The 100 Best TV Shows of All-TIME

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The Oprah Winfrey Show

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Is it an exaggeration to say that Oprah (why did anyone ever bother giving her a last name?) is the biggest star in TV history? Certainly no one has ever done so much with the power of a camera, a philosophy (uplift, pop-psychology, confession) and a magnetic personality. Half therapist, half saleswoman and all businesswoman, Oprah leveraged her show with Warren Buffett-like skill into a financial and philanthropic empire. Even her train wrecks—Tom Cruise, James Frey—are entertaining. America's Best Girlfriend has a supernatural gift for making you think she is talking to and about you, even when—more often than not—she is actually talking about herself, and that makes her the spirit of daytime TV incarnate.

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How I Chose The List

Adding to this list would be easy; taking shows off is the tricky part. How did I settle on this list? I set a few guidelines...

Talk Back

What is your all-time favorite TV show?

Which films should have been included and weren't? Did we leave off any of your favorites? Were any shows on the list more influential than others? Tell us what you think