The 1960s was a groundbreaking decade in American television. Nearly 90% of households owned a TV by 1960, ushering in the end of the Golden Age of Radio. Instead, evening television programming became the center of home entertainment. (Radio, on the other hand, transitioned its offerings to music broadcasts. Here are the biggest pop hits of the 1960s.)
By 1966, color broadcasts had become the new norm. The three available networks — NBC, CBS, and ABC — wildly expanded their serialized offerings to include not only a plethora of comedies, but also fantasy and sci-fi, adventure, drama, and a whopping 18 variety shows that aired during the decade.
To determine the best TV shows of the 1960s, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on audience rating from the Internet Movie Database. Television shows were ranked based on average IMDb user ratings. Only TV shows released between 1960 and 1967 that ran for at least two seasons were considered. Shows with fewer than 1,000 audience votes were excluded. Data is current as of September 2022.
Comedies abound on the list. Sketch comedy and variety shows are well represented, with “The Carol Burnett Show” topping the list as the best show of the decade. Another variety show, the “Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour,” which reached no. 25, was eventually canceled after a series of controversies over its satirical political content.
Espionage proved to be a popular theme, as a large number of spy shows made this list, including “The Avengers,” “Secret Agent,” “The Wild Wild West,” “Get Smart,” and “Mission: Impossible.” Horror/suspense also made a good showing with three appearances: “Thriller,” “The Outer Limits,” and “The Alfred Hitchcock Hour.”
One animated show appears on the list, as does a soccer commentary show, and a gothic soap opera. The original “Star Trek” reached the top 10, and also appears on our list of shows that were so popular, they were turned into movies.
Click here to see the best TV shows of the 1960s
To determine the best TV shows of the 1960s, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on audience rating from the Internet Movie Database. Television shows were ranked based on average IMDb user ratings. Only TV shows released between 1960 and 1967 that ran for at least two seasons were considered. Shows with fewer than 1,000 audience votes were excluded. Data is current as of September 2022.
25. The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (1967-1969)
> IMDb user rating: 7.9/10
> IMDb user votes: 1,496
> Starring: Tom Smothers, Pat Paulsen, Peter Cullen
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24. Mission: Impossible (1966-1973)
> IMDb user rating: 7.9/10
> IMDb user votes: 9,815
> Starring: Peter Graves, Barbara Bain, Greg Morris, Peter Lupus
23. Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In (1967-1973)
> IMDb user rating: 8.0/10
> IMDb user votes: 3,161
> Starring: Dan Rowan, Ruth Buzzi, Gary Owens
22. The Addams Family (1964-1966)
> IMDb user rating: 8.0/10
> IMDb user votes: 17,664
> Starring: John Astin, Carolyn Jones, Jackie Coogan, Ted Cassidy
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21. 12 O’Clock High (1964-1967)
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10
> IMDb user votes: 1,186
> Starring: Frank Overton, Paul Burke, Chris Robinson, Robert Lansing
20. The Dean Martin Show (1965-1974)
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10
> IMDb user votes: 1,339
> Starring: Dean Martin, The Dingaling Sisters, Ken Lane, Lou Jacobi
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19. The Fugitive (1963-1967)
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10
> IMDb user votes: 4,093
> Starring: David Janssen, William Conrad, Barry Morse, Paul Birch
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18. Dark Shadows (1966-1971)
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10
> IMDb user votes: 4,806
> Starring: Jonathan Frid, Grayson Hall, Alexandra Isles, Nancy Barrett
17. The Wild Wild West (1965-1969)
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10
> IMDb user votes: 5,363
> Starring: Robert Conrad, Ross Martin, Whitey Hughes
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16. The Outer Limits (1963-1965)
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10
> IMDb user votes: 8,372
> Starring: Bob Johnson, Ben Wright, William Douglas, Robert Culp
15. Secret Agent (1964-1967)
> IMDb user rating: 8.2/10
> IMDb user votes: 1,386
> Starring: Patrick McGoohan, Peter Madden, Peter Brayham, Earl Cameron
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14. Thriller (1960-1962)
> IMDb user rating: 8.2/10
> IMDb user votes: 1,453
> Starring: Boris Karloff, Richard Peel, Henry Daniell, Lillian O’Malley
13. Get Smart (1965-1970)
> IMDb user rating: 8.2/10
> IMDb user votes: 12,558
> Starring: Don Adams, Barbara Feldon, Edward Platt, Robert Karvelas
12. The Avengers (1961-1969)
> IMDb user rating: 8.3/10
> IMDb user votes: 7,906
> Starring: Patrick Macnee, Diana Rigg, Honor Blackman, Linda Thorson
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11. Combat! (1962-1967)
> IMDb user rating: 8.4/10
> IMDb user votes: 2,763
> Starring: Vic Morrow, Rick Jason, Pierre Jalbert, Jack Hogan
9. The Andy Griffith Show (1960-1968)
> IMDb user rating: 8.4/10
> IMDb user votes: 14,944
> Starring: Andy Griffith, Ron Howard, Don Knotts, Frances Bavier
8. Doctor Who (1963-1989)
> IMDb user rating: 8.4/10
> IMDb user votes: 37,446
> Starring: William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker
7. Star Trek (1966-1969)
> IMDb user rating: 8.4/10
> IMDb user votes: 83,565
> Starring: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, Nichelle Nichols
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6. The Three Stooges Show (1960-1972)
> IMDb user rating: 8.5/10
> IMDb user votes: 1,106
> Starring: Hal Fryar, Curley Myers, Larry Vincent
5. The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962-1992)
> IMDb user rating: 8.5/10
> IMDb user votes: 3,885
> Starring: Johnny Carson, Ed McMahon, Doc Severinsen, Skitch Henderson
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4. The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962-1965)
> IMDb user rating: 8.5/10
> IMDb user votes: 4,657
> Starring: Alfred Hitchcock, Hinton Pope, Jimmy Joyce, Lew Brown
3. Match of the Day (1964-1964)
> IMDb user rating: 8.6/10
> IMDb user votes: 2,545
> Starring: John Motson, Gary Lineker, Barry Davies, Guy Mowbray
2. The Bugs Bunny Show (1960-1975)
> IMDb user rating: 8.6/10
> IMDb user votes: 33,736
> Starring: Mel Blanc, Pinto Colvig, Joe Bronx, June Foray
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1. The Carol Burnett Show (1967-1978)
> IMDb user rating: 8.7/10
> IMDb user votes: 6,353
> Starring: Carol Burnett, Vicki Lawrence, The Ernie Flatt Dancers, Harvey Korman
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