Top Sitcoms of All Time
As an avid TV enjoyer, sitcoms have always been my favorite genre of TV. Everyone has their comfort sitcom that makes them happy. You can just throw it on when you need an escape from the world and to just be with your favorite characters. Today I am going to list my top sitcoms of all time that I think everyone should give a try. You will see within my list of top sitcoms of all time that I love shows with great character dynamics and their bonds with each other.
My Top Sitcoms Of All Time
1. Cheers
Cheers is a classic sitcom that is the blueprint for so many modern day sitcoms. People may be turned off from Cheers just because it is “old.” But that should not be a deciding factor whether you give it a try or not. It is surprising how well certain plots have aged from this sitcom airing from 1982-1993.
Cheers normalized the “workplace sitcom.” The show centers around a Boston bar and all of the characters either work there or are bar patrons. The way all of the characters’ lives weave throughout one another makes it a joy to watch. All of the characters are great, but the relationship between Sam and Diane is by far the most entertaining. They truly set the tone for other modern day sitcom couples. Overall, when I think of the top sitcoms of all time, I truly think Cheers takes the cake.
2. Frasier
Frasier is a classic 90s sitcom that is actually a spin off of Cheers. Many people actually consider it the better show between the two, but I truly cannot decide which show is my favorite. Frasier follows Frasier Crane moving from Boston to Seattle to where his father and brother reside. Other characters include Frasier’s coworker from the radio station in which he stars in his own radio show. And also his father’s physical therapist.
Some viewers actually chose to watch Frasier even if they have never watched Cheers. In my opinion, you should watch Cheers first, especially if you want to know all of the callbacks that are featured in Frasier. If you are a sitcom fan, or especially a fan of 90s television, you need to give Frasier a try. Both this show and Cheers I think are two of the top sitcoms of all time. Especially if you are a classic sitcom enjoyer.
3. Friends
Now, I know what you are thinking. Friends is the most popular show in the world. Everybody has watched it. Blah blah blah. Surprisingly, I just got into Friends somewhat recently. I had tried getting into the show for literal years. I could never get past the first season. It’s not even that the first season is bad, it’s just that it’s hard to watch when you don’t have a good grasp on the characters yet. Once you hit season two, it becomes a whole different show.
I also always heard over the years that Friends didn’t age well. And, don’t get me wrong, some things didn’t age that well. But overall, I truly think Friends aged better than a lot of other shows that were airing at that time. I also think that the comedy on Friends gets categorized as basic humor. But, I truly laugh out loud while watching. It is definitely a show you can just have on in the background. But I also think Friends is really a show that you can get into character wise and think deeply about. I truly couldn’t recommend it more if you are maybe still skeptical about giving it a try.
4. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Out of all of the shows on this list, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia has a cast of characters where they are all genuinely terrible people. You can’t really hope for their success and happiness the same way you can with the characters on Friends. And you are not supposed to want to root for them because they are so terrible, but that is the fun of it.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is currently TV’S longest-running live-action sitcom. The show began airing in 2005 with their next season currently being filmed right now. And I truly don’t see the creators of the show, who also star in it, pulling the plug any time soon. The great thing about that is that there is really no set plot to the show, so they can’t really run any certain plot points into the ground. Every episode is just them getting into their typical bullshit.
So if you like seeing terrible people make terrible choices where they don’t learn from their mistakes, then this is truly the show for you.
5. Parks and Recreation
Parks and Recreation is the sunshine equivalent of a sitcom. The show is a love letter to public service. Just putting it on and hearing the theme song makes me happy. And then seeing all of the characters makes me even happier. And when I say all of the characters, I truly mean all of them. They give their main characters such depth. But they also put so much work into their minor characters as well. You really feel like you are immersed in the town of Pawnee because the universe is so well written.
There is so much more I could say about Parks and Recreation. But truly if you just want to watch a comforting sitcom that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, this will be the best watch for you.
6. Schitt’s Creek
Schitt’s Creek is about a once wealthy family who lost everything. The whole family, including parents and their two adult children, move into a motel in the town of Schitt’s Creek. It is an extremely funny and easy watch. The characters should be somewhat unlikeable, but they are so intriguing that you end up wanting to root for them.
Schitt’s Creek was a fairly unknown show for most of its run. The last couple seasons the show got extremely popular. The show even swept all of the Emmy’s in the comedy category in 2020. It is so fascinating to me how popular the show ended up getting towards the end just because it got put on Netflix. It really ended up breathing new life into the show, and I am so happy it did. The show truly deserved it.
7. The Good Place
The Good Place is my favorite sitcom and favorite show. I think it deserves a place in the top sitcoms of all time. It holds a special place in my heart for a few different reasons, but at the end of the day, it is a brilliant show. The show weaves Moral Philosophy with comedy. It examines how to be a good person while making you laugh out loud. Mike Schur, the creator of the show, has been involved with other shows like Parks and Recreation & The Office.
The Good Place isn’t a sitcom that you can just throw any episode on and know exactly what is happening within the storyline. It is a show you need to watch from the beginning because of the overarching plot lines each season. The show ends up going in such surprising directions that I was left baffled after almost every single episode. If you want a show that will keep you on your toes, this is definitely the show for you.
8. Superstore
Superstore aired on NBC at the same nights as The Good Place, which was always something I looked forward to. This show is your typical workplace comedy, but something about it feels different. The show is very goofy and fun, but it gives insight into the people who work in retail. It is the only show that was airing during the time of pandemic that I didn’t mind including covid storylines. It gave us a peek into what retail workers were going through at the time.
Superstore ran for six seasons, but I easily could have watched six more. It is such an easy show to just put on in the background if you just want to laugh. The characters are all very quirky and strange but that is what makes them great. I would give this show a try if you don’t want a super high stakes sitcom to watch but you just want to laugh.
9. Single Parents
Single Parents is definitely the most unknown show on this list, making it the most underrated. It was sadly cancelled after two seasons on ABC, but it had so much potential. I think it truly could have been the next big network sitcom if ABC had given it the chance it so dearly deserved. Even though the show was cancelled, I would still recommend watching it. The show is about a group of five single parents and their kids. They are all friends, but they all lean on each other throughout their parenting highs and lows. It is just so heart warming and also hilarious. Also, the kid actors on Single Parents are wonderful. They are all so talented even though they are only kids.
Even if ABC didn’t give this show the chance it deserved, you definitely should. I think it is one of the top sitcoms of all time, even if it didn’t get as many episodes compared to the rest of the shows on this list.
10. Modern Family
Modern Family ended their eleven season run a few years ago on ABC. It has become one of the most popular modern day sitcoms. The show follows the lives of three different households that make up one family. We follow them as they go through their everyday lives. It is so interesting in particular to see the kids grow up on screen. Everybody in the family goes throughout their own development and different storylines that all usually end up weaving together.
In my opinion, we haven’t had a network television show live up to the same hype that Modern Family had since it has ended. I personally thought that Single Parents could have been it, but ABC decided to cancel it prematurely. Both shows revolve around families and both shows also have their own unique sense of comedy. There is something special about a show revolving around family dynamics that really pulls me in. If family dynamics in television also intrigue you, you should give Modern Family a try.