Top 100 TV shows of the '60s

- IMDb user rating: 7.3
- On air: 1959-1973

"Bonanza" was not only the first color Western to grace people's TV screens but also the first color television show ever aired, which caused it to have a large budget. First aired in 1959, "Bonanza" was NBC's longest-running Western which followed the fictional Cartwright family as they struggled with the challenges and triumphs of running a ranch in the 1800s. Appealing to Western fans with riveting action sequences and drama fans with intimate familial conflicts, "Bonanza" was wildly successful at the time, regularly placing in the Nielsen top 5.

- IMDb user rating: 7.4
- On air: 1965-1974

Quinn Martin produced this crime series that featured real-life FBI cases ranging from extortion plots and the capture of Communist spies to counterfeiting operations. Incredibly realistic, the series employed J. Edgar Hoover (the former director of the FBI) as a consultant and other notable agents as technical advisors. The show was so beloved that in 2009 FBI Director Robert Mueller made Efrem Zimbalist Jr. (who played the show's lead, Inspector Lewis Erskine) an honorary member of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

- IMDb user rating: 7.4
- On air: 1967-1969

Alex Toth's original "The Herculoids" was produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions. The science fiction cartoon centers on a family of space barbarians who fight alongside their alien pets (the Herculoids) to save their planet from all sorts of invaders. "The Herculoids" had a massive impact on the genre, as traces of it can be seen in iconic franchises such as "Star Trek" and "Star Wars." Other Alex Toth cartoons include "Fantastic Four," "Space Ghost," and "Sea Lab 2020."

- IMDb user rating: 7.4
- On air: 1952-1966

First a successful band leader, Ozzie Nelson then rose to fame with his wife Harriet thanks to the popular radio show "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet," which ran on CBS from 1944 to 1949, with a quick stint in NBC in 1948. ABC then aired the radio series from 1949 until June 1954. ABC obtained the rights to the program and successfully moved it to television, where it became the longest-running family sitcom in history. Overall, 435 episodes of "The Adventures" were aired, detailing the comedic trials and tribulations of their suburban life.

- IMDb user rating: 7.4
- On air: 1958-1966

Donna Reed made history with her role in "The Donna Reed Show" as the second woman ever to star in and produce a television show (only after Lucille Ball). Her family drama was groundbreaking while it aired, as it featured not only a female protagonist but also a mother protagonist who was comfortable with bending gender norms. Despite producing the show, Reed's behind-the-scenes role was uncredited—only her husband's name appeared in the producer credits.

- IMDb user rating: 7.4
- On air: 1966-1968

"The Rat Patrol" was an action show set in Northern Africa during World War II following a group of Allied soldiers whose mission was to "attack, harass, and wreak havoc on Field Marshal Rommel's vaunted Afrika Corps." A hit with history junkies and action aficionados alike, the show ran for two seasons in the United States but was canceled after just six episodes in the U.K. after a group of servicemen began complaining about its accuracy.

- IMDb user rating: 7.4
- On air: 1969-1970

Sid and Marty Krofft's first show to make it to television, "H.R. Pufnstuf" is about a boy named Timmy who, along with his magical flute, is transported to Living Island, where he is almost captured by the evil Witchiepoo. Thankfully, a dragon named H.R. Pufnstuf swoops in just in time and saves both the boy and his flute. Despite the show's abundant drug imagery (there's a whole episode about magic mushrooms), the Kroffts have always vehemently denied any intentional connections to illicit substances.

- IMDb user rating: 7.4
- On air: 1962-1966

Beginning as a TV play titled "Seven Against the Sea," "McHale's Navy" revolved around the tension between the relaxed, con-artist Lt. Commander Quinton McHale (Ernest Borgnine) and his superior officer, the rule-following Capt. Binghamton (Joe Flynn). The two men's vastly different approaches to life and leadership are often at odds, yet the men of PT 73, who are blindly loyal to McHale, are typically successful in combat and life, much to the chagrin of Binghamton.

- IMDb user rating: 7.4
- On air: 1966-1967

Created by the same team that brought the Adam West "Batman" series to life, "The Green Hornet" was yet another show attempting to capitalize on the superhero craze of the mid-'60s. Starring Van Williams and Bruce Lee, the show was adapted from the 1930s radio show of the same name. Despite its well-choreographed action scenes and exciting plots, the show never achieved quite the same success as "Batman" and was canceled after a single season.

- IMDb user rating: 7.4
- On air: 1967-1975

Created by the minds behind "Columbo" and "Mission Impossible," "Mannix" was a staple of the TV true-crime detective genre. Played by Mike Connors, Joe Mannix was an L.A.-based private investigator who worked with the high-tech detective agency Intertect—although Mannix himself often used his wits and brute force over something like a computer, which eventually led to him starting his own P.I. firm. "Mannix" was largely popular because of its action-packed fight sequences, but the inclusion of the charming assistant Gail Fisher also boosted ratings as well as making "Mannix" one of the first television shows at the time to feature a Black actress in a prominent role.

- IMDb user rating: 7.4
- On air: 1966-1968

Unapologetically riding on the coattails of The Beatles' fame, the sitcom followed a four-member boy band as they attempted to make it big. Stephen Stills and many other musical hopefuls auditioned for the show, but ultimately, musicians Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork, Mike Nesmith, and Davy Jones were cast.

While the TV show was fictional and completely scripted, the band was real and outsold both The Beatles and The Rolling Stones in 1967 in terms of record sales. Despite the competition between the two groups, it's said that The Beatles didn't mind The Monkees copying them and were, in fact, thankful that the group was willing to provide the comedy and pop entertainment fans wanted while leaving the Fab Four free to pursue more serious and experimental work.

