#10 South Park (1997-)
A bloody modern sitcom for a bloody modern audience. I'll happily admit that 'South Park' is not everyone's cup of tea, including mine actually, but I love the way this animated cartoon doesn't give a shit about anything, and as a result produces some of the most insane and memorable scenes possible for the boundaries of comedy. This is a sitcom aimed primarily at adults, but actually for a younger audience this is one of the more relatable comedies in recent memory, and perfectly optimised for a modern day audience. A show about students cocking around is perfect for adolescents, and the often puerile and immature jokes support this younger target market, even if the content is often very mature. Unlike many modern sitcoms this is a fantastic work of satire that focuses on dark and surreal humour to get laughs, often offending just about everybody it can in the process. This humour changes with the times as well, with often well publicised events being quickly scrutinised by the writing team in the most shocking way possible, leading to some unforgettable scenes that are perfect for that point in time.
What sets apart 'South Park' from the rest of the animated competition is just how fresh and intuitive the content is. It's a well known fact that each individual script is written the week before the episode is scheduled to air, allowing the content to be both topical and relevant in its own unique way. However shock value is the key to this show's long running success, and I can't think of another sitcom that comes close to this level of dark humour. I love how this show doesn't give a fuck about political correctness, and it's no surprise that many others feel the same way. It's just a shame a certain minority don't understand the context of the satire on show, subsequently blasting the style of humour with little thought. 'South Park' was such a successful sitcom that it's seen as solely responsible for the rise of Comedy Central as a cable channel, and although the quality may have gone downhill in recent seasons, the topical subjects still deliver their weight in comedy even if the premise becomes more politically motivated as time goes on.
#9 Seinfeld (1989-1998)
It's hard to see how a show like 'Seinfeld' ever became such a hit sitcom. The premise is essentially about absolutely nothing, and it doesn't have any recurring or interesting plot points that would leave viewers wanting more. But what a huge ratings hit this turned out to be, and actually ended up becoming a staple part of 90's culture, containing jokes that have become part of comedy legend over the years. However for me what makes 'Seinfeld' so special is how it uses that now famous humour. This unique style has to be accredited to creators Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld who could both write a great sketch with ease, and their know how is evident with each episode. Their style is a great mix of observational and black humour that was just perfect for the time period, creating a style that was never stupid or serious despite being based on the fundamentally flawed topic of absolutely nothing.
'Seinfeld' is probably the greatest example of how a sitcom should work. The show contains characters that are both believable and play off each other nicely, and there is a consistent use of quality comedy that never feels like it's designed to get a cheap laugh. It feels like a real life production, and that's because the very idea is to base the narrative off of real life events. The show never becomes bigger than reality itself and so many episodes are usually just a simple problem from daily life, but that's all part of the rustic charm that blurs the lines between comedic conventions and everyday life. It's a very ingenuous idea, and one that was achieved with just four simple, yet open ended characters. In a way it was a blessing that the cast were open ended personalities as this led to a huge diversity of styles with each episode. The results of this were hugely impressive. 78 million people tuned into the unfortunately disappointing, but very fitting finale; proving just how popular the show was over its lengthy tenure.
#8 M*A*S*H (1972-1983)
'M*A*S*H', or Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, is probably the greatest satire in American television history. You know you're doing something right when the finale is still one of the most watched in all of TV history, with 125 million people tuning in; a 77% share of the total American audience. When you consider that the original series struggled in ratings this is an incredible achievement from what would later be considered a great piece of television. The high ratings reflected the superior quality of episodes, and you could tell that this was a TV series based off of a film because it felt like an epic production and played out like a sophisticated Hollywood drama. The genius of 'M*A*S*H' is that it was aired during the Vietnam war, yet took place during the similarly fought Korean War, and so actually became a very intelligent satirical production on the controversial topic of war. At it's heart this was a lighthearted show, but in between the comedy was some serious themes. In fact the narratives were often based on real life stories, so there was always that sense of realism that drove home the message of conflict over just plain jokes.
'M*A*S*H' was a comedy that could contain such an emotional range throughout each episode. In just a few moments the viewer could be happily laughing away, and just a dew minutes later feel a genuine sense of remorse after a characters' plane is shot down all of a sudden. Not only is that proof of how well the characters have been written into the sophisticated storyline, but also how well each role is acted out, allowing you to actually care about their cast in their comedic pursuits. This isn't a comedy that's aged particularly well, but there are a few jokes that you can still appreciate the intelligence and messaged conveyed. Even if the jokes don't do it for you then surely you must appreciate the way that strong messages are combined with the lighthearted elements to produce a comedy series that's never been replicated in message or scale.
