I mean, let me just say it—sitcoms are pretty much the most comforting food of the entire medium of TV. It doesn’t really matter whether you are watching your favorite show for the hundredth time or finally starting a classic that has been lying in your watchlist forever; there is always something comforting and almost magical about them. These series made us laugh so hard that our bellies hurt, they brought characters that feel like they are our closest friends, and they have been the main vehicles through which the comedy genres have evolved on TV. In fact, the sitcoms from the times of black-and-white living rooms up to the streaming era are the ones that not only regained their popularity but also kind of changed the whole television medium forever.
10. The Big Bang Theory
Not many people expected The Big Bang Theory to become a global phenomenon when it was initially broadcast. It is a show about physicists and comic book lovers, after all. Well, it did, and in the process, it made “geek” fashionable. The merge of scientific in-jokes, unfortunate love affairs, and great comedic timing turned the characters of the show, which were kind of losers but lovable, into the faces that everyone recognizes now. The quirks of Sheldon, the irritations of Leonard, and the tolerance of Penny became as lovable as any classic sitcom family unit. The series went beyond the boundaries of a niche idea and, over 12 years, became one of the longest and highest-rated comedies of all time. It proved that intelligence and laughter are not mutually exclusive.
9. Frasier
Frasier was a spin-off that went beyond every expectation. It made the psychiatrist from Cheers, who was snooty, into the center of one of the smartest comedies ever. The humor was of the highest standard—brilliant but not snobbish, very clever but still friendly. The arguments between Frasier and his similarly inflexible brother Niles were, without doubt, an inexhaustible source of comedic gold, as their dad, Martin, with his down-to-earth nature, kept the show balanced. If you also bring in Roz’s biting humor and Daphne’s being different, then you have a cast whose interaction is as great as it was then. After twenty years, Frasier is still as classy, funny, and strangely comforting as it was before.
8. The Simpsons
Just referring to The Simpsons as a sitcom is almost like calling it a cultural landmark. For more than thirty years, the yellow-skinned characters of Springfield have been reflecting society, laughing at everything from politics to pop culture. It changed the whole thing of what could be done by a TV animation, showing that cartoons were not just for kids but could have acid satire and even some emotional side. The Simpsons phrases are now familiar to everyone, for example, Homer’s “D’oh!” or Bart’s “Eat my shorts.” After more than 700 episodes, The Simpsons is still a source of characters, and sometimes of predictions, for the ridiculousness of the present world.
7. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Long before Will Smith was a giant of Hollywood, he was the “Fresh Prince” who flipped, turned over, and landed in Bel-Air. The show’s secret was that it managed to balance laugh-out-loud fish-out-of-water humor with real emotion. It dealt with serious issues—race, class, family—without ever sacrificing its sense of humor or heart. The chemistry between Will and Uncle Phil produced some of TV’s most iconic moments, from tender father-son moments to laugh-out-loud humor. And that opening theme song? It’s instantly recognizable, endlessly repeatable, and still sure to get everyone rapping along word for word.
6. I Love Lucy
Before television as we know it, there was I Love Lucy—the show that set the rulebook for sitcoms. Lucille Ball’s bold physical comedy and unparalleled timing made her a trailblazer, and her screen chemistry with Desi Arnaz transformed real marriage into comedic magic. From grape-stomping to working the chocolate factory assembly line, Lucy Ricardo’s antics are still iconic. Aside from all the laughs, I Love Lucy also pioneered: it had an interracial couple on television in a conservative time, and overhauled production with the multi-camera system still utilized today. In short, without Lucy, there may be no modern comedy.
5. Will & Grace
Will & Grace was more than just another hilarious show; therefore, it was a cultural landmark. Premiering in an era of thin LGBTQ+ representation, it introduced gay characters to mainstream TV with humor, wit, and sincerity. Will and Grace’s friendship and the larger-than-life misadventures of Jack and Karen provided a heady comedic mix of snark and sincerity. It made people laugh, but it also opened doors, making LGBTQ+ visibility more mainstream in pop culture. Even when it was revived years later, the show continued to sound fresh, demonstrating that true friendship and clever humor never age.
4. Seinfeld
A “show about nothing” that became one about everything—Seinfeld revolutionized the face of comedy forever. With its careful scripting, relatable goofiness, and indelible characters, it laughed at the most mundane aspects of life. Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer became neurotic archetypes of contemporary neurosis, and their catchphrases (“No soup for you!”) entered the realm of pop culture. Seinfeld was so innovative because it refused to depend on mawkishness—it celebrated awkwardness, egotism, and the comedy in mundane pettiness. Thirty years later, its impact is still evident in nearly every post-Seinfeld sitcom that came along.
3. Friends
Few shows have so perfectly bottled the joy and mess of friendship as Friends. Filmed in a warm New York City apartment (and an even warmer coffee shop), it tracked six young adults navigating love, work, and life’s little catastrophes together. The chemistry between the cast was lightning in a bottle—each joke was funny because the relationships were real. Aside from the non-stop giggles, Friends provided us with some of television’s most memorable moments ever—from Ross’s “We were on a break! ” drama to Joey’s memorable “How you doin’? ” It’s the type of show that folks share like soul food, so every generation haitsir own Central Perk.
2. The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Amidst a television landscape populated by male stars, The Mary Tyler Moore Show turned the tables. Mary Richards was smart, driven, and self-sufficient—a single woman who succeeded professionally without having to be defined by love. That alone made it groundbreaking. But it wasn’t only groundbreaking—it was actually funny, touching, and beautifully written. It delved into work, friendship, and womanhood with candor and dignity, opening doors for numerous future female-led sitcoms. Mary didn’t merely make it after all—she made history.
1. Cheers
Cheers is probably the one TV show that most perfectly captured the idea of belonging. Set in a Boston bar “where everybody knows your name,” the series combined smart writing with one of the most lovable ensemble casts of TV ever. In short, the characters of the show were all memorable. Norm’s quips, Cliff’s inexhaustible trivia, and the heated passion of Sam and Diane, along with the rest of the characters, made the perfect mixture. The show’s mix of humor and touch with life’s realities made it more than just a comedy—it was a weekly get-together with friends. Plus, in a way, Cheers was the origin of Frasier, thus suggesting that excellent storytelling and characters don’t disappear but just change form.
The Legacy of Laughter
From I Love Lucy through Friends, these sitcoms taught us that a good joke isn’t just about punchlines—about connection, timing, and heart. They made us laugh, made us think, and showed us the world in all its awkward, hilarious renditions. Even after all these decades, these shows are as binge-worthy now as they were way back then. Because no matter how much TV has changed, something about a perfectly timed joke and a set of characters you can’t help but love never goes out of style.