Top 10 Best Comedy TV Shows of All Time

The Top Ten
1 Friends Friends is an American television sitcom, created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which originally aired on NBC from September 22, 1994, to May 6, 2004, lasting ten seasons. It now airs on Nick at Nite.

The story is primarily about 6 individuals (Ross [David Schwimmer], and his sister, Monica [Courtney Cox], Joey and Chandler [Matt LeBlanc and Matt Perry], who are best friends, Jennifer... read more

It's 3 in the morning. I just watched the last episode and the episode before that. I don't think I cried that much in years. You would be surprised, but I found the episode before the Last One sadder than any episode I've ever watched in my life.

I get that a lot of you love Seinfeld and always say how much better it is because it's a classic, but Friends is special. You realize that having just a group of close friends gets you through any tough times, and they will always be there for you. I mean, I was crying so hard that when Chandler cracked a joke while Rachel was saying goodbye, I didn't know if I was laughing or crying. The connection between the audience and the actors, writers, directors, and everyone that made this show happen, is very strong.

It's not even about which is #1 or which is funnier or sadder. It's a combination of all categories, and put them together, and Friends is the best there is.

2 Seinfeld Four single friends -- comic Jerry Seinfeld, bungling George Costanza, frustrated working gal Elaine Benes and eccentric neighbor Cosmo Kramer -- deal with the absurdities of everyday life in New York City.

This has always been the best. Kramer is the best part - he is always doing hilarious things! Kramer is hilarious when he says, "Yeah," as he skids on the floor into Jerry's apartment, and when he says, "Giddyup!" My favorite episode is "The Soup Nazi" because the Soup Nazi is called that for a reason - he supposedly "makes the best soup in the world" but he is crazy. When someone annoys him or complains, he says, "NO SOUP FOR YOU!" and takes their soup away. Seinfeld is the best show in the world (or at least in the USA, I haven't seen shows from other countries). And why is "Drew Carey" so low? He is hilarious too! Apparently, "Last Man on Earth" isn't even on the list (but I get it since it was meant to be a comedy at first but is more sad than funny now, since, spoiler alert: everyone is dying off, one by one). Seinfeld was so good that if it had continued airing to this day, it would still never get old!

3 Family Guy Family Guy is an American adult animated sitcom created by Seth MacFarlane for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series centers on the Griffins, a family consisting of parents Peter (Fat, Idiotic Dad) and Lois (Nagging Bitchy Wife), their children Meg (Socially Awkward Daughter) Chris (Fat, Idiotic Son), and Stewie (Sociopathic and Genuine Infant); and lastly Brian (Anthromorphic Pet Dog). The show... read more

Family Guy is by far the funniest show ever. Peter is of course the biggest attraction, but it's all the lesser appearing characters that make this a huge success, like Mayor West and Herbert the Pervert. The way that Seth MacFarlane has mixed all those different characters together reflects directly to real life.

Family Guy should be number 1! Not Friends. That's crap. To me, it was never funny at all! I HATE FRIENDS!

The Inbetweeners, Malcolm in the Middle, and Family Guy, my favorite series of all time.

4 The Simpsons The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening that originally started on April 19, 1987 as shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show. It got its own series on December 17, 1989 and is still running as of 2023, making it the longest running animated sitcom. It is about a man named Homer Simpson and his family (wife Marge and children Bart, Lisa and Maggie and pets, Snowball II and Santa's... read more

It takes loyal viewers to keep a show going, and The Simpsons has been going for 27 years, so it's obvious it has the most viewers. Plus, it's funny, and the humor isn't always about sex and stuff like that, which is very common in TV shows like Family Guy. And many of the ideas for other comedy shows came from The Simpsons, so this show is definitely number 1. Oh, and by the way, it's way funnier than Seinfeld.

Seriously? South Park better than The Simpsons? The Simpsons are America's most loved family. They've got the most number of characters. Homer Simpson is the funniest guy on earth... I think Two and a Half Men, The Outdoor Man, Home Improvement, Arrested Development, and Everybody Loves Raymond must be in the top ten too.

This show is funny and so original, more original than any other show, other than SpongeBob and Avatar. The Simpsons should be the best comedy sitcom because Friends is too unoriginal, overrated, and mean-spirited.

