When it comes to satisfying our television cravings, nothing works better than a piping hot serve of nostalgia. If you find yourself picking up that handy-dandy TV remote in search of some '00s classics, you can hardly be blamed for yearning for an incredible (if somewhat cringeworthy) era gone by. We all occasionally long for the days when boy bands ruled the world, Britney Spears was our every ringtone, and being on-trend meant wearing low-rise denim while texting with a T-Mobile Sidekick.
The '00s gave us classic comedies, like The Office and Arrested Development, copious iconic reality shows (who could ever forget Rock of Love?), dozens of comforting favorites (Rules of Engagement, we hardly knew ye), and more. With this much greatness packed into one decade, it can be hard to decide what to binge, so we rounded up some of the best 2000s TV shows that you should rewatch, like, immediately.
The Best 2000s Comedy TV Shows
'30 Rock' (2006–2013)
Starring: Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, Tracy Morgan, Jane Krakowski, and Jack McBrayer
Why it makes the list: Thanks to Fey's history with NBC and Saturday Night Live, this show about working in the entertainment industry has a certain je ne sais quoi. The jokes are fired off at a mile per minute, but each one is well-earned; you'll be cracking up for your entire binge.
'Arrested Development' (2003–2006, 2013, 2018–2019)
Starring: Jason Bateman, Michael Cera, Portia de Rossi, Will Arnett, Alia Shawkat, and Tony Hale
Why it makes the list: Dysfunctional families who go from filthy, stinking rich to dirt poor in hours are just the kind we love to see in our fave comedies—Just ask those who were inspired by Arrested Development (ahem, Schitt's Creek).
'Desperate Housewives' (2004–2012)
Starring: Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross, Eva Longoria, Jesse Metcalfe, and James Denton
Why it makes the list: Suburban life suddenly didn't seem all that boring once we had been introduced to the ladies of Wisteria Lane. From hooking up with the sons of their neighbors to revenge plots gone off the rails, every episode was a totally not normal day in the neighborhood.
'Entourage' (2004–2011)
Starring: Adrian Grenier, Kevin Dillon, Kevin Connolly, and Jerry Ferrara
Why it makes the list: Sex and the City wasn’t HBO’s only mid-’00s smash: Entourage, the series loosely based on Mark Wahlberg’s life in Hollywood with his best buds, was pulling in two to three million viewers per episode at the height of its 2000s fame. Between the glitzy parties, the wheelings and dealings, and the copious auditions, it gave viewers a rare peek behind the Hollywood—and it proved to be irresistible.
'Everybody Hates Chris' (2005–2009)
Starring: Terry Crews, Tyler James Williams, Tichina Arnold, Tequan Richmond, Imani Hakim, and Vincent Martella
Why it makes the list: Comedian Chris Rock narrates this iconic Black TV show about his childhood in the '80s. His clever and honest retelling is so good, it won an NAACP Image Award for writing in 2007.
'Girlfriends' (2000–2008)
Starring: Tracee Ellis Ross, Golden Brooks, Persia White, Reginald C. Hayes, and Jill Marie Jones
Why it makes the list: There are tons of shows about groups of 20-somethings going through life together, but if you ask us, none are quite as funny or relatable as Girlfriends. Tackling issues from interracial relationships to parenthood, the show that introduced us to Tracee Ellis Ross is a must-watch.
'How I Met Your Mother' (2005–2014)
Starring: Josh Radnor, Jason Segel, Cobie Smulders, Neil Patrick Harris, and Alyson Hannigan
Why it makes the list: Hearing how one's parents met shouldn't be this funny. Years later, we haven't stopped quoting the series (or shaking our heads over that massively divisive finale).
'The Office' (2005–2013)
Starring: Steve Carell, Jenna Fischer, John Krasinski, Mindy Kaling, B.J. Novak, Angela Kinsey, and Ed Helms
Why it makes the list: Friends was to the '90s what The Office was to the '00s. The documentary-style series about a dysfunctional paper company and its Scranton, Pennsylvania employees brought a whole new outlook to the 9-to-5 experience.
