Netflix鈥檚 鈥淕LOW鈥� returned for a second season over the weekend, bringing us 10 more episodes of Spandex-clad wrestling glory. The series, about female wrestlers in the 1980s, is one of the latest sports-themed TV shows that try to meld on- and off-the field drama. Not many have figured out just how to nail that tricky balance.
In honour of the return of 鈥淕LOW,鈥� we picked the 10 best sports TV shows of all time. Equipment not included.
10. One Tree Hill
Don鈥檛 knock the soapy teen drama before you try it. Sure, by the end of the series鈥� long run, 鈥淥ne Tree Hill鈥� wasn鈥檛 so much about feuding basketball stars anymore, but still, in its early seasons, the drama on the court was just as crucial as teen marriages and Lucas Scott鈥檚 (Chad Michael Murray) love interests. It may not rise to the highs of other shows on this list, but it was always a melodramatic good time.
9. Ballers
When in doubt, turn to The Rock. Dwayne Johnson takes breaks between starring in seemingly every movie to film HBO鈥檚 hit comedy (returning Aug. 12) about a football star turned sports manager, a high-testosterone mix of 鈥淓ntourage鈥� (without the baggage) and 鈥淛erry Maguire.鈥� Come for The Rock, stay for the sunny skies and inventive insults.
8. GLOW
Netflix鈥檚 fictionalized, behind-the-scenes story of the 鈥淕orgeous Ladies of Wrestling鈥� from the 1980s was a fun summer comedy romp in its first season but pile-drives into gear for a deeper, more rewarding second. Its deep bench of comedic talent, candy-colored aesthetics and respect for wrestling make it a must-watch for wrestling nerds and newcomers alike.
7. American Ninja Warrior
The best exhibition of athleticism on TV other than watching an actual football or basketball game, NBC鈥檚 reality competition is an emotional celebration of the human spirit. From its increasingly difficult obstacle courses to its inspirational contestants to the genuine awe and excitement of announcers Matt Iseman and Akbar Gbaja-Biamila, nothing on the series feels forced or inauthentic. If only all reality TV shows were this pure.
6. Eastbound and Down
Produced by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay and starring the reliably doltish comedic stylings of Danny McBride, this HBO series is not the one you want to watch if you want to see inspirational sports stories. The comedy follows a onetime professional baseball player who is forced to return home and be a substitute gym teacher, to less-than-successful effect.
5. Coach
With 鈥淐oach,鈥� the long-running sitcom starring Craig T. Nelson, you get a two-for-one deal with sports jokes and 1990s sitcom tropes. On ABC from 1989 to 1997, the classic comedy follows Coach Fox (Nelson) as he tries to whip the fictional Minnesota State University Screaming Eagles into shape. The sitcom, often both hilarious and heartwarming, is all the fun of sports without too much drama -- just what you want sometimes.
4. The White Shadow
Although on CBS only from 1978 to 1981, 鈥淭he White Shadow鈥� was a groundbreaking series because it was one of the first network dramas to include a largely African-American cast. Like many classic sports films, 鈥淭he White Shadow鈥� dealt explicitly with the relationship between race and sports when a white coach (Ken Howard) starts coaching the basketball team at a racially diverse, underfunded city high school.
3. ESPN鈥檚 30 for 30
Although the best episode of this ESPN sports documentary series won an Oscar for best documentary (鈥淥J: Made in America鈥�), it鈥檚 still technically TV, and one of the most illuminating nonfiction series on today. If you want the best of the best, try the 鈥淥J鈥� documentary or 鈥淭he Price of Gold,鈥� which gives a much better portrait of the Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan saga than the fictionalized 鈥淚, Tonya鈥� did last year.
2. Sports Night
Before he brought his fast-talking, idealistic characters to the White House in 鈥淭he West Wing,鈥� Aaron Sorkin tried his hand at this short-lived series about a fictional sports talk show, in the vein of 鈥淪ports Center.鈥� Its incredible cast (including Josh Charles, Peter Krause, Felicity Huffman, Joshua Malina and Robert Guillaume) spat Sorkin鈥檚 dialogue with ease and made this canceled-too-soon series a cult classic.
1. Friday Night Lights
There鈥檚 nothing better than spending time with the Taylors. The classic high-school football show, inspired by the 2004 film, is the pinnacle of sports television, a deft portrayal of what high school football means to a small Texas town. The series featured some of the strongest TV performances from Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton, and also served as an incubator for talents like Taylor Kitsch, Jesse Plemons and Michael B. Jordan.
