Will Arnett has done a lot of other projects since Arrested Development, but of course he’ll always be Gob Bluth to so many of us above all else since it’s considered one of the best sitcoms of all time. The actor, who’s been receiving a lot of praise for his role in Is This Thing On?, recently reflected on being on the set of Arrested Development in the early days, and how he had no idea it would become so beloved.

Arrested Development is the sort of show that has just kept coming back for Arnett, and his costars. The original run of the series (on Fox) was actually cancelled after three seasons, before it was revived by Netflix in 2013, and again in 2018. Arnett also regularly hangs out another member of the Bluths (one of the most famous sitcom families), Jason Bateman, on their successful podcast Smartless, which they started back in 2020. Here’s what Arnett recently told Rolling Stone about the early days of the series:

One can understand this. Sure, Arrested Development is undoubtedly funny, but it might not have been clear on set if the humor would come across. At the time, Arnett was new to the industry and said he was “desperate to get a sitcom.” He told the magazine that he wanted to do sketch comedy, improv or stand-up, but “didn’t have the luxury” to do so. So nabbing Arrested Development was the big break he was looking for. As he also shared:

Arrested Development may have been hilarious from the get-go, but it’s one of the many funny TV shows that got even more popular on streaming – leading to its revival later on. The series made Arnett famous for playing a TV character we love to hate in Gob Bluth, and as a result of being known for the role, the actor said that fans do everything from the chicken dance to telling him he’s made a “huge mistake,” like the character’s famous quote.

Right now, you check out Will Arnett in his new movie Is This Thing On? in theaters, which was directed by Bradley Cooper. The dramedy is about a man dealing with divorce who takes up standup comedy. And, of course you can stream Arrested Development with a Netflix subscription.

There are a ton of dramatic and funny stories that come from the lives of single parents. Movies and TV shows have often leaned into relationships like this across basically every genre. Sometimes they are fun and funny, and sometimes, just like real life, they are serious or heartbreaking. This list doesn't separate them, as it all adds to the rich tapestry of life. Here's our list of great movies and TV shows about the lives of single parents.

Jerry Maguire

Jerry Maguire is a movie that kind of defies genre, but at its heart, it's certainly a romance story. One of the best parts of the movie is the performance of child actor Jonathan Lipnicki, who plays an only child living with his single mother (at least at the beginning of the movie). Renée Zellweger, of course, plays his mother, whose faith in Jerry (Tom Cruise) pays off big time for everyone.

Diff'rent Strokes

In Diff'rent Strokes, Mr. Drummond (Conrad Bain) is already a widowed parent of two kids when he takes in two more kids, Willis (Todd Bridges) and Arnold (Gary Coleman). The two kids upend the lives of the rich family on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, much to the delight of audiences of the Gen X classic.

The Sound Of Music

If all you know about The Sound of Music is that the hills are alive, you might not realize that it's about a single father raising his seven children in Austria. Maria, played by the legendary Julie Andrews, is hired to help Captain von Trapp (Christopher Plummer), and she brings so much more to the table.

Gilmore Girls

One of the most popular TV shows about a single mom and her relationship with her daughter is unquestionably Gilmore Girls. The show gained a very loyal following over its seven-season run, and it remains incredibly popular with the people who were drawn to it in the first place.

Mom

There are really two kinds of family sitcoms in TV history, one side is the idyllic family with perfect relationships, personified by shows like The Cosby Show and The Brady Bunch, and the other is more dysfunctional families, like Married with Children. Mom, starring Allison Janney and Anna Faris, definitely falls into the latter category. Still, at least until Faris left the show, it was hilarious.

Sleepless In Seattle

Rom-coms like the '90s classic Sleepless in Seattle are always fertile ground to explore single-parent/child relationships. In the movie, Tom Hanks is a widower raising his son who grabs the attention of a journalist (Meg Ryan) after his son calls a radio talk show looking for a partner for his dad. It's a sweet story, of course, and the dynamic between father and son is so darn wholesome! It helps make it one of the best rom-coms of all time.

The Single Moms Club

The Tyler Perry joint The Single Moms Club is a unique take here. It doesn't follow one single mom, but five. The five, who have little in common beyond their marital status, find themselves thrown together planning an event at their kids' school because all of their kids keep getting in trouble. It plays out pretty much as you expect, but it is charming at times.

Forrest Gump

I'll be the first to admit that I don't care for Forrest Gump. I think it's overwrought Boomer nostalgia (albeit with a great soundtrack). However, the one piece of the story I do think is well done is the relationship between Forrest (Tom Hanks) and his mother, played by Sally Field. Forrest's mom's determination to give Forrest as normal a life is actually inspiring, despite all the silliness that follows in Forrest's life. D- movie, A+ relationship.

Arrested Development

The dynamic between Michael (Jason Bateman) and his son George Michael (Michael Cera) is one of the key components that makes Arrested Development one of my favorite sitcoms of all time. Bateman plays the straight man in the show, surrounded by completely ridiculous family members, and George Michael is definitely among them, even if he is trying a little harder than the rest of the family to be a good person.

Erin Brockovich

Julia Roberts plays the real-life Erin Brockovich in the movie of the same name, and while her status as a single mother is only tangentially explored in the movie, it's the whole reason the character (and the real woman) ended up in a position to do what she did. Never underestimate a determined single mother!

Stranger Things

I have a complicated relationship with Stranger Things. I think the plot is brilliant and I love the stories, but I am on record as a Gen Xer who is annoyed with Gen X nostalgia. Obviously, the show, available with a Netflix subscription, fits the bill for this list, no matter how I feel about it.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day

"Single Parent" might not be the first thing that pops into your head when you think about the Terminator franchise, but the relationship between Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) and John (Edward Furlong) is critical to the series, and no more so than in the second installment, Terminator 2: Judgment Day. It's certainly not a traditional mother/son relationship.

Julia

You might not be familiar with the ABC sitcom Julia, but it was one of the most groundbreaking television shows of all time. Diahann Carroll, who played Julia, a single mother of a son, changed TV forever, both as a female lead in a sitcom and as an African-American actor as the lead in any show. The fact that she was a single mom is yet another way she broke new ground.

Mamma Mia!

Like a few other movies on this list, Mamma Mia! might not jump off the page as a single-parent story, but, of course, it is. Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried play mother and daughter, and, like others on this list as well, it's about the daughter hoping to set up the parent with a new partner.

The Parent Trap

I just had to include The Parent Trap. It's not about one single parent, but two! Sure, they were once married to each other, and sure, the plot, when you really look at it, is, frankly, disturbing. Like, why were two twins separated at birth and never told of the other one? How was this the deal that the demented parent came up with? Still, whether it's the original or the remake, everyone loves the movies, including me.

Maid In Manhattan

The Jennifer Lopez hit Maid in Manhattan is one of the trope-ier movies on this list. It kind of checks all the boxes for a standard rom-com, yet somehow it is still incredibly fun. Lopez plays a single mom trying to make it in the big city and... well... there's a rich guy, and yadda yadda yadda.

Ginny And Georgia

Almost immediately, Ginny & Georgia drew comparisons to The Gilmore Girls, and it's easy to see why. The dynamic between teen daughter Ginny and her mother, Georgia, is very similar to the one between Rory and Lorelai.

Reba

Not only was Reba one of the best shows set in the South, it also firmly belongs on this list as a great show about a single parent. The show stars Country music icon Reba McEntire as a mother of three whose husband leaves her for a younger woman, and she is left to pick up the pieces.

Panic Room

One of the more underrated David Fincher movies, Panic Room is a true thriller about a mother and daughter. Jodie Foster plays a mother who moves into a new house with her young daughter after a divorce. On their first night in the new (very nice) brownstone, some burglars break in. Luckily, there's a panic room! Okay, it doesn't sound great when you break it down like that, but like most of Fincher's movies, it's actually pretty great.

Parenthood

While it's loosely based on the 1989 movie of the same name, the television show Parenthood is quite a bit different from the movie. On the show, Lauren Graham plays Sarah, the single mother of two working on a bartender's salary. There are other parents, of course, Sarah's siblings, who aren't single, but Lauren's story is key to the show.

One Day At A Time

One Day At A Time, which was later rebooted in the 2010s, starred Bonnie Franklin as a single mother struggling to raise her teenage daughters in a small apartment in Indianapolis. It was a cornerstone show for anyone who grew up in the '70s and '80s, as it was a staple of reruns in syndication after its nine-season run on CBS.

Full House

Well, you knew I had to include Full House on this show. Even though I was personally a little too old to get into this show when it was on, I certainly recognize the cultural impact of the Tanner family and the stars that this show produced, including Bob Saget as Danny Tanner, the widowed father of DJ, Stephanie, and Michelle.

One Fine Day

Just when George Clooney was really becoming George Clooney, he starred in the rom-com One Fine Day alongside Michelle Pfeiffer. Pfeiffer plays a single mom struggling with her ex to raise their child. Enter Clooney's character, Jack, who is also recently divorced, and after a series of hijinks, the two end up finding love with each other. Yeah, it's as cheesy as it sounds, but Pfeiffer and Clooney make it work better than it should.

Shameless

Shameless was never ashamed to show the dark side of a dysfunctional family, and no family in TV history has been as messed up as the Gallaghers. At the top of the heap of screwups is Frank, the hapless, drunk father played brilliantly by William H. Macy. You can't help but love this group of misfits.

Overboard

One of the most enduring relationships in Hollywood is the one between Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn. In the '80s, they teamed up a few times, and one of the best has to be Overboard. Hawn plays a snobby, rich woman with amnesia, and Russell plays a working-class guy who is raising his kids on his own. He devises a plan (that is quite disturbing in hindsight) to trick Hawn into living with the family. Hilarity ensues.

The Andy Griffith Show

The Andy Griffith Show is the quintessential show based in the South, and it's easy to forget, unless you watched it, that Andy was a single father raising Opie (Ron Howard). Sure, he had Aunt Bee (Frances Bavier) there to help out, but he was a single dad, and that was pretty rare on TV in the '60s.

No Reservations

Yet another rom-com on this list, No Reservations, is about Kate, a hard-charging chef played by Catherine Zeta-Jones, who becomes guardian for her niece (Abigail Breslin) when her sister is killed in a car crash. She finds a way through her grief with a new sous chef who threatens her job, but opens up her heart, played by Aaron Eckhart.

My Three Sons

One of the earliest examples of a TV show about a single parent is the 1960s classic My Three Sons, starring Fred MacMurray as a single dad with, you guessed it, three sons. It's all right there in the title!

Mommie Dearest

When I was a kid, my mom loved to make fun of Joan Crawford (hey, it was a thing), and that was in large part due to this movie, Mommie Dearest. While the movie hasn't held up, it certainly tells a disturbing story of a single mom (Crawford, played by Faye Dunaway), raising her two kids in terror. I watched it too many times as a kid, and I still hate wire hangers.

Who's The Boss?

There isn't just one single parent in Who's The Boss?, there are two. Tony Danza plays...Tony, a single father to Sam (Alyssa Milano), who becomes a live-in maid for Angela (Judith Light,) who is helped by her mother Mona (Katherine Helmond) in raising her son Jonathan (Danny Pintauro). It may not be one of the best sitcoms ever, but it's a classic show for anyone in Gen X.

Big Little Lies

Big Little Lies is filled with complicated family dynamics, including Shailene Woodley as a single mom to Ziggy (Iain Armitage).

We Bought A Zoo

I simply had to include this one. Most people don't really like the Matt Damon movie We Bought A Zoo, but I must have been in just the right mood for it's syrupy sweet vibe when I first saw, so I love it. It's not the best movie on this list, but I really do find it cute. And like every other movie and TV show on this list, it's about a single parent!

TV characters may often lead more exciting lives than the average person, but they're just as susceptible as anyone to relaxing on the couch while watching their own televisions. Most of the time, those shows-within-shows are completely fictional, as not to cause any copyright friction, which can lead to some hilariously weird and inspired creations.

So, in the vein of fake bands we love listening to, fictional brandings we love promoting, and commercials for faux products, let's now celebrate fake TV shows that might just be as watchable as the real ones.

Married...With Children - "Psycho Dad"

Perhaps Al Bundy's favorite TV show, the "simple saga of a guy run amok in the Old West" was somehow a PBS series (and then a Fox one), despite being one of the most violent shows on TV, which the theme song alludes to. Didn't stop the spinoff Psycho Mom from happening, though.

Gravity Falls - "Duck-tective"

If it walks like a duck and solves mysteries like a detective, it can only be Gravity Falls' fine-feathered sleuth Duck-tective, who heads up the titular mystery series that relies heavily on bad puns and cheap effects, like so many shows of the '80s and '90s.

Community - "Inspector Spacetime"

Despite Community's Abed having once worn a Doctor Who T-shirt, his preferred sci-fi time-travel saga is Inspector Spacetime, a very on-the-nose homage to the long-running UK fave. (The American version introduced years later was portrayed by Luke Perry.) I'd wager I.S. has more canonical backstory than almost any other show-within-a-show, with lots of background for fans, real and otherwise, to dig into.

South Park - "The Terrance And Phillip Show"

Two of the biggest celebrities within South Park that aren't parodies of real-world celebs are Sir Phillip Niles Argyle and Sir Terrance Henry Stoot, best known to the Canadian comedy lovers as Terrance and Phillip, who have their own TV show that's a real gas...gas...gasssss.

Extras - "When The Whistle Blows"

One of the funniest things about Ricky Gervais satirizing BBC sitcoms in HBO's Extras is how little it feels like a parody, and how believable it would be as a real-world series with its lowest-common-denominator jokes, forever cementing "Are you 'avin' a laugh?" into the annals of love-to-hate TV catchphrases.

Saturday Night Live - "TV Funhouse"

Saturday Night Live has featured loads of fake movie trailers, songs, TV shows, etc., but perhaps the only applicable recurring sketch to get spun off with its own shows-within-a-show concept was "TV Funhouse," as created by Robert Smigel. Later a standalone series on Comedy Central, the OG run gave the world the Ambiguously Gay Duo, "Bambi 2002," and other SNL classics from the '90s and 2000s.

The Big Bang Theory - "Professor Proton"

I'd have to imagine Big Bang Theory's Sheldon Cooper would have loved Mr. Wizard's World or Beakman's World if he were real, as his favorite small-screen personality was the science educator Professor Proton (real name: Arthur Jeffries). For viewers, Proton's excellence was naturally due to comedy legend Bob Newhart being cast. And you can't forget his puppet pal Gino the Neutrino, even if it's best not to bring up the puppeteer.

Parks And Recreation - "The Johnny Karate Super Awesome Musical Explosion Show"

Chris Pratt's Andy Dwyer brought Johnny Karate to life initially as a guitar-playing act for children's birthday parties, but that just wasn't musical or explosive enough, so of course he got his own inspirational TV show. Johnny may have been a doofus, but alter-alter ego Jonathan Karate is the one who has it all together.

Rocko's Modern LIfe - "Meet The Fatheads"

Within Rocko's Modern Life, the Bigheads' lives were fictionalized as The Fatheads, a family sitcom centered on pretty awful and stereotypical characters. Amusingly enough, the revival special Static Cling also featured the in-universe revival of The Fatheads, which not everyone was a fan of.

Home Improvement - "Tool Time"

One of TV's ultimate "How-Not-To" characters, Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor somehow kept his job hosting the Detroit-set series "Tool Time," despite being shockingly consistent at destroying property and electrical equipment with ease. It's just as shocking that co-host Al Borland didn't quit or suffer grave injuries during that run.

Only Murders In The Building - "Brazzos"

No one remembers the detective series "Brazzos" as well as Only Murders in the Building's Charles-Haden Savage, the actor who donned the iconic hat for its surprisingly long run. (Okay, perhaps his loyal stunt double Sazz remembered it just as fondly.) But who else could have spun these banal words into an oft-ish-repeated catchphrase: "This sends the investigation into a whole new direction." So many new directions for this guy.

Rugrats - "Oodles The Talking Poodle"

As an avid Rugrats fan during the NickToons era, it's been 30+ years since I've been able to hear the world "poodle" without hearing a light "ding" behind it, as it goes in the talking dog's theme song. "OOdles. OOdles the TALking POOdle. Ding." How is this not a movie by now?

Stargate SG-1 - "Wormhole X-Treme"

While Stargate SG-1 didn't always show off its funny bone so directly, the self-spoofing 100th episode "Wormhole X-Treme," which focuses on the action-geared sci-fi series that provided the ep's title. I wish every show I love had a parody as faithful and fan-friendly as this one.

The Simpsons - "The Krusty The Clown Show"

If not for Krusty the Clown's quality-questionable variety show, Bart, Lisa and Simpsons fans around the world might never have been introduced to the hyperviolent "Itchy and Scratchy Show," which superceded its own source clown's popularity, with former sidekick Sideshow Bob amassing more notoriety.

Murderbot - "The Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon"

It's easy to see why Alexander Skarsgård's sentient SecUnit just wants to spend all day, all 397 (at least) episodes of the sudsy space opera "The Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon." With legit talents like John Cho, Clark Gregg and DeWanda Wise heading up the How to Get Away with Murder-esque series, this is easily worthy of a standalone spinoff to keep viewers rapt.

Young Justice - "Hello, Megan!"

Who knew superheroes would get into such normalcy as the sitcom "Hello, Megan!" A by-the-books sitcom from 1979-1980, the show follows a pretty cheerleader, her BFF, hunky boyfriend, and parents, and not even for large-scale adventures, but just everyday plots like taking care of the school frog. Okay, fine, I completely understand why everyone is obsessed.

Channel Zero - "Candle Cove"

The worst kind of TV show, I think we can all agree, is one that inevitably brings you harm just by watching it. So it goes for the first season of the excellent horror anthology Channel Zero, where "Candle Cove" is a pirate-based puppet show that may only exist in the minds of its viewers. Watch out for The Skin-Taker, that's all I'm saying.

Steven Universe - Crying Breakfast Friends

If you don't know the value of watching "Crying Breakfast Friends," then I don't suggest mentioning it to Steven Universe's titular crystal being. He adores watching the various food items, leaking both tears of joy and tears of sorrow. Glum Glass and Weeping Egg Cup are all of us, really.

Supernatural - "Ghostfacers"

Supernatural, a show that legitimately crossed over with the animated Scooby-Doo gang, brought an equally silly spin to the never-ending number of paranormal investigator series that took over cable in the 21st century. Founded by the Ghostbusters-homaging Harry Spangler and Ed Zeddmore, the Ghostfacers appeared quite a few times over the years, and even sparked a web series of shorts.

BoJack Horseman - "Horsin' Around"

For as dramatically serious and maudlin as BoJack Horseman could get, none of that was to be found in the cornball hijinks of the in-series sitcom "Horsin' Around," centering on three kids adopted by a horse, obviously. It fights right alongside fare like Punky Brewster, with a slew of wonderfully groan-worthy lines perhaps best exemplified by the pun "Now, that's a horse of a different...crueller."

Twin Peaks - "Invitation To Love"

Oh, to explore around inside David Lynch's brain to see all of the things he might have been thinking about for the expertly crafted soap opera "Invitation to Love," which was a favorite amongst some of the characters inhabiting Twin Peaks' titular town. The fact that the storylines reference the characters' lives only makes it more interesting.

Seinfeld - "Jerry"

While Seinfeld's show-within-a-show "Jerry" really only existed as a pilot and not as a fully ordered network-aired series, given the actions of its characters, its ridiculous plot is enough to make it one of the more memorable faux TV series out there. Jerry gets into a car accident, and the other insurance-less driver has to become Jerry's butler, making "Because he's MY butler" one of the more logically accurate fake TV catchphrases.

Family Guy - "Jolly Farm Revue"

With an aesthetic that mashed up the Teletubbies with other pastoral children's fare, Family Guy's faux UK series "Jolly Farm Revue" became an obsession of Stewie's, as he believed its characters actually existed, only to find them to be less real than his teddy bear Rupert. I prefer the American remake with that li'l cutie Karina Smirnoff.

Arrested Development - "Mock Trial With J. Reinhold"

Arrested Development's melting pot of humor is well-exemplified by Michael Bluth having a legal case heard as part of a courtroom reality show fronted by Judge Reinhold (who definitely isn't a real judge), with a theme song sung live on-set by William Hung and a backing band. Should this have turned into an actual series? "I'm going to allow it," even if it pretty much rips on a gag from Clerks: the Animated Series.

SpongeBob SquarePants - "Mermaid Man And Barnacle Boy"

Not only was the superhero series "Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy" a fun show-within-a-show for SpongeBob SquarePants' characters, but the titular characters were a treat outside of their televised exploits as well. For one, they were originally voiced by legends Ernest Bornine and Tim Conway, and later boasted '60s Batman icons Adam West and Burt Ward in the respective hero and sidekick roles at one point or another.

30 Rock - "MILF Island"

A fake TV show that will likely exist before this sentence is finished, 30 Rock's reality TV-aping romance competition MILF Island was sold with the disturbing tagline "25 Super-Hot Moms, 50 Eighth Grade Boys, No Rules." Okay, maybe we should just keep this one hidden behind a locked door back in 2008.

Lost - "Exposé"

Lost's storylines didn't just flash backwards, forwards and sideways. They also went internal for the show-within-a-show Exposé, a '70s-esque action-adventure series in which Kiele Sanchez's Nikki was guest-starring. (With Billy Dee Williams as the lead of the faux show.) We see just enough to make me want more, although that would never happen, as audiences' dislike of Nikki and Rodrigo Santoro's Paolo was strong enough to get them killed off during the same season in which they were introduced.

DuckTales - "Ottoman Empire"

A TV parody that is too close to the real thing to be entirely comedic, DuckTales' "Ottoman Empire" centers on two twin rooster brothers, Johnny and Randy, who design custom ottomans for customers. It's like Property Brothers with a punnier title, and you know, roosters.

Drake And Josh - "Drew And Jerry"

Drake & Josh entered sitcom doppelgänger territory in Season 2 when Drake Bell and Josh Peck's namesake characters took a friendly break from each other, only to befriend someone else with the exact same personality. By the end, the titular teens were buds again, while their "others" were somehow given their own TV show that looks exactly like D&J. Presumably with its own Season 2 doppelgänger plot.

My Name Is Earl - "Estrada Or Nada"

We're at a point where real-life game shows are about as ridiculous as anything fictional, but My Name Is Earl's "Estrada or Nada" is still pretty special. Basically, anyone can challenge the CHiPs star to any imaginable challenge, from shooting basketballs to eating hot dogs to looking like Erik Estrada.

Futurama - "Everybody Loves Hynotoad"

I love Hypnotoad. You love Hypnotoad. Everybody loves Hypnotoad. Everybody loves Hypnotoad. Good show.

Garfield & Friends - "The Binky Show"

Hey, kids! No fake TV clown seemed quite as intent on waking everyone in the hosue up as Garfield & Friends' Binky the Clown, whose show seemed to be on at literally all hours. Because it was of such high production value, I can only assume.

It’s normal for professional actors to break character when a line is too funny to keep a straight face. We see it all the time on SNL, where huge stars couldn’t stop laughing in their sketches. With many blooper moments captured on camera, fans got real on which endearing TV scenes of actors breaking character stood out the most. I’ve gotta say that Arrested Development and Taxi have some great ones.

@ANDAMOVlE tweeted about loving how an actor’s uncontrollable laughter made it into the final cut of a sitcom. So naturally, X users chimed in with a bunch of hilarious examples from a wide range of the best sitcoms of all time. @bren1sly pointed out one Jason Bateman series where the actor couldn’t keep it together, and can you blame him?:

You can’t talk to someone who’s literally blue in the face and look so serious. It was clear that the Ozark actor was hoping that looking at co-star Portia de Rossi would help keep his cool, but a humorous script and performance win in the end. @TheImmortal007 used a classic scene from Taxi that can make anyone with a sense of humor laugh:

I never noticed before that Tony Danza was laughing in the background. You could also tell Jeff Conaway was trying to bury his head in his jacket to prevent laughing, only for his big grin to ultimately spill out on camera. With Christopher Lloyd’s comedic brilliance, there was no way the cast of one of history’s best NBC sitcoms had a chance of making it through a take without laughing. @TheImmortal007 tweeted another example that shows Jennifer Aniston breaking character on Friends thanks to Lisa Kudrow’s comedic timing:

I would probably laugh uncontrollably too if my couch buddy were attempting to sing along to bagpipes. How were Matthew Perry and Courtney Cox able to hold their laughter in? Seeing Jennifer Aniston barely keep it together truly makes the scene all the more fun to watch and a total standout. @FirstName736928 posted about an episode of Seinfeld, because how can you not?:

The late Philip Baker Hall, as Mr. Bookman, was outstanding in keeping such a serious persona while lecturing to Jerry about the gravity of overdue library books. But for someone getting a stern talking to, Jerry Seinfeld looked like he had too much fun. But with the stand-up comic barely able to contain his joy and Hall’s deadpan delivery, you gotta love this unforgettable episode all the more for that.

No matter how professional an actor is, it's hard not to love their lighter side when they break out of character in shows. With sitcoms like Arrested Development and Taxi, those unscripted moments show actors having fun while at work and help make a scene all the more special. You can find each of these classic shows on many of the best streaming services.

If you had the chance to bring a character from your favorite TV show or movie back to life, would you do it? Well, Tony Hale and D'Arcy Carden have some picks – and they name-dropped some pretty famous characters of theirs that they would bring back.

When I spoke to the pair about their new film, Sketch, which releases on August 6th as part of the 2025 movie schedule, I was curious. The film's premise focuses on a little girl's sketches that, when dropped into a magic lake, come to life and cause mayhem. This could lead to so many opportunities in real life, which, of course, absolutely led to me asking Hale and Carden about the possibility of bringing some of their past famous characters to life.

Who D'Arcy Carden Would And Would Not Sketch To Life

Sketch itself is a film where anything that Amber (Bianca Belle) sketches into her notebook comes to life when thrown into a magic lake, which could lead to so many opportunities. When I asked D'Arcy Carden what character from her past she herself would love to sketch into real life if she were given the chance, her answer didn't surprise me -- as it's a character from one of her famous TV shows, The Good Place.

What makes it even better is that her second answer -- who she would not sketch back to real life -- is also from The Good Place:

Janet is a character from The Good Place. As part of the The Good Place cast, D'Arcy Carden played Good Janet, a knowledge guide for the entirety of The Good Place. She also portrays multiple varieties of Janet, including "Bad Janet," which is a Bad Place variant of Janet, and, of course, she's a menace to society.

Who Tony Hale Would And Would Not Sketch To Life

When I asked Tony Hale the same question, his answer was everything -- because it involves one of my favorite films and favorite TV shows:

Forky was a character that debuted in the Toy Story movies, specifically the fourth in 2019, as a new toy that was purely created from Bonnie's imagination. He was also a toy that didn't believe himself to be a toy and basically had an existential crisis, which immediately helped audiences to fall in love with him.

As someone who loves all of the Pixar movies – and is looking forward to the upcoming Toy Story 5 – I think Forky is the best choice. But Hale's pick for who he would keep in the past also makes so much sense, too:

What an answer. Hale was a principal actor in the Arrested Development cast for many years, where he played Buster Bluth. The character was terrified of everything, had many panic attacks, and went through a lot of mental duress. It's actually almost sweet that Hale would rather have Buster's time to rest rather than be brought back to life and experience all that trauma again.

While we won't be seeing any of these characters come back to life any time soon, you can check both Hale and Carden out in theaters when Sketch releases and see them take on monsters from a little girl's sketchbook – and witness how a crayon picture could somehow be so terrifying in real life.

There are so many fun, fake products in movies and TV. Sometimes, they become so iconic that they become real products. There are a few examples of that on this list of fake products from movies and TV shows, but most of them are just things we fondly remember from our favorite films and shows. So here it is, our list of just some of the best products we could come up with.

Apollo Bars - Lost

One of the things Lost did really well was building a world beyond the island. Apollo Bars were part of that world. The chocolate bars were seen all throughout the season, including when Hurley raided the pantry in the hatch when it was first discovered.

Big Kahuna Burger - Pulp Fiction

Quentin Tarantino has done a really cool job over his career, not only inventing unique products for his movies, butalso using them in multiple films. Big Kahuna Burger from Pulp Fiction is a perfect example. We first find out about the "new Hawaiian burger joint" when Jules (Samuel L. Jackson) tries Brad's nutritious breakfast. It is a tasty burger! Eagle-eyed viewers may know that the brand was actually introduced in Reservoir Dogs when Mr. Blonde (Michael Madsen) is seen drinking from a cup from the fictional restaurant.

ACME - Looney Tunes

The ultimate example of fake products on TV has to be the ubiquitous ACME company from Looney Tunes. It's most often seen in Road Runner cartoons as the company where Wile E Coyote buys all the equipment he tries in vain to use to catch his nemesis. It seems it was the Amazon of the Looney Tunes world.

Sweetums - Parks & Recreation

Sweetums are the controversial candy seen a few times in Parks & Recreation. Loaded with high-fructose corn syrup, Leslie (Amy Poehler) is appalled by their popularity, while Ron (Nick Offerman) is predictably less worried about how unhealthy they are.

Wonka Candy - Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory

One of the examples on this list of a fictional food product that was eventually a real brand name is Wonka Chocolate (or candy in general). Obviously, it's been seen in all the movie versions of the classic novel by Roald Dahl.

Hoverboards - Back To The Future Part II

When Back To The Future Part II came out, it was filled with futuristic products, but by far the one kids most wanted to be real was the Hoverboards (from Mattel in the movie). We're still waiting, decades later–and no, the "hoverboards" with the one wheel don't count.

The Cornballer - Arrested Development

Perhaps the most dangerous product on this list is the Cornballer from Arrested Development. Invented by George Bluth (Jeffrey Tambor), the product was recalled because it basically burned anyone who ever tried to use one, including Michael (Jason Bateman) multiple times in one episode. Getting Richard Simmons to help sell it in an infomercial was a bad idea, too.

Kitten Mittons - It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia

Does your cat make too much noise? If so, Charlie (Charlie Day) from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia has the solution for you. Kitten Mittons! Of course, your cat may not like them as much as you hope, so be careful!

Brawndo - Idiocracy

Brawndo has what plants crave! Actually, no... no it doesn't. It turns out water is still better for growing crops, but don't tell those corporate suits at Brawndo, they pay a lot of money to sponsor basically everything you would use water for... except the toilet.

Top Of The Muffin To You

Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) sure loves the tops of muffins. Personally, I like the whole muffin, but it seems enough people love the tops enough to make an entire bakery making only the tops of muffins in the world of Seinfeld. Just don't expect the local food pantry to accept only the stumps.

Dapper Dan - O Brother Where Art Thou?

Ulysses Everett McGill (George Clooney) is a Dapper Dan man. He's not interested in any other pomade to style his hair. If he can't get his Dapper Dan, he'll be sure to let you know. Accept no substitute.

Allied Biscuits - The Simpsons

Apparently, Springfield is big enough to have not one or two cracker brands, but no less than eight! Luann Van Houten's family's fortune comes from Southern Cracker, but poor Kirk is a terrible manager and leads the brand to a tie for the sixth most popular with Table Time and Allied Biscuits. Marge was so embarrassed that she emptied her plate back into the box.

Soul Glo - Coming To America

Soul Glo is quite the product in Coming To America. It's made a fortune for Darryl's family, and Akeem (Eddie Murphy) seems jealous of anyone wearing the hair product. Fun fact: the song in the fake commercial was written and performed by Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Nile Rodgers of Chic.

Stay Puft Marshmallows - Ghostbusters

Not only does Ray (Dan Aykroyd) manifest the giant Stay Puft Marshmallow Man at the end of Ghostbusters, eagle-eyed viewers will notice that there is a bag of the sugary treats on the counter as Dana (Sigourney Weaver) is unloading her groceries before Zuul takes over her refrigerator.

Rocket Fuel Malt Liquor - NewsRadio

The legendary newsman Bill McNeil (Phil Hartman) only endorses products he uses and enjoys. Or, it turns out, anyone willing to pay him enough money. The best example of the latter is Rocket Fuel Malt Liquor, which he records ridiculous commercials for in one episode of NewsRadio.

Tracy Jordan Meat Machine - 30 Rock

Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan) was always looking for ways to branch out, and that extended to endorsing a product called "Tracy Jordan Meat Machine" in the vein of the George Foreman Grill. It's not a bad strategy, as it clearly worked for the former heavyweight champion.

Los Pollos Hermanos - Breaking Bad

Los Pollos Hermanos, the fictional chicken chain in Breaking Bad, is another example of a brand on the TV show that has become real, with pop-up versions of the fictional restaurant taking over old storefronts on occasion.

Oceanic Airlines - Lost

Of the many different fictional brands in Lost, none were more prominent than Oceanic Airlines. The ill-fated flight that crashed onto "The Island" on the show was an Oceanic flight. There was even a fake website set up in the real world where fans could learn more about the airline and check out the "schedule." That flight from Sidney was on it, too... lost.

Duff Beer - The Simpsons

The Simpsons has been around a long, long time, and almost since the beginning, Homer (and everyone else in Springfield) has always been loyal to one brand of beer: Duff's. There are a lot of "flavors" of Duff, but they all come from the same vat, so it's really all about marketing. Duff Man agrees.

Cheesy Poofs - South Park

Eric Cartman loves his Cheesy Poofs. All the kids love them, but Cartman really loves them, as he's most often the one seen eating the fake snack food that seems to be off-brand Cheetos.

Mockolate - Friends

Mockolate on Friends makes light of products like Olestra that were popular in the 1990s. Mockolate is a synthetic version of chocolate that tastes terrible and is dangerous to ingest. It was eventually banned by the FDA on the show, but not before Monica tried to get a job inventing new candies with the chemicals. Yikes.

Soylent Green - Soylent Green

By far the most terrifying fake product on this list, Soylent Green is people! Never forget. And never, ever eat anything called "Soylent Green." Just starve yourself, it's safer.

Dunder-Mifflin Paper - The Office

Does anyone actually think about what brand of paper they are using? Do you sit in your office or at an office supply store, and make your decision based on the brand? I worked in a paper warehouse (for real) when I was in high school, and I never gave it a second thought ever again. Still, Dunder-Mifflin endures. on the US version of The Office. In the British version, it's the Wernham Hogg Paper Company.

Pawtucket Brewery - Family Guy

Like The Simpsons, the guys on Family Guy have a preferred brand of local beer from Pawtucket Brewery. The big difference is that the brewery in Family Guy is owned by a Willy Wonka-like character, instead of being promoted by a Superhero-looking mascot.

Mooby's - Clerks II

In the original Clerks, Randall and Dante worked in a nondescript shopping center (which is a real location in New Jersey). In the sequel, they've both taken jobs at the fictional Mooby's. It has since become a regular brand in Kevin Smith's films.

Bubba Gump Shrimp - Forrest Gump

Another example on this list of a fictional brand that became all too real is the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company. Started by Forrest (Tom Hanks) in tribute to his friend who was killed in Vietnam, the name was eventually licensed out and became a popular fast-casual fish joint with locations all over the world.

Pizza Planet - Toy Story

Pizza Planet must be based on the real-life pizza places like Showbiz Pizza and Chuck E Cheese, right? Kids love it, parents probably hate it, but it does look pretty darn fun in the Toy Story universe.

Rekall - Total Recall

Rekall, where fake memories are implanted in your head to make it seem like you went on a fun vacation, is...messed up. Total Recall is a wild movie, and the whole idea of having memories implanted is about as disturbing an example of a messed-up future anyone could ever come up with. Even if it's a trip to Mars.

Shotz Beer - Laverne & Shirley

When bffs Laverne and Shirley move to Milwaukee, they get a job at that most Milwaukee of places–a brewery. Of course, it helps their dreams come true, so it seems like the kind of beer we'd all like to try.

Butterbeer - Harry Potter

Butterbeer is a brand and a way of life. It also seems to be the only thing anyone wants to drink in the world of Harry Potter. It's even become a real thing, I get to try it when I toured the Harry Potter studio outside London. I'm honest, it's way too sweet for Muggle consumption. At least this Muggle.

Opti-Grab - The Jerk

I've worn glasses for most of my life, but I've never had the need for anything like the Opti-Grab from The Jerk. Sure, it makes Nathan a very rich man (at least until it's sued out of existence), so some people might be interested, but glasses can be awkward enough without having that weird thing you can pinch.

Strictland Propane - King Of The Hill

Strictland propane and propane products! The best money can buy!

They say that “Mother knows best,” but I can think of a few movies and TV shows that challenge that belief. The following are some of the rudest, most cruel, and just plain evil fictional moms whom I am eternally thankful I never had to grow up with.

Margaret White (Carrie)

Sissy Spacek's title character from Brian DePalma's 1976 adaptation of Stephen King's Carrie possesses telekinetic abilities that make her a danger to others, but she is not the villain of the story. That would be her mother, Margaret (Piper Laurie in an Oscar-nominated performance), who is an abusive, extreme religious fanatic with deluded reasoning for cruelly punishing her daughter, whom she even considers to be a punishment for her own past sins.

