The best free TV shows streaming on Pluto

Pluto TV is a fast-growing online streaming service that offers audiences the opportunity to watch the entire catalog for free. Pluto uses advertising rather than subscriptions to generate revenue and has a number of “channels” that run 24/7 – almost like old-fashioned television. These range from “Pluto 007”, which airs Bond films back to back, to “The Bob Ross Channel”, which shows Bond films The joy of painting. From Golden Age sitcoms to classic sci-fi films, Pluto truly seems to have something for everyone and has even added children’s shows to its ever-growing library.

Pluto also has a huge range of on-demand programs that the viewer can select and watch at any time. It is one of the few streaming services that has its own channel for classic westerns, but also has an extensive catalog of 21st century series. There are vintage British shows, quirky forgotten comedies and prestige TV dramas – but some series stand out more than others. There are some shows on the platform that have really stood the test of time and have been groundbreaking and revolutionary in their own way. Pluto is a great starting point for anyone looking for genre-defining classics, but also shows that did incredibly well in their own right.

10 Cheers (1982-1993)

Release date

September 30, 1982

Seasons

11

network

NBC

One of the most famous and popular sitcoms of all time, Cheers is set in a bar (after which the show is named) in Boston and its owner, Sam Malone, is played flawlessly by Ted Danson. The series features a huge ensemble cast including Rhea Perlman as Carla Tortelli, Shelley Long as Diane Chambers, Woody Harrelson as Woody Boyd and Kelsey Grammer as Frasier Crane – who would later star in his own spin-off. Cheers The entire cast became stars, and its consistently high ratings have led some to call it the best sitcom of all time.

9 Dark Shadows (1966-1971)

It’s not often that there’s a series that combines science fiction and the supernatural and presents the result like a soap opera – not yet Dark shadows did exactly that. The series is about the Collins family and is set in the fictional seaside village of Collinsport, Maine. With vampires, ghosts and zombies as well as science fiction elements such as time travel and alternative realities. Dark shadows gained a huge cult following, and it’s no wonder that the series has been revived on television several times, spawned a feature film directed by Tim Burton, and is still continuing in radio drama form almost 60 years later.

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8 The Good Wife (2009–2016)

Release date

September 22, 2009

Pour

Julianna Margulies, Matt Czuchry, Archie Panjabi, Graham Phillips, Makenzie Vega, Josh Charles, Christine Baranski, Alan Cumming, Zach Grenier, Matthew Goode, Cush Jumbo, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Chris Noth

Seasons

7

network

CBS

In 2009, CBS took a risk The good woman. The series was heavily serialized and had long storylines that required multiple episodes – or even multiple seasons – to fully play out, which was unusual for the network at the time. Nevertheless, the series very quickly gained a huge audience. The show centered on Julianna Margulies’ Emmy-winning portrayal of Alicia Florrick, who returns to her career as a lawyer after her husband’s political sex scandal, and paved the way for spin-off shows The good fight And Elsbethas well as a number of international versions.

7 Gun smoke (1955-1975)

Release date

September 10, 1955

Pour

James Arness, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake, Dennis Weaver, Burt Reynolds, Ken Curtis, Roger Ewing, Buck Taylor

Seasons

20

Creator

Charles Marquis Warren, Clyde Ware

Originally titled Marshal Dillon, Gun smoke is one of the few television shows to boast over 600 episodes over a 20-year period. Adapted from the radio play of the same name, the series follows James Arness as Matt Dillon, a marshal whose life’s job is to protect the citizens of Dodge City, Kansas. It was one of the few TV Westerns produced primarily for an adult audience at the time, but that clearly worked in the series’ favor given its longevity and frequent inclusion on lists of the best TV shows of all time.

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6 Hannibal (2013–2015)

Release date

April 4, 2013

Seasons

3

studio

NBC

Hannibal Lecter is one of the most iconic horror characters ever written, so it stands to reason that audiences would like to see this character in new, interesting situations. Hannibal Showrunner Bryan Fuller’s television version of the character, played shockingly well by Mads Mikkelsen, allows audiences to participate in the series’ events for longer than they would in a film adaptation. This means that the series is able to add quite a bit of psychological depth to its characters. With a cast that also includes Hugh Dancy, Laurence Fishburne and Gillian Anderson, and some of the most stylish directors in television history, Hannibal is not a show to miss.