'Reba' (2001–2007)
Starring: Reba McEntire, JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Steve Howey, Christopher Rich, and Melissa Peterman
Why it makes the list: Reba's main character stood out from the '00s sitcom pack as a single mother of three. Rather than a "woe-is-me" storyline, however, the country singer/actress managed to navigate every situation with strength and her trademark Southern sass.
'Rules of Engagement' (2007–2013)
Starring: David Spade, Megyn Price, Bianca Kajlich, Patrick Warburton, Oliver Hudson, and Adhir Kalyan
Why it makes the list: Six friends who live in close vicinity and regularly meet up at a cafe may sound familiar, but there are a few key differences between Friends and Rules of Engagement. David Spade’s lovably slimy character of Russell is far more crude than Joey (Matthew LeBlanc would never), and the couples are more clearly cemented than they were in Friends. But like its forebearer, you'll be laughing the whole way through as their romantic dynamics shift over 100 episodes.
'Scrubs' (2001–2010)
Starring: Zach Braff, Donald Faison, Sarah Chalke, John C. McGinley, Ken Jenkins, and Neil Flynn
Why it makes the list: Scrubs singlehandedly proved that hospital-based shows could be fun. Unlike the usual high-drama fests the genre is known for (we still love you, Grey's Anatomy!), this one's a barrel of laughs.
'Sex and the City' (1998–2004)
Starring: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, and Cynthia Nixon
Why it makes the list: It may have started at the tail end of the ‘90s, but when you think of the early aughts, Sex and the City, there's no doubt that the show's fashion moments come to mind. And more than two decades after its release (plus two movies, a prequel series, and, of course, the reboot series And Just Like That…), its characters are still some of the most beloved of our time.
'Ugly Betty' (2006–2010)
Starring: America Ferrera, Ana Ortiz, Mark Indelicato, Eric Mabius, Tony Plana, Ashley Jensen, and Vanessa Williams
Why it makes the list: You can't help but love Betty Suarez (Ferrera) in this workplace comedy—even if she does wear a kitschy poncho to her first day on the job at the prestigious Mode magazine. Its heartwarming heroine even made history, with Ferrera becoming the first Latina to win the Best Actress in a Comedy Series Emmy for her role.
'What I Like About You' (2002–2006)
Starring: Amanda Bynes, Jennie Garth, Wesley Jonathan, Leslie Grossman, Allison Munn, and Nick Zano
Why it makes the list: Would it even be a 2000s list without an appearance from teen queen Amanda Bynes? While iconic 2000s movies like What a Girl Wants and She's the Man get all the love, this underrated favorite about a 16-year-old who moves in with her older sister (Garth) has all her usual charm—and more.
The Best 2000s Dramas
'Big Love' (2006–2011)
Starring: Bill Paxton, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Chloë Sevigny, Ginnifer Goodwin, and Amanda Seyfried
Why it makes the list: This drama series about a fundamentalist Mormon man and his three wives was a huge late-aughts hit for HBO. The acting was especially admired, with several cast members earning Emmy and Golden Globe nods (Sevigny took home a win for the latter) throughout its five-season run.
'Breaking Bad' (2008–2013)
Starring: Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul, Anna Gunn, Betsy Brandt, RJ Mitte, and Dean Norris
Why it makes the list: When it comes to antiheroes, none compare to high school teacher-turned-methamphetamine seller Walter White (Bryan Cranston). While his heart starts in the right place—he longs to secure a stable financial future for his family before he dies from stage-three lung cancer—the lines between right and wrong get blurry, fast.
'The L Word' (2004–2009)
Starring: Jennifer Beals, Mia Kirshner, Pam Grier, Laurel Holloman, and Katherine Moennig
Why it makes the list: This Showtime series broke new ground with a cast made up completely of lesbian and bisexual female characters. While there are some problematic elements by 2020s standards, it still serves as a largely true snapshot of what life was like for many queer women in the 2000s.