Lucille Bluth (Arrested Development)

There are very few members of the Bluth Family from Arrested Development who do not boast hilariously despicable personalities. The worst of them all might just be the matriarch, Lucille (Jessica Walter), whose self-serving, elitist ego drives her to manipulate and arrogantly berate all of her "loved" ones, with her own children facing much of the brunt.

Momma Lift (Throw Momma From The Train)

In the 1987 dark comedy movie, Throw Momma from the Train, Owen Lift (Danny DeVito, who also directs) agrees to kill the ex-wife of his writing professor, Larry Donner (Billy Crystal), in exchange for murdering his mother. Honestly, it is hard not to empathize with Owen when Anne Ramsey first appears in her Oscar-nominated role as the loud, nasty, belligerent, and physically abusive Momma Lift.

Livia Soprano (The Sopranos)

Every Sopranos character has their standout qualities, but Livia Soprano (Nancy Marchand) has absolutely none. Her gangster son Tony (James Gandolfini) enters therapy to get over issues stemming from his terrible childhood living under her roof. However, she committed her worst sin against him when he was grown up, attempting to orchestrate his murder.

Lady Tremaine (Cinderella)

You could look at any iteration of the classic fairy tale, Cinderella, and the title character's wicked stepmother could be considered an all-timer in this category, based on her unjustifiably horrid treatment of the innocent young woman. However, Eleanor Audley's portrayal in the Disney animated classic from 1950 is perhaps the most bloodcurdlingly cruel and chillingly intimidating.

Selina Meyer (Veep)

In Armando Iannucci's hilarious political satire, Veep, Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) uses and abuses as many people as possible to rise in the ranks of the United States Government. Receiving the worst treatment, however, is her own daughter, Catherine (Sarah Sutherland), whom she constantly belittles and shamelessly uses as a tool in her campaigns.

Mary Jones (Precious)

One of the most stunning examples of a comedian giving a stellar dramatic performance is Mo'Nique's Oscar-winning role in Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire as the title character's mom, Mary Jones. Not only does she physically and verbally abuse her teenage daughter (played by Gabourey Sidibe), but she also stands by when her husband takes advantage of her, only to blame her for the situation and accuse her of "stealing her man."

Cersei Lannister (Game Of Thrones)

In the world of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire novels, there are many noble royals who breed despicable children, and just as many noble royals bred from despicable parents. However, Cersei Lannister (played by Lena Headey in HBO's Game of Thrones cast) is an example of a sadistic woman who also bred sadistic children, all of whom would end up meeting a bitter end as a result of her manipulative ways.

Joan Crawford (Mommie Dearest)

Arguably, the mother of all mean movie mothers is not a product of complete fiction, but allegedly based on fact. Faye Dunaway gives a frighteningly over-the-top performance as Academy Award winner Joan Crawford in a 1981 adaptation of Mommie Dearest, a memoir by the screen legend's own adoptive daughter, Christina.

Cookie Lyon (Empire)

The dog-eat-dog nature of the music industry has rarely been captured better than in Lee Daniels and Danny Strong's hit series, Empire, especially as seen through the eyes of Loretha "Cookie" Lyon. Portrayed by Taraji P. Henson in a Golden Globe-winning performance, the record executive and former convict is not opposed to pitting her own children against each other to benefit her own influence over the family's company, Empire Entertainment.

Pamela Voorhees (Friday The 13th)

If you really think about it, Pamela Voorhees (portrayed by Betsy Palmer in the 1980 horror movie classic, Friday the 13th) is not, in essence, a bad mother. It was her loving commitment to her son that drove her to murder the camp counselors she believes were responsible for his fatal drowning. In fact, proof that the sympathetic horror villain was a good mom lies in the mysteriously resurrected Jason and his bid to continue killing debaucherous teens in her honor.

Marie Barone (Everybody Loves Raymond)

On the beloved TV sitcom, Everybody Loves Raymond, Frank Barone (Peter Boyle) is the more outwardly spiteful parent to Ray (Ray Romano) and Robert (Brad Garrett). At least he does not treat his sons like children, even as grown-ups, like his wife, Marie, does. Doris Roberts' multi-Emmy-winning role might be an even worse mother-in-law, with the way she puts down Ray's wife, Debra (Patricia Heaton), at seemingly every chance.

Lavona Golden (I, Tonya)

I believe the key to Allison Janney's Oscar win for portraying Tonya Harding's mother, Lavona Golden, in I, Tonya is how persuasively she argues that she is responsible for pushing the Olympic figure skater (played by Margot Robbie) to greatness. However, she takes absolutely no responsibility for instilling qualities of poor sportsmanship, incessant verbal and physical abuse, and her shamelessly manipulative ways.

Evelyn Harper (Two And A Half Men)

Holland Taylor is dynamite in her ferocious, four-time Emmy-nominated performance as the cold and vindictive Evelyn Harper on Two and a Half Men. It is no wonder that her sons, the commitment-phobic Charlie (Charlie Sheen) and hopelessly dissatisfied Alan (Jon Cryer), turned out to be, when you imagine what living with her must have been like.

Petunia Dursley (The Harry Potter Movies)

What makes Petunia Dursley (Fiona Shaw) easily one of the most despicable Harry Potter characters is her terrible role as a parent, but in more than one way. She treats her son, Dudley (Harry Melling), far too well, spoiling him beyond repair. Yet, her treatment of her eponymous orphaned nephew (played by Daniel Radcliffe) is abhorrent, from locking him in a cupboard under the stairs as punishment to making him into her home's indentured servant.

Colleen Donaghy (30 Rock)

Elaine Stritch earned five Emmy nominations for appearing on 30 Rock as the domineering and mercilessly critical mother of Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin), Colleen. Jack once accidentally hit her with his car and, as a result of her unfavorable behavior, proceeded to wait eight minutes before deciding to call 9-1-1.

Ruth DeWitt Bukater (Titanic)

Frances Fisher's role in the Titanic cast, Ruth DeWitt Bukater, is an essential example of an overbearing, elitist, and manipulative movie mother. Perhaps her worst offense is forcing Rose (Kate Winslet) to marry her loathsome fiancé, Cal (Billy Zane), purely for the social status it will earn their family.

Brianna Barksdale (The Wire)

On The Wire, the only thing standing in the way of D'Angelo Barksdale's (Lawrence Gilliard Jr.) switch to the right side of the law is his mother. Brianna (Michael Hyatt) is constantly manipulating her son into giving up so much for the benefit of their family's unlawful business, including serving a long prison sentence on behalf of his uncle, Avon (Wood Harris).

Eleanor Shaw Iselin (The Manchurian Candidate)

Discovering that you have been brainwashed into becoming a political assassin is terrifying. Discovering that your own mother is involved in the conspiracy, like what Eleanor Shaw Iselin (Angela Lansbury) does to her son, Raymond (Laurence Harvey), in the 1962's The Manchurian Candidate, is simply devastating.

Endora (Bewitched)

Some of the funniest moments on Bewitched would come courtesy of Agnes Moorehead as Endora, a literal witch who never once held back from expressing her resentment toward her mortal son-in-law, Darrin Stephens (original Dick York and later Dick Sargent). Of course, Samantha (Elizabeth Montgomery) is as much a victim of her mother's domineerance, and one can only imagine what sorts of wicked things she must have put up with while growing up with her.

Mrs. Robinson (The Graduate)

Watching The Graduate from the perspective of Elaine Robinson (Katharine Ross) makes the 1967 dramedy an even more maddening trip. It is bad enough that her mother (played by Anne Bancroft) attempts to ruin her relationship with Benjamin Braddock (Dustin Hoffman), but to discover that he is her lover, too, sounds like a nightmare.

Irina Derevko (Alias)

To get a more authentic look at what the life of a spy must be like, I would not recommend checking out the James Bond movies, but the hit ABC series, Alias, which follows the adventures of double agent Sydney Bristow (Jennifer Garner). She was prepped for the traumatic hardships of espionage at an early age when her mother, Irina Derevko (Lena Olin), faked her death, but even that could not prepare her for when Irina betrayed her daughter in favor of the KGB.

Beverly Sutphin (Serial Mom)

The central character of writer and director John Waters' uproarious dark comedy, 1994's Serial Mom, is Beverly Sutphin (Kathleen Turner), a suburban housewife who would never harm her own children. However, she has absolutely no qualms about brutally harming other people for the sake of her children, which does not make things any better, of course.

Maya Lewis (Scandal)

Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) had dedicated her life and career to making crises disappear on Scandal. On the other hand, her mother, Maya Lewis (Khandi Alexander), has, ironically, dedicated her life to making them happen. However, Olivia did not know that for almost two decades, and, in fact, she was under the impression that her mother was dead that whole time.

Mrs. Windle Vale (Now, Voyager)

Bette Davis stars in director Irving Rapper's 1942 drama, Now, Voyager, as Charlotte Vale, who longs for independence from her overbearing mother (played by Gladys Cooper), who constantly belittles her with comments about her being an embarrassment to their family. Apparently, Mrs. Vale could not stand the idea of her daughter protesting her dominance because the day she does just happens to be the day she succumbs to a sudden heart attack.

Ida Welker (Malcolm In The Middle)

While Lois (Jane Kaczmarek) could be seen as a mean mom, in retrospect, she put up with a lot while raising her five boys (six if you count Bryan Cranston's Hal) on Malcolm in the Middle. While I have nothing but respect for her, I have nothing but disdain for her mother, Ida (Academy Award winner Cloris Leachman), who is a cold, conniving, and downright horrid woman right to her core.

Zinnia Wormwood (Matilda)

Based on the novel by Roald Dahl, 1996's Matilda stars Mara Wilson in the title role of a young girl gifted with telekinetic powers but cursed with despicable adult peers, including her uncaring parents. Not only is her mother, Zinnia Wormwood (Rhea Perlman), a vain, airheaded narcissist, but her father (played by Danny DeVito, who also directs) is just as bad.

Dr. Beverly Hofstadter (The Big Bang Theory)

Almost every member of CBS' The Big Bang Theory cast has a mother with a strong personality, to say the least, but Leonard Hofstadter (Johnny Galecki) has that claimed unmatched. Psychologist Beverly Hofstadter (Christine Baranski) never bothered to show Leonard any affection, considering she only had children for experimental and research purposes anyway.

Alice Ward (The Fighter)

Melissa Leo gives an Academy Award-winning performance in 2010's fact-based, acclaimed boxing movie, The Fighter, as Alice Ward. The portrayal paints her as a woman who is more concerned with what is best for the athletic careers of her sons, Micky (Mark Wahlberg) and Dicky (Christian Bale), than what is best for their well-beings.

Constance Langdon (American Horror Story)

As one of the most frequent recurring American Horror Story actors, Jessica Lange has played an amusing variety of characters on the seasonal horror anthology TV show. However, her scariest role may be the first, Constance Langdon, whose horrid parenting skills and refusal to take responsibility for them have resulted in chaos in her household and for others affected by her children's actions.

Lilly Dillon (The Grifters)

One might assume that Lilly Dillon (Anjelica Huston) would be happy that her son, Roy (John Cusack), has found love with Myra (Annette Bening), who is in the same line of work as she is: con artistry. However, Lilly is the type of mother who does not believe any woman is good enough for her son, which is why she plots to murder Myra in 1990's The Grifters.

Norma Bates (Bates Motel)

We never actually meet Norma Bates in Alfred Hitchcock's seminal 1960 thriller, Psycho, but we can imagine, from the way her son, Norman (Anthony Perkins), takes on her likeness when murdering people, that she was not an easy person to get along with. The A&E original series, Bates Motel, offers an inside look at the complicated relationship between Norma (Vera Farmiga) and young Norman (Freddie Highmore), which is littered with lies, manipulation, and murder.

It is never not a blast to see celebrities make funny cameos in movies or TV shows, or even appear in starring roles, as themselves, especially as a version of themselves that bears little resemblance to their actual personality. Take a look at some of the funniest examples of actors and other artists poking fun at themselves in a hilarious onscreen performance.

Michael Cera (This Is The End)

Each member of the cast of 2013's This Is the End is a celebrity playing an exaggerated version of themselves, but the absolutely wildest of the bunch is Michael Cera. The actor plays dramatically against type as a destructive force of chaos at James Franco's house party... before destructive forces of chaos begin descending upon the entire Earth in Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg's blistering apocalyptic satire.

Kate Winslet (Extras)

Co-creator and star Ricky Gervais' Hollywood satire, Extras, boasted a gut-busting rotation of celebrity guest stars playing the most ridiculously antithetical versions of themselves, one of the most memorable being Kate Winslet. Years before she took home an Academy Award for The Reader, the English actor appeared in an episode in which she openly obsesses over finding the role that will win her an Oscar.

Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm)

Seinfeld cast member Jason Alexander eventually realized that his hopelessly neurotic character, George Costanza, was the fictional alter ego of co-creator Larry David. However, none of George's self-destructive and alienating flaws on the beloved TV sitcom could compare to David's self-parodic portrayal of himself on Curb Your Enthusiasm, on which the comedian would seemingly go out of his way to offend friends, family members, and just about anyone he came into contact with.

Bill Murray (Zombieland)

Out of all the amazing, random Bill Murray cameos to choose from, the most iconic would have to be his appearance in 2009's Zombieland when our four protagonists (Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, and Abigail Breslin) stumble upon him while taking refuge in his mansion. It is actually not too much of a stretch to believe that this is how the comedy legend might live during the zombie apocalypse, from dressing himself up as one of the undead to blend in, to citing Garfield as his one regret before succumbing to an accidental shotgun blast.

Bob Barker (Happy Gilmore)

After decades of maintaining a sunny demeanor as the host of The Price is Right, it was shocking to see Bob Barker appear as anything but in his iconic cameo in 1995's Happy Gilmore. Adam Sandler's title character gets fed up with Barker's incessant criticism of his golfing skills, driving him to show him that "the price is wrong," only to discover that the older man has some real fight in him.

Stephen Hawking (The Simpsons)

Influential theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking played himself on The Simpsons on multiple occasions. One of the funnier instances comes from the Season 10 episode, "They Saved Lisa's Brain," in which he clocks Seymour Skinner in the face with a spring-loaded boxing glove built into his wheelchair.

Prince (New Girl)

As New Girl creator Liz Meriwether recalled in an article for Vulture (via Slate), Prince loved the quirky sitcom, which is why he agreed to guest star in an episode that, essentially, portrays him as some sort of mysterious magical guide. Quite frankly, it is hard to think of this portrayal as much of an exaggeration from the late, great pop star's true, legendary persona.

David Hasselhoff (The Spongebob Squarepants Movie)

Even though most young audience members seeing The SpongeBob Squarepants Movie in 2004 likely were not familiar with David Hasselhoff, it still makes perfect sense that the former Baywatch star would come to SpongeBob (Tom Kenny) and Patrick's (Bill Fagerbakke) rescue near the end. The actor uses his body as a motorboat to transport the duo back to Bikini Bottom, which was achieved in part with the use of a frighteningly realistic, double-sized replica, which he later brought home with him.

Zach Galifianakis (Between Two Ferns)

Zach Galifianakis has a great reputation as a wonderful talk show guest, despite his alter ego on Between Two Ferns being an absolute disaster as a talk show host. After years of mercilessly roasting celebrities to their faces on Funny or Die's web series, it inspired a mockumentary-style Netflix original movie in which the Hangover star also got to be the butt of the joke.

Neil Patrick Harris (Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle)

You might as well call Neil Patrick Harris' performance in Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle his audition to play Barney Stinson, considering his highly fictionalized alter ego has much more in common with his role in the How I Met Your Mother cast. The Emmy winner goes further with the uproarious portrayal in the sequels, which reveal the actor is only pretending to be gay to better his career.

Nicolas Cage (The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent)

I can understand why Nicolas Cage was initially reluctant to play himself in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, especially for the pretty far-out ways the Academy Award winner pokes fun at himself and his unique career in the film. Then again, it does paint him in a largely positive light and even allows him to be the hero of its irreverent, comedic action plot in the end.

David Bowie (Zoolander)

Admittedly, David Bowie's cameo in Zoolander is relatively tame when compared to his out-of-this-world stage presence. However, the idea of the rock 'n roll legend randomly appearing out of nowhere to help judge an impromptu "Walk Off" between Ben Stiller's eponymous male model and his rival, Hansel (Owen Wilson), is still pretty ridiculous.

James Marsden (Jury Duty)

It takes a special kind of performance as one's self to receive an Emmy nomination for it, and that is what James Marsden achieved with Jury Duty. In the Amazon Prime original reality show, a gentleman named Ronald Gladden is called into serve on a trial he does not know is an elaborate prank on him, involving a cast of actors that includes the X-Men and Sonic the Hedgehog actor as a more vain portrait of himself.

Debra Messing (Bros)

Will & Grace star Debra Messing poked fun at her status as an icon in the gay community with her cameo in the LGBTQIA+ rom-com, Bros. The Emmy winner feels compelled to remind Bobby (Billy Eichner) that she is "NOT GRACE" when he asks her for romantic advice when all she wanted to do was tour his museum.

Keanu Reeves (Always Be My Maybe)

In addition to leading classic action movies like Speed and John Wick, Keanu Reeves has become a cameo king with funny, random appearances, such as in Netflix's 2019 comedy Always Be My Maybe. Marcus (Randall Park) is shocked to discover that his childhood friend, Sasha's (Ali Wong), new boyfriend is the actor, who partially improvised his portrayal as a pretentious weirdo who wears glasses without lenses and asks for a meal inspired by "the concept of time" at a restaurant.

John Malkovich (Being John Malkovich)

John Malkovich's performance in director Spike Jonze's inventive fantasy comedy, Being John Malkovich, is a special case of an actor playing an exaggerated version of himself because he is technically playing multiple roles. One famous scene sees the two-time Oscar nominee entering a portal that leads to his own mind, but places him in a nightmarish world filled with people who have his face and can only speak his last name.

LeBron James (Trainwreck)

LeBron James has made a decent living outside of his professional basketball career by playing fictionalized versions of himself in the likes of Space Jam: A New Legacy and the 2023 House Party remake. However, the movie that started it all was 2015's Trainwreck, which portrays him as the best friend of a doctor (played by Bill Hader) who specializes in treating star athletes.

Olivia Newton-John (Glee)

One of the most memorable guest appearances on Glee was the late Olivia Newton-John. The Grease star showed up on the coming-of-age musical-dramedy a couple of times, in which she is portrayed as extremely rude and "hopelessly devoted" to herself.

Bruce Campbell (My Name Is Bruce)

No matter what role he plays, it is hard to see Bruce Campbell as anything other than the hero of the Evil Dead movies, Ash Williams. The Scream King leans into that reputation in the 2007 horror-comedy movie, My Name Is Bruce (which he also directs), as a hard-drinking, washed-up version of himself who becomes the last hope to save a small Oregon town from a malevolent demon.

Jessica Biel (BoJack Horseman)

Netflix's animated Hollywood satire, BoJack Horseman, is especially famous for its uproarious celebrity cameos, one of the funniest being Jessica Biel. Not only does the former 7th Heaven cast member boldly call out her own career low points, but is also portrayed as the spouse of Mr. Peanutbutter (Paul F. Tompkins), whom she leaves for her real-life husband, Justin Timberlake.

Eminem (The Interview)

Earlier in his career, Eminem was criticized for lyrics that were interpreted as homophobic, which he pokes fun at in a hilarious way in Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg's The Interview. Arguably the funniest scene in the 2014 comedy sees the Grammy-winning rap artist speaking to talk show host Dave Skylark (James Franco), to whom he very nonchalantly reveals that he is a closeted gay man.

Kelly Ripa (Broad City)

TV personality Kelly Ripa brilliantly mocks her clean image with her cameo on Comedy Central's Broad City. During a visit to the beloved daytime talk show host's apartment, Abbi (co-creator Abbi Jacobson) discovers that she can be a pretty hard partier, especially when cracks open a jar of moonshine.

Ryan Reynolds (Family Guy)

Many celebrities have stopped by to voice appropriately cartoonish versions of themselves on Family Guy, including Ryan Reynolds, who clearly had a lot of fun with his guest spot. He moves in across the street from the Griffins and appears to take an intense liking to Peter (Seth MacFarlane), who begins to suspect that the actor has a crush on him.

Cher (Will & Grace)

In Season 3 of Will & Grace, Jack (Sean Hayes) becomes uncomfortably attached to a doll modeled after Cher, treating it as if it were the real multi-talented icon, much to the chagrin of his friends. When the real Cher appears to voice her concerns about his obsession, Jack mistakes her for a very convincing drag queen.

Carl Weathers (Arrested Development)

Some of Arrested Development's remarkably clever meta humor involved hilarious cameos by celebrities as themselves, most notably Carl Weathers. The Rocky and Predator star's appearances on the cult favorite sitcom saw him dropping clues of being extremely thrifty, to the point that he would save the meat on a mostly eaten rib to make stew.

Dave Grohl (Studio 666)

Each member of Foo Fighters willfully takes aim at themselves in the 2022 musical horror-comedy movie, Studio 666, but frontman Dave Grohl especially goes wild here. He becomes a threat to his bandmates after becoming possessed by a spirit that haunts the California house where they choose to record their tenth album.

Matt LeBlanc (Episodes)

One of Matt LeBlanc's most successful gigs after leaving the Friends cast was playing a very personal role on Showtime's Episodes. The actor earned a Golden Globe for portraying himself as likable but overbearing, as the married creators of a new TV show that he is cast in discover.

Shaun White (Friends With Benefits)

Olympic Gold Medal-winning snowboarder Shaun White seems like a fun, down-to-earth dude, which makes his cameo in Friends with Benefits as anything but that so memorably funny. Because of his interest in Jamie (Mila Kunis), White takes an immediate and very intense dislike toward her platonic, occasional lover, Dylan (Justin Timberlake), threatening him at every turn.

James Van Der Beek (Don’t Trust The B– in Apartment 23)

James Van Der Beek's first major return to TV after leading the Dawson’s Creek cast was a main role on Don’t Trust the B– in Apartment 23 as... James Van Der Beek. The actor's absurd portrayal of the famous best friend to Krysten Ritter’s Chloe is miles away from his true self, but it did somehow predict that he would later appear on Dancing with the Stars.

Ryan Seacrest (Knocked Up)

The timeline of Ryan Seacrest's hosting gigs is so prolific and extensive, he is almost (if not more) famous than many of the people he has interviewed over the years. He acknowledges this in his cameo in Knocked Up, in which the then-E! News presenter portrays himself as comically vain, ill-tempered, and foul-mouthed, which are not good qualities on camera.

Tom Brady (Living With Yourself)

The Netflix sci-fi comedy series, Living with Yourself, stars Paul Rudd as Miles Elliott, who discovers that a life-changing wellness spa has cloned him into a better version of himself when he comes face-to-face with his "flawed" double. In the first episode, Miles sees the New England Patriots quarterback walking out of the spa before revealing he has visited it six previous times, which also happened to be his number of Super Bowl wins at the time.

Al Pacino (Jack And Jill)

If there is one good thing about 2011's Jack and Jill, which stars Adam Sandler as both a family man and his obnoxious twin sister, it is Al Pacino's performance as himself. In the comedy, the Oscar winner expresses affection for Jill, which leads him to star in a "Dunkaccino" ad that he believes should be destroyed moments after watching it.

Great sitcom families come in all shapes and sizes when it comes to the expansive landscape. From animated favs to semi-autobiographical cranktakorous comedians, and even classic Hollywood iconic fams, all show up, good, bad or ugly. Regardless of their grade or feelings for one another, each brood left an indelible mark on the television genre. Wherever you stand within your family tree, this list is for the fathers, mothers, step-parents, kids, siblings, cousins and much more.

The Addams - The Addams Family 5/5

Though they can be considered creepy and kooky, the Addams remain as relevant as ever in pop culture. Starting as a single-panel New Yorker comic strip, the blended oddballs continue to showcase true love through dark and dismal ways. The success of these longstanding family unit vibes is due to one of the best couples (outside of rom-coms), Gomez and Morticia, and their unwavering love and pride.

The Simpsons - The Simpsons 4/5

The long-running cartoon has become a recognizable pop culture staple worldwide. Even if Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie aren’t the Cleavers of the past thirty years, they still show up for one another however they can. Realistically, though, Marge has and continues to be the anchor of the Simpson family dynamics.

The Taylors - The Andy Griffith Show 5/5

Mayberry, North Carolina, wouldn’t be the same without the Taylors, in my opinion. Andy, Aunt Bee and Opie paved the way wholesomely for many other families, of any shape or size, in the sitcom landscape. Now and again, though, small conflicts would arise between the trio (I still can’t get over the Opie, slingshot and bird episode) that would get addressed head-on and with care.

The Bunkers - All In The Family 3/5

The Bunkers live in a working-class Queens home fueled by loud opinions, generational clashes, and sharp-tongued debates. Archie’s old-school views and Edith’s unwavering sweetness lend to the frequently boisterous home. Though daughter Gloria and husband, Mike, are no strangers to stirring the pot, either. Underneath it all lies a stubborn but constant love for each other amid all the high-strung dynamics.

The Jeffersons - The Jeffersons 4/5

The titular unit first starred on All in the Family as the Bunkers' neighbors. Not long after did George, Louise and their family moved on up. The Jeffersons showcased a pretty average but caring reflection of familial dynamics–dad’s arrogance clashed with mom’s calm, while their son, Lionel, tried to be a voice of reason. Along with the trio’s inner workings, extended relatives were added into the mix in a humorous but heartfelt way.

The Stephens - Bewitched 3/5

Though Bewitched was presented as generally lighthearted with a focus on comedic situations, the storylines made the Stephens’ experience some turbulence. Between Samantha’s relatives interfering in her everyday dealings, to Darrin initially doubting her abilities, and even her kiddos stirring the pot, the familial layers ran through a whole gamut.

The Sanfords - Sanford And Son 3/5

Fred and Lamont make up this parent-kid relationship, and while it’s relatively stable, the less-than-stellar communication skills hinder these two from leveling up. Notably, it’s a love-hate vibe between the two, with Fred’s habits and personal beliefs that cause the most trouble in their day-to-day lives.

The Munsters - The Munsters 5/5

Presented as a satirical counterpoint to the other familial shows during the 60s, the spooky eponymous unit was quite loving. Herman and Lily, Frankenstein’s monster and a vampire, respectively, were good-natured parental role models who welcomed open conversations, even when things went haywire.

The Petries - The Dick Van Dyke Show 4/5

The veteran black and white trio balances everyday life with Hollywood dealings. Filled with quick wit, heartfelt moments, and the occasional misstep (often turned laugh), they face the ups and downs of everyday personal and professional issues as a unit. The Petries are a great example of running a home with grace, humor, and even a little song and dance when needed.

The Gellars - Friends 2/5

Monica and Ross are typical sister-brother fodder. They both hang with all of their pals in a home I've wanted to explore forever, and from time to time, break out an iconic childhood dance number. When their parents come into play, that rating dives off a cliff. While Ross is viewed as a golden child, Monica continuously gets scrutinized or patronized for every element of her life, and her bro is MIA to defend her.

The Costanzas, The Seinfelds - Seinfeld 3/5

While Seinfeld isn’t centered on regular relative relations, the Seinfelds and Costanzas got featured somewhat consistently. Jerry and his parents' (and occasionally, Uncle Leo's) dynamics are pretty run-of-the-mill, but can be somewhat quirky. Meanwhile, George’s mom and dad illustrate the louder side of caring, but also outspoken heads of the family. Together, they’re a hilarious blended group poking and prodding at their kids.

The Banks - Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air 4/5

Like many of the other blended broods, the Banks show up at the end of the day for one another. Will coming to stay with the Bel-Air residents showcased from the jump what type of good-willed, community-driven people they are. Their actual reactions in their relationships on the surface may look quite different, though.

The Bundys - Married… With Children 1/5

The Married… with Children family is built differently. The Bundys are filled with insults, bad luck, and relentless sarcasm, paired with Al’s bitterness, Peg’s laziness, and the kids’ scheming--making it one unpredictable place. As miserable as they claim to be in regards to money, love and success, they’re stuck together—and wouldn’t have it any other way.

The Tucker-Pritchetts, Pritchett-Delgados and Dunphys - Modern Family 5/5

Ed O’Neill’s second run with a family sitcom was as notable as Married… With Children, but related much better to his loved ones, playing Jay Pritchett, the staunch but understanding patriarch. Between him and his OG kids, Claire and Mitchell, their respective families, his new wife and kids, and everyone interacting regularly, it’s more often than not a fun-loving and humanistic give and take of blended familial relationships.

The Flinstones - The Flintstones 3/5

The titular family of the first notable animated sitcom premiered back in the 1960s. And while it was widely successful and has multiple iterations a la The Addams Family, Fred is far from Gomez. But the fictionalized caveman continued to show up for his family even when the going got tough, or got him flustered.

The Belchers - Bob’s Burgers 4/5

As one of the most rewatchable shows ever, The Belchers' family dynamic is the stuff of magic. While they may be far from perfect, overly successful, or even popular (to some), the five humorously and oddly show up for one another every week. Now and again, Bob or one of the other four shows some defiance with the goings on, but it never lasts for long.

The Tanners (and co.) - Full House 4/5

The blended household has a lot going on within all of its floors, including regularly showing up for each other. Danny, Joey, Becky and Jesse do their best for the collective kiddos but can also lead them into trouble from time to time. All in all, though, the collective fam has nothing but the best intentions, except maybe when DJ’s neighbor's best friend, Kimmy Gibbler, comes around.

The McCulloughs - The Bernie Mac Show 4/5

The Bernie Mac Show is another classic, somewhat reflective look into the late comedian Bernie Mac’s real life. As the McCulloughs take in their two nieces and nephew after their mom has issues, lots of boundaries are explored for the new fivesome. With his bold humor but well-intended grace, they all learn to bond.

The Wilkersons - Malcolm In The Middle 3/5

Malcolm and the rest of his family live in middle-class chaos, outside of careers, much of which is due to the close-knit but quarrelsome four brothers. Regardless of how messy, wild, or outlandish it gets, Lois, with the help of Hal, is there to rein it all back in time and again. Through thick and thin, and a bonkers way of getting their feelings across, they continue to stick together.

The Barones - Everybody Loves Raymond 4/5

Ray and his family live in a whirlwind of sarcasm, guilt trips, and unsolicited visits, mostly stirred up by their impossibly close but constantly bickering dynamic. With Marie’s meddling, Frank’s gruff indifference, and Robert’s simmering resentment, Ray and Debra are rarely left in peace. Still, no matter how overbearing or absurd it gets, they always find a way to resolve any quip.

The Rocks - Everybody Hates Chris 4/5

The Chris Rock reflective sitcom is the perfect blend of comedy and heart between the core five. Even though the noted balance hangs true in most episodes, the reactions and happenings that fill out the original UPN show highlight the realities of their normalcy. All of them are trying their best in their personal and collective lives, and it’s an excellent showcase.

The Mitchells - Moesha 3/5

The Mitchells on Moesha broke barriers and still remains a part of pop culture due to breaking untrue industry perceptions. Though Frank ran his household in a tight manner, alongside his second wife, Dee (remarried after his first wife, Marguerite, passed), they faced issues head-on and together. (Including Frank’s past infidelities.)

The Lopezes - George Lopez 4/5

Another outstanding example of parents and their kids comes from the early ‘00s George Lopez series. Not that it didn’t have its issues, including Lopez’s spotty communication skills, the fivesome navigated their best through an array of ups and downs using humor and diverse perspectives.

The Davids - Curb Your Enthusiasm 1/5

In the off chance you’re not familiar with this somewhat factual Larry David sitcom, Larry has and always will be the problem. It’s exactly why Cheryl Hines divorced him during the long-running 12-season show. The writer and comedian loosely based this on his own marriage, but with a larger-than-life comedic spin to it.

The Mosbys - How I Met Your Mother 3/5

It may be a forgotten fact that the Mosby kids are sprinkled throughout the series, but their presence is the hinge of the show. From the small sampling we have of Ted with his son and daughter, it all seems pretty average (depending on who you ask). During the 9 seasons, Mosby ignores direct questions from his children, albeit comedically, and focuses on recounting the whole thing in order.

The Bluths - Arrested Development 2/5

The Bluth family and their fictional company were a comedic trainwreck from start to finish. Even though they all had shining moments of showing up for each other, their rich, out-of-touch ways, personally and professionally, wreaked some major havoc. With the corrupt and scheming patriarch George Bluth at the helm, sooner or later, all the issues were bound to hit a boiling point.

The Griffins - Family Guy 2/5

As one of the more outlandish cartoon families, the Griffiths don’t hold down the homestead title as well as others. From Peter to Stewie, each of them has some highlights, but their flaws and how they relate to each other through those traits are the glue that somehow holds them together. Overall, they have fine moments of true connectedness, but it's not commonplace.

The Landrys, Campbells - Sister Sister 5/5

The still lovable Sister Sister shows just how to work through a wildly unexpected happening together. Starring Tia and Tamera Mowry as long-lost twins of the same name to reunite and live with their respective parents under one roof takes a lot of gumption. By no means did the new era between the four run smoothly, but all were onboard to give it their best shot to let the sisters get to know each other.

Schitt’s Creek 5/5

Co-creators and real-life father-son duo, Eugene and Dan Levy, nailed this fictional riches-to-rags story’s foursome. The Canadian sitcom took over the world because of the Schitt’s humor, ridiculous banter, but a pure heart of gold for one another. From start to finish, we watched them grow as a family and as individuals who truly realized that our relationships are the most important thing any of us has.

The Hills - King Of The Hill 4/5

You’d never expect a place like small-town Texas to house one of the best animated shows and families of all time, but it does. The Hills reflect a completely average American family in suburbia, with, generally, semi-realistic issues they work through together. Hank may be a little rough around the edges when something goes wrong, but he usually works through it and celebrates by cracking open a cold one with his pals, uh-huh.

The Reynolds - It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia 2/5

The Philadelphia area-based family isn’t for the faint of heart. They are a ragtag bunch that dysfunctionally can be supportive, but often through very muddied lenses of narcissism, manipulative behavior or shallowness. Somehow, through all of the dynamics, they continue to co-own and successfully tend a bar together.

The Solomons - 3rd Rock From The Sun 3/5

This case stands a little differently from the rest, in terms of human family dynamics vs. alien ones. As the Solomons, the quartet of ETs are wacky and get into a lot of antics Earthside that get them into trouble. But how they act toward one another as who they really are helps bump their score up.

People have a lot of opinions on sitcoms, and the more popular, the more opinions there are. So, for this, our list of the best episodes of the best sitcoms, we combed through sites like IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes to see if we could find a consensus. It's probably not perfect, and opinions will vary, but at the very least, it's as close as a list can get to all the best episodes of these classic sitcoms from every era of television.

Seinfeld - The Contest

There is no question that "The Contest" in Season 4 ranks among the best episodes of Seinfeld ever. There may be one or two episodes that compete for that top spot, as would be expected from a show as beloved as Seinfeld, but just hearing Kramer yell "I'm out!" is enough for us to include it on this list.

Modern Family - Caught In The Act

Everyone fears walking in on their parents doing the deed, and that's the aptly titled "Caught In The Act" in Season 2 of Modern Family. The episode hilariously explores that one thing that everyone can relate to.

The Golden Girls - One Flew Out Out Of Cuckoo's Nest

Over the many years it ran, The Golden Girls just kept getting better. In fact, it's rare to see a series finale be ranked among the best ever, but that is the case with "One Flew Out Out Of Cuckoo's Nest." The classic NBC came to a wonderful conclusion with a couple of marriages and a move out of Florida. It does have some of those classic Golden Girls insults, though! What a way to end!

Good Times - The Evans Get Involved: Part 1

Sometimes the best episodes are not necessarily the funniest. Take, for example, "The Evans Get Involved: Part 1" from Season 5 of Good Times. Not only does it introduce Penny, played by a young Janet Jackson, who would become a major character going forward, but it also addresses the deadly serious subject of abuse. So, it's not the funniest, but it is great TV.

The Brady Bunch - The Subject Was Noses

Multiple generations grew up watching The Brady Bunch, and when asked about episodes, it's inevitable that many will immediately cite Marcia's broken nose episode as one of their favorites and certainly one of the most memorable. The episode, from Season 4, is a classic, and the ridiculousness of the football hitting Marcia in the face is one of the best moments in TV history.

Scrubs - My Best Friend's Baby's Baby and My Baby's Baby

The second episode of Season 4 of Scrubs, "My Best Friend's Baby's Baby and My Baby's Baby," takes the top spot for the medical comedy. Honestly, just the title is perfect for the show's over-the-top nature and earns it this spot on the list.

All In The Family -  Too Good Edith

All In The Family was never afraid to blur the lines between drama and comedy and take on heavy subjects. The series finale, after nine incredible seasons, takes the top spot here. Titled "Too Good Edith," the show explores the love Archie has for Edith and his fear of her death. The death comes off-screen, after the show concluded, and is dealt with the the show's sequel series, Archie's Place. A fitting end to the classic show.

