The Greatest Sitcoms Fans Still Enjoy Today (2024)

Sitcoms are an important piece of television history. Short for situation comedy, sitcoms generally feature characters who appear from episode to episode and find them in everyday situations that often turn comedic. Many sitcoms have been filmed in front of a live studio audience or at least used a laugh track.

With the rise of streaming, the golden age of sitcoms may be behind audiences, but that does not mean that there have not been some great sitcoms over the years. Some of these great sitcoms became pioneers for the genre, while others have become the gold standard that many sitcoms have tried to emulate to various forms of success.

Updated on June 6, 2024 by Katie Doll: This article has been updated to include more information about the best sitcoms of all time, as well as five more entries, and to reflect CBR's most current standards in formatting.

45 New Girls Is Quirky Millennial Humor At Its Finest

A lot of sitcoms thrive off of just friends hanging out in their 20s and 30s. That was the appeal of Friends during its run, and that's what made people fall in love with New Girl. That and Zooey Deschanel just has an effortless charm to her that makes Jess's quirky personality so lovable.

The more seasons went by of New Girl, the more people fell in love with the supporting characters of New Girl. Jess's male roommates -- Schmidt, Nick and Winston -- and her best friend Cece rounded out Jess's innocent aura. And while some people may consider millennial humor corny these days, New Girl somehow made it work across all generations. Nearly everyone wanted to hang out with this group of roommates in their chic Los Angeles loft.

New Girl

TV-14

Comedy

Romance

After a bad break-up, Jess, an offbeat young woman, moves into an apartment loft with three single men. Although they find her behavior very unusual, the men support her - most of the time.

Release Date

September 20, 2011

Cast

Zooey Deschanel , Max Greenfield , Hannah Simone , Lamorne Morris , Jake Johnson

Seasons

7

Creator

Elizabeth Meriwether

Production Company

Elizabeth Meriwether Pictures, American Nitwits, Chernin Entertainment

Number of Episodes

146

44 Malcolm in the Middle Is Relatable for Dysfunctional Families

Before he was Walter White, a.k.a. Heisenberg in Breaking Bad, Bryan Cranston was just the typical sitcom dad in Malcolm in the Middle. Cranston played Hal along with Jane Kaczmarek as Lois, raising three (later) four boys. But while everyone knows who Cranston is, it was Frankie Muniz as Malcolm who was the true star of the show, putting other child actors to shame.

Dysfunctional families are nothing rare in sitcoms, but Malcolm in the Middle sets itself apart by being relatable and clever. The series often focused on the trials and tribulations of being a working-class family in America, leading to some hilarious plots. One might say that Malcolm in the Middle reinvented the face of the sitcom by removing the multicam and laugh track, making it one of the most iconic sitcoms of all time.

Malcolm in the Middle

TV-PG

Comedy

Sitcom

A gifted young teen tries to survive life with his dimwitted, dysfunctional family.

Release Date

January 9, 2000

Cast

Frankie Muniz , Jane Kaczmarek , Bryan Cranston , Christopher Masterson , Justin Berfield , Erik Per Sullivan , Catherine Lloyd Burns

Main Genre

Comedy

Seasons

7

Website

https://www.disneyplus.com/series/malcolm-in-the-middle/5mNQERYSP5YN

Creator

Linwood Boomer

Distributor

20th Television, Disney+

Main Characters

Malcolm, Lois, Hal, Francis, Reese, Dewey, Jamie

Production Company

Satin City, Regency Television, Fox Television Studios, New Regency Productions

Number of Episodes

151

Network

FOX

Streaming Service(s)

Hulu

43 Young Sheldon Follows Up as a Spectacular Prequel Spinoff

If there are any shows that need to be noted for being a brilliant sitcom spinoff, it should be Young Sheldon. As a prequel series to The Big Bang Theory, Young Sheldon offers a different perspective on Sheldon Cooper's life as a young prodigy growing up in Medford, Texas. The series doesn't involve a laughing track and is styled as a modern dramedy towards the end of its run.

These changes, plus the addition of Sheldon's family, are what made Young Sheldon stand on its own without the shadow of The Big Bang Theory. The Cooper family dynamics are messy and complicated, but the tragedy is part of the appeal. Young Sheldon is one of the few sitcoms that managed to balance comedy and devastation, which is an incredibly hard feat to accomplish with grace.

Young Sheldon

TV-PG

Comedy

Drama

Meet a child genius named Sheldon Cooper (already seen as an adult in The Big Bang Theory (2007)) and his family. Some unique challenges face Sheldon, who is socially impaired.

