Great topic Karin
thank you.
You're welcome.
Sorry that was more than 20. Too good a topic to cut short Karin ;-) and by the way Karin. What’s YOUR top 20 list?
Good question. I have tried to narrow it down and realized that I should have done a top 25 instead...
Oh well to be able to fit it better into a top 20 I have put some of the spin-offs/continuation shows after the original shows at the same numbering. The exception being
Knots Landing since although it's technically a spin-off of Dallas it ran for as many years and became very successful in it's own right and therefore I have put that as a separate numbering.
Also it seems to me like most of the show that makes my list are shows that I have watched since I was an older child or teenager. I guess I have an emotional attachment and lots of memories of what was going on in my life at the time I watched them that's tied to them. So there's definitely some nostalgia here. I also have a preference for American shows and well I left out all the kids shows. If I had included those something by Astrid Lindgren would definitely have made my list as I loved watching those shows a lot when I was younger. But I haven't seen them in a long time now.
Anyway this would be my list:
1. Dallas (1978-1991) /Dallas (2012-2014)
The Dallas theme song and opening credits is one of my first TV memories. I wasn't allowed to watch the show until I was 11 though. So I watched the final four seasons first. I remember the show was on Saturday Nights originally so on mondays I used to talk to a friend about it who was also watching it. After it was finished I went back to watch the beginning in reruns in the 1990s when I was in Junior High. I love pretty much everything about this show. The cast, characters, couples, storylines, setting, the 1980s fashion, special events like Oil Barons' Ball, Rodeos and BBQs, cliffhangers etc. It's all great.
I even like the modern continuation, although I was disappointed it never got to realize it's full potential before it was cancelled.
2. Knots Landing (1979-1993)
I watched the first 6 seasons in reruns in 1996-1997. After that Swedish TV have not broadcast it anymore. So I've relied on friends from abroad who has copied me the episodes on VHS and DVD to be able to watch it all. I think I finally finished watching it around 2009 or 2010. So it took me almost as long to watch it from the first to last episode as when the show was originally on the air. Over this period of time I of course grew very attached to the characters. I love that this show is a Dallas spin-off and that we get to know Gary & Val better. But I also love the new characters, especially Abby. It's a great show. So well my hats off to David Jacobs for creating my two most favorite shows.
3. Dynasty (1981-1989) / Dynasty II - The Colbys (1985-1987)
I watched this show in reruns in like 1996. I loved the glamour of it all and the over the top storylines and characters. Alexis was my favorite and I also love to watch movies with Joan Collins. I rewatched Dynasty around 2006 and I still loved it. I also enjoyed the spin-off which is a bit different from the original show but still has many of the same elements and even some of the same characters. The shows were so tightly connected that when I first watched Dynasty I never understood why I missed 2 years of Fallon & Jeff's story. So when I finally got to watch the spin-off when it was released on DVD it filled the whole in the storyline and it now made sense.
4. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)
I was 19 when I got hooked on Buffy. This show came to define my college years. I was so into it at the time. I collected the tie in novels, was on fanfic lists, watched fan videos and even learnt to make my own. I was subscribed to the official magazine. I once almost missed my flight from London because I had to buy a Buffy book at the airport but it was at another terminal.
I even analyzed Buffy and it's fanculture for a thesis I wrote at an undergraduate level at the University. I ended up spending 5 years on it and several years later a German publishing company contacted me to have it published as a book.
Anyway I love that this show mixes several different genres together and that it has a feministic message of sorts. I had never seen anything like it before. I love the cast too and Sarah Michelle Gellar is one of my most favorite contemporary actresses because of this show.
5. Angel (1999-2004)
This is the Buffy spin-off show that's a bit more grown up. It deals with metaphors and follows the life of mostly a bunch of young adults who works at a detective agency of sorts. It's also about a very old vampire who is seeking redemption and whose past comes back to haunt him.When I rewatched the shows a few years ago I actually enjoyed Angel more than Buffy. Probably because I no longer viewed it as a two hour Buffy & Angel hour but saw it as a separate show. It can stand on it's own two feet if you let it.
6. Beverly Hills 90210 (1990-2000) / 90210 (2008-2013)
Growing up this was the one show that I followed for the longest period of time in the original run. I was 12 when I began to watch it. 22 when it went off the air. Of course in Sweden we are about two years behind in our broadcasts but still...
It ran on sundays so on Monday's we always discussed this week's "Bevvan" at school...
When the reboot came along I tuned in mostly to see the old characters like Kelly, Brenda and Donna make guest spots. I didn't realize how much I had missed the show until I saw them interact together again.I then rewatched the original show and it was better than I remembered!
7. Friends (1994-2004)
This show was hugely popular when I was in High School. It was the show we talked about every week much like "Bevvan" had been a few years earlier. I loved the characters and the couples and the humor was funny too. But to be honest I understood it even better when I rewatched it some years ago when I was closer to the characters ages on the show.
