There is no perfect formula for creating a television show that will have a long-lasting impact. Truthfully, not all shows need to do so. Some programs jump onto hot issues, current public discourse, and trends. These shows are great to enjoy during a time they’re most relevant and to move on from. However, there are other shows that not only made a mark when they were released but have had a long-lasting impact in the years or decades that follow.
The 2000s was a special time for television. At the turn of the century, the internet and technology as a whole started to influence how shows were being made and what they were being made about. By the end of the decade, the slow rise of streaming platforms also shifted how creatives approached their projects. So many iconic shows either premiered during the 2000s or hit their stride. Here are the 20 most timeless TV shows from the 2000s.
20 The Wire
Crime dramas were rampant in the 2000s and while many bled together, The Wire stood out from the pack. The show is set in Baltimore, Maryland, and covers different institutions. The focus of the first season is the Baltimore Police Department and a drug trade organization. Baltimore’s drug issues are causing crimes throughout the city. Officer McNulty feels frustrated that enough isn’t being done to put an end to the problem. He resorts to putting himself directly in the line of fire to take down Avon Barksdale, the leader of one of the most prominent drug rings. The series touched on issues still relevant today, how all of the institutions in a city impact each other, and the need for reconstruction of certain systems.
19 One on One
One on One is a family sitcom following the lives of Flex, an ex-athlete turned sportscaster, and his daughter Brianna. Flex and Brianna aren’t super close, but when Brianna’s mother takes an overseas job, Brianna decides to move in with her dad. Flex isn’t used to being a single parent, and in many ways has trouble letting go of his bachelor lifestyle. He’s a self-proclaimed ladies’ man, which probably makes him wary of the guys Brianna shows interest in. Flex fits the trope of an overprotective father to a T, leading to a series of conflicts and misunderstandings. Yet even now depictions of single fathers aren’t as common as they should be and One on One is a nice show to add to the conversation.
18 Scrubs
If medical dramas are a little too heavy for you, Scrubs provides a nice middle ground. The show is set at Sacred Heart Hospital, a training ground for future medical professionals. Dr. John Michael Dorian (aka J.D., and no, he’s not also a lawyer), starts the series off as one of the many medical interns trying to absorb all the knowledge and experience he can. He’s joined by his best friend Christopher, but quickly gets to know the other interns working throughout the hospital. Though there’s a lot of humor infused into the show, it also handles topics such as grief, ethics in medicine, prejudice, and so much more.
17 The O.C.
The O.C. is a frothy teen drama that, even if you watch when older, you’ll appreciate. Sure, at times the storylines can be a little melodramatic, but there’s a lot more depth than one may guess. As the name suggests, it’s set in Orange County, California, and focuses on a teenage boy named Ryan who comes from a lower-income family and has gotten into trouble on more than one occasion in his life.
After he’s kicked out of his home, he is taken in by the wealthy Cohen family, which also gives him a new sort of brother in Seth. Now living in the upper echelon of SoCal, Ryan has to deal with his life while coming to terms with his past. Like many teen shows, it focuses on identity, family, romance, and school, but with a profound sincerity that makes it a classic.
16 Ugly Betty
The word “fashionista” wouldn’t be a word anyone would use to describe Betty Suarez. So, her landing a job as the personal assistant for the editor-in-chief of a popular fashion magazine is unexpected, to say the least. Her new boss, Daniel, isn’t someone you’d think was a shoo-in for the job, but at the offices of Mode Magazine, nepotism prevails. His parents’ spoon-fed him the position, but also had a lack of faith in him staying focused since he tends to get “involved” with his female assistants. Hence, hiring “ugly” Betty. With a sometimes harsh depiction of the working world and gaining confidence, Ugly Betty has a message for many kinds of viewers.
15 That’s So Raven
That’s So Raven revolves around Raven Baxter, a teenage girl growing up in San Francisco. She has a loving family, even if her little brother can be a bit of a nuisance at times, and two amazing friends. Raven is also quite confident, outgoing, and loves expressing herself through fashion. Of course, there are normal “teenage problems” that creep into her life like conflicts with teachers and other students, developing crushes, body image issues, and more.
