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Iconic Sitcoms That Shaped Television History

Iconic Sitcoms That Shaped Television History

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100. Happy Endings (2011-2020)

Source: Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company

99. 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996-2001)

Source: Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company

98. My Name Is Earl (2005-2009)

Source: Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company

97. New Girl (2011-2018)

Source: Courtesy of Fox Network

96. The Odd Couple (1970-1975)

Source: Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company

95. One Foot in the Grave (1990-2001)

Source: Courtesy of British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

94. Motherland (2016-Present)

Source: Courtesy of AMC+

93. Sanford and Son (1972-1978)

Source: Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company

92. Better Things (2016-2022)

Source: Courtesy of FX Network

91. Superstore (2015-2021)

Source: Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company

90. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990-1996)

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution

89. Brockmire (2017-2020)

Source: Courtesy of Independent Film Channel

88. Are You Being Served? (1972-1985)

Source: Courtesy of BBC Video

87. WKRP in Cincinnati (1978-1982)

Source: Courtesy of CBS

86. NewsRadio (1995-1999)

Source: Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company

85. Lovesick (2014-2018)

Source: Courtesy of Netflix

84. Cheers (1982-1993)

Source: Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company

83. The Bob Newhart Show (1972-1978)

Source: Courtesy of CBS

82. Outnumbered (2007-2016)

Source: Courtesy of British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

81. Friday Night Dinner (2011-2020)

Source: Courtesy of BBC Worldwide

80. Daria (1997-2002)

Source: Courtesy of Music Television

79. Raising Hope (2010-2014)

Source: Courtesy of Fox Network

78. Workaholics (2011-2017)

Source: Courtesy of Comedy Central

77. Married… with Children (1987-1997)

Source: Courtesy of Fox Network

76. That '70s Show (1998-2006)

Source: Courtesy of Fox Network

75. Soap (1977-1981)

Source: Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company

74. Toast of London (2012-2020)

Source: Courtesy of Independent Film Channel

73. Miranda (2009-2015)

Source: Courtesy of British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

72. One Day at a Time (2017-2020)

Source: Courtesy of Netflix

71. Absolutely Fabulous (1992-2012)

Source: Courtesy of Comedy Central

70. Gavin & Stacey (2007-2019)

Source: Courtesy of HBO Max

69. Catastrophe (2015-2019)

Source: Courtesy of Amazon Instant Video

68. Abbott Elementary (2021-Present)

Source: Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company

67. Party Down (2009-Present)

Source: Courtesy of Starz

66. The Golden Girls (1985-1992)

Source: Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company

65. Bob's Burgers (2011-Present)

Source: Courtesy of Fox Network

64. Frasier (1993-2004)

Source: Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company

63. Malcolm in the Middle (2000-2006)

Source: Courtesy of Fox Network

62. The Good Place (2016-2020)

Source: Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company

61. Family Guy (1999-Present)

Source: Courtesy of Fox Network

60. The Big Bang Theory (2007-2019)

Source: Courtesy of CBS

59. Porridge (1974-1977)

Source: Courtesy of British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

58. The Life & Times of Tim (2008-2012)

Source: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox Television

57. Barney Miller (1975-1982)

Source: Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company

56. The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970-1977)

Source: Courtesy of CBS

55. Bottom (1991-1995)

Source: Courtesy of British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

54. The League (2009-2015)

Source: Courtesy of FX Network

53. 30 Rock (2006-2013)

Source: Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company (NBC)

52. How I Met Your Mother (2005-2014)

Source: Courtesy of CBS

51. The Phil Silvers Show (1955-1959)

Source: Courtesy of CBS

50. The Adventures of Pete & Pete (1992-1996)

Source: Courtesy of Nickelodeon Network

49. The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961-1966)

Source: Courtesy of CBS

48. The League of Gentlemen (1999-2017)

Source: Courtesy of BBC Video

47. The Andy Griffith Show (1960-1968)

Source: Courtesy of CBS

46. All in the Family (1971-1979)

Source: Courtesy of CBS

45. Ghosts (2019-2023)

Source: Courtesy of British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

44. The Mighty Boosh (2003-2007)

Source: Courtesy of Adult Swim

43. 'Allo 'Allo! (1982-1992)

