you see the sunrise this morning yes why
it may or may not pay but crime is an
excellent source for great television
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
counting down our picks for the top 10
American crime shows for this list we’re
looking at shows with main characters
that focus on the investigation and
solving of crimes and the pursuit of
criminals so Heisenberg is gonna have to
be the king of some other list you get
one part of that wrong also as the title
suggests due to the great quality of
crime shows coming out of the United
Kingdom we’ve limited this list to crime
shows from the United States apologies
to all you Cumberbitches as well as fans
of Luthor but you’ll get your own list
on another day a placement or I am a
policeman see that what does it say says
I’m above your ring back up number 10
NCIS ok ok your team but only because I
don’t want to delay us further by having
to shoot you members of the Navy
Criminal Investigative Service are a lot
like regular cops who solve crimes
except all of the people they’re
investigating are either members of the
United States Navy or Marine Corps I
don’t take orders from NCIS cops special
agents and you’ll follow this order for
what special agent a spinoff of jag NCIS
has so far spawned two offshoots of its
own set in Los Angeles and New Orleans
respectively
what’s great about the original is the
drama it creates which helps it become
one of the highest-rated TV shows in the
United States and that drama comes not
only from its crimes but also from the
interactions of its great cast of
characters just another day at the
office
number 9 true detective you don’t follow
me come on be honest ease up although
it’s the baby of this list it would be a
mistake to label this show as anything
but grown-up you want forgiveness for
that yeah say got one you want what
forgiveness as a sort of anthology
series where in each season focuses on
different characters and a different
case it’s tough to say what this series
will bring but its track record of
luring big screen talent to the small
screen is intact and key thanks for not
doubt never do as of season 1 true
detectives view of 2 immeasurably flawed
and polar opposite detectives as they
track a dark and twisted serial killer
is unrivaled by many shows today these
characters personal lives are as tense
as their philosophical discussions of
violence and the cases they work if
there’s a feeling you might notice it
sometime this feeling like life is
slipped through your fingers
number 8 CSI crime scene investigation
concentrate on what cannot lie the
evidence coming up next is the show that
started the trend of forensic based
crime shows at the turn of the new
millennium
CSI made it popular to solve on-screen
mysteries using high-tech lab equipment
and science to analyze Clues found at
the scene of the crime while also
offering us characters we’d love to
follow each week three drops of gasoline
limited oxygen supply heat to ignition
temperature of 932 degrees Fahrenheit
same conditions in Damon’s bedroom night
of the fire the premise intrigued
millions including Quentin Tarantino who
even directive one episode welcome to my
world
ah if I were you I back up a little with
two successful spin-offs one of which
CSI Miami was also a contender for this
list we decided to go with the Las Vegas
original if only because it’s the
trendsetter and still very entertaining
number seven Hill Street Blues vicinity
in case you didn’t know blues is a slang
word for cops which explains the name of
this show that follows the lives of the
officers and staff in the precinct
located in the eponymous Hill Street hey
let’s be careful out purposefully set in
an unnamed American City viewers
reminded that the show they’re watching
could be taking place anywhere in the
United States I just want you to take a
look around nobody wants to shoot as
such the show was loved for its gritty
and realistic blend of comedy and drama
four medals of valor five humanitarian
citations three shootouts are we now
simply to discard officer Delgado
pioneering a number of techniques that
became standard to TV drama the
intertwining characters left behind the
legacy as one of the most critically
well-received shows ever
number six the shield your way will get
her killed so will yours taking drama to
new heights
the shield trails a corrupt squad of
anti-gang cops in Los Angeles best
remembered for creating characters that
are not only flawed but downright bad
you allowed an innocent man to get the
shit kicked out of him he’s not innocent
he’s a pedophile you should have seen
the diseased crap we found in this place
this show was not afraid to throw them
into racially charged and politically
explosive situations we loved it for
being uncompromising in its dark and
gritty view of officers of the law and
Michael Chiklis owns the screen is Vic
Mackey a cop who’s willing to sacrifice
anything to make the streets safer even
his own morals I’m a cop I have to honor
that
I’m not a cop number five Criminal Minds
they want you back in the saddle you
ready
looks like medical leaves over boss
speaking of dark storylines Criminal
Minds capitalized on the trend of
chasing criminals with psychological
analysis so each week we get to look
with them at the dark motivations of
some warped unsub’s looks like you only
knew two things hunting and taxidermy
which was fine as long as daddy was
supervising him now his gatekeepers gone
