When a sitcom can sustain a high level of quality over multiple seasons, it’s nothing short of amazing. Producing a half-hour comedy show is hard work, challenging even the brightest team of writers and performers to create a high volume of self-contained stories that are also genuinely funny.
Many sitcoms find their way around the second season, while others start strong and fizzle out, but a select few shows come out strong and leave on a high note. The following comedies can all claim such an accomplishment, boasting the television equivalent of pitching a perfect game. Listed in no particular order, here are 10 sitcoms with zero weak seasons.
10
’30 Rock’ (2006–2013)
The chaotic struggle to produce a live sketch comedy series is the focus of the NBC sitcom 30 Rock. Tina Fey stars as Liz Lemon, the head writer of a fictional sketch show, whose life is disrupted (even further) by the arrival of new NBC executive Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin). His first order of business is to add controversial comedian Tracy Jordan (Tracey Morgan) to the show, a move Liz hates until she sees the results.
30 Rock episodes moved at a relentless, breakneck speed, packing as many clever jokes as possible into every moment. 30 Rock was frequently on the bubble of cancellation, but those who watched did so with a fanaticism that allowed them to remember every inside joke or callback to an obscure reference. The humor of 30 Rock was unafraid to be weird or ultra-specific to a niche group, and that spirit remained until the last episode of the show.
9
‘Frasier’ (1993–2004)
Although the sitcom Frasierwas a spin-off of the highly acclaimedCheers, the high quality of the writing and acting made viewers immediately forget about Boston.The series followed Dr. Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) as he moved from Boston back to his hometown of Seattle to host a radio call-in show. When his estranged father, Martin (John Mahoney), injures himself, the two men get an accelerated reunion after Frasier reluctantly takes him on as a roommate.
It’s somewhat inconceivable thatFrasier could regularly produce hilarious episodes that resembled mini-farcical stage plays that were intricate comedies of errors. A distinctly different style and tone from Cheers allowed Frasier to avoid comparison and a chance to explore Dr. Crane from new perspectives. Grammer knew his character inside out by the time his spin-off started, but characters like his tightly-wound brother Niles (David Hyde Pierce) or his blue-collar father Martin allowed Frasier new opportunities for growth.
8
‘The Golden Girls’ (1985–1992)
A witty and smart sitcom that never had a weak season is The Golden Girls. The NBC sitcom followed the lives of four older women, Dorothy (Bea Arthur), Rose (Betty White), Blanche (Rue McClanahan), and Dorothy’s mother, Sophia (Estelle Getty), who lived together in a Miami home. Their initial arrangement is done out of necessity, but the roommates quickly become a found family to draw support from as they enjoy their retirement years.
Where many sitcoms begin to decline after numerous years of being on the air, later seasons of The Golden Girls increased in quality. The chemistry between the cast was so strong, and they each played their part with such a high level of expertise, that any topic could have been introduced to the quartet, and they would have spun it into a must-watch episode. The spin-off series, The Golden Palace, didn’t hold the same magic for viewers, but it had little impact on diminishing the memory of the seven-season hit.
7
‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ (1990–1996)
The sitcom that introduced many to future superstar Will Smith still holds up decades later. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air followed Will (Smith), a charismatic teen from Philadelphia who is sent to live with his aunt and uncle in the affluent neighborhood of Bel-Air for the chance at a better life. His upbringing immediately introduces a culture clash to his extended family’s household, but they soon learn from each other and grow close bonds.
Even in the first episodes where the chemistry of the cast was forming, Smith’s dynamic presence carried the show along as the sitcom found its footing.The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air boasts one of the strongest casts of a ’90s sitcom, with everyone on stage from Uncle Phil (James Avery) to cousin Hilary (Karyn Parsons) contributing in a meaningful way. There have been sitcoms built around less than the odd couple chemistry between Will and his cousin Carlton (Alfonso Ribeiro), so it’s no surprise the show ended on a high note after six seasons.
6
‘The Larry Sanders Show’ (1992–1998)
Years before shows like The Studio were satirizing the business of Hollywood, HBO’s The Larry Sanders Show was pulling back the curtain on late-night television. Garry Shandling starred as late-night talk show host Larry Sanders, a man unable to enjoy his accomplishments from behind a mountain of insecurities. Always available to tell Larry what he wanted to hear were his producer Artie (Rip Torn) and his on-air sidekick Hank (Jeffrey Tambor).
