Best sitcoms ever – Ten incredibly funny TV shows

These 22min funny TV shows are the perfect form of entertainment to me. You can always squeeze in an episode to lift your spirits. Whether it`s clever, sharp dialogues, skilled comedy acting or punch lines below the belt, the best sitcoms provide humor for everyone in multiple variations and the following ten American sitcoms (plus one representative of British sitcoms) helped me to a six-pack through convulsive laughter:

Honorable mentions:

But first it is time to mention some TV sitcoms that are amazing, but closely missed the cut…

  • Spin City
    • I can`t really explain, why this one isn`t in the Top 10 of best sitcoms. Because it was brillant…Mike, the Mayor and the supporting cast…I loved it.
  • The Nanny
    • Also very funny, so many running gags. But they overdid it a little, took every chance for a cheap joke.
  • Seinfeld
    • I can understand if someone claims this his favourite sitcom, but it was a little to weird.
  • Cheers
    • An absolute classic, but a little outdated nowadays.
  • That 70s Show
    • Hilarious at times, great ensemble and cool depiction of life in the 70s, but no throughout high-quality episodes
  • Scrubs
    • A different approach to sitcoms, very classy, clever and silly at the same time. I admit, it was really strong. But I need the background laughter and don`t need so many serious topics in a sitcom.

Best Sitcoms Top Ten Ranking

10. Fresh Prince of Bel Air

We could call it “The Will Smith show”. Despite the great ensemble the focus definitly lies on Hollywood`s superstar. These are his first steps in front of the camera and he shows his comedy talent immidiately. He has this gift of being able to make us laugh only with facial expressions and contorted movements. In comination with sidekick Carlton Banks we are spoiled with funny dialogues en masse. But the show regularly covers serious topics pretty well, like race issues or being left by the father. Thats when Smith shows why exactly he is one of the best actors on earth and not just the funny guy. Although I usually don`t want to see serious problems handled in the best sitcoms, here it fits in well. Very strong show!

Strengths:

  • Will Smith` star power and comedic talent
  • Geoffrey Butler
  • The Carlton dance

Weaknesses:

  • Needed two seasons to find their groove

9. Home Improvement

Tim Taylor taught me what it means to be a man. And along the way made me burst into laughter. His macho attitude, the accidants, the ignorance, the fence talks and screwing up Wilson`s advice…all brilliant! Additionally there is a great surrounding cast withJill, Brad and Randy, especially the latter is awesome with his sarcastic comments. Only the actor playing Marc doesn`t reveal any comical talent. Therefore Al and Harry are screamingly funny, too. A little critique: Too many serious familiy issues in my opinion, bored me when they argued with their parents and in-laws. Furthermore they stopped too late, when the funny kids hit puberty it got much weaker. Never get tired of it anyway, great sitcom. Was claimed NBC Must-See TV of funny TV shows and I can see why.

Strengths:

  • Tim vs. Al
  • The kids
  • Tool time

Weaknesses:

  • Family issues
  • Grown-up kids

8. Two and a half Men

Yes, it`s intellectually undemanding. Yes, the gags are constantly below the belt. So what? When Alan stands in front a the mirror in his briefs spraying artificial can-hair on his head whilst chanting a 70s-popsong, I have to laugh! When Charlie and Alan decide via rock, paper, scissors who has to answer a phone call from their mother, I have to laugh! It is simply one of the best funny TV shows and one of the most watched American sitcoms in recent years. The characters are pretty much all over the top: The permantly drunk ladykiller, his unsuccessful, pedantic and annoying little brother with a dumb kid. Plus a slightly antisocial, lazy housekeeper with a bad mouth and an anything but caring mother. Oh, not to forget the stalker. This consistently leads to extreme but also extremely funny situations. A new eye-candy in every episode guaranteed. So it`s a clear recommendation from me, watch it!

Strengths:

  • Alan Harper`s costiveness
  • Berta`s comments
  • The innumerable beach girls

Weaknesses:

  • Below-the-belt humor, not the best writing
  • Grown-up Jake

7. The King of Queens

Best The King of Queens episodes ever

Doug and Carrie, Doug and Carrie, Doug and Carrie, Doug and Carrie, Arthur, Arthur, Arthur, Arthur! Fantastic sitcom! With simple measures the Heffernans have me rolling on the floor laughing. Kevin James facial expressions and gestures are terrific and Arthurs adventures are killing me. Last but not least Leah Remini does a great job and is definitely a looker. I can`t really explain why this is as funny as it is, it`s so many little lines, looks and dialogues. Unfortunately the show jumped the shark when Doug lost and Carrie gained weight. Must have had something, the beauty and the…! After this turnaround you have to wonder why they`re even a couple since all they do is insulting each other. What a pity, the profound humour was replaced by cheap slapstick. Ingenious for a couple of seasons nonetheless!

Strengths:

  • Arthur Spooner`s personality
  • Doug`s buddies

Weaknesses:

  • Doug after weight loss

6. How I met your Mother

Best How I met your Mother episodes ever

Initially I wasn`t really positive about this show. But since everybody was talking about it, I also tuned in. And what can I say, step by step the show found it`s humour. The biggest laughs are almost always produced by Barney, persistently great one-liners, stories and actions. But I grew fond of the others, they have great moments, too.
At first I thought Jason Segel (as Marshall Eriksen) would have to be the worst actor ever, given his clumsy movements. Now I`m not so sure anymore if he is really that bad or if he does it on purpose. However, I like him now. The cast has a great chemistry and alltogether its simply enjoyable watching the gang on their way to true love. Although the really big laughs are not coming as frequently as in other ambassadors of the sitcom genre, it`s more like a permanent smiling. And that`s easily enough for a top spot in the sitcom ranking of funny TV shows.

