Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Buffy the Vampire Slayer, 1997-2003

Starring: Sarah Michelle Geller, Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Anthony Stewart Head, James Marsters, Emma Caulfield, Michelle Trachtenberg, Kristine Sutherland, Charisma Carpenter, David Boreanaz, Amber Benson, Seth Green

Now some folks are gonna ask why Buffy gets the top honors, and I’ll tell ya why: you’ll notice a lot of shows on this list are described as being too smart, too funny, too complex and were canceled too early. That should have been Buffy, but by hook or crook the show stayed alive, never compromising its excellence and continually finding new ways to keep the show fresh right up until its spectacular finale. Creator Joss Whedon and his writing team should all get special places in heaven for turning what is essentially a pretty goofy concept into one of the most enduring and influential shows of our time.

The show’s characters each had their own passions and story arcs that made even the more limited reoccurring characters more human than many leads on other shows. We watched as Buffy herself changed from pouty schoolgirl sad she couldn’t have a regular life to commanding leader of an army of superchicks.

Buffy spawned another great show, Angel. It was more obviously aimed at guys, featuring more action and a steady string of decent jokes. Both shows attracted devout fans and have lived on though comics and video games, Buffy’s new Season Eight comic series is only in its beginning stages, but it’s already burning up the charts. Long live the slayer!