More than two decades after the end of Will & Grace’s original run (and over six years after its revival ended), the show remains one of most popular shows in NBC history. David Kohan and Max Mutchnick’s Emmy-winning sitcom has been lauded for its writing, directing and depiction of LGBTQ+ characters and culture. Of course, a lot of credit should also go to the show’s cast, who remain close to this day. On that note, several of the principal actors recently reunited but unfortunately did so for a reason that has me feeling emotional.

The entertainment industry and the TV-viewing world as a whole recently bid farewell to James Burrows, the iconic director and producer known for his extensive work on multi-camera sitcoms. Will & Grace stands as one of Burrows’ biggest credits, as he directed all 246 episodes throughout the series’ run. Following his passing, Will Truman actor Eric McCormack paid tribute to Burrows and, during an interview with Us Weekly, the Emmy winner spoke about being with two of his co-stars at Burrows’ funeral:

On the show, Debra Messing notably played Grace Alder, the best friend to McCormack’s Will, and Sean Hayes played their good pal and confidante, Jack MacFarland. Also part of that ensemble was Megan Mullaley, who played Grace’s uber wealthy and wise-cracking assistant, Karen Walker. Rounding out the cast was the late Shelley Morrison, who portrayed Karen’s maid, Rosario Salazar.

It’s bittersweet that McCormack, Messing and Hayes reunited under such somber circumstances. Still, I love that they came together to show love to the man who would indeed bring them together week after week amid tapings. It also doesn’t surprise me at all that the cast would attend Burrows’ funeral and pay tribute to him on social media. Several years ago, Hayes, Mullaley, McCormack and Messing all honored Morrison after her passing. McCormack also shared this sweet Instagram post about Burrows’ funeral:

Few creatives can match a body of work like that of James Burrows, who died at 85 after a brief illness. A winner of 11 Emmy Awards, Burrows directed for some of the most beloved sitcoms of all time, including The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Taxi, The Bob Newhart Show, Friends and Mike & Molly. Burrows also co-created Cheers, on which he directed, and helmed episodes of the show’s spinoff series, Frasier, as well. Additionally, he directed a host of pilots including the inaugural episodes of The Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men.

As a lover of multi-camera sitcoms myself, I still find Burrows’ death to be a somewhat hard pill to swallow. What warms my heart, though, is the sight of so many of his collaborators, including Jennifer Aniston, Danny DeVito and many more, paying tribute to him after his passing. To me, Eric McCormack’s remembrance and reunion with his castmates at Burrows’ homegoing furthers the notion that Burrows – both as a man and as a director – will not be forgotten.

James Burrows’ work on Will & Grace is available to watch now, as all 11 seasons are available (and separately categorized) for streaming with a Hulu subscription.

NBC has been churning out some of the best sitcoms since the dawn of television. The Peacock Network's history of hit comedies is long, but the network really came into its own in the 1980s and 1990s when it dominated the ratings with shows like Cheers, Seinfeld, and Friends. This list is what I think are most of NBC's greatest shows, most of which aired in that magical era.

Cheers

For 11 seasons in the '80s and '90s, millions tuned into Cheers to check in with their favorite barflies at the titular drinking establishment. A ratings hit right up until the end, Cheers played a big part in launching the careers of actors like Ted Danson, Woody Harrelson, Kelsey Grammer, Kirstie Alley, and John Ratzenberger.

Night Court

Originally part of the "Must-See TV" Thursday Night lineup on NBC, Night Court had an incredible ensemble cast and sharp writing that made it one of the more irreverent shows on this list. The show ran for six seasons, starting in 1984, in its original run, and was brought back in 2023 for three more seasons. It also had a classic theme song that still slaps today.

Friends

Without a doubt, one of the most enduringly popular shows from NBC is Friends. The show started with great fanfare in 1994, and its popularity only grew from there, until, after 10 seasons, when we all said goodbye to all our friends, the show had been #1 for multiple years. More than two decades since it ended, it's still a widely streamed show.

Sanford And Son

The chemistry between Redd Foxx, who played Fred Sanford, and Demond Wilson, who played his son, Lamont, was the magic that made Sanford and Son an all-time classic. Running for six seasons in the mid-'70s, it proved popular long after it went off the air, running in syndication for many years after it ended on NBC.

NewsRadio

I will always maintain that NewsRadio is the most under-appreciated sitcom in history. The show was brilliantly funny and had an all-star cast that was perfect for the show's witty writing. Not only did the late Phil Hartman shine, but there was Joe Rogan, Stephen Root, Dave Foley, and a whole slew of guest stars like David Cross, Patrick Warburton, and Lauren Graham.

Frasier

It's said that no actor has played the same role for as many years as Kelsey Grammer has played the titular Frasier Crane. The role began on Cheers before moving to the spinoff. The show was revived in 2023 for two more seasons after 11 during its initial run.

Parks And Recreation

NBC first found success in a mockumentary-style sitcom with The Office, and before long, they had a second hit in the same style with Parks and Recreation. The show's secret sauce was definitely in the chemistry between all the members of the ensemble cast, which included Amy Poehler and a bunch of actors whose careers would really blow up after the show, like Aubrey Plaza, Aziz Ansari, and Chris Pratt, among many others.

Taxi

Network sitcoms weren't always known for being at all subversive, even in the 1970s, but Taxi, which ran for five seasons in the late '70s and early '80s, bucked that trend with comedic actors like Danny DeVito, Christopher Lloyd, and the late Andy Kaufman.

The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air

Will Smith was already a famous rapper when he landed a sitcom with NBC in 1990. What seemed like a stunt by the network by giving a rapper a show soon proved to be a stroke of genius, and The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air became a monster hit, launching Smith's career into the stratosphere.

The Office

Along with shows like Friends and Seinfeld, The Office is Hall of Fame of great sitcoms. Although it was based on Ricky Gervais' British show of the same name and even borrowed several jokes from the early episodes, it eventually surpassed the original in popularity both in the US and abroad. By the end of its nine-season run, it was one of the most beloved shows of all time. We're still quoting Michael Scott all the time.

The Cosby Show

Of course, for a number of reasons that I'm not going to get into here, The Cosby Show's legacy has been tainted, and it's hard to watch reruns these days, but in its time, it was one of the all-time greats. It anchored Thursday nights on NBC for eight seasons in the eighties and early nineties and helped launch multiple shows on this list on account of its huge ratings.

Seinfeld

Quite possibly the GOAT sitcom of all time, Seinfeld started slow, with disappointing ratings in its first season, but soon that all changed, and the show became one of the most-watched shows of all time. It's filled with plots we still discuss, and lines that have become part of the English lexicon.

30 Rock

Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan) never won an EGOT, but 30 Rock racked up Emmys during its seven-season run on NBC starting in 2008. Like a lot of shows on this list, it featured an outstanding ensemble cast that was headlined by Morgan, Tina Fey, and Alec Baldwin.

The Golden Girls

Dorothy, Rose, Blanche, and Sophia came into our homes every week for seven seasons in the 1980s and brought joy to millions. It's a show that proved remarkably enduring, as it's still beloved today, even though the four wonderful actresses who played those great characters have all passed away.

Family Ties

Family Ties was a sitcom that wasn't afraid to tackle some major issues, but at its heart, it was a family sitcom that was pretty darn wholesome. It's certainly remembered these days for being the springboard that launched Michael J. Fox's career, but the whole cast was amazing, as were some of the guest stars, including Tom Hanks and River Phoenix.

The Good Place

Like a lot of sitcoms in history, both on NBC and otherwise, The Good Place struggled to find a large audience, but the fans it does have really love the quirky show about the afterlife starring Ted Danson and Kristen Bell, along with others.

227

227, especially the early seasons, was a fantastic show that is maybe a little under-appreciated these days. While it wasn't the first sitcom to feature a Black middle-class family, that was still pretty rare, even in the 1980s.

I Dream Of Jeannie

Barbara Eden, the genie in I Dream of Jeannie, started in Hollywood in the 1950s and has had a long career both before and after the show. It was this NBC sitcom that brought her the greatest acclaim and her biggest fame. Kids like me in the '80s were still watching the show, which originally aired for five seasons in the late '60s, in syndication.

Diff'rent Strokes

For kids in the '80s, no show was more popular than Diff'rent Strokes, which anchored its successful Friday night lineup. Starring Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges as two brothers adopted by a rich guy on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, the show provided endless laughs, and some of the craziest cameos of the era, including Mr. T and Nancy Reagan.

Will & Grace

When Will & Grace first hit the airwaves in 1998, it became one of the pioneers of LGBTQ+ representation on television, and that will always make it important in TV history. However, it never would have lasted for seven seasons (plus four more in a revival) if it hadn't been completely hilarious.

Mad About You

Helen Hunt and Paul Riser played newlyweds (at least in the beginning) on Mad About You, which was kind of a surprise smash hit in the 1990s. It won a ton of Emmys and was so beloved that it got a short revival in 2019, which got mixed reviews.

Community

Like a lot of the best sitcoms, Community was never the ratings hit it should have been. The show's quirky humor wasn't for everyone, but those who "got" the writing loved the show. It constantly fought off being canceled by NBC, and internal squabbles also helped doom the show, but not before it ran for six seasons.

A Different World

A show as wildly popular as The Cosby Show usually ends up spinning off multiple shows, but the only spinoff that came from Cosby was A Different World. The show saw Denise Huxtable (Lisa Bonet) head off to college, where she met a ton of new friends, like the iconic Dwayne Wayne (Kadeem Hardison). Bonet left the show after one season, and A Different World proved it could stand on its own for five more seasons.

Silver Spoons

If you were anything like me in the 1980s, at least half of the time, you were thinking of ways to convince your parents to get you a race car bed like Ricky has in Silver Spoons. I never sold them on that idea, nor did I find a way to sell them on having a train run through the living room like in the insane house I always wanted to explore on the show.

Scrubs

Although it wasn't one of my personal favorites, I couldn't leave Scrubs off this list. I've watched episodes here and there over the years, and you can't help but see the endless memes that the show, which ran for nine seasons in the '00s. It helped launch Zach Braff's career, but it featured a great ensemble cast including Donald Faison, Dave Franco, and John C. McGinley.

Get Smart

One of the most enduring sitcoms of the 1960s has to be Get Smart. The spy show was unique at the time, as a sort of parody of James Bond with wacky gadgets and a bumbling superspy, Maxwell Smart (Don Adams). It also helped launch the career of Mel Brooks, who created the show.

The Facts Of Life

Few people remember that The Facts Of Life was a spinoff of Diff'rent Strokes when Mrs. Garrett (Charlotte Rae) left the Drummonds to become a house mother at boarding school. That's because it was such a huge hit on its own.

Just Shoot Me!

Just Shoot Me! is a perfect example of a show that constantly got moved around the TV schedule, but uniquely didn't suffer all that much in the ratings department because of that. Over its six seasons, it was moved all over the weekly schedule, but the show, led by David Spade, retained its audience as it did.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Adam Samberg was an established star on NBC from his days on Saturday Night Live, when he was rewarded with his own show, Brooklyn Nine-Nine. The show was an instant hit, and that translated into nine very successful seasons for the cops at the fictional 99th precinct in Brooklyn, NY. Samberg wasn't alone in the fantastic cast, which also included Terry Crews, Stephanie Beatriz, and the late Andre Braugher.

3rd Rock From The Sun

John Lithgow has proven over his incredible career that he can play any character, from legendary British Prime Minister Winston Churchill on The Crown to a wacky alien in 3rd Rock From The Sun. There really haven't been many sitcoms like 3rd Rock over the years, though, at its heart, it's a great fish-out-of-water story.

Wings

Though it wasn't a direct spinoff of Cheers, Wings definitely existed in the same universe. Not only was it set in New England (Nantucket), but over the years, there were some crossover characters between the shows. Wings took off right away, as audiences loved the interactions between all the quirky characters at the regional airport where it was set.

Gimme A Break!

Before Joey Lawrence found his greatest fame on another great NBC sitcom, Blossom, he played a character also named Joey, a foster child who joined in the third season of Gimme A Break!. The Nell Carter vehicle is one of those great sitcoms that made a huge impact at the time, but people hardly talk about it anymore. Still, like the others on this list, it was one of the best NBC offerings in its golden age of sitcoms in the '80s and '90s.

You know how there are just those friendships on television that you watch, and you sit there like, “Dang, I need to have friends like that!” Here are some of the best that I’m sure you’ve loved time and again.

Troy And Abed (Community)

When I was thinking of names for this list, Troy and Abed were the first two that came to mind. When it comes to the Community cast, the chemistry among them is utterly perfect; however, the best is undoubtedly Donald Glover and Danny Pudi as Troy and Abed, respectively. I could think of no better friendship duo than these two and their weirdness – I even have a mug of them saying, “Troy and Abed in the mooorning!”

Steve And Dustin (Stranger Things)

While they are indeed the among the friendships with the most significant age gaps on this list, I can’t leave out Steve and Dustin. I feel like we were all introduced to what these two could be in Season 2 when Steve started to enter his whole “mom” era (as the memes online would say) with the kids. But throughout the four seasons, we’ve seen their friendship grow in specific ways that make it a million times better. I love this duo so much.

Chandler And Joey (Friends)

Yes, really, the entire Friends cast is something I genuinely love, but speaking specifically, Joey and Chandler are the epitome of “best friends forever.” These two have been through it all, and I swear, the episode where Chandler moves out is one that always hits me hard in the feels. They are goofy in every way.

Eleven And Max (Stranger Things)

When we watched Eleven and Max together on Stranger Things in Season 3, something was healed in our souls. There’s just something so sweet about watching two teenagers go out and live their lives and become close friends without any boys to bother them. I love these two so much.

Ekko And Powder (Arcane)

While Arcane is one of the best shows to binge on Netflix, it wouldn’t be on that list without its impressive character connections, and one of those is Ekko and Powder. That’s right, not Jinx, of course, but Powder before she went through all the trauma – and especially in that different reality in Season 2. These two had a special connection unlike any other, and my only wish was that we got more.

Cristina And Meredith (Grey’s Anatomy)

Duh. I think when anyone thinks of TV best friends, they think of Cristina and Meredith from Grey’s Anatomy. These two stuck together through thick and thin and went through some of the most dramatic instances that characters in a medical TV show could experience. You can’t get better than them.

Jackie And Donna (That ‘70s Show)

I love these two because the best thing about Jackie and Donna is that they weren’t friends at first. They did not like each other. But throughout the show, they ended up getting really close. And really, I think that’s an excellent way for a friendship to start in a show – where they see the worst versions of each other but choose to become friends anyway when they realize how much they have in common.

Ted And Coach Beard (Ted Lasso)

The Ted Lasso cast has plenty of great friendships, but one that I have to give special praise to is the one between Ted and Beard. At first, it feels like they wouldn’t get along because Beard is just so…weird in so many ways. But they vibe on a different level, and it’s a friendship that truly stands the test of time.

Jack And Liz (30 Rock)

The 30 Rock cast is so talented, but the main friendship that I’m sure we all love is Liz and Jack. Why? Because these two are brutally honest with each other. They always show up for each other in times of need, and they’re not afraid to tell each other how it is. That’s a true friend.

Jess And Cece (New Girl)

God, the list of times that these two have gone through ridiculous drama because of the boys that Jess lives with is endless. But you want to know the best part? Jess and Cece were always there for each other. Whether it was Cece dealing with Schmidt, Jess with Nick, or whatever other crazy shenanigans they went through, it was always these two.

Veronica And Fiona (Shameless)

I will literally always love Veronica and Fiona. The entire Shameless cast essentially defined my college years, as I loved the show. But these two? They were great friends. Fiona was hyped about V just as much as Veronica was about her. They were not afraid to get dirty in order to protect one another. I love ‘em.

Leslie And Ron (Parks And Recreation)

The best thing about Leslie and Ron in the Parks and Recreation cast is that they are always there for each other. Often, with many of these office shows, friendships can turn romantic in the blink of an eye, but they were always just hilarious together in so many ways. I can’t help but love them.

Bellamy And Clarke (The 100)

While a part of me will never forgive this CW show for not putting these two together because the chemistry was amazing, there’s a lot to love about Bellamy and Clarke from The 100. They went through some of the worst things together, but no matter what, they always stood by each other and let them live their lives, even if they didn’t necessarily agree with their choices. It’s perfect.

Sam And Dean (Supernatural)

Is it cheating because they’re brothers? I don’t know. To me, I think Sam and Dean’s friendship is one of the highlights of the Supernatural cast. It wouldn’t be a great show if it weren’t for Sam’s quips, Dean’s sarcastic comments, or how they work so incredibly well together. I mean, it had fifteen seasons. Of course, their friendship was amazing.

Jake And Finn (Adventure Time)

Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. Jake and Finn have a friendship that’s special in so many ways. They are friends forever, and you can’t take that from me.

Aang And Sokka (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

When it comes to rewatching Avatar: The Last Airbender, one friendship I particularly love is that of Aang and Sokka. You’d think it'd be because they are always there for each other. Sokka will support Aang no matter what, and Aang will protect his friends as if they were his family. But the real reason is that they are just idiots together – and I mean that in the best way possible. They come up with the silliest plans. And it’s something that makes me laugh every time.

Will And Carlton (The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air)

While they were cousins, they did not have to be friends. However, watching the evolution of Will and Carlton’s friendship throughout The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is something that I will always love. A begrudging respect began to form, and by the end, the two of them had become truly close friends, having been through a lot together.

Lily And Robin (How I Met Your Mother)

I think a reason why a lot of people like Lily and Robin from How I Met Your Mother is that, in reality, they feel like a lot of real-life friendships – especially with me. Whether it’s cracking jokes, drinking wine, or needing someone to rant to, these two were each other’s person, and that’s something we can always be grateful for.

Ted And Rebecca (Ted Lasso)

Were Ted and Rebecca close from the start? Not at all. But I love it when the grumpy x sunshine dynamic finally comes around, and these two are the epitome of that, where even Rebecca starts to see how great Ted is. By the end of the series, she was crying as she watched him leave to return to America. Now that’s a friendship.

Jimmy And Gaby (Shrinking)

The Shrinking cast has some memorable friendships, but I have to point out Jimmy and Gaby. Sure, they did have their moments of possibly having a fling, but in reality, these two are just funny together. They have some hysterical moments that make me snicker. And it’s something I rewatch when I need a laugh.

Rachel, Phoebe And Monica (Friends)

I couldn’t just pick a duo for these three because, in reality, they’re all great friends. I feel like each of them has stuck their neck out for the other on any occasion because they care so deeply. There’s something so special about having three friends who would do anything for the other, and these three take the cake.

Jimmy And Paul (Shrinking)

Does Paul continuously say they aren’t friends? Of course. Does that stop Jimmy? Nope! Watching these two interact is the highlight of my week whenever new Shrinking episodes come around, and I would fully watch an entire series dedicated to just them, with Paul turning grumpy as Jimmy’s pestering continues.

Grace And Will (Will And Grace)

Of course, I had to put these two on this list. The titular characters of Will & Grace are so iconic that they came back around in a revival back in 2017. Their friendship is hysterical, and they are always there for each other, no matter what.

SpongeBob And Patrick (SpongeBob SquarePants)

SpongeBob and Patrick are the epitome of how two characters can be as dumb as rocks, but they vibe so well. I love ‘em to death, no matter how stupid these two are together and the trouble they get into. Some of the best SpongeBob memes revolve around their friendship.

Scott And Stiles (Teen Wolf)

As someone who lived during the Teen Wolf era, Scott and Stiles were EVERYWHERE. And I mean everywhere. I looked on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr (that’s right, you remember her), and I couldn't escape their friendship – or the people shipping them.

Turk And J.D. (Scrubs)

If the term ‘bromance’ had a picture in the dictionary, it would be Turk and J.D.. They were hilarious in every way and perfectly captured what it was like to be just two guys who vibed well and absolutely loved each other. They are what made Scrubs so good.

Charles And Jake (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)

There are plenty of friendships I could point to in the Brooklyn Nine-Nine cast, but one that always stands out to me is Charles and Jake. I really don’t think they were the brightest bulbs when they were together, but somehow, they always managed to get the job done hilariously.

John And Sherlock (Sherlock)

Because, of course, I have to put these two together. Did Sherlock drive John out of his mind? Of course, he did. But Sherlock would also do anything to protect John and his family, and we see that even if Sherlock himself was practically unable to show emotions. That’s the kind of true friendship we all need.

Steve And Robin (Stranger Things)

Yes, because we love Steve and Robin. The hilarious part about these two is that everyone thought Robin and Steve were going to become the next big romantic thing when Season 3 came around. Still, nope, it turns out Robin was actually a lesbian, and these two ended up becoming besties – and are always there for each other.

Lorelai And Rory (Gilmore Girls)

Okay, so while they are mother and daughter, I’m pretty sure we can all collectively agree that Lorelai and Rory are best friends as well. That’s kind of the whole premise of the show. Mothers and daughters would dream of the close relationship that these two had.

Eddie And Dustin (Stranger Things)

Eddie was a true all-star of Stranger Things Season 4, but one of the biggest reasons for that is because of his friendship with Dustin. Eddie got to him on a personal level (one different from Steve's), and that friendship will always be remembered.

Toph And Katara (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

Toph and Katara have a powerful friendship. Not only do they bring out the best in each other with their powers, but they constantly challenge each other, especially in the beginning when they don’t get along. But it would be a friendship that would last a lifetime.

Ugh, now I feel like I have to rewatch all of these shows to see these guys again. I think it’s time for a marathon.

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.

Hollywood has conditioned audiences to expect two central characters of similar romantic preferences and with great chemistry to fall in love by the end of a film or at some point in a TV series’ run. Thus, it is typically more refreshing to see these protagonists remain compatible but without giving in to a forced will-they-won’t-they dynamic. In that spirit, here is a thankful tribute to pop culture’s best platonic couples.

Max And Furiosa (Mad Max: Fury Road)

For the fourth installment of his beloved franchise of post-apocalyptic thrillers, 2015's Mad Max: Fury Road, writer and director George Miller introduced a female hero to serve as the title character's equal in another road war. Not once is there a hint of any romantic connection between Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy) and Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron), and the modern action movie classic is beloved all the more for it.

Jerry And Elaine (Seinfeld)

One key way Seinfeld established itself early on as a groundbreaking comedy was doing away with any will-they-won't-they gimmick between Jerry Seinfeld (Jerry Seinfeld) and Elaine Benes (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) by starting them off as a couple, breaking them up before the show even started, and seeing them remain friends through the run. While the beloved TV sitcom occasionally dropped hints at rekindling their romance for laughs (such as when they became friends with benefits or Jerry's impromptu marriage proposal), there is no doubt they are stronger as pals.

Marlin And Dory (Finding Nemo)

Finding Nemo could have easily incorporated the typical "widowed father finds love again" trope by seeing Marlin (Albert Brooks) and Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) fall into a charming interbreed romance during their search for his eponymous son (voiced by Alexander Gould). However, I think most would agree that making the clownfish and Blue Tang nothing but friends is an essential aspect of what makes the Oscar winner one of Pixar's best movies.

Leslie And Ron (Parks And Recreation)

At the Paley Center for Media, Parks and Recreation co-creator Michael Schur shared that Leslie Knope and Ron Swanson were initially conceived as the "mom and dad" of the Pawnee Parks Department office, but without any intention of giving them romantic chemistry. The closest the co-workers have ever come to being more than professional is when Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman pretend to make out for the sitcom's gag reel.

Harry And Hermione (The Harry Potter Movies)

The Harry Potter movies may be named after Daniel Radcliffe's "Boy Who Lived," but the young wizard would not be able to achieve what he does at Hogwarts without the help of his very best friends, Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson). In any other blockbuster franchise, the title character might end up with the girl in the end, but the thought never seems to cross their minds, and instead, Hermione and Ron come to develop feelings for each other.

