1

Friends

Image: Ilse Orsel

Who couldn’t sing along to the opening song of Friends ? "I'll be there for you" is an anthem that sparks instant nostalgia. Friends was the comfort blanket of the '90s and early 2000s: Six pals navigating life and love in a surprisingly affordable New York apartment.

Rachel, Ross, Monica, Chandler, Joey, and Phoebe. Over 52 million viewers watched the finale. For ten years, Friends made millions feel like part of the gang.

2

The Ed Sullivan Show

Image: william f. santos

For over two decades, between 1948 and 1971, The Ed Sullivan Show was America’s Sunday night ritual. It had over 20 million average weekly viewers!

Families gathered in living rooms across the country to watch this variety show that brought together everything from opera to Elvis . And in 1964, over 73 million viewers tuned in to see four mop-topped Brits called The Beatles make their U.S. debut!

3

All in the Family

Image: Daniel von Appen

At the center of the 70s sitcom All in the Family was Archie Bunker, a prejudiced but lovable working-class man played by Carroll O’Connor, whose outdated views clashed with his liberal son-in-law "Meathead" (Rob Reiner).

The show tackled topics like racism, women’s rights, and the Vietnam War, and viewers loved seeing arguments they were having at home play out on screen.

4

Bonanza

Image: Olivier Piquer

Bonanza was the number one show between 1964 and 1967, although it aired from 1959 to 1973. Set on Ponderosa Ranch, near Lake Tahoe, Bonanza was a cowboy family drama .

Audiences fell in love with the Cartwrights: Ben, the wise patriarch, and his three very different sons. The show stood out for its lush color cinematography (very rare at the time) and storylines that combined action with moral lessons.

5

Gunsmoke

Image: Brice Cooper

Gunsmoke, which also boasted the Western genre, remained number 1 for multiple years as well. It was one of the first TV titans to accomplish such a thing. It held the record for the longest-running primetime drama for decades. Set in Dodge City, it followed law-upholding Marshal Matt Dillon (James Arness).

When Chester, Dillon’s original deputy, left the show, fans were devastated. With over 600 episodes , Gunsmoke redefined the genre and left a permanent mark on American pop culture.

6

Jeopardy!

Image: Gift Habeshaw

Jeopardy! is a legacy that started in 1984 and is still going strong! That has led to its amassing over 10 million average viewers over the decades. How many TV shows share the same claim?

For generations, it’s been the show that makes you feel smarter just for watching (if you can outsmart the participants, that is). The answer-first, question-last format ("What is the Eiffel Tower?") became iconic, and the theme music is forever ingrained in America’s collective brain.

7

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire

Image: Jordon Conner

Whenever Regis Philbin asked, "Is that your final answer?" America held its breath. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire exploded onto U.S. screens in 1999 at the turn of the millennium.

The phenomenon drew 28 million viewers at its peak. The first winner, John Carpenter, made headlines for not using a single lifeline until the final question, when he used "Phone a Friend" just to call his dad and say, "I’m about to win a million dollars." That moment alone is a TV legend.

8

Survivor

Image: Rowan Heuvel

Sixteen strangers marooned on a tropical island, forced to build shelter, find food, and outwit each other for a million dollars. This had a social-experiment factor that made it impossible for America to look away.

The very first season, set in Borneo, was an instant smash, with 28 million viewers. Host Jeff Probst’s fire-snuffing catchphrase ("The tribe has spoken") became iconic.

9

American Idol

Image: Eduardo Balderas

Did you watch live as the life of American Idol’s first-ever winner (Kelly Clarkson!) changed forever? In the early 2000s, American Idol turned everyday dreamers into superstars and had the whole country voting on their fates.

At its peak, it drew over 30 million viewers each week.

10

60 Minutes

Image: Alla Eddine Taleb

Do you remember a 60 Minutes episode that had you at the edge of your seat? Beginning in 1968, this show proved that journalism could be far more riveting than fiction.

Its secret was in smart and human storytelling, no-nonsense interviews, and a lineup of legendary correspondents like Mike Wallace, Morley Safer, and Ed Bradley.

