Top 10 Best Sitcoms of All Time

Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld were pure geniuses at work. George Costanza has to be one of the best-created and embodied sitcom characters ever - Jason Alexander was magnificent. The clever plot brilliantly mixed high-class black humor with day-to-day situations blown out of proportion, allowing viewers around the world to relate to the characters. I guess we've all tried at least once to open the door the way Kramer did when entering Jerry's apartment. Elaine was one of the best-played female characters in a sitcom. Truly brilliant.

I cannot imagine someone not knowing about the Soup Nazi, the bubble boy, and the misprint "Moops," about Newman - the archenemy, about "Mulva," about the scene where Frank Costanza asks, "Do you want a piece of me?", or about "By the way, they're real and they're spectacular," or "I don't have a square to spare," or even about the bet regarding who won't cave into the urge to masturbate, or about Elaine trying to "turn" to bring a guy from the other team to the heterosexual team.

It is said that all good things must come to an end, but I simply do not understand why the creators of a masterpiece stopped when they were still young and had so much to say. It is sad that, to this day, they remain unmatched.

Every single episode makes you laugh out loud, even though you've memorized the punchlines. It never gets old!

Friends is the ultimate show. Once you watch one episode, you must watch the next. It has everything: laughs, tears, emotion, and suspense. You can watch the whole series over and over again, and it never gets old.

It's the best TV show of all time, and it makes you want to be a part of it. It also has the best ending to a classic show - or any classic production - that I have ever seen. Ross and Rachel, Chandler and Monica, Chandler's jokes, Ross's sarcasm, Phoebe's weirdness, Joey's charming immaturity, Rachel's beauty, Monica's competitiveness, and the overall chemistry of the cast and characters are what make this the best production ever known.

It's hard to judge The Simpsons nowadays due to its major decrease in popularity and, sadly enough, quality during the later seasons. It is a testament to just how good the first 5-6 seasons were that I can still resolutely put this at first.

First off, the early Simpsons just "get" satire better than any other show, book, or film. It doesn't fall into the trap of waving pop culture in your face and saying, "look, laugh," nor does it demonize the things they're satirizing. The cultural references used are to great effect, instead of being thrown in for cheap laughs.

But the thing that makes the early seasons stand out is their heart. The Simpsons would rarely take sides in a debate, but would properly show both the good and the bad while still presenting laugh-out-loud humor. The majority of episodes are more complex than most Hollywood feature comedies - hell, most Hollywood films. It is incredibly rare to have an early Simpsons episode that missed the mark and just wasn't funny, whereas shows like Family Guy, South Park, etc., can pull out a dud episode.

Episodes such as "Bart Gets an F," "Last Exit to Springfield," "22 Short Films About Springfield," "Mother Simpson," etc., are mini-masterpieces in themselves and could be taken out of The Simpsons universe and still work as brilliant stories. Yes, the new series are bad. Not awful, but far, far inferior to earlier episodes. But even so, nothing can remotely touch the sheer hilarity and maturity of those early seasons. It is the best family show ever and may never be surpassed.

There are compelling examples as to why The Big Bang Theory deserves to be on this list. Great scripts feature clever use of pop culture references and even manage to draw humor out of the realm of science and scientific terminology. Seamless meshing of a solid ensemble cast. Finally, the talented Jim Parsons continues to exhibit why he is quickly becoming one of the great comic actors of all time. He certainly deserves a seat in the pantheon of comic greats alongside the likes of Robin Williams, Rowan Atkinson, Ted Knight, John Cleese, John Belushi, and Jonathan Winters.

The Big Bang Theory has surpassed Chuck Lorre's other great series, Two and a Half Men, in terms of being the best American sitcom currently airing on television.

I can't even begin to express just how incredible this show was. It was hilarious, smart, deep, heartfelt, sad, happy, well-written, and unique in its delivery of an otherwise old style. But most of all, it was beautiful. Each and every character actually developed over nine years, and the story itself was actually dependent on previous episodes (not really a sitcom thing to do).