Joey And Pheobe (Friends)

There always seemed to be romance in the air for the members of the Friends cast, from Ross (David Schwimmer) and Rachel's (Jennifer Aniston) rocky, on-again-off-again relationship to Monica (Courteney Cox) and Chandler's (Matthew Perry) marriage, and even Rachel and Joey's (Matt LeBlanc) attempt at being more than roommates. However, Joey and Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) were practically brother and sister, even though they did kiss when he thought she was her twin sister, Ursula, and he did offer to marry her when he thought she was pregnant. That is, thankfully, the closest they ever came.

Hawkeye And Black Widow (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

Natasha "Black Widow" Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) and Clint "Hawkeye" Barton (Jeremy Renner) share a deeper bond than most characters from the Marvel movies in order can claim, having known each other long before forming the Avengers together. The ultimate sign of their undying, platonic love for one another is in 2019's Avengers: Endgame when neither is willing to let the other sacrifice themselves to retrieve the Soul Stone, only for Clint to fall apart when he is forced to say goodbye to Nat.

Liz And Jack (30 Rock)

They may have gotten off on the wrong foot in the pilot for 30 Rock, but TV writer Liz Lemon (series creator Tina Fey) and her boss, Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin), eventually come to form a respectable professional team. I cannot imagine anyone would have ever expected these characters to fall for one another, but it was the mere unlikelihood of their romance that made their bond one of the comedy's strongest elements.

Bob And Charlotte (Lost In Translation)

I honestly feel like I might be cheating by including Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson's characters from the 2000s-era movie classic, Lost in Translation, because the oft-discussed ending of Sofia Coppola's Oscar-winning dramedy suggests their bond evolves into something more. However, up until then, they share a friendship that each desperately needed and anyone would be lucky to have.

Mal And Zoë (Firefly)

One of the many issues that led to the premature cancellation of cult sci-fi series Firefly was creative demands from Fox executives, such as one note requesting that Zoë (Gina Torres) not be married to Wash (Alan Tudyk) to leave room for any romantic potential with Nathan Fillion's Captain Mal Reynolds. Thankfully, creator Joss Whedon stood his ground and adamantly refused, allowing the interplanetary outlaws to remain thick and thieves in the purest sense.

Ripley And Hicks (Aliens)

Writer and director James Cameron's second chapter of the Alien movies franchise introduced one of cinema's most revered platonic couples in the form of Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) and Cpl. Dwayne Hicks (Michael Biehn). There are more than enough hints at the Xenomorph survivor and the marine sharing a romantic connection, but the sci-fi movie classic leaves their level of affection ambiguous instead of ending with a big, celebratory smooch like any other filmmaker might have pushed for.

Don And Peggy (Mad Men)

With how many women on the Mad Men cast Don Draper (Jon Hamm) had affairs with, one might have expected something to happen between him and his assistant/protege, Peggy Olson (Elisabeth Moss). Of course, that was never on the cards for them, as the 1960s ad executive saw her as more of a daughter, sharing with her many winning professional successes and tender personal moments throughout the hit AMC series' run.

Daisy And Hoke (Driving Miss Daisy)

Driving Miss Daisy from 1989 traces the longtime relationship between a grumpy older woman, Daisy Werthan (Jessica Tandy), and her chauffeur, Hoke Colburn (Morgan Freeman). Seeing their friendship survive racial and ageist adversaries in the mid-1900s South makes this Best Picture Oscar winner an enduring inspiration.

SpongeBob And Sandy (SpongeBob Squarepants)

As a marine biologist like SpongeBob Squarepants creator Stephen Hillenburg would know, sea sponges do not require mates to reproduce (which does make the inclusion of the title character's parents a bit nonsensical, admittedly). Nonetheless, nothing could have ever happened between SpongeBob (Tom Kenny) and his squirrely pal, Sandy Cheeks (Carolyn Lawrence), anyway, even if some adult viewers of Nickelodeon's beloved animated series have theorized their shared passion for martial arts was a form of foreplay.

Rey And Finn (The Star Wars Movies)

It took some time for the Star Wars movies to embrace the idea of purely platonic relationships between characters of the opposite gender, specifically when the franchise was revived in 2015. In Star Wars: The Force Awakens, loner Rey (Daisy Ridley) and reformed Stormtrooper Finn (John Boyega) become fast friends and remain allies in the fight against the First Order in the last of the sequel trilogy.

Will And Jack (Will & Grace)

During the revival seasons of Will & Grace, there were hints at Will Truman's (Eric McCormack) relationship with his friend, and fellow gay man, Jack McFarland (Sean Hayes), evolving into something more. However, that would have undermined the entire spirit of the sitcom because, as Will, the duo are meant to be "girlfriends, not boyfriends."

Jimmy And Dottie (A League of Their Own)

According to SlashFilm, director Penny Marshall shot a kissing scene between Tom Hanks as Jimmy Dugan and Geena Davis as catcher Dottie Hinson for the 1992 sports movie favorite, A League of Their Own. The scene was ultimately cut, maintaining the characters' strong bond as a baseball player and her coach.

Ted And Rebecca (Ted Lasso)

In the hit Apple TV+ original series, Ted Lasso, Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham) initially hires the eponymous American football coach (played by Jason Sudeikis), hoping that he will ruin the football team her ex-husband cherished. Instead, she comes to appreciate the good he does for the team on and off the field, and a trusting, loving friend in and out of the office develops.

Shang-Chi And Katy (Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings)

Succeeding Black Widow and Hawkeye as the definitive platonic couple of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is arguably Xu "Shaun" Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) and Katy (Awkwafina). In 2021's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, when Shaun tells his best friend/co-worker/karaoke partner that he has to leave town to help protect his younger sister, she insists on coming with him without a second's hesitation.

Jake And Rosa (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)

Having come up at the police academy together, Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg) and Rosa Diaz (Stephanie Beatriz) share one of the closest bonds among the Brooklyn Nine-Nine cast. Refreshingly, the New York detectives' relationship never evolves into anything beyond strict professionalism and deeply supportive friendship, as Jake eventually marries Amy Santiago (Melissa Fumero) and Rosa goes through various relationships with both men and women, having come out as bi-sexual in Season 5.

Drax And Mantis (Guardians Of The Galaxy Movies)

In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Drax (Dave Bautista) makes it abundantly clear that he has no romantic interest in Mantis (Pom Klementieff) and, in fact, is physically repulsed by the idea of being with her. In turn, the cosmic Marvel heroes prove to have a great brother-sister dynamic, especially when they team up to find Peter "Star-Lord" Quill (Chris Pratt) the perfect holiday gift in The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special.

Jack And Chloe (24)

No one had Jack Bauer's (Kiefer Sutherland) back like Chloe O'Brian (Mary Lynn Rajskub) on 24. The CTU agent's relationship with the analyst was, essentially, one-sided at first before they became strong allies and even best friends.

Dredd And Anderson (Dredd)

To even describe Judge Dredd (Karl Urban) and Judge Anderson (Olivia Thirlby) from 2012's underrated comic book flick, Dredd, as friends would be far from accurate. However, as law enforcement officials, they could not be a better match as partners, evidenced by their impeccable compatibility while working to bring down the wonderfully over-the-top action villain, Ma-Ma (Lena Headey), and her drug operation.

Joan And Sherlock (Elementary)

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson make up one of the most iconic and influential partnerships in pop culture history. A modernized, gender-swapped reinterpretation of the characters in CBS's Elementary, starring Johnny Lee Miller as Holmes and Lucy Liu as Joan Watson, has also been recognized as a pairing for the ages.

Arthur And Iris (The Holiday)

In the acclaimed rom-com, The Holiday, Iris Simpkins' (Kate Winslet) love interest is Jack Black's L.A. film score composer Miles Dumon. However, the visiting Brit spends most of her time in the States with elderly former screenwriter Arthur Abbott (Eli Wallach), which quickly becomes the most charming relationship in Nancy Meyers' 2006 holiday season favorite.

Lexi And Stefan (The Vampire Diaries)

In his many, many years as an ageless creature of the night, Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley) took many lovers throughout the years, but there was one female The Vampire Diaries character he called one of his best friends. Arielle Kebbel plays fellow bloodsucker Lexi Branson, who, essentially, serves as Stefan's moral compass and bonds with him over the shared passion for the music of Bon Jovi.

Edgin And Holga (Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves)

What made 2023's Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves such a blast, especially for experienced players of its namesake role-playing game, was the strong sense of unity and teamwork among its cast of heroes. No characters in the fantasy adventure represent those qualities better than Edgin (Chris Pine) and Holga (Michelle Rodriguez), who are endlessly loyal to one another from the start.

Veronica And Wallace (Veronica Mars)

Kristen Bell's title hero from the teen mystery drama Veronica Mars first met Wallace Fennel (Percy Daggs III) when she saw him duct-taped to a flagpole and came to his rescue. This marked the beginning of a friendship that few high schoolers can claim.

Charly And Mitch (The Long Kiss Goodnight)

In The Long Kiss Goodnight, amnesiac mother Samantha Caine (Geena Davis) discovers, with help from private eye Mitch Henessey (Samuel L. Jackson), her past as a deadly top agent. From then on, the 1996 thriller from director Renny Harlin becomes a fun buddy action flick as "Samantha" embraces her true identity as Charly Baltimore.

Maddie And Simon (School Spirits)

The acclaimed Paramount+ original series School Spirits is a ghost story from the perspective of a ghost, namely 17-year-old Maddie Nears (Peyton List), who is unable to interact with the living... except for one person. Her unbreakable bond with her best friend, Simon Elroy (Kristian Ventura), allows him to see her, making him the only one who can help solve the mystery of her death, which she has no memory of.

Preston And Denise (Can't Hardly Wait)

Any other fun party movie would have the nerdy teen protagonist pining for the popular girl end up with his female best friend instead. However, in Can't Hardly Wait, Preston (Ethan Embry) does end up with his dream girl, Amanda (Jennifer Love Hewitt), while his best friend, Denise (Lauren Ambrose), forms an unexpected connection with Kenny (Seth Green) after getting locked in a bathroom together.

Meredith And Alex (Grey's Anatomy)

On a medical drama in which most people seemed to be getting into bed with each other, it was refreshing to see two characters from the Grey's Anatomy cast, namely Justin Chambers' Alex Karev and Ellen Pompeo's Meredith Grey, sharing a relationship that was purely friendly.

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.

The streaming wars are showing no signs of slowing down, with each service offering a constant supply of exciting new content. Those with a Hulu subscription were recently treated to the new sitcom Mid-Century Modern, which stars the likes of Nathan Lane, Matt Bomer, Nathan Lee Graham, and the great Linda Lavin. The show feels like a mixture of The Golden Girls and Will & Grace, and it's really sparking some queer joy in me.

The Golden Girls and Will & Grace are considered some of the best sitcoms of all time, and are endlessly re-watchable for fans like me. So when it was revealed that the latter's creators Max Mutchnick and David Kohan were re-teaming for a Hulu original TV show, I checked it out. And it didn't disappoint, as it feels like a LGBTQ+ take on The Golden Girls. And that combination is absolutely delightful and thoroughly binge-watchable.

Mid-Century Modern follows three adult gay men who decide to live together in Palm Springs after their friend dies. The owner of the house is Nathan Lane's Bunny Schneiderman, who is wealthy and lives with his mother Sybil (Linda Lavin). Adding in Matt Bomer's ditzy Jerry and Nathan Lee Graham's fabulous and biting Arthur, and the four personalities clash in plenty of charming, touching, and funny ways throughout Season 1.

The Golden Girls had great insults throughout its tenure on the air, and Mid-Century Modern definitely continues this trend. The cast is constantly ribbing each other, as well as anyone else they come across throughout the first 10 episodes of the streaming comedy.

The set and concept of Mid-Century Modern is an obvious homage to The Golden Girls, which has the potential to elicit a mixture of reactions from people. While I've seen some complaints about this online, I've loved the way that the old and new have been combined for this new sitcom. It feels classic, as well as very much of the times.

Will & Grace was a groundbreaking show in regards to LGBTQ+ representation, including the very first instance of two men kissing on television. And while that show has aged rather well (seriously, give it another go on Hulu), being able to have the same comedic sensibilities back on TV and set in 2025 is really refreshing and affirming. There's a lot going on in the world nowadays for queer folks, so being able to sit down and laugh in so necessary.

I'm someone who regularly re-watches back episodes of Will & Grace and The Golden Girls, so having these shows basically combine to create the delightful Mid-Century Modern is a major win for the 2025 TV premiere list. Hopefully it gets renewed for a second season on Hulu. Fingers crossed!

The King of Queens has long been gone from the primetime TV schedule, though its run of 200+ episodes remains a favorite among viewers with Peacock subscriptions. It’s partly because of the incredible cast, which includes Kevin James, Leah Remini, Patton Oswalt, and Jerry Stiller, among others. It’s hard to imagine anyone else playing the role of Carrie Hefferman, but I just found out that Remini was actually asked to audition for Friends and another iconic sitcom before The King of Queens.

Before Remini cemented Carrie as a TV wife who put her husband in his place on The King of Queens, she came close to auditioning for what would become two of the best sitcoms ever: Friends and Will & Grace. She told TV Insider why she decided to pass on the two of them, despite having a feeling they would go on to become major hits:

It makes sense why Remini wanted to pass on both Friends and Will & Grace. It’s not just about wanting to join a show one thinks will succeed, but also about finding the role that could potentially be the right fit for many years. Whatever parts Remini was asked to audition for in the other shows apparently weren't right for her.

Looking back now, it turned out to be probably the best decision, since all three shows went on to become huge hits with beloved cast ensembles. And it turns out Remini didn't feel the same hesitation when it came to going after Carrie Heffernan, and the actress knew it was the one, saying:

The King of Queens was certainly fate for Leah Remini. While Friends and Will & Grace didn’t work out for her, for good reason, she just knew that not only was Carrie Heffernan the perfect role for her, but working with Kevin James was icing on the cake. The two had undeniable chemistry on the CBS sitcom, and it’s very possible if someone else landed the role that James might not have meshed with so well, the show might not have lasted nine seasons.

Today, The King of Queens is very much still talked about, and not just because of streaming options. Last year, a photo of James from a promo shoot for the series was going viral, and Remini even reacted to the viral meme that sparked many different reactions from followers on social media. How and why that photo began circulating is unknown, but it did bring some beautiful meme-ories for a temporary stint.

Things happen for a reason, and as fate would have it, Leah Remini took The King of Queens and it turned out to be the best decision she could have had. The show would have been wildly different without her, but she listened to her gut, meaning fans never had to live in a world where Remini wasn't Carrie.

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. 

The ‘90s were a magical time for the TV medium, as it was a decade filled with a wide variety of shows. Comedies, dramas, mysteries and more were plentiful, and many of them hailed from NBC. The network became highly regarded for its “Must See TV” block, which ran from 1993 to 2006. This programming slate played host to some of the most popular series of all time, and we’re going to talk about the best small-screen titles to come out of it. 

Much of the action occurred during Must See’s Thursday night block, though other nights, like Tuesdays and Sundays, were also added to capitalize on the popularity of the branding. While not every offering was a runaway success, each of the programs we’re about to discuss did manage to strike a chord with audiences on some level. So, let’s talk about these classics now.

Seinfeld (1989)

Dubbed the show about nothing, Seinfeld’s high viewership numbers as part of the block were really something. Plenty of people tuned in to watch the misadventures of the fictionalized Jerry Seinfeld and his eccentric friends. What makes this sitcom so special is its approach to comedy, which is mostly mined from miniscule aspects of everyday life. When looking at the best Seinfeld episodes, it’s really not hard to see why it was so popular back in the day and why many continue to revere it and use the various phrases it introduced to the English language.

Stream Seinfeld on Netflix.

Wings (1990)

One could argue that as popular as it was during the ‘90s, Wings doesn’t always get the love it deserves from modern audiences. Nevertheless, this multi-camera comedy – which centers around a Nantucket-based airline – is an endearing piece of work. 

What really makes it soar (no pun intended) is the A+ cast led by Tim Daly and Steven Weber. This show's quality probably shouldn’t be too surprising, since it was created by the minds behind Cheers (and eventually Frasier). It may not reach the heights of those shows, but there are plenty of great laughs and a reasonable amount of heart to make this an excellent show.

Stream Wings on Amazon Prime Video.
Stream Wings on Paramount+.
Stream Wings on Pluto TV. 

Mad About You (1992)

When it comes to comedies mostly focused on married couples, it’s hard to top Mad About You, which was a key part of NBC’s Must See TV slate for years. Its debut came amid a surge of new comedies that provided more nuanced takes on domestic dynamics. Today, the writing holds up well, and the performances are still fantastic. 

Also, much credit should be given to Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt, who more than endeared themselves to audiences as the Buchmans during the show’s seven-season run. Hunt, for her part, even won four consecutive Emmys for her work as Jamie. There’s a certain charm to this production, and it’s wonderful to revisit. 

Stream Mad About You with SlingTV.

Frasier (1993)

One could certainly argue that one of the greatest TV spinoffs to ever be created is Frasier. Some may not have known what to expect when Cheers’ Frasier Crane relocated from Boston to his hometown of Seattle. However, the result is a riotous piece of work with a collection of great, fun characters and excellent stories. Kelsey Grammer and the cast are phenomenal, brilliantly delivering their sharply written dialogue. 

As a whole, though, what really needs to be applauded is the way in which the producers let Grammer’s Dr. Crane evolve naturally without losing the characteristics that made him so popular in the first place.

Stream Frasier with Paramount+.
Stream Frasier with Hulu.

Friends (1994)

Let’s face it, Friends is the most iconic show to come out of the Must See TV block. Ironically, the pilot tested poorly and the network nearly pulled the plug before it even aired. Yet, David Crane and Marta Kauffman’s comedy series saw the light of day in 1994, and the rest is history. There’s a lot to appreciate about the series, from its great cast and solid writing to its memorable running gas and cavalcade of guest stars. Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc and co. owe a lot to the sitcom for making them household names, and NBC should be forever grateful to the production for the strong ratings it brought in. 

In short, this show will likely be enjoyed for generations to come. And, thanks to the power of streaming and continued syndication, chances are this comedy will always be there for you… to watch and stream when you desire.

Stream Friends on Max.
Buy Friends on Amazon Prime Video.

ER (1994)

While NBC’s famous ‘90s block offered a lot of funny fare, there was some drama in the mix. The biggest title in that regard has to be ER, which not only helped usher in a new era for medical dramas but also made George Clooney into a bonafide star. Michael Crichton’s series provided an impressively realistic take on the inner workings of a hospital emergency room. 

As thrilling as a number of episodes could be, the central focus always remained on the cast of characters, who all proved to be incredibly layered. This is another piece of work that’ll truly stand the test of time – and continue to get George Clooney in trouble with his wife as she watches the somewhat imperfect exploits of Doug Ross.

Stream ER on Max.
Stream ER on Hulu.

NewsRadio (1995)

Any journalism devotee should carve out some time and check out the truly excellent NewsRadio. It’s far from the first workplace comedy to ever grace the small screen – or air on the Peacock network for that matter. The adventures of the gang at WNYX radio offer a humorous look into the lives of the intriguing people that deliver the news. 

It owes a bit of gratitude to WKRP in Cincinnati for laying the groundwork, but I’d argue that NR surpasses that classic with its sharp dialogue, surrealistic touches and more. Of course, it must also be said that the show serves as a brilliant showcase for late cast member Phil Hartman, who died ahead of the fifth and final season. 

Stream NewsRadio on Pluto TV.
Buy NewsRadio on Amazon Prime Video.

Caroline In The City (1995)

Caroline in the City didn’t air as long as some of its Must See peers, though it did manage to carve out a solid space for itself within pop culture. It’s still hard not to fall in love with the quirky Caroline Duff (played by the delightful Lea Thompson), as she seeks love while advancing in her career as a cartoonist. 

As a whole, it’s a funny show, and it’s not too hard to see why it was such a ratings powerhouse when it debuted in the mid ‘90s. Thompson and her colleagues deserve their flowers, and one would hope that people continue to unearth this four-season TV classic as time goes on.

Stream Caroline in the City on Pluto TV.

3rd Rock From The Sun (1996)

Bringing a cosmic jolt to NBC’s juggernaut programming slate was 3rd Rock from the Sun. Created by Bonnie and Terry Turner (a few years before they developed That ‘70s Show), this wild comedy about a group of extraterrestrials posing as a family is still hilarious. 

It deftly takes the baton from the likes of Mork & Mindy and Coneheads and arguably manages to surpass them, particularly when it comes to dialogue. And, of course, we also owe this show for birthing some incredible characters, from the Solomon family to Officer Don Orville. 

Buy 3rd Rock from the Sun on Amazon Prime Video.

Suddenly Susan (1996)

Suddenly Susan marks the first regular TV role for Brooke Shields, who stars in the role of magazine writer Susan Keane. During its four-season run, the show ultimately didn’t receive the acclaim that some of its fellow series did. However, it still managed to gain a solid following in a short period of time. What really helps elevate this comedy is its talented cast, which – aside from Shields – includes the likes of Nestor Carbonell, Judd Nelson, Kathy Griffin and the late David Strickland. 

Buy Suddenly Susan on Amazon Prime Video.

Just Shoot Me! (1997)

The jokes fly fast and furiously on Just Shoot Me!, which comes from the comedic mind of eventual Modern Family creator Steve Levitan. His workplace romp, which is centered on the employees of the fictional Blush magazine, is an entertaining piece of work. 

Like so many Must See TV entries, it's anchored by a talented cast that includes the likes of Laura San Giacomo, Wendie Malick, George Segal and David Spade, whose Dennis Finch became a breakout character (that last part is interesting, given Spade had to adjust to the sitcom format after his SNL stint). On the whole, this is a seriously funny sitcom that holds up decades after the end of its run.

Stream Just Shoot Me! on Hulu.
Stream Just Shoot Me! on Pluto TV.

Will & Grace (1998)

When you talk about great comedies, you have to include Will & Grace in the discussion. The comedy, which initially ran eight seasons from 1998-2006 before its 2017 revival, has made a serious impression on pop culture, thanks to its A+ cast and whip-smart writing. 

As off the wall as the characters of Will Truman, Grace Alder, Jack McFarland and Karen Walker are, they’re also relatable. We’d also be remiss not to mention how it blazed a trail for other LGBTQ+ shows not only featuring gay characters prominently but also showing nuanced depictions of people within the community. Contemporary creatives owe a great deal to this multi-camera production, and it’ll surely never be forgotten.

Stream Will & Grace on Hulu.

Scrubs (2001)

I know what some people may be thinking and, yes, Scrubs came onto the scene near the end of Must See TV’s first iteration. Nevertheless, it’s still a part of the block’s lineage and is one of its finest titles. 

A humorous antithesis to ER, Bill Lawrence’s workplace comedy provides a knee-slapping (and occasionally surreal) look at the work lives of hospital employees. Medical-based shenanigans, various inside jokes and numerous romantic relationships await you with this show. The bromance between Zach Braff’s J.D. and Donald Faison’s Turk alone is enough of a reason to watch, which is a timeless classic.

Stream Scrubs on Hulu.
Stream Scrubs on Peacock.
Buy Scrubs on Amazon Prime Video. 

Based on the shows discussed above, it’s evident that NBC’s Must See TV block had a lot to offer back in the early aughts. So, why not do yourself a favor and watch the Friends cast play off each other or stream the best Scrubs episodes. You’ll be glad you did.

If you were to pull up a list of the best sitcoms of all time, you wouldn’t have to scroll all that long before you found at least one romantic comedy TV show. Ever since the medium launched many decades ago, we’ve watched countless love stories unfold before our very eyes (or on reruns). From iconic first kisses to break-ups we still can’t get over to over-the-top wedding ceremonies, we’ve seen it all.

That said, we’ve put together a rather robust collection of the best romantic comedy TV shows from over the years and how you can watch them, either on some of the best streaming services or as a digital purchase with an Amazon subscription.

