4/25/2014 101 Best Written TV Series List

http://www.wga.org/content/default.aspx?id=4925 1/13

1.

THESOPRANOS
CreatedbyDavidChase
"Amobsterintherapy,havingproblemswithhismother,"washowTheSopranosinitially
sparked,accordingtocreatorDavidChase,thoughhewasthinkingaboutthepremisefora
featurefilm...READMORE
2.

SEINFELD
CreatedbyLarryDavid&JerrySeinfeld
AttheendofSeinfeldsrun,JerrySeinfeldcommentedthatoneofthemoreunderrated
aspectsofhisshowwasthenumberofitslocationsandsets,creatingasenseofindoor
outdoormovement...READMORE
3.

THETWILIGHTZONE
SeasonOnewriters:CharlesBeaumont,RichardMatheson,RobertPresnell,Jr.,
RodSerling
NoshowinthehistoryoftelevisionhaslingeredintheimaginationquitelikeRodSerlings
anthologyseries...READMORE
4.

ALLINTHEFAMILY
DevelopedforTelevisionbyNormanLear,BasedonTillDeathDoUsPart,
CreatedbyJohnnySpeight
AskedhowhedbeenabletobesocontroversialonAllintheFamily,creatorNormanLear
saidin2009:Idontreallyknowhowtoexplainit...READMORE
5.

M*A*S*H
DevelopedforTelevisionbyLarryGelbart
M*A*S*Hremainstheonlylongrunningseries,comedyordrama,setaroundawarzone...
READMORE
6.

THEMARYTYLERMOORESHOW
CreatedbyJamesL.BrooksandAllanBurns
TheMTMbrand,underMooreandthenhusbandGrantTinker,wasresponsibleforan
iconicrunofcomedies(anddramas)inthe1970s,beginningwithTheMaryTylerMoore
Show...READMORE
7.
MADMEN
CreatedbyMatthewWeiner
MattWeinerwrotetheMadMenpilotnearlyadecadebeforeitfoundahomeasthefirst
scripteddramaatAMC,wheretheseriesdebutedinthesummerof2007...READMORE
4/25/2014 101 Best Written TV Series List
http://www.wga.org/content/default.aspx?id=4925 2/13

8.

CHEERS
CreatedbyGlenCharles&LesCharlesandJamesBurrows
ThequalitiesthatmadeTheMaryTylerMooreShowaseminalsitcominthe1970sgave
Cheersthesameimportancetothe80s...READMORE
9.

THEWIRE
CreatedbyDavidSimon
Noseries,arguably,ismoreresponsibleforthenovelisticambitionspossiblefortelevision
writersnow...READMORE
10.

THEWESTWING
CreatedbyAaronSorkin
ThepeoplewhogetangryatusononeWednesdaynightwillbestandingupandcheering
thenextWednesdaynight,AaronSorkinwroteinWrittenBybeforeTheWestWing
premiered...READMORE
11.

THESIMPSONS
CreatedbyMattGroening,DevelopedbyJamesL.BrooksandMattGroeningand
SamSimon
TheSimpsonsisasineffableasAmericanhumorgets.Amongtheshowslandmarks
(hitting100episodes,then200,then500)...READMORE
12.

ILOVELUCY
"Pilot,"WrittenbyJessOppenheimer&MadelynPugh&BobCarroll,Jr.
ThoughtheshowwonanEmmyasBestComedy,thewriterswereneversohonored...
READMORE
13.

BREAKINGBAD
CreatedbyVinceGilligan
CreatorVinceGilligansaidhewasjokingwithTomSchnauzthatthetwoformerXFiles
writersmighthavetorentanRVandcookcrystalmethiftheirstalledHollywoodcareers
didntturnaround...READMORE
14.

THEDICKVANDYKESHOW
CreatedbyCarlReiner
CarlReinerhassaidhebasedhisfirstsitcomonhisexperiencesasawriteronYourShow
ofShows,workingfortemperamentalstarSidCaesarwhilealsotryingtobeahusbandand
father...READMORE
15.