Release Date

September 25, 2017

Cast

Iain Armitage , Jim Parsons

Main Genre

Sitcom

Seasons

6

Creator

Chuck Lorre, Steven Molaro

Number of Episodes

127

Network

CBS

Streaming Service(s)

Netflix , Paramount+ , Max , Hulu , Fubo TV , Prime Video

42 Derry Girls Puts a Coming-of-Age Twist on the Troubles

Derry Girls could've failed on all levels. It's a comedy set in Northern Ireland during the conflict known as the Troubles, in which thousands of people died fighting for either United Kingdom control or a united Ireland. Bridges are threatened with bombs and school buses are searched by the military. It's dark and depressing, and Derry Girls doesn't ignore that. It just shifts the focus to a group of girls and an English fella who've lived their entire lives in this conflict.

Derry Girls is one of the smartest shows about growing up in a conflict and having known nothing else. To the main characters, the Troubles is wrapped up in their identity, but it also doesn't define them. It sets the bar pretty high for teen coming-of-age comedies and leaves people wanting more after its short three-season run.

Derry Girls

TV-MA

Comedy

Release Date

December 21, 2018

Cast

Saoirse-Monica Jackson , Louisa Harland , Tara Lynne O'Neill , Kathy Kiera Clarke

Main Genre

Comedy

Seasons

3

See Also

The 100 Best Sitcoms Of All Time, According To CinemaBlend26 Best Sitcoms of All Time That Are Still Funny TodayThe 25 Best Sitcoms of the 2000sThe Best Sitcoms on Netflix

41 SpongeBob Squarepants Left a Mark on Gen Z

There's never been a show quite as influential on Gen Z culture as SpongeBob Squarepants. The children's sitcom surprisingly holds up with mature audiences who can either relate to SpongeBob's effortless positivity or Squidward's hatred of the workforce. SpongeBob Squarepants has been made into hundreds of memes throughout the years, reminding people why it left such an empowering legacy that continues in its 14th season.

The sitcom follows the titular character who lives in the underwater city of Bikini Bottom with his friends and the antics he gets up to in his everyday life. What connects people to the show is the timeless language that defined Gen Z's sense of humor. It may have been nonsensical at times, but it can also be sharp and witty in its best moments.

SpongeBob SquarePants

TV-Y7

Comedy

The misadventures of a talking sea sponge who works at a fast food restaurant, attends a boating school, and lives in an underwater pineapple.

Release Date

May 1, 1999

Cast

Tom Kenny , Rodger Bumpass , Clancy Brown , Jill Talley , Carolyn Lawrence , Lori Alan , Mary Jo Catlett

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

13

Creator

Stephen Hillenburg

Number of Episodes

292

40 Family Guy Was Saved from Cancelation

Family Guy follows the Griffin family in Quahog, Rhode Island. Led by hapless patriarch Peter, the family gets into various hijinks and wacky situations. Famous for its cutaways, the show also spoofs many famous movies, television shows and celebrities for satire. It is one of the longest-running shows in television history, currently in its 22nd season with over 400 episodes.

Creator Seth MacFarlane also serves as executive producer for the show and voices a plethora of characters, including main characters Peter, Brian, Stewie and Quagmire. The show is also not afraid to get political nor handle tough topics, which has made it a controversial show to many, but it is nonetheless still enjoyed. It was canceled after its 3rd season but revived due to its immense popularity from syndication.

Family Guy

TV-MA

Animation

Comedy

In a wacky Rhode Island town, a dysfunctional family strives to cope with everyday life as they are thrown from one crazy scenario to another.

Release Date

January 31, 1999

Cast

Seth MacFarlane , Alex Borstein , Mila Kunis , Seth Green

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

23

Creator

Seth MacFarlane, David Zuckerman

Production Company

Fuzzy Door Productions, Fox Television Animation

Number of Episodes

420+

39 The Office (U.K.) Spawned A Franchise Of Adaptations

The U.K. version of The Office proved to be a landmark series. Only running for 14 episodes, the series was set at the Wernham Hogg paper company branch led by David Brent (Ricky Gervais). The branch’s employees are filmed mockumentary-style as the company is beginning to close branches.

The show was not a ratings hit upon release but soon became one of the greatest British series ever made. Its impact was massive, as it led to a franchise of localized adaptations of the show. The most famous of the adaptations was the American version starring Steve Carell. Gervais made a cameo in the American version as his character David Brent for an episode in 2011.