The Simpsons - Homer's Enemy

Ask 100 fans of The Simpsons what the best episode is, and you'll probably get 100 different answers (though anyone who says anything after Season 10 is wrong). The most popular answer on the internet seems to be "Homer's Enemy" from Season 8, which tells the story of Homer's hapless co-worker Frank Grimes, aka "Grimsy," may he rest in peace.

Community - Modern Warfare

Ah, the famous paintball episode of Community. It feels like all we really need to say here is, "If you know, you know."

Family Guy - Road To The Multiverse

Years before the MCU movies took us into the multiverse, The Family Guy offered us a "Road to the Multiverse" in Season 8. It's a little surprising that this one is so loved by fans. It's a great episode, but it's also very different from a standard episode. Sometimes going this far astray doesn't work, but Seth McFarlane and his crack crew nailed it here.

Cheers - One For The Road

It turns out that fans actually kind of love series finales. "One for the Road" was the last episode of the classic sitcom Cheers, and while it's a great ending to the show, there are funnier episodes, for sure. Still, these episodes clearly rank highly for many shows. The same probably can't be said for dramas like Game of Thrones and Lost.

Gilligan's Island - Don't Bug The Mosquitoes

It's become cliche to joke about all the visitors who came to the castaways' island in Gilligan's Island, only to leave without the poor stranded folks on the island. So that's not what we'll do here, but "Don't Bug The Mosquitoes" from Season 2 is a prime example of just how ridiculous (and great) the show was. The Mosquitoes are pretty much a parody of mid-'60s rock stars, just as cheesy as you'd expect from the show.

The Odd Couple - Password

There really isn't a funnier premise than Felix and Oscar from The Odd Couple trying to work together on a game show like Password, as they did on this episode from Season 3 of the classic sitcom. Hijinks ensue!

Friends - The One Where Everybody Finds Out

Like a lot of really popular shows on this–and few shows ever have been as popular as Friends–there are sure to be people who disagree that the Season 7 episode "The One Where Everybody Finds Out" is the best. But c'mon, Phoebe yelling "My eyes!" is classic Friends!

Abbott Elementary - Volunteers

Abbott Elementary seems to be an unstoppable force. The multiple Emmy-winning show is probably the best sitcom of the 2020s, and it's because of episodes like "Volunteers." Though there is likely some recency bias baked in the reviews here, as it's a relatively new episode, coming from Season 4.

WKRP In Cincinnati - Turkeys Away

WKRP In Cincinnati is an all-time great sitcom, and this episode, the Thanksgiving episode from Season 1 titled "Turkeys Away" is almost certainly considered by all of the show's fans to be the best–or at the least in the top two or three. It's a show where clips still get shared every Thanksgiving, even decades after the show aired. And no, Les, turkeys can't fly.

I Love Lucy - L.A. At Last!

What would sitcoms be without I Love Lucy? The pioneering show starring the legendary Lucille Ball broke ground in more ways than we could ever talk about on this list. Books have been written about it. The Season 4 episode, "L.A. At Last!" is a classic episode, as Lucy and Desi go to Los Angeles and rub shoulders with the stars... with predictably disastrous results.

Arrested Development - Development Arrested

Season 3 of Arrested Development was supposed to be the series finale for the show that always seemed in danger of imminent cancellation. The episode, called "Development Arrested," does a great job of tying a bow on the series and, like pretty much every episode from those first three years, is absolutely hilarious.

Schitt's Creek - Happy Ending

Yet another series finale of a classic sitcom that tops the list of best episodes is "Happy Ending" from Schitt's Creek. It's a mostly happy ending for everyone, especially David and Patrick, as they finally get married after a lot of hassle!

Curb Your Enthusiasm - The Doll

There is nothing unique about "The Doll" from Curb Your Enthusiasm; it's just classic Curb, with Larry getting angry over mundane things, like how to act in a movie theater and locks on bathrooms (or the lack thereof). There are so many great episodes of the cringy classic that picking one is impossible, but this one is as good as any, and definitely one of the best.

Full House - Secret Admirer

For a certain generation, Full House will forever be an important part of their childhood. That makes "Secret Admirer" from Season 4 the perfect choice here. Everyone has had, or wishes they've had, a secret admirer, and in this episode, every member of the family finds that wish coming true, even though it was true for any of them. It really should be ranked number one.

Designing Women - Killing All The Right People

For whatever reason, Designing Women doesn't seem to have stood the test of time as other sitcoms from the era have. It's odd because in its day, it was wildly popular and a real cultural phenomenon. It was also a show that didn't shy away from commenting on the most controversial issues of the day, as it did in "Killing All The Right People" when it addressed the AIDS epidemic in a time when few were paying as much attention as they should have been.

The Jeffersons - Sorry, Wrong Meeting

Few spinoffs in television history have been as popular as The Jeffersons, which was one of the spinoffs from All In The Family. Like the show it came from, The Jeffersons loved to poke fun at series issues, like George accidentally attending a meeting for the KKK in "Sorry, Wrong Meeting."

Roseanne - War And Peace

"War and Peace," from Season 5 of Roseanne, is all about rumors and family squabbles. That might sound like most episodes of the sitcom, but this one is actually one of the best, as is evident by its ranking at the top. It's a classic Dan episode, which, if we're honest, is the best kind of episode.

Futurama - Jurassic Bark

Any show as beloved as Futurama is going to have a lot of opinions about the best episode. Season 3's "Jurassic Bark" is surprisingly agreed upon by many, though. It's one of the rare times the show got somewhat serious, and that always bumps a show up, it seems.

Diff'rent Strokes - First Love

We have to admit, this one surprised us. Diff'rent Strokes had its fair share of episodes that tackled controversial subjects, but this episode, "First Love," is a pretty straightforward sitcom episode centered around Willis and his new girlfriend, Charlene. Willis isn't allowed to see her, but he finds a way anyway, much to Mr. Drummond's ire.

Murphy Brown - Frank's Appendectomy

Putting this list together, it seemed certain that the most popular episode of Murphy Brown would be "You Say Potatoe, I Say Potato" about Murphy raising her child as a single mother. Instead, a relatively normal, but very funny episode from Season 2, "Frank's Appendectomy," won out.

Sanford And Son - A Guest In The Yard

One of the classic re-occurring bits on Sanford and Son had Fred berating Lamont for being a "big dummy." In the classic episode "A Guest In The Yard," it's pretty much a whole episode of just that. A homeless man tries to scam Fred and Lamont, and they can't figure out how to get rid of him. Lamont wises up, but it's no use; the man still manages to have them get him drunk.

Will & Grace - Grandpa Jack

Jack McFarland on Will & Grace is one of the best supporting characters in sitcom history, and many of the shows that focus on him are among the best in the show's history. Grandpa Jack...wait, Jack is a grandpa?... is no exception, and it's no surprise that it's ranked at the top.

Frasier - Ham Radio

It's incredible that Kelsey Grammer has been playing Frasier Crane for as many decades as he has. It's one of the most enduring characters in TV history, and "Ham Radio" from the fourth season of Frasier embodies everything we love to hate about the character when he tries to create an old-timey radio drama on his station. Of course, he's controlling and bossy, and everything falls apart...

The Big Bang Theory · The Stockholm Syndrome

The series finale of The Big Bang Theory, called "The Stockholm Syndrome," is, in a lot of ways, just another episode of the popular show. The gang of nerds gets into trouble on a flight to Sweden. But it definitely feels like a finale in many ways, most notably with the revelation that Penny is pregnant. The show's enduring popularity has led to multiple spinoffs, but the original is still the best for episodes like this.

Night Court - A Day In The Life

There is no question that "A Day In The Life" from Season 4 of Night Court is the best episode. The courtroom gang has to work at warp speed to get through hundreds of cases before midnight, and the frantic pace of the episode is hilarious and wonderful.

There are a lot of bad companies in the world of film and TV, companies that would be brutal work for like Inotech in Office Space. Those are hardly the only ones. Imagine having to show up to work every morning for Lumon in Severance. Or even a place that might seem like fun like Dunder Mifflin in The Office, would really be awful. Here is our list of companies that would be terrible to work for from TV shows and in movies.

Inotech (Office Space)

Bill Lumberg (Gary Cole) from Inotech in Office Space would be just a terrible boss to work for. The worst part is that he was just one of the many bosses working for the company. It's no wonder everyone was so miserable that everyone had their idea on how to get out of the rat race, from embezzling money to burning the place to the ground.

InGen (Jurassic Park)

Sure, on the surface InGen in Jurassic Park would be an amazing place to work. It's on a tropical island, there seem to be great benefits, and if you're a scientist, it's cutting edge work. Of course, then you have to consider the dinosaurs. Life will find a way and when it does, you're going be in a lot of trouble.

Nakatomi Trading (Die Hard)

Let's be honest, just having to work with a guy like Ellis (Hart Bochner) would be bad enough. Adding in an attack by a bunch of psycho thieves at the Christmas party and well, yeah, it would be pretty awful working for Nakatomi Trading in Die Hard.

The Dharma Initiative (Lost)

It's pretty hard to decide what the worst job would be if you were a part of the The Dharma Initiative in Lost. Desmond being stuck in the hatch typing in the numbers ever few hours has to be close to the top of the list. It's also very cult-like and for anyone who has worked for a company like that, they know just how weird it can be.

Omni Consumer Products (RoboCop)

Omni Consumer Products in RoboCop does some terrible stuff. It's basically a company, led by an egomaniac, that has absolutely no moral compass. Sure, it's a pretty dystopian situation in the world of RoboCop, but that's no excuse, you need to do better than work for an awful company like Omni.

Kruger Industrial Smoothing (Seinfeld)

George (Jason Alexander) in Seinfeld had a few bad jobs on the show. When working for the Yankees is the best job, you know the rest have to be bad. Kruger Industrial Smoothing has to be the worst though. Mr. Kruger is a guy who just doesn't seem to care about anything at all, and what in the world is "industrial smoothing"? Christmas at Kruger Industrial Smoothing seems especially annoying.

Pierpoint & Co. (Industry)

The British hit Industry shows all the worst sides of investment banking. One of the worst aspects of working in that industry is the cut-throat competition that all bankers deal with, especially at Pierpoint & Co o the show. Some may thrive, but most people would hate it.

Weyland-Yutani Corporation (Alien)

Weyland-Yutani Corporation from the Alien franchise is one of the most morally bankrupt companies on this list, and that is really saying something. Over and over it is clear that the powers that be don't care one bit for the health and safety of their employees. Over and over, those employees wind up dead. You'd think someone would blow the whistle, but all these years later, Weyland-Yutani is still at it.

Dunder Mifflin (The Office)

Everyone loves The Office and we all love laughing along with all the whacky stuff that goes on every day at Dunder Mifflin. But think about it, how awful would you feel if you had to deal with Michael Scott (Steve Carell) every day of your life. IT wouldn't take long before you lost it on him, right? It's easy to understand why Jim (John Krasinski) is so miserable all the time.

Wernham Hogg (The Office - UK)

Perhaps the only place worse to work in a sitcom world than Dunder Miflin would be Wernham Hogg in the British version of The Office. Michael Scott is terrible, but David Brent (Ricky Gervais) is mean-spirited and just plain nasty sometimes, in addition to being a total idiot. How anyone ever works for Brent is really hard to understand.

Lumon (Severance)

This list has a lot of sketchy, miserable companies on it, but Lumon from Severance probably takes the cake for the worst. It has everything that makes everyone else terrible all wrapped up into one. Menial tasks with little reward, shady technology, psychopathic leadership, a cult-like atmosphere... the list goes on and on.

The Wonka Chocolate Factory (Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory)

Working at a candy company might sound like a dream for many people, until you learn that all of your co-workers are weird orange beings that are liable to burst into song at the drop of a hat. Add on to that a wildly narcissistic CEO who is completely unpredictable and throws up little tests all the time to test your loyalty and it's safe to say you'd want no part of working for Willy Wonka.

Miller/Gold Talent Agency (Entourage)

Nobody wants to work for a boss whose base level is "yell as much as I can at everyone." It might be a great place to get ahead in a tough entertainment industry, but working for Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven) on Entourage would be completely soul-sucking, right? Right.

Tyrell Corporation (Blade Runner)

Anyone working in a giant building that looks like a cross between an Imperial ship from Star Wars and a mid-century brutalist building in Germany should know exactly what kind of company they are working for, right? Building and designing replicants, who are basically enslaved techo-humans, seals the deal. You don't want to work here.

The Springfield Nuclear Power Plant (The Simpsons)

Being a low-level drone in Sector 7-G at a nuclear power plant would be a pretty miserable existence. It seems to work for Homer Simpson, and he's never permanently lost his gig, no matter what he does, but let's be honest, Homer is an idiot. Anyone of even normal intelligence would be out there in a hurry.

Bluth Company (Arrested Development)

A family filled with morons running a company mired in controversy and corruption like the Bluth Company in Arrested Development sounds pretty awful on its face alone. When you get in there, you'd realize that the one family member who is trying to make it work can't control anyone else in his family. Even working for the Banana Stand would be better than going into the office every day at Bluth.

Spacely's Sprokets (The Jetsons)

Even back in the 1960s no one wanted to work for a giant corporation like Spacely's Sprokets. Not only do they not make a real product (sprockets?) but Mr. Spacely is the worst kind of CEO, the kind that rules with fear and intimidation. That's no way to run a company no matter what year it is. We should all have flying cars by now though.

Umbrella (Resident Evil)

As the name of the show implies, Umbrella, the over-arching company in charge of seemingly everything in the world of Resident Evil is, well, evil. The list of things it does that are pure evil is far too long to list in one place, but it's safe to say that you could never truly feel good about your job here.

BiffCo (Back To The Future 2)

The future looks pretty bleak if Biff is in charge. After stealing the time machine and the Sports Almanac, Biff rakes up so much money that he can pretty much do whatever he wants. No one should have to work for a boss like Biff or a company like BiffCo. Who names a company "BiffCo" anyway? Beware the man who builds monuments to himself.

J. Peterman Company (Seinfeld)

The J. Peterman Company on Seinfeld doesn't seem like the worst place to work. it's a trendy catalog, and there is cake in the break room all the time. The serious drawback is working for an egomaniac like Peterman himself. It would be impossible to take orders from a guy like that.

Happy-Go-Lucky Toy Factory (Family Guy)

It would take about ten seconds to sour on a CEO like Jonathan Weed, owner of the Happy-Go-Lucky Toy Factory on Family Guy. His smug, pretentious behavior would get old quickly and there aren't enough toys in the world to make going to work for a guy like that every day worth it. Peter got lucky when Mr. Weed died and the whole factory was torn down.

Sunshine Taxi Company (Taxi)

Two words, Louie De Palma. Or is that three? Either way working for Danny DeVito's character on Taxi would be miserable. There are some appeals to driving a cab. You can make your own hours, and you can be alone with your thoughts a lot, but then you remember you have to return to the garage and put up with that jerk. No thanks.

Veridian Dynamics (Better Off Ted)

Senior vice-president of the Research and Development department at Veridian Dynamics sounds like a pretty sweet gig for Ted on Better Off Ted and for the most part, the day-to-day isn't bad at Veridian. The problem is that it is the definition of a soul-sucking multinational conglomerate and it takes a real toll over the long term when you realize you are a completely replaceable cog in a giant machine.

E Corp (Mr. Robot)

A company like E Corp - what kind of name is that anyway? - would make anyone want to be a bad hat hacker working to bring the whole place down. They prey on the most vulnerable and have no morals or ethics whatsoever. This is easily one of the worst companies in television history

Hooli - (Silicon Valley)

It's pretty easy to understand why anyone worth their salt would want to ditch Hooli and strike out on their own. Anyone would have been in the same kind of position with a company like Hooli, knows what it's like to watch others benefit from your good ideas and hard work. Pied Piper is chaotic, but it's theirs.

Zorg Industries (The Fifth Element)

Gary Oldman is brilliant as Zorg, the leader of Zorg Industries on The Fifth Element. The character is completely unhinged and that is not the kind of person anyone wants to work for, setting aside how awful the company itself is. It's simply a company with way too much power.

ENCOM (Tron)

On its surface ENCOM seems like a pretty standard technology company that could do a lot of good for the world. Then you realize it's being run by a total megalomanic. Ed Dillinger cheated his way to the top, and holds onto his power in a ruthless and morally bankrupt way. He's despicable.

MomCorp (Futurama)

Planet Express in Futurama may have it's own set of issues, but working for its rival, MomCorp and dealing with Mom would be way, way worse. At least Planet Express feels like a family. Sometimes, anyway.

Soylent Corporation (Soylent Green)

There is nothing worse on this list than people serving people to other people and Soylent Green is people! That's really all that needs to be said. It's not the only terrible thing that the Soylent Corporation does, it's just the worst thing in the world.

LexCorp (Superman)

It's good to have a hard and fast rule that working for a supervillain like Lex Luther is never a good idea. LexCorp does so many evil things it's hard to know exactly where to start when it comes to reasons why no one should work for a company like that. The worst thing might be that Superman, of all people, could show up and end everything you're doing in a hurry.

Buy N Large Corporation (WALL-E)

The Buy N Large Corporation might have started as an innocent yogurt company but it grew into something far too large, with far too much influence and power. Like other companies on this list, it's just too good for anyone's own good.

Oscorp (Spider-Man)

Oscorp wasn't started by one supervillain, it was started by two! Yeah, there's no way anything you could do at that company would be for the good of anyone except the two evil geniuses that run it. Easy pass.

Some of the best TV characters are the ones that drive us crazy. Whether it's because they are villains, or simply just because they are obnoxious, we can't wait to see what they do next. Here is our list of all the characters we just love to hate.

Brenda Walsh - Beverly Hills, 90210

Brandon and Brenda Walsh may have been twins on Beverly Hills, 90210, but really, they couldn't have been any more different. Brandon was seemingly loved by everyone, including the audience, while Brenda was the ultimate teenage villain. It probably didn't help that the late Shannen Doherty was also controversial behind the scenes of the show, eventually leaving after Season 4.

Sheldon Cooper - The Big Bang Theory

Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) on The Big Bang Theory was an incredibly funny character. He was also an incredibly annoying and obnoxious character that fans of the show just loved to hate. He was laughed at and with through the show and was so popular (and despised), that the character got his own spinoff, Young Sheldon.

Cersei Lannister - Game Of Thrones

Without a doubt, Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) in Game of Thrones is one of the greatest TV villains of all time. She was universally hated by fans, which is the biggest compliment you can give Headey as the one portraying her. She was so hated that even her death by getting crushed by thousands of pounds of rocks wasn't satisfying enough to fans of the show.

J.R. Ewing - Dallas

"Who shot J.R.?" is arguably the best TV cliffhanger of all time. It wasn't just that fans wanted to know who shot him, but if he survived the shooting. Plenty of people would have been satisfied had the villain on Dallas not made it. Of course, he did make it, and he was only more hated for it - in the best way.

Rebecca - Cheers

Kirstie Alley, who played Rebecca on Cheers walked into a pretty difficult assignment when she joined the show in Season 6. She was essentially replacing another character fans loved to hate, Diane, played by Shelly Long. Still, both the actress and the character slipped right into the sometimes villain, sometimes friend role and fans loved to hate her for it.

Dennis Reynolds - It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia

The gang in It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia are all pretty terrible people. It's why we watch them, to see just how awful they can be. There is little redeeming about any of them, but the worst has to be Dennis Reynolds (Glenn Howerton). There's no way anyone would ever be friends with a person like that, and that's why we love him... and hate him.

Dr. Robert Romano - ER

Dr. Robert "Rocket" Romano was one of the great TV villains of the 1990s in ER. He was brash, obnoxious, demanding, and mean. Audiences really hated him on a level that few TV villains are. It was a visceral hatred. That made his ridiculous death all the more satisfying, even though it was pretty over-the-top and somewhat silly.

Gemma Morrow - Sons Of Anarchy

Katey Sagal's portrayal of Gemma Morrow in Sons Of Anarchy was one of the highlights of the whole show. She was wonderful throughout the whole thing. And her character was simply a terrible, self-centered, shockingly sociopathic person. She was great.

Sue Sylvester - Glee

Even shows like Glee can have the most epic villains that audiences can't get enough of. Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch) fits the bill better than most on this list, too. She's brilliantly funny and shockingly mean all at the same time.

Dwight Schrute - The Office

Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson) is the kind of work frenemy we all are grateful we don't have to deal with. He is obnoxious and overbearing and just simply annoying. Worse, he can be destructive. Of course, that only makes us love him more as a character. We may root for Jim, but secretly, we want to see what Dwight says next.

The Governor - The Walking Dead

Over its 11 seasons, there were a lot of great villains on The Walking Dead and while Negan may be the most notorious, he was pretty much just hated in every way (at least until the end). The Governor (David Morrissey) in Seasons 3 and 4 was the first villain we all truly loved to hate.

Livia Soprano - The Sopranos

Livia Soprano, played by the late Nancy Marchand on The Sopranos, was the worst mother imaginable. The way she dealt with her kids, and the rest of the world, was simply despicable. Had it not been for Marchand's untimely death after Season 3, who knows just how much more she would have been hated by fans of the show. One thing is for sure though, we all loved the late Marchand for her work as Livia.

Gus Fring - Breaking Bad

There aren't a lot of heroes in Breaking Bad. At best Walter White is an anti-hero. Gus Fring, however, is a truly great villain. Giancarlo Esposito's portrayal of Walter's rival is unparalleled in TV history. Fans simply could not get enough of the villain and he'll long be remembered as one of the best parts of one of the most rewatchable shows of all time.

The Entire Roy Family - Succession

When it comes to the HBO hit Succession, it's impossible to pick the worst member of the Roy family. They are all so terrible, and seemingly in competition with each other as to who can worse, that we just have to nominate them all for this list. They are all just awful.

Homelander - The Boys

Of all the shows on streaming, there may not be a bigger concentration of terrible people than the characters on The Boys. There are only one or two redeemable characters on the whole show, and the worst are all completely awful. At the top of the list of characters we love to hate though, is Homelander. How could it not be?

Francis Underwood - House Of Cards

Even setting aside the camera controversies of Kevin Spacey, Frank Underwood on House Of Cards was a shockingly terrible person. His quest for power was unrivaled in television history and his willingness to do anything, including commit murders, made him so easy to hate. Yet we couldn't stop watching, could we?

Joffrey Baratheon - Game Of Thrones

Joffrey Baratheon on Game Of Thrones was such a hated character that a rumor once started that it actually affected actor Jack Gleeson's career negatively (it didn't). That not only says something about the character and how much we loved to hate him, but it also says something great about Gleeson who played the evil tyrant so well, that some people can't separate the actor from the character.

Louie De Palma - Taxi

Danny DeVito may be most famous today for playing another terrible person, Frank on It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, but he got his big break in television playing the awful Louie De Palma on the classic '70s sitcom Taxi. Louie was the worst kind of tyrant boss.

Steve Urkel - Family Matters

Steve Urkel, played by Jaleel White, is hated for a very different reason than many on this list. He's just the most annoying TV character ever created. Fans who loved Family Matters also loved how obnoxious he was. People who weren't fans of the show just found him unbearable. A tribute to White's portrayal of the annoying neighbor.

Mr. Burns - The Simpsons

If there is one character on The Simpsons who does his best to be purely evil, it's C. Montgomery Burns. This is a guy who even tried to block out the sun from shining on Springfield. Of course, on any list of the best Simpsons characters, he'd be near the top, too.

Sawyer - Lost

Make no mistake that by the end of Lost, Sawyer (Josh Holloway) would become a hero. It takes him a long time to get there and in the early seasons, he's a pretty terrible person. That doesn't stop us from laughing at the creative nicknames he comes with or some of the snarky lines he has.

Eric Cartman - South Park

Eric Cartman is the worst kid in South Park. He's also the funniest character on the show (except for maybe Randy). Just about everything Cartman does is awful. He's one of the most self-serving and selfish people on TV, ever, yet, we can't stop coming back for more. We can't wait to see what obnoxious thing he will do next.

Ross Geller - Friends

Even the most die-hard Friends fan will admit that Ross Geller is a pretty awful person. Actor David Schwimmer was so good as Ross that it's hard to separate him from the character and that's too bad because Schwimmer seems like a great guy, while Ross is usually very much the opposite. It makes the "great" love story between him and Rachael (Jennifer Aniston) all the more confusing for fans.

Screetch - Saved By The Bell

The late Dustin Diamond played one of the most annoying nerds ever on Saved By The Bell. Screetch did basically nothing right and why anyone ever stayed friends with him is a complete mystery. Still, he was one of the reasons - if not the main reason - we laughed so hard at the show.

Sylar - Heroes

NBC's Heroes started off so strong before it sadly faded almost as quickly as it came out of the gate. However, throughout the show's short run, the one consistently great character was the one we all hated the most, the villain Sylar (Zachary Quinto).

Frank Burns - MASH

Everyone loved Hawkeye, Trapper John, and BJ Honeycutt on MASH. Everyone equally hated Major Frank Burns (Larry Linville) who did everything he could to ruin everyone else's fun. It made it a critical character in the early seasons of the show, and his replacement after Linville left the show, Charles Winchester (David Ogden Stiers) was equally loved and hated.

Glenn Quagmire - The Family Guy

Quagmire on The Family Guy is just a horrible, horrible person. He's obnoxious and gross. Why the rest of the gang stays friends with just a terrible person is a mystery, though it might be because his awfulness makes him completely hilarious. That must be the reason, actually. It's a character we simply love for being so gross.

Gob Bluth - Arrested Development

Gob Bluth, played by Will Arnett, is the funniest character on Arrested Development. The screwup son and magician is also just awful in every way. He's selfish, rude, and honestly, not very smart. He's also occasionally racist. But again - he's the funniest character on the show and it's not because fans are laughing with him, they are laughing at him. Will Arnett deserves all the praise for that too, because it's not easy to be both.

Scrappy Doo - Scooby Doo, Where Are You?

Scrappy Doo is just the worst. We don't love to hate him because he's a great character, like so many others on this list. No, we love to hate because everything about the character, from his introduction to everything he does just sucks. We love to be angry at him, for real.

Janice Soprano - The Sopranos

There are a lot of characters with awful motivations in The Sopranos and among the worst of those is Tony's sister Janice Soprano. Aida Turturro plays the unlikable character so well that there is really very little redeeming about her. There are moments when we feel sorry for her, sure. She goes through some terrible stuff, but none of it makes her actually likable. In fact, anytime we start to like her, she does something to remind us how much we hate her.

Ben Linus - Lost

Ben Linus, played by the great Michael Emerson, on Lost, is a bit of an enigma. There are times when we almost start to like him, or at least feel empathy towards him, but inevitably he ruins that pretty quickly and fans are reminded that he's not a likable person, like, at all.

Georgina Sparks - Gossip Girl

Georgina Sparks (Michelle Trachtenberg) is the classic high-society mean girl in Gossip Girl. She is so unlikable for her manipulative ways and awful attitude that fans can't wait for her to do something that they can be mad about. The perfect kind of villain.

There are so many shows out there that are perfect for your next binge. They could be one of the best shows to watch on Netflix or even be an original series for a streaming service – either way, they are full of life and hilarity. And if you're looking for a new show to watch, you might want to consider any of the following options for your next best sitcom.

Friends

I can't have a sitcom list and not write about Friends. The series was a huge hit for several years, running for ten seasons and making the Friends cast the vast stars they are today. The series follows a group of friends who live in New York City and follow their personal and professional lives.

How I Met Your Mother

For nine seasons, How I Met Your Mother dominated the world. The How I Met Your Mother cast was exceptionally popular, with skyrocketing careers, and featured some of the funniest jokes ever. If you ignore the finale (which most tend to do), it's honestly one of the best shows out there. The series follows the main character as he tells his children about how he met their mother.

30 Rock

Created by Tina Fey, 30 Rock ran for seven seasons and was a hilarious addition to the sitcom's run. The series follows the lives of workers at a fictional sketch show in New York City, based on Fey's time working on Saturday Night Live. The 30 Rock cast is hilarious in so many ways.

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia

Okay, so this series is the definition of a long binge. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia has run forever, it seems. It follows the story of a group of friends (and one annoying father) who live in Philadelphia and get up to the craziest things (usually illegal). I mean, this series is iconic—it can't really get better than this one.

Abbott Elementary

Abbott Elementary is on the fast track to becoming an all-time great show. The series follows the lives of teachers who work at a public school in Philadelphia and the struggles they have to go through to make their children happy and give them a good environment, as well as their own personal lives.

Frasier

Running for eleven seasons, Frasier is a spinoff of Cheers and follows the psychiatrist Frasier Crane, who travels back home to Seattle and documents his personal and professional life. Talk about an incredible spinoff – and it earned a reboot several years later on Paramount+.

The Office

I mean, obviously, I have to include The Office. Running for eleven seasons, the series followed the lives of workers in a paper company in Scranton and is considered one of the best mockumentary sitcoms of all time. The Office cast is super iconic, and after one watch, you'll be returning to this show like a security blanket.

Community

With six seasons, Community is a fun one to watch. It follows five misfits who go to a community college and form a study group together – which gets them into hilarious situations. The series is hysterical, and while Season 5 is a little iffy (in my personal opinion and many others), it's still worth a binge – especially since a Community movie is in the works.

Cheers

Running for eleven seasons, Cheers is one of the most iconic sitcoms of all time. The show mainly revolves around patrons and friends who gather at a bar as we follow their lives both in and out of the world. The series is responsible for creating several big stars, such as Ted Danson, Kirstie Alley, Kelsey Grammer, and Woody Harrelson.

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

While it only ran for four seasons, I personally love Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. The series follows a young woman who was locked away in a bunker for several years only to emerge and find herself a stranger in this new modern world. With the help of some unlikely friends, she finds her path.

Two And A Half Men

As someone who watched Two and a Half Men for the first time a few years ago, I find this series hilarious. Running for twelve seasons and originally starring Charlie Sheen (before switching over to Ashton Kutcher years later), the series follows a man who houses his brother and his son during a divorce and the craziness they get into as time goes on. This series is wild, so be prepared for some jokes that most likely did not age well but are still fun.

Parks And Recreation

Parks and Recreation aired a few years after The Office ended, and people loved this show just as much. The series mainly follows Leslie Knope, who works at the Parks Department in a fictional town and cares deeply about her job, causing headaches for others. If you take a look at the Parks and Recreation cast, you'll see a ton of familiar faces.

That '70s Show

Running for eight seasons, That '70s Show was a series that raised me as a kid. The series follows a group of teenagers who are living in the 1970s and their experiences with the culture there. The series was so popular that it spawned a spinoff years later called That '90s Show, although it was short-lived.

Seinfeld

I mean, obviously, I have to put Seinfeld on here. Created by comedy legends Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David, Seinfeld is "a show about nothing," following the lives of a fictionalized version of Seinfeld and his friends in New York City during the 1980s and 90s. The series ran for nine seasons and created the famous Seinfeld cast.

The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air

Where was he raised? In West Philadelphia, of course. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air starred Will Smith and followed the story of a young man who is sent to his uncle in Bel-Air after getting into trouble back home in Philly. His mother hopes that his uncle can straighten him out, and it just turns into hilarity for this fresh prince. The series ran for six seasons.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

The Brooklyn Nine-Nine cast is hilarious in every way possible, and I thoroughly recommend this series with my whole heart. The series follows the lives of workers at a fictional police station in New York City, from their professional lives to their own, and how they all intertwine.

The Golden Girls

I have to recommend The Golden Girls. Running for seven seasons and just as iconic as you would expect, the show starred Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty as four older women who lived together in their later years in Miami and the crazy lives they got into.

Bob's Burgers

Animated shows are probably some of the best series to binge because they often have so many seasons, and Bob's Burgers is an excellent example of that. The series, which has been running for fifteen seasons and counting, follows the lives of a family who own a burger shop and what they get up to when they're not in the kitchen—as well as the drama that unfolds in their restaurant. It's hilarious, and I highly recommend it.

I Love Lucy

Of course, I have to put the original sitcom here. I Love Lucy is a classic sitcom starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz as Lucy and Ricky, a couple living in New York City, and the shenanigans that Lucy gets into all the time. I'm often not the best person to recommend older TV shows because most tend to miss the mark, but this is one of the best you can watch. The series ran for six seasons.

Modern Family

Modern Family is an absolute icon, and yes, you need to watch it. Running for eleven seasons, It is exactly what you would expect it to be—it follows the lives of a modern-age family and the craziness they get into. The Modern Family cast is hysterical, and I can assure you that you will laugh several times throughout the show.

The Nanny

"She's the nanny, the nanny named Fran!" I can assure you that the theme song for this show will be stuck in your head by the end of this binge. Running for six seasons, The Nanny, starring Fran Drescher, follows the lives of a fashionista who decides to take on the role of a nanny for three children when she needs the money, only for her life to intertwine with their father, Peter Marc Jacobson.

Curb Your Enthusiasm

Created by Larry David and running for twelve seasons (despite that twenty-four-year-long streak), Curb Your Enthusiasm is a hilarious HBO series that stars David as a fictionalized version of himself as he lives in Los Angeles and his days as a retired TV producer and writer, and the stuff he gets into as he deals with all the drama Hollywood can bring.

Full House

The Full House cast is iconic because of how great this series was and how many of us were raised on it, honestly. Full House follows the lives of three men, one a widow, one a brother-in-law, and the other a best friend, who all live in the same house, and work together to raise the children of one after his wife passes away. The series ran for eight seasons.

The Simpsons

Obviously, I have to put The Simpsons on this list. The Simpsons is probably one of the most iconic TV families ever, following the animated tales of Homer and his family as they get into the craziest shenanigans you could ever think of and more.

The Big Bang Theory

Running for twelve seasons, The Big Bang Theory was an extremely successful modern-day sitcom that followed several people living in California. It mainly followed the lives of Leonard and Sheldon, who they ran into as total science nerds, and the friends they surround themselves with.

South Park

South Park has some outrageous episodes, but this is the perfect binge if you want something that's way more adult. The series follows the lives of four fourth-graders in the world of South Park, a fictional town in Colorado, where literally nothing is off the table for the drama they get into. This series is just a lot to handle but so freaking hysterical.

Scrubs

Created by Bill Lawrence (Ted Lasso, Shrinking) and running for nine seasons, Scrubs is the medical sitcom that you're in need of. The series follows the lives of workers at a hospital, following the medical interns as they work their way up in the world and the hilarious things that happen to them.

Schitt's Creek

While Schitt's Creek only ran for four seasons, its impact on pop culture is widely known. The series follows the lives of the Rose family, who suddenly lose everything in their name except for a little town the father bought as a joke years ago – Schitt's Creek, the place where they will begin their return to wealth. The Schitt's Creek cast is absolutely hysterical.

Veep

Starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus and running for seven seasons, Veep is a hilarious HBO sitcom and political satire show that will make you laugh for hours on end. The series follows the life of political figure Selina Meyer, who is the Vice President of the United States, and how she deals with what is thrown at her, as well as working with the president who drives her nuts.

Rick And Morty

Created by Dan Harmon, Rick and Morty is one of those animated sitcoms where you never know what is going to happen next, but you know it'll be hilarious. Rick and Morty follows the scientific adventures of Grandpa Rick and his grandson, Morty, as he takes him across multiple dimensions and into situations that really no young boy should ever experience.

Arrested Development

Running for five seasons, with two of them happening in the later years of the 2010s, Arrested Development is the type of show that will make you laugh for hours. The series follows a formerly wealthy family as they try to adjust to normal everyday life – and they most certainly have a hard time doing it.

Everybody Hates Chris

Created by Chris Rock, Everybody Hates Chris stars Tyler James Williams and is loosely based on Rock's life when he was a teenager and what it was like living in New York City back in the 1980s as a teenager. It ran for four seasons (but to me, it should have ran for way more).

Any of these shows would be excellent picks for you to watch next. Now, I feel like I need to have a TV marathon. It's time to dim the lights and get the popcorn once again.

Some people might like to argue that streaming, in becoming our dominant form of media consumption, has ruined the television industry. Well, there is no doubt that it has changed the industry in many ways and, in some cases, for the better. 

There are many TV shows that are now regarded as classics but might not have earned such an honor if not for audiences discovering it on a streaming platform, helping boost its appeal in a way traditional television could not for whatever reason. Let's take a look at some of the most beloved TV shows that were made more popular (or even saved) by streaming. 

The Wire (2002-2008)

In its initial run, The Wire was already considered one of the best shows on HBO, if not of all time, for its refreshing grounded depiction of urban crime in modern Baltimore from both sides of the law. However, thanks to having a Max subscription (formerly known as HBO Max and, earlier, HBO GO), new generations of viewers have been able to witness David Simon's masterpiece.

You (2018-2024)

Even many of the biggest fans of You might not realize that the serial killer drama starring Penn Badgley is not a true Netflix original. It was canceled after one season on the Lifetime Network and, after becoming a surprise hit on Netflix, the platform picked it up for four more seasons.

Schitt's Creek (2015-2020)

Despite achieving instant success in its home nation of Canada on CBC, creator Dan and Eugene Levy's sitcom following a family's riches-to-rags story went underseen in the States for years on the Pop Network. Luckily, when the series dropped on Netflix, America suddenly could not get enough of the Schitt's Creek cast, the comedy's remarkable quotability, and surprisingly heartfelt moments.

The Expanse (2015-2022)

Based on a series of novels by Daniel Abrahams and Ty Franck (and James S. A. Corey), The Expanse quickly found a following on SyFy as one of the network's smartest and most exciting dramas and, yet, it still got the boot after three seasons. Fortunately, the adventures of James Holden (Steven Strait) and his crew's defense against a conspiracy affecting the colonized solar system were able to continue as one of the best sci-fi TV shows on Amazon Prime for three more seasons.

Suits (2011-2019)

Despite being one of the longest-running series on USA Network, Suits really became a hit in its later years after gaining traction as one of the most-watched TV shows on Netflix. Of course, Suits cast member Meghan Markle's marriage to Prince Harry likely had an influence on the legal drama's success.

The Office (2005-2014)

Greg Daniels' Americanized update of the hilarious British sitcom was certainly a hit on NBC, but its fanbase grew exponentially when it became one of the highest-viewed series on Netflix. It is no wonder why Peacock paid the platform $500 million for the streaming rights to The Office and even released special Superfan cuts of select episodes.

Letterkenny (2016-2023)

To be honest, Letterkenny, which follows the day-to-day lives of people from the titular rural town in the Great White North, already originated on a streaming service: the Canadian-exclusive platform, Crave. However, when it became available in the United States with a Hulu subscription, the quirky sitcom's fanbase took a Texas-size expansion.

Firefly (2002-2003)

There is a variety of reasons why Firefly was canceled after Fox aired only 11 episodes, from a doomed time slot to misguided marketing. Luckily, even before streaming helped widen its fanbase, the now beloved sci-fi TV show following a crew of outlaws traveling beyond the stars released a DVD set that allowed audiences to see the epic Western-style cosmic adventures they missed out on.

Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005-2008)

Following the journey of a young man born with the ability to manipulate the elements air, earth, fire, and water, Avatar: The Last Airbender was a huge hit during its initial run on Nickelodeon. It would only become even more popular when it became available to stream on Netflix, which would go on to produce a live-action series update in 2024.

Breaking Bad (2008-2013)

According to Variety, after Breaking Bad won the Best Drama Series Emmy in 2013, creator Vince Gilligan admitted he owed the success of his groundbreaking drama to Netflix, which later produced El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie. The thriller, following a terminally high school chemistry teacher (played by Bryan Cranston) turning to crime to support his family, could barely be called a hit during its few years on AMC.

 Freaks And Geeks (1999-2000)

One of the first titles that come to mind when people think of series that ended too soon is Freaks and Geeks, which was canceled by NBC after one season for the typical reasons: misguided marketing and a poor time slot. Since most of the Freaks and Geeks cast went on to take Hollywood by storm, the coming-of-age dramedy has become one of the most acclaimed series of its time by fans who discovered in the digital age.

Criminal Minds (2005-Present)

After lasting a whopping 15 seasons on CBS, Criminal Minds continued to captivate audiences as one of the most popular crime TV shows on Netflix. The procedural drama's enduring success eventually led to its revival, on Paramount+.

Manifest (2018-2023)

When NBC canned it after just three seasons, fans prayed that Netflix would swoop in to renew Manifest and, luckily, their wish came true. A fourth and final season of the sci-fi drama, about a commercial jet that suddenly reappears five years after mysteriously vanishing, debuted on the streaming platform, allowing it to have the smooth landing creator Jeff Rake intended.

Lucifer (2016-2021)

Based on a DC Vertigo comic book, Lucifer — starring Tom Ellis as the Devil, taking human form to be an LAPD consultant — debuted on Fox, where it lasted only three seasons. Soon after, it would be hailed as one of the best DC TV shows on Netflix when it was renewed for three more seasons exclusively on the platform.

Community (2009-2015)

Ironically enough, when Dan Harmon's comedy about a close-knit group of community students first transitioned from NBC to a streaming exclusive on the now-defunct Yahoo! Screen, it was considered a disaster. However, fans would go on to revisit the best episodes of Community on Hulu, Netflix, or Peacock, keeping the #SixSeasonsAndAMovie dream alive. 

Gilmore Girls (2000-2007)

One of the most popular shows on The CW (when it was still called The WB) was Gilmore Girls, which would only remain popular and acquire more fans who discovered it with their Netflix subscription. The streaming platform would even serve as the home of a four-episode sequel series called Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.

Friends (1994-2004)

Could Friends have been a bigger bit than it was during its ten-year run on NBC? As it turns out, yes, since the popular '90s TV show became a monster hit on Netflix and, once it left the platform, likely inspired many fans to get a Max subscription just so they could keep the binge going.

Luther (2010-2019)

Some of the best evidence of the enduring popularity of Luther — an acclaimed British crime thriller starring Idris Elba in the brilliant but cantankerous title role — can be found on Netflix. In 2023, the platform distributed a feature-length spin-off called Luther: The Fallen Sun, which quickly became its highest-watched movie and led to a deal for more films.

Arrested Development (2003-2019)

Despite never getting the ratings it needed to be a hit during its three-season run on Fox, Arrested Development was remembered fondly as one of the most hilarious cult favorite TV shows of all time. That enduring legacy led to its revival in 2017 as "a Netflix semi-original series."

Boy Meets World (1993-2000)

In its prime, Boy Meets World was one of the must-see comedies from ABC's TGIF Block in the 1990s and would later spawn a sequel series following Cory (Ben Savage) and Topanga's (Danielle Fishel) daughter, Riley (Rowan Blanchard) called Girl Meets World. The success of the Disney Channel series, also starring Sabrina Carpenter, inspired a new generation of fans to check out the original with their Disney+ subscription. 

Futurama (1999-Present)

Creator Matt Groening's animated satire about an average 20th Century man who wakes up from an accidental, 1000-year cryogenic slumber initially ran for just four seasons on Fox, was revived on Comedy Central from 2008 to 2013, and then, a decade later, became an exclusive on Hulu where it is more popular than ever. At this rate, it looks like Futurama might last well into the future.

Teen Wolf (2011-2017)

MTV's darker take on a funny coming-of-age creature feature from the '80s was a surprise hit, even as one of the best horror TV shows on Hulu in the years since it ended. The continued interest in the series on streaming would lead to a feature-length continuation that premiered on Paramount+ in early 2023.

iCarly (2007-2012, 2021-2023)

Miranda Cosgrove followed her role as the mischievous Megan on Drake & Josh by starring on the Nickelodeon sitcom as a teen internet sensation. People who grew up with the show would rediscover their love for it as adults when Paramount+ revived iCarly with more mature audiences in mind.

The Mindy Project (2012-2017)

Creator and star Mindy Kaling's first major follow-up after playing Kelly Kapoor in NBC's The Office cast was the aptly titled The Mindy Project, in which she plays an OB/GYN struggling to balance her personal and professional life. It premiered on Fox, where it remained for three seasons, before moving exclusively to Hulu for the latter half of its run.

Longmire (2012-2017)

Based on a series of novels by Craig Johnson, Longmire is a neo-Western drama starring Australian actor Robert Taylor as the titular Wyoming sheriff who brings his own brand of justice to his county. Despite debuting on A&E as the cable network's highest-rated original drama, it was not renewed for a fourth season, leading Netflix to step in and become its home for another three years.

Trailer Park Boys (2001-2018)

A show that Letterkenny fans would enjoy if they have not heard of it already is Trailer Park Boys — another comedy set in rural Canada which, for its first seven years, aired on a channel exclusive to the country called Showcase. A newfound interest in the documentary-style series and its feature-length spin-offs in the United States led Netflix to acquire the show in 2012, lasting several more seasons and even spawning more specials and an animated series.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008-2020)

Before a new Star Wars TV show premiered on Disney+ every few months or so, one of the most beloved small-screen titles to come from a galaxy far, far away was Star Wars: The Clone Wars. However, the Force initially could have been stronger with this one as it was canceled by Cartoon Network in 2013 before gaining newfound popularity on Netflix (where a new season was distributed) the following year and, later, getting revived for one more batch of episodes on DIsney+ in 2020.

Parks And Recreation (2009-2015) 

Despite being the brainchild of The Office producers Greg Daniels and Michael Schur and starring former SNL cast member Amy Poehler in the lead, Parks and Recreation struggled to find its footing on NBC for its first couple of years. The mockumentary-style political satire got a bit of a boost in popularity once it dropped on Netflix and, for years after it ended, earned a reputation as one of the most popular series on the platform.

White Collar (2009-2014)

The show that made a star out of actor Matt Bomer is White Collar, in which he stars as a suave professional criminal who works with the FBI to catch other cons like him. Like many other USA original series, the dramedy was a much bigger hit on Netflix than it was during its initial run on the network.

Designated Survivor (2016-2019)

Kiefer Sutherland stars in Designated Survivor as the U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, who is suddenly appointed President after everyone in the chain of command above him is killed in a catastrophic attack. The political drama was canceled after only two years on ABC but would go on for one more season on Netflix.

The Nanny (1993-1999)

Co-creator and star Fran Drescher is best known for playing Fran Fine on The Nanny, which had a strong run on CBS in the 1990s. The sitcom is noted for appealing to a new generation when it dropped on Max.

The Killing (2011-2014)

The American version of the Danish television series Forbrydelsen, The Killing, originally premiered on AMC, which would cancel the dark crime drama after its third season, which almost did not happen. The series then made an official transition to Netflix, where its fourth and final season was distributed.

From the best sitcoms that are perfect for a comfort watch to intense dramas that you rewatch in an effort to dissect a juicy story even more, there’s something incredible about returning to a great show. It’s a pastime many enjoy, however, the choices of what to watch seem endless. With that in mind, here are some of the most rewatchable television shows. 

Parks And Recreation 

If you are like me, you’ve seen the best episodes of Parks and Recreation – like “Flu Season,” for example – so many times you can recite the majority of said episodes from memory. OK, maybe that’s an over-exaggeration, however, it highlights just how good and rewatchable this workplace mockumentary is. Led by Amy Poehler, the Parks and Rec cast was always firing on all cylinders, cracking viewers up with hilarious one-liners, fantastic inside jokes (like Treat Yo’ Self) and a heartfelt story about a dysfunctional parks department. 

The Office

From deeply funny office shenanigans to heartfelt relationships like Pam and Jim’s The Office captured folks’ hearts from 2005 to 2013, and it’s continued to in the years since. To this day, this workplace mockumentary is a favorite among many, and it’s a zeitgeist staple as viewers continue to watch it on repeat, quote it constantly and use iconic memes that have surfaced because of it. As it gets older, it just feels like The Office gets stronger, because not only is it finding new audiences all the time, but it’s also infinitely rewatchable. 

New Girl

While workplace comedies are great, there's nothing quite like simply hanging out with friends, and that’s what New Girl is. Filled with a cast of quirky characters, New Girl follows Jess (Zooey Deschanel) as she moves in with three random guys, and what ensues is a hilarious and lovably chaotic story about found family. It’s because of silly inside jokes and bits, like True American, deeply complex and romantic storylines like Nick and Jess’s and the adorable friendship that’s formed between these roommates that makes this Fox comedy something folks always return to. 

The Good Place

The Good Place is one of those projects that you’ll have a different experience with every time you view it. The first time, you’re simply trying to figure out what in the afterlife is going on, and once you have the epiphany with Kristen Bell’s Eleanor and yell “Holy mother-forking shirtballs” your entire perspective on the show changes. However, it’s not just the plot twists that make this philosophical comedy rewatchable; its cast, led by Bell and Ted Danson, is beyond lovable and hilarious, and The Good Place’s heart is so big, all you’ll want to do is spend more time in this afterlife. 

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Led by Saturday Night Live legend Andy Samberg, Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a delightful comedy all about a group of detectives working together in New York City. While whodunnits and crimes of the week are involved, what makes this show rewatchable is Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s silly cast of characters who are played by incredible comedic actors like Samberg, Andre Braugher, Stephanie Beatriz, Terry Crews and so many more. 

Gilmore Girls

These days, Gilmore Girls is considered the perfect autumnal comfort show, and many go back to it over and over again because of its cozy vibes. On top of the lovely energy that radiates out of Stars Hallow, the Gilmore Girls cast is also staked with an incredible crew of regulars and a revolving door of iconic recurring characters. Plus, how could you not want to rewatch the love story of Luke and Lorelai, Rory’s messy romantic drama with Dean, Jess and Logan as well as the incredible tale of a mother and daughter that lies at the heart of this beloved show? 

Gossip Girl

You know, sometimes you just need a good drama that will make you want to scream at the TV, and Gossip Girl is just that. The 2000s CW drama was a teen staple back in the day as it followed a group of high schoolers whose lives were always on blast because of the titular gossip site. It was praised and criticized at the time for how scandalous it was, and to this day people come back to Gossip Girl for the relationships, fashion, characters and, of course, the gossip, because as the titular writer says, “you know you love me…”

Arrested Development

Dysfunctional comedy is always fun, however, it’s hard to think of a show that does it better than Arrested Development. Of course, the series is rewatchable for its hilarious storylines and quippy dialogue, however, it’s the incredible ensemble that really makes it, as actors like Jason Bateman, Michael Cera, Will Arnett, Tony Hale, Alia Shawkat and more brought the funny all the time.  

Futurama

While it’s been canceled, renewed and moved networks numerous times, Futurama remains one of the most rewatchable shows, and that’s why these attempted cancellations and moves haven’t sent it to its ultimate end yet. The animated series has been around since 1999, and for over two decades, it has been a fun animated comfort show that many have turned to when they need a good laugh and some fun sci-fi. 

Friends

Whether you tuned in live during the late ‘90s and early ‘00s, caught chunks of episodes on Nick at Night when it was in syndication or streamed all ten seasons on Netflix (back in the day) or Max (now), Friends has been a seminal show for many. Watching the shenanigans of Ross, Rachel, Chandler, Joey, Phoebe and Monica was not only hilarious but relatable. It’s simply a show about six friends living their lives, and I think it's that relatability mixed with an incredibly special cast that has kept people coming back to it for decades. 

Breaking Bad

The story of Walter White almost feels like a legend now. Widely considered one of the best television shows of all time, Breaking Bad tells the story of a down-on-his-luck man who turns into a drug lord. Led by Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul, this series made an unforgettable mark on television history when it was released in 2008, and it’s something worth studying and watching over and over again. 

Bob’s Burgers

Can I apply a few personal anecdotes here? When I was in high school, I had a friend who would watch Bob’s Burgers every night before going to bed. As an adult, I have another friend who just completed another rewatch of the series. So many adore this wonderful animated series about a family who owns a burger joint, and it is so easy to rewatch and fall in love with. So, it rightfully deserves a place on this list. 

Dexter

The world loves an anti-hero, and it doesn’t get much better than Dexter. The series follows a blood splatter expert, played by Michael C. Hall, however, the thing is, he’s also a serial killer. Going on this journey with the titular character, and getting into his mind to figure out why he goes about life in the way he does is fascinating. It’s also one of many reasons why people keep coming back to Dexter. 

Fleabag

If you need a short, sweet and perfect two seasons of television, Fleabag is the show for you. The series was created by and stars Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and it follows her titular character as she goes about life in London while handling grief. On top of that, Season 2 introduces Andrew Scott’s Priest – a.k.a. The Hot Priest, as the internet likes to call him – and the incredible love story between him and Fleabag. 

Scrubs

Bill Lawrence has made a lot of terrific shows, however, Scrubs is his classic. The series, starring Zach Braff, is a fun workplace comedy about a hospital, and its irresistible ensemble and heartfelt friendships are what keep many coming back to it. 

Ted Lasso

Ted Lasso started out as an ad for NBC Sports, and then by some miracle it turned into one of the best comedies in recent memory. The titular coach of AFC Richmond is played by the mastermind behind the show, Jason Sudeikis. And he and his creative team brought together Ted Lasso’s epic cast that made names like Hannah Waddingham, Brett Goldstein and Phil Dunster those of the household variety.

Overall, this show about an American football coach in the UK coaching soccer (I know, I know...it’s actually football) is heartfelt and thoughtful, and it’ll have you smiling from ear to ear from beginning to end. You know what they say, “We’re Richmond ‘til we die!”

The X-Files

What makes a supernatural case of the week show even better? Having David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson lead it as the beloved crime-solving duo of Mulder and Scully. 

Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Vampires, action, romance and high school drama. Honestly, this show has everything. Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a seminal early 2000s teen drama about Sarah Michelle Gellar’s titular vampire slayer, and it was impossible not to fall in love with her and her friends. 

The West Wing

If you are in need of a fast-talking, snappy and fun drama, The West Wing is your show. It follows Martin Sheen’s President Bartlet and his incredible staff who are played by fantastic actors like Bradley Whitford, Allison Janney, Richard Schiff and Rob Lowe. From the mind of Aaron Sorkin, this show all about what it’s like to be the president is a quippy yet thoughtful series about running a country and it’s irresistible and infinitely rewatchable. 

Yellowstone

Between the deep family story at the center of this show and the intense moments in Yellowstone, this modern Western was born to rewatch. It’s filled to the brim with compelling stories about the Dutton family that will have you hitting the next episode button immediately. While the show’s primary conflict has always been the same – they’re always battling to save their ranch – the new threats and long-lasting deep relationships are what make it so great.  

Seinfeld

Seinfeld is famously “a show about nothing,” and that might be the primary reason why it’s so easy to view over and over again. The series, starring Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jason Alexander and Michael Richards, works because of these four and their chemistry, and watching them simply live life and make jokes is something so many can do over and over again.

Sherlock

It’s elementary my dear Watson, the Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman-led Sherlock is a fantastic modern adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s work, and with each viewing new details emerge that make it even better. The series was comprised of 15 episodes across four seasons, and each mystery Sherlock and Watson solved was dense with detail and intrigue.

There’s a reason the story of the great detective keeps getting told, and you’ll understand why when you realize that you can watch Sherlock over and over again. 

Supernatural

I realize 15 seasons – or 327 episodes – is overwhelming, however, it also proves just how beloved Supernatural is. The series about Jared Padalecki’s Sam Winchester and Jensen Ackles’ Dean Winchester is beloved by many, and watching the two of them fight off evil over and over again is something so many fans can do on repeat, as proven by its 15 seasons. 

That ‘70s Show

That ‘70s Show is all about a group of teens growing up in the suburbs of Wisconsin who all gather in a basement to hang out. It’s a simple and relatable concept, and between that and its stellar ensemble, it’s no wonder everyone loves to say “Hello Wisconsin!” more than once. 

Psych

A silly case-of-the-week show about a guy who is pretending to be a psychic is obviously made for comfort viewing, and fans have been doing just that since 2006. 

Avatar: The Last Airbender

No matter what age you are, it’s always a good time to watch Avatar: The Last Airbender. As someone who watched the show for the first time in elementary school, and has seen it many times since, I can attest to this. Seeing Aang master the elements and work to defeat the Fire Lord and his evil plan is a masterful work of animation that is action-packed, deep, silly and heartfelt. 

Its handling of hard themes like prejudice and colonization are poignant and accessible, and its morals about love and acceptance are something everyone needs. So, yeah, this is 100% a show you should see multiple times throughout your life. 

Schitt’s Creek

How can you not want to watch David and Alexis bicker, Johnny aimlessly try to wrangle his family and Moira be Moira over and over again? The beloved comedy from Dan and Eugene Levy about a rich family who loses their money and has to move to a small town is quirky and unique while also fitting right in with the best comedies. Also, how can you not rewatch it simply to try and nail Moira’s ambiguous accent?

Community

Between the silly classes, paintball battles and Troy and Abed’s end credits, Community is a quirky comedy that’s one for the ages. It’s so fun to go back and remember all the silly inside jokes and ridiculous moments that happened at Greendale Community College. 

Cheers

Sometimes, you just want to go where everybody knows your name. Need I say more? No. But I will, because returning to that bar to see Sam, Carla, Cliff, Norm, Frasier, Woody and more is always a wonderful time. 

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

This fast-talking period piece about a woman making her way in the world as a stand-up comedian in the 1950s is a wonderful romp. Created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, this series has the quick-witted silliness Gilmore Girls has, and it’s chock full of incredible and high-octane performances from Rachel Brosnahan, Alex Borstein, Tony Shalhoub and more. 

The Simpsons

Talk about an all-time classic. The Simpsons has been around since 1989, and it’s still going strong. The animated comedy is so easy to watch, and the characters – like Homer, Marge, Bart and Lisa – are so iconic that this show is one that fans want to come back to over and over again. 

Grey’s Anatomy

Medical drama, romance, McDreamy; Grey’s Anatomy has it all. Between its heart-pounding medical cases and simultaneously heartwarming and heartwrenching romance, it’s easy to understand why this show has been on for over two decades and why folks keep coming back to see what’s going on at Grey Sloan Memorial. 

What all these shows have in common is they’re all deeply loved by their fans, which is why they keep returning to them time and time again. 

With Arrested Development being one of the best sitcoms of all time, it's no surprise that every member of the ensemble cast was a comedic master in their own right. However, Will Arnett played unquestionably one of the series' most hilarious characters in Gob Bluth (or G.O.B., as the name actually stood for George Oscar Bluth II). Here are some of his funniest and most magical quotes.

Illusions, Dad! You don’t have time for my illusions! 

Already in the pilot, Arrested Development gave us more than one example of what would become a recurring joke about Gob insisting that his magic be referred to as "illusions" rather than "tricks." This utterance was especially (and hilariously) tragic, as it showed us just how ignored Gob was by his father George (Jeffrey Tambor).

I've made a huge mistake.

This was a recurring joke used by several members of the Bluth family over the course of the series, but most commonly Gob, because boy were there so many mistakes.

Oh, sure, first you dump all over it, now you want to know how it's done. 

In Season 1's "Storming the Castle," Gob's girlfriend Marta chastized the magician for scaring her children with an "illusion" that made it look like he stabbed his neck with a needle. "They’re children! How could you do that?" she asked, leading to Gob's way-too-literal response. 

Dad always said that was your fault. 

Some of Gob's funniest quotes highlighted just how often he missed what was right in front of him. A great example of that was in Season 2, when the above quote was his response to Michael (Jason Bateman) saying that the reason the brothers fought so much was because their dad had always played them against each other.

The zero hour, Michael. It's the end of the line. I'm the firstborn. Sick of playing second fiddle. Always third in line for everything. Tired of finishing fourth. Being the fifth wheel. There are six things I'm mad about, and I'm taking over. 

Gob took a stand against his brother in the Season 1 finale, insisting that, as the eldest boy, he be put in charge of The Bluth Company. After Michael listed everything that Gob would have to deal with and asked him if he still wanted the job, Gob hilariously replied with another classic line: "What kind of vacation time does it offer?"

No! I was ashamed to be SEEN with you. I like being with you. 

Gob walked a thin line when it came to whether he was ashamed to be with Lucille 2 (Liza Minnelli) or ashamed to been SEEN with her on a date. When the couple ended up at the same restaurant as Michael in Season 2's "Burning Love," he told his brother he was helping Lucille 2 eat and didn't want to go in the first place. Ouch!

I heard the jury's still out on science. 

When Gob told Michael that "a young neighborhood tough" would be stopping by, Michael clarified that he meant Gob's son Steve Holt. The older brother brushed that off, and when Michael pointed out that a DNA test had confirmed that Gob was in fact Steve's father, he still refused to admit it, giving the above excuse.

My gut is telling me no… but my gut is also very hungry. 

Michael agreed to give Gob $500 in exchange for a favor, but the older brother wasn't quick to agree to those terms.

There's not a lot of logic to it. It's kind of like on a boat with 'Women and children first.' I mean, why should they... 

The age-old question about why paper beats rock in Rock, Paper, Scissors makes about as much sense as prioritizing women and children on a sinking ship, at least in Gob's mind.

Michael, I'm your big brother. I'll never be impressed with you. 

A relatable statement for siblings everywhere.

I’m not fit to run a company, and I don't deserve a fancy phone. 

The self-pity was palpable when Tobias (David Cross) asked his brother-in-law if he could borrow his cell phone in the Season 2 episode "Sad Sack."

Let me ask you something. Is this a business decision, or is it personal? 'Cause if it's business, I'll go away happily. But if it's personal, I'll go away, but I won't be happy. 

Arrested Development Season 1, "Bringing Up Buster" features Gob Bluth in that moment when you're trying to maintain just the smallest shred of control after everything else in life has completely unraveled.

For the same reason that you should believe that a $100 bill is no more than 100 pennies! 

The "raining pennies" trick is one that Gob tried a few different times with varying degrees of success. But when he used it in Season 2 to illustrate to the board why they should believe in him to lead the company, it went over like gangbusters (especially for Gob, who got $99 out of it).

You taste these tears. Taste my sad, Michael. 

In comparing who had the more tragic upbringing by their father, Gob was convinced that his tears proved a win over Michael, and he implored his younger brother to see what his sad tasted like. When Gob started crying happy tears a few minutes later, the quote above turned into: "Taste the happy, Michael. Taste it."

Yeah, me and Blank are getting the old Christian magic act back together. I mean, you don't expect people to actually believe that I'm Jesus if I'm walking around in rags. 

Where to even start with this one? Two of Arrested Development's best inside jokes beautifully align here, as Gob can never remember the names of the women he's dating, and no one ever notices or remembers Ann (Mae Whitman). So Gob (and Michael) calling her "Blank," after calling her "Mouth" earlier in the scene is simply perfect. Add that to his referring to their wedding as a magic act and his startling incomprehension of Jesus, and this is just classic Gob.

You know what I could go for is some guac. This heat just makes me want guac. 

Honestly, this Gob Bluth quote lives in my head all summer, every summer.

If you didn't have adult onset diabetes, I wouldn't mind giving you a little sugar. 

In Season 3's "S.O.B.s," Gob tried to prank his mom by pretending to be her waiter at the restaurant where she was eating. Lucille Bluth (Jessica Walter) didn't notice, but the other employees mistook Gob for a real server. He continued to show up for the new job he'd stumbled into, and realized that a little flirting could go a long way when it came to getting tips.

It's OK, son. We'll figure it out. When we do, we'll have the last laugh. We'll be the laughingstock of the boardwalk. 

In Season 3's "Making a Stand," Gob and Steve Holt challenged Michael and George Michael (Michael Cera) to a little competition, setting up their own banana stand directly next to his nephew's. If only Gob and his son knew how to make a frozen banana. I'm sure they'll figure it out.

It's a jet-pack, Michael. What could possibly go wrong? 

Spoiler alert: Things did not go as planned for Gob and Michael when they tried to break into their father's prison.

Ta da!

The greatness of this quote is all about the context. As one of his illusions, Gob announced he was going to be locked in his father's prison only to escape 24 hours later. Things didn't look great for him when he was unable to retrieve the key he had digested, but then he was stabbed in the prison yard. When he awoke in the hospital, he asked his mother if he was still in jail, and when she told him where they were, he gave a weak but proud, "Ta da!"

Is that enough of a reference for you? 

On a job interview with his family's rival company, Sitwell Enterprises, the interviewer remarked that Gob really didn't have any references. Gob responded by producing a dove from a ball of fire and then saying the line above. 

Come on!

This was one of Gob's most famous catchphrases, said quite often to express his frustration or point out the irony of a situation. Other Arrested Development characters used it at times as well, but nothing beat Will Arnett's delivery.

He takes his queen and showers her with diamonds! Clubs. Club sauce! He covers her with club sauce. 

When practicing a card trick to perform at Michael's wedding, Gob pulled a club instead of the diamond he expected, forcing him to improvise what he showered his queen in. What even is club sauce?

Well, I will tell you this, Michael. I don't have a son … But if I ever do, I'm either gonna take him to the cabin in the woods or I'm gonna promise to take him and then not take him. But the one thing that I will never do is not tell him that I'm taking him to a cabin in the woods, and then not take him. 

In Gob's mind, it was worse that his father hadn't cared enough to even promise to take him to the family's cabin in the woods than it was that George had broken that promise to Michael. Gob hoped for a different kind of disappointment for his own son.

Great news! Dad wasn't crushed to death! 

Hey! That's always good news, right? In the Season 2 finale "The Righteous Brothers," Gob is relieved to find out his father had escaped from underneath the model home before part of it collapsed. However, no one else had known there was a risk of George being crushed to death.

It's called taking advantage. It's what gets you ahead in life. 

Ladies and gentlemen, life lessons from Gob Bluth. Great words to live by.

Well I hope you also carry a spare bowl of candy beans! 

Stan Sitwell (Ed Begley Jr.) was sure to always carry spare eyebrows in case one fell off, which happened fairly often due to his alopecia. However, when one of his eyebrows fell into a bowl of jelly beans, Gob was clearly more concerned about the candy. 

Take a look at banner, Michael! 

This is one of the funniest quotes from the entire series, and it's hard to pin down what exactly makes it so memorable. Gob's childlike level of excitement? The fact that he was so proud that he couldn't even say "the" banner? Clearly no thought or work went into the sign, which read "Family Love Michael"? Yes to all of those things. It's a great line.

I'm in charge now. I speak for this family. I mean, I could if you wanted me to. I'd rather not, obviously. Don't know what I'd say. Why do I have to be the one? I don't need this. Why does this have to become my problem? No, I'm out. Forget it. Find somebody else. I'm sick of it. I'm sick of doing everything for this family. 

What just happened here?

Yeah, well, if you give someone permission to use a tissue, you can't be upset if they blow their nose. Right? 

This was Gob's response to Michael blaming him for blowing up the family's yacht after Michael had given him permission to use it. Call me crazy, but does Gob have a point here?

I mean, it's not about money in the sense that I'm coming here saying, 'Here, Michael, take some money.' It's just more of a 'May I have some?' kind of visit. 

Asking for money is hard, especially when it's your brother holding all the cards (credit cards, likely, in this case). In the Season 1 episode "Whistler's Mother," Gob gives a master class on how to handle the situation when Michael asks him if he was there about the money.

He doesn't want to break my legs. He wants to take my legs. 

Michael was legitimately concerned when a guy started making threats against Gob, telling him to, "Say goodbye to your legs." What Michael failed to understand was that it wasn't a mobster or loan shark who was threatening Gob, but another magician, who didn't want to cause him bodily harm; he wanted to take the woman Gob used in his "Saw the Lady in Half" trick. One can see where Michael got confused.

There are some movie and TV characters who are defined by just one actor, while others could be defined by two or even three. Of course, in an industry dominated by reboots and remakes these days, it is far from unusual to see the same role being handled by multiple performers, but we are specifically referring to roles from the same cinematic franchise or TV series — and in the same continuity, mostly — that had to be recast for one reason or another. Let’s explore this phenomenon by reviewing some of the most notable examples.  

Vivian Banks (The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air)

For the sitcom's first three seasons, Janet Hubert starred in the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air cast as Will Smith's aunt, Vivian Banks. However, on-set drama between Hubert and Smith led to Daphne Maxwell Reid assuming the role, which Jazz (DJ Jazzy Jeff) would cleverly poke fun at on a couple of different occasions.

James "Rhodey" Rhodes (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

Near the end of 2008's Iron Man, Terrence Howard, as James Rhodes, gazes upon one of Tony Stark's (Robert Downey Jr.) unpainted armored suits and decides he will try it out "next time." However, there would not be a next time for Howard, who left due to contract disputes and was succeeded in Iron Man 2 by Don Cheadle, who has played the colonel otherwise known as “Rhodey” in the MCU ever since.

Catwoman (Batman)

Julie Newmar and Eartha Kitt portrayed two iconic iterations of Catwoman on Batman. Of course, the feline-esque foe was also played by Lee Meriwether in the cinematic spin-off of the Adam West-led, 1960s-era spin-off.

Emperor Palpatine (The Star Wars Movies)

Unless they got their hands on an unedited copy of 1980’s The Empire Strikes Back, most modern fans of the Star Wars franchise might not have realized that Emperor Palpatine was originally physically portrayed by Elaine Baker and voiced by Clive Revill. After Ian McDiarmid took over the role in Return of the Jedi in 1983, the actor was edited into the 2004 version of Empire.

Cleveland Brown (Family Guy)

It may come as a surprise to some more casual Family Guy viewers that one of the animated series' few Black characters was voiced by a white actor until 2020. Mike Henry — who also voices Herbert and Consuela — willfully stepped down from the role and was replaced by Arif Zahir, whose talent for portraying the character was discovered on YouTube.

Evelyn O'Connell (The Mummy Movies)

After playing Evelyn O'Connell (née Carnahan) in 1999's The Mummy and The Mummy Returns in 2001, Academy Award winner Rachel Weisz turned down the chance to play the brash librarian a third time. Thus, Maria Bello succeeded in the role for 2008's The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.

Darrin Stephens (Bewitched)

When a back injury made working on Bewitched more challenging, Emmy nominee Dick York was forced to step down from the role of Samantha Stephens' (Elizabeth Montgomery) mortal husband, Darrin. The producers would then go to their original choice for the role, Dick Sargent, who was involved in a different show, but was able to play Darrin for the supernatural sitcom's final three seasons.

Jack Ryan (Jack Ryan Movies)

The first cinematic adaptation of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan novels, 1990’s The Hunt for Red October, cast Alec Baldwin as the CIA analyst, but, due to his commitment to a theatrical production of A Streetcar Named Desire, Harrison Ford took over as the lead of 1992’s Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger in 1994. In 2002, Ben Affleck led The Sum of All Fears, and, more than a decade later, Chris Pine took over the role in Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit before John Krasinski was named the lead of Amazon Prime’s Jack Ryan series.

Harriette Winslow (Family Matters)

Some of the Family Matters cast, reportedly, did not get along — namely Steve Urkel actor Jaleel White and JoMarie Payton, who played Harriette Winslow. This growing tension and certain disagreements with the direction of the long-running sitcom led Payton to cut ties in the middle of the ninth and final season and be replaced by Judyann Elder.

Albus Dumbledore (Harry Potter Movies)

Two-time Academy Award nominee Richard Harris originated the role of Albus Dumbledore in the first two Harry Potter movies until he passed away in 2002. The Hogwarts headmaster was succeeded by Michael Gambon, who officially joined the wildly popular fantasy franchise with 2004’s Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

Newman (Seinfeld)

Jerry's nemesis and Kramer's buddy, known only as Newman, was originally conceived as a TV character you would never actually see, but only hear, with Seinfeld co-creator Larry David providing the voice. However, the United States postal worker would make his grand entrance in the long-running sitcom’s third season, as played by Wayne Knight.

Bruce Wayne (Batman Movies) 

Michael Keaton starred as the Dark Knight in two live-action Batman movies helmed by Tim Burton — 1989’s Batman and Batman Returns from 1992. When director Joel Schumacher took over the franchise, Keaton left and was succeeded by Val Kilmer in Batman Forever, only to be replaced by George Clooney as Bruce Wayne in Batman & Robin.

Rick Sanchez And Morty Smith (Rick And Morty)

Justin Roiland co-created one of the all-time best animated TV series with Rick and Morty, for which he also voiced both members of the titular grandfather and grandson duo. Assault allegations against the actor led to his forced exit, paving the way for Ian Cardoni to voice the disgruntled scientist with Harry Belden portraying the anxious teen. 

Sabretooth (X-Men Movies)

When Marvel’s X-Men comics were first adapted for live-action films, the animalistic, ageless mutant known as Sabretooth was played by professional wrestler Tyler Mane. Despite its intentions of being a direct prequel, X-Men Origins: Wolverine enlisted Liev Schreiber to take over the role alongside Hugh Jackman’s reprisal of his brother, Logan.

Gregor “The Mountain” Clegane (Game Of Thrones)

It had never been unusual for Game of Thrones cast members to be killed off, nor was it out of the ordinary for their roles to be recast. One of the most notable examples of this was when “The Mountain” actor Craig Stevens was replaced after one season by Ian Whyte in Season 2 and again by Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson for the remainder of the series.

Chewbacca (Star Wars Movies)

For Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Peter Mayhew returned to play Chewbacca, but also shared his iconic Star Wars character with Joonas Suotamo, who handled the more physically demanding scenes. When Mayhew passed, the Finnish actor took full responsibility of the Wookie, whom he would reprise again in Solo: A Star Wars Story and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

Becky Conner (Roseanne)

The role of Becky Conner was played by two different actors at almost sporadic times throughout the original run of Roseanne. Alicia Goranson, who originated the character, was on for the first five seasons, the eighth season, and the revival series, while Sarah Chalke was in the cast for the sixth, seventh, and ninth seasons, but also returned for The Conners in a different recurring role.

Bruce Banner (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

When Mark Ruffalo reprised his role as Bruce Banner in Disney+'s She-Hulk, he mentioned how, when he fought a "hulked-out" Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth), he was a "completely different person" then. He means this literally because the physicist-turned-superhero was played by Edward Norton in 2008's The Incredible Hulk.

Laurie Forman (That '70s Show)

The late Lisa Robin Kelly was best known for starring in the That '70s Show cast as Laurie Forman for the period sitcom's first five seasons. Before the character was effectively written off, Eric's older sister was portrayed by Christina Moore for the first half of Season 6.

Victoria (The Twilight Saga)

Before Rachelle Lefevre was cast as Victoria in 2008's Twilight and the first sequel, New Moon, one of the first actors approached was Bryce Dallas Howard, who felt the role was too minor. After Lefevre was dropped, reportedly due to scheduling conflicts, Howard accepted to take over as the villainous vamp in Eclipse.

Meg Griffin (Family Guy)

Everybody recognizes Meg Griffin's voice as that of Mila Kunis, but she would only join the Family Guy cast in Season 2 after Lacey Chabert left the role. The series has poked fun at the recasting numerous times, like when Stewie finds himself in a world where time goes in reverse and points out that his sister's voice sounds different.

Clarice Starling (Hannibal)

Jodie won an Academy Award in 1992 for playing FBI agent Clarice Starling in Jonathan Demme’s horrifying Best Picture Oscar winner, The Silence of the Lambs. Yet she was not available to reunite with Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lector for director Ridley Scott’s Hannibal from 2001, so Julianne Moore took over the role.

Daario Naharis (Game Of Thrones)

Ed Skrein first joined Game of Thrones as Daenerys Targaryen’s advisor and lover, Daario Naharis, in the epic fantasy drama's third season. When the English actor left the series the following season, Michiel Huisman would take over.

Thanos (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

The first time we met the MCU’s iteration of Thanos was in a brief mid-credits cameo from 2012’s The Avengers, in which he played in performance capture by Damion Poitier. For the mad, purple Titan’s second appearance in 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy, the role was passed on to Oscar nominee Josh Brolin, who would continue to portray the character on the big screen until his defeat in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame.

Carol Willick (Friends)

When Friends first introduced Carol — Ross Gellar's (David Schwimmer) ex-wife and mother of his son, Ben — in the second episode of Season 1, she was played by Anita Barone. That would be the actor's only appearance in the role as she left soon after and was succeeded by Jane Sibbett, who played her for the rest of the remainder of the long-running sitcom.

Rachel Dawes (The Dark Knight Trilogy)

Bruce Wayne's childhood friend and crush, Rachel Dawes — a character invented specifically for 2005's Batman Begins — was originated by Katie Holmes. When she turned down the chance to star in 2008's The Dark Knight, Maggie Gyllenhaal was cast as the Gotham City attorney. 

Greg Serrano (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend)

In the first two seasons of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Rebecca Bunch (Rachel Bloom) has a complicated on-and-off affair with Greg Serrano who was then played by Santino Fontana before the actor's one-year contract expired. So, when the character came back for Season 4, he was replaced by Pitch Perfect star Skyler Astin.

Jennifer Parker (Back To The Future Trilogy)

Some audiences may remember Elizabeth Shue as Jennifer Parker, but she only appeared in the second and third installments of the Back to the Future trilogy. Marty McFly’s girlfriend and eventual wife was first played in the original time travel movie classic from 1985 by Claudia Wells, who did not reprise the role after pausing her acting career for family reasons.

Ann Veal (Arrested Development)

Fans of Arrested Development know George Michael Bluth's (Michael Cera) utterly forgettable girlfriend, Ann, as Mae Whitman. However, they also might have forgotten that the role's original actor was Alessandra Torresani, for just one episode of the acclaimed comedy's first season.

Gellert Grindelwald (Fantastic Beasts)

The 2016 Harry Potter prequel, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, revealed that Percival Graves was a disguised Gellert Grindewald, played by Johnny Depp, who reprised the role in the 2018 sequel, The Crimes of Grindelwald. However, legal troubles led Warner Bros. to cut ties with the Oscar nominee and enlist Mads Mikkelsen to play the villainous wizard in The Secrets of Dumbledore in 2022.

Reggie Mantle (Riverdale)

Ross Butler was in the Riverdale cast for the first season of the dark Archie Comics adaptation in the recurring role of football player Reggie Mantle. However, the actor's commitment to 13 Reasons Why forced the series to cast Charles Melton when the character was expanded.

Marnie Piper (Halloweentown Movies)

Marnie Piper — who discovers she is a young witch in the 1998 Disney Channel Original Movie, Halloweentown — was portrayed by Kimberly J. Brown then and again in two of the not-so-scary witch movie’s sequels. However, for reasons even Brown does not know, Sara Paxton went brunette to succeed in the role in the fourth installment, Return to Halloweentown, from 2006.

Hollywood unfortunately lost yet another beloved star this past week. Veteran actor Martin Mull died at the age of 80 following “a valiant fight against a long illness,” as confirmed by his daughter. The ferociously funny actor’s career spanned decades and, in that time, he endeared himself to audiences through his winning performances. Fans are seemingly saddened by the star’s passing. However, they’re also paying tribute to Mull by sharing some of his best movie and TV moments, and a number of them are so great. 

A number of actors would likely relish the opportunity to have a career that was as impressive as Martin Mull’s. He not only had a number of varied roles, but the projects he landed just happen to be amongst some of the most iconic titles of TV and cinema. One such notch on his belt was the hit comedy Arrested Development, on which he played the humorous role of private detective Gene Parmesan. Following Mull’s death one fan took to X to share a funny scene from the show. It depicts just one of the late star’s A+ moments with the late great Jessica Walter: 

Fans may remember that the late Chicago native also memorably played the role of Col. Mustard in the big-screen adaptation of Clue. As a member of that brilliant ensemble, he dropped a few of the film’s timelessly funny quotes. You can hear one of those in the clip shared by someone else below: 

One of the more eclectic entries in the actor’s filmography would have to be HBO’s The History of White People in America. Serving as writer, producer and host, he – alongside his colleagues – sought to provide a bit of satire and social commentary. Check out a moment from one of the vignettes: 

Even when Martin Mull didn’t play a big part in a production, he still managed to make an impression through a cameo or supporting role. That was the case with the holiday romp Jingle All the Way (which some argue is top tier). Mull played the role of a radio host who finds himself caught in the middle of two guys’ hunt for an elusive toy. As noted by the person who posted the video below, he only had one scene, but he made the most of it:

Another comedic notch in the Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman alum’s belt is that of Principal Willard Kraft on teen sitcom Sabrina the Teenage Witch. The school official had his fair share of funny moments throughout the fan-favorite comedy. You can see one of them down below: 

Some might also remember the time that Martin Mull memorably guest-starred on one of the best sitcoms of all time, The Golden Girls. His memorable Season 6 episode, which can be streamed with a Hulu subscription, saw him play a hippie suffering from agoraphobia. You can see a snippet from the installment, which shows him sharing the screen with the late Bea Arthur, for yourself: 

And these posts just represent a few of the major credits that Mr. Mull could claim, as he also appeared on Taxi, The Larry Sanders Show, Two and a Half Men and even Danny Phantom. He also became famous for his role as the sardonic Leon Carp on Roseanne. The enduring popularity of that character is what prompted CinemaBlend’s own Nick Venable to wonder whether Leon would appear on The Conners – a spinoff of the aforementioned show. It would be a gross understatement to say that Mull will be missed though, if these social media posts are any indication, his body of work will not be forgotten. 

We here at CinemaBlend extend our condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of Martin Mull during this time.

Though television programming existed in various forms for more than a decade before the first situation comedies officially arrived in the late 1940s, the sitcom quickly became one of the most popular and duplicated genres for the next 80+ years. From stand-up comics to Hollywood icons, sitcoms are responsible for some of pop culture’s biggest stars, from Jerry Seinfeld to Jennifer Aniston to Dick Van Dyke to Lucille Ball, as well as some of the most memorable catchphrases.

Despite broadcast networks no longer championing sitcoms as much as in years past, with streaming services picking up the slack — Netflix is now more known for multi-camera sitcoms than any of the Big 4 — TV comedies will likely continue to keep audiences breathless with laughter for many more years to come. As such, CinemaBlend’s staff came together to celebrate and rank the 100 best sitcoms of all time, with the order stemming partially from our writers’ sharing scores for more than 200 different series, along with other contributing factors.

So sit back in your favorite recliner, grab an extra-large Squishee (or an ice-cold Duff, if you’re of age) and settle into the coziness, comfort, and occasional cringeworthiness of the best TV sitcoms of all time, according to CinemaBlend.

100. Bewitched

You know a show is a classic when even Marvel is drawing inspiration from it nearly 50 years after its end. The fantasy sitcom Bewitched worked its magic at CBS for eight seasons, partially due to the phenomenal comedic acting of Elizabeth Montgomery and Dick York, who was famously replaced by Dick Sargent due to York's worsening health issues. Add in an equally impressive ensemble cast including Agnes Moorehead, David White, and Paul Lynde (just to name a few), and it's no wonder Bewitched was a nose-twitching delight of a show that doesn't need supernatural abilities to be great.

99. Laverne and Shirley

Arguably the most successful Happy Days spinoff, as well as one of the best TV comedies of all time, Laverne & Shirley followed two best friends and bottle-cappers as they navigated life and everything it threw at them in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (later Burbank, California). Though similar in tone to its predecessor, this long-running sitcom relied more on the physical comedy talents masterfully pulled by stars Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams. And when it comes to iconic opening credits sequences, Laverne & Shirley was in a league of its own with all those shots of the fictional Shotz Brewery along with that classic theme.

98. Beavis And Butt-Head

No Beavis And Butt-Head fan will argue that the show isn’t dumb. Because it is. It really, really is, in each of its iterations. The two eponymous characters rank as two of the most unambiguously stupid protagonists to ever grace a TV screen, and every word they say is unadulterated idiocy. Ironically, though, that’s the genius of Mike Judge’s creation. The impossibly dumb leads allow for stories that no other sitcom can reasonably or responsibly touch with any degree of verisimilitude, while also permitting some outrageously weird takes on music videos (and social clips) across various eras.

97. Hogan's Heroes

War stories are often suited for prestige dramas, but Hogan's Heroes proved that a P.O.W. camp comedy could be just as awards-worthy. During its 168-episode run, Bob Crane's titular leader and his squad constantly thwarted Nazi enemies with fast-talking and constant hijinks (many of which were put into play by future game show legend Richard Dawson). Lasting as long as World War II did itself, Hogan's Heroes showcased how reflecting on past tragedies with humor can make for memorable art.

96. How I Met Your Mother

How I Met Your Mother may be higher on this list if not for fan opinions of the final season, but I would 100% say that it’s worth watching despite a lackluster ending. This show is about finding out how Josh Radnor’s Ted met his future wife, but it really thrives as a series about best friends. As Neil Patrick Harris’ Barney Stinson would say, this ensemble is legen–wait for it–dary, and those who check it out will definitely be invested in what the cast is doing now that the series is over.

95. Mork & Mindy

Today we all know what an immense talent Robin Williams was, and the absolutely wild places he could take comedy. Imagine not knowing any of that, and then turning on an early episode of Mork & Mindy, where he must have come across quite like somebody from another world, much like the character he played. Mork from Ork gave Williams the freedom to do almost anything on screen opposite Pam Dawber’s Mindy (and later Jonathan Winters), and it’s no surprise he took over Hollywood after four successful seasons.

94. The Adventures of Pete and Pete

Plenty of shows focus on the weirdness of suburbia, but Nickelodeon’s The Adventures of Pete & Pete still stands awkwardly as one of the best. As Older Pete (Michael Maronna) and Younger Pete (Danny Tamberelli) navigate the oddities of Wellsville, life lessons and warm memories are gifted to viewers by creators Will McRobb and Chris Viscardi. Pete & Pete delivers its homespun tales with a deep-seated love of ‘50s and ‘60s pop culture, and with one of the more impressive celebrity guest star rosters of kid-centric TV. Where else will you find REM’s Michael Stipe as a conspiratorial ice cream man?

93. black-ish

Watching Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross’ Andre and Rainbow Johnson raise their family amidst navigating various challenges in and around their largely white-populated neighborhood, all while still hanging onto their Black identities, makes for eight seasons of exceptional sitcom storytelling. While black-ish went on to launch two spinoffs, the original still stands as the cream of the crop, expertly balancing pointed social commentary and humor regarding a variety of topics, racial and otherwise. Plus, TV grandfather-dom looks great on Laurence Fishburne.

92. The Munsters

What happens when a family largely modeled after Universal’s Classic Monsters takes up residence in the middle of suburban America’s Mockingbird Heights? You get The Munsters, which slotted in nicely among other comedic offerings in the ‘60s while also satirizing sitcom tropes of the era. Although Fred Gwynne’s bumbling patriarch Herman was often the driving force behind the weekly shenanigans, Lily, Grandpa, Eddie and Marilyn (the only “normal” looking one) were all far more endearing than their monstrous counterparts, making The Munsters a great platform for chaotic, yet heartfelt entertainment.

91. Happy Endings

Best friends are always good sitcom fodder, as David Caspe’s Happy Endings proved for three seasons on ABC ahead of its fan-angering cancellation. Damon Wayans Jr.’s cucumber-cool Brad and Eliza Coupe’s A-type Jane are the group’s PDA-friendly couple, while her sister, Elisha Cuthbert’s confusion-prone Alex, is exes-ish with Zachary Knighton’s dorky-smooth Dave. The group is rounded out by Adam Pally’s schlubbo-sexual Max and Casey Wilson’s serial dater Penny. Perhaps the only sitcom whose leads share a fictional history as Real World vets, Happy Endings is as fun and fancy-free as romance-fueled sitcoms get.

90. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Less than two years after Ellie Kemper played Erin Hannon for the last time on The Office, she sunshine-smiled her way through a bonkers show of her own with Netflix’s original Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. The series, which centered on former cult member Kimmy’s surreal and gung-ho acclimation to life in a “real” world she hadn’t lived in for years. One of the more unique shows from creators Tina Fey and Robert Carlock, Kimmy could have made this list just for turning the multi-talent Tituss Burgess into a small-screen regular. Extra kudos for the follow-up movie Kimmy vs the Reverend.

89. That '70s Show

Starring Topher Grace and running for eight seasons from 1998-2006, That ‘70s Show transports any generational audience who watches back to the late 1970s for the horned-up (and oh-so-slightly drugged-up) exploits of high school besties and their respective parents. The teens were played by actors who would go on to become bona fide stars, including Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, Wilmer Valderrama, and Laura Prepon. The Circle in Eric’s basement was always reliable for big laughs, and though its final season suffered from cast exits, Netflix’s That ‘90s Show kept the good times going far more successfully than That ‘80s Show.

88. Extras

Ricky Gervais and Steven Merchant followed up on the smash success of The Office by crossing the ocean to HBO for the Hollywood-skewing riot Extras, which hinged on the fraught character trifecta of Gervais’ dispirited actor Andy, his god-awful agent Darren (Merchant) and his kind-hearted and oblivious actress BFF Maggie (Ashley Jensen). While only two seasons and a Christmas special, it’s a modern classic not only for its gloriously cornball faux sitcom When the Whistle Blows, but for bonkers celebrity cameos from Kate Winslet, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellan and more. Gervais also delivers an all-time Top 5 spit-take in one episode.

87. The Bernie Mac Show

The late Bernie Mac is still widely viewed as a comedy giant, and his eponymous family sitcom is a major reason for that. The Bernie Mac Show definitely isn’t the first comedy to be headlined by a stand-up, but it’s one of the few that so perfectly utilized the talents of its lead. Mac’s signature brand of no-nonsense humor is especially hilarious when he bounces off his A+ co-stars. But, overall, what makes this series one of the great modern Black sitcoms is its funny, warm and nuanced depiction of familial dynamics amongst African Americans.

86. Gilligan's Island

Before The Brady Bunch (but after The Red Skelton Show), screenwriter and producer Sherwood Schwartz launched 1964's smash-hit Gilligan's Island, and the fictional voyage was far more doomed than the show's. Starring Bob Denver and Alan Hale, the sitcom won over viewers with plots hinged on island inventions, unexpected visitors, dream sequences, and random items washing up ashore. While the show famously never hit one hundred episodes, its premise was beloved enough to spark several TV movies and the truly baffling Saturday morning cartoon spinoff Gilligan's Planet.

85. Mad About You

Chemistry is usually all it takes to keep a sitcom afloat, whether its shared by an ensemble (see: Friends) or tethered to a winning duo like Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt in Mad About You. It helps that both actors lent their movie-level wattage to the sitcom for eight seasons, exploring marriage and eventually parenthood in New York City. (Reiser previously co-starred in My Two Dads, to be sure.) But despite the parade of stellar comedic co-stars — Hank Azaria, Lisa Kudrow, Carol Burnett, and Mel Brooks? Come on! — it was Paul and Jamie keeping us invested. We were mad about them, and maybe a different kind of mad about Mabel.

84. Three's Company

Three’s Company is an interesting case-study in dated sitcom writing, as 90% of the jokes that prop up the show wouldn’t fly today. Almost every single line can be construed as sexual innuendo, and the plot twists of a given Three’s Company episode are so driven by silly miscommunications, the formula is basically cliche. However, John Ritter’s deep reservoir of charm, when combined with his incredible chemistry with the female roommates that came in and out of his orbit, made it an overall win, and one of the most memorable and breezy sitcoms of the 1970s and ‘80s.

83. Family Guy

What can be said about Family Guy that hasn’t already been said? While Seth MacFarlane’s first mega-hit doesn’t feel quite as crude as other late night animated fare these days, it quickly cemented itself as an envelope-pushing primetime entry thanks to its murderous baby, they hyper-perverse Quagmire, and the less said about Herbert, the better. The series made a meme-worthy artform out of cutaway gags, man vs. chicken fights and lowbrow pop culture spoofs. At this point, the Griffins are basically as widespread as the Simpsons, and Brian would certainly drink to that.

82. Malcolm In The Middle

Malcolm in the Middle was a key part of Fox’s Sunday comedy lineup for six of its seven seasons from 2000-2006. At the time, the Frankie Muniz-starring comedy was a rare example of a single-camera sitcom that eschewed a laugh track and had its lead regularly breaking the fourth wall. The family was known to deal with serious issues in the background of the shenanigans of the sibling trio, which helped the sitcom win seven Emmys. It was also Bryan Cranston’s breakout primetime TV role, proving he was a comedy legend years before dipping into drama for Breaking Bad.

81. The Facts Of Life

A spinoff of Diff’rent Strokes, The Facts of Life is one of the most successful TV offshoots that shares little with its predecessor, and for good reason. The coming-of-age sitcom explores adolescence in a way that neither its predecessor nor follow-up projects ever could, with a perfectly cast ensemble of young actresses led by the incomparable Charlotte Rae. This sitcom exists because of Rae’s previously stellar work, and her warmth and charm in the role of Mrs. Garrett helped make a family out of her girls, from Natalie to Tootie to Jo to Blair and the rest.

80. The Addams Family

Although The Addams Family started off as a single-panel New Yorker comic strip published from 1938 to 1964, it was the TV series premiering that same latter year which made the family a pop culture favorite. Watching Morticia, Gomez, Uncle Fester, Wednesday, Pugsley, Grandmama, Lurch and Thing freak people out with their macabre tastes and supernatural antics never got old, and without the popularity of this show, it’s doubtful these ghoulish characters would have returned in a variety of live-action and animated projects in later years.

79. My Name Is Earl

My Name Is Earl earned its way to sitcom greatness thanks to star Jason Lee’s all-in performance as Earl Hickey, as well as the great premise that sees Earl attempting to right the litany of past wrongs committed against seemingly everyone he’d ever met. (The concept also helps make it easy to drop in on any random episode without really needing to see what happened beforehand.) Ethan Suplee, Eddie Steeples and Jaime Pressley are equally brilliant in their respective roles, and we can still relate to Earl to this day anytime we struggle to keep our eyes open while taking a picture.

78. The Middle

Every once in awhile, a show sneaks it way into the zeitgeist and in our memories. The Middle, a show about a quirky middle-class family from the Midwest ran for nine years and hit home for a wide and nostalgic audience. It was a breath of fresh air and an honest take on class and what it was really like to grow up in, well, “the middle” of everything. Ironically, it was the ending of the show that stuck with most, but all good things must come to an end. 

77. Dave

This whole entry could be spent talking about how Dave is driven by the exceptional talent of David “Lil Dicky” Burd, who has a truly offbeat world perspective to go along with his legitimate gifts as a rapper. But that would be a disservice to Davionte "GaTa" Ganter, who proves over the course of the three seasons to be the NSFW series’ true heart. It gets funny and ridiculous, but it can also deliver a nice, solid gut punch courtesy of your investment in the characters’ plights for recognition.

76. Spin City

Arguably TV's least polarizing political sitcom, Spin City was a winning candidate for its six-season term in part due to co-creators Bill Lawrence and Gary David Goldberg. The latter also created Family Ties, and brought Michael J. Fox into the lead role here as well, with Charlie Sheen successfully taking over in Season 5 after Fox's medical-related exit Spin City is also a melting pot of TV excellence, boasting Connie Britton, Carla Gugino, Richard Kind, Alan Ruck and more greats filling out the NYC mayor’s office.

75. The Andy Griffith Show

One of the most iconic and wholesome sitcoms of the 20th century, The Andy Griffith Show gave audiences nearly 250 episodes with the residents of the fictional town of Mayberry, North Carolina, centering on local sheriff Andy Taylor, played with aw-shucks charm by Griffith. Characters like Barney Fife (Don Knotts), Gomer Pyle (Jim Nabors), Aunt Bee (Frances Bavier), and Opie (a young Ron Howard) made for plenty of the early highlights in sitcom history, both in black-and-white and color.

74. Family Matters

Airing for nine seasons from 1989-1997, Family Matters became a beloved sitcom for multiple generations regularly tuning into ABC’s TGIF lineup. The spinoff of Perfect Strangers followed the highs and lows of the Winslow family, with Die Hard vet Reginald VelJohnson becoming an iconic sitcom dad as Carl Winslow. Of course, Jaleel White’s Steve Urkel famously stole the spotlight as the nerd-tastic breakout star, sporting the signature “Did I do that?” catchphrase. Yes, he certainly did, if by “that” he meant annoying his unrequited love Laura or creating alternate versions of himself via sitcom science.

73. The Wonder Years

The Wonder Years aired from 1988-1993, but very fathfully recreated the late ‘60s and early ‘70s to invite audiences into the lives of the Arnold family. Starring Fred Savage in his breakout role (alongside fellow greats Dan Lauria, Alley Mills, and Danica McKellar), the coming-of-age comedy touched on Vietnam War politics, high school romance, deaths of loved ones, sibling rivalries and more, with Daniel Stern's narration a key source of its charm and emotional heft. From using Joe Cocker’s unforgettable “With a Little Help from My Friends” to its powerful-yet-unplanned finale, it’s no wonder that this classic eventually inspired a reboot.

72. The Flintstones

The Flintstones is arguably the first animated project to prove itself as much of a classic sitcom as anything in live-action. Premiering back in 1960 and running for six wildly successful seasons, the sitcom follows the titular family within a fictional and idealized version of the Stone Age. Its popularity kept it airing in syndication for decades,later inspiring spinoffs, live-action movies, TV specials, ice cream pops, and (of course) the most memorable vitamins down the medicine aisle.

71. The Proud Family

The Proud Family was one of the standout shows of ABC’s One Saturday Morning programming block, walking the line between cartoony kids show and legitimate family drama quite well. Disney+’s more recent Louder And Prouder revival is evidence of that popularity and storytelling skills. Kyla Pratt’s Penny Proud is as relatable a TV teen as can be, and Sugar Mama (voiced by Family Matters’ Jo Marie Payton) is the kind of grandmother anyone would appreciate, sans bodyslams.

70. The Drew Carey Show

Long before he became host of The Price is Right, Drew Carey jumped from standup comedy to sitcom stardom with The Drew Carey Show, which ran for nine increasingly zany seasons from 1995-2004. The comedian starred as a fictionalized version of himself living in Ohio, working at a mundane job surrounded by a core group of friends with hijinks to spare. (Particularly during the A+ April Fool’s Day episodes.) This was the first big scripted TV role for cast members like Christa Miller, Diedrich Baker, Ryan Stiles, Craig Ferguson, and John Carroll Lynch. Hopefully fans can agree with the show on one thing: Cleveland Rocks!

69. Designing Women

If watching four sassy, professional ladies flourish, flounder, and tell it like it is sounds like something you can get behind, then look no further than Designing Women. The comedy starred the all-time great cast of Dixie Carter, Young Sheldon’s Annie Potts, Delta Burke and Hacks star Jean Smart as co-workers sharing their personal and professional trials and triumphs to side-splitting effect over several seasons. Even better, the show managed to work in a lot of social commentary that’s still relevant today, and no one has ever taken down bullies and bigots like Carter’s Julia Sugarbaker.

68. Night Court

Many sitcoms can be vehicles for a single great comedian to shine, but the strength of the original Night Court was its ensemble. (And that sax-y theme.) Harry Anderson played de facto leader Judge Harry Stone alongside John Laroquette, Markie Post, Richard Moll and more, and the jury of TV audiences gave the verdict of Night Court being guilty of hilarity. Despite the fact that the show’s format could seem as formulaic as real-life courtroom dockets, silliness often ensued, and fans were happy to watch these talents play off each other for an enviable nine-season run. Its popularity endures with Melissa Rauch’s 2023 revival.

67. The Honeymooners

TV shows have a way of changing the pop culture landscape by being quotable, and The Honeymooners is one of the earliest sitcoms whose influence is definitely still felt in that category, with “One of these days Alice…” and “To the moon!” persisting so many decades later. The all-time classic follows two New York City couples and the various shenanigans they get into, with Ralph and Alice famously played by Jackie Gleason and Audrey Meadows, respectively. And while the empty threats of domestic violence might be jarring for newcomers, The Honeymooners significantly set the stage for so many sitcoms to follow.

66. Raising Hope

Wacky isn’t always a word that comes up when discussing family sitcoms, but Raising Hope fits that description to a T. The Chance family is filled with more lovable and well-meaning weirdos than you’d think could possibly fit into half-hour eps, but they all have their odd (and potentially relatable) quirks. From dad Burt (who picks his nose by using all 10 fingers), to matriarch Maw Maw (who can frequently be found shirtless and/or braless and giving off old people smells), you’d be hard-pressed to land on an episode that doesn’t make you choke on your big dill pickle.

65. Fresh Off The Boat

Everyone loves a good family sitcom, and while Fresh Off the Boat is technically about the young, hip-hop-obsessed son within a Taiwanese-American family in Orlando, the real comedic meat of the show is his mom, Jessica (Constance Wu). We’ve never seen a mom like Jessica Huang before. Yes, she’s loving, but it’s an absurdly tough, uncompromising love that pushes her nice, America-loving husband and three sons to excel. She’s also fiercely competitive and not someone to mess with, which diners-and-dashers can attest to, and is a big reason why Fresh Off the Boat will always be watchable.

64. Everybody Hates Chris

Abbott Elementary fans can attest to Tyler James Williams’ comedic chops, but he first honed them from his younger Hollywood days as the star of Everybody Hates Chris. Created by Chris Rock (who narrates) and Ali LeRoi, the show is based on the stand-up legend’s teenage years, and finds ways of making everyday occurrences the most hilarious things in the world, often landing a wide-eyed Chris in trouble. From James’ impressive performance as a teenager to the rest of the cast (including a stellar Terry Crews’ dad mode), Everybody Hates Chris is a must-watch for comedy lovers of all ages.

63. Get Smart

Secret agent movies were big in the 1960s, so how could one go wrong with a spoof comedy series created by Mel Brooks and Buck Henry? Get Smart stars Don Adams’ Maxwell Smart (aka the bumbling CONTROL Agent 86) often teaming up with Barbara Feldon’s more-than-capable sidekick, Agent 99, to thwart the evil, if not entirely professional, efforts of the cabal KAOS. From the series’ iconic opening credits to Max’s shoe phone, Get Smart stands the test of time, with some great catchphrases to boot, including “MIssed it by that much,” and, “Would you believe…?”

62. Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23

We sometimes wonder how well creator Nahnatchka Khan’s Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23 would have fared if it lasted beyond its celebrated two-season run. And we wish we were given the chance to actually see that hypothetical third season for ourselves, as the 26 episodes we did get were spot on. Pairing Dreama Walker’s naive June with Krysten Ritter’s scheming Chloe made for an odd couple who knew how to have exciting adventures. Frequent appearances by an early-career Eric André and an always charming James Van Der Beek only made this ABC series all the sweeter.

61. Good Times

A quality sitcom spinoff can be a challenge. Repeat what worked on the original, or try to do something totally different? Good Times spun off from Maude (which itself was an All In The Family offshoot), and succeeded through carving out its own authentic niche centering around the hard-working and cash-strapped characters of Florida (Esther Rolle) and James Evans (John Amos). The two leads were excellent throughout, though Good Times eventually shifted its primary focus to Jimmie Walker, the sitcom’s breakout star who coined the phrase “Dynomite!” and rode that marketing freight train to global superstardom. A series that lives up to its name, and then some.

60. The Nanny

The Nanny has long been synonymous with its star Fran Drescher, who played the titular Nanny Fine throughout the show’s six-season run on CBS. Despite being a quintessential ‘90s sitcom, the show’s comedy still feels super fresh and contemporary, even if the pop culture references are dated. Descher is truly unbelievable as Fran, and The Nanny has one of the best TV theme songs of all time. And it’s a show that younger generations absolutely NEED to binge-watch, amidst the ongoing hope for fans to see more.

59. Archer

If Archer were merely an expertly crafted James Bond parody, we’d still love it. However, this long-running FX staple’s greatness comes from the lore-heavy, spy-fi universe that creator Adam Reed’s built atop the back of loving send-ups to the espionage subgenre. H. Jon Benjamin anchored an all-timer voice cast that delivered dialogue and performances as sharp as Lana’s switchblade. The show veered from staleness by aping different genres for Danger Island and other “Coma Seasons,” further widening the comedic field of play, and I can’t imagine anyone wouldn’t finger Archer as the wildest workplace sitcom to date. Phrasing, BOOM!

58. Happy Days

When one thinks of Happy Days, the first image that likely comes to mind is Henry Winkler’s Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli giving a cool-as-hell thumb’s up. Though he was initially just a minor player, the leather-donning jukebox-smacking ladie’s man quickly became the show’s most popular character. But its picturesque version of the 1950s and 1960s is just as iconic, as is the entire Cunnhingham family (except maybe for the disappearing brother Chuck) and further ensemble, which spawned a whopping seven spinoffs. And if you don’t agree with all that, well, sit on it!

57. Martin

A couple of years before he became an action movie king in Bad Boys, Martin Lawrence created and starred in his own sitcom, which gave fans five seasons of over-the-top episodes. Lawrence’s Martin Payne is a loud, rambunctious, and highly opinionated Detroit disc jockey who constantly finds himself in all kinds of trouble both at work and at home with Tisha Campbell’s Gina. (A dynamic that shifted in the final season for BTS reasons.) Martin himself was fun, but his various other personas —Sheneneh Jenkins, Rosco, and Dragonfly Jones — gave the sitcom a fun and unique spin, foreshadowing Lawrence’s later career.

56. Living Single

Living Single is one of those sitcoms that thankfully managed to age well , premiering back in 1993 and following a group of friends residing together in a Brooklyn brownstone. With a killer cast including Queen Latifah (who also performed the outstanding theme song), Kim Coles, Kim Fields and Erika Alexander, Living Single’s formula succeeded ahead of Friends reaching more sensational heights, and the topic of influences there has made for many discussions. Regardless, the sitcom is a Black TV treasure, and boasts a trove of terrific musicians, athletes and comedians as guest stars, from Flip Wilson to Chaka Khan.

55. Will and Grace

Will & Grace might as well have also had Jack and Karen in the title as well, such was the strength of this foursome as they unsuccessfully dated and schmoozed their way to making LGBTQ+ history. The NBC Must See TV classic was an Emmy darling during its initial eight-season run, and its ongoing popularity beyond the “final” season inspired NBC to revive it for another two seasons. Which thankfully meant more from the bevy of guests and recurring stars that popped up over the years, from Matt Damon to Matt Bomer to Madonna.

54. Murphy Brown

Sure, Murphy Brown fulfilled the sitcom basics of starring a single, middle-aged working woman (whose eventual single-mom status shook up the status quo), being funny, and serving up great characters — Jim Dial, slugger — to support the Aretha Franklin-loving titular lead. Arguably most important, though, its its rare delivery of a flawed female main character (recovering alcoholic) who’s frequently irascible, dedicated to her job as a journalist, and unafraid to speak up in a male-heavy industry, giving audiences every reason to root for through every uproarious rant and unnecessary assistant change. There’s a reason Candice Bergen earned five Emmys from seven nominations for her work across ten seasons.

53. The Bob Newhart Show

Nobody can do deadpan humor quite like the eponymous star of The Bob Newhart Show. The beauty of this 1970s sitcom was that it allowed Bob Newhart to play off of those stand-up comedy strengths, acting as the straight man to his psychologist Bob Hartley’s many unique patients. Co-starring Suzanne Pleshette as Bob’s beloved wife Emily — the two made sitcom history together on his next sitcom as well — and Peter Bonerz and Bill Daily as his pals, The Bob Newhart Show remains exemplary for its character-driven laughs.

52. Sanford And Son

The laughs that Sanford and Son delivers from episode to episode are fairly unique compared to other sitcoms. Redd Foxx and Demond Wilson are perfectly cast as Fred and Lamont Sanford, respectively, playing off of each other in ways reminiscent of comedy duos in vaudeville and radio shows. The writers also deserve a lot of credit for effectively employing racial humor, considered edgy at that time, as well as for bringing in hilarious characters like “Aunt” Esther Anderson and Grady Wilson. But Foxx – who just oozes superior comedic timing – steals so many scenes with his energetic performances. “This is the big one!”

51. Superstore

All things consumerism considered, it’s almost surprising so few workplace comedies are anything like Superstore. For six seasons, viewers watched Amy (Oscar nominee America Ferrera), Jonah (Ben Feldman) and their wacky big box store co-workers readily getting into myriad insane scrapes and intriguingly complicated relationships, while trying to maintain order (or causing disorder) within the retail sphere. Superstore gives fans peak workplace sitcom, with innumerable sight gags for those watching closely, as well as a low-key, slow-burn mystery involving feet showing up all over the store. It’s a hilarious win-win that theoretically helps everyone see their jobs aren’t as bad as they could be.

50. The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air

Before the Men in Black and Bad Boys franchises and that Academy Award-winning role in King Richard, Will Smith veered away from his successful rap career to introduce viewers to…Will Smith…for The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Just saying its name instantly brings its classic theme song to mind.

Following a kid from West Philly sent off to live with his affluent uncle’s family in Bel-Air, this sitcom oozed ‘90s sitcom charm and hilarity, helping Will Smith expand his comedic talents opposite the great James Avery, Janet Hubert (for a spell) and more. From the Carlton dance to that classic “very special episode” where Will gets shot, Fresh Prince features plenty of justification for its continued success in syndication and streaming.

49. Family Ties

Eventually, Family Ties became known as “The Michael J. Fox Show,” and it was hard to avoid. Fox was a charismatic ball of energy who became a bona fide superstar during the run of the show, and even eclipsed famous guest stars such as Tom Hanks when they appeared.

But before Fox reached all-star status, Family Ties won over audiences as a warm, endearing, and relatable sitcom about liberal parents trying their best to raise their three kids – one of whom happened to be a briefcase-toting, card-carrying Republican. We all saw ourselves in at least one member of the Keaton family, and tuned in weekly to appreciate the ties that bound them all together.

48. Mr. Bean

Rowan Atkinson would have been amazing during the silent film era, but is thankfully a more modern talent, since we otherwise might never have known the childlike, frustration-spiked foibles of Mr. Bean. Co-created by the comedian’s Black Adder partners in hilarity, Ben Elton and Richard Curtis, Mr. Bean is an idiosyncratic sitcom in that its five-year stretch comprised 15 sporadically aired one-off episodes, as opposed to seasons, which inspired a pair of feature films, an animated series, and more pop culture greatness.

Atkinson brings his physical comedy mastery to a plethora of disaster-laden circumstances, from nonchalantly changing into a swimsuit to getting ready for the dentist while driving to being locked out of a hotel room and dozens of other awkward moments.

47. The Mick

Only two seasons of The Mick aired between January 2017 and April 2018, telling the story of a foul-mouthed dirtbag forced to be the guardian of her affluent niece and nephews, and all 37 episodes are send-you-doubled-over-off-your-couch hilarious. Which means a lot of people were sleeping on this brilliance when it aired, and we’re still sore about it.

