25 Greatest Classic TV Series

In 2012, I became one of the founding members of the Classic TV Blog Association (CTVBA), a fabulous group of bloggers who celebrate classic television. This year, the CTVBA embarked on its most ambitious project to date: a list of the 25 Greatest Classic TV Series.

Our definition of "classic" was any prime-time TV series that began broadcasting prior to 1990. Each member applied his or her own criteria in nominating series. My criteria were quality, enduring popularity, and social influence. Over 55 shows were nominated in the first round of voting, but only 29 made it to the second and final round.

Here is the final official list of the 25 Greatest Classic TV Series (for more details, check out the CTVBA web site):

1.    The Twilight Zone

2.    I Love Lucy 

3.    The Mary Tyler Moore Show

4.    Columbo

5.    All in the Family

6.    Dragnet

7.    Monty Python’s Flying Circus

8.    Star Trek

9.    The Prisoner

10.  M*A*S*H

11.  The Dick Van Dyke Show

12.  The Fugitive

13.  Dallas

14.  Doctor Who

15.  The Andy Griffith Show

16.  The Defenders

17.  The Golden Girls

18.  Perry Mason

19.  SCTV

20.  The Honeymooners

21.  Alfred Hitchcock Presents

22.  Hill Street Blues

23.  The Odd Couple

24.  The Outer Limits

25.  The Avengers

Honorable Mentions:  Get Smart, The Ed Sullivan Show, Leave It to Beaver, and WKRP in Cincinnati.

I think it's a pretty strong list overall, but there were some definite surprises. I can't argue with The Twilight Zone and I Love Lucy in the top two spots. Both were landmark TV series that are just as good today as when they debuted.

David Janssen as Dr. Richard Kimble.

However, my choice for #1 spot was The Fugitive. I can think of no other TV series that was as uniformly strong for a three-year period (and the fourth season was also good). This modern-day Les Miserables turned Dr. Kimble and Lieutenant Gerard into iconic characters. The two-part series finale was a national phenomenon, with the last episode earning the highest Nielsen rating of any regular TV series until M*A*S*H eclipsed it.

The Defenders belongs in the Top Five. It boasted superb writing and acting, plus it explored some of the most complex social issues of the 1960s. Indeed, many of its episodes seem just as timely today. I suspect its too-low ranking may have been a case of not enough voters having seen The Defenders.

Beaver and his father.

Leave It to Beaver, which is relegated to an honorable mention, is one of the finest family sitcoms. The dialogue and plots are remarkably realistic and many of my favorite episodes are the ones in which Ward Cleaver admits to one of his shortcomings as a parent. There were many good family sitcoms, but Beaver was one of the best.

While I watched Dragnet (the 1967-70 version mostly), I wouldn't rank it among the greatest classic TV series. Yes, it was one of the first radio hits to make a successful transition to television, the music remains recognizable, and there were some famous quotes. But the repetitious formula caused me to lose interest quickly.

Peter Falk as Columbo.

Likewise, Columbo seems ranked too high. Don't get me wrong, Peter Falk is a fine actor and he makes Lieutenant Columbo one of the great TV characters--but the show's formula also wore thin despite the production of fewer episodes than most series. I suspect I'm in the minority here since Columbo is still in heavy rotation on cable television thanks to Falk and his guest star murderers.

Finally, The Odd Couple was a good show with a funny premise, strong characters, and two terrific actors--but it doesn't belong among the 25 Greatest Classic TV Series.

Of course, any "greatest" list is bound to stir some debate...and that's part of the fun! What do you think of the Classic TV Blog Association's 25 Greatest Classic TV Series list?

The Five Best Episodes of "The Defenders" (Season 1)

Robert Reed and E.G. Marshall.

The Defenders is frequently listed as one of the finest television dramas of the 1960s. The series' first season, released on DVD last summer by Shout Factory, confirms that its reputation is for real. There's not a lemon among the 32 episodes. E.G. Marshall and Robert Reed play father-and-son attorneys in New York City who take on cases ranging from murder to illegal abortion to sports gambling. One can only hope that Shout Factory releases the remaining seasons of this classic legal series. As for the marvelous first season, it was difficult to pick the five best episodes, but we finally decided on the following:

E.G. Marshall and Fritz Weaver.

1. "The Riot" - When a riot ensues at Stony Point Prison and hostages are taken, the convicts will negotiate only with Lawrence Preston (E.G. Marshall). It turns out that Lawrence defended one of the convict leaders, who still holds the attorney in high esteem. The first of several episodes to features a "trial" outside the courtroom, this gripping drama is a showcase for Marshall--just watch his face as his character tries to figure out a peaceful resolution to a potentially deadly situation. The strong supporting cast includes Fritz Weaver, Frank Sutton, and Ossie Davis.

Jack Klugman as the D.A.

2. "The Search" - A man confesses to a murder long after one of Lawrence's clients was convicted and executed for the same crime. Burdened with guilt and questions, Lawrence and the district attorney who prosecuted the case (Jack Klugman) search for clues they may have missed during the trial. This fascinating episode boasts a strong narrative, but also serves as a portrait of two men whose passion for justice drives everything they do. This was the second of Klugman's appearances as the D.A. He also guest-starred in a fourth season episode as another character--and won an Emmy.