- IMDb user rating: 7.4
- On air: 1968-1980

Until "Law & Order" knocked it off its pedestal, "Hawaii Five-O" was the longest-running police procedural in television history. The show was about an elite four-man police force who, beholden only to Gov. Philip Grey, investigated "organized crime, murder, assassination attempts, foreign agents, felonies of every type." Although the series was nominated for multiple Emmy Awards, its only two wins didn't come until the 1970s. "Hawaii Five-O" was rebooted in 2010 and ran until 2020.

- IMDb user rating: 7.4
- On air: 1964-1967

Seven castaways, including a millionaire, an actress, a professor, and a farm girl, find themselves stranded on an uncharted island after their tour boat crashes in a typhoon. The group was stuck on the island for three seasons, never making it back to civilization before the series was canceled in favor of "Gunsmoke." The sitcom made headlines at the end of 2020 when actress Dawn Wells, who played Mary Ann Summers, died from COVID-19 complications.

- IMDb user rating: 7.4
- On air: 1965-1970

NBC's response to "Bewitched," "I Dream of Jeannie" was a supernatural sitcom about a handsome astronaut (Larry Hagman) who uncovers a mysterious bottle on one of his missions and finds that it contains a beautiful young genie (Barbara Eden). Of course, the duo falls in love at first sight and marries later in the series. Despite the show's massive success, work on the series wasn't a pleasant experience for everyone, including Hagman, who turned to drug and alcohol abuse in an effort to cope with it.

- IMDb user rating: 7.5
- On air: 1968-1969

Part detective, part sci-fi show "The Champions'' was about a trio of elite agents from the fictional intelligence organization Nemesis who find themselves saddled with supernatural powers after a Himalayan tribe saves them from a plane crash. Once they acquire these powers in the first episode, the group is able to use them to help solve their other cases, often finding that they have a sizable advantage over those seeking to cause harm.

- IMDb user rating: 7.5
- On air: 1968-1970

While there were only three seasons of ABC's "It Takes a Thief," this light-hearted spy series was a popular alternative to heavy hitters like "James Bond" and "Mission: Impossible." Following a master pickpocket turned reluctant government agent, Alexander Mundy (Robert Wagner) jet-sets across the globe with varying female spy counterparts to steal documents and artifacts. "It Takes a Thief" balances classic Hollywood directing and cinematography with quirky hijinks and disguises to create a wholly enjoyable experience for any viewer.

- IMDb user rating: 7.5
- On air: 1957-1965

"Wagon Train" had the honor of being the most popular Western airing at the time as well as being the #1 show on TV for the 1961-62 season. Based on the 1950 movie "Wagon Master," "Wagon Train" followed Seth Adams (played by Ward Bond) as he rode the titular wagon train from Missouri to California. After Bond's death, audiences were introduced to Chris Hale (played by John McIntire). Each episode introduced a slew of new side characters that Bond ran into on his travels that were sometimes so interesting they stole the limelight from the core cast.

- IMDb user rating: 7.5
- On air: 1966-1967

Before there was TikTok, there was Project Tic-Toc, as seen in the classic sci-fi series "The Time Tunnel." Created by the so-called "Master of Disaster" Irwin Allen and heavily inspired by the space race, "The Time Tunnel" predicted that the next great frontier for Americans to tackle was that of time itself. Audiences were riveted as the protagonist Tony Newman stumbled into major historical events like the sinking of the Titanic, the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and the battle of Iwo Jima. The show only lasted for one season before being canceled. 

- IMDb user rating: 7.5
- On air: 1962-1969

Before "The Saint" ever graced television screens, The Saint was a nickname for the popular book character and spy Simon Templar, created by author Leslie Charteris in the 1920s. Roger Moore brought the character to life for the British series, combining suave mannerisms with strong moral messages, despite Templar working outside the legal system, to create the highly successful action thriller.

- IMDb user rating: 7.5
- On air: 1968-1970

One of Hanna-Barbera's most unique shows, each episode of "Wacky Races" featured 11 different cars driven by a variety of Hanna-Barbera characters, racing around different locations in the United States. Inspired by the movie "The Great Race" and originally conceived as a game show, the series wound up being canceled in 1970 after a parent's group complained that it glorified violence.

- IMDb user rating: 7.5
- On air: 1966-1968

Fans of the DC Comics superhero have long debated whether this incredibly popular '60s TV adaptation is genius or utterly horrible. Adam West's "Batman" series was campy and silly, with black-and-white morality and tons of celebrity guests. Many of the original comic's diehard fans felt that the series was tonally off and essentially amounted to a parody, while others argued that it embodied the spirit of the '50s and '60s strips and launched the Batman character into well-deserved superstardom.

- IMDb user rating: 7.5
- On air: 1960-1966

Hanna-Barbera Productions struck gold again with "The Flintstones," an animated take on "The Honeymooners" set in the Stone Age. Premiering in a prime-time slot, the show remained an evening fixture for its entire original run of six seasons. The show is seen as one of the first cartoons geared toward an adult audience that would set the stage for the later adult animation craze. It would hold the record as the longest-running prime-time cartoon until 1997, when "The Simpsons" eclipsed it.

- IMDb user rating: 7.6
- On air: 1957-1963

"The Real McCoys" is best remembered for starting a new wave of rural comedy shows, often referred to as the "rural revolution," that allowed for others like "The Andy Griffith Show" and "The Beverly Hillbillies" to follow. This sitcom explored the inner workings of the McCoy family when they moved from West Virginia to California after inheriting a ranch and the often comedic interactions with their neighbors (often due to the grumpy Grandpa Amos).

- IMDb user rating: 7.6
- On air: 1969-1971

Originally titled "Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased)" this British series about two private detectives was renamed "My Partner the Ghost" in the United States. When a curse leaves detective Marty Hopkirk, who is killed in a hit-and-run accident in the first episode, stranded on Earth, he continues to assist partner Jeff Randall in solving cases and investigating crimes, despite the fact that Randall is the only one who can see him. The show was rebooted in 2000, but audiences didn't care for the remake nearly as much as the original.