Fleabag (2016 - 2019) 

One of the most amazing Phoebe Waller-Bridge projects, Fleabag, the TV adaptation of her one-woman play of the same name, immediately became one of the influential small-screen romantic comedies upon its 2016 release. Whether she was bouncing from one bad decision to another or falling in love with a priest (played by Andrew Scott), Waller-Bridge’s titular lead remains one of TV’s best characters in recent memory.

Stream Fleabag on Prime Video.

Mad About You (1992 - 1999)

Paul (Paul Reiser) and Jamie Buchman (Helen Hunt) could very well be one of the best TV couples, as their relationship, like real-life couples, was full of ups, downs, and everything in between. That’s what made Mad About You so much fun to watch. You were going to get laughs, romance, and just about every other emotion in under 30 minutes.

Buy Mad About You on Amazon.

How I Met Your Mother (2005 - 2014)

Though How I Met Your Mother had its share of characters that were repulsive human beings, this is honestly what gave the long-running sitcom a lot of its signature charm. Just about everyone in the How I Met Your Mother cast either broke someone’s heart, broke a promise, or broke themselves by the time it was said and done, and that’s okay!

Stream How I Met Your Mother on Hulu.

Emily In Paris (2020 - Present)

Would Emily in Paris be as much fun to watch if there wasn’t an element of romance each season? Yeah, most likely. However, Emily Cooper's (Lily Collins) love affairs with hunks like Gabriel (Lucas Bravo) and Alfie (Lucien Laviscount) have added so much electricity to this outrageously bingeable Netflix series. They don’t call Paris the “City of Love” for no reason, after all. 

Stream Emily in Paris on Netflix. 

Will & Grace (1998 - 2006; 2017 - 2020)

Will & Grace, a show with LGBTQ+ characters who made an impact, is also one of the funniest and most honest romantic comedies in the history of TV. Though Eric McCormack and Debra Messing’s titular characters’ relationship never went beyond friends, there was still plenty of romance throughout the show’s run (and its revival series) with talk of dating, marriage (and divorce), and other matters of the heart.

Stream Will & Grace on Hulu.
Stream Will & Grace (Revivial) on Hulu.

Catastrophe (2015 - 2019)

Catastrophe, an outstanding romantic comedy series created by Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney (who star as Sharon and Rob Norris), takes audiences on a wild ride with two people who go from strangers to husband and wife with two kids after a one-night stand turns into a lifelong commitment. It’s brash, but it’s honest, especially when it comes to the impact children have on a relationship.

Stream Catastrophe on Prime Video.

Sex And The City (1999 - 2004)

One of the shows that helped put HBO on the map, Sex and the City found the perfect balance of romance and friendship as well as comedy and drama with its focus on four New Yorkers trying to find their place in the world. With outstanding narration by Sarah Jessica Parker’s Carrie Bradshaw, each episode was like a new adventure where anything could happen (and it usually did).

Stream Sex and the City on Max.

Never Have I Ever (2020 - 2023)

No matter whether you were on Team Ben or Team Paxton, there’s a good chance you watched and loved Never Have I Ever. If not, now’s a good time to watch Mindy Kaling’s semi-autobiographical coming-of-age comedy about a high school student named Devi Vishwakumar (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) as she tries to make sense of the world around her. Four seasons of teenage angst, awkwardness, drama, and revelations make this a show you just have to watch.

Stream Never Have I Ever on Netflix.

Friends (1994 - 2004)

One of the most iconic sitcoms ever created, Friends covered just about everything during its historic run on NBC, including some all-time great romances. Whether it’s Monica and Chandler’s relationship or the on-again-off-again romance shared by Rachel and Ross, there was no shortage of love.

Stream Friends on Max.

Insecure (2016 - 2021)

Issa Rae became one of the biggest and most powerful figures in TV thanks to her incredible HBO romantic comedy-drama series, Insecure. Between 2016 and 2021, this highly influential black-led series welcomed audiences into the head and heart of the comedian with her awkward and lovable Issa Dee. Careers, friendship, and plenty of romantic relationships fill up this show’s five seasons.

Stream Insecure on Max.

New Girl (2011 - 2018)

Zooey Deschanel was already one of the most beloved actresses when New Girl debuted on Fox in 2011, but the sitcom about the life and times of Jessica “Jess” Day took her to the next level. From the early days of getting over an ex to starting an on-again-off-again relationship with her roommate, Nick Miller (Jake Johnson), there was no shortage of romance (and comedy) on this beloved show.

Stream New Girl on Hulu.

You're The Worst (2014 - 2019)

If you’re in the mood for a romantic comedy TV show that’s less lovey-dovey and instead has a harder edge, then You’re the Worst is the route to take. After meeting at a wedding and agreeing not to make things serious (or complicated), Jimmy Shive-Overly (Chris Geere) and Gretchen Cutler (Aya Cash) quickly discover it won’t be that easy. 

Stream You’re The Worst on Hulu.

Lovesick (2014 - 2018)

A Netflix show that not enough people talk about, Lovesick spent three seasons diving into the relationship shared by Dylan Witter (Johnny Flynn) and Evie Douglas (Antonia Thomas) as they go from strangers to roommates to friends to lovers. It’s not all cheery, as the pair experience all kinds of obstacles throughout their journeys, both with their shared bond and outside relationships.

Stream Lovesick on Netflix.

Love (2016 - 2018)

Co-created by Judd Apatow, Love spent three seasons traversing the increasingly complicated relationship between Mickey (Gillian Jacobs) and Gus (Paul Rust), two people who couldn’t be more different. Despite their differences, they try their hardest to make things work, even if it doesn’t make sense.

Stream Love on Netflix.

If you’re all caught up on these great TV shows, there’s always our breakdown of the best romantic comedy movies worth checking out. And, don’t forget to look at our updated 2024 TV schedule for all the latest on other shows coming to the small screen soon.

Have you ever been asked to picture your favorite character from your favorite TV show, but no picture came to mind? There is actually no shame in admitting that because we don’t even know what many of our own favorite TV characters look like. Take a look back at some of the most iconic characters on television that we never got any screen time, or were, at least, kept partially hidden.

Charlie Townsend (Charlie's Angels)

On Charlie's Angels, the Angels never physically met their boss, Charlie Townsend, who was voiced by John Forsythe in the original series and the first two cinematic spin-offs. The reason the retired detective never revealed his appearance and only communicated by via intercom was out of protection for his agents.

Vera Peterson (Cheers)

At Cheers, everyone knew Norm Peterson (George Wendt), but no one knew his wife, Vera… or, at least, what she looked like. She was often mentioned on the long-running, Emmy-winning NBC sitcom, but was rarely seen with her accountant husband, save one time when she was covered by a pie accidentally thrown in her face by Sam (Ted Danson).

Bob Sacamano (Seinfeld)

Outside of the main four Seinfeld cast members, Cosmo Kramer (Michael Richards) had friends like Newman (Wayne Knight) and Mickey Abbott (Danny Woodburn). His one buddy we never met was Bob Sacamano, but the seminal sitcom dropped enough hints in conversation about his scheming behavior and terrible luck that he was just as memorable as the former two.

Stan Walker (Will & Grace)

For the first few seasons of Will & Grace, Karen Walker (Megan Mullally) was married to the wealthy Stanley, before his affair, imprisonment, and death hoax caused issues. We never actually saw what the man looked like -- save a few shots of his hands and feet and the outline of his silhouette — but we know he is a heavy-set toupee-wearer.

Danny Valladeo (The X-Files)

While investigating cases on The X-Files, Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) would reach out to an FBI agent named Danny. Fans have theorized that this Danny and another unseen character on the hit sci-fi show named Danny Bernstein are the same person, but creator Chris Carter has confirmed that this particular Danny’s last name is “Valladeo.”

Robin Masters (Magnum P.I.)

Even though some Magnum P.I. fans — and Tom Selleck’s titular private investigator himself — suspected John Hillerman's Johnathan Higgins was the real Robin Masters, the elusive novelist was officially billed as the voice of Orson Welles for six episodes. The character would be expanded in the Jay Hernandez-led modern reboot, in which he employs Magnum as a consultant, but still remains unseen.

Maris Crane (Frasier)

Originally, Frasier creators David Angell, Peter Casey, and David Lee wanted to, essentially, prank viewers of the Cheers spin-off into thinking Maris Crane was another Vera Peterson (Norm's unseen wife) before revealing her appearance later on. However, descriptions of Niles' (David Hyde Pierce) wife became so absurd over time that she was ultimately deemed impossible to cast and remained unseen for all 11 seasons.

Ercole "Eckley" DiMeo (The Sopranos)

Before Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) took over as the head of the DiMeo Family Mafia, the syndicate’s longtime leader was Ercole DiMeo, who was otherwise known as "Eckley.”Until he was portrayed by The Sopranos creator David Chase in the 2021 prequel movie, The Many Saints of Newark, Eckley was never seen on the original HBO series, due to his incarceration.

Debbie Wolowitz (The Big Bang Theory)

Howard Wolowitz's overprotective and overly loud mother, Debbie, was voiced by the late Carol Ann Susi on The Big Bang Theory cast. It was not until Pamela Adlon portrayed a younger version of the character on Young Sheldon that she made her first official on-screen appearance.

Lars Lindstrom (The Mary Tyler Moore Show)

On The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Mary’s self-absorbed friend, Phyllis (Academy Award nominee Cloris Leachman), and her dermatologist husband, Lars, were never seen together, despite being married for 15 years at the time the sitcom began. When Phyllis got her own self-titled spin-off in 1975, which lasted two seasons, we never got the chance to finally, officially meet her spouse as he had died by then.

Dr. Claw (Inspector Gadget)

Disney's live-action feature adaptation of Inspector Gadget reimagined the titular half-cop, half-machine’s arch-enemy as a man with an actual claw for a hand, played by Rupert Everett. In the animated series, Dr. Claw had both hands, but that was all we ever saw of the master criminal, who was originally voiced by Frank Welker.

Ugly Naked Guy (Friends)

For obvious reasons, viewers were never allowed a clear view of Monica (Courteney Cox) and Rachel's (Jennifer Aniston) neighbor from across the street whom, the Friends cast only referred to as "Ugly Naked Guy." We did, at least, see the back of his head when Ross (David Schwimmer) visited him in hopes of taking his apartment when he moved out.

Heather Sinclair (Degrassi: The Next Generation)

One of the most talked about students at the eponymous high school from Degrassi: The Next Generation was Heather Sinclair. However, despite her notoriety among her classmates, fans of the hit Canadian teen drama never had the chance to put a face to the name.

Cousin Jeffrey (Seinfeld)

Fans had the "pleasure" (in some cases, at least) of meeting many of Jerry Seinfeld's family members on Seinfeld, except for his cousin, Jeffrey. However, some might feel they know him quite well anyway with how often Uncle Leo (Len Lasser) talks about him "like he split the atom" and the main gang’s description of his horse-like face.

Wilson W. Wilson (Home Improvement)

This one is a special case because the Taylors’ next-door neighbor is never completely unseen. For no discernible reason, only the top half of Home Improvement cast member Earl Hindman's face was ever visible, with the bottom half typically hidden behind his fence.

Mrs. Columbo (Columbo)

Peter Falk's beloved, eponymous detective from Columbo spoke about his wife often but never bothered to show her in public, or at least to the camera. However, the role would be embodied by Kate Mulgrew in Mrs. Columbo — a spin-off most people have forgotten (or at least would prefer to), which is why we still count the character as unseen.

Juanita Beasley (The Andy Griffith Show)

Juanita Beasley is a woman whom Barney Fife (Don Knotts) took quite a liking to and would spend a lot of time chatting with over the phone. If only The Andy Griffith Show ever put a camera on her, we might have been able to see the appeal.

Erica (Bojack Horseman)

Many times on Netflix’s Bojack Horseman, Mr. Peanutbutter (Paul F. Tompkins) would shout off-screen toward someone named “Erica.” Based on what the Labrador Retriever has said about his friend on the acclaimed animated TV show, we know that she has lost a few appendages (but "has the right number of ears") and has been banned from Disneyland. Her true identity and supposedly bizarre appearance remain a mystery.

Adults (Peanuts)

You could say the shorts and TV specials based on Charles Schultz's Peanuts comic strip made up the ultimate children's program because the only people you saw were children. Of course, there were some adult characters — such as Charlie Brown's teacher, Miss Othmar — but they were largely kept offscreen and spoke in a language that could be described as the somber wail of a trombone.

Epstein's Mother (Welcome Back, Kotter)

On Welcome Back, Kotter, Juan Epstein (Robert Hegyes) often used notes to get out of homework assignments signed, "Epstein's Mother," whom, based on the lack of a first name provided, was likely not the one doing the actual signing. The truth may never be revealed since Epstein's real mother was never given a chance to show herself on the sitcom.

President Stuart Hughes (Veep)

Julia Louis-Dreyfus' Emmy-winning role as Vice President Selina Meyer might as well have been the Commander in Chief from the beginning of Veep. Her former superior, President Stuart Hughes, is never actually seen in the White House, which makes discussions of his irresponsibility all the more convincing.

Carlton (Rhoda)

When Valerie Harper's character on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Rhoda Morgenstern, got her own self-titled spin-off, she had a doorman named Carlton (voiced by series co-developer Lorenzo Music) who was almost exclusively heard through her building's intercom, save a few glimpses of his arm. The only time the character was fully visible was in a 1980 animated special that depicted his daily tasks.

Donald (Seinfeld)

In one of the best Seinfeld episodes, "The Bubble Boy," a visit to a fan of Jerry's with an immune deficiency ends in disaster when he and George (Jason Alexander) get in a fight over a Trivial Pursuit card misprint. Jon Hayman voiced the memorable one-episode role whose face was never revealed, even after his fight with George causes a puncture to his germ-free enclosure.

Dr. Herb and Diane Roberta Urkel (Family Matters)

After, almost literally, stealing the show from the rest of the Family Matters cast, Steve Urkel (Jaleel White) basically adopted the Winslows as his family. Despite his irritating antics, Urkel’s neighbors did seem more welcoming of the squeaky-voiced nerd's presence than his actual parents, Herb and Diane Roberta, who kept their distance even when their son married Laura (Kellie Shangyne Williams).

Sally Reardon (Felicity)

When Felicity Porter (Keri Russell) starts college, she keeps in touch with a friend from her hometown named Sally Reardon by exchanging tape recordings. Sally's voice was provided by Janeane Garofalo, but the comedian never showed up to play the very supportive and wisdom-spouting role on camera.

Nanny (Muppet Babies)

The most we ever saw of the woman who took care of the Muppets' infantile counterparts on Muppet Babies was her legs. At least Nanny (originally voiced by Barbara Billingsley) had a distinct fashion sense that made those appearances memorable.

Tino (My So-Called Life)

One of the coolest students at Liberty High School who never once made an appearance in class (or off campus) on My So-Called Life was Tino. Plenty of fascinating information was provided about the teen — from his wicked parties to his lead singer position in Jordan Catalano’s band, The Frozen Embryos — but the seminal ‘90s series ended too soon for his official reveal.

Mr. And Mrs. Gibbler (Full House)

The TGIF era was filled with characters who just sort of hung out at the central family's home more than their own, such as Andrea Barber's Kimmy Gibbler on Full House. Even when Kimmy got married in the finale of Netflix's Fuller House, giving us a chance to finally meet her mother and father, they never showed up.

Envelope Assistant (America's Funniest Home Videos)

In the original incarnation of America's Funniest Home Videos, the late Bob Saget was handed an envelope revealing that week's winner by someone who never showed more than their hand to the camera. The host would always be sure to make conversation with the Envelope Assistant by asking what their evening plans were or remarking about a recent change to their wardrobe or physicality.

Dr. Richard Nygard (Parks And Recreation)

Chris Traeger (played by Parks and Recreation cast member Rob Lowe) expresses such high praise for his therapist, Dr. Richard Nygard, that it almost seems to border on cultism. Or, perhaps, their close doctor-patient relationship just seems strange and mysterious because we never got to see the man throughout the hit mockumentary sitcom’s run.

The Gooch (Diff'rent Strokes)

On Diff'rent Strokes, Arnold (Gary Coleman) was tormented on multiple occasions by a kid known only as "The Gooch." The sitcom managed to paint the character as the stuff of legend — like how most youngsters may see their school bullies — by never actually revealing what he looked like.

Dr. Kahn (Salute Your Shorts)

On the classic Nickelodeon series, Salute Your Shorts, Dr. Kahn would frequently make announcements of a positive or disciplinary variety on a loudspeaker to the youngsters at Camp Anawanna. However, that was as far as our interaction would go with the camp director, voiced by series creator Steve Slavkin.

There is a part of us that still wishes we could have finally seen some of these classic TV characters (or seen them better, at least). Yet, in retrospect, it is their enigmatic presence that makes them so memorable.

With it being Pride Month, now seems like the best possible time to go back and look at some of the most unforgettable LGBTQ+ sitcom characters who have had an impact on pop culture and society over the years. These beloved characters from classics like Friends, Will & Grace, and more more recent gems such as Schitt’s Creek and Modern Family, all did something to remain an integral part of their respective series, and they haven’t left the collective consciousness just yet.

There are a lot of characters from a lot of shows to look back on, so let’s quit wasting time and get to the heart of this story…

Ellen Morgan (Ellen)

Over the course of five seasons and more than 100 episodes, the ‘90s sitcom Ellen followed Ellen Morgan (Ellen Degeneres) as she navigated various situations (both funny and not-so-funny) related to life, love, and career opportunities as a bookstore employee and later owner of said business.

Ellen, both the character and actress, made a massive impact on pop culture and society as a whole with the April 1997 two-parter “The Puppy Episode” on which she muttered three words that still live in the collective consciousness of everyone around at the time: “Susan, I’m gay.” This landmark TV and cultural moment helped usher in a new era of TV while also normalizing what many once considered “nontraditional” characters.

Will Truman (Will & Grace)

Though Eric McCormack doesn’t think he’d get cast on Will & Grace these days, the actor was perfect in his portrayal of Will Truman on the late ‘90s NBC sitcom, which was brought back for a three-year run in 2017. On the show, Will was portrayed as a young and successful corporate lawyer with some borderline OCD tendencies.

The series, thanks in part to Truman and Jack McFarland (don’t worry, he’s coming up next), broke new ground for TV and helped pave the way for other LGBTQ+ characters and shows in the years that would follow.

Jack McFarland (Will & Grace)

Will & Grace was one of those TV touchstones for a number of reasons, with the biggest being its undeniable sense of humor and its history of highlighting representation with its various characters. One of the most unforgettable of those series mainstays was Sean Hayes’ Jack McFarland, Will’s longtime best friend. The vibrant character and pretty much jack-of-all-trades was central to the show’s 11 seasons and nearly 250 episodes.

Hayes’ portrayal of Jack would earn the actor countless accolades, including an Emmy, a trio of Screen Actors Guild Awards, and various others throughout the show’s run. Even though his story wrapped up in the Will & Grace finale, Jack will always have a place in our hearts.

Mitchell Pritchett & Cameron Tucker (Modern Family)

One of the funniest shows on Hulu (and any other streaming service where it’s included), Modern Family made a massive impact on the world of sitcoms as soon as it premiered in September 2009. We could go on about all the great characters, today we’ll just focus on Mitchell Pritchett (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and his boyfriend-turned-husband Cameron Tucker (Eric Stonestreet).

What made these characters so impactful, besides being hilarious as all hell, was the fact that they introduced a more modern and open way of thinking to audiences who maybe hadn’t met a same-sex couple before. For those of us who grew up in less-than-accepting communities, this was a sea change moment for TV and culture.

David Rose (Schitt's Creek)

There are few modern-day comedies that have become a bigger part of popular culture than Schitt’s Creek during its six-season run. The Canadian sitcom following the Rose family as they go from a life of luxury to one spent in the small town of Schitt’s Creek where they are able to be reborn, was consistently one of the funniest shows on TV thanks to its tremendous writing and that ridiculous cast of characters.

Near the top is David Rose (Dan Levy), the overly pampered and pretentious son of Johnny (Eugene Levy) and Moira Rose (Catherine O’Hara), who made an instant impact with his trademark catchphrase (which the actor doesn’t like), and over-the-top situations. Even three years removed from the Schitt’s Creek finale, you can’t browse the internet without seeing a gif, meme, or video of David.

Captain Raymond Holt (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) 

Raymond Holt (Andre Braugher), the no-nonsense, stoic, and deadpan captain of the 99th precinct was one of the funniest characters on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, but also one of the show’s most impactful during its eight-season run on Fox and NBC. Not only did he keep the rest of the precinct in line and provide some of the show’s most hilarious moments, he also broke new ground for LGBTQ+ characters in the medium.

The proud first African American gay police captain in the NYPD, Captain Holt continually subverted tropes and offered a different perspective of what it meant to be a gay man in the police force. 

Cyrus Goodman (Andi Mack)

The Disney Channel original series, Andi Mack, was one of the most groundbreaking shows to come out on the cable channel during its run from 2017 to 2019 for a number of reasons. Created by Lizze McGuire’s Terri Minsky, the series was about a 13-year-old girl trying to figure out everything life had to throw at her, which for those of us who remember being a confused and angsty teen, is no easy task.

The show had a lot going for it with its great representation of Asian characters, the inclusion of multiple religions and cultures, and the fact that it became the first Disney show to feature an LGBTQ+ character when Cyrus Goodman (Joshua Rush) came out in a 2019 episode. The impact of this landmark moment cannot be overstated. 

Titus Andromedon (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt)

Long before he was calling people out for being racist about The Little Mermaid, Titus Burgess became the breakout star of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmdit with his portrayal of Titus Andromedon, Ellie Kemper’s on-screen roommate. A source of some of the show’s funniest inside jokes as well as the most empowering moments, Andromedon was a tour-de-force and outstanding guide for the former cult member in her new life.

Though the character battled his own issues throughout the show’s run, Titus never lost himself and always knew his worth. Honestly, that’s the kind of person we all need in our lives, be it a sitcom character or a real-life friend and ally.

Steve (All In The Family)

Norman Lear’s All in the Family was never a show that shied away from tackling various social issues, many of which left the show’s lead, Archie Bunker (Carroll O’Connor) eating crow and learning something about the world. This is especially clear in the Season 1 episode titled “Judging Books by Covers,” in which the cranky everyman learns that serial bachelor and close friend Steve (Philip Carey) is gay.

What makes this such an impactful character is the fact that he’s presented as a big and strong “he-man,” which throws off the close-minded Archie, allowing him to learn that you should never judge a book by its cover.

Carol & Susan (Friends)

And there are Carol Willick (Jane Sibbett) and Susan Bunch (Jessica Hecht), two of the most memorable supporting characters from Friends. Initially introduced as Ross Geller’s (David Schwimmer) ex-wife and her new lover, Carol and Susan would later become an impactful pair, both in terms of the show’s story and pop culture in general.

Though not the way LGBTQ+ characters are portrayed and treated in more modern shows, for the time, the inclusion of Carol and Susan was a major milestone. There are some insensitive jokes aimed at the couple throughout the show’s run, but again, that was a different time and so much has changed since then.

Well, this certainly has been quite a fun look back on some of the more impactful LGBTQ+ characters to appear in sitcoms over the years. Each character is different in their own way, but they all helped introduce millions of viewers to people and ways of thinking that they may not have experienced otherwise.

The world has suddenly lost yet another multi-talented artist of the stage and the screen. On Monday, October 24, 2022, Leslie Jordan passed away at the age of 67 due to a car accident in Los Angeles — the cause of which still has yet to be determined.

The Emmy-winning actor and LGBTQ+ icon — whom some may also remember as an Academy Award nominations announcer from earlier this year — leaves behind a memorable legacy of stealing the show from his co-stars with his warm and exuberant presence in various titles from nearly the last 40 years. We honor his storied and tragically shortened career by looking back at our picks for the best Leslie Jordan movies and TV shows, along with the information you need to know how to watch them on streaming, as a digital rental, or on physical media.