5 The Office (U.S.) The Office is an American television comedy series that aired on NBC from March 24, 2005 to May 16, 2013.

Absolutely iconic. Any show that's any good that's out today is based off of The Office. Every character is amazing. It's the most re-watchable show ever. I, for one, have seen The Office over 40 times over, and I'm not alone in this. Who'd think that a show about such a mundane thing could be so funny, deep, and enjoyable.

The Office barely had any main storyline, yet I tuned in every time, just wanting a little more of maybe the Jim-Pam romance, or Kevin's creepy smile, or the pranks on Dwight. The greatest comedy show ever, no doubt.

I've seen every episode, and I think of the older seasons as the good old days. Quote from The Office:

Andy: I wish there was a way to know you're in the good old days before you've actually left them.

6 The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory is an American sitcom created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, both of whom serve as executive producers on the series, along with Steven Molaro, and also some wasted guest stars from time to time.

This show is hilarious. The main reason why this should be number one is because it is different. Look at Friends and How I Met Your Mother, two other fantastic shows, but the reasons why The Big Bang Theory is number one are as follows. Instead of featuring popular young people who go to public places like bars, it showcases hilarious geeks watching Star Wars and reading comic books. Second, it keeps the characters' careers mentioned. Finally, it is amazing how the characters are played by the cast. My top 5:

1. The Big Bang Theory
2. The Simpsons
3. How I Met Your Mother
4. Friends
5. Family Guy

Just when you think that since Seinfeld, How I Met Your Mother, Two and a Half Men, Friends, etc., every kind of comedy has been shown, what is left for the viewers to laugh about? Then comes "the boss". The Big Bang Theory really has changed the way to approach hilarity. Any further arguments against this will be countered by SHELDON! BURN! Ha

7 South Park South Park is an American adult animated sitcom created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. The show is about four boys, who are Stan Marsh, Kyle Broflovski, Eric Cartman, and Kenny McCormick, and their adventures in South Park, Colorado.

Family Guy is not even funny. It's just immature rubbish. I can't believe people actually enjoy that crap. I've seen many Family Guy episodes, and I have laughed ONCE. I've seen every South Park episode past season 2, because seasons 1 and 2 are old - laugh out loud - but I'll watch them at some stage. South Park is so funny and actually has a proper storyline, unlike that Family Guy crap.

Unlike Family Guy, this show is actually funny, and the quality of the storyline and gags are outstanding for a cartoon, or for a comedy show in general.

The offensive, racist, and sexist humor is by far the funniest kind of humor you can expect from a TV show. If I had to compare it to another show, all I can think of is "The Ali G Show" by the makers of Borat, BrĂ¼no, and The Dictator.

Who doesn't like it? Thanks to the show's crude and simple animation style, creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone are often able to produce new installments in a matter of days, allowing them to spoof current events as they unfold.

8 How I Met Your Mother How I Met Your Mother is an American sitcom that originally aired on CBS from September 19, 2005, to March 31, 2014. The series follows the main character, Ted Mosby, and his group of friends in Manhattan.

LOVE

Everything about this show is great. I love the relationship between all of them. Even the temporary characters are great. I can't watch without laughing so hard. I am so upset that it ended, but the last season was the best. Whoever created this show was a genius. Ted, Barney, Marshall, Lily, and Robin, I love you guys, and I hope to have a group of friends as loyal as you all are to each other someday.

I actually think there are some valuable life lessons beneath the surface narrative, and it draws you in so much that you feel like you are part of your world. I have the box set of seasons 1-8, and I've watched every episode a number of times, but they never get any less funny as time goes by. I also love how the writers and director use the actors' other talents wherever possible, for example, the musical numbers and dance routines throughout. As well as this, it is set in real time. Time goes by at the same speed as real life, which makes it all the more relatable. Legendary!

9 Monty Python's Flying Circus

I can't believe sanitized and lame American comedy like Friends, How I Met Your Mother, Seinfeld, and worst of all, The Big Bang Theory, is ranked above this. I guess seeing this on TV even today would blow the brains out of the Bible-belt rednecks.

Truly a landmark show that still holds up today.

At least Saturday Night Live isn't on the top ten.

