman student Maggie Lauten.

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (The Get Down)

One interesting fact about Yahya Abdul-Mateen II: before he was an Emmy-winning DC TV show star (for playing Cal Abar on HBO’s Watchmen) and a scene-stealing DC movie villain (Black Manta in Aquaman), he worked as a San Francisco city planner until he was laid off in 2010. The role that first helped him make a name for himself as an actor was night club owner Clarene “Cadillac” Caldwell in Netflix’s musical period drama series, The Get Down, from co-creator Baz Luhrmann.

Alexandra Daddario (All My Children)

Speaking to Women’s Health in 2022, Alexandra Daddario recalls that she was fired from the long-running daytime soap opera, All My Children, which she actually found to be a liberating, educational experience. It led to seek improvement in her acting skills and pave the way for her to breakthrough in the Percy Jackson movies, give an Emmy-nominated performance as part of the HBO’s The White Lotus cast, and star in many other notable works.

Adam Driver (Girls)

Without Lena Dunham, there might not be a Kylo Ren — or at least, the memorable version of the Sith Lord we got in the hands Adam Driver. The former Marine’s scene-stealing role on HBO’s Girls as Adam Sackler is what got Hollywood to take notice of his talent, leading to his casting in the Star Wars movies and his Oscar-nominated performances in BlacKkKlansman and Marriage Story.

Melissa McCarthy (Gilmore Girls)

Gilmore Girls proved to be a launch pad for many A-listers — few of which would blow up quite like Melissa McCarthy, who played Sookie St. James on the hit dramedy.  She later won an Emmy for her leading role on the CBS sitcom Mike & Molly and received an Academy Award nomination for her supporting role as a member of the Bridesmaids cast. And that film skyrocketed her to the A-list as a trusted name in comedy and more.

Drake (Degrassi: The Next Generation)

One of the most memorable and important characters from Degrassi: The Next Generation is Jimmy Brooks, who served as an inspirational representation for wheelchair users on the long-running Canadian coming-of-age drama. The role was played by an actor named Aubrey Graham, who still acts on occasion — an Anchorman 2 cameo, for instance — but primarily performs as a rapper under the moniker Drake.

Kiernan Shipka (Mad Men)

At just eight years old, Kiernan Shipka proved to be a stand-out alongside AMC’s Mad Men cast with her performance as Sally Draper. She later went on to lead her own TV show (Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) and headline movies like Amazon Prime’s horror-comedy, Totally Killer and The Silence.

Ryan Reynolds (Fifteen)

Despite his many earnest roles over the years, it may be hard to picture Ryan Reynolds as anything other than the smarmy goof he plays in the likes of the Deadpool movies and National Lampoon’s Van Wilder, for instance. Perhaps watching him make his debut in the Canadian coming-of-age drama Fifteen will help audiences see another side of him.

Tommy Lee Jones (One Life To Live)

It is amazing to think about how many acclaimed and even legendary actors started out on soap operas, such as Tommy Lee Jones. One of the earliest roles for the Academy Award-winning star of The Fugitive and the Men in Black movies was the ill-fated Mark Toland on One Life to Live from 1971 to 1975.

John Travolta (Welcome Back, Kotter)

Before his Academy Award-nominated role in 1977’s Saturday Night Fever — and its fantastic movie soundtrack — made him one of the biggest stars of all time, John Travolta was better known by another name: Vinnie Barbarino. That was the future Pulp Fiction cast member’s character on Welcome Back, Kotter — a hit sitcom that never made it to 100 episodes. He practically stole the show from star and co-creator Gabe Kaplan with his famous catchphrase, “Up your nose with a rubber hose!”

Jennifer Love Hewitt (Kids Incorporated)

Her role as Sarah Reeves on the original Party of Five may have made Jennifer Love Hewitt a teen idol, but it was not her first major TV gig. The Ghost Whisperer star was 10 when she demonstrated her multiple talents on Disney Channel’s Kids Incorporated, which focuses on the lives of a group of young artists who perform live music at a club for children.

Benedict Cumberbatch (Fortysomething)

It was his eponymous role on the modern crime drama Sherlock that made Benedict Cumberbatch a nigh-unpronounceable household name, but his first starring role on a TV series was Fortysomething. The MCU’s Doctor Strange actor played the on-screen son of none other than House’s Hugh Laurie on the English dramedy that lasted six episodes.

Jared Leto (My So-Called Life)

In one of the best ‘90s shows that ended too soon, My So-Called Life, Jared Leto portrayed what would become his first iconic role: high school heartthrob Jordan Catalano. The much celebrated coming-of-age drama also marked one for the first times the future Academy Award winner acted alongside his sibling and Thirty Seconds to Mars bandmate, Shannon.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Passions)

Movie star Mary Elizabeth Winstead has more than a few very notable small-screen roles — such as a leading stint in Fargo Season 3 and Hera Syndulla alongside the Ahsoka cast for Disney+. The Scott Pilgrim vs. The World cast member’s earliest major TV gig, however, was on the supernatural soap opera Passions.

For any TV actors out there hoping one day to make it onto the big screen, let these stories serve as proof that your dreams may not be far away from becoming a reality.

In the modern world of streaming, ratings don't really mean what they used to mean for most TV shows. Looking back, it's incredible how many people were tuning in for some of these famous shows' episodes with the highest ratings, so let's dig in and see what kind of numbers they drew. Warning: this story contains spoilers. 

ER - "Ambush" 

At its peak in the mid-1990s, ER was the most popular show on TV. It comes as no surprise that its highest-rated episode fits right in the middle of it. Episode 1 of Season 3, titled "Ambush" drew a whopping 42.71 million viewers, one of the highest-rated dramas of all time. 

The West Wing - "In The Shadow of Two Gunman" 

The West Wing is considered by many to be one of the best television shows of all time, especially the first four seasons. The Season 1 cliffhanger was of shots fired at President Bartlett (Martin Sheen) and 25.05 million people tuned in to the Season 2 premiere "In The Shadow Of Two Gunman" to see what happened. 

Breaking Bad - "Felina" 

By the time Breaking Bad came around, ratings numbers were completely different. With the dawn first of cable TV, then of streaming, TV shows didn't draw the same number of viewers network shows did at their peak. Still, the highest-rated episode was still watched by a respectable 10.28 million watchers. The episode was of course the series finale, "Felina." 

Better Call Saul - "Uno"

The Breaking Bad spinoff, Better Call Saul benefited from its connection to the hit AMC show, and when it debuted in 2016, the first episode drew its highest ratings through its run, 2.57 million viewers. 

Atlanta - "The Big Bang"

Looking at the numbers for Atlanta you can see how things have changed in the television landscape. The critically acclaimed show was very popular, but its numbers are dwarfed by older shows. The most-watched episode of the Donald Glover-driven show was the premiere with 1.08 million people tuning in. 

The Sopranos - "For All Debts Public and Private" 

This one is a bit of a surprise. The finale of The Sopranos was a huge deal and it felt like everyone in the world was tuning in. It is not, however, the highest-rated episode for the series. That distinction belongs to Episode 1 of Season 4, "For All Debts Public and Private." The show's peak reached 13.43 million people, which is really impressive for a pay channel.

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation - "Ch-Ch-Changes" 

For the first seven seasons of its run on CBS, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation completely dominated the ratings for dramatic shows. It regularly drew 20-25 million viewers every week. It reached its apex with Episode 8 of Season 5 when 31.46 million viewers tuned in to  "Ch-Ch-Changes."

The Office - "Pilot" 

The Office remains one of the most beloved sitcoms ever. You might expect episodes like Pam and Jim's wedding to crush it ratings-wise, but it was actually the pilot episode, way back in 2005 that takes the title, with 11.23 million people. 

Roots - Final Episode

Okay, this is fudging a little bit. Roots was really a mini-series, not a regular show, but it's impossible not to include it because the ratings were so insane. It's estimated that 100 million people watched the final episode on PBS in 1977. 36.36 million TV sets were tuned in, which was 71% of the total TV viewership in its timeslot. 1 in 4 TVs in the whole country were tuned to Roots.

Lost - "Man of Science, Man of Faith" 

Lost took the TV world by storm when it debuted in 2004. By the end of Season 1, fans were glued to their sets every week. 23.47 million of those fans tuned in for the first episode of Season 2, "Man of Science, Man of Faith" to find out what was in the hatch. 

Magnum, P.I. - "Resolutions" 

Thomas Magnum has had an enduring legacy on TV, first with Tom Selleck in the role, and then with Jay Hernandez in the recent reboot of Magnum, P.I. In the original show's run, the ratings were generally good, though they fell off as the years went on. Still, the series finale showed just how popular the show was when, according to the fansite MagnumMania, the final episode drew 50.7 million viewers, ranking it 5th all-time for a single episode. 

This Is Us - "A Father's Advice"

While network shows have generally seen ratings decline over recent years, NBC's This Is Us bucked the trend and brought back the idea of "must see TV." The tear-jerker regularly drew high ratings throughout its 6 seasons run, peaking at 12.94 fans tuning in for Season 2, Episode 1 titled "A Father's Advice". 

The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air - "Just Say Yo"

Will Smith was just getting started on his acting career when The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air first aired in 1990. Two and a half seasons later, it was clear how popular he'd become when Episode 19 of Season 3, "Just Say Yo," found 30.6 million people tuning in to watch the hijinks of Will and Carlton making some bad decisions about some pills. 

Mad Men - "Person to Person" 

AMC's Mad Men stayed remarkably consistent through its entire seven season run. The ratings didn't fall off a cliff like so many shows do at some point. Sure, it's a more modern show, so the ratings aren't through the roof like the pre-cable era, but still 3.29 people watched as the series came to a close in Episode 14 of Season 6, called "Person to Person" when Don Draper finally seems human at the end. 

Dallas - "Who Done It" 

"Who shot J.R.?" was more than just a TV catchphrase. For the entire summer of 1980, people everywhere were asking the same question.  J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman) getting shot at the end of Season 3 of Dallas remains to this day the most famous cliffhanger in TV history. Episode 1 of Season 4 reflects just what a huge deal it was when 61% of the TVs in the country tuned in to find out who did it, which translated to 38 million people at the time. The show dragged it out of course, and the ratings peaked for Episode 4 of that season when we all learned who actually did it. An astounding 76% of all the TVs in America were tuned to CBS for the episode "Who Done It." 53 million people. Just nuts. 

The Simpsons - "Bart Gets An F" 

The Simpsons holds a lot of TV records, as you would expect for a show that's been on since the first George Bush was President. Surprisingly, its highest-rated episode came very early on in its run. Season 2, Episode 1 "Bart Gets An F" remains the highest rating the show's ever gotten, with 33.6 million viewers. It's a classic episode, but you'd think something like "Who Shot Mr. Burns" would have eclipsed it, but nope. 

Seinfeld - "The Finale" 

It will come as no surprise that Seinfeld is responsible for one of the highest-rated episodes of all time. The final episode of the show, simply called "The Finale" drew an unbelievable 76.26 million viewers. Those are numbers that we will likely never see again with the diversification of viewer habits. It is simply amazing. 

The Wire - "Port in a Storm" 

While The Wire is often ranked at the top, or very near the top of the greatest TV shows of all time, it had pretty modest ratings during its original run. Fans at the time were always worried that HBO was going to cancel the beloved show. The show hit its ratings peak in Season 2, with Episode 12 "Port In A Storm" which sees the demise of Frank Sobotka, with 4.48 million fans tuning in. 

Succession - "With Open Eyes" 

HBO has a knack for churning out hit after hit and Succession is no exception. What's different is how people consume those hits these days. With the rise of streaming, ratings on HBO don't come close to what they used to be and that's reflected in Succession's highest-rated episode, the series finale, "With Open Eyes," only garnering 800k viewers. No doubt that number was much higher on the MAX streaming platform, and it was met with widespread critical acclaim. 

House - "One Day, One Room" 

For seven seasons on Fox, House was among the network's most popular shows. Episodes like when Dr. House (Hugh Laurie) was shot and others garnered high ratings, but the highest ratings came when it was revealed if House would beat the drug charges against him in Season 3, Episode 4, "One Day, One Room."

M*A*S*H - "Goodbye, Farewell, Amen" 

Here it is. The granddaddy of them all. The series finale of M*A*S*H, a show that famously ran for 5 times as many years as the actual Korean conflict lasted, was a television event that will never come close to being matched. The episode, titled "Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen" drew an insane 105 million viewers. It was at the time, and remained for years, the highest-rated TV show of all time. It wasn't until 2010 that even a Super Bowl surpassed it.  

Gossip Girl - "The Dark Night" 

Gossip Girl has a big place in the hearts of its fans and its highest rated episode, "The Dark Night" in Season 2 reflects that as it's usually ranked as one of the best shows of the series. The episode drew 3.73 million fans to the screen

The Walking Dead - "No Sanctuary" 

AMC had another huge hit on their hands with The Walking Dead. The show, especially in its early seasons, drew enormous ratings. The show was also the master at cliffhangers, so it's not surprising that one of the biggest, with our heroes locked in a train car at the end of Season 4 would be resolved with the highest-rated show of the series, Episode 1 of Season 5, which drew 17.29 million watchers. 

Cheers

Like so many shows in the '80s and '90s, it was the finale of Cheers that scored huge numbers. The final episode, appropriately named "One For The Road," was watched by 80 million people in the U.S., ranking among the highest-rated shows ever. Many in Gen X can remember where they were when Sam (Ted Danson) turned the lights off in Cheers for the final time. 

Game of Thrones - "The Iron Throne" 

In a rare example of streaming likely helping a TV show's ratings, Game of Thrones' viewership numbers steadily climbed as the show moved along, culminating in the 13.61 million people that tuned in to HBO to watch the finale. While critics and fans had mixed reviews of the ending, you can't argue with the numbers. 

Full House - "Happy Birthday, Babies" 

The legacy of Full House is huge. Millions of fans still love the show enough that it was brought back decades after it ended with Fuller House. The family is still one of the most loved in TV history, so the episode "Happy Birthday, Babies" in Season 5, when Becky gives birth to Nicky and Alex, is unsurprisingly the most-watched episode, with 35.7 million people tuning in. 

Friends - "The Last One" 

You will not be shocked to learn that the series finale of Friends, "The Last One," is one of the most-watched shows of all time. The ratings juggernaut saved its best for last with 52.2 million fans watching as the show came to a close. It's good enough for 5th all-time, among TV finales. 

Grey’s Anatomy - "It's The End Of The World" 

Full disclosure here, the highest rated episode of Grey’s Anatomy had a little help, as the Season 2 ep aired directly after a Super Bowl. The result was a monster viewership of 38.1 million people. The show has always been very successful and its ratings are regularly among the highest on TV, but it's hard to imagine it ever topping that number. 

Yellowstone - "One Hundred Years Is Nothing" 

The newest show on this list is Paramount's Yellowstone. The Kevin Costner-led show started modestly, but over its first five seasons, it's grown into a powerhouse. The Season 5 premiere is the cherry on top of John Dutton's cake as he got sworn in as governor of Montana with 9.4 million people watching. 

The Cosby Show - Series finale

Like many of its fellow sitcoms, The Cosby Show's final episode was its peak, with 44.4 million viewers. A huge show that will never be seen the same way ever again, but worth mentioning on this list. 

Family Matters - "Life of the Party" 

The enduring legacy of Family Matters is the character Steve Urkel, played by Jaleel White, so it's only appropriate that the highest rated episode was in Season 2 when Urkel taught everyone how to do "The Urkel" dance. 30.9 people danced along at home. 

