CBS is home to past and present iconic series that have defined American culture over the decades. From classic Star Trek and The Twilight Zone to their modern revamps, there’s no shortage of top-tier content on CBS All Access. And along with primetime comedy and drama series, you’ll be able to tune into live news broadcasts and sporting events like NFL games. So, you’ll get an on-demand experience similar to Hulu, but with the added perks of live programming.
For more information about CBS All Access and how it compares to other streaming services, take a look at our review. And if you already like what you see, then jump ahead for a more in-depth analysis of its packages and pricing deals.
With nearly 80 years of content to sift through, it’s no simple task finding the best series. But we did just that! We’ve distilled the best CBS All Access TV shows down to the top 10. Keep reading to find out the best CBS shows you should be watching.
How we rate CBS All Access shows
We at Cord Cutters News take our ratings seriously. Our long list of criteria for ranking shows involves Rotten Tomatoes critic and audience scores, along with other features such as binge-worthiness. And since CBS also has plenty of new and old content, we also considered the relevance of past classics. Our list below is an amalgamation of not only present CBS shows but fan favorites that are still enjoyed by millions today.
Top 10 CBS All Access shows
Chappelle’s Show (2003-2006)
- # of seasons: 3
- Average TOMATOMETER: 96%
- Average Audience Score: 100%
Not only was Chappelle’s Show one of the funniest shows on the planet in the early 2000s, but the comedian’s sketch show still holds up today. Together with comedic talents like the late Charlie Murphy, Donnell Rawlings, and Neal Brennan, Dave Chappelle parodies subjects no comedian has tried before, and few since.
Hawaii Five-O (2010-2020)
- # of seasons: 10
- Average TOMATOMETER: N/A
- Average Audience Score: 75%
The reboot of Hawaii Five-O takes a modern approach to the original police drama as it follows a team of high-octane police officers who tackle the most dangerous criminals. The series itself begins when Steve McGarrett, Jr. travels back to Oahu to avenge the death of his father, Detective Steve McGarrett. He’s given a Five-O task force to assist him in his mission.
Interrogation (2020)
- # of seasons: 1
- Average TOMATOMETER: 57%
- Average Audience Score: 88%
Interrogation is one of the more audacious shows on CBS All Access. Based on true events, each episode centers around a specific interrogation of a young man who was convicted of killing his own mother. The series spans 30 years and makes you, as the audience, question whether he’s guilty or innocent.
MacGyver (2016- )
- # of seasons: 4
- Average TOMATOMETER: N/A
- Average Audience Score: 81%
In this updated take on the original 80s series, a genius problem solver, with the help of his unconventional team of covert operatives from various US intelligence agencies, work together to save the world. You’ll want to tune in just to see what MacGyver gets himself into — and out — of.
Reno 911! (2003- )
- # of seasons: 7
- Average TOMATOMETER: 86%
- Average Audience Score: 78%
As a hilarious spoof of the once-popular Cops series, Reno 911! showcases an inept police department in Las Vegas with officers who struggle with their own idiosyncrasies and lack of competence in policing their district. The ragtag group of fellow officers and their responses, or lack thereof, keep you tuning in for more. There are countless comedians and personalities who appear on the show like Thomas Lennon, Joe Lo Truglio, Paul Rudd, George Lopez, Jane Lynch, Nick Swardson, and Craig Robinson.
Star Trek: Discovery (2017- )
- # of seasons: 3
- Average TOMATOMETER: 81%
- Average Audience Score: 42%
Star Trek: Discovery takes place somewhere around 10 years before the original Star Trek series. The Klingons have banded together to wage war on the United Federation of Planets. Unlike in earlier series, Discovery follows Michael Burnham, portrayed by Sonequa Martin-Green, a Starfleet officer instead of a captain. This provides a unique perspective previously unexplored in other Star Trek spinoffs.
Star Trek: Lower Decks (2020)
- # of seasons: 1
- Average TOMATOMETER: 65%
- Average Audience Score: 36%
Lower Decks focuses on one of the least impressive ships of the United Federation’s Starfleet. Missions that harbor on the mundane quickly escalate into growing ordeals that result in sheer mayhem and hilarity.
Star Trek: Picard (2020)
- # of seasons: 1
- Average TOMATOMETER: 86%
- Average Audience Score: 56%
Two decades after the events of Star Trek: Nemesis, ex-Starfleet commander Jean-Luc Picard is in retirement. Picard’s still processing the death of his second in command and close confidante, Data. When he’s sought out by a mysterious young woman in need of his help, it becomes evident that she’s tied to his close friend.
The Twilight Zone (1959-1964)
- # of seasons: 5
- Average TOMATOMETER: 82%
- Average Audience Score: 94%
CBS has revamped one of its most popular series a few times since its original broadcast. But nothing matches up to the black-and-white allure and Cold War commentary of the original series. Each episode stands on its own, following new characters and plots, sometimes even worlds apart from one another. The series features renowned talents like Charles Bronson, Don Rickles, Martin Landau, and William Shatner.
Twin Peaks (1990-2017)
- # of seasons: 3
- Average TOMATOMETER: 88%
- Average Audience Score: 88%
In the early 1990s, there was no show that captured the hearts and minds of a generation like Twin Peaks. Created by virtuoso filmmaker David Lynch, the series takes the mechanics and cliches of pulp mysteries and then turns them all on their heads. What comes out on the other side is a coalescence of the provocative with the haunted uncanniness of a dream.
*Current as of August 2020