Some years in television history feel like lightning in a bottle, and the year 2000 was definitely one of them. It was a turning point for storytelling, particularly because there was a rush of bold ideas, genre reinventions, and flawed characters. A creative explosion of sorts, the year 2000 was when networks were experimenting, cable was thriving, and audiences were hungry for something smarter, stranger, and emotionally complex.
From high-concept sci-fi to grounded family dramas, the year 2000 gave us series that stuck. Many of them ran for years, some just concluded, and nearly all have earned a well-deserved spot on countless “best of” lists. And now, in 2025, they are officially hitting the 25-year mark.
This list is a celebration of the 20 most iconic TV shows that debuted in 2000 and still hold up.
‘Level 9’ (2000 – 2001)
Before cybersecurity became our everyday concern, Level 9 imagined a covert government task force built with the sole purpose of tackling digital threats. The team included field agents, tech prodigies, and reformed hackers. Among them are Roland Travis, a former cybercriminal with a chance at redemption, and Annie Price, a no-nonsense ex-FBI agent. They chase down cyberterrorists, decode digital crimes, and navigate the ethics of surveillance.
Ahead of Its Time, but Underrated
With cases ranging from online sex show murders to rogue AI, the show explored the anxieties related to the internet’s darkest corners. Even though only ten of its thirteen episodes aired during its original UPN run, it carved out a niche with its combination of procedural grit and speculative tech drama. Created by Michael Connelly and Josh Meyer, Level 9 left a digital footprint.
‘The Huntress’ (2000 – 2001)
Based on the real-life story of Dottie Thorson, The Huntress tells the story of a newly widowed woman who teams up with her daughter, Brandi, to continue her late husband’s work as a bounty hunter. As Dottie and Brandi dive into Ralph’s dangerous world of tracking some of the most slippery fugitives, their bond deepens.
Humor, Heart, and High-Stakes Bounty Hunting
Ralph “Papa” Thorson’s life and legacy was already immortalized in the 1980 Steve McQueen movie, The Hunter. But with 28 episodes and a pilot film, this one offers a fresh take on the story through a distinctly female lens. What makes the show stand out is the chemistry between Annette O’Toole and Jordana Spiro. Recurring players like James Remar and Michael Muhney also add texture to episodic arcs.
‘The Beat’ (2000)
Set against the backdrop of New York City’s eternal chaos, The Beat follows uniformed officers Mike Dorigan and Zane Marinelli as they juggle crime, relationships, and personal demons. Created by Tom Fontana, it focuses on the emotional toll of police work, with Zane haunted by his mother’s murder, and Mike struggling with alcoholism.
Snapshot of Early 2000s
With its uncompromising realism and compelling character-driven narratives, this one starred a young Mark Ruffalo, Derek Cecil, and Poppy Montgomery in lead roles. Its visual style switched between film and video depending on whether characters are on or off duty, which gave the episodes a raw and documentary-like feel. Only six episodes aired on UPN and seven more were produced but never broadcast.
‘Murder Rooms: Mysteries of the Real Sherlock Holmes’ (2000 – 2001)
Long before Sherlock Holmes became the icon he is, there was Dr. Joseph Bell, a real-life forensic pioneer whose sharp observational skills inspired Arthur Conan Doyle to create his most famous character. Murder Rooms: Mysteries of the Real Sherlock Holmes explores Doyle’s early years as a med student and apprentice to Bell, with their partnership becoming a prototype for the Holmes-and-Watson crime-solving duo.
The Origins of Deduction
Featuring unsettling murders and psychological breakdowns, each 90-minute episode of this show unfolds like a moody period thriller. Ian Richardson commands the screen as Bell, and Charles Edwards steps into Doyle’s shoes for the main series. It endures due to its layered storytelling and reverence for the source material, which offers a glimpse at not just Holmes, but the man behind him.
‘Boston Public’ (2000 – 2004)
Boston Public takes place inside the fictional Winslow High School and dives headfirst into the chaos and compassion of public education. Created by David E. Kelley, it follows a rotating ensemble of teachers, students, and administrators as they navigate everything from gun violence and mental health to plagiarism and racial tensions.
