2011 Television Critic Top Ten Lists [Updated Jan. 11]

  • Comments: ↓ 39 user comments
  • by Jason Dietz, Metacritic Features Editor
  • Publish Date: December 13, 2011

Below, we collect every year-end Top Ten list published by major TV critics and publications. This page will be updated throughout December and January whenever new lists are published; be sure to check back frequently.

Critics pick the best TV shows of 2011

Added in last update (Jan. 11): PopMatters

Below is our updated running tally of the TV shows most frequently mentioned by individual critics in their year-end Top Ten lists. Note that if a critic ranks more than the standard 10 shows, we will not include titles ranked 11th or worse. In case of a tie for first or second, each show will receive the full points for that position. Our points system works as follows:

  • 3 points for each 1st place ranking
  • 2 points for each 2nd place ranking
  • 1 point for being ranked 3rd - 10th, or for being included on an unranked list
  TV Show / Network # 1st Place # 2nd Place # Other Points
1 Breaking Bad (AMC) 9 6 20 59
2 Homeland (Showtime) 7 5 23 54
3 Downton Abbey (PBS) 2 5 16 32
4 Parks and Recreation (NBC) 1 6 14 29
5 Game of Thrones (HBO) 1 0 25 28
  Louie (FX) 3 0 19 28
7 Justified (FX) 1 0 21 24
8 Community (NBC) 0 2 15 19
9 The Good Wife (CBS) 0 0 18 18
  Modern Family (ABC) 1 0 15 18
11 Friday Night Lights (DirecTV/NBC) 2 0 11 17
12 Boardwalk Empire (HBO) 0 1 9 11
  The Walking Dead (AMC) 0 0 11 11
14 American Horror Story (FX) 0 0 10 10
  Enlightened (HBO) 0 2 6 10
16 Revenge (ABC) 0 0 9 9
17 Awkward. (MTV) 0 0 5 5
  The Big Bang Theory (CBS) 0 0 5 5
  Happy Endings (ABC) 0 0 5 5
  The Middle (ABC) 0 0 5 5

Individual critic top ten lists

Below are the individual top ten lists used to calculate the standings above. Some critics may list ten shows without ranking them in order; such lists are displayed below, without numbers, in alphabetical order.

