There are many amazingsitcomsworth watching, but only a few can be considered perfect from start to finish.The best sitcoms of all timeare celebrated for their usually long runs, but even some of the highest-rated titles have their weaker moments. Television has also changed a lot recently, and even the definition of sitcom is now more fluid.
Sitcom is an abbreviation of situational comedy, so if a TV show makes normal, day-to-day events comical, it can be labelled as a sitcom. It can be difficult, not to say impossible, for aTV show with dozens of seasonsand hundreds of episodes to maintain a certain level of quality.
This is why the greatest sitcoms should be celebrated for doing so, especially because of how difficult it is to keep a comedy series fresh and clever for several years. That being said, some of the most memorable comedies of all time only ran for a couple of seasons and were also perfect from start to finish.
Since the release ofThe Office, there have been several attempts over the years at creating the next bigworkplace sitcom, andSuperstoreis one of the best shows to come out of it.Superstorefollows the various employees and management staff at a Cloud 9 retail store,and the show does a great job of taking mundane situations and turning them into hilarious moments.
There is the odd weaker moment, like whenAmy and Jonah’s relationship inSuperstoreends for a brief time in the last season, but even then, the rest of the episodes’ subplots and character arcs make up for it. Without fail, you may turn on any installment ofSuperstoreand find an episode that’ll make you laugh.
30 Rockis a brilliantTV show about making TV, following Liz Lemon, the head writer of the fictional seriesTGS, as well as the employees of NBC and the stars of the show.30 Rockis full of brilliant and meta jokes,and audiences can easily pick things up based on context if they haven’t seen the entire show.
What makesTina Fey’s30 Rockstand out from other shows is its character development.Unlike other sitcoms,30 Rockdoesn’t throw in a random high-stakes romance between main charactersor a pregnancy storyline when things get boring. Instead, it finds new ways to keep its characters interesting, while ensuring their development and personality changes make sense.
Despite the deep subject matter,Derry Girlsis a brilliantly funny Irish sitcom about a group of teenagers growing up during the Troubles in Ireland.Plenty ofreal-life events occur inDerry Girls, but it keeps viewers laughing throughout, anyway. There are some more profound moments, too, but it doesn’t shift the tone of the show in a bad way.
Derry Girlswas the TV show that launched Nicola Coughlan’s career and helped her earn her role inBridgerton. Coughlan was 31 when she portrayed 16-year-old Claire inDerry Girlsseason 1.
Derry Girlsis a hilarious coming-of-age title,and unlike some shows, it handles the time jump in the last season very well. It doesn’t rely on romances, either, although the show does delve into one between Erin and James in later installments. Even those who are unfamiliar with Irish culture can find something relatable inDerry Girls.
While audiences can be divided over whether or not an animated TV show is a sitcom,BoJack Horsemandefinitely fits the bill, and it’s an astounding watch.BoJack Horsemanfocuses on the titular character, a washed-up former sitcom actor with a substance abuse problemwho struggles with his mental health, and those who surround him in his daily life.
Every season ofBoJack Horsemanhas moments of hilarity, heartbreak, and confusion, but it draws viewers in time and time again. For example,“The View from Halfway Down” and “Free Churro” are two of the most profoundly written TV episodes ever.BoJack Horsemanis deep but still funny, and audiences who like a bit of heartache will love this animated sitcom.
Many are excited about the upcomingMalcolm in the Middlerevival, and so they should be, considering the original show is so good.The sitcom focuses on the titular character, the genius middle child of the family who gets into all kinds of scrapes with his brothers,much to the dismay of their parents, Lois and Hal.
Lois finds out she is pregnant for the sixth time in theMalcolm in the Middlefinale, “Graduation,” so audiences are keen to find out who this child is in the upcoming revival.
Malcolm in the Middle’s best episodesare full of chaos, and it’s a great watch for relatable, family-focused content.Malcolm’s family aren’t perfect, and they don’t try to be,but their attempts to give themselves a better life are often snatched away. Audiences love watching the siblings grow up on-screen, and there are loads of amazingly funny episodes to enjoy.
Peep Showironically labels itself as an anti-sitcom, and it follows Jez and Mark, two roommates who live very different lives. Jez and Mark’s stories are both hilarious and incredibly strong, andit’s really interesting to witness the events ofPeep Showthrough their eyes,quite literally. There are endless cringeworthy moments, butPeep Show’s characters are hysterical.
Peep Showis easily the crowning jewel of David Mitchell and Robert Webber’s filmographies.
Peep Showis also Olivia Colman’s breakthrough TV show in the UK,and she plays Sophie, Mark’s girlfriend and later ex-wife. The sitcom looks at the hardships of normal life and how having a wacky person by your side can push you into wild adventures, andPeep Showis easily the crowning jewel of David Mitchell and Robert Webber’s filmographies.
Schitt’s Creekcenters on the Rose family, who lose their riches and are forced to relocate to the titular small town they bought as a joke.Schitt’s Creekis frequently praised for its witty and rather quotable dialogue,incredible comic timing, and hilarious storylines. However, the show is also known for its more profound moments.
For example, David’s arc is fantastic.The development of David’s friendship with Stevie is both exciting and wholesome,and his eventual wedding to Patrick is one of the most heartwarming moments in the entire series.Schitt’s Creekis undoubtedly one of TV’s most inclusive shows, and the implementation of these themes and stories doesn’t stop the laughs from rolling in.
The Golden Girlsis a legendary sitcom that focuses on the four titular characters,a group of women who live together in Miami, living out their twilight years together.The best episodes ofThe Golden Girlsallbrilliantly demonstrate the unique and quirky personalities of the four main characters, ranging from being man-obsessed to sweet and innocent.
The Golden Girlsisn’t afraid to be serious, though.Some of the show’s most notable episodes tackle difficult topics like HIV, assault, and Alzheimer’s,and each of them is handled with incredible care and respect.The Golden Girlsis stellar from start to finish; it’s just a shame that the spinoffs don’t receive the same appreciation.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge’sFleabagis a beautiful and powerful TV show that doesn’t always feel like a sitcom.Fleabagfollows the titular character, whose busy life involves running a guinea pig cafe, clashing with her sister, and her grief over the death of her best friend, Boo.Every episode ofFleabagleaves viewers deep in thought,but still laughing, too.
The main character is witty and dry, but she is avoidant and struggles to face her trauma properly,which is something many viewers find both relatable and comical. Considering how great the show’s best moments are, like the main character stealing a statue or her flirting with the Hot Priest, it’s still disappointing thatFleabagended after just two seasons.
1Fawlty Towers
2 Seasons, 1975-1979
Many sitcoms are perfect from start to finish, butthe one title that doesn’t have a single bad episode isFawlty Towers,one ofthe best British sitcoms of all time.Fawlty Towerstakes place in the titular hotel, which is run by the blunt Basil Fawlty and his domineering wife, Sybil. The iconic sitcom is a masterclass on physical comedy.
Installments such as “Communication Problems” and “Gourmet Night” are considered some ofthe best sitcom episodes in TV history, and they prove why John Cleese is such a powerful comedic performer (other thanMonty Python, naturally). There are only two seasons ofFawlty Towers, too, which makes thesitcom’s strong run even more impressive.
