A lot of people have favorite TV shows, maybe it’s a drama like Heartland, or an action show like Game of Thrones. It could even be a comedy show like The Office, or maybe even crime shows like Criminal Minds and Dexter. No matter what, a lot of these shows are considered giants in their genre. Even though all of these shows are fantastic shows, neither of them qualifies as one of my top three favorite shows. Trust me it is hard to choose but after quite a bit of thought, I finally settled on three shows that stand out to me. Below I will outline my top three shows and why they are ranked the way they are.

#3. The Ranch.

The Ranch is a Netflix Original that involves a lot of drama and comedy. Most people think “well if you’re considering a Netflix Original then why isn’t Stranger Things in your top three?”. Stranger Things is a fantastic show that is filled with plenty of drama and action. For me, however, I appreciate comedy in a show higher than I consider action. This is why, in my opinion, The Ranch is a superior show. The comedy of the show keeps it lively and keeps watchers tuned in to the show, while the drama is real and seems almost just like an actual family. Not only does the show balance this super well, but the cast of the show is stacked. Ashton Kutcher and Danny Masterson are a power duo in this show, and it goes to show what the pair can do when they are playing across each other. Even Wilmer Valderrama appears in the show for a short amount of time. Then there is Sam Elliot. This man is a powerhouse of an actor in every role he fulfills. He plays the role of a rancher name Beau Bennet, the father to Ashton Kutcher’s Colt Bennet and Danny Masterson’s Jameson “Rooster” Bennet. He plays a grumpy old man with no sense of humor. This makes the show more comedic since Colt and Rooster are constantly making jokes their father does not understand and instead stands around and calls them idiots. Even Debra Jo Rupp and Kurtwood Smith show their faces in this show! All in all, The Ranch is an incredibly well-balanced show that gets me crying, laughing, and wanting more every episode.

#2. That 70’s Show

If you have seen That 70’s Show and The Ranch, then you already know that there are several cast members who are in both shows. That 70’s Show is unique because of the way they tell their stories. They do a lot of “daydream scenarios” which make the show absolutely hilarious. It is unique to the show and really sets it apart from others of its kind. The Show is obviously set in the 70’s and revolves around a group of friends and their high school and college lives as they navigate the 70’s. This show includes the acting giants Topher Grace, Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher, Danny Masterson, Laura Prepon, and Wilmer Valderrama. Even Debra Jo Rupp who plays the mother to Topher Grace’s Eric Forman and Kurtwood Smith, the father, are in this show. This show certainly has a powerful cast who outline the 70’s extremely well. Michael Kelso (Kutcher) is the group “dumbass”. Jackie Burkhart (Kunis) is the snobby rich girl who dates all the boys except for Eric. Donna Pinciotti (Prepon) is Eric Forman’s (Grace) lover throughout the entirety of the show. Then there is the pervert played by Fez (Valderrama). We still have no clue where he is from. Lastly the awesome Steven Hyde (Masterson) who is always the “bad boy” of the group. This show always brings a smile to my face, whether it’s a good burn from Michael Kelso or Red Forman calling someone a dumbass and threating to put his foot in their ass, the show always adds a little bit of humor to my days. The show knows how to be dramatic too. There were several different moments that were serious, and the producers and script writers did a fantastic job in making those scenes shine. All in all, That 70’s Show is a hilarious show that had an unfortunate ending, the eighth season was a little bit of a letdown but it still remains a show that deserves my second place spot.

#1. Friends

There is no other show that even comes close to the status that Friends has achieved. Friends is the most well-known TV show in the world and has held that title for quite some time. This is not what makes it my favorite show. What makes Friends stand out from the others is that the show has ten seasons where viewers can learn the characters. Most TV shows these days have a cast that is in flux. This means that actors or actresses are constantly coming in and out of the show. Instead Friends centers on keeping a core cast and hosting special guests. This method was super effective and did wonders for the show. Not only was the show consistent, but it always was well constructed. The way each episode flowed from one to the other was incredible and it was likely one of the first of its kind to have each episode consist of three storylines. The actors and actresses really put in a lot of work to make sure they fulfilled their role the best that they could. This was one of the most dedicated casts of a TV show in history, even though they will likely never get back together for a reunion. The show was concluded in a way that made each viewer feel a sense of happiness and completion. Not only were the jokes funny throughout all ten seasons of the show, but the characters development is amazing to watch throughout the series. We get to watch as Ross transforms from a “love hungry” guy to someone who is just waiting for the right person. We get to watch Monica and Chandler discover their feelings for one another. We get to watch as Phoebe well, stays Phoebe but sheds more and more light on her background story. We get to see spoiled Rachel turn into a brilliant fashion woman. My favorite transformation is that of Joey Tribbiani. This is because of the irony of the situation. As Friends progressed Matt LeBlanc became more and more popular, this is mirrored in his character Joey as he goes from standard stage actor to big time movie and TV star. There is no other show that parallels storytelling and humorous technique quite like Friends and that is why it has earned its spot at number one. Friends will “be there for you, when the rain starts to pour”.

Thanks for tuning in and stay tuned for more posts, just like this one!

~Revan