Arrow - "The Scientist" 

Arrow had a long run, lasting seven seasons, and it kept its ratings remarkably consistent, at least until the last couple of seasons. The high water mark for the superhero show was 3.24 million viewers for the Season 3 episode, "The Scientist."

If you're wondering what program has the highest ratings of all time, it's not a Super Bowl, though eight Super Bowls are in the top 10. The highest-rated TV broadcast of all time was the Moon landing in 1969 with somewhere in the neighborhood of 125 million people watching on all three networks, in total. A small step for a man, a giant leap in TV viewership. 

Over the last several decades, the critical view of television has changed from being a lesser, more mass produced art form, not on the level of movies, to being the place for some of the most creative and progressive content being produced. Much of that collective reappraisal is due to HBO. In the late '90s and early 2000s, the premium cable company poured money into original productions like The Sopranos, Sex And The City, The Wire, Six Feet Under and more. 

As the awards, critical praise, positive fan feedback and subscriptions poured in, more TV networks started taking chances on difficult and complicated subject matter and shelling out to attract major stars. HBO still remains arguably the most famous and successful prestige TV network, but over the last few decades, tons of other networks have taken their chances with riskier and complicated shows. Many of those chances have paid off too.

Here’s a look at some really famous and really successful prestige TV shows that didn’t air on HBO but likely took some level of inspiration from the path the network blazed.

House Of Cards (Netflix)

Few shows in the history of television have upended the entire industry more than House Of Cards. The political drama was the first major original production from Netflix, and the reviews were overwhelmingly positive. Emmy nominations in all the major categories helped create a ton of word of mouth, and within a few years, Netflix’s long-term strategy shifted from a focus on acquiring content to a focus on producing content. 

Downton Abbey (ITV/ PBS)

Every awards voter knows period piece family dramas set among the aristocracy can be major contenders for awards, but Downton Abbey proved just how popular they can be with a broad audience too. The sprawling historical drama found huge popularity in both Britain and The United States, ultimately producing six seasons and multiple movies, and yes, of course, it won plenty of awards too.

The Americans (FX)

One of my personal favorite shows on this entire list, The Americans was a bit of a slow build. Its first season got very solid ratings and a few nominations, but within a few seasons, the spy drama about a Russian family pretending to be Americans was attracting huge Metacritic scores and picking up Emmy nominations in all the major categories for both the show itself and its brilliant lead actors Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys. 

Breaking Bad (AMC)

Widely considered to be one of the greatest shows of all-time, Breaking Bad may not have been on premium cable, but its subject matter was every bit as uncomfortable and morally complicated as anything found elsewhere. By the end of its incredible five-season run, the show had won two Emmys for Outstanding Drama, as well as acting Emmys for three of its primary actors and nominations for two more. 

The Good Wife (CBS)

Prestige TV shows typically have shorter seasons. Maintaining the highest quality over ten episodes is a lot easier than doing it over the twenty-plus network TV typically requires, but The Good Wife was able to maintain high quality thanks to really tight scripts that perfectly blended courtroom case-of-the-week style procedural elements with real character development. Great acting performances also helped, as its actors were collectively nominated an astounding thirty times at The Emmys over just six seasons.

Justified (FX)

Prestige TV shows are most often classified by the number of awards they won, but sometimes it’s about elevating a genre and having an original vision. That’s the case with Justified. It had eight Emmy nominations (and two wins for Margo Martindale and Jeremy Davies), but it’s here mostly because of how much life and originality it brought to the crime genre. It slowly evolved past being a procedural and into a carefully plotted linear story featuring a holler of fascinating backwoods personalities.

Orange Is The New Black (Netflix)

Whether awards voters were asked to call it a comedy or a drama, Orange Is The New Black found a very large and very passionate fanbase with its unique blend of prison shenanigans and societal commentary. It also helped prove Netflix was going to be a long-term threat for prestige television awards long after House Of Cards was gone.

The Great (Hulu)

The Great is maybe the most outlandish show I have ever watched and this comes from someone that’s watched Twin Peaks multiple times. There was no line this show wouldn’t cross, but with a filthy wit, it was able to ride the line between stupid and clever and rewrite the history of Catherine The Great And Peter III’s relationship in a really fascinating way. Reviews were great, and by the end, the lead actors were getting recognized for huge awards.

Lost (ABC)

I’m not sure there will be a single entry on this list that’s more divisive than Lost. The show, which Wikipedia calls a science fiction adventure drama, lost the patience of a percentage of its audience by the end, but it’s impossible to deny just how hooked millions were there for awhile. And with good reason. It got fifty-four Emmy nominations during its run and many are still discovering its joys on streaming.

30 Rock (NBC)

The bar is a lot higher for a comedy to be considered Prestige television, but there are few comedies in the history of television more praised and widely respected than 30 Rock. The hysterical take on the backstage politics behind making a TV show won Outstanding Comedy at the Emmys three times and in later seasons, attracted some of the biggest stars in the world for multi-episode guest spots.

Mad Men (AMC)

Apart from the fact that it’s utterly fantastic, Mad Men is one of the most important TV shows of the last few decades because it conclusively proved literally any network had the ability to create one of the buzziest, most acclaimed series on television, including AMC which launched Mad Men as its first original program. It also turned Jon Hamm into a huge star, and shined a light on many members of its talented supporting cast.

Dexter (Showtime)

Yeah, I know Dexter was inconsistent during its run, but man, was that Dark Passenger fun to ride around with when it was good. Showtime’s drama about a serial killer who tried to live by a moral code netted its primary actor, Michael C Hall, five well-earned Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead and netted terrific vet John Lithgow a guest star Emmy win for his terrifying work in Season 4. 

Homeland (Showtime)

Homeland didn’t have quite the universal acclaim in its later seasons, but there aren’t many shows in TV history that could match the universal acclaim of its early seasons. Its terrific first season won Outstanding Drama at The Emmys, as well as statues for its two lead actors Claire Danes and Damian Lewis. Altogether, it’s probably the most talked about and acclaimed series in Showtime history, and that’s huge praise given what else has been on that network.

The West Wing (NBC)

The West Wing is perhaps a little more inside the box and network TV-ish than a lot of other entries on this list, but to me, that’s part of its appeal. It’s well put together enough to consistently provide payoff moments, but it’s good enough at what it’s doing that the formula rarely gets in the way. Voters agreed, as it nominated the show for an astounding ninety-eight Emmys.

Ted Lasso (Apple+)

At its absolute best, Ted Lasso, the show but also, the person, has a way of making you feel so unreservedly happy. Before you realize it, you’re rooting for these characters more passionately and with more love in your heart than you ever knew was possible for a TV show. Critics, fans and awards voters all agreed too, as for awhile there, Ted Lasso became the most talked about thing on streaming.

Weeds (Showtime)

Given it ran for eight seasons, Weeds is far from the most nominated show on this list. Some of its actors did well at The Emmys, but what’s really important long-term about the drug dealing dramedy is how it turned what could have been a goofy, throwaway premise of suburban mom turned drug dealer into sharply written material that explored many different emotions and tones. It was never content to remain the same, which is the opposite of what many comedies want.

Grey's Anatomy (ABC)

This choice for sure is picking up some eyerolls, but people forget how freakin’ good Grey’s Anatomy was during its first handful of seasons. It earned multiple Outstanding Drama nominations, and many of its actors, most prominently Sandra Oh and Chandra Wilson, were nominated for their performances. Its third season premiere was also watched live by more than twenty-five million people, which was a huge number at the time, especially for a critical darling.

24 (FOX)

24’s unconventional format of having episodes correspond to specific hours was a masterstroke, given the high pressure intensity of its subject matter. It was also able to really push the line with network television but more in the way of aggression and physical violence. It felt dangerous at the time, and decades later, that ever-present ferocity still comes through. It was consistently rewarded by critics and awards voters too in a way you almost never see for something this action-packed.

Modern Family (ABC)

Modern Family works so well because it’s really good at many different types of comedy. It has an overarching tone, sure, but because it brings together multiple generations, as well as many varied characters, it mines a lot of different subject matter for humor. That allows the show to feel fresh and keep from getting repetitive for longer than most comedies. Its wild range is probably best exemplified by the show somehow getting a combined six nominations in the Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress Emmy categories in the same year.

Better Call Saul (AMC)

There aren’t many spinoff shows in the history of television that pick right up where the original left off in terms of quality. Better Call Saul is a rare exception, which is positively insane given the original quality it needed to aspire to was maybe the greatest show ever in Breaking Bad. Fortunately, Bob Odenkirk is an absolute delight to watch, and Better Call Saul was able to give many of Breaking Bad’s greatest side characters more chances to shine.

Schitt's Creek (CBC)

If you want to know how beloved Schitt’s Creek was when it went off the air, especially among awards voters, look no further than the acting nominations it got during its last run at The Emmys. It somehow netted nine nominations just in the on-screen performance categories. It was a great final moment for a show that was often able to feel like both the best parts of a sitcom and the best parts of a linear dramedy at the same time.

Mr. Robot (USA)

Over the course of four critically acclaimed seasons, Mr. Robot built up a passionate fanbase who loved the dynamic between Rami Malek and Christian Slater, as well as the score and pace of the series. Starting mostly with its second season, it was also honored quite a bit by various award shows, including The Emmys, which gave Malek the Best Lead Actor award, along with nominating the show itself, guest actor BD Wong and more. 

Rescue Me (FX)

A show on FX about firefighters starring stand-up comedian Dennis Leary probably wouldn’t strike most people as a future Emmy winner and critical darling, but Rescue Me was never afraid of tackling more complicated material. That willingness to explore tougher subject matter attracted audiences, as well as high profile guest stars including Michael J Fox who picked up an Emmy for his contributions. 

This Is Us (NBC)

This is Us was so popular during its first few seasons that NBC gave it the post Super Bowl slot. The show took full advantage and aired a Super Bowl-themed episode that many consider to be one of the best of This Is Us’ entire run. It’s a perfect example of how the show, at its best, weaves together the type of complicated subject matter Emmy voters go for, while remaining broad enough to satisfy a massive audience. The actors in particularly were consistently hit with nominations, especially Sterling K Brown who was recognized by The Emmys five times.

The Crown (Netflix)

Typically when a show connects with a large audience, critics and awards voters, those behind the scenes do everything they can to keep the magic going with the original cast. Not The Crown. Rather than focus on a narrow window, the show hurtled forward, picking up new leads and new characters every few seasons, while somehow still maintaining enough quality to connect with Emmy voters and please its legion of fans.

The L Word (Showtime)

The L Word was never as enticing to awards voters as it should have been, though Ossie Davis did notably win an Emmy for Guest Actor, but its popularity and effect on prestige TV’s willingness to tackle LGBT+ subject matter cannot be overstated. Over the course of six seasons, the show tackled a wide variety of subjects and built a rich, complicated world of interconnected characters for its fanbase to root for and sometimes get mad at. 

Fargo (FX)

Taking spiritual inspiration from The Coen Brothers’ movie of the same name, no one was quite sure what to expect when Fargo premiered back in 2014, but the result was a fantastic crime narrative that was entirely different, yet oddly similar to the pace of the original film. Critics were overwhelmingly hot and loads of major nominations followed, especially for the actors. Subsequent seasons went in very different directions, but the basic spirit and popularity with awards voters remained. 

The Handmaid's Tale (Hulu)

House Of Cards may have been the first streaming show to get significant critical acclaim and awards nominations, but The Handmaid’s Tale is actually the first one to win Best Drama at The Emmys. The unnerving and often disturbing adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s novel is a tough watch but can be so rewarding, as millions of viewers found out. Its first few seasons in particular were showered with praise and numerous nominations for both the show itself and its brilliant cast.

Arrested Development (FOX/ Netflix)

Has a comedy ever used a narrator better than Arrested Development? The well-written and often deeply weird comedy never attracted the biggest audience, but it was a huge hit with its fanbase and critics, who adored the complicated relationships between its characters and their ridiculous recurring jokes and plots. By the end of its short run, it won Best Comedy and Best Writing at The Emmys and saw four of its cast members nominated in acting categories.

Ozark (Netflix)

It took a little time for enough awards voters to give Ozark a chance, as the first season mainly only saw wide praise for Jason Bateman’s work, but once voters gave it a chance, the nominations started flying in. The show’s last three seasons were all nominated for Best Drama at The Emmys and Julia Garner won multiple times in the supporting category for her incredible work. New fans also keep discovering the show and taking to social media, where the hype train continues, despite not being on the air anymore.

Killing Eve (BBC Three/ BBC America)

There’s no shortage of fans and critics with opinions about Killing Eve's divisive final season, but the first two, in particular, remain beloved by pretty much everyone. Not surprisingly, perennial awards contender Sandra Oh got four Emmy noms for her work on the show, but voters also flipped for Jodie Comer, who got nominated three times and took home a win. Not bad for a spy thriller that wasn’t initially seen by some as a prestige project.

Pose (FX)

The loudest support for Pose came from those who couldn’t get enough of Billy Porter’s fantastic lead performance. He was repeatedly nominated and picked up an Emmy win during the show’s run, but there was also a lot of acclaim for individual seasons themselves too, as Ryan Murphy’s exploration of New York City’s LGBT+ subculture gave an opportunity for so many talented supporting actors to have their moment. 

When your favorite TV show is said and done, it’s kind of hard to pick which episode is the best of the bunch. But that’s exactly what we’re here to discuss, as according to the voters at IMDb, there’s a definitive answer for the highest rated episodes for 32 of beloved TV series like Star Trek: The Next Generation and Friends. Prepare to be amazed by these potential conversation/argument starters! 

“Ozymandias” - Breaking Bad - Season 5

In Breaking Bad’s five seasons of TV, the Rian Johnson directed “Ozymandias” is easily the victor. A perfect 10/10 in its IMDb vote, many have heralded this chapter of Walter White (Bryan Cranston) and his crime saga as the finest. Which is probably because of all the acclaim spotlighting one word that this installment seems to embody: “payoff.”

“Plan And Execution” - Better Call Saul - Season 6

Much like its predecessor Breaking Bad, it’s the setup to the punchline that made Better Call Saul’s crown jewel a fan favorite. “Plan and Execution” is so close to the finale that you can feel the series’ finality, but at the same time you might be surprised to know that the climactic betrayal and death of Howard Hamlin (Patrick Fabian) was actually the mid-season finale of Bob Odenkirk’s swan song.

“Connor’s Wedding” - Succession - Season 4

How was Succession ever going to send out Logan Roy (Brian Cox) with a bang? Well, in the episode “Connor’s Wedding,” the answer was simple: you kill him by surprise, and early on in the final season. Stuff the episode with the sort of tragically awkward Succession moments that we all know and love, and you’ve got a recipe for a story that brings down the house.

“Finale” - The Office - Season 9

The Office’s series finale, aptly titled “Finale,” tied things up with a beautiful knot, which just happened to include Dwight (Rainn Wilson) and Angela (Angela Kinsey) tying the knot. Also, Steve Carell’s big return as Michael Scott still circulates online as a true moment of joy from this landmark chapter. 

“Pine Barrens” - The Sopranos - Season 3

Even after The Sopranos pretty much answered the pressing question of whether or not Tony Soprano was wacked, Season 3’s “Pine Barrens” still contains an unsolved mystery. So on top of Steve Buscemi’s directorial chops, and watching Paulie (Tony Sirico) and Chris (Michael Imperioli) spend some time in those Jersey woods, people are probably still watching this episode in hopes of answering, “Is Valery dead, or not?” The world may never know.

