Amidst a volatile and rapidly changing television landscape, the sitcom not only survives, it thrives. That's thanks in no small part to a number of shows challenging, satirizing, and occasionally upending the genre's conventions. Since the '90s there have been animated sitcoms, one-camera sitcoms, and a slew of sitcoms that ditched the laugh track and live audience. Meanwhile, peppered throughout are shows like "The Big Bang Theory" and "Mom," which offer strikingly modern takes on the traditional formula and keep the laughs coming strong. "Fresh off the Boat" and "Modern Family" the "Leave it to Beaver" formula and use their diverse casts to tell powerful new stories about being a family in America.
In the age of , "situational comedy" has grown to mean so much more than three cameras, one stage setting, a bunch of goofy characters, and a laugh track. Thanks to Netflix and other streaming services, it's easier than ever for these shows or find a network willing to take a risk on a funny new idea. With all the inspiration and new resources, what will those crafty, underpaid TV writers think up next
Being that the sitcom is essentially as old as TV itself, there's no shortage of winners and stinkers alike. Today, 爆料TV is singling out the winners. Specifically, 爆料TV has listed out the highest-rated sitcoms of all time, according to the people who've watched them: IMDb users. To qualify, the show had to be considered a situational comedy in the broader sense (meaning non-traditional sitcoms and comedy-dramas), and have at least 5,000 IMDb votes. For any rating ties, the show with more votes won. Will your favorite sitcoms of all time make an appearance on this list? Read on to find out.
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1 / 50
#50: Mary Tyler Moore Show
Year: 1970-1977
IMDb Rating: 8.2
Votes: 5,251
Co-created by James L. Brooks,听who would go on to direct popular movies and co-create听The Simpsons,听The Mary Tyler Moore Show听centered around a woman who moves to Minneapolis on the heels of a bad break up. There she lands a job at a local news station, suddenly single and struggling in a male-dominated world. The show remains an acclaimed and vital sitcom to this day, primarily for the skillful and humorous way it handled such poignant themes. It was plenty acclaimed in its time as well, with the听听to show for it. 听
2 / 50
#49: Legit
Year: 2013鈥�2014
IMDb Rating: 8.2
Votes: 7,072
Between his observational prowess and acerbic delivery (and, of course, his huge fan base), it was only natural that comedian Jim Jeffries would get a series of his own. That series was called听Legit听and it ran for just two seasons, first on FX and then on FXX. Each episode of听Legit听dealt with Jim and his motley crew of friends learning how to be good people in the modern world. The laughs and acclaim were high, but the听. 听
3 / 50
#48: Home Movies
Year: 1999鈥�2004
IMDb Rating: 8.2
Votes: 8,028
True to its name,听Home Movies听was about an eight-year-old wannabe director who casts his friends in thousands of homemade films. Featuring kids but aimed squarely at teenagers and adults, the animated series ran for six episodes on the (now-defunct) UPN network before being abruptly dropped. Thankfully Cartoon Network swooped in to save the day, buying the rights to the show and making it the first ever to premiere on their Adult Swim block, where it found a much wider and more receptive audience.
4 / 50
#47: Big Mouth
Year: 2017 鈥� present
IMDb Rating: 8.2
Votes: 11,642
Puberty has long been the stuff of comedy gold, and it certainly has no reason to stop now. Accordingly, the Netflix animated series听Big Mouth听mines the awkward phase in every growing boy or girl鈥檚 life for all the explicit laughs it can find. Co-created by comedian Nick Kroll, and featuring voices from fellow comics like Jordan Peele, Maya Rudolph, and John Mulaney, the show delivers the raunchy goods at hyperkinetic speed, with genuinely endearing undertones. 听
5 / 50
#46: The Goldbergs
Year: 2013 鈥� present
IMDb Rating: 8.2
Votes: 20,252
Set in the simpler era of the 1980s, ABC's听The Goldbergs听is a semi-autobiographical show based on Adam Goldberg's experiences as a nerdy 11-year-old. Armed with a video camera, young Adam captures the endlessly zany antics of his hilarious family one home movie at a time. While the show takes some liberties as far the family is concerned, it also goes to great lengths to authentically re-create Adam's childhood. For instance, nearly all the posters in young Adam's bedroom on the show听听in real life as a kid. 听
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6 / 50
#45: Better Off Ted
Year: 2009鈥�2010
IMDb Rating: 8.2
Votes: 22,695
Sometimes a great show slips through the cracks and doesn鈥檛 get the shelf life it deserves. Such was the case with ABC鈥檚听Better Off Ted, an absolutely bonkers workplace comedy that poked fun at the sitcom format and frequently broke the fourth wall. The backdrop for the series was Veridian Dynamics, a ruthless corporation that performs experiments on its own employees, among other terrible things. Meanwhile, protagonist Ted Crisp must do his best to retain a semblance of morality (and keep his job) while flanked by evil on nearly all sides.
