Business Insider went back in time to rank all the network's notable original scripted programs from the last 10 years based on how well they did with critics.
Showtime launched in 1976 and is now owned by CBS. Its original programming took off in the 1990s with shows like "Twin Peaks" and "Stargate SG-1." But it really grew into a powerhouse in the late 2000s with shows like "Weeds" and "Dexter." Most recently, "Homeland," "Shameless," "The Affair," and a "Twin Peaks" revival have been prominent on the network.
But which did critics love the most?
ADVERTISEMENT
To answer that question, we used review aggregator site Metacritic to determine the ranking, excluding variety and sports programs (and shows that didn't get enough reviews to qualify). We calculated the average score for each show based on the scores of the various seasons.
If any season of the show aired in 2008 and beyond, we counted it. "Twin Peaks" was an unusual case, as the series originally aired in the 1990s but returned for a special third season last year called "Twin Peaks: The Return." With that in mind, we counted the series on the list, and calculated the average score of all three seasons.
Below are the 31 notable Showtime original shows to air in the last decade, ranked from worst to best:
31. "Our Cartoon President"
Critics score: 42
ADVERTISEMENT
Number of seasons: 1
Years aired: 2018
Summary: Based on a character introduced on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," this comedy follows an animated President Trump and his staff through their chaotic White House, but it has failed to land with critics.
30. "Roadies"
Critics score: 47
ADVERTISEMENT
Number of seasons: 1
Years aired: 2016
29. "Happyish"
Critics score: 49
ADVERTISEMENT
Number of seasons: 1
Years aired: 2015
28. "White Famous"
Critics score: 54
ADVERTISEMENT
Number of seasons: 1
Years aired: 2017
27. "Dice"
Critics score: 56
ADVERTISEMENT
Number of seasons: 2
Years aired: 2016-2017
26. "Secret Diary of a Call Girl"
Critics score: 56.5
ADVERTISEMENT
Number of seasons: 4
Years aired: 2007-2011
Summary: The show brought to life a diary of a sex worker.
25. "I'm Dying Up Here"
Critics score: 62
ADVERTISEMENT
Number of seasons: 1 (season 2 coming in May)
Years aired: 2017-present
24. (TIE) "The L Word"
Critics score: 63
ADVERTISEMENT
Number of seasons: 6
Years aired: 2004-2009
24. (TIE) "House of Lies"
Critics score: 63
ADVERTISEMENT
Number of seasons: 5
Years aired: 2012-2016
22. "SMILF"
Critics score: 64
ADVERTISEMENT
Number of seasons: 1 (season 2 coming this year)
Years aired: 2017-present
Summary: A comedy following
21. "Californication"
Critics score: 66
ADVERTISEMENT
Number of seasons: 7
Years aired: 2007-2014
20. "The Tudors"
Critics score: 67.25
ADVERTISEMENT
Number of seasons: 4
Years aired: 2007-2010
Summary: A drama focusing on the life of
19. "The Big C"
Critics score: 67.5
ADVERTISEMENT
Number of seasons: 4
Years aired: 2010-2013
18. "Billions"
Critics score: 68
ADVERTISEMENT
Number of seasons: 3
Years aired: 2016-present
Summary: A U.S. attorney played by Paul Giamatti goes up against a billionaire hedge fund manager, played by Damian Lewis.
17. "Weeds"
Critics score: 68.13
ADVERTISEMENT
Number of seasons: 8
Years aired: 2005-2012
16. "Web Therapy"
Critics score: 70.5
ADVERTISEMENT
Number of seasons: 4
Years aired: 2011-2015
15. "Shameless"
Critics score: 71
Number of seasons: 8 (renewed for season 9)
ADVERTISEMENT
Years aired: 2011-present
Summary: A father juggles his alcoholism and his six children.
14. (TIE) "The Borgias"
Critics score: 73
Number of seasons: 3
ADVERTISEMENT
Years aired: 2011-2013
Summary: P
14. (TIE) "Ray Donovan"
Critics score: 73
Number of seasons: 5 (renewed for season 6)
ADVERTISEMENT
Years aired: 2013-present
Summary: Liev Schreiber is Ray Donovan, a professional "fixer" for anyone but himself.
14. (TIE) "The Chi"
Critics score: 73
Number of seasons: 1 (currently airing)
ADVERTISEMENT
Years aired: 2018
11. "Nurse Jackie"
Critics score: 73.83
Number of seasons: 7
ADVERTISEMENT
Years aired: 2009-2015
10. "Episodes"
Critics score: 74.33
Number of seasons: 5
ADVERTISEMENT
Years aired: 2011-2015
Summary: Matt LeBlanc, of "Friends" fame, plays himself as an actor cast in an American remake of a popular British television series.
9. (TIE) "Brotherhood"
Critics score: 75
Number of seasons: 3
ADVERTISEMENT
Years aired: 2006-2008
9. (TIE) "Guerrilla"
Critics score: 75
Number of seasons: 1 (Mini-series)
ADVERTISEMENT
Years aired: 2017
7. "Dexter"
Critics score: 75.88
Number of seasons: 8
ADVERTISEMENT
Years aired: 2006-2013
Summary: A crime-scene analyst in Miami is also a serial-killer ... of other serial-killers.
6. (TIE) "United States of Tara"
Critics score: 76.7
Number of seasons: 3
ADVERTISEMENT
Years aired: 2009-2011
6. (TIE) "Penny Dreadful"
Critics score: 76.7
Number of seasons: 3
ADVERTISEMENT
Years aired: 2014-2016
Summary: Classic literary characters like Victor Frankenstein
4. "Homeland"
Critics score: 78.2
Number of seasons: 7 (currently airing)
ADVERTISEMENT
Years aired: 2011-present
3. "The Affair"
Critics score: 78.3
Number of seasons: 3 (season 4 premieres this year)
ADVERTISEMENT
Years aired: 2014-present
2. "Masters of Sex"
Critics score: 79.3
Number of seasons: 4
ADVERTISEMENT
Years aired: 2013-2016
1. "Twin Peaks"
Critics score: 85
Number of seasons: 3
ADVERTISEMENT
Years aired: 1990-1991, 2017
Summary: An FBI agent investigates the murder of a teenage girl in the small, strange town of Twin Peaks, but nothing is as it appears. The show returned with a third season called "Twin Peaks: The Return" last year.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7scHLrJxnppdkr6p7056aoWekmrCpeZJqZKygn6zBqrnEZqaroZeeu6K4jK2tZquYpMS0edGapaSdlGKzs7vMZq6oqqOperW7jJucrKxdm7%2BwuYyhpqadnJa7pXnTqGZqaGdufbi8