The New York Times recently released a list of its choices for the Top 20 TV dramas of the past 20 years. The list was made in honor of the 20th anniversary of the first episode of "The Sopranos."
Among the shows on the Times' list with "The Sopranos" were "Breaking Bad," "Mad Men," "The Wire," "Battlestar Galactica" - but no "Game of Thrones," which has ticked off some people.
Shawn RyanI've only watched a few of the shows on the list, but it made me consider which TV series would make my personal Top 10 (I don't have room in this column for 20). So in no particular order:
» "Farscape." This may be my favorite TV show of all time. Yes, it's science fiction, but it's so much more. Hilarious at times, heartbreakingly sad at others. A four-season story arc that twists and turns and goes places you'd never expect.
» "Star Trek." The original show may have only lasted three seasons, but its influence on TV and moviedom is undeniable. For a 9-year-old boy when it first came on, it was cool beyond belief.
» "St. Elsewhere." Before "E.R.," "St. Elsewhere" depicted the world inside a hospital, although not necessarily a hospital you'd want to be in as a patient. Where else do you find a show that kills a woman when she accidentally receives a head in a box in the mail?
» "Northern Exposure." As quirky as it gets. Nut job at times, but with characters you care about even if they are weird. And actually it didn't seem like such a bad place to live.
» "Eureka." Another bizarre town. Imagine the things that can happen in a town where the most brilliant scientists in the world are all living and working - and making mistakes.
» "Battlestar Galactica." Far away from the cheesy 1970s show that was trying to capitalize on "Star Wars." Darker than dark at times, but always compelling. Interesting ending, too.
» "Lou Grant." As someone who has worked in newspapers for more than half my life, this was the first series that accurately depicted life in a newsroom, which can be the most fun, weird, exciting and sometimes-terrible place on the planet.
» "Supernatural." Yes, I'm secretly a teenage girl. At 14 seasons, it's getting a bit long in the tooth and has announced that next year will be its last. C'mon, how many times can Sam and Dean Winchester save the universe?
Contact Shawn Ryan at mshawnryan@gmail.com.