7 / 50
#44: Workaholics
Year: 2011鈥�2017
IMDb Rating: 8.2
Votes: 40,144
鈥淵a gotta be fresh.鈥� So went the theme song for Comedy Central鈥檚听Workaholics, which did indeed offer a fresh take on your standard office sitcom. Detailing the exploits of three workplace stoners with bad ideas and even worse follow-through, the work environment itself was at best a distraction from each hairbrained scheme. Proving that the antics were just as wild behind the scenes, two of the show鈥檚 stars spent the first season living in the听, just to save a few bucks in rent money.
8 / 50
#43: 30 Rock
Year: 2006鈥�2013
IMDb Rating: 8.2
Votes: 97,930
Speaking of crazy workplace comedies, it didn鈥檛 get much crazier than听30 Rock. Created by and starring听SNL听alumna Tina Fey, the series took place behind the scenes at an SNL-like sketch comedy show. Between the off-the-wall characters and rapid-fire pacing, the show earned a reputation for squeezing jokes out of jokes and then layering those jokes with even more jokes. It鈥檚 no wonder that听30 Rock听earned a whopping 22 Emmy nominations in 2009, the听.
9 / 50
#42: Family Guy
Year: 1998鈥撎�
IMDb Rating: 8.2
Votes: 261,219
Hit animated series听Family Guy听opens every episode asking, 鈥淲here are those good old fashioned values?鈥� The answer might very well be, 鈥淓verywhere but听Family Guy.鈥� Co-created by Seth MacFarlane, the long-running series is as raunchy as primetime TV can possibly get. The fact that the show is so ubiquitous these days is somewhat of a miracle, and not just because the FCC hasn鈥檛 pulled it from the air. For starters, it was听, before being brought back due to overwhelming demand from the fans. Furthermore, MacFarlane himself had a near brush with death after听听on the morning of September 11, 2001.
10 / 50
#41: Sports Night
Year: 1998鈥�2000
IMDb Rating: 8.3
Votes: 6,242
Even when iconic screenwriter Aaron Sorkin isn't churning out Oscar-winning movies like听The Social Network听or acclaimed shows like听The West Wing, he still puts up a downright formidable effort. For proof of that fact, look no further than听Sports Night, a short-lived comedy that failed to score big numbers during its run, but has nevertheless retained a loyal following over the years. In the series, viewers went behind the scenes at a bustling sports news show. The dialogue was sharp and the laughs were dry, but hard-earned. Apparently Sorkin听, but he chose instead to focus his energy on听The West Wing.
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11 / 50
#40: The Andy Griffith Show
Year: 1960鈥�1968
IMDb Rating: 8.3
Votes: 9,398
Just hearing the words听鈥淎ndy Griffith Show鈥澨齝onjure up a melodic, hunky-dory whistle in your mind (assuming you鈥檝e heard the theme song before). Living up to that laid-back vibe was the series itself, about a small-town sheriff who rarely encountered any crime. The show was one of just three to听. Among its actors was a young Ron Howard, who would go on to star in听Happy Days听before launching his career as an A-list director.