This show made me laugh in every single episode, but it also made me literally cry in more episodes than I can count (and I'm a dude). Why did it make me cry? Because it tapped into my own experiences (as I'm sure it did for millions of others). This show played the heartstrings of everyone's reality and managed to be completely sincere and hilarious at the same time. Truly, yes, "legendary." I watched "Friends," and I liked "Friends," but there was still something a little too fake about it. Another hundred years may pass before something even comes close to "How I Met Your Mother." I'm so glad I was in my 20s for it.

How is this show only at #8? Every time I watch it, I laugh at old jokes and ones I hadn't even noticed the first time around. It just gets funnier each time. If it had a laugh track, it would have just gone on for an obnoxiously long time, but without one, it's 101% better.

Michael's annoying but lovable nature is amazingly portrayed by Steve Carell, and after he left, Rainn Wilson kept the mood going. Jim and Pam are an unforgettable power couple that you'll find yourself comparing every good couple to. The supposed background characters have become some of the funniest - Kevin, Creed, and Stanley are some of my favorites - and the perpetual grudge against Toby never gets old.

Speaking of Toby, I think the writer-actor roles some of them had just made it better. The awkward scenes, relationships, and jokes that would normally seem, well, awkward on most shows are the highlight of this one. Around every corner lies a new quote for me to incorporate into my life. I know this is long, but I could talk for hours about how amazing this show continues to be. Viewers need to unite and get this show at least to the top 5!

You've got to be kidding me. There's no way The Fresh Prince should be 11th on this list. I've never seen another sitcom that could make you laugh, cry, and make you care about the characters the way this show did. I think Friends is the closest that could come to this show.

This show taught lessons to kids. There was meaning behind every episode. This show should be number 1 above all others. Sure, Friends was a great show. You also cared about those characters, but most of the episodes lacked true meaning other than to be entertaining.

Seriously! #8, what a joke. How I Met Your Mother is in the top ten? Who made this list? Obviously, people with no sense of humor.

Friends was one of the most overrated shows ever, and most of the shows in the top ten use the same jokes over and over again. People are too stupid to figure it out. Seinfeld should definitely be #1, and then Cheers. If you like cartoons, then The Simpsons is OK for #3.

The Office and Modern Family are great and original in their own way. That '70s Show was also great and original. All other shows on the list should never be mentioned again... ever!

Easily the funniest show on TV, Seth is a genius. All the characters in the family, particularly Stewie and Brian, are hilarious together. All the side characters, like Quagmire and Mayor West, are amazing too. Even though it's kind of a Simpsons rip-off, I personally find that the humor and cutaways make Family Guy superb.

This is a genuinely funny TV show. However, I think Chris deserves more credit than he gets. After Peter, he's the funniest character on the show.

With that said, this show is extremely intelligent and gets you laughing when you least expect it. Kudos to Seth MacFarlane for creating the funniest show on TV today.

Dude, how is this show so low?

It's better than The Big Bang Theory. The Big Bang Theory has a repetitive laugh track and the same jokes all over the place.

While The Big Bang Theory is the original, Young Sheldon should at least be in the top ten! Maybe ranked just below The Big Bang Theory.

My favorite characters in order! This was so hard to decide! Every character just edged out the other by just a strand of hair! That's how close it is! Here it goes:

1. Topher Grace
2. Wilmer Valderrama
3. Ashton Kutcher
4. Danny Masterson
5. Mila Kunis
6. Laura Prepon

If I were to rate the whole cast, I'd have Tommy Chong at number 2, man! He makes me crack up every time. I have to put Kurtwood Smith at 3 behind Kelso because Red Forman is just so funny, and that makes Eric really effective and funny.

I just love this show to death. I've watched the whole 8-season series like 100 times each! Even though I know almost all the lines, they still crack me up! My favorite show of all time!

I absolutely love this sitcom because it features my love crush and all-time number one favorite singer, Drake Bell. He has an adorable laugh and a sweet smile, and even more, he has a wonderful sense of humor. I watch this show or sitcom almost every day. I am so addicted to it. I am a huge, all-time number one Drake Bell fan, plus Drake is my boyfriend too.