Best comedy series ever, I am only 19 and massively into this show. The comedy proves to be timeless and has stood the grand test of time because they have a substantially large youthful fan base. This show has paved the way for more controversial styles of comedy. It really deserves to be number 1!

Sorry, but most modern American comedy just isn't funny. You can never laugh yourself to death with Sheldon Cooper knocking on a door shouting "Penny," whereas you will cry yourself when you watch Monty Python sketches like the Dead Parrot and the Ministry of Silly Walks.

10 SpongeBob SquarePants SpongeBob SquarePants is an American animated television series created by marine biologist and animator the late Stephen Hillenburg for Nickelodeon. SpongeBob is currently the most popular show on Nickelodeon, as well as the longest running show, running for 23 years, and is beginning its 13th season. The show revolves around a sea sponge called SpongeBob SquarePants and his adventures under the... read more

In all honesty, SpongeBob SquarePants seasons 1-3 were the bomb! Nonstop funny. But then came the SpongeBob SquarePants movie, and it wasn't the same ever again. It became more kid-friendly and corny to the point that I just couldn't bear to watch it. Those first three seasons, though, were legendary.

One of the most iconic shows of all time. This show was my childhood and even now at 23 years old, I still laugh at the over-the-top referential humor and exaggerated facial expressions. It's so clever for a kid's show.

Even adults will like it! There was a pretty good one in "Christmas Who?" where Squidward said, "I feel like a... I feel like a..." and then a donkey appears. Think about it.

The Newcomers

? Ted (2024)
? Children Ruin Everything
The Contenders
11 Arrested Development Arrested Development is an American television sitcom created by Mitchell Hurwitz, which originally aired on Fox for three seasons from November 2, 2003 to February 10, 2006, followed by a two-season revival on Netflix from May 26, 2013 to March 15, 2019. The show follows the Bluths, a formerly wealthy dysfunctional family. It is presented in a serialized format, incorporating handheld camera work,... read more

I'm sorry, but this show isn't just a contender. There are so many jokes in this show. You'll have to watch each individual episode thousands of times to get each joke, and all of them are hilarious! There is no unfunny character on this show and no unfunny episode. If anyone wanted to try this show out, I would suggest watching the first 3 seasons first. The new season was okay, but for me, it didn't quite cut it (I wish it did). There are so many great things about this show. Give it a try if you haven't!

Number 1! The best show ever! I watch it over and over again, and there is always something new! The lines, the facial expressions, and body language! And Jason Bateman's impeccable delivery. Love it! Sometimes I just start laughing out of remembering scenes! And it can be anywhere! My family and I can replicate a lot of scenes, and we just laugh ourselves to tears!

Absolutely better than half of the stuff on this list. It is one of the most clever shows on TV. It is so genius, filled with inside jokes, callbacks to earlier episodes, and satire. Too bad it got canceled. It was too smart for people. Instead, all of the idiots were watching Two and a Half Men and Family Guy.

12 Saturday Night Live Saturday Night Live is an American late-night live television variety show created by Lorne Michaels and developed by Dick Ebersol.

It's a show that is always relevant because it brings new comedians, new writers, and makes comedy for new audiences constantly. A lot of people say that the first couple of seasons were the best, but that's just a matter of personal taste. Personally, I love people like Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig, Fred Armisen, and Cecily Strong because their comedic style is a better fit for my taste. That's what is great about the show - if a comedian or cast doesn't do it for you, you will definitely find someone else that you like. By saying that the show sucks now, you are being disrespectful to the hard work of the current cast. The way SNL works is just unbelievable. It's so physically demanding and nerve-wracking. I don't think most people know how the show works and how difficult it is to be a part of it.

They've been running with some of the funniest skits for over 40 years. Not even The Simpsons can compare because SNL manages to be fresh and runs even longer.

13 Modern Family Modern Family is an American television mockumentary family sitcom that premiered on ABC on September 23, 2009, which follows the lives of Jay Pritchett and his family, all of whom live in suburban Los Angeles. The show ended on April 8, 2020 after 11 seasons.

Great actors and amazing episode morals. You can't get a more complete show, with each and every episode ending with a feel-good factor.

With How I Met Your Mother gone and The Big Bang Theory losing its edge, I'm delighted by Modern Family. It's the best sitcom on TV right now.

A very decent and amazing comedy series that anyone of all ages could watch. They are like a real family!