HILLSTREETBLUES
CreatedbyMichaelKozollandStevenBochco
Lowratedinitsinfancy,HillStreetBluesbrokeasmanyTVstorytellingrulesasitsultimate
successhelpedestablishforcopshows...READMORE
4/25/2014 101 Best Written TV Series List
http://www.wga.org/content/default.aspx?id=4925 3/13
16.

ARRESTEDDEVELOPMENT
CreatedbyMitchellHurwitz
MitchellHurwitzofferedaglimpseintohistakeonthefamilysitcomwhenhespokeofhis
ownparentsrefusaltoquietlydisappearintotheirmiddleage...READMORE
17.

THEDAILYSHOWWITHJONSTEWART
CreatedbyMadeleineSmithberg,LizzWinsteadHeadWriter:ChrisKreski
Writers:JimEarl,DanielJ.Goor,CharlesGrandy,J.R.Havlan,TomJohnson,Kent
Jones,PaulMercurio,GuyNicolucci,SteveRosenfield,JonStewart
ItbeganasTheDailyShow(hostedbyCraigKilborn)in1996...READMORE
18.

SIXFEETUNDER
CreatedbyAlanBall
AlanBallpusheddramatictelevisionintounchartedterritorywithhisseriesaboutthe
FishersandtheirLosAngelesfuneralhome...READMORE
19.

TAXI
CreatedbyJamesL.BrooksandStanDanielsandDavidDavisandEd
Weinberger
PostMaryTylerMooreShow,JamesL.Brooks,StanDaniels,EdWeinbergerandDavid
DavisleftMTM,formedtheirowncompany...READMORE
20.

THELARRYSANDERSSHOW
CreatedbyGarryShandling&DennisKlein
HavinglampoonedhimselfandsitcomsgenerallyonthemetaItsGarryShandlings
Show,Shandlingthistimetrainedhiscomedicradarontothefearandselfloathing
backstageatalatenighttalkshow...READMORE
21.

30ROCK
CreatedbyTinaFey
TinaFeyscannytakeoffonherformerlifeasheadwriteronSaturdayNightLive,30Rock
wasinitiallyviewedastooinsideforamassaudience...READMORE
22.

FRIDAYNIGHTLIGHTS
DevelopedbyTelevisionbyPeterBerg,InspiredbytheBookbyH.G.Bissinger
PeterBergwroteanddirectedthepilotofashowthatwasthesecondadaptationofH.G.
Bissingersnonfictionnarrativeabouttheimpactofhighschoolfootballonthehearts,minds
andlives...READMORE
23.

FRASIER
CreatedbyDavidAngell&PeterCasey&DavidLee,Basedonthecharacter
"FrasierCrane"createdbyGlenCharles&LesCharles
TheGrubStreetProductionsteamofCaseyAngellLeefurtheredtheworktheyddoneon
CheersbymovingpsychologistFrasierCranefromBostontoSeattleandgivinghimaradio
callinshow...READMORE
24.
FRIENDS
CreatedbyMartaKauffman&DavidCrane
4/25/2014 101 Best Written TV Series List
http://www.wga.org/content/default.aspx?id=4925 4/13

CocreatorsMartaKauffmanandDavidCranemetinthetheaterprogramatBrandeisby
thetimetheycreatedFriends,theyhadaddedathirdpartner,KevinBright...READMORE
25.

SATURDAYNIGHTLIVE
SeasonOnewriters:AnneBeatts,ChevyChase,AlFranken,LorneMichaels,
MarilynSuzanneMiller,PaulMooney,GarrettMorris,MichaelODonoghue,Herb
Sargent,TomSchiller,RosieShuster,AlanZweibel
Inhis2009memoir,writerperformerTomDavisconjuresthesmallgangofwritersstanding
outsideLorneMichaelsoffice...READMORE
26.

THEXFILES
CreatedbyChrisCarter
Foxssignaturedramaformostofthe90s,TheXFiles,createdbyChrisCarter,wasone
ofprimetimetelevisionsalltimegreathitsciencefictionseries,althoughtocallitscifi
requiresqualifying...READMORE
27.

LOST
CreatedbyJeffreyLieberandJ.J.Abrams&DamonLindelof
Apasticheofgenresscifi,JamesBondmovies,action,adventure,thriller,evenrealityTV
comingledtointoxicatingeffectonLost,whichowedadebttoTheTwilightZone...READ
MORE
28.