The Help (2011)

Fed up with her town’s racist ideologies, a young, ambitious writer (Academy Award winner Emma Stone) seeks to pen a book about local, white housewives from the perspective of the Black maids who work for them (Oscar winners Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer) in 1960s Mississippi.

Why it is one of the best Leslie Jordan movies: One of Leslie Jordan’s most memorable, scene-stealing roles in a motion picture was Mr. Blackly — the eccentric boss of Emma Stone’s character, Skeeter, who hires her to write an advice column for the local newspaper — in writer and director Tate Taylor’s Oscar-nominated adaptation of Kathryn Stockett’s novel, The Help. 

Stream The Help on HBO Max.
Rent/buy The Help digitally on Amazon.
Buy The Help on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Will & Grace (2001-2020)

A straight, female interior designer (Debra Messing) and her best friend — a gay, male lawyer (Eric McCormack) — share an apartment in New York City where they run into various funny situations with their friends, the flamboyant Jack (Sean Hayes) and the filthy rich Karen (Megan Mullally).

Why it is one of the best Leslie Jordan TV shows: One of Leslie Jordan’s most memorable, scene-stealing recurring roles on a TV show was Beverley Leslie — a staunchly conservative socialite who fervently denies he is gay despite many hints to the contrary — on Will & Grace, which is what earned him his Emmy Award in 2006.

Stream Will & Grace on Hulu.
Stream Will & Grace on Amazon Prime.
Buy Will & Grace on DVD on Amazon.

Boston Legal (2005)

Although his methods are ethically questionable, Alan Shore (Emmy winner James Spader, reprising his role from The Practice) becomes a successful partner at a Boston law firm with the help of his friend, and a veteran of the field, Denny Crane (Emmy winner William Shatner).

Why it is one of the best Leslie Jordan TV shows: Another acclaimed recurring TV role on Leslie Jordan’s resume was Bernard Ferrion — a man with a notorious history for murdering people by striking them with frying pans — on Boston Legal, which is one of a few TV series created by David E. Kelley that the actor also appeared on, including Ally McBeal and Boston Public.

Stream Boston Legal on Hulu.
Stream Boston Legal on Amazon Prime.
Buy Boston Legal on DVD on Amazon.

The United States Vs. Billie Holiday (2021)

A talented jazz singer (Andra Day) struggles to overcome her own crippling addiction and fight for the right to perform her legendary song, “Strange Fruit,” which condemns America’s history of lynching people of color.

Why it is one of the best Leslie Jordan movies: A feature-length legal drama featuring Leslie Jordan — as a journalist named Reginald Lord Devine, who interviews the titular songstress — is director Lee Daniels’ revealing biopic, The United States vs. Billie Holiday, for which chart-topping singer Day received an Academy Award nomination.

Stream The United States Vs. Billie Holiday on Hulu.

Goodbye Lover (1998)

A real estate agent (Patricia Arquette) and her husband (Dermot Mulroney) conspire to murder her lover and his brother (Don Johnson) for insurance money, which puts them hot on the trail of a no-nonsense detective (Ellen DeGeneres).

Why it is one of the best Leslie Jordan movies: A movie that fuses crime drama with high-brow comedy is director Roland Joffé’s Goodbye Lover, which features Leslie Jordan in a small role amid a star-studded cast that also includes Mary-Louise Parker, and Deadwood’s Ray McKinnon.

Buy Goodbye Lover on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

American Horror Story (2013-2019)

A gifted young woman discovers the cutthroat world of witchcraft when she joins a New Orleans-based coven, victims of a haunting return to the original site with actors who played them in a hit TV reenactment, and a killer stalks a group of youths at a summer camp in the mid-1980s are just some of the stories depicted in this terrifying seasonal anthology series.

Why it is one of the best Leslie Jordan TV shows: Leslie Jordan stole the show multiple times on one of the best horror TV shows on Hulu, American Horror Story — first in season three (Coven) as a Witches’ Council member, then in season six (Roanoke) as an actor playing a medium, and lastly in Season 9 (1984) as the personal assistant to Leslie Grossman’s character.

Stream American Horror Story on Hulu.
Stream American Horror Story on Amazon Prime.
Buy American Horror Story: Coven on Blu-ray on Amazon.
Buy American Horror Story: Roanoke on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Jason Goes To Hell: The Final Friday (1991)

After an elaborate plan to finally kill Jason Voorhees once and for all proves successful, it is soon discovered that — by some strange, supernatural means — not even can death stop the notorious murderer.

Why it is one of the best Leslie Jordan movies: His roles on American Horror Story were not Leslie Jordan’s first experiences with the horror genre, as he also played a diner employee named Shelby in Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday, which was not the last of the Friday the 13th movies as initially promised, but is probably the funniest of the bunch.

Stream Jason Goes To Hell: The Final Friday on HBO Max.
Rent/buy Jason Goes To Hell: The Final Friday digitally on Amazon.
Buy Jason Goes To Hell: The Final Friday on DVD on Amazon.

The Last Sharknado: It’s About Time (2018)

A man (Ian Ziering) reunites with his friends and family to hatch an elaborate plan to prevent a deadly, recurring storm of strong winds and hungry aquatic beasts from ever happening by traveling back in time to when the bizarre event first occurred.

Why it is one of the best Leslie Jordan movies: Another horror-centric title on Leslie Jordan’s resume — in which he plays Benjamin Franklin — is the also (more intentionally) funny The Last Sharknado: It’s About Time, which is, indeed, the final installment of Syfy’s franchise of ridiculous creature features…for now, at least.

Stream The Last Sharknado: It’s About Time on Amazon Prime.
Buy The Last Sharknado: It’s About Time on Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Cool Kids (2018-2019)

A close-knit group of senior citizens (David Alan Grier, Martin Mull, and Leslie Jordan) abruptly become acquainted with a new resident of their retirement community (Vickie Lawrence) who is even more rebellious than they are.

Why it is one of the best Leslie Jordan TV shows: The same year he appeared in The Last Sharknado: It’s About Time, Jordan landed the starring role of the older, but still lively and flamboyant, Sid alongside a cast of fellow funny legends on Fox’s The Cool Kids — co-creators Charlie Day and Paul Fruchbom’s short-lived, but well-liked, sitcom that celebrates those who continue to hold onto their youth no matter what.

Buy The Cool Kids digitally on Amazon.

Sordid Lives (2000)

The death of their matriarch brings a Texas family back together and forces them to confront their own deepest secrets and insecurities as well as their frustrations with one another.

Why it is one of the best Leslie Jordan movies: Perhaps the funniest movie that Leslie Jordan is well known for is writer and director Del Shores’ own star-studded, cinematic adaptation of his satirical, Southern-fried play, Sordid Lives, in which the actor plays a drag queen who bases his look off of country music legend Tammy Wynette.

Stream Sordid Lives on Hulu.
Stream Sordid Lives on Tubi.
Rent/buy Sordid Lives digitally on Amazon.
Buy Sordid Lives on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Call Me Kat (2021-2022)

A single, middle-aged, and enchantingly eccentric woman (Mayim Bialik) takes a sum of money that her parents intended to use for her wedding to open up a restaurant for cat lovers.

Why it is one of the best Leslie Jordan TV shows: A couple of years after The Cool Kids was cancelled, Leslie Jordan was cast in a main role on another Fox sitcom called Call Me Kat — star and executive producer Mayim Bialik’s adaptation of the British comedy Miranda — as the title character’s friend and employee, Phil.

Stream Call Me Kat on Hulu.
Buy Call Me Kat digitally on Amazon.

Like many others who worked with him, Mayim Bialik went to social media to share thoughts about her Call Me Kat co-star and announce the series will pause production in light of his passing. The Jeopardy! host said it is “inconceivable to imagine a world without Leslie.” I think we can all agree that things will be different and, especially, a little less bright without a one-of-kind personality like Leslie Jordan.

If you’ve been on Netflix lately, you might have noticed that a new Darren Star series has popped up for fans to enjoy, and that is Uncoupled. The sitcom tells the story of a man in his 40s (played by the lovely Neil Patrick Harris) after he is suddenly broken up with by his longtime boyfriend, and now has to figure out how to date in the modern world after a nearly 20-year relationship. 

The show is a lot of fun and full of exciting stories and hilarious moments, and with a fantastic Uncoupled cast to boot, but with only one season (so far), you might get through those episodes very quickly. Here are some other shows similar to Uncoupled that you might enjoy watching just as much, if not even more. 

How I Met Your Mother (Hulu)

This comedy series is exactly what the title says - a father recalling the story of how he met his kids' mother to his children, following him and his friends through their lives as they find their forever loves.

For fans of Uncoupled, there’s one reason you should watch this show, and that’s because Neil Patrick Harris is one of the main characters. But, oh boy, is he nothing like his character in Uncoupled. While he still has that same charm you would expect, Harris as Barney Stinson in How I Met Your Mother is iconic in every way possible and while he’s a bit of a womanizer, he’s so damn funny and you end up liking him regardless. His comedic timing is on point, and the HIMYM running gags and amazing episodes that this show has to offer are just outstanding. He’s just legend…wait for it…dary. 

Stream How I Met Your Mother on Hulu.

Will & Grace (Hulu)

In this hilarious sitcom, Will & Grace captures the story of its titular characters - Will, a gay lawyer, and Grace, a straight interior designer, and their adventures while living in New York City together and navigating both their personal and professional lives. 

If you love the fact that a gay romance is at the core of Uncoupled, this show is perfect for you, as Will & Grace dives plenty into Will’s love life and craziness that he goes through on a daily basis just to get a date. But, what really makes Will & Grace so great is that it was one of the first sitcoms out there where a main character was gay, making shows like Uncoupled possible. It aired originally from 1998 and until 2006, but was so popular that they brought the show back in 2017, with Will & Grace ending again in 2020. Such a great series. 

Stream Will & Grace on Hulu.

Divorce (HBO Max) 

Next up, we have the HBO series, Divorce, starring Sarah Jessica Parker. This series, which ran for three seasons, tells the story of a couple divorcing in middle-age, and learning how to find themselves without the other, after one of them has an affair. 

For fans of Uncoupled, the premise of Divorce is pretty much the same, about two older people separating after a long relationship and learning to live on their own. But as HBO tends to do, Divorce definitely takes a more realistic look at divorce and finding new love, and while it has plenty of comedic moments, it’s certainly a little more serious, as well. 

Stream Divorce on HBO Max.

Sex And The City (HBO Max)

This popular HBO series, created by Darren Star, mainly follows Carrie Bradshaw, a writer who publishes a sex column (called Sex and the City) and writes about her own experiences, as well as that of her friends, as they try and look for the love of their lives in the city that never sleeps. 

Uncoupled was created by Darren Star, the same person who made Sex and the City, which is arguably his most successful show. While he’s created other popular series, such as Younger and the much criticized Emily in Paris on Netflix, Sex and the City has remained his most beloved show for the wonderful chemistry the Sex and the City cast has, its fun spinoff movies, and even a spinoff on HBO Max, called And Just Like That… You won't find Uncoupled-style main stories for LGBTQ+ characters, but you get a lot of the same romantic beats and fun storylines that you would expect from a Darren Star show. 

Stream Sex and the City on HBO Max.

Heartstopper (Netflix)

Next up, we have the 2022 Netflix hit, Heartstopper. This fantastic coming of age series follows the story of Charlie, a gay high school student who wants to admit to his classmate, Nick, that he likes him, and has to somehow work up the courage within himself to let his feelings be known. 

This show is just so dang cute, for so many reasons. For fans of Uncoupled, a gay love story is at its core, and it is so heartwarming I feel my chest literally tighten every time I watch this show. The story is so sweet, the cast is adorable, and everything just molds together so perfectly that you can’t help but want to cheer for these kids. It might focus on older people, but there’s nothing quite like young love. This is truly one of the best and you need to check Heartstopper out.

Stream Heartstopper on Netflix.

Hot In Cleveland (Paramount Plus)

In this hilarious series, Hot in Cleveland follows the story of three middle-aged women who, when they crash land in Cleveland while on a flight to Paris, find out how much hotter men think they are there, as opposed to the men in Los Angeles. So, they decide to take a leap of faith and stay in the city, in a home taken care of by a hilarious woman in her senior years. 

I could give you so many reasons to watch this show if you love Uncoupled. It stars older women trying to find their way in life. It has some hilarious jokes, but the biggest reason is that the iconic Betty White is a part of the main cast. Betty White! She is so funny, and it’s like this TV legend hasn’t aged a day with the way she fit back into a main cast member role here. The chemistry this cast has is amazing. I could re-watch this show over and over. 

Stream Hot In Cleveland on Paramount Plus.

Grace And Frankie (Netflix)

This has to be one of the funniest picks on this list. In this popular Netflix series starring legends Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, we see two older women who end up becoming friends after the strangest thing happens - both of their husbands come out as gay, and claim that they're in love with each other. 

This show ran for seven seasons, and I’ll tell you why - because Fonda and Tomlin are amazing together. They have this kind of chemistry that really can’t be matched, and the story is genuinely heartfelt as well, with older people learning to find themselves and move on and form new relationships, even later in life than they expected to have to do so, as with Uncoupled. It’s really heartfelt and a comedy that I could see myself watching over and over. 

Stream Grace and Frankie on Netflix.

Looking (HBO Max)

Next up, we have the HBO series, Looking. In this series, we follow three gay men who are just trying to live their lives in San Francisco as they work their way up in the world while also trying to find love at the same time, running into issues and shenanigans as they do. 

I will always be upset that this show only ran for two seasons, because it honestly was so good and the story was so well-written, which is why it’s perfect for fans of Uncoupled. The main star is Jonathan Groff, and he does a fantastic job of showing off his acting chops. The series also stars recognizable actors like Raul Castillo, Frankie J. Alvarez, and more. While Looking ended after two seasons, it did, at least, get a movie that wrapped everything up. 

Stream Looking on HBO Max.

Men Of A Certain Age (HBO Max)

This show is so underrated and I need more people to see it. Men of a Certain Age follows the story of three buddies from college who have remained friends, and we get to follow along with their ups and downs in romance, family life, work, and so much more. 

While the premise sounds like any old normal sitcom, for fans of Uncoupled, I really like the dynamic between the three men and it reminds me of the friendship between Harris’ character, Michael Lawson, and his friends, Stanley and Emerson, as they’re all just trying to get their lives together and still have fun. Plus, Men of a Certain Age has stars like Brooklyn Nine-Nine cast member Andre Braugher, TV legend Ray Romano, Quantum Leap/NCIS: New Orleans star Scott Bakula, and so many more. 

Stream Men of a Certain Age on HBO Max.

Cougar Town (Hulu)

Last but not least, we take a look at Cougar Town, starring the wonderful Courteney Cox. In this popular ABC (and later TBS) series, we follow a middle-aged woman named Jules, a recent divorcee who is just trying to find her way in life and get herself back into the dating world while also trying to still be a good mother to her son and get along with her ex-husband. 

I feel like I don’t need to convince you to watch a sitcom with Courteney Cox in it because she’s basically a sitcom icon with her starring role in the Friends cast, but seriously, she’s also very good as a leading lady in this series. For fans of Uncoupled, you get a similar storyline of someone trying to navigate dating as an older person after a long relationship, but the jokes hit and the acting is great, and Cox is always a joy to watch. 

Stream Cougar Town on Hulu.

So many great choices, so little time, but I’m sure that whatever you end up watching will be fun, and you’ll get plenty of hours of binging in before the possible next season of Uncoupled comes out.  

When it comes to some of the best shows to watch, there are always so many options for fans of TV to enjoy, in any type of genre, from the best fantasy shows to sci-fi ones to any kind of style one could imagine. But one genre that deserves more attention are the greatest LGBTQ+ shows out there that you could watch right now. 

From recent additions such as Heartstopper on Netflix, to some of the older shows like The L Word, there are so many options to choose from that you can view if you’re craving something new. Here are some of the best out there. 

Sex Education (2019 – 2023)

If you’re interested in a hilarious comedy, then Sex Education is the way to go. This series tells the story of Otis, a high schooler who lives his daily life at school with his friends trying to grow up and understand love, sex, and so much more, with the help of his sex therapist mother. 

Sex Education is honestly a great show overall. I do think some of the earlier seasons are better than the later ones, but each installment shows really convincing love stories that feel realistic. There are plenty of great LGBTQ+ romances here that speak to the heart and soul, and offer plenty of valuable advice to the viewer. 

Stream Sex Education on Netflix. 

Yellowjackets (2021 – Present)

Yellowjackets is one of Showtime’s best shows. The series goes back and forth between two timelines. The first takes place in the 1990s, where a soccer team suffers in a plane crash and somehow has to live in the Canadian wilderness over the winter. The second is the future, where the survivors of this ordeal must handle the consequences decades later. 

Is Yellowjackets purely an LGBTQ+ show? No, it is not, but I have to give credit where credit is due for the amazing LGBTQ+ storyline that is portrayed with Tawny Cypress and her character, Taissa. It’s a great addition to her character and adds another complex layer to the story at hand. Not only that, but this is a series that you will not want to stop watching, for hours on end. While we all wait for Yellowjackets Season 3, now is the time to check this one out.

Stream Yellowjackets on Paramount+.

Heartstopper (2022 – Present)

If you’re looking for another cute teen romance, then you have to check out Heartstopper. The show follows the tale of Charlie, who is struggling to deal with his feelings for one of his classmates, Nick. Through the course of several episodes, Charlie learns to not only embrace his feelings, but overcomes his own personal obstacles to find happiness in this modern world. 

Heartstopper was honestly one of the best teen shows I watched in 2022 – really, it was one of the most heartwarming ones too. The Heartstopper cast is full of love and light and is always a delight in every shape and form, and now with two seasons out and a third season on the way, there will be even more lovely LGBTQ+ love. It’s seriously told so well, and almost feels as if you step into the graphic novel it is based on. 

Stream Heartstopper on Netflix. 

The Bold Type (2017 – 2021)

Running for five seasons and starring Katie Stevens, Aishia Dee, and Meghann Fahy, The Bold Type will make you want to move to New York City in the 21st century and chase your dreams. The story mainly follows three girls who work in the magazine industry, and their personal and professional lives living in one of the biggest cities in the world. 

While The Bold Type isn’t necessarily an LGBTQ+ show entirely, one of the main characters Kat, has a heavy storyline all about exploring her sexuality and who she is as a person. It’s a great representation of sexuality in today’s world, and you’ll end up loving her even more as the seasons go on. Plus, the friend group trio is truly some of the best ever. 

Stream The Bold Type on Hulu.

First Kill (2022)

Are you looking for a teen drama that also happens to be one of the best LGBTQ+ shows out there? Then First Kill is for you. In this supernatural teen drama, we follow two girls – one, a vampire, aiming for her first kill, and the other a monster hunter, looking for her own first kill to signify her place in the family. But sooner or later, girl meets girl – and love comes before death. 

First Kill is one of those shows that seriously should have gotten so many more seasons because it was so good, and the common outcry over its cancellation on Netflix is telling enough for how much fans loved this series. Not only was it spicy and full of supernatural treats, but the love story between the two main characters was somehow believable in a world full of monsters and vampires. This is a show you do not want to miss. 

Stream First Kill on Netflix.

Sense8 (2015 – 2018)

This sci-fi series was canceled far too soon on Netflix. Sense8 tells the story of eight human beings from around the world who suddenly discover that they are linked through each other, mentally and physically – otherwise known as being a “sensate.”

Sense8 was such an underappreciated show and deserved way more seasons. It was not only created by the Matrix creators, but it explores so many relevant themes in many of the best LGBTQ+ shows, like sexuality and gender and how we identify ourselves, in such a way that is beautiful. It’s nice that the series got a movie to sort of cap it off, but it still makes me sad considering it should have lasted longer. 

Stream Sense8 on Netflix. 

Love, Victor (2020 – 2022)

A spinoff of the film Love, Simon, this Hulu original series is probably one of the best LGBTQ+ centered shows that you could watch. Love, Victor follows the titular character (played by Michael Cimino) who struggles with his sexuality in the first season, but slowly learns to love himself and grow into who he truly is. 

Like The Bold Type, I think this series is a great example of how a modern day person who is going through a change in their life develops certain ways to deal with it and grow into a mature young adult. What really makes Love, Victor such a great show is that it isn’t afraid to dive deep into social issues that still affect us now.

Stream Love, Victor on Hulu. 

Pose (2018 - 2021)

In this Ryan Murphy-created show, Pose follows African-American and Latino LGBTQ and gender-nonconforming drag ball culture in the 1980s and 1990s, telling the stories that these people often faced, from discrimination to learning how to accept themselves. 

Pose is a lot of fun. While the LGBTQ+ themes are evident in this show, there are also plenty of other great moments to enjoy, from the entertaining dance scenes, the head-bopping music, brilliant acting performances, and so much more. With a cast that includes Emmy winners Evan Peters and Billy Porter, Pose is the perfect show to watch when you just need something peppy to make you happy again, and I find myself returning to it often. It’s a great time for anyone to enjoy. 

Stream Pose on Hulu.

Glee (2009 – 2015) 

Yes, you will get up and dance to these covers. Glee was a Fox comedy series that took the world by storm when it first came out, telling the story of a group of misfits who all join a glee club in order to gain some sort of popularity at school or to show off their talents in one way or another, led by teacher Will Schuester – and it just gets funnier from there. 

Glee is one of those shows where you forget how funny it is. For those who want a great LGBTQ+ storyline, you get several in this show, many of which are either hysterical or heartwarming. But, if you’re just here for comedy, there’s so much of it – some of which has aged well, and some that hasn’t, but it’s still enjoyable nonetheless.

Stream Glee on Hulu. 

Will & Grace (1998 - 2020) 

In this popular LGBTQ+ series, Will & Grace is set in NYC and follows the friendship between Will Truman, a gay lawyer, and his best friend, Grace Adler, a Jewish woman who owns an interior design firm. 

Will & Grace was known at the beginning of its time on the air for being a very progressive show to have a gay man as the lead. Obviously, with so many choices to pick from now, that’s not the case anymore, but you can’t deny its iconicness in the industry and how it changed the face of television. Will and Grace, played by Eric McCormack and Debra Messing, have amazing chemistry and are the best friends you always wanted, alongside the rest of the Will & Grace cast. The show was so beloved it was revived years later - that’s how you know it’s good. 

Stream Will & Grace on Hulu. 

It’s A Sin (2021)

Taking place during the AIDS epidemic in London, It’s A Sin is a drama miniseries that follows a group of gay men as they try to live their lives facing discrimination and more when fear for this illness was at an all-time high.

It’s A Sin, in comparison to many of the others on this list, is drama at its core. It’s raw, real, and will leave you aching with the need for justice for those that suffered during that time. It teaches valuable lessons on the treatment of LGBTQ+ people and offers a lot of history to those who didn’t know much about this time.

Stream It’s A Sin on Max. 

Anne Rice’s Interview With The Vampire (2022 - Present)

Based on the 1976 novel of the same name, Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire debuted on AMC in October 2022 to fantastic reviews. It follows the story of Louis de Pointe du Lac and the story of how he tells his tale to a journalist, from the beginnings of his life as a vampire to everything else in-between. 

The series has seven episodes and is honestly one of the best adaptations of Anne Rice’s work. It really embraces the story of Lestat de Lioncourt and Louis as not only partners but lovers, and delivers a supernatural filled romance that is sure to please the eyes. Plus, Jacob Anderson gives a compelling leading performance. 

Stream Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire on AMC Plus.

The Haunting Of Bly Manor (2020)

Who knew that ghosts and LGBTQ+ romance could go so well together? The Haunting of Bly Manor is a series from Mike Flanagan, where we see a young woman look after two children in an old manner, but things start to turn upside down the moment she arrives. 