The Larry Sanders Show aimed its comedy at the specific peculiarities of the entertainment business, with a long line of guest stars playing themselves, but the heart of the show was the complicated relationships between Larry and his co-workers/friends. Predating mainstream hits like The Sopranos or Sex and the City, The Larry Sanders Show was an early example of HBO cultivating its reputation as a destination for quality storytelling.
5
‘Everybody Loves Raymond’ (1996–2005)
Ray Romano transitioned from a respected stand-up comedian to sitcom star when Everybody Loves Raymond debuted on CBS. The series followed the lives of Ray (Romano) and his wife Debra (Patricia Heaton) as they raised their children in a quiet Long Island suburb. At least, it would be quiet if Ray’s parents, Marie (Doris Roberts) and Frank (Peter Boyle),weren’t living across the street with his older brother Robert (Brad Garrett).
Everybody Loves Raymond was a traditional family sitcom executed perfectly, mining humor from the relatable occurrences of life with a voice that felt familiar and honest. The show was a reliable ratings draw for CBS, but series creator Phil Rosenthal decided to conclude Everybody Loves Raymond after nine seasons, wishing to end on a high note. The goal was accomplished, as Everybody Loves Raymond remains a timeless piece of comedy.
4
‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show’ (1970–1977)
The Mary Tyler Moore Show is one of the greatest sitcoms of all time, delivering a near-flawless run of comedy. Mary Tyler Moore starred as Mary Reynolds, a woman who moves to Minneapolis looking for a fresh start after a broken engagement. There, she finds a job as an associate producer for a local news station and friends who will become her new family.
The Mary Tyler Moore Show is frequently cited for its progressive approach to focusing a series on a single woman who was focused on an independent, career-oriented life. While the sitcom was groundbreaking for television, those accomplishments wouldn’t be remembered as well if the show had not been incredibly funny. One-liners were thrown out with ease, but it was the relationships between the characters that drove the humor and kept The Mary Tyler Moore Show a fan favorite until its iconic finale at the end of Season 7.
3
‘Sanford and Son’ (1972–1977)
Sanford and Son is one of the most influential sitcoms that remained a staple of the NBC lineup until reaching its unexpected finale. The sitcom followed the day-to-day lives of Fred Sanford (Redd Foxx) and his son Lamont (Demond Wilson) as they ran a junkyard in Los Angeles. The father and son duo were prone to extended bickering, but they always came together to work an angle for a big payday or look out for each other.
Although Sanford and Son was based on the long-running British sitcomSteptoe and Son, Foxx and Wilson were able to make the show their own by modeling the series to their specific personality traits. Sanford and Son, along with All in the Family, helped usher in a new form of edgy comedy that reflected a more realistic depiction of the world viewers knew. Sanford and Son ended after Foxx accepted an offer to host a variety show on ABC, and when Wilson didn’t want to continue without Foxx, one of America’s best sitcoms ended without a proper finale.
2
‘Cheers’ (1982–1993)
Set in the bar where everyone knew your name, Cheers set a high standard for comedic brilliance. The series followed the staff and regulars of the Boston-located bar Cheers, run by ex-professional baseball player Sam Malone (Ted Danson). Episodes would explore the characters’ love lives, professional worries, and occasionally, both at the same time.
Cheers’ ability to maintain a funny and engaging sitcom for 11 seasons is a testament to the talent of the cast and crew. It may not have been planned by the show’s creators, but new cast members such as Woody Harrelson as new bartender Woody and Kelsey Grammer as Frasier Crane kept Cheers feeling energized without disrupting the show’s momentum. After a slow build to drawing viewers, Cheers became a top 10 series for a majority of its run and would take home 28 Emmy wins from 117 nominations.
1
‘Veep’ (2012–2019)
Every day in political office is a new opportunity for a crisis in Veep. The series followed the day-to-day mishaps of Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), the Vice President of the United States, and the members of her staff. Stuck in an office she feels is beneath her, Selina will navigate the petty political landscape to become the Commander in Chief while trying not to humiliate herself in the process.
There might never be another show that can have its characters string together insults in such a comedically poetic fashion as Veep did. The show never dipped into a complacent lull during its run by constantly keeping the story fluid; characters came and went in a ruthless cycle of demand for excellence, and Selina’s changing job title kept things fresh. The seventh and final season took darker turns when wrapping up the series, but it was also the perfect way to send off an unapologetically selfish Selina.
