25 Best TV Shows Turning 25 In 2025
The year 2000 gave television a burst of new ideas and formats, from single camera comedies to reality competitions and stylish genre shows. Looking back now, it is clear how many of those debuts shaped what came next and launched long running franchises, fan favorite characters, and new careers.
To celebrate a quarter century since their first episodes aired, here are twenty five TV shows that premiered in 2000. Each entry notes where and when it started, who created it or starred in it, how long it ran, and what lasting mark it left on television or popular culture.
‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ (2000–2024)
Larry David’s improvised comedy premiered on HBO in 2000 following a one hour special that introduced its format. The series starred Larry David as a version of himself alongside Cheryl Hines, Jeff Garlin, Susie Essman, and later J B Smoove, with story outlines guiding scenes built from actor improvisation.
Across twelve seasons the show collected many award nominations for writing and comedy series and became known for long form season arcs that tied together small annoyances and misunderstandings. The twelfth season aired in 2024 and served as a sendoff while keeping the show’s loose curbside structure intact.
‘Gilmore Girls’ (2000–2007)
Created by Amy Sherman Palladino, the series premiered on The WB in October 2000 and moved to The CW for its final season. Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel starred as a mother and daughter in the fictional town of Stars Hollow with a supporting cast led by Scott Patterson, Kelly Bishop, and Melissa McCarthy.
The show ran for seven seasons and later returned with the limited series ‘Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life’ in 2016. Rapid fire dialogue and pop culture references became a hallmark, and the series nurtured a devoted audience that continues to discover it through reruns and digital platforms.
‘Malcolm in the Middle’ (2000–2006)
Fox premiered this single camera family comedy in January 2000 without a laugh track, a presentation choice that influenced many comedies that followed. Frankie Muniz played Malcolm with Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek as his parents and series narration delivered Malcolm’s point of view.
The show ran for seven seasons and won multiple awards for directing, writing, and music. It also gave Bryan Cranston a showcase that preceded his later dramatic work and left behind inventive episodes that used cold opens, musical cues, and playful camera work as part of the storytelling.
‘CSI: Crime Scene Investigation’ (2000–2015)
CBS launched ‘CSI’ in October 2000 with creator Anthony E Zuiker and executive producers Jerry Bruckheimer and Carol Mendelsohn. The series followed a Las Vegas forensic unit led at first by characters played by William Petersen and Marg Helgenberger and used detailed crime scene reconstruction as a hook.
The original show ran for fifteen seasons and spawned several spinoffs including ‘CSI: Miami’, ‘CSI: NY’, and ‘CSI: Cyber’, as well as the modern sequel ‘CSI: Vegas’. Its success popularized forensic procedure on television and influenced real world interest in crime scene science and lab techniques.
‘Survivor’ (2000–present)
Based on the format created by Charlie Parsons, the American edition premiered on CBS in May 2000 with Jeff Probst as host. Contestants were divided into tribes, lived outdoors with limited supplies, and voted each other out at Tribal Council while competing for immunity and rewards.
The series became a fixture with multiple seasons each year and a continuing run into the 2020s. It refined its game structure with hidden immunity idols, tribe swaps, and jury formats and remains a reference point for competition reality television across the world.
‘Big Brother’ (2000–present)
The American version of ‘Big Brother’ debuted on CBS in July 2000, adapted from the Dutch format created by John de Mol. Houseguests lived on camera under constant surveillance while competing in Head of Household and Power of Veto challenges and facing weekly evictions.
The series established a summer schedule that continues, with live feeds and companion shows building a dedicated fan community. Game mechanics evolved with twists, returning players, and themed seasons while Julie Chen Moonves has served as host since its first year.
‘Jackass’ (2000–2002)
MTV premiered ‘Jackass’ in October 2000 with a crew led by Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, Steve O, and a team directed and produced by Jeff Tremaine and Spike Jonze. The show compiled stunts, pranks, and sketches filmed in a candid style and quickly drew high ratings for the network.
Though the original run lasted three seasons, the brand expanded into a successful film series and specials that reunited the cast for new material. The show also launched the careers of several performers who continued with projects like ‘Viva La Bam’ and ‘Wildboyz’ and returned for theatrical installments.
