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The Greatest Sitcoms in Television History 

Ranker Community
Originally by Ranker Community
Updated April 17, 2020 977k votes 73.9k voters 1.1M views 302 items

List Rules Vote up your favorite sitcoms (no dramedies) based on their full run.

Best sitcoms ever to air on television includes some of the greatest sitcoms of all time as ranked by fans of TV. What's the best sitcom of all time? This list includes the best and most funny all-time sitcoms and funny TV shows. Anyone can vote on this list of funny sitcoms, making it a definitive representation of the Ranker community's sit-com tastes. Many people think that Friends is the best sitcom ever, while others would nominate Seinfeld or Family Matters as the best TV comedies. You can add your own ranking of shows to nominate your favorites.

A sitcom (or situational comedy) is loosely defined as "a humorous television program based on situations that could arise in everyday life". What are the greatest sitcoms ever? You can decide for yourself what fits that term and rank as you see fit, adding what you see missing!

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1
Friends is listed (or ranked) 1 on the list The Greatest Sitcoms in Television History
Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow

Premiered: 1994

Number of Seasons: 10

Friends (NBC, 1994) is an American sitcom television series created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman. The personal and professional lives of six friends (Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa ...more

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Rank All of the Girlfriends from "Friends" #6 of 804 The Best TV Shows To Binge Watchlisted on The Longest Running US Sitcoms

2
The Office is listed (or ranked) 2 on the list The Greatest Sitcoms in Television History
Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski

Premiered: 2005

Number of Seasons: 9

The Office (NBC, 2005) is an American mockumentary sitcom television series developed by Greg Daniels, based on the 2001 British series. Led by manager Michael Scott (Steve Carell), the office ...more

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Jim Halpert Is A Scumbag, And It's Obvious If You Just Pay Attention #3 of 383 The Best TV Shows of The Last 20 Years #77 of 590 The Best TV Theme Songs of All Time

3
Seinfeld is listed (or ranked) 3 on the list The Greatest Sitcoms in Television History
Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Michael Richards

Premiered: 1989

Number of Seasons: 9

Seinfeld is an American television sitcom that originally ran for nine seasons on NBC from July 5, 1989, to May 14, 1998. It was created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, the latter starring as ...more

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Dramatic Stories From Behind The Scenes Of 'Seinfeld' #2 of 213 The Most Important TV Sitcomslisted on The Longest Running US Sitcoms

4
How I Met Your Mother is listed (or ranked) 4 on the list The Greatest Sitcoms in Television History
Josh Radnor, Jason Segel, Cobie Smulders

Premiered: 2005

Number of Seasons: 8

How I Met Your Mother (CBS, 2005) is an American sitcom created by Craig Thomas and Carter Bays. Through a series of flashbacks, Ted Mosby (Josh Radnor) recounts to his children the journey he ...more

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Legendary 'How I Met Your Mother' Fan Theories #27 of 804 The Best TV Shows To Binge Watch #52 of 213 The Most Important TV Sitcoms

5
Married... with Children... is listed (or ranked) 5 on the list The Greatest Sitcoms in Television History
Ed O'Neill, Christina Applegate, Katey Sagal

Premiered: 1987

Number of Seasons: 11

Married... with Children is an American sitcom that aired for 11 seasons. It featured a dysfunctional family living in a fictional Chicago suburb. The series, notable for being the first ...more

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The Best Seasons of Married... With Children #106 of 804 The Best TV Shows To Binge Watchlisted on The Longest Running US Sitcoms

6
The Fresh Prince of Bel-... is listed (or ranked) 6 on the list The Greatest Sitcoms in Television History
Will Smith, James Avery, Alfonso Ribeiro

Premiered: 1990

Number of Seasons: 6

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is an American television sitcom that originally aired on NBC from September 10, 1990, to May 20, 1996. The show stars Will Smith as a fictionalized version of ...more

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Behind The Scenes History Of 'The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air' Most People Don't Know 18 Things You Didn't Know About The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air #21 of 494 The Funniest TV Shows of All Time

7
The Golden Girls is listed (or ranked) 7 on the list The Greatest Sitcoms in Television History
Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan

Premiered: 1985

Number of Seasons: 7

The Golden Girls is an American sitcom, created by Susan Harris, that originally aired on NBC from September 14, 1985, to May 9, 1992. Starring Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, and ...more

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Behind-The-Scenes Secrets From 'The Golden Girls' #76 of 804 The Best TV Shows To Binge Watchlisted on The Longest Running US Sitcoms

8
Frasier is listed (or ranked) 8 on the list The Greatest Sitcoms in Television History
Kelsey Grammer, Jane Leeves, David Hyde Pierce