Associated Press Frazier Moore View article
  • Boomtown (Planet Green)
  • Boss (Starz)
  • Breaking Bad (AMC)
  • Enlightened (HBO)
  • The Golden Globes (NBC)
  • Happy Endings (ABC)
  • Homeland (Showtime)
  • Lights Out (FX)
  • Skins (MTV)
  • Sons of Anarchy (FX)
The Atlantic Richard Lawson View article
  • Boardwalk Empire (HBO)
  • Breaking Bad (AMC)
  • Downton Abbey (PBS)
  • Game of Thrones (HBO)
  • The Good Wife (CBS)
  • It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FX)
  • Louie (FX)
  • Portlandia (IFC)
  • Revenge (ABC)
  • Top Chef: All Stars (Bravo)
A.V. Club Staff Consensus View article
  1. Louie (FX)
  2. Parks and Recreation (NBC)
  3. Breaking Bad (AMC)
  4. Community (NBC)
  5. Justified (FX)
  6. Game of Thrones (HBO)
  7. Homeland (Showtime)
  8. Friday Night Lights (DirecTV/NBC)
  9. The Good Wife (CBS)
  10. Enlightened (HBO)
Boston Globe Matthew Gilbert View article
  1. Breaking Bad (AMC)
  2. Homeland (Showtime)
  3. Game of Thrones (HBO)
  4. Shameless (Showtime)
  5. (tie) Parks and Recreation (NBC)
  6. (tie) 30 Rock (NBC)
  7. (tie) Community (NBC)
  8. Downton Abbey (PBS)
  9. Louie (FX)
  10. Justified (FX)
  11. Boardwalk Empire (HBO)
  12. Enlightened (HBO)
Cinema Blend Staff Consensus View article
  1. Breaking Bad (AMC)
  2. Parks and Recreation (NBC)
  3. Revenge (ABC)
  4. Portlandia (IFC)
  5. The Chicago Code (Fox)
  6. Community (NBC)
  7. Spartacus: Gods of the Arena (Starz)
  8. Game of Thrones (HBO)
  9. Louie (FX)
  10. Homeland (Showtime)
Cleveland Plain Dealer Mark Dawidziak View article
  1. Justified (FX)
  2. Downton Abbey (PBS)
  3. (tie) The Middle (ABC)
  4. (tie) Modern Family (ABC)
  5. Breaking Bad (AMC)
  6. Damages (DirecTV)
  7. Community (NBC)
  8. (tie) American Horror Story (FX)
  9. (tie) True Blood (HBO)
  10. (tie) The Walking Dead (AMC)
  11. Homeland (Showtime)
  12. Rescue Me (FX)
  13. Boardwalk Empire (HBO)
Collider Adam Chitwood View article
  1. Breaking Bad (AMC)
  2. Parks and Recreation (NBC)
  3. Homeland (Showtime)
  4. Community (NBC)
  5. Louie (FX)
  6. Game of Thrones (HBO)
Contra Costa Times Chuck Barney View article
  1. Game of Thrones (HBO)
  2. Homeland (Showtime)
  3. Breaking Bad (AMC)
  4. (tie) Modern Family (ABC)
  5. (tie) The Middle (ABC)
  6. Friday Night Lights (DirecTV/NBC)
  7. American Horror Story (FX)
  8. Downton Abbey (PBS)
  9. The Good Wife (CBS)
  10. Justified (FX)
  11. New Girl (Fox)
The Daily Beast Maria Elena Fernandez View article
  • American Horror Story (FX)
  • Awkward. (MTV)
  • Breaking Bad (AMC)
  • Downton Abbey (PBS)
  • Game of Thrones (HBO)
  • Homeland (Showtime)
  • Justified (FX)
  • Modern Family (ABC)
  • Raising Hope (Fox)
  • Sons of Anarchy (FX)
The Daily Beast Jace Lacob View article
  • Boardwalk Empire (HBO)
  • Community (NBC)
  • Downton Abbey (PBS)
  • Friday Night Lights (DirecTV/NBC)
  • Game of Thrones (HBO)
  • The Good Wife (CBS)
  • Homeland (Showtime)
  • Justified (FX)
  • Parenthood (NBC)
  • Parks and Recreation (NBC)
Entertainment Weekly Ken Tucker
  1. Breaking Bad (AMC)
  2. Parks and Recreation (NBC)
  3. Fringe (Fox)
  4. Homeland (Showtime)
  5. Louie (FX)
  6. Justified (FX)
  7. Downton Abbey (PBS)
  8. The Good Wife (CBS)
  9. Enlightened (HBO)
  10. The Colbert Report (Comedy Central)
HitFix Daniel Fienberg View article
  1. Friday Night Lights (DirecTV/NBC)
  2. Breaking Bad (AMC)
  3. Downton Abbey (PBS)
  4. Parks and Recreation (NBC)
  5. Game of Thrones (HBO)
  6. Louie (FX)
  7. Justified (FX)
  8. Homeland (Showtime)
  9. The Vampire Diaries (The CW)
  10. The Hour (BBC America)
HitFix Alan Sepinwall View article
  1. Parks and Recreation (NBC)
  2. Breaking Bad (AMC)
  3. Louie (FX)
  4. Justified (FX)
  5. Community (NBC)
  6. Friday Night Lights (DirecTV/NBC)
  7. Game of Thrones (HBO)
  8. Homeland (Showtime)
  9. Boardwalk Empire (HBO)
  10. (tie) Men of a Certain Age (TNT)
  11. (tie) The United States of Tara (Showtime)
Houston Chronicle Therese Odell View article