‘Girlfriends’ (2000–2008)
Created by Mara Brock Akil, ‘Girlfriends’ premiered on UPN in September 2000 and later moved to The CW. The ensemble comedy starred Tracee Ellis Ross, Golden Brooks, Persia White, and Jill Marie Jones as close friends navigating careers and relationships in Los Angeles.
The series ran for eight seasons and led to the spinoff ‘The Game’ in 2006. It contributed to representation in primetime by centering Black women in professional and personal stories and built a long tail through syndication and later streaming availability.
‘Even Stevens’ (2000–2003)
Disney Channel introduced ‘Even Stevens’ in June 2000 with Shia LaBeouf and Christy Carlson Romano as siblings locked in daily school and family antics. The show used quick cut visual gags and musical bits and featured a supporting cast that included Nick Spano and Tom Virtue.
It aired for three seasons and concluded with ‘The Even Stevens Movie’ in 2003. The series helped define the channel’s early 2000s comedy slate and served as an early platform for several cast members who continued to larger film and television roles.
‘Ed’ (2000–2004)
NBC premiered ‘Ed’ in October 2000 from creators Jon Beckerman and Rob Burnett. Tom Cavanagh starred as a lawyer who returned to his hometown to run a law practice inside a bowling alley with key roles for Julie Bowen, Josh Randall, and Michael Ian Black.
The series ran for four seasons and balanced case of the week stories with long term character arcs. Music cues and small town settings gave the show a distinct feel within the network’s lineup and it remains remembered for recurring gags and heartfelt episodic plots.
‘Boston Public’ (2000–2004)
David E Kelley created ‘Boston Public’ for Fox, premiering in October 2000. The drama followed teachers and administrators at a public high school with an ensemble led by Chi McBride, Anthony Heald, and Nicky Katt.
It aired for four seasons and addressed classroom management, policy disputes, and community issues through serialized plots. The show intersected with other Kelley productions through guest appearances and shared actors and helped bring school based drama back to network primetime at the time.
‘Dark Angel’ (2000–2002)
‘Dark Angel’ arrived on Fox in October 2000 from James Cameron and Charles H Eglee. Jessica Alba starred as Max, a genetically engineered escapee living in a near future version of Seattle with support from characters played by Michael Weatherly and Jensen Ackles.
The series ran for two seasons and mixed cyberpunk elements with action and mystery. Tie in novels and comics extended the storyline beyond the television run and the show is frequently noted for bringing its lead actor to wider attention early in her career.
‘Andromeda’ (2000–2005)
Based on unused concepts from Gene Roddenberry, ‘Andromeda’ launched in syndication in the fall of 2000. Kevin Sorbo starred as Captain Dylan Hunt who worked to rebuild a fallen interstellar Commonwealth with a crew aboard the starship Andromeda Ascendant.
The series aired for five seasons and combined standalone adventures with larger mythology arcs. Production used a syndication model common to science fiction at the time and the show maintained a steady presence in weekend schedules across many markets.
‘Queer as Folk’ (2000–2005)
Showtime premiered the American adaptation of ‘Queer as Folk’ in December 2000 with creators Ron Cowen and Daniel Lipman. Set in Pittsburgh and filmed largely in Toronto, the drama followed a group of friends with a core cast that included Gale Harold, Randy Harrison, and Michelle Clunie.
The series ran for five seasons and became one of the most prominent LGBTQ focused dramas of its era on American premium cable. It addressed relationships, health, and community life through serialized storytelling and built on the foundation of the original UK series created by Russell T Davies.
‘Da Ali G Show’ (2000–2004)
‘Da Ali G Show’ debuted on Channel 4 in the UK in 2000 with Sacha Baron Cohen performing as Ali G in studio and field segments. The program later produced seasons for HBO in the United States and introduced recurring characters Borat Sagdiyev and Bruno.
The show’s interview format used unscripted conversations with public figures and comedians and generated several catchphrases that entered popular culture. The Borat character went on to anchor feature films while the series itself became a calling card for Baron Cohen’s style of satirical performance.
‘The Weakest Link’ (2000–2012)
The original UK version of ‘The Weakest Link’ premiered on BBC Two in August 2000 with Anne Robinson as host. Contestants answered rapid fire questions to build a communal prize pot before voting off a player at the end of each round.
It later moved to BBC One and continued for many series while inspiring international editions including a long running American version. The format’s elimination catchphrase and brisk pacing made it a distinctive part of quiz show history and it has seen revivals in different markets.
