Best TV Shows of 2011
The 40 most popular TV shows that premiered in 2011, most watched first, with a vote floor so obscure titles do not crowd out the ones people remember.
Everything on this page has a home release and plays right here on Rotten Brains — pick one and press play. No sign-up, and a free account only adds resume and history.
40 titles · updated 3rd October 2026
1.American Horror Story(2011)
8.1DramaMysterySci-Fi & Fantasy
An anthology horror drama series centering on different characters and locations, including a house with a murderous past, an asylum, a witch coven, a freak show, a hotel, a farmhouse in Roanoke, a cult, the apocalypse and a summer camp.
Watch from S1 E1
2.Game of Thrones(2011)
8.5Sci-Fi & FantasyDramaAction & Adventure
Seven noble families fight for control of the mythical land of Westeros. Friction between the houses leads to full-scale war. All while a very ancient evil awakens in the farthest north. Amidst the war, a neglected military order of misfits, the Night's Watch, is all that stands between the realms of men and icy…
Watch from S1 E1
3.Shameless(2011)
8.2DramaComedy
Chicagoan Frank Gallagher is the proud single dad of six smart, industrious, independent kids, who without him would be... perhaps better off. When Frank's not at the bar spending what little money they have, he's passed out on the floor. But the kids have found ways to grow up in spite of him. They may not be like…
Watch from S1 E1
4.2 Broke Girls(2011)
7.2Comedy
Comedy about the unlikely friendship that develops between two very different young women who meet waitressing at a diner in trendy Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and form a bond over one day owning their own successful cupcake business. Only one thing stands in their way – they’re broke.
Watch from S1 E1
5.Suits(2011)
8.2Drama
While running from a drug deal gone bad, Mike Ross, a brilliant young college-dropout, slips into a job interview with one of New York City's best legal closers, Harvey Specter. Tired of cookie-cutter law school grads, Harvey takes a gamble by hiring Mike on the spot after he recognizes his raw talent and…
Watch from S1 E1
6.Grimm(2011)
8.3DramaMysterySci-Fi & Fantasy
After Portland homicide detective Nick Burkhardt discovers he's descended from an elite line of criminal profilers known as "Grimms," he increasingly finds his responsibilities as a detective at odds with his new responsibilities as a Grimm.
Watch from S1 E1
7.Bob's Burgers(2011)
7.8AnimationComedy
Bob's Burgers follows a third-generation restaurateur, Bob, as he runs Bob's Burgers with the help of his wife and their three kids. Bob and his quirky family have big ideas about burgers, but fall short on service and sophistication. Despite the greasy counters, lousy location and a dearth of customers, Bob and his…
Watch from S1 E1
8.Person of Interest(2011)
8.1Action & AdventureCrimeSci-Fi & Fantasy
John Reese, former CIA paramilitary operative, is presumed dead and teams up with reclusive billionaire Finch to prevent violent crimes in New York City by initiating their own type of justice. With the special training that Reese has had in Covert Operations and Finch's genius software inventing mind, the two are a…
Watch from S1 E1
9.Homeland(2011)
7.6DramaWar & PoliticsCrime
CIA officer Carrie Mathison is tops in her field despite being bipolar, which makes her volatile and unpredictable. With the help of her long-time mentor Saul Berenson, Carrie fearlessly risks everything, including her personal well-being and even sanity, at every turn.
Watch from S1 E1
10.Black Mirror(2011)
8.3Sci-Fi & FantasyDramaMystery
Twisted tales run wild in this mind-bending anthology series that reveals humanity's worst traits, greatest innovations and more.
Watch from S1 E1
11.Death in Paradise(2011)
7.4ComedyCrimeDrama
A brilliant but idiosyncratic British detective and his resourceful local team solve baffling murder mysteries on the fictional Caribbean island of Saint Marie.
Watch from S1 E1
12.Once Upon a Time(2011)
7.4DramaSci-Fi & Fantasy
There is a town in Maine where every story book character you've ever known is trapped between two worlds, victims of a powerful curse. Only one knows the truth and only one can break the spell.