'Lost' (2004–2010)
Starring: Matthew Fox, Naveen Andrews, Jorge Garcia, Josh Holloway, Yunjin Kim, Evangeline Lilly, Emilie de Ravin, and Daniel Dae Kim
Why it makes the list: Theoretically, watching a group of strangers trying to survive on a deserted island after a deadly plane crash should get boring after a couple of seasons, but with legendary showrunner J.J. Abrams at the helm of Lost, we say, "Think again."
'Prison Break' (2005–2009; 2017)
Starring: Wentworth Miller, Dominic Purcell, Sarah Wayne Callies, Robert Knepper, and Amaury Nolasco
Why it makes the list: Prison Break is so good, fans can’t let it go. In 2017, eight years after it originally went off the air, the original cast was brought back for a fifth season. Eight years after that, Hulu announced a reboot of the show featuring an all-new cast. It’s about a man (Wentworth Miller) who intentionally gets sent to a high-security prison to help his brother escape before his scheduled execution—and needless to say, it’s utterly gripping.
'Six Feet Under' (2001–2005)
Starring: Peter Krause, Michael C. Hall, Frances Conroy, Lauren Ambrose, and Freddy Rodriguez
Why it makes the list: If you haven't gathered by now, HBO was in its heyday in the early aughts, and Six Feet Under is one of the series that contributed to that reputation. While it might not get as much love as some of the network's other hits, the the Fishers and their family-owned funeral home definitely makes for some binge-worthy subject matter.
'The Sopranos' (1999–2007)
Starring: James Gandolfini, Lorraine Bracco, Edie Falco, Michael Imperioli, and Steven Van Zandt
Why it makes the list: Before Games of Thrones became the hot girl on campus (a.k.a HBO ) The Sopranos ruled the network. In fact, we'd go so far as to say that this show about a mob boss and his family set the '00s standard for dramedies everywhere. (It's also a #mobwifeaesthetic treasure trove.)
'Weeds' (2005–2012)
Starring: Mary-Louise Parker, Mary-Kate Olsen, Elizabeth Perkins, Justin Kirk, Tonye Patano, and Romany Malco
Why it makes the list: There was no shortage of dark dramedies on premium cable in the 2000s, but only one was powerful enough to lure Mary-Kate Olsen to the small screen. This Showtime offering followed a suburban single mother (Parker) through her decision to start selling marijuana to support her family’s upper-middle-class lifestyle after the untimely death of her husband.
'The West Wing' (1999–2006)
Starring: Martin Sheen, Rob Lowe, Allison Janney, John Spencer, and Bradley Whitford
Why it makes the list: A fair share of political dramas center around the White House, and we owe them all to this bad boy right here. Countless scandals, threats, and political scuffles ran amok over the series' seven seasons, and the show introduced us to a ton of stars we still love today.
'The Wire' (2002–2008)
Starring: Dominic West, Wendell Pierce, Lance Reddick, Sonja Sohn, John Doman, and Deirdre Lovejoy
Why it makes the list: Every part of the drug food chain, from addicts and dealers to cops and politicians, gets dissected in this gritty HBO drama set in Baltimore. Narcos, who?
The Best 2000s Mystery TV Shows
'Alias' (2001–2006)
Starring: Jennifer Garner, Ron Rifkin, Carl Lumbly, Kevin Weisman, and Victor Garber
Why it makes the list: Watching a fresh-faced Garner kick some ass for a secret branch of the CIA is just what the doctor ordered! Also, a young Bradley Cooper appears in several episodes, so our complaints are minimal.
'The Closer' (2005–2012)
Starring: Kyra Sedgwick, J. K. Simmons, Corey Reynolds, Robert Gossett, G.W. Bailey, and Tony Denison
Why it makes the list: Everyone loves a gripping crime show, and The Closer gives the genre a good dose of girl power. LAPD Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson (Sedgwick) is smart, tough, and hellbent on getting her man—even if it means breaking a rule of her own to get the job done. Basically? She’s a total boss.
