Let’s get real: sitcoms are television comfort food. Either you’re re-watching an old favorite for the hundredth time or you’ve just begun viewing a classic for the very first time, these shows have a way of sticking with you. They’ve got us laughing until we cried, given us characters that feel like friends, and helped shape how comedy works on television. From black-and-white television to the age of streaming, here are 15 sitcoms that shaped TV history.
15. Schitt’s Creek
A quirky Canadian sitcom about a rich family stuck in a seedy motel became an international phenomenon. Beyond the belly laughs, Schitt’s Creek broke new ground with a romance for David and Patrick—novel, exuberant, and stereotype-free. By the time of the Emmys sweep, it was already cemented as a cultural treasure.
14. The Golden Girls
Four women, one Miami residence, endless cheesecake. The Golden Girls tackled topics like aging, female friendship, and LGBTQ+ rights long before they became watercooler fodder on mainstream TV. Its blend of biting humor and genuine heart makes it as timely today as it was decades ago.
13. Family Guy
Love it or loathe it, Family Guy revolutionized the world of animated sitcoms. Its cutaway jokes, wicked pop culture jabs, and offbeat Griffin clan made it a late-night favorite. And truthfully, Brian and Stewie’s exploits could fill up their own sitcom.
12. The Office (U.K. & U.S.)
The British version provided us with the cringe genius of David Brent. The American version introduced us to Michael Scott and the Dunder Mifflin crew. Together, they turned mockumentary into a TV standard, blending cringe humor with unexpected sweetness.
11. Full House
Few programs caught the chaos and comfort of family life the way Full House did. With its hugs, lessons, and catchphrases (“You got it, dude!”), It became a ’90s staple and a generation’s comfort viewing.
10. The Big Bang Theory
Geek culture finally went mainstream due to The Big Bang Theory. Physics puns, cosplay allusions, and an endearing cast of misfit scientists became one of the longest-running sitcoms in history.
9. Frasier
Starring out of Cheers, Frasier developed its own tongue-in-cheek, high-brow humor and one of television’s finest supporting ensembles. The sibling banter of the Crane brothers alone makes it forever watchable.
8. The Simpsons
A sitcom is more than a cultural institution. It revolutionized animation, satirized American society, and provided us with catchphrases we still use every day. “D’oh!” says it all.
7. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Will Smith made sitcom superstardom a cultural phenomenon with The Fresh Prince. It was hilarious, sure, but it also wasn’t above exploring issues such as race and family. And let’s be real: that theme song is immortal.
6. I Love Lucy
The blueprint for today’s sitcoms. Lucille Ball’s comedic genius, inventive plots, and timeless scenes (hi, chocolate factory!) made I Love Lucy groundbreaking yet timeless.
5. Will & Grace
Will & Grace wasn’t just hilarious—it was a game-changer. By featuring openly gay lead characters center stage on primetime TV, it opened the door for what came next while delivering snappy, acid-tongued comedy each week.
4. Seinfeld
A “show about nothing” that mysteriously was about everything. Seinfeld’s wry observations, quirky characters, and Bottomless Pit of Quotable Lines still dominate comedy today. No soup for you!
3. Friends
Not many television programs can claim the excellence with which they managed to capture the essence of the value of friendship like it could do Friends. Six New Yorkers living in six different worlds, one coffee shop, and countless stories gave us not only belly laughs and tearful moments, but also the longest “We were on a break!” dispute in the history of TV shows.
2. The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Mary Richards was the character who placed women living their lives and being successful as the center and subject of television comedies. A trailblazer, she dealt with gender, work, and love using jokes and tears—and created a huge impact on the following sitcoms.
1. Cheers
The archetype of the hangout show. Cheers was sharply and witily written, with adorable characters and a nice atmosphere. Along with laughter and one of the most iconic theme songs in TV history, it brought us Frasier.
These sitcoms, ranging from I Love Lucy to Schitt’s Creek, have proven that comedy doesn't have to be just a sequence of jokes. Nevertheless, it can evoke, sustain, and even influence a culture. And what is more? They are all still watchable today.