  1. Homeland (Showtime)
  2. Breaking Bad (AMC)
  3. Louie (FX)
  4. Game of Thrones (HBO)
  5. American Horror Story (FX)
  6. Fringe (Fox)
  7. Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO)
  8. Parks and Recreation (NBC)
  9. Big Love (HBO)
  10. 30 Rock (NBC)
The Huffington Post (formerly AOL TV) Maureen Ryan View article
  • Awkward. (MTV)
  • Breaking Bad (AMC)
  • Community (NBC)
  • Downton Abbey (PBS)
  • Friday Night Lights (DirecTV/NBC)
  • Game of Thrones (HBO)
  • Homeland (Showtime)
  • Justified (FX)
  • Louie (FX)
  • Men of a Certain Age (TNT)
  • Parks and Recreation (NBC)
IMDb Melanie McFarland View article
  • Awkward. (MTV)
  • Breaking Bad (AMC)
  • Community (NBC)
  • Downton Abbey (PBS)
  • Game of Thrones (HBO)
  • Homeland (Showtime)
  • Justified (FX)
  • Louie (FX)
  • Parks and Recreation (NBC)
  • Revenge (ABC)
Lincoln Journal Star Jeff Korbelik View article
  1. Breaking Bad (AMC)
  2. Homeland (Showtime)
  3. Downton Abbey (PBS)
  4. Friday Night Lights (DirecTV/NBC)
  5. Sons of Anarchy (FX)
  6. Parks and Recreation (NBC)
  7. The Good Wife (CBS)
  8. Modern Family (ABC)
  9. Boss (Starz)
  10. Revenge (ABC)
New York Willa Paskin View article
  1. Breaking Bad (AMC)
  2. Downton Abbey (PBS)
  3. Louie (FX)
  4. Homeland (Showtime)
  5. The Good Wife (CBS)
  6. Parks and Recreation (NBC)
  7. Friday Night Lights (DirecTV/NBC)
  8. Community (NBC)
  9. Justified (FX)
  10. Happy Endings (ABC)
New York Daily News David Hinckley View article
  1. Downton Abbey (PBS)
  2. Homeland (Showtime)
  3. Boardwalk Empire (HBO)
  4. 2 Broke Girls (CBS)
  5. Justified (FX)
  6. Breaking Bad (AMC)
  7. Awkward. (MTV)
  8. Boss (Starz)
  9. The Good Wife (CBS)
  10. Rizzoli and Isles (TNT)
The New York Times Mike Hale View article
  • Awkward. (MTV)
  • Community (NBC)
  • Freedom Riders (PBS)
  • Fringe (Fox)
  • Frontline (PBS)
  • The Good Wife (CBS)
  • Homeland (Showtime)
  • Louie (FX)
  • There's Something Wrong with Aunt Diane (HBO)
  • The Walking Dead (AMC)
The New York Times Alessandra Stanley View article
  1. Homeland (Showtime)
  2. Parks and Recreation (NBC)
  3. The Hour (BBC America)
  4. Downton Abbey (PBS)
  5. Revenge (ABC)
  6. The Voice (NBC)
  7. Law & Order: SVU (NBC)
  8. Bob Costas interviewing Jerry Sandusky (NBC)
  9. Republican primary debates (various)
  10. Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (NBC)
NPR/Television Worth Watching David Bianculli View article
  1. Breaking Bad (AMC)
  2. Homeland (Showtime)
  3. The Good Wife (CBS)
  4. Modern Family (ABC)
  5. Justified (FX)
  6. Dexter (Showtime)
  7. American Horror Story (FX)
  8. Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO)
  9. Louie (FX)
  10. True Blood (HBO)
Orlando Sentinel Hal Boedeker View article
  • The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
  • Breaking Bad (AMC)
  • Downton Abbey (PBS)
  • The Good Wife (CBS)
  • Homeland (Showtime)
  • The Killing (AMC)
  • The Middle (ABC)
  • Modern Family (ABC)
  • Once Upon a Time (ABC)
  • The Walking Dead (AMC)
Paste Josh Jackson View article
  1. Breaking Bad (AMC)
  2. Community (NBC)
  3. Boardwalk Empire (HBO)
  4. Parks and Recreation (NBC)
  5. Homeland (Showtime)
  6. 30 Rock (NBC)
  7. The Walking Dead (AMC)
  8. Louie (FX)
  9. Modern Family (ABC)
  10. Dexter (Showtime)
People Tom Gliatto
  1. Homeland (Showtime)
  2. Downton Abbey (PBS)
  3. Game of Thrones (HBO)
  4. American Horror Story (FX)
  5. Breaking Bad (AMC)
  6. Louie (FX)
  7. New Girl (Fox)
  8. Revenge (ABC)
  9. American Idol (Fox)
  10. Happy Endings (ABC)
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Rob Owen View article
  1. Breaking Bad (AMC)
  2. Downton Abbey (PBS)
  3. Modern Family (ABC)
  4. Game of Thrones (HBO)
  5. Happy Endings (ABC)
  6. Homeland (Showtime)
  7. The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
  8. The Good Wife (CBS)
  9. Friday Night Lights (DirecTV/NBC)
  10. Southland (TNT)
PopMatters View article
  1. Treme (HBO)
  2. Community (NBC)
