Millennials are a lucky bunch, as the late 1990s through the 2010s were their coming-of-age years, and also an era of peak television. From iconic and beloved animated series to fantasy epics, millennials were definitely spoiled, especially since most of the generation’s favorites were groundbreaking good times.
From resonating series like Sex and the City—which most were too young for but still learned a lot from—to fantasy dramas that inspired a pop culture movement like Game of Thrones, these shows and the rest compiled on this helped millennials weather life with their lessons, comedy and good old fun, helping to define an entire generation.
10
‘Gilmore Girls’ (2000–2007)
Created by Amy Sherman‑Palladino
This genre-defining 2000s dramedy is one that millennials easily fell in love with due to its charm and relatability. Gilmore Girls is set in the small town of Stars Hollow, following single mother Lorelai Gilmore (Lauren Graham) and her daughter Rory Gilmore (Alexis Bledel), as they navigate their fast-talking, coffee-loving life.
Gilmore Girls is a very character-driven series that transcends its early 20000s setting. The series wields witty dialogue and celebrates female ambition and small-town quirks. During an era when young women yearned for a sort of role model, the leading ladies’ drive and intelligence resonated really well with viewers. In more recent years, Gilmore Girls carries a more nostalgic feel for its millennial viewers. From the show’s delivery of a world of community events, small-town antics, and family dinners, Gilmore Girls’ core themes stand as timeless, drawing in more than the millennials who adore the series.
9
‘How I Met Your Mother’ (2005–2014)
Created by Carter Bays and Craig Thomas
How I Met Your Mother is a romantic sitcom that’s rife with iconic catchphrases and comedic moments. The series, told through future Ted Mosby’s (Josh Radnor) narration, follows him and his friends Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris), Robin Scherbatsky (Cobie Smulders), Marshall Eriksen (Jason Segel), and Lily Aldrin (Alyson Hannigan) living in New York City.
How I Met Your Mother is a very beloved sitcom, cherished by millennials for its heart and combination of humor. It’s a series that gave the generation its own romantic comedy, perfect for the millennial era. With running jokes and timeless catchphrases, millennials who grew up watching the show found a good time and a great lesson, as Ted told viewers his humorous journey to love. From career struggles to urban dating life, How I Met Your Mother stands as a comfort show that resonates quite well with millennials, marking it as one of the best among the generation’s favorite shows.
8
‘Girlfriends’ (2000–2008)
Created by Mara Brock Akil
Standing as one of TV’s best early 2000s groundbreaking series, Girlfriends is a sitcom set in Los Angeles, following the lives of four black women: Joan Carol Clayton (Tracee Ellis Ross), Maya Denise Wilkes (Golden Brooks), Lynn Ann Searcy (Persia White), and Toni Marie Childs (Jill Marie Jones), as they navigate adulthood.
Millennials laud the series for its raw view of life and friendship. The characters go through love troubles, career adversity, colorism, family conflicts, and much more relatable antics. Even two decades after its release, the show’s impact still holds. Girlfriends is a cherished show that resonates well with the millennial generation, as it celebrates diverse, professional women trying to overcome everyday life’s challenges, making it a great addition to this list of some of the best millennial shows that defined a generation.
Girlfriends
- Release Date
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2000 – 2007
- Showrunner
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Mara Brock Akil
7
‘Sex and the City’ (1998–2004)
Created by Darren Star
Sex and the City debuted in the late ’90s, right at the cusp of the millennial era. The series, standing as a cultural touchstone, centered on four single women as they navigated life in their 30s.
Sex and the City was the show that most millennial viewers were slightly too young to watch, but watched enraptured anyway. It stands as a series that had most millennials on the cusp of adulthood, feeling more grown up, as the show delved into topics of female sexuality and the ups and downs of modern romance. From taboo discussions over cosmopolitans to enviable fashion wear, Sex and the City, with its female-driven ensemble, paved the way for many shows to come, and influenced a great many millennials growing up, making it a perfect addition to this list of the best shows that defined a generation.
6
‘Charmed’ (1998–2006)
Created by Constance M. Burge
This iconic fantasy drama is a treasured series that earned its own reboot many years after its debut. Charmed follows sisters Prue Halliwell (Shannen Doherty), Piper Halliwell (Holly Marie Combs), Phoebe Halliwell (Alyssa Milano), and later Paige Matthews (Rose McGowan) as they navigate their lives as the “Charmed Ones” who must protect innocents from evil.
Millennial fans often applaud the show for its feminist qualities and themes of family and sisterhood, with a sharp and entertaining twist of fantasy. Charmed’s unique and interesting qualities drew in young fans by the droves. Airing during the millennial cohort’s childhood/teen years, the series is often recalled fondly, as fans cite memorable moments—from the show’s iconic theme song to its cozy aesthetic—making it a great addition to this list of shows that defined the millennial generation.
