Somehow, it’s been over 13 years since we bid farewell to Tina Fey’s Liz Lemon and the rest of the TGS crew on 30 Rock, and for those who are still mourning the loss of one of the greatest sitcoms of all time, the crew is back with something new for the 2026 TV schedule. The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins premiered February 23 (after a post-NFL sneak peek in January), and critics who have seen the full first season are sharing their thoughts on Tracy Morgan’s new comedy.

Reggie Dinkins apparently exists in the same universe as 30 Rock, so keep your eye out for easter eggs. Tracy Morgan stars as the titular ex-NFL star, who hires a documentary crew in hopes of rehabbing his image after a gambling scandal. The comedy comes from 30 Rock showrunner Robert Carlock and writer Sam Means, with an ensemble cast including Bobby Moynihan, Daniel Radcliffe and Erika Alexander. Those 30 Rock connections are definitely felt, according to Matt Goldberg of The Wrap, but the new series stands out by subverting expectations. The critic writes:

Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert says Tracy Morgan and his supporting cast are easy to root for and keep the laughs coming in The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins. Robert Carlock — showrunner of 30 Rock and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt — might just have another hit on his hands. Tallerico says:

Tania Hussain of Collider says the NBC series puts a fresh spin on mockumentaries, thanks to Daniel Radcliffe’s Arthur Tobin. His motivations mean the cameras filming Reggie are more of a liability to the characters than a gimmick like in other series. The critic gives it 9 out of 10 and explains:

Judy Berman of Time says co-creators Robert Carlock and Sam Means — as well as Tracy Morgan — are at the top of their game, with The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins serving as network TV’s first worthy heir to 30 Rock. What that sitcom was to Saturday Night Live, this one is to the NFL, Berman says, writing:

Belen Edwards of Mashable calls Reggie Dinkins “catnip for 30 Rock fans,” saying that Tracy Morgan and Daniel Radcliffe are a match made in comedy heaven. The lightning-fast jokes, unexpected pop culture references and cutaway gags will leave you “gasping for air” (in fact, one joke in the premiere nearly made our own Eric Eisenberg fall off of his couch). Edwards concludes:

Well, the critics are definitely all in agreement that Tracy Morgan’s new sitcom is one we need to check out. In fact, the series premiered to a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, so be sure to check out new episodes at 8 p.m. ET Mondays on NBC and streaming the next day with a Peacock subscription.

My long experience in the field of television watching (I love my job) has taught me to always be wary when it comes to pilots – especially for comedies. It’s the unavoidable job of a debut episode to set up various characters and storylines, and when you’re handling that much exposition, it can be difficult to also properly expose the show’s comic voice and be truly funny. I’ve learned to lower my standards to a healthy extent and will hope for better if I’m keen enough on a premise and ensemble.

The Fall And Rise Of Reggie Dinkins is not a show that requires these low standards, however. After watching the premiere that is now streaming on Peacock in advance of the NBC series debut next month, I am 100 percent on board and invested. On top of having a fun plot and characters, I found myself consistently laughing from beginning to end – and one particular joke hit me so hard that I had to hit pause because I was missing too much of the show.

Tracy Morgan stars as the titular Reggie Dinkins, who is introduced as a controversial former National League Football star who was ousted from the sport after revelations that he was betting on himself for motivation. Years later, he lives in a New Jersey mansion with his best friend/former teammate (Bobby Moynihan), is engaged to a young influencer (Precious Way), and has a complicated relationship with his ex-wife/agent (Erika Alexander), with whom he has a teenage son (Jalyn Hall). As he works to try and repair his public image, he begins collaborating with a documentary filmmaker (Daniel Radcliffe) who wants to tell his story… but has a bit of baggage of his own.

Joining Netflix’s The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt as part of the 30 Rock canon, Reggie Dinkins is created by Robert Carlock and Sam Means, who each have deep ties with both shows (Carlock also being the co-creator of Kimmy Schmidt), and that history is clear in the comedy, as the material is particularly perfect for Tracy Morgan. The man has a special knack when it comes to selling a perverse blend of weird and dumb, and the aforementioned joke that rocked me and required some extra recovery time is a perfect example: in a discussion about Reggie’s questionable choices, it’s pointed out that he made the decision to purchase a very odd collectable, and I nearly fell off my couch:

If I’ve done anything to pique your curiosity about the show, you can check out the pilot of The Fall And Rise Of Reggie Dinkins with a Peacock subscription now. After you do so, you can join me in waiting for the official NBC premiere on Monday, February 23.

