30. NYPD Blue
“Hearts and Souls” 11/24/1998Just thinking about Bobby Simone’s death gets us all (sniff)...oh, why, God, why?!
29. CHEERS
"Show Down" 3/31/1983After a season of “foreplay,” as star Shelley Long recalls, the writers of
Cheers knew they needed something special to boost viewership. The first season ended with the long-awaited smooch as snooty barmaid Diane Chambers (Long) and Ted Danson’s womanizing ex-jock Sam Malone finally locked lips. “Neither of us wanted to lose our front teeth,” says Long, who’s begun penning her memoirs and says she always wanted Sam and Diane to end up married. “So we came together close, and then the kiss. And Mr. Danson was a fabulous kisser. One of the perks of my job.”
28. 30 ROCK
“Black Tie” 2/1/2007Here, the relationship between Liz Lemon and Jack Donaghy took on the “genuine, mutual respect” that has been the show’s centerpiece ever since, says exec producer Robert Carlock. The other triumph was Paul “Pee-wee” Reubens’ sidesplitting stint as drooling Hapsburg Prince Gerhardt. Quips Carlock, “We tricked him into it.”
27. CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM
“The Special Section” 10/20/2002Only Larry David could use his mother’s passing to leave us dying from laughter.
26. THE WIRE
“Final Grades” 12/10/2006As uncompromising as TV gets: Three of the four schoolboys depicted throughout the season meet unhappy fates. “Forces out there conspire,” says coexec producer Ed Burns of inner-city dangers, “and it’s like walking in a minefield. With an awful lot of mines.”
25. HOMICIDE: LIFE ON THE STREET
“Subway” 12/5/1997Caught between a train and a hard place: Vincent D’Onofrio at his shattering best.
24. THE SIMPSONS
“Krusty Gets Kancelled” 5/13/1993Johnny Carson. Bette Midler. Liz Taylor. We’ve yet to see a better lineup for a KO’d Klown.
23. ST. ELSEWHERE
“Time Heals” 2/19/1986 & 2/20/1986The drama brilliantly recounts the hospital’s history, including the early days of Drs. Westphall, Aushlander and Craig, youth wigs and all.
22. SIX FEET UNDER
“Everyone’s Waiting” 8/21/2005The series finale’s artful flash-forward gave us a moving look at the Fishers’ last moments.
21. FRIENDS
“The One With the Embryos” 1/15/1998So Miss Chanadler Bong subscribes to TV Guide Magazine? Could it
be any funnier?
Be sure to check out the rest of our list here:
#100-81#80-61#60-41The Paley Center for Media in Los Angeles is hosting screenings of select episodes of TV Guide Magazine's Top 100 Episodes! For more information, go to
paleycenter.org/visit-daily-schedule/