“Modern Warfare” - Community - Season 1

What happens when a mile-a-minute pop culture joke machine like Community dedicates an entire episode to some of the best action movies of all time? Well, you’d get the Justin Lin directed “Modern Warfare,” an all-time heater that sees Jeff (Joel McHale) battling it out for priority registration. It’s an episode that blew people away so hard, that much like Die Hard, it got a couple sequels. 

“The Constant” - Lost - Season 4

Through Lost's best episodes, it was a series that bent people’s minds in all sorts of directions, and left them wanting more. “The Constant” is a firm example of that, as the time travel-centric episode went down the usual rabbit holes the show was known for. However, throwing in that romantic plot line between Desmond (Henry Ian Cusick) and Penny (Sonya Walger) probably stuck the landing for this one in the hearts of fans. 

“The One Where Everybody Finds Out” - Friends - Season 5

It’s not hard to see why “The One Where Everybody Finds Out” is Friends’ highest-rated episode on IMDb. With Chandler (Matthew Perry) and Monica (Courteney Cox) finally seeing their clandestine love affair outed to their whole group, it's a watershed moment for the pair. It's also considered one of Matthew Perry's best Friends episodes, so there's something else to consider.

“Everyone’s Waiting” - Six Feet Under

Would anyone be surprised to learn that Six Feet Under’s series finale “Everyone’s Waiting” is the highest rated entry? Alan Ball’s darkly comic dramedy about death went out on a fitting note, showing the entire Fisher family’s final fates. Sia’s “Breathe Me” still brings people to tears when thinking about it.

“How Your Mother Met Me” - How I Met Your Mother - Season 9

Getting the answer to who “The Mother” was in How I Met Your Mother was only the beginning of the road for the series’ endgame. With Season 9 bringing fans closer to Tracy (Cristin Milioti) and her marriage to Ted (Josh Radnor), “How Your Mother Met Me” took the time to fill us in on every hysterical and heartbreaking moment that led these two to each other.  

“Once More, With Feeling” - Buffy The Vampire Slayer - Season 6

There are several reasons “Once More, With Feeling” probably topped the list of Buffy the Vampire Slayer favorites. Known forever as “the musical episode,” the keen gimmick introduced us all to the silky smooth singing of Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) just as he was heading out the door. Also, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Spike (James Marsters) had their first actual, non-magically influenced kiss. 

“The Stockholm Syndrome” - The Big Bang Theory - Season 12

Sitcom characters are a good example of systems so delicate that the wrong type of change could sink them rather quickly. The Big Bang Theory managed to seemingly avoid that with its series finale “The Stockholm Syndrome,” which both gave Dr. Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) everything he wanted, and the audience an ending they didn’t know they needed. Seeing a very married, and very loving Sheldon is the ingredient that more than likely made this curtain closer one fans still remember.

“The Contest” - Seinfeld - Season 4

When an episode of a sitcom happens to be so good it invents pop culture slang that still lands to this day, as well as finds itself referenced in an episode of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, you know its done the trick. One of Seinfeld’s best episodes, “The Contest,” fits both of those bills, as the New York gang of idiots challenge each other in a very personal way. 

“Connection Lost” - Modern Family - Season 6

Sometimes, you need a good format breaker to keep things fresh. In the sixth season of Modern Family, the powers that be recognized that and gave us “Connection Lost,” a story where Claire (Julie Bowen) plays a literal game of telephone to investigate what may or may not be happening with daughter Haley (Sarah Hyland). 

"The Inner Light" - Star Trek: The Next Generation - Season 5

"The Inner Light" is an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation that's so popular, all you need is music to spark its memory within the fandom. A touching story of bittersweet devastation and empathy, this could be the episode that epitomizes who Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) is, and what he's always stood for in this landmark sci-fi franchise.

“Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose” - The X-Files - Season 3

Story driven series like The X-Files sometimes strike it big with the occasional one-off episode. In the case of David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson’s third season of action, “Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose” was one such episode, following the case of an insurance salesman (Peter Boyle) who knows when people are going to die. Properly spooky, but also slyly witty, it may be Mulder and Scully’s greatest victory against the show’s shadowy conspiracy. 

“Middle Ground” - The Wire - Season 3

“Middle Ground” is the type of episode that shows like The Wire live for. Well regarded by fans and critics alike, the Season 3 heater saw Stringer Bell (Idris Elba) ringing on the streets of Baltimore for the last time. With Omar (Michael K. Williams) helping punch his ticket, this endgame between these legendary characters is still the episode to beat.  

“The Suitcase” - Mad Men - Season 4

“THAT’S WHAT THE MONEY’S FOR!” You could probably hear a pin drop after Don (Jon Hamm) and Peggy (Elisabeth Moss) had their infamous argument over who deserved the true credit for the Glo Coat ad. “The Suitcase” saw perhaps the greatest fracture between this mentor/mentee team, and its effects would reverberate through to the series’ finale. Also, that quote did become one hell of a meme; so that helped in the longevity department of this Mad Men champion.

“Eye Of The Beholder” - The Twilight Zone - Season 2

Technically, The Twilight Zone has two episodes tied for the highest rating in its iconic collection of episodes. If you guessed Nightmare at 20,000 Feet as the technical tie, you’re absolutely correct. However it’s Season 2’s  “Eye of the Beholder” that still wins out, based on a higher volume of votes. And if you want to guess why that is, it’s probably because this episode has one of the biggest twist endings in Twilight Zone history, complete with truly frightening prosthetics.

“One Last Ride” - Parks and Recreation - Season 7

Sorry Parks and Rec fans, even with Chris Pratt’s legendary improv “Flu Season” isn’t the NBC series’ highest rated episode. Rather, the series finale “One Last Ride” is the best regarded installment of the pop culture hit. Though if you’re a true fan of the Amy Poehler-led ensemble series, you’re probably not sorry, as this is the episode that gave everyone a pretty happy ending.

“Two Cathedrals” - The West Wing - Season 2

“Two Cathedrals” is both one of the darkest hours and finest moments of President Jed Bartlet (Martin Sheen). The episode where he ponders running for another term, in light of an MS diagnosis and the loss of close friend and colleague Mrs. Landingham (Kathryn Joosten). The reason this episode is the top of the class is, unquestionably, Sheen’s enraged monologue in discussion with God; which became a real bilingual tongue lashing of fury.

“Papa’s Got A Brand New Excuse” - The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air - Season 4

If you ever need inspiration to cry in a rush, put on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air’s Season 4 episode “Papa’s Got A Brand New Excuse.” When you get to the end, in which Will (Will Smith) expresses his heartbreak of being abandoned by his father again, you’ll understand why this is the episode that still has fans singing its praises.

“11:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m.” - 24 - Season 1

24 was a massive cultural hit when it first premiered, and eventually spawned the story of Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) and the worst days in his life. The best rated episode of his adventures, “11:00 pm - 12:00 am” saw Jack’s deadly battle with the Drazen family come to an explosive conclusion; but at a cost. With the loss of his wife Teri (Leslie Hope) and the escape of traitor Nina Meyers (Sarah Clarke), the path of his life would be set for years to come.

“Crossroads: Part 2” - Battlestar Galactica - Season 3

Talk about a “payoff” episode, as Battlestar Galactica's "Crossroads: Part 2" not only brought Starbuck (Katee Sackoff) back from the dead, it also revealed the Final Five Cylons hiding among the Galactica’s crew.  So depending on where your head is at as a fan, you’ve got two different reasons to choose from, and both lead to Earth! 

“Happy Ending” - Schitt’s Creek - Season 6

When a comedy can make you laugh as much as Schitt’s Creek has, the ability to make the audience cry in-between laughing fits is seen as a bit of a superpower. “Happy Ending” closed out the ensemble series with tears of joy and sadness, as David (Dan Levy) and Patrick (Noah Reid) finally got married. With the Rose family splitting off for fates unknown, a truly happy ending was had as all of our favorite characters grew into the beautiful beings we saw in this final frame.

“On The Beach” - ER - Season 8

Good luck talking about this episode of ER without breaking into tears. Serving as the tearful goodbye to Dr. Greene (Anthony Edwards), watching a dear friend make peace with his mistakes before his death was a heart smasher. To this day, Israel Kamakawiwoʻole’s cover of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” is an easy emotional trigger. 

“Abyssinia, Henry” - M*A*S*H - Season 3

M*A*S*H is a unique animal. “Abyssinia, Henry” proves that point rather well, as the departure of Colonel Henry Blake (McLean Stevenson) went from bittersweet to downright devastating. With the series regular dying in a finale that even surprised the cast, you could imagine how fans felt when they first saw it.

“Raincoats And Recipes” - Gilmore Girls - Season 4

Gilmore Girls fans, you know exactly why you voted “Raincoats and Recipes” as the top rated episode on IMDb. If you’re a fan of Lorelai (Lauren Graham), you love this episode because it’s her first kiss with Luke (Scott Patterson). If you’re on Team Rory (Alexis Bledel), then the rather complicated moment of her and Dean (Jared Padalecki) trying to “salvage their friendship” is probably the high point.

“An American Girl in Paris: Part Deux” - Sex and the City - Season 6

Before both movies and the formation of the legacy-quel And Just LIke That would change history, Sex and the City landed its grand finale with “An American Girl in Paris: Part Deux” as Carrie's (Sarah Jessica Parker) fairy tale reunion with Mr. Big (Chris Noth) seemed like the happy ending fated from square one.

“Always” - Friday Night Lights - Season 5

The last dance with Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler) and his East Dillon Lions resulted in “Always,” the series finale to the ever popular Friday Night Lights. With a State Championship on the line, as well as Coach’s own future in football, the results weren’t the draw for those who followed the show. It was, as always, about clear eyes and full hearts. 

“Lucy Does A TV Commercial” - I Love Lucy - Season 1

Legendary sitcoms like I Love Lucy have those gags that always land on t-shirts, trivia questions, and fan favorite roundups. “Lucy Does A TV Commercial” gave the world one such moment, as Lucy (Lucile Ball) talks her way into a medicine commercial for Vitameatavegamin. Let’s just say the side effects of that elixir are what make this episode very “poopular.”  

“One For The Road” - Cheers - Season 11

There is no Cheers without Sam Malone (Ted Danson). Full stop, no exceptions. The series finale “One For The Road” got that right out of the gate, and seeing Sam realize it in the closing moments is probably why fans love it so much. It’s good to know that there’s always somewhere where everybody knows your name.

Fans know what they love from their favorite series, and the episodes that top the charts only prove it. So remember that whenever your favorite show takes its final bow, it'll eventually be contributing to the history of moments and plotlines like the ones shown above.

Regarding movie and TV characters that have withstood the test of time, I can think of no better characters than the sarcastic ones. These people we remember the most years later for their hilarious jokes, awesome one-liners, and deliveries that just can't be beaten. Today, we'll review the most sarcastic TV characters and the ones from movies. 

Chandler Bing (Friends)

Out of the entirety of the Friends cast, I don't think there's been another character that stands out just as much as Chandler Bing. From his first moments on the series to his last, Chandler was hands down the most sarcastic of the leading group, and some of his lines have lived on for years long after the series ended. Friends was undoubtedly one of Matthew Perry's best TV shows.

Deadpool (The Deadpool Franchise)

Deadpool from the Deadpool franchise in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is sarcastic by nature. No matter what fight he's dealing with, there's always a joke that comes flying out not that long after, whether it be a lighter joke or a very much Rated-R quip, Ryan Reynolds' character always has a quick remark.

Roman Roy (Succession)

The Succession cast is always serious about what is happening in the show – as they should be. It's a lot of money they are dealing with. 

But Roman Roy? He is the most unserious character ever and will break any tension with a sarcastic quip that will undoubtedly sit in viewers' minds for hours long after the TV show ends. Kieran Culkin was a beast at his delivery. 

Tony Stark (The MCU)

Out of the original Avengers, Tony Stark (played by Robert Downey Jr. in one of his best roles) is hands down the most sarcastic. I'm pretty sure half the time, it was just Downey Jr. acting like himself on screen because he's Tony Stark in real life. I'll never get over how he called one of Thanos' henchmen, Squidward, literally. 

Sherlock Holmes (Elementary & Sherlock) 

It's hard to pick just one Sherlock – so why not both? Benedict Cumberbatch from Sherlock and Jonny Lee Miller from Elementary both perfectly capture what it's like to play Sherlock Holmes – as well as his sassy and sarcastic nature when solving the case. They are some of the best portrayals of Sherlock out there – I'll give Robert Downey Jr. an honorable mention, too, for his role as Sherlock in the Sherlock movies.

Max Black (2 Broke Girls)

Kat Dennings has probably some of the best one-liners in all of 2 Broke Girls as Max Black. Coming from a broken home, the character came swinging right out the gate with hilarious one-liners and wits that made me laugh for hours on end – even if deep down, we all know she uses sarcasm as her emotional shield.  

Comic Book Guy (The Simpsons)

Few characters on this list have been around for decades, but Comic Book Guy from The Simpsons was primed for that. Appearing in the second season of The Simpsons, the character has remained a mainstay in the series for his sarcastic nature and love of all things comic books, making snide comments to anyone who challenges his mastery of the medium.

Juno (Juno)

Juno from Juno is probably the most relatable teenage character in movies (besides, maybe, the whole teen pregnancy part). She's witty and sarcastic and uses it in situations where you probably shouldn't use humor, but it's what brings you comfort. Admittedly, Juno was my favorite movie character for a long time. 

Gregory House (House)

There are many medical dramas like Grey's Anatomy, New Amsterdam, and so many others, but nothing can beat House and its namesake doctor, Gregory House. A man who is incredibly smart but has a drug problem, he uses sarcasm in his everyday job, which not only makes him hilarious but also causes him to run into some interesting patient situations. 

Hades (Hercules)

I will stand by the fact that Hades is hands down the best Disney villain overall. Not only is he so sarcastic and makes jokes about death and Greek mythology all the time, but he's able to use that hilarity and turn it sinister, turning into a pretty scary villain when he needs to be. But you can't hate him because he's just so funny. 

Roger Sterling (Mad Men)

When I first watched Mad Men and attempted to find someone I liked from the cast, the first person that came to mind was Roger Sterling. Portrayed by John Slattery, Sterling had some of the best storylines on the series – and brought that sarcasm despite all his heavy problems. 

Tyrion (Game Of Thrones)

There are some great Tyrion quotes out there that I could reference for hours about how sarcastic this man is, but they wouldn't do it justice. Honestly, rewatch Game of Thrones for Tyrion's sarcastic nature – I assure you, you will laugh just as much the first time you watched this series thanks to Peter Dinklage's excellent performance. 

Seinfeld (Seinfeld)

I mean, come on. Of course, we must put Jerry Seinfeld from Seinfeld on this list. The man was born to be a sarcastic comedian, and in every episode of this series, something will come out of his mouth to make you laugh. 

Miranda Bailey (Grey's Anatomy)

The Grey's Anatomy cast has ebbed and flowed so often throughout its long run that it's sometimes hard to remember everyone there. But Miranda Bailey, played by Chandra Wilson, has been in the show for years, and honestly, she's one of the few that I see the reason why. Not only is she hilarious in her sarcastic nature, but her facial expressions are to die for. 

Lucifer (Lucifer)

When you're the ruler of Hell, you tend to have a sense of humor from all the darkness going around, and of course, Lucifer from Lucifer is very much like that. And he has a sense of humor that is unlike anyone else. I'm pretty sure Lucifer can charm anyone with his sarcastic nature and pretty smile – and yes, he would most likely delight me, too, with his sarcasm.

