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The Most Iconic TV Shows That Ruled the 1960s

The Most Iconic TV Shows That Ruled the 1960s

Updated: by

American Broadcasting Company (ABC)

25. The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (1967-1969)

Hulton Archive / Archive Photos via Getty Images

24. Mission: Impossible (1966-1973)

Courtesy of Paramount Television

23. Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1967-1973)

Courtesy NBC

22. The Addams Family (1964-1966)

Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company (ABC)

21. 12 O'Clock High (1964-1967)

Courtesy ABC

20. The Dean Martin Show (1965-1974)

Courtesy NBC Studios

19. The Fugitive (1963-1967)

Courtesy ABC

18. Dark Shadows (1966-1971)

Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company (ABC)

17. The Wild Wild West (1965-1969)

Courtesy CBS

16. The Outer Limits (1963-1965)

Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company (ABC)

15. Secret Agent (1964-1967)

Courtesy CBS

14. Thriller (1960-1962)

Courtesy National Broadcasting Company (NBC)

13. Get Smart (1965-1970)

Courtesy of CBS

12. The Avengers (1961-1969)

Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company

11. Combat! (1962-1967)

Courtesy of ABC

9. The Andy Griffith Show (1960-1968)

Courtesy of Paramount Television

8. Doctor Who (1963-1989)

Courtesy of Amazon Freevee

7. Star Trek (1966-1969)

Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company (NBC)

6. The Three Stooges Show (1960-1972)

Mr Doomits / Shutterstock.com

5. The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962-1992)

NBC Television / Hulton Archive via Getty Images

4. The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962-1965)

Courtesy of CBS

2. The Bugs Bunny Show (1960-1975)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

1. The Carol Burnett Show (1967-1978)

Courtesy of CBS Television Distribution

25. The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (1967-1969)
24. Mission: Impossible (1966-1973)
23. Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1967-1973)
22. The Addams Family (1964-1966)
21. 12 O'Clock High (1964-1967)
20. The Dean Martin Show (1965-1974)
19. The Fugitive (1963-1967)
18. Dark Shadows (1966-1971)
17. The Wild Wild West (1965-1969)
16. The Outer Limits (1963-1965)
15. Secret Agent (1964-1967)
14. Thriller (1960-1962)
13. Get Smart (1965-1970)
12. The Avengers (1961-1969)
11. Combat! (1962-1967)
9. The Andy Griffith Show (1960-1968)
8. Doctor Who (1963-1989)
7. Star Trek (1966-1969)
6. The Three Stooges Show (1960-1972)
5. The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962-1992)
4. The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962-1965)
3. Match of the Day (1964-1964)
2. The Bugs Bunny Show (1960-1975)
1. The Carol Burnett Show (1967-1978)

Television was first invented in the early part of the 20th century, a device that is credited with having several inventors. But it was Philo Farnsworth who created the prototype of the first working fully electronic TV system that is viewed by many as the true father of television. Early devices weren't practical for mass production, and it wasn't until the late 1940s and early 1950s that they began to rise in popularity.

By 1960, almost 90% of American households owned at least one television. The TV replaced radio as the dominant broadcast medium, and evening television programming began to take center stage as the main form of home entertainment. This transformative period heralded the decline of the Golden Age of Radio, a shift that prompted radio to turn its focus toward music broadcasting.

Color television broadcasts became the standard by 1966. The three leading networks, NBC, CBS, and ABC, expanded programming to appeal to diverse interests. Productions included sitcoms, dramas, game shows, as well as 18 different variety shows. (Today's variety is even greater, with sports featuring prominently. You can choose from almost anything from boxing, like the Julio Cesar Chavez Jr vs Uriah Hall match, to the golf Open Championship.)

To determine the most iconic TV shows that ruled the 1960s, 24/7 Tempo analyzed data on audience ratings from the Internet Movie Database and television shows were ranked based on average IMDb user ratings. Only TV shows released between 1960 and 1967 that ran for at least two seasons were considered. Shows with fewer than 1,000 audience votes were excluded. This data is current as of September 2022.

Because of the Cold War, espionage was another popular theme of the era, and numerous spy shows made the list. Favorites included "The Avengers," "Secret Agent," "Get Smart," and "Mission: Impossible." Horror and suspense genres appeared as well with shows like "Thriller," "The Outer Limits," and "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour." (Don't miss the most likable characters of the '60s.)

Here are the most iconic TV shows that ruled the 1960s:

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