The 2000s were in its prime for television, especially when it catered to teenagers and young adults. Multiple shows were produced in the early years of the 2000s, and they often ran with multiple episodes in a single season. Now, in 2022, it's more common for a show to have 8-10 episodes in a season rather than 20-24 like in the past. What made the longer seasons so good was the use of filler episodes, but now that there are half as many episodes in a season, the use of fillers isn't needed. That being said, here's a list of the best teen shows of the 2000s, ranked.

Updated on September 10th, 2023, by Soniya Hinduja: This article has been updated with additional content to keep the discussion fresh and relevant with even more information and new entries.

12 Everybody Hates Chris

Tyler James Williams in Everybody Hates Chris
3 Arts Entertainment

Millennials sure understand the mood set by this semi-autobiographical sitcom based on the early childhood of comedian Chris Rock. Growing up in ‘80s Brooklyn, Chris tackled the prejudice faced by his Black family while taking care of his siblings and working parents. The elder comedian narrates the show with a heartfelt perspective, looking back to those wonderful days with a nostalgic lens.

From his adorable embarrassments to the authentic dysfunction in his family, Everybody Hates Chris features every relatable clique of the decade and left fans endeared and entertained. Moreover, the show also had a talented cast of actors who brought depth to the story. Filled with laughable moments and poignant messages, the series documents the misadventures of the comedian in a buoyant fashion.

11 Friday Night Lights

Friday Night Lights Eric Taylor (6)
NBC

Friday Night Lights transported its audience to the small rural town of Dillon, Texas, where the most important thing was the high school football team and the community that urged them to win the state championship. Centered around the current and former members of the team, their families, their triumphs and setbacks, as well as the coaches and local folk, the series breathes life into football not just as a sport but as a moral backdrop.

Meaning, the show may focus on the high-pressured football seasons, but in reality, it exploits themes like dignity, optimism, and our shared humanity. Moreover, the keen direction and writing made every episode engrossing and worth waiting for. Its ensemble cast, including Kyle Chandler who plays Coach Eric Taylor, delivers outstanding performances as well.

10 Gilmore Girls

Luke and Lorelai in Gilmore Girls
Warner Bros. Television

Setting standards for the perfectly enviable mother-daughter relationship on television, Gilmore Girls follows Lorelai, an independent single mother living in the small town of Stars Hollow with her fifteen-year-old daughter, Rory Gilmore. As a sarcastic, fast-talking mother-daughter duo, they celebrate the joys and quirks of one another while being fueled up on coffee and taking frequent trips to Luke’s, their favorite diner.

The show is a quintessential 2000s show because it is filled with clever pop culture references and feel-good generational humor for the millennia. Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel had a bond that showed unconditional acceptance as they navigated school, relationships, love and heartbreak, and mundane everyday lives. But beyond its eccentric surface, Gilmore Girls portrayed a caring community that is still cozy to revisit years later.

9 Skins

Nicholas Hoult - Skins
All3Media

Considered highly controversial since the time of its release, the British drama chronicles teenage tribulations and taboos with an unsettling realism. Skins was lauded by many open-minded critics and a large group of Millennium kids for daring to talk about subjects that were too sensitive. Tony, Cassie, Sid, Anwar, Michelle, and Chris were sixth-form students living in Bristol, England, and told from the perspectives of each of them, the seasons revolved around their issues like substance abuse, eating disorders, sexual identity, and mental illness.

Naturally, these perils are unavoidable at this age, but what the show teaches is to find beauty in the characters’ flaws and empathize with their choices. Overall, Skins pushes boundaries and still manages to be powerful, startling, and tense, and refreshing.

8 Glee

Glee Cast in practice
20th Television

Created primarily by Ryan Murphy, Glee brings a sense of belonging to the television landscape with its heartwarming storyline. By infusing a school's show choir club with the magic of music and the promise of victory, the show breathes life into an optimistic high school teacher who changes things forever.

The plot of Glee revolves around light and dark subjects to show just how capable teenagers are of jumping between both within seconds. Through song and dance, the characters, all sensitive and relatable, provide a sanctuary for viewers to show up every week and embrace its fun and innovative episodes. While sometimes, the series does go over the top, Glee uses its humor to inspire people and allow the misfits to be proud of themselves.