12 / 50
#39: All in the Family
Year: 1971鈥�1979
IMDb Rating: 8.3
Votes: 11,569
Before听Married with Children鈥檚听Al Bundy听or听Family Guy鈥檚听Peter Griffin, there was听All in the Family鈥檚听Archie Bunker. The original foul-mouthed, racist, sexist TV dad somehow remained likeable in spite of his many flaws. Thanks to Bunker鈥檚 overtly offensive antics, the show itself was considered hugely groundbreaking for its time. Some might say TV only went downhill from there 鈥� others would argue the series kicked off a new wave of comedy. No matter which side you鈥檙e on, it鈥檚 hard to dismiss the symbolic value of听All in the Family听being the听.
13 / 50
#38: Party Down
Year: 2009鈥�2010
IMDb Rating: 8.3
Votes: 24,697
The story of aspiring actors who work for a catering company to pay their bills doesn鈥檛 necessarily sound like the stuff of quality television, but听Party Down听milked some legitimate comedy out of its relatively unexciting premise. Created by Rob Thomas (who would go on to create听Veronica Mars听and听iZombie), the Starz show demonstrated a unique sensibility and earned a healthy cult following as a result. Unfortunately cult followings don鈥檛 amount to much in TV land, and the series was cancelled after two seasons. Watch it for a slew of cool cameos and some genuinely original situational comedy.
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14 / 50
#37: The Wonder Years
Year: 1988鈥�1993
IMDb Rating: 8.3
Votes: 30,110
Some shows might technically be comedies, and yet they inspire feelings of melancholy when you think about them.听The Wonder Years听is one of those shows. Set during the turbulent late 鈥�60s and early 鈥�70s, the series detailed the misadventures of Kevin Arnold as he navigated his way through adolescence. It made for touching, unforgettable television that still lingers in the hearts of viewers who watched it when it first aired. And just in case there鈥檚 anyone out there still wondering: no,听听(who was played by Josh Saviano).
15 / 50
#36: The League
Year: (2009鈥�2015)
IMDb Rating: 8.3
Votes: 39,099
Odds are you or someone you know is involved in a fantasy football competition this very minute. Well, they made a show just for you. Dubbed听The League, the FX comedy featured characters taking their passion for fantasy football to ridiculous extremes. The series was awash with听听and NFL star cameos, allowing each viewer to truly feel like part of the team.
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16 / 50
#35: Extras
Year: 2005鈥�2007
IMDb Rating: 8.3
Votes: 44,618
Co-created by and starring Ricky Gervais,听Extras听followed Andy Millman on his frequently disastrous quest for stardom. The series expertly walked the line between British and American comedy, and earned a loyal following as a result. Included throughout its brief run are tons of celebrity cameos and insider jokes.
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17 / 50
#34: Eastbound & Down
Year: 2009鈥�2013
IMDb Rating: 8.3
Votes: 44,732
What happens when retired baseball legend Kenny Powers returns to his hometown to become a gym teacher?听Eastbound & Down, that鈥檚 what. The outrageous protagonist brought his larger-than-life personality to every situation and scene in the HBO series, frequently offending characters and viewers alike. Subsisting in a comedic class all its own,听Eastbound & Down听is perhaps the quintessential cult TV show.
18 / 50
#33: Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Year: 2013 鈥� present听
IMDb Rating: 8.3
Votes: 88,134
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Starring Andy Samberg as a naive, but skilled NYPD detective frequently at odds with his commander, Fox鈥檚听Brooklyn Nine-Nine听duly makes good on its tagline: 鈥淟aw. Without the order.鈥� Unwilling to take itself too seriously, the show constantly veers off the rails from the investigation at hand, focusing instead on inter-office squabbles. That said,听before tackling their respective roles.
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19 / 50
#32: The Big Bang Theory
Year: 2007 鈥� present
IMDb Rating: 8.3
Votes: 584,601
If nothing else, CBS鈥櫶齌he Big Bang Theory听proves that great writing and great characters can keep the traditional sitcom format alive for ages to come. Co-created by sitcom mastermind Chuck Lorre, the show details the exploits of a group of twentysomething geniuses and their relatively normal, attractive female neighbor. No matter how much you might resist, it鈥檚 hard not to fall in love with Sheldon, Leonard, Penny, and everyone else, which is in no small part why the series continues to succeed in a spectacular way. 听
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20 / 50
#31: The Dick Van Dyke Show
Year: 1961鈥�1966
IMDb Rating: 8.4
Votes: 6,968
Another classic from the annals of television history,听The Dick Van Dyke Show听was the last sitcom to be shot in black and white. The series about the exploits of a popular TV writer paired听Van Dyke himself with comedian Mary Tyler Moore so convincingly that听. Moore, of course, would go on to take the lead in her own hit show soon after.
