1. The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (1959–1963)

Decades before high school dramas ruled the airwaves, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis broke entirely new ground. According to television history archives, this was the very first American TV program produced for a major network to feature teenagers as the leading characters.

Dwayne Hickman played the lovelorn Dobie, who frequently broke the fourth wall to speak directly to the audience while sitting beside a replica of Auguste Rodin’s “The Thinker” statue.

However, the true breakout star was Bob Denver as Dobie’s best friend, Maynard G. Krebs. Maynard introduced the beatnik subculture to mainstream American living rooms, instantly recognizable by his goatee, ragged sweatshirt, and sheer terror at the mere mention of the word “work.”

The series was also a fantastic launching pad for young talent, featuring early career appearances by Tuesday Weld and Warren Beatty.