- IMDb user rating: 7.6
- On air: 1962-1963

Before "The Benny Hill Show" got underway, the British comedian starred in a single season of another self-titled comedy, "Benny Hill." Showcasing the comic's unique sense of humor, this series is an anthology of single-episode sitcoms, with Hill playing a different character in each one. While not nearly as well-known as his variety show, the higher rating suggests that fans consider this show the better of the two offerings.

- IMDb user rating: 7.6
- On air: 1967-1971

Dave Dortort, the man behind "Bonanza," was also the creative mind behind this Western drama which prioritized depicting the gritty realism of life on the titular Arizona ranch over all else. Like many Westerns at the time, "The High Chaparral" follows one family, the Cannon family, and their struggles to stay afloat. Where this show differed from many others at this time is that it was unafraid to explore both class conflict and racial conflict, with many subplots devoted to Mexican and Indigenous characters.

- IMDb user rating: 7.6
- On air: 1962-1971

There are many iterations of "The Virginian" in existence, including the original 1902 novel written by Owen Wister, three different feature-length films, and a failed pilot, all before the NBC show in 1962. Despite episodes being 90 minutes in length, something unheard of for Westerns at that time, "The Virginian" was massively popular among '60s audiences. James Drury saw great success as the charming titular character and was frequently joined by other impressive co-stars and guest stars, including Doug McClure, Tim Matheson, and Bette Davis.

- IMDb user rating: 7.6
- On air: 1967-1970

"Dragnet 1967" follows Sgt. Joe Friday and his partner Bill Gannon as they deal with crime all over Los Angeles. Director Jack Webb mined the real LAPD for material and was known to pay officers $25 for any real-life story he could use on the show. As a result, the series had a very realistic feel and was even used as training material by police departments. Some critics have pointed to "Dragnet" as the start of pop culture's glorified portrayal of law enforcement since police were involved in the making of the show, forever influencing Americans' perceptions of cops.

- IMDb user rating: 7.6
- On air: 1965-1969

"The Big Valley" is an hour-long Western drama about the Barkleys, one of the wealthiest ranching families in California's San Joaquin Valley. Matriarch Victoria Barkley leads the family after the death of her husband Tom (which occurs before the series begins), proving that women are just as capable as men of ruling the Wild West—and also making this series the only Western of the time to be led by a female character. The show was canceled in 1969 when the major networks began phasing out all Westerns in favor of more modern and unique series.

- IMDb user rating: 7.6
- On air: 1968-1975

Despite recent debates about the role of police in society, the police procedural was and continues to be a staple of episodic television. Before there was "Law and Order," there was "Adam-12," a police-focused drama that worked closely with the LAPD, using their equipment and sometimes even their cases to normalize and popularize the average cop in the tumultuous '60s society. Led by actors Martin Miller and Kent McCord, "Adam-12" ran for seven seasons and was unafraid to tackle issues within the police force as well as in society.

- IMDb user rating: 7.6
- On air: 1969-1989

British institution Benny Hill's self-titled series was a comedy sketch program filled with smutty jokes, slapstick humor, zany monologues, and cheeky songs. The show began on the BBC but eventually aired on every major network in the world before being canceled in 1989. "The Benny Hill Show" won many awards, including the British Academy Best Comedy Show award and the Golden Rose of Montreux.

- IMDb user rating: 7.6
- On air: 1957-1963

Considered the first ever American television show to air after the creation of the Iron Curtain, "Leave it to Beaver" was an idealistic comedy-drama following Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver's home life and school life. Episodes genuinely revolved around the various troubles Beaver and his brother Wally found themselves in, including putting an alligator in their bathroom and getting stuck in their picket fence. It was never revealed what state Mayfield, the Cleaver's hometown, was, perhaps making them universally relatable to every family in the United States. 

- IMDb user rating: 7.6
- On air: 1969-1980

"The Pink Panther Show" is a collection of three cartoon shorts featuring either the Pink Panther himself, a cartoon cat with the manners of an English aristocrat, or The Inspector, an animated version of Peter Sellers's Inspector Clouseau. The pink cat was originally created for the opening credits of the Sellers movies but wound up getting its own series due to its popularity with fans. The show would add in new characters and remove others throughout its long run. "The Pink Panther" also spawned countless movie adaptations, the most recent being the 2006 reboot and its 2009 sequel starring Steve Martin.

- IMDb user rating: 7.6
- On air: 1964-1972

Elizabeth Montgomery starred as nose-twitching witch Samantha Stephens, who marries a mortal named Darrin in ABC's smash hit "Bewitched." Despite agreeing to become a normal suburban housewife after her marriage, Samantha finds she can't give up her magical powers, which leads to plenty of chaos in the young couple's life.

- IMDb user rating: 7.7
- On air: 1969-1974

Set in an integrated high school in Los Angeles, "Room 222" was a comedy-drama about a group of dedicated teachers led by Black history teacher Pete Dixon, who taught their students lessons in tolerance, understanding, and acceptance. The show often tackled difficult topics like drug use, racism, sexism, gun violence, and teenage pregnancy without coming off as preachy or dry. The series took home the Emmy Award for Outstanding New Series in its first season. "Room 222" was created by an early-career James L. Brooks, who would later helm beloved shows and movies including "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," "Terms of Endearment," and "The Simpsons."

- IMDb user rating: 7.7
- On air: 1959-1963

NBC's "Laramie" utilized the high-drama backdrop of Wyoming territory during the late 1800s, the perfect setting for this action-heavy Western television show. Centered around two brothers trying to keep their family ranch afloat after the death of their father, the show explored themes of grief, post-Civil War tension, and the struggle of the working class. Laramie is a real town in Wyoming, and avid fans of the show can take the "Legends of Laramie" tour to see some of the filming locations.

