The word sitcom stems from “situational comedy” and encompasses any TV series with an ensemble cast that takes place in any situation in which humor can be extracted. For example, workplaces and home environments are among the most common settings in these types of shows. As such, Hollywood has produced hundreds of sitcoms over the decades, but some are more influential than others.
1940s: Mary Kay And Johnny
1947-1950
Mary Kay and Johnny premiered in 1947 and served as America’s first sitcom broadcast on network TV. While it only ran for a little over two years, it set the tone for what was to become one of the entertainment world’s leading comedy genres. Mary Kay and Johnny was also the first show to feature a couple sharing a bed and a pregnant woman.
The innovative sitcom, which produced about 300 episodes, first aired on the Dumont Television Network before moving to CBS for half a year and then to NBC for the rest of its run. Real-life couple Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns created and starred in Mary Kay and Johnny. The series followed their characters’ lives in Greenwich Village in New York City.
1950s: I Love Lucy
1951-1957
Some might not know Mary Kay and Johnny, but most will recognize I Love Lucy. Lucille Ball’s CBS comedy is arguably the most influential sitcom in network TV history, and for good reason. It was the first show to feature an ensemble cast and has received many honors over the years, with some calling it the best TV show of all time.
I Love Lucy, which ran for six seasons and 180 episodes, followed Ball’s character, Lucy, a housewife living in New York City. Her husband, Ricky (played by Desi Arnaz, Ball’s real-life husband and executive producer), was the straight man to Lucy’s outlandish and comedic oddball character. A woman taking on this kind of role was unheard of in the 1950s.
Ball paved the way for the success of female comedians. As a result, she is undoubtedly one of the most influential TV actresses of all time and is why I Love Lucy is regarded so highly as it is. Who knows where network TV sitcoms would be if it weren’t for I Love Lucy?
1960s: The Dick Van Dyke Show
1961-1966
Moving on to the 1960s, The Dick Van Dyke Show is, like I Love Lucy, considered not only one of the best sitcoms ever, but also one of the best shows in TV history. The CBS series, created by Carl Reiner, ran for five seasons and almost 160 episodes. As its title implies, it starred Dick Van Dyke as Rob, a TV writer.
The Dyke Van Dyke Show revolved around Rob’s work and home life, which included his wife, Laura, played by Mary Tyler Moore. So, in many ways, its format replicated the sitcoms that came before it. Still, The Dick Van Dyke Show set itself apart from the crowd and went on to influence the comedy genre more so than any other 1960s series.
Over the course of its run, The Dick Van Dyke Show earned 15 Emmy Awards. Meanwhile, its episode, “It May Look Like a Walnut,” is considered one of the greatest sitcom episodes of all time (it was even referenced in WandaVision‘s penultimate hour). The Dick Van Dyke Show is simply an iconic American sitcom that remains relevant to this day.
1970s: All In The Family
1971-1979
This might sound repetitive, but All in the Family (which was developed by sitcom legend Norman Lear) is another sitcom that many regard as one of the best TV shows ever made. It contained nine seasons and 205 episodes and centered around the Bunkers, a white working-class family living in Queens, New York.
All in the Family was a pioneer in its field as it addressed controversial and complex issues such as racism, homosexuality, religion, feminism, etc. Consequently, the show was among the first sitcoms to incorporate more dramatic moments and scenes into its story. Plus, All in the Family‘s spinoff, The Jeffersons, was also groundbreaking with its portrayal of an affluent Black family.
1980s: Cheers
1982-1993
All of the above primarily followed families, whereas Cheers was one of network TV’s first successful workplace sitcoms, aside from The Mary Tyler Moore Show. It took place in a bar named Cheers, owned by Ted Danson’s Sam Malone, and featured an ensemble cast of characters. From Shelley Long’s Diane to George Wendt’s Norm, the Cheers cast is one of TV’s most iconic.
Many of Cheers‘ elements went on to influence several network TV sitcoms. For example, it has one of the best TV theme songs ever, and its will-they/won’t-they romance between Sam and Diane paved the way for other iconic sitcom couples such as Ross and Rachel in Friends, Jim and Pam in The Office, etc.
1990s: Seinfeld
1989-1998
The 1990s were another decade rich with iconic sitcoms. However, none of them was more influential than Seinfeld. A few came close, like Friends, Frasier, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, or The Simpsons (when counting animated sitcoms). One could argue that Seinfeld even influenced some of those, though, especially when talking about Friends.
Seinfeld‘s humor also pushed the limit when it came to how far a show’s comedy could go. And since it was so successful, the NBC sitcom and its jokes had a significant impact on the world of comedy network TV series. However, we don’t talk about the disastrous Seinfeld series finale.
2000s: The Office
2005-2013
The 2000s popularized a subgenre of sitcoms, and its triumph is all thanks to The Office. The NBC comedy was a mockumentary, meaning that it was filmed like a documentary, but its story was fictional. In other words, a mockumentary is a show within a show. Today, this subgenre is all the rage, and the credit for its success goes to The Office.
The Office was an adaptation of the British series of the same name, which wasn’t nearly as successful. It starred Steve Carell as Michael Scott (one of the most iconic TV characters of all time), the regional manager at the fictitious Dunder Mifflin Paper Company in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Although its first season wasn’t anything special, what followed would forever change network TV.
2010s: Schitt’s Creek
2015-2020
Like many of the decades that came before it, the 2010s produced several memorable sitcoms. However, Schitt’s Creek was, without a doubt, the best and most impactful. Created by Dan and Eugene Levy, the Canadian comedy show rose to prominence during its third season, after its addition to Netflix’s library.
Thankfully, Netflix became Schitt’s Creek‘s streaming home because if it hadn’t, not as many people would have recognized the fantastic sitcom that it was. Schitt’s Creek wasn’t your typical familial sitcom. Instead of featuring a tight-knit, wholesome family, the cast of Schitt’s Creek contained a spoiled, ignorant family who experienced the rags-to-riches storyline in reverse.
Schitt’s Creek blazed a trail for a new kind of sitcom. Its wholesome nature, LGBTQ+ representation, and positivity were exactly what people needed at the time (and it’s still a source of comfort today). Schitt’s Creek produced iconic characters, unforgettable lines (“Ew, David!”), and hilarious moments, all of which cement it as the 2010s’ most influential sitcom.
2020s: Abbott Elementary
2021-Present
Since we are in the middle of the 2020s, it’s difficult to definitively decide which sitcom is the decade’s most influential. However, if we were to pick which one is the most remarkable so far, the answer is obviously Abbott Elementary. The ABC series brought the mockumentary style back into the mainstream and is still an outstanding success heading into its fifth season.
Abbott Elementary premiered in 2021 and quickly became one of the most popular shows on TV, despite its debut coming in a time of uncertainty (due to the COVID-19 pandemic). Its success was and still is impressive. Quinta Brunson created a sitcom that will undoubtedly be remembered for years to come and is already legendary.