ER
CreatedMichaelCrichton
TheshowthatlaunchedGeorgeClooneyscareerhada20yeargestationperiodbetween
thetimeMichaelCrichtonfirstwrotethepilotin1974andJohnWellsguidedittothetopof
theratingsinthemid1990s...READMORE
29.

THECOSBYSHOW
CreatedbyEdWeinberger&MichaelLeesonandWilliamCosby,Jr.,Ed.D.
BillCosbysreturntonetworktelevisioncausedanewvogueforsitcomsbasedcloselyon
theactofastandupcomedian,atrendthatdominatedprimetimeintotheensuing
decades...READMORE
30.

CURBYOURENTHUSIASM
CreatedbyLarryDavid
HavingcocreatedJerrySeinfeldsromanaclefofasitcom,LarryDavidhasturnedhimself
insideoutonCurb...READMORE
31.

THEHONEYMOONERS*
SeasonOnewriters:HerbertFinn,MarvinMarx,A.J.Russell,LeonardStern,
WalterStone,SydneyZelinka
Thestandardbywhichallworkingclasssitcomsarestillmeasuredhadafitful
beginning...READMORE
32.
DEADWOOD
4/25/2014 101 Best Written TV Series List
http://www.wga.org/content/default.aspx?id=4925 5/13

CreatedbyDavidMilch
AfteradozenyearsasthebardofNYPDBlue,DavidMilchsfirstcreatedserieswasa
strange,brilliantandrococoWesternsetinaGoldRushtownintheDakotaterritories,circa
thelate1800s...READMORE
33.

STARTREK
CreatedbyGeneRoddenberry
AscreatorGeneRoddenberrywrotetosciencefictionauthorIsaacAsmiovtwomonths
afterthefirstStarTrekseriespremieredin1966:StarTrekalmostdidnotgetontheair
becauseitrefused...READMORE
34.

MODERNFAMILY
CreatedbyStevenLevitan&ChristopherLloyd
ThesweetspotonModernFamily,doneasamockdocumentary,isinexposingthe
growingpainsforacultureconfrontingthefluidmeaningofthemainstreamfamily
unit...READMORE
35.

TWINPEAKS
"Pilot,"WrittenbyMarkFrost&DavidLynch
WhenBlueVelvetMeetsHillStreetBlues,readtheNewYorkTimesheadlinein1990,
describingTwinPeaks...READMORE
36.

NYPDBLUE
CreatedbyDavidMilch&StevenBochco
StevenBochcomademorecreativeelbowroomonnetworktelevisionwithNYPDBlue,
whichdebutedamidviewerdiscretionhypebeforesettlingintowhatitwasoneofthelast
importantprimetimecopseries...READMORE
37.

THECAROLBURNETTSHOW
SeasonOne:WrittenbyBillAngelos,StanBurns,DonHinkley,BuzKohan,Mike
Marmer,GailParent,KennySolms,SaulTurtletaubWritingSupervisedbyArnie
Rosen
Thekindofbelovedseriesthattelevisionexecutivesabandonedlongagocomedy
variety,withaninfectiouslymultitalentedcomedian...READMORE
38.

BATTLESTARGALACTICA(2005)
DevelopedbyRonaldD.Moore,BasedontheSeriesBattlestarGalactica,
CreatedbyGlenA.Larson
HavingwrittenfortheseriesStarTrek:TNGandStarTrek:Voyager,RonaldMoorearrived
athisremakeofBattlestarGalacticadetermined...READMORE
39.

SEXANDTHECITY
CreatedbyDarrenStar,BasedontheBookbyCandaceBushnell
Istheshowover?Becausethemoviesarent.CreatorDarrenStarbasedhisserieson
CandaceBushnellsbook,adapteditselffromhercolumnsintheNewYork
Observer...READMORE
40.
GAMEOFTHRONES
4/25/2014 101 Best Written TV Series List
http://www.wga.org/content/default.aspx?id=4925 6/13

CreatedbyDavidBenioff&D.B.Weiss,BasedonASongofIceandFireby
GeorgeR.R.Martin
Medieval(orthereabouts)fantasyisnotaTVgenrewithaparticularlyexaltedtradition,
whichiswhyGameofThrones,initslavishproductionvaluesanddepthofmythology,feels
sounprecedentedintelevision...READMORE
41.

