# The 100 Best TV Shows of the 21st Century

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-09-22 20:40 UTC · Category: Entertainment

## Executive Summary
The New York Times releases a major list of the 100 best television shows of the 21st century.

## Intelligence Brief
Coverage across multiple publications centers on the release of a major ranking titled The 100 Best TV Shows of the 21st Century. The project is spearheaded by The New York Times, which published the definitive list alongside an interactive invitation for readers to vote for their own personal top ten television programs of the century. According to the reported details, the massive compilation was constructed through votes cast by a panel of five hundred prominent figures, including various stars, showrunners, and critics. Specific early segments of the list have already begun rolling out, with World of Reel reporting on the initial batch ranging from number one hundred down to eighty-one. Coverage from the Bellingham Herald specifically draws attention to the novelist Nicholas Sparks, whose participation involved helping vote a serial-killer drama into the prestigious 100 best television shows of the century.


The reports emphasize that the author of The Notebook was merely one among many famous voters whose individual ballots contained notable and surprising selections. Meanwhile, platform-specific roundups have emerged to guide audiences through the rankings. Disney Plus has published specialized curated selections highlighting which of the recognized titles are currently available for streaming on both the Disney+ and Hulu platforms. This extensive cultural rollout arrives as a major milestone event in entertainment journalism, revisiting the defining television landscape of the current century through peer and expert consensus. The involvement of five hundred industry insiders and creative professionals provides the project with substantial authority, contrasting sharply with the public-facing invitation for general readers to submit their own top ten lists.


While initial reports focus on the lower rungs of the countdown and the eclectic ballots cast by unexpected celebrity voters like Nicholas Sparks, the broader cultural conversation is deeply anchored in the ongoing evolution of serialized television throughout the decades. As the rollout continues, coverage does not yet specify the precise release schedule for the remaining higher-ranked entries on the list or when the public voting results will be officially tallied and published by The New York Times. Observers and streaming audiences will likely continue tracking subsequent announcements from World of Reel and other entertainment publications to see which programs claim the top spots. Furthermore, additional streaming services may issue their own curated guides to match the rankings, following the precedent set by Disney Plus in highlighting their specific catalog inclusions from the compiled century-best roster.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| Disney Plus | Disney+ & Hulu Picks From “The 100 Best TV Shows of the 21st Century” | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMidkFVX3lxTE5DeHIxVUU5UVBZQ1FFTE84d1hzQjA2TnBhQXRiOHBQZ01hYjBfU1pQQXFvMTJmb0FxQjNMaG9IaHZndmJBS3U0MEo4Q3VVdk5QNmljeEF2eEw5d3pNWmdYeUNoeXVpcGFSZzNOVmJhZGU4U2hPM0E?oc=5) |
| Bellingham Herald | Nicholas Sparks Helped Vote a Serial-Killer Drama Into the 100 Best TV Shows of the Century; the 'Notebook' Author Was Not the Only Famous Voter With a Surprising Ballot | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMid0FVX3lxTE4tWkRqUE12VURacjJtOEZPeU8yaG5TamFMZ0tQR3FaWXl2TUQyQWVBSkdfc2VxYmNLVXNOTkRhRmZ6MWl1WFNEeVFPd0xhWEZfZVY1Wm9DVVdYSUlQWWtIQ0h2Vm1iblBLYlk3RHdvMGxwMGQxNEd3?oc=5) |
| World of Reel | NYT's 100 Best TV Shows of the 21st Century, as Voted by 500 Stars, Showrunners and Critics (#100–81) | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi0wFBVV95cUxQQS01enFKYUxQcldMcnlYUDhoNUh0ZVJaQkJyM3dEcERMRjR6ZjhIRDlyZGhZUjlZcUYwYXcxeXFaOUI5X0xUdGFhYUhGMnhINUhLQmVxc1RsMkFCdDdVOTVwcU9pSVc5MmZxV09hQUJUVUw1R2VLRTlGTEVhenRxZmppUHQ3RXRGay1nZ2Qya2JuNXh6eGZRZ1hzRzBjTzdWSkMxX1FNbVF3dWdWMVAzaGNFeXdyb0I1U3ZmT0wyM3ByS2s2TmJPZ3F5RS1DbHlYbmMw?oc=5) |
| The New York Times | Vote for Your 10 Best TV Shows of the 21st Century | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMingFBVV95cUxQTW1XUXIyTGtLQzhVOWRfWGN3b2EzU2M1WUpPOTRTckxkanN2bjZ4bGM1cmUyU0w5dXFqWmZiTktCSnIxcjBFQUhtUGR0ZlY4QkJFckhieTlQdVRPdWlNck1URzcwRjI1aGxXYlFZY0pDenAtcVdOQVcySVlVYm95NnNNaXpWY0hEMVJQQnRxWmdWSXdzek5lYkFNM2p1Zw?oc=5) |
| The New York Times | The 100 Best TV Shows of the 21st Century | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikgFBVV95cUxNQ1BqeDR2djBDYVdyeFUyZHNHc2t1YVdQZjlZMU5WWlJtU3Bma1FVM0tHYktxYy0yWlM3YUZFZ3pCYmNIZWlYbVF0QkJMVmhISXVoWmtqSHhLb3QzekZwemU0aGpHRElpdm1RdmROeTVmY2J5NDZtOWJIV1ZLTzBQbDBLa09rOTVhV01ZWlNlQ2Y4dw?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-09-22/the-100-best-tv-shows-of-the-21st-century*