The Sopranos tops Rolling Stone's TV show list

James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano from list-topping TV show The Sopranos
James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano from list-topping TV show The Sopranos

US crime dramas have taken out the top three spots in Rolling Stone Magazine's list of '100 Greatest Shows of All Time' - with Italian-American mob series The Sopranos claiming top spot.

The show, which concluded in 2007 and followed the tale of gang boss Tony Soprano and his crew of mobsters, is described in by Rolling Stone as "the standard all ambitious TV aspires to meet".

It's followed on the list by Baltimore-based drug drama The Wire, which amazed audiences throughout the 2000s with raw and powerful tales that emerged from its unique blend of characters.

Recent TV hit Breaking Bad took third spot - another engaging story about the drug world that followed Walter White - a dorky, middle-aged chemistry teacher who turns into a powerful meth-lord after being diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Sultry drama Mad Men, classic '90s sitcom Seinfeld, much-loved cartoon The Simpsons and sci-fi thriller The Twilight Zone take the next few spots on the list.

There are a few surprises on the list, with Doctor Who (No. 87), Downton Abbey (No. 66), The Muppet Show (No. 54) and Friends (No. 26) all failing to make the impact that perhaps might have been expected of such popular series.

American Idol, too, failed to rank well, finishing at No. 92 - though it's the only show of its type to make any impression, with fellow singing competitions X-Factor and The Voice not making the top 100.

The People vs. O.J. Simpson, which won a swathe of accolades at the most recent Emmy Awards, came in at No. 75, while other current or recently-run shows Game of Thrones (No. 12), House of Cards (No. 83), The Walking Dead (No. 77) and Orange is the New Black (No. 37) also found a spot in the list.

Previously hosted by Jon Stewart, The Daily Show is the only interview-heavy show to crack the top 10, with Late Night with David Letterman (No. 13), The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson (No. 30), The Colbert Report (No. 52) and Late Night with Conan O'Brien (No. 76) all finishing beneath it.

Rolling Stone's top 10 shows of all time:

10. The Daily Show

9. All in the Family

8. Saturday Night Live

7. The Twilight Zone

6. The Simpsons

5. Seinfeld

4. Madmen

3. Breaking Bad

2. The Wire

1. The Sopranos

Read the full list here.

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