The once-popular iconic shows from the Golden Age of TV that most people forgot

The Sopranos is a hard show to forget. It’s been named the greatest television show of all time by both TV Guide and Rolling Stone. The mafia drama starring the late James Gandolfini followed Tony Soprano as he reluctantly began visiting psychiatrist Dr. Jennifer Melfi, played by Lorraine Bracco.

Premiering in 1999, The Sopranos revolutionized television when it introduced the antihero. Fans knew Tony wasn’t a good guy, but they couldn’t help but root for him. And, at the end of its sixth and final season, The Sopranos ended in an infamous abrupt blackout, leaving fans trying to catch their breath.

The Sopranos is a show everyone still talks about, rewatches, and tries to recreate.

Similar in its grittiness to The Sopranos, The Wire is another lauded show of the Golden Age of television. Starring Idris Elba and a young Michael B. Jordan, The Wire follows the war against drugs in Baltimore from both the perspective of the police and those selling drugs.

It’s considered one of the best tv shows of all time due to its hyper-realistic storytelling, telling the honest story about how the war on drugs impacted marginalized communities. Idris starred as Stringer Bell, a powerful gangster who dreamed of using his business school tactics to legalize the drug trade.

Filmed entirely in Baltimore, The Wire is a must watch.

Aaron Sorkin‘s The West Wing perfected the walk-and-talk. Known for its fast-paced and intelligent dialogue, the political drama gave fans an idealistic portrayal of public service. Of course, it was beloved during its live airing in the early 2000s, but it may be even more loved now, when Americans are craving some civility in their politics.

The West Wing had an incredible cast, including Rob Lowe, Martin Sheen, Allison Janney, Bradley Whitford, Stockard Channing, and more. Over its seven seasons, the show won 26 Primetime Emmy Awards, including four consecutive wins for Outstanding Drama Series.

If you are looking for a hopeful rewatch, turn on The West Wing – especially season 2, episode 3.

The beginning of Shondaland! Grey’s Anatomy, created by Shonda Rhimes, premiered in 2005 and is still on air two decades later. Its early seasons perfected the medical drama. Starring Ellen Pompeo and Patrick Dempsey, Grey’s Anatomy gave intimate storylines grounded with intense medical cases.

Grey’s is known for many things – its shocking season finales and steamy love stories – but it’s the music embedded throughout each episode that really hooked viewers. Music is a central character in the medical drama and even helped launch singer Brandi Carlile‘s career.

After being featured in many episodes, Brandi’s iconic song “The Story” was the centerpiece of the 2011 musical episode. While only three original cast members are still on Grey’s, the show will always be iconic.

In 2011, Game of Thrones premiered and television was never the same. At its peak, the fantasy drama show was the most watched show in the world, averaging over 44 million viewers per episode.

Game of Thrones had everything. Dragons, political intrigue, romance, beautiful sets, and unpredictable plotlines that kept fans on the edges of their seats. At the end of season one, the main character, Ned Stark, was beheaded. During the season six finale, several beloved characters were incinerated instantly by a massive explosion. And those are just a few of the twists.

Since its series finale in May 2019, two Game of Thrones spinoffs have taken off. The third season of House of the Dragon, which is set 200 years before Game of Thrones, is set to premiere on June 21, 2026. And in January 2026, the first season of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, following Aegon “Egg” Targaryen and Ser Duncan “Dunk” the Tall.