THEBOBNEWHARTSHOWTIE
CreatedbyDavidDavisandLorenzoMusic
TalkingaboutthesuccessofTheBobNewhartShowonthepodcastBullseyerecently,
NewharttoldastoryaboutJackBenny...READMORE

YOURSHOWOFSHOWS*TIE
SeasonOne:WrittenbyMelTolkin,LucilleKallen,MaxLiebman
IfyoujourneyedfromVaudevilletoSaturdayNightLive,youdwanttostopawhileatYour
ShowofShows...READMORE
43.

DOWNTONABBEY*TIE
CreatedbyJulianFellowes
SeriescreatorJulianFelloweslavishperiodpieceisalsoapacedrivensoapopera,seton
aspectacularestateoutintheEnglishcountrysideofYorkshire,homeofthearistocratic
Crawleysandtheirstaff...READMORE

LAW&ORDERTIE
CreatedbyDickWolf
Thesonofanadvertisingexecutive,DickWolfwentintotheadbusinesshimselfbefore
movingintofilmandtelevision...READMORE

THIRTYSOMETHINGTIE
CreatedbyMarshallHerskovitz&EdwardZwick
Sincethissensitiveensembledramaburstontothesceneattheendofthegreedisgood
80s,manyhavetriedandjustasmanyhavefailedtoreplicateashowaboutwell,ennui
riddled,upwardlymobilestrivers...READMORE
46.

HOMICIDE:LIFEONTHESTREETTIE
CreatedbyPaulAttanasio,BasedontheBookHomicide:AYearontheKilling
StreetsbyDavidSimon
HomicidewasbasedonthebookHomicide:AYearontheKillingStreets,writtenbyDavid
Simonfromhistimeasacrimereporter...READMORE

ST.ELSEWHERETIE
CreatedbyJoshuaBrand&JohnFalsey,DevelopedbyMarkTinker/JohnMasius
Likeotherimportantshowsfromthe1980sMTMstable,St.Elsewhere,whichtwicewon
Emmysforitswriting,featuredawritingstaffwhosefutureseriesappearelsewhereonthis
list...READMORE
48.
HOMELAND
DevelopedbyHowardGordon&AlexGansa,BasedontheOriginalIsraeliSeries
PrisonersofWarbyGideonRaff
Homelandisamorehumanistandpsychologicallydisturbingversionof24,ashowon
whichcocreatorsHowardGordonandAlexGansawerewriters...READMORE
4/25/2014 101 Best Written TV Series List
http://www.wga.org/content/default.aspx?id=4925 7/13

49.

BUFFYTHEVAMPIRESLAYER
CreatedbyJossWhedon
Partofthefun,andinfluence,ofBuffywasinthewayitmixedandmatchedgenreswhile
maintainingtheintegrityofitscomedyanditsheart...READMORE
50.

THECOLBERTREPORTTIE
SeasonOnewriters:MikeBrumm,StephenColbert,RichDahm,EricDrysdale,
PeterGwinn,JayKatsir,LauraKrafft,AllisonSilverman
Anyonecanreadthenewstoyou.Ipromisetofeelthenewsatyou.ThatwasStephen
ColbertsmantrawhenTheColbertReportdebuted...READMORE

THEGOODWIFETIE
CreatedbyRobertKing&MichelleKing
LeadingrolesforwomenonTVdontgrowontrees,muchlessleadingrolesaslayeredas
AliciaFlorrick,playedbyJulianaMargulies...READMORE

THEOFFICE(UK)*TIE
CreatedbyRickyGervais&StephenMerchant
Earlyoninthe2000s,thebuzzbeganmovingwestacrosstheAtlantic:Therewasthis
quirkyandveryfunnyfauxdocumentarycomedyseriesoutofEnglandcalledThe
Office...READMORE
53.

NORTHERNEXPOSURE
CreatedbyJoshuaBrand&JohnFalsey
TheseriesclassicfishoutofwaterpremiseinvolvedJoelFleischman,aNewYorkerfresh
outofColumbiaMedicalSchoolwhoissenttorunaclinicinfrigid,offthegridCicely,
Alaska...READMORE
54.

