Every HBO Series, Ranked
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1. The Wire
Though it never generated the kinda hoopla that The Sopranos did, David Simon's urban drama is arguably the superior series. A true masterpiece.
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2. The Sopranos
Did you really think David Chase's Mob hit wouldn't be ranked near the top of the heap? Fuggedaboutit!
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3. Game of Thrones
HBO's adaptation of George R.R. Martin's book series wasn't just good and medieval, it was great and medieval. Had it not delivered a rushed and narratively wonky final season, it would've made a strong case for taking the throne.
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4. Veep
Only a real f—-wit wouldn't rank Julia Louis-Dreyfus' foul-mouthed political satire near the top of the heap. Now if only it still felt like satire!
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9. Sex and the City
Whether you were a Carrie, a Charlotte, a Samantha or a Miranda, you lapped up this glamtastic romantic dramedy like it was a freshly-poured cosmo.
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5. The Leftovers
We'd regret the Sudden Departure of Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta's superb supernatural drama more had its Season 3 (and series) ending not been everything we could've hoped for.
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10. Angels in America
Mike Nichols' divine limited series based on Tony Kushner's play remains the only program in Emmy history to win in every major eligible category. That's how amazing it was.
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6. The Larry Sanders Show
With 56 Emmy nominations to its credit, it wasn't just Garry Shandling's show, it was Garry Shandling's showstopper.
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7. Band of Brothers
Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg's WWII drama ranks right up there with Saving Private Ryan.
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11. Six Feet Under
For five seasons, we lived for Alan Ball's family dramedy set at a funeral home.
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14. Insecure
Issa Rae's dramedy is hella real, hella funny, hella good. And it pointed a spotlight at scene stealer Natasha Rothwell.
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12. The Comeback
We'll always (Valerie) cherish Lisa Kudrow's brutal comedy about a fallen star dying to rise again.
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8. Deadwood
We have only one gripe with David Milch's beloved, foul-mouthed Western: It lasted just three f—ing seasons. Well, and a movie.
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40. The Newsroom
Now more than ever, we wish we still had Jeff Daniels delivering impassioned (albeit cloying at times) Aaron Sorkin monologues weekly as Will McAvoy.
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15. Enlightened
Had HBO been more [insert title here], it would've said, "Ratings be damned!" and kept going the critical darling that starred Laura Dern as "a woman on the verge of a nervous breakthrough."
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16. Curb Your Enthusiasm
Seinfeld co-creator Larry David never fails to make us LOL in the role he was born to play: himself (kinda).
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17. Succession
HBO has struck pay dirt with its black comedy about the filthy rich Roy family.
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31. True Detective
The buzz about Nic Pizzolatto's crime anthology diminished after Season 1, right along with the quality.
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19. Getting On
One of the best series you never watched, this painfully real comedy from the creators of Big Love is best remembered for its star turn by Niecy Nash.
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26. The Night Of
John Turturro rose to the challenge of replacing the late James Gandolfini in the crime drama, making this a Night to remember.
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20. Barry
Bill Hader kills as a hitman pursuing an even deadlier career as an actor.
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27. Big Little Lies
The truth is, the all-star drama was just too sublime to remain a "limited" series.
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29. John Adams
The 2008 biopic with Paul Giamatti as the president made history by scoring more Emmy wins (13) than any miniseries ever had.
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22. Flight of the Conchords
The blues were all we played for weeks when we learned that Season 2 of the musical comedy had been its swan song.
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32. Sharp Objects
"Don't tell mama," but the adaptation of Gillian Flynn's novel was so good, we wished it wasn't a limited series.
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36. Westworld
Epic, if sometimes epically frustrating (we're looking at you, Season 2), the sci-fi Western has utterly eclipsed the 1973 movie on which it's based.
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23. From the Earth to the Moon
Just the thought of of Ron Howard and Tom Hanks' miniseries about the the Apollo program in the 1960s and '70s is still enough to put stars in our eyes.
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30. Oz
For most of its six seasons, we watched Tom Fontana's gripping prison drama as intently as a captive audience.
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21. Girls
At times exquisite, at times cringe-worthy, Lena Dunham's polarizing dramedy could make you love it and hate it at almost the same moment.
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37. Silicon Valley
You don't have to be a tech-head to know that the misadventures of the Pied Piper gang compute.
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35. Big Love
Bill Paxton's Mormon polygamist drama was more hit than missus.
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25. In Treatment
Analyze this? Don't mind if we do. The largely Paris Barclay-directed Gabriel Byrne series redefined the term "psychological drama."
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24. Boardwalk Empire
A toast... to the Prohibition-era drama that gave Steve Buscemi the key to Atlantic City.
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39. Rome
After a strong first season, the historical drama starring a pre-Grey's Anatomy Kevin McKidd fell like... well, you know.
