Some of the best sitcoms of all time are those that started differently than the writers intended. Key character differences or plot changes can be common in a new show trying to find its bearings in a sea of incredible competition. Abandoning the original plan can happen after the producers see what’s working with audiences versus what’s not hitting.
Viewers can attach themselves to unpredictable characters, well-intended storylines can flop, and some jokes don’t land as writers had hoped. Once writers and producers iron out the kinks, a sitcom can flourish. However, it takes a keen eye and attention to character development for a show to blossom after its early shortcomings.
The Office (2005-2013)
Rainn Wilson as Dwight screaming in The Office
The Office is a shining example of an incredible sitcom that switched gears after season 1. The mockumentary comedy series is about a documentary crew that films the everyday lives of those working at a Scranton-based paper company, Dunder Mifflin.
In the first season, the show’s star, Michael Scott (Steve Carell), was unbearable and hated by his employees. His personality was just as off-putting to viewers, forcing a major change in the writers’ room. The Regional Manager’s problematic traits were soon examined, and while he was still awkward during his time at Dunder Mifflin, Michael was considerably more likable in The Office season 2.
Behind the scenes, the writers realized that mimicking each detail of the British version of The Office wasn’t working for the United States’ fan base. They made Michael more likable by softening his character.
His co-workers realized his actions were all driven by deep insecurities and a longing desire to be loved. However, part of the show’s charm was how uncomfortable Michael made most situations.
Starting in season 2, Michael was bad at funny things (like reading the room) and good at all the right things, like protecting his employees and being loyal to the branch. These subtle changes helped make The Office a smash hit, and it’s known as arguably one of the best sitcoms of all time.
The Big Bang Theory (2007-2019)
Penny hugging Leonard in The Big Bang Theory
Between the character development and the actors finding their way with the characters’ quirks, TBBT is notably one of the best sitcoms of all time after it abandoned its former ways in season 1.
While Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) has always been robotic in terms of misunderstanding sarcasm and basic human emotions, he was even worse in season 1. Arrogant and cold, his mannerisms and expressions made audiences laugh, but there was little to like about his character.
Writers shifted things in season 2 and made Sheldon more likable while still holding on to those quirks that made him positively eccentric. Sheldon had never meant to be difficult with his friends; he genuinely didn’t realize what he was doing. His perception of just about everything soon became something to fixate on.
Once the writers took care of Sheldon’s personality, they fine-tuned the other main characters, particularly Penny (Kaley Cuoco). In later seasons, she was no longer just the ditzy blonde across the hall. She, too, had things her friends could learn from. The slight changes in character made TBBT a more cohesive ensemble, and it worked for 12 seasons.
Two And A Half Men (2003-2015)
Charlie Sheen with his arm around Jon Cryer in Two and a Half Men
Starring Charlie Sheen as Charlie Harper, Two And A Half Men was a classic sitcom that followed opposing brothers, Charlie and Alan Harper (Jon Cryer). Alan moves in with his brother and son after splitting up with his wife, which gets him involved with Charlie’s bachelor lifestyle.
Two and a Half Men became a massive success and had (at the time) one of the highest-paid TV actors in Sheen. However, the Chuck Lorre series wasn’t always a success.
Season 1 showed glimmers of being family-centered, with Charlie becoming a great role model for his brother and nephew as they matured together as a family unit. While the series is about family, season 2 took a different direction, which ultimately proved to be for the best.
In season 2, edge was added to the script. Charlie was proudly dysfunctional and encouraged excitable behavior, and Alan had notorious bad luck. The twist in personalities was enough to keep Two and a Half Men running for 12 seasons, even after Sheen’s departure in season 8.
Parks And Recreation (2009-2015)
Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope and Adam Scott as Ben Wyatt in Parks and Recreation.
Parks and Recreation centered around the titular department in the fictional Pawnee, Indiana. With Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) as the central figure, she quickly became the blueprint for positive leadership and women in the workplace.
