Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) and Walter White (Bryan Cranston) - Breaking Bad _Season 5 - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels/AMC

(Photo by Frank Ockenfels/AMC)

FALL 2019 TV SURVEY: TV Shows That Defined the 2000s

For Rotten Tomatoes’ annual Fall TV Survey, we asked thousands of our users what they’re most looking forward to in the coming TV season and to reflect on the best shows from seasons past.

Ah, the aughts. Will we one day look back on the decade as a simpler time, when a school teacher becoming a meth dealer was the height of entertainment?

Probably, yes, according to Rotten Tomatoes users, who voted Breaking Bad the show that defined the decade’s television entertainment with 61% of the vote. The Bryan Cranston–led series was followed by The Office with 47% of the vote, and The Sopranos with 45%.

Which TV star ruled in the decade? Fans bestowed that honor on the late, great James Gandolfini for his role as Tony in The Sopranos. Gandolfini received 18% of the vote. Steve Carell followed with 17% of the vote, and Tina Fey grabbed third position away from Jon Stewart 7.96 percent to 7.56 percent.

Disagree with the survey results? Tell us in the comments who you think should have made the list or have been ranked higher.

Family Guy (1999)

#20

Synopsis: Animated antics of the constantly grousing Griffins, a family that put some fun in dysfunctional. While dad Peter is a... [More]

Starring: Alexandra Breckenridge, Gene Simmons, Regis Philbin, Seth MacFarlane

Directed By: Swinton O. Scott III, Gavin Dell, Zac Moncrief, Michael Dante DiMartino

Saturday Night Live (1975)

#19

Synopsis: Live from New York, celebrity hosts join an ensemble cast to perform comedy on Saturday nights. Capturing the pop-culture zeitgeist,... [More]

Starring: Carrie Fisher, Cuba Gooding Jr., David Spade, James Van Der Beek

Directed By: Dave Wilson, Dave Wilson, Beth McCarthy, Robert Altman

Arrested Development (2003)
74%

#18

Synopsis: A young man leads his oddball family and their real-estate-development business following a securities-fraud fiasco that put the father in... [More]

Starring: Phyllis Smith, Jason Bateman, Michael Cera, Jeffrey Tambor

Directed By: Greg Mottola, Jason Bateman, Rebecca Asher, Mitchell Hurwitz

House (2004)
90%

#17

Synopsis: Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie) is devoid of anything resembling bedside manner and wouldn't even talk to his patients if... [More]

Starring: Mark Holmes, Abdoul Aziz Ndiaye, Alice Smith, Mustafa S. Shakir

Directed By: Félix Enríquez Alcalá, Paul McCrane, Fred A. Keller, James Hayman

Desperate Housewives (2004)
72%

#16

Synopsis: Following her suicide, Mary Alice Young keeps tabs on friends and family she left behind on bucolic suburban Wisteria Lane.... [More]

Starring: John Schneider, Kathryn Harrold, Roselyn Sanchez, Miguel Ferrer

Directed By: Arlene Sanford, Charles McDougall, John David Coles, Jeff Melman

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart (0)

#15

Synopsis: Jon Stewart anchors this comedy news show which satirises current events.... [More]

Starring: Tim Kaine, Evan Bayh, Trita Parsi, President Mohamed Nasheed

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000)

#14

Synopsis: Las Vegas criminologists use scientific methods to solve grisly murders in this unusually graphic (and hugely popular) drama, which inspired... [More]

Starring: Marcy Rylan, Jessica Lee Keller, Black Sabbath, Ted Danson

Directed By: Duane Clarke, Thomas J. Wright, Louis Shaw Milito, Danny Cannon

Dexter (2006)
71%

#13

Synopsis: A forensic expert lives a double life as a vigilante-serial killer who murders wrongdoers who've escaped justice.... [More]

Starring: Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Carpenter, Erik King, Luna Lauren Vélez

Directed By: Marcos Siega, Steven Shill, Stefan Schwartz, Michael C. Hall

Grey's Anatomy (2005)
84%

#12

Synopsis: The story revolves around five surgical interns and their supervisors, showing their personal and professional lives.... [More]

Starring: Craig Tusyumine, Matt Crabtree, Kelli King, Terrance Christopher Jones

Directed By: Julie Ann Robinson, Peter Horton, Jeff Melman, Nicole Rubio

30 Rock (2006)
78%

#11

Synopsis: A female TV writer tries to control the behind-the-scenes antics of a live, prime-time variety show and deals with interference... [More]

Starring: Tony Bennett, Tina Fey, Gary Cole, Al Gore

Directed By: Oz Rodriguez, Steve Buscemi, Gail Mancuso, Kevin Rodney Sullivan

The West Wing (1999)
75%

#10

Synopsis: Martin Sheen and Rob Lowe, as the U.S. President and his deputy communications director, play politics in this innovative Washington,... [More]

Starring: Martin Sheen, Rob Lowe, Terry McCrea, Donald Moffat

Directed By: Arlene Sanford, Mimi Leder, Ken Olin, Alan Taylor