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21 / 50
#30: Atypical
Year: 2017 鈥� present
IMDb Rating: 8.4
Votes: 14,325
Netflix series听Atypical听is about 18-year-old Sam, a young man on the autism spectrum who鈥檚 looking for love in the modern world, or at least hoping to see a pair of boobs before he dies. The series handles themes of exclusion, social norms, and awkward behavior with a dexterous comedic hand. It has earned itself swaths of acclaim among critics and audiences alike.
22 / 50
#29: I Love Lucy
Year: 1951鈥�1957
IMDb Rating: 8.4
Votes: 18,933
One of the best sitcoms of all time,听I Love Lucy听is also among the most important. There鈥檚 really no way to overstate how impactful and durable the misadventures of Lucy and Ricky Ricardo (played by real life couple Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz) have remained over time. Lucille Ball in particular was a genius of physical comedy, and the episodes themselves were master classes in plotting and timing. In addition to paving the way for sitcoms to come,听I Love Lucy听was also influential in other regards. For example, it was one of the听. Furthermore,听, after he re-edited and then re-played old episodes while wife Lucille Ball took care of their newborn son.
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23 / 50
#28: Broad City
Year: 2014 鈥� present
IMDb Rating: 8.4
Votes: 19,768
Based upon a web series of the same name,听Broad City听was created by Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson as an ongoing love letter to their wild experiences in New York City. The show features frequent guest appearances from comedian Hannibal Buress and thrives on unpredictability. To put it another way,听Broad City听is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you鈥檙e gonna get. But you do know it鈥檒l be funny.
24 / 50
#27: Regular Show
Year: 2009鈥�2017
IMDb Rating: 8.4
Votes: 21,891
A short film about two gas station clerks who take hallucinogens and turn into cartoon characters soon became Cartoon Network鈥檚听The Regular Show. In the fully animated series, a blue jay and raccoon tend the grounds of a local park while getting into all sorts of surreal adventures. Between the hilarious gags, the engaging characters, and the听, there鈥檚 no reason not to watch.
25 / 50
#26: The Boondocks
Year: 2005鈥�2014
IMDb Rating: 8.4
Votes: 22,892
Just because a show is funny, that doesn't mean it can't feature copious amounts of social commentary.听The Boondocks听did just that, taking a black family called the Freemans and moving them into an all-white neighborhood. The controversial Adult Swim cartoon was based on an equally controversial comic strip of the same name, both of which liberally dropped the N-word among other things. Yet no amount of public outcry prevented the series from enjoying a long, healthy, and important run. 听
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26 / 50
#25: M*A*S*H
Year: 1972鈥�1983
IMDb Rating: 8.4
Votes: 42,174
Yes, even war can be funny on occasion. In fact, the hospital staff in听MASH听discovered comedy was the best way to deal with all the turmoil surrounding them. Based on a successful movie of the same name, the show took place during the Korean War,听yet听resonated with people from all walks of life. For stars Jamie Farr and Alan Alda, the premise hit close to home, as听.
27 / 50
#24: Blue Mountain State
Year: 2010鈥�2011
IMDb Rating: 8.4
Votes: 42,625
Developed by the Spike Channel for their particular demographic,听Blue Mountain State听offered a brief glimpse into the life of college freshman football players. Naturally there was no shortage of hazing, gratuitous sexuality, and other testosterone-fueled antics. Fans were disappointed when the show ended after an听all-too-brief run, so they put their money to work and crowd-funded a movie that went straight to Netflix.