38 Brooklyn Nine-Nine Was A Surprise Hit And Revived

Brooklyn Nine-Nine follows a group of NYPD detectives who are adjusting to their jobs under a new commanding officer, Captain Raymond Holt (Andre Braugher). At the 99th Precinct, there is no shortage of craziness among its detectives and their lives, starting with the lovable Detective Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg).

The show was a surprise hit, winning the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy for its first season. In addition, Samberg won for Best Actor- Television Series Musical or Comedy. It proved to be a mainstay on Fox for its first five seasons before being surprisingly canceled. However, due to its popularity, it was picked up by NBC for the rest of its run, running for 3 more seasons.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

TV-14

Crime

Comedy

Comedy series following the exploits of Det. Jake Peralta and his diverse, lovable colleagues as they police the NYPD's 99th Precinct.

Release Date

September 17, 2013

Cast

Andy Samberg , Stephanie Beatriz , Terry Crews , Andre Braugher

Main Genre

Comedy

Seasons

8

Creator

Dan Goor, Michael Schur

Production Company

Fremulon, Dr. Goor Productions, 3 Arts Entertainment

Writers

Dan Goor , Michael Schur

37 Barney Miller Was Filmed Like A Stage Play

Barney Miller follows the 12th Precinct of the New York police department. Led by Captain Miller, the detectives deal with the eccentric characters that come through the station. The show ran for 8 seasons from 1975-1982. The show also produced a spin-off surrounding Abe Vigoda's character, Fish.

Barney Miller was a unique sitcom that operated more like a stage play, given that the show rarely ever left the precinct. Perhaps one episode a season would feature a storyline outside the precinct, but it was rare. It was a testament to how great the writing for the show was that a majority of episodes could be set in one location.

36 Family Ties Highlighted The Culture Change Of The 1980s

Family Ties revolves around the everyday lives of the Keaton family in Ohio. Parents Steven and Elyse, liberals and former hippies, clash with their ultra-conservative oldest son Alex P. Keaton (Michael J. Fox) over politics and other social issues of the 1980s. The show proved to be a breakout role for Fox, who won 3 consecutive Primetime Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award for his performance.

The show highlighted the cultural divide taking place in the United States during the 1980s. The younger generation, people like Alex, rejected the counterculture of the 1960s, people like Steven and Elyse. The show was famously President Ronald Reagan’s favorite show during the 1980s.

Family Ties

TV-G

Family

Comedy

Drama

Chronicles liberal ex-hippies Steven and Elyse Keaton, their conservative son Alex, daughters Mallory and Jennifer, and later, youngest child Andrew.

Release Date

September 22, 1982

Cast

Michael J. Fox , Michael Gross , Meredith Baxter , Justine Bateman , Tina Yothers

Main Genre

Sitcom

Seasons

7

Creator

Gary David Goldberg

Number of Episodes

176

Streaming Service(s)

Paramount+ , Pluto TV

See Also

In gevaar: Werelderfgoedlocaties die dreigen te verdwijnen

35 Community Will Have A Revival Movie Soon

Community follows Jeff Winger, a suspended lawyer who is forced to enroll in a community college after it is discovered that he lied about having a bachelor degree. He lands at Greendale Community College, dealing with the eccentric characters that he meets and their misadventures. It ran for six seasons and 110 episodes.

Community features an impressive ensemble cast including Joel McHale, Danny Pudi, Donald Glover, Alison Brie, Gillian Jacobs and Chevy Chase. It has an impressive cult following among its fanbase, with many praising the show for its unique episodes throughout its run. For years, fans have clamored for a movie revival with the original cast, and they will get their wish as the film will enter production in 2024.

Community

TV-14

Comedy

Release Date

September 17, 2009

Cast

Joel McHale , Danny Pudi , Donald Glover , Chevy Chase , Gillian Jacobs , Alison Brie , Ken Jeong , Yvette Nicole Brown

Main Genre

Comedy

Seasons

6

34 It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia Is One Of The Longest-Running Sitcoms Ever

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia follows the lives of “The Gang,” five narcissistic friends who run a pub in Philadelphia. However, the group spends most of their time drinking, fighting amongst themselves or plotting against others. The series stars Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton, Rob McElhenney, Kaitlin Olson and Danny DeVito.

Created by McElhenny and developed alongside Howerton, the low-budget FX show has been a runaway hit for the network. It is one of the longest-running sitcoms in television history, currently at 16 seasons and renewed for a 17th. Many have praised the show for its dark humor, making nearly the entire cast unlikable characters yet beloved at the same time for their ridiculous antics.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

TV-MA

Comedy

Five friends with big egos and small brains are the proprietors of an Irish pub in Philadelphia.