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43. True Blood
Admittedly, Alan Ball's vampire thriller seemed kinda anemic toward the end. But for most of its run, it was a blast to sink our teeth into.
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54. Mildred Pierce
Kate Winslet managed to do the impossible in this miniseries redo of the classic movie: She made us forget Joan Crawford's Oscar-winning performance in the original.
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33. Olive Kitteridge
Leading lady Frances McDormand won one of the eight Emmys bestowed upon this miniseries about the titular misanthrope.
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18. The Kids in the Hall
Know how you can tell the Canadian sketch-comedy series was as awesome as it was groundbreaking? All we have to do is say Mr. Heavyfoot, the Sizzler Sisters or the Chicken Lady, and you chuckle.
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44. Looking
Devoted as its viewers were, not enough of 'em came out for the gay Sex and the City to win it a third season. But at least it got a wrap-up movie.
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60. Vice Principals
Danny McBride's high-school nightmare fell below the radar, despite being consistently hilarious.
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41. The Young Pope
The reviews were so divine, no prayers were needed to get Jude Law's "limited series" a second season.
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45. The Pacific
This 2010 companion piece to Band of Brothers — which had BOB writer Bruce C. McKenna aboard as an EP — also won the Emmy for Best Miniseries. And hey, look, Rami Malek!
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52. Carnivale
When Daniel Knauf's Depression-era drama failed to hold onto its audience — its premiere actually set a record for HBO original series — the tent came down after just two seasons.
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46. Generation Kill
Oz vet Lee Tergesen played reporter Evan Wright in this acclaimed miniseries based on his book about his experience as a reporter traveling with the Marines during the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
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50. Extras
Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's stars shone brightly in the post-Office team-up in which the former played a "background performer" longing to take center stage.
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28. Treme
Without a lotta fanfare, David Simon and Eric Overmyer painted a portrait of the Big Easy in hard times.
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13. The Corner
This excellent 2000 miniseries about an impoverished West Baltimore family helped lay the groundwork for David Simon's triumphant The Wire.
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48. Fraggle Rock
If you're one of the "silly creatures of outer space" who grew up in the 1980s, we'll bet you any money you now have the theme song of this Jim Henson gem boinging around your head.
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51. Parade's End
This five-part BBC drama, written by Tom Stoppard and starring Benedict Cumberbatch, earned itself the nickname "the highbrow Downton Abbey." (And here we didn't realize Downton was lowbrow!)
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55. Tracey Ullman's Show
In three seasons of her sketch-comedy series, the funny lady played everyone from Judi Dench to Angela Merkel — and enough original characters to populate a dozen programs!
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42. Eastbound & Down
Danny McBride had a (foul) ball in Will Ferrell and Adam McKay's comedy about a major-league pitcher whose life became a minor disaster.
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53. The Deuce
We're buying what Maggie Gyllenhaal is selling as a hooker-turned-X-rated movie director in this gritty drama set in the Golden Age of Porn.
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87. Entourage
After overstaying its welcome by about four seasons (and a movie), this showbiz satire became a Hollywood punchline itself.
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59. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
We still don't have a clue why, after just one season, HBO yanked this classy, Botswana-set BBC coproduction that put Jill Scott where she belongs — front and center.
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69. Mosaic
Steven Soderbergh's murder mystery boasted Sharon Stone and a cool gimmick — an interactive-app version — but flew so far under the radar that it scarcely made a ping.
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56. Togetherness
The one thing the Duplass brothers couldn't get together? A sizable audience for their well-liked dramedy about a makeshift family.
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93. Ballers
Escapist entertainment never looked so... meh.
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47. High Maintenance
Exes Ben Sinclair and Katja Blichfield have us hooked on their dramedy about a cannabis deliveryman... even if every episode gives us the munchies.
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58. Crashing
Stand-up Pete Holmes' semi-autobiographical comedy was well-received enough to go three seasons — and may yet get a movie sendoff.
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62. Bored to Death
Jason Schwartzman played (amateur) detective in this quirky comedy that was buoyed for three seasons by supporting player Ted Danson.
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63. Show Me a Hero
David Simon's Paul Haggis-directed mini with Oscar Issac as the youngest major-city mayor in the US won rave reviews from critics... who seemed to be the only people who watched it.
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67. Tales From the Crypt
Silly as it was, we'll go to our graves shrieking the praises of Steven Dodd's fun, punny 1989-96 creepshow.
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76. Hung
Thomas Jane's gigolo dramedy was occasionally fun but mostly forgettable.
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64. Todd McFarlane's Spawn
The Emmy-winning animated series remains so well-regarded, we're kinda surprised it has yet to "spawn" a revival at HBO.
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61. Mr. Show With Bob and David
Bob Odenkirk and David Cross' sketch-comedy series went for four seasons, and we still wanted the Show to go on.