- IMDb user rating: 7.7
- On air: 1968-1970

Based on the movie of the same name, "The Ghost & Mrs. Muir'' follows a young widow who moves with her two children and her faithful housekeeper into a seaside cottage that's haunted by a 19th-century sea captain. While the movie is a romantic fantasy tale, the series, which stars Hope Lange, is a comedy that often plays up its paranormal aspect for laughs. Lange won two Best Actress Emmy Awards for her work on the program.

- IMDb user rating: 7.7
- On air: 1958-1964

"77 Sunset Strip" was the first hour-long American television show about private detectives, featuring dual protagonists and former government agents Stuart Bailey (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) and Jeff Spencer (Roger Smith). The detectives would take turns serving as the episode lead each week, but apparently, the side character Kookie (Edd Byrnes) was the fan favorite, as evidenced by the fact that he received 10,000 fan letters per week.

- IMDb user rating: 7.7
- On air: 1961-1963

Classic sitcom "Car 54, Where Are You?" tells the story of two of New York's finest: a short, dim-witted officer named Toody and a tall, intellectual officer named Muldoon. Despite its realistic setting (it was actually filmed at a studio in the Bronx), the show sees Toody and Muldoon encounter mostly comedic scenarios instead of more serious crimes.

- IMDb user rating: 7.7
- On air: 1960-1964

A truly unique adventure drama, "Route 66" follows two young men (Martin Milner and George Maharis) as they drive around the country in a Corvette seeking to understand themselves and the world a little bit better. What made the show stand apart from every other anthology series on network TV was that it was shot on location, with the entire cast and crew traveling to a new state for every episode. If the premise of the show sounds familiar, it may be because it bears plenty of similarities to Jack Kerouac's book "On the Road," which the author claimed provided the basis for the show.

- IMDb user rating: 7.7
- On air: 1959-1963

Fourth wall breaks have become increasingly popular in contemporary media, but many forget that this classic American television show opened every single episode with one—that's right, "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis" started every episode with the titular character monologuing directly to the camera. That aside, this show is also notable as being one of the first on-air comedy/dramas to have a teenage protagonist, and as such, the character and the actor, Dwayne Hickman, became nothing short of iconic to young audiences.

- IMDb user rating: 7.7
- On air: 1964-1968

"The Man from U.N.C.L.E." is a popular spy thriller from the '60s created by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. What was particularly notable about this show is that one of its protagonists was a Russian working with the U.S. government at a time when Cold War tensions were at a high. While the series fluctuated from serious drama to more lighthearted shenanigans, fans were consistently impressed by the inventive gadgets and hi-tech headquarters used in the shows. In 2015, there was a film reboot of "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." starring Armie Hammer, Henry Cavill, and Alicia Vikander, which was a bit less favorably received.

- IMDb user rating: 7.8
- On air: 1967-1968

Gerry and Silvia Anderson's follow-up to "Thunderbirds," "Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons" is about a group of specialists from an agency called Spectrum who find themselves waging war against an invisible species of alien, the Mysterons, who can co-opt people and objects for their own malicious ends. The series was made using Supermarionation, or electronic marionette puppets, which was popular in British television at the time.

- IMDb user rating: 7.8
- On air: 1962-1974

A show about a father and son in the rag-and-bone business, "Steptoe and Son" ran for a total of eight seasons on the BBC before branching out into feature films and radio programs. The basis for the American series "Sanford and Son," it focuses heavily on the intergenerational differences between an old man set in his ways and a young, more forward-thinking son who has social aspirations.

- IMDb user rating: 7.8
- On air: 1959-1963

"The Bullwinkle Show," also known as "Rocky and His Friends," was a cartoon comedy that utilized characters from its failed predecessor "The Frostbite Falls Revue." Starring Rocket J. Squirrel and Bullwinkle J. Moose, this show was not designed to push the animation medium forward, instead focusing on snappy writing and timely jokes. While the primary plot followed the titular characters, smaller segments like "Fractured Fairy Tales" and "Peabody's Improbable History" kept viewers on their toes.

- IMDb user rating: 7.8
- On air: 1965-1966

The Andersons' first hit series, "Thunderbirds," also employed Supermarionation to bring its characters to life. In this series, the Tracy family runs International Rescue, an organization whose primary mission is to save human lives. The group uses five super-craft called the Thunderbird machines that can travel through space, sea, air, and on land to aid in their daring rescue missions.

- IMDb user rating: 7.8
- On air: 1964-1965

Hanna-Barbera Productions' "Johnny Quest" is an animated science fiction show that follows a young boy who accompanies his research scientist father around the world, helping him solve various mysteries and defeat adversaries. Due to high production costs, the series was canceled after a single season, though it spent years in syndication.

- IMDb user rating: 7.8
- On air: 1965-1971

"Hogan's Heroes" has perhaps the most interesting (and complicated) setting of any comedic series on this list: a Nazi prisoner of war camp during WWII. Trapped behind enemy lines, the American soldiers, under the leadership of Col. Hogan (Bob Crane), concoct schemes to sabotage the Germans' war efforts and collect classified information.

- IMDb user rating: 7.8
- On air: 1964-1966

This mid-'60s sitcom follows the misadventures of a family of friendly monsters as they try to fit in with their human neighbors. Fred Gwynne led the cast as Herman Munster (Frankenstein's monster) alongside Yvonne De Carlo, who played his wife Lily (a vampire). Grandpa Munster (another vampire), son Eddie (a werewolf), and niece Marilyn (a human) rounded out the eclectic family. A black-and-white series, "Munsters" was canceled in 1966 when "Batman," the color adventure series, began attracting the time slot's viewers, dropping "Munsters" ratings.

