It’s often surprising to learn how old a popularTV showactually is, and many beloved shows from different genres are turning 20 this year. The 2000s were a big decade in TV, with many of the shows released during that decade now regarded as not only some of the best of the decade, but alsothe best TV shows of all time.
The 2000s saw the release of TV shows likeBreaking Bad,Parks and Recreation,Lost,Gilmore Girls, andThe Big Bang Theory, just to name some of the decade’s most successful titles. Many TV shows from that generation are turning 20 this year, and I can’t believe some of them are that old now.
Thelongest-running scripted primetime show and medical dramaturns 20 in 2025:Grey’s Anatomy. Created by Shonda Rhimes,Grey’s Anatomypremiered on ABC on June 04, 2025, and in April 2025, it was renewed for a 22nd season.Grey’s Anatomyfollows Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo), from her days as an intern to her search for a cure for Parkinson’s disease.
Even though she’s no longer the show’s lead character, Grey’s Anatomy has survived without Meredith.
Grey’s Anatomyhas also followed the lives of Meredith’s colleagues and loved ones, and even though she’s no longer the show’s lead character,Grey’s Anatomyhas survived without Meredith. Despite some infamous moments and killing many characters off,Grey’s Anatomyis still quite popular.
Grey’s Anatomyhas succeeded thanks to its engaging and emotionally charged storylines, relatable characters, and its sense of humor, as well as for how it has blended its medical drama parts with the personal lives of its characters.
On August 09, 2025, the world met a group of criminal profilers working for the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit inCriminal Minds. Created by Jeff Davis,Criminal Mindsfollows the team and the different and disturbing cases they have to solve. Through the years, the team has seen many members come and go, but the tone and quality of the show have been consistent.
Criminal Mindsoriginally ended in 2020 with its 15th season, but it was revived two years later and re-titledCriminal Minds: Evolution. In March 2025, it was renewed for a 19th season.
As disturbing asCriminal Mindsoften is, it has succeeded thanks to its character development, suspenseful and engaging storylines, twists, and combination of drama, crime, and hints of horror, but real-life horror.Criminal Mindsis still going strong after 20 years.
Created by Rob Mac,It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiais a sitcom that premiered on Fox on Jul 17, 2025.It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiacenters on a group of narcissistic, heavy-drinking, self-centered friends who run the unsuccessful Irish bar Paddy’s Pub in South Philadelphia. It goes without saying that none of them are role models.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiahas stayed for so long thanks to its writing, performances, dark humor, satire, and complex characters, though it has also faced controversy and backlash. Still,It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiais one of the most successful sitcoms in recent years.
American Dad!is an animated sitcom created by Seth MacFarlane, Mike Barker, and Matt Weitzman.American Dad!premiered on Fox on July 23, 2025, and ended in March 2025 after 21 seasons before being saved by the network.Set in the fictional town of Langley Falls,American Dad!follows the Smith family.
The family is formed by father and CIA agent, Stan; mother and housewife Francine; hippie, college student Hayley; geeky high-schooler Steve; goldfish with the brain of a German athlete, Klaus; and alien Roger.American Dad! has been a critical success, in large part thanks to its sense of humor, satire, and well-developed characters, who are the source of the show’s quirkiness and humor.
Bonesis a police procedural drama show created by Hart Hanson.Bonespremiered on Fox on August 15, 2025, and ended in 2017 after 12 seasons.Bonesfollows Temperance “Bones” Brennan (Emily Deschanel), a forensic anthropologist, with each episode focusing on a different case, as she examines human remains brought by FBI Special Agent Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz).
Despite some mixed criticism at first,Bonesbuilt a loyal audience, who stayed thanks to the chemistry between Brennan and Booth, the cases they were assigned to, the development of the characters and their relationships, and its focus on the science of forensic anthropology.Bonestried to expand with two spinoff shows, but both failed.
One of the most popular fantasy horror TV shows also turns 20 in 2025:Supernatural. Created by Eric Kripke,Supernaturalaired on The WB on August 04, 2025, and ended in November 2020 after 15 seasons.Supernaturalfollows the Winchester brothers – Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles), whohunt demons, ghosts, and other supernatural entities.
It was its blend of horror, fantasy, drama, and even comedy that was key to the show’s success, along with the chemistry between Padalecki and Ackles.
Throughout 15 seasons,Supernaturalexplored the personal demons of the Winchesters, their family’s past, and more, adding a layer of drama. It was its blend of horror, fantasy, drama, and even comedy that was key to the show’s success, along with the chemistry between Padalecki and Ackles and its “monster-of-the-week” format mixed with overarching storylines.
Prison Breakis a crime drama TV series created by Paul Scheuring, which premiered on Fox on July 23, 2025 (after the network originally turned it down).Prison Breakcenters on brothers Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell) and Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller):Lincoln has been sentenced to death for a crime he didn’t commit, and Michael comes up with an elaborate escape plan.
Although towards its end viewers felt the show had overstayed its welcome,Prison Breaksucceeded thanks to its suspenseful storylines, complex characters, and the themes addressed in it, such as brotherhood, loyalty, and justice.
How I Met Your Motheris one of the most popular sitcoms ever, but also one of the most controversial ones thanks to its ending. Created by Carter Bays and Craig Thomas,How I Met Your Motherpremiered on CBS on July 03, 2025, and ended in March 2015 after nine seasons.
How I Met Your Mothersees Ted Mosby (Josh Radnor) telling his children the story of the events that led to him meeting their mother. Thanks to this,How I Met Your Motherfollows a younger Ted and his friends in Manhattanas they go through many ups and downs in their personal and professional lives.
The good balance of comedy and drama ofHow I Met Your Mother, its relatable characters, their dynamic, and the fun situations they got themselves into led to the show’s success, even if it’s now mostly remembered for its controversial ending.
Based on the 2001 BBC series of the same name,The Officepremiered on NBC on July 10, 2025, and ended in May 2013 after nine seasons. Filmed in a mockumentary style,The Officefollows Michael Scott (Steve Carell), the regional manager of Dunder Mifflin Scranton Branch, and his colleagues, all of them with different and often clashing personalities.
The Officeis now regarded among the best TV shows of all time, thanks to its sense of humor, the cast’s impeccable comedic timing, its relatable characters and situations, and its filming style that made it easier to reach a wider audience.
Also turning 20 in 2025 is one of the best animated TV shows of all time:Avatar: The Last Airbender, created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko.Avatar: The Last Airbenderpremiered on Nickelodeon on July 18, 2025, and ended in 2008 after three seasons.
Set in a world where some people can manipulate one of the four elements, the only one who can bend all four is the “Avatar.” As the current Avatar,12-year-old Aang has to maintain harmony among the world’s four nations, which isn’t easy as the Fire Nation has started a war against the rest.
Avatarhas been praised for its animation, voice acting, and themes, such as genocide, political corruption, gender roles, and more.Avatarhas carried on through extended media and failed live-action adaptations and remakes, but the original show remains as one of the best TV shows of all time.