8. Growing Pains (1985-1992)
A friend got me hooked on this show since she wanted to watch the cute guy a.k.a. Leonardo Di Caprio. I began watching the show in the final season and then went back for the rest of the run in the 1990s reruns. I came to identify with Carol. But I also really liked the other characters, including the parents.I've rewatched this recently too.
9. Little House on the Prairie (1974-1983)
I watched this in reruns when I was like 12-13. I loved it and read all of the books too. I rewatched it more recently as an adult. My perception of it had changed a little but I still enjoyed it. It's a wholesome family show for the most part that promotes Christian values. But there's also some scary episodes where people are sick or die. It's a bit over the top but it gives a sense of what life might have been like in the 1800s. I enjoy the historical aspects and I love the Ingalls and Olsen families.
10. Full House (1987-1995) / Fuller House (2016-)
Right now it feels like I enjoy the continuation show more than the original. But my love for that show came from the original. I was like 12 when I began watching Full House. For about a year when I was about 13 it was my most favorite show. Then Dallas took back that title. I related the most to DJ since she was closest to my age when I was watching it. Although actually I am a bit closer to Stephanie in age. Anyway since those were my favorite characters I was really pleased that the new show revolves around them as it's been nice catching up with them and Kimmy Gibbler as adults. I like the new kids on the show too and Fernando is funny. That accent. Such a different part compared to on new Dallas.
Oh and I just love Jesse & Becky as a couple. They are so cute.
11. I Dream of Jeannie (1965-1970)
I watched this because of Larry Hagman. It's a really hilarious show that makes me laugh a lot. If the Bellows are in the episode it's usually funnier. It's a cute show too.
12. Army Wives (2007-2013)
Great drama that I watched last year on DVD. I like pretty much all the characters and couples. It also gives you a greater understanding for how people in the USA army lives. The focus is on the women who are left behind with the kids when their men goes off to war. There is however also a couple where the husband stays at home and his wife is in the army.
13. Scarlett (1994)
Gone with the wind is my all time favorite movie so this just had to go in somewhere. Also it was a treat to see Julie Harris as Rhett Butler's mama.
Besides I'm a sucker for happy endings so I am sort of pleased this mini-series gave me a happy ending to the Scarlett & Rhett saga.
14. McLeod’s Daughters (2001-2009)
The American critics labeled this "Dallas down under". It's not really, but it's a great Aussie soap opera about a couple of sisters living on a cattle ranch. I really enjoyed it. Also any show that can evoke strong emotions when you watch it is good and I cried a lot when one of the characters died.
15. Desperate Housewives (2004-2012)
I really enjoyed this show too even though some of the dark comedy didn't work for me. I liked the drama and soap opera elements more. I also liked the characters. Especially Gabby & Carlos and Lynette & Tom.
16. Bones (2005-2017)
It's the best crime drama I've ever watched since it's very character driven. Probably the one show I've watched for the longest in the original run. It's very dark. But there's also some humor.
17. Step by Step (1991-1998)
I tuned in to watch Patrick Duffy and Sasha Mitchell from Dallas. It was odd I remember having a crush on James on Dallas but when I saw him as Cody in this show that crush quickly disappeared!
18. North & South (1985-1986)
Great costume period drama show starring Patrick Swayze, Lesley Ann Down etc.
Also it had some of the best guest stars including Elizabeth Taylor!
19. Walker Texas Ranger (1993-2001)
I watched this because of Sheree J Wilson. I got it all on DVD's about 10 years ago. I didn't watch it when it was originally on since I thought the genre was too violent for me. But after watching Buffy all that karate kicking felt familiar somehow.
20. Fame (1982-1987)
I enjoyed the High School drama with a musical twist. I watched this in reruns when I was about 14. I taped over a lot of the songs from the show to cassette tapes that I listened to.
Just below my list:
21. Falcon Crest (1982-1990)
This show was also really popular in Sweden when I was a child. I remember the opening theme from way back. I was 12 when I began to watch this. It was in the final season. I later watched it all in reruns when I was a teenager. I've tried to rewatch the show since then but never made it the whole way through it again.
22. The Thorn Birds (1983)
Great mini TV-series that was my grandma's favorite.
23. Bewitched (1964-1972)
Really cute classic tv-series. I watched it all on DVD a few years ago after someone recommended it to me by saying it was similar to IDOJ.
24. Saved By The Bell (1989-1993)
I had a huge crush on Zack Morris when I was 14. I used to watch this show on TCC. It had no subtitles so it helped me improve my English language skills.
25. The Cosby Show (1984-1992)
The first American Tv-series my parents ever allowed me to watch. They used to read the subtitles for me. I liked Rudy the most since she was about my age.