If you know Flanagan, you know it's rare the horror master ever misses. But, I think what makes The Haunting of Bly Manor so good is that its LGBTQ+ love story is so subtle in its delivery, and yet extremely pleasing and will also make you cry and sob your eyes out. Tragically magical. 

Stream The Haunting of Bly Manor on Netflix. 

Orange Is The New Black (2013 - 2019)

In this Netflix original series, Orange is the New Black is based on a true story, following Piper Chapman, as she is brought to prison on the charge of helping her former ex-girlfriend smuggle drugs. Now, she must serve a more than year-long sentence in this minimum security prison, dealing with the ongoings of prison life. 

While Orange is the New Black sounds like it would be more like a prison show, the crimes these people committed really take a backseat, because the relationships are in the forefront. Each season, you’ll come back to follow the relationships between characters that you want to succeed, from Piper and Alex, to Poussey and Brook, to so many others. The Orange is the New Black cast is so talented, and they make this show rewatchable, even now after it’s come to an end, with an entertaining story, complex character backstories, and so much more. It’s truly one of the best shows you can binge-watch on the platform.

Stream Orange is the New Black on Netflix. 

The Owl House (2020 – 2023)

There are just so many good animated shows out there right now, and The Owl House was one of those. This series follows a teenager named Luz, who finds herself suddenly taken into a world of magic when she stumbles into a portal. Now, she must learn to live in this strange world and survive, alongside her new magical friends. 

While this isn’t as intense as some of the other options on here, The Owl House is revolutionary in many ways. It’s one of the first Disney Channel shows that really embraced an LGBTQ+ storyline, despite some people calling the network out for it. While it only lasted for three seasons, it was a great stepping stone for the Disney Channel – and you should certainly check it out for its wonderful world of magic. 

Stream The Owl House on Disney+. 

Transparent (2014 - 2019)

Considered one of the first major Amazon Prime originals, Transparent stars Jeffrey Tambor as a parent who comes out to her kids that she is transgender, and it deals with not only her transition, but her family learning who she is and learning about sexuality as well. 

I feel like everyone has somehow heard of Transparent in some way because, at the time, the series was really groundbreaking. While I feel that we are moving in the direction of proper representation of trans people, Transparent was really one of the first shows that took a hard look at it, making it the center plot. It’s funny, heartfelt, and may even teach you something. 

Stream Transparent on Amazon Prime. 

Mary & George (2024)

Starring Julianne Moore and Nicholas Galitzine, this is the steamy Starz series that will make you fan yourself after watching it. Mary & George is based on the non-fiction book, The King’s Assassin, and follows the story of the affair between James VI and I and George Villers, and how it was used as a ploy to rise to power. 

This show… is something else, man. It’s a miniseries, so it’s only a few episodes long, but good lord, it does not hold back. Not only is the story interesting – especially the LGBTQ+ aspect of it – but the chemistry is off the charts. Both Moore and Galitzine give it their all – and I am fully convinced that Galitzine is just taking over the world at this point. 

Stream Mary & George on Starz. 

Schitt’s Creek (2015 – 2020)

You just can’t help but love Schitt’s Creek. This iconic comedy, starring the lovely Schitt’s Creek cast, tells the story of the Rose family and how one day, they lose everything they own except a small town that was bought as a gag years ago, known as Schitt’s Creek. Now, they must learn to adapt their lives after losing everything they knew. 

While Schitt’s Creek isn’t what I would call an LGBTQ+ show, since that’s not the main focal point of the series, I’m putting it here for the beautiful relationship that is David and Patrick, which is arguably the best part. Their relationship is one of the best LGBTQ+ ones I have seen in modern-day television and has made me cry in so many ways. I miss them so much since the show came to an end in 2020, but I can always return and watch the love story from beginning to end – along with the rest of the Rose family. 

Stream Schitt’s Creek on Hulu.

The L Word (2004 - 2009)

In this popular Showtime series, The L Word follows the lives of a small, close-knit group of gay women, as well as the loves they meet along the way, and the family and friends that join them on their journey, or reject them entirely. 

To me, The L Word was one of my first introductions into this type of media, and it became such a big hit for a reason. The L Word cast is full of talent, led by the wonderful Jennifer Beals, and the stories that each of the characters have are done exceptionally well and bring on relationships that you want to root for. There have been several spinoffs, including a recent one in 2019 with Beals returning, so you know that the original had to have been entertaining. I think anyone who wants to watch a good show would enjoy this one. 

Stream The L Word on Hulu. 

Queer Eye (2018 – Present)

Are you looking for the ultimate makeover? Then Queer Eye is for you. This Netflix original, rebooted from the original series Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, the show follows five LGBTQ+ men who take it upon themselves to help those in need of life changes, from style to cooking to home improvements. 

While the original series that this show is based on was good, there’s just something I love about Queer Eye now. I think it’s that the men feel like they really want to help and they go to such drastic lengths in order to do so. They’re so kind, loving, and honestly have some great tips for you to even use at home. It’s an all-around feel good show, one I would certainly recommend watching if you’ve never gotten the chance. 

Stream Queer Eye on Netflix. 

Looking (2014 - 2016) 

Finally, we take a look at Looking. In this HBO original series, we follow the lives of three openly gay close friends who live in modern-day San Francisco, on their journeys together trying to find love, happiness, and everything in between. 

I feel like Looking is one of those HBO shows that deserves so much more praise than it got. Not only was the story interesting and its large cast ensemble super talented, it was genuinely a great show not just about finding love but the value of having friends in your life that supported you. Talented actor Jonathan Groff, known for his roles in Glee, Hamilton, and Kristoff in the Frozen cast, stars in this short-lived series, and honestly, it’s one of his best roles. He deserves so much more praise, as does the rest of the cast. 

Stream Looking on  Max. 

With so many awesome shows to pick from, it may be hard to pick just one, but just know that whichever one you do go with, you’ll enjoy it all the same. Maybe even after you’ll go and watch some of the best TV shows or movies with LGBTQ+ actors in the

Say what you want about Kim Kardashian, but she definitely knows how to get people talking, and this time Debra Messing of Will & Grace is involved. Not too long after Keeping Up with the Kardashians wrapped, the longtime reality television icon landed a gig hosting an upcoming episode of Saturday Night Live, resulting in Messing calling out Kardashian and wondering why a reality star got the job. If you can see the flaw in Debra Messing’s logic, you’re not alone: Twitter couldn’t help but roast the former SMASH star.

To say that the Internet had some opinions when NBC announced that Kim Kardashian would host the second episode of the upcoming season of Saturday Night Live would be an understatement. Some users were thrilled, some were outraged, and some, like Debra Messing, were just plain confused. The Will & Grace star tweeted:

Debra Messing has an arguably valid point, but with changing times and the popularity of reality TV have come a shift in who SNL chooses as hosts. She asked if she was missing something, and some people on Twitter had a whole lot to say. One person noted Kardashian's importance to pop culture:

It’s true that hosts of classic SNL seasons have typically been actors, but a television personality is nothing new. Many celebrities with no performing experience have taken to the NBC stage. The list includes athletes like LeBron James, Lance Armstrong, and Derek Jeter, as well as multiple politicians, including Rudy Giuliani (regularly lampooned by Kate McKinnon in a bald cap) and Steve Forbes. Another person pointed out an SNL host who was arguably an even more bizarre fit for the show:

Compared to Elon Musk, Kim K looks like an Academy Award-winner. And at least she actually has television experience, as one user pointed out:

So if SNL has a long history of non-actor hosts, why was Debra Messing so confused? One Twitter user posits that the perplexity was a cover for the green-eyed monster:

It’s true that Debra Messing would probably make a great SNL host, but in the age of social media, Kim K’s 255 million Insta followers make her much more hashtag-worthy. It’s also worth mentioning that SNL regularly satirizes the Kardashian family on sketches like “Waking Up With Kimye” and “The Kim Kardashian Fairytale Divorce Special.” With Kim K herself as host, the show will almost definitely take the opportunity to poke a little fun at one of the most famous families in the world. One person may have summed it up best in a response to Messing:

The 47th season of Saturday Night Live will premiere on October 2 on NBC. Owen Wilson, fresh off of the inaugural season of Loki on Disney+, is set to host, and Grammy Award-winner Kacey Musgraves will serve as musical guest.

When Kim Kardashian was announced as one of the hosts for the upcoming 47th season of Saturday Night Live, the reality star reacted with obvious excitement and possibly some understandable nerves. But as many looked forward to seeing Kardashian take the famed stage with musical guest Halsey on October 9, former Will & Grace star Debra Messing actually took issue with the influencer getting the spot rather than a performer.

Debra Messing, who played the titular Grace Adler on Will & Grace, which wrapped a three-season revival last year, tweeted her confusion and seemingly threw a little shade at the announcement Kim Kardashian had gotten the call to host the longtime sketch comedy show. She noted that the host role on NBC traditionally goes to someone who has a project to promote.

To Debra Messing’s point, the other three hosts who were announced for the first episodes of Saturday Night Live’s 47th season do have current projects to promote. Owen Wilson, who will guest host for the October 2 season premiere, has gained recent attention for his role in Loki on Disney+. Rami Malek will host October 16 to coincide with the release of the new James Bond film No Time to Die, and SNL alum Jason Sudeikis will return to 30 Rockefeller Plaza on October 23, following a successful night at the Emmy Awards with his AppleTV+ show Ted Lasso. Though last season, it's also worth pointing out Elon Musk hosted.

And while Kim Kardashian did have a role recently in Paw Patrol: The Movie and we’re all awaiting details on the famous family’s new reality project with Hulu, I think it’s fair to say those are not the reasons she’ll be appearing on Saturday Night Live.

Still, this is Kim Kardashian we’re talking about. Isn’t she always just promoting … herself? The reality TV star and her family have been made fun of on Saturday Night Live multiple times over the years, and she’s proven she has no problem being the butt of the joke. I understand people’s tendencies to get tired of the Kardashians’ overexposure, but I think Kim could bring some great self-deprecating humor to the stage.

Debra Messing, for her part, is set to star in the new Broadway production Birthday Candles, which will debut in spring 2022. In 2020 she starred in the adventure dramedy The Dark Divide alongside David Cross and was reported to have signed on as executive producer and star of East Wing, a Starz comedy featuring Messing as Hollis Carlisle, who's serving as the Social Secretary in the White House during Ronald Reagan's time as the president in the 1980s. While Messing has never hosted SNL, her Will & Grace co-stars Sean Hayes and Eric McCormack each hosted once in the early days of the NBC sitcom.

Saturday Night Live returns to NBC for its season premiere on October 2, at 11:30 p.m. ET. Be sure to check out our 2021 fall TV schedule to keep up with the premiere dates of all your favorite shows.

In the last decade, we have seen the rise of stars that surely will stand the test of time for how talented they are. We never would have known about these people if not for the outstanding movies and TV series that they were in. One prime example of this phenomenon is Samira Wiley, an actress who, in the last decade, has exploded onto the mainstream scene, mainly from her Primetime Emmy-winning performance in the hit Hulu show, The Handmaid's Tale.

However, Samira Wiley has been around the block for a little bit, and you might have been able to see her in a couple of your favorite shows but couldn’t quite place who she was. From Orange is the New Black to some big movies that have come out in the last couple of years, here are some of the projects that you might have noticed Samira take part in.

Orange Is The New Black (2013-2017)

For me, this was my introduction to Samira. In Netflix's Orange Is the New Black, we mainly follow the story of Piper, a normal citizen turned criminal who ends up spending more than a year in prison. Along the journey, she meets many interesting characters, and one of those is Poussey Washington, Samira’s character.

Out of everyone on the show, she was one of my favorite characters, because Samira brought so much life to this one person that somehow, it made living in a prison sound not so bad. The show itself is full of intriguing stories and plotlines and twists and turns that I think anyone would enjoy a sit-down. It’s certainly worth the watch if you haven’t seen Orange is the New Black. Just beware of hallucinating chickens afterward.

You’re The Worst (2016-2019)

Moving onto another television show, Samira Wiley for a time had a guest-starring role on the FX comedy-drama, You’re the Worst. In this show, we follow the life of Jimmy, a writer who ends up in a relationship with Gretchen, who is a PR executive and a bit self-destructive, as well as their friends. Samira came in as Justina Jordan, the therapist of Gretchen.

What I really like about this show is that while it does have its super funny moments, it doesn’t hold back from focusing on some serious topics. The whole entire premise of Season 2 is how clinical depression can have a serious toll on relationships. That’s something you don’t normally hear about in a comedy. While Samira only appeared in a few episodes, they stand out amongst the rest in this already great series.

The Sitter (2011)

Now, we take a look at Samira’s first-ever movie role, The Sitter. This dark comedy movie starring the impeccable Jonah Hill follows a college student who, after being suspended from school, is forced by his mother to fill in for a babysitter. And of course, while he has these kids, they get into some escapades that could be considered criminal.

Samira, while her role is a bit smaller in this film, is great. She plays a girl that Noah, Jonah’s character, had wronged in the past, and ooh boy, you can almost feel the tension in their scenes together. The movie itself is funny and certainly worth the watch if you enjoy dark comedies, and Jonah Hill is always a win in my eyes.

Detroit (2017)

Detroit, while it was a bit of an under-the-radar film, is a fantastic excuse to watch a great movie while also learning a bit about history. This period-crime drama follows the store of the real-life Algiers Motel incident, during the 1967 12th Street Riot. When this film was released, it commemorated the 50-year anniversary of said event.

Samira has a smaller part in Detroit, but enough where when you see her, you might think, ‘Huh, I’ve seen her before. She’s really good.’ But she’s not the only star in this film. It's packed to the brim with celebrities like Star Wars’ John Boyega, A Quiet Place’s John Krasinski, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’s Anthony Mackie, and so many others. For fans of history as well as drama, this would be the perfect film for you to watch.

Ryan Hansen Solves Crimes On Television (2017-2019)

Moving into the online scene for a little bit, we take a look at a YouTube Premium show, actually, where Samira Wiley actually had a reoccurring role on Ryan Hansen Solves Crime on Television. This two-season show starred Ryan Hansen as himself, where he would do exactly what you would expect – solve crimes while on television. Well, more like on the YouTube scene.

Samira Wiley starred as Jessica Mathers, someone who was a pretty regular reoccurring character on the show. While it only lasted for two seasons, the show itself is full of fun mysteries and crimes for the true crime fan, and certainly will entertain you for the short amount of time that each episode is.

Vault (2019)

Going back to the movie scene, we take a look at Vault. This crime, drama, and thriller movie tells the story of the Bonded Vault heist that took place in Rhode Island and features plenty of moments that you would expect in a high-stakes crime film like this.

Samira Wiley takes on the role of Karyn, and it’s certainly fun to see her in a different role compared to some of her other takes in other movies and TV shows. While the movie itself is a bit of a smaller film compared to some of the others on this list, it’s full of great action scenes, cool heist sequences, and will entertain any watcher of heist movies.

Will & Grace (2019)

Back in TV, for a time, Samira Wiley had a guest role on the hit Will & Grace as Nikki. This popular show, which received a revival in 2017 on NBC after years of it being off the air, tells the story of Will Truman, a gay lawyer, and Grace Adler, a Jewish woman who owns an interior design firm, and their lives together as friends.

The show itself has been around for years. You’ll come to love the friendship of Will and Grace over the time span that they have together and find yourself holding your sides in pain – but the good kind of pain from laughter. They work so well together, and the guest stars that come onto the show, just as Samira has, only make it that much better. It’s truly iconic in every sense of the word and if you’re looking for a new comedy, Will & Grace just might be it for you.

Nerve (2016)

As our last entry on this list, we take a look at the 2016 techno-thriller adventure film, Nerve. This popular movie tells the story of an online “truth or dare” game that allows players to enlist in this nationwide game. As the game continues on, the dares start to become more dangerous, threatening their lives.

The film itself is so much fun, and Samira, in her role as “Hacker Kween” and one of the many hackers of the “truth or dare” game, stands out amongst the many stars of this film, such as Dave Franco and Emma Roberts. The premise is really gripping and sort of almost takes you back to your youth of playing truth or dare, but seeing it escalated to a point where it could almost endanger your life really draws you in. This will be the number one film for you if you’re craving action – Nerve has that plus so much more.

Hopefully, this list helped you out a little – and maybe gave you some new recommendations in the meantime! Now if you don’t mind me, I’m going to head on back over to Hulu and rewatch The Handmaids Tale before Season 4 comes out. Talk about one of my favorite 2021 TV shows that will be coming back.

Will & Grace said goodbye with its second series finale last night (April 23). The episode saw the four friends, including the titular duo, find their own version of happily ever after. Is this really the end? Will & Grace’s creators say they are not coming back again, and they explained the reason why.

Back in 2017, Will & Grace delighted fans when it returned for a revival run over eleven years after the original finished. The result was a significant success as it broke ratings records for NBC. Three seasons later, the series has wrapped, again. Considering all of its success and where it left the characters, why will it not return? Will & Grace’s co-creator Max Mutchnick told Deadline:

There you have it. Will & Grace’s creators feel like this is really it. Their sentiments were somewhat echoed by Debra Messing back when it was announced that the revival would be ending. While Will & Grace left its characters in a place that seemed to herald more to come, viewers will just have to leave that to their imaginations.

Spoilers for the series finale of Will & Grace are discussed below.

Now that the reality of the ending has hit, Will & Grace fans know that it seems to really be over. And, what an ending! Will and Grace set about moving into a lovely house to raise their respective children – Will’s daughter and Grace’s son. Grace went into labor in the final minutes of the series finale.

Will’s ex-fiancé, McCoy, also made a last-minute attempt at a reunion between the couple. Will seemed receptive to the prospect, so Will & Grace viewers will have to imagine what ultimately happened between them after the series finale. Meanwhile, Jack got to take a bow on Broadway, and Karen reunited with Stan. All told, the quad ended on some major personal highs.

While Will & Grace’s creators feel like the revival’s series finale is the end of the series, time will tell if that remains true. I doubt that many fans would be upset if there were some sort of follow-up years down the line. If there is anything television has taught us in this past decade, it is that you can never say never.

It was an eventful run, and Will & Grace’s creators seem content with how the revival left things. The series finale sent its eponymous duo to share their lives together as a family raising children. Plus, their good friends Jack and Karen have found happiness. There is clearly a lot of closure here.

A decade can sometimes change the way one looks at something ending, though. Goodbyes tend to be easier when they are surrounded by the words “see you later.” For now, though, it seems like Will & Grace as told by its creators has really bid fans farewell.

Will & Grace’s original run is currently streaming on Hulu. To help with the absence of Will, Grace, Jack, and Karen’s apparently permanent departure, check out this spring’s premieres.

Spoilers ahead for the April 23 series finale of Will & Grace on NBC.

It is the end of an era…again. Will & Grace has signed off for the second time with a series finale that brought a definitive end for each major character. Will, Grace, Jack, and Karen each found their lifetime dreams realized in a half-hour farewell that tied their tales together.

Will & Grace’s second series finale came almost fourteen years after its first back in 2006. Fast-forward to 2020, and the sendoff arrived a little over three years after the series returned for its revival and accordingly set a ratings record. In “It’s Time,” Will & Grace poignantly said goodbye with quite a few laughs to spare.

When the series finale began, Will and Grace were preparing for their big move into the house they would raise their respective children in. Meanwhile, Jack and Karen each found themselves on the verge of their own life-changing moments. Without further ado, this is how Will & Grace ended for each major character.

Will

The series finale started with Will packing up the apartment for his and Grace’s big move as the duo respectively awaited parenthood. It was a great look for both of the best friends. Will was clearly contented with his life, but what about on the romantic front? It seemed like Will & Grace might end without Will having a happily-ever-after with the man of his dreams.

Thankfully, the series finale left fans (and Will) off on a hopeful romantic note. Will’s former fiancé McCoy, who was introduced back in Season 2 of the revival, came through at the last minute. The couple had broken up when they both did not see eye-to-eye on becoming parents. Will wanted to become a father, but McCoy had some doubts.

After some not-so-gentle prodding from Grace in the series finale, Will went after McCoy, only to miss him. All was not lost, though! McCoy turned up outside of Will and Grace’s soon-to-be-former domicile. McCoy wanted to reunite with Will, and it seemed like the two might work things out. Will & Grace seemed to sort of leave it up to the fans to decide. Will did say “we'll see” to Grace, so hope.

Grace

The series finale started with Grace falsely thinking she was going into labor. From there, Grace worked to start her labor while pleasantly supporting her friends throughout the episode. Grace was focused on her friends and impending motherhood, which meant no romantic endgame. During Will & Grace’s revival run, Grace dated David Schwimmer’s Noah Boarder.

However, there was no last-minute reunion for the two. Will & Grace ended with Grace in a positive emotional place. She worked through some significant things during the revival run, including a tragic part of her past. The series finale literally ended with Grace going into actual labor as a jubilant Will, Jack, and Karen celebrated with a group huge that Grace later joined.

Fans did not get to see Grace hold her new baby or Will his. Fans were treated to Will imagining his kid and Grace’s playing together in their new house during the penultimate episode, so that was something. Will & Grace’s series finale certainly ended a chapter in Will and Grace’s life by starting a new one.

Jack

Jack’s big moment finally arrived due to a bittersweet twist. At the top of the series finale, Jack learned from Estéfan that the stage manager from his show had called, and he could potentially take a bow on Broadway. It would just require something terrible to happen to several people to make it happen. As fate would have it, it did.

Will & Grace’s series finale saw Will and Grace witness Jack take his big bow on Broadway. Sadly, his bow was more like a terrible fall after his trip up the Statue of Liberty had left him barely able to stand. Nothing could keep Jack down, though, and Estéfan proudly called out “that seaman on the floor is my husband!”

Jack and Estéfan should live happily ever after together. The couple married during the revival. Will & Grace left Jack in the wake of his lifelong dream being realized and the hope that more could follow. Will Jack’s acting career take off after this? Whatever happens, Jack will have the love of his husband and the support of his friends to help him celebrate.

Karen

Karen may have missed a few episodes earlier in Will & Grace’s last season, but she was front and center for the series finale. In true Karen style, she attempted to make everything that happened about herself. Of course, there was a considerable development for her to do so. Stan wanted her to meet him at the top of the Statue of Liberty at 5 o’clock.

Karen struggled with what to do before Will, Grace, and Jack helped her realize she has always loved Stan. With that, she waited on top of the Statue of Liberty for Stan to arrive and announce she wanted to get back together with him. Stan was late but made up for it with an elaborate helicopter arrival, and a gift from Tiffany’s.

It said, “Let’s start over. Marry me again.” Karen said that she “loved it” before tossing it over the edge of Lady Liberty’s torch. After one final slap-off with Jack, he and Karen went in to disrupt Will and Grace. Grace asked if Karen was happy to be back with Stan and Karen said that she was due to the 7.3 billion reasons they should be together.

There you have it. That is how Will & Grace ended its revival run after welcoming back a guest star and recasting another one. The series is one of the many to enjoy the nostalgic wave that has swept television as viewers yearned to return to some of the worlds it has had to leave behind.

I cannot help but think that Will & Grace left the door wide open to pick up with the eponymous duo as well as Jack and Karen in the future. Did Jack’s Broadway debut lead to him getting an even brighter spotlight? Did things really work out between Karen and Stan? How is parenthood treating Will and Grace?

Lots to think about! For Will and Grace’s part, I see a beautiful future for the duo. When the series finale leaves them, Grace is readying to welcome her son, and Will is preparing for his daughter, whom they plan to raise together. The happily-ever-after hints at their lives continuing to revolve around each other well after that Will & Grace fade to black.

Will & Grace’s original run is currently streaming on Hulu. To help fill the void left by Will, Grace, Jack, and Karen, you check out this spring’s premieres in an attempt to stay entertained. Did you like the revival’s ending more than the original series’? Vote in the poll below!