While the sitcom has seven seasons to its name, it wasn’t always a sensation with viewers. Parks and Recreation had the same creators as The Office, which caused an assured backlash with viewership, as the writers were trying so hard to emulate what the latter did that they lost their own voice and development with the former.
Like the early days of Michael Scott, Leslie was written negatively in Parks and Rec season 1, coming across as clueless, flawed, and unintentionally ignorant. Once the writers ironed out finer details, she became a well-intended, positive worker who was a force to be reckoned with.
Relationships were broadened, and the characters’ lives outside of work were examined. These slight differences were all the series needed to become one of television’s best mockumentary sitcoms.
Family Matters (1989-1998)
Steve Urkel (Jaleel White) wearing a red vest on Family Matters
The 1980s/90s sitcom Family Matters focused on the daily lives of the Winslow family and their goofy neighbor Steve Urkel (Jaleel White). Urkel became an instrumental part of the series, but that wasn’t always how it was supposed to be.
Season 1, in particular, focused on the dynamics and hardships of being a middle-class family in the early ’90s. What writers didn’t anticipate was how much viewers would connect with Urkel. In season 2, Urkel became a central focus in the series, and more comedic undertones and hooks were added.
Urkel grew from an annoying neighbor to a fleshed-out main character, and dimension, sincerity, and slapstick comedy were added to round out the series. Family Matters is widely considered to be one of the best sitcoms of the ’90s, and ran for nine seasons.
Cougar Town (2009-2015)
Courteney Cox in a bar on Cougar Town.
Running for six seasons, Courteney Cox starred in Cougar Town. The sitcom was Cox’s first real attempt at another sitcom after the success of Friends. In Cougar Town​​​​​​, Cox played a recently divorced woman in her 40s, who was entering a new stage of life, which included dating younger men.
However, after season 1, the running joke of the main character being a cougar was dropped. Jokes about dating younger men and digs at Cox’s age were limited as the series shifted its focus to friendships, family, and playful group scenes. The change in tone was what the series needed, as the running gag about age got old and felt dated.
Mom (2013-2021)
The stars of Mom look knowingly at each other
Starring Anna Faris and Allison Janney, Mom follows Christy Plunkett (Faris), a recovering addict, who moves back in with her mom, Bonnie (Janney), who is also a recovering addict. Together, they learn and grow with their friends who are a part of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Running for eight seasons, the show changed dramatically after the first season. Season 1 relied heavily on the mean-spirited sense of humor and gags, with the chaotic family dynamic being an ongoing theme.
However, in future seasons, the series lightened up and softened. Christy and Bonnie matured and relied on each other, both wanting a better future for themselves. Their AA meetings became more emotional, sharing underlying issues that really rounded out the characters. These subtle changes make Mom a more adaptable series for a broader audience.
Fresh Off The Boat (2015-2020)
The Cast of Fresh off the Boat
Fresh Off the Boat was a rare ABC sitcom that followed a Taiwanese American family who relocated to Orlando from Washington, D.C. It’s one of the rare sitcoms that touches base on the everyday lives of an Asian American family.
The sitcom was a hit and ran for six seasons, but it did alter slightly from season 1. Season 1’s narrator, Eddie Huang, left the show completely over creative differences, and his voiceovers stopped altogether.
Along with Huang’s exit, the series’ timeline changed significantly. Fresh Off the Boat was originally set in the ’90s, but as time went on, smartphones and tablets were added, which far exceeded the ’90s or early 2000s timeline.
Happy Days (1974-1984)
Fonzie looking off-screen in Happy Days
The 1970s sitcom Happy Days goes down as one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time. Spanning 11 seasons, Happy Days followed the Cunningham family, primarily the teenage Richie (Ron Howard).
Happy Days is a clear example of adapting after the first season for the better. Season 1 was a single-camera show that didn’t have a laugh track and moved at a slower pace. However, when season 2 changed things up by switching to multi-cam, adding a laugh track, and focusing more on Richie’s best friend, Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli (Harry Winkler), Happy Days became a much quicker and wittier show, going down in history as one of the best sitcoms of all time.