Sitcoms are a pillar of classic television, but few remain flawless throughout their entire run. The best sitcoms of all time usually falter eventually, be it the disappointing series finale of New Girl or the forgettable first season of Parks & Recreation. Even creating a perfect sitcom episode is difficult enough, let alone riding that high for seasons on end.
Nevertheless, there are hordes of quality sitcoms everyone should watch, despite small caveats and select episodes that fans skip. Regardless, the best of the best flaunt multiple seasons of comedy, drama, and heart without ever having a truly bad episode. Of course, taste is subjective, but there are a handful of exceptional sitcoms that, for good reason, are universally adored.
The IT Crowd
2006-2013
Moss and Roy in the sitcom The IT Crowd.
Each country has its own beloved television series, but a small pool of exceedingly influential titles have garnered international attention. Such is the case with British sitcom The IT Crowd, renowned for its surreal comedy and star-studded cast. At the center of the sitcom’s story are two information technology (IT) workers: Maurice Moss (Richard Ayoade) and Roy Trenneman (Chris O’Dowd).
Alongside their new tech-averse manager, Jen Barber (Katherine Parkinson), Moss and Roy champion The IT Crowd’s unique humor for four 6-episode seasons and a special 2013 reunion episode. The comedy may veer into slapstick at times, but the sheer absurdity of Reynholm Industries demands it. Inspiring a failed American remake, The IT Crowd still retains its devoted cult following today.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
1990-1996
Will Smith in the sitcom The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air.
As explained by the most iconic opening sequence of all time, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air follows Will Smith (playing a fictionalized version of himself) as he moves from West Philadelphia to the unfamiliar, wealthy neighborhood of Bel Air, Los Angeles. There, Will struggles to acclimate to the upper-class culture of the Banks family, led by patriarch Phil (James Avery).
While there are endless hilarious moments throughout the sitcom’s six seasons, there were just as many thought-provoking episodes that took the cultural mainstay to the next level. In fact, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’s somber moments often stuck with the viewers more than its comedy, yet nothing was quite as memorable as the infamous dance done by Carlton (Alfonso Ribeiro).
The Golden Girls
1985-1992
Sophia, Blanche, Rose, and Dorothy in the sitcom The Golden Girls.
Over 40 years after its initial release, The Golden Girls is still just as relevant, if not more so. The friendship between Blanche Devereaux (Rue McClanahan), Rose Nylund (Betty White), Dorothy Zbornak (Bea Arthur), and Sophia Petrillo (Estelle Getty) was one for the ages, with most viewers self-identifying with the main characters as if the sitcom was a personality quiz.
Furthermore, The Golden Girls was surprisingly ahead of its time. The sitcom may have raked in critical acclaim and accolades during its original run, but many of its storylines get even better with age. It’s rare for pre-Y2K shows to stay popular, especially with younger generations, but The Golden Girls is a trend that clearly never goes out of style.
Superstore
2015-2021
Jonah and Amy in the sitcom Superstore.
By the mid 2010s, workplace sitcoms had already been done to death. As such, plenty of viewers were wary of Superstore, expecting the same clichés to be recycled from old favorites. Thankfully, the NBC comedy proved to be anything but ordinary, despite its intrinsically familiar setting. Rather, the eponymous superstore of Cloud 9 and its quirky employees were immensely refreshing.
Under the supervision of happy-go-lucky Glenn (Mark McKinney) and terrifying assistant manager Dina (Lauren Ash), the Cloud 9 employees encounter bizarre conflicts, bafflingly clueless customers, and maniacally evil upper-management. All the while, one of the best love stories in sitcom history began brewing. Superstore deserved to be an acclaimed sitcom, but it remains shockingly underrated, years after its bittersweet finale.
The Good Place
2016-2020
Tahani, Jason, Janet, Eleanor, and Chidi in the sitcom The Good Place.
Sitcoms typically run on everyday people in everyday situations, but The Good Place took a novel approach by throwing its ensemble into the literal afterlife. The alleged “architect” of the central utopian neighborhood is Michael (Ted Danson), who shepherds four newcomers — Eleanor (Kristen Bell), Chidi (William Jackson Harper), Tahani (Jameela Jamil), and Jason (Manny Jacinto) — to the titular Good Place.
