In an era where binge-watching has become the norm, episodic television has truly transformed from second-tier entertainment, to an elevated art form. Lucky for us, the small screen is now churning out some of the most captivating and rewarding storytelling. But even before streaming services and connected TV, back in the days of limited choices and four channels, there were gems to be found.

The Rushlight team decided to take a stroll down memory lane with each team member compiling their own top 20 episodic television shows. Each person’s list is not meant to be a hierarchical ranking of the best or worst, but rather a distillation of a lifetime of consuming stories. Each team member's selection is an expression of their unique tastes, experiences, and personal aesthetics.

At the heart of it all is the power of storytelling, which has the ability to transport us to different worlds, provoke emotions, and inspire change. We invite you to take a peek at our selections and perhaps discover a new favorite to add to your own list. After all, the beauty of storytelling is that it's meant to be shared and enjoyed.

Devon Lyon - Creative Director | Producer

I find it impossible to “rank” my favorite 20 shows, so the following list is presented in no particular order. But boy-oh-boy, was this hard. There are so many good shows I had to leave off. But, I guess that’s the challenge, right? So, here are the shows that defined different eras of my life, influenced me, entertained me, and have stood the test of time.

The Sopranos     The Wonder Years     Friday Night Lights     Family Ties     The Wire     The X-Files          The Muppet Show   The Chappelle Show   Saturday Night Live     Southpark    Battlestar Galactica (2004)     Curb Your Enthusiasm     Deadwood     Arrested Development     Star Trek: The Next Generation     Succession     Mad Men     Seinfeld     Californication     Breaking Bad

Graham Molthan - Art Director

Dang, this was a challenge. 20 is a big number, and I’ve never been the biggest TV watcher in a traditional sense, getting most of my series entertainment from various places across the internet like YouTube, anime forums, or bootleg streaming sites. But here’s a list of some shows that I’ve either obsessed over at some point (Street Sharks when I was a literal toddler), or that I return to again and again.

The Simpsons   Star Trek:  The Next Generation,  Gunbuster,  Mystery Science Theater 3000,  FLCL, True Detective  Twin Peaks  Redwall  The Venture Bros.  Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann   Baccano!   MXC   Mythbusters   The X-Files   Monster  Kaiji   Aqua Teen Hunger Force  Neon Genesis Evangelion   JoJo’s Bizarre Adventures   Street Sharks.

Tayleranne Gillespie - Public Relations Director 

My tastes have changed over the years, but I would go back and re-watch every single one of these series - and I have rewatched many of them! I love a good historical show, strong characters pull me in, and I am a sucker for great costumes. 

New Girl   30 Rock   Parks & Rec   Scandal   Parenthood   Bones   The X-Files   Chuck   House   The Great  Gilmore Girls   Friends   This Is Us   Ugly Betty   King of the Hill   Law and Order: SVU   Downton Abbey   The Queen’s Gambit   The Crown   Never Have I Ever 

Jessica Chambers - Communications Manager

This was a fun list to put together. Every one of these shows makes me smile. Some of these I still watch, thanks to reruns and Amazon Prime. I love strong story arcs, depth in characters and a certain level of escapism. I have been known to judge an entire series based on the final episode. Also, by its soundtrack.

24   Burn Notice   White Collar   I Love Lucy   Castle   Modern Family    Eureka    Monk    Gilmore Girls       Everybody Loves Raymond   Warehouse 13   Psych   Chuck    Leverage Frasier    Sherlock    Firefly         Battlestar Galactica (2004 series)   The Dick Van Dyke Show House

Dylan Frederick - Director of Marketing

Compiling this list officially exposes my nerdy show viewing preferences. Many of these shows give me a fond sense of nostalgia about growing up in the 90’s, and some are still favorite go-tos to this day. 

Breaking Bad   Madmen   Friday Night Lights    The Office    Freaks and Geeks    Stranger Things    WWF Monday Night Raw/WCW Nitro (1997-2000 only)    Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (1993-1997)    West Wing, Batman: The Animated Series    Fresh Prince of Bel Aire    Dragon Ball Z    X-Men: The Animated Series   House of Cards    Boardwalk Empire    The Adventures of Pete & Pete    Home Improvement   The Cosby Show   South Park. 

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