With the end of the 2025 TV schedule, Tracy Morgan is just a couple of months away from returning to NBC. The former SNL star is on board for The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins, scheduled to arrive in February of the 2026 TV schedule with a stacked cast. With 30 Rock creators Tina Fey and Robert Carlock on the creative team, it's only natural that Reggie Dinkins is set in the same universe as the show that was arguably Morgan's big break into scripted TV. Easter eggs are on the way, and one specific nod to 30 Rock has already been confirmed.

For The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins, Tracy Morgan plays a disgraced football player by the name of – what else? – Reggie Dinkins, who wants to rehab his image after a gambling scandal that led to the downfall of the New York Jets. His approach? Recruiting an award-winning filmmaker to produce a documentary about him. The cast also includes Daniel Radcliffe, SNL's Bobby Moynihan, Erika Alexander, Precious Way, and Jalyn Hall. Morgan's fellow 30 Rock vets are behind the scenes, with co-showrunner Robert Carlock co-creating Reggie Dinkins and Tina Fey credited as an executive producer.

Speaking with Entertainment Weekly about the new series, Tina Fey previewed the nods to one of the best sitcoms in NBC history that are on the way:

Broadcast network television isn't quite as popular nowadays as it was back in the 30 Rock era, so Reggie Dinkins might need to recruit some viewers to tune in weekly on NBC. (Then again, there will be the option of watching with a Peacock subscription next day.) Personally, I'm already crossing my fingers for "Werewolf Bar Mitzvah" to play at some point in the background of Reggie's life as an ode to 30 Rock, but Robert Carlock previewed an Easter egg that ties to Alec Baldwin's Jack Donaghy:

While timing for Tina Fey with filming Four Seasons' second season for Netflix meant that a cameo couldn't work out for Reggie Dinkins, there's still hope for other references to 30 Rock. Carlock went on to name a few ideas:

A reference to The Girly Show seems like a great nod to 30 Rock for fans of the original to enjoy without necessarily making Reggie Dinkins newcomers feel like they're missing something. Who knows? With 30 Rock available streaming both on Peacock and via a Hulu subscription, perhaps the OG sitcom will have a renaissance. As for any continuity issues with Tracy Morgan playing an entirely different character within the same TV world, co-creator Sam Means simply clarified that "Reggie just happens to look a lot like Tracy Jordan."

The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins will premiere on Monday, February 23 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC before shifting to its permanent time slot at 8:30 p.m. ET on Mondays the next week. While that may seem like a long wait, most of NBC's February lineup consists of broadcasting the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. The opening ceremony is on February 6, and the closing ceremony takes place on February 22.

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

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

Married...With Children - "Psycho Dad"

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

Gravity Falls - "Duck-tective"

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

Community - "Inspector Spacetime"

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

South Park - "The Terrance And Phillip Show"

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

Extras - "When The Whistle Blows"

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

Saturday Night Live - "TV Funhouse"

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

The Big Bang Theory - "Professor Proton"

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

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

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

Rocko's Modern LIfe - "Meet The Fatheads"

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

Home Improvement - "Tool Time"

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

Only Murders In The Building - "Brazzos"

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

Rugrats - "Oodles The Talking Poodle"

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

Stargate SG-1 - "Wormhole X-Treme"

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

The Simpsons - "The Krusty The Clown Show"

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

Murderbot - "The Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon"

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

Young Justice - "Hello, Megan!"

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

Channel Zero - "Candle Cove"

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

Steven Universe - Crying Breakfast Friends

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

Supernatural - "Ghostfacers"

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

BoJack Horseman - "Horsin' Around"

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

Twin Peaks - "Invitation To Love"

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

Seinfeld - "Jerry"

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

Family Guy - "Jolly Farm Revue"

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

Arrested Development - "Mock Trial With J. Reinhold"

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

SpongeBob SquarePants - "Mermaid Man And Barnacle Boy"

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

30 Rock - "MILF Island"

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

Lost - "Exposé"

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

DuckTales - "Ottoman Empire"

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

Drake And Josh - "Drew And Jerry"

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

My Name Is Earl - "Estrada Or Nada"

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

Futurama - "Everybody Loves Hynotoad"

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

Garfield & Friends - "The Binky Show"

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

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.

