Sitcoms have been entertaining us for more than eight years now, and fans love the shows that have stayed with them through thick and thin. But have you ever asked yourself what are the most highly-rated sitcoms of all time? As per the critic, every category of fans has their own favorite show.
From wild animations to weird single-camera shoots and comedies about everyday life stories, there is almost a show out there for everyone. All sitcoms can be found across the streaming platform, which is always updating their libraries, so this list contains the best sitcoms to watch and will take you to the streaming pages of your favorite sitcoms.
You must have already seen and heard of famous sitcoms like The Big Bang Theory and Friends, and names like these can be seen anytime. Other classic shows like I Love Lucy are names that you must have had plenty of times but never seen. Of course, there are animated sitcoms like The Simpsons that have been there not just for adults but for teenagers too.
This list has some of the most popular and underrated shows that deserve your attention. This list is specially curated for the fans of the shows, and I am certain that you will find your favorite shows in this list. The list contains some names that have influenced society and how they reflect the world, and some shows are filled with emotions and colorful flavors.
Everything is present in this list, so get ready to take a look at some of the best sitcoms. Scroll below to pick your best sitcom to watch with friends and family. Many of the shows have numerous seasons, so check out that too before starting a show.
Ted Lasso
The directing, production, music, and setting are all of the highest caliber. Both the humor and the casting are great. No episode feels like filler, and there is never a dull moment. Jason Sudeikis is good in everything he does.
Every character does their part and brings something special to the play. The plot is based on Ted Lasso, who is a football coach and, despite having no prior coaching experience, is surprisingly chosen to lead AFC Richmond, a fictitious English Premier League football side.
Rebecca Welton, the team’s owner, employs Lasso in the hopes that he will fail so she may get back with the team’s former owner, her adulterous ex-husband. The characters in the show are given a lot of room to express their heart and depth.
Ted Lasso is unquestionably the kind of guy the world needs to see more of. He supports individuals in becoming the greatest versions of themselves without minimizing the struggles they face. His true struggle with worry is eloquently displayed. Ted Lasso is a must-watch for everyone, and it beautifully explores many human emotions, which is a must given today’s day and age.
- Released in: 2020
- Seasons: 3
- IMDB Score: 8.8
- Cast: Jason Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, Jeremy Swift, Phil Dunster, Brett Goldstein, Brendan Hunt, Nick Mohammed, Juno Temple, Sarah Niles, Anthony Head, Toheeb Jimoh, Cristo Fernández, Kola Bokinni, Billy Harris, James Lance, and many others
- Directed By: Jason Sudeikis, Bill Lawrence, Brendan Hunt, and Joe Kelly
- Streaming Platform: Apple TV
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is a genuinely unique cartoon show. On the one hand, it may be educational. There isn’t a Simpsons episode that goes by that doesn’t make reference to someone or something that children are most likely not familiar with. If they catch it, they can learn something there.
The story revolves around a working-class father, Homer Simpson, and his flawed family with comical surroundings and daily happenings in life in the town of Springfield.
All of the characters are endearing and distinctive. The narratives are fresh and compelling. The writing is sharp, concise, and humorous. That was before the seasons started reaching double-digit highs.
The stories occasionally include fantastical elements, but for the most part, they have solid plots with a single, clear purpose at their core, and they conclude with a lesson or two learned by the protagonists. The animation itself is beautiful, fluid, and expertly executed. A must-watch, in my opinion.
- Released in: 1989
- Seasons: 35
- IMDB Score: 8.7
- Cast: Matt Groening, Dan Castellaneta, Nancy Cartwright, Hank Azaria, Julie Kavner, Aaron Paul, Danny DeVito, Harry Shearer, Conan O’Brien, Phil Hartman, Daniel Radcliffe, Tony Bennett, Yeardley Smith, Winona Ryder, and many others
- Directed By: Matt Groening
- Streaming Platform: FOX
Cobra Kai
The Cobra Kai show follows the original movie, it adheres to its original material with the utmost faithfulness, and it is clear that everyone engaged in its creation. Ralph Macchio and William Zabka both excel in playing their most well-known roles again. Particularly Zabka does a great job portraying an older Johnny Lawrence.
He is like a dinosaur who is still trapped in the 1980s and has some rather rudimentary notions of life, which is great and funny. Some who are familiar with the movies already know what the show is. The plot follows the movie and is based on a few years after the events of the movie.