28 / 50
#23: BoJack Horseman
Year: 2014 鈥� present
IMDb Rating: 8.4
Votes: 44,882
Does Netflix鈥檚听BoJack Horseman听really deserve to outrank听I Love Lucy听on a list of the highest rated sitcoms of all time? Probably not. Nevertheless, the people have spoken. Thankfully the animated story of a washed up TV actor (who happens to be a horse) only improves with each passing season, managing to find a lot of heart in some traditionally comedic places. 听
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29 / 50
#22: Master of None
Year: 2015 鈥� present
IMDb Rating: 8.4
Votes: 45,503
Comedian Aziz Ansari had starred in听Parks and Recreation, written a best-selling book, and performed sold-out shows to huge audiences before landing his own gig at Netflix. That gig was听Master of None听and it鈥檚 ironically a pretty masterful endeavor. In the show,听Ansari explores a range of human experiences like dating and family through a strictly modern lens. Call it the voice of the millennial generation if you must, but you can鈥檛 deny it makes for some genuinely entertaining television.
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30 / 50
#21: Psych
Year: 2006鈥�2014
IMDb Rating: 8.4
Votes: 71,550
USA Network struck comedy gold when it aired听Psych, a show about an aspiring sleuth who tricks the police into thinking he has psychic powers, and then drags his co-worker along for the ride. The duo's exploits are always great for a laugh, as are a slew of inside jokes like the听. While the series technically ended its run in 2014, it was brought back to life this year as an equally acclaimed feature film.
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31 / 50
#20: Scrubs
Year: 2001鈥�2010
IMDb Rating: 8.4
Votes: 210,117
Another show culling laughs from the unlikeliest of places,听Scrubs听managed to authentically capture the experience of working in a hospital without making even the smallest comedic sacrifices. It all went down at Sacred Heart Hospital, where the staff was never out of either jokes or emergencies. Star听, which was fitting given the later success of the soundtrack for his film听Garden State.
32 / 50
#19: How I Met Your Mother
Year: 2005鈥�2014
IMDb Rating: 8.4
Votes: 496,113
Brilliantly walking the line between orthodox and unorthodox was CBS鈥櫶鼿ow I Met Your Mother. The show was told through a series of flashbacks, as an unseen father explains to his听unseen听children how he first met their unseen mother. For the most part, however, the comedy involved the ongoing shenanigans of a group of close, highly likeable friends. While the chemistry between each character was very much what made the show so great, married couple Marshall and Lily rarely kissed, reportedly because听.
33 / 50
#18: Police Squad!
Year: 1982
IMDb Rating: 8.5
Votes: 11,800
Most people today have fond memories of the 1988 comedy hit听The Naked Gun, but only a few of those people remember the show that preceded it. Called听Police Squad!, the series saw Detective Frank Drebin (played by Leslie Nielsen) bungling his way to through a series of sight gags in search of a clue. If you鈥檝e seen any of the听Naked Gun听movies 鈥� or any of Nielsen鈥檚 work from the last three decades for that matter 鈥� you know exactly what to expect from this short-lived spoof.
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34 / 50
#17: Entourage
Year: 2004鈥�2011
IMDb Rating: 8.5
Votes: 144,487
Straight out modern man鈥檚 wildest dreams came HBO鈥檚听Entourage. The show followed movie star Vincent Chase as he navigated the labyrinths of Hollywood, his brother and two closest friends by his side at all times. Known for its rotating door of celebrity cameos and an over-the-top performance by Jeremy Piven as super-agent Ari Gold,听Entourage听was a perennial homage to the perks of being famous, or at least being close friends with someone who is. 听
35 / 50
#16: Community
Year: 2009鈥�2015
IMDb Rating: 8.5
Votes: 159,995
Created by Dan Harmon, and loosely based on his own exploits, NBC's听Community听was about a former lawyer who's forced to enroll in community college where he and some zany friends form an inner community of their own. The series was constantly pushing boundaries from a creative perspective, and yet it never really found the broader audience it deserved. Lukewarm ratings and behind-the-scenes drama prompted Sony Pictures Television to fire Harmon after the third season. When the fourth season fared even worse,听. 听
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36 / 50
#15: Futurama
Year: 1999鈥�2013
IMDb Rating: 8.5
Votes: 175,023
Matt Groening was still riding high off the wild success of听The Simpsons听when he co-created听Futurama. It was about a twentysomething pizza delivery boy named Frye who wakes up 1000 years in the future. Frye quickly discovers that the more things change, the more they stay the same 鈥� an alcoholic robot named Bender being a prime example. The series originally ran on Fox () from 1999 to 2003, and then enjoyed a second life on Comedy Central from 2008 to 2013.
