2000s TV Shows With ZERO Bad Episodes?!

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Crafting a flawless TV series spanning multiple seasons is quite challenging. Even the best shows tend to have an episode or two that fans might not favor, and as a show continues, there’s more room for moments where quality dips. The 2000s are frequently hailed as television’s golden age, with numerous remarkable shows gracing our screens during this era. This was a time when streaming wasn’t prevalent yet; instead, shows were aired week by week, often boasting over a dozen episodes per season.

Hard as it may seem, there were a handful of series broadcasted from 2000 to 2009 that viewers feel didn’t have a single poor episode. Admittedly, some episodes might not shine as brightly as others, but even the least popular ones from these shows are still highly regarded.

10
‘Everybody Hates Chris’ (2005 – 2009)

Lowest Episode Rating on IMDB: 7.2/10 stars (Season 2, Episode 21)

The TV show titled “Everybody Hates Chris,” created by comedian Chris Rock, is a humorous depiction inspired by his 1980s Brooklyn upbringing. Over four seasons on The CW, it produced a grand total of 88 episodes. In the lead role, you’ll find Tyler James Williams, who currently stars in “Abbott Elementary.” The supporting cast includes notable actors like Terry Crews from “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” Tichina Arnold from “The Neighborhood,” Tequan Richmond from “Boomerang,” Imani Hakim from “Mythic Quest,” and Vincent Martella known for his work on “Phineas and Ferb.

Since 2009, the show Everybody Hates Chris garnered several prestigious nominations, including three Primetime Emmy Awards and one Golden Globe throughout its broadcast. It boasts an impressive 96% critical approval rating and a staggering 98% positive response from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

9
‘Clone High’ (2002 – 2003)

Lowest Episode Rating on IMDB: 7.5/10 stars (Season 1, Episode 11)

Clone High is an animated adult sitcom that takes place in a high school created by the military for clones of famous historical figures. This series was developed by directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, also known for “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs,” as well as Bill Lawrence from “Shrinking.” The original run on MTV consisted of 13 episodes in one season and boasts the vocal talents of Will Forte (from “Saturday Night Live”), Michael McDonald (“Halloween Kills”), Nicole Sullivan (“Black-ish”), and Christa Miller (“Cougar Town”). Additional voices were provided by Lord and Miller themselves.

At first, the show “Clone High” garnered mixed reactions, but as time went on, it started to receive more accolades. On Rotten Tomatoes, it currently boasts a perfect score from critics. In the year 2023, the series was resurrected by Max for a delayed second and third season, only to be eventually taken off the air by the network in 2024.

8
‘Mad Men’ (2007 – 2015)

Lowest Episode Rating on IMDB: 7.5/10 stars (Season 1, Episode 2)

Mad Men, a captivating drama series produced by AMC, revolves around an advertising agency during the 1960s to early 1970s. The brainchild of Matthew Weiner, creator of shows like The Sopranos, it gained immense popularity and spanned seven seasons with a total of 92 episodes. Jon Hamm plays the lead role of Don Draper in this acclaimed series, alongside an exceptional ensemble that includes Elisabeth Moss from The Handmaid’s Tale, Vincent Kartheiser from Titans, January Jones from X-Men: First Class, Christina Hendricks from Good Girls, Bryan Batt from High Tide, Michael Gladis from Penny Dreadful: City of Angels, Aaron Staton from Based on a True Story, Rich Sommer from Fair Play, Kiernan Shipka from Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, and John Slattery from The Good Fight.

The TV show known as Mad Men garnered over 50 Primetime Emmy Award nominations during its broadcast period, securing 16 of those awards. On Rotten Tomatoes, the series boasts a 94% rating from critics and an impressive 95% approval rating among viewers.