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68. Five Days
Downton Abbey's Hugh Bonneville starred in this drama whose premise was that it followed a police investigation over the course of [insert title here].
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70. Room 104
Though it's set in one room, creatively, the Duplass brothers' adventurous anthology series is all over the map.
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49. Hello Ladies
One season, and that was it. HBO said, "Goodbye, sir," to Stephen Merchant's woefully underrated comedy about an Englishman looking for love in L.A.
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34. My Brilliant Friend
This Italian-American co-production, based on the first of Elena Ferrante's Neapolitan Novels, offered a beautiful, brutal look at girlhood in post-World War II Europe.
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72. Vinyl
Despite its pedigree — Martin Scorsese and Mick Jagger were among its creators — the 1970s-set music-biz drama was tossed out like a scratched record after a single season.
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89. Luck
HBO said "neigh" to giving David Milch's Dustin Hoffman starrer a second turn around the track, owing to animal-safety concerns.
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71. How to Make It in America
Even with Mark Wahlberg among its EPs, the fashion-biz dramedy didn't, you know, make it.
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75. Da Ali G Show
We'll say this at least for Sacha Baron Cohen's satirical interview series — it never left us Borat. Sorry, we meant bored.
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57. Summer Heights High
Aussie funnyman Chris Lilley made the honor roll with his mockumentary that introduced us to mean girl Ja'mie, delusional Mr. G and juvenile delinquent Jonah Takalua.
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77. The Life and Times of Tim
Steve Dildarian's animated sitcom for grownups developed a cult following, just not one that was big enough to extend its run beyond three seasons.
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74. The Casual Vacancy
Harry Potter, this British miniseries based on J.K. Rowlings' Pagford-set novel wasn't.
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94. Here and Now
Alan Ball's True Blood follow-up about a multiracial Portland family was Here today, gone tomorrow.
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78. Arli$$
Despite mixed reviews, Robert Wuhl's sports comedy went seven seasons (and if nothing else, it introduced us to the wonders of Sandra Oh).
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90. Divorce
Renewed for Season 3, this Sarah Jessica Parker and Thomas Haden Church "comedy" keeps chugging along despite being so mediocre, it's painful.
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79. Doll & Em
In a case of art imitating life, BFFs Dolly Wells and Emily Mortimer played (versions of) themselves in this uneven showbiz comedy.
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80. Funny or Die Presents
Will Ferrell and Adam McKay's series inspired by the comedy website attracted top-tier talents but was pretty skit and miss.
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85. Life's Too Short
Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's mockumentary about "the life of a showbiz dwarf" amounted to no big deal.
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66. Family Tree
Christopher Guest's oddball, underrated improv comedy sadly had its (vestigial) tale cut off after just a single season.
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81. The Mind of a Married Man
It took two seasons of scathing reviews to convince HBO to divorce itself from Mike Binder's 2001-02 sitcom.
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65. Gentleman Jack
A hit overseas, this classy BBC One coproduction is based on the diaries of industrialist (and future LGBTQ icon) Anne Lister.
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82. K Street
Steven Soderbergh's timely, largely-improv'd 2003 dramedy with James Carville and Mary Matalin playing themselves proved to be must-see TV in DC. And nowhere else.
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83. Tell Me You Love Me
Tell us you even remember this one-and-done drama about couples in therapy, and we'll tell you you're fibbing.
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95. The Brink
By the time HBO was done flip-flopping on Tim Robbins and Jack Black's geopolitical-crisis comedy, we realized that what it had really been on the brink of... was cancellation.
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73. Little Britain USA
Can we count this 2008 sketch show as a "continuation" of its UK counterpart if it only continued for half a dozen episodes?
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92. Angry Boys
Graduating from Summer Heights High to this mockumentary coproduced with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Chris Lilley took on six new characters, none of which we suspect you could name.
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86. Animals
With main characters that included roaches, flies, worms and a sociopathic cat named Emperor Phil, this short-lived animated comedy was more chore than chortle.
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91. Unscripted
Neither its blue-chip EPs (among them, George Clooney and Steven Soderbergh) nor its cameos by a Hollywood Who's Who (Meryl Streep, Angelina Jolie, etc.) could get this improv'd, laugh-challenged showbiz drama a Season 2.
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88. Lucky Louie
Louie C.K.'s family sitcom was axed after one painfully uneven season.
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84. Ja'mie: Private School Girl
Turned out, a little of Chris Lilley's bratty teenage alter ego was plenty, thanks.
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97. Camping
Jennifer Garner deserved better than this Lena Dunham/Jenni Konner misfire. Actually, we all did.
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96. John From Cincinnati
Despite focusing on a family of surfers, David Milch's disappointing Deadwood follow-up failed to make waves.
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38. Dream On
Marta Kauffman and David Crane's Friends precursor is mostly remembered now for its raciness, but it was pretty inventive, too, with its use of old TV and movie clips.