Summary

• The 2000s saw the rise of influential television series like The Sopranos and Lost, which set new standards for writing and acting in the medium.
• Family Guy became the primary adult cartoon of the 2000s, with its satirical take on American culture and subversive humor resonating with a new generation.
• The Office and How I Met Your Mother were iconic sitcoms of the era, offering relatable and comedic takes on office culture and contemporary dating life respectively.

Several television series can be described as quintessential to the 2000s decade, which can be viewed to understand the era better. The 2000s were massively influential to modern television, with prestige dramas like The Sopranos setting the gold standard for how top-quality writing and acting could accomplish for the television medium. Series like Lost established the online culture surrounding television, with viewers gathering on forums to theorize and discuss the show.

For comedy, sitcoms like The Office and How I Met Your Mother defined the era, becoming some of the most quoted series of the decade, ultimately having widely different lasting legacies. While The Simpsons dominated adult cartoons during the '90s, Family Guy set the tone for the 2000s, which offered a more absurd, subversive take to the genre, corresponding to the 2000s interest in deconstructing television tropes. Several shows defined different aspects of the cultural interests and tendencies of the 2000s, influencing music, style, humor, and more.

10 Family Guy

(1999-Present)

Though Family Guy is still on, its popularity and influence peaked during the 2000s. Following the phenomenon of The Simpsons in the 1990s, Family Guy became the 2000s primary adult cartoon for its satirical take on American culture, offering a new, unique style of humor that resonated with its generation of audiences. The blend of satire, pop culture references, and subversive humor established adult animation for years, paving the way for shows like American Dad and Bob's Burgers.

9 Lost

(2004-2010)

Lost became a 2000s cultural touchstone, providing addictive serialized drama to network television.

Created by J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof, Lost was one of the most extensive prime-time shows ever. Lost became a 2000s cultural touchstone, providing addictive serialized drama to network television. The series revolves around a group of plane crash survivors who land on an island with mystical properties. The obsession with the competition show Survivor definitely contributed to the overwhelming excitement towards Lost, which offered a similar concept of varying personalities coming together in a life-or-death scenario. Millions tuned in each week, hoping to find answers to mysteries, ultimately bonding with some of the most well-developed characters TV has ever seen.

8 Grey’s Anatomy

(2005-Present)

While procedural medical dramas aren't as popular as they once were due to the rise of streaming and serialized shows, they were vital to 2000s culture. While ER was widely influential in the '90s, Grey's Anatomy became a cultural force in the mid-2000s. Audiences were enthralled by the ensemble cast and interpersonal relationships of Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital residents, which consistently delivered emotional storytelling. Beyond the obsession with its drama and romance, the show was praised for its efforts to address social issues.

7 The Sopranos

(1999-2007)

Often considered the best TV series of all time, The Sopranos is one of the century's most influential shows, raising the bar for television quality. Centered around mob boss Tony Soprano, the series appealed to much of the same audience who'd spent the '90s watching films like Goodfellas and Casino. However, The Sopranos offers an innovative psychological exploration into the mind of the mobster, showing how Tony balanced his family life and pressing mental health issues with the unforgiving world of the mob.

6 The Office

(2005-2013)

The Office had a lasting impact, as it's still one of the most re-watched shows in modern culture. In the 2000s, the show's mockumentary sitcom style was fresh and original, offering a relatable but comedic take on mundane office culture. The series is known for its beloved characters like Jim and Pam, who had one of the best will-they/won't-they relationships in sitcoms. And, of course, Steve Carell is excellent as Michael Scott. The Office influenced a generation of workplace humor, references, and catchphrases.

5 Gilmore Girls

(2000-2007)

Following the life of single mother Lorelai Gilmore and her daughter, Rory, in their small-town life, Gilmore Girls was widely celebrated for its portrayal of female characters. The classic 2000s series resonated with audiences for its focus on female empowerment and its primary mother-daughter relationship, with witty dialogue and pop culture references for everyone to enjoy. Gilmore Girls is unmatched in charm and a vital piece of 2000s culture.

4 The O.C.

(2003-2007)

Teen dramas were essential in the 2000s, and The O.C. was one of the best. The series is a classic fish-out-of-water comedy/drama centered around troubled teenager Ryan Atwood, who is taken in by a wealthy family in Orange County, California. The O.C. set a standard for many of the era's teen dramas and influenced fashion and music trends, capturing the 2000s zeitgeist.

3 Friday Night Lights

(2006-2011)

Another essential 2000s classic with teen show elements was Friday Night Lights, which focused on the cutthroat culture of Texas High School football. It's one of the most candid portrayals of small-town and family life ever on television. Covering an ensemble of characters, Friday Night Lights examines the impact of sports culture from many different lenses, offering perspective on how sports and education intertwine with race and class in America. The series launched the careers of stars like Michael B. Jordan, Jesse Plemons, Kyle Chandler, Adrianne Palicki, and Minka Kelly. Friday Night Lights is still one of the best shows/movies about football.

2 24

(2001-2010)

24 developed a fascinating, innovative method of storytelling, using each hour-long Fox time slot to tell one hour of its story, with each season conveying a whole day. The ticking clock narrative structure allowed for an intense, action-packed crime thriller that no other series has matched. In of its popularity in the 2000s, the series reflected on the current political climate and post-9/11 anxieties. However, some of the show's political commentaries have been criticized.

1 How I Met Your Mother

(2005-2014)

After 1990s sitcoms like Friends and Seinfeld, How I Met Your Mother was the perfect follow-up. Unfortunately, the series didn't end on a high note, but during the 2000s, it was the peak of its genre. The series is centered around Ted Mosby explaining to his children how he met their mother. It's set in New York City, exploring Ted and his friends Marshall, Lily, Barney, and Robin as they navigate relationships and careers. It was a cultural phenomenon for its portrayal of contemporary dating life, and Neil Patrick Harris's Barney helped make it one of the most quotable TV shows of all time.