To make things worse, however, is the fact that she’s psychic. While knowing the future may seem like an advantage, Raven’s visions often get her into sticky situations. The humor in the show holds up surprisingly well and the positive representation of a Black family in a show that doesn’t focus on their race.
14 CSI: Miami
CSI is a successful franchise of police procedurals following law enforcement in various cities throughout the United States. CSI: Miami was the first spin-off of the original. At the Miami-Dade Police Department, Lieutenant Caine wants to bring out the glittering side of Miami and put an end to the seedy areas. He’s known for his iconic sunglasses and his drive toward ensuring justice.
Together with his team, they investigate between the colorful Art Deco buildings, along the sandy beaches, and against the stifling heat. The procedural television format is quite standard, meeting lovers of this genre’s expectations, while providing innovation with this unique setting and intriguing characters.
13 SpongeBob SquarePants
Though SpongeBob SquarePants premiered in 1999, it found its groove, audience, and most quotable moments in the 2000s. The titular character is a sea sponge who lives in Bikini Bottom. He is a silly, passionate, and quirky guy who loves his snail Gary and working at the Krusty Krab.
Though SpongeBob himself is zany enough to carry the show, his fellow Bikini Bottom companions are also essential characters that make the show what it is. SpongeBob is marketed as a children’s show, but its reach has spread far beyond. The smart humor, particularly from earlier seasons, has lived online as memes, clips to rewatch, and even venturing into the public discourse surrounding the Super Bowl.
12 The Office
“That’s what she said.” Who knows if Michael Scott, the boss of the fictional paper company from The Office, created this phrase, but he definitely popularized it. Workplace comedies are always a treat to watch, and with the cast in this series, you’ll never be bored. On the outside, the office is like many others: workers dressed in simple, neat clothing, coffee machines and water coolers present for gossip sessions, and a conference room most employees dread going to. The Office is appreciated today for its crass humor that doesn’t hold back with fear of backlash for its more controversial takes.
11 Law and Order: SVU
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is part of the Law & Order franchise and one of the most successful off-shoots. It set the foundation for the team of detectives in the Special Victims Unit in 1999, but dug down into their characterization in the 2000s. With such a large ensemble cast, it’s hard to single out just a few, but for many Detective Olivia Benson and Detective Elliot Stabler are the most notable. They are partners and despite both being passionate about their jobs have wildly different approaches.
Olivia is tough but bottles her emotions inside. Elliot is also tough and lets perps know it, finding himself in hot water on more than one occasion. Within their cases, the detectives dealt with issues of sexism, racism, and homophobia, at times confronting their own prejudices. Such an honest portrayal of the good and bad in the characters as people and officers is refreshing.
10 The Sopranos
The Sopranos is a character-focused crime drama that invites viewers into the world of the criminals rather than those trying to capture them. Tony Soprano is a mob boss and head of the Soprano crime family. He may come across as a hardened, no-nonsense kind of guy, but Tony has a lot of inner struggles.
It’s always a question of how criminals turned out the way they did, and Tony’s mother provides a likely answer. Alongside all of his illegal dealings, he’s trying to be a good father and husband which sometimes is in direct conflict with his business. The show is a breath of fresh air for not painting Tony as a one-note mafia guy and instead giving him and others complex characterization.
9 Arrested Development
Arrested Development is a sitcom revolving around the extremely wealthy Bluth family. George Bluth is a successful business owner, but, after he’s caught for a number of white-collar crimes, is sentenced to house arrest. His family, including his wife, children, and grandchildren, have difficulty adjusting to the news and their new financial circumstances.
In many ways, they don’t adjust, still enjoying the luxuries they had before getting wrapped up in the law. The characters have to decide whether they want to continue working in the family business or branch out on their own. With the show criticizing the rich, privileged, and troubled families, this series outlasts its time.
8 Veronica Mars
Veronica Mars centers on the eponymous high school student whose sheriff father inspired her to become an amateur sleuth herself. In this teen mystery, Veronica works to solve different cases. Though she’s able to keep some distance from her investigations before, once her best friend is murdered, things become a lot more personal. Even though her dad has connections in law enforcement, the corruption in this town won’t make it easy to find answers.
