And I'm totally ok with breaking the rules of the original post in the "Top 5 TV Shows of all time"....

1) Anything with Star Trek in the title.
-TOS: For being innovative and pioneering
-TNG: For being mainstream and creating some big moments
-DS6: For the best writing and acting
-Voy: For the perfect blend of the exploring the unknown & story arc
-Ent: For re-imagining what has come before

2) Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel
- For making vampires cool, before they were popular. For maintaining the mythos behind the vampire while still achieving whatever story elements were desired. For exploring what it was like to grow up from a different perspective

3) Oz
- For creating such a gritty/vivid story with characters who are admittedly flawed in multiple ways. Also, for being able to utilize an ensamble cast with multiple storylines without getting bogged down.

4) Battlestar Galactica (remade series)
- I admit that the quality did decrease over the years, but for the most part, the series was phenominal (much credit to Season 1 in particular). It took all the best elements of the past with a contemporary viewpoint, and created something greater then the sum of its parts.

5) Lost
- Much like Oz, big ensamble cast...multiple storylines. I enjoyed the depth of the series...how the viewer could read into every little thing. The fact that I identified so well with a main character helped.

*****
Now let me toss in a few reality shows.
-Top Chef (any incarnation...cooking=food=yum)
-Project Runway/Accessory...I like to see the drama & innovation
-So You Think You Can Dance....cause they really can dance

*****
Animated
-Rouroni Kenshen (sp?)- The batosai reverse-blade blade master. Fantastic story...well, the first 2 seasons.
-G.I. Joe- The orginal series...great times
-Thundercats- The original series...great memories

*****
Honorable Mentions
Startacus Blood and Sand/Gods of the Arena- More then just swords & sandles
Game of Thrones- For a great start
Firefly- For what it could have been
Boardwalk Empire- A drama on a slow boil
True Blood- A grown up Buffy/Angel
Strike Back- What 24 should have been, but couldn't get to.
The Big Bang Theory- For ministering to my nerd

So yeah....I broke the rules, but that's ok, cause I got to think through a bunch of my favorite shows.
~Jeordam