Source: Courtesy of Warner Home Video

42. Broad City (2014-2019)

Source: Courtesy of Comedy Central

41. Veep (2012-2019)

Source: Courtesy of Home Box Office

40. The Inbetweeners (2008-2010)

Source: Courtesy of BBC America

39. Scrubs (2001-2010)

Source: Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company

38. Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013-2021)

Source: Courtesy of Fox Network

37. Klovn (2005-2022)

Source: Courtesy of TV2

36. This Country (2017-2020)

Source: Courtesy of British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

35. People Just Do Nothing (2014-2018)

Source: Courtesy of Shout! Factory

34. The Larry Sanders Show (1992-1998)

Source: Courtesy of Home Box Office

33. I Love Lucy (1951-1957)

Courtesy of CBS

32. Trailer Park Boys (2001-2018)

Courtesy of BBC America

31. Derry Girls (2018-2022)

Courtesy of Netflix

30. Black Books (2000-2004)

Courtesy of BBC Worldwide Americas

29. M*A*S*H (1972-1983)

Courtesy of CBS

28. The Office (2001-2003)

Courtesy of BBC America

27. Schitt's Creek (2015-2020)

Courtesy of Pop TV

26. The IT Crowd (2006-2013)

Courtesy of MPI Home Video

25. Futurama (1999-Present)

Courtesy of Fox Network

24. Community (2009-2015)

Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company

23. Modern Family (2009-2020)

Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company

22. The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (1950-1958)

Courtesy of CBS

21. The Jack Benny Program (1950-1965)

Courtesy of CBS

20. Letterkenny (2016-2023)

Courtesy of Hulu

19. Coupling (2000-2004)

Courtesy of BBC Video

18. Atlanta (2016-2022)

Courtesy of FX Network

17. What We Do in the Shadows (2019-Present)

Courtesy of FX Network

16. Parks and Recreation (2009-2015)

Courtesy of NBC

15. You Rang, M'Lord? (1988-1993)

Courtesy of British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

14. Mind Your Language (1977-1986)

Courtesy of Granada Video

13. Yes Minister (1980-1984)

Courtesy of British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

12. Father Ted (1995-1998)

Courtesy of BBC Video

11. Peep Show (2003-2015)

Courtesy of Pluto TV

10. Arrested Development (2003-2006; 2013; 2018-2019)

Courtesy of Fox Network

9. South Park (1997-Present)

Courtesy of Comedy Central

8. The Simpsons (1989-Present)

Courtesy of 20th Century Fox Television

7. Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000-2024)

Courtesy of Home Box Office

6. BoJack Horseman (2014-2020)

Courtesy of Adult Swim

5. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005-Present)