Alex Russo (Wizards Of Waverly Place)

As someone who grew up watching Wizards of Waverly Place, Alex Russo is why I am the person I am today. Funny, quippy, and sarcastic, this girl always knew how to make anyone laugh, regardless of the situation. And it's certainly a show to watch if you love Selena Gomez, as she plays Russo. 

Fallon Carrington (Dynasty)

If you want a character that genuinely lives for drama, then Fallon Carrington (played by Elizabeth Gillies) from Dynasty is the one for you. She grew up with money and power, but because everyone was always fighting each other within her family, she learned how to stand up for herself quickly – which manifested into some of the most sarcastic moments of the show. 

Stiles (Teen Wolf)

I'm 99% sure Stiles from the Teen Wolf cast can use his sarcasm as a weapon. Before he was affected by any supernatural forces, he was genuinely just a funny kid who used sarcasm in every way possible, and yes, I am still missing Dylan O'Brien in this role, because he was just the best. 

David (Schitt's Creek)

In modern-day television, no one is as sarcastic as David from the Schitt's Creek cast. Played by Dan Levy, this character had so many moments of sass that they are printed on t-shirts all over the place now. I still laugh just as hard when he says, "You look like the downfall of society," years later. 

Charlie (Two And A Half Men)

Fun fact – I binge-watched Two And A Half-Men for the first time in 2023, and yes, I am now aware of how funny Charlie Sheen was in this show as Charlie. He is probably the most sarcastic TV character I've ever gotten the chance to watch – and no matter how many times I view the episodes, I still laugh just as hard. 

Seth (Superbad)

The Superbad elevated many people among its cast up to fame, and one of those just happened to be Jonah Hill, who played Seth in the film. From there, we see how hilarious and sarcastic Hill could be when he played Seth and somehow made me laugh despite his strange nature – and his weird obsessions. 

April Ludgate (Parks And Recreation)

Aubrey Plaza's best TV shows certainly includes her role in the Parks and Recreation cast, where she played April Ludgate. Her deadpan-style comedy and the way she responded to any joke is what made her such a great addition to this cast, and in any rewatch, she's always the standout star. 

Sheldon Cooper (The Big Bang Theory)

Arguably, you could place anyone from the Big Bang Theory cast on this list, but Sheldon stands out. He's sarcastic, intelligent, and pretty much the face of the franchise – I mean, he got his series afterward, so it's not surprising he's on this list. 

Betty Rizzo (Grease)

Betty Rizzo is an exciting pick on this list because while she is undoubtedly sarcastic and a mean girl, we all know she's going through some serious personal stuff. Regardless, she channels her emotions into her sarcasm and truly comes up with some funny one-liners that have lived on – and of course, we can't forget the sarcasm queen's song, "Look At Me, I'm Sandra Dee."

Miranda (Sex & The City)

Miranda Hobbes from the Sex and the City cast was the sarcastic and funny friend I'm sure we all want in our thirties. Portrayed by Cynthia Nixon, Miranda is a career-minded woman who has probably one of the most cynical takes on relationships and men in general, and she makes it known plenty through her sarcastic quips.  

Daria (Daria)

Daria's sarcasm from the show Daria is what made her famous. The adult animated sitcom -- a spinoff from Beavis and Butt-Head -- was released in the late 1990s and featured the story of Daria, a cynical high school student who was hilarious in every way. Let's be honest; we all wanted to be her. 

Sterling Archer (Archer)

Archer is all about Sterling Archer – who makes this animated series so much more fun with his sarcasm. As a secret agent who is as narcissistic as he is sarcastic, he makes this show as hilarious as some of the best TV shows.

Loki (The MCU)

I must include the supervillain (or hero, depending on how you look at him), Loki. From his first appearance in the MCU to his TV show on Disney+, Tom Hiddleston has made Loki one of the most sarcastic supervillains in the MCU. It's no wonder he keeps coming back again and again. 

Miranda Priestly (The Devil Wears Prada)

"Florals? In the spring? How original." You can't get better than Miranda Priestly. Meryl Streep portrayed the character in The Devil Wears Prada cast, and this character used her sarcasm as a weapon to anyone who dared go against what she wanted. Truly, no one did it as well as Priestly. 

Severus Snape (The Harry Potter Franchise)

While Severus Snape was a man of few words in most of his appearances in the Harry Potter franchise, he was full of sass and sarcasm. Played by Alan Rickman, Severus Snape was a powerful wizard, and in some of his best moments, he used his sass and sarcasm against everyone, especially his students. 

Saul (Better Call Saul)

I mean, it's Saul Goodman. He's the king of sarcasm. There's a reason why Bob Odenkirk received an entire spinoff dedicated to the character after starring in Breaking Bad – he's an okay-ish lawyer with no shortage of sarcasm to offer. He can somehow always get someone out of trouble.

Sokka (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

What do you do when all your friends and family have bending abilities but you don't? You use sarcasm as a weapon, of course, and that's what Sokka did in Avatar: The Last Airbender. Hands down, Sokka was the funniest of the leading group of characters in the popular Nickelodeon show.

Richard Hayden (Tommy Boy)

David Spade is another iconic actor known for his sarcastic characters, and one of his best is Richard Hayden from Tommy Boy. His scenes with Chris Farley made him all the funnier and stands out as one of his best movies. 

Billy (Billy Madison)

Adam Sandler is known for being sarcastic in many of his movie roles, and one of his most iconic was Billy in Billy Madison. A spoiled man, Billy was hilarious in every way and used his sarcasm and dimwitted nature to get whatever he wanted – which, later on, hilariously backfires. 

There are plenty of great sarcastic characters out there to love and enjoy, but these guys certainly stand out as some of the best. Now if you don't mind me, I'm going to look up a compilation of Chandler Bing's funniest moments and laugh my butt off again and again. 

In narrative alone, there are huge differences between the world of Apple TV+’s sci-fi epic Foundation and the AMC channel’s classic drama Mad Men. A thousand-year chess match between a supposedly crumbling empire and a band of dissidents isn’t exactly the same ground covered by a tumultuous decade in the advertising world. However, the experiences that actor Jared Harris had during his work on the latter show did indeed help him appreciate co-creator David S. Goyer’s small screen adaptation of Isaac Asimov’s landmark book series a bit more. 

What Jared Harris Learned From Directing Mad Men

That appreciation was found in front of, as well as behind the camera during Mad Men’s seven-season run between 2007 and 2015. As we sat down for the Foundation Season 2 press day, taking place before the SAG-AFTRA strike had begun, Harris was glad to dig the skills that his previous engagement had given him. Here’s what the actor told CinemaBlend about what he’d learned as a director on Mad Men: 

Jared Harris’ time in the Mad Men cast saw him playing the role of the tragic Lane Pryce for 26 episodes, as well as directing the Season 7 episode “Time & Life.” As evidenced in his comment above, that sort of non-stop “three take” mentality is the sort of approach a show like Foundation can also benefit from in the creative process. 

Keeping up the energy, as well as limiting the number of takes for something as intense as Lee Pace’s wild nude fight scene, is always something that can help out a massive enterprise such as this Apple TV+ subscription booster. That being said, there is definitely a line between shaping a chapter of Don Draper’s mid-life crisis and a segment of the impending dark ages and renaissance of humanity.

Sure, there’s existential dread and introspection present in both, but Jon Hamm wasn’t executing Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce's rivals with horrific weapons of mass destruction. Which opens the door to discussing what exactly separates these two dramatic series in execution, as well as whether Jared Harris would want to direct an episode of Foundation. 

The Difference Between Directing An Episode Of Foundation And Mad Men, According To Jared Harris

For as many lessons as can be learned between working on both Mad Men and Foundation, Jared Harris readily admits that a directing gig on both of these shows would differ wildly. I learned this firsthand, because during our conversation about working on the Jon Hamm-led period drama, I became curious if Mr. Harris would ever want to direct an episode of this cerebral sci-fi adventure. 

While it doesn’t sound like he’ll be jumping in just yet, hearing Jared describe the specific differences between these two properties shows that he could take on directing a Foundation episode if he really wanted to. Further sharing his knowledge with CinemaBlend, here’s how Jared Harris described the directing process in his current series home:

Admittedly Jared Harris caveated this conversation by saying that it’d be up to David S. Goyer and the Foundation powers-that-be to even approach the possibility of giving him the director’s chair. Even with that condition in the air, the man who plays Hari Seldon sounds both enthusiastic about that potential, while also reverent of what sort of skills it would take to do it justice. 

Something interesting to note in the response from Harris is the fact that he cites Roxann Dawson as one of the steady-handed directors helping keep Foundation on the right track. As it happens, Ms. Dawson was also once a cast member on a grand scale sci-fi epic herself, playing the role of B'Elanna Torres on Star Trek: Voyager. That series also marked her debut in directing, so if there’s anyone that Jared Harris might want to consult before potentially making the leap, it’d be her. 

We may not see Jared Harris directing an episode of Asmovian drama any time soon, but who really knows? As Hari himself has hammered home time and again, Psychohistory can only predict the behaviors of massive populations, but not the actions of singular parties. Maybe one of the Foundation secrets David S. Goyer is keeping from his writers and actors is that he feels Jared might be right for a particular episode down the line? 

The world will just have to keep watching to find out, which is as good a time as any for Foundation fans old and new to tune in as the series unfolds throughout the 2023 TV schedule. New episodes debut every Friday, with the Season 2 finale set to be released on September 15th. So if you’re a binge watcher, you still have a fair amount of time to catch up before the next gigantic cliffhanger arrives. 

One of the most exciting additions to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in recent memory for me is Teyonah Parris, whom I have been a fan of since her breakthrough performance in Dear White People almost a decade ago. Thus, I was delighted to find that she was later cast as Monica Rambeau — otherwise known as Spectrum — whom she is reprising in the upcoming Marvel movie, The Marvels. 

However, since we still have a good deal of time before that sequel to Captain Marvel hits theaters in November, let’s take a look what other great Teyonah Parris movies and TV shows we have already had the pleasure of seeing — starting with her most recent hit.

They Cloned Tyrone (2023)

In the 1970s, a hustler (John Boyega), a pimp (Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx), and a sex worker (Parris) team-up to investigate a strange conspiracy involving the discovery that one of them is not exactly who he thinks he is.

Why it is one of Teyonah Parris’ best: Parris does what she does best (stealing the show) in the role of Yo-Yo in the They Cloned Tyrone cast, for co-writer and director Juel Taylor’s feature debut, which is one of the most inventive, bizarre, and fun, Netflix original movies from 2023.

Stream They Cloned Tyrone on Netflix.

Dear White People (2014) 

Racial tension at a prestigious, predominantly white Ivy League college has a life-changing effect on the live of four Black students of diverse backgrounds.

Why it is one of Teyonah Parris’ best: Parris first demonstrated her scene-stealing talent in Justin Simien’s stunning satire, Dear White People, as the original actor to play boisterous blogger “Coco,” who was later played by Antoinette Robertson in the underrated Netflix TV series adaptation. 

Stream Dear White People on Amazon Prime.

They Came Together (2014)

A small candy shop owner (Amy Poehler) and a corporate candy company employee (Paul Rudd) recall the story of how they initially hated each other, fell in love, broke up, and all the other cliches from some of the best romantic-comedies.

Why it is one of Teyonah Parris’ best: Parris let her funny bone run a bit wilder in They Came Together — co-writer and director David Wain’s savage send-up of the romantic-comedy genre — as Wanda, who is best friend’s with Poehler’s character.

Stream They Came Together on Peacock.
Stream They Came Together on Freevee through Amazon.

Mad Men (2007-2015) 

A turbulent inside look at the advertising industry in the 1960s.

Why it is one of Teyonah Parris’ best: One of Parris’ first big TV gigs was alongside the Mad Men cast in the recurring role of Dawn Chambers, who becomes one of the few Black employees at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce when she is hired as Don Draper’s (Jon Hamm) secretary in Season 5.

Stream Mad Men on AMC+.
Buy Mad Men on Amazon.

Survivor's Remorse (2014-2017)

A young man from Boston (The Boys’ Jessie T. Usher) and his cousin (RonReaco Lee) end up exceeding their infamous neighborhood’s expectations and achieving unimaginable levels of fame and fortune

Why it is one of Teyonah Parris’ best: Parris’ first regular role on a TV show was on creator Mike O’Malley and executive producer LeBron James’ Starz original series, Survivor’s Remorse, as Missy Vaughn, the wife of Lee’s character, Reggie.

Stream Survivor's Remorse on Starz.
Buy Survivor's Remorse on Amazon.

Chi-Raq (2015)

A moment of tragedy leads a woman (Parris) and her fellow female peers in a revolt against gang violence in inner-city Chicago by depriving the men in their lives of sexual gratification.

Why it is one of Teyonah Parris’ best: Parris had the honor of landing her first lead role in a Spike Lee joint — namely the satirical Chi-Raq, which is one of the influential filmmaker’s most socially relevant movies, despite borrowing much of its themes and plot from Aristophanes’ Ancient Greek play, Lysistrata.

Stream Chi-Raq on Amazon Prime.

If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)

A young pregnant woman (Kiki Layne) bonds with her family and that of her boyfriend (Stephan James) while struggling to prove that he is not guilty of a devastating crime in 1970 New York City.

Why it is one of Teyonah Parris’ best: Yet another great movie that explores race and social justice and features Parris in a touching and passionate performance (as Ernestine Rivers, the sister of Layne’s character, Tish) is If Beale Street Could Talk — writer and director Barry Jenkins’ moving, Oscar-winning adaptation of James Baldwin’s acclaimed romantic novel.

Stream If Beale Street Could Talk on Netflix.
Buy/rent If Beale Street Could Talk on Amazon.

The Photograph (2020)

Sparks fly when a woman (Issa Rae) meets a journalist (LaKeith Stanfield) who is researching the life of her late, famous photographer mother. 

Why it is one of Teyonah Parris’ best: Another recent, great Black-led romance movie that features Parris in a supporting role is The Photograph — a winning, feel good movie from writer and director Stella Meghie.

Stream The Photograph on Peacock.
Buy/rent The Photograph on Amazon.

Charm City Kings (2020)

A teenager (Jahi Di'Allo Winston) tries to earn a spot among his Baltimore neighborhood’s legendary gang of dirt bike riders.

Why it is one of Teyonah Parris’ best: Parris also has a memorable supporting role in future Blue Beetle director, Angel Manuel Soto’s breakout feature, Charm City Kings — a dramatized depiction of the events captured in the 2013 documentary, 12 O’Clock Boys — which is has, unfortunately, been removed from Max, but is available for digital rental or purchase.

Buy/rent Charm City Kings on Amazon.

WandaVision (2021) 

A mutant with magic powers (Elizabeth Olsen) and her android lover (Paul Bettany) mysteriously find themselves living in a reality that resembles a classic sitcom setting.

Why it is one of Teyonah Parris’ best: Parris would make her debut in the role of S.W.O.R.D. agent Monica Rambeau as part of the WandaVision cast for one of Disney+’s most inventive Marvel TV shows yet.

Stream WandaVision on Disney+.

Candyman (2021)

A successful artist (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) becomes inspired and, eventually, strangely obsessed with the gentrified neighborhood he and his girlfriend (Parris) moved into and the urban legend that haunts its tenants.

Why it is one of Teyonah Parris’ best: Parris’ first collaboration with The Marvels director Nia DaCosta was this creepy, refreshingly poignant “requel” to Candyman — Bernard Rose’s acclaimed adaptation of Clive Barker’s short story — which was also produced by Jordan Peele.

Stream Candyman on Amazon Prime. 

As you can see, even before Teyonah Parris became the MCU’s Monica Rambeau, she was already leading a pretty epic career and continues to do so now. Relive all her best moments with this binge.

