History's Best Selling TV Shows of 2006

Hats off to 2006! Few tv commanded as much fanfare and nationwide excitement as Friday Night Lights. Alongside sensationally popular hits like 30 Rock and essential classics, consumers eagerly embraced the Y2K fever and early digital revolution. Pioneering outfits from industry leaders like Peter Berg and Tina Fey set the standard for quality, producing celebrated items that dominated airwaves and playground buzz alike. Browse our definitive retrospective below to rediscover the genuine articles of the era.

1. Friday Night Lights

   Released in 2006 by Peter Berg, NBC, The 101 Network

   On October 3, 2006, NBC introduced American audiences to the small, football-obsessed town of Dillon, Texas, with the series premiere of 'Friday Night Lights.' Based on the acclaimed book by H.G. Bissinger and the successful 2004 film, the television adaptation arrived with high critical expectations. Developed by Peter Berg, who also directed the film, the show promised a deeper, more character-focused exploration of the world he had brought to the big screen. Its debut marked the beginning of a series that, despite perennial ratings struggles, would become one of the most critically beloved dramas of its era, redefining what a sports-centric show could be by focusing intensely on the human stories happening off the field.

2. 30 Rock

   Released in 2006 by Tina Fey, NBC

   On October 11, 2006, NBC premiered a sitcom that would go on to redefine the network comedy landscape for the new millennium. "30 Rock," created by and starring "Saturday Night Live" head writer Tina Fey, debuted to strong critical buzz. At the time, single-camera comedies without laugh tracks were still finding their footing against traditional sitcoms. Fey, fresh off her success with the film "Mean Girls" and her iconic Sarah Palin impersonation on SNL, leveraged her insider knowledge of television production to create a series that was both a workplace comedy and a sharp, meta-satire of the very industry that produced it. The premiere introduced audiences to the chaotic world behind the scenes of a sketch comedy show, setting the stage for one of television's most acclaimed comedies.