History's Best Selling TV Shows of 2005

Revisiting 2005 presents a grand parade of tv history, marked by Y2K fever and early digital revolution and enduring fan favorites. Unrivaled hits including The Office, Grey's Anatomy, and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia took top honors in living rooms and storefronts alike. Master craftsmen from industry leaders like Greg Daniels and Shonda Rhimes 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. The Office

   Released in 2005 by Greg Daniels, Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, NBC

   On March 24, 2005, American television audiences were introduced to the Scranton branch of the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company as NBC aired the pilot episode of 'The Office'. A mid-season replacement, the show arrived with considerable skepticism. It was an adaptation of a critically beloved, but niche, British sitcom of the same name created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. The initial reception was lukewarm, with many critics comparing it unfavorably to the original. Few could have predicted that this humble premiere, which directly adapted the UK pilot's script, would be the starting point for one of the most popular and culturally significant American sitcoms of the 21st century.

2. Grey's Anatomy

   Released in 2005 by Shonda Rhimes, ABC

   On March 27, 2005, American television audiences were introduced to a new class of surgical interns when 'Grey's Anatomy' premiered on ABC. Originally scheduled as a mid-season replacement for 'Boston Legal,' the show aired following the network's mega-hit 'Desperate Housewives.' This strategic placement, combined with its compelling blend of medical crises and personal drama, resulted in an immediate ratings success. The premiere episode, 'A Hard Day's Night,' marked the beginning of a cultural phenomenon, launching creator Shonda Rhimes' Shondaland production company into prominence and establishing a narrative universe that would captivate viewers for well over a decade, becoming a cornerstone of ABC's primetime lineup.

3. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

   Released in 2005 by Rob McElhenney, Glenn Howerton, Charlie Day, FX, FXX

   On August 4, 2005, the landscape of television comedy was irrevocably altered with the premiere of 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' on FX. In an era dominated by more traditional, multi-camera sitcoms with laugh tracks and moral lessons, this shoestring-budget show arrived with a blast of cynical, unapologetic, and dark humor. The first episode, 'The Gang Gets Racist,' immediately established the show's confrontational tone and its central theme: five deeply flawed individuals whose vanity, greed, and laziness lead them to disastrous, albeit hilarious, conclusions. This debut was not a ratings blockbuster, but it planted the seed for what would become a massive cult phenomenon and, eventually, the longest-running live-action sitcom in American television history, introducing the world to the wretched hive of scum and villainy known as Paddy's Pub.