THEWONDERYEARS
CreatedbyNealMarlens&CarolBlack
CreatedbyNealMarlensandCarolBlack,thissweet,intelligentconfectionofahalfhour
comedyfunctionedasalookingglassintoalate60ssuburbanchildhood...READMORE
55.

L.A.LAW
CreatedbyStevenBochco&TerryLouiseFisher
Overitseightseasons,L.A.Lawrackedup15Emmysinvariouscategories(includingtwo
asoutstandingdrama)...READMORE
56.

SESAMESTREET
CreatedbyJoanGanzCooney
Simplyput,theshowscontinualinventivenessandimpactasaneducationaltoolforged
viatherunawaypopularityoftheMuppetschangedthelandscapeofchildrens
television...READMORE
57.
COLUMBO
CreatedbyRichardLevinson&WilliamLink
4/25/2014 101 Best Written TV Series List
http://www.wga.org/content/default.aspx?id=4925 8/13

Asawritingteam,RichardLevinsonandWilliamLinkwereananomaly,giventhatthey
startedwritingtogetherinjuniorhigh...READMORE
58.

FAWLTYTOWERS*TIE
WrittenbyJohnCleese&ConnieBooth
InaTVinterview,JohnCleesecalledFawltyTowersjustlittle30minutefarcesthatstart
very,verylowkeyandfinishupabsolutelyfrantic...READMORE

THEROCKFORDFILESTIE
CreatedbyRoyHugginsandStephenJ.Cannell
AssmoothasColumbowasrumpled,privateeyeJimRockford,anexcon,livedand
workedoutofatraileratthebeachinSantaMonica...READMORE
60.

FREAKSANDGEEKSTIE
CreatedbyPaulFeig
Thetitleitselfwasanironicstatementaboutthepejorativesthatgetattachedtothosekids
whodontquitebuyintotheaspirationalideaoffittingin...READMORE

MOONLIGHTINGTIE
CreatedbyGlennGordonCaron
Nominallyacomedicdetectiveseries,theshowsoriginalitycamefromtheelectrifying
chemistrybetweenstarsBruceWillisandCybilSherpherd...READMORE
62.

ROOTS
WrittenbyWilliamBlinn,M.CharlesCohen,ErnestKinoy,JamesLeeBasedon
theBookbyAlexHaley
Roots,fromexecutiveproducerDavidL.Wolper,andproducedbyStanMargulies,was
morethanaminiseries...READMORE
63.

EVERYBODYLOVESRAYMONDTIE
CreatedbyPhilipRosenthal
Therewasalwayssomethingdeceptivelysimpleondisplay,inbothitsstraightforward
conceptandskillfulexecution...READMORE

SOUTHPARK*TIE
CreatedbyMattStone&TreyParker
FromTheSpiritofChristmas,ananimatedholidaycardmadeforFoxexecutiveBrian
GradenthatgotpassedaroundHollywoodlikecomedysamizdat,toTheBookofMormon,
nocomedywriters...READMORE
65.
PLAYHOUSE90
SeasonOnewriters:EdnaAnhalt,EdmundBeloin,HaroldJackBloom,Marc
Brandel,GeorgeBruce,JamesP.Cavanagh,WhitfiledCook,HelenDoss,Scott
Fitzgerald,DeveryFreeman,FrankGilroy,HelenHowe,SpeedLamkin,Ernest
Lehman,HerbertLittle,Jr.,DonMankiewicz,ElickMoll,PaulMonash,Dean
4/25/2014 101 Best Written TV Series List
http://www.wga.org/content/default.aspx?id=4925 9/13

Reisner,NormanRetchin,SelmaRobinson,WilliamSackheim,RodSerling,
LeonardSpigelgass,LeslieStevens,BrandonThomas,DavidVictor,CharlesM.
Warren,HagarWilde,CornellWoolrich
"Onecannotimaginethejoyonehadasaprofessionalviewer...READMORE
66.