Amid the list of credits on his acting resume, Jon Hamm’s role as Don Draper on the hit AMC drama Mad Men may be his most iconic thus far. When the show ended after seven seasons in 2015, Draper’s personal journey ended with the man finding peace on a beach in California, leaving behind the life we saw him tear down and rebuild. So it’s ironic that not only did Hamm marry his series co-star, Anna Osceola, at the location where their characters met, but that same spot happened to be a huge part of the series finale.

Reporting from TMZ noted that the two stars married at Anderson Canyon in Big Sur, which happened to be the location where Jon Hamm's disillusioned ad exec finds himself during most of the final episode, “Person to Person.” The couple had been dating for roughly three years, which only happened after meeting on the series finale in 2015. Just as this place was the capstone to Don Draper’s personal journey in creator Matthew Weiner’s pop culture landmark, it’s now just as memorable for two of the actors who helped tie it all together.

The Mad Men finale saw Don Draper’s journey end at a wellness retreat located at this natural wonder, and he almost leaves at one point in the episode. If it wasn’t for a woman at the front desk named Clementine, played by Anna Osceola, he might have actually succeeded. But thanks to her convincing him to actually give the place a shot, Don finds piece; and supposedly one last iconic ad campaign for Coca Cola. At least, that’s what “Person to Person’s” final scene seemed to imply.

As if that wasn’t enough of a hint that the AMC show is an important and respected thread in the relationship of Anna Osceola and Jon Hamm, two further details in the report of this whirlwind wedding will have fans smiling to themselves. Roger Sterling himself, actor John Slattery, was present for the festivities. So the boys that raised hell at Sterling Cooper through all its iterations found themselves together for one more hurrah. One could imagine that photos of those two raising a glass together would go for a pretty penny on the open market.

But perhaps the one choice that seems the most peculiar is the fact that the newlywed couple chose Nancy Sinatra’s “You Only Live Twice” as the song they walked up to the altar with. While that’s most notable as one of the themes from the James Bond movies, it’s also a song that plays in their show's Season 5 finale “The Phantom.”

While it’s a period of transition for the Mad Men gang as the agency is about to expand, it’s also a moment that seems to suggest that Don’s relatively fresh relationship with Megan (Jessica Paré) is about to see some rocky shores. However, the spirit of transition is more than likely the message this was intended to invoke.

With the happy couple now wed, the Hamm/Osceola union opens the door to a new life for both parties involved. And if you really think about it, pledging to only live twice is kind of romantic, as it’s another way of saying that this marriage is for keeps. Just in a cool, ‘60s-inspired way that’s definitely fitting with the world of Don Draper.

Jon Hamm fans should keep their Prime Video subscription current for two big reasons. First, if you’re nostalgic to revisit the world of Mad Men, you can do so through the platform’s Freevee service. But if you’re ready for something new, then you’ll want to see Hamm return as Gabriel in Good Omens; which will return to delight audiences starting July 28th. Should you need a little more enticing on that latter front, you can check out the trailer for Good Omens Season 2, and rejoice accordingly.

January Jones is one of those stars in Hollywood who never seems to age. At 45, she’s still rocking a bikini and giving fans the summer energy we need right now. (Seriously I don’t know where you live but it could not warm up soon enough in my zip code.) Of course, Mad Men fans in particular have a slew of thoughts. 

This weekend, the Mad Men and Last Man on Earth (which once tied together) star threw on a classic white bikini with scalloped edges and took to the great outdoors. Her hair blowing in the wind, she danced carefree to Ed Sheeran and Travis Scott’s “Antisocial.” The post blew up over the weekend, probably both because she looked great and because it was giving the summer vibes many of us have been ready for. 

Mad Men fans were all over this post, with some of the top comments taking shots at Jon Hamm’s Don Draper, who is with Jones’ Betty early on in the series but who splits up with her part way through the AMC series after he cheats. Their relationship is contentious after that, as Betty stays in Don’s home after they split -- even after she’s remarried -- and later denies Don’s request to take the kids at the end of Mad Men. Some fans think Don Draper got it wrong, with some of the top comments on the post being:  

• "Dang how could Don Draper ever cheat on Betty."
• "Don Draper dropped the ball."
• "I dunno what Don Draper was thinking 😮"

Of course, like other women of a certain age before her,  January Jones is a mom and leading lady who is not immune to trolls. Baywatch star Donna D’Errico clapped back at trolls upset she wore a bikini in her mid-fifties. While Jones is a decade younger, she’s still getting some of those comments as well, including one follower who wrote, “ She needs help. Seeking validation by posting half naked.” 

The good news is that others were more supportive, writing, “Awwww yeah! It’s January Jones bikini season again!”

I’m more inclined to be in the latter group. The big trend this summer has seemed to be the black bikini, with Halle Berry, Kim Kardashian and more rocking the look. While it may be the year of the black bikini, I really like January Jones’ fresh take on swimwear. White’s still a neutral color, and one that pops with the actress' blonde hair. Plus, I’m always a big fan of anything scalloped, even if that look was already everywhere just a few short years ago. It's feminine without being cutesy, and I've been happy to see more of the style this season at places like Free People and Lulus. 

I’m hedging there will be more neutral swimsuit looks in the weeks to come, but I’m not sure any will hold a candle to the summer energy this one is giving. Though I'm more than happy to see what other styles are running around as summer swiftly approaches. 

Taylor Swift has finally released her entire track list for her album, and there are a lot of incredible songs and references that fans will be dissecting until Midnights is finally released on October 21st. However Swift is currently giving fans at least some insight into what to expect from the album, including some of her inspirations behind her music --some of which comes surprisingly from the show Mad Men. The “August” singer also opened up about what it's like working with Lana Del Rey, who will be excitingly featured on this album.

Taylor Swift Injecting Mad Men Into Midnights

In a series of intermittently released Instagram videos, Swift has opened up on some of the strongest influences on her new album. This has given fans insight into her writing process, and what to expect from the new album, which many fans have pointed out is aesthetically different from her last album, evermore. In one of her recent videos, the pop star revealed how she came up with the title for the song, “Lavender Haze,” and how the popular Jon Hamm-led AMC show is involved. Swift divulged:

The singer goes on to talk about how the song is about how people on the outside of a relationship will try to take people out of a lavender haze when those in love try to stay in it. She relates it back to her six year relationship with Joe Alwyn, and how the media and tabloids constantly weigh in on their relationship. Alwyn has been a subject for her music in the past, and has even contributed to some of Swift's albums in a songwriting capacity.

Who knew Mad Men had such an effect on Swift and her writing? I wonder if the cast knows she is such a fan! Swift has admittedly been an avid television fan in the past, even admitting her song off Reputation, “I Did Something Bad” is partially inspired by Game of Thrones, proving not all of her songs are about her relationships. She also famously named her cats “Olivia” after Olivia Benson on Law and Order: SVU, and "Meredith" after Meredith Grey on Grey's Anatomy. I guess the “Shake it Off” singer’s creative inspiration comes from everywhere, including the small screen. 

Working With Lana Del Rey

While “Lavender Haze” was an exciting song for Swifties to learn more about, it’s not the only track Swift has detailed in her Instagram videos. The pop icon also talked about the fourth track on the album, Snow on the Beach. This song is particularly interesting for Swift fans, because it marks her first ever collaboration with another iconic pop star, Lana Del Rey. Swift could not be more excited to talk about another strong female voice in the pop music world she had the pleasure to collaborate with. Swift revealed:

I love that Taylor Swift is just as obsessed with Lana Del Rey as many of us are. Many of Swift’s more ethereal tracks off of folklore have been noted as emulating Del Rey in the way they are constructed, and Swift has been a rumored fan for a long time. I’m so excited to see how these unique sounds intersect. Swift has collaborated with other amazing talents before like Bon Iver on “Exile” (which was featured on the Netflix show, You), and Phoebe Bridgers on “Nothing New (Taylor’s Version).” Both songs are beautiful and capture the artists’ sensibilities, so I feel “Snow on the Beach” should be just as exquisite.

Midnights will be releasing on October 21st, so it won’t be long before Swifties get to hear what their favorite pop princess has been working on and teasing. In addition, Swift is part of the ensemble cast in David O’Russell’s Amsterdam, which is currently in theaters now. For more information on other movies releasing in theaters later this year, check out our 2022 movie schedule. 

Ah, New York City, the home of the best pizza, the rudest people, and so much to see. How would I know this? I’m from the state itself, and visited NYC practically every weekend to see family. You just gotta love it. And apparently, Hollywood does as well, as there are plenty of awesome TV shows that are set in the city we all know and love. 

From older comedies like Seinfeld to newer additions like Brooklyn Nine-Nine, there are plenty of TV shows set in New York City. Here are some of the best that are streaming right now. 

Seinfeld (1989-1998)

Probably one of the most classic comedies that take place in the city is Seinfeld, a legendary show starring Jerry Seinfeld that follows a gang of close friends in their thirties who are trying to live their everyday lives in the late eighties and nineties, with that classic setting of New York City behind them. 

Seinfeld is a classic sitcom for a reason. Not only is the Seinfeld cast filled to the brim with talent, but the show is so funny. Sure, there are some jokes that probably wouldn’t do well in today’s humor, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s practically the dictionary definition for what a sitcom should be.

Stream Seinfeld on Netflix.

I Love Lucy (1951-1957)

Take a trip back to one of the first TV hits ever. I Love Lucy follows the titular character, Lucy, and her daily life with her husband, Ricky, as they yearned for more in their lives together in the city of New York back in the 1950s, a very different time. 

I Love Lucy is probably one of the most iconic shows of all time, which means of course it would take place in one of the most iconic cities of all time. What makes this show even more special is that Lucille Ball and her real-life husband, Desi Arnaz, played the couple, creating fun chemistry and hilarious moments that make me laugh every time I watch it. 

Stream I Love Lucy on Paramount Plus.

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017-Present)

This Amazon original is funny in all the right places. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, taking place in NYC in the 1950s, follows Miriam “Midge” Maisel, whose typical life is turned upside down when her husband leaves her. Now, she decides to do something not many other women have done before - stand-up comedy, something very uncommon for a woman in NYC at that time. 

Having won several awards, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is the perfect next binge for you, especially with another season coming out quite soon. The cast is perfect, the jokes hilarious, the story is heartwarming mixed in with empowerment about women wanting to live their own lives and follow their own dreams. Super good. 

Stream The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel on Amazon Prime.

Law And Order (1990-Present)

I’d be concerned if you haven’t heard of Law & Order. This classic police procedural taking place in NYC is exactly as you would expect - following the law and order of dealing with a crime, oftentimes a big one like murder, showing how not all cases are black and white, and how you can find the strangest people within New York City. 

I’m pretty sure that every celebrity in existence now has had at least one guest spot on Law & Order, and that’s honestly not that surprising considering it’s been around for thirty-one years, with several spinoffs taking place in many other cities and units of the law. However, the original will always be the best, in my opinion. 

Stream Law and Order on Peacock.

Friends (1994-2004)

They’ll be there for you when the rain starts to pour. This iconic sitcom from NBC, Friends, is all about a friend group in New York City, living their daily lives through jobs, relationships, and huge life changes, while the background of the craziness of the city guides them through adulthood, mixed in with some hilarious moments of comedy. 

Friends has become one of the most known shows of all time, and the Friends cast has gone on to do amazing things after their time on the show, like Jennifer Aniston or Courteney Cox. The show was so popular it even warranted a reunion special on HBO Max in 2021, years after it ended, so you know that people truly do love this show. 

Stream Friends on HBO Max.

How I Met Your Mother (2005-2014)

In this classic comedy, How I Met Your Mother tells the story of a man who is recapping to his children how they met their mother, and what the journey was to get to her while also having crazy adventures with his best friends in New York City, using the town to their full advantage. 

My personal favorite character from this show is, of course, Barney Stinson. You can’t beat his hilarious jokes. But the How I Met Your Mother cast is full of stars and talent, and the story itself is super great - until the finale, but we don’t need to talk about that. The rest of the show is so worth the watch. And, with a new spinoff on Hulu that premiered in January 2022, now’s the perfect time to see the original. 

Stream How I Met Your Mother on Hulu.

Mad Men (2007-2015)

Taking place in the 1960s in New York City, Mad Men's title is a play on the idea of the major advertising companies that were on Madison avenue in NYC, hence the term, “Mad Men.” The series mainly follows Don Draper, one of the executives at an advertising agency, and someone who has plenty of behind the scenes issues in his life. 

Mad Men was such a gem of a show while it was on the air. From the brilliance of the Mad Men cast to the story that it gave to the character arcs that followed, it was perfect from start to finish. And the amount of stars that emerged from this show, like Elisabeth Moss or Alison Brie, is amazing. 

Stream Mad Men on Amazon Prime.

30 Rock (2006-2013)

Another comedy on this list that takes place in New York City is 30 Rock. This comedy created by Tina Fey (and starring Tina Fey) takes place in 30 Rockefeller Plaza, the home of NBC in New York City, detailing the lives of the workers of a fictional sketch show and the constant troubles they have to face, from cocky stars to hard to work with boss’. 

I sort of consider 30 Rock to be the NYC-based version of The Office, as it has a similar tone as the popular work-place comedy, but has much more drama with its cast and characters - as expected, since they're all TV stars and not paper company workers. The whole entire show is so perfect, with plenty of hilarious moments and really cool guest stars that will have you pointing at the screen in surprise. 

The 30 Rock cast is also insanely talented as well, with big names like Alec Baldwin, Jason Sudeikis and more topping the list, all of which have gone on to succeed more in their own ways. 

Stream 30 Rock on Hulu. 

High Maintenance (2012-2020)

This anthology series is truly outstanding. High Maintenance takes place in the borough of Brooklyn in NYC, following “The Guy,” a man whose real name is unknown and delivers marijuana to clients, all of which are different and strange in their own ways - but it's NYC, so of course you're going to run into some interesting people.

A fun fact about this series is that it actually started out as a Vimeo webseries, before it became so popular HBO picked it up for a full series. And honestly, I can see why. The great comedy paired with the really cool cinematography make for a truly entertaining show. I always love when shows tend to focus on the other boroughs rather than just Manhattan itself, so this show is always a win in my book.

Stream High Maintenance on HBO Max.

Succession (2018-Present)

One of the newer shows on this list, Succession centers around the Roy family, the owners of a huge media and entertainment conglomerate, located in NYC, where their business thrives. But when their patriarch suddenly comes down with an illness that will surely take his life, it’s a competition to see who is going to inherit the empire. 

Succession is a brilliant show. Three seasons in and somehow, they still find a way for me to keep watching and seeing how exactly this family will react. You want to talk about dysfunctional families, this is the go-to. This is one of those shows where I don’t want to reveal much, and with a fourth season already on the way, now’s the perfect time to binge it. 

Stream Succession on HBO Max.

Gossip Girl (2007-2012)

Ever wonder how the 1% spend their lives when they’re in high school in NYC? That’s what Gossip Girl explores. This popular CW drama series mainly follows Serena Van der Woodsen, a seemingly regular girl with a rich family on the Upper East Side of New York City, but has secrets from her past that, when exposed, will change her whole life. 

I have to be honest - for years, I stayed away from this show because I always heard about the insane amount of drama and never believed it worth watching, but after binging it for the first time, I can happily say that this show is worth the hype and more. While I’m not the biggest fan of the reboot they brought to HBO Max in 2021, the original series is still up there, and the Gossip Girl cast brings it in every episode, creating astoundingly fun drama about the rich residents of the Upper East Side. 

Stream Gossip Girl on HBO Max.