11

The Cosby Show

Image: Francisco Andreotti

In the 1980s, The Cosby Show was the cultural touchstone. At its heart was the Huxtable family, an upper-middle-class Black household in Brooklyn, led by Cliff (Bill Cosby), an affable obstetrician, and Clair (Phylicia Rashad), a sharp attorney. Plus their chaotic five kids.

One of the most beloved moments was the family lip-syncing Ray Charles' "Night Time Is the Right Time" for Cliff’s birthday.

12

Seinfeld

Image: Rob Laughter

The premise of Seinfeld was a show about nothing . The sitcom ended up stealing the show. Between 1989 and 1998, Seinfeld cast a light on mundane life (you know, waiting in line, losing socks, awkward small talk) and turned it into comedy gold.

This "show about nothing" gave us four unforgettable New Yorkers: Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer. Its finale drew 76 million viewers, making it one of the most-watched episodes ever.

13

Cheers

Image: Andrea Mininni

This gem of the 80s invited America into a cozy Boston bar that felt like home. Centered around bartender Sam Malone (Ted Danson) and a colorful cast of barflies, waitstaff, and neurotic patrons, it delivered laughs, heart, and genuine warmth.

The chemistry of the ensemble was golden. And what people loved the most was that "Cheers," much like the "Central Perk" of Friends , was a place of belonging.

14

Dallas

Image: K. Mitch Hodge

Of course, Dallas, the ultimate primetime soap, cannot be left out of this list! This dramatic master of cliffhangers left the nation gasping. At its core was J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman), one of TV’s most devious villains, who still had fans rooting for him.

The show became a cultural phenomenon, especially in 1980 when America asked, "Who shot J.R.?" That season finale was watched by more than 80 million people.

15

MAS H

Image: Robert Ruggiero

Set during the Korean War, MASH was unlike anything else on TV. It mixed satire and unforgettable characters in a mobile army surgical hospital. Alan Alda led the cast as Hawkeye Pierce, backed by a beloved ensemble that included Loretta Swit, Jamie Farr, and Mike Farrell.

The show’s final episode, "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen," aired in 1983 and drew 106 million viewers. That was a record that stood for decades!

1

Skydiving accident survivor

Image: Eun-Kwang Bae

Jordan Hatmaker was not an expert, but she had done enough skydiving jumps to recognize when something was wrong. On November 14, 2021, she jumped from a height of 4,100 meters and deployed her parachute. But a series of unfortunate malfunctions led to the chutes opening at the very last moment—and in a disastrous way—causing her to crash land.

Although Jordan survived, she suffered a spinal injury, broke her shin, completely shattered her ankle, and was paralyzed from the waist down. The doctors couldn’t tell if she would ever walk again. Yet, just three months after the accident, she defied expectations and began walking. Since then, she’s even climbed Mount Everest base camp.

2

Survived being frozen for 6 hours

Image: Jared Erondu

Imagine being frozen solid for a full six hours. Almost anybody who has been in a similar situation, even for a much shorter time, has experienced serious consequences or even death. But not Jean Hilliard, who slipped in the ice in the harsh Minnesota winter, knocked herself unconscious and remained frozen for six hours until a friend discovered her.

After her friend took her to the hospital, doctors had trouble inserting an IV cannula because her arm was frozen solid. But, after thawing her with heat pads, Jean came back to life and her body returned to its normal state. Her extremities took a bit longer to come around; her toes, especially, were numb for some time. Remarkably, Jean recovered quickly and has experienced no lasting physical effects from that fateful December night frozen in the ice.

3

Survived a self-amputation

Image: Justin Luebke

If you have seen the film 127 Hours then you’ll recognize this story: Aron Ralston was hiking in a remote Utah canyon when a boulder fell, trapping his arm . With no one around to hear his cries for help and his water supply dwindling, Aron made the excruciating decision to sever his arm below the elbow using a dull multitool.

After freeing himself, Ralston rappelled down a 65-foot cliff and hiked several miles through the rugged terrain before being discovered by a search and rescue helicopter.