- IMDb user rating: 7.9
- On air: 1960-1962

Although similarly titled to "Ultraman," "Danger Man," a show about a secret James Bond-esque agent, had nothing in common with the Japanese series. A British series, "Danger Man" wasn't very popular with American audiences, in spite of its action sequences and exotic locales, and only a single season aired in the United States. Americans' distaste for the series may be tied to the fact that Patrick McGoohan refused to allow his character to become intimate with any woman or to use a gun as a means of killing any of his enemies, therefore losing much of the fireworks they had come to appreciate.

- IMDb user rating: 7.9
- On air: 1957-2002

Most know "Little Mole" by its native name "Krtek'' which is the Czech word for mole. Created by Zděnek Miler, a successful animator from Prague who was inspired by Disney, this little mole would become a hit the second its first short film was released. Following the film's success, Miler created the equally beloved television series where the titular animal's expressive face and lack of dialogue became standard. Not only was this little mole focused on teaching lessons like the importance of going green, but it was even brought to space thanks to NASA astronaut Andrew Feustel.

- IMDb user rating: 7.9
- On air: 1959-1965

Western fans likely associate the "Rawhide" television show with one man: famed actor Clint Eastwood. This was the star's first big leading role as Rowdy Yates, although the show's protagonist was technically trail boss Gil Favor (Eric Fleming), who led a band of cattle drovers. Outside of having an iconic theme song, "Rawhide" was admired for its realistic depictions of working-class struggle and its dedication to depicting the ins and outs of cattle ranching.

- IMDb user rating: 7.9
- On air: 1969-1973

Rod Serling's follow-up to his series "The Twilight Zone," "Night Gallery" was a horror and science-fiction anthology series told through the lens of a series of paintings hung in an old museum. The show included original tales mixed with stories written by well-known authors like H.P. Lovecraft and Algernon Blackwood.

- IMDb user rating: 7.9
- On air: 1966-1973

"Mission: Impossible" gets its title from the protagonists' government-sponsored spy group, the "Impossible Missions Force," who tackled a wide array of missions, ranging from fighting communists to stopping someone from poisoning L.A.'s water supply. Outside of inspiring the wildly popular Tom Cruise-led "Mission Impossible" movie series, this show was most known for having one of the best opening sequences ever seen on TV.

- IMDb user rating: 7.9
- On air: 1969-1970

Since its initial release in 1969, Scooby-Doo and his gang of amateur sleuths have been an integral part of viewers' childhoods, with their most recent iteration being Mindy Kaling's 2023 "Velma." While "Scooby Doo, Where Are You!" was primarily a lighthearted kids' show, its inception and plots were heavily influenced by the moral panic of the '60s thanks to increased violence on and off the screen. This groovy mystery show was designed as a wholesome escape from this violence, emphasized by the fact that all its scary monsters weren't monsters at all—just humans.

- IMDb user rating: 8.0
- On air: 1955-1992

With an impressively long run on CBS, "Captain Kangaroo" captured young and older audiences alike with a tender exploration of the role grandparents can have in their grandchildren's lives. Following the titular Captain Kangaroo, each episode explored his interactions with human friends like Mr. Green Jeans and animal friends like Bunny Rabbit and Mr. Moose, while Kangaroo spoke directly to his child audience through the screen. This heartwarming educational show won two Peabody Awards and won five Daytime Emmy awards for outstanding children's programming.

- IMDb user rating: 8.0
- On air: 1967-1993

"The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" blazed a trail for today's late-night satirists like Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert and launched the careers of other well-known comedians like Steve Martin and Rob Reiner. Led by Tom and Dick Smothers, the variety series features skits, monologues, and performances from major musical acts like The Who. The left-leaning brothers frequently ran into trouble with CBS's censorship department, as they spoke openly on air about their disgust for the Vietnam War, the political establishment, and religion.

- IMDb user rating: 8.0
- On air: 1955-1963

The creation of "Cheyenne" marked the first foray of major Hollywood studios into the world of television production. Warner Brothers made sure the show lived up to its standards, with a popular leading man (Clint Walker), big-budget fight sequences, and an hour-long runtime. The title "Cheyenne" refers to the protagonist Cheyenne Bodie who, in the tumultuous period following the American Civil War, aimlessly crosses the country looking for work.

- IMDb user rating: 8.0
- On air: 1959-1963

The film noir genre often evokes images of black-and-white feature films, femme fatales, and crime drama—it's not often associated with television, which makes "The Untouchables" stand out that much more as the most successful film noir TV show ever made. Based on the real-life memoirs of special agent Eliot Ness depicted by Robert Stack, each episode takes audiences back to the era of Prohibition and gangsters, including the infamous Al Capone, played by Neville Brand.

- IMDb user rating: 8.0
- On air: 1967-1973

The inspiration for disparate shows like "Sesame Street," "Saturday Night Live," and "Monty Python's Flying Circus," "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" popularized the rapid-vignette style many series would adopt. The comedy show was originally concocted as a one-time special but was so successful that NBC gave it its own regular time slot. Goldie Hawn and Lily Tomlin both worked as series regulars on the show at the beginning of their careers.

- IMDb user rating: 8.0
- On air: 1957-1962

The Western genre was particularly popular in '60s television, making it increasingly difficult to do something different within the genre—thankfully, "Maverick" stepped up to the plate. While the traditional cowboy protagonist was always first to the fight and quick on the draw, Bret Maverick preferred to con his way out of conflict and, if that failed, rely on his wits. Audiences were enamored with "Maverick" and the show quickly became so successful that it even topped the "Ed Sullivan Show" in popularity.

- IMDb user rating: 8.0
- On air: 1964-1966

"The Addams Family," a sitcom about a macabre family and their unique lifestyle, was based on a series of cartoons Charles Addams wrote for The New Yorker. The real Mr. Addams had very little to do with the creation of the series aside from naming the characters, but he gave it his seal of approval.

