Sitcoms, whether they conform to social standards or are defiant of them, have ruled television screens for decades. Some are informative, while others are straight-up raunchy. And yet all are produced for pure comedic relief. Regardless of style and demonstration, sitcoms all share one important thing in common — theirimmense cultural impact.
While we all know the timeless shows likeThe Mary Tyler Moore ShoworThe Golden Girls, many of the most monumental hit series have been made within the last 40 years. From satire to sappy, here are some of our top picks.
Updated June 13, 2025: If you like modern sitcoms, you’ll be happy to know this article has been updated with additional content byAmanda Minchin.
20Married with Children
Married with Childrenis a prime example of the sitcom’s ability to push boundaries, to defy the norm. It just also happens to be one of the longest-running sitcoms on Fox, where it was broadcast from 1987 to 1997.
The series followed a once respected footballer turns women’s shoe sales assistant, his loudmouthed and lazy wife Peggy, alongside their dim-witted daughter and mischievous son. With names like Katey Sagal and Christina Applegate at the helm, it’s no wonder this show was successful! Known for flamboyant, edgy, and offensive prose, it continues to be among the most influential series today. Soon enough, the cast will be back for an animated revival.
19Black-ish
Education is a vital resource, and what better way to educate than through comedy?Black-ishthoroughly but delicately displayed the discrepancies between white and Black people and culture in America. The series, which was created by Kenya Barris, followed an upper-class black family as they touched on racial sensitivities that someone not of color would never think twice about. Dre Johnson, played by executive producer Anthony Anderson, narrates and, in doing so, portrays a prominent perspective held by modern-day Black men as the successful patriarch.
The series went on to spawn two spinoffs,Grown-ishandMixed-ish.
18Sex and the City
Sex and the Cityis a modern manifesto for female empowerment,particularly in the realm of sexuality. Fashion icon, linguistic legend, and experienced s-expert, Carrie Bradshaw, played by Sarah Jessica-Parker, narrates her promiscuous lifestyle and love affairs in the city alongside her three friends, Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda. Next to Bradshaw, Samantha Jones, played by Kim Cattrall, sets a new standard for womanhood and open sensuality, encouraging women to embrace their provocative side instead of repressing it.
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This show is less of a laugh-out-loud experience and more of a rumbling chuckle. The content might bridge more on the raunchy and inappropriate, and, at times, of its age. That being said, this show is certainly a must-watch for anyone, regardless of gender. The show has gone on to include two spin-off series along with a myriad of films.
17It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiais another long-running, quirky sitcom centered around a core group of friends. So what makes this one any different? It turns out, this group is not as wholesome as those at the typical coffee shop hangout. This neurotic gang instead prefers chilling at Paddy’s Pub, which they all run together with hilarious results.
The talent is impeccable, from Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton, and Rob McElhenney, to Kaitlin Olson and even the legendary Danny DeVito. Their Philly flair is all there alongside a slew of suggestive jokes and degenerate shenanigans, creating somepretty memorable moments. With four more seasons ordered in 2020, this series shows no signs of slowing down soon.
16Schitt’s Creek
Six seasons breezed right by with Emmy Award Winning seriesSchitt’s Creek. The show follows The Roses, a family forced to uproot and start over in a small town they bought as a joke after losing all their money to a swindler. They move into the local motel and start life anew alongside some equally quirky neighbors.
Not only did this show have outstanding character development and feature eccentric family dynamics, but it also had an open-hearted representation of the LGBTQ+ community. It might be impossible to pick just one, but Dan Levy’s character, David, has definitely won renowned recognition as a fan favorite. Anyone who avidly watches this show will go on to love it.
15Rick and Morty
Innovative story and epic cartoon animation meet clever comedy and smart science with the classic genre mash sitcomRick and Morty. This Dan Harmon vehicle (loosely) follows the titular pair and their family across time and universes, through one science fiction trope after another.
Its canon has since turned iconic and has really set the stage for a newer, nerdier style that even someone who failed every science class would find funny. From “Pickle Rick” to “Morty’s Mind Blowers,” the producers do a great job of integrating the episode’s intellectual ideas with vulgar innuendos and straight-up satire. Even better,new fans can pick it up anytime.
14Family Guy
Family Guymight even be more world-famous than the celebrities who do its voice-over work. Which means something, considering Meg has been played by Mila Kunis this whole time. Seth MacFarlane steals the show with hisincredible range of voice acting. The series follows a middle-class Rhode Island family helmed by a dumber-than-rocks patriarch. Their antics are iconic and their set-up classic, taking note of show-stopping iconographies of old.
13South Park
One of the most long-standing animations on this list,South Parkwill go down in history for being well ahead of its time. Known for integrating satire with underlying societal concepts, this series' inability to not say whatever’s on their mind is as mind-blowing as it is iconic.
Aside from dropping signature one-liners and amalgamating amazing character development throughout, creative producers Trey Parker and Matt Stone are known for integrating controversial, sometimes even political, themes in their episodes. Their execution is often even more clever than the jokes they make.
12Curb Your Enthusiasm
Larry David really does justice to the world of sitcoms withCurb Your Enthusiasm.While not his first foray in the genre (that comes later), David stars in this as himself. His dry, snarky sense of humor, supplemented by absolutely hilarious scenarios and interactions, makes for divine delivery. Not to mention, the show is also a Larry David creative production, thus explaining its ingenuity. The series plans to end with Season 13, which really, come to think of it, isn’t too shabby.
11Roseanne
This show was on the edge from the start. Another sitcom well ahead of its time,Roseannecontinues to be culturally impactful today, despite the finale having aired all the way back in 1997. Similar to shows likeSouth Park, this series also served as a stirring pot for contemporary, controversial issues, including addiction, and eroticism. More than that, though, it made light of real-life struggles that the average middle-class family faces on a day-to-day basis.
Roseanne Barr is a comedian at heart, and with John Goodman at her side, this series just couldn’t go wrong… until it did. Although its initial reboot failed in 2018 due to the comedian’s insensitive remarks, the series still managed to live onin the form ofThe Conners.