Premiered: 1993

Number of Seasons: 11

Frasier (NBC, 1993) is an American sitcom television series created by David Angell, Peter Casey, and David Lee, and a spinoff of Cheers. After his divorce, psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane ...more

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These Fan Theories From 'Frasier' Are Pretty Wild - But They Could Be True #100 of 804 The Best TV Shows To Binge Watchlisted on The Longest Running US Sitcoms

9
I Love Lucy is listed (or ranked) 9 on the list The Greatest Sitcoms in Television History
Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance

Premiered: 1951

Number of Seasons: 6

I Love Lucy is an American television sitcom starring Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley. The black-and-white series originally ran from October 15, 1951, to May 6, ...more

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The Complicated And Dark History Of Lucille Ball And Desi Arnaz's Marriage #1 of 213 The Most Important TV Sitcomslisted on The Longest Running US Sitcoms

10
That '70s Show is listed (or ranked) 10 on the list The Greatest Sitcoms in Television History
Topher Grace, Laura Prepon, Mila Kunis

Premiered: 1998

Number of Seasons: 8

That '70s Show is an American television period sitcom that originally aired on Fox from August 23, 1998, to May 18, 2006. The series focused on the lives of a group of teenage friends living in ...more

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Behind The Scenes Secrets From 'That '70s Show' Most People Don't Know #35 of 804 The Best TV Shows To Binge Watchlisted on The Longest Running US Sitcoms

11
Parks and Recreation is listed (or ranked) 11 on the list The Greatest Sitcoms in Television History
Amy Poehler, Jim O'Heir, Nick Offerman

Premiered: 2009

Number of Seasons: 7

Parks and Recreation (NBC, 2009) is an American television sitcom created by Greg Daniels and Michael Schur. The series follows Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler), a perky mid-level bureaucrat, and her ...more

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Parks And Recreation Fan Theories Even Tastier Than JJ's Waffles 15 Reasons Why 'Parks and Rec' Has Always Been Better Than 'The Office' #14 of 804 The Best TV Shows To Binge Watch

12
Modern Family is listed (or ranked) 12 on the list The Greatest Sitcoms in Television History
Ed O'Neill, Sofía Vergara, Julie Bowen

Premiered: 2009

Number of Seasons: 11

Modern Family (ABC, 2009) is an American comedy television sitcom created by Francisco Bobadilla. The series follows the lives of Jay Pritchett and his family, all of whom live in suburban Los ...more

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The Best Characters On Modern Family #28 of 804 The Best TV Shows To Binge Watch #38 of 213 The Most Important TV Sitcoms

13
The Big Bang Theory is listed (or ranked) 13 on the list The Greatest Sitcoms in Television History
Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco

Premiered: 2007

Number of Seasons: 12

The Big Bang Theory (CBS, 2007) is an American television sitcom created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady. A woman (Kaley Cuoco) who moves into an apartment across the hall from two brilliant but ...more

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Behind-The-Scenes Secrets From The Set Of 'The Big Bang Theory' #10 of 804 The Best TV Shows To Binge Watchlisted on The Longest Running US Sitcoms

14
The Flintstones is listed (or ranked) 14 on the list The Greatest Sitcoms in Television History
JordanAnderson added Alan Reed, Mel Blanc, Jean Vander Pyl

Premiered: 1960

Number of Seasons: 6

The Flintstones is an animated, prime-time American television sitcom that was broadcast from September 30, 1960, to April 1, 1966, on ABC. The show was produced by Hanna-Barbera. The ...more

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Brilliant Flintstones Comics from DC #7 of 727 The Best Cartoons of All Timelisted on Longest Running Animated Series

15
Home Improvement is listed (or ranked) 15 on the list The Greatest Sitcoms in Television History
Tim Allen, Patricia Richardson, Earl Hindman

Premiered: 1991

Number of Seasons: 8

Home Improvement is an American television sitcom starring Tim Allen, that aired from September 17, 1991 to May 25, 1999. The show was created by Matt Williams, Carmen Finestra and David ...more

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#42 of 213 The Most Important TV Sitcoms #51 of 494 The Funniest TV Shows of All Timelisted on The Longest Running US Sitcoms

16
Happy Days is listed (or ranked) 16 on the list The Greatest Sitcoms in Television History
Ron Howard, Henry Winkler, Marion Ross

Premiered: 1974

Number of Seasons: 11

Happy Days is an American television sitcom that aired first-run from January 15, 1974, to September 24, 1984, on ABC. Created by Garry Marshall, the series presents an idealized vision of life ...more

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#401 of 804 The Best TV Shows To Binge Watch #5 of 590 The Best TV Theme Songs of All Timelisted on The Longest Running US Sitcoms