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

Apollo Bars - Lost

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

Big Kahuna Burger - Pulp Fiction

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

ACME - Looney Tunes

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

Sweetums - Parks & Recreation

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

Wonka Candy - Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory

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

Hoverboards - Back To The Future Part II

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

The Cornballer - Arrested Development

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

Kitten Mittons - It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia

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

Brawndo - Idiocracy

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

Top Of The Muffin To You

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

Dapper Dan - O Brother Where Art Thou?

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

Allied Biscuits - The Simpsons

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

Soul Glo - Coming To America

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

Stay Puft Marshmallows - Ghostbusters

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

Rocket Fuel Malt Liquor - NewsRadio

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

Tracy Jordan Meat Machine - 30 Rock

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

Los Pollos Hermanos - Breaking Bad

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

Oceanic Airlines - Lost

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

Duff Beer - The Simpsons

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

Cheesy Poofs - South Park

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

Mockolate - Friends

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

Soylent Green - Soylent Green

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

Dunder-Mifflin Paper - The Office

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

Pawtucket Brewery - Family Guy

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

Mooby's - Clerks II

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

Bubba Gump Shrimp - Forrest Gump

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

Pizza Planet - Toy Story

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

Rekall - Total Recall

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

Shotz Beer - Laverne & Shirley

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

Butterbeer - Harry Potter

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

Opti-Grab - The Jerk

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

Strictland Propane - King Of The Hill

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

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.

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

Margaret White (Carrie)

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

Lucille Bluth (Arrested Development)

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

Momma Lift (Throw Momma From The Train)

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

Livia Soprano (The Sopranos)

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

Lady Tremaine (Cinderella)

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

Selina Meyer (Veep)

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

Mary Jones (Precious)

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

Cersei Lannister (Game Of Thrones)

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

Joan Crawford (Mommie Dearest)

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

Cookie Lyon (Empire)

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

Pamela Voorhees (Friday The 13th)

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

Marie Barone (Everybody Loves Raymond)

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

Lavona Golden (I, Tonya)

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

Evelyn Harper (Two And A Half Men)

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

Petunia Dursley (The Harry Potter Movies)

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

Colleen Donaghy (30 Rock)

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

Ruth DeWitt Bukater (Titanic)

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

Brianna Barksdale (The Wire)

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

Eleanor Shaw Iselin (The Manchurian Candidate)

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

Endora (Bewitched)

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

Mrs. Robinson (The Graduate)

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

Irina Derevko (Alias)

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

Beverly Sutphin (Serial Mom)

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

Maya Lewis (Scandal)

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

Mrs. Windle Vale (Now, Voyager)

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

Ida Welker (Malcolm In The Middle)

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

Zinnia Wormwood (Matilda)

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

Dr. Beverly Hofstadter (The Big Bang Theory)

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

Alice Ward (The Fighter)

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

Constance Langdon (American Horror Story)

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

Lilly Dillon (The Grifters)

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

Norma Bates (Bates Motel)

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

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.

Lorne Michaels and Saturday Night Live have hosted some of the biggest names in Hollywood since its 1975 inception. With a slew of A-list cast members and hosts alike, the run of five decades and counting is riddled with humorous stories. Among the endless tales is that time when Tina Fey checked in with Michaels about Jon Hamm’s vibe. Specifically, she wanted to know whether or not he’d be a good fit for 30 Rock.

Both Fey and Hamm have plenty of projects in the works and slated for our 2025 Netflix schedule and 2025 TV guide, respectively. One of the Mad Men alum’s titles arrive first, with Your Friends & Neighbors rapidly approaching among the upcoming Apple TV shows. He joined Tina Fey and Interview Magazine to recount highlights of his career, including his low-key vetting for 30 Rock that was tied to his inaugural time hosting the historic late-night show. She revealed that the two hadn’t met and she checked in with Michaels if Hamm checked all the right boxes:

Clearly, the Landman series actor got the stamp of approval from the two comedy legends, and rightfully so. The body of work he has to show for himself proves he’s a talent across the board. And for that reason, he’s the next on the list of scheduled hosts and musical guests for SNL’s big 50th season (along with the April 11 premiere of his Apple drama).