Sex And The City (1998-2004)

Another famous comedy drama on this list, Sex and the City follows another group of friends in New York City, but this time, a group of women in their thirties (and one in her forties) who are trying to get a grasp on their lives and their ever-changing roles and relationships, while still remaining close friends in the crazy city that they have come to love.

Sex and the City is iconic for many reasons. The relationships are steamy, the drama intense, the cast talented - and those are just a few of the staples of this fun show. With the sequel series that premiered on HBO Max in 2021, I think the original is worth the watch. 

Stream Sex and the City on HBO Max.

Mr. Robot (2015-2019)

The last full drama on this list, Mr. Robot is a brilliant show set in NYC, following Elliot. By day, he seems like a normal guy, working as an engineer in cyber-security that is located in New York City, but by night he uses his incredible mind to hack into databases, and this talent of his is ultimately what gets him in trouble with the bad folk of the city.

Starring Rami Malek as Elliot, Mr. Robot is an incredibly tense show with so much to love about it. From the moment I watched the first episode, I was hooked, both by Malek’s perfect performance and a storyline that was impossible to look away from. Truly, this is one of the best dramas out there, and the way it concluded was amazing. Watch it if you haven’t. 

Stream Mr. Robot on Amazon Prime.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013-2021)

Last but not least, we have Brooklyn Nine-Nine. This comedy-drama mixed in with police procedural stars Andy Samberg and follows the daily life of Detective Jake Peralta, working at a fictional police station in Brooklyn, NYC, and his normal everyday interactions with his co-workers, often butting heads with his boss who doesn’t agree with his jokes or his carefree point of view at life and his job.

The show came to an end in 2021 after eight seasons, and I can’t tell you how sad I felt when it did end. There’s just something so sweet about the Brooklyn Nine-Nine cast. The friendships and relationships between these characters felt real and the story that revolved around it was perfect as well, mixing in with the wonderful backdrop of NYC. You just have to love it. 

Stream Brooklyn Nine-Nine on Hulu.

There’s probably a million more TV shows that I could have included on this list, but to me, these have always been some of the best. And maybe now, you might have found a new show to watch. Happy binging! 

Alison Brie is, hands down, one of my favorite actresses who has blown up in the last decade. Not only is she extremely talented in both dramatic and comedic roles, her voice-acting skills are excellent as well. From her time on Community to the Netflix series, GLOW, Brie has shown that she’s here to stay in Hollywood. 

But, what are some of her best performances? Which one is the ultimate best? These are the Alison Brie movies and TV shows with her best work, and how you can watch them right now. 

10. The Five-Year Engagement (Suzie Barnes-Eilhauer)

The Five-Year Engagement, starring Jason Segal and Emily Blunt, tells the story of a couple whose relationship becomes strained over time, as their engagement steadily gets extended over and over again. 

I’m always a fan of a good romantic comedy, and Alison Brie definitely rocks it as Suzie Eilhauer in The Five-Year Engagement. The only reason I ranked it at number ten is that it just doesn’t stand out at much as the other characters on this list, but it’s still a great performance and a funny movie that anyone would enjoy. Emily Blunt and Jason Segal have great chemistry, as do Alison Brie and Chris Pratt in their supporting roles. 

Stream The Five-Year Engagement on HBO Max. 
Rent The Five-Year Engagement on Amazon.

9. Happiest Season (Sloane Caldwell) 

Happiest Season, starring Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis, is all about a woman who struggles to come out to her conservative parents at Christmastime, when she decides to travel home with her girlfriend.

Alison Brie plays Sloane, Harper’s (Mackenzie Davis) eldest sister, and she and Davis have some awesome scenes together that really make her stand out among the rest. The rest of the Happiest Season cast also work together so well, and it's filled with stars like Dan Levy, Aubrey Plaza, Jake McDorman, and more. Christmas films are always some of my favorites to watch, and this one is certainly a modern tale that makes me smile. It’s a heartwarming story with plenty of comedy, drama, and Christmas joy in-between. 

Stream Happiest Season on Hulu.

8. The Lego Movie (Princess Unikitty)

In The Lego Movie, we follow Emmet, an ordinary Lego minifigure who ends up joining a resistance movement to stop a tyrannical businessman from taking over Lego world and gluing everything into his vision of perfection. 

Alison Brie voices Princess Unikitty, and let me just say - she’s amazing. Brie gives Princess Unikitty the perfect kind of chaos and cuteness that a character like her needs, and that can only be brought to life by her wonderful voice-acting talents. I do think another one of her voice roles is slightly better than this one, but The Lego Movie definitely gave her some great material to work with, alongside its wacky, yet sweet, story. 

Rent The Lego Movie on Amazon. 

7. Sleeping With Other People (Elaine “Lainey” Dalton) 

In this 2015 film, Sleeping with Other People is all about two college students who both lose their virginity to each other one night and never see each other again until years later, now having their own personal problems as they deal with relationships and life. 

In one of her first major starring roles in a film, Alison Brie rocks Sleeping with Other People as Lainey, and her chemistry with Jason Sudeikis flows so perfectly, it makes me wonder why they haven’t been in any other movies together. Their relationship is so easy to believe, from beginning to end, mixed in with some awkwardly fun moments that bring a certain charm to the way they work. It’s a smaller film than many of the others on here, but deserves so much more praise. Seriously, check it out if you haven’t seen it yet. 

Stream Sleeping With Other People on AMC+ through Amazon Prime. 
Rent Sleeping With Other People on Amazon.  

6. GLOW (Ruth Wilder)

In this Netflix original series, GLOW follows the fictionalization of the real people and story of the 1980s during syndicated women’s professional wrestling circuit, called Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (otherwise known as GLOW). 

GLOW is one of those series that deserved so much more recognition and was cancelled way too soon. Alison Brie starred in this Netflix hit, and showed us how remarkable she is as a leading lady. Not only is her character, Ruth, full of spunk and has an interesting story, but everyone else around her shines just as much. It’s a shame that GLOW was canceled on Netflix due to COVID-19 related issues, but at least we still have the three seasons to watch whenever we want on Netflix. Maybe one day they’ll return to it. 

Stream GLOW on Netflix. 

5. BoJack Horseman (Diane Nguyen) 

Taking a look at another Netflix original, BoJack Horseman is all about the titular character, BoJack Horseman, someone who was once extremely popular back in his heyday, and now barely a blip in the memory of others. He plans to make a comeback by writing his tell-all autobiography, with the help of a ghost writer. 

Alison Brie voices Diane Nguyen, the ghost writer that works for BoJack, and let me say - I love her in this series. While Alison Brie was able to bring that maniac energy to Princess Unikitty in The Lego Movie, Diane stands out to me so much more as her best voice-acting role. Diane’s story in BoJack Horseman is gut-punching and raw and will make anyone tear up for a bit, and her relationship with BoJack is one of the best on the show, by far. She’s a complex character, through and through, and Brie’s voicing of her makes Diane even better. 

Stream BoJack Horseman on Netflix. 

4. The Post (Lally Weymouth)

In this film based on a true story, The Post tells the tale of journalists who worked at the Washington Post, and their endless trials to try and publish the infamous Pentagon Papers, a set of documents that regarded the 20-year involvement of the United States government in the Vietnam War, and even earlier in French Indochina. 

While Alison Brie is always brilliant in her comedic roles, there’s something about The Post that really makes it one of her best performances. While her role isn’t as big as some of the other cast members in here - with Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks as the main stars - she is one of the standouts, and portrays Lally Graham, a former journalist at the Washington Post, wonderfully alongside her co-stars.

Rent The Post on Amazon. 

3. Mad Men (Trudy Campbell)

Mad Man was a popular AMC series that starred Jon Hamm as Don Draper, an executive at an advertising agency on Madison Avenue in New York City, hence the term “mad men,” in the 1960s. It follows his highs and lows, and the trials and tribulations of working in the advertising industry back then, and the people who surrounded him. 

Arguably, this is one of the performances that made Alison Brie famous. While she was just a recurring character in the Mad Men cast, her part as the wife of Pete Campbell stands out, creating excellent tension between the two of them and a story that no one can tear their eyes away from. She truly shines in this dramatic role.

Stream Mad Men on AMC+ through Amazon Prime. 

2. Promising Young Woman (Madison McPhee) 

In this popular thriller, Promising Young Woman stars Carey Mulligan, who plays a young woman who is haunted by a traumatic past, and takes it upon herself to get vengeance on the men who have committed horrible atrocities. 

Alison Brie stars as Madison, one of the many women and men that Mulligan’s character comes across. I’ve already expressed how I like watching Brie in dramatic roles, but I feel like she brings it hard in Promising Young Women. Her role as Madison is perfectly played, especially in her scenes with Cassie, played by Mulligan. Also, the story is top-tier in Promising Young Women. If you like thrillers, you are going to be on the edge of your seat the whole time. It’s such a fun movie to watch, filled with awesome stars, and Alison Brie only adds to that stardom. 

Stream Promising Young Woman on HBO Max. 

1. Community (Annie Edison) 

This Dan Harmon-created comedy, Community, follows Jeff Winger, a former lawyer who faked his degree, and now must go back to community college to try and become an actual lawyer. While he’s there, he meets an interesting friend group, all comprised of extremely different individuals. 

You knew it was coming. We all knew Community would be number one. While Mad Men shined a light on Alison Brie’s acting talents dramatically, Community is what shot her to stardom with how awesome she was with comedy. Her portrayal of Annie Edison, the studious classmate, is one to remember. The whole Community cast is full of stars, but Alison Brie as Annie works perfectly. Her comedic timing, heartwarming stories, and genuine friendships and relationships that she has with each of the characters created a wonderfully sweet character, which is why it’s Alison Brie’s best performance to date - let’s hope we all get to see her again in a possible Community movie. 

Stream Community on Netflix.

I’m sure that in the next couple of years, we’ll be seeing plenty more of Alison Brie in both film and TV, but for now, I can at least go back and watch some of her best performances, from beginning to end. Maybe even now you’ll have found a new show or movie to watch. If you don’t mind me, I’m going to re-watch Community for the umpteenth time. 

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In the last couple of decades, AMC has produced some of the best shows that have gone on to garner huge audiences, plenty of awards, and blasted careers off to new heights. From legendary hits like Breaking Bad or Mad Men, to shows that have become endured even longer, such as The Walking Dead.

But, with how many shows AMC has done, which ones are exactly the best to watch? Look no further, as we will be going over each of the shows that are truly the best for you to watch, and where you can stream them right now.

Breaking Bad (2008-2013)

In Breaking Bad, Walter White is a normal man, teaching chemistry at his local high school, when he finds out that he’s been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. Trying to find a way to somehow provide for his family before his time is up, Walter White teams up with an old student of his to do what he does best - use his chemistry skills - and creates crystal meth to make some cash.

There’s a reason why Breaking Bad has become probably one of the most known TV shows of this time so far. Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul have amazing chemistry, along with the whole Breaking Bad cast. The story is one of the few on TV that really has no plot holes and you can follow perfectly, but still find something new on each re-watch of the show. The villains are fantastic - so much so that you might even find yourself rooting for them near the end.

Truly, it’s one of the best series out there - and if you haven’t found the time to watch yet, do it now. It didn’t get a spinoff show and a movie for nothing.

Stream Breaking Bad on Netflix.

Better Call Saul (2015 - Present)

As the spinoff of Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul tells the origin story of one of Breaking Bad’s most notable characters, Saul Goodman, and how he began his life as Jimmy McGill, a man who was trying to make it as a lawyer, and had to step down a dangerous path in order to be successful.

Without giving anything away for either show, the spinoff is actually quite good. A lot of the times when series have spinoffs, I feel like they never quite hit the mark like the original series they are based on. But, Better Call Saul does that and so much more. Not only does it add amazing storylines to already well-known characters like Saul and Mike, we get to see Saul’s interactions with different people, and how they affected him, like Kim Wexler or his brother, Chuck.

With Better Call Saul Season 6 coming out in 2022, now is the perfect time to binge.

Stream Better Call Saul on Netflix.

Into The Badlands (2015-2019)

In Into the Badlands, viewers follow a warrior and a young boy, who are facing a dangerous journey across a feudal land, as they try to seek enlightenment while threats are thrown at them on a daily basis.

I always felt that Into the Badlands should have received more attention than it got. The sci-fi elements that they somehow infused into this high-energy martial arts series were always intriguing, and the plot was exciting and full of twists and turns that no one would expect. It seems like the perfect show for action / martial arts fans. If you haven’t given it a shot yet, there’s only three seasons, so maybe check it out next time you’re craving some martial arts action.

Stream Into the Badlands on Netflix.

The Killing (2011 - 2014)

In this crime drama set in Seattle, The Killing follows a variety of murder investigations by homicide detectives Sarah Linden and Stephen Holder, exposing the secrets and conspiracies of different families.

If mystery shows are your thing, then this is definitely a great option for you. When I was binging The Killing, I felt like I was a detective, trying to figure out who was where, what happened when, and everything else, so I could solve the case alongside the two main characters. What makes it better is that these cases really aren’t just one-and-done's. They last several episodes, and go in depth with what happened, making sure that you aren’t left out of anything as secrets, conspiracies, and plenty of other surprises are revealed.

Stream The Killing on Amazon Prime.

Stream The Killing on Hulu.

Mad Men (2007 - 2015)

In New York City, circa 1960, Don Draper is an executive at the fictional Sterling Cooper advertising agency. Mad Men is all about the craziness and drama that happens in the high-stakes advertising industry on Madison Avenue, hence the title as a play on the "mad" ad men of the time,

I know that the premise at first doesn’t sound like something that would be super interesting, but trust me when I say that Mad Men is another one of AMC’s best series that you should watch. Not only is it a great period drama, with set and costume design that is to die for, the Mad Men cast is full of talent. Jon Hamm as Don Draper is fantastic, Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson rocks her role, and everyone else is just as wonderful.

Stream Mad Men on AMC+ through Amazon.

Hell On Wheels (2011 - 2016)

Hell on Wheels follows Cullen Bohannon, a former Confederate soldier who is traveling to Nebraska in the 1860s to seek vengeance for the death of his wife and son, caused by Union soldiers.

I mean, who doesn’t love a good revenge story? Not only is the tale of Cullen captivating, the rest of Hell on Wheels is actually really interesting, because it tells the story of the people who lived, worked and died on the Union Pacific Railroad, where the term, “Hell on wheels” comes from. While it’s still a fictional story, it’s an intriguing one with plenty of facts about the history of America, and will be great for anyone who loves period pieces, but lots of action as well.

Stream Hell On Wheels on AMC+ through Amazon.

Preacher (2016 - 2019)

In Preacher, we follow the story of Jesse Custer, a preacher who is a bit down on his luck, drinks hard, and chain-smokes. When he endures an issue with his own faith, he receives an extraordinary power, and goes on a guest to understand his new gift and literally find God - alongside an ex-girlfriend and a vampire, of course.

Preacher is so many things in one, I feel like literally anyone could find something to love about this show. If you like fantasy shows, Preacher has you covered. Supernatural more your thing? Preacher is that and so much more. Or, maybe you’re looking for a little bit of comedy - Preacher has that up the wazoo. Dominic Cooper is wonderful as Jesse, and the rest of the cast rule as well. I mean, Seth Rogen was an executive producer on this - you know it’s going to be funny but have its moments of craziness, too.

Stream Preacher on Hulu.

TURN: Washington’s Spies (2014 - 2017)

If you wanted another period piece but with some awesome spy action, look no further than TURN: Washington’s Spies. In this drama, taking place from 1776 to 1781, we follow a farmer from Setauket and his childhood friends, who end up forming a group of spies called “The Culper Ring.” This group of spies end up being the tide that turns the American Revolutionary War.

