Anyone who thinks a good sitcom is all about the laughs is thoroughly mistaken. Sure, these shows start with a burst of humor and interesting dynamics to capture the audience’s attention. However, jokes and gags alone often struggle to maintain that magic as they progress. For a sitcom to truly make its mark, it has to move beyond traditional tropes, focus on character development, and find new ways to keep people invested.
All that is easier said than done, though, because there’s clearly no shortage of sitcoms that overstayed their welcome and started feeling repetitive and, in doing so, ruined their legacies. Then again, though, we still have plenty of shows that avoided this fate thanks to their ability to evolve with time. Here is a list of 10 such nearly perfect sitcoms that never lost their charm, ranked.
10
‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ (2000-2004)
It’s impossible not to laugh while watching Larry David’s Curb Your Enthusiasm, and that is the mark of any great sitcom. The show features the comedian as a fictionalized version of himself, a semi-retired TV writer living in Los Angeles who finds himself involved in bizarre disasters every single episode. The great thing about Curb Your Enthusiasm is that, unlike every other show in the genre, it doesn’t really stick to a script. Sure, each episode is built around a loose outline, but the humor comes from the actors improvising their way through everyday situations that spiral wildly out of control. Some might argue that this format would get repetitive after a while, but David is the undisputed king of situational comedy. He knows exactly how far a joke has to be stretched for the punchline to leave the audience in tears of laughter.
The show’s ensemble cast includes Cheryl Hines as David’s wife, Cheryl, Jeff Garlinas his manager and best friend, Jeff Greene, Susie Essman as Jeff’s wife, Susie, and J.B. Smooveas Larry’s housemate, Leon Black. All of these characters hold their own against David and are the reason why the sitcom never feels stale. The show also features many celebrity guests who often play fictionalized versions of themselves on screen, which only adds to its novelty. Curb Your Enthusiasm doesn’t rely on laughter tracks or predictable tropes to make the audience laugh. Instead, it leans into unfiltered, raw humor that playfully questions the social rules we operate within.
9
‘Cheers’ (1982-1993)
Cheersis what television is meant to be. The show follows Ted Danson as Sam Malone, a former Red Sox pitcher who owns and runs Cheers, a neighborhood bar in Boston. The location is the heart of the show and acts as a second home for a group of regulars featuring Shelley Long, Nicholas Colasanto, Rhea Perlman, and others who come in every day to drink, unwind, and share what’s on their mind. Sam is the one behind the bar, but Cheers is as much about the people he meets as it is about him.
The show relies on character-based humor instead of relying on slapstick situations, and that’s why it hits harder than any other sitcom would. The real magic of Cheers comes from the sense of family that its diverse but tight-knit characters create. Their regular visits to the bar serve as an escape from the outside world. This makes Cheers feel less like a fictional setting and more like a real place that you want to keep returning to.
8
‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’ (2005-)
You’d think that a sitcom with 17 seasons and counting would start to feel old, but that’s definitely not the case with It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. The show has remained just as outrageous and hilarious as ever, and Paddy’s Pub continues to be the perfect setting for the main characters’ morally bankrupt schemes. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia follows friends Dennis (Glenn Howerton), Mac (Rob McElhenney), Charlie (Charlie Day), Dee (Kaitlin Olson), and their eccentric, wealthy father Frank (Danny DeVito) as they try to keep their struggling dive bar running. What makes the sitcom so enjoyable is that it doesn’t even attempt to make these characters feel likeable.
At its core, the story is about the worst group of people you can ever come across, and yet, it’s impossible to stop watching. The gang’s complete lack of self-awareness creates some of the most memorable comedic moments on TV. No matter what happens, though, they never seem to learn from their mistakes, and that’s what drives the story. This format allows the show to tackle complex issues that range from politics to racism and misogyny with an unapologetic air. The fact that most sitcoms stray far away from these topics gives It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia an edge like no other. Add in the core cast’s increasingly strong dynamic, and the sitcom has carved out its own niche on TV. Even if all its grey areas make you a little uncomfortable, they are undeniably entertaining.
7
‘The Golden Girls’ (1985-1992)
I’m convinced that no other sitcom has ever come close to the brilliance of The Golden Girls. A show about four older women living together and making the most out of their post-retirement life is the kind of representation we desperately need on TV. Dorothy Zbornak (Bea Arthur), Rose Nylund (Betty White), Blanche Devereaux (Rue McClanahan), and Sophia Petrillo (Estelle Getty) make up the perfect core cast with distinct personalities that complement each other in a heartwarming yet hilarious way. Their stories offer a fresh perspective on aging, friendship, and life itself, one that feels as relevant today as it did back in the ‘80s.
The Golden Girls is another sitcom that never backed down from starting important conversations about ageism, sexuality, and more. However, it did so without ever losing its lighthearted charm. The chemistry between the central cast made these shifts from more serious themes to laugh-out-loud comedy feel realistic. Dorothy, Rose, Blanche, and Sophia showed the world that growing old doesn’t mean you cut yourself off from the world. They were heading out on new adventures, finding love and embracing life as it came. This is why The Golden Girls remains one of the most consistently funny and impactful sitcoms of all time.
6
‘Seinfeld’ (1989-1998)
Seinfeldis often referred to as a show about nothing, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. The series doesn’t follow the traditional beats of the genre, but in doing so, it practically redefined how sitcoms could break the rules and still remain as funny as ever. The show, created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, who bring their signature improvisational humor to the writing. The show revolves around four neurotic New Yorkers navigating their way through life. Seinfeld plays a fictionalized version of himself, with Jason Alexanderas his best friend George, Michael Richards as his neighbor Kramer, and Julia Louis-Dreyfusas his ex-girlfriend. Now, Seinfeld isn’t about the gang heading out on wild adventures and getting themselves into crazy situations.
