There are many amazing sitcoms worth watching, but only a few can be considered perfect from start to finish. The best sitcoms of all time are celebrated for their usually long runs, but even some of the highest-rated titles have their weaker moments. Television has also changed a lot recently, and even the definition of sitcom is now more fluid.

Sitcom is an abbreviation of situational comedy, so if a TV show makes normal, day-to-day events comical, it can be labelled as a sitcom. It can be difficult, not to say impossible, for a TV show with dozens of seasons and hundreds of episodes to maintain a certain level of quality.

This is why the greatest sitcoms should be celebrated for doing so, especially because of how difficult it is to keep a comedy series fresh and clever for several years. That being said, some of the most memorable comedies of all time only ran for a couple of seasons and were also perfect from start to finish.

10

Superstore

6 Seasons, 2015-2021

Since the release of The Office, there have been several attempts over the years at creating the next big workplace sitcom, and Superstore is one of the best shows to come out of it. Superstore follows the various employees and management staff at a Cloud 9 retail store, and the show does a great job of taking mundane situations and turning them into hilarious moments.

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There is the odd weaker moment, like when Amy and Jonah’s relationship in Superstore ends for a brief time in the last season, but even then, the rest of the episodes’ subplots and character arcs make up for it. Without fail, you can turn on any installment of Superstore and find an episode that’ll make you laugh.

9

30 Rock

7 Seasons, 2006-2013

30 Rock

8/10

Release Date

2006 – 2013-00-00

Showrunner

Robert Carlock

Writers

Tina Fey, Robert Carlock

30 Rock is a brilliant TV show about making TV, following Liz Lemon, the head writer of the fictional series TGS, as well as the employees of NBC and the stars of the show. 30 Rock is full of brilliant and meta jokes, and audiences can easily pick things up based on context if they haven’t seen the entire show.

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What makes Tina Fey’s 30 Rock stand out from other shows is its character development. Unlike other sitcoms, 30 Rock doesn’t throw in a random high-stakes romance between main characters or a pregnancy storyline when things get boring. Instead, it finds new ways to keep its characters interesting, while ensuring their development and personality changes make sense.

8

Derry Girls

3 Seasons, 2018-2022

Derry Girls

9/10

Release Date

January 4, 2018

Showrunner

Lisa McGee

Directors

Lisa McGee

Writers

Lisa McGee

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Despite the deep subject matter, Derry Girls is a brilliantly funny Irish sitcom about a group of teenagers growing up during the Troubles in Ireland. Plenty of real-life events occur in Derry Girls, but it keeps viewers laughing throughout, anyway. There are some more profound moments, too, but it doesn’t shift the tone of the show in a bad way.

Derry Girls is a hilarious coming-of-age title, and unlike some shows, it handles the time jump in the last season very well. It doesn’t rely on romances, either, although the show does delve into one between Erin and James in later installments. Even those who are unfamiliar with Irish culture can find something relatable in Derry Girls.

7

BoJack Horseman

6 Seasons, 2014-2020

BoJack Horseman

10/10

Release Date

2014 – 2020-00-00

Network

Netflix

Showrunner

Raphael Bob-Waksberg

Directors

Raphael Bob-Waksberg

Writers

Raphael Bob-Waksberg

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While audiences can be divided over whether or not an animated TV show is a sitcom, BoJack Horseman definitely fits the bill, and it’s an astounding watch. BoJack Horseman focuses on the titular character, a washed-up former sitcom actor with a substance abuse problem who struggles with his mental health, and those who surround him in his daily life.

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Every season of BoJack Horseman has moments of hilarity, heartbreak, and confusion, but it draws viewers in time and time again. For example, “The View from Halfway Down” and “Free Churro” are two of the most profoundly written TV episodes ever. BoJack Horseman is deep but still funny, and audiences who like a bit of heartache will love this animated sitcom.

6

Malcolm In The Middle

7 Seasons, 2000-2006

Malcolm in the Middle

9/10

Release Date

2000 – 2006-00-00

Network

FOX

Showrunner

Linwood Boomer

Directors

Linwood Boomer

Writers

Linwood Boomer

Many are excited about the upcoming Malcolm in the Middle revival, and so they should be, considering the original show is so good. The sitcom focuses on the titular character, the genius middle child of the family who gets into all kinds of scrapes with his brothers, much to the dismay of their parents, Lois and Hal.