  3. Parks and Recreation (NBC)
  4. Justified (FX)
  5. Being Human (BBC America)
  6. Breaking Bad (AMC)
  7. Louie (FX)
  8. The Walking Dead (AMC)
  9. Game of Thrones (HBO)
  10. Boardwalk Empire (HBO)
Salon Matt Zoller Seitz View article
  1. Mildred Pierce (HBO)
  2. Enlightened (HBO)
  3. Louie (FX)
  4. Breaking Bad (AMC)
  5. Community (NBC)
  6. Homeland (Showtime)
  7. Justified (FX)
  8. Game of Thrones (HBO)
  9. American Horror Story (FX)
  10. Men of a Certain Age (TNT)
The Salt Lake Tribune Scott D. Pierce View article
  1. Friday Night Lights (DirecTV/NBC)
  2. Breaking Bad (AMC)
  3. The Good Wife (CBS)
  4. The Walking Dead (AMC)
  5. (tie) The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
  6. (tie) Modern Family (ABC)
  7. Downton Abbey (PBS)
  8. Game of Thrones (HBO)
  9. Torchwood: Miracle Day (Starz)
  10. Rescue Me (FX)
  11. Revenge (ABC)
Slant View article
  1. Louie (FX)
  2. Breaking Bad (AMC)
  3. Game of Thrones (HBO)
  4. Enlightened (HBO)
  5. Parks and Recreation (NBC)
  6. Justified (FX)
  7. Bored to Death (HBO)
  8. Portlandia (IFC)
  9. The Walking Dead (AMC)
  10. Friday Night Lights (DirecTV/NBC)
St. Louis Post-Dispatch Gail Pennington View article
  • Breaking Bad (AMC)
  • Downton Abbey (PBS)
  • Game of Thrones (HBO)
  • The Good Wife (CBS)
  • Homeland (Showtime)
  • Justified (FX)
  • Modern Family (ABC)
  • Parenthood (NBC)
  • Parks and Recreation (NBC)
  • The Walking Dead (AMC)
St. Petersburg Times Eric Deggans View article
  1. Homeland (Showtime)
  2. Boardwalk Empire (HBO)
  3. Louie (FX)
  4. Breaking Bad (AMC)
  5. Justified (FX)
  6. Modern Family (ABC)
  7. The Walking Dead (AMC)
  8. Luther (BBC America)
  9. Game of Thrones (HBO)
  10. The Good Wife (CBS)
Time James Poniewozik View article ...and even more
  1. Louie (FX)
  2. Parks and Recreation (NBC)
  3. Breaking Bad (AMC)
  4. Justified (FX)
  5. Game of Thrones (HBO)
  6. Homeland (Showtime)
  7. Friday Night Lights (DirecTV/NBC)
  8. Community (NBC)
  9. The Good Wife (CBS)
  10. Enlightened (HBO)
TV Guide Matt Roush View article
  1. Homeland (Showtime)
  2. Downton Abbey (PBS)
  3. Breaking Bad (AMC)
  4. (tie) The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
  5. (tie) Community (NBC)
  6. Game of Thrones (HBO)
  7. Justified (FX)
  8. (tie) The Middle (ABC)
  9. (tie) Modern Family (ABC)
  10. Fringe (Fox)
  11. The Good Wife (CBS)
  12. New Girl (Fox)
TV Guide Staff View article
  1. Homeland (Showtime)
  2. Breaking Bad (AMC)
  3. Game of Thrones (HBO)
  4. Parks and Recreation (NBC)
  5. Modern Family (ABC)
  6. Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO)
  7. Revenge (ABC)
  8. American Horror Story (FX)
  9. The Walking Dead (AMC)
  10. Friday Night Lights (DirecTV/NBC)
USA Today Robert Bianco View article
  1. (tie) Homeland (Showtime)
  2. (tie) Modern Family (ABC)
  3. Justified (FX)
  4. The Good Wife (CBS)
  5. True Blood (HBO)
  6. The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
  7. Community (NBC)
  8. Breaking Bad (AMC)
  9. The Middle (ABC)
  10. Rescue Me (FX)
Wall Street Journal Dorothy Rabinowitz View article
  • 9/11: The Day That Changed the World (Smithsonian)
  • Downton Abbey (PBS)
  • Elusive Justice: The Search for Nazi War Criminals (PBS)
  • Homeland (Showtime)
  • The Kennedys (Reelz)
  • Lights Out (FX)
  • Modern Family (ABC)
  • Prohibition (PBS)
  • Republican primary debates (various)
  • Revenge (ABC)
Washington Post Hank Stuever View article
  1. Downton Abbey (PBS)
  2. Enlightened (HBO)
  3. Homeland (Showtime)
  4. Storage Wars (A&E)
  5. Breaking Bad (AMC)
  6. The Walking Dead (AMC)
  7. American Horror Story (FX)
  8. Game of Thrones (HBO)
  9. Modern Family (ABC)
  10. The Office (NBC)
Yahoo! TV Staff Consensus View article
  • American Horror Story (FX)
  • Boardwalk Empire (HBO)
  • Breaking Bad (AMC)
  • Downton Abbey (PBS)
  • Game of Thrones (HBO)
  • Happy Endings (ABC)
  • Homeland (Showtime)
  • Louie (FX)
  • Parks and Recreation (NBC)
  • Shameless (Showtime)