Strengths:

  • Writing/story composition (Flashbacks etc.)
  • Barney Stinson

Weaknesses:

  • Doesn`t make you scream with laughter as much as other funny TV shows

5. Coupling

So here we have the only ambassador of British sitcoms. One could call it friends for advanced learners. 3 men, 3 women, sex & relationships. Thats all Coupling is about and thats all Coupling needs to be about. The dialogues and the construction of the episodes are so clever and insanely funny. Yes, British people can actually be funny. Absolute insider tip among funny TV shows and has to be mentioned among the best sitcoms of all time!

Strengths:

  • Jeff Murdock
  • The guys analizing the girls` behaviour

Weaknesses:

  • Not enough seasons
  • Jeff leaving the show

4. The Big Bang Theory

Best The Big Bang Theory episodes ever

The show about the nerds and their sexy neighbour breaks all the records right now. And thats perfectly understandable. How good-natured physicist Leonard tries to handle his crazy roommate and the beautiful blond girl next door is hilarious. Dr. Sheldon Cooper is easily one of the greatest sitcom characters ever and is outstandingly embodied by Jim Parsons. No doubt this show will go down as one of the best sitcoms of all time.

Strengths:

  • Dr. Sheldon Coopers quirks
  • Super-sweet Kaley Cuoco
  • Star Wars references

Weaknesses:

  • Isolating the girls and boys in later seasons – half the fun

3. Married with Children

Usually it is very important for me to develop sympathy for the characters of a sitcom. If that`s not given I lose interest quicker than Lucky Luke draws his colt. But here we have the exception from the rule. The Bundy`s are throughout quite a dislikable, almost anti-social bunch…and it works sooo well!!! Such a composition won`t be found anywhere else: Shoe seller Al struggles with his lazy wife Peggy, easy daughter Kelly and unpopular, pubescent son Bud. Their neighbours Marcy and Steve Roads -later replaced by aging gigolo Jefferson Darcy- don`t make Al`s life any easier. That made Marcy Roads become Marcy Darcy which already cracks me up. The characters are killingly funny across the board. They basically insult and annoy each other all the time accompanied by the typical sitcom background laughtrack. This works particularly well here because the laughter is mostly a bawling men`s voice that perfectly emphasizes Al`s lines and encourages permanent laughing. The flagship of  80s and 90s American sitcoms might not be for everyone, but you should try it, the gag frequenzy is ridiculous!

Strengths:

  • Al Bundy vs. Marcy Darcy
  • Kelly Bundy vs. Bud Bundy
  • Peggy Bundy vs. Household

Weaknesses:

  • Seriously: None

2. Frasier

Best Frasier episodes ever

Quite often I hear Frasier being refered to as boring. What a shame! Some people  probably feel like that because it doesn`t revolve around young, hip party people. No, it`s about a snobby psychiatrist in his fourties. Maybe it`s tough to identify with this at first view, but if you give the show a chance you are rewarded with really lovable lead characters, an extremely well and witty writing and last but not least two top-class comedy actors. The sophisticated sitcom.

Strengths:

  • Insanely clever writing and witty dialogue
  • Comedic timing of Grammar and Pierce makes it no. 2 of the best sitcoms

Weaknesses:

  • Quite a few quiet moments / family issues
  • Not that fast-paced

1. Friends

Best Friends episodes ever

The concept was as simple as it was ingenious. Just take six handsome twenty-somethings from New York and accompany them living, loving and hanging out at a comfy coffee place. What do you get? The surely most popular and in my opinion best of the best sitcoms ever. No other ambassador of American sitcoms has or had such a deep cultural influence.

It`s just so astonishing how I saw every single episode at least a dozen times and it still makes me laugh harder than anything else ever managed to do, despite knowing the lines by heart. Besides the brillant humor you will also get many heartwarming moments and probably kind of feel like these six fictional characters become really close friends of yourself.  The best of all funny TV shows…THE masterpiece of TV history!!!

Strengths:

  • Incredibly fast paced and still high-grade gags all the time
  • Soapy elements and deep characters make you get attached to the Friends
  • High-quality acting by the complete main cast. Timing, expressions and intonation are nothing short of perfection

Weaknesses:

  • Let`s say it with Destiny`s Child: No, no, no, no, no!!!

Also check out: Friends quotes, seasons and episodes

If you love funny TV shows as much as I do and you have some suggestions, feel free to leave a comment about the best sitcoms ever! Since the ranking almost exclusively includes American sitcoms, I would especially like some tipps about good British sitcoms.

Merken

Merken

Merken

Merken

Merken

Merken

Merken

Merken

Merken

Merken

Merken

Merken

Merken

Merken

Merken

Merken

Merken

Merken

Merken

Setiawan071http://www.ontopofthebest.com
Blogger, writer, huge sports fan...just writing about the stuff I`m interested in.

Related Articles

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

- Advertisement -spot_img

Latest Articles