The Best CBS Shows Of The 1960s, Ranked

Long before streaming queues and autoplay buttons, American families had a simple ritual:
somebody yelled, “It’s on!” and everyone sprinted to the couch. If you were tuning in during
the 1960s, chances are good that the glowing logo in the corner of your TV belonged to CBS.
The network dominated the decade with a lineup of sitcoms, westerns, variety hours, and
cutting-edge dramas that still shape television today.

This list of the best CBS shows of the 1960s, ranked, mixes fan affection, cultural impact,
and critical reputation. Some of these classics made viewers laugh until the rabbit ears
wobbled; others kept them wide awake, staring into the strange, twist-filled future of TV
storytelling. All of them helped define what “must see TV” meant long before it was a
marketing slogan.

How We Ranked The Best CBS Shows Of The 1960s

Any ranking of classic CBS shows is guaranteed to start at least three family arguments and
one group text fight, so here’s the simple formula used to keep things fair:

• Popularity in the 1960s: Nielsen ratings, number of seasons, and how often
  CBS kept renewing a show were all clues that audiences couldn’t get enough.
• Enduring legacy: These shows still surface in syndication blocks,
  marathons, streaming libraries, memes, and Halloween costumes. If a series is still part of
  the cultural conversation, that mattered.
• Critical and fan respect: Awards, later “best-of” lists, and the ways
  critics and fans still talk about the show helped separate enduring classics from forgotten
  curiosities.
• CBS identity: These series helped shape the network’s brand in the ‘60s:
  small-town charm, high-stakes drama, inventive comedy, and big-tent variety that appealed
  to all ages.

With that in mind, let’s step back into primetime, spin the giant channel dial, and revisit
the greatest CBS shows of the 1960s, ranked.

The Best CBS Shows Of The 1960s, Ranked

1. The Andy Griffith Show (1960–1968)

If “comfort TV” needed a single representative, it would probably be Sheriff Andy Taylor
whistling down the streets of Mayberry with young Opie in tow. The Andy Griffith Show
ran for eight seasons on CBS and delivered 249 episodes of small-town stories about parenting,
friendship, and community life, all wrapped in gentle humor and front-porch wisdom.

The magic of the show is how low stakes the problems often were: a fishing
trip gone wrong, a wayward goat, a miscommunication at the church social. Yet the emotional
stakes were always high enough that you cared who apologized, who learned something, and who
got the last slice of Aunt Bee’s pie. Don Knotts as Deputy Barney Fife turned nervous energy
into an art form, winning multiple Emmys for his performance. Decades later, the series still
plays in syndication and on streaming, proving that kindness and a good one-liner never go
out of style.

2. The Twilight Zone (1959–1964)

Technically, Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone launched in 1959, but its peak cultural
influence hit in the early 1960s, and it remains one of CBS’s most important creations. Each
anthology episode dropped viewers into a self-contained story where ordinary people stumbled
into the extraordinary: a diner that might be full of aliens, a town terrorized by a
telepathic child, or a salesman bargaining with Death himself.

What makes the show rank this high isn’t just the famous twist endingsit’s the way Serling
smuggled social commentary into prime time using science fiction and fantasy. Episodes tackled
prejudice, nuclear anxiety, conformity, and the dangers of unchecked power, all under the
cover of eerie music and black-and-white shadows. The show’s visual style and narrative
structure are still copied, parodied, and honored today. Any time you hear someone say,
“Feels like the Twilight Zone,” that’s free advertising for CBS history.

3. The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961–1966)

The Dick Van Dyke Show did something surprisingly modern for the early ‘60s: it made
the life of a TV writer feel glamorous. Rob Petrie splits his time between the writers’ room
of The Alan Brady Show and his suburban home with his wife Laura, played by Mary
Tyler Moore. Instead of loud slapstick, the series leaned into sharp banter, physical comedy
with a dancer’s grace (Van Dyke tripping over that ottoman is television legend), and
believable relationship humor.

It might look like a simple domestic sitcom, but under the surface it nudged at gender roles
and workplace expectations. Laura is smart, funny, and clearly capable of more than just
ironing shirts; the writers’ room is chaotic, creative, and full of eccentric personalities.
Many modern workplace comediesfrom 30 Rock to The Officeowe a debt to
this show’s structure and tone. Also, it’s still laugh-out-loud funny, which is the real test
of a classic.

4. The Beverly Hillbillies (1962–1971)

You can’t talk about CBS in the 1960s without the Clampetts crashing the party in their
overloaded truck. After striking oil on their land, this rural family moves to Beverly Hills,
where their down-home habits collide with high society in The Beverly Hillbillies.
The premise is simple, but the execution is pure gold: Granny feuds with modern medicine,
banker Milburn Drysdale panics about the Clampetts moving their money, and Elly May happily
turns the mansion into a one-woman wildlife rescue center.

