The Best Sitcoms in TV History

Premiered: 1982
Number of Seasons: 11
Starring: Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Nicholas Colasanto & more
Est. Production Budget: $2.2 million per episode*

Before Friends was even a twinkle in the eye of producers, there was Cheers. The incredibly popular series debuted in 1982, bringing stars like Ted Danson and Shelley Long to the forefront of public consciousness. Incredibly, the first season brought in poor ratings and the show was almost axed right then and there. 

Cheers @biography/twitter.com

Thankfully the network held off and Cheers became one of the greatest comedies ever to grace our TV screens. The show carried on for 11 seasons, scooping up awards across the board. It’s likely that the series would’ve continued for a lot longer if Ted Danson hadn’t decided to leave.

Premiered: 1987
Number of Seasons: 31
Starring: Dan Castellaneta, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria & more
Est. Production Budget: $5 million*

Having audiences relate to a family of yellow people with four fingers sounds like an impossible task, but Matt Groening pulled it off seamlessly. The Simpsons first hit our screens in 1987 as part of The Tracey Ullman Show. Viewers clicked with Marge, Homer, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie so much that it was soon developed into a full half-hour series. 

The Simpsons @huffingtonpost/twitter.com

Decades later, and the cartoon is still one of the most popular shows of its kind in the world. What’s more, the original stars are still on board, too. The Simpsons are more than just characters on TV; they’re cultural icons that stand the test of time. 

Premiered: 1978
Number of Seasons: 5
Starring: Judd Hirsch, Jeff Conway, Danny DeVito, Marilu Henner, Tony Danza
Est. Production Budget: $750,000 per episode*

Have you ever wondered what a day in the life of a Taxi driver is like? Viewers in the ‘70s and ‘80s got a pretty good idea when the sitcom Taxi was released. The series focused on the lives of drivers and their tough-as-nails dispatcher, giving a dramatized (but highly entertaining) half-hour of entertainment. 

Taxi @imdb/twitter.com

The Simpsons producer James L. Brooks created the show, which went on to win 18 Emmy Awards during its 5-season run. ABC abruptly canceled the series without warning in 1982, but NBC stepped in, picking up the show for a final season so the characters could bid a proper farewell. 

Premiered: 1970
Number of Seasons: 7
Starring: Mary Tyler Moore, Edward Asner, Valerie Harper, Gavin MacLeod & more 
Est. Production Budget: $600,000 per episode*

Here’s another hit show created by James L. Brooks. The Mary Tyler Moore Show gave the popular actress and comedienne a vehicle for her talents. What’s more, the series focused on something that had hitherto been ignored in TV: a single, career-centric woman. The show didn’t shy away from serious issues and gave its characters in-depth plot lines, setting it apart from the rest. 

The Mary Tyler Moore Show ©CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images

The Mary Tyler Moore Show is often cited as one of the best shows of its kind ever to exist. Many spin-offs were generated on the back of its success, including one with Rhonda and Lou Grant. Moore and Grant Tinker decided to gracefully bow out after seven seasons, ending the show on a high in 1977.

Premiered: 2001
Number of Seasons: 9
Starring: Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke, Donald Faison, Neil Flynn
Est. Production Budget: $3 million per episode*

For Millennials growing up, there wasn’t a better show to sink your teeth into than Scrubs. The medical comedy had it all, from oddballs to touching storylines and characters that you could really invest in. Although it was subject to some cast changes over the years, the heart of the series remained the same. 

Scrubs r/scrubs/Reddit

Season eight largely drew a conclusion to the main storylines of the show, while season 9 introduced a slew of new characters in the hope of creating a spinoff. Star Zach Braff announced the show’s cancellation, stating, “It appears that ‘New Scrubs’, ‘Scrubs with New Kids…is no more. It was worth a try, but alas, it didn’t work.”

Premiered: 1987
Number of Seasons: 11
Starring: Ed O’Neill, Katey Sagal, David Garrison, Amanda Bearse
Est. Production Budget: $1 million per episode*

Married…with Children was a relatable TV show that many viewers could associate their own family lives with. Al Bundy was once the most popular kid in school, but things didn’t exactly work out as he planned. With Ed O’Neill and Katey Sagal leading the show, the Michael G. Moye creation went from strength to strength. 

Married... with Children @catoonbrew/Pinterest

After ten years on air, the show started to experience a decline in ratings, which ultimately led to Fox bringing the ax down. The cancelation was so sudden that producers weren’t even able to craft a finale episode, meaning fans never got to say goodbye to the Bundy family properly.

Premiered: 1984
Number of Seasons: 9
Starring: Harry Anderson, John Larroquette, Richard Moll & more
Est. Production Budget: $650,000 per episode*

The premise of Night Court was interesting enough to keep it on air for nine seasons. Starring Harry Anderson, the series focused on Judge Harry Stone as he navigated the strange world of a Manhattan municipal court at night. Although a similar sitcom had aired before, this one stuck. 

Night Court gallery/Eu1Iw/imgur.com

The show was nominated for many awards, including Golden Globes and it won four Emmys. When the series was canceled, Warner Bros. hoped to sell it on to someone else so it could continue. As a result, the finale episode wasn’t exactly a poignant farewell as producers hoped it wasn’t the end.