and he’s loose following a team of FBI
behavior analysis as they hunt killers
the creep factor gets turned way up as
the profilers focus on analyzing the
suspect instead of the crime or Afghan
real pretty eyes though this is by no
means a critical darling
the show still rakes in the viewers
competing with and beating shows both
old and new as gruesome as it is
captivating this is one police
procedural we can’t look away from
number four Columbo the only thing
that’s given me any pleasure in this
case mr. Brady is charging you with
murder who says that every good cop
needs a bad cop if there was one thing
that the cigar-smoking Columbo proved is
that you often caught more flies with
honey than you did with vinegar just and
turned off the machine
saved the tape yeah damn lucky thought
or two right damn portrayed by the
legendary Peter Falk over 30 years
although criminals may have frequently
underestimated Colombo’s friendly
demeanor and disheveled appearance
audiences always knew better than to bet
against him he got admit I had you gone
for a while yes you did
airing on and off between 1971 and 2003
the lengthy hundred minute runtime did
little to stop the show and its title
character from becoming icons of the
television world you know Columbo I
think possibly I may have misread to you
possible suit
let’s go sir
number three NYPD Blue are you all right
yeah I’m all right
make sure he gets home he’s a cop our
number three is not only known for its
gritty and grimy portrayal of NYC
but also for the passion and heart its
characters brought to the streets and
their station but you didn’t do anything
up and you didn’t shoot all over my
shoes and a bottom of my pants your
miserable piece of crap taking place
around the fictional 15th precinct NYPD
Blue seize the officers and detectives
go through their personal and
professional lives with all the ups and
downs that it brings I just think it
would be easier on both of us if we made
a clean break okay I mean I still have
feelings for you and I know you still
have feelings for me that’s right
so I think it would be easier if we just
left each other alone also fondly
remembered as one of the last great
displays of edgy TV on a broadcast
network this multiple award winning
ensemble police drama was way ahead of
its time in its prediction that racier
cable shows would one day overtake
humble broadcast television
number two law and order in the criminal
justice system the people are
represented by two separate yet equally
important groups the police who
investigate crime and the district
attorneys who prosecute the offenders
these are their stories it wasn’t one of
the longest-running shows for nothing
well you are you it third we go hands on
Cheryl lay your hands on Suzanne
Morton’s law and order received huge
acclaim for its depiction and
perspectives of the two aspects of the
NYC criminal justice system by tracking
the detectives who work the street and
the prosecution team who fights in court
for a conviction when you practice
medicine mr. stone sometimes a patient
dies and when your lawyer dr. Auster
some of the people you prosecute are
convicted equal parts police procedural
and courtroom drama this show used the
headlines of real world news for
inspiration mixing together an amazing
cocktail that captivated audiences for
20 years and produced a brood of
spin-offs including the award-winning
Special Victims Unit
question who’d want to cut your penis
off
take a number before we uncover our top
pick here are a few honorable mentions
the sky knew how to use a blade so
looking for a sushi chef yeah
sushi chef is possible wouldn’t be my
first choice but hey you never know who
knew you were shooting that detective
yes for God’s sake you’re not serious
with this much light they couldn’t have
been a mistake
I’m not a sociopath I’m an
anthropologist at the Jeffersonian who
works for the FBI which I’d maybe
believe if you had an ID that did more
than allowed you access to the cafeteria
okay
castle you okay yes psycho here needs a
breath mints set out okay hey another I
don’t think there’s time for another I
have to arrest you
I caught him bug on the wire I caught
him number one the wire not just a great
police show the wire is hailed as one of
the greatest shows of all time in any
genre albeit one that few people
actually watched when it aired I’m gonna
push past 300 murders before New Year’s
shit is bringing to television a living
breathing Baltimore the series follows
the lives of the flawed cops and
addictively charismatic criminals hey
your lesson here Bey you come at the
King you best not miss in delving into
the city as it crumbles on every level
from politics to the projects the wire
explores potent themes like the death of
the American Dream I mean don’t get a
twisted I do some dough too but I ain’t
never put my gun on nobody who wasn’t in
the game a man must have a code on top
of that it neither embellishes crime nor
over dramatizes it but instead tells
complex stories that force us to
question the way we perceive it in doing
so the wire makes the top of our list by
a mile
all in the game yo all in the game
do you agree with our list which
American crime drama is your favorite
you got anything to add to that Lamonica
yes ours looks like the hundred 24th
Street gang done it Oh change for more
crime solving top 10s published every
day I guess I got left off the list be
sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com
