The Best TV Shows of the 21st Century
Summary
The New York Times’ chief TV critic James Panero and canon editor Gilbert Cruz debate the 100 best TV shows of the 21st century, a list compiled from over 1,000 industry professionals. They analyze the top ten entries, including Breaking Bad, The Wire, and Succession, discussing how the era defined prestige television through complex anti-heroes and high production values. The conversation also highlights the surprising presence of comedies like 30 Rock and Veep, while addressing why The Sopranos was excluded due to the 2000 cutoff. Finally, the hosts share their personal picks for shows th…
Topics discussed
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Intro: The first TV show of the 21st century
Project overview: NYT's 100 best TV shows
Panel introduction and show structure
Discussion on the scarcity of comedies in top 10
Defining comedy and the bias toward drama
30 Rock: Joke density and cultural commentary
Curb Your Enthusiasm: Exaggerating minor conflicts
Curb Your Enthusiasm: Humor from discomfort
Veep: Puncturing political hypocrisy
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Fleabag: Portrayal of a modern woman
Fleabag: Voice and the economics of prestige TV
Succession: Unlikable characters and mythological cruelty
Mad Men: Style, psychology, and the golden age
The Wire: Novelistic structure and social commentary
Breaking Bad: Anti-heroes and moral questions
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Why The Sopranos is not on the list
Hannibal: Cannibalism on television
Viewer favorites: Adventure Time, Rectify, and more
Conclusion and sign-off
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