Eleanor and Jason, who were far from saints during their lifetimes, employ Chidi as their posthumous ethics professor, hoping to become better people and earn a real spot in heaven. The group enlists the help of Janet (D’Arcy Carden), an omniscient and omnipresent guide, to evade notice— only for the entire crew to be thrown by a generational plot twist.
Derry Girls
2018-2022
James, Erin, Michelle, Claire, and Orla in the sitcom Derry Girls.
A good sitcom can distract and entertain a viewer, but a great sitcom can lull its audience into a false sense of security only to deliver a whopping heap of emotion. Derry Girls took the arduous historical setting of the Troubles and explored it through the lens of blasé teenagers whose desensitization provides the sitcom’s very foundation.
The beloved friend group is composed of four Irish teens — Erin (Saoirse-Monica Jackson), Michelle (Jamie-Lee O’Donnell), Orla (Louisa Harland), and Claire (Nicola Coughlan) — and a male transplant from London named James (Dylan Llewellyn). As the five navigate adolescence, the all-girls Our Lady Immaculate College, and political unrest in their backyard, they only have each other to lean on.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
2013-2021
Captain Raymond Holt crowning Jake Peralta in Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s Halloween Heist.
With familiar favorites like Andy Samberg (Jake Peralta), Andre Braugher (Raymond Holt), and Terry Crews (Terry Jeffords) at the helm of Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s cast, the offbeat police procedural was destined for success. Nonetheless, nobody could have predicted just how popular the sitcom would become after its eight seasons.
From the captivating slow-burn romance between Jake and Amy (Melissa Fumero) to its tactful handling of sensitive topics like Rosa’s (Stephanie Beatriz) bisexuality to its scene-stealing side characters like Gina (Chelsea Peretti), Brooklyn Nine-Nine had more than just a winning formula. The plot was enthralling, but the driving force behind Brooklyn Nine-Nine was always its indomitable ensemble cast.
Malcolm in the Middle
2000-2006
Four children sitting on a sofa in the sitcom Malcolm In The Middle.
Unlike what most viewers had come to expect from a sitcom, Malcolm in the Middle was a visually stunning single-camera comedy with no laugh tracks or gimmicks. Instead, titular child prodigy Malcolm (Frankie Muniz) acted as a frame narrator, often breaking the fourth wall to address the audience directly.
Everything about the series, from shooting on film to experimenting with rare camera angles, pushed the envelope, cementing it as a one-of-a-kind sitcom. With the upcoming Malcolm in the Middle sequel, now is the perfect time to rewatch the original series and appreciate how well it’s held up after 26 years.
The Office (UK)
2001-2003
David and Gareth in the sitcom The Office (UK).
Despite the ubiquity of its American counterpart, the original British sitcom The Office was an invaluable addition to the mockumentary genre. The cringe comedy is expertly handled by Ricky Gervais as the laughably incompetent David Brent, while Martin Freeman’s Tim stands in as the series’ straight man.
There are numerous uncomfortable scenes throughout The Office’s 14 episodes, but that unnerving feeling is a credit to the cast’s performances and the incredibly realistic dialogue. Viewers familiar with the US version of The Office may expect the same vibe from the original, but it couldn’t be more different as a standalone sitcom.
Schitt’s Creek
2015-2020
Alexis and David Rose in the sitcom Schitt’s Creek.
Beyond being one of the best sitcoms of the 2010s, Schitt’s Creek is a well-decorated series that deserves its stellar reputation. From the moment the viewer meets the Rose family, there’s no other option besides total obsession. Schitt’s Creek didn’t just start with a bang, however; it only improved with time.
Whether you detest Johnny (Eugene Levy), Moira (Catherine O’Hara), Alexis (Annie Murphy), and David (Daniel Levy) for their vapidness or are instantly captivated by their childlike naivety, Schitt’s Creek takes both the audience and cast on a whirlwind journey of development, delivering quality storytelling from the pilot to the series finale as a genuinely perfect sitcom.