Schitt’s Creek is the only Canadian series listed in The New York Times’ ranking of the 100 best TV shows of the 21st century so far, placing at No. 34.
The Story
The New York Times has released a list of the 100 best television series of the 21st century so far, and it includes just one Canadian-made show: Schitt’s Creek, ranked at number 34.
The newspaper’s ranking has sparked debate online over omissions and representation, including questions about where series such as The Sopranos fit given its January 1999 premiere, which places it in the 20th century and therefore outside the list’s stated time frame.
Among the top entries cited in the list are Mad Men at number three, The Wire at number two, and Breaking Bad at number one, with viewers taking to social media to argue over whether certain acclaimed series deserve higher placement.
The list also drew attention to the number of shows featuring, or written and produced by, people of colour, with the newspaper noting that only Atlanta and The Wire are among the highest-ranked series that prominently feature or were made by people of colour.
Schitt’s Creek is described as a six-season sitcom that ran from 2015 to 2020, created by Toronto-born actor and writer Dan Levy alongside Eugene Levy.
The series follows the Rose family, portrayed as once-wealthy, who lose their money and are forced to restart their lives in a small town portrayed as isolated and eccentric.
During its run, Schitt’s Creek originally aired in Canada on CBC and in the United States on Pop TV, and it accumulated multiple major award recognitions, including more than 30 Canadian Screen Awards, two Critics’ Choice Television Awards, nine Emmys, and two Golden Globes.
The Golden Globes cited include Best Television Series and Best Actress for Catherine O’Hara, who is noted as having died earlier this year.
In addition to the single clear Canadian entry, the list includes series with Canadian ties, either through authorship or performers, according to the details provided.
Nathan For You, ranked at number 56, is described as being Canadian-adjacent because it stars Vancouver-born comedian Nathan Fielder, though the satirical docu-reality series is identified as being primarily filmed in Los Angeles and aired on the U.S. cable network Comedy Central.
The Handmaid’s Tale, ranked at number 67, is included as an adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s novel, with the television adaptation described as being filmed entirely in Ontario over its six-season run, which concluded in May 2025.
Station Eleven, ranked at number 93, is also described as an adaptation of a novel by Emily St. John Mandel; while the book is set in Toronto, the series is said to primarily take place in Chicago, with portions filmed in Toronto and featuring some Canadian actors, including Mackenzie Davis in a lead role.
The New York Times list also leaves out a number of other Canadian or Canadian-linked shows mentioned in online discussion, including Heated Rivalry, Orphan Black, Kim’s Convenience, and North of North.
The ongoing conversation reflects how Canadian audiences are weighing the list’s criteria and what qualifies as a Canadian series, especially when a production involves cross-border filming locations, international settings, or Canadian creative influence.
For Vancouver and other readers across British Columbia, the ranking underscores how Canadian television continues to draw international attention, from domestic awards success to nominations and placements alongside major U.S. and global hits.
The ranking also highlights how strictly defined time windows—such as whether a premiere date falls in the 20th or 21st century—can affect the visibility of major older series in retrospective “best of” lists.
← More stories