Release Date

August 4, 2005

Creator(s)

Rob McElhenney , Glenn Howerton

Cast

Charlie Day , Glenn Howerton , Rob McElhenney , Kaitlin Olson , Danny DeVito , Mary Elizabeth Ellis

Main Genre

Sitcom

Seasons

16

Number of Episodes

170

Network

FX

Streaming Service(s)

Hulu

33 Modern Family Follows Three Different Connected Families

Modern Family is set in suburban Los Angeles and depicts the everyday lives of three very different, but related, families. The families face daily trials and tribulations and rely on their extended family for support. The show features an ensemble cast that includes Ed O’Neill, Sofía Vergara, Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell, Jessie Tyler Ferguson and Eric Stonestreet.

Many of the show’s story lines are inspired by real-life stories of various families. The show depicts, as the name suggests, families in modern times that come in all different shapes and sizes (blended, nuclear, same-sex, etc.). It is one of the most nominated shows in television history, and the cast only submitted for supporting actor/actress categories to reinforce the fact that the show was led by its ensemble as a whole.

Modern Family

TV-PG

Comedy

Drama

Romance

Three different but related families face trials and tribulations in their own uniquely comedic ways.

Release Date

September 23, 2009

Cast

Ed O'Neill , Sofia Vergara , Julie Bowen , Ty Burrell , Jesse Tyler Ferguson , Eric Stonestreet , Sarah Hyland , Ariel Winter , Nolan Gould , Rico Rodriguez , Reid Ewing , Aubrey Anderson-Emmons

Main Genre

Comedy

Seasons

11

Creator

Steven Levitan, Christopher Lloyd

Production Company

Levitan / Lloyd, 20th Century Fox Television, Steven Levitan Productions, Picador Productions

Number of Episodes

250

32 The Bob Newhart Show Had Several Gags From Newhart's Stand-Up Routine

The Bob Newhart Show stars Bob Newhart as Bob, a Chicago psychologist, following his home and professional life. Bob is constantly dealing with the eccentric characters he crosses paths with, whether they are his patients, colleagues or neighbors. Over the course of the show’s run, many guest stars would fill these roles, with Bob often playing the straight man to give the show its signature comedy.

The show took various elements from Newhart’s stand-up routine. One of the famous ones was the telephone conversations that are one-sided when the audience only hears Bob. Another gag from the show that is enshrined in the pop culture lexicon is “Hi, Bob,” which was said so often that it even became a popular drinking game. The cast reunited in 1991 for a special that followed the characters in the present day and Newhart appeared as his character on several other shows after the series ended in 1978.

31 Diff'rent Strokes Was Famous For Its "Very Special Episodes"

Diff’rent Strokes follows Willis and Arnold Jackson, two young boys from Harlem who are taken in by Philip Drummond, a wealthy businessman as well as a father to his daughter Kimberly. The Jacksons’ mother used to work for Drummond until she passed away, and he decided to adopt her kids. For the first two seasons, Charolette Rae costarred as Mrs. Garrett, the family’s housekeeper, before being spun off into her own show, The Facts of Life.

The show is best known for its “very special episodes,” which involved serious topics not normally found in a sitcom. Several of these episodes tackled the issues of racism, drug use, kidnapping and child sex abuse. “The Bicycle Man Episode” is the most famous of the special episodes, where Arnold and his friend befriend a bicycle shop owner who attempts to molest them. Many of these episodes began or ended with a message from star Conrad Bain imploring viewers to talk about the episode and be aware if they ever experience it themselves.

30 Arrested Development Was Revived by Netflix

Arrested Development follows the dysfunctional Bluth family. Michael must take over the family affairs after his father is imprisoned, but finds the task to be daunting while dealing with his more eccentric family members. The Bluths used to be very wealthy, but when corrupt real estate developer George is arrested, everything changes for the family.

Arrested Development features an ensemble cast including Jason Bateman, Portia de Rossi, Will Arnett, Michael Cera, Tony Hale, and Jeffrey Tambor. It ran for three seasons from 2003 to 2006, and then Netflix revived it for two more seasons, released in 2013 and 2018-2019, respectively. The show’s popularity in syndication partly caused its revival. Especially since many fans sensed the story wasn't truly over when the series was originally canceled. Arrested Development also became an influence for later single-camera comedies of the 2000s.

Arrested Development

TV-14

Comedy

Level-headed son Michael Bluth takes over family affairs after his father is imprisoned. But the rest of his spoiled, dysfunctional family are making his job unbearable.