14 Frasier Frasier is an American sitcom that was broadcast on NBC for 11 seasons, premiering on September 16, 1993, and concluding on May 13, 2004. The program was created and produced by David Angell, Peter Casey, and David Lee in association with Grammnet and Paramount Network Television.

During the 11 years that Frasier was on top, the writers and actors continuously exceeded our lofty expectations. In my opinion, it's the best sitcom of all time. The cast melded perfectly, the jokes were hilarious and always seemed to come out of left field. Most of all, the storyline from its inception to its conclusion read like a great comedic novel. Thank you, Kelsey Grammer, David Hyde Pierce, John Mahoney, Jane Leeves, and Peri Gilpin, for your many hours of great entertainment.

Frasier should be at least in the top 5. I have never missed an episode and I even watch the reruns. This show inspired me to become a psychiatrist and have better tastes in life. Not only is it funny, it gives you something to ponder about every day.

A show revolving around a psychiatrist who hosts a radio call-in show, but always has something wrong in his life or on his mind that he can't let go. Full of sarcasm and witty humor, Frasier is a show that can drive you crazy - and make you laugh.

15 It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is an American sitcom that first premiered on FX on August 4, 2005 and has since moved to FXX beginning with the ninth season.

For a show about a bunch of psychopaths, it makes a damn good comedy. It really lets you look at what would happen if you took a situation from a 1 to a 100, and then made it a 0. From Dennis, who is possibly a serial killer, to the scatterbrained lovable drug addict Charlie, the characters are so well written I never feel like I'm watching a TV show, and thank God I am.

Anyone who's as baffled as I am about the fact that How I Met Your Mother and Big Bang are considered comedy (even good ones?!) should give this a go. Definitely a fresh take on the writing, very original plots, and characters. It takes time to adjust to the loudness and dysfunctionality of the folk, but it proves to be a good investment, especially after the 3rd season.

Only those who watch this show understand its awesomeness. This and South Park are the best, hands down. The way an episode of IASIP is built off a topic/idea that tackles big issues which, in certain comical situations, are funny to talk about. Topics like drugs, guns, etc., are part of the genius formula to these types of TV shows, and this series has nailed it.

16 Futurama Futurama is an American animated science fiction sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company.

This and Robot Chicken undoubtedly deserve higher placement on this list. However, Futurama furthered what Matt Groening accomplished even with the likes of The Simpsons, with utterly hilarious, but also well-conceived, characters and endlessly entertaining plotlines. The Simpsons is a classic, but which show is funnier, and more consistently so? Futurama. (Somebody with a profile, please, please, PLEASE post Aqua Teen Hunger Force.)

Smart, creative, hilarious, visually pleasing, and a pop culture fan's delight. Its place on the list, as of yet, makes sense, though. Most 'Family Guy' type audiences today ignore this comedy because it's typically non-offensive. That's why I like it. It doesn't (usually) try to be funny. It just uses setting and logical writing for humor.

The show should definitely be in the top ten. I've watched the series over six times, and I really like how it's funny in every episode, yet it still can have meaning in its episodes.

17 American Dad American Dad! is an American adult animated sitcom created by Seth MacFarlane, Mike Barker, and Matt Weitzman for the Fox Broadcasting Company and currently on TBS. American Dad! is the first television series made to premiere on the network's Animation Domination block. The series premiered on February 6, 2005, following Super Bowl XXXIX, with the rest of the first season airing three months later... read more

Even though I will always enjoy Family Guy, American Dad has always had that little something that made it more enjoyable for me and my family. Roger has to be one of my favorite animated characters ever.

Funniest animated show on TV right now. If only it were more popular than its inferior counterpart, Family Guy.

American Dad is Family Guy's younger, wiser, more clever, and funnier brother, who happens to have better taste.

18 Archer

Quite possibly the best adult sitcom of all time. I started watching earlier this year and have been watching in a continuous loop all 10 series, plus the 11th, which I have watched 3 times already. There are so many jokes that you will have missed the first time around, or even the second time around. H. Jon Benjamin as the voice of Archer is quite possibly the best sustained performance in an animated show.

Seriously? #123? With 0% of the votes? Archer is a surefire top ten. The first series is pure comedic gold. It's the best cartoon ever, and that's competing against South Park and Family Guy. So underrated.

