Unlike with the movies, even though I also have a list of favorite TV shows that goes beyond 40, I’m choosing shows for a brief mention. These are the 40 shows that I feel like most represent my taste, and have influenced my life in some way. Since i like to wait and not name a show that just premiered, a lot of these shows will be older titles, which means some may not even be streaming, let alone have audio description. But, some do.

1) The Walking Dead (AMC)

I frequently cite this show as my favorite of all time. I’ve actually enjoyed watching this in various situations over the years. I think having a friend circle to watch this really got me hooked, and even though I was one of only two from that circle that made it to the end, I’m glad I did. This show doesn’t love me back though, as it has been a motherfucker to follow without audio description since losing my vision. Still, this show has my heart… or is it brains?

2) Buffy The Vampire Slayer (The WB/UPN)

I wasn’t a fan from the beginning. i lived in a small town where we didn’t get UPN, and we only got The WB when it was partnered with WGN. When WGN dropped it, I lost it. So, in the early 2000’s, after much prodding from my friends, I bought the DVD’s, and plowed my way through the whole damn thing. I wish Faith had gotten a spinoff, and the only thing more traumatic than hush was the death of Buffy’s mom.

3) Boy Meets World (ABC)

I remember being a kid, and the episode where it looked like Topanga was moving actually made me cry, and I was so upset that I had to wait for the next episode. i was at a level of obsessed that was quite unhealthy. I’m currently on my 3rd go around of watching this show from the beginning. I’ve seen a few episodes of Girl Meets World, but it isn’t the same.

4) The West Wing (NBC)

Of course Aaron Sorkin’s terrific walk-and-talk was going to make the cut. That episode, where President Bartlett goes into the church to curse at God for killing his secretary who dared to buy a new car was such a moment. The show had lots of moments, because Sorkin is a terrific showrunner, and the cast was incredible.

5) Sons Of Anarchy (FX)

I got this. Man, hearing Opie say those words… changed me. Ryan Hurst was so good in this show, which is full of great acting. katey Sagal’s processing of her sexual assault should have gotten her an Emmy nomination. No character was ever safe on this show.

6) Entourage (HBO)

Another show that benefits a lot from having watched this with a group of friends. Get a couple of college guys living together, and have them watch this, and it speaks to you on a level where you think that this will always be you. like, this friendship will carry on just like that of Vincent Chase and his crew. of course, that wasn’t true for me, and it isn’t for many, but watching Vince rise through the ranks, while Jeremy Piven delivered the performance of his career was a lot of fun.

7) Everwood (The WB)

As you might know, I’m also rewatching this. And during my rewatch, two cast members have passed. I think I cursed it. but, this show introduced me to Emily van Camp, who I always thought had star potential, and it looks like Hollywood agreed.

8) Lost (ABC)

This show makes the list because it gave me five terrific seasons. I refuse to acknowledge the presence of Season 6, so to me, a bomb went off, and it was a tragic end for our ensemble. but seeing where it went after, i didn’t finish the show. All i want to remember are the moments. Not Penny.

9) South Park (Comedy)

I think I’ve actually seen every episode of this ridiculously long running animated sitcom. I feel like Family Guy deserved a spot on this list, but i haven’t watched that in years. Sure, I’ve got like 10 seasons in, but with South Park I’ve never stopped watching. So many great moments from the Black Friday episodes, to Coon and Friends, and when they were all Anime inspired. Best episode? Dead kids. Trey Parker and Matt Stone are never afraid of tackling difficult subject matter, and making their point.

10) True Blood (HBO)

I’ve also seen every episode of True Blood, and while there were choices I would not have made, i still love the show. I didn’t like the random guy at the dinner table in the finale, and I would never have made Tara a vampire. Also, RIP Nelson Ellis, whose Lafayette is iconic.

11) Friends (NBC)

I’m a basic white bitch. I was a kid/teenage for most of the run of the show, and watching these guys seem to have it all, I wanted that. Rewatching this show, i still root for Ross and Rachel, but i really want Monica to end up with Richard, and not Chandler.

12) Community (NBC)

The paintball episodes were the best. Yes, the show always suffered a tiny bit every time a major cast member left, but it always found a way to be funny. It had a much deeper bench outside the study group of characters that were also hilarious.

13) Glee (FOX)

I can’t claim to not be obsessed with this show.Yes, the show got silly in the end when everyone moved to New York and pursued the same elite school, and it’s hard to watch something knowing what happened with Mark Salling, but this show also launched Amber Riley, Maya Rivera (RIP), Alex Newell, and a hilarious Jane Lynch.

14) Quantum leap (NBC)

Not the reboot, but the original with Scott Bakula. As a kid I was obsessed. i caught this in reruns on USA, and I loved watching where Sam would leap next. I’m really hoping the new show inspires Scott Bakula to return so Sam can finally come home. That’s all I need from life.

15) Seaquest (NBC?)

I was actually a fan of this as well. i remember trying to rewatch this while I could still see, and the visual effects were so bad, but at the time they seemed perfect. I still think it was a cool concept, and with all the reboots, I’m a little surprised this hasn’t been rebooted yet.

16) Orange Is The New black (Netflix)

The first streaming show on my list. What an ensemble. I know Piper was the lead, but she wasn’t even my favorite. Hell, I was so mad at the show for cutting the cast in half, and how we didn’t really get to see a lot of the characters we had grown to love. Red was a great character, and Kate Mulgrew, Danielle Brooks, and Lori Petty all deserved Emmy nominations.

17) Smash (NBC)

Only two seasons, but this show deserved so much more. Music theatre nerds still sing these songs, and there’s still a push to do a full Bombshell musical (for more than one night). I’m optimistic Marilyn will get her day. Secondhand White baby Grand is such a beautiful son.