This show was my childhood. It was a masterpiece! Zoey 101, Victorious, and iCarly are all really good shows, but they're mediocre compared to this masterpiece!

My favorite show! I watch it every day. Mung laugh out loud (World Wide Recording Concert) is my favorite phrase now, besides heinous! I also saw the movie. The boys' foul language makes me laugh out loud, and they're only in the fourth grade. This is funny but, I guess, relatable to reality by today's standards because people cussed all the time when I was in elementary school last year.

I also love all the boys but strongly dislike Wendy. South Park for life!

I think the reason this is so low is because people don't give it a chance. They just see a clip and make up their minds. But seriously, watch an episode like "Scott Tenorman Must Die" or even the most recent "Cartman in Love," and you will see that this show is fantastic.

A lot of the humor parodies today's events and celebrities as well, like the Presidential Election/Oceans 11 skit. Watch, guys - all the shows on here are good.

It's better than a kid misbehaving or doing something stupid, and then an adult pulls up a chair and gives the child a "talk." Married with Children is more realistic. None of us have the luckiest lives, and their lives are more realistic.

Nothing before or since has approached the comedic level of the second season's Christmas episode. My children have grown up with it as a yearly tradition. The WKRP turkey drop was close - and also a tradition.

Scrubs, How I Met Your Mother, and The Big Bang Theory are three of the least funny TV shows of all time. Seinfeld, Friends, and Married with Children are the top 3, 100 million percent. LET'S ROCK!

My personal favorite sitcom, coming from someone who doesn't like sitcoms in general. Captures family life perfectly. You will hate each other most of the time and have things that are definitively awful about yourself and each member, but you're there for each other when it counts.

Again, not a fan of sitcoms in general, but I have seen the ones everyone talks about as being their favorite (though I have yet to see much of Seinfeld, which I keep meaning to remedy). But this one is my favorite because it seemed the least formulaic and the characters just worked for me, which is all I can ask of a sitcom.

It is one of the best shows ever. When Charlie Sheen got fired and removed from the show, no one watched it even though the director tried for four more seasons. No one was interested. As far as I know, with Charlie Sheen, the show is a 10/10. Without Charlie Sheen, it's -99/10.

And the director showed his fantasies through Charlie Harper's actions in the last episode's animation, which is even worse. It was the worst ending to a great character. Kudos to the director for directing that poorly. No one can direct worse than that (the last episode of season 12).

But up to season 8, it is a great show and highly recommended.

The most influential year for sitcoms was 1951, because it brought us I Love Lucy. This sitcom revolutionized the television industry and became the most important sitcom in history. It ran for five years and produced 179 episodes about a Cuban bandleader and his spunky red-headed actress wife. It ultimately became the best-loved television program of all time. Its effects on the industry can still be seen today. It was the first show based out of California and was the first sitcom to be shot on film by multiple cameras in front of a live studio audience. It paved the road for many of the sitcoms seen on TV today, and its effects are so lasting that it can still be seen on air from time to time.

When I think of groundbreaking shows, I always think of this one. I'm Black, but I personally think that Archie is one of the funniest sitcom characters (if not the best ever) of all time. The show proved that sitcoms didn't have to be about a perfect life.

The actors are excellent and really fun to watch on screen. Edith is personally my favorite character because she is so naive and kind, and we can all see a bit of Edith in all of us. I hope that one day, sitcoms will have the guts that this show did, but I know truly that there will never be another All in the Family.

Nothing I have ever seen on television even comes close to the complexity and intricacy with which this show unfolds. It's always special when you get a show that not only excels at making you choke from laughter, but also keeps you intrigued with an interesting storyline. AD is the best in the business at doing both of those things simultaneously.

I've never laughed harder at anything in my life. Two viewings are pretty much mandatory, as the first time you might miss a few things while you sit there, mind-blown over what you're watching.