Courtesy of FX Network

4. Seinfeld (1989-1998)

Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company

3. Friends (1994-2004)

Courtesy of HBO Max

2. Only Fools and Horses (1981-2003)

Courtesy of British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

1. The Office (2005-2013)

Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company

100. Happy Endings (2011-2020)
99. 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996-2001)
98. My Name Is Earl (2005-2009)
97. New Girl (2011-2018)
96. The Odd Couple (1970-1975)
95. One Foot in the Grave (1990-2001)
94. Motherland (2016-Present)
93. Sanford and Son (1972-1978)
92. Better Things (2016-2022)
91. Superstore (2015-2021)
90. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990-1996)
89. Brockmire (2017-2020)
88. Are You Being Served? (1972-1985)
87. WKRP in Cincinnati (1978-1982)
86. NewsRadio (1995-1999)
85. Lovesick (2014-2018)
84. Cheers (1982-1993)
83. The Bob Newhart Show (1972-1978)
82. Outnumbered (2007-2016)
81. Friday Night Dinner (2011-2020)
80. Daria (1997-2002)
79. Raising Hope (2010-2014)
78. Workaholics (2011-2017)
77. Married… with Children (1987-1997)
76. That '70s Show (1998-2006)
75. Soap (1977-1981)
74. Toast of London (2012-2020)
73. Miranda (2009-2015)
72. One Day at a Time (2017-2020)
71. Absolutely Fabulous (1992-2012)
70. Gavin & Stacey (2007-2019)
69. Catastrophe (2015-2019)
68. Abbott Elementary (2021-Present)
67. Party Down (2009-Present)
66. The Golden Girls (1985-1992)
65. Bob's Burgers (2011-Present)
64. Frasier (1993-2004)
63. Malcolm in the Middle (2000-2006)
62. The Good Place (2016-2020)
61. Family Guy (1999-Present)
60. The Big Bang Theory (2007-2019)
59. Porridge (1974-1977)
58. The Life & Times of Tim (2008-2012)
57. Barney Miller (1975-1982)
56. The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970-1977)
55. Bottom (1991-1995)
54. The League (2009-2015)
53. 30 Rock (2006-2013)
52. How I Met Your Mother (2005-2014)
51. The Phil Silvers Show (1955-1959)
50. The Adventures of Pete & Pete (1992-1996)
49. The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961-1966)
48. The League of Gentlemen (1999-2017)
47. The Andy Griffith Show (1960-1968)
46. All in the Family (1971-1979)
45. Ghosts (2019-2023)
44. The Mighty Boosh (2003-2007)
43. 'Allo 'Allo! (1982-1992)
42. Broad City (2014-2019)
41. Veep (2012-2019)
40. The Inbetweeners (2008-2010)
39. Scrubs (2001-2010)
38. Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013-2021)
37. Klovn (2005-2022)
36. This Country (2017-2020)
35. People Just Do Nothing (2014-2018)
34. The Larry Sanders Show (1992-1998)
33. I Love Lucy (1951-1957)
32. Trailer Park Boys (2001-2018)
31. Derry Girls (2018-2022)
30. Black Books (2000-2004)
29. M*A*S*H (1972-1983)
28. The Office (2001-2003)
27. Schitt's Creek (2015-2020)
26. The IT Crowd (2006-2013)
25. Futurama (1999-Present)
24. Community (2009-2015)
23. Modern Family (2009-2020)
22. The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (1950-1958)
21. The Jack Benny Program (1950-1965)
20. Letterkenny (2016-2023)
19. Coupling (2000-2004)
18. Atlanta (2016-2022)
17. What We Do in the Shadows (2019-Present)
16. Parks and Recreation (2009-2015)
15. You Rang, M'Lord? (1988-1993)
14. Mind Your Language (1977-1986)
13. Yes Minister (1980-1984)
12. Father Ted (1995-1998)
11. Peep Show (2003-2015)
10. Arrested Development (2003-2006; 2013; 2018-2019)
9. South Park (1997-Present)
8. The Simpsons (1989-Present)
7. Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000-2024)
6. BoJack Horseman (2014-2020)
5. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005-Present)
4. Seinfeld (1989-1998)
3. Friends (1994-2004)
2. Only Fools and Horses (1981-2003)
1. The Office (2005-2013)

Television was invented in the early 20th century but it wasn't until the early 1950s that it gained in popularity, with 55.7% of American households owning a TV set, a time that saw television replace radio as the dominant broadcast medium. Its prevalence in homes continued to rise and by 1962 90% of homes owned a TV. With the popularity of the small screen came television programs that would make a mark, and become so influential, that they would be the iconic sitcoms that shaped television history.

Life can be harsh at times, from the stresses of work to the conflicts throughout the world. The shows we watched often provided an escape, for however brief a moment, and provided us much-needed laughter. From the 1950's through today, we have had plenty of funny shows to enjoy. The earliest successful sitcoms were influenced by vaudeville, radio, and movie stardom of performers like George Burns and Gracie Allen. But it was Lucille Ball, star of "I Love Lucy," who became television's biggest superstar in the 1950s.

From pioneering sitcoms like "Sanford and Son," "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," "All in the Family," and "M*A*S*H, we moved through the years with our television characters, developing right along with them. When ensemble comedies came along, we celebrated those as well, with top-rated hits like "Cheers" and "Friends" keeping us entertained for years. (Also check out The Best TV Shows Set in New York City.)

To compile a list of iconic sitcoms that shaped television history, 24/7 Tempo analyzed audience reception data from IMDb. Sitcoms were ranked based on their IMDb user rating as of November 2023. In cases of ties, the show with the higher number of IMDb user ratings was ranked more favorably. Only sitcoms with a minimum of at least three seasons were included in the evaluation. Cast information was also sourced from IMDb. (See The Most Popular TV Episodes From the 1990s.)

Here are iconic sitcoms that shaped television history:

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