18) American Idol (FOX)

I was actually once a blogger who got paid to write about Idol, separate from this site. My idol knowledge runs deep, and i watched every episode of the 15 season initial run. The reboot moves too quickly, but it’s still worth my time. I still like the original 15 for letting us really get to know the contestants, and not eliminate them all in massive chunks. So many successful Idol alumni out there still making music.

19) Dawson’s Creek (The WB)

i actually had started to watch this when I had WGN/WB, and then came back around to it with the DVD sets. So, I did eventually see the whole thing, and while it’s a little cheesy now, it was a show to easily get wrapped up in back in the day.

20) Home improvement (ABC)

I tuned in all the time to watch the Taylors, and Tool Time. Wilson looming over the fence. All of it just worked for me. Last Man Standing was not the same thing.

21) Grey’s Anatomy (ABC)

Even though Family Guy is being left out for me missing seasons, I’m willing to count the first 11 seasons of this show. There’s a mass shooting episode in this that is bone chilling. When George writes 007, my heart broke. but the combination of Lexie and Mark dying, was a real ass kicker.

22) Boston Legal (ABC)

If you ignore the randomly disappearing cast members, this was a pretty consistent and funny show. Shatner and Spader made for a great duo, and no one really nailed being able to say your name like it meant something than Denny Crane.

23) So you Think you Can Dance (FOX)

Another show I was paid to blog, I loved the routines, and amassed so many favorites over the years. of course, this is where Ariana DeBose came from, but it’s greatest alumni in my opinion was Twitch. I will never understand how someone who brought so much joy is now gone of their own choice, and he is greatly missed.

24) Frasier (NBC)

Possibly a cliche but this really is what they mean when they ask for a well written situational comedy. Kelsey Grammer managed a spinoff full of interesting characters that ran just as long as the original.

25) Modern Family (ABC)

Yes, another cliche, to pick one of those long running sitcoms that everyone else liked. but, I really enjoyed this show too. It’s just an example of perfect casting.

26) Happy endings (ABC)

A somewhat short lived sitcom with a really devoted following. i don’t know how this didn’t run longer, as it was a really funny show. It was like a more progressive version of Friends, and more realistic.

27) Saved By The Bell (plus the reboot)

Yes, I’d like to include Good Morning Miss Bliss, all the way through the short lived Peacock reboot. it it had Zack Morris, it qualifies. Of course, i watched this as a kid, but Zack Morris is always funny, no matter your age.

28) The newsroom (HBO)

Aaron Sorkin needed more than three seasons for this terrific show that had a killer pilot. That opening monologue with Jeff Daniels in the pilot is one of my favorite scenes in any TV show, ever.

29) Ozark (Netflix)

Like i said, I’m trying to avoid currently running shows, and shows like Succession that just ended, but man was i obsessed with Ozark. And with it having ended last year, it’ll be the most recent addition to this list. Everyone deserved an Emmy. So many people never even got a nomination.

29) Scream (MTV)

OK. Another caveat here. Just the original cast. not the attempt at shaking things up with RJ Cyler and Kiki Palmer. I knew from the beginning who the killer was there. The other show really had me guessing.

31) Top Chef (Bravo)

Nothing quite like watching the most aspiring chefs in the nation cook amazing food you can’t eat and lack the skills to cook. I’ve seen every episode, and the show just wrapped its 20th season.

32) Rescue me (FX)

Denis Leary’s post-9/11 firefighter drama was compelling, and introduced a bunch of tremendous actors to the world. I particularly remember Daniel Sunjata, who went on to do shows like Graceland. I need to rewatch this again.

33) Greek (ABC Family/Freeform)

I think a lot of people had a show on this network at some point. While I also watch Grownish, Greek is one that has stayed with me.

34) Jeopardy (ABC)

I’ve been trying to prove I’m worthy since high school. I’ve watched a silly percentage of Jeopardy episodes, as this was even on streaming for a while so you could see the old seasons. I still watch every night.

35) Saturday Night live (NBC)

I couldn’t make this list without acknowledging that SNL has always had a place. Not only have some of my favorite actors come from here, but there are so many iconic sketches, from Chris Farley living in a van, to Justin Timberlake’s dick in a box.

36) The Office (NBC)

yes, this show definitely was missing something when Steve Carell left, but the ensemble was so strong that it becomes so hard to not keep watching.

37) Stranger Things (Netflix)I

Mean, it’s four seasons deep. i don’t think the final season would change my mind so much that I would have to kick it off my list. This is a terrific show, and it has a great ensemble.

38) Game of Thrones (HBO)

Final season aside, GOT killed off so many people quite suddenly. But the acting was what made it worth it, especially from peter Dinklage who seemed to carry the show at some points.

39) Saturday Morning Cartoons (Various)

I’m an adult, so I’m supposed to pretend like my childhood wasn’t affected by waking up Saturday Morning to watch cartoons, something kids now don’t get to experience. But, we had X-men, Power Rangers, Bobby’s World, Eek The Cat, Reboot, Garfield, Tales From The Crypt, and so many more. i was constantly flipping through channels.

40) Last Week Tonight (HBO)

I figured a talk show should make the list. As a kid, I stayed up a lot to watch jay Leno and Conan with my mom, then later I would have said The Daily Show with jon Stewart, but Last Week Tonight has become such a staple in my life, I feel like it has to make the cut.

honorable mentions to all the Nicktoons, anything on Snick, and probably also TGIF. Some very recent shows are very close to deserving spots on this list, and there are some I felt bad leaving off. But, these 40 give a pretty good glance at my TV likes.