This is the first sitcom on the list that is non-American. That's funny. Anyway, this is a great show. It is absolutely hilarious. It has great characters: Mr. Fawlty is brilliant. He is designed so well that you feel sorry for him despite the fact he's a total jerk.

Every episode is so clever and always makes you laugh. It's hilarious how Basil tries to get out of situations dishonestly and almost always does until it all collapses on him. Watch all twelve episodes, and you will agree.

The fact is this is the most brilliant sitcom of all time. I'm a little narrow-minded when it comes to sitcoms, though. If it doesn't have a laugh track, then it's not a sitcom. All of the episodes of Fawlty Towers are tight and hilarious. It shows off John Cleese's comedic ability better than anything you'll ever see him in.

The only shortcoming is that Cleese and Booth only made twelve episodes. I wish they had had the courage to make more.

How could It's Always Sunny be so low? It is on its 12th season and still going. Sunny doesn't have well-known, famous people on the show, besides Charlie Day. That is the only fault in the series, which isn't really a fault because having big actors makes the show look cheesy, as if it's just trying to get better ratings. But it's flat-out hilarious, always going too far with their schemes. All the characters are well-done, except for Dee (no one likes Dee). Even with their low budget, they create creative stories like court cases and flashbacks of what happened (who pooped the bed?). Maybe it's ranked low because it's not meant for young viewers, but you could say that about many other shows ranked ahead of it.

A heartfelt gem resonating with the innocence of a bygone era: Sunday school, ice cream socials, front-porch swinging, chess-playing in the town square, first kisses stolen by the river or at the drive-in. Perhaps many clichés abound. However, given the time period, this served as the norm. How refreshing, given much of the violence and gore prevalent in today's TV.

Further, a deep moral compass surrounds not only the premises, topics, and issues covered weekly for eight seasons, but it also connects this beyond-talented cast who possess an authentic bond. Andy's down-to-earth, homey charm stems from his steadfast ideology and philosophy of life, lending itself to his self-deprecating, pivotal performance. Don Knotts is hilarious, engaging, and lovable as the bumbling Barney Fife, and Ron Howard (who went on to become one of Hollywood's most noted directors) radiates tons of natural charm as Opie, Andy's doe-eyed son.

An indelible classic forever etched in our hearts and minds!

This show is pure perfection. It flawlessly portrays the struggles of everyday life, yet puts a perfect comedic spin on it. The acting is great, and even when it feels a bit fake (which is rare), it feels deliberate.

Somehow, I'm in love with all four of the brothers, and if Jamie were older, I'd love him as well. The show was always coming up with new and better material every season, and it will always be my number one.

"It's actually Malcolm in the Middle," is probably something Malcolm would say. This show is hilarious through all seven seasons. The plot is fantastic - a kid with a photographic memory raised in a weird home, trying to get through middle school and high school while giving his parents a hard time with his and his siblings' ridiculous but rule-breaking stunts.

The characters are so unpredictable and funny that it just makes for an all-around amazing TV show. I would highly recommend it to anyone.

It seems like the voters have almost entirely neglected to mention British sitcoms. This is an amazing show, not to mention laugh-out-loud funny, as well as having a fantastic conclusion. The only qualm I have regarding this show is that the first season was a disappointment, but the rest of the four are legendary.

Simply brilliant, well-researched. Hugh Laurie before he became House, Stephen Fry, Miranda Richardson - oh, just ever so jolly japes!

Are you joking? This is, without a doubt, the best sitcom ever. Rowan Atkinson is brilliant, and this is what made Hugh Laurie famous.

This is undoubtedly the best show that I have watched to date. It features a combination of unique yet relatable characters and extremely clever writing, qualities that are rare in television shows nowadays. The episodes offer lighthearted entertainment through witty lines but also take audiences on an emotional journey.

These experiences provide lessons in love, family, and life that remain applicable even decades after the show has ended. Having watched all eleven seasons five times, I recommend this series to everyone. This is the show I always return to, and I enjoy every moment of it.