The 2000s saw the release of some ofthe bestTV showsof all time, and while some others have been forgotten to some degree over the years, the power they had can’t be denied. Many great shows of the 1990s ended in the 2000s, such asThe SopranosandFriends, but the latter decade also brought some big TV shows.
Some of the best TV shows of the 2000s areBreaking Bad,The Office,The Wire,Lost, andSons of Anarchy, but there were many other highly influential TV shows while they aired.Some of these shows have faded from mainstream memory, but that doesn’t deny the power they had in the 2000s (and, in some cases, still have).
8Lizzie McGuire
Lizzie McGuire Ran From 2001 To 2004
The 2000s were a big decade for teen shows, and one that is often forgotten despite its power isLizzie McGuire. Created by Terri Minsky,Lizzie McGuirefollowed the title character (played by Hilary Duff),a 13-year-old girl, as she faced the many personal and social issues of being a teenager.
Lizzie was accompanied by her best friends Miranda (Lalaine) and Gordo (Adam Lamberg), andher thoughts and feelings were depicted through her animated persona, which only the audience could see.Lizzie McGuirewas praised for being relatable, for how it handled serious topics (like eating disorders), and for Lizzie’s animated persona, which made it easier for the audience to connect with her.
Lizzie McGuirewas one of Disney Channel’s most successful and popular TV shows in the 2000s, with Lizzie herself becoming a fashion icon. The popularity and impact ofLizzie McGuireled to a movie in 2003, but unfortunately, the reboot series (which would have followed an adult Lizzie) was canceled in 2020.
7Friday Night Lights
Friday Night Lights Ran From 2006 To 2011
Developed by Peter Berg,Friday Night Lightswas inspired by H. H. Bissinger’s 1990 bookFriday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream.Friday Night Lightswas a sports drama set in the small, fictional town of Dillon in West Texas, and it follows the town’s high school football team.Through its small-town setting,Friday Night Lightsaddressed many issues in American culture.
Friday Night Lightswas praised for how it portrayed Middle America, small-town life, high school football, and its role in the community, relatability, and character development.Friday Night Lightsdidn’t build a big audience, which is why its impact back in the 2000s can be forgotten or ignored, butit brought a feeling of authenticity that many dramas back then lacked.
Mad Menwas a period drama TV show created by Matthew Weiner. Set between 1960 and 1970,Mad Menfocused on the advertising industry in New York City, mostly following Don Draper (Jon Hamm), creative director and partner at a Manhattan firm.Mad Menalso followed Draper’s personal life quite closely, as he lived a double life.
Mad Menwas one of the best TV shows of the decade, and was widely acclaimed for its setting, historical authenticity, writing, and performances.Most ofMad Men’s success was thanks to how it addressed serious topics, such as power and identity, along with the societal changes that took place in the 1960s.
Thanks to its accuracy,Mad Mensparked debate and conversation about the 1960s, American culture back then, and the role of the advertising industry in shaping culture.Mad Menis now one of the best TV shows of all time, but when talking about the 2000s, it’s often overlooked.
5The O.C.
The O.C. Ran From 2003 To 2007
A key TV show in the rise of teen dramas in the 2000s wasThe O.C. Created by Josh Schwartz,The O.C.took the audience to Orange County, in Southern California, to follow troubled teenager Ryan Atwood (Ben McKenzie). After getting into major trouble,Ryan was taken in by public defender Sandy Cohen(Peter Gallagher).
Ryan moved into the Cohens’ mansion, and so he had to adapt to a completely different lifestyle and a close family, getting a best friend and brother in the process thanks to Sandy’s son, Seth (Adam Brody).The O.C. was a big hit and one of the most popular teen dramas of the decade, and it became a pop culture phenomenon.
The O.C.inspired many other dramas, and thanks to its success, shows likeDesperate Housewiveswere given the green light.The O.C.has also been parodied many times, and its influence continues to be felt in modern teen dramas, such asOuter Banks.
4Gilmore Girls
Gilmore Girls Ran From 2000 To 2007
Created by Amy Sherman-Palladino,Gilmore Girlsis a comedy-drama TV show that took viewers to the fictional town of Stars Hollow to meet mother and daughter Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Rory (Alexis Bledel).Gilmore Girlsfollowed their lives and struggles as Lorelai dreamed of owning her own inn and Rory planned to go to Harvard.
Gilmore Girlsis widely regarded as a comfort TV show and has earned a spot among the best TV shows of all time.Gilmore Girlsbecame a cultural phenomenon, not just thanks to its endearing quirkiness, but also thanks to how relatable it was.
Gilmore Girlsbuilt a passionate fanbasethat campaigned to save the show, and, thanks to which, the show has become a cult classic. Fans even created an annual event to celebrate the show, andGilmore Girlshas been parodied and referenced many times in other TV shows and movies.
3Six Feet Under
Six Feet Under Ran From 2001 To 2005
Six Feet Underis a black comedy drama TV series created by Alan Ball.Six Feet Underfollowed the Fisher family, who ran a funeral homein Los Angeles, and their friends and loved ones.Six Feet Underwas a family drama, but it stood out for the many ways in which it addressed the topic of death.
Six Feet Underwas praised for its realism, topics, emotional depth, complex characters, and blend of drama and humor.Six Feet Underpaved the way for other critically acclaimed dramasand kicked off a new approach focused on emotional realism.Six Feet Underis now one of the best TV shows of all time, and it has one ofthe best TV finales ever.
2Degrassi: The Next Generation
Degrassi: The Next Generation Ran From 2001 To 2015
Degrassi: The Next Generationis part of theDegrassifranchise, and it’s its most successful branch.Degrassi: The Next Generationfollowed a new generation of Degrassi students, some of them directly linked to characters from the original show, who were now part of the adult cast.
Degrassi: The Next Generationnever shied away from addressing serious and even controversial topics (such as teen pregnancy, sexual abuse, and substance use disorder), which led to backlash a couple of times but was a key part of its success.The Next Generationwas realistic and relatable, and it was easy for its young audience to connect with the characters.
Degrassi: The Next Generation’s impact was such that some episodes were shown in schools to educate and warn students about different topics (viaAffinity Magazine), and encouraged open discussions about them.The Next Generationis, arguably, the most powerful teen TV show of the 2000s.
1Firefly
Firefly Was Released In 2002
One of the best and most influential TV shows of all time was released in the 2000s, but it was also canceled way too soon:Firefly. Created by Joss Whedon,Fireflywas set in the far future and followed Mal Reynolds (Nathan Fillion) and his crew, all of them survivors of the war.
Together, on board the Serenity, they traveled across space looking for ways to make a living and meeting both allies and enemies. Unfortunately,Fireflywascanceled before its first season finished airing, butit quickly built a strong fanbase that didn’t let the show die.Fireflygot a movie,Serenity, and has continued to expand in other media.
Fireflyblended sci-fi, Western, and drama, with complex, well-developed characters, and often addressed complex topics.Fireflyhas inspired many other TV shows, and it ranks high among the shows that were unfairly canceled way too soon.
Firefly
Cast
Firefly is a science fiction television series set in the year 2517, focusing on the crew of the spaceship Serenity. As humans inhabit a new star system, the renegade crew, led by Captain Malcolm Reynolds, navigates conflicts and alliances while pursuing their own interests across lawless territories.
