Sitcoms have been a TV staple for decades — and nowadays, everyone has their own comfort series. It's the show you can always rely on (and rewatch) to make you laugh or simply give you an escape from the stresses of day-to-day life.
So, while sitcoms may have quirky, offbeat humor or sometimes predictable character tropes, we continue returning to them time and time again. And if you haven't yet found your go-to TV show, there are plenty out to fit every taste.
Here are some of the best sitcoms ever that have rightfully earned their place in TV history.
Scroll to see the best sitcoms of all time!
Castle Rock Entertainment
Seinfeld broke new ground in the world of sitcoms by introducing a more cynical, no-nonsense approach to its characters (and the situations they found themselves in).
The series famously followed the "no hugging, no learning" rule, meaning Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer never really grew or learned from their mistakes. This made their misadventures even more absurd and entertaining.
At its core, Seinfeld wasn't about grand life lessons or heartfelt moments, like other cornier sitcoms. Rather, it focused on the often overlooked details of everyday life and reflected the darker side of human nature in a hilarious way.
NBC Universal Television
The U.S. version of The Office became a true cultural phenomenon during its run and continues to be a pop culture staple today.
On the surface, it's a simple show about the daily lives of quirky employees at a paper company known as Dunder Mifflin. However, its true charm lies in the awkward and comedic dynamics between the characters.
It's one of the most beloved comfort sitcoms out there, with an underlying romance plot between Jim and Pam that had viewers hooked for seasons.
Paramount
One sitcom that's arguably underrated is Everybody Hates Chris, which blended unique humor with social commentary. Created by Chris Rock, the show offers a semi-autobiographical look at his life growing up in New York during the 1980s.
It mixes his sharp comedic style with reflections on race, inequality, and social issues of the time. Tyler James Williams delivers an outstanding performance as young Chris Rock, while Terry Crews and Tichinia Arnold shine as his parents.
Fox
New Girl offers a classic sitcom setup featuring a group of roommates who navigate work, romance, and the ups and downs of living together. Jess, played by Zooey Deschanel, is the only female roommate, which stirs up awkward scenarios, funny hijinks, and even drama at some points.
She's joined by Nick, Schmidt, and Winston, played by Jake Johnson, Max Greenfield, and Lamorne Morris, respectively. Each male character's unique personality and quirks really round out the show and make for dynamic on-screen energy that's endlessly entertaining.
NBC
Modern Family made its mark as one of the standout sitcoms of the 2010s. It ran for 11 successful seasons and captured what it means to be a family in the modern day.
On paper, it might just seem like another family-centered show, but the series' mockumentary format sets it apart. It also shines a light on the inner workings and common challenges of blended families, which is brought to life by a standout cast, including Ed O'Neill, Sofía Vergara, Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell, Sarah Hyland, Eric Stonestreet, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Ariel Winter, Nolan Gould, and Rico Rodriguez.
CBC
This sitcom follows a wealthy family who suddenly loses everything and is forced to move to a small, rundown town they once bought as a joke. Schitt's Creek begins as a comedic tale of survival among the entitled, but it quickly evolves into a heartwarming story of family bonding and personal growth.
The once-snobbish characters, played by the father-son duo Eugene Levy and Dan Levy, as well as Catherine O'Hara and Annie Murphy, figure out how to adapt to a humbler lifestyle and become more relatable, likable, and genuinely better people over time.
HBO
From the creator of Seinfeld himself came Curb Your Enthusiasm, a masterclass in Larry David's distinctive brand of dark, edgy, and sometimes uncomfortable humor. He plays a fictionalized version of himself as he navigates a world that seems to despise him.
Larry is constantly getting into trouble in even the most simple scenarios, purely because he's prone to being socially inappropriate. But despite his often misguided behavior, there are some moments where he actually has a valid point or commentary about social expectations in day-to-day life, making him oddly relatable to the general viewer.
The premise of Curb Your Enthusiasm is simple, but Larry consistently found new angles to keep the humor fresh. This allowed the show to thrive for 12 whole seasons.
Fox
Last but not least is Brooklyn Nine-Nine, a sitcom that took workplace comedy to another, over-the-top level. It's set in a police precinct but never leans too far into the tense or dramatic moments.
Instead, it opts for broad, quirky humor and lovable characters played by stars such as Andy Samberg, Stephanie Beatriz, Melissa Fumero, Chelsea Peretti, Terry Crews, Joe Lo Truglio, and Andre Braugher.
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