25 Most Influential TV Shows in my Life

Taking a page out of my friend Toni's book, I'm listing the top 25 most influential tv shows in my life. You can check out her list over at TV Saurus. You'll notice that there is a bit of an overlap.

Disclaimer: In no way does this mean that they are the best shows out there (as you will see, Glee is on this list, and there is no way in this universe that Glee would be considered the best). These are the shows that have changed my life or are connected to certain memories. They have changed my views in general or how I watch tv. This was a lot harder then I expected as I tried to keep it from turning into a list of all tv I've ever watched.

1. Sabrina the Teenage Witch - A classic in the TGIF line up. The jokes were corny, but a kid's send of humor isn't that sophisticated. Aunt Hilda and Salem were my favorites, proving that side characters could be a reason worth watching a mediocre show. 
2. The Daily Show with Jon Stewart - I am not a news person. In high school when I was taking AP Government, I relied on The Daily Show to make it bearable. I may not watch it every day, but it has changed the way I see politics (a.k.a. it is hilarious how terrible everything is). 
3. The Young and the Restless - I spent summers watching this soap opera with my grandmother. Even when I visit for a couple of days, I find myself catching up and watching episodes.
4. The O.C. - This was the first show I ever marathoned to catch up to current episodes. It was the show everyone talked about in homeroom. And the soundtracks are fantastic. 
5. Rugrats - Must watch tv show of my childhood. I knew some kids who were forbidden from watching Rugrats. Their loss! I learned about Hanukkah thanks to Tommy and the gang. I have also been known to dance similar to Reptar when I'm excited. 
6. Boy Meets World - I used to call this my "Friday night soap". Cory & Topanga forever!And Mr. Feeny's speeches are life lessons wrapped up for easy consumption. 
7. Even Stevens - This marks the time that we finally got the Disney channel. I related so much to perfectionist Ren Stevens who had trouble letting loose. When it ended, I learned the hard lesson that Disney shows limit the number of episodes, typically capping off at 65. Why couldn't there be more?!
8. Jeopardy - My favorite game show. I used to watch it every afternoon before class in freshman year. I crossed "go to a Jeopardy taping" off my bucket list a few years ago. Definitely fills my need for trivia and being right (some of the time). 
9. Pretty Little Liars - It started out as a joke, but I got hooked and brought my closest friends down with me too. Now we watch it together and crack jokes MST3K style. Watching 4 teenage girls handle life-threatening situations irresponsibly has made our friendship that much stronger - A.
10. Game of Thrones - I hadn't planned on watching this show but I went in not knowing anything about the story. You know nothing Jon Snow. And I was instantly hooked (and shocked). Immediately, I picked up the books so I could know what would happen in the next seasons. I have enjoyed watching how they adapt 1,000 page books into short, action-packed seasons. It is known. 
11. True Blood - My first HBO show. I have watched this guilty pleasure show with a friend every summer. Where else can you see crazy shit like a spine being ripped out?
12. Skins - This UK show didn't shy away from the realities of sex and drug use by teens. Though plot lines were a little blown out of proportion, the dialogue felt authentic as actual teens served as part of the writing staff. Also worth noting that Skins reignited my passion for plaid. 
13. Community - Community taught me about television structures and tropes. It pushes boundaries with genre episodes, darkest timelines, and paintball. 
14. Friday Night Lights - I think I have cried more during this show than any other movie or television show. This just hit me right in the heart. I tear up even hearing the phrase "I'm proud of you" or any variation.
15. The Good Wife - This is not just a law procedural. I've been no stranger to Law & Order marathons. But watching L&O is just not as satisfying as seeing the lawyers at Lockhart/Gardner work the court floor. First off, I finally understand the legal jargon thrown around so often. Second, Kalinda is like the second coming of Veronica Mars. Third, each time I watch this show I am reminded how awesome it is. 
16. Friends - I'll be there for you. People have tried to recreate this show's formula, but there's no beating the original. I started watching around the 7th season. That's when I learned how to recognize actors and actresses across projects. Like "oh hey, Jennifer Aniston is in this movie and they are talking about it on Entertainment Tonight". 
17. Breaking Bad - Breaking Bad has set a standard for future tv shows. Along with a friend, I caught up with this show before the final season. The way it experimented with cinematography and points of view was just incredible to watch. 
18. Veronica Mars - See this right here? This is my over the moon face. She is one of my all time favorite main characters. She's smart, sassy, tough, and loyal. Nothing is more satisfying than watching Veronica Mars outwit those who underestimate her. 
19. How I Met Your Mother - I want nothing more than to be a regular at a bar. You know, just my friends and I hanging out all the time and getting into crazy situations like slap bets and interventions. This show has creative and fresh storytelling with flashbacks, flashforwards, and other timelines. Sure, after 9 seasons it has strayed at times, but it comes back in unexpected ways. 
20. South of Nowhere - It might have been an unknown show on a tiny cable network, but it shaped my identity at a crucial time in my life. I don't know how to explain it. But I can't imagine what it would be like without this show. Lesson learned: visibility and representation matter. 
21. I Love the 80s - This is the reason why I know so much about a decade I wasn't even old enough to remember. I watched it all: I Love the 80s, Part Deux, Best of I Love the 80s. 
22. Buffy the Vampire Slayer - As a kid, I had seen an episode of Buffy and thought "it's just lame fighting". I was wrong. Later when I learned how funny the show was, I became a convert to Joss Whedon. It took a while to convince me to watch Firefly, but ever since I have jumped on board for any Joss Whedon projects: Dollhouse, Dr. Horrible's Sing-A-Long Blog, The Avengers, Agents of Shield, etc. It isn't just the humor though that is appealing. These shows have a lot of humanity to them and incredible character development. 
23. Glee - This show is the prime example of how TV will be my demise. I hate to admit it, but Glee consumed years of my life. It had such promise when it started. I was so excited to watch another Ryan Murphy show shortly after discovering Popular. And like all Ryan Murphy shows, it dropped like a rollercoaster into craziness in the 2nd season. But I still held on. I still could forgive it and hope for improvement. By the 3rd season, I was hate watching it knowing full well that it was not getting any better. I quit watching before the 4th season because I no longer wanted this show to take over my life. I still think about what might have been, but it just brings out a nostalgic twinge for the wasted potential Glee had. 
24. Arrested Development - This is the glue that brought friendships together in my freshman year of college. We marathoned it. We quoted it. We had matching T-shirts with quotes on it. It was the go-to show when we were bored. And we relived it all over again with the recent 4th season. 
25. 30 Rock - Without a doubt, this has been the most influential show in my life EVER. I, like many others, relate to Liz Lemon on so many levels. What the what? Working on my night cheese. I want to go to there. Blergh. Shut it down. My vocabulary will never be the same again. When the series finale aired, I had made a shrine of all 30 Rock related items I had.