it may or may not pay but crime is an
excellent source for great television
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
counting down our picks for the top 10
American crime shows for this list we’re
looking at shows with main characters
that focus on the investigation and
solving of crimes and the pursuit of
criminals so Heisenberg is gonna have to
be the king of some other list you get
one part of that wrong also as the title
suggests due to the great quality of
crime shows coming out of the United
Kingdom we’ve limited this list to crime
shows from the United States apologies
to all you Cumberbitches as well as fans
of Luthor but you’ll get your own list
on another day a placement or I am a
policeman see that what does it say says
I’m above your ring back up number 10
NCIS ok ok your team but only because I
don’t want to delay us further by having
to shoot you members of the Navy
Criminal Investigative Service are a lot
like regular cops who solve crimes
except all of the people they’re
investigating are either members of the
United States Navy or Marine Corps I
don’t take orders from NCIS cops special
agents and you’ll follow this order for
what special agent a spinoff of jag NCIS
has so far spawned two offshoots of its
own set in Los Angeles and New Orleans
respectively
what’s great about the original is the
drama it creates which helps it become
one of the highest-rated TV shows in the
United States and that drama comes not
only from its crimes but also from the
interactions of its great cast of
characters just another day at the
office
number 9 true detective you don’t follow
me come on be honest ease up although
it’s the baby of this list it would be a
mistake to label this show as anything
but grown-up you want forgiveness for
that yeah say got one you want what
forgiveness as a sort of anthology
series where in each season focuses on
different characters and a different
case it’s tough to say what this series
will bring but its track record of
luring big screen talent to the small
screen is intact and key thanks for not
doubt never do as of season 1 true
detectives view of 2 immeasurably flawed
and polar opposite detectives as they
track a dark and twisted serial killer
is unrivaled by many shows today these
characters personal lives are as tense
as their philosophical discussions of
violence and the cases they work if
there’s a feeling you might notice it
sometime this feeling like life is
slipped through your fingers
number 8 CSI crime scene investigation
concentrate on what cannot lie the
evidence coming up next is the show that
started the trend of forensic based
crime shows at the turn of the new
millennium
CSI made it popular to solve on-screen
mysteries using high-tech lab equipment
and science to analyze Clues found at
the scene of the crime while also
offering us characters we’d love to
follow each week three drops of gasoline
limited oxygen supply heat to ignition
temperature of 932 degrees Fahrenheit
same conditions in Damon’s bedroom night
of the fire the premise intrigued
millions including Quentin Tarantino who
even directive one episode welcome to my
world
ah if I were you I back up a little with
two successful spin-offs one of which
CSI Miami was also a contender for this
list we decided to go with the Las Vegas
original if only because it’s the
trendsetter and still very entertaining
number seven Hill Street Blues vicinity
in case you didn’t know blues is a slang
word for cops which explains the name of
this show that follows the lives of the
officers and staff in the precinct
located in the eponymous Hill Street hey
let’s be careful out purposefully set in
an unnamed American City viewers
reminded that the show they’re watching
could be taking place anywhere in the
United States I just want you to take a
look around nobody wants to shoot as
such the show was loved for its gritty
and realistic blend of comedy and drama
four medals of valor five humanitarian
citations three shootouts are we now
simply to discard officer Delgado
pioneering a number of techniques that
became standard to TV drama the
intertwining characters left behind the
legacy as one of the most critically
well-received shows ever
number six the shield your way will get
her killed so will yours taking drama to
new heights
the shield trails a corrupt squad of
anti-gang cops in Los Angeles best
remembered for creating characters that
are not only flawed but downright bad
you allowed an innocent man to get the
shit kicked out of him he’s not innocent
he’s a pedophile you should have seen
the diseased crap we found in this place
this show was not afraid to throw them
into racially charged and politically
explosive situations we loved it for
being uncompromising in its dark and
gritty view of officers of the law and
Michael Chiklis owns the screen is Vic
Mackey a cop who’s willing to sacrifice
anything to make the streets safer even
his own morals I’m a cop I have to honor
that
I’m not a cop number five Criminal Minds
they want you back in the saddle you
ready
looks like medical leaves over boss
speaking of dark storylines Criminal
Minds capitalized on the trend of
chasing criminals with psychological
analysis so each week we get to look
with them at the dark motivations of
some warped unsub’s looks like you only
knew two things hunting and taxidermy
which was fine as long as daddy was
supervising him now his gatekeepers gone
and he’s loose following a team of FBI
