Let’s be honest: life is a mess, and sometimes, laughing until it hurts is the only way to cope with it. Luckily, TV has been there for us at all times. From the hilarious but dysfunctional friends to the clueless bosses, these sitcoms confirm once more that laughter is truly timeless. So, grab your drinks and get comfortable—it’s my countdown of the 10 greatest comedy shows ever done, but just in case, my reverse order choice because, well, suspense is also fun.
10. The Big Bang Theory
Nerds weren’t fashionable a long time ago, but it was then that Sheldon Cooper and the gang came to make physics, comics, and painfully awkward social situations, TV to be watched. Employing state-of-the-art screenplay and Jim Parsons’ signature acting, this series didn’t simply amuse—it made nerd culture prime-time gold.
9. How I Met Your Mother
Indeed, it took Ted nine years to pinpoint the moment, but the enchantment was in the trek. From Barney’s witty one-liners to the gang’s hijinks at MacLarens, this was a toast to friendship and love, plus all the havoc that came with it.
8. 30 Rock
Tina Fey’s over-the-top workplace satire of making a sketch show was half meta-comedy, half survival guide for dealing with ridiculous bosses and co-workers. With Alec Baldwin’s suave Jack Donaghy and a parade of zany hijinks, it set a new standard for rapid-fire sitcom writing.
7. Brooklyn Nine-Nine
One of the best things about Brooklyn Nine-Nine is that it is the model of a family-friendly comedy despite being a cop show. Brooklyn Nine-Nine managed to strike a balance between fast-talking humor and heart. With Jake Peralta, Captain Holt, and the entire 99th precinct, we got catchphrases, Halloween robberies, and the reminder that comedy and diversity are able to live side by side.
6. The Office (U.K.)
Before Dunder Mifflin was Slough. Ricky Gervais’ David Brent remains the lord of cringe—a boss who’s as needy for praise as he is oblivious. Cringe-makingly dry, awkward, and uncomfortably authentic, it set a new benchmark for what a sitcom might be and initiated a whole revolution in comedy.
5. Friends
Six twenty-somethings, one coffee shop, and a million laughs. Friends is the template for contemporary sitcoms, with plots and catchphrases that continue to ring out decades on. Whether you’re a Chandler or a Monica, the series is still the ultimate comfort view.
4. Seinfeld
Seinfeld was a program that did not have a very clear idea of the plot and was, for that very reason, the best one. Tom, Elaine, George, and Kramer’s screw up way of handling their neuroticism turned everyday lapses into comedic masterpieces. With its “no hugging, no learning” approach, Seinfeld set the gold standard for observational comedy.
3. The Daily Show
The Daily Show was a comedy show, but it was also a necessary survival tool for the audience. The Daily Show, led by Jon Stewart, was a sharp and witty satire. It turned politics into something more palatable, gave rise to the careers of some of the funniest people we see now, and allowed us to laugh at the news without feeling guilty.
2. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
The gang in Paddy’s Pub is a bunch of terrible people—and that’s the reason why we love them. It doesn’t look like Always Sunny fully realizes the fact that it keeps breaking the limits with 17+ seasons of madness, schemes, and dark humor. It is pure comedy, yet it still expects the viewers to laugh at the lowest of humanity’s instincts.
1. The Golden Girls
Four older ladies, one Miami house, and an unlimited amount of cheesecake. The Golden Girls not only challenged the notion of the typical, but also helped in the promotion of liberal causes and continue to be extremely hilarious today. Dorothy’s sarcasm, Blanche’s charm, Rose’s stories, and Sophia’s jokes? Priceless comedy.
And there you have it: comedies which were not only funny, but also influenced culture, language, and our perception of life. If one of them is not already on your list of shows to watch again, then why not?