Rosanne, yes. at least in part because people are fat.
The old tv series Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy was incredibly authentic.
Not surprising as the writer was an ex British Intelligence Officer.
I think the casting is a big part of it. These people looked, sounded, and acted like real Americans. They were overweight, in debt, and worried.
Oh yes! Totally corroborated by yours truly who worked in a radio station when WKRP was doing primetime.
First time I heard Johnny say ‘cart,’ I fell off the couch in shock. Only someone who actually worked in radio would know what that was. 
Friends I understand, but Seinfeld?
Jerry - moderately successful stand-up comic trying to break into TV (which is what he was before the show started). Understandably, he would be the most financially successful of the group.
Elaine - Catalog editor, and before that personal assistant to an eccentric rich guy.
George - Variety of jobs, sometimes unemployed, finishing with lower-middle management for the NY Yankees.
Kramer - Unemployed mooch.
Newman - Mail man (and not a very good one).
They might have had a bit more disposable income than their jobs/apartments suggest, but it certainly wasn’t that far out of line.
Unrealistic was the girlfriends George would get, but even then, many of them were as broken psychologically as George was.
Freaks and Geeks comes painfully close to my years in high school. It’s almost a documentary.
I think their portrayals are a caricature resulting from what a bunch of liberal arts major screenwriters think geeks and nerds are like.
It’s sort of funny, but not realistic at all.
I don’t know about “King of Queens” but “All in the Family” focused mainly on Archie’s racism and it’s inappropriateness in a changing society and “That 70’s Show” was a nostalgia fest. “Roseanne” was about ordinary people in the ordinary world with no greater issues forefront (at least until the last couple of seasons–you know, the ones we don’t speak of).
You know Bubbles and Jay-Rock?? Tell them I want to hang out! Corey and Trevor can come too 
I agree on Roseanne and The Middle, with The Middle owing a lot to Roseanne.
In this vein, the 1978-1980 BBC series, The Sandbaggers is supposed to be very well done and quite accurate as to the feel. I have no idea one way or the other, never having been in that line of work, but it seems plausible. Here’s a fan site, if you want to know a bit more. The series is short, and worth your time if you find it. I was lucky enough to see them during the PBS SF Bay Area run mentioned in the wiki.
The unusual passing of the series’ primary episode writer only added to the cult-following of the series.
A lot of that was from the writers & producers interviewing Korea and Vietnam vets for anecdotes.
I agree, it’s realistic but there is a lot less joking and a lot more arguing in real life.
But hard-luck sister, gloomy daughter, boyfriend of gloomy daughter hanging out trying to get some, bitchy daughter, whiny son, all realistic.
I was going to post this. I have known several police officers that have said Reno 911 was the most realistic law enforcement show on television.
I always tell my friends that when I watched WKRP as a kid I thought it was a comedy. Then I became a DJ and realized it was a documentary!
Yeah, the drama may be realistic, but every single thing else about that show is pure fantasy.
A French movie going way back ; which many people honestly believe to be a documentary about the rebellion in Algeria.
The Battle of Algiers.
Exceptional.
Two movies made for tv by Alan Clarke about Northern Ireland.
Contact (Wait out), (The immediate message sent by Brit Army operators on being attacked by terrorists)
And" Elephant", the name coming from the saying in N.I. at the time that living a normal life was like ignoring the Elephant in your front room.
The first is about a Para patrol in South Armagh, most of the time its almost boring, and when violence occurs its over quickly and unglamourous.
The latter is literally the reconstructions of sectarian murders from the Scene of Crime Photos of bodies of the victims.
It is shocking but almost banal, when each murder, with its prelude "Waiting for the victim to reach the scene "happens.
A.C. doesn’t say who, politically or religiously, are the victims or the murderers.
You just see it, boringly without music, and lots of tedious walking about in unexotic locations.
Well worth a watch.