A sitcom is a magical thing - it gives you a sense of relatability and life-likeness while at the same time being so totally far-fetched it’s amazing. So, basically, watching a sitcom is like watching life in a parallel reality. And some TV series manage to balance on that tiny line so perfectly that they soon become real classics, if not the best series ever. Wondering which ones they are? Well, wonder no more and check out our list dedicated to the best sitcoms of all time as ranked by audiences and critics instead.
Undoubtedly, most of the names on our TV sitcoms list will be quite the familiar ones, like Friends and The Big Bang Theory; however, there’s nothing wrong with that as it is probably time to rewatch them anyway! Then there are some real classics like I Love Lucy, which you might’ve heard of a bazillion times at least but never watched. So if now is not the right time to watch them, when would it be? And then there’s the animated sitcom category, with The Simpsons taking the lead - just a nice reminder that your childhood show is still going strong!
So, are you ready to watch some of the best sitcoms ever? If so, scroll on down below to them! All you have to do is to pick the best series, watch them, give the submission your vote and share this article with your friends, of course!
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#1 Friends
1994 - 2001 | 10 seasons | 236 episodes
Love it or hate it, there probably aren't any other sitcoms that left such a huge cultural impact as Friends. From giving us 'The Rachel' - a haircut inspired by Aniston's hairstyle and wanted by millions of girls worldwide, to expanding the vocabulary of Western English slang and helping people learn the English language. Seriously, though, a 2012 poll by Kaplan International English Colleges revealed that 26% of students cited Friends as the best show to improve English. And what better way to improve your language skills than by watching probably the best comedy cast of all time?
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58points
#3 The Big Bang Theory
2007 - 2019 | 12 seasons | 280 episodes
The Nerd topic seems to be a gold mine for comedy, and The Big Bang Theory proves this once again. Although this topic is usually exploited in a not-so-respectful manner to the so-called-nerds themselves, this series showcases academic people in high regard. Relying both on scientific jokes (which I don't always get) and very relatable, down-to-earth human interactions, this show is incredibly entertaining to watch. But, of course, it wouldn't be as funny without its ingeniously assembled cast with Kaley Cuoco and Jim Parsons taking the lead.
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50points
#4 The Simpsons
1989 - | 33 seasons | 718 episodes and counting
The Simpsons, which is the longest-running American animated series, has made us laugh, cry, and feel love for the last three decades. It saw Baby Boomers laughing at hidden jokes their Millennial kids couldn't understand at the time, and it saw those same Millennials showing The Simpsons to their own kids - a staple animated series any generation can find relatable and loveable.
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50points
#5 The Office
2005 - 2013 | 9 seasons | 188 episodes
There's definitely no need to do an official introduction to The Office, a show that's so iconic that even your grandma has probably heard about it. So, instead, we've found some interesting facts about this series that you might not have heard yet.
For instance, did you know that real-life best friends Angela Kinsey and Jenna Fischer have a podcast called "Office Ladies" where they discuss the show's episodes and behind-the-scenes spoofs? Or that the first season got very lukewarm ratings and reviews, and if not for iTunes sales, it might've not continued? Lastly, the opening credit sequence was shot by John Krasinki when he was visiting Scranton with his friends for research.
Of course, if you are a die-hard fan, you might've known all of this, but in any case, it's always fun to talk about The Office!
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49points
#6 Frasier
1993 - 2004 | 11 seasons | 264 episodes
A Harvard-educated psychologist who gives his advice and wit to those in need on a radio show, but ever-so-often sees his own problems multiplicating and towering over his head? Yep, that's Frasier, and it's hilarious. Named the most successful comedy series ever (hello, 37 Emmys) and one of the most successful spin-off series, Frasier ran for eleven seasons, gaining more and more fans with each one. The main man of the series, Kelsey Grammer, chose a very interesting technique for his portrayal of Frasier Crane, called 'requisite disrespect.' This technique included rehearsing his lines in solitude, thus often surprising other cast members with his performance on the filming set. And though it might've been fine with his actor colleagues, the guest stars (which this series had plenty of) were often left in a state of panic in front of the live audience. Be that as it may, this show will always be one of our top choices for binging and re-watching!
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49points
#7 I Love Lucy
1951 - 1957 | 6 seasons | 181 episodes
I Love Lucy is basically the mother of all TV sitcoms - an iconic show following the wife of a band leader who tries to also become famous despite having no talent whatsoever. During her trials and tribulations of becoming a star, Lucy and her best friends find themselves in the funniest predicaments - no lack of originality from the writers here! I Love Lucy is an absolutely iconic series that entered the history of entertainment.
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46points
#9 Cheers
1982 - 1993 | 11 seasons | 275 episodes
After its premiere in September 1982, Cheers nearly got canceled as its ratings were at about sea bottom level. Thankfully, though, the broadcasting channel did not give up on it, and during the summer reruns of the first season, Cheers suddenly gained its audience, which proved to be an ever-growing one. A sitcom in all of its essence, Cheers follows a group of friends that meets and spends their time together at a bar called, you guessed it, Cheers. Filmed in front of a live audience, it has that signature sitcom laugh track and is often set in the same location. It's also a series that birthed probably one of the most successful spin-offs ever. If not for Cheers, we wouldn't have gotten Frasier!
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41points
#12 That '70s Show
1998 - 2006 | 8 seasons | 200 episodes
Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis as teenagers in the '70s? Well, say no more, as we are signing in. The series follows six teenagers living their teenage lives in the '70s. And though the premise might seem a bit simplistic, besides being hilariously funny, the show never forgets to discuss the pressing realities of the times it was set in. Yes, the '70s were fifty years ago, but our lives aren't that different today, so the show is always relatable to adult and teenage audiences. During its eight seasons, That ‘70s Show was nominated for a substantial amount of awards and gained both critical and audience acclaim.
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39points
#13 Seinfeld
1989 - 1998 | 9 seasons | 180 episodes
As a show that's often described as being 'about nothing,' Seinfeld was phenomenally popular and is listed as one of the most influential sitcoms of all time. It starred Jerry Seinfeld, a rising comedian of the '80s, playing a fictionalized version of himself, though many of the plotlines were real experiences of the series' writers, including Seinfeld's. In addition, the series often broke mainstream conventions of television shows and employed loads of irony, which was quite unusual for sitcoms of the '80s.
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38points
#19 How I Met Your Mother
2005 - 2014 | 9 seasons | 208 episodes
Watching How I Met Your Mother is like solving a very entertaining mystery. From the very first episode, you're glued to the screen trying to guess who exactly is the mother of Ted Moseby's teenage kids to whom he's retelling the story of meeting his sweetheart. And you keep on guessing up until the series' eighth season when you finally get to meet The Mother! The show's 'present day' is set in 2030, and the story is told like a flashback starting in 2005, with Ted both narrating the story and actively taking part in it. The thoroughly enjoyable and unique plot, the very best humor, and an excellent cast makes this show not only an icon of the 2000s but one of the best sitcoms ever.
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26points
