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For many, TV has the power to etch lasting memories and define entire chapters of one's life. From drama and comedy to sci-fi and animation, devoted fans have flocked to various review sites. Although places like IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes are certainly helpful in curating a selection of outstanding TV shows from the 2000s, they are not explicitly necessary to guide viewers to these remarkable gems.

Whether these shows have achieved their high-ranking statuses due to their captivating plot lines, top-tier animation, or brilliant writing, there is a reason they are considered the best among hundreds of TV series from the first decade of the century. Regardless if viewers prefer uplifting classic 2000s comfort cartoons, thrilling dramas, or beautifully filmed and deeply informative nature docuseries — there is a 2000s show for every audience, catering to a diverse range of tastes and interests.

Updated by Jordan Iacobucci on February 2, 2025: The...

Over the course of his long career, Charlton Heston played more than a dozen Biblical and historical figures, some more than once. One of the biggest action heroes of the 1950s, Charlton Heston was a major box office draw during his time in Hollywood, heading a long list of successful and critically acclaimed movies. No single movie stands out as his most famous film, as Heston was responsible for turning several films into household favorites, including Planet of the Apes, The Ten Commandments, and Ben-Hur.

Heston developed a knack for Biblical epics like The Ten Commandments, but never let himself get tied down to a single genre. The actor dabbled in several different areas, trying his hand at Westerns, film noir, romance, science fiction, and war films. But as varied as his career was in Hollywood, there were certainly some noteworthy constants with some of the projects he accepted. One...

Domina was a female-led historical drama series set in Ancient Rome that focused on the power struggles of aristocratic women. Season 3 of Domina was canceled by MGM+ after the successful first and second seasons, leaving fans disappointed. Despite critical acclaim for the series as a whole, MGM+ never revealed the reason behind canceling Domina after season 2.

Domina season 3 was supposed to continue the British-Italian drama series that brought the women of Ancient Rome to the forefront. Ancient Rome is a popular location to set TV shows and movies, but most of those productions are from the vantage point of men. Domina flips the script and focuses on the women of the era, making critical points about women's roles in society and how the classical world was shaped by more than just a handful of powerful men. The power struggles between the aristocratic women were just as Earth-shaking as their husbands' fights.

Thusnelda in Netflix's Barbarians is based on a real-life Germanic noblewoman from the Cherusci tribe, but her portrayal as a warrior and powerful figure is fictionalized for the series. Barbarians incorporates real historical figures like Thusnelda, Arminius, Segestes, and Segimer to bring authenticity to the story, despite some inaccuracies in the facts. Though the real Thusnelda was a victim of war and violence, her fictional counterpart in Barbarians portrays her as a strong and influential character, playing a significant role in the depicted history and relationships.

The Germanic warrior Thusnelda (Jeanne Goursaud) in Netflix’s Barbarians is actually based on a real-life figure. Barbarians is a German-language historical war drama that takes a fictionalized look at the Roman Empire’s invasion of Germania at the start of the first millennium. Arminius (Laurence Rupp) is a member of the Cherusci tribe but was sent to Rome as a hostage when he was young.

Fans will forever remember the ‘90s and '00s as the decades when Cartoon Network churned out its most iconic shows. From Dexter’s Laboratory to The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, there was no shortage of hilarious offerings. The best 2000s cartoons now have a special place in fans' hearts as nostalgic treasures.

Related: 15 Classic Cartoon Network Shows That Still Hold Up

During the '00s, there was a stunning variety of Cartoon Network shows, with cartoons covering numerous genres such as science-fiction, reality TV, comics, and adventure. Among the many cartoons that came out in '00s, titles like Total Drama and Teen Titans stand out as the best.

Time Squad (2001 – 2003)

In Time Squad, Otto, Buck, and Larry 3000 are foolish time cops who frequently travel through time to change sections of the past. Many young history buffs loved Time Squad because it featured famous figures such as Leonardo da Vinci,...

