TV (The Book)
| Company type | Anthology book |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2016 |
| Founder | Alan Sepinwall, Matt Zoller Seitz |
| Products | Book on American television series |
TV (The Book): Two Experts Pick the Greatest American Shows of All Time is a 2016 anthology of essays authored by television analysts Alan Sepinwall and Matt Zoller Seitz. The work seeks to define a definitive list of the 100 most outstanding American TV series.
Background
Seitz and Sepinwall initiated their partnership at The Star-Ledger, where they jointly penned the "All TV" column for a decade. At the time this book was released, Sepinwall was serving as a critic at HitFix and later advanced to chief television critic at Rolling Stone, while Seitz held the position of editor-in-chief at RogerEbert.com and contributed as a critic for New York.
Criteria
The rankings presented in the book are confined to television programs either produced within the United States or initially broadcast on American networks—a standard the authors note can be somewhat indistinct. Only series that have concluded were eligible, except for certain long-running shows like The Simpsons and South Park, series that are ongoing but effectively on hiatus such as Curb Your Enthusiasm and Louie, as well as revived programs including Twin Peaks and The X-Files. The list deliberately omits reality television, documentaries, sketch comedies, talk shows, news programs, and sports coverage, focusing instead on scripted narrative formats encompassing dramas, comedies, children’s shows, and select anthology series.
Eligible programs were evaluated using a ten-point scale in six categories: "Innovation" (creativity within the medium), "Influence" (effect on future television), "Consistency" (steady quality throughout seasons), "Performance" (acting caliber), "Storytelling" (writing merit), and "Peak" (the show’s highest accomplishment in the context of American TV history). Series limited to a single season were slightly disadvantaged in scoring. The resulting top 100 list reflects these cumulative assessments.
Top 100
| Rank | Television Series | Premiere Year | Final Episode Year | Original Network | Total Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Template:HsThe Simpsons | 1989 | present | FOX | 112 |
| 2. | Template:HsThe Sopranos | 1999 | 2007 | HBO | 112 |
| 3. | Template:HsThe Wire | 2002 | 2008 | HBO | 112 |
| 4. | Cheers | 1982 | 1993 | NBC | 112 |
| 5. | Breaking Bad | 2008 | 2013 | AMC | 112 |
| 6. | Mad Men | 2007 | 2015 | AMC | 110 |
| 7. | Seinfeld | 1989 | 1998 | NBC | 110 |
| 8. | I Love Lucy | 1951 | 1957 | CBS | 109 |
| 9. | Deadwood | 2004 | 2006 | HBO | 107 |
| 10. | 1979 |CBS |106 |
| Rank | Series Title | First Air Date | Last Air Date | Network | Score |
|---|
Supplementary Book Content
In addition to the Top 100 compilation, Seitz and Sepinwall incorporated segments such as Works in Progress, which spotlight significant ongoing series, and A Certain Regard, dedicated to shows that did not make the primary list. The volume further includes essays discussing television miniseries, films made for TV, and televised theatrical productions.
Critical Reception
Television reviewers responded favorably to the book. Jacqueline Cutler from The Star-Ledger described it as "an excellent reference resource," commending the top-100 selection for its thoughtful analysis and captivating information. However, she felt that the "Outlier Classics" and "Works-in-Progress" portions were less compelling, comparing them to "youth sports leagues where participation trophies are common." Bill Carter of CNN valued the book’s capacity to spark debate, highlighting that differing opinions signify a deeper connection with television content—echoing the authors’ original purpose.