Related: Best Teen Comedies of the 2000s, Ranked

7 Veronica Mars

Krysten Ritter in Veronica Mars
Warner Bros. Television Distribution 

While some people have Nancy Drew, others have Veronica Mars. The show ran for three seasons on the CW and starred Kristen Bell as Veronica, a crime-fighting detective in the making, as she follows in her father's footsteps.

In each episode, Mars was able to figure out a standalone case that was on the simpler side, while also trying to figure out a much larger case that was more confusing and lasted throughout the entire season. It's a cult classic, and in 2014, a Veronica Mars movie was released, and a fourth season premiered in 2019 on Hulu.

6 Freaks and Geeks

The "freaks" and "geeks" of William McKinley High School
Paramount
 

It ran for a single season before getting canceled, but the influence of Freaks and Geeks remains in 2022. With a cast full of talented young stars, such as Seth Rogen, James Franco, and Linda Cardellini, US Magazine states that most of the cast has gone on to be extremely successful, and for most, the show was initially their big break.

It follows a tight-knit group of friends in high school, mostly stoners and burnouts, and the year of school they go through together. Drugs, nerds, and love triangles are featured in this single season, and it'll leave you wishing there were more episodes to binge-watch.

5 The O.C.

the oc
Warner Bros.

This show ran for four seasons and revolves around the wealthy Cohen family. They adopt troubled teen Ryan Atwood, who comes from a starkly different world from the people who adopted him. Class and wealth are often discussed throughout the series, and prove to be a conflict that arises in the seasons.

Adam Brody, who plays Seth Cohen, was originally meant to be a love interest on Gilmore Girls for longer than he was featured, but then he landed The O.C. Even though it had a short run, it was beloved by fans who started a petition to renew the show, which gained over 700,000 signatures. The show wasn't saved, but the Cohen family is still iconic.

4 Gossip Girl

chuck-blair-gossip-girl-wedding_1_1200x630
Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution

Although the teens in Gossip Girl were filthy rich and privileged, this show appealed to everyone, not just the upper class. It featured a great cast of memorable characters and several plot lines that constantly changed the course of the show.

Some of the most notable moments were paired with a great soundtrack, such as Jason Derulo's "Watcha Say." Not only did the writers of the show often pick the perfect song for the scene, but ScreenRant states that the parties featured were often over-the-top and perfect for the luxurious vibe of the show.

3 Degrassi

Degrassi: The Next Generation
Entertainment One

It's one of the most talked about series made for teens, and it's had several spinoffs, making it that much more successful. It first began in 1979, but the most popular series of Degrassi was The Next Generation, which lasted for 14 seasons.

Similar to Dawson's Creek, the show focused on dozens of important topics, such as sexual identity, suicide, self-harm, and inappropriate relationships. It's noted that the themes were often dark and dreary for a teen show, but many teenage viewers who watched the series enjoyed how real it was in comparison to their actual lives.

Related: 10 Best TV Shows About Being a Teenager

2 Dawson's Creek

dawsons creek
The WB

If you're a fan of the show, you know the show isn't just about Dawson, and it would have been extremely boring if that was the case. Dawson, Pacey, Joey, and Jen formed a tight friendship over the six seasons it ran.

The show often tackled real-life issues such as Pacey sleeping with a teacher and being manipulated by her; Andie's mental illness; and Jack's sexuality. One of the best things to happen on this show was the relationship between Pacey and Joey, and how naturally they fell in love with each other.

1 One Tree Hill

One Tree Hill
The WB

Whether you were Team Lucas or Team Nathan, One Tree Hill remains the best teen show that was featured in the 2000s. Based and filmed in North Carolina, the show featured constant drama, betrayals between couples and best friends, and even murder.

Famous guest stars often appeared in episodes, such as Pete Wentz, who played himself and stuck around for a bit. The show has a very loyal fan base, even though it ended more than a decade ago. The cast often gathers to appear at fan conventions.