5 Key & Peele (2012–2015)

Key & Peele

Release date

January 31, 2012

Seasons

5

network

Comedy Central

In a world where Exit And No With films being so critically acclaimed, it’s hard to remember that actor/writer/director Jordan Peele got his start as a comedian alongside his frequent collaborator Keegan-Michael Key. Comedy Central Key & Peele was instrumental in reviving the sketch comedy series. Viewers are sure to have their favorite sketches from the series, be it the Burnt Offering sketch or the Stan Lee Superhero Pitch. Both Key and Peele are incredibly talented writers and performers, and the series’ multiple Emmy wins are well-deserved.

4 NewsRadio (1995-1999)

NewsRadio is a sitcom set on a fictional New York City AM news radio station, WNYX. The series, which premiered in 1995, stars Dave Foley as the station’s news director and features a diverse cast including Phil Hartman, Stephen Root and Maura Tierney. The show humorously explores the dynamics within the diverse team of news anchors, producers and office staff, combining workplace comedy with character-based humor.

Release date

March 21, 1995

Seasons

5

network

NBC

Creator

Paul Simms

In five seasons and almost 100 episodes NewsRadio is unique in the wide range of American sitcoms. Children in the hall Star Dave Foley was a perfect match for the charming and highly talented news director Dave Nelson, and his performance helped propel the series’ increasingly bizarre storylines. Featuring an ensemble of eccentric and unusual characters (including Joe Garrelli, played by a youthful pre-podcast Joe Rogan, and the late, great Phil Hartman), the series attracted well-known comedic guest actors including Norm Macdonald and Bob Odenkirk , and David Cross. NewsRadio was bold and different from other sitcoms of the time – even if this occasionally resulted in low ratings.

3 Star Trek: The Original Series (1966-1969)

Star Trek: The Original Series

Release date

September 8, 1966

Pour

William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Deforest Kelley, James Doohan, George Takei, Nichelle Nichols, Walter Koenig, Frank da Vinci, Eddie Paskey, Roger Holloway, Ron Veto

Seasons

3

network

Of utmost importance

Everyone has heard about it Star Trek. Whether the audience is fans of the newly launched films or the animated series Star Trek: Lower Decksor the current Paramount+ show Strange New Worldsit’s all thanks to the original series from the 1960s. Star Trek: The Original Series was revolutionary and completely shaped the possibilities of a science fiction TV show. The budget was high, the graphics were impressive, and the performances from industry giants William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy were iconic. This was a series that knew what it was about from the first episode and yet never stopped changing its own episodic formula.

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2 Stargate SG-1 (1997-2007)

Release date

July 27, 1997

Seasons

10

A sequel and spin-off to the 1994 science fiction film epic Stargate, Stargate SG-1 tells the adventures of the earthly military team SG-1 as they travel through the universe using the Stargate. Their mission is to discover alien technologies that can help defend humanity against the Goa’uld. The series ran for ten seasons and led to further spin-offs: Stargate Atlantis, Stargate InfinityAnd Stargate universe. Over the course of his decade on air, SG-1 has gained a lot of fans and until 2022 there were annual “GateCon” conventions for its dedicated followers.

1 The Twilight Zone (1959-1964)

The Twilight Zone (1959)

Release date

October 2, 1959

Seasons

5

network

CBS

The twilight zone is less of a standalone television show and more like a series of television movies, as each episode of this anthology series is completely standalone. Rod Sterling’s monologue in every episode is pretty much the only consistency in the series – other than the quality of the series. Although 156 episodes were aired over the course of his tenure (and the stage was set for several reboots), almost every single episode is worth watching for its important moral messages and mind-expanding ideas. The series was a landmark for science fiction and its influence can be seen virtually throughout the genre and in twist-heavy titles.