Comments (39)

  • dmj  
    • Dec 29, 2011 4:08PM

    The list by Complex is also up

  • loafof  
    • Dec 29, 2011 5:25AM

    The list by Sight& Sound is also up.

  • danilidou  
    • Dec 28, 2011 2:31PM

    the guardian also posted their list ........ http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2011/dec/28/us-television-2011-top-10?newsfeed=true

  • Gio86  
    • Dec 28, 2011 3:15AM

    What about, http://journalstar.com/entertainment/small-screen/television-and-radio/jeff-korbelik-the-best-of-tv-for/article_2e47cc23-e5d7-5e45-8bd6-40a0076d5fe6.html and http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/12/26/DD511MFG48.DTL. Why are they not on the updated list?

  • ebrown2112  
    • Dec 27, 2011 10:59PM

    Holy crap, the NYT's tv critics are imbeciles.

    frumpsnake: I agree with you re: Boardwalk Empire. I am utterly astonished at its poor showing. I don't watch a LOT of shows (after all, I'm not a professional tv critic) and I haven't caught up on Breaking Bad (I just finished S1, and it's amazing), But based on what I did watch: 1. Boardwalk Empire 2. Game of Thrones 3. Community 4. Homeland 5. Treme 6. White Collar 7. Burn Notice 8. Bored to Death
    uh...running out of shows here... 9. The Walking Dead and 10. Curb Your Enthusiasm, I guess?

    (I didn't include Mildred Pierce, as it was a mini-series; I also didn't include The Daily Show & The Colbert Report.)

  • dmj  
    • Dec 27, 2011 9:11PM

    I don't think The New York Daily News list is ranked, however you have it as ranked here. Also, the list for Collider is up.

  • avenx  
    • Dec 23, 2011 7:27PM

    Yes! Community! Six seasons and a movie, here we come.

  • dmj  
    • Dec 23, 2011 2:28PM

    The THR didn't elease a top 10. Tim Goodman instead did separate lists, best comedies, and best dramas of 2011. So I don't think it qualifies.

  • Sorry  
    • Dec 23, 2011 1:15PM

    Where is the Hollywood Reporter top 10?

