Pluto TV is a rapidly growing online streaming service which offers audiences the ability to watch its entire catalog for free. Using adverts rather than subscriptions to generate income, Pluto has a number of “channels” which run 24/7 — almost like old-ashioned television. These range from “Pluto 007,” which airs back-to-back Bond movies, to “The Bob Ross Channel,” which showcases The Joy of Painting. From golden age sitcoms to classic science-fiction, Pluto really does seem to have something for everyone, even incorporating kids’ shows into its ever-expanding library.
Pluto also has a huge range of on-demand programs, which can be selected and watched whenever the viewer wants. It’s one of the few streaming services which has a dedicated channel for classic Westerns, but also maintains a strong catalog of 21st century series. There are vintage British shows, quirky forgotten comedies, and prestige TV dramas — but some series stand out more than others. There are some shows on the platform which have really stood the test of time, and have been groundbreaking and revolutionary in their own way. Pluto is a great place to start for those looking for genre-defining classics, as well as shows that have just done incredibly well in their own right.
10
Cheers (1982-1993)
- Release Date
-
September 30, 1982
- Seasons
-
11
- Network
-
NBC
One of the most famous, popular sitcoms of all time, Cheers takes place in a bar (which the show is named after) in Boston and its owner, Sam Malone, played flawlessly by Ted Danson. The series has a huge ensemble cast, including Rhea Perlman as Carla Tortelli, Shelley Long as Diane Chambers, Woody Harrelson as Woody Boyd, and Kelsey Grammer as Frasier Crane — who would later go on to star in his own spin-off. Cheers made stars of its entire cast, and its consistently high ratings have led it to be described by some as the best sitcom ever.
9
Dark Shadows (1966-1971)
After spending 200 years trapped in a coffin, a vampire escapes and returns to his family mansion in Collinsport, Maine.
- Release Date
-
- Cast
-
- Seasons
-
It’s not often that a series comes along that blends science-fiction and the supernatural and presents the result as a soap opera — yet Dark Shadows did exactly that. The series follows the Collins family and is set in the fictional coastal village of Collinsport, Maine. Featuring vampires, ghosts, and zombies alongside sci-fi elements like time travel and alternate realities, Dark Shadows gained a huge cult following, and it’s no wonder that the series has been revived several times on TV, spawned a Tim Burton-directed feature film, and is still continuing in audio drama form almost 60 years later.
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8
The Good Wife (2009-2016)
- Release Date
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September 22, 2009
- Cast
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Julianna Margulies
, Matt Czuchry
, Archie Panjabi
, Graham Phillips
, Makenzie Vega
, Josh Charles
, Christine Baranski
, Alan Cumming
, Zach Grenier
, Matthew Goode
, Cush Jumbo
, Jeffrey Dean Morgan
, Chris Noth - Seasons
-
7
- Network
-
CBS
In 2009, CBS took a risk with The Good Wife. The show was heavily serialized, with long story arcs that took several episodes — or even several seasons — to play out in full, which was unusual for the network at the time. Nevertheless, the series very quickly gained a massive audience. The show centered on Julianna Margulies’ Emmy-winning performance as Alicia Florrick as she returns to her law career after her husband’s political sex scandal, and paved the way for spin-off shows The Good Fight and Elsbeth, as well as a number of international versions.
7
Gunsmoke (1955-1975)
- Release Date
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September 10, 1955
- Cast
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James Arness
, Milburn Stone
, Amanda Blake
, Dennis Weaver
, Burt Reynolds
, Ken Curtis
, Roger Ewing
, Buck Taylor - Seasons
-
20
- Creator(s)
-
Charles Marquis Warren
, Clyde Ware
Originally titled Marshal Dillon, Gunsmoke is one of few TV shows that can boast over 600 episodes across a 20-year run. The series was adapted from the radio drama of the same name, and followed James Arness as Matt Dillon, a Marshal whose calling in life is to protect the citizens of Dodge City, Kansas. It was one of very few TV Westerns at the time which was produced primarily for an adult audience, but this clearly worked in the series’ favor, given its longevity and frequent inclusions in lists of the best TV shows of all time.
