I just binged Friends, so that gives you an idea of what I consider a “good” sitcom. Just for reference, not judgement.
I’ve already seen TBBT so that’s out.
I grew up with 3 stations so I’ve seen all the oldies on rerun e.g. I Love Lucy.
Schitts’ Creek just finished it’s last season. Good time to start at the beginning.
For older stuff:
- I think “Taxi” holds up well (just look past the hair/clothing styles)
- “WKRP in Cincinnati” is another good one (again, ignore the hair and clothes)
More recent:
- “Arrested Development” (first 3 seasons) Not formulaic like most sitcoms, but hilarious
- “Community”
- “Modern Family” some of the characters are more annoying, but still very funny
- “Schitt’s Creek”
In that case, Frasier and Seinfeld seem like good bets.
I always preferred “The Drew Carey Show” to “Friends” - think of it as a blue-collar not-NYC-centric Friends.
I should clarify I was a* heavy* TV watcher (to unhealthy levels) during the 70s and 80s, so anything on network TV from that time period and before I’ve almost definite already seen. I focused on more serious fare since then and didn’t even watch TV at all for years during the aughts, so that was kind of a comedy cultural blind spot for me.
Community, a very clever and interesting show.
Parks and Rec, first season is not as good, it really hits its stride by the second season and stays consistently good throughout.
The Good Place, an upbeat sitcom with a supernatural twist. Storyline is very linear and most episodes end on a cliffhanger.
Another vote for The Drew Carey Show.
Another vote for Seinfeld.
Early seasons of The Simpsons are very clever.
30 Rock, The Office, Brooklyn 99, Seinfeld, Everybody Loves Raymond.
Other mainstream sitcoms that have enjoyed widespread popularity, similar to Friends.
Also, one that didn’t do so well on the popularity chart, but is absolutely brilliant, Freaks and Geeks. One brilliant season.
Have you watched UK TV? If not, you should watch Fawlty Towers from the mid-70s. Not a whole lot of episodes, but probably the funniest thing ever made.
Two shows I like that are cartoons, but meant for grown-ups, not kids, and are from the aughts, are Home Movies, and King of the Hill. King of the Hill is from the guy who did Beavis and Butt-head, but it’s absolutely nothing like that show.
A show from something like 1997-2003 that is not only very funny, but holds up really well, which I know, because I watched the original run, then never saw it again, until I binge-watched it about a year ago, is 3rd Rock from the Sun. If you haven’t seen this one, definitely check it out. The people on it are so talented, they could be reading old Facts of Life scripts in a busstop, and it would funny.
Kim’s Convenience - (Netflix) About a Korean family in Vancover running a small convenience store.
Letterkenny - (Hulu) About a small town in Canada.
Both are light and Friends-esque
Reno 911!
Corner Gas
Not really a sitcom, but Archer is excellent binge material.
Thirding The Drew Carey Show.
I mentioned this in another thread, but it’s good to specify which streaming service or cable channel you have access to. No good to recommend something you can’t easily see.
Better Off Ted.
Pushing Daisies.
If you like crude humor, Future Man is worth a watch.
The Larry Sanders Show. (HBO Prime, Hulu, and Amazon Prime per a quick check.)
Better Off Ted. Free on Hulu
You, Me, and the Apocalypse. Available on Amazon Prime, but you can also find free full episode streams with minimal effort.
I’m currently bingeing Mom, a Chuck Lorre sitcom starring Alison Janney and Anna Faris and it’s pretty damned hilarious. Not sure how I missed this one but I’m watching it because my daughter says Janney’s character reminds her of me. I hope she’s referring to the wisecracking because that lady has had WAY more adventures than I! It’s on Amazon and I think CBS Access?
I liked that but was annoyed that it ended on a huge cliffhanger and left some stuff unresolved. Kind of similar would be The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret.
This show gets better with every season. Kristen Johnston is comedy gold in the latest seasons.
The Ranch on netflix.
I liked it.
She is! I started watching the show when I heard she was on it. Anyone who is enjoying her on Mom, and has not seen 3rd Rock from the Sun really needs to check it out.