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In 2005, Will & Grace ended its run. For the first time, at least. 12 years later, the popular NBC sitcom returned for its much-hyped revival. All its principle stars, including Eric McCormack and Debra Messing in the title roles, as well as Megan Mullally and Sean Hayes as their trusted on-screen friends, came back, as did many others involved with the show's original run. Alas, it wasn't meant to last. This month, Will & Grace reaches its end once more with its 11th season finale. Now that the sitcom comes to another close, the Will & Grace cast will, once again, move on to other projects. What they will do next? While there are questions still unanswered, we have a few ideas what these TV stars will be doing after this month's final bow.

Eric McCormack (Will Truman)

As Will Truman, a lawyer who lives in the Upper West Side with his best friend, Grace Adler, Eric McCormack served as one half of the title duo in Will & Grace. Prior to his role in Will & Grace, McCormack was seen in Giant Steps and Lonesome Dove: The Series. He has also appeared on Dead Like Me, Trust Me, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The New Adventures of Old Christine, and Perception. He also worked on Netflix's Travelers (which he also helped direct) and Atypical as Will & Grace continued with its revival. Up next, McCormack is expected to star in the adventure film, Queen Bee.

Debra Messing (Grace Adler)

As Grace Adler, an interior designer who lives with Will Truman, her gay best friend, Debra Messing plays the other half of the title duo. As an actress, Messing was seen in shows like NYPD Blue and Ned and Stacey before she landed one of the lead roles in Will & Grace. Since the show's success, Messing has appeared in films like Hollywood Ending, The Wedding Date, Open Season, Lucky You, The Women, Searching, and Garfield: The Movie. Prior to Will & Grace's return to television, Messing also appeared on Smash, The Mysteries of Laura and a TV remake of Dirty Dancing. Next, Messing will be seen in the adventure dramedy The Dark Divide alongside David Cross and Jon Stewart's new movie, Irresistible, with Steve Carrell. Additionally, in the fall, Messing will star in the new Broadway production, Birthday Candles, with Andre Braugher and Enrico Colantoni.

Megan Mullally (Karen Walker)

As Karen Walker, Grace's rich assistant who constantly makes a presence throughout the program (even though her husband doesn't), Megan Mullally plays a memorable role on Will & Grace. As an actress, Mullally appeared in Seinfeld and Risky Business before she made a splash on Will & Grace. Since then, Mullally has appeared in The Megan Mullally Show, Bee Movie, The Kings of Summer, Hotel Transylvania 2, Why Him?, Parks and Recreation, 30 Rock, Children's Hospital, Boston Legal, and Where'd You Go Bernadette. In addition to Will & Grace, she can be heard on Bob's Burgers. Beyond her acting work, Mullally is also a musician. She's in the band Nancy & Beth with fellow actress Stephanie Hunt. She also co-wrote the 2018 book The Greatest Love Story Ever Told with her husband, Nick Offerman. Next, she lends her voice to the animated show, The Great North.

Sean Hayes (Jack McFarland)

As Jack McFarland, the struggling actor best friend of Will Truman who constantly bounces between jobs, Sean Hayes served as a scene-stealing cast member on the sitcom. The popularity of the program lead to Hayes getting roles in The Cat in the Hat, Cats & Dogs, The Bucket List, Sean Saves The World, The Three Stooges, and Monsters University, among other projects. In addition to his work on Will & Grace, Hayes can also be heard in Tangled: The Series. Most recently, Hayes co-wrote and starred in Lazy Susan, a new indie comedy which came out earlier this month. It's currently available on VOD. Outside of his acting work, Sean Hayes and his husband, Scott Icenogle, wrote a children's book called Plum, which was published in 2018. At the moment, Hayes doesn't have an upcoming projects announced yet, besides reports of a potential Three Stooges sequel.

Leslie Jordan (Beverley Leslie)

As the socialite frenemy of Karen Walker, Leslie Jordan plays a reoccurring role on Will & Grace and is periodically seen in the revival. A veteran actor of both the stage and screen with over a hundred credits to his name, Jordan remains a persistently hard-working actor. Some of the biggest titles to his name include, but aren't limited to, The Help, American Horror Story, Boston Legal, Ally McBeal, Jason Goes To Hell: The Final Friday, and more. Next, Jordan will be seen in the romantic film, Until We Meet Again, and the comedy, Strangers in a Strange Land. He's also making a series of funny videos.

Tim Bagley (Larry)

As Larry, a long-time friend of Will and Jack, Tim Bagley has made several appearances on Will & Grace, including in the newer seasons. An actor with several film and television credits to his name, including Monk, Grace and Frankie, Knocked Up, Web Therapy, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, The King of Queens, 7th Heaven, The Day After Tomorrow, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, This is 40, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and more, Bagley has popped up in a variety of different titles. He was most recently seen in Netflix's AJ and the Queen. Additionally, Bagley is a regular contributor to the LA alternative comedy scene, as it is noted on his website.

Blythe Danner (Marilyn Truman)

As Marilyn Truman, Will's mother and eventually Grace's stepmother, Blythe Danner has guest starred in several episodes of Will & Grace, new and old. The accomplished actress of both the stage and screen, Danner has starred in several movies and shows over the years, notably winning two Emmys for Huff and a Tony award for her performance in Butterflies Are Free. Recently, Danner appeared in last year's The Tomorrow Man and Strange But True. She will next be seen in Home Cookin: 5.17.18 and she'll also star in the third season of American Gods.

After more than 200 episodes on television, several accolades, and syndication spots, Will & Grace has decided to end once more. It should be noted that the original revival was only meant to last 10 episodes before it renewed a regular spot on NBC's nightly rotation. Alas, the time has come once more to say goodbye to Will & Grace. You can tune in to watch the series finale of Will & Grace when it airs on April 23rd on NBC. From there, it looks like some of the actors are keeping busy, while others are keeping themselves open. When new developments arrive, you can check back with CinemaBlend for more information and updates.

Will and Grace has had a fascinating tenure on the small screen. The long-running comedy broke new ground during its original run, opening minds with its quirky group of characters and featuring the first same-sex kiss on network television. And after doing a viral video to encourage viewers to vote, NBC gave the show got a television reboot with the original cast. That three season revival will soon come to an end, bidding another goodbye to those beloved characters. Will and Grace has officially wrapped for good, and the cast/crew took to social media to mark the occasion.

Counting both the revival and original run of the show, Will and Grace has run for a whopping 11 seasons on NBC. That's a seriously long, time especially including the years that the beloved comedy was off the air. So saying goodbye for a good is no doubt an emotional experience, as proven by the posts of the cast. Sean Hayes posted a photo of their final bow from the studio, saying:

And just like that, Sean Hayes must once again end his tenure as Jack McFarland. You can see the four starring actors together, bowing in unison as the 11th season wraps production. Hayes specifically thanks the generations of Will and Grace fans out there, claiming that the three recent seasons were "all for you." And he makes a good point, as NBC ordered new episodes of the Emmy-winning show after their short "Vote, Honey" hit Youtube, and got millions of views.

"Vote, Honey" proved that there was still an active interest in Will and Grace, and showed how easily the starring cast could slip back into their characters. A new season was ordered quickly after the video went viral. What's more, the second and third seasons of the revival were green lit early into the show's return to screens.

Sean Hayes isn't the only Will and Grace star who is reflecting on the show wrapping for the final time. Eric McCormack also posted about his last live-show as Will, check it out below.

How sweet is that? Eric McCormack is synonymous with his character Will Truman, a role that earned him an Emmy during its original run, and a slew of Golden Globe nominations during the revival. So leaving Will and Grace and his signature role behind is going to be an emotional experience. According to McCormack, he's "more than a little broken" about his tenure as the New York City lawyer coming to an end.

You can't have Will without Grace, and that was certainly the case regarding the goodbye message to the beloved comedy. Debra Messing shared her own goodbye post to Will and Grace fans. And hers includes a cake. Typical Grace.

Well, that's delightful. It looks like Debra Messing was given a custom cake to mark her departure from Will and Grace. As shared on the actress' personal Instagram page, Messing was given this special cake by one of her girlfriends. It shows Grace Adler on the phone during the original run, accompanied by the words "Bye, Bitches!" Messing has never been far from the TV, although her role in Will and Grace will likely remain the most iconic role she's had.

Related: Will And Grace Cast Explains Why The NBC Revival Is Ending

Will and Grace was created by David Kohan and Max Mutchnick, who were intimately involved in the series during both of its runs on television. Max Mutchnick posted his own goodbye to the comedy following production wrapping. Check it out below.

Will and Grace is filmed in front of a live studio audience, allowing the actors to feed off that energy and jokes to land with genuine laughter. But it turns out that each episode first gets a dry run for the crew/production team. This image peels back the curtain on how Will and Grace is made, and turns the camera away from the cast and onto the rest of the folks who are responsible for making the last three seasons possible.

Megan Mullally didn't post anything on social media, but it's only a matter of time before fans should get her reaction to the show's forthcoming end. Will and Grace isn't likely to get a second revival, so it seems that the road is finally over. And everyone involved appears both emotional and thankful. After all, who thought the show would come back with such a vengeance?

Will and Grace airs on NBC. In the meantime, check out our midseason premiere list to plan your next binge watch.

Will and Grace’s Shelley Morrison died of heart failure on Sunday, December 1, in Los Angeles. The actress, best known for playing the role of Rosario Salazar during the original run of the popular NBC series, was 83 years old. To be expected, Morrison’s Will and Grace co-stars shared some of their heartfelt reactions following news of her death.

Although Shelley Morrison did not reprise her role in the Will and Grace revival, due in part to medical issues, her former co-stars shared some sweet messages on social media. Megan Mullally, who played Rosario’s boss Karen Walker and who will miss some Will and Grace episodes herself, took to Twitter to share her sadness.

Will and Grace’s Eric McCormack also shared his condolences, posting a sweet message to Twitter about the actress and her performance as Rosario. Without Shelley Morrison, the original run of the show may not have been as funny.

Debra Messing, the titular Grace of the NBC hit, also paid tribute to Shelley Morrison, acknowledging her decades-long career and adding that she’ll always be remembered most as Will and Grace’s Rosario. In her Instagram post, Messing shared a brief clip of Morrison’s character. You can watch the video below.

Sean Hayes posted a nice photo of Shelley Morrison as Rosario to his Instagram, saying she was “absolutely hilarious” and had the “biggest heart.”

Shelley Morrison’s Rosario, a maid from El Salvador, was originally meant to appear in one episode of Will and Grace. However, the audience and writers liked her so much that her character stayed on for all eight seasons of the show, appearing in 68 episodes throughout the series.

In a statement (via The Washington Post), Shelley Morrison’s husband, Walter Dominguez, mentioned how much the actress loved getting to play Rosario on Will and Grace.

Prior to Will and Grace, Shelley Morrison played Sister Sixto on The Flying Nun. She appeared in 56 episodes from 1967-1970 alongside Sally Field. The actress appeared on several other TV shows, including L.A. Law, Murder, She Wrote, Love, Lies and Murder, My Name is Earl, Home Improvement, and Disney’s Handy Manny.

We at CinemaBlend send our thoughts and condolences to the family and friends of Shelley Morrison in this time of mourning.

The final run of Will & Grace began this week with the bumped-up premiere of its eleventh and last season on NBC, but it turns out that the fab four stars of the series won't all be on board for all of the remaining episodes. Megan Mullally, who of course has played Karen Walker ever since the Will & Grace pilot aired way back in 1998, will be missing from a couple installments. But why?

Let's break it down. Megan Mullally took a temporary leave of absence from Will & Grace's final season, according to TVLine, which means no Karen in two episodes. Fans should expect to see the two episodes airing without Karen to hit the airwaves later this season, so there's presumably no reason to fear that she'll be missing from the next couple of episodes, considering Season 11 (the third season of the revival) only just began.

Megan Mullally hasn't shared anything on social media about her leave of absence. Her latest posts on Twitter and Instagram are actually hyping the bumped-up premiere of Season 11, and she looks like she was in the middle of filming when she recorded her Twitter video. NBC hasn't shared any official comment at the time of writing either, but there are reasons to wonder if behind-the-scenes tension could have led to Mullally taking a break.

Will And Grace Cast Explains Why The NBC Revival Is Ending

Rumors of drama on set began to circulate earlier this year when Megan Mullally and costar Debra Messing stopped following each other on Instagram, as noted by fans, and they've seemingly appeared in photos together much more rarely than in the past. Was the unfollowing on Instagram a sign that something is wrong between the two actresses, or could it have happened for some other reason?

It's worth noting that Megan Mullally seems to have stopped following Sean Hayes on Instragram as well, and Hayes and Mullally are pair for a lot of scenes as Jack and Karen, but the rumors about drama between Mullally and Debra Messing have been persistent and lasted for months.

The buzz around the alleged feud grew so much that Will & Grace actor Eric McCormack was called upon by Us Weekly to weigh in on what was happening. For his part, McCormack did his best to debunk the rumors, saying this:

Karen fans will undoubtedly be bummed to hear that Megan Mullally will be missing from two episodes of what will almost certainly be the last season, as a second revival or even spinoff a la The Conners seems pretty unlikely at this point, but the good news is that Will & Grace got a pretty hefty order for Season 11. The final season of the series will run for 18 episodes, and there's no indication that either of these two episodes will be the finale.

Tune in to NBC on Thursdays at 9:30 p.m. ET to catch new episodes of Will & Grace's final season, with none other than Billie Lourd making an appearance in the perfect role, and swing by our fall TV premiere schedule to find out what still hasn't hit the airwaves.

Fall TV can be brutal. This is especially true for new shows that don’t already have a built-in audience. With traditional networks still relying on a series’ performance in ratings, patience is not necessarily a virtue. All that said, NBC has quickly decided that Sunnyside is not doing well enough and has essentially cancelled the series, moving the third and final season of Will & Grace up to take the now empty Thursday night slot.

Co-created by and starring Kal Penn (Harold and Kumar Go to Whitecastle), Sunnyside was axed due to its exceptionally low ratings. Per The Hollywood Reporter, the freshman series was the lowest performing first-year show on any of the main networks, including CBS, ABC, and Fox. Sunnyside will air its final episode on TV this Thursday, October 17. NBC will be replacing the Mike Schur-produced comedy in the 9:30 p.m. timeslot with the third and final season premiere of Will & Grace beginning October 24.

Sunnyside followed the story of former and disgraced Councilman Garret Modi, played by Kal Penn. Strapped for cash and trying to regain his footing after publicly embarrassing himself, Garret ends up helping a group of immigrants who are working to become American citizens.

While the news obviously doesn’t bode well for Sunnyside, this is great news for Will & Grace fans. The revival series was originally not set to premiere until midseason, so viewers will be getting to see the series far earlier than expected.

You can watch the new Will & Grace promo below -- it comes with huge news for Grace!

Although Will & Grace fans got some exciting and unexpected news, there’s still hope for viewers who enjoyed Sunnyside. Even though NBC cancelled the show after only a few episodes, the network is not giving up on the comedy completely and has a backup plan despite the cancellation.

Sunnyside had much higher viewership when taking into account delayed ratings and viewership on other platforms. The series jumped from 0.4 to 1.0 in the adults 18-49 demographic and went from 1.4 million viewers to 2.3 million after a week of delayed viewing. So the Peacock network made the decision to move the show to NBC.com, as well as to the NBC app. Sunnyside was also given an extra episode, so the series will have a total of 11, presumably in an effort to help the show end in the best possible way.

CinemaBlend had previously reported on Sunnyside’s low ratings, which had been a cause for concern due to such low numbers. Now that the series has been cancelled (in the traditional TV sense), those concerns weren’t unfounded. In the golden age of TV, ratings still matter for the Big Four networks, but there are at least other options to watch than on TV.

Still, it’s rough out there and viewers aren’t usually drawn in from the get-go. So many shows have built up a fanbase over the course of many seasons, relying on word-of-mouth, syndication, or streaming services to binge and catch-up enough to watch live. That is, if viewers watch live at all, which is admittedly not the case for many.

Sunnyside will air its final episode on NBC Thursday, October 17 at 9:30 p.m. ET before moving to its new home online. For more on what to watch this fall, be sure to check out our handy guide to every new and returning show that hasn’t been cancelled yet.

Billie Lourd has just joined Will & Grace in the perfect role! The actress, who can currently be seen starring in American Horror Story: 1984 on FX is about to trade in horror for comedy, and in a heartwarming part. Carrie Fisher’s daughter and Debbie Reynolds’ granddaughter will guest star in the final season of the Will & Grace revival. Who is Lourd playing? A role that is pretty much tailor-made to fit her.

Billie Lourd has signed on to play Fiona Adler, per Deadline. Fiona is Grace’s niece through her older sister, Janet (recently played by Mary McCormack). As Janet’s daughter, Fiona is also the granddaughter of Bobbie Adler. As fans will remember, the role of Bobbie Adler was played by Lourd’s real-life grandmother, Debbie Reynolds.

All of this sets the stage for a real-life connection to the series’ fictional universe. Could you have asked for a more sentimental and sweet casting choice? I do not think so. It is just the latest touching tribute that Will & Grace has produced for the late Debbie Reynolds. After the acting legend passed away in late 2016, Will & Grace devoted an emotional episode to Grace’s mom.

Billie Lourd’s episode is set to be filmed on September 25. Fans will have a while to wait before seeing it as the final season will not begin airing until the 2019/2020 midseason. It should be well worth the patience. Now that fans know Fiona is coming onto the show, there is one big question. What brings Fiona onto Will & Grace?

Fiona reportedly arrives in search of catching up with her “cool aunt.” It sounds like there could be some bonding in store for Grace and her niece. This will be nice development, as the Will & Grace revival announced it would be heading into its final season. That's still a bit of surprising news, though, considering it personally felt like it only started yesterday. But, I digress.

The cast has explained why the show is ending. So, considering the thought that went into making that decision, you can bet Will & Grace has been just as thoughtful in crafting the storyline for Billie Lourd’s Fiona. It should give Grace a chance to reminisce about her mother, Bobbie. While also providing the opportunity for her to regale viewers with some past tales as well.

Debbie Reynolds played Grace’s mom for 12 episodes during the series’ original run. Those familiar with the real-life situation will recall that Billie Lourd tragically lost her mother and her grandmother within a day of each other.

Along with starring on Will & Grace, Billie Lourd has another real to reel life connection to her family set to happen in the coming months. Lourd will share scenes with her late mom in the upcoming Stars Wars film, The Rise of Skywalker. An air date for Lourd’s Will & Grace episode has yet to be set.

Will & Grace will return during the midseason of 2019/2020 on Thursdays at 9:30 p.m. ET on NBC. You can enjoy this fall’s premieres while you await its return.

Three years after playing a huge role in jump-starting the current trend of TV revivals, NBC's influential hit sitcom Will & Grace is once again coming to an end. Thankfully, fans are getting one more season of hilarity, romance and tender emotions. While the detailed nitty-gritty reasoning behind Will & Grace's impending absence is likely complicated in ways that fans may not understand, it looks like the decision to end things was a mutual one amongst the cast and crew.

Will & Grace's stars took to social media after NBC broke the news about the upcoming season being the sitcom's last, and here's how Debra Messing explained things on Instagram.

The creative team behind ABC's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. recently announced that the decision to end that show was based on everyone's desire to bring the story to a conclusive end without worrying about suddenly getting cancelled. (ABC announced prior to Season 6's premiere that Season 7 was happening.) Sounds like that same thinking pattern was happening in the minds of creators Max Mutchnick and David Kohan.

Co-star Eric McCormack echoed those thoughts with his own post on Twitter, drawing attention to the idea that Will & Grace's final season will be one that ends exactly like everyone involved wants it to. In his words:

Fans have been quite happy with the two most recent seasons for Will & Grace's NBC revival. Ratings for Season 9 (or Season 1, depending) managed to rise slightly higher than the average totals for the sitcom's previously "final season" in 2005. The 2018-2019 season wasn't quite as kind, though, with the average viewership dropping from 8.8 million to 5.3 million, with Live + Same Day telecasts drawing around 3 million viewers as the season wore on.

Thursday nights aren't what they used to be on NBC, though, with CBS' comedy lineup taking centerstage on the night for the past decade and then some. It'll be interesting to see how Will & Grace's final season fares each week now that The Big Bang Theory is no longer around to anchor CBS' schedule.

Here's how Max Mutchnick and David Kohan, along with legendary TV director James Burrows, explained things in their official statement about Will & Grace ending.

The news of Will & Grace ending broke this week amidst a slew of other TV updates big and small, as the aftermath of San Diego Comic-Con gave way to the TCA summer press tour kicking into high gear. Expect even more big news coming from all the major networks soon, too.

Will & Grace will return to NBC this fall to wrap up everyone's broadened storylines, though its exact premiere date has not been announced yet. Stick with CinemaBlend to learn what new shows are coming to the summer and fall primetime schedules.

The new year will be bringing a new shot at romance for Will Truman. Will & Grace's titular first half will be meeting a new love interest by way of NCIS: L.A.'s Barrett Foa. The actor will make his debut following the series return in 2019. Foa has opened up about what it was like to be on the show, saying:

Dreams do come true! Barrett Foa revealed his "out-of-body" experience coming onto Will & Grace with TVLine. These are the stories you love to hear from actors. To read them talk about being fans too, then describe getting to be on said show. It sounds like it was a magically surreal experience for Foa.

Getting to be on Will & Grace was not the only enchanting aspect of Barrett Foa's run on the sitcom. He also shared that kissing his leading man, Eric McCormack, had its benefits too. Foa excitedly revealed:

It sounds like Barrett Foa absolutely enjoyed his experience on the sitcom. Now, the question is whether he will be back in the future.

A few months ago, it was announced that Barrett Foa would guest star as a new romantic interest for Will. Guest, as in not recur, the typical buzzword for a longer-term stint. Could Will find romance, only for it to slip away again? It sounds sadly likely to be the case.

To recap, Barrett Foa will play Paul, who -- like Will -- is an educator. All sounds good so far. They have careers in common and presumably interests. What could go wrong? Well, apparently something will.

At the time his Will & Grace casting was announced, it was stated that details surrounding Paul's home life would emerge. Thus, putting Will in the midst of an "ethical dilemma." That does not bode incredibly well for their burgeoning relationship in the long-term. It should be nice while it lasts, though.

Will recently struck up a romance with Matt Bomer's McCoy Whitman. Unfortunately, he tried to be someone other than himself, which is not the best way to start a long-term relationship. Thankfully, Will is not giving up on love. Will he eventually find it with Paul? Maybe not in this upcoming episode.

Barrett Foa sounds like he would not be opposed to reprising the role. How often does one get to be on their dream show once, let alone more? Depending on how things leave off between Paul and Will in the episode, fans may get a clearer picture regarding their future.

Barrett Foa is an original cast member on NCIS: L.A. He plays Eric Beale on the popular spinoff. All signs indicate, he is will-ing to be back. Will & Grace fans will just have to stay tuned to find out if he does.

Will & Grace will return with new episodes in 2019 on NBC. Beginning January 31, 2019, the hit sitcom will move to Thursdays at 9:30 p.m. ET. The revival was among many shows airing new episodes this fall. It will be among many other series making their return in the new year. Right now, you can catch Eric McCormack on his excellent Netflix sci-fi show Travelers, which just released Season 3.

Will & Grace's Eric McCormack is in an interesting position these days. He's back on network TV playing a popular gay character, while in his personal life he's a straight man, married to Janet Holden since 1997, just shortly before Will & Grace began airing in 1998. Reflecting on the role, McCormack recently admitted he probably wouldn't even be invited to audition these days. The actor noted in a recent interview that the TV landscape has changed over the past two decades, leading to more diversity in roles. He succinctly said:

There are still some straight actors playing gay characters on television. Eric McCormack is one of them and Modern Family's Eric Stonestreet also comes to mind. However, the TV landscape has been opening up a lot more in recent years for actors from different backgrounds and communities to take on roles.

