Looper Before there was anything else on TV, there was comedy. Sitcoms and variety shows have been running in various iterations for more than 70 years, giving people the one thing that always seems to be in short supply: joy. In making this list, we first looked at TV shows and their tracked popularity with critics and audiences. There are a lot of shows that audiences have loved, though, so we had to narrow down our criteria. For one thing, we considered the legacy of the show. Newer shows have the benefit of recency bias, so it’s important to offset that by paying attention to TV comedies that have been foundational in culture and humor.
Next we considered consistency. Which TV comedies maintained their highest level of quality for the longest amount of time? We also specified the difference between a comedy and a drama with funny moments. While “The Bear” may have won the Emmy for outstanding comedy series, it’s not really a comedy, with all of the most important pieces of the show driven by elements of drama and tragedy. Comedy on a show like “The Bear” is the extra little bit that viewers get from watching a dramatic series with versatile actors and writers. Comedy on a show like “Schitt’s Creek,” which won the same award in 2020, is both the journey and the destination. The endgame in a true comedy series is always to make the viewer laugh above all else.
15. The Golden Girls NBC One has to wonder whether stars Betty White, Bea Arthur, Estelle Getty, and Rue McClanahan knew how iconic their sitcom, “The Golden Girls,” would become. The show has a dedicated following, with a subreddit following of 45K and fans still arguing over unresolved “Golden Girls” plotlines. “The Golden Girls” follows four older women—three widows and a divorcée—as they navigate their golden years together in a plush Miami house. The show proved that post-menopausal women have plenty of life to live despite existing in a society that often maligns their demographic. It’s also one of the most pure celebrations of female friendship in pop culture, with the primary dynamics on the show always being the relationships between its four leads. Most importantly, “The Golden Girls” launched the late-stage career of national comedic treasure, Betty White.
Cast: Betty White, Bea Arthur, Estelle Getty, Rue McClanahan Showrunner: Susan Harris Aired: 1985-1992 Where to watch: Hulu
14. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver HBO John Oliver got his start on TV as a correspondent on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” and the show he built when he left is pretty extraordinary. Oliver’s show, “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver,” offers a deep dive into a specific issue that’s affecting the world each week. Often, the show is delivering pretty bad news, but the writers always know when a joke is needed to lighten the mood. Oliver and his team do incredibly in-depth research and never hesitate to explore worthwhile tangents, like getting in touch with a ubiquitous stock photo model or bidding on Russell Crowe’s jockstrap from filming “Gladiator.” Anchoring all of the show’s chaos is Oliver’s unmatched ability to monologue organically (despite reading from a prompter) and a willingness (eagerness?) to self-deprecate. Comedy may be the only palatable medium through which to receive bad news these days, so thank goodness for “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.”
Cast: John Oliver Showrunner: John Oliver Aired: 2014-present Where to watch: Max
