( CNN ) -- The most influential show in the history of television never finished a season among the 20 most popular programs in the Nielsen ratings . In its most popular season , `` Hill Street Blues , '' which ran from 1981 to 1987 , came in 21st place . And yet , according to a group of veteran TV critics and college professors who study the media , it was the TV series that most changed the direction of television programming . Meanwhile , other series such as `` ER '' and `` CSI : Crime Scene Investigation , '' both monster hits that were the most popular shows in several seasons , failed to get even one mention from the panel of a dozen professional TV watchers queried by CNN . In all , 46 shows were cited as having a strong influence on TV but none was mentioned as often as `` Hill Street Blues . '' That NBC series `` paved the way for TV drama to grow up and be truly adult , '' said Matt Roush , TV critic at TV Guide Magazine . It was `` the prototype for a serious complex view of inner-city crime , '' added Elayne Rapping , professor of American studies and media studies at the State University of New York . Others cited its large diverse cast at a time when this was a rarity and said it laid the groundwork for complex network dramas . Here are the next most influential shows chosen by the panel : . 2 . ( tie ) `` I Love Lucy '' This is the show that pioneered the multicamera approach to situation comedies , said Ken Tucker , TV critic for Entertainment Weekly . It created `` the template for all sitcoms to come , '' added Neal Justin of the StarTribune in Minneapolis . 2 . ( tie ) `` The Sopranos '' Up until it got on the air , `` nobody had ever tried to make a show in which the protagonist was not merely unsympathetic , but actually evil , '' said Glenn Garvin of The Miami Herald . `` Now , from 'Dexter ' to 'Sons of Anarchy , ' it 's a common practice . '' 4 . `` The Tonight Show '' Whether with Steve Allen or Johnny Carson , it `` established the model for late-night talk comedy programming still in use today , '' said Robert J. Thompson , professor of television and popular culture at Syracuse University . 5 . ( tie ) `` All in the Family '' It set a standard for sitcoms because `` it managed to mirror all the tensions and contradictions , both essential and timely , of life in America while it boldly addressed a time of great political change , '' said Mary McNamara , TV critic for the Los Angeles Times . 5 . ( tie ) `` Survivor '' Though it premiered in the summer , said Mark Dawidziak of the Plain Dealer in Cleveland , its huge success `` led to the reality boom of the last 12 years and paved the way for series like 'American Idol ' and 'Dancing With the Stars . ' `` 7 . ( tie ) `` The Cosby Show '' Not only was this the top-rated show for five consecutive seasons but panelists give it credit for reviving the situation comedy and for being the first series to feature a family headed by black professionals . 7 . ( tie ) `` 60 Minutes '' This long-running show finished in first place for three consecutive seasons , establishing the format for all TV newsmagazines to come . Meanwhile , says Dave Walker of the Times-Picayune in New Orleans , `` it inadvertently turned TV news from a public service into a profit center . '' 7 . ( tie ) `` Friends '' Panel members praised its fresh approach to ensemble comedy , which looked deceptively simple . `` It made network executives think that any show built around five or six attractive people would be a hit , '' said Maureen Ryan , TV critic for AOL . 10 . ( tie ) `` The Today Show '' It invented morning television and woke up network executives to the profit potential at that time of day . 10 . ( tie ) `` American Idol '' Though TV had amateur talent shows before , such as `` Star Search '' and `` Arthur Godfrey 's Talent Scouts , '' this series demonstrated the enormous potential of the genre . Several panelists gave a nod to MTV 's `` Real World '' for creating the modern reality show in which nonactors are placed in pre-planned situations . Other shows receiving honorable mention for their influence on the TV industry : `` M*A*S*H , '' `` The Simpsons , '' `` The Mary Tyler Moore Show , '' `` Law & Order , '' `` Lost , '' `` Your Show of Shows , '' `` The Milton Berle Show , '' `` Sesame Street , '' `` The Shield , '' `` American Bandstand '' and the UK original version of `` The Office . '' For this story , CNN consulted the following experts : . Robert Bianco , USA Today . Matt Roush , TV Guide Magazine . Mark Dawidziak , Plain-Dealer in Cleveland . Neal Justin , StarTribune in Minneapolis . Maureen Ryan , AOL . Ken Tucker , Entertainment Weekly . Glenn Garvin , The Miami Herald . Dave Walker , Times-Picayune in New Orleans . Mary McNamara , Los Angeles Times . Elayne Rapping , State University of New York . Robert J. Thompson , Syracuse University . Max Dawson , Northwestern University .
In a poll of TV critics , ` ` Hill Street Blues '' changed the direction of programming . ` ` ER '' and ` ` CSI '' failed to get even one mention from the public . In all , 46 films were cited as having a strong influence on TV .