There isn’t a scientific test for the best program on television, and we may never be able to convince you that our list is as good as we believe it is.
But our staff got together and came up with 27 shows, both comedies and dramas, that we believe will not disappoint should you watch. Overall, they’re intelligent, well-written, have top-notch casts and continue to be entertaining week by week.
What more can you ask from a TV show, right?
Find out what we’re considering the greatest shows on Television for 2015. Scroll through now!
Mr. Robot – USA
Mr. Robot was a fantastic surprise this past summer. Rami Malek effortlessly played the engrossing character of Elliot. The storyline was very different to anything else you’d seen on TV and it resulted in an all round stellar series that was filled with awesome characters.
You’re the Worst – FX
You’re the Worst on FXX is truly unlike any other comedy on TV. It’s fantastically well-acted, with memorable characters, and crazy quotable dialogue. This year, they really went there with Gretchen’s depression arc and it gave the writers and actors a chance to really shine, resulting in some of the best episodes of any series (drama or comedy) of the year.
The Leftovers – HBO
The Leftovers did what very few hour long dramas do – it reinvented itself in its second season. The concept remained the same, but with a new location, a new core family and raising the supernatural (or religious) element just a bit, the intensity was amazing. Each character brought something different and mesmerizing to the table. The story was invigorating, and while not cheerful, still full of hope and emotionally moving. Well done.
Catastrophe – Amazon
Catastrophe, available on Amazon in the US, is the hilariously awkward story of two strangers starting a life together. What sets this comedy apart is how honest it is. Rob and Sharon may face some serious problems as they start their life together, but they always manage to bring levity to the situation with a filthy turn of phrase.
The Americans – FX
The Americans never strays far from the very best, but as the Jennings’ daughter, Paige, starts to grow up and question her parents every move, the stakes have never been higher. We’ve already seen what can happen to a family when the communication isn’t straightforward between spies and their teen. Will it happen with the Jennings, too? Dealing with life or death spy games and trying to keep a teenager in check, it turns out, is riveting.
Parks and Recreation – NBC
Parks and Recreation finished its fantastic seven year run on a high note. The final season gave us some great laughs and memorable moments such as “Treat Yo Self” Beverly Hills, the return of fan favorites Ann and Chris, and the touching and hilarious reconcilation of Ron and Leslie. The series finale was a more than satisfying ending, giving us a look into the happy futures of all our favorite characters.
The Affair – Showtime
It was questionable whether The Affair Season 2 could be as interesting as the first, but with the introduction of two more viewpoints, it’s been broken wide open. Now we have seen the consequences of the affair on the injured parties and also discovered just how deeply the responsible parties covered up a murder. It was far more intense than we could have imagined. Mauria Tierney and Josh Jackson stepped up and viewers were rewarded.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia – FXX
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia may be in its 10th season, but it is still going strong and bringing the laughs on a weekly basis. The season premiere in which the gang tries to beat Wade Boggs’ record for drinking beer on an airplane was hysterical, as was Charlie’s crazy day of trying to get the bar ready for its annual health inspection. These characters may not be the most likable people, but their antics are funny, and they make this one of the best comedies on TV.
Bates Motel – A&E
Bates Motel continued its strong streak by focusing on Norman’s descent into madness. During Season 3 he started to lapse into two personalities, one as his own version of his mother, Norma, who he embraced to the point of dressing as her and speaking to others. Things took one final and wicked turn when he killed as Norma. How long until he tells police he witnessed her committing a crime? What’s next for this troubled family? So much emotion and such a chilling journey, we can’t wait to find out.
BoJack Horseman – Netflix
BoJack Horseman’s second season was even better than its first, and it has really started to come into its own. With a cast featuring Will Arnett, Amy Sedaris, and Aaron Paul, how could it not be hilarious? Alison Brie gave an especially exceptional performance in season 2. The characters are creative with a good mix of animals and humans, and the inter-species relationships all work for some reason. BoJack is definitely a different comedy, but it’s also definitely worth binge-watching.
The Jinx – HBO
If you didn’t catch HBO’s documentary, The Jinx, then you missed out on an exceptional drama that just so happened to be a true story. It was one of the most sensational things to air on television in 2015, as suspected murderer Robert Durst was questioned by documentarians about his misdeeds, and as he believed the cameras stopped rolling, he confessed by way of chiding himself for coughing and clearing his throat. It was edge of your seat stuff that was mirroring real life as Durst was being caught and arrested. Give it a look if you haven’t already.
Episodes – Showtime
Episodes is one of the best comedies, but too few are watching. This underrated gem is worth the subscription to Showtime. Matt LeBlanc is hysterical as a fictional version of himself, but the show wouldn’t work without its excellent supporting cast, and Tamsin Greig as Beverly is especially great. Season 4 found Matt losing half his money, Carol again getting involved with the new boss, despite that fact that this time it’s a woman, and Beverly and Sean struggling with a new project.