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37 / 50
#14: Modern Family
Year: 2009 鈥� present
IMDb Rating: 8.5
Votes: 279,584
Exploring relationships and romance in the age of smartphones and gay marriage, ABC鈥檚听Modern Family听was an instant smash hit upon its debut in 2009. The show uses a mockumentary format to tell the story of three interconnected families who support one another through a never-ending string of comedic debacles. Proving that听Modern Family鈥檚 success is truly a team effort, all the actors and actresses听. 听
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38 / 50
#13: Flight of the Conchords
Year: 2007鈥�2009
IMDb Rating: 8.6
Votes: 46,965
Comedy duo Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement originally created New Zealand鈥檚 鈥渇ourth most popular guitar-based digi-bongo acapella-rap-fun-comedy folk duo鈥� for a BBC radio show. Soon enough听Flight of the Conchords听was an HBO series that followed the duo as they tried and failed to penetrate the听U.S. market. In an ironic twist of fate, McKenzie and Clement would earn a听, while their on-screen counterparts struggled to land gigs at the local aquarium.
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39 / 50
#12: Silicon Valley
Year: 2014 鈥� present
IMDb Rating: 8.6
Votes: 84,523
By pairing brilliant satire with empathetic situations, HBO鈥檚听Silicon Valley听offers a consistently hilarious and engaging glimpse into the world of modern tech. In the show, programmer Richard Hendricks tries to build a company from the ground up, constantly running into various pitfalls that threaten to destroy him. After five seasons one might think the circular premise would run out of steam, but the fleshed-out characters make it work. 听
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40 / 50
#11: Parks and Recreation
Year: 2009鈥�2015
IMDb Rating: 8.6
Votes: 147,146
From听The Office听alumni Greg Daniels and Michael Shur came听Parks and Recreation. It was another mockumentary style show about the exploits of public officials in Pawnee, Indiana (a fictional town that's an听). The cast was a veritable legion of talent consisting of notable actors like Amy Poehler, Chris Pratt, Rashida Jones, Aubrey Plaza, Aziz Ansari, Adam Scott, Nick Offerman, and Rob Lowe.
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41 / 50
#10: Curb Your Enthusiasm
Year: 2000 鈥� present听
IMDb Rating: 8.7
Votes: 76,026
As the co-creator of听Seinfeld,听Larry David could have easily played golf for the rest of his life and never worked again. Instead he churned out a classic HBO comedy series that鈥檚 in many ways up there with his greatest output, and only slightly less groundbreaking. In听Curb Your Enthusiasm,听David plays...well, Larry David. Impervious to societal norms, David has a knack for turning any random encounter into an excruciating battle of wills. However, it鈥檚 not all bad. After all, there was that one time the show听, albeit inadvertently.
42 / 50
#9: Archer
Year: 2009 鈥� present听
IMDb Rating: 8.7
Votes: 108,891
Offering a clever take on classic spy movie and TV show tropes, FX鈥檚听Archer听follows the animated adventures of a carefree bachelor who also happens to work for a premiere spy agency. When the bullets aren鈥檛 flying, Archer is usually seen consuming large quantities of alcohol or sleeping with beautiful women. Oh, who are we kidding? He does all of that even when the bullets听are听flying. 听
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43 / 50
#8: South Park
Year: 1997 鈥� present
IMDb Rating: 8.7
Votes: 272,446
Perennial pranksters Trey Parker and Matt Stone made a video Christmas card where Jesus Christ and Santa Claus engaged in deady battle. Featured in the video were four foul-mouthed boys named Kenny, Kyle, Stan, and Cartman. After the video made the rounds in Hollywood,听Comedy Central came calling and听South Park听was born. The rest, as they say, is crude and brilliant history.