41? This show is hilarious, a perfect balance between mature and immature humor.

19 The Three Stooges The Three Stooges is an American comedy team that starred in a series of short film comedies originally released from 1930 to 1959. Featuring Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and initially Curly Howard, the trio became iconic for their slapstick humor and physical comedy. The films they starred in have been syndicated on television and have garnered a long-lasting cultural impact. The Three Stooges have been... read more

I cannot believe my eyes. The generation actually knows about good shows!

Easily #1 and ahead of all the other shows.

20 The Golden Girls The Golden Girls is an American sitcom created by Susan Harris that originally aired on NBC from September 14, 1985, to May 9, 1992, with a total of 180 half-hour episodes spanning seven seasons.
21 Fawlty Towers Fawlty Towers is a British television sitcom broadcast on BBC2 in 1975 and 1979. Just two series of six episodes each were made.

Probably the best British comedy of all time, Fawlty Towers isn't just plain stupid like a lot of other shows higher than it on this list. It is extremely intelligent humor.

John Cleese is brilliant and makes the show. I stayed at a hotel in Vienna where I swear the staff was very much like this show. Also, nothing is funnier than John Cleese goose-stepping around his hotel.

Why is this so low? The Big Bang Theory is terrible. Call me old-fashioned, but aren't sitcoms meant to be funny?

22 Everybody Loves Raymond Everybody Loves Raymond is an American sitcom television series created by Philip Rosenthal that aired on CBS from September 13, 1996 to May 16, 2005, with a total of 210 episodes spanning over nine seasons. It was produced by Where's Lunch and Worldwide Pants, in association with HBO Independent Productions. The cast members are Ray Romano, Patricia Heaton, Brad Garrett, Doris Roberts, Peter Boyle,... read more

This show is so real, down-to-earth, and relatable! It's hilarious, too! Haha, there will never be a great show like this for a long time. How I Met Your Mother and The Big Bang Theory suck compared to Everybody Loves Raymond!

It captures perfectly the humor to be found in the everyday irritations of real families. Amazingly, it's just as relevant now as when it was made.

How is this not number one? Classic humor. Jokes I will never forget. Everybody loves Raymond!

23 Beavis and Butt-head Beavis and Butt-Head is an American animated sitcom created and designed by Mike Judge. The series originated from Frog Baseball, a 1992 short film by Judge originally aired on Liquid Television.

What is wrong with people! This is top ten for sure!

24 Married With Children Married... with Children is an American television live-action sitcom that aired on Fox, created by Michael G. Moye and Ron Leavitt. Originally broadcast from April 5, 1987 to June 9, 1997, it is the longest-lasting live-action sitcom on Fox, and the first to be broadcast in the network's primetime programming slot.

More laughs per minute than most shows.

Other shows have a big build with a big laugh at the end. Married With Children built up with funny, had a big laugh at the end, and then kept going with more funny. There should be a test to see how many laughs per minute and how strong the laughs are. Married With Children would be first.

This is such a time-honored example of silliness, hilarity, and off-the-wall, outlandish television comedy. It should easily be included in any list of greatest comedy shows!

This is my favorite comedy show of all time. I have viewed every episode and have never seen a bad one! Lowbrow, slapstick, funny. I became "Bundified" from the very first episode! GO-O-O-O BUNDY'S!

25 That 70's Show That '70s Show is an American television period sitcom that originally aired on Fox from August 23, 1998, to May 18, 2006. The series focused on the lives of a group of teenage friends living in the fictional suburban town of Point Place, Wisconsin, from May 17, 1976, to December 31, 1979.

That '70s Show makes me laugh every time I watch it. The last season did kind of suck because Topher Grace and Ashton Kutcher were not on it, but the show was still hilarious. It showed what teens REALLY did in the '70s. AWESOME SHOW!

Even though it ended, it's still the funniest TV series of all time. I miss it so much. I don't know how it is number 14. I love Friends, but How I Met Your Mother? It definitely deserves a higher place on this list!

And we still don't know where Fez is from...

Between all the circles in the basement, Red's emphatic "dumbass" remarks, and a burnt-out hippie named Leo, this show has some hilarious moments. The awesome intro song is also by far the best for any TV show ever.

8Load More
PSearch List