Ranked Top TV Shows and Series Synopsis with Reviews on Veep
Written and Ranked By: C. A. Ponch
As a reminder – To qualify for the list I followed these basic guidelines:
- I watched at least three to five episodes of each show finishing most first seasons of every series on this list. Some shows were so bad that it was not worth watching more than three to five episodes. I gave them a chance. For the majority of the series, I have seen every episode.
- Each of the top TV shows could not have more than 30 episodes a season. That eliminated all late-night shows like “The Tonight Show”, variety of programs like “Sports Center”, and singing competitions like “American Idol” and “The Voice”. Also, I didn’t include morning shows like “The Today Show”, etc. If it were a series that aired more than once a week, it was unfortunately just too much content for me to review.
- Each series had to have at least three episodes air/stream per season to qualify. This eliminated event TV and made for TV movies but did include some great mini-series.
- No reality competitions or junk reality TV. That is not acting, and they show no real craftsmanship to judge. Those series are almost impossible to review. Variety shows with actual writers like SNL were included.
- Documentaries were accepted, but only if they were season-long documentaries with more than three episodes. I decided the difference between what qualified as a documentary series and a reality series. Reality series generally create situations and observe those situations for the entertainment of the viewer in an on-going manner much like life itself. A documentary series attempts to educate the viewer by presenting facts through a series of observations that are a full product having a beginning, middle, and end. It’s a fine line, but documentaries tend to inform or educate while entertaining.
- Each program had to have at least three episodes air during the past decade (2010-2019) that I actually saw, but I ranked TV shows from their full body of work of which that I have seen since their inception. This eliminated anything that didn’t have an episode air after 2009 but it also eliminated a few shows like “The Simpsons”, and “NCIS” which although I have seen more than three episodes of; I haven’t seen enough episodes of those shows in the past ten years. In fact, a few series on this list would have been ranked higher, had they just ended earlier before the quality of the show deteriorated.
- Lastly, there is one exception on this list of the shows I have watched this decade but can’t rank: “Sesame Street”. It’s still one of the greatest children’s top TV shows of all time. If you have young children, “Sesame Street” should be #1 on this list, if you don’t have young children, why are you watching “Sesame Street”? That’s strange and you may want to seek help.
Don’t see your favorite show below? Check out our Binge Watch – 400 Top TV Show #5
4. Veep (HBO – 2012 to 2019): Ponch: 10/10
The rundown
“Veep” is a political comedy about fictional Vice President of the United States Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus). The series follows Meyer and her team of aides, which include Chief of Staff Amy (Anna Chlumsky), Spokesperson Mike (Matt Walsh), Secretary Sue (Sufe Bradshaw), and right-hand man Gary (Tony Hale). The show follows them in their day to day lives at the White House and in the different aspects of government. It is a political satire comedy at its finest. “Veep” was nominated six years in a row for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series, winning the award for its fourth, fifth, and sixth seasons.
Plenty of nominations
“Veep” has been nominated 68 times winning 17 Emmy’s. Louis-Dreyfus’ performance as Selina Meyer has won her six consecutive Primetime Emmy Awards. Tony Hale has received five consecutive Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, winning in 2013 and 2015. Several supporting cast members have also received Emmy nominations: Anna Chlumsky (five nominations), Gary Cole (one nomination), and Matt Walsh (two nominations).
Keeps getting better
“Veep” is maybe the cleverest show ever written. It’s the best comedy of the past ten years and one of the best comedies of all time. The last three seasons were excellent and it kept getting better. Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Tony Hale, and the rest of the cast had the best comedic timing of any show on TV in the decade. It is a perfect mix of “Seinfeld” meets “The West Wing”. Speaking of “Seinfeld”, fans of the show would be shocked to know that Louis-Dreyfus does the best work of her career here. Considering how good she was on “Seinfeld”, that is a true accomplishment. Between the two shows, she has cemented herself as the greatest comedic actress on television of all time.
Great show from every angle
The show is so smart and everyone from the producers; who cast the show perfectly, to the directors; who are all on point, delivered excellence every week. Every year it is up for multiple awards and four to five actors on this show could all be nominated. “Veep” gives you witty comebacks and laugh out loud political humor. Every type of humor comes out of this show, from physical slapstick, to dark wit, to topical, to sarcastic insults. We get an inside satirical look at government, that sometimes seems a little too close to the real thing these days. This is one of the best comedies of all time and could be watched over and over like other classic comedies.
IMDB 8.3/10 – RT 93% – Metacritic 83%
Streaming On: HBO Now/Go/Max Subscription, Amazon Prime Subscription
Veep FAQs
Some suggest that Meyer is likely a Republican, while others feel she is a Democrat. Alessandra Stanley of The New York Times notes that Meyer’s party affiliation is unknown because the show focuses on bullying and ego rather than ideology.
The office of the Vice President of the United States called Veep (a nickname derived from the position’s initials “VP”)
HBO announced last September that Season 7 would be the last for the multi-Emmy-winning series. The production schedule was pushed due to star Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ cancer surgery and treatment. Louis-Dreyfus disclosed her diagnosis last September and posted frequent updates on her progress on social media.
Meyer later found out she was pregnant with Ted Cullen’s child, which would later be miscarried. … In December 2013, Meyer’s unpopularity gave her a 66% disapproval rating.
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