---
title: "\"Say My Name!\": The New York Times Names the Best TV Shows of the 21st Century"
description: "The prestigious publication The New York Times has released a massive ranking of the top TV shows of the 21st century, based on a survey of over 500 industry experts."
date: 2026-09-27T09:59:40.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/the-new-york-times-best-shows-21-century-en
tags: [the-new-york-times, tv-shows, best-series, ranking, pop-culture]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# "Say My Name!": The New York Times Names the Best TV Shows of the 21st Century

![Still from a TV show featured in The New York Times best 21st century shows ranking](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/27/the-new-york-times-best-shows-21-century/the-new-york-times-best-shows-21-century-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- The New York Times presented a ranking of the best 21st-century shows.
- Over 500 industry figures participated in the survey.
- The Sopranos was excluded due to its 1999 premiere.
- The list covers various genres from gripping dramas to comedies.

The authoritative American publication The New York Times has published a comprehensive and meticulously crafted ranking featuring the best television projects released since January 1, 2000. To compile this exhaustive list, the organizers surveyed more than 500 influential entertainment industry figures, including screen stars and leading showrunners of our time. Their collective choice has defined the major audiovisual masterpieces of our era that have shaped new standards of quality in popular culture.

### Voting Leaders and Genre Diversity

The final list includes a wide variety of projects reflecting the evolution of television over the past two decades. These range from gripping network dramas and political thrillers like Scandal to cult comedy shows such as the cozy Gilmore Girls or the absurdist sitcom Community. The expert jury also praised large-scale historical productions and bold independent releases that have completely transformed the approach to content consumption.

### Controversial Data

It is worth noting that open sources and various film publications may show some discrepancies in the coverage angles and details of the top list itself. For instance, some sources place the main emphasis on the triumph of the crime drama Breaking Bad, which topped the ranking, while other outlets focus on the broad genre scope. Additionally, an important nuance was the exclusion of the iconic The Sopranos from voting because its premiere took place in 1999, sparking lively discussions among classic television fans.

### Significance of the Ranking for the Industry

Such large-scale retrospective studies play a crucial role for both casual viewers and media researchers. They offer a fresh perspective on the development of screenwriting and directing, and help audiences discover outstanding projects that might have been lost in the endless stream of modern releases. The opinions of leading industry professionals clearly demonstrate which television works will remain in cultural history for years to come.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- ["Назови моё имя!": The New York Times назвал лучшие сериалы 21 века](https://www.goha.ru/nazovi-moyo-imya-the-new-york-times-nazval-luchshie-serialy-21-veka-4Ve1Jj) - Основной источник информации о рейтинге NYT.
- [The New York Times назвала 100 лучших сериалов XXI века - "Во все тяжкие" возглавил рейтинг из более чем 500 ...](https://www.playground.ru/misc/news/the_new_york_times_nazvala_100_luchshih_serialov_xxi_veka_vo_vse_tyazhkie_vozglavil_rejting_iz_bolee_chem_500_ekspertov-1877085) - Подтверждение деталей рейтинга и лидерства шоу.
- [The New York Times собрала 100 лучших сериалов XXI века: Какие проекты попали в топ](https://life.ru/p/the-new-york-times-sobrala-100-luchshih-serialov-xxi-veka-kakie-proekty-popali) - Детали о количестве экспертов и критериях отбора.
- [The New York Times выбрало топ-100 лучших сериалов XXI века](https://www.cybersport.ru/tags/series/the-new-york-times-vybralo-top-100-luchshikh-serialov-xxi-veka) - Дополнительное подтверждение выхода рейтинга.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: What period does The New York Times ranking cover?
**A:** The ranking covers television projects released starting from January 1, 2000.

### Q: How many experts participated in compiling the list?
**A:** More than 500 influential television industry figures participated in the survey.