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6
Hannibal (2013-2015)
- Release Date
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April 4, 2013
- Seasons
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3
- Studio
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NBC
Hannibal Lecter is one of the best-known horror characters ever written, and so it makes sense that audiences are keen to see this character in new, interesting situations. Hannibal showrunner Bryan Fuller’s television version of the character, played terrifyingly well by Mads Mikkelsen, allows the audience to sit with the events of the series for longer than they would with a film adaptation. This means that the series can go into a fair bit of psychological depth for its characters. Boasting a cast which also includes Hugh Dancy, Laurence Fishburne, and Gillian Anderson, and some of the most stylish direction in television history, Hannibal isn’t a show to be missed.
5
Key & Peele (2012-2015)
Key & Peele
- Release Date
-
January 31, 2012
- Seasons
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5
- Network
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Comedy Central
In a world where Get Out and Nope are such highly critically acclaimed movies, it can be difficult to remember that actor/writer/director Jordan Peele started out as a comedian alongside frequent collaborator Keegan-Michael Key. Comedy Central’s Key & Peele was instrumental in revitalizing the sketch comedy series. Viewers are bound to have their favorite sketches from the show, whether it’s the “burn victim” sketch, or the “Stan Lee superhero pitch.” Both Key and Peele are incredibly talented writers and performers, and the show’s multiple Emmy wins are well-deserved.
4
NewsRadio (1995-1999)
NewsRadio is a sitcom set in a fictional New York City AM news radio station, WNYX. Premiering in 1995, the series stars Dave Foley as the station’s news director and features a diverse cast including Phil Hartman, Stephen Root, and Maura Tierney. The show humorously explores the dynamics among the eclectic team of news anchors, producers, and office staff, blending workplace comedy with character-driven humor.
- Release Date
-
March 21, 1995
- Seasons
-
5
- Network
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NBC
- Creator(s)
-
Paul Simms
Across five seasons and nearly 100 episodes, NewsRadio sits uniquely in the vast well of American sitcoms. Kids in the Hall star Dave Foley was the perfect fit for charming and highly talented news director Dave Nelson, and his performance helped give way to the development of the series’ increasingly bizarre plotlines. With an ensemble cast of eccentric and unusual characters (including Joe Garrelli, played by a youthful, pre-podcast Joe Rogan, and the late, great Phil Hartman), the series attracted well-known comedian guest actors, including Norm Macdonald, Bob Odenkirk, and David Cross. NewsRadio was bold and unlike other sitcoms of the time — even if this occasionally meant low ratings.
3
Star Trek: The Original Series (1966-1969)
Star Trek: The Original Series
- Release Date
-
September 8, 1966
- Cast
-
William Shatner
, Leonard Nimoy
, Deforest Kelley
, James Doohan
, George Takei
, Nichelle Nichols
, Walter Koenig
, Frank da Vinci
, Eddie Paskey
, Roger Holloway
, Ron Veto - Seasons
-
3
- Network
-
Paramount
Everybody has heard of Star Trek. Whether audiences are fans of the rebooted movies, the animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks, or the current Paramount+ show Strange New Worlds, it’s all owed to the original 1960s series. Star Trek: The Original Series was revolutionary, completely shaping what a science-fiction TV show could do. The budget was high, the visuals were impressive, and the performances from industry titans William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy were iconic. This was a series that knew what it was from episode one, and yet never stopped shaking up its own episodic formula.
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2
Stargate SG-1 (1997-2007)
- Release Date
-
July 27, 1997
- Seasons
-
10
A sequel to, and spin-off from, the 1994 sci-fi cinematic epic Stargate, Stargate SG-1 chronicles the adventures of Earth’s military team SG-1 as they voyage through the universe using the Stargate. Their mission is to discover alien technologies that can help to defend the human race against the Goa’uld. The show ran for 10 seasons, giving way to further spin-offs: Stargate Atlantis, Stargate Infinity, and Stargate Universe. Across its decade on air, SG-1 accrued a mass of fans, and until 2022 there were annual “GateCon” conventions for its dedicated followers.
1
The Twilight Zone (1959-1964)
The Twilight Zone (1959)
- Release Date
-
October 2, 1959
- Seasons
-
5
- Network
-
CBS
The Twilight Zone is less a TV show in its own right and feels more akin to a series of TV movies, as each episode in this anthology series is entirely standalone. Rod Sterling’s monologue in each episode is about the only consistency in the series — other than the show’s quality. Despite airing 156 episodes throughout its tenure (and setting the stage for various reboots), nearly each and every episode is worth watching, delivering important moral messages and mind-opening ideas. The series was a landmark for science fiction, and its influence is seen practically everywhere in the genre and in plot twist-heavy titles.