Top 10 Classic Sitcoms You Should Watch

“M*A*S*H” may be one of the few TV series that became more popular than the movie it was based on. Running for eleven years — famously eight longer than the actual Korean War — the show followed the medical staff of a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital in South Korea. Although it’s definitely a sitcom, its most famous moments tend to be dramatic. Indeed, the quirky, character-based comedy is what makes those times when the realities of war come crashing in that much more devastating. “M*A*S*H”s mix of comedy and drama would be perfectly at home in the genre-bending TV landscape of today.

Before there was Abbi and Ilana, there was “Laverne & Shirley.” The sitcom largely follows two women working in a Milwaukee brewery, searching for a better life, looking for eligible men, and maybe a little “vo-dee-oh-doh-doh” along the way. After their introduction on “Happy Days,” Laverne DeFazio and Shirley Feeney won audiences over with their wisecracks and easygoing attitudes. Though unlucky in love, they always had the hearts of their eccentric neighbors, Lenny and Squiggy. It wasn’t much consolation, but it did lead to some great comedy. While their sarcasm made the protagonists hilarious, their optimism and deep friendship made folks fall in love with them.

When the sarcastic and irascible Maude Findlay joined legendary creator Norman Lear’s growing troupe of iconic, politically-minded characters, waves were made. The protagonist was conceived as the liberal counterpart to “All in the Family”s Archie Bunker. Beatrice Arthur’s guest spots on that show were followed by this boundary-pushing sitcom. “Maude” and its writers got right to work testing the audience’s limits with a season one episode that finds the middle-aged title character choosing to get an abortion. Like Lear’s other sitcoms, this one was always confronting the social issues of the time, but for audiences of today, it’s a sobering reminder of the cyclical nature of politics.

From the start, “Cheers” had a winning formula. The central location of a working class Boston bar gave way to a rotating crew of distinctive personalities that felt like family. It was a very confrontational family, but a family nonetheless. Think “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” without the sociopathic behavior. Plus, “Cheers” had the benefit of a very compelling and endlessly funny romance at its center. The constant sexual tension between womanizing bar owner Sam and snooty waitress, Diane, is the stuff of sitcom gold. That’s to say nothing of the banter among the bar’s regulars, like the cantankerous waitress, Carla, or the ever-popular Norm.

For seven seasons, Mary Richards and her lovable colleagues at a local Minneapolis TV station dazzled us with episode after episode of workplace shenanigans. “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” represented a watershed moment for women on television. The lead character was an unmarried woman who was more concerned with professional development and realizing her own dreams than with finding a husband or raising a family. Sadly, modern comedies about independent working women still somehow seem like they’re going against the grain. But luckily for us, “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” has seven seasons of material on the subject.

A spin-off of “Maude,” this comedy followed a Black family living in a Chicago housing project. The Evanses' lives sometimes seemed like a parade of debt and difficulty. But it was a reality that millions face, then and now. Before “Good Times,” this was an experience not often seen in American primetime comedy. What made it special then and now was how the Evans family could always find the humor and faith to carry on. The show’s stunning ensemble, which in its later seasons included a young Janet Jackson, never failed to deliver on its laugh-a-minute punchlines and iconic catchphrases.

Are you a Blanche or more of a Dorothy? Before there was “Sex and the City,” there was “The Golden Girls.” Over seven seasons, the mature foursome dished about life and love in ways that delighted audiences and tested the network censors. Today’s viewers might be more surprised by their frank conversations about subjects like sexism, ageism, and queerness. It turns out “The Golden Girls” have been saying “gay rights” since the ‘80s. These women made the golden years look so fabulous, it’s a wonder there wasn’t a national shortage of cheesecakes, shoulder pads, and wicker furniture while they were on the air.

There’s no denying that the beloved sitcom about America’s favorite redhead is a little dated. Lucille Ball’s unmatched physical comedy is enough to warrant a look. Much of the cast, including her then-real-life husband, Desi Arnaz, were already showbiz professionals. This is a series full of people who really know how to entertain a live audience. What’s so special about “I Love Lucy” is that it and its star truly became the blueprint for most of what has come after it. The hysterical scenarios the protagonist finds herself in have become staples of sitcoms ever since. Many have tried to replicate it, but the truth is there is only one “I Love Lucy,” and only one Lucille Ball.

When they were introduced as neighbors on “All in the Family,” no one necessarily thought the Jeffersons would get their own sitcom. Not only did they get one, but it lasted a whole eleven seasons on the air. As with other Norman Lear sitcoms, it used its half-hour of airtime to discuss the social issues of the day. In fact, the bigoted and judgmental George Jefferson was apparently conceived as a “Black version of Archie Bunker.” But “The Jeffersons” was most notable for its depiction of a well-to-do Black family, something that historically, has been rarely seen on television. It remains necessary viewing.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“Three’s Company” (1977-84)
Three Roommates Come Up with a Clever, If Controversial, Way to Fool Their Landlord

“The Andy Griffith Show” (1960-68)
A Slice of Charming, Small Town Nostalgia

“Fawlty Towers” (1975-79)
You Wouldn’t Want to Stay at This Hotel, but It Makes for an Entertaining Binge Watch

“Sanford and Son” (1972-77)
Redd Foxx Leads This Classic ‘70s Sitcom Full of Memorable Catchphrases

“The Bob Newhart Show” (1972-78)
As Psychiatrist Robert Hartley, Newhart Plays Straight Man to a Colorful Cast of Weirdos

This Norman Lear-helmed series was a breakthrough moment for politically-conscious primetime comedy. By today’s standards, it’s a wonder it ever got on TV. But don’t let the Internet comments fool you. Archie Bunker was just as offensive when the show premiered in 1971. “All in the Family” is a prime example of depiction versus endorsement. Archie’s wrongheaded views are offensive in themselves, but the show always manages to make a fool of him. Elitists get a few jabs thrown their way too, though. What makes it must-see TV, even now, is that we’re still talking about the issues the Bunkers were. Even if America has come a long way, it’s a reminder that polarized politics are nothing new.

Did your favorite retro classic make the list? Sound off in the comments.