An Ambitious School-Based Drama
Dramas like A.P. Bio and Abbott Elementary are beloved today, but it was Boston Public that first held a mirror up to the education system, asked hard questions, and refused easy answers. With four seasons and 81 episodes, it tackled all sorts of taboo subjects with melodrama and sincerity, earning a Peabody Award for its standout episode “Chapter Thirty-Seven.”
‘Ed’ (2000 – 2004)
After being fired from his job for a misplaced punctuation mark and discovering that his wife is having an affair with the mainman, Ed Stevens leaves New York and returns to his hometown of Stuckeyville, Ohio. There, he impulsively buys a bowling alley and opens a law practice inside it, which gets him the nickname “The Bowling Alley Lawyer.” But his true intention is to win the heart of Carol Vassey, his high school crush.
An Unexpected Cult Favorite
Ed balances episodic cases with long-running emotional arcs to get viewers invested in the town’s offbeat charm. The ensemble cast, featuring Tom Cavanagh, Julie Bowen, Josh Randall, Lesley Boone, and a young Justin Long, delivers heartwarming performances. A genre-bender before the term became trendy, it is equal parts legal dramedy, romantic comedy, and slice-of-life.
‘Yes, Dear’ (2000 – 2006)
Greg and Kim Warner are trying to raise their kids with structure. But their lives are upended when Kim’s sister, Christine, and her laid-back husband, Jimmy, move into their guest house with their two boys. What follows is a clash of parenting philosophies and sibling dynamics, all wrapped in a traditional multi-camera sitcom favorite.
Enduring Comfort TV
Standing out among the sea of family sitcoms that dotted the TV landscape at the turn of the millennium, Yes, Dear kept viewers thoroughly entertained for six riotous seasons. It mined comedy from everyday parenting disasters, miscommunications within the marriage, and the chaos of two families sharing one backyard. Critics didn’t even expect it to last past its first season, but it became a sleeper hit on CBS and ranked in the top 30 during its early seasons.
‘Soul Food’ (2000 – 2004)
Picking up six months after the events of the 1997 movie, Soul Food centers on the Joseph family as they deal with life after the death of their matriarch, Big Mama. Set in Chicago, the series follows sisters Teri, Maxine, and Bird, each balancing personal goals and familial responsibilities. Their stories are directly linked with husbands Kenny and Lem, and young Ahmad, whose narration is full of perspective.
Graceful and Groundbreaking
Showtime’s longest-running drama at the time, and one of the first to feature a predominantly African-American cast in a serialized format, Soul Food was a landmark for television. It was developed by Felicia D. Henderson, it ran for five seasons and 74 episodes, and it earned three consecutive NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Drama Series. Its emotionally intelligent writing, cinematic direction, and consistently rich performances make it a must-watch.
‘Coupling’ (2000 – 2004)
Six friends, endless misunderstandings, and a whole lot of sexual misadventures. That’s the premise of Coupling. It follows Steve, Susan, Jeff, Jane, Sally, and Patrick, six thirty-somethings, as they navigate the minefield of modern relationships with a mix of wit, awkwardness, and occasional brilliance.
Witty, Inventive, and Quotable
Coupling isn’t groundbreaking in its storytelling, but it sets itself apart with its structure, which often splits perspectives between the men and women and reveals how differently they interpret the same events. Inspired by creator Steven Moffat’s own relationship with producer Sue Vertue, it is dubbed “the British Friends with edge,” and it won Best TV Comedy at the 2003 British Comedy Awards.
‘Titus’ (2000 – 2002)
Based on Christopher Titus’s one-man show Norman Rockwell is Bleeding, Titus is a dark comedy that revolves around Titus, a custom car shop owner with a problematic family history. His father, Ken, is a chain-smoking, womanizing, ex-military man, and his mother battles mental illness. With his dimwitted half-brother Dave, empathetic best friend Tommy, and earnest girlfriend Erin, Titus tries to make peace with his past.
Exploration of Familial Dysfunction
Episodes combine live-action scenes with black-and-white “neutral space” monologues, where Titus breaks the fourth wall to dissect the emotion behind every story. It’s clear that this was unlike anything else on network TV at the time. Also, it was rehearsed like a play and filmed in real time, which gave it a visceral energy. Fox’s meddling led to its premature cancellation, but Titus has only grown in its cult status in the years after.
