While it’s hard to believe that it was 20 years ago, the 2006 network TV season marked a massive shift to what television would look like in the future. Prior to the streaming era, network TV and cable were the only mediums available, but with tons of shows to choose from regardless, it still felt like a ton of new content was being made year after year. The mid-2000s saw a rise in shows that brought fantasy elements into play, infusing the fantastical elements of new shows with a grounded sense of realism that captured audiences in a new way.
2006 saw some of the most inventive shows of the decade come to light, and marked an interesting shift in the way viewers would come to perceive TV of the era. With shows finding their footing with a larger audience than ever, the appointment television of the year was quick to capture its viewers, and some surprises crashed into the mix, blending inventive ideas with well-known TV tropes. Despite there being quite a few shows that wound up sticking for years to come, the new class of 2006 shows marked a diverse and interesting look at what TV would become.
10
Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip
Aaron Sorkin’s Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip followed the behind the scenes chaos of a sketch comedy show that was meant to be like Saturday Night Live. Starring Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford, the series only aired for one season, but it was one of the year’s most important debuts. As Sorkin’s first TV project after The West Wing, there were heavy expectations surrounding the series, which followed the show’s producers Matt (Perry) and Danny (Whitford) as they tried to make live TV magic week in and week out. While the show didn’t stick, it made an incredible effort.
- Release Date
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2006 – 2007-00-00
- Directors
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Thomas Schlamme, Timothy Busfield, John Fortenberry, Andrew Bernstein, Bradley Whitford, Bryan Gordon, Christopher Misiano, David Petrarca, David Semel, Laura Innes
9
Psych
A long-running series that aired on USA Network, Psych followed crime consultant Shawn Spencer (James Roday Rodriguez), who has recall so incredible that he convinces the police he has psychic abilities. Working on cases alongside his best friend Burton “Gus” Guster (Dulé Hill), Psych saw the relationship between the characters shift and grow. The series was able to blend procedural stories with comedic timing in a way that felt fresh and new, and as the show continued, Hill and Rodriguez’s chemistry carried the series along with an incredible fanbase. With clever mysteries and self-aware humor, Psych’s a beloved series.
- Release Date
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2006 – 2014-00-00
- Network
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USA
- Showrunner
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Steve Franks
8
Ugly Betty
Based on a Colombian telenovela, Yo Soy Betty, La Fea, ABC’s Ugly Betty is one of the most lasting shows of the last two decades. Starring America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, the series was able to blend an American-style drama with the mechanisms of a classic telenovela, creating a fascinating intersection in the genre. Ferrera’s performance was acclaimed for its sense of nuance, and the show’s ability to twist and turn itself away from telling a predictable story was an incredible feat. Standing out for its vibrancy and its strong emotional core, Ugly Betty was an unforgettable 2006 debut.
- Release Date
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2006 – 2010-00-00
- Directors
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Silvio Horta
7
Brothers & Sisters
A series that followed a large family in the wake of tragedy, Brothers & Sisters watched as the Walkers all navigated their lives after a major revelation. With big names like Sally Field, Calista Flockhart, and Rob Lowe rounding out the cast, Brothers & Sisters was a family drama that consistently pulled major reveals throughout its run, allowing its audience to sit in the discomfort of shifting family dynamics. Arriving at a time when family dramas were consistently thriving, Brothers & Sisters brought something unique to a crowded table, paving the ground for great multi-generational family storytelling in the future.
6
The IT Crowd
A British workplace comedy that found its way to the US throughout its run, The IT Crowd followed Roy (Chris O’Dowd) and Moss (Richard Ayoade,) through their somewhat difficult workplace as they deal with dysfunction at every level. As the IT department finds a new manager in place, Jen, Roy and Moss have to navigate more disasters than anticipated. Taking niche workplace humor and turning it into a quotable, hilarious comedy, The IT Crowd feels like a time capsule of a specific moment where technology was changing. The series became a cult comedy that reflected the experimentation of the era.