Malcolm in the Middle’s best episodes are full of chaos, and it’s a great watch for relatable, family-focused content. Malcolm’s family aren’t perfect, and they don’t try to be, but their attempts to give themselves a better life are often snatched away. Audiences love watching the siblings grow up on-screen, and there are loads of amazingly funny episodes to enjoy.

5

Peep Show

9 Seasons, 2003-2015

Peep Show ironically labels itself as an anti-sitcom, and it follows Jez and Mark, two roommates who live very different lives. Jez and Mark’s stories are both hilarious and incredibly strong, and it’s really interesting to witness the events of Peep Show through their eyes, quite literally. There are endless cringeworthy moments, but Peep Show’s characters are hysterical.

Peep Show is also Olivia Colman’s breakthrough TV show in the UK, and she plays Sophie, Mark’s girlfriend and later ex-wife. The sitcom looks at the hardships of normal life and how having a wacky person by your side can push you into wild adventures, and Peep Show is easily the crowning jewel of David Mitchell and Robert Webber’s filmographies.

4

Schitt’s Creek

6 Seasons, 2015-2020

Schitt’s Creek centers on the Rose family, who lose their riches and are forced to relocate to the titular small town they bought as a joke. Schitt’s Creek is frequently praised for its witty and rather quotable dialogue, incredible comic timing, and hilarious storylines. However, the show is also known for its more profound moments.

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Throughout its six seasons, Schitt’s Creek produced some hilarious and heartwarming episodes as the Rose family adapted to their new life.

For example, David’s arc is fantastic. The development of David’s friendship with Stevie is both exciting and wholesome, and his eventual wedding to Patrick is one of the most heartwarming moments in the entire series. Schitt’s Creek is undoubtedly one of TV’s most inclusive shows, and the implementation of these themes and stories doesn’t stop the laughs from rolling in.

3

The Golden Girls

7 Seasons, 1985-1992

The Golden Girls

Release Date

1985 – 1992-00-00

Showrunner

Susan Harris

Directors

Susan Harris

Writers

Susan Harris

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The Golden Girls is a legendary sitcom that focuses on the four titular characters, a group of women who live together in Miami, living out their twilight years together. The best episodes of The Golden Girls all brilliantly demonstrate the unique and quirky personalities of the four main characters, ranging from being man-obsessed to sweet and innocent.

The Golden Girls isn’t afraid to be serious, though. Some of the show’s most notable episodes tackle difficult topics like HIV, assault, and Alzheimer’s, and each of them is handled with incredible care and respect. The Golden Girls is stellar from start to finish; it’s just a shame that the spinoffs don’t receive the same appreciation.

2

Fleabag

2 Seasons, 2016-2019

Fleabag

9/10

Release Date

2016 – 2019-00-00

Showrunner

Phoebe Waller-Bridge

Directors

Harry Bradbeer

Writers

Phoebe Waller-Bridge

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Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Fleabag is a beautiful and powerful TV show that doesn’t always feel like a sitcom. Fleabag follows the titular character, whose busy life involves running a guinea pig cafe, clashing with her sister, and her grief over the death of her best friend, Boo. Every episode of Fleabag leaves viewers deep in thought, but still laughing, too.

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The main character is witty and dry, but she is avoidant and struggles to face her trauma properly, which is something many viewers find both relatable and comical. Considering how great the show’s best moments are, like the main character stealing a statue or her flirting with the Hot Priest, it’s still disappointing that Fleabag ended after just two seasons.

1

Fawlty Towers

2 Seasons, 1975-1979

Fawlty Towers

Release Date

1975 – 1979-00-00

Network

BBC Two

Showrunner

John Cleese, Connie Booth

Directors

John Howard Davies, Bob Spiers

Writers

John Cleese, Connie Booth

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Many sitcoms are perfect from start to finish, but the one title that doesn’t have a single bad episode is Fawlty Towers, one of the best British sitcoms of all time. Fawlty Towers takes place in the titular hotel, which is run by the blunt Basil Fawlty and his domineering wife, Sybil. The iconic sitcom is a masterclass on physical comedy.

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Installments such as “Communication Problems” and “Gourmet Night” are considered some of the best sitcom episodes in TV history, and they prove why John Cleese is such a powerful comedic performer (other than Monty Python, naturally). There are only two seasons of Fawlty Towers, too, which makes the sitcom’s strong run even more impressive.