Halt and Catch Fire – AMC
Halt and Catch Fire was great in Season 1, but Season 2 was equally as gripping, raising the stakes for all of the characters, as the computer industry was changing at extraordinary speed. That meant characters were thrust into situations requiring quick wit and rash decisions, some they live to regret later and some that propel them to greater success. With the amazing cast acting their hearts out and the changing times, it creates a near perfect drama. If only more people would watch.
Fresh Off the Boat – ABC
Fresh Off the Boat. A comedy about an Asian-American family trying to run a successful western-themed restaurant, this is one of the laugh-out-loud funniest shows on television right now. It’s not exactly unique in its typical “family” concept, but the writing is fantastic and the jokes ALWAYS hit. Plus, everyone loves some great ’90s nostalgia and this show really packs it in!
Mad Men – AMC
Mad Men. This show went out with somewhat of a quiet bang this year with nothing short of the high-quality we had come to expect from it. Each character had one final moment in the spotlight and every story wrapped up beautifully. What both the writers and actors gave audiences in their victory lap was perfection. Mad Men will be sorely missed for it’s concept and it’s creativity, but at least we can all rest easy knowing that Don Draper did finally land Coca-Cola.
Faking It
Faking It is not just any high school teen comedy. At Hester High, to be different is to be cool, and the diverse cast of characters and spot-on writing is sure to bring the laughs. The show is smart and funny, and the cast is full of good-looking actors, which is never a bad thing.
The 100 – The CW
The 100 built on the stellar freshman run and managed to expand the world we thought we knew and it resulted in a fantastic sophomore run for the show. There were twists coming from everywhere. You could never tell who was backtabbing who, or just stabbing them. Clarke knows all about stabbing people. She stabbed her ex-boyfriend to death!
The Big Bang Theory – CBS
The Big Bang Theory. Even though the show took some turns that weren’t always fabulous this year, The Big Bang Theory is a comedy that pays attention to character development and relationships while always making us laugh.
The Flash – The CW
The Flash is more than a comic book series. It’s a story of family, friendship and responsibility. It succeeds on many levels, offering some of the most deeply layered relationships on television between friends and foes. It’s not very often a heroes and villains are involved in such a complex manner, but you’ll find just that on The Flash. Even the most dramatic moments are filled with levity and vice versa, giving it a more real life feel than expected with such otherworldly circumstances. That perfect cast has been assembled for the task and never hesitates to dig into the heaviest or lightest material providing solid drama for many ages.
Mom – CBS
There’s a reason Allison Janney has won two Emmy awards for her performance as Bonnie Plunkett on Mom. She’s hilarious and most often the highlight of the series, but that doesn’t mean Anna Faris should be discounted. The two of them play off each other perfectly and their characters’ dysfunctional relationship is always fun to watch.
Orphan Black – BBC America
Orphan Black is a smart, exciting, and well-written show with a fascinating cast of characters, most of which are played by the incredibly talented Tatiana Maslany. She does such an amazing job of differentiating each of her characters that sometimes it is easy to forget they’re all played by the same person. This underrated drama has a way of dragging you into the show with its creative story-telling, and it won’t take long before you’re hooked.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine – Fox
Brooklyn Nine-Nine is such a great show. Every character is unique and hilarious. Andy Sandberg is a charming goofball but has really become a solid leading man this year. Captain Holt character is wonderfully dry and unintentionally hilarious. The bromance between Peralta and Charles just continues to grow more and more endearing every week. Amy and Jake’s chemistry has added a great romantic element to the show, but it’s the ensemble cast that makes this a must watch.
Rectify – Sundance
Rectify on SundanceTV is an incredibly well-written drama that it seems like not many people watch. Each character is complex and each moment is done with intention. It’s such a powerful show. If you haven’t been watching, it’s easy to catch up, because the seasons are short!
New Girl
New Girl is still making us laugh. This year Schmidt returned to his crazy self but it was Winston that stole the show with the laughs this year. Now that we haved moved away from the drama of Nick and Jess, this gem has restored the elements that made us fall in love with it in the first place.
Manhattan – WGN
Manhattan continued its journey into the lives of those creating the atomic bomb in Los Alamos, New Mexico. While a dramatic take on the true story, it’s easy to imagine a lot of what happened. Why wouldn’t there be spies trying to tap into one of the worlds greatest secrets? There are so many parallels with the world today on a social level and seeing it all culminate with the detonation of the first atomic bomb, and what that means to those who created it is heady stuff.
Playing House – USA
Playing House is the hilarious story of two best friends Maggie and Emma. Emma moves in with Maggie to help her raise her baby after Maggie leaves her cheating husband. The two play off of each other so well and share an undeniable chemistry, probably due to the fact that the two actresses are actually best friends in real life as well. This is one of the funniest shows no one is watching, and it would be a real shame if it doesn’t get picked up for a third season.
Agents of SHIELD – ABC
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. The beginning of 2015 gave us the insane season finale with Simmons being sucked into the monolith and Coulson losing a hand. This season focused more on Fitzsimmons than in seasons past and it really paid off. The other characters may not have had the focal episodes but their side stories were still gripping this year. Ward was finally given more purpose and took his place as a villain. Each episode really pushed the story forward and for me, it was the best show of 2015.