- IMDb user rating: 8.1
- On air: 1968-1977

Comedy duo Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise struck gold with their third foray into television, "The Morecambe & Wise Show," which ran, in color, on BBC 2. The variety sketch show became a foundational part of British television, with its Christmas special bringing in 28 million viewers in its final year. Like many other shows of its type, "Morecambe & Wise" frequently had celebrity guest stars like Elton John and Peter Cushing.

- IMDb user rating: 8.1
- On air: 1964-1967

"12 O'Clock High" is a war drama that chronicles the movements of the 918th Bombardment Group of the U.S. Eighth Air Force as they move through Europe under varying leadership. The series is based on the 1949 movie of the same name. When lead Robert Lansing was fired early in the series, TV Guide claimed to receive the most letters to their publication since John F. Kennedy's assassination.

- IMDb user rating: 8.1
- On air: 1965-1974

Contemporary audiences might primarily associate Dean Martin with his excellent Christmas covers, but older audiences remember him as an entertainment mogul. Part of the famous Rat Pack that included greats like Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin started hosting a weekly variety show on NBC when he wasn't filming movies or performing in Las Vegas. This show was a clear precursor to the late-night talk shows of today, thanks to Martin's trademark improv and unprepared but suave air.

- IMDb user rating: 8.1
- On air: 1967-1968

Pitched by creator Larry Cohen as "a different kind of soap opera," "The Invaders" utilized a science fiction approach to the soap format. It took inspiration from the film "Invasion of the Body Snatchers," and followed architect David Vincent who witnessed a UFO and decided to cross the country in search of concrete proof of alien life. Plotlines for "The Invaders" were a response to the Cold War, heavily influenced by post-Vietnam War anxiety evidenced by episodes often depicting aliens invading the cornerstones of society, i.e., church and school.

- IMDb user rating: 8.1
- On air: 1963-1967

"The Fugitive" film from 1993 starred Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones, but the movie was a remake of this classic ABC TV drama. "The Fugitive" spanned four seasons, following David Janssen's Richard Kimble as he escapes arrest in order to prove he was falsely accused of his wife's murder, who was actually killed by a mysterious one-armed man. This show prioritized having a gripping narrative and taking creative risks, which paid off as its series boasted 78 million viewers when it aired.

- IMDb user rating: 8.1
- On air: 1966-1971

Described as a gothic soap opera and as "daytime television's first continuing suspense drama" by ABC, "Dark Shadows" was certainly unlike any episodic television show that came before it. Created by horror legend Dan Curtis, of "Trilogy of Terror" and "Night Stalker" fame, the show was based on a dream Curtis had and subsequently pitched. The show was set in Collinsport, Maine, and followed the Collins family as they encountered all sorts of supernatural forces, including ghosts, werewolves, and witches.

- IMDb user rating: 8.1
- On air: 1965-1969

Despite its title, "The Wild Wild West" was no average Western TV show, more akin to a mashup of a Western, spy thriller, and science fiction than anything else. The plot is relatively simple, following two secret service agents, gadget-wiz Artemus Gordon (Ross Martin) and sharpshooter James West (Robert Conrad), who were tasked by President Ulysses S. Grant to help defend America from assorted villains. Some consider this show to be one of the first-ever examples of steampunk, thanks to the wide variety of mad scientists and insane evildoers.

- IMDb user rating: 8.1
- On air: 1968-1977

This BBC One series revolved around a volunteer militia composed of men too old or ineligible for regular military service in a coastal English town during WWII. Over 80 episodes of the series were made during its nine-season run, as well as a radio edition, a stage show, and two feature films. Today, the series is still recognized as one of Britain's most popular sitcoms.

- IMDb user rating: 8.1
- On air: 1955-1975

"Gunsmoke" has the honor of not only being the longest-running Western, with a total of twenty seasons, but also being the first Western that prioritized realism as its style. Starting its life as a popular radio show, "Gunsmoke" was translated to the screen in 1955 with James Arness starring as Matt Dillon, the good-hearted but serious marshal of Dodge City, Kansas. While there was comic relief, mostly due to the side character Chester Goode (Dennis Weaver), the show tackled controversial topics like child abuse and prostitution.

- IMDb user rating: 8.1
- On air: 1969-present

The only show on our list that is both still in its initial run and on the air, "Sesame Street" has been educating generations of children for more than 50 years. Created by Joan Ganz Cooney and Lloyd Morrisett, the program has used Jim Henson's puppets in all 4,500 episodes. Regularly featuring celebrity guest stars, the series has won more than 200 Emmy Awards, the most of any show in television history.

- IMDb user rating: 8.2
- On air: 1958-1963

"Naked City" is unlike any other police procedural on this list, as the show mixed the standard procedural with an anthology format wherein each episode focused on different characters and various areas within New York City. Based on the feature film "Naked City" from 1948, the television adaptation used its documentary-inspired style and primary characters for 30-minute episodes. Despite critical success, "Naked City" was temporarily canceled in 1959 before being reimagined in 1960 as an hour-long series.

- IMDb user rating: 8.2
- On air: 1964-1967

Agent John Drake of "Danger Man" fame returned to TV in "Secret Agent," the second series to follow the spy's various adventures. With hour-long episodes, "Secret Agent" allowed for more character development than "Danger Man," but star Patrick McGoohan still insisted that his alter ego hold a higher moral standard (no guns, no women) than his fictional contemporaries.

- IMDb user rating: 8.2
- On air: 1960-1962

Yet another anthology series, "Thriller" was hosted by horror icon Boris Karloff. The hour-long episodes would feature various tales of Gothic horror, crime, and suspense. The show was canceled after two short seasons when "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour" returned to the air and stole many of its viewers.

