TV.com’s Stefanie Lee recently published an article called ‘The 15 Most Influential Shows of the Decade’.
It’s a good list – and the following shows are on it – but I recommend you read the article to see exactly why they’ve been selected (including where they came from and what specifically they influenced):
- Desperate Housewives (2004-present, ABC)
- The West Wing (1999-2006, NBC)
- Lost (2004-present, ABC)
- Chappelle's Show (2003-2006, Comedy Central)
- Battlestar Galactica (2004-2009, Syfy)
- Sex and the City (1998-2004, HBO)
- The Daily Show (1996-present, Comedy Central)
- The Shield (2002-2008, FX)
- Malcolm in the Middle (2000-2006, FOX) and The Office (2005-present, NBC)
- The Oprah Winfrey Show (1986-present, CBS)
- The OC (2003-2007, FOX)
- The O'Reilly Factor (1996-present, FOX News)
- Survivor (2000-present, CBS)
- The Sopranos (1999-2007, HBO) and The Wire (2002-2008, HBO)
- American Idol (2002-present, FOX)