17
The Addams Family is listed (or ranked) 17 on the list The Greatest Sitcoms in Television History
John Astin, Carolyn Jones, Ted Cassidy

Premiered: 1964

Number of Seasons: 2

The Addams Family is an American television series based on the characters in Charles Addams' New Yorker cartoons. The 30-minute series was shot in black-and-white and aired for two seasons on ...more

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Charming And Intriguing Behind-The-Scenes Stories From ‘The Addams Family’ TV Show #24 of 213 The Most Important TV Sitcoms #210 of 571 TV Shows Canceled Before Their Time

18
The Andy Griffith Show ... is listed (or ranked) 18 on the list The Greatest Sitcoms in Television History
Andy Griffith, Ron Howard, Don Knotts

Premiered: 1960

Number of Seasons: 8

The Andy Griffith Show is an American sitcom, which originally ran on CBS from October 3, 1960 to April 1, 1968. The show, a semi-spin-off from an episode of The Danny Thomas Show, starred Andy ...more

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#11 of 213 The Most Important TV Sitcoms #19 of 590 The Best TV Theme Songs of All Timelisted on The Longest Running US Sitcoms

19
Gilligan's Island is listed (or ranked) 19 on the list The Greatest Sitcoms in Television History
Bob Denver, Alan Hale Jr., Jim Backus

Premiered: 1964

Number of Seasons: 3

Gilligan's Island is an American sitcom created and produced by Sherwood Schwartz via United Artists Television. The show had an ensemble cast that featured Bob Denver, Alan Hale, Jr., Jim ...more

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Behind-The-Scenes Secrets From The Set Of 'Gilligan's Island' #178 of 804 The Best TV Shows To Binge Watch #22 of 213 The Most Important TV Sitcoms

20
The King of Queens is listed (or ranked) 20 on the list The Greatest Sitcoms in Television History
Kevin James, Leah Remini, Jerry Stiller

Premiered: 1998

Number of Seasons: 9

The King of Queens is an American sitcom that originally ran on CBS from September 21, 1998, to May 14, 2007. The show was produced by Hanley Productions and CBS Productions, CBS Paramount ...more

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#103 of 383 The Best TV Shows of The Last 20 Years #203 of 590 The Best TV Theme Songs of All Timelisted on The Longest Running US Sitcoms

21
Bewitched is listed (or ranked) 21 on the list The Greatest Sitcoms in Television History
Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick York, Dick Sargent

Premiered: 1964

Number of Seasons: 8

Bewitched is an American TV situation comedy fantasy which was broadcast for eight seasons on ABC from 1964 to 1972. It was created by Sol Saks under executive director Harry Ackerman, and ...more

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Behind-The-Scenes Stories Of 'Bewitched' #123 of 307 The Best Sci-Fi Television Series Of All Timelisted on The Longest Running US Sitcoms

22
The Simpsons is listed (or ranked) 22 on the list The Greatest Sitcoms in Television History
Dan Castellaneta, Nancy Cartwright, Julie Kavner

Premiered: 1989

Number of Seasons: 31

The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical depiction of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by the ...more

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The Funniest Business Names in The Simpsons #3 of 727 The Best Cartoons of All Timelisted on Longest Running Animated Series

23
Scrubs is listed (or ranked) 23 on the list The Greatest Sitcoms in Television History
Zach Braff, Donald Faison, Sarah Chalke

Premiered: 2001

Number of Seasons: 9

Scrubs (NBC, 2001) is an American medical comedy-drama television series created by Bill Lawrence. In the unreal world of Sacred Heart Hospital, intern John "J.D." Dorian (Zach Braff) ...more

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The Best Scrubs Characters of All Time The Cast Of 'Scrubs': Where Are They Now? #79 of 213 The Most Important TV Sitcoms

24
Three's Company is listed (or ranked) 24 on the list The Greatest Sitcoms in Television History
John Ritter, Joyce DeWitt, Suzanne Somers

Premiered: 1977

Number of Seasons: 8

Three's Company is an American sitcom that aired from March 15, 1977 to September 18, 1984 on ABC. It is based on the British sitcom Man About the House. The story revolves around three single ...more

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#235 of 804 The Best TV Shows To Binge Watch #9 of 89 The Best 1980s Primetime TV Showslisted on The Longest Running US Sitcoms

25
Two and a Half Men is listed (or ranked) 25 on the list The Greatest Sitcoms in Television History
Jon Cryer, Ashton Kutcher, Angus T. Jones

Premiered: 2003

Number of Seasons: 10

Two and a Half Men is an American television sitcom that began broadcast on CBS on September 22, 2003 and ended on February 19, 2015 after twelve seasons. Originally starring Charlie Sheen, Jon ...more

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