This year in particular saw broadcast TV incorporate 8.8 percent of its actors as people in the LGBTQ community--that's a higher number than has ever occurred previously.

At the time when Will & Grace was initially broadcast, the show was coming shortly after Ellen DeGeneres' Ellen was cancelled due to low ratings after Ellen's character had come out on her show. (DeGeneres previously revealed she dealt with death threats around that time as well.)

For a major network to even greenlight another show with gay lead characters at the time was a big deal, and Eric McCormack also told the Sydney Morning Herald that because of the times, him nabbing the role when Will & Grace came up wasn't as noteworthy as it would likely be today.

Although Eric McCormack doesn't know how an audition would go for Will & Grace today, the show is back on the air and thriving. NBC brought the series back for the 2017-2018 season and it's done well enough that it has been back for what turns out to be its official 10th season this fall.

You can catch Eric McCormack and the rest of the gang in action on Thursday nights at 9 p.m. ET, although it is moving into the Thursday night at 9:30 p.m. slot when the show returns to the winter schedule on January 31.

To take a look at when the rest of your favorites will be returning at midseason, be sure to check out our full TV premiere schedule.

NBC just shared some good and bad news for early 2019. Brooklyn Nine-Nine will make its debut on NBC Thursday, January 10. Also, The Blacklist Season 6 just announced its premiere date. However, starting in January, the network will temporarily reduce its Thursday night comedy lineup from two hours to one.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine was cancelled by Fox after five seasons, and fans were thrilled to see NBC pick it up. Season 6 will take the Thursday 9 p.m. slot starting January 10. That's currently when Will & Grace Season 2 airs, so that show is going to move. First, The Good Place Season 3 will move from its current 8:30 p.m. time to 9:30 p.m., starting Jan. 10, for its final three episodes of this season.

(Now would be a good time to start watching the criminally low-rated The Good Place Season 3 so we can get a Good Place Season 4. Please and thank you.)

Starting January 31, after The Good Place ends its third season, Will & Grace will jump into the 9:30 p.m. slot.

I Feel Bad currently follows Will & Grace at 9:30, but it will finish its first season in December. That might mark the very end of the freshman series, since The Hollywood Reporter noted that the Sarayu Blue comedy is the lowest-rated of the Thursday lineup.

Where is NBC's fabulous Superstore in all of this? Well, NBC is moving the premiere of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's new competition series The Titan Games from Wednesday to Thursday, starting with a two-hour debut on January 3 at 8 p.m. Superstore Season 4 currently airs Thursdays at 8 p.m., but it will go on hiatus until March. The good news is that, in March, NBC will expand the Thursday comedy block back to two hours. At that point, Superstore returns, A.P. Bio begins Season 2, and new series Abby's will premiere. Those exact dates are coming later.

So that's the reshuffled Thursday comedy lineup. When Brooklyn Nine-Nine does come to NBC, shaking up the 2019 schedule, it will bring Andy Samberg back to his Saturday Night Live network. But it will also, eventually, mark the sad departure of Chelsea Peretti as Gina Linetti.

Everything involved with Brooklyn Nine-Nine has a habit of bouncing back, though, so we won't be surprised to see Chelsea Peretti again if NBC gives the show a Season 7. In the meantime, check out what else is ahead in our fall TV premiere guide.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine is only one of several shows that was cancelled and then rescued by another network or platform in the 2017-2018 TV season, and it should be interesting to see how the comedy fares on the Peacock Network. Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for the latest in TV news.

Spoilers below for the latest episode of Will & Grace.

With an episode called "Grace's Secret" that was partially centered on a lip-sync battle, Will & Grace's Debra Messing might've seemed destined to uncover some magnificent musical performance skills. That wasn't the case, but Messing's performance still shined the brightest in an emotional installment where Grace revealed to her father that she'd been sexually assaulted as a teenager by one of his friends.

Co-creator Max Mutchnick spoke about why Will & Grace tapped into the #MeToo movement with Grace's admission, saying:

Debra Messing herself is an activist for Time's Up, and the actress' care and compassion were easily witnessed on screen during "Grace's Secret," with guest star Robert Klein reprising the role of Martin Adler. When one thinks back to how Will & Grace's revival spawned from the politically motivated short that reunited the cast, an episode like this may have felt naturally imminent.

Impressively, the episode is about as far away from after-school special fodder as possible. For one, Grace's confession took place inside a restaurant and not in a more private setting, which not only made her appear slightly more vulnerable, but it also allowed for moments of levity involving that waitress and a lack of shrimp salad. Still, there was nothing light about Grace getting selflessly frank with her dad about what his friend Harry did to her.

Grace said that when she was 15 and working for Harry, she was called to his office, where he pushed her against a wall, started kissing her, and then took her pants off. Her description didn't exactly hold back on the details, which also raised it above the glut of "very special episodes" from the long history of sitcoms. That choice was deemed very necessary in order to avoid generalizations. Here's what Max Mutchnick told THR about it.

For all that Grace's big moment defined the episode, the co-creators were aware of not trying to "take over in this space," acknowledging that they and the show are not the movement's voices. But they definitely did listen to Debra Messing's voice during table reads for the ep, which was written by Suzanne Martin, to get her input on how Grace would bring these secrets out to her father.

According to co-creator David Kohan:

It's impossible to have watched that Will & Grace episode without making a connection to #MeToo-related news that has consistently been reported on since Bill Cosby and Harvey Weinstein's scandals rocked the entertainment industry. Arguably the biggest recent controversy involved current Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who gave testimony in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee in September, along with his central accuser Dr. Christine Blasey Ford.

Though the script for this Will & Grace episode was already penned before the aforementioned testimonies were voiced, David Kohen says that one exchange from Grace and Martin's conversation was written in later. In particular, it's the beat where Martin suggests that Grace was misremembering, to which his victimized daughter responds by saying she remembered everything that happened that day. For me, it was a stirring moment that justified the late inclusion.

Another lovely and subtly telling moment came later in the episode, when it was revealed that Debbie Reynolds' Bobbi was the only person that Grace had ever confided in about what Harry did to her. Grace visited Bobbi's grave during the episode as well, which was a touching reminder to the late actress' importance to the cast and crew. (We still miss you, Debbie!)

In the end, Grace didn't allow her secret to get buried with Bobbi, and also understood that it wasn't just Harry that she had unresolved issues with over her assault. She realized that Martin also needed to finally be aware of what happened, and that he needed to accept his friend's guilt.

At this point, it's unclear if Grace's big reveal will lead to anything further beyond the closure of her attacker already being dead (both in the show's world and to Martin Adler in particular). Or if that renewed pain will factor into any romantic relationships. But even if none of that happens, it was still a powerful episode, and one that will reaffirm Debra Messing's place among other Emmy-nominated actresses next year.

Will & Grace airs every Thursday night on NBC at 8:00 p.m. ET. While waiting for the next emotionally heft episode, don't forget about all the great new and returning shows that have yet to premiere this fall.

The good news for Will & Grace's Will Truman is that he is getting a new love interest. The bad news for Will is that he may not be a long-term one. That is because the sitcom has cast NCIS: Los Angeles star as a problematic potential boyfriend.

Will & Grace has cast Barrett Foa to play Will's new love interest. He is currently slated to guest star in the second installment of the revival. Foa is an original cast member on CBS' popular spinoff in the NCIS franchise. He has played Eric Beale since the show began. While that may be one telling detail as to how long Foa will stick around as Will's potential boyfriend, we have another.

Apparently, Will finds his new relationship tested not too long after it begins. Barrett Foa's Paul is a fellow teacher of Will's, and as their romance is developing, it hits a roadblock. That is due to details that emerge regarding Paul's home life, which put Will in an "ethical dilemma," per TVLine. Will & Grace fans will have to wait to learn what precisely that dilemma entails. Foa will not make his debut until 2019.

In the meantime, there is no shortage of potential explanations that could clarify how Will's romance might unfold. Maybe Paul can resolve whatever dilemma he is putting Will in, and the pair will be able to continue their relationship. Otherwise, it is hard to imagine the show revealing a relationship-ending spoiler so far in advance.

Will does have another love interest in the revival's second season though. Magic Mike's Matt Bomer is going to star as Will's other new love interest this season. Bomer's character is a TV news anchor, who sparks with Will.

Could Will & Grace have a love triangle in its midst? We will have to wait and see. According to the report, Barrett Foa is set to guest star in an "episode," as in singular. So, this may be a one-episode stint with no hope of moving forward.

Given that Barrett Foa is a series regular on NCIS: LA, there is reason to believe that is all it can be. Whether his episode and Matt Bomer's will intersect is unclear. If Foa and Will McCormack's Will spark enough popularity among fans, maybe his arc will expand.

Matt Bomer's character description focused a lot on his personality and there was no definitive indication given that would explain any possible turbulence in that relationship with Will. Barrett Foa's Paul is another story and an intriguing one. The mystery surrounding the ethical dilemma that threatens his and Will's relationship is curious. Time will tell how it is resolved.

New episodes of Will & Grace air Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on NBC. The revival is among a phenomenal amount of new content airing this fall.

Grace is not the only half of television's famous duo to be getting a love interest in Season 2 of the NBC sitcom's revival. Will is getting a love interest too! And it is all happening in a guest star-studded episode of Will & Grace's second season. So, who is playing the lucky man who catches Will's eye? Well, let's just say he is familiar with making magic, although more of the Magic Mike variety than involving a magic wand. Here is what you need to know!

Magic Mike and American Horror Story's Matt Bomer will play Will's new love interest in Season 2, per People. And Bomer's character is described by NBC as a smooth-talker. So, what does he do for work? Bomer's character is a TV news anchor and said to be "self-satisfied" with his job. Sparks will fly between him and Will. The sad news is that given Bomer is slated to "guest star" on the series, it will not be a multi-episode courtship.

Hence Will will not be getting a boyfriend...yet. As Will & Grace fans will recall, David Schwimmer has been cast to play Grace's new boyfriend in Season 2 for what is expected to be a multi-episode arc. When will Will get his multi-episode boyfriend? Fans will have to stay tuned. For now, Will & Grace fans will have to bask in the glory of Matt Bomer's brief stint as Will's love interest on the series.

As teased above, Bomer will be joined by two other guest stars in the episode. Olympic figure skater and Dancing with the Stars champion Adam Rippon will also be dropping in, along with Minnie Driver. Driver will reprise her role as Karen's archrival Lorrain Finster -- a part she already reprised in Season 1.

Will & Grace has not been shy on adding a multitude of guest stars for its upcoming season. Earlier this week, it was announced that Jon Cryer has signed on to star as himself in an episode of the series. Let's get back to Will and his love life though.

Here is hoping that Matt Bomer ends up being such a hit with viewers and the show that he winds up sticking around longer than a single episode. Bomer is no stranger to television, so why not a long-term sitcom role? Nevertheless, when the show decides to cast Will's long-term love interest, we will be all ears.

Will & Grace will return to NBC's fall lineup for the second season of its revival run, October 4 at 9 p.m. ET on NBC. Check out the new shows still set to arrive this summer with CinemaBlend's summer premiere guide. For new television that will premiere alongside Will & Grace this fall, check out CinemaBlend's guide to TV's fall premieres.

The second season of Will & Grace's revival run just added another guest star. The NBC sitcom will welcome Two and a Half Men's Jon Cryer for a role that he is very familiar with. In fact, you could say that he is around this character every day.

That's right! Jon Cryer will be playing himself in an upcoming episode of Will & Grace, per THR. So, whose sphere will Cryer find himself in? Jack and Karen's! Unfortunately, there is not a lot more to go on than that. When fans left off with Jack and Karen, both were in different relationship spaces. Jack had become engaged, and Karen had called off her long-simmering affair with Alec Baldwin's Malcolm Widmark. How Jon Cryer will fit into the friends' storyline will be fun to find out.

The fact that Jon Cryer will be playing himself when he makes his guest appearance could indicate any number of possible arcs, so we can only speculate at this point about what's in store. With Jack being an aspiring actor, it is feasible that is where Cryer could come into the story. Interestingly, Jon Cryer's upcoming guest appearance on Will & Grace will not be the first time the actor has played himself in a series. He recently played himself in the first episode of the Netflix comedy Lady Dynamite.

As for Will & Grace, Jon Cryer is the latest in a long line of guest stars that are set to take part in the revival's second installment. The NBC series has also managed to secure another sitcom favorite. In case you missed it, Friends' David Schwimmer has been cast for a pivotal arc in Season 2. Schwimmer will play Grace's new boyfriend. Other Season 2 guest stars will include Chelsea Handler, Alec Baldwin as Malcolm, and Mary McCormack as Grace's older sister, Janet.

A date for Jon Cryer's episode has not been shared yet, so stay tuned. Cryer's appearance on the popular NBC sitcom comes three years after Two and a Half Men came to an end in February 2015. Cryer has been keeping his sitcom muscles strong having recently appeared in Ashton Kutcher's The Ranch. Will & Grace's super successful revival run will continue this fall, so fans will not have too much longer to wait before seeing Cryer make his debut in Season 2.

Will & Grace returns for the second season of its revival run, October 4 at 9 p.m. ET on NBC. Check out the new shows still coming this summer with CinemaBlend's summer premiere guide. For new television that will arrive alongside Will & Grace this fall, check out CinemaBlend's guide to TV's fall premieres.

David Schwimmer spent a decade as a key part of NBC's primetime lineup, and now he's headed back to join another show from the same Must See TV era. Schwimmer has signed onto the Will & Grace revival, and while this sadly doesn't appear to be a way of introducing a Friends crossover into the universe, fans of the classic series will get to see a fair bit of the actor. David Schwimmer will enter the series in a recurring role and will be playing the new boyfriend of Debra Messing's Grace.

The announcement of David Schwimmer's casting comes just a week after the revelation that Grace would get a boyfriend in the upcoming season of Will & Grace. Episodes are still being written for the new season, so it's currently up in the air how many episodes Schwimmer will appear in. That said, Deadline reported his story arc was planned to be five episodes, so that may be the magic number. That could always change if fans respond to Schwimmer's performance in a big way, although one would imagine the actor's presence is also dictated by his willingness to appear and his schedule.

David Schwimmer's appearance in Will & Grace marks his first television appearance since his Emmy nominated performance of Robert Kardashian in The People Vs. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, as well as his role the AMC drama Feed The Beast. The move is a return to live-action comedy, which is something Schwimmer hasn't done much of since Friends ended in 2004. Both Friends and Will & Grace were part of NBC's "Must See TV" lineup for quite a few years, and the shows even aired back-to-back during Friends' final season.

David Schwimmer's casting and the overall storyline of Grace getting a boyfriend are big steps forward for Will & Grace, who will now see if it can have a sophomore season that was as successful as the show's triumphant 2017 return. Co-creator Max Mutchnick said recently a big part of last season involved re-introducing the characters and bringing everyone up to speed. Now that all that is out of the way, the new goal is to move the characters forward with engaging storylines to keep the fans that have returned to the show after its long absence engaged. Even if ratings aren't as stunning for the show the second time around, NBC has already greenlighted the revival for Season 3, so it's not like there's a ton of pressure for the new season to be a raging success in the moment.

Will & Grace will premiere Season 9 on NBC Thursday, October 4 at 9:00 p.m. ET. Those curious about what else is coming to television in the meantime can visit our summer premiere guide, or jump ahead further to our fall premiere guide and see what else will be on television around the same time.

The first season of the Will & Grace revival was a huge hit, and now fans are eagerly anticipating what Season 2 has in store for Will, Grace, Jack, and Karen. Well, for those excitedly anticipating a deeper dive into the personal lives of your favorite characters, there is huge news on that front. And it comes courtesy of Debra Messing herself. The actress has revealed that Grace is getting a boyfriend next season. Messing said:

So that is some pretty big news, and from the sound of things, Will & Grace may have already cast Grace's boyfriend-to-be. Based on Debra Messing teasing that she can't reveal his identity, Grace's new boyfriend may be an actor we all know. Or I'm reading way too much into Messing's monumental comments to ET. Either way, Grace is definitely getting a boyfriend. Let the speculation as to who will be playing him begin!

Whoever he is, Debra Messing seems excited about Grace's new man, which should bode well for fans of the sitcom. Plus, the news that the show will be digging into the more personal aspects of Will & Grace's cache of characters should be pretty exciting for fans awaiting developments on that front. Speaking of personal, how about Grace's family?

Debra Messing has a major casting dream that she would love to come true regarding one of Grace's family members, and she decided to put into the universe, so to speak. The actress revealed who she would like to have play Grace's aunt. Messing said:

That's right, Barbra Streisand. How positively epic would that be? It seems entirely feasible as well. Streisand was a vocal guest star on Modern Family in 2016. So an in-the-flesh guest appearance would not be a far cry from what she has done in the not-so-distant past. Of course, playing Grace's aunt would hopefully be a bit more involved than a vocal cameo.

As Debra Messing mentions, Debbie Reynolds played Grace's mom on the series. Last year, Will & Grace honored the late actress and her character with the episode "One Job." Messing made the push for the episode. If the show ends up casting the role, you can probably count on Grace's aunt sharing a few stories that similarly pay homage to Grace's mom.

Here is hoping Barbra Streisand ends up making her Will & Grace debut. The sitcom is a pop culture staple, and with the revival entering its second season, it is a great time to begin ushering in more all-star guest stars. Will & Grace will return for the second season of its revival run October 4 on NBC. For more fall premiere dates on NBC, click here. For new television shows coming soon, check out CinemaBlend's guide to TV's summer premieres.

The massive success of ABC's Roseanne revival comes as other revivals are currently on the airwaves. The revival of NBC's Will and Grace is finishing its freshman run amid Roseanne's return. The two series have been running a bit parallel to each other. NBC has already renewed Will and Grace for a second and third season. In a similar move, ABC has given the go-ahead to Roseanne for a second season. But if you think there is a rivalry brewing between the two shows, there is not. Will and Grace co-creator Max Mutchnick had this to say:

That's the positive message Will and Grace's co-creator Max Mutchnick shared with The Wrap regarding Roseanne's success. There is certainly enough room on TV for more than one successful sitcom. Just a few years ago, the existence of multi-camera sitcoms seemed in doubt, as the format lost ground to reality shows and hour-long procedurals. In the meantime, long-running CBS sitcoms The Big Bang Theory and How I Met Your Mother helped keep the medium alive. Then Netflix gave the green light to a Full House revival, and the floodgates opened.

Revisiting old movies has been in vogue for a while, with television running a little further behind. It took even longer for revival fever to reach multi-camera sitcoms, which is shocking when you consider they have been one of the most popular formats in television history. They are among the most successful series to ever air. Will and Grace's creators alluded to why they think audiences are ready to re-embrace the sitcom. Co-creator David Kohan explained:

Sitcoms do tend to hit that sweet spot. In between the edgy darkness of reigning TV titans Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead, television has been enveloped in a bit of dreariness. It is comforting to think that you will have the familiar laughs from shows like Will and Grace and Roseanne to go to when Game of Thrones has its inevitably bloody final season. With the success of the Fuller House, Will and Grace, and Roseanne revivals, you have to wonder which show is next.

The key to these revivals seems to be the original cast remaining close and being willing to reprise the roles that made them household names. Those guidelines sort of help narrow down the list. When all of it comes together, it is a highly enjoyable thing for the audience and such a refreshing way to spend half an hour. With Roseanne and Will and Grace confirmed to continue, fans can rest easy knowing this isn't a passing network phase.

The finale of the first season of the Will and Grace revival airs April 5 at 9 p.m. ET. The next episode of the Roseanne revival airs April 10 at 8 p.m. ET. To find out when other TV shows, both sitcoms and not, return check out our guide to television's midseason and summer premieres.

If there's one trend that is ruling both TV and film production, it's nostalgia. Audiences' need to return to a simpler time has resulted in a ton of long awaited sequels and reboots, to varying levels of success. One of the most popular of these revivals is NBC's new season of Will & Grace, which has already been renewed for a second set of episodes. The beloved sitcom has been tackling very real world issues during its new season, and the latest episode was no exception. Titled "One Job", the latest ep sees the Adler family together to celebrate Bobbi's birthday. This allowed the show to pay tribute to the late Debbie Reynolds, and it turns out that it was actually Debra Messing's idea to honor her in this way. As she tells it,

It looks like it was none other than Debbie Reynolds' onscreen daughter that made sure the legendary icon was honored properly on the new episode of Will & Grace. What resulted as an emotionally charged episode-- something that has been a theme for the new revival.

"One Job" follows the Adler family (Grace, her sisters, and father) as they assemble to carry out Bobbi's dying wish: for them to celebrate her birthday. It figures that Grace's drama queen mother would still find a way to be the center of attention, even in the afterlife. This gave Will & Grace cast, crew, and fans to honor Debbie Reynolds, who suddenly passed away in 2016 after her daughter Carrie Fisher died just hours before.

Debra Messing's comments to THR show that she truly understands the weight of Debbie Reynolds' legacy in show business. Because while the world might have collectively mourned for Carrie Fisher and Leia Organa, her mother was bonafide Hollywood royalty.

Up until the most recent episode of Will & Grace, it was unclear exactly when or how Bobbi Adler died in the show's canon. She was revealed to have passed early in the new season, and a photo of Debbie Reynolds is shown in every episode. Rather than focusing on Bobbi's death, Will & Grace actually gave Rosario a proper funeral-- although actress Shelley Morrison is actually alive and well.

Will & Grace airs Thursdays on NBC. In the meantime, check out our midseason premiere list to plan your next binge watch. Plus our superhero premiere list and Amazon premiere list to ensure you don't miss a single episode.

The success and acclaim for NBC's Will & Grace revival cannot be denied, and we're pretty sure it will partly inspire at least another dozen classic sitcom returns and reboots before it's all said and done. And the show's influence isn't letting up anytime soon, as NBC has already renewed Will & Grace for Season 3, which is set to debut in the latter half of 2019. What's more, the network has granted the hit comedy's yet-to-air second season a big boost, adding five episodes to those already ordered.

That's right, Will & Grace is technically only 14 episodes into its initial revival season, but fans have already been guaranteed another 36 episodes to follow the 16-episode Season 1. Season 3, which is still another year and a half away, will consist of 18 episodes. (At least so far, since NBC could very well add more episodes to the season while ordering up Season 4 and 5 in a few weeks.) The previous Season 2 renewal, which was initially set for 13 episodes, has been bumped up to 18 episodes as well. NBC is clearly looking to keep Will & Grace on its fall schedule for as many weeks as possible without burning everyone out.

And it's no mystery why the network would be so interested. Since returning in September, Will & Grace has been a smash hit for NBC, serving as its most-watched comedy in almost a decade. When delayed viewing stats are measured, the show is averaging 9.8 million viewers an episode, with a 3.1 rating in the key 18-49 age demographic. Both of those numbers are mighty impressive in general for the modern TV era, especially for a comedy. It's clear that creators Max Mutchnick and David Kohan have recaptured exactly what made this show special for those initial eight seasons, with a talented ensemble that hasn't lost a step.

If NBC Entertainment Robert Greenblatt's enthusiasm lasts, we might just be watching Will & Grace for as long as stars Eric McCormack and Debra Messing are capable. In his words:

Helping out Will & Grace on the popularity front is the steady line of new and familiar guest stars that have popped in and out of the show over Season 1's run so far. We're seen returns from Harry Connick Jr.'s Leo, Minnie Driver's Lorraine, Molly Shannon's Val, Leslie Jordan's Beverley, Jennifer Lopez's Jennifer Lopez and Bobby Cannavale's Vince, to name a few. And they're not done, with Season 1's finale ("It's a Family Affair") bringing in legendary comic Robert Klein to replace Alan Arkin as Grace's father Martin, with Mary McCormack replacing Geena Davis as Grace's sister Janey. Sara Rue, meanwhile, will reprise the role of Joyce Adler.