Hamm jumped in to agree with the Four Seasons series creator, restating simply that it’s not great to work with people who aren’t easygoing.

It’s great to hear that their time together on 30 Rock was as fun as it looked, and just bolsters the reasons why the show remains one of the best sitcoms. Fey elaborated, revealing it’s a non-negotiable preference because it’s more important to enjoy what you can:

It’s great that both stars have continued to grow over the years, and each of them has worked that boundary into their careers. It may be more apparent in Fey’s resume, which next includes her upcoming Four Seasons show (which will be watchable with a Netflix subscription). Steve Carrell, Colman Domingo, and Will Forte seem like dream casting. But finding out that she and a handful of other 30 Rock alums are behind the coming Tracy Morgan/Daniel Radcliffe project really speaks to her process.

I wonder how Jon Hamm feels to have had the early stamp of approval from Fey and Michaels. Surely he was pleased, especially since he passed the aforementioned duo's "Make sure you weren’t a dick" test.

The Grateful Dead were never really part of mainstream culture for most of their 30-year career that ended in 1995 with the death of Jerry Garcia. Sure, they had a hit song in the '80s and now they are ubiquitous, but for years they flew under the radar despite a huge fanbase of dedicated fans. With so many diehards loving the Dead, it's actually not surprising that they are referenced quite often in pop culture. Sometimes one of their songs may pop onto a soundtrack and other times it's as simple as a lyric or a bumper sticker sneaking into a movie or TV show. This list of times the Grateful Dead have been referenced in a movie or on TV is hardly exhaustive, but it's a good start - and we're not talking about concert films here, either.

Freaks And Geeks

Freaks And Geeks doesn't seem like the kind of show that would have the Grateful Dead play an important role, but in the end - literally the end - it turns out they completely change Lindsey's life. After being gifted a copy of the band's American Beauty album, Lindsey (Linda Cardellini) decides to skip her trip to Ann Arbor and "hops on the bus" as Deadheads would say and travels with her friends to Colorado to catch the Dead in concert.

Romancing The Stone

One of the funniest scenes in Romancing The Stone comes when Jack (Michael Douglas) and Joan (Kathleen Turner) come across a downed plane full of grass. The pilot, long dead and nothing but a skeleton, is shown wearing a jacket with "Grateful Dead" written on the back. Gotta love those flyboys.

Flirting With Disaster

Until we meet Mel's parents, played by Alan Alda and Lily Tomlin, Flirting With Disaster isn't the kind of movie that screams "Grateful Dead," but after, it makes total sense that Mel (Ben Stiller) would decide his unborn child after the bands guitarist Jerry Garcia and he does, at the very end of the movie as "Truckin'" plays.

Seinfeld

This is a tough one to spot, but believe it or not, there is a quick Grateful Dead reference in a Season 4 episode of Seinfeld called "The Airport." In the episode, George catches a ride with Kramer to the airport to pick up Elaine and Jerry, and while they are driving, you can see what is clearly the top of the famous "Steal Your Face" Grateful Dead logo.

Friends

There are a few hints from time to time that Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) is a Deadhead in Friends. One of the more obvious times is after she "learns" how to play basketball with a new boyfriend, she arrives at the Central Perk wearing a Dead tie-dye the band made to honor the Lithuanian national basketball team for the Olympics.

Game Of Thrones

Author George R.R. Martin, whose books were adapted for HBO's massive hit Game Of Thrones, is a self-professed Deadhead and he has sprinkled in numerous subtle Grateful Dead references into his books and the show. Dire wolves (named after a Dead tune), Weirwood trees (named after member Bob Weir) and others are all throughout the series. Martin has even said when he is writing that "I always have Grateful Dead lyrics rattling around in my head."

LA Law

One of the more ridiculous references to the Dead came in an episode of LA Law from Season 8 called "Dead Issue." One of the plotlines involves a couple getting divorced in part because of the husband's love of the Dead. Something all Deadheads can probably relate to on some level.