'Dexter' (2006–2013)
Starring: Michael C. Hall, Julie Benz, Jennifer Carpenter, Erik King, and Lauren Vélez
Why it makes the list: Dexter put a fresh spin on the classic whodunnit by making its titular forensic analyst a vigilante serial killer by night. The series remained so popular that it spawned a follow-up limited series in 2021 and a prequel series that debuted in late 2024.
'Ghost Whisperer' 2005–2012)
Starring: Jennifer Love Hewitt, David Conrad, Camryn Manheim, Jamie Kennedy, Aisha Tyler, and Jay Mohr
Why it makes the list: Between her movies, music videos (we’ll never get LFO’s “Girl on TV” out of our heads!), and her iconic Neutrogena commercials, Jennifer Love Hewitt was seemingly never in one spot for too long in the late ‘90s. By the time the mid-2000s rolled around, however, fans could count on seeing her every week as Melinda Gordon on Ghost Whisperer. Her character pulled double-duty as an antique shop owner and paranormal communicator with a side hustle involving helping countless trapped souls set their spirits at ease over the course of the show’s seven-year run.
'Monk' (2002–2009)
Starring: Tony Shalhoub, Bitty Schram, Jason Gray-Stanford, Ted Levine, and Traylor Howard
Why it makes the list: Another still-beloved gem, Monk centers on Adrian Monk (Tony Shaloub), a titular detective who must grapple with obsessive-compulsive disorder, germophobia, and a host of other mental health issues while simultaneously solving various mysteries and solving his wife’s cold case murder. Fun fact: Monk’s 2009 finale once held the record for the most-watched scripted cable drama. (It was later overtaken by zombies with an episode of The Walking Dead.)
'Veronica Mars' (2004–2007; 2019)
Starring: Kristen Bell, Percy Daggs III, Teddy Dunn, Jason Dohring, and Enrico Colantoni
Why it makes the list: Bell plays the titular detective in this mid-aughts show, which blended teen drama and crime into one extra-sharp and smartly written series. Fans loved it so much that they crowdfunded a movie version in 2014, which in turn inspired Hulu to take up the mantle and put out a belated fourth season of the show in 2019.
The Best 2000s Reality TV Shows
'America’s Next Top Model' (2003-2018)
Starring: Tyra Banks, Janice Dickinson, Nigel Barker, Twiggy, Jay Manuel, J. Alexander
Why it makes the list: If you aren’t wondering whatever happened to ANTM winners Adrianne Curry, Eva Marcille, or CariDee English every once in a blue moon, you probably didn’t come up in the 2000s. With its weekly photoshoots, go-see challenges, and mind-blowing/traumatic makeovers, each cycle of ANTM proved more memorable than the last. (Though nothing will ever top the moment Tyra lost her cool on a contestant and instantly became a time-honored meme.)
'The City' (2008–2010)
Starring: Whitney Port, Olivia Palermo, Erin Kaplan, Joe Zee, Kelly Cutrone, and Roxy Olin
Why it makes the list: The City had all the drama we loved from The Hills and upped the fashion stakes. It follows Lauren’s former Teen Vogue co-intern, Whitney Port, as she embarks on a journey to become a respected fashion designer. If only she could get her frenemy Olivia Palermo from the Elle accessories department on board…
'The Girls Next Door' (2005–2010)
Starring: Holly Madison, Bridget Marquardt, Kendra Wilkinson, and Hugh Hefner
Why it makes the list: Love it or hate it, the Playboy Mansion and its female inhabitants became a cultural phenomenon in the mid-'00s with the debut of the reality series The Girls Next Door. Rather than focusing on the mansion’s infamous owner, Hugh Hefner, the series shone a spotlight on the women who lived inside its walls: namely, Holly Madison, Bridget Marquardt, and Kendra Wilkinson. Madison later called it “the most bizarre show that was ever on television,” citing the family-friendly packaging of their taboo and highly sexualized reality, which she later detailed in a 2015 tell-all book.
