The funniest TV shows ever range from some of the best TV shows of recent memory to some of the best TV shows of all time. These hilarious television shows and series are the ones that make you accidentally snort your soda up your nose, spill your TV dinner, and fall off your chair from laughing. Some of these funny TV shows are so good, they'll have you chuckling at just the memory of a joke, even years down the line.
From the timeless antics of I Love Lucy's Ethel and Lucy to the foul-mouthed hi-jinks of the kids from South Park to the moral depravity of the Bluth family on Arrested Development, these funny television series make the living room (or bedroom, plane, car, office, whatever..it's the digital age, we get it) a funnier place to be. Many of these amusing TV shows are still on the air (The Simpsons, Big Bang Theory), others have gone to TV heaven (Cheers, 30 Rock), and more still have been resurrected from the digital grave (Family Guy, Futurama).
What are the funniest series on TV? Funniest of the decade? What is the funniest TV show ever? This list of the funniest TV shows ever looks to crown one TV show the funniest television show ever. It doesn't matter if the show is old or new - these are the top TV comedies of all time. Vote for your favorite TV show and make sure to add any popular funny TV shows that might be missing from the funniest television series list. Note that they aren't necessarily all comedy tv shows - a show can be funny and not necessarily a "comedy" per se. But let's face it - most of the funniest tv shows are also the best comedies of all time.
Check out the best streaming Netflix TV shows if you want to know if some of these hilarious series are available for streaming there.
26
4,1673,571Arrested Development
Jason Bateman, Michael CeraPremiered: 2003
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
27
1,253952Night Court
Harry Anderson, John LarroquettePremiered: 1984
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy, Legal
28
1,9521,666All in the Family
Carroll O'Connor, Jean StapletonPremiered: 1971
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
29
2,5772,296Monty Python's Flying Circus
Graham Chapman, John CleesePremiered: 1969
Genres (Tv): Sketch comedy, Satire, Comedy
30
688338The Flintstones
Alan Reed, Mel BlancPremiered: 1960
Genres (Tv): Animation, Sitcom, Animated cartoon, Children's television series, Comedy
31
1,8601,442The Three Stooges
Larry Fine, Moe HowardPremiered: 1930
Genres (Tv): Comedy
32
5,3564,668The Big Bang Theory
Johnny Galecki, Jim ParsonsPremiered: 2007
Genres (Tv): Sitcom
33
1,3361,048The Munsters
Fred Gwynne, Al LewisPremiered: 1964
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Drama, Comedy, Fantasy
34
1,4851,265Happy Days
Ron Howard, Henry WinklerPremiered: 1974
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Musical, Comedy, Family Film
35
1,4911,053The Addams Family
John Astin, Carolyn JonesPremiered: 1964
Genres (Tv): Black comedy, Sitcom, Comedy, Fantasy
36
1,5761,244The King of Queens
Kevin James, Leah ReminiPremiered: 1998
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
Kevin James, Leah Ramni, Jerry Stiller, Patton Oswalt37
2,4002,182Everybody Loves Raymond
Ray Romano, Patricia HeatonPremiered: 1996
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
38
1,3611,206Fawlty Towers
John Cleese, Prunella ScalesPremiered: 1975
Genres (Tv): Comedy
39
1,5971,430King of the Hill
Mike Judge, Kathy NajimyPremiered: 1997
Genres (Tv): Cartoon, Animation, Television comedy, Sitcom, Satire
40
3,3532,431How I Met Your Mother
Josh Radnor, Jason SegelPremiered: 2005
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Romantic comedy
41
1,8921,7743rd Rock from the Sun
John Lithgow, Jane CurtinPremiered: 1996
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy, Science Fiction
42
3,9893,690That's 70's Show
Topher Grace, Laura PreponPremiered: 1998
Genres (Tv): Romance Film, Sitcom, Comedy
43
1,4271,304The Andy Griffith Show
Andy Griffith, Ron HowardPremiered: 1960
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
44
1,099965Get Smart
Don Adams, Barbara FeldonPremiered: 1965
Genres (Tv): Espionage, Crime, Sitcom, Comedy
45
1,5001,359Gilligan's Island
Bob Denver, Alan Hale Jr.Premiered: 1964
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy, Family Film
46
2,5762,440M*A*S*H
Alan Alda, Wayne RogersPremiered: 1972
Genres (Tv): Black comedy, Medical drama, Sitcom, Satire, Military
47
1,091926Three's Company
John Ritter, Joyce DeWittPremiered: 1977
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
48
1,3931,313The Dick Van Dyke Show
Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler MoorePremiered: 1961
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
49
1,2951,140In Living Color
Keenen Ivory Wayans, Jim CarreyPremiered: 1990
Genres (Tv): Sketch comedy, Variety show, Sketch, Comedy
50
1,1731,045Bewitched
Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick YorkPremiered: 1964
Genres (Tv): Soap opera, Sitcom, Comedy, Family Film, Fantasy