Apparently the Lost thread has been quite popular, having never watched more than an episode and a half I can't comment, but am cognizant of the impact it has had on a lot of people.

That said, which show was the best/most influential?

American Idol, as much as I hate to admit it.

That, or Survivor. If you asked about the 90s I'd say the Simpsons.

entourage

its always sunny in philadelphia

and although rather new, modern family (funniest show on tv second to always sunny)

I would have to agree with Survivor. It was thet catalyst in the reality show boom.

'That, or Survivor. If you asked about the 90s I'd say the Simpsons. "

Indeed, the 90's were a different time, I didn't want to bring that in with the animation revolution, X-Files, Seinfeld, Friends (ugh), etc.

UA5straightin2008 wrote: entourage

its always sunny in philadelphia

and although rather new, modern family (funniest show on tv second to always sunny)

While all of those are good shows, none of them are very influential.

Sopranos

Some think it is the GOAT

Also, one of the influential show would have to be Who wants to be Millionaire. It spawned a bunch of prime time game shows.

brutus161 wrote:

UA5straightin2008 wrote: entourage

its always sunny in philadelphia

and although rather new, modern family (funniest show on tv second to always sunny)

While all of those are good shows, none of them are very influential.

maybe not to you, depends on your definition of influential, does survivor influence people to go get dropped of on a random island? does sex in the city influence people to have sex in the city?

LOST

I probably should have specified written television shows (then again some people would argue many reality shows were written!).

While The Sopranos, The Wire, Six Feet Under, etc. are all very good, critically acclaimed shows, I find it hard to say they were more influential than something like Survivor, which basically exploded a television category from obscurity (Real World) to mainstream, or American Idol, which has been the 800 lb ratings gorilla for years and has altered pop culture considerably.

You left off the Shield.

Open your brain up and use it. The question isn't based on personal opinion, which is why a show like It's Always Sunny isn't even in the top 10. Whether it was influential to you or not, the most influential show probably has been either American Idol or Survivor. Sadly.

As much as I have to admit it how about the Real World on MTV. I remember it as a very early 'reality' show. Look how many reality shows there have been since.

Curly J wrote: As much as I have to admit it how about the Real World on MTV. I remember it as a very early 'reality' show. Look how many reality shows there have been since.

I'd consider it for the 90s, but not for the past decade.

I agree with those who said Survivor. Overall, it has been the most influential show of the last decade. As far as scripted shows go, it has to be The Wire. The show didn't necessarily have the scope or immediate impact as some others, but it was the first show of its kind. Without The Wire you never have any of the other shows listed. The Wire is studied in most film schools now because of the influence it has had on television.

After The Wire I think it would have to be The Sopranos because because it showed us what television could be. Then Lost primarily because it was on network television. HBO was able to create revolutionary television because they were not restricted by sensors and advertisers. Lost was the first to bring a show of similar scope to network television.

Some good opinions.

I don't think you can argue American Idol has to be the choice, but then again it is a reality show (as pointed out, Survivor really launched the genre) and considering it was ripped from Great Britain perhaps we can disqualify it. For that matter, we had Star Search years and years ago.

Sopranos would probably be my pick. In terms of writing and mainstream impact, for a show on subscription cable, is something. But it has not had the impact beyond it's obsessive fans, in terms of writers putting together really smart shows. 24 is like the anti-Sopranos in terms of quality writing that arguably had more mass appeal to attention span-deprived, stupid Americans (don't get me wrong, 24 is entertaining but a poorly written drama, bad acting and typically lousy character and plot development).

I also thought The Shield was great. But like Sopranos it hasn't really translated. Although I might argue Southland is a slighlty more sanitized version of The Shield (dropped by NBC and fortunately picked up by TNT/TBS).

Sex and the City can't be ignored. Like Sopranos, a hugely successful HBO show (as was Entourage). But given a second movie is coming out, hard not to acknowledge. Again, however, where are similar type shows being spun off?

Another left off the list: Stargate SG1. This started out on HBO or Showtime for 3 years, then was picked up on SciFi. That show pretty much single handedly saved that network.

It's hard to peg "influential" shows because generally the level of writing is either unable to be duplicated or the network is unwilling to try. If you are talking more pop culture influence (ala Seinfeld), I think it's pretty much a dead heat between Sopranos and Sex in the City. Then you have Law & Order and CSI pretty much the foundation and entirety of most people's legal knowledge, and I've heard DA's talk about that effect on juries in terms of forensic evidence.

I'd say as far as scripted shows go, That 70s show has contributed a lot to pop culture.

Burnnnnnnn.

SQ_Crazies wrote: Open your brain up and use it. The question isn't based on personal opinion, which is why a show like It's Always Sunny isn't even in the top 10. Whether it was influential to you or not, the most influential show probably has been either American Idol or Survivor. Sadly.

Agreed. But American Idol was ripped from the UK, I think. We could debate if there is AI without Survivor, but Survivor certainly established the model, but I think we still have AI.

Survivor spawned a series of mostly forgettable reality television, the Bachelor/Bachelorette probably the msot successful. I guess you probably put Biggest Loser in this genre, as well. And Fear Factor.

I think we can attribute America's Top Model, America's Got Talent, a country version of AI (short lived I think) and Dancing with the Stars to AI.

So maybe in terms of spinoff or replicated success, slight edge to Survivor.

Don't forget Celebrity Apprentice and Amazing Race to Survivor.

gorocks99 wrote: Don't forget Celebrity Apprentice and Amazing Race to Survivor.

True. I guess that makes Survivor the clear winner.

anything from TGIF...oh wait, past decade, damnit. oh well.

Maybe this is a better question for creators.....I think the runaway choice is David Kelley: LA Law, Picket Fences, Chicago Hope, Ally McBeal, The Practice, Boston Legal, Boston Public,

Then, what, you have Mark Burnett as producer of Survivor and a number of similar works?

Dick Wolfe of the Law & Order series.

Anthony Zuiker, CSI.

Maybe the only others you can remotely consider is Simon Fuller & Simon Cowell.

Why are LOST and 24 on the list? What a joke of a poll.

gut wrote: Maybe this is a better question for creators.....I think the runaway choice is David Kelley: LA Law, Picket Fences, Chicago Hope, Ally McBeal, The Practice, Boston Legal, Boston Public,

Then, what, you have Mark Burnett as producer of Survivor and a number of similar works?

Dick Wolfe of the Law & Order series.

Anthony Zuiker, CSI.

Maybe the only others you can remotely consider is Simon Fuller & Simon Cowell.

Aaron Sorkin (Sports Night, West Wing, Studio 60)?