'The Hills' (2006–2010)
Starring: Lauren Conrad, Kristin Cavallari, Audrina Patridge, Brody Jenner, Heidi Montag, Spencer Pratt, and Justin Bobby
Why it makes the list: Released in 2006, The Hills was a natural progression for fans of Laguna Beach, who followed heroine Lauren Conrad’s move from her idyllic hometown to the big bad city. She got a whole lot more than a new zip code, including an internship at Teen Vogue, a new crush or two (ahem, Brody Jenner), and plenty of new fun-loving besties to help her navigate life in the Hollywood Hills.
'Laguna Beach' (2004–2006)
Starring: Lauren Conrad, Kristin Cavallari, Stephen Colletti, Lo Bosworth, and Talan Torriero
Why it makes the list: Laguna Beach walked so that The Hills could run! We're forever thankful to MTV for following eight Laguna Beach teens during their last years of high school, creating high-quality entertainment (and a whole new vernacular—donezo, anyone?) in the process.
'Punk'd' (2003–2015)
Starring: Ashton Kutcher
Why it makes the list: Watching your favorite celebs get secretly pranked by other A-listers (its host was Ashton Kutcher) was peak reality television. How many of them kept cool during the high-stress situations is astounding.
'Rock of Love with Bret Michaels' (2007–2009)
Starring: Brett Michaels
Why it makes the list: Long before there was Love Island, there was Rock of Love—the raunchy, over-the-top dating show that gave glam metal groupies the chance to date Bret Michaels, a.k.a. the lead singer of Poison. If you’ve never seen this one, let’s say you’re in for a treat: These ladies make The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives crew look tame.
'The Simple Life' (2003–2007)
Starring: Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie
Why it makes the list: This "reality" series about two Hollywood socialites ditching their designer handbags and extravagant ways to live like "the middle class" is '00s reality TV at its best. Our favorite line? "What is Walmart?"
The Best 2000s Teen Shows
'Dawson's Creek' (1998–2003)
Starring: James Van Der Beek, Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams, Joshua Jackson, and Busy Philipps
Why it makes the list: The 2000s were the golden age of teen drama, and none led the charge quite like Dawson’s Creek. It follows the intertwined everyday dramas of Dawson Leery (Van Der Beek) and his closest friends throughout their high school (and early college) days in a small New England town while tackling a range of real-world issues such as classism, homophobia, and mental health.
'Degrassi: The Next Generation' (2001–2015)
Starring: Miriam McDonald, Shane Kippel, Cassie Steele, Lauren Collins, Stefan Brogren, and Drake
Why it makes the list: Degrassi was the Canadian drama of the '00s with its honest depictions of real-life problems affecting teens (bullying, teen pregnancy, school shootings) and its knockout cast that featured several generations of young stars.
'Freaks and Geeks' (1999–2000)
Starring: Linda Cardellini, John Francis Daley, James Franco, Busy Philipps, Seth Rogen, and Jason Segel
Why it makes the list: Unlike other canceled-too-soon shows on this list that were later revived or turned into feature films down the line, Freaks and Geeks remains a one-season wonder. But that hasn’t stopped the Judd Apatow-produced series from becoming a beloved cult classic, thanks to its spot-on depiction of high school’s often impossible-to-navigate social system.
'Friday Night Lights' (2006–2011)
Starring: Kyle Chandler, Taylor Kitsch, Brad Leland, Connie Britton, Aimee Teegarden, and Zach Gilford
Why it makes the list: Say it with us, "Clear eyes. Full hearts. Can't lose." While we can't technically attend a Dillon Panthers football game (ugh), Friday Night Lights was one of the strongest and most well-executed teen dramas of its time, tackling topics like racism and teen pregnancy through a whole new lens.
'Gilmore Girls' (2000–2007)
Starring: Lauren Graham, Alexis Bledel, Milo Ventimiglia, Jared Padalecki, Scott Patterson, and Melissa McCarthy
Why it makes the list: Forget Team Conrad or Team Jere: Back in the 2000s, it was Team Dean, Team Jess, or Team Logan. And we have Rory Gilmore and her crippling inability to make a proper decision on Gilmore Girls to thank for it.
