Ben Shapiro Slams NYT’s Top 100 TV Shows List
Ben Shapiro criticizes The New York Times’ list of the 100 best TV shows of the 21st century, calling it ‘actively bad.’
2 min read
Ben Shapiro, the Editor Emeritus of the Daily Wire, has taken issue with The New York Times’ recent list of the 100 best television shows of the 21st century, calling it ‘actively bad.’ While acknowledging that the Times got the top two shows — ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘The Wire’ — largely right, Shapiro argued that the rest of the list was a major disappointment.
Shapiro’s Take on the List
Shapiro criticized the Times for placing ‘Mad Men’ at No. 3, calling it ‘one of the most overrated shows in the history of television.’ He also questioned the inclusion of ‘Succession’ at No. 4, describing it as a show of ‘obnoxious’ characters repeating the same behavior.
‘Fleabag’ at No. 5 and ‘Veep’ at No. 7 were also dismissed as overrated, with Shapiro suggesting that ’30 Rock’ at No. 8 was ‘good, but there is no way it’s the eighth best show’ of the century. He even joked about ‘Atlanta’ at No. 10, saying, ‘I’m not sure that seven people have ever watched ‘Atlanta.”
Shapiro’s Preferred List
Shapiro praised ‘Band of Brothers’ as the best show ever aired, placing it at No. 28 on the Times’ list. He also highlighted ‘Chernobyl’ and ‘Game of Thrones’ with an asterisk due to the latter’s failed final season. Other shows like ‘Severance,’ ‘Lost,’ and ‘The Office’ were praised for their ability to surprise viewers and build trust in the narrative.
He was particularly critical of the Times’ placement of ‘Downton Abbey’ at No. 52, calling it ‘difficult to comprehend’ and questioning why 51 shows were better than the period drama. ‘The Shield’ at No. 70 was another show Shapiro felt the Times underestimated.
Additional Honorable Mentions
Shapiro also gave honorable mentions to ‘The Bear’ and ‘Shogun,’ which the Times ranked at No. 74 and No. 86, respectively. He described ‘The Bear’ as ‘competence-porn’ and praised ‘Shogun’ for its ‘beautifully produced’ and ‘wonderfully acted’ performances.
In the end, Shapiro concluded the debate with a humorous jab: ‘At least now America can finally return to the most pressing issue of the 21st century: Is ‘Mad Men’ really better than ‘Downton Abbey’?’ His sharp critique highlights the subjective nature of television rankings and the ongoing debate over which shows deserve the highest accolades.
Source: Daily Wire