Tommy Boy

Another quite subtle reference comes in the Chris Farley classic Tommy Boy when Farley is seen on his sailboat at the end of the movie. He is wearing a pretty sweet looking jacket that clearly shows a Smiling Skeleton Sun patch, another logo used by the Dead.

The Simpsons

Over the years, The Simpsons have made multiple references to the Dead, including the not-so-subtle dig at Deadheads in the episode where Homer meets people who travel the country following the Krusty Burger Ribwich. A more direct reference comes in the Season 10 episode "D'oh-in' in the Wind" when Flanders accidentally takes peyote and hallucinates seeing the band's famous Dancing Bears as he drives.

The Facts Of Life

Famously, the Grateful Dead allowed their fans to record their concerts and trade the tapes. It's a big reason the band found such a loyal fanbase. This practice was even referenced on a 1982 episode of The Facts Of Life called "Kids Can Be Cruel." Carl 'Rocky' Price (Dan Frischman) is seen carrying a tape recorder and tells Mrs. Garrett that he tapes Dead shows.

Roseanne

A Season 8 episode of Roseanne brought us one of the most bizarre Grateful Dead references. In the episode, Roseanne is in the hospital giving birth to her son, and Jerry Garcia appears as a ghost telling her that everything is going to be alright and in light of the "encounter," she decides to name her baby after the singer. It's...very odd.

One More Saturday Night

Al Franken and fellow SNL writer Tom Davis were both huge Deadheads. They often appeared with the band and went to hundreds of Dead shows over the years. In 1986 they made a movie together that you might not have even heard of. They play musicians in the movie, but the band sounds nothing like the Dead. However, they did name the movie after a Grateful Dead song, One More Saturday Night.

The Office

In a Season 3 episode of The Office called "Branch Closing" there is a brief Dead reference when Pam signs a goodbye message to Kelly with the lyrics to "Truckin'", "What a long, strange trip it's been."

South Park

The guys behind South Park don't seem like the biggest fans of the Grateful Dead. In one episode, Jerry Garcia is shown as a resident of Hell, and in another Mr. Mackey gets upset when he tells Jimbo that he can't go to a Grateful Dead concert because "Jerr-bear is dead." They also take a few shots at bands like the Dead in the episode where Cartman exterminates hippies.

Splash

In a "blink or you'll miss it" moment in Splash, Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah are walking past Radio City Music Hall and you can just make part of the Dead's name on the marquee. The band famously played the venue in 1980, though the movie was shot later.

Mask

In a tear-jerking moment at the end of Mask, after Rocky (Eric Stoltz) has died, the Dead's beautiful song "Ripple" is played just as the movie ends. It's the perfect way to end the movie and there's no way you won't cry when you watch. The movie is filled with great music from the '60s and '70s.

Ted Lasso

It's really not surprising to find that Coach Beard (Brendan Hunt) on Ted Lasso is a Deadhead. He admits that he once saw a concert featuring the Dead, The Black Crowes, and Phish jamming together. Unfortunately, in real life such a jam never actually happened, though the Crowes did open for Dead once in 1995, but they didn't share the stage.

My So-Called Life

The Grateful Dead are mentioned a few times in My So-Called Life, including when Rayanne (A.J. Langer) wears a tie-dye and talks about going to see them in concert while she is in an argument with Angela (Claire Danes) on the show. Graham also listens to the album American Beauty on the show.

Runaway Bride

There are numerous references to the Dead in the Julia Roberts and Richard Gere rom com classic The Runaway Bride. It might not be one of Roberts' best movies, but the band comes up repeatedly because one of her ex-fiances was a Deadhead. It's something Richard Gere throws in her face a few times, like it's a bad thing.

Around The Fire

Around the Fire is not a great movie, though it is notable for starring Tara Reid and, in his big screen debut, Colman Domingo as traveling fans of an unnamed rock band that is clearly meant to be the Grateful Dead. It is pretty unintentionally funny and although no Dead music is used in the movie, there is a soundtrack filled with the likes of Phish and String Cheese Incident.

Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas

During one of Raoul Duke's many benders in Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas (one of the best movies set in Vegas), there is a very brief snippet of the Grateful Dead playing in concert amongst the other images of bombs falling on Vietnam and other horrors.

