March Madness: The Best TV Show of the 21st Century (Round of 32)

By Dustin Rowles | TV | March 19, 2018 |

By Dustin Rowles | TV | March 19, 2018 |

Last week’s first round of the Best TV Show of the 21st Century was fun, wasn’t it? Some of many of All of you expressed some disgruntlement with the way the tournament was set up, and I hear you. Do you think I enjoyed seeing some of my favorites (Friday Night Lights, Freaks and Geeks, Scrubs The goddamn Leftovers) voted out of the first round?

Actually, I did, because it brought you all so much torment and that which brings you all mental misery allows me to sleep at night. But, I am willing to listen to your complaints and do something about it, and by that, I mean: Save two of your favorite shows from defeat. Why? Because 1) it is equitable, and 2) because it gives me another opportunity to torment you.

Granted, most of the decisions you will have to make in the round of 32 are much easier, but that’s only because I’m trying to prolong the misery.

In furtherance of that, and to make room for the two most popular losers, I have combined the four least popular winners in terms of vote count. Neither of these four shows are going to win the ultimate bracket, but it’s nice to have a Cinderella make it to the Sweet 16, isn’t it?

1. The Non-Contenders

Stacking four in one category allows me to bring back these two popular losers, but I am pitting them against each other because this shouldn’t be easy.

2. Second Chance.

Here are the rest of the brackets, thematically paired to the best of my ability.

3. Big Government

4. Law Enforcement

5. Spies.

6. Philly vs. Atlanta.

7. Workplace.

8. Space Opera.

10. Newport Beach vs. Springfield

11. British Geniuses.

12. AMC Antiheroes.

13. Groundbreaking HBO Dramas.

14. NBC Must See TV

15. Will They Won’t They

16. Purgatory vs. The Upside Down.