The show became one of the most-watched series of the decade and a defining example of CBS’s
so-called “rural comedies” era. Behind the bumpkin jokes, there’s a sly satire of status and
class: the “simple” Clampetts often turn out to be the kindest and most sensible people in
the room. Plus, once that bluegrass theme song starts up, you’ll be singing about Jed
Clampett for the rest of the day.

5. Gilligan’s Island (1964–1967)

On paper, Gilligan’s Island should not have worked: seven wildly different
personalities trapped on one island, endlessly failing to get rescued because of a lovable
but accident-prone first mate. In practice, it became one of CBS’s most enduring cult
favorites. Each episode plays like a live-action cartoon: coconut inventions, bizarre
visitors who somehow manage to leave without taking the castaways, and the eternal question
of whether you’re more of a “Ginger” or a “Mary Ann” person.

While it only ran three seasons in the ‘60s, the show exploded in syndication. A whole
generation of kids discovered it in after-school reruns, and it lives on through reunion
movies, parodies, and constant references in other media. The series is a masterclass in
character types: the Skipper, the Professor, the Millionaire and his Wifeall instantly
recognizable archetypes that keep the simple premise feeling fresh.

6. Mission: Impossible (1966–1973)

Long before Tom Cruise dangled off the world’s tallest buildings, the original Mission:
Impossible made CBS the home of high-tech espionage. Each episode begins with that
legendary tape: “Your mission, should you choose to accept it…”followed by an intricate
con, disguise-heavy infiltration, or psychological mind game executed by the IMF (Impossible
Missions Force).

The show’s structure is deeply satisfying: assemble the team, plan the mission, watch the
dominoes fall. The series stood out for its ensemble cast, clever gadgetry, and Lalo
Schifrin’s propulsive theme music in 5/4 time, which instantly raises your heart rate even
if you’re just microwaving leftovers. Its cinematic feel helped raise the bar for television
action and inspired decades of spy dramas that followed.

7. Gunsmoke (1955–1975, 1960s peak)

Yes, Gunsmoke started in the 1950s and continued all the way into the ‘70s, but the
1960s were its powerhouse years on CBS. Set in Dodge City, Kansas, the series follows Marshal
Matt Dillon as he tries to keep the peace in a frontier town where trouble rides in with
every stagecoach. Unlike many westerns of its time, Gunsmoke leaned into moral
ambiguity and character development. Villains weren’t always purely evil, and heroes didn’t
always make the perfect choice.

For many viewers, the show is less about gunfights and more about the relationships between
Dillon, saloon owner Miss Kitty, Doc Adams, and the deputies who ride at his side. The
stories often play like compact morality plays, asking what justice means in a place where
the law is still being written. Its long run and persistent popularity cemented CBS as the
king of the TV western.

8. Hawaii Five-O (1968–1980)

In the late ‘60s, CBS took viewers somewhere exotic: the sun-soaked, crime-ridden world of
Hawaii Five-O. Centered on Steve McGarrett and his elite state police task force,
the series blended tropical scenery with tough crime stories. It was one of the first network
dramas to be filmed almost entirely on location, which gave it a glossy, cinematic look that
set it apart from studio-bound peers.

The show’s contributions to pop culture are huge. The title theme still ranks among TV’s most
recognizable pieces of music, and McGarrett’s “Book ’em, Danno” catchphrase is quoted by
people who’ve never actually seen the show. Its procedural structurecase of the week, team
dynamics, a mix of action and investigationset the stage for decades of crime dramas that
followed, from NCIS to CSI.

9. Perry Mason (1957–1966, 1960s run)

Before prestige legal dramas filled out primetime schedules, there was Perry Mason.
Raymond Burr’s unflappable defense attorney became the face of courtroom television for a
generation. Each episode followed a familiar but irresistible pattern: weird crime, innocent
suspect, relentless investigation, and a climactic courtroom twist where Mason reveals the
real culpritusually to gasps, tears, or someone dramatically standing up and confessing.

During the 1960s, the show was a staple of CBS’s lineup and helped establish viewers’ love
for procedural storytelling. It’s easy to see its fingerprints in modern series like
Law & Order and every other drama where lawyers land last-minute revelations.
Fans still return to Perry Mason for its reassuring formula: no matter how tangled
the mystery, the truth will come out by the final act.

10. Green Acres (1965–1971)

If The Beverly Hillbillies is the city colliding with the country, Green
Acres is the city literally moving out to the farm and immediately regretting it. New
York attorney Oliver Wendell Douglas drags his glamorous wife Lisa to the rural community of
Hooterville so he can live his dream of becoming a farmer. The problem? The farm is a mess,
the neighbors are deeply odd, and Lisa thinks hot running water is a basic human right.