As a television series rather than another two-hour movie, Cobra Kai works considerably better. Ten episodes are around half an hour each, which allows for both plot and character development. I have seen the show, and it is a very entertaining show. It never misses the beat to give a thrill to its viewers. All the original characters and even the new characters take care of the theme of the show and carry forward the legacy of Cobra Kai.
- Released in: 2018
- Seasons: 5
- IMDB Score: 8.5
- Cast: Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, Courtney Henggeler, Xolo Maridueña, Tanner Buchanan, Mary Mouser, Jacob Bertrand, Gianni DeCenzo, Martin Kove, Peyton List, Vanessa Rubio, Thomas Ian, Griffith Dallas, Dupree Young, many Others
- Directed By: Josh Heald, Hayden Schlossberg, and Jon Hurwitz
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
M*A*S*H
Captain Benjamin Franklin (a.k.a. “Hawkeye”) Pierce, a surgeon, is the main plot of the sitcom. Trapper John McIntyre, comrade and surgical coworker, is eventually replaced by Captain BJ Hunnicut. Major Frank Burns, a fellow surgeon, is a nervous moron and the frequent punchline to their jokes. With the continual conversation between the comedy never stops.
When combined with his hairy face and legs, Klinger’s famed large nun habits, peasant skirts, and even an ornate Statue of Liberty outfit usually make people chuckle. The characters have depth and are well-developed, and the acting of each character is funny and likable.
The cast while acting seriously and riffs off one another’s humor. It is one of those shows which can still be watched today and feel very refreshing and new, a timeless classic. Due to the larger plot line and richer character development, the series balances everything well.
A series conclusion to be praised and taken notice of by all future showrunners, delivering a somber statement on war with lots of humorous catharses.
- Released in: 1972
- Seasons: 11
- IMDB Score: 8.5
- Cast: Alan Alda, Wayne Rogers, McLean Stevenson, Loretta Swit, Larry Linville, Gary Burghoff, Mike Farrell, Harry Morgan, Jamie Farr, William Christopher, David Ogden Stiers, and many Others
- Directed By: Larry Gelbart
- Streaming Platform: Hulu
Parks And Recreation
One of the finest television comedies of the 2010s has to be this. Despite a difficult beginning, the first season of the program only gets better and better. The show’s amazing characters and their growth are complimented by the abundance of moments.
The characters be aware of the cameras, giving off a strange air. Additionally, they make jokes to the camera that are usually entertaining.
The show revolves around a bureaucrat, Leslie Knope, who wants to help Ann, a local nurse, by converting a vacant site into a park but has to deal with many political problems and people.
Every moment Amy Poehler comes on TV, the room is illuminated. In comparison to her time on The Office, Rashida Jones’ on-screen chemistry with this group is significantly better. Aziz Ansari is on his way to becoming a global superstar. Therefore, our program is tremendously fortunate to have him now.
- Released in: 2009
- Seasons: 7
- IMDB Score: 8.6
- Cast: Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, Paul Schneider, Aziz Ansari, Nick Offerman, Aubrey Plaza, Chris Pratt, Adam Scott, Rob Lowe, Jim O’Heir, Retta, Billy Eichner, and many others
- Directed By: Greg Daniels and Michael Schur
- Streaming Platform: Jio Cinema
Gravity Falls
The cartooning and animation in Gravity Falls feel new and exciting. The character designs remind me a lot of a wonderful cross between The Simpsons, Classic Disney animation, and The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack.
The characters are created to support the high-caliber character animation the series has generated. Dipper and his twin sister Mabel, who spend their summer vacation in Gravity Falls, Oregon, with their great uncle, are the main characters of the television show.
While learning the truth about the causes of the town’s ghosting activity, they manage a local tourist trap there. The show was praised for pop-cultural references and charm. This is a beautiful show with wonderful animation, overall, a tonne of fun.
- Released in: 2012
- Seasons: 2
- IMDB Score: 8.9
- Cast: Alex Hirsch, Kristen Schaal, Jason Ritter, Linda Cardellini, Kevin Michael Richardson, Matt Chapman, John DiMaggio, Carl Faruolo, Nick Offerman, Jackie Buscarino Niki Yang, Jennifer Coolidge, Thurop Van Orman, J. K. Simmons, Justin Roiland, T.J. Miller Will Forte, Gregg Turkington, Keith Ferguson, and many Others
- Directed By: Alex Hirsch
- Streaming Platform: Disney Plus
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Brooklyn Nine-Nine is one of my all-time favorite comedies, without a doubt. It relates the tale of the 99th Precinct detectives in Brooklyn and their office manager. All the investigators are eccentric and easy to like.