  • andsoitgoes  
    • Dec 22, 2011 7:10PM

    Gah!!! Happy Endings?!? Seriously? No. I don't believe it. I honestly don't. It's one of the LEAST funny shows I've ever, ever, ever, EVER seen. It tries so hard, and falls so flat. I couldn't believe when it got renewed. And I tried, lord knows I needed another comedy, but it was so meh, I cannot believe anyone liked it. Stale acting, actors, stories, relationships. Frick, I'll take the mostly horrible Whitney over HE, and that's not saying much.

Page:

New in Metacritic Features

  1. This Week: Movie, TV, Music, and Game Picks for May 20-26
    This Week: Movie, TV, Music, and Game Picks for May 20-26 Image
    Published: May 19, 2013
  2. Episode Review: The Office (Series Finale)
    Episode Review: The Office (Series Finale) Image
    Published: May 17, 2013
  3. Upfronts: The CW's New Shows & Schedule for 2013-14
    Upfronts: The CW's New Shows & Schedule for 2013-14 Image
    Published: May 16, 2013
  4. Upfronts: CBS's New Shows and Schedule for 2013-14
    Upfronts: CBS's New Shows and Schedule for 2013-14 Image
    Published: May 15, 2013
  5. Upfronts: ABC's New Shows and Schedule for 2013-14
    Upfronts: ABC's New Shows and Schedule for 2013-14 Image
    Published: May 14, 2013
  6. Upfronts: Fox's New Shows and Schedule for 2013-14
    Upfronts: Fox's New Shows and Schedule for 2013-14 Image
    Published: May 13, 2013
  7. Upfronts: NBC's New Shows and Schedule for 2013-14
    Upfronts: NBC's New Shows and Schedule for 2013-14 Image
    Published: May 13, 2013
  8. This Week: Movie, TV, Music, and Game Picks for May 13-19
    This Week: Movie, TV, Music, and Game Picks for May 13-19 Image
    Published: May 12, 2013

What Our Users Are Talking About

  1. /feature/movie-trailers-and-news-for-week-ending-may-17-2013 Image
    Film Friday: This Week's Movie News and New Trailers
    May 17, 2013 - 1 comment
    1. rebel6794 : Christopher Nolan... James Bond... (Would that mean Hans Zimmer might score? Weird to consider...) That would be... Read »
  2. /feature/the-office-nbc-series-finale-reviews Image
    Episode Review: The Office (Series Finale)
    May 17, 2013 - 2 comments
    1. robinm : @oceansroar I'm jealous that you were able to avoid talk of Carell's return that broke late last week. I would have... Read »
    2. oceansroar : i love it, but i have loved it through the valleys as well. Yes, it may have been a bit too sentimental, but i think... Read »
  3. /feature/music-releases-for-the-week-of-may-13-2013 Image
    Music Monday: This Week's New Albums and Videos
    May 13, 2013 - 7 comments
    1. Zepfanman : Yep, this is definitely my go-to place for new releases. Got me faked out with the wording of "ALBUM Random Access... Read »
    2. XMoUhX : Let me double-second that! Love this feature and I always look forward to it..Keep up the good work, guys! Read »
    3. Emmanuel : And yet you still don't have the said album release in your database.. Come on Read »
    4. jethibea : Let the third that, love Music Monday, it's my favorite feature of metacritic and I lament weeks when it is absent.... Read »
    5. LamontRaymond : Let me second what @conditionals says: it's a great weekly music rundown on a single page keep it coming! Read »
  4. /feature/summer-movie-preview-2013 Image
    Summer Movie Preview: A Guide to Over 40 Key Films from Star Trek Into Darkness to Elysium
    May 2, 2013 - 4 comments
    1. TheFineBro : My most anticipated SUMMER movies are: 10) Star Trek 2, 9)Despicable Me 2, 8) The Worlds End, 7) The Hunger Games 2,... Read »
  5. /feature/video-game-preview-2013 Image
    The Most Anticipated Video Games of 2013
    January 15, 2013 - 25 comments
    1. Calamebe : Ima be playing pokemon x and y Read »