#7 Dad's Army (1968-1977)
'Dad's Army' is the result of what happens when the British decide to satirise warfare. The result is a lot more quirky and charming than American counterparts, and at its heart unmistakably British in its execution. The real star of this show is the characterisation of some of the most defining personalities in British comedy history. Everyone just lives their roles to perfection, and despite being an eccentric bunch of personalities, all the cast pull off that level of realism to make some absurd situations seem like they were a vital part of war. The characters are such a highlight, and are actually bigger than the show themselves. They're aided by some damn fine writing, but their unique personalities will live on as legendary figures in comedy despite their physical limitations and their desire to never be taken seriously. There's even a film being released soon, which has got no chance of being even half as good as the original, but still showing that this long lived favourite still has an appeal to a drastically different audience.
#6 The Office (2001-2003)
Yes, this is the original British version of the now famous sitcom. The equally successful American version must be praised for being able to stand on its own two feet, but it's never managed to trump the original in terms of quality or comedy. The British version may have only lasted for two seasons, but in that short time it's become one of the most notable comedies of the modern age, appealing to audiences on a global scale and catapulting talent such as Ricky Gervais into the public eye. The ultra realistic setting and characters in this satire make this such a down to earth production, but the content is so relatable to an audience tired of their everyday lives that the formula is nothing short of genius.
The British version is the one with some great comedic characters, and some such as David Brent would become iconic over time. This popularity stems mainly from the realism, but also because Gervais as a comedian just fits into that office role perfectly. In fact all the characters are both larger than life and yet frighteningly realistic at the same time, and this style is what drives the writing, which is something I think the US version fails with. The US version is more eccentric and in no way reflects the mundane and subtlety of working life like the British version did. You don't get the sense the US version would actually happen, where as in the British version you actually start to see the characters as people in a similar way you would in a serious high budget drama. And for me, the ability to relate and care for the whole cast was the standout feature of this overall polished production.
#5 Only Fools and Horses (1981-1991)
A British classic that's still fondly remembered today by people of all ages. It's a sitcom centred around the pursuit of riches, which at the time of airing was a perfect allegory for many lives in the British population. It's lighthearted take on the human condition was unsurprisingly a huge hit, regularly scoring huge ratings and breaking records for British comedy. Even today many episodes are seen as a significant moment in British comedy, regularly being repeated to the still large fanbase. From 1985 onward this show was churning out comedy gold on a weekly basis, constantly providing fresh material and strong narratives to accompany the various characters. They eventually overdid everything with a stupid number of Christmas specials, but even those episodes are worth a watch for their content alone.
Aside from the later special episodes, this was a series that never managed to lose the original charm and wit that everybody fell in love with. Each episode has the quality to be re-watched multiple times whilst still enjoying the spectacle. 'Only Fools and Horses' is something so quintessentially British yet actually well performed and executed, which really is a rarity in sitcoms. The writing is absolutely sublime, and the jokes are so well executed that it's no surprise that many have become legendary TV moments over the years. The 'bar flap scene' in particular is one of comedies all time greatest moments, and in reality there are hundreds of beautifully executed gags throughout this show's long history.
#4 Family Guy (1999-)
A personal favourite of mine, although in terms of a sitcom the quality has declined significantly in previous years. Originally however this was one of the best and forward thinking comedies on the market, with a style that used to make intelligent and witty jokes with the odd reference to pop culture. There were also a wide range of characters with unique personalities that they hadn't yet ruined, with an amazing cast of minor characters included that all had individual characteristics that could accompany any comedic narrative. This foundation has now all but disappeared, taking the show away from episodes that would draw you in to sequences where you feel forcibly drawn in by attention seeking material. Running gags and tenuous references are now at the fore, with a noticeable lack of intelligent material that used to really surprise me in older episodes that you would expect to be littered by the flaws of such a crude production. Even worse is the prominence more recently of some really damn serious episodes, including one where they killed off one of the main characters for absolutely no reason; and that's just no fitting in with the style that made me hold this franchise in such a high regard.
Having said that 'Family Guy' is still one of the funniest shows on TV. I do love the emphasis on cutaway gags no matter how irrelevant they are to the scenario, and the storylines that branch from the cast's relationship with each other are mostly top notch. Some of the episodes may not be the good fun I expect from, but this always was and still is the first sitcom since 'The Simpsons' to really push the boundaries for a mass market. I love shows that are deliberately dark, and so the satire in this is right up my street. This show takes the piss out of everything, even itself, and it does this in such a spiteful manner that you can't help but take every message with a pinch of salt. Of course that strategy isn't going to be a hit with everyone, and not surprisingly this is a very controversial success story, but when has any radical idea not been met with resistance? Although 'Family Guy' does almost emulate 'The Simpsons' with its premise, it is in my opinion a totally different show that draws in viewers with its unique and lovable style. The show is starting to revert to that classic style, so it looks like there's still a future for this series with many more watchable seasons to come.
#3 Fawlty Towers (1975-1979)
In only twelve episodes this sitcom managed to gain a legendary status as not just one of the greatest sitcoms of all time, but also one of the greatest TV shows. This is the role that famous comedian John Cleese was waiting for, and he owns his central role as Basil Fawlty. In this role he shows off his eccentric personality and is so good that he almost engulfs the rest of the cast with his immense screen presence, owning every scene with his larger than life personality. When that charisma is paired with the various and stereotypical hotel guests and supporting cast it creates for some iconic moments in comedy history. All these classic moments comes from the sheer ineptitude of each character, and because of this this is my opinion this show is one of the few sitcoms where the humour never feels forced and always naturally flows from scene to scene.
The quality and content of each episode is just unbelievable. It was said that each episode took sometimes four months to write, and that level of detail is evident. This sitcom told a far greater story in just twelve episodes than others do in decades, and that has to be because of the storylines that are so well written and implemented. This was a groundbreaking format for British comedy, turning out fresh comic genius in every episode, and that's a rarity for a sitcom. This maybe the only television programme I can think of that hasn't declined in quality and public perception over the years, and doesn't look like it ever will.
#2 The Simpsons (1989-)
Who would have predicted that when this animated sitcom first aired that it would become such a hugely influential hit on the whole genre? Now almost six hundred episodes on and the title of 'America's longest running sitcom' and I doubt there isn't a family in the Western World that hasn't had this comedy institution beamed into their living rooms at some point. 'The Simpsons' was a show that actually changed pop culture forever. For the first time an animated sitcom was given its true potential, and instead of relying on realistic scenarios to pass as relevant a comedy could now create a whole universe in which to set up an endless possibility of gags. That's not to say 'The Simpsons' isn't realistic, and actually the realism is all part of the appeal, becoming vital in how this franchise broke down barriers for animated television.
'The Simpsons' got satire in a way that was so much better than any contemporary sitcom before it, somehow pulling off the trick of making global audiences care about animated characters that were in no way serious or mature. Some of the characters presented here are so well thought out and written that they almost do pass as real human beings. All the cast are so well depicted and voice acted that you really do start to care about some yellow figures that couldn't possibly exist. The first few seasons of 'The Simpsons' were the highlights. During this time you had such complex plots that jokes would naturally accompany. Some of the episodes and gags are so well written that you have to pause the video just to see them, and it's this incredible detail and artistic integrity that made the series, so it pains me to say the quality has declined significantly over the last decade. 'The Simpsons' is still a great watch that pumps out new material on a regular basis, but it's this high on the list purely for its groundbreaking origins.
#1 The Inbetweeners (2008-2010)
For me personally this is sitcom perfection. When 'The Inbetweeners' first arrived on the scene I was exactly the right age to get every single gag, and the series is so well written that I could have sworn it was written by someone my age who actually understood what makes me howl with laughter. No sitcom in history has ever managed to hit its target market quite like this one, and as I'm still at that age I can happily watch every episode again, and find the material so brilliantly funny. Every line is quotable and every scene is memorable. The antics are such a departure from the depressing and mediocre view of teenage life that this show has, but it fucking nails the storylines in every respect.
I'll admit that this isn't for everyone. The style is centred around the British lad culture, and as such the characters are just absolutely perfect for their roles. They're not larger than life, yet in their own average way all incredibly special with their own hilarious personalities. Trust me, this may be juvenile for a sitcom, but I think this has some of the most intelligent uses of comedy I've ever seen on a television. Some of the situational comedy is just so good it's side splittingly funny; and that's coming from a man who doesn't laugh for the hell of it. The films are also just brilliant, and I' even rated the first a ten out of ten, which is the only comedy film to get a perfect score from me. The television series is even better though, and it was such a shame that a comedy this good only lasted for three seasons.