behavior analysis as they hunt killers
the creep factor gets turned way up as
the profilers focus on analyzing the
suspect instead of the crime or Afghan
real pretty eyes though this is by no
means a critical darling
the show still rakes in the viewers
competing with and beating shows both
old and new as gruesome as it is
captivating this is one police
procedural we can’t look away from
number four Columbo the only thing
that’s given me any pleasure in this
case mr. Brady is charging you with
murder who says that every good cop
needs a bad cop if there was one thing
that the cigar-smoking Columbo proved is
that you often caught more flies with
honey than you did with vinegar just and
turned off the machine
saved the tape yeah damn lucky thought
or two right damn portrayed by the
legendary Peter Falk over 30 years
although criminals may have frequently
underestimated Colombo’s friendly
demeanor and disheveled appearance
audiences always knew better than to bet
against him he got admit I had you gone
for a while yes you did
airing on and off between 1971 and 2003
the lengthy hundred minute runtime did
little to stop the show and its title
character from becoming icons of the
television world you know Columbo I
think possibly I may have misread to you
possible suit
let’s go sir
number three NYPD Blue are you all right
yeah I’m all right
make sure he gets home he’s a cop our
number three is not only known for its
gritty and grimy portrayal of NYC
but also for the passion and heart its
characters brought to the streets and
their station but you didn’t do anything
up and you didn’t shoot all over my
shoes and a bottom of my pants your
miserable piece of crap taking place
around the fictional 15th precinct NYPD
Blue seize the officers and detectives
go through their personal and
professional lives with all the ups and
downs that it brings I just think it
would be easier on both of us if we made
a clean break okay I mean I still have
feelings for you and I know you still
have feelings for me that’s right
so I think it would be easier if we just
left each other alone also fondly
remembered as one of the last great
displays of edgy TV on a broadcast
network this multiple award winning
ensemble police drama was way ahead of
its time in its prediction that racier
cable shows would one day overtake
humble broadcast television
number two law and order in the criminal
justice system the people are
represented by two separate yet equally
important groups the police who
investigate crime and the district
attorneys who prosecute the offenders
these are their stories it wasn’t one of
the longest-running shows for nothing
well you are you it third we go hands on
Cheryl lay your hands on Suzanne
Morton’s law and order received huge
acclaim for its depiction and
perspectives of the two aspects of the
NYC criminal justice system by tracking
the detectives who work the street and
the prosecution team who fights in court
for a conviction when you practice
medicine mr. stone sometimes a patient
dies and when your lawyer dr. Auster
some of the people you prosecute are
convicted equal parts police procedural
and courtroom drama this show used the
headlines of real world news for
inspiration mixing together an amazing
cocktail that captivated audiences for
20 years and produced a brood of
spin-offs including the award-winning
Special Victims Unit
question who’d want to cut your penis
off
take a number before we uncover our top
pick here are a few honorable mentions
the sky knew how to use a blade so
looking for a sushi chef yeah
sushi chef is possible wouldn’t be my
first choice but hey you never know who
knew you were shooting that detective
yes for God’s sake you’re not serious
with this much light they couldn’t have
been a mistake
I’m not a sociopath I’m an
anthropologist at the Jeffersonian who
works for the FBI which I’d maybe
believe if you had an ID that did more
than allowed you access to the cafeteria
okay
castle you okay yes psycho here needs a
breath mints set out okay hey another I
don’t think there’s time for another I
have to arrest you
I caught him bug on the wire I caught
him number one the wire not just a great
police show the wire is hailed as one of
the greatest shows of all time in any
genre albeit one that few people
actually watched when it aired I’m gonna
push past 300 murders before New Year’s
shit is bringing to television a living
breathing Baltimore the series follows
the lives of the flawed cops and
addictively charismatic criminals hey
your lesson here Bey you come at the
King you best not miss in delving into
the city as it crumbles on every level
from politics to the projects the wire
explores potent themes like the death of
the American Dream I mean don’t get a
twisted I do some dough too but I ain’t
never put my gun on nobody who wasn’t in
the game a man must have a code on top
of that it neither embellishes crime nor
over dramatizes it but instead tells
complex stories that force us to
question the way we perceive it in doing
so the wire makes the top of our list by
a mile
all in the game yo all in the game
do you agree with our list which
American crime drama is your favorite
you got anything to add to that Lamonica
yes ours looks like the hundred 24th
Street gang done it Oh change for more
crime solving top 10s published every
day I guess I got left off the list be
sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com
Please follow and like us: