20 Groundbreaking TV Comedies That Redefined The Genre

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Shows like The Simpsons and Monty Python’s Flying Circus are a few examples of truly groundbreaking comedies that set the standard for the genre. While many TV comedies appear each year, only rarely does a creator come up with something so fresh and innovative that it completely changes how comedy is done.

MAS*H was a pioneer in blending comedy with serious, emotional storytelling. Friends, on the other hand, became one of the first sitcoms to achieve massive, blockbuster-level popularity. Both shows were incredibly influential and shaped the future of TV comedy.

The Mary Tyler Moore Show

The Mary Tyler Moore Show pioneered the idea of a ‘found family’ at work, a concept that continues to influence sitcoms today. Shows like The Office, Parks and Recreation, and Superstore, which center around close-knit workplace relationships, all owe a debt to Mary Tyler Moore.

Beyond its innovative format, The Mary Tyler Moore Show was groundbreaking for its positive portrayal of a single, working woman. At a time when the women’s rights movement was gaining momentum, the show presented this lifestyle without criticism, which was truly empowering.

Saturday Night Live

Lorne Michaels’ Saturday Night Live has become the definitive launching pad for America’s top comedic performers. Over the years, SNL has showcased and launched the careers of numerous comedy stars, including Bill Murray, Chevy Chase, Gilda Radner, Eddie Murphy, Adam Sandler, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig, Andy Samberg, Kate McKinnon, and countless others.

Saturday Night Live, or SNL, airs for an hour and a half every Saturday with a variety of content: sketches, short films, jokes from the opening monologue, appearances by celebrities, and takes on current events. The show isn’t always great, but occasionally it produces truly memorable sketches, like the ones featuring Matt Foley or “More Cowbell.”

Cheers

Many of the common elements we now associate with sitcoms, like a central bar where characters hang out and the slow-burn romantic tension between two characters, first became popular with Cheers. In many ways, Cheers paved the way for Friends, doing many of the same things Friends would later do, and arguably doing them even more effectively.

Cheers is a perfect example of a great ensemble comedy. The show works so well because each character has a very clear and funny personality. The writers understood that each actor needed their own unique voice – you wouldn’t swap lines between characters like Cliff Clavin and Frasier Crane, or Carla Tortelli and Diane Chambers.

Mr. Bean

Rowan Atkinson became famous for his incredible physical comedy, especially through his role as Mr. Bean. He brought back the classic, silent comedy style of legends like Charlie Chaplin and Harold Lloyd, and proved to be a gifted performer worthy of continuing their tradition.

Mr. Bean is a rare TV show enjoyed by people all over the world. Its comedy relies on actions rather than words, making it funny even if you don’t understand the language. The show is brilliant at telling stories through images and physical gags, using very little dialogue.

All In The Family

The 1970s were a turbulent time for the United States, marked by the Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal, which created deep political divides. While most popular TV shows avoided controversial topics, Norman Lear directly addressed these issues in his hugely successful sitcom of the decade.

The classic sitcom All in the Family humorously explores the clash between a stubborn, conservative father-in-law and his open-minded, liberal son-in-law, who are forced to live together. The passionate arguments between Archie and Meathead still feel incredibly relatable and relevant even now.

Chappelle’s Show

Dave Chappelle created a unique style of comedy that blended stand-up routines with sketch comedy, paving the way for shows like those by Key and Peele, Amy Schumer, and Nick Kroll. Many consider Chappelle’s Show to be the best sketch comedy series of the 21st century, and it’s rare in that the stand-up segments used to introduce the sketches are just as hilarious as the sketches themselves.

With memorable sketches like those from “Mad Real World” and “Charlie Murphy’s True Hollywood Stories,” Chappelle’s Show remains funny and relevant even now. The show uniquely combined sharp observations about society, humor rooted in culture, and wildly unusual characters – like a blind man who was also a white supremacist.

Police Squad!

Before becoming famous in The Naked Gun movies, Leslie Nielsen starred in a short-lived TV show called Police Squad! It was a brilliantly funny take on classic detective shows like Dragnet and M Squad, and Nielsen played the part with a perfectly serious demeanor, making the comedy even better.

Despite its cancellation – likely because it was considered too complex for viewers – Police Squad! was a visually inventive and fast-paced comedy that heavily influenced shows like The Simpsons and Brooklyn Nine-Nine. It’s a shame we didn’t get many more episodes of this brilliant series.

King Of The Hill

Mike Judge and Greg Daniels created something different with King of the Hill. While shows like The Simpsons and South Park are known for their over-the-top humor, King of the Hill stood out for its realistic portrayal of everyday life, even though it was animated. It felt surprisingly grounded for a cartoon.

Unlike shows like Family Guy that rely on outlandish stories and random jokes, King of the Hill finds its comedy in realistic situations and well-developed characters. This focus on relatable storytelling and a warm, gentle tone is something we now see in shows like Bob’s Burgers and F is for Family.

I Love Lucy

“I Love Lucy” was incredibly influential, essentially creating the modern sitcom format. Lucille Ball was a uniquely gifted performer who paved the way for women in comedy. Before the show, female comedic roles usually meant playing the serious, straight-faced counterpart to a male comedian.

In I Love Lucy, Lucy is the funny main character who constantly gets into trouble, while her husband Ricky often tries to reign her in. Lucille Ball and her real-life husband, Desi Arnaz, had amazing chemistry on screen, creating one of the most memorable partnerships in television history.

Frasier

Most spinoffs of popular TV shows don’t live up to expectations, and it’s even less common for one to be better than the original. But the new Frasier is different. It’s brilliantly written, with a fantastic cast and, at its heart, a genuinely moving story about a father and son.

Few American TV shows have captured the spirit of classic British sitcoms like Fawlty Towers or I’m Alan Partridge as well as Frasier. These shows, and Frasier, center around a flawed and often unlikeable main character who consistently fails, yet somehow remains endearing and sympathetic.

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2026-01-06 15:30