20 modern classic TV shows everyone needs to watch in their lifetime

If you've ever felt left out at a party when conversation inevitably turns to "this show you absolutely need to watch" - well, you've come to the right place.

Business Insider has rounded up the 20 most noteworthy shows of the last 15 years - the best of this bright generation in TV. They range from the most elite shows of the period, like "Six Feet Under" and "Mad Men," to shows that have become part of the pop-culture lexicon, like "Firefly" and "30 Rock."

And before you leave irate comments about snubs for "The Sopranos" or "The Walking Dead," allow us to explain our criteria for the list: We only looked at shows that premiered between 2001 ("Sopranos" debuted a couple years earlier) and 2015, and we only looked at shows that have concluded their runs (we're still waiting to see where these "Dead" shows go). If a show hasn't been officially canceled, like HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm," then it was also not included.

Here are the shows everyone should watch from the last 15 years: