While the late 1940s to late 1950s were known as the “golden age of television,” the 2000s could very well be the “platinum age of television.”
Cable TV soared in popularity in the 2000s. As the competition for viewership continued to intensify, networks poured a lot of effort into enhancing their lineup. This decade saw the rise of critically-acclaimed big-budget programs like Grey’s Anatomy, Mad Men, and The Sopranos; shows that introduced us to some of today’s biggest stars.
Reality TV shows were also on the rise during this decade. Survivor, which premiered in May of 2000, was one of the most popular TV shows in the United States by the end of the year. American Idol made TV viewing more interactive by giving the public a say in the show’s outcome — viewers could call or text to “vote” for their favorite contestant. As the decade progressed, more reality TV subgenres were developed. Dating shows like The Bachelor proved to be successful and inspired international versions in countries like France, Israel, and Slovenia. Celebrities, meanwhile, began cashing in on this rising genre with shows like The Osbournes, The Anna Nicole Show, and The Simple Life.
Television’s role in the September 11 attacks was unlike anything the world had ever seen before. Millions around the world watched horrified as a second plane headed towards the World Trade Center in New York. The crash and the towers’ subsequent collapse were replayed by news networks numerous times in the days and weeks that followed, giving them a significant boost in ratings. This would also set the tone for how major events would be covered in later years.
Technological advancements during this decade enhanced people’s TV viewing experience. While DVDs and DVD players were introduced in the late 1990s, they did not gain momentum until the 2000s. By the end of the decade, nearly 80% of American households had a DVD player. Less than ten years later, Blu-ray discs were introduced, promising better quality and longer run times than DVDs. The development of LCD and plasma technology led to the launch of televisions with better picture quality and larger screens. TV networks began transitioning from analog signals to digital signals, rendering older analog television sets useless unless a special translator device was used. TiVo gave viewers the ability to pause live broadcasts and record programs. Finally, the rise of high-speed internet would lead to the emergence of video streaming sites, which would become even more popular in the 2010s.
Now, let’s look back on some of the best television shows that defined the 2000s.
Mad Men was a period drama series that aired on AMC from 2007 to 2015. It was created by Matthew Weiner and produced by Lionsgate Television and starred Jon Hamm, Elisabeth Moss, Vincent Kartheiser, January Jones, Christina Hendricks, and John Slattery.
Mad Men, set primarily in 1960s New York, focuses on the day-to-day activities at the fictional Sterling Cooper advertising agency (later known as Sterling Cooper & Partners) as well as the personal lives of its characters. The show depicted aspects of American life in the 1960s, and dealt with topics such as racism, sexism, alcoholism, cigarette smoking, adultery, and homophobia. The show was widely praised for its acting, writing, visual style and historical authenticity, earning it numerous accolades including sixteen Emmys and five Golden Globes.
Popular Episode: “The Wheel” (season one)
Why viewers love it: This episode, which capped off the show’s first season, shows Betty in anguish over Don’s suspected infidelity as he refuses to come home for Thanksgiving. Don, meanwhile, reflects on his life and affairs as he flips through family photos while pitching a campaign for Kodak’s Carousel projector. This episode remains one of the show’s best. It is a perfect example of why Mad Men has gone down in history as a television gem.
The Sopranos was a crime drama series created by David Chase, an Emmy Award-winning screenwriter, director, and television producer who has worked on other shows such as The Rockford Files and Northern Exposure. The show ran for six seasons on HBO from 1999-2007.
The Sopranos revolves around Tony Soprano (played by James Gandolfini), an Italian-American monster who started out as a capo (made member) of the New Jersey-based DiMeo crime family before rising to become its undisputed boss. The show was a critical success and enjoyed high ratings despite being aired on a cable network. This mob epic also launched the careers of many of its stars, who were previously largely unknown to viewers. Throughout its run, the show won and was nominated for numerous awards, including 21 Primetime Emmy Awards.
Popular episode: “Whitecaps” (season four)
Why viewers love it: Tony’s wife Carmela knows about her husband’s life as a mobster, but turns a blind eye to maintain her luxurious lifestyle. However, Tony’s affairs proved to be unbearable, leading to a fight that shows off Gandolfini’s impressive range as an actor. Tony’s rage as he lunges at his wife is absolutely terrifying.
Lost was the TV show that dominated lunchtime conversations and online forums in the 2000s as fans discussed (or fought over) the events that transpired during each week’s episode. The supernatural sci-fi drama, which was created by Jeffrey Lieber, J.J. Abrams, and Damon Lindelof, aired on ABC from 2004 to 2010.
Lost follows the survivors of the crash of Oceanic Flight 815 — a flight between Sydney and Los Angeles — which crashes on a mysterious island somewhere in the South Pacific. The survivors are left to fend for themselves, while dealing with mysterious occurrences and learning about the island’s strange history. The show’s finale, which was aired in two episodes, was watched by nearly 14 million viewers and continues to polarize fans and critics to this day. Lost has been hailed as one of the greatest television shows of all time and has received over a hundred award nominations throughout its six-season run.
Popular episode: “The Constant” (season four)
Why viewers love it: This episode has been praised as one of the most iconic moments in television history. The show was a perfect combination of science fiction and romance, and added more detail to the concept of time travel which would later become integral to the series. The tear-jerking phone call between Penny and Desmond at the end of the episode remains one of the most heartwarming moments of the show.
How I Met Your Mother (abbreviated as HIMYM) was the 2000s’ answer to Friends. The show was created by Carter Bays and Craig Thomas and starred Josh Radnor, Jason Segel, Cobie Smulders, Neil Patrick Harris, and Alyson Hannigan. It aired on CBS from 2005 to 2014.
The show’s premise begins as Ted Mosby sits his children down to tell them the story of how he met their mother. Ted goes into seemingly endless flashbacks as his kids (and the audience) wonder if he’ll ever get to the point. The gang’s misadventures and their attempts at finding love and happiness along the way have resulted in many hilarious jokes, one-liners, and running gags that fans will forever associate with the show. HIMYM has won ten Emmy Awards, and its stars have received a number of awards and nominations, including Alyson Hannigan’s People’s Choice Award for Favorite TV Comedy Actress in 2010.
Favorite episode: “Slap Bet” (season two)
Why viewers love it: This was the episode that gave birth to two of the show’s most beloved recurring gags — “Robin Sparkles,” and the titular slap bet. Need we say more?
The Wire was a crime drama series that was broadcast by HBO from 2002 to 2008. The show was created and written by David Simon, a former police reporter who has previously worked for The Baltimore Sun and has written a number of books on crime. The show has a predominantly African-American cast, consistent with the demographics of Baltimore where the story is set. The show has been praised for hiring little-known actors and avoiding big-name stars in its cast.
The Wire gives viewers a glimpse of a once-great city’s corrupt social institutions, and how an increasingly interconnected society results in a decay that affects everyone, especially the city’s most disadvantaged residents. The show has been widely praised for its gripping storyline, complex characters, realism and literary themes. The show has been nominated for a variety of awards, including the Directors Guild of America Award and a Peabody Award.
Popular Episode: “Middle Ground” (season three)
Why viewers love it: “Middle Ground,” one of the third season’s last episodes, was dubbed by fans as one of the show’s best. The conversation between Avon and Stringer on the rooftop as they reminisce about their youth is wrought with emotion. Neither are aware that they have been betrayed by the other, but there is a layer of tension that had viewers (who are aware of the betrayal) on the edge of their seats.