"I love Gilmore Girls": Zack Peter reacts after New York Times reveals top 100 TV shows of the 21st century including Breaking Bad, The Wire & more

Devangee Halder Mon, September 28, 2026 at 8:28 AM UTC

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A view of The New York Times building in New York City, United States on July 16, 2024. ©Getty

The New York Times published its ranking of the 100 best TV shows of the 21st century, sparking online reactions, including one from podcaster Zack Peter.

Peter posted on X (formerly Twitter), on September 25, 2026, expressing surprise that Gilmore Girls placed in the top 100 and ranked ahead of Scandal. According to the list, Gilmore Girls landed at No. 99, just one spot above Scandal at No. 100.

"Ok, I love Gilmore Girls, but Top 100 of all time AND it beat Scandal?!"

The New York Times said more than 500 industry figures, including actors and showrunners, voted for the rankings. Breaking Bad topped the list, followed by The Wire and Mad Men.

More about the New York Times' top-ranked shows

The New York Times named Breaking Bad the best show of the 21st century. The crime drama, which aired from 2008 to 2013 and starred Bryan Cranston as a chemistry teacher turned drug manufacturer, topped the list at No. 1. The Wire, the Baltimore-set crime drama that ran from 2002 to 2008, placed second. Mad Men, set in the 1960s advertising industry and starring Jon Hamm, ranked third.

The HBO drama Succession, which followed a media dynasty from 2018 to 2023, ranked fourth. Fleabag, Phoebe Waller-Bridge's two-season comedy, ranked fifth. Game of Thrones came in sixth, followed by the political comedy Veep at No. 7. 30 Rock placed eighth, Curb Your Enthusiasm ranked ninth, and Donald Glover's Atlanta rounded out the top 10.

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The New York Times ranked the Best TV Shows of the 21st Century

1. Breaking Bad

2. The Wire

3. Mad Men

4. Succession

5. Fleabag

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6. Game of Thrones

7. Veep

8. 30 Rock

9. Curb Your Enthusiasm

10. Atlanta

According to The New York Times, Gilmore Girls, which aired from 2000 to 2007 and starred Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel, ranked No. 99 on the list. The outlet credited the show's appeal to its cozy small-town setting and witty dialogue. Scandal, the Shonda Rhimes political drama starring Kerry Washington, ranked one spot lower at No. 100.

The publication limited eligibility to series that premiered on or after January 1, 2000, which excluded shows like The Sopranos. The publication released the rankings in stages, counting down from No. 100 over several days before revealing the top 20 this week.

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How the New York Times compiled its rankings

The New York Times said it polled more than 500 people across the television industry, including actors, showrunners, and executives, and asked each to name their ten favorite series released since January 1, 2000.

Each entry on the publication's list included a short essay from one of its television critics, along with the name of at least one industry figure who voted for that particular show.

Respondents named in the piece included actors Elisabeth Moss, Adam Scott, Bryan Cranston, and Rose Byrne, along with showrunners Damon Lindelof, Lena Dunham, and Noah Hawley.

Alongside the ranked list, the publication invited readers to submit their own top ten shows and offered a printable version of the full countdown. The outlet also published a separate piece from one of its critics addressing a show that did not make the list despite frequent references elsewhere in the rankings. It said it would continue discussing the list with readers in its comments section.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”