DEXTERTIE
DevelopedforTelevisionbyJamesManos,Jr.,BasedontheNovelDarkly
DreamingDexterbyJeffLindsay
ThemovementtowarddarkcharactersonTVhadgrowndarkenoughtomakepossiblea
series,albeitonpaycable,aboutaMachiavellianserialkillerwhosetargetsareotherserial
killers...READMORE

THEOFFICE(U.S.)TIE
CreatedbyRickyGervais&StephenMerchant,DevelopedbyGregDaniels,
BasedontheBBCSeriesTheOffice
AdaptingtheBritishcomedybyRickyGervaisandStephenMerchant,GregDaniels
gatheredaroundhimwriterperformersB.J.Novak,MindyKaling,andPaul
Lieberstein...READMORE
68.

MYSOCALLEDLIFE
CreatedbyWinnieHolzman
Icannotbringmyselftoeatawellbalancedmealinfrontofmymother.Itjustmeanstoo
muchtoher,thesearchingteenagerAngela,playedbyClaireDanes,saysinvoiceoverin
thepilotofMySoCalledLife...READMORE
69.

THEGOLDENGIRLS
CreatedbySusanHarris
ThesitcomthatstormedthegatesofprevailingwisdomaboutTVandtheover50
set...READMORE
70.

THEANDYGRIFFITHSHOW
Episode1,"TheNewHousekeeper,"WrittenbyJackElinsonandCharlesStewart
WritingintheSanFranciscoChronicleuponthedeathofAndyGriffith,DavidWiegand
pointedoutthatSheriffAndyandthegoodfolksofMayberry,N.C.,foundwideappealin
primetimeinanera...READMORE
71.

24TIE
CreatedbyJoelSurnow&RobertCochran
Headingintoitsdebut,thechallengesfacingthisintriguingnewthrillerwerenarrativeones
namely,theabilitytoattract,andhold,alargeaudiencethroughastorythatunfoldedbythe
hour,inweeklyinstallments...READMORE

ROSEANNETIE
CreatedbyMattWilliams,BasedonaCharacterCreatedbyRoseanneBarr
In1985,onTheTonightShowStarringJohnnyCarson,Americametacomediannamed
RoseanneBarr...READMORE
THESHIELDTIE
CreatedbyShawnRyan
Youcouldarguethatnoseriesinthehistoryoftelevisionleftagreaterimprintonitsnetwork
thanTheShield,whichenabledFXtobranchoutintogrittier,Rrateddramaticfarewhile
4/25/2014 101 Best Written TV Series List
http://www.wga.org/content/default.aspx?id=4925 10/13

alsokeepingitsdignityintact...READMORE
74.

HOUSETIE
CreatedbyDavidShore
CreatorDavidShoresseriescamealongadecadeafterERandgavethemedicaldramaa
jolt,basingashowonaphysicianwhodidnthaveaGodcomplexsomuchasacomplex
thatwasvociferouslygodless...READMORE

MURPHYBROWNTIE
CreatedbyDianeEnglish
SeriescreatorDianeEnglishleftafterfourpopularandawardwinningseasonstocreate
newshows,justasMurphyBrownsdecisiontobecomeasinglemotherwasblastedas
morallyirresponsible...READMORE
76.

BARNEYMILLERTIE
CreatedbyDannyArnold&TheodoreJ.Flicker
Theairofworldwearysadnessthathungoverthedenizensofthe12thPrecinctmade
BarneyMillerfeeldifferentfromothersitcoms,quieterinpersonalityandmoreoffbeat...
READMORE

I,CLAUDIUS*TIE
WrittenbyRobertGravesandJackPulman
Twastheyearoftheminiseries:InJanuaryof1977RootspremieredonABCinMarchthe
networksscandaloushitRichMan,PoorManconcluded,andinNovember,public
televisionsMasterpieceTheater...READMORE
78.

THEODDCOUPLE
Episode1,"TheFightoftheFelix,"WrittenbyPeggyElliott&EdScharlach
NeilSimonshitBroadwayplaywasdirectedbyMikeNicholsandstarredWalterMatthau
andArtCarney...READMORE
79.