Led by Kaitlin Olsen, the entire cast is spectacular (with a special hat tip to the brilliant Scott MacArthur as the oft-injured ne'er-do-well Jimmy), but what truly makes this show exceptional is its beyond-dark sensibilities and unwillingness to accept the idea of a “line” that can’t be crossed. The final scene of the series finale is actually a perfect ending in that sense, and we’re sure that more seasons would have pushed it higher up the rankings.

46. The Jeffersons

Norman Lear & Co.nailed it when they moved George, Louise and Lionel Jefferson from All in the Family to their own show. The Jeffersons is 30-minute comedy at its finest, offering an excellent premise, and an array of interesting stories built on it. Sherman Hemsley and Isabel Sanford are electric as George and Lousie, effortlessly conveying their on-screen marriage with warmth, humor and occasional contention, all while surrounded by a strong supporting cast.

There’s also the series’ impact on Black culture and the TV landscape as a whole. It’s one of the earliest shows to have depicted an upper class African American family – and the complexities of such a dynamic. We should all be grateful that these characters moved on up.

45. 30 Rock

If there were any doubts that Tina Fey could transport her magic touch from SNL to a scripted sitcom, 30 Rock proved them pointless. The show-within-a-show’s very first season won the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series, and scored nominations for Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin. (Both went on to win elsewhere in the NBC comedy’s seven-season run.)

The show is infinitely quotable, thanks in large part to Tracy Morgan and Jane Krakowski, and recruited standout part-time stars ranging from Matt Damon to David Schwrimmer to – of course – Steve “How do you do, fellow kids?” Buscemi. Plus, it imparted the following important lesson from Tracy Jordan: “Live every week like it’s Shark Week.” No SNL knowledge is needed to appreciate the sketch-skewing humor, but it’ll help.

44. Scrubs

Hospital dramas have become as commonplace as any TV offering, so having Scrubs around to follow its doctors, nurses and Sacred Heart staff through a comedic lens continues to be a welcome respite. Not to say Scrubs wasn’t without its emotional and poignant moments, since one could argue it functions nearly as well as a dramatic series when in that mode.

But the humor is where Scrubs’ gets surgical with it. Whether we were joining J.D. in his wild daydreams, or the crazy events unfolding between characters while treating patients, this show excelled at delivering the laughs. If only we could witness John C. McGinley’s Dr. Cox ranting at residents while a nameless Janitor pranks people within a real-life hospital. Additionally, J.D. and Turk are one of TV’s all-time best-buddy pairings.

43. Bob's Burgers

In all of sitcom family-dom, few clans are as relatable in their middle-class weirdness as the Belcher family that serves up the titular meals and good-time goofiness on Bob’s Burgers. The beloved series from creator Loren Bouchard has followed sitcom standards to a T while building up its hilarity-filled universe of Italian restaurateur rivals, handyman besties, and plenty of schoolchildren I’d much rather watch on TV than deal with at home. But it’s the Belchers that keep us coming back.

From H. Jon Benjamin’s expertly exasperated attempts to get by to Louise’s rebellious sadism to Tina’s butt fascination, Bob’s Burgers is as timeless as the hamburger itself, and isn’t afraid to mix sweetness into the juvenile hijinks. A must-watch for pun enthusiasts.

42. The Cosby Show

Decades after its debut on NBC, The Cosby Show remains a seminal piece of TV work. This sharp family comedy offers a warm look at a family (who just happened to be Black) and, while the Huxtables are quite pristine, they never feel unrelatable, except perhaps where sweaters are concerned. The impeccable ensemble boasts the likes of Phylicia Rashad, Malcolm-Jamal Warner and Keshia Knight Pulliam masterfully playing off the series’ titular star. Give the writing staff credit, too, for formulating some eternally classic episodes, like “Goodbye Mr. Fish” and “Happy Anniversary.”

Of course, the show’s legacy has been further evaluated due to Bill Cosby’s legal entanglements, and understandably so. That debate will surely continue, though what’s hard to deny is the sitcom’s game-changing position in the cultural lexicon.

41. Party Down

“Are we having fun yet?” The oft-used sarcastic throwback to Henry’s (Adam Scott) singular professional achievement is actually a pretty fitting way to sum up the careers of the motley crew of caterers on Party Down. The aspiring actors and writers who comprise the eponymous catering company would certainly rather be pursuing their passions than serving drinks and apps to their rich customers, but with each episode plunking them into a different bougie event, it was delightful to see the ridiculous and usually cringey situations they would get themselves into.

On top of a fabulous ensemble cast featuring the likes of Ken Marino, Jane Lynch, Lizzy Caplan and Martin Starr, Party Down featured A+ cameos at each catering function. That Steve Guttenberg episode? Chef’s kiss, or at least a caterer’s kiss.

40. The Boondocks

We may never get another animated series about American society as unabashedly insightful as The Boondocks, which was created by Aaron McGruder and based on his comic strip of the same name. Each episode provides a thoughtful examination of the Black experience, principally seen through the eyes of young intellectual Huey Freeman and his gangster-wannabe brother Riley (both voiced by Oscar/Emmy Award-winner Regina King), under the spotty guidance of their John Witherspoon-voiced Granddad.

Not only does McGruder's bold writing provide clever observations about everything from rap music to movie theater decorum, but the anime style continues to remain eye-popping and brilliantly utilized. Especially with the killer kung-fu sequences, which demonstrate a deep love for both the animation medium and the martial arts action genre.

39. Abbott Elementary

Arguably one of the best sitcoms currently airing, Abbott Elementary took the world by storm when it premiered in 2021, introducing the world to Quinta Brunson’s brilliance as Janine Teagues. The Black Lady Sketch Show vet created, writes, produces and stars in the show centering on a Philadelphia school’s staff, and her care and love for it is infectious.

Between Gregory and Janine’s will-they-won’t-they relationship, hilarious talking heads and well-established characters with silly interests (like Ava being a doomsday prepper), this show has all the hallmarks of classic mockumentaries. However, its setting at an elementary school and the unique chemistry the incredible cast has developed make this ABC comedy one that will undoubtedly stand the test of time. (And it won’t need a stool like Janine, amirite, Ava?)

38. The IT Crowd

As if Graham Linehan’s entertainment legacy wasn’t already assured by Father Ted, the man went and crafted another all-time Britcom with The IT Crowd. (Okay, Black Books, too.) The basic premise follows the lives of corporate climber Jen (Katherine Parkinson) and IT department slackers Roy (Chris O’Dowd) and Moss (Richard Ayoade). A classic workplace sitcom trio if there ever was one.

In execution, the 25-episode run was far more fun and unpredictable than the set-up. Skewering corporate culture and malfeasance, as well as all things personal and pop, The IT Crowd feels like a cheeky mix between Seinfeld and Spaced. Not to mention this being a great place to get a Matt Berry fix.

37. Community

It’s difficult to summarize what makes Community such an exceptional sitcom. Its meta awareness and deep love of pop culture is a key ingredient, executed principally through the genius character that is Danny Pudi’s Abed Nadir. But that’s an example of the phenomenal way the show balances the unique voices of its seven main characters – be it the confident idiocy of Donald Glover’s Troy Barnes, the extreme selfishness of Joel McHale’s Jeff Winger, or ridiculous uptightness of Alison Brie’s Annie Edison.

These characters planted in an environment of ever-growing weirdness that is Greendale Community College permits wild, creative, and clever single episode stories… but also not to be slept on are its effective emotional swings (Like I said, it’s really Dean-ficult to sum up!)

36. Modern Family

Modern Family was one of the first family sitcoms to eschew studio audience laughter for the single-camera format, and its massive success and influence was undeniable. Running for eleven seasons, the star-studded sitcom gave viewers a front seat to watching the blended Pritchett and Dunphy families grow up together.

But what makes Modern Family one of the best sitcoms ever is its relatability and ability to tap into all the emotions. There’s plenty to laugh at, thanks to hilarious deliveries from Ed O’Neill, Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell and others, and more episodes than can be poignant, whether it’s about love, sexuality, growing up, or plenty of other feelings to connect to.

35. Arrested Development

At the far end of the “wholesome sitcom family” spectrum is the Bluth clan responsible for the majority of the conning and downward spiraling on Arrested Development. (Ron Howard’s Narrator: “They really were.”) With too many A+ cast members to namecheck in one breath, the fourth wall-breaking comedy is technically about the legal troubles surrounding the family company following a major scandal, but it’s really about the family’s myriad other problems.

Let’s see, we have twin-fidelity, oedipal complexes galore, PTSD from both Army (Mother!) and loss of limb, rampant alcoholism, potentially incestuous foreplay, hair metal magic, and never-nudism, though that’s a corner of a snowflake atop the tallest mountain of comedic quirks. Come for the brilliant performances, stay for the smartest callback jokes on TV.

34. WKRP In Cincinnati

WKRP in Cincinnati is one of those shows that never seems to receive its flowers quite enough alongside others from the era. Airing for four seasons between 1978 and 1982, the comedy takes place at a struggling AM radio station in the heart of the Midwest, and boasts everything one would want in a sitcom: great jokes, iconic characters, and unforgettable TV moments.

Despite early schedule struggles, WKRP eventually found its footing on CBS, thanks to audiences loving the comedic stylings of Howard Hesseman’s Dr. Johnny Fever, Tim Reid’s Venus Flytrap, and Richard Sanders’ Les Nessman. It’s always been a hit with radio DJs, for good reason, and produced quite possibly the greatest Thanksgiving TV treat (that doesn’t have Charlie Brown in it) with “Turkeys Away.”

33. The Critic

In the wake of The Simpsons’ success, creators Al Jean and Mike Reiss shaped a cult classic with The Critic, focused on bitter film critic Jay Sherman, voiced with gusto by Jon Lovitz. The animated sitcom took after its spiritual cousin, offering up both heartfelt and cuttingly satirical gags, and bouncing from ABC to Fox only sharpened the show’s edge.

Keenly lampooning the world of show business, The Critic’s writers crafted A+ parodies of classic films, fake cinematic atrocities so bad they’re funny, and welcomed cameos from actual critics. Anyone wanting to see Siskel & Ebert in a fist fight need look no further. Two words aptly sum up how we feel about this series not lasting nearly as long as The Simpsons: “It stinks.”

32. Married...with Children

With Frank Sinatra’s “Love and Marriage” performance as its subversively optimistic theme song, Married with Children is the gleefully bawdy archetype for sitcoms about miserable people. Ed O’Neill’s misogyny-encrusted slopfest Al Bundy stiff-arms his way through life with affection-seeking wife Peg, blonde joke incarnate daughter Kelly, and lazy hornball son Bud. And Katey Sagal, Christina Applegate and David Faustino are the epitome of “the family you love to watch, but would hate to live with.”

As the live-action series that put Fox on the map, Married with Children has long been celebrated for its politically incorrect humor and cartoonishly offensive storylines, and it remains among the most offensive TV shows of all time. But it worked because the Bundy’s always came out worse than anyone else.

31. Gravity Falls

Gravity Falls’ offbeat sitcom greatness truly deserves recognition for a show that may be written off for being a Disney Channel original. Creator and cast member Alex Hirsch crafted a well-animated, off-kilter show that wins over younger viewers with its thrills, humor and heart, while also capturing older viewers with overarching mysteries, surprisingly deep lore, and barrages of callbacks, clues and pause-required animation details. (Long live Bill Cypher!)

At the center of all the madness is the perfectly realized Pines family — Grunkle Stan, Dipper and Mabel — and their friends and co-workers like Wendy, Soos and others. With two seasons and 40 episodes under its belt, Gravity Falls is a tight show that builds to a very satisfying conclusion, even if fans railed against its cancellation at the time.

30. Parks And Recreation

When Parks and Recreation premiered, SNL and UCB vet Amy Poehler was its biggest name, but the careers of co-stars such as Nick Offerman, Chris Pratt, Retta and Aubrey Plaza exploded in the years after. And it’s no surprise, since the NBC sitcom is where they were able to hone their characters distinct personalities for seven seasons.

Parks and Rec follows the misfit-lite group running Pawnee, Indiana’s parks department Indiana, and had little trouble getting into the wildest hijinks in each 30-minute runtime. The episode “Flu Season” delivers the goods in a nutshell, between Amy Poehler pretending she’s not sick, Chris Pratt’s physical comedy, and Nick Offerman perfectly portraying Ron Swanson’s disdain for government work. Parks and Rec is a quirky and lively show that deserves a spot in everyone’s lives.

29. Letterkenny

It's not often that a show can lean heavily on both the importance of morals and the notion of violence, but Letterkenny managed to strike an amazing balance between the two for twelve seasons. The Canadian sitcom is known for its amazingly paced banter and extensive wordplay and unique phrasings. As if the amazing comedic timing wasn't enough, one of the main themes continues to acknowledge the importance of standing up for what you believe in and striving to do good in the world. "If a friend asks for help, you help them."

Creator and star of the show, Jared Keeso, has also recently hit another comedic home run in the Letterkenny extended universe with the spinoff Shoresy.

28. The Mary Tyler Moore Show

Four years after winning TV audiences’ hearts for the last time on The Dick Van Dyke Show, Mary Tyler Moore struck further gold with her own titular sitcom, earning a spot high on the pyramid of inspirational female pop culture icons. For seven seasons, Moore’s Mary Richards worked diligently amidst other colorful characters in the MJM newsroom, such as Gavin McCleod’s snarky Murray, Ted Knight’s dimwitted Ted, and Ed Anser’s ever-stoic (and spinoff-bound) Lou Grant. Not to mention Betty White’s ego-puff Sue Ann.

Outside the office, some of the Emmy-amassing show’s best scenes featured Mary mixing it up with her neighbor buddies Rhoda and Phyllis, portrayed with respective pizazz by Valerie Harper and Cloris Leachman. “Chuckles Bites the Dust” and “The Last Show” are as good as sitcom TV gets.

27. Friends

“Best sitcom” conversations can’t happen without mentioning Friends once or a dozen times. As the epitome of Must-See TV in the 1990s and early aughts, the sitcom skyrocketed its six stars — Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox. Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer — to fame. Decades later, the reruns are ever-present on TV and streaming, and the gang’s catchphrases continue to resonate as new generations make their way through Central Perk’s doors..

You don’t even have to have been a regular viewer to have heard Ross’ infamous “Pivot!” shout, to have a favorite Chandler quote, or to take a side on the Ross and Rachel “we were on a break” debate. Such universal recognition is relatively rare for a show that’s been off the air for 20 years.

26. The Office (UK)

We never would’ve met Steve Carell’s Michael Scott if there hadn’t been David Brent. Ricky Gerais and Stephen Merchant brought The Office to UK small screens in 2001 and, through two brief seasons and a Christmas special, introduced audiences everywhere to a new level of cringe in the form of this hilarious mockumentary series (one which kept its documentation scenarios realistic).

This dry and occasionally super-awkward comedy follows one branch of a paper company and its workers — played by Gervais, Martin Freeman, Mackenzie Crook, Lucy Davis and several other talented actors — as they attempt to get through each and every workday, dignity optional. It’s the simplicity of the show and the way the characters played off one another that made The Office a true gem.

25. Roseanne

Whether viewers are from the working class midwest or other parts of the country, Roseanne found a way to be relatable to so many. Through the sea of picture-perfect television families came the tidal wave that is the Conner family, who bickered, joked and suffered through enduring hard times. At the core of it all was a family raised by two parents, portrayed by Roseanne Barr and John Goodman, whose love remained strong throughout.

The Conners were never the idealized family everyone strives to be, but still feels like a mirror of what blue class households are really like. And despite the baffling retconned lottery season, and Barr’s off-screen controversy, Roseanne’s comfort-TV legacy remains as timeless as the family’s living room furniture.

24. The Dick Van Dyke Show

There are great workplace comedies and there are great domestic family comedies, but The Dick Van Dyke Show somehow stands out among the best ever in both capacities. From the moment Van Dyke goes barreling over that ottoman, you know you’re in for something special, as the star’s gifts for physical and verbal comedy are nearly unparalleled. He’s often not even the one delivering the best jokes, because his reaction to his legendary co-stars is the true punchline.

Speaking of, the show was very much a group effort, despite its single-star title. Conceived and written by co-star Carl Reiner, and co-starring the incomparable Mary Tyler Moore, Rose Marie, and Maury Amsterdam, all the pieces come together perfectly to make one of the most consistently high-quality sitcoms of all time.

23. What We Do In The Shadows

What We Do in the Shadows is a bonkers TV show that shouldn’t work, just like the vampires yelling “Bat!” shouldn’t work as a catchphrase, but it all absolutely does. The mockumentary, spunoff from the co-creators’ film of the same name, follows a group of ridiculous, socially out-of-touch bloodsuckers — save for energy vamp Colin Robinson and human familiar Guillermo — trying to prove their worth in Staten Island.

Despite how silly and NSFW the show is, movie-level prosthetics and visual effects help to elevate and add shocks to the narrative. The cast is truly outstanding, as it goes for any Matt Berry-infused cast, and WWDITS has earned as much awards recognition as any TV horror comedy. With murder and duplicitousness afoot, the series still hits all the sitcom benchmarks, including a fun neighbor (the mind-sapped Sean), a great theme song, and a bunch of A+ celebrity cameos.

22. The Office (U.S.)

Following the success of Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant’s brilliant U.K. series of the same name, Greg Daniels’ adaptation of The Office took the mockumentary style of its predecessor – along with some of the more amusing traits and dynamics of its characters – and set out to tell new stories with office workers in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Whether it’s the hilarious standout ensemble of characters (led for most seasons by Steve Carell’s cringe-perfecting boss Michael Scott), the way it embraces the mundanity of office life, or how it follows years of these workers’ lives over years while squeezing every drop of humor along the way, The Office continues to be funny, relatable and — for many of us — a comfortable place to return to in the years since its fantastic 9-season run ended. Not to mention the timeless romances of Pam and Jim, Dwight and Angela, Phyllis and Bob Vance, Vance Refrigeration.

21. South Park

With more than 25 seasons and a growing number of one-off specials, South Park reigns supreme as a long-running pillar of TV satire. A look at the 20 best episodes from the series is an easy way to effectively understand just how relevant this series has been on so many levels, evolving from a Kenny-killing, catchphrase machine to a show with a lot more to say than T-shirt fodder.

What other TV series, much less animated comedy, has taken on major religious institutions, accused killers, wild dieting trends, controversial music superstars and world politics throughout its run? If others exist, they probably didn’t do it as well as South Park does, and there’s still no end in sight to the Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s pop culture phenomenon, even if the duo have understandably been less prolific animators in later years.

20. Brooklyn Nine-Nine

From some of the best TV cold opens – “I Want It That Way” sung by suspects, I mean, come on, it’s genius – to ongoing gags ike the annual heist, and “title of your sex tape” that make you laugh so hard your side hurts, Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a wild sitcom that is surprising in the best ways and absolutely irresistible as comfort comedy.

Led by Andy Samberg, Andre Braugher, Melissa Fumero, Stephanie Beatriz, Terry Crews and Joe Lo Truglio, this team of detectives quite literally never gets old, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine only got better in time as everyone grew comfortable in their roles and leaned into the silliness of their surroundings. Especially the all-time terrible cop duo of Hitchcock and Scully.

All around, what Dan Goor and Michael Schur created was so special, and as Jake Peralta would say “cool, cool, cool.”

19. Newhart

Bob Newhart struck TV gold a second time (not counting his stand-up appearances) with the endlessly cozy treasure Newhart, which centered on the comings and goings within the Stratford Inn in small-town Vermont. You know, the kind of small town where a man named Larry can have one brother named Darryl, and then also another brother named Darryl. It’s there where the star comedian and Mary Frann’s Dick and Joanna Loudon take over after a move from New York City, but their big-city know-how can’t quite compete with the quirkiness of their fellow residents.

Nothing ever gets old when it comes to watching the core cast — including Tom Poston, Julia Duffy and Peter Scolar — and the revolving door of recurring actors and guest stars bounce their energies off of Bob Newhart’s. And we’d be remiss not to give Newhart its flowers for shattering TV reality with its truly iconic finale twist.

18. All in the Family

All in the Family is arguably one of the most important TV series ever made, sitcom or otherwise, and shows don’t get the chance to change television if you’re not also good enough to stay on it in the first place. Not only was All in the Family successful enough to span eight seasons, but it also spawned five spinoffs. Despite the fact that the show’s primary character Archie Bunker was specifically designed to be the most bigoted person you know, it somehow all works so incredibly well. You love him even while you hate him, which is a testament to the abilities of creator Norman Lear and star Carroll O’Connor.

Dealing with, and poking fun at, topics that had been seen as taboo to even address previously, All in the Family courted its share of controversy and certainly ruffled some feathers. But that’s just further proof that it left an indelible and influential mark upon audiences everywhere.

17. Frasier

For a TV spinoff to be anywhere near as popular as its parent show is a huge accomplishment, and NBC’s Frasier pulled off just such a transition following Cheers’ conclusion. To be sure, it was plainly great to see Kelsey Grammer’s Frasier Crane taking center stage after all those stool-sat years as an ensemble character. However, it’s unlikely the sitcom would have been nearly as successful without the supporting cast of David Hyde Pierce’s Niles, Jane Leeves’ Daphne, Peri Gilpin’s Roz and John Mahoney’s Martin.

These five characters’ unique personalities and the dynamics they share with one another make them one of the best sitcom casts of all time, and we’ll throw Eddie a bone there as well. Let’s not gloss over the intelligent writing Frasier consistently delivered, which was part of the show’s 37 Emmy wins over its eleven years on the air. Its continued popularity even sparked the Parmaount+ revival of the same name.

16. Taxi

Speaking to Taxi’s greatness takes little beyond listing the murderer’s row of talent yukking it up for five seasons at the Sunshine Cab Company: Judd Hirsch, Danny DeVito, Marilu Henner, Andy Kaufman, Tony Danza, Jeff Conaway, Christopher Lloyd, and Carol Kane. Theoretically, these actors could have struck gold with any TV narrative, but the New York setting provided the comedically ideal edge and neuroses that earned the show 18 Emmys and millions of fans. (Not that Kaufman’s Latka Gravas was a local.) Not to mention the quartet of sitcom royalty in creators James L. Brooks, Stan Daniels, David Davis, and Ed Weinberger.

Despite such over-the-top personalities, Taxi excels at grounded and heartfelt storytelling as much as broader humor, never shying away from the characters’ relatable struggles or the hot-button issues of the time. Extra points for its appearances from future Cheers stars Ted Danson, Rhea Perlman and George Wendt.

15. The Golden Girls

The Golden Girls is excellent enough to convince audiences that spending your twilight years in a shared living space with your mother and two roommates is a blueprint for endless laughs, when that might not match up with reality. It’s a credit to the stellar cast comprising Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty. Queens, one and all. Amidst all the drama, the endless insults thrown around, and the cheesecake, the foursome’s friendship really shines through in this show.

It’s indeed that friendship that causes the gals to get into some absolutely wild adventures. Who can forget the time Rose nearly ended the Cold War with the Soviets with a letter? Not every narrative goes quite so big as that, even if Blanche plays up her romances as such, but it’s always a helluva fun ride.

14. Curb Your Enthusiasm

After Seinfeld concluded its historic run in the late ‘90s, series co-creator Larry David could have ridden off into the sunset atop a horse made from residual checks. Instead, the stickler for human behavior not only created true sitcom brilliance, but also broke new ground for HBO and self-deprecating celeb cameos.

Curb Your Enthusiasm — far more than a pretty, pretty, pretty good show — never failed to inspire laughs and shocks in equal order, following David’s over-the-top fictionalized version of himself (think George Costanza on shame-eliminating steroids), facing so many provocatively awkward situations with a vast array of friends, colleagues, contemporaries, and eventual enemies. (R.I.P. Richard Lewis and Bob Einstein.) The largely improvised show found new ways to be both relevant and funny across 24 years and 12 seasons, a task that’s easier said (and avoided) than done. And it also delivered an all-timer of a finale, poking fun at Seinfeld’s polarizing conclusion.

13. The Larry Sanders Show

As host of the fictional late night talk show The Larry Sanders Show, Garry Shandling implores his audience to stay tuned, ordering them, “No flipping!” It was an easy command to obey when it came to HBO’s The Larry Sanders Show, still one of the bravest, funniest, and most insightful programs that happily sinks its teeth into the Hollywood hand that feeds.

Larry is just an exaggerated caricature of Garry Shandling, who let all of his own neurosis and anxieties fly out of the mouth of his insecure comedic television personality who desperately wanted to be liked by his chosen industry. And the show got a lot of mileage out of real-life celebrities appearing and poking fun at their public personas. (David Duchovny for the win.) But it’s the supporting cast – led by the late Rip Torn and the wonderful Jeffrey Tambor – that elevates Larry Sanders to legendary status. There’ll never be another as biting and satirical as this.

12. Spaced

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost’s long history with director Edgar Wright includes the so-called Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and The World's End). Before that, though, they rocked the sitcom landscape with the UK gem Spaced. A relatable premise is vital to a good sitcom, and it was so easy to fall in love with pro slacker Tim (Pegg) and the uber-dramatic Daisy (Jessica Stevenson) while shrewdly securing their affordable apartment under the watchful eye of Julia Deaken’s landlady Marsha.

In addition to watching Tim and Daisy maintain their ruse of being a “professional couple” while figuring out the whole adulting thing, Spaced — one of Simon Pegg’s best projects — packed in endless horror movie references, video game easter eggs, and more pop culture love. (The pantomime gun fight is everything.) It also featured a supporting cast of hilariously exaggerated characters that will NOT have you wanting to “skip to the end.”

11. The Good Place

Sitcoms are, by design, often stagnant, with the same characters facing similar situations week after week. If the jokes land, everything works, but if not, well… Then along came The Good Place to throw those preconceptions out the window. If creator Michael Schur had just repeated Season 1’s twisty premise for five seasons, it would have still been good, but The Good Place achieved true greatness with its storytelling.

Fronted by Kristen Bell and Ted Danson in top-tier fashion, The Good Place takes massive risks with its afterlife-set narrative, changing elements from one season to the next. The house of (God) cards would have tumbled down had it not all worked as infallibly as the big man himself, but it never even wavered. Indeed, The Good Place is simply forking unbelievable from beginning to end, buttressed by fully realized characters portrayed by co-leads William Jackson Harper, Jameela Jamil, Manny Jacinto, and D’Arcy Carden. Stream the show for everyone now, Janet. Janet..?

10. Fawlty Towers

As part of Monty Python’s sextet of comedy masterminds, John Cleese had already conquered the world of sketch comedy and film, so the next obvious move was to craft a largely perfect sitcom with then-wife Connie Booth, and Fawlty Towers was just such perfection across twelve increasingly fraught.

Set within the non-existing titular hotel in Torquay, Cleese’s Basil Fawlty suffers the existence of everyone around him, especially Prunella Scales’ Sybil, his oft-demanding wife, and the language issues of Andrew Sachs’ Manuel, the establishment’s Spanish waiter. Booth’s chambermaid Polly gets slightly less irritation for being regularly competent. A hotel owner who hates his clientele is in the high-concept echelon, and the series offered up an eternally memorable selection of frequent and one-time guests, as well as builders, inspectors and others whose actions bring Basil’s blood pressure to a proper boil.

Similar to other classic ‘70s and ‘80s sitcoms, Fawlty Towers has been both celebrated and derided for its politically incorrect humor. It's perhaps exemplified best by the series’ marquee episode “The Germans,” and is something Cleese intends to replicate with the revival series he’s creating with daughter Camilla.

9. Cheers

Locations can mean everything to a sitcom. Memorable shows are set in places to which we want to return, from Mel’s Diner to the Dunder Mifflin offices to, of course, the bar from Cheers – where everybody knows your name. Audiences became such regulars to the comfortable sitcom, we practically expected to hear our own names shouted out, a la Norm, when we turned the program on.

The familiarity and welcomeness of Cheers kept us tuning in, even as some of the cast rotated. We all invested heavily in the “will they or won’t they” relationship of barkeep Sam Malone (Ted Danson) and waitress Diane Chambers (Shelley Long), but stuck around when Diane was replaced by Rebecca (Kirstie Alley); and Southern simpleton Woody (Woody Harrelson) was embraced after first filling in for the departed Coach (Nicholas Colasanto). Not that anyone could ever replace Cliff Clavin.

Television hasn’t been the same since Cheers closed its doors, with Frasier going a completely different spinoff route, and I’m not sure another show can be set in a bar, and reach the high bar set by this program.

8. The Simpsons

I think there’s an argument to be made that The Simpsons should have a place on any top 100 list when it comes to describing the best television, regardless of what additional parameters there may be. Part of the allure of this series, as it heads toward 800 episodes, is that there’s not really anything it hasn’t done at this point. There’s a Simpsons episode for whatever mood readers are feeling that day, though it may take a bit of research to figure out which one that is. 

What I love most about The Simpsons is how the series has evolved with time and how the show has modernized the characters with the times while still retaining the core elements that audiences loved about them. Sure, seeing Homer Simpson send memes to Lisa on a smartphone can feel a bit jarring sometimes, but it’s also 100% on-brand for the patriarch and definitely less weird in the modern day to younger audiences compared to if he was still using a rotary phone. Plus, if you prefer the old stuff, it’s all available to stream on Disney+

7. I Love Lucy

For the majority of TV’s existence as an entertainment platform, sitcoms have been synonymous with Lucille Ball, who achieved icon status several times over during her run as Lucy Ricardo in I Love Lucy (and other incarnations and later series). The series remains a blueprint reference for sitcom-crafting, and was revolutionary at the time for not only its star, but for her real-life husband Desi Arnaz portraying her faux hubby Ricky, and more.

While I Love Lucy could occasionally pull an emotional heartstring or two, its strength was comedy, and Ball maximized that concept throughout its run. Lucy and Ricky are as loud and wild a TV couple as can be, especially opposite their slightly more subdued neighbors Fred and Ethel Mertz. From Lucy’s efforts to get into Ricky’s shows to her attempts to hock Vitameatavegamin to her and Ethel’s conveyor belt struggles, the show regularly produced unforgettable sequences.

I Love Lucy is also revolutionary for women in television, with Ball helping pave the way for so many other amazing female actresses to lead their own successful shows, even if struggles are still real on that front. No need for further ‘splanation: I Love Lucy is TV gold.

6. Schitt's Creek

Schitt’s Creek didn’t truly hit the mainstream until its final season, but when people found it, its popularity exploded and its legacy was cemented. Created by father-son duo Dan and Eugene Levy, the comedy centers on a rich family who loses all their money, with the titular town as their silver lining. Annie Murphy and Catherine O’Hara co-star alongside the Levys in this most hilarious fish out of water story.

Seeing these four totally out of their element within the less-than-chic town is an easy way in for viewers. But the hooks that keep people watching are Catherine O’Hara’s ridiculous fake accent, Dan Levy’s sassy one-liners, Annie Murphy’s over-the-top everything as Alexis, Eugene Levy’s brilliant straight-man reactions, and the heartfelt growth this family goes through as they learn to love each other and the town they now call home.

Since the show became a sensation, lines like “Ew David!” have entered the everyday lexicon, and impersonations of Moira and Alexis can be seen frequently on social media. Schitt’s Creek shined bright when it was on — remember the network Pop? — and since then it’s cemented itself as a permanent part of the zeitgeist.

5. It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia

Rarely does a piece of pop culture offer up a character who constantly proves themself to be unendingly vile, self-consumed, aloof, destructive and terrible for society. But a combination of those words describes literally every single character who speaks in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Of course, the biggest and most hilarious offenders are the central Paddy’s Pub gang made up of possible serial killer Dennis (Glenn Howerton), his slightly less evil Bird…e… sister Dee, the sexually fluid approval-seeking Mac (Rob McElhenny), glue-eating connoisseur and janitor Charlie (Charlie Day) and the shockingly demented and depraved Frank (Danny DeVito).

No stone goes unturned when it comes to shocking viewers with how low these characters will go to achieve even the most meaningless iota of recognition or selfish pleasure. There’s racially charged (and socially questionable) takes on Lethal Weapon and The Wiz, exploiting all manner of substance and behavior addictions, satirical jabs at gun control, welfare, sexual assault, and much more. Its unsanitary hilarity is cherished among fans who have watched it live on longer than any other TV comedy in history, with no end in sight. (Except for Danny DeVito’s bare one, that is.)

4. King Of The Hill

Animation isn’t often a medium for classic sitcoms, but Mike Judge’s King of the Hill delivered on all fronts by settling audiences into the everyday life of the Hill family. Hank, Peggy, Bobby, and an assortment of other Arlen standouts kept viewers rolling and clamoring for more Southern-fried hilarity during its 13-season stretch. (And more is on the way thanks to Hulu’s revival.)

King of the Hill tackles issues while poking fun at them in ways that most viewers can probably relate to — from the stresses of the workplace to the terror of puberty to the awkwardness of family — adding a layer of realism to the two-dimensional characters’ world. To that end, Judge’s series is also atypical for adhering to realism throughout, as opposed to going off the cartoonish deep end for laughs (outside of dream sequences, that is).

Judge’s Hank and Kathy Najimy’s Peggy, along with Brittany Murphy’s Luanne and Pamela Adlon’s Bobby, provide a lot of the show’s heart and soul with their struggles and not-always-brilliant reactions to those struggles. But it always helps to have friends around like the hapless good’n Bill, the conspiracy-obsessed Dale and the mush-mouthed Boomhauer.

3. Seinfeld

It’s joked that Seinfeld is “a show about nothing,” and that’s a fair surface-only assessment. The NBC hit provides no lasting messages or morals, and it focuses the majority of its creative energy on eccentric minutiae of everyday life – be it waiting forever for a table at a restaurant or getting in disputes with cashiers over proper change. Characters don’t grow or change — save for temporary shrinkage and mustache-growing — and there’s no reach for deep themes. They’re not even nice people.

And yet, it’s utterly brilliant, timeless, and endlessly rewatchable.

Jerry, George, Kramer and Elaine each have their own unique and hilarious personalities strengthened by the actors’ performances, which in turn drives hilarious stories that unlock the real magic of the show: the way everything intertwines. Kramer golfing on the beach is its own weird gag, but also perfectly sets up George being called into action to rescue a beached whale after previously lying about being a marine biologist. Just about every sitcom since the early 1990s has tried to capture some of the magic of the nine-season series, but there is only one Seinfeld. (A notion that Newman would applaud.)

2. Veep

Veep was the [censored] creation of Armando Iannucci, the mastermind known for The Thick of It and Alan Partridge’s various incarnations, and HBO’s political workplace comedy is dripping with just as much satire and [censored] as anything graced by his Midas touch before or after. It’s one of the fastest and foulest sitcoms to date, with a jokes-per-minute rate that rivals other rapid-paced greats like The Simpsons and Arrested Development, and a [censored]-per-minute rate that is second to none.

As it goes with the best of the best, Veep boasts and expansive ensemble of uppermost geniuses, as led by Emmy magnet Julie Louis-Dreyfus’ Vice President (and then some) Selina Meyer, whose struggles to remain a boss in Washington D.C. means absolute hell for the masses of aides, pundits, strategists, etc. in her orbit. That applies most to her body man and extra appendage Gary, played with aplomb by Tony Hale.

Every Veep co-star brings something perfect to the table, from Anna Chlumsky’s rage suppression as Amy to Matt Walsh’s common sense suppression as Mike; from Reid Scott’s smarm-oozing Dan to Timothy Simons’ arbitrary naysayer Jonah. And we’d just as easily watch spinoffs centered on Kevin Dunn’s Ben and Gary Cole’s Kent, as well as Sam Richardson’s go-getter Richard Splett.

1. BoJack Horseman

One of the best animated TV shows of all time, Netflix’s BoJack Horseman took the adult-toon formula and evolved it into six seasons of one of TV history’s most unique offerings that — at least in CinemaBlend’s perspective — is the sitcom GOAT. Will Arnett is perfect voicing the tragic title character, a past-his-prime ‘90s sitcom star and substance abuser, and he’s bolstered by a who’s who of talented actors portrayed well-written characters, including fan-favorites Diane Nguyen (Alison Brie) and Mr. Peanutbutter (Paul F. Tompkins).

After establishing its sitcom formula in its earliest wordplay-embracing seasons, Bojack Horseman begins getting experimental with its format in phenomenal ways, such as with Season 3’s “Fish Out of Water,” a thought-provoking underwater story with no dialogue, or Season 5’s “Big Churro,” a full-length Bojack eulogy following a big character death.

There are certainly laughs to be had, for sure — big, hearty, consistent, gut-shredding, animalistic laughs throughout all six seasons — but don’t be surprised if you end up shedding a tear or suffering an existential crisis or two along the way as well. The show-within-a-show Horsin’ Around probably wouldn’t have made it onto this list, but BoJack Horseman itself is a Triple Crown winner of the highest order.

These are the characters you love to hate. To be clear, none of the characters on this list are bad characters. Many are some of the best characters on their shows, but they aren't the kind of people anyone would want to be friends with. Our list of some of the most annoying characters in sitcom history. 

Ross Geller (Friends)

When you really think about it, none of the friends in Friends were really people you'd like to call a friend. Each of them had their own annoying quirks, but by far, Ross was the most annoying. Whiny and obnoxious, it's still unclear to many what Rachel really saw in him. David Schwimmer played the role brilliantly. 

Steve Urkel (Family Matters)

Everyone had an annoying neighbor growing up, but few can say their neighbor was as obnoxious as Steve Urkel in Family Matters. It's more than just being "nerdy," the character, played by Jaleel White, was as obnoxious as he was popular with fans. White's performance is one of the best in TV history, and the character was one of the least likable too. 

Dwight Schrute (The Office)

Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson) is a brilliant character because everyone can relate to working with a guy like this in some way. Sure, he has an extreme personality, but there is a piece of that personality in someone that everyone has worked with, whether it's in an office or not. Imagine sitting next to this guy for years. 

Bill McNeal (NewsRadio)

The late Phil Hartman played some amazing characters and had some amazing quotes in his career, but perhaps his best was in the vastly underrated sitcom NewsRadio. Bill McNeal is brash, obnoxious, toxic, and, frankly, hilarious. The diva news reader is the star of his own life at all times, much to the chagrin of his co-workers, who seemingly universally despise him, and with good reason. 

Jean-Ralphio Saperstein (Parks And Recreation)

Jean-Ralphio Saperstein, played brilliantly by Ben Schwartz, makes this list for being just slightly more annoying than his twin sister, Mona-Lisa (Jenny Slate). He's one of the funniest, and obnoxious, supporting characters in Parks and Recreation. Despite loving a good party and always looking for a fun time, he's the last guy you'd ever want to hang out with.  

Rerun (What's Happening!!)

Freddy "Rerun" Stubbs, played by Fred Berry, is the kind of friend whose schemes are always messing things up. Sure, he means well, and he's likable, so you keep him around, but inevitably, he'll screw things up. We've all had good friends like Rerun, and they've all driven us nuts. 

Kimmy Gibbler (Full House)

Have you ever had a friend that drives you so nuts you have to break up with them? Despite that, you always end up friends again? Sure, we all have. That friend is Kimmy Gibbler on Full House (and Fuller House). Andrea Barber is perfect as the obnoxious neighbor to the Tanners and on-again-off-again BFF to D.J. (Candace Cameron Bure). 

Screech (Saved By The Bell)

The late Dustin Diamond played one of the most annoying "nerds" in TV history as Samuel "Screech" Powers in Saved By The Bell. He always meant well, and at times he was an endearing character, but his purpose as a character was to drive everyone nuts. While Diamond had a really rough life after the show, including a short jail stint in 2016 before passing away from lung cancer in 2021, he'll forever be remembered as Screech. 

Cliff Clavin (Cheers)

Cliff Clavin (John Ratzenberger) always meant well on Cheers, but he's exactly the kind of guy that is impossible to deal with when you're trying to enjoy a drink. He loves to hear himself talk and fancies himself an expert on everything. He's not, which makes it even worse. 

Newman (Seinfeld)

There's nothing worse than having a scheming, obnoxious neighbor who hates your guts, but that's what Jerry had to deal with on Seinfeld with Newman. Wayne Knight's brilliant portrayal of the unsavory postal employee is truly one of the best characters we all love to be annoyed by in TV history. Sure there were other annoying characters on the show, like Kenny Bania (Steve Hytner), but Newman was always lurking around, making him the worst. 

Nathan Shelley (Ted Lasso)

Nathan Shelley (Nick Mohammed), the equipment man-turned-coach in Ted Lasso starts of as just an annoying, frustrating employee of AFC Richmond. Then, later in the show, his ego explodes when he becomes the "Wonder Kid" manager of a rival team. At all times, he's annoying, though he is still lovable at times, and is eventually redeemed by the end. 

Dwayne Wayne (A Different World)

There is a lot to admire about Dwayne Wayne (Kadeem Hardison) on A Different World. He's a good student and by the end of the show, he turned into a great guy. But for the first few seasons, he was a borderline stalker in the way he pursued the women of Hillman College.

Sheldon (The Big Bang Theory)

I'll never understand how the other people on The Big Bang Theory lived with Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons). Not only is he an obnoxious no-it-all, but he's also pretty much a jerk all the time. There may be no character I love to hate more than Sheldon, and I'm not alone as not only was he wildly popular, but the character even got his own spinoff with Young Sheldon. 

Pierce Hawthorne (Community)

The on-set difficulties the rest of the cast had with Chevy Chase on Community are legendary at this point. On the show, Chase's character, Pierce Hawthorne, was just as obnoxious as Chase supposedly was behind the scenes. No one really liked the oldest member of the community college friends, and with good reason, he was generally awful. 

Tobias Fünke (Arrested Development)

Dr. Tobias Fünke on Arrested Development was possibly the most obnoxious character in the extended Bluthe family, and that's really saying something. Every single member of the cast had their own annoying tendencies, but somehow Tobias, played by David Cross, was the most grating. Of course, we love them all and it's one of the best shows of all time, but wow were they obnoxious. 

Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm)

There is no way to make this list without including Larry David on Curb Your Enthusiasm. There were times that watching the show was like a stress test in keeping your composure while watching Larry do some of the most insane, mind-boggling annoying things. How many times did you find yourself yelling at the TV while watching Larry just be a jerk? Yeah, it probably happened a lot. 

Lisa Simpson (The Simpsons)

I just want to preface this by saying Lisa (voiced by Yeardley Smith) is maybe my favorite character on The Simpsons. She is the heart and soul of the family, and the constant voice of morality on the show. She's still super infuriating sometimes and if I were Bart or Homer, I'd be annoyed with her pretty much all the time. 

David Brent (The Office UK)

While Steve Carell's Michael Scott on the American version of The Office is kind of a lovable loser boss, Ricky Gervais' David Brent in the original UK version is just an insufferable jerk. There is almost nothing redeeming about the hilarious character, and he's so easy to hate. It's hard to imagine a boss that awful, yet there he is, on screen. 

Dan Fielding (Night Court)

John Larroquette won four Emmys for his portrayal of the skeezy defense attorney in Night Court. He was rude, mean, and chauvinistic. There were very few times he wasn't completely exasperating. Larroquette deserved all those awards for the character, he's just perfect in the role. 

Frank Burns (MASH)

Major Frank Burns (Larry Linville) is one of two annoying "roommates" in MASH. When Linville left the show after Season 3, he was replaced by Charles Winchester (David Ogden Stiers), who was every bit as annoying. So this show was the rare example of one of the best (and obnoxious) characters getting replaced with another successfully insufferable one. 

Ari Gold (Entourage)

Jeremy Piven deserves a lot of praise for his role as the obnoxious Hollywood agent Ari Gold in Entourage. He's completely maddening and as insufferable as any character in TV history. Someone you often find yourself rooting for him, despite how awful he truly is most of the time. 

Marcy D'Arcy (Married... With Children)

Her name says it all, Marcy D’Arcy. The character, played wonderfully by Amanda Bearse is the annoying next-door neighbor to the Bundys on Married... With Children and spends her time basically being a busybody. She's up in everyone's business, especially Al's, who couldn't hate her more. 

Gina Linetti (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)

Gina Linetti (Chelsea Peretti) is truly a character fans loved to hate on Brooklyn Nine-Nine. She was mean and nasty to almost everyone, nearly all the time. There are few characters in TV history as despised as Gina. Not that she ever cared, she wasn't really paying attention to anyone but herself. 

Hazel Wassername (30 Rock)

The character of Hazel Wassername, played by Kristen Schaal, in 30 Rock appears only in a handful of episodes towards the end of the show's run, but she quickly established herself as completely obnoxious. Fans hated her, but that should be a credit to Schaal, who plays the role perfectly. She's supposed to be awful, and she is. 

Trudy Wiegel (Reno 911!)

Let's be clear here: none of the characters in Reno 911! are redeemable. They all have reasons to hate them. Deputy Trudy Wiegel (Kerri Kenney-Silver) is, in a way, the most innocently annoying, but that doesn't redeem her, either. She's a hilarious character who gets herself in the most ridiculous situations, but it's impossible to ever root for her. 

Karen Walker (Will And Grace)

Megan Mullally is a national treasure. She is one of the funniest comedic actors in Hollywood, and she proved it with her breakout role, Karen Walker, on Will And Grace. Karen is, simply awful, as the bored wife of a millionaire who "works" for Grace on the show. Though "work" is a strong word for what she does, because she doesn't actually do much of it. 

Hilary Banks (The Fresh Prince of Bel Air)

Karyn Parsons' character Hilary Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air might be the most narcissistic character on this list, and that is really saying something. Sure, she has her moments, as all the members of the Banks family do on the show, but generally she is vapid and self-centered and no one you'd ever want to hang out with. 

Ted Mosby (How I Met Your Mother)

It's rare that the lead character of a show can also be it's most annoying, but while every character on How I Met Your Mother can be loathsome at times, Ted (Josh Radnor) is just really annoying. A little self-awareness would go a long way, right?

Jan Brady (The Brady Bunch)

In the underrated Brady Bunch movies in the '90s, one of the best examples of turning a '60s show into a movie, Jan Brady is shown in her true colors. Yeah, she's the hapless middle child of the blended family, but she's also really annoying. She's whiny and obnoxious most of the time, with none of the charm of the other kids. Eve Plumb is great in the role.  

Robert Barone (Everybody Loves Raymond)

Brad Garrett's character, Robert Barone on Everybody Loves Raymond was a fan-favorite and a character people loved to hate. The dim-witted brother of Raymond (Ray Romano) with a striking number of annoying personality traits, he's great...and terrible. 

Ralph Furley (Three's Company)

The great Don Knotts and his character Ralph Furley proved you can replace one annoying character (Mr. Roper) with another, even worse character. He was so over the top in his obnoxiousness that you can't help but kind of root for him, no matter how awful he was. It's a true credit to Knotts' comedic talents. 

Sue Sylvester (Glee)

Jane Lynch is so good as Sue Sylvester, it's hard to see in her other roles (and she's great in everything). The character is one of TV's greatest villains, and easily one of the worst bullies ever, as well. She's mean, nasty, and hilarious. Sue is a character that fans watch the show to see, and one they just can't hate anymore than they do. 

In an age where there are more TV shows than ever before, it may seem silly to rewatch something instead of checking out all the new series premiering, but that’s the reality we’re living in. For some, the endless possibilities are too overwhelming, and returning to a comfort show again and again just makes sense. Of course, not all old shows have the same rewatchability though, which is why some are more popular than others.

Interested in finding out what shows people are watching over and over again, a Redditor posed the question in the AskReddit sub and was quickly flooded with more than 11,000 responses. While a relatively wide selection of shows were mentioned, there were two that truly reigned supreme by getting the most mentions, upvotes, and comments: Futurama and Arrested Development.

Futurama Is The Most Rewatched Show According To Reddit Users

Beating out all live-action shows and other animated classics like The Simpsons, also co-created by Matt Groening, Futurama is currently the series that the most people are happily rewatching, according to users in this Reddit thread. The animated sci-fi series follows pizza-delivery man Fry as he wakes up 1,000 years in the future and gets taken in by his sole descendant, an elderly scientist. Revived in 2022 years after its second cancellation, Futurama currently boasts eight seasons (which includes the direct-to-DVD features) and 150 episodes that are available to stream on Hulu, with the back half of Season 8 debuting in July 2024.

Reddit User TheDandyDons kicked off the Futurama love fest, commenting:

While it seems that Reddit Users are in agreement over their love of the sci-fi series, their reasons for why the show is the greatest to rewatch take many forms. Take a look at some of those reasons:

• How could it get old if it's from the future duh... EDIT: don't worry I'll see myself out - @djaure
• Yep, seen every episode 20 times or more, still finding new jokes and the old ones dont get stale. - @mithridateseupator
• Bender's antics are truly the gift that keeps on giving - @Benjyaakovis

In addition to the above comments, fans also flooded the thread with their favorite episodes and quotes, proving just how big of a fan of a Futurama fan they are. As someone who has admittedly never seen the series, reading all the joyous comments definitely has me wondering if I should finally check it out.

Arrested Development Also Got A Lot Of Love 

Coming in second place with over 5,000 upvotes and over 300 comments is the sitcom Arrested Development. Like Futurama, the series was revived by a streaming service and continues to find new fans thanks to the ability to stream it with a Netflix subscription. The show's Bluth family has their pompous lifestyle turned upside down when the patriarch gets sent to prison for white-collar crimes, and Jason Bateman's Michael Bluth is tasked with juggling the real estate business his father left behind and keeping his eccentric family in check, with all the in-jokes and callbacks humanly possible.

Reddit User dokhtarjoon was the first to give the satrical sitcom its flowers, writing:

It's hard to top a concise comment like that that clearly explains why the series is the best to rewatch, but that didn't stop other Reddit Users from trying. While most of the comments were flooded with quotes and favorite moments, others shared fun facts to show off their love. Here are some of the highlights:

• My girlfriend and I named our cat Gene Parmesan - @SuperKnuckleCanuckle
• I came here to say this! I rewatch so many shows but this one is notably better on rewatch! - @llunachick2319
• I love when Rita is sitting on a bench for Wee Britain, but her head blocks out "it" so all you can read is "Wee Brain" - @FittedSheets88

While no show came close to topping the numbers these two did, there were a handful of others that Reddit Users seem to agree to make for great rewatches. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Malcolm in the Middle both got over three thousand interactions. And The Simpsons also cracked the top five, though only the classic first ten seasons are worthy, at least according to user SnuggleBunni69. Surprisingly, the classic sitcom Seinfeld isn’t getting as much love as one might think, with only 500 interactions as of this writing..

The results were certainly shocking to me, but then again taste in TV is subjective so I’ll never judge anyone for what they choose to watch.

With Ramy Youssef blowing up in both the worlds of TV and movies, and long careers like Tony Shalhoub’s and Salma Hayek’s being considered iconic, Arab representation in the world of comedy has been getting better and better. So, with that in mind, it’s time to give out flowers to some of these amazing comedic actors by highlighting their best films and shows.

Ramy Youssef

Ramy Youssef is a prolific stand-up comedian and actor who was born in New York City, and grew up in New Jersey. The Egyptian-American is probably best known as the creator, writer, producer and star of one of A24’s best shows, Ramy. The series follows Youssef as the titular character, while he grapples with his faith while living between the worlds of his Muslim community and his group of millennial friends who think “life has no consequences,” as Hulu’s synopsis of the show states. 

After two seasons of Ramy, Youssef’s career really took off. Along with directing an episode of The Bear during Season 2,  he also executive produced the Netflix series Mo and voiced a character in Disney’s Wish. 

Notably, he was also part of the ensemble for the critically acclaimed Poor Things. The film from Yorgos Lanthimos, where Youssef plays the man Emma Stone’s Bella Baxter is betrothed to, ended up winning four Oscars and people fell in love with it.

Since that film, the comedian has released a new stand-up special – Ramy Youssef: More Feelings – and he joined the ranks of Saturday Night Live’s Season 49 hosts. 

Ramy Youssef truly is thriving. 

Stream Ramy on Hulu.
Buy Ramy on Amazon. 
Buy or rent Poor Things on Amazon.
Stream Poor Things on Hulu. 

Tony Shalhoub

Tony Shalhoub’s parents emigrated from Lebanon to the United States, and he grew up in Wisconsin before becoming an actor. These days we know him best as the beloved Adrian Monk – whom he played on Monk from 2002 to its finale in 2009, and  returned to play again in Peacock's 2023 movie, Mr. Monk’s Last Case. 

Over the course of his career, Shalhoub has received 12 Emmy nominations and won four times, three of those wins were for Monk and the other came from the acclaimed comedy, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

In the Amazon Prime comedy that tells the perfect story of a woman finding her independence, Shalhoub plays our protagonist Midge’s father, Abe. He is full of hilarious one-liners and sass, and it’s just further proof that Tony Shalhoub is a living comedy legend.  

Buy Monk on Amazon.
Stream Monk and Mr. Monk’s Last Case on Peacock.
Stream The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel on Amazon. 

Alia Shawkat

Iraqi-American actress Alia Shawkat burst onto our screens when Arrested Development premiered in 2003. Starring alongside the iconic Arrested Development cast that included Michael Cera, Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, Tony Hale and more, she played George-Michael’s cousin and crush, Maeby Fünke in both the OG series and its revival on Netflix. 

Showing off her comedy chops again, Shawkat starred in HBO’s Search Party from 2016 to 2022 playing Dory Sief, a woman who (in Season 1) sets out to find her missing college friend. Following Season 1, a new mystery unfolds with each installment, and overall, it’s a dark, creative and off-beat comedy.

Adding to her already impressive filmography, Alia Shawkat has also voiced characters in animated series like Summer Camp Island and Big Mouth, and she’s starred in films like The To Do List and Whip It. 

Stream Arrested Development on Netflix.
Buy Arrested Development on Amazon. 
Stream Search Party on Max. 
Buy Search Party on Amazon. 

Mo Amer

Mo Amer is a well-known Palestinian-American stand-up comedian, who has started taking on more scripted opportunities. Along with starring in 27 episodes of Ramy alongside Ramy Youssef, he also created, produced and led his own Netflix series, Mo. 

During an interview with CinemaBlend, Amer explained that Mo allowed him to tell his Palestinian refugee story in a way that stand-up couldn’t, as it draws from his own life growing up in Houston, Texas. 

Along with Mo and Ramy, Amer also has a stand-up special called The Vagabond, and he starred in the films Black Adam and Sweet Dreams. Overall, this comedian is just getting started!

Stream Mo on Netflix.
Stream Ramy on Hulu. 
Buy Ramy on Amazon. 

Salma Hayek 

Mexican-Lebanese actress Salma Hayek has received lots of love for her dramatic performances in movies like Frida and Desperado. However, she’s also a comedy queen.

In 2010, she starred alongside Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock and David Spade in Grown Ups, playing the Sandman’s wife, Roxanne Chase-Feder. Along with performing alongside these comedy legends in this film and its sequel, she also brought the comedy in Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, which she led with Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson.

Overall, Hayek has proved time and time again that she can do any project, and it’s always such a treat when we get to see her comedy skills in action. 

Stream Grown Ups on Amazon.
Buy or rent Grown Ups on Amazon.
Buy or rent Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard on Amazon.

Nasim Pedrad

Nasim Pedrad, an Iranian-American actress, made a name for herself during her tenure as part of some of Saturday Night Live’s best casts. From 2009 to 2014, she starred in five seasons of the legendary sketch comedy show and it showed off her range as a brilliant comedian. 

After SNL, Pedrad went on to guest star in shows like New Girl, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Big Mouth. 

Most notable, though, is her role as the titular 14-year-old boy in the comedy she co-created, Chad. She’s made two seasons of the show so far, and she wears multiple hats in the production, serving as the co-creator, producer and writer as well as star. 

Stream Saturday Night Live on Peacock.
Buy Nasim Pedrad’s seasons of SNL on Amazon. 
Stream Chad on The Roku Channel. 
Buy Chad on YouTube.

Kathy Najimy

The Sanderson sisters will always be iconic, and so will Kathy Najimy. The Lebanese-American actress played Mary Sanderson alongside Bette Midler’s Winifred and Sarah Jessica Parker’s Sarah in Hocus Pocus and Hocus Pocus 2. To this day, it’s one of her most beloved roles and one of the best fun Halloween movies. 

Keeping the iconic roles going, Najimy also played Mary Parick alongside Whoopi Goldberg in the 1992 comedy, Sister Act, and its sequel, Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit. 

This comedic actress really left her mark on the ‘90s, and to this day her work is beloved as more and more people discover these legendary films. 

Stream Hocus Pocus on Disney+.
Buy or rent Hocus Pocus on Amazon.
Stream Sister Act on Disney+. 
Buy or rent Sister Act on Amazon Prime. 

Rami Malek

Now, I realize we know Rami Malek for movies and shows like Bohemian Rapsody and Mr. Robot. He tends to take on the more dramatic parts. However, have you ever seen the Egyptian-American actor’s episode of Saturday Night Live? It’s hilarious!

Season 47, Episode 3 of SNL was led by the Oscar winner, and it gave us wonderful sketches like “Rami Wants a Treat,” “Angelo” and “Bug Assembly.” 

On top of that, Malek’s first big movie was Night at the Museum, where he played Ahkmenrah, and he was incredibly charming and funny. 

Basically, what I’m saying is Malek is an actor with major range, and he should do more comedy!

Stream Rami Maleck’s episode of Saturday Night Live on Peacock.
Buy Rami Maleck’s episode of SNL on Amazon.
Stream Night at the Museum on Disney+.
Buy or rent Night at the Museum on Amazon.

Over the years we’ve been seeing more and more movies and TV shows with great Arab-American representation, and these actors are a big reason why. Along with all these projects, they have all had wonderful careers that are still thriving, and we can’t wait to see what they do next!

For as long as the medium has been around, TV has given audiences unforgettable characters, iconic moments, and beloved storylines we still talk about months, years, and even decades later. In addition to all of that, these small-screen staples have introduced us to some big businesses that we cherish just as much. That being said, here are 32 TV shows with fake businesses that everyone knows…

Dunder Mifflin (The Office)

Dunder Mifflin Paper Company, Inc. from The Office is undoubtedly one of the most well-known fake businesses from a TV show, even by those who’ve either never watched the beloved workplace sitcom or only caught a few episodes here and there. Central to many of the best episodes of The Office, this paper and office supply wholesaler might not have the best products, but it’s got the best people.

Moe's Tavern (The Simpsons)

The Simpsons has given fans countless fake businesses over the years, so much so you could build an entire list with nothing but locations from Springfield. One of the most iconic, and most prolific, is Moe’s Tavern. Homer’s favorite watering hole and Bart’s favorite prank call target, this dimly-lit, smoke-filled bar has been central to many episodes of the long-running animated series.

Cheers (Cheers)

As noted in the timeless opening credits song, the titular bar in Cheers is a place “where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came.” Over the course of 11 seasons, this Boston pub became one of the most well-known sitcom settings thanks to its cast of bartenders and extremely faithful patrons. 

Waystar Royco (Succession)

Waystar Royco, the massive conglomerate at the center of most of the drama in Succession, has become one of those corporations like Ewing Oil or the Bluth Company that prove that family and business don’t always mix. In fact, the mergers, acquisitions, deals, and in-fighting are enough to rip a family apart. 

Los Pollos Hermanos (Breaking Bad)

On the surface, Los Pollos Hermanos was a fast-food chain owned and operated by Gustavo Frig and Max Arciniega, but we all know it for its money laundering and various other schemes on Breaking Bad. It would be nice to try some of that tasty fried chicken, but only if we keep our wallets and heads intact.

Planet Express (Futurama)

With a slogan like “Our crew is replaceable, your package isn’t!” it’s hard not to find the humor in Planet Express’ business model on Futurama. This futuristic intergalactic delivery service was at the center of a large portion of the animated series’ best episodes and created some unforgettable moments along the way.

Central Perk (Friends)

Besides Monic and Rachel’s apartment, there are no locations from Friends that are more recognizable as Central Perk. This New York coffee shop, which is a play on Central Park, gave audiences all kinds of great moments, both scripted and improvised like Billy Crystal’s hilarious appearance alongside Robin Williams.

Sterling Cooper (Mad Men)

Sterling Cooper, and its various incarnations and name changes, made the world of advertising look like the coolest profession when the agency was introduced alongside Mad Men back in 2007. Sure, a lot that went on at the New York-based company wouldn’t fly today, but the ‘60s were a much different, smoke-filled time when nothing was off the table.

Good Burger (All That)

Before there were two movies set at this fast-food restaurant, Good Burger got its start on an unforgettable skit on the Nickelodeon sketch comedy show, All That. Kel Mitchell’s Ed could be the most dim-witted and frustrating cashier known to man, but there is no denying his charm or those delicious burgers and shakes (just as long as he’s not in the ice cream tank again).

Pendant Publishing (Seinfeld)

Pendant Publishing, Elaine’s longtime employer on Seinfeld popped up quite often during the show’s run. This includes some hilarious episodes like the one where Kramer tries to get a coffee table book published and another where George briefly gets a job, one of many career changes for the neurotic and opinionated character.

Strickland Propane (King Of The Hill)

Strickland Propane, known for its propane and propane accessories, could very well be the most well-known gas-based company in the history of animated television. It’s hard to not quote Hank Hill whenever going to refill a propane tank, or when you just randomly pass a rack of them when going to the grocery store.

The Bluth Company (Arrested Development)

Sure the Bluth Company helped Saddam Hussein, committed all kinds of fraud, and was led by an extremely wealthy family who lacked self-awareness or a connection to normal society, but it had a lot of charm, and that’s what matters. Can you imagine Arrested Development without this massive headache of a company?

Paddy's Pub (It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia)

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia has been on the air since 2005, and it’s hard to find an episode that doesn’t at least partially take place in Paddy’s Pub. That gang’s bar, which somehow manages to stay in business despite small crowds and various other issues, is essentially the sixth lead on the long-running comedy series.

Vandelay Industries (Seinfeld)

Okay, Vandelay Industries doesn’t really exist, even in the context of Seinfeld, but there’s no way we were going to leave one of George’s best schemes off this list. One of the best jokes from the show’s long run on NBC, this fake latex company is classic Seinfeld.

The Android's Dungeon & Baseball Card Shop (The Simpsons) 

The Android’s Dungeon & Baseball Card Shop, home to the Comic Book Guy, is one of those locations from The Simpsons everyone had to find on the once-booming The Simpsons: Tapped Out mobile game more than a decade ago. Host of several great episodes, and even more hilarious interactions, this comic book store is a staple of Springfield.

Casa Bonita (South Park)

Okay, Casa Bonita exists in real life, but we would be remiss to leave it off our list of great TV businesses. This over-the-top and absurd Mexican restaurant is at the center of one of the best South Park episodes and remains one of the most well-known businesses in the show’s massive universe.

Vought International (The Boys)

Who doesn’t love an evil, pompous, destructive, and merciless corporation filled with villains who’ve convinced the world they are the good guys? Well, Vought International from The Boys definitely falls into that category. We just wouldn’t want to visit the headquarters or cross paths with any of its executives, especially Homelander.

Ewing Oil (Dallas)

One of the most well-known TV shows of the latter part of the 20th century, Dallas gave audiences so many unforgettable moments involving J.R. Ewing and his Ewing Oil company. This is another company we wouldn’t want to do business with, considering all the scheming, murder, and whatnot.

ACME (Looney Tunes)

Decades before all the drama surrounding Coyote vs. Acme, Wile E. Coyote used the fictional company’s products time and time again in his endless quest to capture that pesky roadrunner. Acme, Corp. had it all: dynamite, bird food, excavating equipment, you name it, but the products just never seemed to work. 

WKRP (WKRP In Cincinnati)

WKRP in Cincinnati will forever be remembered as one of the best sitcoms from the ‘70s and ‘80s, and not just because it gave us the best Thanksgiving episode of all time. The AM radio station at the center of this beloved classic was full of all sorts of misfits and outcasts trying to give you the news and some tunes you could find in a small-market Midwest town.

Bob's Burgers (Bob's Burgers)

Maybe it’s the charm that makes the titular restaurant in Bob’s Burgers so beloved because it certainly can’t be the location (right next to a crematorium) that’s bringing in its admittedly small customer base. Regardless of its issues and trappings, Bob’s Burgers is a fast-food joint that many of us know all too well.

Sanford And Son Salvage (Sanford And Son)

Sanford and Son Salvage, the family business on the classic sitcom, Sanford and Son, could very well be the most recognizable junkyard in the history of television. Sure Fred G. Sanford was more prone to faking a heart attack than giving someone a deal on some junk, err treasures, but he sure did make it all the more fun.

Gary's Shoes & Accessories For Today's Woman (Married... With Children)

One of the best aspects of Al Bundy’s character on Married… with Children was the fact that he worked at Gary’s Shoes & Accessories for Today’s Woman. This manly man who liked to drink, bowl, and sit a certain way on the couch would spend his days peddling shoes for the “modern” woman. Oh, the irony. Oh, the comedy.

MacLaren's Pub (How I Met Your Mother)

Can you count how many nights we spent with the How I Met Your Mother cast at MacLaren's Pub, their main hangout spot? It has to be dozens upon dozens, if not more. Several of the characters first met at this iconic New York City bar, a place we would certainly like to visit if it existed in the real world.

Kruger Industrial Smoothing (Seinfeld)

Jerry had all the girlfriends but George had all the jobs on Seinfeld, including a stint at Kruger Industrial Smoothing. Following his stint with the New York Yankees, George lied his way into a job with this company, which would ultimately lead to Festivus, one of many phrases Seinfeld introduced to the English language.

The Max (Saved By The Bell)

Every sitcom has a go-to hangout for its cast of characters, and Saved by the Bell had The Max. Over the course of the series’ run in the early ‘90s, the students of Bayside High treated this neon-filled diner as their personal hangout where A.C. Slater would do the coolest and most ‘90s thing ever by turning his seat backwards before sitting down.

The Smash Club (Full House)

Uncle Jesse was always up to something to not lose touch with his younger and more daring self on Full House, whether it was running away from his family for a weekend in Tahoe to starting the Smash Club. This San Francisco nightclub was a major location during later seasons of the ABC sitcom’s run and gave us some hilarious, and thoughtful moments along the way.

MomCorp (Futurama)

Though the leader of MomCorp puts on the appearance of a gentle, kind, and good-natured elderly woman running a robot company, behind closed doors she’s anything but. Throughout Futurama, Mom runs her business with an iron fist. Well, except for whenever the Professor is around.

Mega Lo Mart (King of the Hill)

Mega Lo Mart, a clear parody of the real-life Walmart, came up time and time again on King of The Hill, including with its trademark commercials starring flugelhorn icon Chuck Mangione. Appearing in the first and last episodes of the long-running Fox animated series, the store was a major part of several arcs and unforgettable moments.

Outdoor Man (Last Man Standing)

Tim Taylor had “Tool Time” on Home Improvement but Mike Baxter, also played by Tim Allen, had Outdoor Man on the popular sitcom, Last Man Standing. As its name suggests, this outdoor and recreation store had everything an adventurer, fisherman, or hunter would want in life.

Packard Sawmill (Twin Peaks)

One of the great things about Twin Peaks was the fact that the Pacific Northwest town and its various businesses and industries had a tremendous amount of lore. This includes the Packard Sawmill, which was at the center of several of the major subplots and arcs in David Lynch’s mystery thriller. It was also predominantly featured in the Twin Peaks title sequence, which is one of the best in the history of TV.

Krusty Krab (Spongebob Squarepants)

We may never really know what’s in a Krabby Patty, but one thing that is for sure is that the Krusty Krab is one of the most well-known locations on Spongebob Squarepants. The better of two burger joints in Bikini Bottoms, Mr. Krab’s signature sandwich has to be one of the tastiest-looking food items in the history of animated television.

Though these fake businesses can’t be visited in real life (aside from an occasional pop-up shop marketing ploy), we can go back and watch these various shows time and time again.

They say mama knows best, but television has shown us time and time again that isn't always the case. Whether it's a show as sinister as Sons of Anarchy or one as innocent as Modern Family, there's no shortage of moms who don't give the best advice. I'm sure there are plenty of dads as well, to be sure, but that's not what we're here to talk about today. 

Moms make the world go round, but they're not infallible. The following are some shining examples of mothers who aren't always giving the best advice, though I'll concede that some give worse advice far more often than others. Let's dive in!

Roseanne

The point of Roseanne was that the Conners weren't picturesque parents, but they somehow made it work anyway. Pull up any old episode with a Peacock subscription, and you'll hear Roseanne giving some ill-informed advice. Her heart is always in the right place, though, and that's what matters. 

Cersei Lannister

If Cersei Lannister hadn't told her son Joffrey that anyone outside their family was an enemy, he wouldn't have turned into the despicable monster we witnessed on Game of Thrones. Cersei's twisted mindset ultimately led to Joffrey's death, and I don't think I need to bring up her other two children that didn't survive the series, either. 

Connie Tucker

Better known as Meemaw on Young Sheldon, some might not know that Connie Tucker's daughter is Mary Cooper even if they saw them side by side. Between her underground gambling operation in the backroom of the laundromat, and the time she got her grandson Georgie arrested while bootlegging cigarettes across the border, she's not the best role model. 

Linda Belcher

Linda Belcher has her own issues she picked up during her upbringing, and she's instilled some of those values in her children. Encouraging Tina and Louise to cheat in school rather than do the work is a great example, and a hilarious lesson that makes this one of the best animated shows of all time. 

Norma Bates

I think it's possible that if your son turns out to be a mass murderer, you might've had a couple of missteps in instilling some advice. Norma Bates certainly had an unhealthy relationship with her son, and her general advice not to trust other women not only led to their deaths, it eventually led to her own. 

Lucy Ricardo

I can't even imagine the shenanigans Little Ricky got up to having Lucy Ricardo as his mother. The I Love Lucy character was always getting into hijinks, and landed herself in quite a bit of trouble with her various schemes from time to time. It's hard to imagine she didn't cook up some shenanigans with her son, and landed him in some trouble as well. 

Bonnie Plunkett

Bonnie Plunkett being an imperfect mother was more or less the point of Mom, as the recovering addict helped her daughter, Christy, work through her own recovery. She wasn't the best mother during Christy's upbringing, and she made her mistakes during the series, too. That said, she does love her daughter, and the family she helped raise. 

Lois Griffin

You don't need to see more than ten minutes of a Family Guy episode to see that Lois Griffin isn't the best parent. That said, she's definitely changed throughout the series, and become almost as unhinged as Peter in recent episodes. 

Skyler White

Skyler White gets a lot of flak, considering Walter White was the true villain of Breaking Bad, but it's hard to not fault her from taking Walt Jr. and getting out of the drug ring operation the moment she became aware of it. Other than that she was a good mother, but that one mistake is pretty hard to overlook. 

Kitty Forman

Whether it was That '70s Show or That '90s Show, Kitty Forman had a knack for instilling some bad to occasionally twisted advice to teenagers with a heavy dose of sugar. It's hard not to love her anyway, despite that, and the characters were so iconic that it's always worth keeping tabs on what Debra Jo Rupp and the rest of the That '70s Show cast is up to now. 

Cookie Lyon

I can honestly say that Cookie's decision-making and advice is no worse than any other member of the Lyon family in Empire, but they all make some terrible decisions. Between her spitefulness and scheming, she landed her sons in some sticky situations, some of which were more than a little dangerous. 

Betty Draper

Mad Men's Betty Draper might have the worst maternal instincts of any other TV mom on this list. Unfortunately, a lot of the ways she brought up their children was likely inspired by her own childhood, and gave many viewers the impression she disliked them or didn't care about them. 

Marge Simpson

I would say that, for the most part, Marge Simpson is a great mom. The Simpsons' matriarch does have her moments, however, and in those chaotic times can impart some bad advice. Perhaps the worst was telling her children to aim low in life as to not disappoint others, which seems like terrible advice for Bart, in particular. 

Joyce Byers

Joyce Byers has had a rough number of years, so it feels unfair to judge her based on the last time we saw her in Stranger Things. With that said, she was barely holding the homefront down and seemingly only had bad haircuts to hand out to the teens as they all dealt with life. 

Catelyn Stark

The Seven Kingdoms takedown of the Stark family was pretty wild, but Catelyn's campaign to avenge her husband might've led to some tactical missteps on her own end. Let's not forget the trauma we all endured watching the Red Wedding, which she had a part in.

Jessica Huang

Jessica Huang is a fantastic tv mom, but she also has a way of getting things done that may not always be the best way of doing things. She can be crafty and devious, but almost everything she ever does is out of love for her sons and family. 

Selina Meyer

Veep's Selina Meyer progressively gets more unsympathetic throughout the series, but her parenting skills may make some people dislike her from the start. Pushing her daughter into ending relationships due to political optics for her own career is just one of many ways she was a bad parent to come to with a problem. 

Wendy Byrde

When you loop your children into your operation of laundering drug money for the cartel, you're bound to give a lot of bad parenting advice along the way. Wendy doles out plenty of bad advice throughout the course of Ozark, making her one of the worst offenders on the list. 

Malory Archer

Malory Archer wasn't the best mother to her child, Sterling, and her self-centered nature and skewed view of the world due to her extreme wealth made her even worse to come to for advice. With that said, it's a bit ironic that her line "Do you want ants? That's how you get ants," is some great advice fans frequently reference. 

Claire Dunphy 

Claire Dunphy's advice to her children, at times, could come off as controlling. There are definitely points in Modern Family where her advice is molded by what she would like her children to do, rather than what is best for them. Her advice to Haley about not living in the past when Dylan came back into her life feels like a great example.  

Benny Lopez

George Lopez's mother, Benny, often created more problems for him than not on The George Lopez Show, and from what we know about his upbringing, she wasn't a great mother. Part of this was due to the fact Benny was also raised by bad parents, but fortunately, George was able to break the cycle and be able to overcome the mistakes of his upbringing despite his mother's poor advice. 