4

Military jet crash survivor

Image: Albert Stoynov

David Steeves, a U.S. Air Force lieutenant, was ordered to fly a Lockheed T-33A trainer jet from an Air Force base near San Francisco to Craig Air Force Base near Selma, Alabama, on May 9, 1957. Shortly after takeoff, Steeves and the jet disappeared without a trace, and he was declared dead after an extensive search yielded no results. After the incident, during the height of the Cold War, Steeves faced unfounded accusations of defecting and giving the trainer jet to the USSR.

However, Steeves appeared out of the Sierra Nevada the following July. He claimed that after an explosion in the jet, he had ejected and parachuted to safety. For two weeks, he survived without food until he discovered a ranger’s cabin in Kings Canyon National Park, where he found fishhooks, beans, and a canned ham to sustain himself.

5

Rode off a cliff in her vehicle

Image: Fabian Quintero

In a scene straight out of a movie, Angela Hernandez swerved to avoid hitting a small animal on the road and accidentally drove her SUV off a cliff. Her vehicle tumbled about 200 feet to a desolate, rocky beach.

Despite suffering a brain hemorrhage, fractured ribs, a broken collarbone, ruptured blood vessels in both eyes, and a collapsed lung, Hernandez managed to pull herself out of the sinking car. She walked for days until hikers stumbled across her wrecked Jeep and scoured the beach. Eventually, they found Hernandez crumpled up, sleeping on some rocks. After surviving seven harrowing days, she was finally rescued.

6

Three-year-old survives 2 days in the wilderness

Image: Jeremy McKnight

Three-year-old Ryker Webb was playing with his dog when he decided to take a walk on his own and wandered off. After his disappearance, a massive search was launched, and for two days the search team made no progress. Then, a family visiting their remote cabin in the middle of the wilderness heard the faint cries of a little boy coming from behind a shed.

Ryker was found tucked into a lawnmower bag. He was dressed in a light blue onesie that had been covered in dirt. After they called the police, the family was shocked to learn about the massive search that had been going on. The little boy survived two days in Montana wilderness, in near-freezing temperatures in an area, that according to locals, is heavily populated with bears and mountain lions.

7

Saved his family from a plane crash

Image: Gianluca Bei

Saving oneself from a plane crash is an extraordinary feat in itself. But saving an entire family as well is exponentially harder. On August 13, 2011, Donald Evans and his family were flying to their new home in Anvik, Alaska, aboard a Cessna plane when tragedy struck. The plane crashed into the mountains, killing the pilot and another passenger, and leaving Donald and his family— including his pregnant wife—badly injured .

Despite his own injuries, Donald managed to keep his family alive until the National Guard arrived by helicopter to rescue them. Amazingly, every member of the family survived, including their unborn daughter.

8

Quicksand survivor

Image: Sumner Mahaffey

Quicksand is a threat much more present in child stories than in real life but it does exist, as Ryan Osmun discovered in the worst possible way. While hiking in Utah’s Zion National Park he and his girlfriend tried to cross an innocent-looking pond that turned out to be quicksand.

After managing to save his girlfriend, Ryan sank into the sandy bottom to no avail. He had to wait for long hours until help arrived at the scene, just in time to save his life with a pulley system to yank him out of the ordeal.

9

Surviving the Desert

Image: Max Templeton

At 72 years old, Ann Rodgers spent nine days lost in the Arizona desert keeping herself alive thanks to skills acquired at a survival course and her own knowledge of nature. After getting lost on a distant dirt road and running out of gas, she left her car and started wandering the desert.

Had she stayed in her car, police would have found her 3 days later. Despite this misstep, Ann managed to survive. After 9 days, a helicopter found her thanks to a large "HELP" sign she had crafted out of rocks and took her to the hospital, where she made a full recovery.

10

Lost in the woods with poor eyesight

Image: Jeremy Bishop

Being lost in the woods is a bad thing as it is. But being lost in the woods with very bad eyesight and no glasses is much worse. This is exactly what happened to Marcus Mazzaferri at Yosemite National Park when he tried to traverse a river by foot, slipped on a rock, and was pulled by the rapids.

Marcus was able to reach a river bank and wandered through the woods, challenged by cold and darkness, without his much-needed glasses. He hiked using deer tracks, which he was barely able to see, as his only guide. Eventually, he was able to contact a plow crew near the river and was saved.