It has been 10 years since the Starz network first wrapped up their popular Spartacus series, and now original showrunner Steven S. DeKnight is set to return to helm a new revival. Inspired by the historical tale of the Thracian gladiator who led a slave uprising, the show’s first season Spartacus: Blood and Sand starred the late Andy Whitfield as the titular warrior. However, after season 1 Whitfield was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, so producers retooled their plans for season 2 into a prequel miniseries titled Spartacus: Gods of the Arena. The role of Spartacus was eventually recast with Liam McIntyre, who would go on to lead the show’s next two seasons, Spartacus: Vengeance and Spartacus: War of the Damned.

While the 2013 finale of Spartacus: War of the Damned eventually saw McIntyre’s character meet his fate, it seems that Starz is not yet finished with the franchise.

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Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Last week’s season premiere of Boardwalk Empire started with a bang, so it’s not surprising that the following episode should feel somewhat like a slow unwind. As Eli and Chalky re-emerge, both find themselves confronted with issues of domestic upheaval and in Eli’s case, professional as well. I don’t know if Shea Whigam’s weight loss was intended to match up to his stint in prison, but intentional or no, the change in Eli is clearly more than just skin deep. He’s gone from asking his brother if one of the characters in Julius Ceasar was also called Eli to actually reading it. Misreading his character it might be easy to think prison has broken Nucky’s younger brother, but if anything it has had the opposite effect, making him harder, leaner and a deal more cautious. It’ll be interesting...

To call Richard Linklater an eclectic director would be an understatement. Starting with the low-budget indie Slacker, Linklater moved on to the stoner comedy Dazed and Confused before hitting it big with School of Rock and Bad News Bears.

Up next for the director is another independently financed project, Me and Orson Welles, based on the novel by Robert Kaplow about a teenager who lands a role in Orson Welles' production of Julius Ceasar. The movie stars teen heartthrob Zac Efron as the young actor and newcomer Christian McKay as Welles. The movie may seem a strange fit for someone like Linklater to direct, but in an interview with ComingSoon, Linklater says he doesn't find his resume odd at all. I think if there's a commonality [between movies] maybe it's sort of the tone or the acting or something, but I dunno. I'm lucky I get to work on different genres,...

Hey, a lot happens in five shows. Let's get right into it!

Comedy Correspondents

Arsenio Hall was featured twice this week. His first appearance was in a segment that had potential called "This Is What They Said/This Is What They Meant." I was expecting to see video clips of celebrities, politicians and the like spouting their same bullcrap, and then having Hall tell us what he thinks they really meant. Instead, it was Leno reading quotes, including historically famous ones like Julius Ceasar's "Et tu, Brute!" The gag didn't make sense anymore, and even worse the bits weren't funny.

Luckily, he came back later in the week with an on-site spot at Yankee Stadium, where he interviewed players from both teams and even set up a bet against a Yankees player and Phillies fan Kevin Eubanks involving Snuggies.

Continue reading Leno Weekly: Chelsea Handler, Dr. Phil, Ewan McGregor and more!

Freestyle Releasing has unveiled the final domestic trailer for Richard Linklater's upcoming drama Me and Orson Welles, which stars Zac Efron and Christian McKay. Efron plays a teenager who is cast in the Mercury Theatre production of "Julius Ceasar" directed by a young Orson Welles (McKay) in 1937. Based on the reviews that I've read from its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2008 (including James Rocchi's heart-warmed sentiments on Cinematical), Me and Orson Welles appears to be a conundrum of sorts. A well-crafted reconstruction of the 1930's New York theatre scene with a very good performance from Christian McKay as the ever-looming Welles, but one that might miss hitting the mark with various demographics based on the involvement of Zac Efron. Kids who might be drawn to the Efron brand might not be interested in an old-timey movie, and adults who are interested in Welles might not dig on a film with that High School Musical brat...