The New York Times has released its list of the 100 best TV shows of the 21st century, with Vince Gilligan's Breaking Bad, which aired from 2008 to 2013, taking the top spot. The voting rules involved over 500 actors, show creators, and other industry professionals each listing their 10 best shows that premiered after January 1, 2000. The Sopranos was excluded as it premiered in 1999.

The top ten includes The Wire, Mad Men, Succession, Fleabag, Game of Thrones, Veep, 30 Rock, The Good Place, and Atlanta. The US version of The Office ranks 11th, the UK version 16th; the spin-off Better Call Saul is 27th. Voters included Elisabeth Moss, Bryan Cranston, Adam Scott, Rose Byrne, Colman Domingo, Jason Bateman, as well as creators like Damon Lindelof, Lena Dunham, Lena Waithe, and Noah Hawley.

The newspaper began revealing the rankings in reverse order on September 21, announcing the top show on the 25th, and released interview videos with Gilligan, Bryan Cranston, and Giancarlo Esposito. The paper contacted over 1,000 people, with about 500 submitting votes, and many appeared on camera discussing their ballots; Connie Britton mentioned she had turned down a role in Arrested Development because she thought it was silly. Shows that did not make the list include Mr. Robot, Fargo, Mindhunter, Hannibal, and Booksmart.

Also on the list are currently airing or recently concluded shows like The Bear, Andor, The White Lotus, The Bear, Squid Game, Shogun, and The Diplomat. The highest-ranked sports-related show is Ted Lasso at 14th, followed by Football Coach at 75th and The Queen's Gambit at 81st. The newspaper also released a printable checklist poster to guide readers in marking what they have watched and what they want to watch.

In terms of market mechanics, the buyers are readers subscribing to the interactive list and video interviews, while the seller is The New York Times, which turns industry ballots into a "canonical" product. The event is driven by the daily rankings, with traffic flowing from controversial rankings to the platform's watch library and derivative content, giving Breaking Bad and its universe a new round of catalog weight, while shows that did not make the list face pressure in recommendation algorithms and award narratives.

Source: Public Information