23 Shows That Changed Television

“The 2000s were a decade that saw the true power of the 24-hour cable news cycle emerge, particularly after the events of Sept. 11, 2001, which also provided a catalyst to the writing community to create new and provocative dramas that more clearly reflected the uncertain times we live in. Several broadcast networks took bigger risks with their programming, looking to reinvent themselves. ABC struck gold with such dramas as Lost, Desperate Housewives, and Grey’s Anatomy and Fox discovered the draw of American Idol, while NBC’s much-vaunted Must-See TV lineup became must-flee TV. CBS may not have been successful branching out with shows about swingers, vampires, and Cuban gangsters a few years back, but its switch from older-skewing dramas to crime procedurals propelled it to become the most-watched network. Meanwhile, cable channels broke through the clutter with crowd- and critic-pleasing offerings like Monk, Battlestar Galactica, The Shield, and Weeds.”

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