Veronica has to juggle the recent departure of her mom, feeling isolated from her peers, and seeking justice for her friend. Though the mysteries and small-town politics pull viewers in, it’s Veronica’s strong, yet flawed character that has made this teen mystery series stand the test of time.
7 Skins
Skins premiered later in the 2000s and sparked controversy right from the start with its unfiltered narratives regarding teenage mental health, sex and sexuality, bullying, and eating disorders, among other important topics.
Set in Bristol, England, the series follows several distinct teens going through their own issues. It’s raw. It’s gritty. It can sometimes be hard to watch. Skins broke barriers by opening up a dialogue surrounding very real issues that many don’t want to talk about. While some argue the show glamorized these behaviors, it paved the way for honest discussion about the plights many teens face.
6 Everybody Hates Chris
Everybody Hates Chris is a comedy created by comedian Chris Rock. The show is inspired by many events from his life, particularly in his adolescent years. Growing up in the 80s in New York, Chris’ home life and school life couldn’t be more different. He attends a mostly-white school across town and comes home to a neighborhood riddled with crime. His mom sent him to the school to have more opportunities, but he’s met with micro-aggressions and animosity from many. At home, he feels the weight of responsibility as the oldest sibling.
With Rock narrating what’s going on in young Chris’ head, this series brings us all back to our youth and the issues we thought we’d never overcome. More than a nostalgia fix, it’s a fun coming-of-age sitcom.
5 Dexter
Dexter is a fun crime drama based on a novel by Jeff Lindsay. Dexter Morgan is a forensic technician working for the Miami-Dade Police Department. He is particularly skilled at analyzing bloodstain patterns at crime scenes. He’s a polite, demure kind of guy who’s good at his job.
Underneath that facade is the reason why he might be so good at his job: Dexter is also a serial killer. He believes he rights society’s wrongs by killing those who got away with murder. It’s hard to make a serial killer someone audiences want to follow and the show nails it. Getting into the heads of morally gray people is an area that will always fascinate audiences.
4 House
Doctors often get into their profession because they love people and want to make sure they can live their happiest, healthiest lives. That’s not exactly the case for Dr. Gregory House in House, who has contempt for most people he comes across. He is the head of the diagnostics department with a team under his guidance.
Throughout the show, Dr. House has to put aside his dislike of others and try his best to handle his chronic pain to solve the medical cases constantly coming through the hospital’s doors. With Dr. House’s peculiar methods, controversial opinions, and realistic portrayal of medicine, House is a classic medical drama.
3 Prison Break
Prison Break is about two brothers, Michael and Lincoln. Lincoln is arrested and sentenced to death for killing the vice president. Problem is, he claims he didn’t do it. Not many people believe him, but Michael does. Michael goes to extreme measures to clear his brother’s name, including committing an armed robbery, so he ends up in the same prison as Michael.
While inside the prison’s walls, Michael is hoping he can devise an escape plan and set his brother free before it’s too late. The flawed justice system, the bond between brothers, and Michael’s meticulous planning gained this show a cult following, resulting in video games, novels, and a spin-off series.
2 The L Word
The L Word is a powerful drama about a group of bisexual and lesbian women living in California. Among the group of friends is Jenny, a writer who moved to L.A. with her boyfriend but becomes involved in the lesbian scene in town via her neighbors, Bette and Tina. These two women are in a long-term relationship and are now looking to expand their families, but are facing difficulties finding a donor.
The show still finds an audience since it ended in 2009 because of its well-rounded depiction of the LGBTQ+ community. The women aren’t perfect, nor do viewers want them to be. Each are highly individual, fleshed-out characters whose sexuality may inform their characters, but doesn’t wholly define it.
1 Degrassi: The Next Generation
Degrassi: The Next Generation focuses on a wide net of students who attend Degrassi High School. The Next Generation follows some of the children of students from the original show. Similar to Skins, Degrassi is known for its unrestrained commentary on teen issues. In the very first episode, a young girl is catfished by an online predator and entrapped in his hotel room.
Virtually every topic has been covered on Degrassi, and even repeat topics never feel stale when it’s impacting a new student. Though many know Degrassi now for the early roles of stars like Drake and Nina Dobrev, others remember it as a necessary teen drama.