Spider-Man 2

Some of the best references to the Dead come with no explanation. Take, for example, Peter's doctor in Spider-Man 2. In the scene where Peter (Tobey Maguire) meets with the doctor, the doctor is inexplicably wearing a Grateful Dead T-shirt. It's something only Deadheads would pick up on, and that is what makes it so great.

The Ben Stiller Show

In the '90s, it was never surprising to see hip comedians like Bob Odenkirk and Ben Stiller taking shots at the Dead and their fans. In one skit on The Ben Stiller Show, Odenkirk plays an insurance salesman who specialized in selling his policies to Deadheads. Of course it's filled with cliche jokes about the band and their fans and drugs, but it's hard to admit some of it isn't pretty funny.

Family Guy

In one of Family Guy's patented flashbacks, Stewie is seen at a Grateful Dead concert wearing no shirt and clearly, um, messed up, based on the state of his pupils. He makes a joke about trading his shirt (a tie-dye, of course) for a grilled cheese. Honestly, it's not that far off from reality, if we're honest, even if it is the easy joke to make.

Indian Summer

In the underrated movie Indian Summer, Bill Paxton's character is a Deadhead and is seen wearing a tank top with a classic Steal Your Face logo on it. He also mentions that work is what he does between Dead shows. In another scene, he's wearing a Crosby, Stills, and Nash tie dye, so it's easy to see what kind of music he loves.

WKRP In Cincinnati

One of the more predictable references comes from WKRP In Cincinnati. In one episode Johnny Fever (Howard Hessman) plays "Shakedown Street" by the Dead. The only thing surprising about it is that there weren't more references to the band on a show all about great '70s rock.

30 Rock

One of the most famous quotes in 30 Rock history has to be Jack advising Liz to "never go with a hippie to a second location." In another hippie reference, Jack (Alec Baldwin) tells Liz (Tina Fey) that he isn't interested in quashing his argument with the Post Master General over a Jerry Garcia stamp.

Half Baked

Half Baked is a terrible movie filled with lazy stoner jokes. It's just not a funny way to ever portray smoking. In one scene, Jim Breuer (the worst actor in the movie) "preys" to Jerry Garcia to protect them. It's stupid, but hey, it's a reference, so we'll count it.

The Wonder Years

In a TV show filled with great music from the '60s and '70s, of course there has to be a little Grateful Dead. In one scene, the whole class loads up in a bus for a field trip and as the bus heads down the highway, the all-too-appropriate "Truckin.'"

Black Hawk Down

One of the weirdest references to the Dead has to be the taxi driver in Black Hawk Down. How a cab driver in Mogadishu would end up wearing a Dead shirt is a mystery, but there it is, as he pulls up to the target he is sighting for the US military.

Apocalypse Now Redux

This one only sort of counts for this list, but it's an important one. When Francis Ford Coppola started making Apocalypse Now, he originally had the drummers in the Dead, Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzman create the soundtrack. In the end, Coppola went a different direction with the music, but when he recut the movie for the Redux version, some of their original work was used.

The Music Never Stopped

Deadheads love the song "The Music Never Stopped" so it's not surprising that it was used a movie title for a movie about a father and son reconnecting with the Dead music in common.

It’s not too much of a stretch to say that we’ve all been in a position where we put off folding laundry for so long we’re left with a giant mound of clothes, sheets, towels, and orphaned socks. What do you do in that situation? Put on a show that is perfect for background noise, of course!

With some of the best cartoons of all time, one or two of the greatest sitcoms ever made, or random docuseries and educational programs, here’s a list of 32 shows that are perfect for background noise while folding laundry.

Law & Order (1990 - 2010; 2022 - Present)

Law & Order, with its 500-plus episodes, has made the laundry-folding process a little better for decades now thanks to its grisly murders, captivating courtroom sequences, and too many “Jack McCoy” moments to count. This isn’t a knock on the show, but you don’t even really have to pay attention all that much to know what’s going on.

How It's Made (2001 - 2019)

Okay, you might get distracted by the manufacturing processes for things like Crayons, crackers, pillows, bowling balls, and thousands of other items featured on this long-running educational program, but How It’s Made makes for some great background noise. The soothing narration, that catchy music, and endless shots of everyday items being made make this a perfect option.