- IMDb user rating: 8.2
- On air: 1963-1965

"There is nothing wrong with your television set," proclaimed "The Outer Limits'" iconic opening sequence. ABC's science fiction anthology show featured a new self-contained and often chilling story in each episode, featuring various writers, directors, and actors (including Leonard Nimoy, Robert Duvall, and William Shatner) for each season. Despite often being considered a knockoff of "The Twilight Zone," "The Outer Limits" has a dedicated fanbase, and enjoyed a successful reboot in the '90s.

- IMDb user rating: 8.2
- On air: 1965-1970

An American version of the popular secret agent tale, "Get Smart" is part spy adventure, part comedy. It follows a brilliant but bumbling agent named Maxwell Smart and his partner Agent 99 as they undertake missions for the top-secret counterintelligence agency CONTROL. Don Adams and Barbara Feldon starred in the show, which was created by comedy legends Mel Brooks and Buck Henry.

- IMDb user rating: 8.3
- On air: 1958-1963

Ironically, the pilot episode of "The Rifleman" was originally intended to be a script for a different Western series, "Gunsmoke," but after several name changes and backstory edits, it served as an excellent standalone narrative. Union veteran and widower Lucas McCain, played by Chuck Connors, helped to keep the fictional town of North Folk, New Mexico, safe while struggling to raise Mark McCain, his 12-year-old son. Despite the elder McCain's proficiency with the titular weapon, the show made a point to emphasize the importance of proper firearms training and to avoid using guns in conflict when at all possible.

- IMDb user rating: 8.3
- On air: 1961-1969

Not to be confused with Marvel's team of superheroes, "The Avengers" was a British crime thriller spanning seven seasons over eight years. Created by Sydney Newman, who was notably the man behind the "Doctor Who" series, the show was created to feature Ian Hendry, who played the protagonist, Dr. David Keel, as he tracked down his fiancée's murderer. Over the show's run, however, the main characters were forced to change after Hendry's departure, featuring John Steed (Patrick Macnee), Cathy Gale (Honor Blackman), and Emma Peel (Diana Rigg).

- IMDb user rating: 8.3
- On air: 1957-1966

"Perry Mason" exists in many different forms, including movies, reboots, radio shows, and comics—however, the detective's first iteration comes from the Erle Stanley Gardner book series, of which there are over 80 books. Arguably the most iconic version was the CBS television show, intended to be a series of hour-long movies which utilized many plots from Gardner's books. "Perry Mason" was played by Raymond Burr, who had previously been typecast as a bad guy in Hollywood. He beat the odds and won audiences over as the charming detective.

- IMDb user rating: 8.4
- On air: 1962-1967

Television's longest-running World War II drama, "Combat!" followed an American infantry squad as it battled its way across Europe from D-Day forward. Praised for its realism and the way it handled the struggle of retaining one's humanity in the midst of such horror, the show watched more like a collection of movies than individual episodes. This was in large part thanks to the fact that alternating episodes featured different protagonists, Lt. Gil Hanley and Sgt. Chip Sanders, which allowed the series to focus on a single story at a time rather than divide its attention.

- IMDb user rating: 8.4
- On air: 1957-1963

Where "Gunsmoke" strove for Western realism, "Have Gun - Will Travel" aimed to pay homage to a romanticized concept of the Wild West. The Paladin (Richard Boone), a medieval term to describe knights of Charlemagne's court, was the show's protagonist—he was a highly intelligent expert shot who traveled around the country responding to people's help wanted ads in the paper. Paladin's moral compass is less clear than other Western heroes as he is no lawman and only helps others to make money, which provides him a layer of depth and creates conflicts that were unusual for the time.

- IMDb user rating: 8.4
- On air: 1961-1966

Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore led the all-star cast of "The Dick Van Dyke Show," a sitcom about the work and home life of a TV writer and family man. Airing for five seasons, the series, one of the few filmed in front of a live audience at the time, took home 15 Emmy Awards. The show remains popular with TV lovers, thanks in large part to a strategic choice by the writing team to keep '60s-era references and slang out of its scripts, a decision that keeps the material feeling fresh and relevant.

- IMDb user rating: 8.4
- On air: 1960-1968

One of the most wholesome shows to ever hit the airwaves, "The Andy Griffith Show" was born from an episode of "The Danny Thomas Show" in which Griffith guest-starred. The episode ("Danny Meets Andy Griffith") was so well-received that CBS decided to turn the storyline, about a small-town, widower sheriff and his young son, into its own sitcom. Set in the fictional town of Mayberry, North Carolina, it would end up running for eight seasons, bringing home two Emmy Awards and ending while still at the top of the Nielsen ratings.

- IMDb user rating: 8.4
- On air: 1963-1989

In the science fiction classic "Doctor Who," an immortal Time Lord, accompanied by various companions, travels across the universe in his shape-shifting spaceship to prevent evil forces from wreaking havoc on humanity. Holding the title of the longest-running science fiction series on television, "Doctor Who" has had multiple casts and iterations of the Doctor throughout its many seasons. The original run of the series was canceled in 1989 due to low ratings and increased competition from other networks.

- IMDb user rating: 8.4
- On air: 1966-1969

While originally known as "Star Trek," fans of the franchise now know this series as "Star Trek: The Original Series" to distinguish it from the new additions which followed. Gene Roddenberry's inspiration for this show stemmed from his own experience in World War II, the obvious difference being he changed the locations to be set in space. Outside of its futuristic science fiction plots, "Star Trek" was also advanced in its diversity, featuring both African American actress Nichelle Nichols and Japanese American actor George Takei.

- IMDb user rating: 8.5
- On air: 1967-1967

The last BBC soap opera to be produced in black-and-white, "The Forsyte Saga" details the fortunes and dramas of the Forsyte family from the end of the Victorian era through the inter-war years. The show primarily focuses on the fates of Soames and Jolyon, two wealthy cousins who choose remarkably different paths in life. It proved a universal hit as "Forsyte mania" swept all of Europe, with many countries closing businesses early on Sundays (when new episodes of the show aired) so everyone could head home to watch.

