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"Breaking Bad," the story of a chemistry teacher who turns to producing and selling methamphetamine after a cancer diagnosis, has been named the best television series of the 21st century in a ranking published by The New York Times.
For the list of the 100 best shows, the newspaper surveyed more than 500 actors, showrunners, writers, craftspeople, executives and other industry figures, asking each to select up to 10 of the best series to premiere on or after January 1, 2000.
Created by Vince Gilligan, Breaking Bad follows former chemistry teacher Walter White, played by Bryan Cranston, as he moves from a small-time drug producer to a ruthless kingpin.
The series aired for five seasons on the cable channel AMC from 2008 to 2013 and finished ahead of the HBO crime drama The Wire and the period drama Mad Men.
Breaking Bad received widespread critical acclaim during its original run and won multiple Primetime Emmy Awards, including outstanding drama series in its final two seasons. The show also produced a spin-off series, Better Call Saul, and a follow-up film, El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie.
Succession, centered on a media dynasty and its internal fight for control, placed fourth, while the British comedy-drama Fleabag ranked fifth.
The top 10 series were "Breaking Bad," "The Wire," "Mad Men," "Succession," "Fleabag," "Game of Thrones," "Veep," "30 Rock," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," and "Atlanta."
The Sopranos, widely regarded as one of the most influential dramas in television history, was not eligible for the ranking because it premiered in 1999, before the list's cutoff date, though it continued airing until 2007, seven months before "Breaking Bad" debuted.
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