Charmed
- Release Date
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1998 – 2005
- Network
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The WB
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Darcas Macopson
Uniformed Cop
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Holly Marie Combs
Piper Halliwell
5
‘The Office’ (2005–2013)
Created by Greg Daniels, Ricky Gervais, and Stephen Merchant
With tons of references still used today, The Office‘s impact on pop culture went past the average internet meme and workplace joke. The popular mockumentary-style sitcom displayed the daily antics at the Dunder Mifflin paper company.
The Office is a generational benchmark, especially for those millennials who entered the workforce during its run. While, in reality, the usual 9-to-5 isn’t the equivalent of comedy gold, The Office still holds a lot of relatability as it portrayed the painfully real bouts of boredom and awkward team-building meetings. Millennials have continuously quoted the show’s jokes and phrases, like Michael’s (Steve Carell) mispronunciations. While the office frenzy has died down, millennials still laud the series for its humorous shenanigans of everyday life, cementing its place on this list of the best millennial shows.
The Office
- Release Date
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2005 – 2013-00-00
- Network
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NBC
4
‘SpongeBob SquarePants’ (1999–)
Created by Stephen Hillenburg
Who lives in a pineapple under the sea—and is a hilarious yellow icon of an entire generation. That would be the goofy sponge, SpongeBob SquarePants (voiced by Tom Kenny). Nickelodeon’s beloved cartoon, SpongeBob SquarePants, is centered on the almost annoyingly optimistic yellow sea sponge, SpongeBob, and his beloved friends, Patrick Star (Bill Fagerbakke), and Squidward (Rodger Bumpass).
Kids love the series for the silly and chaotic antics, while older viewers giggle at the jokes that can never grow old. Standing as one of the shows that fueled meme culture, every SpongeBob SquarePants season is a rewatchable good time that many millennials indulge in. The iconic series holds a special place in millennials’ hearts, as it is a wacky form of escapism and good vibes. Even beyond the show’s nostalgic feel, SpongeBob continues to hold relevance, providing viewers of all ages with an optimistic good time, making it a great feature for this millennial’s best TV show list.
3
‘Game of Thrones’ (2011–2019)
Created by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss
This epic fantasy show based on a book series is beloved by a fan base that continues to grow with each generation. Game of Thrones is set in a world of magic and dragons, where noble families battle it out for power and the right to the Iron Throne.
While Game of Thrones holds an almost unmatched popularity with millions of viewers, millennials have made it a weekly ritual–hoarding endless memes, hosting watch parties, and mourning characters’ losses. Millennials who entered adulthood in the 2010s were a core part of this phenomenon, contributing to the show’s status of greatness. The series drew in fans with its fantastic fantasy, thrilling action, political intrigue, and, oddly enough, its resonating qualities. This marks it high on this list of the best millennial shows that defined an entire generation.
2
‘Glee’ (2009–2015)
Created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Ian Brennan
Glee is an iconic TV series that definitely defined the millennial generation. The musical comedy-drama is set at William McKinley High, and follows Spanish teacher, Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison) as he revives and leads the school’s Glee Club.
Rife with song, dance, and several iconic moments that are continuously remembered today, Glee stands as a beloved and cherished series that resonated quite deeply with millennials. The generation was often known to root for the underdogs, and lauded the series for its spotlight on underdog characters. The musical series had a great ability to comfort its millennial viewers, moving those who felt like outsiders in high school. With controversial themes, a blend of musical numbers, and teen drama, Glee deserves its rank on this list of the best millennial shows that defined a generation.
Glee
- Release Date
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2009 – 2014
- Network
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FOX
1
‘Grey’s Anatomy’ (2005–)
Created by Shonda Rhimes
From medical emergencies to soapy romance scenes, Grey’s Anatomy is rife with material that drew millennials in, especially during its earlier seasons. The long-running series is set in the fictional Seattle Grace Hospital, and first followed the young intern Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) and her fellow surgical residents as they tackled hospital duties, learning the ropes under doctors like Derek “McDreamy” Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey) and Dr. Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson).
Over its run, Grey’s Anatomy became known for its emotional hits, as neither patient nor doctor was spared from a shocking death, wholesome friendships, or chemistry-filled romances. The long-standing drama is a great comfort series for most millennials, being the watch for those in need of a good cry, or a quick reminder that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Standing as a series that accompanied millennials from high school and into adulthood, Grey’s Anatomy stands as number one on this list for its undeniable impact on millennial pop culture.
Grey’s Anatomy
- Release Date
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March 27, 2005
- Network
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ABC
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Chandra Wilson
Dr. Miranda Bailey