5
Dexter
One of the few shows that premiered in 2006 that’s still making an impact on the TV landscape today, Dexter was a fascinating series from the very beginning. Following forensic blood-spatter analyst Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) through his work at the Miami Metro police department, viewers got the chance to see the layers peeled back for the complex character. As a vigilante-style serial killer in his spare time, Dexter portrayed a character with separate sides to his personality. Dexter stood apart in the 2006 season because of its ability to blend procedural stories with fairly intense psychological drama.
- Release Date
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2006 – 2013-00-00
- Showrunner
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Clyde Phillips
4
Big Love
A series that at times felt ahead of the curve, Big Love followed businessman Bill Henrickson (Bill Paxton) as he navigated his polygamist lifestyle with three wives and multiple children. Exploring the complexities of plural marriage in the modern era, Big Love explored the religious side of Bill’s relationships along with the interpersonal issues that came with his decisions. The show, which played into the public’s interest in plural marriage, was led by an all-star cast and played into the beginning of the era of prestige dramas that began in the 2000s. A standout drama, Big Love remains resonant.
- Release Date
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2006 – 2011-00-00
- Network
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HBO Max
- Directors
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David Petrarca, Daniel Attias, Adam Davidson, Michael Lehmann, Jim McKay, Julian Farino, Charles McDougall, Alan Poul, Michael Spiller, Daniel Minahan, John Strickland, Mary Harron, Alan Taylor, Rodrigo García, Sarah Pia Anderson, Steve Shill, Tom Vaughan
- Writers
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Alexa Junge, David Manson, Paul Redford
3
Friday Night Lights
Inspired by a nonfiction book and a film of the same name, Friday Night Lights quickly became one of the most popular shows of the mid-2000s after its 2006 debut. Starring Kyle Chandler as Texas high school football coach Eric Taylor, the series takes a mockumentary-style look at the fictional town of Dillon and all of the dynamics that surround its team. With the community putting a particularly heavy spotlight on the team, Friday Night Lights made a quick impact and continues to be mentioned in the conversation of the best shows of the decade, acclaimed for its quality.
- Release Date
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2006 – 2011
- Showrunner
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Jason Katims
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Kyle Chandler
Eric Taylor
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Connie Britton
Tami Taylor
2
Heroes
As one of the most inventive shows of the decade, Heroes followed on the heels of other supernatural mystery shows like Lost in becoming a cultural touchpoint. Following ordinary people as they discover that they have incredible abilities after a solar eclipse, the series followed several interconnected characters as they realize they’re part of a much bigger conspiracy. Bringing a superhero show into the spotlight, Heroes quickly demanded the attention of its viewers and took pop culture by storm. The show’s ensemble structure and interesting emotional stakes made it far more than a traditional sci-fi drama or standard superhero show.
- Release Date
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2006 – 2010-00-00
- Showrunner
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Tim Kring
- Directors
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Allan Arkush, Jeannot Szwarc, Adam Kane, Greg Yaitanes, Sergio Mimica-Gezzan, Roxann Dawson, Paul A. Edwards, John Badham, Donna Deitch, Kevin Dowling, Seith Mann, Ron Underwood, Paul Shapiro, Lesli Linka Glatter, S.J. Clarkson, Daniel Attias, David Straiton, Kevin Bray, David Semel, Holly Dale, Ed Bianchi, Nathaniel Goodman, Christopher Misiano, Ernest R. Dickerson
- Writers
-
Tim Kring
1
30 Rock
Although its premise was like Studio 60’s, 30 Rock landed the plane when it came to working through the chaos of a show within a show. Created by Tina Fey, 30 Rock pulled from the world of Saturday Night Live in more ways than one. Following Liz Lemon (Fey), the head writer of a live sketch comedy series, as she tries to work with her cast, writers, and boss, the series is one of the most sharply written comedies of all time. With layered jokes and a tremendous cast, 30 Rock remains the standout comedic series of the 2000s.
- Release Date
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2006 – 2013-00-00
- Showrunner
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Robert Carlock