They will stop at nothing to catch their crook and have a great time doing it. There aren’t a weak show’s characters; they are all entertaining. It’s also one of the rare series where each new season is equal.
The clever use of behaviors of the characters to entertain viewers, rather than relying on one-liners or simplistic gags. Once you start watching Brooklyn 99, it will be hard to stop until the show is finally finished.
The entertainment does not last because audiences ultimately get weary of them. Characters continue to grow, which keeps the series feeling new all the time.
- Released in: 2013
- Seasons: 8
- IMDB Score: 8.4
- Cast: Andy Samberg, Stephanie Beatriz, Terry Crews, Melissa Fumero, Joe Lo, Truglio Chelsea, Peretti Andre, Braugher Dirk, Blocker Joel, McKinnon Miller, and many Others
- Directed By: Dan Goor and Michael Schur
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
All In The Family
King Norman Lear’s All in the Family is one of the most iconic sitcoms ever made on TV. The main character of the program was Archie Bunker, a staunch conservative who lamented the ways in which the world was changing while growing more and more disconnected from it.
All In The Family detonated like a bomb in this naive television universe. Topics include impotence, menopause vasectomies, breast cancer, and even defecating in the lavatory.
The cast members were smart, perhaps even too smart for a sitcom. They came to understand that the finest comedies are born out of the best dramas, and vice versa, in a delicate dance.
You can’t just cram a somber episode into an otherwise silly sitcom without the viewer experiencing an emotional shock. Few sitcoms that have failed to replicate the success of the original have ever managed to do so.
The topics that the show discussed in the episodes are not taboo in today’s time, but back when the show was airing in 1971, these topics were new, and no one wanted to talk about them in public, which the show did.
- Released in: 1971
- Seasons: 9
- IMDB Score: 8.4
- Cast: Sally Struthers, Jean Stapleton, Carroll O’Connor, Rob Reiner, Danielle Brisebois, Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford, Gloria LeRoy, Mike Evans, Betty Garrett, Bea Arthur, and many Others
- Directed By: Norman Lear
- Streaming Platform: Apple TV
Broad City
Broad City may sound like a fairly traditional comedy because it is a show about two female friends navigating the worlds of love and career while living in New York City.
You can see that Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer worked really hard on this project. The early episodes are a touch rough around with further viewings. The episodes have improved in the latest seasons. If you’re a veteran viewer, then you will feel it when you will watch the shows.
This online series’ subject, commitment, chemistry, and humor are what make it so admirable. They told some hilarious stories. The episodes were never overly as they should be. They are all really brief and simple to watch.
It is a funny show. The two lead characters made it a good watch with their wide dialogues and the life they are trying to make in New York.
- Released in: 2014
- Seasons: 5
- IMDB Score: 8.6
- Cast: Ilana Glazer, Abbi Jacobson, Paul W. Downs, Arturo Castro, John Gemberling, Hannibal Buress, Stephen Schneider, Eliot Glazer, D’Arcy Carden, Chris Gethard, Susie Essman, Rupaul, and many Others
- Directed By: Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson
- Streaming Platform: Hulu
Police Squad!
The stories are parodies of crime shows that have ever aired on television. The satirical hammering that takes on here touches on everything. Each week’s guest stars are killed off in the opening scene and never seen or heard from again. The episode names don’t match the narration. A great parody of all the crime fiction voice-overs dating back to cinema noir may be found in Nielsen’s own narration.
From the opening title to the closing credits of the show, the concert was filled with some fantastic one-liners. Additionally, the title of each episode was read out by the narrator and was never the title on the screen.
It will always be a mystery why Police Squad! Only has six episodes, and that is why it was canceled. After the cancellation, there were three Naked Gun movies for the fans, but it always pains me to see the reality of this show.
- Released in: 1982
- Seasons: 1
- IMDB Score: 8.4
- Cast: Leslie Nielsen, Alan North, Ed Williams, Rex Hamilton, William Duell, Tiny Ron Taylor, William Shatner, Peter Lupus, Marvin Miller, Robert Costanzo, Tessa Richarde, and many Others
- Directed By: Zucker, Abrahams, and Zucker