Believe it or not, this series is actually based on the real story of spies who aided America in becoming independent. If history if something that you crave, this show has so much of it that you’ll be shocked to learn some of America’s past. Keep in mind that this is still a TV show, so creative liberties were taken, but just the very idea that this is based on a real story will have you interested and wanting more. It’s so good.

Stream Turn: Washington’s Spies on Netflix.

Kevin Can F**k Himself (2021 - Present)

Kevin Can F**k Himself introduces viewers to Allison McRoberts, a young women who is struggling with her life amid an unhappy marriage to her husband, Kevin, who is an insensitive, unambitious man-child.

There are so many things about this series that I love. First, Annie Murphy is amazing. If you thought she was awesome while in the Schitt’s Creek cast, wait until you see her star in this. Secondly, the comedy in Kevin Can F**k Himself is top tier, but what makes this show so special is the different kind of camerawork it does. When Allison is with her husband, it’s the typical happy-go-lucky sitcom you would expect, with canned laughter and a multiple camera set-up. But, when she’s not around him, it’s like you’re watching a drama, focusing in on her life with a single camera and no laughter - just realness.

It really goes to show how much someone can fake for appearances, and how much they might be struggling on the inside. Seriously, there’s only one season so far, so now is the perfect time to watch.

Stream Kevin Can Fk Himself on AMC.**

The Walking Dead (2010 - Present)

As the last on this list, I can’t not mention The Walking Dead. In a world that has been overtaken by zombies, known as “walkers” in this universe, we follow a group of survivors from Atlanta (and, later, various other places) as they try to adapt and just survive somehow in a world that has gone to hell.

The Walking Dead has been on for ten seasons and is just now entering Season 11, its final one, with so many characters who have come and gone. I’ve stayed up with this show since the very beginning, but if you haven’t, I can’t tell you enough to watch it. The characters are intriguing, with so much personality, and the show has one of the best villains right now on television. The action is intense, the loving relationships realistic, the deaths heartbreaking, and so much more. For a zombie drama, The Walking Dead pulls no punches.

Stream The Walking Dead on Netflix.

I can hardly believe there are so many options, but with this much good TV, you can’t help but binge it all, especially since a couple of these will be popping up on the 2021 fall TV schedule. Now, if you don’t mind me, I’m going to binge-watch Breaking Bad again for the millionth time.

Following its debut on AMC in 2007, Mad Men became a pivotal series in what is now considered the era of Peak Television. Even when every other network turned down the chance to pick up this soon-to-be hit drama, Matthew Weiner's period piece series found a home at the cable station, and it resulted in one of the most beloved and critically acclaimed series in recent history. With a talented ensemble of great actors, Mad Men's cast received heaps of praise and a number of awards to boot. Following the show's end in 2015, what have they been working on now? Let's take a look and see.

Jon Hamm (Don Draper)

As Don Draper, the creative director of Sterling Cooper, Jon Hamm became a star through his leading man role in Mad Men. Previously a TV actor with credits on Providence, Ally McBeal, Gilmore Girls, Charmed, and The Division, as well as film roles in Space Cowboys, Kissing Jessica Stein, and We Were Soldiers, Hamm's breakthrough role paved the way for appearances in A Single Man, The Day the Earth Stood Still, The Town, Million Dollar Arm, and Bridesmaids. 

Following his Emmy-winning performance in Mad Men, Hamm starred in Keeping Up with the Joneses, Marjorie Prime, Baby Driver, Beirut, Tag, Bad Times at the El Royale, and The Report. He was last seen in Richard Jewell and The Jesus Rolls. In television, Hamm starred in A Young Doctor's Notebook, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and Good Omens. He'll next be seen in Top Gun: Maverick and Wild Mountain Thyme.

Elisabeth Moss (Peggy Olson)

Playing Peggy Olson, who was once Don's secretary before moving up the corporate ladder, Elisabeth Moss played a pivotal role in Mad Men. Prior to her role in Mad Men, Moss was best known for her work on The West Wing, Anywhere But Here, The Missing, and Girl, Interrupted. During her time on Mad Men, Moss was also seen in Get Him to the Greek, On the Road, Listen Up Philip, The One I Love, and Top of the Lake. 

Following this career-defining role, Moss has continued to find success and acclaim through her Emmy-winning performance in Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale. She also starred in The Square, The Old Man & The Gun, Her Smell, The Kitchen, High-Rise, Truth, Queen of Earth, and most recently, The Invisible Man and Shirley earlier this year. Next, Moss will be seen in The French Dispatch and Next Goal Wins.

Vincent Kartheiser (Pete Campbell)

In the role of Pete Campbell, the eventual junior partner at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, Vincent Kartheiser played a primary character throughout the entirety of Mad Men's run. A stage actor who became a film and TV performer, Kartheiser was previously seen in the TV series Angel and films like Alpha Dog, Alaska, and Dandelion. As the actor starred in this hit series, he was also seen/heard in In Time, Rango, Elektra Luxx, and Days Out of Days. 

Following Kartheiser's time in Mad Men, Kartheiser starred in My Friend Dahmer, The Most Hated Woman in America, A Kind Of Murder, Most Likely To Murder, Das Boot, and Crypto. Kartheiser also had a starring role in last year's Proven Innocent and in episodes of The OA. He was most recently seen in Netflix's The Social Dilemma.

January Jones (Betty Draper)

As Betty Draper, the wife (then ex-wife) of Don Draper, January Jones provided an Emmy-nominated performance in Mad Men. Previously a model, Jones starred in Anger Management, Love Actually, Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights, The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, and We Are Marshall. 

Through the success of the show, Jones found roles in Unknown, X-Men: First Class, Seeking Justice, Pirate Radio, Sweetwater, and Good Kill. She also narrated 2015's documentary Unity. When Mad Men wrapped, the actress became a main cast member on Fox's The Last Man on Earth before it ended in 2018. She appeared in The Politician and voiced a character in Animals before she starred in Netflix's short-lived series Spinning Out earlier this year.

Christina Hendricks (Joan Holloway)

In the role of Joan Holloway, the office manager of Sterling Cooper, Christina Hendricks provided a lively presence throughout Mad Men's revered run. Formerly a model, Hendricks entered the acting business in the late '90s, where she starred in Showtime's Beggars and Choosers and in ER, The Court, Firefly, Kevin Hill, and more before she landed her Mad Men role. During this time, Hendricks also starred in Life As We Know It, Drive, The Family Tree, I Don't Know How She Does It, Ginger & Rosa, Detachment, Struck By Lightning, God's Pocket, and Lost River. 

Following her Mad Men commitments, Hendricks starred in Zoolander 2, The Neon Demon, Bad Santa 2, Fist Fight, and Pottersville, as well as shows like Another Period, Tin Star, The Romanoffs, and Hap and Leonard. Hendricks is now on NBC's Good Girls.

Kiernan Shipka (Sally Draper)

Playing the part of Sally Draper, the eldest child of Don and Betty, Kiernan Shipka found her fame through this acclaimed drama series. As a child actress, Shipka previously appeared in Monk, Heroes, MadTV, and Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and she was later seen in Land of the Lost, Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore, and Very Good Girls when the series came to a close. She also lent her voice to The Legend of Korra. 

Most notably, Shipka starred in the title role of Netflix's Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, which was canceled earlier this year. The actress also starred in The Blackcoat's Daughter, Let It Snow, and Feud: Bette and Joan. Next, Shipka will star in Quibi's Swimming with Sharks.

John Slattery (Roger Sterling)

As Roger Sterling, a senior partner and accounts executive at Sterling Cooper Advertising Agency, John Slattery was a prominent player in Mad Men, notably after the first season. Prior to Mad Men, Slattery starred in movies like Eraser, Traffic, Bad Company, The Station Agent, Mona Lisa Smile, Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights, and Flag of Our Fathers, and in TV shows like Homefront, Party Of Five, Under Cover, Jack & Bobby, Desperate Housewives, and Maggie. 

Marvel fans will surely recognize him in the recurring role as Howard Stark, Tony's late father. His first appearance was in Iron Man 2, and he returned to the role in additional MCU movies afterward, including Avengers: Endgame. 

During his Mad Men time, Slattery also starred in Reservation Road, Charlie Wilson's War, Iron Man 2, The Adjustment Bureau, and Ted 2. And he directed 2014's God's Pocket. Shortly after Mad Men ended, Slattery appeared in 2015's Best Picture winner, Spotlight. Next, Slattery stars in Fox's upcoming Next.

Robert Morse (Bert Cooper)

In the role of Bert Cooper, the senior partner of Sterling Cooper, Robert Morse played an increasingly prominent role in the later seasons of Mad Men. A prestigious actor of the stage and screen with two Tonys, an Emmy, and a Grammy to his name, Morse was most notably seen in both the Broadway production and the film adaptation of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. 

During his time on Mad Men, for which he received several Emmy nominations, Morse also starred in The Man Who Shook The Hand of Vincente Fernandez. He did voice work for Sofia the First, The Legend of Korra, and Teen Titans Go! Following his role in this acclaimed AMC series, Morse has been seen in American Crime Story: The People vs. OJ Simpson and Corporate. He returned to Broadway for a 2016 production of The Front Page.

Aaron Staton (Ken Cosgrove)

Playing Ken Cosgrove, an account executive at Sterling Cooper, Aaron Staton was seen throughout the entirety of Mad Men's run. During his time in the show, Staton was also notably the actor behind Cole Phelps in the video game L.A. Noire, for which he received a BAFTA nomination. Following Mad Men's run, he appeared in Castle Rock, Person of Interest, Ray Donovan, God Friended Me, Narcos: Mexico, Girlfriends Guide to Divorce, The Good Wife, and Unbelievable. He also starred in films like Alex & The List, and Preservation. Next, Staton will be seen in Disney+ forthcoming mini-series, The Right Stuff.

Rich Sommer (Harry Crane)

As Harry Crane, a media buyer for Sterling Cooper, Rich Sommer was a constant presence throughout Mad Men's entire run. Prior to this hit series, Sommer was notably seen in The Devil Wears Prada. During his Mad Men time, Sommer also appeared in Celeste and Jesse Forever, The Giant Mechanical Man, The Office, Elementary, and The League. 

Following Mad Men, Sommer starred in LBJ, Hello My Name Is Doris, Girlfriend's Day, Summer of '84, and A Futile and Stupid Gesture. He also lent his voice to Regular Show and appeared in Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp, Love, GLOW, Masters of Sex, and Elena of Avalor. Recently, Sommer starred in HBO's Run. He's now a main role in The CW's In the Dark.

Mason Vale Cotton (Bobby Draper)

In the role of Bobby Draper, the middle child of Don and Betty Draper, Mason Vale Cotton played a primary role in the fifth, sixth, and seventh seasons of Mad Men. He was previously on Desperate Housewives. Once his role in Mad Men came to a close, Cotton starred in Scales: A Mermaids Tale, Mad Families, and voiced the title character in Hey Arnold: The Jungle Movie. He was last seen in 2017's short film, Super.

Bryan Batt (Salvatore Romano)

As Salvatore Romano, the art director at Sterling Cooper, Bryan Batt was a main cast member during the first three seasons of Mad Men. Primarily known as a theater actor, Batt performed in Broadway productions of Cats, Starlight Express, Sunset Boulevard, Saturday Night Fever, Seussical, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat prior to his time in this hit drama series. 

Following his role in Mad Men, Batt played a recurring role in MTV's Scream and made appearances in NCIS, NCIS: New Orleans, and EastSiders. He also starred in films like 12 Years a Slave, Parkland, LBJ, Tales From The Hood 2, and Billionaire Boys Club. Most recently, Batt produced and starred in Easy Does It. He'll next be seen in Don't Look Back, American Reject, and Night Teeth.

Michael Gladis (Paul Kinsey)

Playing Paul Kinsey, a copywriter at Sterling Cooper, Michael Gladis was part of Mad Men's main cast throughout its first three seasons. Following his role in the hit series, which also included a guest star appearance in Season 5, the actor provided turns in Devil's Knot, Knights of Badassdom, Not Safe For Work, Terminator Genisys, and Armed Response. 

On television, he starred in Eagleheart, Reckless, Extant, and Feed the Beast, and he appears in episodes of The Good Wife, Medium, Leverage, The Mentalist, Justified, House of Lies, Elementary, Lucifier, and Criminal Minds. Earlier this year, Gladis became a main cast member on Showtime's Penny Dreadful: City of Angels. He'll also soon be seen in The Mental State.

Jared Harris (Lane Pryce)

In the role of Lane Pryce, the former financial officer at Sterling Cooper, Jared Harris gave an Emmy-nominated standout performance in the middle seasons of Mad Men. As a well-trained English actor, Harris starred in I Shot Andy Warhol, Natural Born Killers, The Last of the Mohicans, Far and Away, Dead Man, Happiness, Lost in Space, Mr. Deeds, Ocean's Twelve, Lady in the Water, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, among others, prior to his work in this series. 

He also played a reoccurring role in Fringe. During his time on Mad Men, Harris was also seen in Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. In the following years, Harris starred in The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Allied, Certain Women, and Poltergeist (2015). He was also in Cherynbol, The Crown, and Carnival Row. Next, he'll star in Morbius and AppleTV's Foundation.

Who is your favorite Mad Men character? Let us know in the comment section below!

It’s been five years since Mad Men ended its seven-season run on AMC, but the series is still highly regarded as one of the best TV shows of the last decade. Looking back on her directorial career, Lesli Linka Glatter recently revealed why she thought the AMC series’ writing was “extraordinary” when first joining Mad Men in Season 1.

Lesli Linka Glatter has had a long and storied career directing television. From Homeland to Grey’s Anatomy, ER to Gilmore Girls, Glatter has done it all. Over the course of Mad Men’s seven seasons, she directed six episodes. Glatter recalled coming on to direct the series in its first season on AMC and how blown away she was by the writing and the work being done. Here’s what she told TV Insider:

Mad Men was, in fact, AMC’s first scripted drama, and it definitely made an impact on cable television, winning several Primetime Emmy Awards and other accolades. I think many will agree with the director’s take about the writing being “extraordinary.”

Thanks to the show's success, the network would go on to produce TV shows like Breaking Bad, its follow-up Better Call Saul, and The Walking Dead, but Mad Men will always hold a special place.

Lesli Linka Glatter went on to praise how “layered and complicated” Jon Hamm’s Don Draper was as a character, and he really was. Love him or hate him, the show explored all of his baggage and much more. After Mad Men ended, Hamm himself praised the series finale’s ambiguity and described Draper’s end as a way of coming to terms with leading a life as an ad man.

Mad Men is currently streaming on Netflix, though it’ll be leaving the streaming service later this month. For more on what to watch in the coming months, be sure to check out our 2020 summer TV premiere guide.

Riverdale, the darker, soapy adaptation of Archie Comics, is the surprise hit of last year, and is continuing to chug along over on The CW for Season 2. The success of the show sparked interest in a new series based on Sabrina the Teenage Witch -- a fellow Archie Comic -- which has already gotten a two-season order from Netflix. Now, Sabrina Spellman herself has finally been found, and she'll be pretty familiar to fans of Mad Men. It's Kiernan Shipka, who played Sally Draper on the hit series.

Kiernan Shipka has been cast as the witch Sabrina in the currently untitled Sabrina project from Netflix. Shipka stars as the title heroine, who is described as being intelligent*, *compassionate, and brave to the point of recklessness. Sabrina is a half-human, half-witch who is just beginning her dark education in the ways of witchcraft, even as she tries to balance a normal life as a high school student at Baxter High. Sabrina is all that stands between humanity and the dark forces threatening our world.

