31 Showtime original TV shows ranked from worst to best — from 'Homeland' to 'Billions' to 'Twin Peaks'

Business Insider went back in time to rank all the network's notable original scripted programs from the last 10 years based on how well they did with critics.

Showtime launched in 1976 and is now owned by CBS. Its original programming took off in the 1990s with shows like "Twin Peaks" and "Stargate SG-1." But it really grew into a powerhouse in the late 2000s with shows like "Weeds" and "Dexter." Most recently, "Homeland," "Shameless," "The Affair," and a "Twin Peaks" revival have been prominent on the network.

But which did critics love the most?

To answer that question, we used review aggregator site Metacritic to determine the ranking, excluding variety and sports programs (and shows that didn't get enough reviews to qualify). We calculated the average score for each show based on the scores of the various seasons.

If any season of the show aired in 2008 and beyond, we counted it. "Twin Peaks" was an unusual case, as the series originally aired in the 1990s but returned for a special third season last year called "Twin Peaks: The Return." With that in mind, we counted the series on the list, and calculated the average score of all three seasons.

Below are the 31 notable Showtime original shows to air in the last decade, ranked from worst to best:

31. "Our Cartoon President"

Critics score: 42

Number of seasons: 1

Years aired: 2018

Summary: Based on a character introduced on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," this comedy follows an animated President Trump and his staff through their chaotic White House, but it has failed to land with critics.

30. "Roadies"

Critics score: 47

Number of seasons: 1

Years aired: 2016

Summary:

29. "Happyish"

Critics score: 49

Number of seasons: 1

Years aired: 2015

Summary:

28. "White Famous"

Critics score: 54

Number of seasons: 1

Years aired: 2017

Summary:

27. "Dice"

Critics score: 56

Number of seasons: 2

Years aired: 2016-2017

Summary:

26. "Secret Diary of a Call Girl"

Critics score: 56.5

Number of seasons: 4

Years aired: 2007-2011

Summary: The show brought to life a diary of a sex worker.

25. "I'm Dying Up Here"

Critics score: 62

Number of seasons: 1 (season 2 coming in May)

Years aired: 2017-present

Summary:

24. (TIE) "The L Word"

Critics score: 63

Number of seasons: 6

Years aired: 2004-2009

Summary:

24. (TIE) "House of Lies"

Critics score: 63

Number of seasons: 5

Years aired: 2012-2016

Summary:

22. "SMILF"

Critics score: 64

Number of seasons: 1 (season 2 coming this year)

Years aired: 2017-present

Summary: A comedy following

21. "Californication"

Critics score: 66

Number of seasons: 7

Years aired: 2007-2014

Summary:

20. "The Tudors"

Critics score: 67.25

Number of seasons: 4

Years aired: 2007-2010

Summary: A drama focusing on the life of

19. "The Big C"

Critics score: 67.5

Number of seasons: 4

Years aired: 2010-2013

Summary:

18. "Billions"

Critics score: 68

Number of seasons: 3

Years aired: 2016-present

Summary: A U.S. attorney played by Paul Giamatti goes up against a billionaire hedge fund manager, played by Damian Lewis.

17. "Weeds"

Critics score: 68.13

Number of seasons: 8

Years aired: 2005-2012

Summary:

16. "Web Therapy"

Critics score: 70.5

Number of seasons: 4

Years aired: 2011-2015

15. "Shameless"

Critics score: 71

Number of seasons: 8 (renewed for season 9)

Years aired: 2011-present

Summary: A father juggles his alcoholism and his six children.

14. (TIE) "The Borgias"

Critics score: 73

Number of seasons: 3

Years aired: 2011-2013

Summary: P

14. (TIE) "Ray Donovan"

Critics score: 73

Number of seasons: 5 (renewed for season 6)

Years aired: 2013-present

Summary: Liev Schreiber is Ray Donovan, a professional "fixer" for anyone but himself.

14. (TIE) "The Chi"

Critics score: 73

Number of seasons: 1 (currently airing)

Years aired: 2018

Summary:

11. "Nurse Jackie"

Critics score: 73.83

Number of seasons: 7

Years aired: 2009-2015

Summary:

10. "Episodes"

Critics score: 74.33

Number of seasons: 5

Years aired: 2011-2015

Summary: Matt LeBlanc, of "Friends" fame, plays himself as an actor cast in an American remake of a popular British television series.

9. (TIE) "Brotherhood"

Critics score: 75

Number of seasons: 3

Years aired: 2006-2008

Summary:

9. (TIE) "Guerrilla"

Critics score: 75

Number of seasons: 1 (Mini-series)

Years aired: 2017

Summary:

7. "Dexter"

Critics score: 75.88

Number of seasons: 8

Years aired: 2006-2013

Summary: A crime-scene analyst in Miami is also a serial-killer ... of other serial-killers.

6. (TIE) "United States of Tara"

Critics score: 76.7

Number of seasons: 3

Years aired: 2009-2011

Summary:

6. (TIE) "Penny Dreadful"

Critics score: 76.7

Number of seasons: 3

Years aired: 2014-2016

Summary: Classic literary characters like Victor Frankenstein

4. "Homeland"

Critics score: 78.2

Number of seasons: 7 (currently airing)

Years aired: 2011-present

Summary:

3. "The Affair"

Critics score: 78.3

Number of seasons: 3 (season 4 premieres this year)

Years aired: 2014-present

Summary:

2. "Masters of Sex"

Critics score: 79.3

Number of seasons: 4

Years aired: 2013-2016

Summary:

1. "Twin Peaks"

Critics score: 85

Number of seasons: 3

Years aired: 1990-1991, 2017

Summary: An FBI agent investigates the murder of a teenage girl in the small, strange town of Twin Peaks, but nothing is as it appears. The show returned with a third season called "Twin Peaks: The Return" last year.

31 Showtime original TV shows ranked from worst to best — from 'Homeland' to 'Billions' to 'Twin Peaks'

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