Top 10 American sitcoms of all time


I'm a massive fan of all US TV of all genres but especially sitcoms, quite simply they do them better than us. I've been meaning to write this blog post for years, the problem has been that the no.1 and no.2 slots often change in my head. However on reflection I think the no.1 spot should deservedly go to Frasier, it's characters, warmth and quite often slapstick storylines still make me laugh out loud to this day. Don't get me wrong, Friends is brilliant but Frasier ever so slightly has the edge in the funny stakes.

And before anybody complains saying that the US Office is inferior to the UK Office it's not & you're wrong. Ricky Gervais agrees with me too so no arguments.

So, here we are...

1. Frasier
2. Friends
3. Everybody Loves Raymond
4. Cheers
5. The King Of Queens
6. The Office
7. How I Met Your Mother
8. Spin City
9. Modern Family
10. 30 Rock

Almost made it into the top 10..

Just Shoot Me
8 Simple Rules
Will & Grace

Rules of Engagement
The Big Bang Theory - thanks to Simon for reminding me in the comments

Yes I know there are lots that I have left out, most noteably Seinfeld & Curb Your Enthusiasm, even M.A.S.H but for my money the definitive top 10 is as above.

What's in your top 10?

What I'm listening to right now: Future Funk



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21 Responses to Top 10 American sitcoms of all time

  1. Paul says:

    You’re wrong.

    The Office UK is far better than The Office USA.

    Now that’s out the way, my top 5:

    1. Seinfeld
    2. Curb
    3. KIng of Queens
    4. Everybody Loves Raymond
    5. Cheers

  2. Stuart Bruce says:

    Agree with most of it. I’d move Spin City to 2 and Cheers to 3. I’d also lose The Office, which would leave space for Will & Grace. Have never seen Modern Family, so might replace that with Just Shoot Me.

  3. Kieron says:

    I nearly didn’t approve your comment for being totally and utterly wrong about the office but thought twice as am in a good mood :)

  4. Simon says:

    I’ve recently discovered “The Big Bang Theory” on E4 and think it’s one of the best sitcoms I’ve seen in ages.

  5. Joe says:

    Good link bait but terrible list!

    Raymond and King of Queens are dire. I’ve watched all of the US Office and when watching it I do think it’s better but then a re watch of the uk version reminds me the uk one is better but I don’t blame you for forgetting.

    To not mention Arrested Development is a crime.

  6. I would have had these three in there somewhere –

    Curb your enthusiasm
    Arrested development
    Better off ted

  7. al says:

    Friends. Still watch this sometimes just to try and get why folk think it’s funny. It’s just contrived and mostly completely unfunny to me. Different strokes I guess (what you talkin bout Willis?!)

    Seinfeld and Larry Sanders would be up there for me. Curb Your Enthusiasm too.

    How about the one that stared them all – Soap – anyone remember that??!!

  8. Chris King says:

    Hmmm..not a big fan of the old US sitcom.

    Cheers was cool and number one for me on this list..not that I’ve seen 70% of them.

    BUT where is Taxi?! Disappointing. Danny DeVito at his best, Latka (the Eastern European), the hippy funny guy and of course the ever pragmatic Alex.

  9. tire says:

    I am really fond of The King Of Queens, I have literally seen every single episode. Two years ago I purchased all the seasons, and just watched from season 1, till the end, episode by episode! I still watch it from time to time too, great sitcom! Arthur made it golden in my opinion.

    -Jean

  10. Yes, I agree.. Americans do the sitcoms really well. My all-time favorite has always been Home Improvement. I also liked most of the ones on your top-10, particularly Frasier, Raymond and Cheers.

  11. dean says:

    MASH and frasier would be right up there, more as well as:
    community
    psych
    30 rock
    weeds (if it counts)
    3rd rock from the sun
    big bang theory

    you just reminded me about spin city which has been added to my lovefilm que :-p

  12. i am surprised that Sienfield didn’t make the cut?

  13. Cheap DVDs says:

    Got to agree with Frasier myself, though I find more people buy Friends box sets than Frasier. They’re both good, though!

  14. hazel says:

    thumbs up for the 10, like them a lot, How I Met Your Mother is totally great.

  15. rabih says:

    1_Married With Children
    2_The Nanny
    3_Friends
    4_Ellen
    5_The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air
    6_The Simpsons
    7_Just Shoot Me
    8_Will & Grace
    9_How I Met Your Mother
    10_Dharma & Greg
    11_Seinfeld

  16. ICYNDICEY says:

    1. Frasier Yes
    2. Friends Yes
    3. Everybody Loves Raymond Uh…hell no!
    4. Cheers of course
    5. The King Of Queens No
    6. The Office Ehhh
    7. How I Met Your Mother No
    8. Spin City Noooo
    9. Modern Family No
    10. 30 Rock Uhhhh Hellllllllllll No!

    Here is MY list
    1. Friends
    2, I Love Lucy
    3. All In The Family
    4. Sex And The City
    5. Frasier
    6. Cheers
    7. Arrested Development
    8. Will and Grace
    9. I Dream of Jeannie
    10. 3rd Rock from the Sun

  17. Nick says:

    10. how i met your mother
    9. the big bang theory
    8. friends
    7. just shoot me
    6. scrubs
    5. frasier
    4. the simpsons
    3. the office
    2. two and a half men
    1. seinfeld

  18. Ryan Ward says:

    My Top 10 American Sitcoms are

    1) Two And A Half Men
    2) Friends
    3) Big Bang Theory
    4) Scrubs
    5) How I Met Your Mother
    6) My Name Is Earl
    7) How To Be A Gentleman
    8) Whitney

    The Last Two Are British But Are Still Awesome

    9) Not Going Out
    10) Inbetweeners

    :)

  19. arnold tumwebaze says:

    well …i havent watched enough sitcoms but i can tell that WILL and GRACE,KING OF QUEENS and MY NAME IS EARL cant make my top twenty.here is my list….
    1.seinfield
    2,how i met your mother
    3.friends
    4.two and a half men
    5.fresh prince of bel air
    6.frazier
    7.mad about you
    8.modern family
    9.arrested development
    10,big bang theory

  20. Michael says:

    What about :
    The golden girls
    Designing Women
    Murphy Brown

    I loved cheers and Frasier

  21. gadgetboi says:

    I never watch Cheers, The King Of Queens, and Modern Family so I wouldn’t know how good it was. But I prefer just shoot me rather than how i met your mother or the office, since the the joke is more like “friends”.
    I’m surprise that you’re not included “the Nanny” or “Happy day” since that sitcom are also success and have a lot of fans (I grew up with the nanny actually :D )

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