Young actress Kiernan Shipka is perhaps best known for her role on Mad Men, in which she played Don Draper's daughter Sally for seven seasons. She was most recently seen acting opposite Susan Sarandon and Jessica Lange on Feud: Bette and Joan as B.D. Hyman, the teenage daughter of Bette Davis. She's already got some real clout behind her name, so this is a good get for the new Sabrina series.

The untitled Sabrina project is a darker reimagining than fans of Sabrina the Teenage Witch may be used to. Netflix's project is based on The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina graphic novel from Archie Comics, which had more of a horror focus. As such, the Netflix show will focus on horror and the occult, and is more tonally in the vein of The Exorcist and Rosemary's Baby.

Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, the showrunner of Riverdale and chief creative officer of Archie Comics, will direct and executive produce the Sabrina project.

Originally viewed as a companion series to Riverdale, the project was thought to be airing on The CW, but will instead debut on Netflix. This makes it something of a question if Sabrina will crossover with Riverdale at any point. Riverdale has not been without its Sabrina the Teenage Witch easter eggs, but we'll have to wait and see what the future holds for both shows.

This is no doubt exciting news for fans of Riverdale and there will absolutely be more updates on this project over the next few months. Be sure to stick with CinemaBlend for all your TV news, like, what shows to look out for in the midseason, and what's been cancelled so far.

The great AMC drama Mad Men ended its run in 2015, and it chose to leave the fate of its main character Don Draper intentionally ambiguous. The finale saw the heavy drinking and broken human of an ad exec in a moment of tranquility, meditating before a small smile crosses his face. It then cuts to the famous 1971 Coca-Cola Hilltop ad, heavily implying that Draper came up with the idea. Whether this was good or bad for Draper is up to the viewer, but in Jon Hamm's mind, that leopard ain't changing its spots.

Jon Hamm recently appeared as a guest on The Rich Eisen Show, where the host brought up the ending of Mad Men and what Hamm thought about. Hamm played Don Draper for seven seasons, giving him a deeper perspective than most into the art of Draper. In Hamm's mind, Draper was just too far gone to make any meaningful changes. Hell, he doesn't even think he's still alive at 80 years old.

It's left up to the fans if Don Draper was able to turn his life around and really find peace with himself, but Jon Hamm has a bit more of a realistic view. He thinks that Draper was just too damaged a person to change in any meaningful way and that he just came up with an idea for a really good commercial. He loves the ambiguity of the finale and that you can have this discussion about it; but to him, Draper's still gotta Draper.

While Jon Hamm has understandably little faith that Draper became a better person, that doesn't mean he doesn't think he didn't find peace. In an interview with the New York Times in 2015 shortly after the finale aired, Hamm said that the creation of the commercial was Draper coming to terms with who he is and finding peace in knowing that he's an ad man.

It's hard to argue with either of Hamm's points and it's probably unrealistic to think that Draper could ever really turn things around for himself. But the glory of the ending is that you don't have to think that way if you don't want to! For more Mad Men and other TV news, make sure to keep checking back in with CinemaBlend.

Spoiler warning for anyone who hasn't yet watched The Last Man on Earth's Season 3 premiere. Don't be such a turd. Go watch it.

In its first two seasons, The Last Man on Earth put together some of the most unpredictable and spontaneously dark twists in primetime TV, which isn't something that network comedies are known for. In its Season 3 premiere "General Breast Theme with Cobras," the show had a get-a-drink-and-you'll-miss-it connection to one of the most acclaimed dramas of all time. The always fab Jon Hamm had a surprise cameo that was brought to a quick halt by his former Mad Men co-star January Jones in a manner that brought some poetic justice for their characters' time on that show.

Viewers will recall that the Last Man Season 2 finale ended with the gang (now without Jason Sudeikis' Mike) going all wide-eyed after seeing Mark Boone Junior's ocean-faring Pat arriving with two men in protective suits. Their immediate and cacophonous panic was punctuated by a shotgun blast, as Jones' Melissa comes out of nowhere and blasts one of the mystery men in the gut. It turns out it was Hamm under the mask as Darrell, a character who may not have been a dangerous or evil guy (assuming he was telling the truth), but one that would unwittingly pay the price for the actions of Don Draper.

In those early years of Mad Men, Don was married to Betty Draper, played by January Jones, and it would be putting it mildly to call him a ho-banging piece of shit in those years, as he wasn't one to keep it in the pants. On Mad Men, Betty got her "revenge" by leaving and divorcing him and taking the kids, but things took another bad turn for her when she found out she was dying. And now, decades after the fictional timeline and just a little over a year after the AMC drama ended, Betty's spirit can finally rest.

But poor Darrell, though, right?

This moment in the premiere actually capitalizes on the bit in Season 2 when January Jones is rocking a shotgun to blast that drone apart, which Mad Men fans delighted in, given Betty Draper's own gun stance. All Melissa was missing was a cigarette. Who'd have thought the comedy would result in a bigger and better Mad Men callback?

The Last Man on Earth will presumably continue to show us just how fib-ulous the show's title is by introducing other mysterious characters from the outside world, and it will do it on Fox every Sunday night. To see when everything else is coming around soon, check out our fall premiere schedule.

Alison Brie has filmed a ton of movies and TV shows at this point, but only one of those roles put her into vintage undergarments. That gig was Mad Men, the AMC series set primarily in the 1960s. Obviously, Brie was in vintage garments for most of her time on set, but early on she didn’t know all of the finer points of wearing the odd underclothing. Once, this even led her to pee all over herself. Watch her recount the vivid story on Late Night with Seth Meyers, below. (Heads up, it’s a little graphic, but not too wild.)

Here’s the basic gist of the story, although it's quite a bit funnier when Brie tells it. A girdle is a set of undergarments that were the precursor to Spanx back in the day, meant to slim a woman’s waistline and make her look totally fly. Sort of like this:

When Alison Bree first started wearing the complex undergarments for Mad Men, she didn’t exactly realize the clothing was supposed to replace the underwear she normally wore. So, she decided to wear both. This might be a little uncomfortable, but it doesn’t seem too bad, right? Wrong.

One day on set, the actress realized she had to pee while already in full costume. This wouldn’t have been a huge disaster because a girdle can be shifted to accommodate ladies in the restroom. However, a girdle plus modern underwear is a totally different story. Apparently, when she tried to use the restroom, it backfired and Alison Brie told Seth Meyers she ended up peeing all over her undergarments… and then she shot the scene while wet. Classic.

You’d expect period clothing to have a different feel and weight than the modern-day costumes we choose to wear today. But since I’ve never personally been stuffed into a girdle, I wouldn’t even know this was a thing if Alison Brie hadn’t so brazenly brought it up on Late Night with Seth Meyers. I appreciate her narrative gusto, however, as I’m not sure I would have the balls to tell this story if it had happened to me. (Fingers crossed it never does.)

Luckily, after a season and a half of underwear drama, Alison Brie figured it out and kept on crushing on the AMC drama for a few seasons to come.

If you haven’t been watching Late Night with Seth Meyers, the host has been on a roll lately with interesting interviews, but also with NBC. A month ago, the network announced that it had signed on with Seth Meyers for a slew of additional seasons, meaning we’ll get weird on set stories like these through 2021.

You can catch new episodes of Late Night with Seth Meyers on weeknights at 12:35 p.m. ET.

At this point in his career, Jon Hamm has a slew of awards nominations and even a few wins, mostly courtesy of his stint on AMC’s long-running prestige drama Mad Men. However, back in 2008, Mad Men was a relatively new player on the scene, and while Jon Hamm was receiving admirable reviews regarding his performance as Don Draper, Jon Hamm wasn’t a household name just yet. Case in point: when he actually won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Series in the drama category, the awards committee spelled his name incorrectly. Instead of spelling it correctly like we’ve done in this article, they called him “John Hamm.”

I suppose things could have been worse and the Golden Globes could have spelled his last name just like a popular meat, but Jon Hamm also told Variety the exchange with the Hollywood Foreign Press was a little awkward.

Jon Hamm didn’t reveal whether or not the Hollywood Foreign Press Association fixed the flub, but you would think they would have had to in order to save face. Otherwise Hamm still has an awards shelf with one Golden Globe sticking out like a sore thumb, as his name is spelled wrong. I bet he has that one hidden in the back, if that’s the case. On the bright side, the Golden Globes sort-of made it up to him this winter, when Jon Hamm won the award for Best Actor in a Television Series—Drama, for the second time. I'm assuming this time the coordinators got the actor's name right.

It’s fitting that Hamm won both near the beginning of Mad Men’s run and after the final episode had aired on AMC. While Mad Men was never a huge ratings juggernaut, the show ushered in a whole new era of original programming on cable. It was an early pioneer in prestige TV and, while cable had some original programming prior to Mad Men's launch, it was much harder for regular cable channels to earn nods from awards committees, including the Hollywood Foreign Press. Plus, even if you never physically watched an episode of Mad Men, doubtless you know who Jon Hamm is as well as the character he portrayed for seven seasons.

You expect that sort of recognition to happen when you are the lead on a wildly popular show like The Big Bang Theory or Game of Thrones, but like Don Draper himself, Mad Men was a product of its age and time, coming up in the world just at the right time to gain wide recognition even with only a moderate audience. In the years following, other cable stations sought to attempt the original programming lineups AMC and FX were both pioneering at the time. Nowadays, a lot of originals on cable channels and even subscription cable channels earn more notice at awards ceremonies like The Golden Globes and the Emmy Awards. Doubtless names like Jon Hamm are spelled correctly in this day and age, although I suppose it’s possible a flub or two still happens now and again.

With so much great television on at the moment, you have to have some really captivating characters to differentiate yourself from the plethora of programming that’s available. While of course a series needs to have characters that the viewer really cares about, there’s perhaps an even more effective way of writing awesome characters. Namely: to make a character that’s a downright awful person. 

The Atlantic recently compiled a list of the 32 most awful television characters in contemporary TV. Voted on by fans, they ranked the most despicable people in comedy and drama programs alike resulting in a summation of truly terrible characters. Then again, they’re the people we love to hate- and that makes for damn good television. Let’s walk through the top 10 worst characters from that list, and exactly what makes them so cringe-worthy. Obviously, spoilers abound so tread lightly.

#10 Hannah Horvath

All of the characters on Girls are pretty terrible, and its protagonist is no exception. Her level of self-absorption is her most crippling trait, and also makes for some of the most hilarious moments Girls has to offer. The kicker: she’s actually super intelligent, but can’t get people to like her due to her selfishness.

#9 Gus Fring

The best villain Breaking Bad had to offer, Gus is one cold-blooded Mo’ Fo’. He stops at nothing in his lust for money and power, all while maintaining a great albi and seemingly pleasant demeanor. That is, until Walt crosses him and he threatens to kill his infant daughter. Yikes.

#8 Marnie Michaels

Didn’t I say that all of the characters in Girls are terrible? Well Marnie is definitely the worst. While beautiful and talented, Marnie’s insecurities are palpable in every episode. So is the fact that she tries to overcompensate by being a control freak. Oh, and she has a bad habit of sleeping with other girls’ boyfriends. No bueno.

#7 Joffrey Baratheon

This Game Of Thrones character is a sadistic child king who was a result of incest. So, the odds were stacked against him. But really, Joff loved violence like a lot. I can’t remember a character in recent memory who was so unlikeable, and whose death was so celebrated by its viewers. Let’s face it, we all wanted Sansa to look at his head on a pike. Good riddance.

#6 Walter White

While the protagonist of Breaking Bad started off supposedly trying to provide for his family, the underworld quickly got the better of him. Through AMC’s hit show, we see Walt disappear and Heisenberg take control. After letting Jesse’s girlfriend OD in the second season, we knew he was no longer the chemistry teacher from the pilot episode. Plus, we had to see him in his underwear way more than anyone wanted.

#5 Pete Campbell

You know those privileged people that have grown up with a sense of entitlement? That’s Pete from Mad Men. His character only gets more frustrating as he has actual talent in advertising, but refuses to put in the work to be a success. Oh, and he has a handful of extra-marital affairs but who doesn’t on Mad Men.  

#4 Fitzgerald Grant

Like Pete Campbell, Fitz’s privilege makes him extremely unlikeable in Scandal. As is the fact that he thinks less with his brain and more with his… Washington Monument. Plus he lets semi-ex wife Mellie call the shots despite him being the leader of the free world. Come on Prez.

#3 Jim Moriarty

This guy is crazypants. As the main antagonist of the BBC drama Sherlock, he’s basically the opposite of Sherlock Holmes. He loves killing… a lot and is willing to help other people kill too. Favorite moments include telling Holmes he was going to burn him alive.

#2 Hannibal Lector

Based off of Anthony Hopkin’s character from the film series, Hannibal is a psychopathic murderer. Not only does he enjoy killing, he takes the time to prepare gourmet meals with his victims’ remains which he then consumes with pure delight. So… not a nice guy.

#1 Ramsay Bolton

Just when you thought there wasn’t anyone worse than Joffrey on Game Of Thrones, Ramsay is introduced and Joff seems like an adorable teenager. The bastard Bolton’s favorite activities include torture and the flaying of innocent people. He psychologically tortures Theon till he’s a shell of a man, as well as castrates him. Then, last season he rapes Sansa in one of the most controversial turn of events in the show’s history. Basically he’s the worst.

Do you agree with this list? Sound off below!

It’s that time of year again, when awards season rears its trophy-sized head and threatens to derail friendships faster than the 2016 election. (Okay, maybe it’s not that severe, but we get pretty serious about TV around here.) The nominations for this year’s Golden Globes are out, and with them comes celebration, aggravation and various levels of perplexity.

Here are the 5 biggest surprises that came from the small screen side of the nomination process. This isn’t about snubs, really, since we’ve already covered those, although I could rant and rave all day about Bloodline not getting nominated for Best TV Drama. This is more about what’s actually there. Now pardon me while I go watch a Coke commercial while you read this first one.

Jon Hamm, But No Mad Men

You couldn’t throw a rock across the Internet in 2015 without hitting a thinkpiece about the second half of the final season of Mad Men, one of the most critically lauded shows of all time. But you wouldn’t know that by looking at the Best Drama category, where Mad Men is most certainly absent. Sure, Jon Hamm got recognized for his work as the forever dapper Don Draper, but the rest of the ensemble was duly shut out, as this was the only category the show was nominated in. Should have had better advertising, I guess.

Lady Gaga For Best Actress

News of Lady Gaga joining the American Horror Story universe was met with just about every kind of reaction possible to humanity, and now that Hotel is heading into the final leg of the season, audiences have gotten fully used to the pop star stripping down and sucking blood on a weekly basis. Are her performances on the same level as Jessica Lange before her? Probably not. Does the limited number of limited series on TV have something to do with it? Probably so. Either way, I can’t wait to see what insane clip they show if she wins.

So Few Nominations For Broadcast Networks

For the past few years, the balance between network and cable/streaming nominations has been growing more uneven, and it’s only getting “worse” now that there’s more cable and streaming output than ever before. This year, the two most successful network shows (by way of Globe nominations) are Empire with two and American Crime with three. Three of the relatively few network nominations come in the Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy, where the leads from The CW’s Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and Jane the Virgin are recognized, as is Jamie Lee Curtis for Scream Queens. Outside of that, it’s basically Alan Cumming for Good Wife and Rob Lowe for The Grinder. Step it up, broadcast channels. You’re getting drowned out.