7
‘The Wire’ (2002 – 2008)

Lowest Episode Rating on IMDB: 7.7/10 stars (Season 2, Episode 1)

HBO’s “The Wire” is a critically acclaimed crime drama written by journalist David Simon, who also penned “We Own This City.” The series, divided into 60 episodes over five seasons, is often hailed as one of the greatest police shows ever made. Starring Dominic West, Lance Reddick, Sonja Sohn, Wendell Pierce, John Doman, Deirdre Lovejoy, Seth Gilliam, and Domenick Lombardozzi, it’s a compelling watch that’s found success on screens worldwide.

The authors put in a great deal of effort to make the series feel genuine, and it certainly pays off. To this very day, The Wire is still considered a timeless masterpiece that has kick-started several notable careers within the industry. On Rotten Tomatoes, it boasts an impressive 95% rating from critics and a remarkable 96% rating from viewers.

6
‘The Sopranos’ (1999 – 2007)

Lowest Episode Rating on IMDB:7.8/10 stars (Season 1, Episode 10)

Regarded as one of the greatest TV series ever made, “The Sopranos” is a crime drama set in New Jersey that was developed by David Chase (“Not Fade Away”). Over six seasons and 86 episodes, it became known for its compelling storylines. James Gandolfini portrayed the unforgettable character of mob boss Tony Soprano, with Lorraine Bracco, Edie Falco, and Michael Imperioli also making significant contributions to the cast.

As a movie aficionado, I’ve got to say that “The Sopranos” stands out as a true masterpiece. This series is renowned for its exceptional acting and captivating supporting characters. It’s been nominated for over 50 Primetime Emmy Awards and took home an impressive 21 of them. It consistently ranks in the top ten on “best of” television lists from the past two decades. On Rotten Tomatoes, it boasts a remarkable 92% rating from critics and a staggering 96% approval from viewers. Simply put, if you haven’t watched “The Sopranos,” you’re missing out on one of the greatest shows ever made.

5
‘Breaking Bad’ (2008 – 2013)

Lowest Episode Rating on IMDB: 7.9/10 (Season 3, Episode 10)

The critically acclaimed AMC series, Breaking Bad, revolves around a high school chemistry teacher named Walter White who turns to manufacturing methamphetamine following his cancer diagnosis. Produced by Vince Gilligan, creator of shows like Battle Creek, it ran for five seasons with 62 episodes in total. The star-studded cast includes Bryan Cranston as Walter White alongside actors such as Aaron Paul, Anna Gunn, Betsy Brandt, RJ Mittle, and Dean Norris.

Known as a near-flawless TV series, “Breaking Bad” amassed more than 50 Primetime Emmy Award nominations throughout its broadcast and took home 16 of those accolades. On Rotten Tomatoes, it boasts a 96% approval rating from critics and an impressive 97% from viewers. In the year 2015, AMC released a spin-off titled “Better Call Saul,” featuring Bob Odenkirk (from “Little Women”), which ran for six seasons. In 2019, Vince Gilligan penned and directed “El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie.

4
‘Angels in America’ (2003)

Lowest Episode Rating on IMDB: 8/10 (Season 1, Episode 4)

The six-episode series “Angels in America,” produced by HBO, is a television adaptation of Tony Kushner’s (‘The Fabelmans’) 1991 play of the same title. Both written and directed by Mike Nichols (‘The Graduate’), this dramatic production delves into the lives of six New York residents amidst the AIDS crisis in the 1980s. Remarkable performances are delivered by stars such as Al Pacino (‘House of Gucci’), Meryl Streep (‘Don’t Look Up’), Patrick Wilson (‘The Conjuring’), Mary-Louise Parker (‘Omni Loop’), Emma Thompson (‘Good Luck to You, Leo Grande’), Justin Kirk (‘Weeds’), Jeffrey Wright (‘Westworld’), and Ben Shenkman (‘Billions’).

The program received more than twenty nominations at the Primetime Emmys, taking home eleven awards, among them Outstanding Writing for a Mini-Series. On Rotten Tomatoes, it boasts an impressive 90% approval rating from critics and a remarkable 92% from viewers.