With Season 3 yet to premiere in the fall of 2019, Will & Grace airs Thursday nights on NBC at 9:00 p.m. ET, and we can expect to see a lot more of it in the near future. If you'd like to see what else is coming to the small screen in the near future, head to our midseason premiere schedule.

With the trend of nostalgia proving both profitable and popular, just about any beloved property could return. One of the most high profile of these revivals is NBC's new season of Will & Grace. The acclaimed sitcom was brought back for a ten episode run, and ended up being renewed before the premiere even aired. While tons of original cast members have returned for guest spots, there are a few noticeable absences. Shelley Morrison has retired from acting and therefore won't be playing Rosario, and Debbie Reynolds' sudden death in December of 2016 occured before she would have had a chance to play Bobbi Adler again. Everyone at Will & Grace seems to be feeling the absence of Reynolds' on set, and the official twitter account of the show just recognized the anniversary of her first appearance. Check it out.

It was on this date back in 1999 when Debbie Reynolds made her debut as Bobbi Adler on Will & Grace. The Season 1 episode "The Unsinkable Mommy Adler", featured Bobbi arriving for a visit with Grace in the city, and driving her daughter bonkers. Eventually Grace would realize that she's got more in common with her mother than she thought, and things get warm and fuzzy.

Debbie Reynolds appeared in a total of twelve episodes across the original eight season run. And while Reynolds would have no doubt been on the short list of potential guest stars with the new season, she unfortunately passed away directly after losing her daughter Carrie Fisher. The character Bobbi has since been mentioned in passing to have also died on the show, allowing the cast and crew to channel some of their real feelings into Will & Grace.

While Bobbi Adler hasn't been physically present in the new season of Will & Grace, you can actually spot a photo of Debbie Reynolds in the title characters' famous apartment. This photo of Bobbi is no doubt the show's way of honoring Debbie Reynolds; something that the above Twitter post does as well. In the show's recent holiday flashback episode, there is even an oil painting of Bobbi in Grace's New York apartment. So while the series hasn't really delved into Grace's grieving process, it's nice to know the late Debbie Reynolds is given some love.

It should be interesting to see if Will & Grace decides to really focus on Bobbi Adler's death during this season or next. The series always has emotional and dramatic moments, especially toward the end of each episode. This current season had a big death when they killed of Rosario and gave her a touching funeral, so it would make more sense fpr Bobbi's big episode to occur during the revival's second season. We'll just have to wait and see.

While it happened well over a year ago, the loss of Debbie Reynolds and her daughter Carrie Fisher is still very much felt for their generations of fans. Luckily, we can all check out their many onscreen appearances, keeping them just as legendary.

Will & Grace will return from hiatus on March 1, 2018. In the meantime, check out our midseason premiere list to plan your next binge watch.

Nearing its final stretch of episodes for its inaugural revival season, Will & Grace isn't about to fall behind on giving fans big surprises for its last batch of episodes, and the latest announcement involves both a big return and an unexpected shake-up. Grace's communication-lite father Martin Adler is returning for a Season 9 episode, but instead of Alan Arkin reprising the role, audiences will see comedian Robert Klein once again playing Debra Messing's TV dad. Here's the actress sharing the news.

In an interesting and possibly disappointing-to-some twist, Will & Grace will have to give Grace's father a new face for his return in an upcoming episode, with Debra Messing relaying Alan Arkin's busy schedule kept him from returning to the NBC sitcom for a second round of family fun. It seems like Will & Grace's creative team could have easily just pushed Martin's appearance until next season in order to allow for Alan Arkin to possibly find a hole in his schedule to fit a Will & Grace episode shoot, but perhaps that angle was also looked into. Arkin might just be really busy and Grace might just really need her dad soon.

In any case, we won't complain about getting Robert Klein back on TV, even if it's only for whatever episode he's filming. As Debra Messing hinted at in her post, Klein played Leo Diamond across two seasons of Mysteries of Laura, with Leo being the father of Messing's Laura Diamond. It's definitely not the most predictable way for the two celebs to reconnect on NBC, but we're hoping for big laughs and possibly a heartfelt moment or two. And if Klein's leg can't stop shaking the whole time, so be it.

Martin Adler first appeared on Will & Grace during Season 7's "It's a Dad, Dad, Dad, Dad World," which aired in 2005. In the episode, Grace tried rebuilding her relationship with her dad after getting stuck alone with him during his birthday, and Martin proved himself a hard nut to crack. Though not a monster in any way, Martin is the kind of guy who would rather turn every situation into a joke, regardless of the emotional circumstances. The episode ended with the two on good terms, so hopefully we'll get to see more kinship whenever Robert Klein takes over.

During its first year back on NBC, Will & Grace has brought back tons of characters and former guest stars that fans were clamoring for, and we can also celebrate Blythe Danner returning as Will's mother Marilyn. From Bobby Cannavale's Vince to Harry Connick Jr.'s Leo to Minnie Driver's Lorraine and then some, it's been a round robin of excellent appearances. The biggest absentee star has been now-retired actress Shelley Morrison, whose Rosario was given a pretty touching farewell within the show.

It's not clear when Robert Klein will make his Will & Grace debut, but it'll be coming soon, since the revived hit only has six episodes left. Find it every Thursday night on NBC at 9:00 p.m. ET. And to see when other revived classics, as well as brand-new series, are hitting primetime soon, check out our midseason premiere schedule.

Because the popularity of the nostalgia trend, there is a never ending supply of revival and reboots hitting both the small and silver screen. This includes NBC's revival of Will & Grace, which has already been renewed for a second season. The acclaimed sitcom easily picked up where it left off, with the starring cast jumping back into their signature roles with ease. The revival has also brought back a ton of the show's notable guest stars, and now it's landed another one. Actress and singer Jennifer Lopez will once again be returning to the series, but with a twist. She'll actually be playing herself (again), as well as her character from NBC's Shades of Blue.

Jennifer Lopez will one again be guest starring in Will & Grace as a fictionalized version of herself. But rather than just J. Lo showing up to chat with Karen or hire Jack for another tour, she'll also be guest starring in another role. Lopez will also be playing Detective Harlee Santos, her character from Shades of Blue. It looks like she's going to have to pull an American Horror Story, and play multiple roles at once.

While news of J. Lo's return to Will & Grace is going to excited the hardcore fandom, it's definitely an unexpected twist that the series will be crossing over with Shades of Blue. The new cop show was renewed for a third season on NBC, and I guess Jennifer Lopez and the producers would like to get some free advertising from Will & Grace before its return. Smart move by the network.

Jennifer Lopez guest starred in three episodes of Will & Grace's original run. She was an old family friend of Karen's maid Rosario, which inspired her to agree to sing at Karen's Wedding with Lyle Finster (John Cleese). And when one of her backup dancers fell on a shrimp tail, Jack stepped up to the plate and ultimately got to join her on her tour. She's eventually show back up when Karen and Jack ran into her on the subway (lol), and Karen pitched her some love songs.

Throughout her three appearances on Will & Grace, Jennifer Lopez proved that she was willing to be silly and poke fun at herself. Jokes about her failed marriages where made, as well as digs about her perfume, Glow. So the fact that she'll be back is super exciting, especially to the many fans who have been watching the series on syndication for the past decade. And while hew next appearance might also include a not so subtle Shades of Blue ad, I guess everyone likes a crossover event.

Will & Grace airs new episodes Thursday on NBC. In the meantime, check out our midseason premiere list to plan your next binge watch, and our cancellation list to see if your favorite show got the chop.

With nostalgia proving to be an extremely profitable trend on entertainment, there have been a ton of long awaited sequels and TV revivals arriving in the past two years. On the TV side of things, perhaps no revival has been quite as successful as NBC's new season of Will and Grace. Will and Grace was one of the most popular shows on TV this fall, bringing back the original cast and picking up exactly where they left off. The new season has also had its fair amount of emotional moments, and now it looks like a future episode will explore the background of everyone's favorite drug enthusiast, Karen Walker.

This news comes to us from TV Guide, which reports that Will and Grace will soon delve into the past of Megan Mullally's signature character. Karen's history is almost cartoonish, and has taken many forms during the show's original eight season run. The show alternates between being sincere about Karen's past, and making Karen into an ageless creature that has been essentially embalmed from her drug and liquor use. But considering how sincere the current season has been, smart money says Karen will show her softer side when exploring her colorful past.

Karen's history is one of the most inconsistent aspects of Will and Grace, which also makes it one of the most hilarious. Karen has made references to various cultural events throughout history, making her true age a mystery. And with access to botox and other ways to stay ageless, she doesn't even change physically throughout the years. We even saw this in the former series finale, during the time jump forward. While Will, Grace, and Jack aged normally, Karen looked exactly the same as she had throughout the series' run.

But Karen has also shown vulnerability plenty of times throughout the series, usually coming as as surprise and hitting the audience like a ton of bricks. We saw that this season with the episode "Rosario's Quinceanera", where Karen broke down during her beloved maid's funeral. Karen was also shown to be surprisingly vulnerable when it comes to Grace, being deeply hurt when her friend and boss wrongs her. She's also got serious problems related to her mother's neglect, as well as her trust issues with Stan.

Overall, there is a ton to look forward to once Will and Grace returns from winter hiatus. In addition to Karen's past, the upcoming episodes will feature the return of cast members like Molly Shannon and Bobby Cannavale as Val and Vince. Val is a crazy woman who lives in Will and Grace's building, while Vince is who many believe to be Will's true love on the show.

Will and Grace will return on January 4, 2018. In the meantime, check out our midseason premiere list to plan your next binge watch, and our cancellation list to see if your favorite show got the chop.

Television went to some distant and wonderful places in 2017, with more original scripted series airing than ever, and with an over-abundance of networks and streaming services to find them on. But something that hasn't changed very much is the popularity of broadcast network TV, even though numbers are generally down all across the board, and this year saw some interesting position changes at the top of the heap.

True, the NFL still reigns supreme when it comes to viewership and demo ratings, and 60 Minutes and The Voice remain top contenders in the unscripted sphere. But when it comes to scripted comedies and dramas, here are the 10 most watched shows of the 2017 fall TV season.

10. Will & Grace

Perhaps the most high-profile TV revival to happen yet, at least until Roseanne gets here, Will & Grace returned to NBC's Thursday night lineup and started bringing in viewers as if it had never left. With refreshed performances from the cast and a re-stoked fire behind the writing, Will & Grace had done a fine job of balancing its updated narratives with guest stars and fan service, wrapping some stories up in emotionally gratifying ways. The critics have enjoyed things, as evidenced in part by the show's multiple Golden Globe nominations, and audiences are clearly having a great time, giving the show totals that totally justify its rebirth.

Average Viewers: 11.3 million viewers

9. Grey's Anatomy

Fourteen years in the game, and Grey's Anatomy remains one of the biggest shows on TV. Though it's averaging only half of what its peak audiences were a decade ago, Grey's Anatomy has still kept a lot of fans watching and talking about the dramatic twists, and the medical drama has kept the storytelling varied and engaging by cycling through a relatively small but steady number of cast members over the years. The show's popularity is such that fans are actually getting a brand new spinoff soon that's focused on firefighters. No one should be surprised if it's on this list next year.

Average Viewers: 11.53 million viewers

8. NCIS: New Orleans

Scott Bakula is quite used to being a TV lead, and it was a great move to put him at the head of the Southern-made drama NCIS: New Orleans, which remains one of TV's most popular spinoffs. Unfortunately, NCIS: New Orleans' numbers have been dipping from year to year, so it might not be around on this list in 2018. Of course, the crime-driven CBS hit just landed a big syndication deal to start airing on TNT, so that could very well usher in a new wave of viewers in the near year, much as Netflix binge-watching has helped shows seen here, such as Grey's Anatomy.

Average Viewers: 12.3 million viewers

7. Blue Bloods

Though Friday night time slots normally mean doomsday for shows, Blue Bloods is the rare exception to the TV graveyard rule, and it has consistently been one of the most-watched shows in any given year. Season 8 has been particularly newsworthy among fans, following up on that big season finale cliffhanger and suffering a surprising exit from star Amy Carlson. Of course, some fans might have backed away from the show after what happened to Carlson's Linda Reagan, although it's hard to tell from the numbers themselves, which remain impressive week to week.

Average Viewers: 13 million viewers

6. Bull

Based on the numbers that Bull brings in, it wouldn't be surprising if CBS gave a new TV show to each and every cast member from NCIS that wanted one. (The same probably goes for Criminal Minds, since Shemar Moore's S.W.A.T. is bringing the ratings in as well.) Focusing more on the jury than traditional legal dramas, Bull relies heavily on the star power of longtime CBS star Michael Weatherly and other cast members, and though its sophomore season numbers are lower than the show's earliest stats, recent episodes are largely matching those in the back half of Season 1.

Average Viewers: 13.8 million viewers

5. Young Sheldon

Yeah, NCIS: New Orleans might have formerly been TV's most popular spinoff, but that title has been usurped by a nine-year-old. In telling the childhood story of The Big Bang Theory's Sheldon Cooper, Young Sheldon has captured the hearts and funny bones of many millions of people in the eight episodes that have aired this year. By taking a starkly different approach to its storytelling and tone, Young Sheldon is far from a Big Bang clone, though it similarly utilizes the strengths of its cast members to great effect. And Jim Parsons' narration probably doesn't hurt.

Average Viewers: 15.8 million viewers

4. NCIS

Currently in Season 15, NCIS is the longest-running show on this list, and it's showing little sign of slowing down in the ratings game. Granted, it definitely skews older than many other TV shows out there, so its demo rating isn't top-notch, but NCIS has what most of those other shows don't have: over 16 million people watching it on a weekly basis. NCIS has introduced fans to a host of great side characters and guest stars over the years, but it'll soon be losing a major player in Pauley Perrette, so we're wondering how fans will react to a future without Abby around.

Average Viewers: 16.5 million viewers

3. This Is Us

Last year, NBC's This Is Us seemingly came out of nowhere and became the kind of show that every other person was talking about. Its overwhelming early success was not a sign of beginner's luck, either, as This Is Us continues to draw huge weekly audiences with its emotionally driven history of the Pearson family. After the show finally gives audiences all the answers behind Jack's death at some point in Season 2, it'll be interesting to see if viewers will still be around to share details, or if the mystery was the main thing driving interest.

Average Viewers: 16.6 million viewers

2. The Good Doctor

With This Is Us breaking new ground in the "dramas that make you want to cry" field, ABC got into the game with The Good Doctor, which House creator David Shore based on a South Korean drama of the same name. (It's the second extremely popular medical drama for ABC, which is clearly going with an "If it ain't broke..." mentality.) Star Freddie Highmore got his breakout fame playing Norman Bates on Bates Motel, but he's thankfully completely shed that role for The Good Doctor, where he makes medical magic happen in adorable ways.

Average Viewers: 16.7 million viewers

1. The Big Bang Theory

For years now, there has been no bigger show on TV than The Big Bang Theory, which remains the viewership king. Though its demo ratings have suffered in recent years, the show still manages to win over a wide swath of the TV-viewing public. (Even its repeat episodes score higher numbers than most other series.) Season 11 had the added bonus of following up on that proposal cliffhanger from last season, while also introducing yet another pregnancy to the ensemble. And it's not like fans are going to stop watching now, with Amy and Sheldon's presumably bizarro wedding on the way.

Average Viewers: 18 million viewers

Does this list sound like your weekly lineup, or did your favorite series miss the cut this year? Let us know. And, to see all the new and returning shows that'll be on your TVs in the coming months, head to our 2018 midseason premiere schedule.

Spoilers for the most recent episode of Will and Grace.

Last night's new Will and Grace was a doozy. Because while the episode contained tons of laughs and cartoonish physical comedy, "Rosario's Quinceanera" also gave Megan Mullally's Karen Walker the chance to show some vulnerability. Her maid and life partner Rosario has been noticeably missing from the new season, and now Will and Grace has found a way to write her off. You guessed it: Rosario got killed off, breaking all of our hearts in the process. Creator Max Mutchnick has since revealed how Shelley Morrison's retirement helped inspire the writers room to explore this plot line.

Shelley Morrison is just about the only original Will and Grace star who isn't set to reprise her role in the new season. And according to Max Mutchnick's comments to THR, the writers took this as a chance to craft an interesting story. While Morrison had a cut role in the group's internet short in 2016, she is now into her 80s and has retired from the business known as show. And considering what a major force she was in the original series, Will and Grace needed to address why she and Karen weren't trading insults in the new season.

Prior to Rosie's offscreen death in the last episode, she was briefly mentioned in an earlier episode. In the second episode, Karen's new Irish maid mentioned that Rosario didn't feel like climbing up the stairs to help Karen in her bedroom. This confirmed she was a live and well, which made the gut punch of her sudden death feel all the more dramatic. It should be interesting to see if the Irish maid ends up being a larger role in the series moving forward. Because if Karen isn't terrorizing her staff, is she even Karen at all?

While Shelley Morrison wasn't present in Rosario's final episode, there were two surprise returns. The most obvious was Minnie Driver, who reprised her role as Lorraine Finster at Rosario's funeral services. But the second guest was a bit more subtle for the more hardcore Will and Grace fans. Because when Karen fled Rosie's services to drink her feelings away, she was waited on by her regular bartender Smitty. Smitty made six appearances during the show's original run, attempting to give Karen some context about her first world problems by telling her a harrowing story from his past... which usually makes Karen crack up.

Rosario's surprise death also gave Megan Mullally the chance to do some dramatic acting in the episode. Karen's vulnerability is shown few and far between, but it always packs an emotional punch when it happens. Seeing Karen say goodbye to Rosie was an emotional experience, although there is comfort is knowing that Shelley Morrison is alive and well IRL.

Will and Grace airs new episodes Thursdays on NBC. Check out our fall premiere list to plan your next binge watch.

Friends was once the hottest show on television, to the point that Jennifer Aniston's hair as Rachel Green was the envy of women everywhere. In fact, her iconic hairdo from Friends is pretty much universally known as 'The Rachel.' As it turns out, even other actresses on the sitcom circuit weren't immune to the impact of The Rachel, as Will and Grace star Debra Messing has revealed that she once tried to pull off the hairdo, and... well, it didn't go as planned. Here's what Messing had to say:

When Will and Grace premiered in 1998 on NBC, Friends was already a major hit for the network, so it makes a certain degree of sense that folks at the show wanted to capture some of the same appeal. The two shows were very different, but that didn't mean two actresses couldn't have the same hairstyle! Unfortunately for the hopefuls behind the scenes who wanted Grace to resemble Rachel, Debra Messing's naturally curly hair simply did not work with The Rachel haircut. Messing's comments to Refinery29 paint a picture of something Rachel Green would not have allowed on her own head.

Of course, Grace Adler's red hair came to be iconic in the series in its own way. It's difficult to imagine Grace with sleek chair chopped into The Rachel; the red curls work for her. Besides, it's clear that Will and Grace didn't need an actress with Jennifer Aniston's hair to be a hit in primetime. Will and Grace became a groundbreaking series during its original run on NBC, and its return to the small screen this fall has brought huge ratings for the Peacock Network, and it has already scored a renewal for a second revival season. Additionally, almost the entire original cast signed on for the revival, and the core four of Debra Messing, Eric McCormack, Megan Mullally, and Sean Hayes are all back in fine form.

You can catch new episodes of Will and Grace on Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on NBC. If you're in the mood for some of the earlier episodes, you're in luck: all eight original seasons are currently available streaming on Hulu. For your other viewing options, take a look at our fall TV premiere guide.

If you've been paying attention to the world of TV and film production, you'll notice that reboots are everywhere. With nostalgia proving to be a powerful and profitable trend, just about any beloved property has the potential to return. And while these types of moves are a dime a dozen, NBC is making serious waves with its new episodes of Will and Grace. In fact, the new season's premiere was so popular that it ended up breaking records at the network. Will, Grace, Karen, and Jack are back, and they're once again ready to climb to the top of the comedy world; the premiere of Will and Grace was the most-watched premiere of any NBC comedy in 12 years.

Despite the premiere being extremely political and involving a trip to the White House, Will and Grace opened to some giant numbers when it debuted its new season last Thursday. While the numbers for live viewers were already serious, the episode became even more popular through on demand views in the three days following its release. In that time, the viewership increased by 53% for 18-49 viewers. This took the ratings from 3.00 to 4.60, and pushed its overall viewers from 10.2 million to 14.8 million. I guess the sitcom genre isn't dead, after all.

The Live+ 3 day numbers for Will and Grace are a major win for NBC, especially considering its somewhat tumultuous history with network comedies. In fact, this new episode is the network's biggest premiere in six years- just beating out the Season 8 premiere of The Office. And it's the overall audience is the largest that NBC has seen for a comedy in 12 years, since My Name Is Earl in 2005. Considering that NBC has had some problems with cancelling new comedies, it's safe to say that the new episodes Will and Grace aren't going anywhere.

NBC seemed to be expecting a major turnout, as the cast of Will and Grace has been furiously doing press for the show's new season. And the network actually renewed the comedy for a second season before the premiere even aired. Star Debra Messing has revealed the original table read was so successful that NBC ordered another new season right on the spot.

It should be interesting to see if Will and Grace can retain this high viewership as its new season continues on. The premiere episode likely polarized some viewers, as it lobbed a ton of insults at President Trump. But the series has always been political, so we'll have to see if there has been any serious drop off in response to the premiere. Will and Grace has been playing on syndication non-stop since it concluded, so there's an active audience that is practically salivating for new content.

Will and Grace airs new episodes Thursdays on NBC. In the meantime, check out our fall premiere list to plan your next binge watch.

With the trend of nostalgia ruling TV and film production, it seems like just about every property and franchise could return for new installments. And NBC is doing just that with its beloved and acclaimed sitcom Will and Grace. The series has just returned after 11 years, and its brand new Season 9 feels exactly like the first eight: irreverent, self-aware, and appropriately bonkers.

Will and Grace's first new episode jumped in with one of the duo's favorite activities: game night. The roommates and best friends are able to practically read each other's minds as they describe celebrities, which brought the series into the modern timeline through topical pop culture references, including a jab at Caitlyn Jenner.

The opening sequence also hilarious crams in exposition, courtesy of Megan Mullally's Karen Walker. She's apparently been out of it since the series ended, so Will and Grace used this device to quickly catch us up on the characters. Will and Grace have gotten divorced from Leo and Vince respectively, Jack is still aimless, and Karen is still rich and married to none other than the unseen Stanley Walker.

While Will and Grace had never shied away from political subject matter in its original run, the season premiere was a bit more on the nose and aggressive than the past episodes. Karen continuously gloats about President Donald Trump's win in the election, while Will and Grace furiously contact their representatives in an act of rebellion. But the roommates' views are quickly put into question. It turns out that Will's rep is actually a handsome and charming gay man, they just happen to fundamentally disagree on just about every issue. And when Karen gets Grace a job redecorating President Trump's oval office (she's besties with Milania), Grace has to decide whether or not to compromise her political beliefs for the amazing opportunity. These plot points end up taking the four stars to none other than the White House for the second half of the premiere.

It should be interesting to see how this choice in plot points affects Will and Grace's viewership. While the hardcore fans were no doubt delighted, opening the new season with an episode chock full of digs at President Trump has the potential to alienate viewers. In addition to turning off Trump supporters, there are probably plenty of fans who are sick of constantly being reminded about the country's political landscape, and just wanted to escape and laugh for 30 minutes.

But those unbothered by the subject matter are going to be very happy. Will and Grace's new season feels just like the original series, mostly due to the cast and writers quickly jumping back into their roles. The short video "Vote, Honey" was a test, and they all passed in a big way. Many younger Will and Grace fans have only watched the show on syndication, so this premiere marks the first time many have seen a new episode on TV.

Will and Grace airs Thursdays on NBC. Be sure to check out our fall premiere list to plan your next binge watch.