44 / 50
#7: It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Year: 2005 鈥� present
IMDb Rating: 8.8
Votes: 152,535
It might always be sunny in Philadelphia, but things get pretty dark inside Paddy鈥檚 Pub. The mismanaged watering hole and its dysfunctional, sociopathic owners provide endless hours of entertainment on听It鈥檚 Always Sunny in Philadelphia. To watch the show is to bear witness to mankind鈥檚 worst attributes, encapsulated by five main characters so firmly committed to their own deplorable nature that you can鈥檛 help but like them. According to legend听, which all went to camera equipment. Meanwhile, the production value remains intentionally (and fittingly) shoddy.听听
45 / 50
#6: The Office
Year: 2005鈥�2013
IMDb Rating: 8.8
Votes: 236,224
The standing champion of mockumentary-style sitcoms,听The Office听was originally a British series created by Ricky Gervais before being adopted for the US market. Expanding upon the original template in virtually every conceivable way, the听U.S.听version struck a massive chord with audiences. Who knew that the everyday exploits at the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company would make for such consistently engaging TV?
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46 / 50
#5: The Simpsons
Year: 1989 鈥� present
IMDb Rating: 8.8
Votes: 301,111
It might be number five on the list,听but for about ten seasons, Fox鈥檚 hit cartoon series听The Simpsons听transcended the possibilities of television, and covered more ground than any comedy before or since. Accordingly, the show鈥檚 best episodes are as prescient today as they ever were. Sure,听, the jokes and observations have gotten a little stale, but the sheer brilliance of the early seasons more than makes up for it. This is razor-sharp satire at its absolute finest.
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47 / 50
#4: Seinfeld
Year: 1989鈥�1998
IMDb Rating: 8.9
Votes: 197,006
Even with the popularity of edgy shows like听All in the Family听and听Married with Children, the traditional three-camera sitcom was more or less a slave to formula. Then听Seinfeld听came along and changed the TV landscape for good. The show 鈥� about four perennially single friends living and dating in New York 鈥� purposefully upended just about every convention the medium could throw at it. The result was comedy so resilient that it hasn鈥檛 lost an ounce of its luster after 20 years in syndication. Indeed, there are single episodes of听Seinfeld听that are as memorable and funny as some other sitcoms鈥� entire runs. Modern television comedy wouldn鈥檛 exist as it does if not for this show.听Seinfeld听might not be the 鈥渉ighest rated鈥�, but it鈥檚 the number one sitcom of all time.
48 / 50
#3: Arrested Development
Year: 2003 鈥� present
IMDb Rating: 8.9
Votes: 232,354
While听Seinfeld听certainly got the ball rolling on taking an outside-the-box approach to situational comedy,听Arrested Development听took that ball and slam dunked it. Created by Mitchell Hurwitz, who cut his teeth writing for sitcoms like听The Golden Girls, the show introduced us to the Bluths, a wealthy real estate family thrown into turmoil after their patriarch is sent to prison. Everything from the voice-over narration to the single-camera filming style felt fresh and innovative at the time. And while the comedy series didn鈥檛 find the audience it needed to survive past its initial three-season run, a massive following has accumulated over time, earning it a second life on Netflix and plenty of enduring appeal.
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49 / 50
#2: Friends
Year: 1994鈥�2004
IMDb Rating: 8.9
Votes: 561,803
On the direct heels of听Seinfeld听there came听Friends, a show so popular it barely needs an introduction. The writing was top notch, the casting was iconic, and the viewer engagement was virtually unprecedented. If there was ever a show that married sitcom formula with cutting edge dialogue to absolutely masterful effect, it was this 鈥渙ne鈥�. As in 鈥淭he One with the Embryos鈥� or 鈥淭he One with Ross鈥檚 Wedding鈥� or...well, you get the point.
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50 / 50
#1: Rick and Morty
Year: 2013 鈥� present听
IMDb Rating: 9.3
Votes: 178,771
A young boy named Morty was living a relatively normal life until his alcoholic scientist grandfather Rick showed up. Suddenly Morty's being dragged on a series of mind-blowing animated adventures to all ends of the galaxy. Needless to say, Morty's loss is the viewer's gain, whereas听Rick & Morty听delivers a truly inspired 23 minutes of television.听Far more than a situational comedy, the Adult Swim show听is a cult sensation tirelessly pushing its own creative limits. The series is so beloved by its fan base that听听earlier this year.听
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