1

Potato chips

Back in 1853, a cranky diner in Saratoga Springs, New York, complained that his fries were too thick . Irritated, Chef George Crum sliced them paper-thin and fried them crisp to prove a point . To everyone’s surprise, the customer loved them.

What began as a moment of frustration turned into America’s favorite salty snack, inspiring an entire industry of chips and flavors.

2

Popsicles

In 1905, 11-year-old San Francisco native Frank Epperson accidentally left a cup of soda powder and water outside overnight, with a stick still in it. The next morning, it had frozen solid in the chilly air .

Epperson dubbed it the "Epsicle," which was later renamed the Popsicle. That childhood experiment became one of the most enduring summer treats.

3

Chocolate chip cookies

Ruth Wakefield ran out of baker’s chocolate when she was making traditional chocolate cookies at her Massachusetts inn, the Toll House, in the 1930s. She chopped up Nestlé chocolate snack bars instead . She expected them to melt evenly into the dough, but they stayed in chunks.

The warm, gooey results became an instant hit with her guests. Nestlé soon partnered with her to print the recipe on chocolate bar wrappers, and the rest is history!

4

Corn flakes

In 1898, the Kellogg brothers accidentally left cooked wheat, unprocessed wheat kernels simmered until tender, sitting out overnight at their Michigan sanitarium, where they promoted a healthy living based on vegetarianism, exercise, sunlight, and strict hygiene. By morning, it had gone stale, but when they rolled and baked it, the flakes came out crisp and tasty .

That happy mistake inspired a new breakfast idea: simple, wholesome, and ready to pour.

5

Coca-Cola

In one of the most profitable blunders of all time, Atlanta pharmacist John Pemberton was mixing a headache tonic in 1886 when he mistakenly blended his syrup with carbonated water instead of plain water .

Finding the result quite tasty, Pemberton opened a local soda fountain and found immediate success.

6

Cheeseburgers

In the 1920s, a teenage cook in Pasadena accidentally dropped a slice of cheese onto a sizzling hamburger . Instead of tossing it out, he served it to the customer.

The melted topping added a rich, savory twist that caught on fast. Soon, diners across America began adding cheese to burgers, helping to spread this classic.

7

Hard pretzels

One Pennsylvania baker in the 1800s left his soft pretzels in the oven too long, burning them to a deep brown . Expecting a disaster, he tried one and loved the unexpected crunch.

That overbaked batch became the first hard pretzel. The crispy, salty snack soon gained fans nationwide.

8

Slurpees

In the 1950s, a Kansas soda shop’s cooler broke down, freezing its drinks halfway . Instead of throwing them out, the owner sold the icy concoctions to curious customers.

They loved the slushy texture so much that he built a machine to reproduce it. The Icee — and later the Slurpee — turned an equipment failure into an omnipresent machine at every 7-Eleven.

9

Tortilla chips

In 1940s Los Angeles, a tortilla factory ended up with piles of leftover tortillas. Rather than waste them, workers cut them into triangles and fried them up .

The crunchy bites were a surprise hit. What started as a practical way to use scraps soon became a nationwide snack.

10

Tootsie Rolls

Crafty candy maker Leo Hirschfeld wanted to stretch his chocolate supply in 1896, so he experimented by blending in other ingredients such as sugar, corn syrup, and condensed skim milk . The texture turned chewy instead of smooth, but the flavor was rich and lasting.

He named it after his daughter’s nickname, "Tootsie." His thrift-born invention became a candy classic.

11

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

Back in 1928, a former Hershey employee, H.B. Reese, was tinkering with leftover chocolate at home when he combined it with sweetened peanut butter . The unexpected pairing turned out to be a great-tasting treat.

His homemade experiment evolved into a small business, and later became a candy legend when Hershey acquired the brand.

12

Fudge

According to the popular story, a batch of caramel didn’t heat properly one night , and the cook sighed that it had been "fudged." The softer texture, however, turned out wonderfully creamy.

That tasty error spread quickly through American kitchens and college towns, becoming the classic dessert that it is today.