What starts as a fish-out-of-water sitcom gradually morphs into one of the strangest,
sharpest comedies on CBS. The show toys with surreal jokes, meta humor, and self-aware
characters who sometimes seem to know they’re on television. Its mix of rural charm and
absurdist comedy makes it feel oddly moderneven more so if you’ve ever watched someone move
from the city to experiment with “simple living” and then meet reality.

11. The Ed Sullivan Show (1948–1971, 1960s highlight years)

Variety shows were everywhere in the ‘60s, but CBS’s The Ed Sullivan Show was the
one that could change your entire social life overnight. If you missed an episode where a
major act appeared, you’d be hearing about it at school or at the office all week. Sullivan’s
mix of musical performances, comedy, novelty acts, and big-name guests turned Sunday nights
into a shared national event.

The show’s 1960s run hosted some of the most important TV moments in music history, including
the Beatles’ U.S. debut and appearances by Motown stars, stand-up comics, and Broadway
legends. It wasn’t just entertainment; it was a cultural bulletin board, letting families
glimpse everything from rock ’n’ roll to opera in one sitting. In an era of fractured viewing,
it’s hard to imagine a single show having that kind of unifying power again.

12. The Lucy Show (1962–1968)

After I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball could have retired as a TV legend. Instead, she
returned to CBS with The Lucy Show, proving that her impeccable timing and fearless
physical comedy still had plenty of mileage. This time, Lucy plays a widow sharing a home
with her divorced friend Vivian as they raise their children and stumble into one chaotic
situation after another.

The series kept the spirit of Lucy Ricardo’s antics alive while nudging the premise into the
modern ‘60s world of single mothers, work, and independence. Famous guest stars stopped by,
Lucy tackled everything from office work to outrageous publicity stunts, and CBS got another
long-running hit anchored by one of the greatest comedians in TV history. It’s a fitting
capstone for our ranking: a show that proves the ‘60s were just as much about reinvention as
tradition.

Honorable Mentions

Plenty of other CBS shows from the 1960s could make a case for inclusion: Petticoat
Junction, Family Affair, My Three Sons (which moved to CBS mid-decade),
and a host of game shows and anthology series that filled out the schedule. If your favorite
didn’t make the top twelve, consider this your official invitation to start your own ranking
and argue about it over coffee, just like TV fans did in 1965.

What It’s Like To Rewatch These CBS ’60s Classics Today

Binge-watching these CBS greats in the 21st century is a surprisingly emotional experience.
On the surface, they’re time capsules: rotary phones, tail-finned cars, and wardrobes full of
suits, hats, and perfectly pressed dresses. But underneath the vintage packaging, the themes
feel remarkably familiar. Watching Andy Taylor gently help Opie navigate friendships and
mistakes isn’t that far from modern parenting storylinesit’s just that nobody is checking
their smartphone between heartfelt speeches.

The pacing is the first big shock if you’re used to today’s rapid-fire editing. A
Gunsmoke episode might spend a full scene on a quiet conversation in the Long Branch
Saloon, letting a character’s guilt slowly rise to the surface. Perry Mason will
walk you patiently through evidence and testimony instead of dropping a twist every five
minutes. At first, this slower rhythm can feel almost too relaxed, but after a few episodes
it becomes part of the pleasurelike trading fast food for a long, unhurried dinner.

Comedy also lands differently. Some jokes in The Beverly Hillbillies or
Green Acres feel delightfully timeless (physical comedy is forever), while others
reveal how much social attitudes have changed. That mix makes the shows fascinating cultural
documents. You can see the push-and-pull of the era: traditional family roles on one hand,
and on the other, characters like Laura Petrie or Lisa Douglas quietly stretching the
boundaries of what TV wives could be.

Then there’s the communal factor. In the 1960s, these CBS hits were appointment television.
Today, they’ve become cozy background companionssomething you put on while cooking, folding
laundry, or texting friends who are watching the same rerun miles away. Modern marathons and
streaming releases recreate a bit of that shared experience. There’s a special thrill in
discovering that someone else is also staying up late to watch a black-and-white
Twilight Zone episode they’ve seen ten times, just to feel that chill at the final
twist one more time.

Perhaps the biggest surprise is how hopeful many of these series feel. Even when dealing with
crime, fear, or injustice, they nearly always land on the idea that people can choose to do
the right thing. The sheriff tries to be fair, the lawyer fights for the innocent, the
castaways keep helping each other even when rescue seems impossible. In a media landscape
that often leans into cynicism, returning to these CBS classics can feel like a reset for the
soula reminder that television once made room for sincerity without irony.

So if you’re looking for a viewing project, consider building your own mini “CBS 1960s
channel.” Start with a Mayberry double feature, jump to a spooky trip through
The Twilight Zone, cleanse the palate with The Dick Van Dyke Show, and end
the night in Hawaii telling Danno to book someone. You’ll get more than nostalgiayou’ll get
a masterclass in how television learned to tell stories that still matter.