The show actually thrives on taking extremely mundane, everyday moments and turning them into vehicles for comedy. Each episode weaves multiple storylines together, and you wait for the moment they will come crashing together. Every little detail in the show adds up to something, and that’s typically how things unfold in real life, too. What adds to the humor is how the show never tries to redeem its characters. Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer have plenty of moments where they are selfish, annoying, and borderline unlikable. However, that’s also what humanizes them and makes Seinfeld feel so fresh.
5
‘I Love Lucy’ (1951-1957)
I Love Lucyinvented situational comedy. The show stars Lucille Balland her real-life husbandDesi Arnaz, along with Vivian Vance and William Frawley. It follows Ball as Lucy Ricardo, an ambitious housewife determined to break into show business. To do so, she comes up with the most outlandish schemes along with her bandleader husband, Ricky Ricardo, who often has to keep Lucy out of trouble.
Not only is the setup of the show intriguing right off the bat, but I Love Lucy also broke ground as the first sitcom to be filmed in front of a live studio audience with a multi-camera setup. This format then became the industry standard sitcoms follow to this day. Lucy’s attempts to pursue her passions are often tone-deaf and misguided, but Ball’s earnestness makes the character eternally lovable. I Love Lucy shattered gender norms with its portrayal of a happy biracial couple and a female lead who wanted more than what society expected of her.
4
‘Abbott Elementary’ (2021-)
If you want a sitcom that’s just as realistic as it is funny,Abbott Elementaryis a must-watch. Quinta Brunson’s mockumentary-style workplace comedy has filled the void left by The Office with its relatable characters and unhinged humor. The show is set in an underfunded public school in West Philadelphia and follows Brunson as Janine Teagues, a perpetually optimistic second-grade teacher, along with her eclectic colleagues, played by Sheryl Lee Ralph, Chris Perfetti, Lisa Ann Walter, Tyler James Williams, and Janelle James.
This has to be one of the greatest ensemble lineups in recent times because the way their humor bounces off each other gives the show its spark. Abbott Elementary brilliantly utilizes the mockumentary format to address real-world issues that stem from the brokenpublic schooling system, all while delivering plenty of laughs. Beyond its comedic timing, the show spends plenty of time on character development, which gives you a strong reason to keep coming back for more. Abbott Elementary is just five seasons in right now, but it already has all the makings of a timeless sitcom.
3
‘The Office (U.S.)’ (2005–2013)
A list like this wouldn’t be complete without the very show that redefined workplace comedy. The Officeis a cultural phenomenon that has only gotten better with time. It might look like every other sitcom out there, but its commitment to borderline awkward character-humor was never seen before. In fact, many admit that the show feels slow in Season 1 because it takes a lot of time to set up the world of the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. However, the audience’s patience is definitely rewarded because once the story picks up, there is no looking back. Steve Carellis the undisputed star of the show as Michael Scott, the clueless regional manager of the company whose missteps lead to endless chaos in the office.
The Office also features a brilliant ensemble cast featuring John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, Rainn Wilson, and more, all of whom bring their own quirks to the mix. The mockumentary style of the sitcom and the hilarious confessionals give the show subtle comedic moments that would be lost in a traditional sitcom format. This creates an almost voyeuristic feel as viewers are dropped right into the strange, often questionable dynamics of corporate America. The show does lose some of its charm after Carell’s departure in Season 7, but its ability to turn everyday activities into hysterical situations never really goes away.
Communityhas to be one of the most underrated sitcoms out there, and it’s a shame that it doesn’t get nearly as much recognition as it deserves. The show takes place at the dysfunctional Greendale Community College and follows a diverse study group who get into some of the most brilliantly bizarre situations on television. The story follows Joel McHaleas an ex-lawyer who finds himself roped into forming a strange study group.Gillian Jacobs, Donald Glover, Alison Brie, Danny Pudi, Chevy Chase, and Ken Jeong round out the ensemble cast and add to the show’s offbeat world. This group doesn’t just gather to learn together, though. Instead, the characters often get into all kinds of absurd quests that defy reality itself.
The unique selling point of Community is how it blends traditional sitcom moments with surreal, genre-defying episodes. The show constantly experiments with form and tone, with each episode taking the characters and the viewers on a completely unpredictable ride. This creates an interactive experience where the lines between TV and reality are blurred in every possible way. Community’s meta-humor, pop-culture parodies, and subversion of traditional sitcom tropes make it one of the most inventive shows you will ever watch.
1
‘Frasier’ (1993–2004)
Even years after its series finale, Frasierremains in a league of its own. The sitcom practically defined comedy in the ‘90s and early 2000s and showed that the genre didn’t have to rely on physical humor or repetitive catchphrases to resonate with the audience. The story follows Kelsey Grammeras Fraise Crane, a radio psychiatrist who is at constant odds with his no-nonsense father, Martin (John Mahoney). This push-and-pull dynamic is the heart of the show. The show’s portrayal of this generational contrast isn’t just funny, it’s also extremely relatable.
Supporting characters, including Fraiser’s brother Niles (David Hyde Pierce) and physiotherapist Daphne (Jane Leeves), perfectly complement the central character’s neurotic behaviours and add another layer of nuance to the show. Fraiser is a biting satire on class differences and uses Fraiser and his family’s pretentious behavior to deliver humor that never stops being self-aware. The show is defined by its sharp writing, clever dialogue, and ironic observations of high society that demand the audience’s attention.Fraiser isn’t the kind of show that you can put on in the background, and that’s exactly what makes it so special.