Watch from S1 E1
13.New Girl(2011)
7.4Comedy
Jessica Day is an offbeat and adorable girl in her late 20s who, after a bad breakup, moves in with three single guys. Goofy, positive, vulnerable and honest to a fault, Jess has faith in people, even when she shouldn't. Although she's dorky and awkward, she's comfortable in her own skin. More prone to friendships…
Watch from S1 E1
14.Teen Wolf(2011)
8.4Sci-Fi & FantasyDramaComedy
Scott McCall, a high school student living in the town of Beacon Hills has his life drastically changed when he's bitten by a werewolf, becoming one himself. He must henceforth learn to balance his problematic new identity with his day-to-day teenage life. The following characters are instrumental to his struggle:…
Watch from S1 E1
15.The Amazing World of Gumball(2011)
8.5AnimationFamilySci-Fi & Fantasy
The life of Gumball Watterson, a 12-year old cat who attends middle school in Elmore. Accompanied by his pet, adoptive brother, and best friend Darwin Watterson, he frequently finds himself involved in various shenanigans around the city, during which he interacts with various family members: Anais, Richard, and…
Watch from S1 E1
16.Vera(2011)
7.4CrimeDramaMystery
A sharp detective with a messy life, DCI Vera Stanhope patrols her “patch” of northeast England, pursuing the truth in cases of murder, kidnapping, and blackmail. Vera is obsessive about her work and faces the world with caustic wit, guile and courage.
Watch from S1 E1
17.Last Man Standing(2011)
7.2Comedy
A married father of three tries to maintain his manliness in a world increasingly dominated by women.
Watch from S1 E1
18.Revenge(2011)
7.5DramaMystery
When Emily Thorne moves to the Hamptons, everyone wonders about the new girl, but she knows everything about them, including what they did to her family. Years ago, they took everything from her. Now, one by one, she's going to make them pay.
Watch from S1 E1
19.Unforgettable(2011)
7.2CrimeDramaMystery
Former Syracuse, New York, police detective Carrie Wells has hyperthymesia, a rare medical condition that gives her the ability to visually remember everything. She reluctantly joins the New York City Police Department's Queens homicide unit after her former boyfriend and partner asks for help with solving a case.…
Watch from S1 E1
20.Jake and the Never Land Pirates(2011)
6.2AnimationAction & AdventureKids
A crew of kid pirates - leader Jake and pals Izzy and Cubby - and their Never Land adventures as they work to outwit two infamous characters, the one and only Captain Hook and Smee.
Watch from S1 E1
21.Switched at Birth(2011)
7.5DramaFamily
The story of two teenage girls who discover they were accidentally switched as newborns in the hospital. Bay Kennish grew up in a wealthy family with two parents and a brother, while Daphne Vasquez, who lost her hearing at an early age due to a case of meningitis, grew up with a single mother in a working-class…
Watch from S1 E1
22.Hart of Dixie(2011)
7.3DramaComedy
New Yorker Zoe Hart has it all figured out - after graduating top of her class from medical school, she'll follow in her father's footsteps and become a cardio-thoracic surgeon. But when her dreams fall apart, Zoe decides to work at a small practice in Bluebell, Alabama.
Watch from S1 E1
23.Falling Skies(2011)
7.1Action & AdventureSci-Fi & FantasyDrama
Falling Skies opens in the chaotic aftermath of an alien attack that has left most of the world completely incapacitated. In the six months since the initial invasion, the few survivors have banded together outside major cities to begin the difficult task of fighting back. Each day is a test of survival as citizen…
Watch from S1 E1
24.Jessie(2011)
8.0ComedyKidsDrama
An idealistic teen from rural Texas embarks on the adventure of a lifetime when she decides to leave behind starry nights for big city lights. Thrilled to be on her own and determined not to be intimidated by New York City, she accepts a job as nanny for a high-profile couple with four kids. Helping to keep her moral…
Watch from S1 E1
25.Happy Endings(2011)
6.9Comedy
A fresh and funny take on modern friendship and what one urban family will do to stay friends after the perfect couple who brought them all together break up on their wedding day. The failed wedding forces them all to question their life choices. Then there are Alex and Dave themselves, who strike a truce and must…
Watch from S1 E1
26.Impractical Jokers(2011)
8.0Comedy
This hidden-camera series follows four lifelong friends -- Brian "Q"' Quinn, James "Murr"' Murray, Joe Gatto and Sal Vulcano -- who take dares to an outrageous level. To find out who is best under pressure, the guys compete in awkward and outrageous hidden-camera hijinks with the loser performing what is deemed to be…
Watch from S1 E1
27.Body of Proof(2011)
7.1DramaCrimeMystery
Dr. Megan Hunt was in a class of her own, a brilliant neurosurgeon at the top of her game. But her world is turned upside down when a devastating car accident puts an end to her time in the operating room. Megan resumes her career as a medical examiner, determined to solve the puzzle of who or what killed the victims.