Premiered: 1960
Number of Seasons: 8
Starring: Andy Griffith, Ronny Howard, Don Knotts, Frances Bavier & more
Est. Production Budget: $450,000 per episode*

The Andy Griffith Show paved the way for future comedy shows of the same ilk. Starring Andy Griffith in the role of Andy Taylor, the series followed the sheriff as he kept order in a small town in North Carolina, while also dodging all the hilarious situations that arose as a result. 

The Andy Griffith Show ©Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images

Even at the time in the ‘60s, the series was considered to be a nostalgic nod to the past. Griffith said, “Well, though we never said it, and though it was shot in the ‘60s, it had a feeling of the ‘30s. It was, when we were doing it, of a time gone by.” The show remained popular right up to its cancelation in 1968.

Premiered: 1964
Number of Seasons: 3
Starring: Bob Denver, Alan Hale Jr., Jim Backus, Natalie Schafer, & more
Est. Production Budget: $350,000 per episode*

Long before Tom Hanks stole our hearts as a washed-up Fed-Ex employee in Castaway, there was Gilligan’s Island. The series created by mastermind Sherwood Schwartz reigned supreme for three seasons in the ‘60s, telling the story of seven castaways trying to survive on a deserted island. 

Gilligan's Island /commons.wikimedia.org

Although the show was canceled fairly early on in its run, Gilligan’s Island always enjoyed high ratings. The series became a victim of network politics when CBS president William S. Paley and his wife Babe opted to keep Gunsmoke and throw out Gilligan’s Island. The cast members were more shocked than anyone else.

Premiered: 1994
Number of Seasons: 10
Starring: Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, David Schwimmer
Est. Production Budget: $10 million per episode*

Friends became a breakout hit when it aired in 1994, filling the huge void that Cheers had left behind. With witty scripts, wonderful comic timing, and characters fit for the TV hall of fame, the series went on to become much bigger than anyone could’ve anticipated. 

Friends ©Warner Bros/Getty Images

By the final season, each episode was costing $10 million dollars. The show is just as popular today as it was then, with repeats always bringing in a good amount of viewers. In 2020 it was announced the gang will be getting back together again for a one-off, unscripted reunion special. 

Premiered: 1985
Number of Seasons: 7
Starring: Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, Estelle Getty
Est. Production Budget: $2 million per episode*

What do you get when you throw a group of old broads together in the ‘80s? TV perfection. The Golden Girls relied heavily on the cutting wit of Bea Arthur as Dorothy, who largely ruled the roost. Despite being about three older ladies, the series soon gained widespread popularity across demographics. 

The Golden Girls @decider/Pinterest

To this day, The Golden Girls is considered a prime example of comedic genius. Not only was the casting spot on, but the script was fierce and entertaining. The show continued for 7 strong seasons before Bea Arthur decided to quit. There was no way things could continue without Dorothy, so production came to a close.

Premiered: 1951
Number of Seasons: 6
Starring: Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, William Frawley, Richard Keith
Est. Production Budget: $26,000 per episode*

Many comedy actresses in the business cite Lucille Ball as a huge influence. It’s not hard to see why. I Love Lucy was just one of her many endeavors, but it was arguably one of the most popular, too. The series debuted in 1951, ushering in a new wave of television. 

I Love Lucy @cbsallaccess/twitter.com

The show continued to dazzle viewers with its antics for six seasons, enjoying major success as the most-watched show in the United States. After toiling away for years producing the show, Lucille and her co-star husband Desi Arnaz wanted to move on to pastures new.

Premiered: 1971
Number of Seasons: 9
Starring: Carroll O’Connor, Jean Stapleton, Sally Struthers, Rob Reiner, Danielle Brisebois
Est. Production Budget: $300,000 per episode*

All in the Family may have been a sitcom, but writers used it as a vehicle to address serious issues. At the time in the ‘70s, this was dangerous ground. Issues like the Vietnam War, menopause, and even impotence were wrapped up in palatable half-hour slots. More importantly, it was still entertaining. 

All in the Family /commons.wikimedia.org

The series was a staple throughout the ‘70s, coming to a close at the end of the decade after 9 seasons. Although it took a little while to gain traction when it debuted, All in the Family went on to become a behemoth in the genre as the most-watched show during summer reruns. 

Premiered: 1993
Number of Seasons: 11
Starring: Kelsey Grammar, Jane Leeves, David Hyde Pierce, Peri Gilpin, John Mahoney, Dan Butler
Est. Production Budget: $5.2 million*

It’s rare that spin-offs become as successful as their parent shows, but Frasier beat the odds. Producers pulled Frasier Crane out of Cheers and gave Kelsey Grammar his very own show, which became a hit. The series followed the stern psychiatrist as he navigated life back in his hometown of Seattle, introducing his father and his brother. 

Frasier @dailymailuk/Instagram

Frasier had the privilege of winning the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series for five years in a row. As with many beloved shows of its era, the possibility of a revival hangs in the air as reruns are still heavily watched, 16 years after the show ended.