ALFREDHITCHCOCKPRESENTSTIE
SeasonOnewriters:GwenBagni,SamuelBlas,RobertBlees,RayBradbury,
RichardCarr,JamesCavanagh,EustaceCockrell,FrancisCockrell,Marian
Cockrell,JohnCollier,RobertC.Dennis,MelDinelli,StanleyEllin,Fred
Freiberger,IrwinGielgud,GinaKaus,TerenceMaples,RichardPedicini,Louis
Pollock,JosephRuscoll,A.J.Russell,StirlingSilliphant,AndrewSolt,Harold
Swanton,VictorWolfson,CornellWoolrich
SomeofHitchcocksmostmemorablefilmscameoutwhilehewashostinghisanthologyTV
series...READMORE

MONTYPYTHONSFLYINGCIRCUS*TIE
ConceivedandWrittenbyGrahamChapman,JohnCleese,TerryGilliam,Eric
Idle,NeilInnes,TerryJones,MichaelPalin
Greatestcomedyinthehistoryoftelevision?Youwouldntgetanargumentinsome
quarters...READMORE
STARTREK:THENEXTGENERATIONTIE
CreatedbyGeneRoddenberry
4/25/2014 101 Best Written TV Series List
http://www.wga.org/content/default.aspx?id=4925 11/13

Forhisfollowuptoascifiseriesphenomenonroughlythesizeofthecosmos,Gene
Roddenberrywantedtodemonstrate,asheputitina1991LosAngelesTimesMagazine
article,"thatTVneednotbeviolent...READMORE

UPSTAIRS,DOWNSTAIRS*TIE
CreatedbyJeanMarshandEileenAtkins
LongbeforethesottovocebuzzandchatteratEdwardianeraDowntonAbbey,therewas
165EatonPlace,London,andtheBellamyfamily...READMORE
83.

GETSMART
"Pilot,"WrittenbyMelBrooksandBuckHenry
NothavingseenKubricksDr.StrangeloveorWoodyAlleninWhatsUp,TigerLily,for
thatmatterIdidntreadGetSmartasatakeoffonColdWaresque,mutuallyassured
destructionImjustnowrealizingtheC.O.N.T.R.O.L.v.K.A.O.S.dichotomy...READMORE
84.

THEDEFENDERSTIE
CreatedbyReginaldRose
ReginaldRosewontwoEmmysforhiswritingonTheDefenders,whichcontinuedinthe
veinoftheworkforwhichhewasmostknownforwriting,TwelveAngryMen...READMORE

GUNSMOKETIE
Episode1,"MattGetsIt,"WrittenbyCharlesMarquisWarren&JohnMeston
AlreadyahitonradiostarringWilliamConradasMarshallMattDillon,Gunsmoke,starring
JamesArness,becamethemostpopularWesterninTVhistoryandoneofthelongest
runningshowsever...READMORE
86.

JUSTIFIEDTIE
DevelopedbyTelevisionbyGrahamYost,BasedontheShortStory"Fireinthe
Hold"byElmoreLeonard
GrahamYost,afterworkingontwomajorminiseriesforHBO,BandofBrothersandThe
Pacific,seguedintosomethingentirelydifferentinJustified...READMORE

SGT.BILKO(THEPHILSILVERSSHOW)TIE
CreatedbyNatHiken
InaNewYorkTimesarticlein1996,whenthemovieversionofSgt.Bilkowastobe
released,DavidEveritt,authorofthebookKingoftheHalfHour:NatHikenandtheGolden
AgeofTVComedy,paidhomage...READMORE
88.

BANDOFBROTHERS
WrittenbyErikBork,E.MaxFrye,TomHanks,ErikJendresen,BruceC.McKenna,
JohnOrloff,GrahamYostBasedontheBookbyStephanE.Ambrose
Thetelevisionminiserieshadtraditionallygonetowar,butBandofBrothersdidsowitha
budgetthatreportedlystretchedto$120million...READMORE
89.
ROWAN&MARTINSLAUGHIN
SeasonOne:WrittenbyChrisBeard,PhilHahn,JohnHanrahan,Coslough
Johnson,PaulKeyes,MarcLondon,AllanManings,DavidPanich,Hugh
Wedlock,DigbyWolfe
4/25/2014 101 Best Written TV Series List
http://www.wga.org/content/default.aspx?id=4925 12/13

Unlikeotherlandmarkcomedyvarietyseries,mostnotablySaturdayNightLive,its
impossibletotalkaboutLaughInwithoutviewingit...READMORE
90.