Release Date

November 2, 2003

Cast

Jason Bateman , Michael Cera , Portia de Rossi , Will Arnett , Alia Shawkat , Tony Hale , David Cross , Jeffrey Tambor

Main Genre

Comedy

Seasons

5

29 Curb Your Enthusiasm Features Larry David Playing a Fictionalized Version of Himself

Curb Your Enthusiasm stars Larry David as a fictionalized version of himself living in Los Angeles (and New York for one season). Many of the episodes highlight David’s disregard for social conventions and his distaste for society. The show also stars Cheryl Hines, Jeff Garlin, Susie Essman, and J.B. Smoove.

Curb Your Enthusiasm is one of the longest-running sitcoms, spanning 12 seasons and will end with 120 episodes. The show went on a six-year hiatus between 2011 and 2017, and its final season will end in April 2024. It's well-known for featuring many famous guest stars, given that David lives in Los Angeles. Curb Your Enthusiasm even featured an unofficial Seinfeld reunion in the season 7 episode, “The Reunion.” Some of the show's humor regards David always getting recognized for Seinfeld, and Seinfeld's four major cast members guest star at one point.

Curb Your Enthusiasm

TV-MA

The life and times of Larry David and the predicaments he gets himself into with his friends and complete strangers.

Release Date

October 15, 2000

Cast

Larry David , Cheryl Hines , Jeff Garlin

Main Genre

Comedy

Seasons

12 Seasons

Creator

Larry David

Production Company

Home Box Office (HBO), Production Partners

28 Atlanta Is Known for Its Innovative Episodes

Atlanta, created by and starring Donald Glover, follows Earn and his cousin Alfred, who try to break into Atlanta’s rap scene. Earn is a college dropout turned music manager, who works to repair his relationship with his ex-girlfriend and young daughter. Hoover served as creator, star, executive producer, and showrunner of the series.

Besides its fantastic cast and stories, Atlanta also featured many standalone episodes that didn't feature the main characters. One such episode is “Teddy Perkins,” where Glover plays the title character in whiteface, creating a more horror vibe than the rest of the series.

Atlanta

TV-MA

Comedy

Drama

Music

Release Date

September 6, 2016

Cast

Donald Glover , Brian Tyree Henry , LaKeith Stanfield , Zazie Beetz

Main Genre

Comedy

Seasons

4

27 South Park Is One of the Most Controversial Sitcoms Ever Made

South Park follows four young boys — Stan, Kyle, Eric and Kenny — who get into various hijinks and situations in their town in Colorado. Despite being an animated sitcom, the show is best known for its use of vulgar comedy, profanity, dark humor, and sometimes heavy subject matter.

South Park has run for 23 seasons, including several specials and a feature film. Due to the show's nature, South Park has garnered a lot of controversy over the years, though it also improved Comedy Central's reach. Various controversies include the show’s use of profanity, its depiction of various religions, and its denial of (and later reversal on) climate change. The Parents Television Council has continually criticized South Park for over 20 years, yet the brazen series continues.

South Park

TV-MA

Comedy

Follows the misadventures of four irreverent grade-schoolers in the quiet, dysfunctional town of South Park, Colorado.

Release Date

1997-00-00

Cast

Trey Parker , Matt Stone , Mary Kay Bergman , Isaac Hayes , Eliza Schneider

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

30

Number of Episodes

330

26 Sex and the City Was One of HBO's Best Shows and Spawned a Franchise

Sex and the City follows four women in their mid-thirties and forties in New York City as they bond over their ever-changing relationships and sex lives. The show is based on the anthology book of the same name by Candace Bushnell, which was based on Bushnell’s newspaper column for The New York Observer.

Sex and the City stars Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis, and Kim Cattrell. It was a hit for HBO, and after the series ended, it was followed up with two feature films. A revival series, And Just Like That…, premiered on Max in 2021 and was recently renewed for a third season. The original series was hailed for its depiction of modern social issues, which included safe sex, promiscuity, and feminism.

Sex and the City

TV-MA

Drama

Romance

Four female New Yorkers gossip about their sex lives (or lack thereof) and find new ways to deal with being a woman in the late 1990s.

Release Date

June 6, 1998

Cast

Sarah Jessica Parker , Kim Cattrall , Cynthia Nixon , Kristin Davis

Main Genre

Comedy

Seasons

6 Seasons

Creator

Darren Star

Production Company

Darren Star Productions, Home Box Office (HBO), Sex and the City Productions