E.G. Marshall as Lawrence Preston.

3. "The Best Defense" - An alcoholic, former colleague asks for Lawrence's help in defending a notorious racketeer accused of murder. When Lawrence declines, his friend then reminds Lawrence of his own words: Everyone, no matter who they are, deserves the best defense available. This engrossing episode explores the ethics of the law and features one of many lively legal discussions between father and son. It also boasts a clever twist at the climax, a rarity for a series that avoided last minute courtroom revelations.

Robert Reed as Kenneth Preston.

4. "The Accident" - Kenneth Preston becomes emotionally invested in a case in which a boy's parents refuse to approve surgery on their son on the grounds of their religious beliefs. As the boy's chances for survival dwindle, Kenneth desperately tries to find a legal means to save the child's life. Complicating the situation: It's a weekend night and he can't find a judge. Lawrence Preston is the lead counsel on most of the season one episodes, but this one is all about Kenneth and Robert Reed proves up to the task. The subject is a popular one for legal dramas, but you won't find it handled any better.

5. "The Tarnished Cross" - Lawrence and Kenneth happen on a kangaroo court being administered by a youth club. But this is no game--the defendant is being tried by his peers for murder and they plan to sentence him to death if he's found guilty. Another stellar episode with a trial outside the courtroom, this one is buoyed by excellent performances from the young guest stars, particularly Martin Sheen and Ken Kercheval (Cliff on Dallas).

Honorable Mention:  "The Benefactor" - Many television legal dramas have dealt with abortion, but I can't think of one that did it any better.

Studio One's "The Defender" Examines the Drama Outside the Courtroom

Shatner and McQueen.

A courtroom drama in which the verdict doesn't matter? That's the case with "The Defender," a 1957 two-part television play by Reginald Rose that was originally broadcast on Studio One. Ralph Bellamy and William Shatner play father-and-son attorneys who are appointed to defend a moody young man (Steve McQueen) accused of felony murder. As zealous prosecutor Martin Balsam explains to the jury from the outset: A "felony murder" is an unpremeditated murder or accidental death caused while performing a felony--and it can result in a death sentence.

Walter Preston (Bellamy) plays to the jury.

Walter Preston (Bellamy) is a veteran attorney nearing the end of a long career. His gut instinct is that his client, Joseph Gordon (McQueen), is guilty. Disgusted with the crime--a young woman murdered in her apartment for a small amount of money--Preston decides to mount a decent defense...but no more. When he tells his son, Kenneth (Shatner), the recent law school graduate is shocked to learn his father is unwilling to do anything to defend his client. In fact, Kenneth wants to push the boundaries of ethics by employing a courtroom trick to increase the odds of getting the charges against Gordon dismissed.

The best scenes in "The Defender" occur not in the courtroom, but in the back rooms and hallways of the justice building. Father and son each state their point of view with conviction. It's clear that Walter will do what's expected of him, but that he will stop short of exploiting all his skills as a lawyer. As for Kenneth, his win-at-all-costs approach is constrained by the law. He's willing to violate courtroom etiquette, but understands his legal boundaries.

The discussions between the Walter and Kenneth evolve into arguments that also reveal the frailty of their own relationship: Walter as a father who spent more time with clients than with his son; Kenneth as a son who aspired to be like his father without understanding why. Yet, despite their emotional confrontations, it's a key out-of-court exchange between Walter and the prosecuting attorney that changes the outcome of the case.

Vivian Nathan as McQueen's mother.

Although Bellamy, Shatner, and McQueen all deliver believable performances, acting honors go to Vivian Nathan as McQueen's simpleminded mother and Eileen Ryan as his meek girlfriend. Nathan belonged to the Studio One "repertory" from 1956-58, appearing in six other teleplays.

Writer Reginald Rose, the son of a lawyer, is best known for 12 Angry Men and the TV series The Defenders. Rose originally wrote "12 Angry Men" as a teleplay for Studio One in 1954. He later adapted it for the film version directed by Sidney Lumet and earned an Academy Award nomination (his screenplay lost to The Bridge on the River Kwai).

Marshall and Reed in the TV series.

In 1961, Rose adapted "The Defender" into the legal TV series The Defenders. E.G. Marshall and Robert Reed played Walter and Kenneth Preston for four years. The series tackled many controversial issues such as abortion, custody rights, censorship, the insanity plea, and capital punishment. The Defenders won 13 Emmys, including three for outstanding dramatic program. In 2009, TV Guide ranked it at No. 31 among its Top 50 Shows of all-time.

In 1997, Rose developed a reworking of The Defenders, with Beau Bridges and Martha Plimpton as Walter Preston's grandchildren. The series was cancelled when E.G. Marshall died after completion of the second episode.Clips from the 1961-65 series have appeared on Boston Legal and Mad Men.

Amazingly, the original Defenders TV series is still unavailable on DVD. While awaiting its eventual release, one can still enjoy its origin on Studio One. "The Defender" does for attorneys what 12 Angry Men did for juries--and that is high praise.