Its characters are complex and flawed, yet still ooze cool. Its existential and traumatic themes are universally relatable. Its particular blend of cyberpunk intrigue, Western atmosphere, martial arts action, and noir cool in seinen form is unmatched and widely appealing. Nick Marino and Whitney FriedlanderĮvery debate over whether or not Cowboy Bebop-Shinichir? Watanabe’s science-fiction masterpiece-is the pinnacle of anime is a semantic one. But its short run was truly pitch-perfect.
The series synonymous with the use of the mockumentary format on TV (see also: Modern Family, Reno 911!) is the tightly compacted, original version of the long-running, Emmy-winning American spinoff (This is the U.K., after all, so there’s only two six-episode seasons, a Christmas special and a reunion episode). And, of course, before there was Rainn Wilson’s assistant regional manager, Dwight Schrute, there was Gareth Keenan-Mackenzie Crook’s retired Territorial Army member, who is both obsessed with his slightly senior workplace status and his one-sided friendship with his boss. Before there were John Krasinski and Jenna Fischer’s adorable Jim Halpert and Pam Beesly, there were Martin Freeman and Lucy Davis’ star-crossed Tim Canterbury and Dawn Tinsley. Before there was Steve Carell’s Michael Scott and endless “that’s what she said” jokes, there was Ricky Gervais’ equally clueless David Brent and his fantastical dancing. Defying expectations that it would pale in comparison, NBC’s The Office became an institution unto itself.
Ricky Gervais’ immortal Britcom deserves full marks for establishing this comedy franchise that killed the laugh track and introduced us to a hilarious bunch of paper-pushing mopes. Stars: Ricky Gervais, Martin Freeman, Mackenzie Crook, Lucy Davis, Oliver Chris, Patrick Baladi, Stacey Roca, Ralph Ineson, Stirling Gallacher Chris MorganĬreated by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant
Even if the generations to come don’t get to experience the magic in the same way that some of us have, the legacy of Ball and Arnaz, and how they made and re-made television, will always be apparent. Ball and Arnaz were consistently determined to bring their unique vision to television, which ultimately resulted in a reinvention of the modern sitcom. Many series have clearly been (and still are) influenced by the wacky adventures of Lucy and Ricky Ricardo, but I Love Lucy also played a major role in what would become a staple of the sitcom genre-reruns and syndication, born out of necessity after Ball became pregnant while filming. It was the first show inducted into the Television Hall of Fame, and multiple publications, including TV Guide and TIME, have named it one of the best television shows of all-time. It’s a show so well-structured, and so beloved, it continues to air on television even though the last new episode premiered in 1957. I Love Lucy is one of the most iconic sitcoms of all time.
Stars: Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, William Frawley, Richard Keith Because of this, while you can add Starz, Showtime, and other premium networks to your Hulu subscription (including a Live TV option that also opens up more series On Demand), we are keeping this list to just what you can get with a basic tier, and saying goodbye to Homeland, Party Down, and others.īelow are our ranked picks for 50 of the best TV series you can find on Hulu, which should keep you bingeing happily for many months to come. Plus, Hulu originals are also stepping up with series like The Great. With its FX partnership, Hulu is not only home to the entire FX library (almost-no The Americans yet, sadly), but also some great new collaborations like Mrs. A joint venture among Disney/ABC, FOX, NBCUniversal, and Time Warner, Hulu benefits in particular from a rich back catalogue of titles, including a terrific array of current and classic network series as well as must-sees from Britain ( Peep Show, Prime Suspect) and Australia ( Please Like Me). Don’t be discouraged by the not-always-intuitive interface and many instances of commercial breaks even in the paid tiers-Hulu boasts some of the best programming of any streaming service.