- IMDb user rating: 8.5
- On air: 1960-1972

There are few comedy acts in existence that have had the same level of cultural impact as that of the Three Stooges. Filming 190 comedic shorts with Columbia Pictures in the '30s-'40s, Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Jerome "Curly" Howard used physical comedy in conjunction with heightened characterizations (i.e. playing dumb) to pull off their timeless gags. "The Three Stooges Show" continues to be a classic thanks to syndication and merchandising.

- IMDb user rating: 8.5
- On air: 1950-1967

Before "Family Feud" and "Jeopardy," there was CBS's "What's My Line?" panel-based quiz show. The format of the show was simple: celebrity guests had to guess the occupation (typically offbeat) of contestants using yes-or-no questions. Hosted by actor/producer John Daly, "What's My Line?" ran for 18 seasons and picked up five Primetime Emmy Awards during its run.

- IMDb user rating: 8.5
- On air: 1962-1992

"The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" established the late-night talk show genre that is so ubiquitous today. Despite his affable on-screen presence, it is rumored that Carson was a difficult person who often didn't get along with the celebrities he was interviewing. Regardless of any behind-the-scenes drama, the show was a runaway success, earning 40 Emmy nominations and taking home six trophies during its 30 years on the air.

- IMDb user rating: 8.5
- On air: 1962-1965

A continuation of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour" is an anthology series featuring a collection of shorter drama, mystery, and thriller stories in each episode. Many of these stories are about fictional murders and often contain twist endings. While the stories themselves have proven to be rather forgettable, many fans will recall the series' opening and closing sequences where Hitchcock addresses the camera directly while the show's theme song, "Funeral March for a Marionette," plays in the background.

- IMDb user rating: 8.5
- On air: 1968-1978

Following the successful debut of "The Bugs Bunny Show," Warner Bros. rolled out the carpet for "The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Hour," a longer version of the original featuring seven cartoon segments interspersed with interaction sequences between the characters. Each episode of the show opens with the theme song "This Is It," which plays while all of the characters, from Bugs Bunny and Road Runner to Wile E. Coyote and Elmer Fudd, march across the screen.

- IMDb user rating: 8.5
- On air: 1967-1968

Considered to be the best show of the year in 1967, "The Prisoner" is a British television series that blends the spy thriller, psychological drama, and science fiction genres. When a special agent quits his job without warning, he awoke to find himself trapped in a "Truman Show"-esque town known only as the Village, where he's constantly being prodded for information by high-ranking officials. Themes of alienation, political corruption, government mistrust, and human-animal nature were frequently explored, making the show as relevant today as it was back then.

- IMDb user rating: 8.5
- On air: 1955-1962

Alfred Hitchcock was at the height of his career in the 1960s, with classics like "Psycho," "North By Northwest," and "Vertigo." His 30-minute anthology series "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" saw the director introduce various stories of high-stakes drama, thrillers, and mysteries, which brought the feeling of Hitchcock's cinema to the home. While he only directed 17 episodes over the eight years it aired, others still maintained his standard of quality thanks to directors like Sydney Pollack and William Friedkin.

- IMDb user rating: 8.6
- On air: 1950-1965

"The Jack Benny Program" was meta-television at its finest, with host Jack Benny playing a fictional version of himself and often engaging in fourth wall breaks. The first season in 1950 only had a mere four episodes, but by the '60s, the program was churning out 30-plus episodes per season. While the episodes largely consisted of various comedic skits, the show is noteworthy for providing positive representations of African Americans working and living alongside their white counterparts.

- IMDb user rating: 8.6
- On air: 1960-1975

Each episode of "The Bugs Bunny Show" featured three separate cartoon segments and several members of the Warner Brothers cartoon cast, including Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, the Tasmanian Devil, and Tweety Bird. The series was originally part of ABC's prime-time lineup, but after two seasons moved to a Saturday morning time slot, where it remained for decades.

- IMDb user rating: 8.7
- On air: 1967-1978

"The Carol Burnett Show" was one of the first variety shows led by a woman and remains one of the most critically acclaimed variety shows of all time. Known for sketches like "The Family" and "Went with the Wind!" as well as characters like the Charwoman, the series had a relatively small cast (Harvey Korman, Vicki Lawrence, Lyle Waggoner, and Tim Conway were the only other regulars). However, during the 11 seasons it spent on air, nearly every famous face in Hollywood, from Ronald Reagan to Robin Williams to Lucille Ball, made a guest appearance.

- IMDb user rating: 8.7
- On air: 1968-2001

One of the most beloved television programs of all time, "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" was a half-hour show for preschoolers that explored educational and emotional themes. The series is perhaps best remembered for the frank, honest, and age-appropriate manner in which Fred Rogers dealt with the trickier parts of life such as anger, divorce, and war. The show was so timeless and impactful that reruns are still regularly shown on PBS stations around the country. It's also inspired an Emmy-winning modern-day version called "Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood."

- IMDb user rating: 8.8
- On air: 1969-1974

Called "television's most influential comedy series," "Monty Python's Flying Circus" is known for its absurd sketches, innuendo-laden jokes, and risque humor. Despite almost being canceled after its first episode—BBC1 controller Paul Fox believed that the show went "over the edge of what was acceptable"—the series ran for four successful seasons before the troop decided to call it quits. Stars Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, and Terry Gilliam, along with director Ian MacNaughton, were the creative minds behind the landmark program.

- IMDb user rating: 9.1
- On air: 1959-1964

Fans of horror, science fiction, and well-written television will all agree that "The Twilight Zone" is one of the most well-crafted and thought-provoking shows ever created. The brainchild of Rod Serling, each episode of this anthology series delivered a different narrative that spanned from parallel American histories to otherworldly morality tales. At the time of its release, "The Twilight Zone" was a wholly unique television experience that many have tried to replicate in its wake, but nothing will ever beat the original.