The Sitcom was invented in the 20th century. People would gather around their televisions to watch the newest sitcom almost every night. Here are the top 10 sitcoms of the 20th Century.
I Love Lucy (1951-1957)
I Love Lucy is a timeless classic. The show follows Lucy Ricardo who always seems to be up to something, like trying to get into showbiz or doing something kooky with her best friend Ethel Mertz. The biggest question is, why wouldn’t Ricky just let her be in the show?
The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961-1966)
The Dick Van Dyke Show follows Rob Petrie — who is a comedy writer — his wife Laura, and their friends and family. If you want to laugh out loud, then this is probably one of the best sitcoms to watch. Carl Reiner did a lot of the writing for the show and his writing, along with the superb acting, make for a great sitcom formula.
The Munsters (1964-1966)
The Munsters might have only run for two seasons, but it made an impression in the short amount of time it was on air. The story of a family of ghouls who think their lives are normal even though everyone else thinks they are weird makes for comedic gold. Add in the great acting and writing, and there is a reason why this show has become a cult classic.
The Monkees (1965-1968)
Keep monkeying around! The Monkees was a Sitcom about a band who was trying their best to become famous. Add in the fact that they are extreme goofballs and you have the makings for a funny show. Some of the bits on this show resembled The Marx Brothers which makes it even funnier.
The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970-1977)
The Mary Tyler Moore Show follows a modern single woman, Mary Richards, who is also a producer for a local news station. This show works so well because of the ensemble cast and is just so funny in a sophisticated way. The writing is also really well done, adding in the right spice to make the show hilarious.
Maude (1972-1978)
Maude was a spin-off of All in the Family. Maude is the liberal cousin of Edith and she is as independent as a person can be. If you don’t mind a great deal of shouting, then this Sitcom is worth a watch. The show also covered some controversial topics for the ’70s, which made it stand out even more. Maude is just as sophisticated as it is ridiculous — which is why it is so beloved.
Laverne & Shirley (1976-1983)
Laverne & Shirley follows the adventures of two single women throughout the 50s and 60s. Those two women seem to get mixed up in a lot of shenanigans, which makes for great television. Along with their friends, there is nothing Laverne and Shirley couldn’t do (if it didn’t cost very much).
The Golden Girls (1985-1992)
The Golden Girls brings us into the lives of four women who live together. Each woman has her own unique personality and it makes for fun and entertaining television. Who thought friendships between four women could be so wholesome and so funny?
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The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990-1996)
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air might have one of the most memorable theme songs in the history of Sitcoms. The story follows Will, who is a poor kid from West Philadelphia, who gets sent to live with his aunt and uncle in Bel-Air. The culture shock he has makes for some great entertainment!
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Friends (1994-2004)
Friends follows the story of six friends who live in New York City. The six of them are all very different and have very different personalities. Yet again another instance of blending different people together to get comedy gold!
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