THEPRISONER*
PremiereEpisode:WrittenbyGeorgeMarksteinandDavidTomblin
Astrange,psychedelicamalgamofColdWarspyfiction,scifiandKafkaesqueanti
authoritarianism,ThePrisonerstarredPatrickMcGoohanasNumberSix...READMORE
91.

ABSOLUTELYFABULOUS(U.K.)*TIE
Episode1,"Fashion,"WrittenbyJenniferSaunders,Basedonanoriginalideaby
JenniferSaunders&DawnFrench
JenniferSaunderswasalreadyknowninEnglandaspartofthecomedydoubleactFrench
andSaunderswhenshecreatedAbFab,whichfeaturedthebesottedexploitsofmiddle
agedgalpals...READMORE

THEMUPPETSHOWTIE
SeasonOne:WrittenbyJackBurns,JimHenson,JerryJuhl,MarcLondon
BehindJimHensonsgeniusandgenerosityofspiritwerewriterswhosharedhisvisionfor
puppetrythatcouldticklekidswhiledelightingadults...READMORE
93.

BOARDWALKEMPIRE
CreatedbyTerenceWinter,BasedontheBookBoardwalkEmpirebyNelson
Johnson
AsawriteronTheSopranos,TerenceWintersnameisonsomeoftheshowsmosticonic
episodes,includingPineBarrens,andLongTermParking,inwhichamobstersfianc
wastakenout...READMORE
94.

WILL&GRACE
CreatedbyDavidKohan&MaxMutchnick
TheseasonpriortoWill&GracesdebuthadseenTVhistory,whenEllenDegeneres
sitcomalteregocameoutasalesbianinatwopartepisodeofABCsEllen...READMORE
95.

FAMILYTIES
CreatedbyGaryDavidGoldberg
In1986,TheWashingtonPostreportedthatataWhiteHouseceremonyhonoring141high
schoolstudentsselectedaspresidentialscholarsforachievementinacademics,thearts
andleadership,PresidentReagancalledFamilyTies...READMORE
96.

LONESOMEDOVETIE
TeleplaybyBillWittliff,BasedontheNovelLonesomeDovebyLarryMcMurtry
Itwassobig,andatthatmoment,Westernsweredead,BillWittliff,whoadaptedLarry
McMurtrysnovelintotheacclaimedminiseries,toldtheSanAntonioExpressNewsin
2007...READMORE
SOAPTIE
CreatedbySusanHarris
Whatmorecouldyouwantfromaprimetimesatireofdaytimesoaps?Thecomedy,
4/25/2014 101 Best Written TV Series List
http://www.wga.org/content/default.aspx?id=4925 13/13

centeredaroundtheextendedfamilycircusofthewealthyTatesandthemiddleclass
Campbells,hitallthesoapyplotpoints...READMORE
98.

THEFUGITIVETIE
Episode1,"WheretheActionIs,"WrittenbyHarryKronman
Theseriesfinalesetaratingsrecordwitha72percentshare,andwentdownashistory
makingforthewayitgaveaudiencesaclimaxtoallthetensionithadbuiltupoverfour
seasons...READMORE

LATENIGHTWITHDAVIDLETTERMANTIE
SeasonOne:WritingSupervisedbyMerrillMarkoe,Writers:AndyBreckman,Tom
Gammill,DavidLetterman,RichardMorris,GerardMulligan,MaxPross,Karl
Tiedemann,SteveWiner
ThesortofironythatDavidLettermanpopularizedonhisshowinvolved,forstarters,calling
attentiontothefactthathewasdoingatalkshow...READMORE

LOUIETIE
SeasonOne:WrittenandDirectedbyLouisC.K.
Theshow,aboutabemusedcomediananddivorcedfatheroftwogirls,hasthefeelof
honestautobiography.READMORE
101.

OZ
CreatedbyTomFontana
BeforeTheSopranos,orTheWire,therewasOz,thefirstdramaticseriesproducedby
HBO(HBOhadproducedcomedies,includingTheLarrySandersShow,butnota
drama)...READMORE
*NonWGAdeterminedcredit