‘Black Books’ (2000–2004)
Channel 4 launched ‘Black Books’ in 2000 with creators Dylan Moran and Graham Linehan. The sitcom starred Dylan Moran, Bill Bailey, and Tamsin Greig and centered on a misanthropic bookshop owner, his assistant, and a close friend who worked nearby.
The series ran for three seasons and used tightly constructed scripts and physical comedy within a small set of recurring locations. It became a staple of British comedy reruns and showcased early work from a number of writers and performers who later led other projects.
‘Coupling’ (2000–2004)
‘Coupling’ premiered on BBC Two in 2000 from writer Steven Moffat and producer Sue Vertue. The ensemble comedy followed six friends and played with time shifting scenes and interlocking perspectives, with a cast led by Jack Davenport and Sarah Alexander.
The show ran for four series and developed a reputation for narrative experiments such as split screen episodes and unreliable narrators. International versions were produced in several countries, including an American adaptation, and the original remains a popular export in English speaking markets.
‘Waking the Dead’ (2000–2011)
BBC One introduced ‘Waking the Dead’ in September 2000 with Trevor Eve leading a cold case squad that revisited unsolved crimes. The series used two part stories that explored forensic developments and psychological profiling alongside police procedure.
It continued for nine series and won multiple awards while establishing a durable format for long form investigations. The show also spawned the spinoff ‘The Body Farm’, which extended the universe with a focus on forensic research labs.
‘Monarch of the Glen’ (2000–2005)
‘Monarch of the Glen’ premiered on BBC One in 2000, loosely inspired by the works of Sir Compton Mackenzie. The drama followed the MacDonald family on a Highland estate with notable roles for Alastair Mackenzie, Susan Hampshire, and Richard Briers.
The series ran for seven seasons and frequently filmed on location in the Scottish Highlands, which contributed to tourism interest in the area. International broadcast deals carried the show to audiences beyond the UK and kept it in circulation for years after the finale.
‘My Family’ (2000–2011)
BBC One launched ‘My Family’ in 2000, created by Fred Barron. Robert Lindsay and Zoë Wanamaker starred as Ben and Susan Harper with a rotating ensemble of children and recurring friends across its long run.
The sitcom aired eleven series and became one of the most watched British family comedies of the decade. It used a traditional studio audience setup and delivered holiday specials and extended episodes that anchored seasonal schedules for the network.
‘The Corner’ (2000)
HBO premiered ‘The Corner’ in April 2000 based on the nonfiction book by David Simon and Edward Burns. The six part miniseries examined one Baltimore neighborhood through the experiences of a family affected by addiction and economic hardship.
The production earned major awards including recognition as an outstanding limited series. It served as a creative bridge to later projects from the same team, most notably ‘The Wire’, and demonstrated how documentary style research could inform scripted drama.
‘The 10th Kingdom’ (2000)
NBC aired ‘The 10th Kingdom’ as a limited fantasy series in February 2000. The story followed a New York waitress and her father as they crossed into a collection of fairy tale kingdoms, meeting familiar figures in new roles along the way.
The production combined location work and early digital effects with a large ensemble cast. Home video releases helped the series find an enduring audience and it remains a notable example of network event programming from the era.
‘X-Men: Evolution’ (2000–2003)
‘X-Men: Evolution’ premiered on Kids WB in November 2000 with Marvel and Warner Bros Animation producing. The series reimagined many mutants as teenagers attending Bayville High while training with the X Men under Professor Xavier.
The show ran for four seasons and introduced storylines and characters that later appeared in comics, including the character X 23. It provided a point of entry for younger viewers to the X Men universe and maintained continuity nods that rewarded long time fans.
‘Static Shock’ (2000–2004)
Based on the Milestone Media character created by Dwayne McDuffie, Denys Cowan, Michael Davis, and Derek T Dingle, ‘Static Shock’ premiered on The WB in 2000. Phil LaMarr voiced Virgil Hawkins, a teenager who gained electromagnetic powers after a chemical event in his city.
The animated series aired for four seasons and featured crossovers with ‘Justice League’ characters during its run. It earned industry awards and helped bring Milestone’s roster to wider attention, leading to renewed interest in the character across comics and later media.
Which TV shows did you watch back then and which are you planning to revisit now?