Photo Coverage: Best in TV: The Greatest TV Shows of All Time Hosted by Barbara Walters

What are the greatest television shows of all time? Who are our favorite TV mom and dad? Who is our favorite television host of all time? It's America's turn to decide, as a collaboration between ABC News and PEOPLE Magazine gave TV fans the opportunity to vote online at www.bestintelevision.com for their favorites of all time. With more than one million votes cast, the results will be revealed during an unprecedented two-hour broadcast, a special edition of "20/20", "Best in TV: The Greatest TV Shows of Our Time with Barbara Walters," airing TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 (9:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on ABC, in conjunction with ABC's broadcast of the Emmy Awards. 

 

The program will include fresh interviews with stars, directors and producers including Desi Arnaz Jr. and Lucie Arnaz, Carol Burnett, Tim Conway, Tina Fey, Mariska Hargitay, Florence Henderson, Christina Hendricks, Ron Howard, Warren Littlefield, Lorne Michaels, Muppets Kermit and Miss Piggy, Phylicia Rashad, Rob Reiner, Ryan Seacrest, Keith Thibodeaux -- aka Little Ricky -- from "I Love Lucy," Betty White and Dick Wolf.

 

The special will also include classic clips from America's favorite shows, as well as out-takes, screen tests and rare behind-the-scenes footage. In additiona, a panel of pop culture and television experts, including several editors and writers from PEOPLE, will weigh in with their thoughts and memories. 

 

Categories: 

Best TV Comedy

Best TV Drama

Best Legal or Cop Show

Favorite TV Mom

Favorite TV Dad

Favorite Reality Show

Best Talk Show Host

Best Non-Human Character

Favorite TV Variety Show

Best TV Show of All Time

 

PEOPLE will announce the winners in the Favorite Reality Show and Most Memorable TV Moments categories in the issue which hits newsstand on September 14. Winners in the Best TV Game Show, Favorite Soap Opera/Daytime Drama, Best Animated Show and Favorite TV Theme Song categories will be revealed online at www.bestintelevision.com in conjunction with the "Best in TV" airdate. While on the "Best in TV" site, television fans also have the opportunity to view clips, slide shows and interviews. 

 

Online Voting: Several dozen Emmy Award winning actors, directors and producers, along with several TV journalists, selected the nominees in each category by choosing their favorites from a list of hundreds of shows old and new. The "all star" panel included luminaries like actors Tim Allen, Valerie Harper and Jimmy Smits, and producers/directors/creators Stephen Bochco, Mark Burnett, Norman Lear, Warren Littlefield, Chuck Lorre and Shonda Rhimes, among many others.