Sophia Petrillo

Sophia Petrillo doled out countless pieces of advice to her daughter and roommates on The Golden Girls, and I would say a good chunk of it was solid. Sophia is a wildcard, however, and occasionally, some of her advice was informed by her occasionally reckless lifestyle, which made it less useful to the women, but hilarious for viewers. 

Francine Smith

Francine Smith gives out tons of bad advice, but given the kookiness that can go down on American Dad, it's hard to fault her for it. Sometimes, you just gotta train your son to fight a school bully when you've had about two-hundred, or "two-fiddy," battles of your own back in the day. 

Dr. Beverly Hofstadter

The Big Bang Theory plays Leonard's relationship with his mother for laughs a lot, but the fact that she treated her child more as a test subject and imparted advice that crushed his self-confidence and shaped his anxiety definitely makes her one of the worst mothers on the list. Despite that, they do reconcile, if only because she felt like him marrying Penny was something he did right for once. 

Gemma Teller-Morrow

Gemma Teller-Morrow never had to drag her son into the life of motorcycles, guns, and crime, but every time Jax tried to leave she pulled him back. I think it's more than fair to say Gemma was driven by her own interests and would actively work against any others, which led to quite a few times where she offered bad advice. 

Evelyn Harper

Two And A Half Men's Evelyn Harper was a terrible mother, and in the small number of times she'd actually parent her sons, she had a litany of bad advice. Some would argue her upbringing is what led both Alan and Charlie to have such dysfunctional relationships with women, which I totally get. 

Livia Soprano

Livia Soprano gave out her fair share of bad advice, and even worse, tried to push it off like she was innocent in it all. Her subtly pushing Uncle Junior to put out a hit on Tony is just one of the moments that makes The Sopranos one of the best shows streaming on Max. 

Lucille Bluth

Neither Lucille or George Bluth were great parents when their kids were growing up, and that continued when they turned into adults. Whether it's her business advice to her children or the coddling of Buster, it's surprising the Arrested Development matriarch wasn't treated like a child more than the actual teens.  

Peg Bundy

Peg Bundy's parenting style was just about as outrageous as her clothing choices, but there's no denying she loved her kids. The mom from Married...with Children bucked just about every cultural norm of the traditional housewife, and wasn't the best at giving out advice. In her defense, she owned it, and never claimed to be someone she was not. 

Briana Barksdale

Not many mothers would convince their sons to not tell on drug dealers if it meant they'd spend a considerable time behind bars. Brianna Barksdale from The Wire isn't most people, however, and was able to convince her son, D'Angelo, to do just that rather than to sell the operation out to the authorities. She also managed to pull him back into the business when he'd try to pull away, so she's not winning mother of the year awards any time soon. 

Marie Barone

Raymond's mother, Marie, was number one at meddling, and would even use her advice as opportunities to conspire against her daughter-in-law, Debra. It seemed like Marie was always working an angle to get what she wanted, and she was not above doling out bad advice if it got her that much closer to the goal she ultimately had. 

Monica Gallagher

Monica Gallagher wasn't around her children often in Shameless, but did try to give advice with the best intentions. Unfortunately, someone in her position wasn't really able to always give the best advice even if she meant well, and the children often ended up trusting themselves more than their mother.  

As I mentioned before, some moms are better than others, and no mom is perfect. I'd reckon that, provided someone is at least making sure they aren't in line with the worst offenders on this list, they're doing a solid job. 

No one can resist a good “rags to riches” story, in which a struggling protagonist manages to achieve the fortune they have always dreamed of. However, we happen to find “riches to rags” stories — in which a wealthy protagonist loses everything but, in most cases, gains something more valuable — even more interesting and, in many cases, much funnier. See for yourself by taking a look at some of our favorite examples from the big and small screen.

Schitt's Creek (2015-2020)

The beloved, hilarious, Emmy-winning Canadian import Schitt’s Creek starred real-life father and son duo Eugene and Dan Levy (who also created), along with Catherine O'Hara and Annie Murphy, as a wealthy family who lose everything… well, almost everything. Their one remaining asset is the titular small town, which was purchased for David Rose (Dan Levy) as a joke, and becomes their new home.

It's A Wonderful Life (1946)

One of the most iconic and inspirational holiday movie classics is Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life, starring James Stewart as a businessman who grows desperate when he loses an important sum of cash. However, after his guardian angel shows him a world in which he was never born on one fateful Christmas Eve, he realizes there are things in life worth much more than money.

Trading Places (1983)

John Landis' hilarious classic counts as both a riches-to-rags story from the perspective of Dan Aykroyd's Louis Winthorpe and a rags-to-riches story when following Eddie Murphy's Billy Ray Valentine. By the end, however, Trading Places ultimately becomes a riches-to-rags story when the duo team up against the billionaire brothers who treated them like guinea pigs: Randolph (Ralph Bellamy) and Mortimer Duke (Don Ameche).

Overboard (1987)

In Overboard, real-life couple Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell star as a spoiled, rotten socialite and the blue-collar handyman she cheats out of payment, respectfully. When he discovers she has fallen off her yacht and lost her memory, he convinces her she is his wife and shows her a taste of the blue-collar lifestyle.

A Little Princess (1995)

Alfonso Cuarón's sophomore directorial effort, A Little Princess, stars former child star Liesel Matthews as Sara Crewe, the daughter of a wealthy, widowed British Army officer who goes off to fight in World War I. Sara is then sent to a boarding school when, after her father is presumed dead, the cruel headmistress forces her to become a servant.

The Jerk (1979)

One of the best Steve Martin movies, The Jerk, starts off as a rags-to-riches story as the helplessly naive Navin Johnson achieves great success by inventing a device that prevents eyeglasses from slipping. Unfortunately, a flaw in the design forces him to pay millions of dollars in damages, leading him to a life on the streets.

A Civil Action (1998)

Based on a true story, A Civil Action stars John Travolta as a successful attorney seeking to bring a leather manufacturing company allegedly responsible for water contamination and, subsequently, poisoning several children to justice. The otherwise bold and honorable act ends up driving his law firm and himself into bankruptcy.

Goodfellas (1990)

One of Martin Scorsese's best movies, Goodfellas, is one of the most realistic depictions of the mafia lifestyle ever put on film. It is based on Nicholas Pileggi's non-fiction book, Wiseguy, which chronicles the rise and fall of mobster Henry Hill, as played by Ray Liotta in the film that also stars Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci in an Academy Award-winning performance.

Blue Jasmine (2013)

From writer and director Woody Allen, Blue Jasmine stars Cate Blanchett in an Academy Award-winning performance as a well-off Manhattan socialite who falls on hard times. As a result, she suffers a nervous breakdown and travels to San Francisco to move in with her sister, Ginger (Sally Hawkins).

Cyrano (2021)

Joe Wright's adaptation of Edmond Rostand's 1897 play, Cyrano de Bergerac, stars Peter Dinklage as a man who is reluctantly convinced to help another man named Chris (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) woo the woman whom he secretly loves, Roxanne (Haley Bennett). It is not until he is stricken with poverty and about to succumb to his battle wounds that he finally musters the courage to reveal his true feelings to her.

The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (1948)

One of the best Western movies of all time, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre is one of the most classic examples of characters coming across an unimaginable fortune, only to run into circumstances that cost them everything. The film stars Humphrey Bogart and Tim Holt as two desperate Americans who enlist the help of an old prospector (Walter Huston) to help them mine for gold in 1920s Mexico.

Arrested Development (2003-2019)

Jason Bateman leads the Arrested Development cast as a widowed father struggling to keep his grossly dysfunctional family together when his father's arrest causes them to lose it all. Despite universal acclaim when it first aired, the sitcom — also starring the likes of Portia de Rossi, Tony Hale, Will Arnott, and plenty more icons — was canceled by Fox after three seasons before Netflix revived it for two more about a decade later.

The Money Pit (1986)

From producer Steven Spielberg, The Money Pit stars Tom Hanks as a successful lawyer and Shelley Long as his musician girlfriend who think they have found their dream home. Unfortunately, it turns out to be a real fixer-upper that leads them directly to financial (and possibly romantic) ruin.

Quicksilver (1986)

Kevin Bacon stars in Quicksilver as a hotshot stock exchange share trader who ends up costing his company and himself all their savings. This leads him to start a new and, actually, more liberating career as a bike messenger and lead a new life that involves a romance with a young woman (Jami Gertz) whom he saves from a street gang.

Sullivan's Travels (1941)

Writer and director Preston Sturges' Sullivan's Travels stars Joel McCrea as a Hollywood filmmaker known best for comedies who longs to make a more dramatic and realistic social commentary. In order to gain the perspective he needs, he lives as a homeless person, during which he strikes up a relationship with an impoverished woman (Veronica Lake) who dreams of becoming an actress.

Mood Indigo (2013)

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind director Michel Gondry's surreal adaptation of Boris Vian's 1947 novel, L'écume des jours, is a fun and quirky romance... until it is not. Mood Indigo — as it is called in the States — takes a devastating turn when Chloé (Audrey Tatou) comes down with a strange illness and her wealthy inventor husband, Colin (Romain Duris), uses every last penny he has in search of a cure.

Maid to Order (1987)

Director Amy Holden Jones' Maid to Order is sort of like a modern-day retelling of Cinderella, but in reverse. It stars Ally Sheedy as a wealthy, out-of-control young woman who wakes up in a world in which she was never born, courtesy of her fairy godmother (Beverly D'Angelo), and must learn how to make a living on her own by becoming a maid.

Downhill (1927)

One of the earliest Alfred Hitchcock movies is the silent-era drama Downhill, in which a college rugby player (Ivor Novello) takes the rap for a false accusation against his friend (Robin Irvine) so he can avoid expulsion. That only leads to a series of circumstances that get increasingly worse for him, including having his inheritance exhausted by his two-timing wife. 

Dumb Money (2023)

Craig Gillespie directs a star-studded cast, including Paul Dano, Seth Rogen, and Pete Davidson, in what some might interpret as a modern Robin Hood tale. Dumb Money is inspired by the true story of people who literally gave Wall Street a run for its money after betting big at the stock market on video game retailer, Game Stop.

2 Broke Girls (2011-2017)

The title of CBS's 2 Broke Girls — a funny TV show about blue-collar characters — refers to diner servers and roommates Max (Kat Dennings) and Caroline (Beth Behrs). While Max has been broke for her entire life, it only recently happened to Caroline after her wealthy father (Steven Weber) was jailed for participating in a Ponzi scheme.

Triangle Of Sadness (2022)

Three Academy Award nominations — including Best Picture — went to writer and director Ruben Östlund's biting satire about the rich, Triangle of Sadness. It follows a group of conceited wealthy people, including a young couple of fashion models played by Harris Dickinson and the late Charlbi Dean, who end up struggling to survive when their luxury yacht (captained by Woody Harrelson) crashes on a deserted island.

Empire Of The Sun (1987)

J.G. Ballard's autobiographical novel, Empire of the Sun, was adapted into one of director Steven Spielberg’s best movies from the 1980s. A young Christian Bale leads the film as a privileged British boy forced to fend for himself after becoming separated from his parents in the midst of Japan's invasion of Shanghai during World War II.

Fun With Dick And Jane (1977)

Not to be confused with a famous educational children’s book, Fun with Dick and Jane stars George Segal and Jane Fonda as a married couple forced to turn to a life of crime to make ends meet after they suddenly find themselves unemployed and in heaps of debt. The comedy classic was later remade for more modern audiences with Jim Carrey and Téa Leoni assuming the title roles in 2005.

The House Bunny (2008)

In The House Bunny, Anna Faris plays a model named Shelley who wakes up the day after her 27th birthday to a note informing her that she is being kicked out of the famous Mansion. This leads her to become a house mother to a misfit college sorority, whom she teaches how to be confident and successful in the dating game.

The Railway Children (1970)

Jenny Agutter leads this British family film based on the novel by E. Nesbit. Set in 1904, The Railway Children chronicles the struggles of a family whose financially comfortable existence is upended when their bureaucrat father disappears.

Life Stinks (1991)

One of the more forgotten Mel Brooks movies, Life Stinks, is a rare example of a riches-to-rags story in which the protagonist voluntarily participates in the impoverished lifestyle. The legendary comedian, who also co-writes and directs the film, plays a successful businessman who makes a bet with a longtime competitor that he can survive life on the streets, only to discover he may be in over his head.

Arthur 2: On The Rocks (1988)

The classic 1981 comedy, Arthur, stars Dudley Moore as a British man-child who must choose between marrying a woman he does not love and keeping his enormous fortune or being with the woman he loves (Liza Minelli) and losing it all. In the sequel, Arthur 2: On the Rocks, he actually does end up losing it all, due to a vengeful scheme, which forces him to sober up and finally get a job.

Uptown Girls (2003)

The late Brittany Murphy stars in Uptown Girls as an irresponsible woman who loses her inheritance. Forced to find a job for the first time, she becomes a nanny to a precocious 8-year-old, played by a young Dakota Fanning.

Good Advice (2001)

In Good Advice, Charlie Sheen plays an arrogant stockbroker who makes a huge mistake that costs him his job and his equally conceited girlfriend (Denise Richards). In a plot to get back on track, he secretly takes over his ex's advice column, which helps him gain a deeper perspective on life that he had been missing.

Princess Protection Program (2009)

In the Disney Channel Original Movie, Princess Protection Program, Demi Lovato plays a young royal whose land is invaded by a neighboring country, forcing her to go into hiding. She is sent to live with a special agent (Tom Verica) and his teenage daughter (Selena Gomez) who introduce her to the simpler life.

Broke (2020)

This short-lived sitcom says it all in the title. Broke stars Jaime Camil as a man cut off by his rich daddy, forcing him to move in with the estranged sister (Pauly Perrette) of his wife.

Rocky V (1990)

While considered by many to be a sequel that never should have happened, Rocky V is noteworthy for how it changes the career trajectory of Sylvester Stallone's iconic title character. An injury forces Rocky Balboa to retire from boxing and, soon after,  he loses his fortune on the stock market, leading him to become a trainer for Tommy Gunn (Tommy Morrison).

Seeing people fall on hard times can be devastating, but the topic can also serve as the basis for some inspiring and even funny stories. 

When thinking about the ‘80s, there are three actors who immediately come to my mind-Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, and Carl Weathers. And while Schwarzenegger and Stallone are thankfully still alive and active, we recently lost the magnificent Carl Weathers.   

As a movie fan, Carl Weathers’ death depresses me, but as a Black movie fan, it's especially upsetting. With Andre Braugher's death still fresh on my mind, Weathers’ death makes for yet another devastating loss.    

But, the beauty of film and television is that Carl Weathers’ legacy will live on through his work. So, here are 9 excellent roles from the one and only Carl Weathers.  

Apollo Creed (Rocky)  

The braggadocious, showboating Apollo Creed from the first Rocky movie is played to perfection by Carl Weathers as we both dislike him for disrespecting our underdog hero, but also admire him for his undeniable charisma. 

Sure, in a lot of ways, Apollo Creed in the first film is really just a caricature of Muhammad Ali, but at the same time, he had the kind of depth that would allow him to grow in the sequels. 

Stream Rocky on MAX 

Apollo Creed (Rocky IV)  

Some like to debate whether Rocky III Or Rocky IV is the better Rocky movie, but for my money, it will always be Rocky IV, and it's because of Carl Weathers’ sterling performance.    

Yes, Apollo Creed dies in this film, which is especially hard to watch now given the circumstances. But, the man in this sequel is so far removed from the man in the first Rocky, that it really does make his demise to Ivan Drago hit all the harder.  

Stream Rocky IV on MAX 

Dillon (Predator) 

When ranking the Predator movies, I think most people would agree that the first Predator is the best Predator. Yes, there are a number of reasons why that is the case, but Carl Weathers is definitely one of them.   

Throughout the film, we slowly learn his role in just why the men are actually in the jungle in the first place. And in a way, Carl Weathers’ Dillon is very much a sympathetic character, as we’re both kind of against him, but also understanding of why he does just what he does, given his position. Also, you just gotta love that midair arm wrestling scene. My man was seriously JACKED back in the day.    

Rent or Buy Predator on Amazon Prime 

Sergeant Jericho “Action” Jackson (Action Jackson) 

Blaxploitation films have seen a bit of a comeback as of late, but they were kind of on the decline by the 1980s. Still, one such movie that tried to keep the subgenre alive was Action Jackson, where Carl Weathers played a detective who got the raw end of a deal, but still got to kick some serious ass all the same.  

In a perfect world, Action Jackson would have been the star-powering vehicle that would have propelled Carl Weathers into the stratosphere like his contemporaries, Schwarzenegger and Stallone. But unfortunately, the film just didn’t land with the same impact as something like Commando or First Blood. It’s a shame, too, since Action Jackson, while flawed, is a damn fun time, and it’s mainly because of Carl Weathers’ strait-laced, and yet winking performance.    

Rent or Buy Action Jackson on Amazon Prime  

Chubbs Peterson (Happy Gilmore)  

We all knew Carl Weathers was a tough guy, but it took Adam Sandler’s Happy Gilmore for us to realize that he was also hilarious. In the film, he plays Adam Sandler’s golf coach, who just so happens to also have his hand bitten off by an alligator.  

Happy Gilmore is obviously one of Adam Sandler’s best movies, but it can’t be understated just what an impression that Carl Weathers left on the film with his “sturdy” wooden hand and coaching methods. He made another appearance as Chubbs in the film Little Nicky since Chubbs died in Happy Gilmore, and that’s how I choose to think about Carl Weathers right now. Mamboing up in Heaven.   

Stream Happy Gilmore on Peacock  

Combat Carl (Toy Story OF TERROR!) 

There’s a character named Combat Carl in the original Toy Story movie, and he’s blown up by Sid. But that’s of course not the Combat Carl that I’m referring to here. The Combat Carl that I’m referencing is in the special Toy Story OF TERROR!, where we get both Combat Carl, as well as a smaller version called Combat Carl Jr. 

In an undeniable meta reference to Happy Gilmore, Combat Carl had his hand bitten off by an iguana, and he talks in the third person as if he’s the Rock or something. What’s great about this role is that Carl Weathers can play both the tough, military type, but also extremely vulnerable. He also delivers one hell of a PSA about coughing into your shoulder. Because only YOU can prevent spreading germs!   

Stream Toy Story OF TERROR! On Disney+  

Carl Weathers (Arrested Development)  

It’s really interesting how Carl Weathers was able to pivot in his career from being an action hero to somebody who could openly poke fun at himself. And that’s what Carl Weathers did in Arrested Development, where he played Tobias’ acting coach, as well as somebody who was always looking for ways to fill his plate, in more ways than one.  

What’s great about this character (which is probably my favorite from Carl Weathers) is that you never feel bad about him like you do Tobias. Even though this silly version of Carl Weathers playing himself is just as down and out as Tobias (even telling Tobias to hold onto his bones to get a “good stew going," ), we get a sense that he’s a survivor who can make a lot out of a little. Man, the comedic timing on this man was simply impeccable.  

Stream Arrested Development on Netflix 

Greef Karga (The Mandalorian) 

Honestly, even though Greef Karga may be the last live-action role that we’ll ever get to see of Carl Weathers, it’s still one hell of a role to go out on. On the show, which he found “challenging," Carl Weathers' character went from being a leader of the Bounty Hunters’ Guild, to a High Magistrate in the course of multiple seasons. And through it all, we got a sense that Carl Weathers was having the time of his life.

Not only did he appear on the show though, he also directed some episodes, namely two of my favorites in “Chapter 12: The Siege,” and “Chapter 20: The Foundling.” In this way, Carl Weathers was an integral part of The Mandalorian. I mean, his character was the reason why Din Djarin even met up with Grogu in the first place, and if that’s not worth something, then I don’t know what is.  

Stream The Mandalorian on Disney+ 

Bonus: Jax (Mortal Kombat X DLC) 

Lastly, upon compiling this list, I actually never put two and two together, but when you get the DLC outfit for Jax in Mortal Kombat X, it comes with Carl Weathers’ voice, which is fitting since he looked like his counterpart in Predator. 

The reason why this is so cool is because Mortal Kombat, especially as of late, has been pulling from a lot of different movies with their DLC, such as Rambo, The Terminator, and RoboCop. So, to sort of have Carl Weathers’ character from Predator as a version of Jax is just plain cool. And I’ll definitely be picking him from now on whenever I go back to playing Mortal Kombat X, which I do every so often. 

Carl Weathers will forever be legendary, and for that reason, he’ll never be forgotten. Rest easy, Mr. Weathers. And remember, it's all in the hips. 

Conventional wisdom says that “when one door closes, another door opens.” In the case of the 32 TV shows we’re about to discuss, that saying isn’t just blowing smoke. Rather, when these titles saw change or cancellation staring them down, shows like Futurama and Buffy The Vampire Slayer jumped ships -- and kept on sailing. Behold, these conquering heroes. 

Futurama

Starting life as a Fox network original, Futurama’s shiny metal lifespan was initially cut short due to being canceled after four seasons. Years down the road, Comedy Central would revive Matt Groening’s irreverent fan favorite, and Hulu would later save it from cancelation as well. As a result, Planet Express’ doors were kept open… with some gaps of time, and a couple of direct to DVD movies in between. 

The Great British Baking Show

The cozy comfort that is The Great British Baking Show switched channels in both the UK and the US, though not as often as its swapped co-hosts. In its home nation (where it’s still allowed to be called The Great British Bake Off), the program started at the BBC in 2010 and eventually moved to Channel 4 after seven seasons. Meanwhile, the rights to that show in the US were first with PBS in 2014 but are now scattered between The Roku Channel and Netflix. 

Gilmore Girls

A show like Gilmore Girls doesn't always make a switch because of being canceled. Rather, in the final season of Amy Sherman-Palladino’s pop culture touchstone, The WB became The CW, after merging with fellow defunct network UPN. As for the miniseries Gilmore Girls: A Year in the LIfe, it did originate at Netflix but eventually received a homecoming of sorts when it aired on The CW in 2020.

Arrested Development

One of, if not the first network series revived through the powers of streaming, Arrested Development seemed to constantly struggle through its three seasons at Fox. And then, the good folks at Netflix revived what seemed to be one of the Internet’s favorite shows for two additional seasons. They were even nice enough to recut Season 4 into traditional episodes, once the initial character-centric installments were met with a less than stellar reception.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer

The story of Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s broadcast history is rather interesting to follow. Starting out as The WB’s big Tuesday night hit in 1997, it transferred to fellow upstart network UPN in 2001. After two more seasons, Buffy would go off the air…just a couple years shy of the merger that turned The WB and UPN into what we now know as The CW.

Cobra Kai

Hey folks: remember when YouTube had original series? That’s exactly how Cobra Kai started, as YouTube Red/Premium was where the Karate Kid legacy-quel first got its legs. After two seasons aired, and with YouTube apparently not interested in anything past season 4 (according to Deadline), Netflix opened its doors and let Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) bring his dojo over to its streaming paradise. 

Last Man Standing

As Last Man Standing was sitting at six seasons, ABC canceled Tim Allen’s sitcom in 2017. That decision was supposedly due to some disputes between the network and the series’ production company, 20th Television. Which made it all the more interesting when Fox revived the series that it was already producing, for two more seasons. 

Supernatural

Just how long was Supernatural on TV? Well… it started in 2006, as a show on The WB; and then became a flagship title of its next parent, The CW, once WB merged with fellow fledgling network UPN. So while you’d know the Winchester brothers’ adventures for playing on The CW for 14 of its 15 seasons, that first aired under the house that Michigan J. Frog built. How’s that for magic?

A.P. Bio

For its brief lifespan of four seasons, A.P. Bio kicked things off at NBC and was revived as a potential Peacock subscription driver and aired two more seasons as such. Alas, the streaming reaper came for the series in 2021, ending Whitlock High’s time on our screens all too early. And what’s even sadder is we never did learn about what happened to Devin (Jacob McCarthy) after he mysteriously disappeared following Season 1? 

Family Matters

TGIF had a bit of an interesting shakeup in its later years, thanks to series like Family Matters and Step by Step defecting from its original home. Jumping from ABC after providing eight seasons of Urkel (Jaleel White) and his antics with the Winslow family, the former wrapped up on the CBS network with one final season. And depending on who you talk to, Season 9 is probably best forgotten by the world.

Archer

Archer’s 14-season run was both a hilarious parody of the James Bond movies, while also being funny and bittersweet in its own ways. While it was never canceled, and blew past the original plans to end in Season 10, a network shift did come after Season 7 aired in 2016. And that was thanks to FX Networks creating a new imprint for comedy and soccer programming, FXX. 

Babylon 5

In the beginning, Babylon 5 was a syndicated TV show that, much like Star Trek: The Next Generation before it, had no singular network home. Distributed through the Prime Time Entertainment Network for its first four seasons, creator J. Michael Strazynski didn’t think the show would get a fifth season. With a series finale already filmed, TNT stepped in to grant one last round of episodes (and a new Season 4 finale), for 1998. And according to Strazynski’s blog post from when it all happened, “Sleeping In Light” would have played just as fine at the end of Season 4. 

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Here’s a fun scenario to ponder: what do you do when a series like Brooklyn Nine-Nine wants to keep existing, but home network Fox doesn’t want to go past Season 5? Well, you send the series to its true home: NBC! As the Andy Samberg-led ensemble was one of several shows saved from cancellation in 2018, the final three seasons could be chalked up to production company Universal Television saving one of its own.

Manifest

After Manifest’s wild Season 3 cliffhanger, the series’ cancellation by NBC left creator Jeff Rake, as well as the show’s fandom, all hoping for closure. While it wasn’t the full second half that Rake took to Twitter to mourn in 2021, streaming provider Netflix did step in for one final season, after finding great success with past seasons being available on its platform. 

Columbo

Detective Colombo (Peter Falk) ran through two pilots and seven seasons on NBC, between 1968 and 1978, looking to solve his cases with “just one more thing” he needed to ask about. But when it came to his eponymous series’ own fate, it received “just” three more seasons on ABC, from 1989 to 2003. 

Community

If it was up to NBC, Dan Harmon’s Community would have never gotten to the six seasons it called out for in its own universe. With that final, prophecy-fulfilling season airing on the now defunct Yahoo! Screen platform, part of a prophecy, that involves "a movie," has been fulfilled.

Everybody Hates Chris

With Chris Rock’s semi-autobiographical sitcom Everybody Hates Chris, the network shift came from a natural place: a merger. Beginning its life in 2005 on UPN, the sitcom Rock co-created with Ali LeRoi would become an original series on The CW in the 2006-2007 TV season. It would continue to air until 2009, as it would then be canceled after its fourth season. 

The Expanse

The Expanse came to an end after six seasons, with the first three airing on Syfy and the last batch going to Amazon’s Prime Video platform. But apparently, in an interview with Polygon, authors Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck (collectively known as James S.A. Corey),said  they don’t even see the show as cancelled, but rather “paused” after Season 6. If a show can be renewed after a fan campaign draws in the likes of Wil Wheaton, George R.R. Martin, and Patton Oswalt, who are we to doubt there’s still gas in the tank? 

American Dad!

Fox ran Seth MacFarlane’s topically inclined animated comedy, American Dad!, for 11 seasons, before pulling the plug on the Family Guy originator’s co-creation with Mike Barker and Matt Weitzman in 2013. However, it didn’t take long for cable station TBS, which had been airing reruns for some time, to snag itself a new original program. So just under a month after the series “ended” on Fox, it came roaring back to life in its second healthy home. 

Friday Night Lights

Most people probably remember Friday Night LIghts as an NBC series, and considering its first two seasons aired there, that would make sense. However, if we’re going by season count, you’d technically call Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton’s ensemble drama a 101 Network series; thanks to the last three of its five seasons airing on that platform between 2008 and 2011.

The Critic

For a two-season wonder like The Critic, you’d think it would have been easy to keep it in one place for the whole run. That couldn’t have been further from the truth, as the first season aired on ABC in 1994, followed by the second season going to Fox in 1995. It’s something that would be joked about in the Jon Lovitz’ comedy’s third and final revival, as a series of webisodes on AtomFilms/Shockwave distributed between 2000 and 2001.

Matlock

Lawyer Ben Matlock (Andy Griffith) broke a lot of cases over six seasons on NBC, between 1986 and 1992. And before anyone could ask if we’d see Ben again, the fall of that very last year saw Matlock jumping over to ABC, for its final three seasons. While cast members may have changed, the iconic theme song and the public’s love for this series did not.

JAG

Here’s something fun to consider: JAG technically has two network shifts. The major one saw David James Elliott’s Lt. Harmon Rabb, Jr. go from NBC to CBS, right after Season 1’s conclusion in 1996. At its second home, the series would run for nine more seasons and spawn the hit spinoff NCIS; which is basically the procedural world’s version of Cheers and Frasier. However, the 22nd episode of Season 1, the true season finale “Skeleton Crew,” wouldn’t air on TV until 1999 on the USA Network. 

Longmire

Neo-noir/western detective series Longmire began its life as a pretty popular title on the A&E Network back in 2014.. Three seasons in, despite being a strong performer, the cable channel axed the Robert Taylor-starring series, with no rhyme or reason. Of course, that didn’t stop Netflix from reviving the series, giving it another three seasons that ran from 2015 until its second and final cancellation in 2017. 

Lucifer

After three seasons, and a finale that was specifically designed to keep the show running, Lucifer was canceled due to a “pretty narrow” audience. That, and the series was made by an outside studio, which only made the decision apparently clearer. It was Fox’s loss though, as Netflix not only brought Tom Ellis’ demonically good time back from the grave,but  the streamer gave it three more seasons to finish up. 

Mystery Science Theater 3000

Was it ever important for Mystery Science Theater 3000 to stay at one network? Not totally, though there were some hiccups in how films were chosen in later seasons because of such switches. Starting life in 1988 as a public access show for KTMA-TV, MST3K would move to Comedy Central for the bulk of its run between 1989 and 1996. One last broadcast move would happen in 1997, giving this show its final TV-bound home… before it went to Netflix for two seasons between 2017 and 2018, and then to its own indie platform, The Gizmoplex, in 2022. 

One Day At A Time

The reboot of Whitney Blake and Allan Manings’ sitcom, One Day at a Time, gave the world a new perspective on a very familiar formula. This Latinx-flavored version only lasted for four seasons sadly, with three of those seasons streaming on Netflix. After being canceled by the big red streamer in 2019, the series would be revived by Pop TV for one final abbreviated season, which aired in 2020.

Girls5Eva

Girls5Eva was a series that had a pedigree that seemed destined to last more than two seasons at Peacock. Yet the Tina Fey co-created/Sara Barellies-led ensemble found itself out the door after Season 2 ended. Though that’s not where the music stopped, as Netflix resurrected the show, proving that the cancellation reaper doesn’t always have the last word.

Doug

Most people remember Doug as a four-season Nicktoon that delved into the inner mind of Doug Funnie (Billy West) as he navigated his teenage years of crushes and bullies. But if you’re a true die-hard, then you, of course, remember Disney’s Doug…It was Doug but an ABC-tweaked incarnation that ran as part of the One Saturday Morning block. 

Cougar Town

Over four seasons of Courteney Cox’s ensemble sitcom Cougar Town, there were things that could change and things that couldn’t. While co-creator Bill Lawrence’s Twitter crusade to rename the show never came to be, the former ABC series eventually became a TBS original in the back half of its life span. And no, the network change didn’t help the case to rename the series at all.

Damages

Through 2007 to 2011, FX had a hit legal drama on its hand with Damages, starring Glenn Close and Rose Byrne. When it came to the end of the third season, EW reported that the costs of the series weren’t worth the viewership to the network. Which lead The 101 Network to enter talks and eventually pick up the series, for its final two seasons. 

Clueless

Can one network alone hold the charisma of Cher Horowitz (Rachel Blanchard)? As if! While original network ABC wasn’t sold on Clueless until reruns had proven them wrong, UPN kept the series adaptation of the ‘90s movie classic going for another two seasons. If only ABC had taken a little more time to feel things out. 

Whether it’s because of cost issues, audience demand, or just good old-fashioned mergers, sometimes you’ve got to move to another network to keep the party going. These series did just that, and for better or worse, fans got more time to hang out with some of their favorite TV characters as a result. 

Over the last several decades, the critical view of television has changed from being a lesser, more mass produced art form, not on the level of movies, to being the place for some of the most creative and progressive content being produced. Much of that collective reappraisal is due to HBO. In the late '90s and early 2000s, the premium cable company poured money into original productions like The Sopranos, Sex And The City, The Wire, Six Feet Under and more. 

As the awards, critical praise, positive fan feedback and subscriptions poured in, more TV networks started taking chances on difficult and complicated subject matter and shelling out to attract major stars. HBO still remains arguably the most famous and successful prestige TV network, but over the last few decades, tons of other networks have taken their chances with riskier and complicated shows. Many of those chances have paid off too.

Here’s a look at some really famous and really successful prestige TV shows that didn’t air on HBO but likely took some level of inspiration from the path the network blazed.

House Of Cards (Netflix)

Few shows in the history of television have upended the entire industry more than House Of Cards. The political drama was the first major original production from Netflix, and the reviews were overwhelmingly positive. Emmy nominations in all the major categories helped create a ton of word of mouth, and within a few years, Netflix’s long-term strategy shifted from a focus on acquiring content to a focus on producing content. 

Downton Abbey (ITV/ PBS)

Every awards voter knows period piece family dramas set among the aristocracy can be major contenders for awards, but Downton Abbey proved just how popular they can be with a broad audience too. The sprawling historical drama found huge popularity in both Britain and The United States, ultimately producing six seasons and multiple movies, and yes, of course, it won plenty of awards too.

The Americans (FX)

One of my personal favorite shows on this entire list, The Americans was a bit of a slow build. Its first season got very solid ratings and a few nominations, but within a few seasons, the spy drama about a Russian family pretending to be Americans was attracting huge Metacritic scores and picking up Emmy nominations in all the major categories for both the show itself and its brilliant lead actors Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys. 

Breaking Bad (AMC)

Widely considered to be one of the greatest shows of all-time, Breaking Bad may not have been on premium cable, but its subject matter was every bit as uncomfortable and morally complicated as anything found elsewhere. By the end of its incredible five-season run, the show had won two Emmys for Outstanding Drama, as well as acting Emmys for three of its primary actors and nominations for two more. 

The Good Wife (CBS)

Prestige TV shows typically have shorter seasons. Maintaining the highest quality over ten episodes is a lot easier than doing it over the twenty-plus network TV typically requires, but The Good Wife was able to maintain high quality thanks to really tight scripts that perfectly blended courtroom case-of-the-week style procedural elements with real character development. Great acting performances also helped, as its actors were collectively nominated an astounding thirty times at The Emmys over just six seasons.

Justified (FX)

Prestige TV shows are most often classified by the number of awards they won, but sometimes it’s about elevating a genre and having an original vision. That’s the case with Justified. It had eight Emmy nominations (and two wins for Margo Martindale and Jeremy Davies), but it’s here mostly because of how much life and originality it brought to the crime genre. It slowly evolved past being a procedural and into a carefully plotted linear story featuring a holler of fascinating backwoods personalities.

Orange Is The New Black (Netflix)

Whether awards voters were asked to call it a comedy or a drama, Orange Is The New Black found a very large and very passionate fanbase with its unique blend of prison shenanigans and societal commentary. It also helped prove Netflix was going to be a long-term threat for prestige television awards long after House Of Cards was gone.

The Great (Hulu)

The Great is maybe the most outlandish show I have ever watched and this comes from someone that’s watched Twin Peaks multiple times. There was no line this show wouldn’t cross, but with a filthy wit, it was able to ride the line between stupid and clever and rewrite the history of Catherine The Great And Peter III’s relationship in a really fascinating way. Reviews were great, and by the end, the lead actors were getting recognized for huge awards.

Lost (ABC)

I’m not sure there will be a single entry on this list that’s more divisive than Lost. The show, which Wikipedia calls a science fiction adventure drama, lost the patience of a percentage of its audience by the end, but it’s impossible to deny just how hooked millions were there for awhile. And with good reason. It got fifty-four Emmy nominations during its run and many are still discovering its joys on streaming.

30 Rock (NBC)

The bar is a lot higher for a comedy to be considered Prestige television, but there are few comedies in the history of television more praised and widely respected than 30 Rock. The hysterical take on the backstage politics behind making a TV show won Outstanding Comedy at the Emmys three times and in later seasons, attracted some of the biggest stars in the world for multi-episode guest spots.

Mad Men (AMC)

Apart from the fact that it’s utterly fantastic, Mad Men is one of the most important TV shows of the last few decades because it conclusively proved literally any network had the ability to create one of the buzziest, most acclaimed series on television, including AMC which launched Mad Men as its first original program. It also turned Jon Hamm into a huge star, and shined a light on many members of its talented supporting cast.