History's Best Selling TV Shows of 2009

Revisiting 2009 presents a grand parade of tv history, marked by Y2K fever and early digital revolution and enduring fan favorites. Unrivaled hits including Parks and Recreation, Community, and The Good Wife took top honors in living rooms and storefronts alike. Master craftsmen from industry leaders like Greg Daniels & Michael Schur and Dan Harmon led the vanguard, engineering high-caliber releases that dominated airwaves and playground buzz alike. Dive into the full historical rankings below to see which standout creations won the day.

1. Parks and Recreation

   Released in 2009 by Greg Daniels & Michael Schur, NBC

   On April 9, 2009, NBC introduced viewers to the small, quirky town of Pawnee, Indiana, with the series premiere of 'Parks and Recreation'. Airing immediately after 'The Office', the show arrived with high expectations, as it was co-created by Greg Daniels and Michael Schur, key figures behind the American version of 'The Office'. The television landscape was dominated by single-camera sitcoms, and this new entry promised a similar mockumentary style but with a focus on local government. This date marks the first time audiences met the relentlessly optimistic Leslie Knope and her eclectic group of colleagues, setting the stage for a comedy that would evolve from a simple workplace sitcom into a beloved, heartwarming portrait of friendship, public service, and unwavering hope.

2. Community

   Released in 2009 by Dan Harmon, NBC, Yahoo! Screen

   On September 17, 2009, NBC aired the pilot episode of 'Community,' introducing audiences to the quirky Greendale Community College. The show premiered as part of the network's highly acclaimed Thursday night comedy block, alongside established hits like 'The Office' and '30 Rock.' While initially marketed as a more conventional sitcom about a disbarred lawyer forming a study group, its debut hinted at the meta-humor and genre-bending creativity that would define it. The premiere set the stage for a critically acclaimed but ratings-challenged run, quickly fostering a passionate and dedicated fanbase that would fight for its survival for six seasons and beyond, making this date the beginning of a television cult classic.

3. The Good Wife

   Released in 2009 by Robert King, Michelle King, CBS

   On September 22, 2009, CBS premiered a new series that would redefine the broadcast network drama for the modern era. "The Good Wife" arrived at a time when television was increasingly dominated by gritty, serialized cable dramas. While CBS was known for its highly successful and formulaic procedurals, this show offered something different: a sophisticated blend of case-of-the-week legal intrigue with complex, long-form character development. Its debut was remarkably timely, tapping directly into the public consciousness shaped by recent high-profile political scandals, most notably the Eliot Spitzer prostitution scandal. The premiere introduced audiences to Alicia Florrick, a woman forced to reclaim her life and career after her husband's public downfall, immediately establishing a compelling premise that felt both ripped-from-the-headlines and deeply personal.

4. Modern Family

   Released in 2009 by Christopher Lloyd, Steven Levitan, ABC

   On September 23, 2009, American television audiences were introduced to a new kind of family sitcom with the premiere of "Modern Family" on ABC. Debuting in an era where single-camera comedies were challenging the dominance of the traditional multi-camera, laugh-track format, the show immediately stood out. Its use of the mockumentary style, popularized by shows like "The Office," was innovatively applied to a domestic setting. The pilot episode, which cleverly wove together the stories of three seemingly separate families only to reveal their interconnection in a touching final scene, signaled the arrival of a comedy that was both brilliantly structured and full of heart, setting the stage for a decade-long run that would redefine the genre.