The 20 Best TV Shows on Netflix Instant Watch

Typically, we use this spot to tell you about all the new releases coming to Netflix Instant Watch this week. Unfortunately, August is a dead month and nothing of significance comes out this week, so let’s count down the top 20 TV shows on Netlfix Streaming… 

#20. The Office (US) (Seasons 1-6)

The show has unfortunately gone flat recently but the first few seasons are absolutely amazing.

#19. Chappelle’s Show (S1-3)

The only downside to watching this series is realizing how much you miss Chappelle.

#18. The X-Files (S1-9)

Always an interesting way to kill an hour. I use it as a pallet cleanser after I go on a 6+ episodes in one day rush on another show on Netflix.

#17. The Larry Sanders Show (S1-6)

This is here mostly because of its reputation. Watching it started to wear me out around Season 3. It’s an interesting show but pace yourself with it.

#16. Quantum Leap (S1-5)

Quantum Leap is growing on me. Once you get past the terrible music, it’s a whole lot of fun.

#15. Rocko’s Modern Life (S1-4)

My absolute favorite show from my childhood and without any real DVDs available, this is the best way to watch it.

#14. Battlestar Galactica (S1-4)

I have yet to find the time to watch this show yet but it has a great reputation.

#13. Saturday Night Live (S1-36)

SNL would be much higher on this list if the full episodes were available. In some cases, it appears they don’t have the rights to use certain sketches and musical performances.

#12. Sherlock (S1)

Current Doctor Who mastermind Steven Moffat’s brilliant take on the Sherlock Holmes stories.

#11. 30 Rock (S1-4)

30 Rock is the kind of show you fall hard for. I raced through the first three seasons in about two weeks because I was so hooked.

#10. Party Down (S1-2)

The best show nobody has watched over the past couple years.

#9. Lost (S1-6)

The second show on this list I have yet to get around to watching. It has a pretty sterling reputation though.

#8. South Park (S1-14)

I’m not meaning for this to be an advertisement for Netflix but come on, 14 entire seasons of South Park on demand, without commercials plus everything else on this list and a bunch of great movies – Netflix is a steal, even if they’re upping the price for their DVD service.

#7. Firefly (S1)

You really do owe it to yourself to see what the internet fuss is all about with Firefly.

#6. Parks and Recreation (S1-2)

Once Season Three is available, this jumps into the top three. For my money, the best American show on TV right now.

#5. Ken Burns Documentaries

In particular, the fantastic Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson. Baseball, Jazz, The Civil War, National Parks and much more are available too.

#4. Star Trek (S1-3)

If you haven’t figured it out by now, Netflix Streaming is a sci-fi nerd’s best friend.

#3. Mad Men (S1-4)

Netflix is paying $1 million per episode to have the rights to stream Mad Men and will eventually carry all seven seasons when all is said and done.

#2. Doctor Who (S1-5)

Definitely the most addictive series on the list. I’ve plowed through all five seasons over the past two months and loved every single second.

#1. The Twilight Zone (S1-3, 5)

As long as it’s not a Civil War-era episode (it’s amazing how awful each of them are), The Twilight Zone is still the best TV can be.