Watching TV is the number one pastime in the U.S.A. In fact, on average, Americans spend over three hours per day in front of the boob tube. And with so much great television content to consume, who can blame us? In recognition of National Television Day on November 21st, BetKentucky.com sought out to find the TV shows that have been the most beloved in the Bluegrass State this year.
Beginning with IMDb’s Top 50 most-watched series of 2023, we took to SEO analyzer Ahrefs to contract the list down to just five series — including “The Mandalorian,” “The Bear,” “Ted Lasso,” “The Last of Us,” and “Succession” — based on search volume interest. From there, we utilized Google Trends to search each TV show to see which had the highest level of interest in the state of Kentucky. A fun shift from our typical Kentucky sports betting news updates and information.
Most Watched TV Shows in Kentucky in 2023
Below you'll find some information you wouldn't see on Kentucky betting apps. Check out the best 2023 shows according to Kentuckians below.
Is “The Last of Us” the best show in America?
According to our research experiment, HBO’s “The Last of Us” is the top rated show in Kentucky, and in 42 other states as well.
Meanwhile, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York all ranked “Succession” first. And in Maine, Maryland and Vermont it’s “Ted Lasso” that takes the crown.But in all seven of those states states list above, “The Last of Us” rates out as number two.
So without question Kentucky is aligned with the rest of America in naming the mega-popular video game adaptation as the best show of 2023. At the very least, our numbers prove that it’s the buzziest.
Starring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsay as two outsiders trying to trek across a dystopian America, plagued by an infectious fungal disease that turns humans into monsters, “The Last of Us” has already been renewed for a second season. However, due to the writers and actors strikes, which have only recently been resolved, don’t expect to see Joel and Ellie back on HBO until at least 2025.
Pedro Pascal’s Big in 2023
At second position on the podium of Kentucky’s favorite TV shows of 2023 is “The Mandalorian” — which also happens to star Pedro Pascal. Fans of both series have had fun this year pointing out how Pascal plays a rogue-ish mercenary charged with transporting and protecting a small child in both shows.
Nevertheless, the 48-year-old Chilean actor is enjoying the most success he’s ever had and has become a beloved figure online and in the tabloids for his eccentric red-carpet attire, sense of humor, and obvious appreciation for the fans who have embraced him.
“Ted Lasso” Rounds Out Top 3 Shows in Kentucky
Finally, it’s the AppleTV+ series “Ted Lasso” that nabs the third spot in our rankings of Kentucky’s favorite TV shows. The comedy series about an American football coach travelling across the pond to manage a British football club has captured the heart of millions of Americans with its light-hearted charm. The fact that it premiered in August 2020, amidst the disorienting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, certainly made the thematic kindness of the show resonate even deeper.
Unfortunately, “Ted Lasso” ended this spring after three seasons. Rumours of a spin-off series have been swirling, but nothing has been announced yet.
Author
Jeff Parker is a writer for BetKentucky.com. A writer for film, television, and the internet, Jeff is a life long movie buff, with an actual Masters Degree in Popular Culture. He lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he works full-time as a documentary filmmaker and producer.