3
‘Firefly’ (2002)

Lowest Episode Rating on IMDB: 8.1/10 stars (Season 1, Episode 7)

Originating from the mind of Joss Whedon, known for his work on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, “Firefly” is a unique blend of space and western genres. It was unfortunately only broadcast for one season on Fox, resulting in just 14 episodes. The show boasts an impressive ensemble cast that includes Nathan Fillion (“The Rookie”), Gina Torres (“Suits”), Alan Tudyk (“Resident Alien”), Morena Baccarin (“Deadpool & Wolverine”), Adam Baldwin (The Last Ship), Jewel Staite (“Family Law”), Sean Maher (“The Playboy Club”), Summer Glau (Arrow), and Ron Glass (Death at a Funeral).

Since its cancellation, the show Firefly has built a devoted fanbase and continues to be one of Joss Whedon’s most acclaimed works. In fact, it was successful enough for Whedon to pen and direct a movie sequel titled Serenity in 2005, which featured the original cast. On Rotten Tomatoes, Firefly has an audience rating of 96%, even surpassing its critical score.

2
‘Freaks and Geeks’ (1999 – 2000)

Lowest Episode Rating on IMDB: 8.2/10 stars (Season 1, Episode 3)

Freaks and Geeks is a teen comedy-drama series that aired on NBC, set in a high school in suburban Michigan. The show was created by Paul Feig (known for A Simple Favor) and executive produced by Judd Apatow (The King of Staten Island). Despite airing only one season with 18 episodes, it managed to gain three Primetime Emmy Award nominations and launched the careers of several stars we recognize today. The cast included upcoming actors such as Seth Rogen (from The Studio), James Franco (127 Hours), Linda Cardellini (of Dead to Me), Jason Segel (How I Met Your Mother), Busy Philipps (starring in Girls5eva), and Samm Levine (seen in Inglourious Basterds)).

Over just a brief span of time, the TV series “Freaks and Geeks” has gained cult status and endured for 25 years. It’s been highly commended for its authentic representation of adolescence and often appears on lists of shows that were terminated prematurely. Notably, it holds a perfect score of 100% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.

1
‘Band of Brothers’ (2001)

Lowest Episode Rating on IMDB: 8.6/10 stars (Season 1, Episode 10)

The ten-part series titled “Band of Brothers,” created by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, is a highly praised miniseries on HBO. It’s adapted from the non-fictional book of the same name by Stephen E. Ambrose, and it unfolds during World War II. The narrative focuses on the brave American soldiers from E “Easy” Company as they battle for liberty throughout Europe. This series boasts a stellar ensemble cast featuring Damian Lewis (“Billions”), Ron Livingston (“Loudermilk”), Scott Grimes (“The Orville”), Donnie Wahlberg (“The Sixth Sense”), Shane Taylor (“Walking with the Enemy”), Peter Youngblood Hills (“The Beach”), and Matthew Leitch (“Below”). Each episode showcases their remarkable performances.

This miniseries is widely recognized as one of the best ever made. It boasts talented actors such as Nathan Fillion (known for his role in “Firefly”), Stephen Graham (“Adolescence”), James McAvoy (“Speak No Evil”), and Tom Hardy (“Venom”), who were all relatively new to their careers at the time. This exceptional program was up for more than a dozen Primetime Emmy Awards and took home six, including the category for Outstanding Miniseries. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 94% critic rating and an impressive 97% audience rating.

This amazing miniseries stars Nathan Fillion (“Firefly”), Stephen Graham (“Adolescence”), James McAvoy (“Speak No Evil”), and Tom Hardy (“Venom”) early in their careers, and it was nominated for over a dozen Primetime Emmy Awards, winning six of them. It has high ratings from both critics (94%) and audiences (97%) on Rotten Tomatoes.

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2025-05-17 22:06