Home Improvement (1991 - 1999)

Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor (Tim Allen) probably never folded a shirt in his life (at least not properly), but that doesn’t mean Home Improvement is a great option for the laundry-folding machine in all of us. If you’re folding one basket, or two baskets, or trying to save your room from the pile that never goes away, this beloved ‘90s TV show will help you pass the time.

The Simpsons (1989 - Present)

With countless characters we love to hate, all kinds of zany situations, and more than 700 episodes to choose from, The Simpsons is one of those shows you can have on in the background in any situation. So, it’s not all surprising that this is a great option for laundry day.

The West Wing (1999 - 2006)

Considered one of the “peak TV era” shows, The West Wing was a staple of network television in the late ‘90s and early 2000s. That said, it’s not hard to imagine that at least a few people have gone through much of the Bartlet Administration while folding and pressing their laundry.

Friends (1994 - 2004)

When you have an episode with a title like“ The One with the East German Laundry Detergent,” you know Friends is going to be a great show to have on while folding your clothes. The landmark sitcom is pretty much the TV equivalent of a warm blanket, so it makes total sense.

Unsolved Mysteries (1987 - Present)

One of the greatest true crime shows to ever hit the small screen, Unsolved Mysteries has been there for many of us for years. First, the classic episodes hosted by Robert Stack helped us pass the time and eat snacks after school. Now, those very same episodes (as well as the Netflix revival) are there for… laundry. Where all these clothes come from is the real unsolved mystery in households around the country.

Scrubs (2001 - 2010)

Bill Lawrence’s Scrubs is one of the best comedies set in a hospital and one of the best medical shows of all time. That said, it’s also a perfect show to watch while folding laundry. Well, unless you experience one of J.D.’s elaborate daydreams while sorting socks. Maybe that explains where those missing socks have gone.

Cheers (1982 - 1993)

No judging here, but some of us have a certain stack of clothes that are pretty much like Norm from Cheers at this point. You know that the laundry will be there tomorrow like it was there today and yesterday (and the day before that).

Planet Earth (2006)

Planet Earth is one of those shows that’s perfect for just about any task around the house, especially with David Attenborough’s comforting narration perfectly explaining everything on the screen. And who knows, maybe you’ll go through the entire docuseries and its various sequels and spinoffs by the time you finish.

Burn Notice (2007 - 2013)

Aziz Ansari’s cousin Harris loves Burn Notice, but does he love watching the USA Network original show while folding his clothes? We’re kind of afraid to ask. Regardless, this spy series starring Jeffrey Donovan, Gabrielle Anwar, and Bruce Campbell is one of those shows that feels tailor-made for the mindless task of laundry sorting.

Trailer Park Boys (2001 - 2007; 2014 - 2018)

Trailer Park Boys probably isn’t the first show that comes to mind when you’re trying to be productive, but this Canadian comedy series about the residents of Sunnyvale Trailer Park is the very definition of mindless, crude entertainment. Sure, you won’t want the kids around with the show’s profanity, but this would be great for a late-night laundry session.

30 Rock (2006 - 2013)

With seven seasons and nearly 140 episodes to watch, 30 Rock has more than enough laughs and crazy moments to get you through even the biggest of laundry piles. With its cast of characters working on the fictional TGS sketch comedy series, this beloved NBC comedy will do the trick.

Full House (1987 - 1995)

What would Danny Tanner do? Well, he probably wouldn’t let his laundry situation get out of hand, despite having an ever-growing group of roommates. All jokes aside about the Full House patriarch’s obsession with cleanliness and order, this long-running sitcom has gotten millions of people through laundry baskets over the years. Join in on the fun.

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia (2005 - Present)

Now, there’s a chance you get distracted by all those absurd It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia side characters (or even the main cast), but this FX comedy series is peak-laundry folding material. Just make sure you don’t come up with some ridiculous scheme to hide the clothes or pass the task on to someone else.

The Office (2005 - 2013)

Though the series did “jump the shark” near the end, The Office is still one of the best American sitcoms ever made. With a total of 201 episodes and thousands of hilarious and iconic jokes, there’s more than enough to keep you entertained while you work your way through that basket of socks that’s been taunting you for years.