'Glee' (2009–2015)
Starring: Chris Colfer, Jane Lynch, Lea Michele, Kevin McHale, Matthew Morrison, Naya Rivera, Corey Monteith, and Amber Riley
Why it makes the list: Every theatre kid’s dream come true, Glee set high school antics to the soundtrack of the ‘00s, making it a time capsule of sorts for those who didn’t get to revel in all of the era’s adolescent glory firsthand. The guest appearances didn’t suck, either: everyone from Britney Spears and Gwyneth Paltrow to John Stamos and Sarah Jessica Parker made a cameo.
'Gossip Girl' (2008–2012)
Starring: Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, Penn Badgley, Taylor Momsen, Ed Westwick, and Chace Crawford
Why it makes the list: What's better than watching a bunch of hot, wealthy New York socialites get in all sorts of messy drama while simultaneously trying to avoid becoming the wrath of Gossip Girl, a.k.a. the most life-ruining anonymous gossip blog, like, ever? Nothing, of course. This one also gets major bonus points for the weekly style inspo.
'The O.C.' (2003–2007)
Starring: Ben McKenzie, Mischa Barton, Adam Brody, Rachel Bilson, Peter Gallagher, and Kelly Rowan
Why it makes the list: Fun fact: This teenage soap drama set in Southern California's Newport Beach was the inspiration for MTV's Laguna Beach. It also features a baby-faced Adam Brody trying to survive high school before he was making us all swoon on Nobody Wants This.
'One Tree Hill' (2003–2012)
Starring: Chad Michael Murray, James Lafferty, Hilarie Burton, Bethany Joy Lenz, Sophia Bush, and Lee Norris
Why it makes the list: This high school drama set in Tree Hill, North Carolina can get a bit cheesy at times, but it's also a coming-of-age staple that paved the way for the Riverdale set, so we're going to go ahead and give credit where credit is due.
'Popular' (1999–2001)
Starring: Leslie Bibb, Carly Pope, Sara Rue, Tamara Mello, Leslie Grossman, Christopher Gorham, and Tammy Lynn Michaels
Why it makes the list: There’s a reason Leslie Bibb rocked the cunty little bob so hard in White Lotus—it wasn’t her first rodeo. In the early 2000s, her Popular character Brooke McQueen had a similar cut to match her mean girl (eventually turned sweet) persona. More than just giving us her fabulous coif, however, this show was a harbinger of great teen drama to come as HBIC Brooke is forced to move in with the studious Sam McPherson (Pope) when their parents get engaged.
'Smallville (2001-2011)
Starring: Tom Welling, Allison Mack, Kristin Kreuk, Michael Rosenbaum, Erica Durance, Justin Hartley
Why it makes the list: What if Superman grew up in small-town Kansas and had to deal with the trials and tribulations of everyday life as a teen before he learned how to harness his superpowers to save the world? Such is the plot of Smallville. It also gives some backstory to his early relationships with Lois Lane (Durance) and Lex Luthor (Rosenbaum).
'Supernatural' (2005–2020)
Starring: Jensen Ackles, Jared Padalecki, Misha Collins, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan
Why it makes the list: Demons, witches, vampires, ghosts: This show had it all! If its ghouls and goblins didn’t haunt your dreams between 2005 and 2020, the two (very handsome) demon-hunting brothers at its center, Dean and Sam Winchester (Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki), were bound to.
'The Vampire Diaries' (2009–2017)
Starring: Paul Wesley, Ian Somerhalder, Nina Dobrev, Kat Graham, Candice King
Why it makes the list: If the love triangle between Edward, Jacob, and Bella in Twilight had you in a tizzy, there was no way you were missing The Vampire Diaries. The CW hit took the stakes up a notch by creating romantic tension for high school student Elena Gilbert (Dobrev) with two vampire brothers (Wesley and Somerhalder) with a knack for falling for the same girl. The tone of this ‘00s home run is slightly darker than the YA novel-turned-film, however, so be prepared for a lot more bloodshed.