Watch from S1 E1
28.Superbook(2011)
8.6AnimationKidsFamily
CBN Animation's Superbook teaches children timeless moral truths and life lessons through the captivating, Bible-based adventures of two time-traveling children and their robot friend.
Watch from S1 E1
29.Franklin & Bash(2011)
7.3DramaComedy
When they're not hanging out at their favorite hot dog stand pontificating on what they'd go through to enjoy a night with their favorite female celebrities, Jared Franklin and Peter Bash are chasing down their latest clients...sometimes literally. With business cards in hand, they're ready to nab a client within…
Watch from S1 E1
30.The Looney Tunes Show(2011)
8.1AnimationComedyFamily
Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and the rest of the “Looney Tunes” characters are back with more adventures for a new generation of viewers. The animated series features roommates Bugs and Daffy moving out of the woods and into the suburbs, interacting with their neighbors, who happen to be other "Looney Tunes" favorites --…
Watch from S1 E1
31.The Killing(2011)
7.8DramaCrimeMystery
The Killing is an American crime drama television series based upon the Danish television series Forbrydelsen. Set in Seattle, Washington, the series follows the various murder investigations by homicide detectives Sarah Linden and Stephen Holder.
Watch from S1 E1
32.Portlandia(2011)
6.9Comedy
Satirical sketch comedy set and filmed in Portland, Oregon that explores the eccentric misfits who embody the foibles of modern culture.
Watch from S1 E1
33.Workaholics(2011)
7.4Comedy
The misadventures of three recent college dropouts, roommates, and co-workers at a telemarketing company and their drug dealer.
Watch from S1 E1
34.Awkward.(2011)
7.4ComedyDrama
An irreverent look at the conflict, chaos and humor that defines teenage life through the eyes of 15-year-old Jenna Hamilton whose life begins to change when a simple accident becomes an epic misunderstanding and is blown way out of proportion. Narration in the first-person voice of Jenna's blog posts captures the…
Watch from S1 E1
35.Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness(2011)
7.4Action & AdventureAnimationComedy
Now living in his permanent home at the Jade Palace with the rest of the Furious Five, Po the Panda trains, battles, learns, teaches, stumbles, gabs and "geeks out" as the newest hero in the Valley of Peace.
Watch from S1 E1
36.Hell on Wheels(2011)
7.6Action & AdventureDramaWestern
The epic story of post-Civil War America, focusing on Cullen Bohannon, a Confederate soldier who sets out to exact revenge on the Union soldiers who killed his wife. His journey takes him west to Hell on Wheels, a dangerous, raucous, lawless melting pot of a town that travels with and services the construction of the…
Watch from S1 E1
37.Bubble Guppies(2011)
7.5AnimationFamilyKids
The adventures of seven fish-tailed kids- Molly, Gil, Oona, Deema, Nonny, Goby, and Zooli!
Watch from S1 E1
38.Harry's Law(2011)
7.5ComedyDrama
Harriet, Matthew and Malcolm couldn't be any more different, but when they cross paths, they realize they're all looking for a fresh start. The most unlikely of people are starting a law practice in the most unlikely of places -- a rundown shoe store.
Watch from S1 E1
39.Wild Kratts(2011)
7.5FamilyAnimationComedy
The adventures of Chris and Martin Kratt as they encounter incredible wild animals, combining science education with fun and adventure as the duo travels to animal habitats around the globe.
Watch from S1 E1
40.Kickin' It(2011)
8.3FamilyAction & AdventureComedy
Run by Sensei Rudy, the Bobby Wasabi Martial Arts Academy is the worst dojo in the nationwide Bobby Wasabi chain and is in danger of closing. But things change when Jack reluctantly joins the dojo and meets his new crew, including tough guy slacker Jerry and confident martial arts expert Kim. The crew teaches a group…
Watch from S1 E1