Pawn Stars (2009 - Present)

With more than 650 episodes, all kinds of remarkable and odd pieces of memorabilia and historical artifacts, Pawn Stars has been one of the most popular shows on the History Channel for years now. And while we would love to be able to say “I know a guy” who can handle all these clothes, Rick Harrison and company at Gold & Silver Pawn Shop will help make the folding process a little more entertaining.

American Pickers (2010 - Present)

Like a lot of other great History Channel shows, American Pickers is one of those series perfect for background noise. You don’t really have to follow along to the finer points of the reality program, which is perfect when you’re about halfway through a load of clothes that you really need to finish.

Seinfeld (1989 - 1998)

Who would have thought that a show about nothing would be perfect for laundry? Well, that’s the case for Seinfeld. Sure, you’re probably going to get distracted, put mismatched socks together, or accidentally merge the “keep” and “give away” stacks on the foot of the bed, but it’s worth it.

Parks And Recreation (2009 - 2015)

Though it’s unlikely that Ron Swanson would be too fond of spending hours folding clothes, Parks and Recreation is a show that is perfect for the task. Sure, you may be stuck in a pit of clothes that were washed weeks ago before you finally pull yourself out, but it’s all about the journey.

Family Guy (1999 - Present)

Family Guy, one of the best-animated series of the 21st century, is also a great show to have on in the background while doing just about anything. This includes doing laundry. Sure, there are things we’d rather be doing than folding clothes, but this long-running Fox show certainly makes the task less mind-numbing.

Gilmore Girls (2000 - 2007)

Lorelai and Rory Gilmore guiding us through the ups and downs of small-town life is a great way to make doing laundry a lot more fun, or at least more melodramatic. With seven seasons, 153 episodes, and so many romances to explore, this is definitely a great option for folks who’ve put on laundry for like two months.

The UnXplained (2019 - Present)

How did this stack of clothes get so big? Is this clean, cleanish, or dirty? Does William Shatner fold his own clothes? These are questions with no answers, but The UnXplained will distract you from those mysteries while you search for that missing sock or No Country for Old Man bootleg t-shirt that disappeared in the wash.

Suits (2011 - 2019)

From 2011 to 2019, few shows reached the heights experienced by Suits. This USA Network drama about the high-stakes world of corporate law introduced viewers to all kinds of characters and intense situations along the way. And while few, if any, of those managing partners and ladder-climbing associates did their own laundry, they can help you do yours.

The X Files (1993 - 2002; 2016 - 2018)

A show that made it more than 10 seasons, The X Files was one of the most well-known and watched series of the ‘90s. If you want to mix things up with the laundry and imagine a world in which aliens and other paranormal creatures appear (and possibly help fold those fitted sheets), this landmark sci-fi show will do the trick.

The Great British Baking Show (2014 - Present)

The Great British Baking Show, or The Great British Bake Off as it’s known in its native United Kingdom, is one of the most delicious, hilarious, and watchable cooking shows to ever grace the small screen. While we typically prefer seeing these delectable creations (or disasters) in all their glory, maybe folding clothes will distract and prevent you from mindlessly eating as you watch.

Modern Family (2009 - 2020)

There’s nothing dysfunctional about the Dunphy and Pritchett families from Modern Family, right? Well, maybe a little. This long-running sitcom is one the best options when you’re trying to fold clothes, or really do anything around the house. You’ll be so fixated by Phil coming up with some scheme, Cameron and Mitchell having a meltdown, or Jay being over it all that you’ll forget you’re doing laundry.

Somebody Feed Phil (2018 - Present)

Somebody Feed Phil, a show that follows Everybody Loves Raymond co-creator Phil Rosenthal as he travels the globe to eat anything and everything in his field of view. With so many seasons, so many culinary explorations, and some hilarious moments involving a man loving food way too much, there’s a lot to enjoy.

House (2004 - 2012)

House is one of those shows you can start watching halfway through an episode and still get a lot of enjoyment out of it. One of the best medical dramas of the 21st century, this show starring Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House will allow you to solve all sorts of medical problems and mysteries as you fold your kids' clothes that never really seem to get clean.

Grey's Anatomy (2005 - Present)

Since its debut in 2005, Grey’s Anatomy has combined elements of the medical drama genre with romance and sometimes action to create an experience like no other. If you’re looking for hundreds of hours of TV to help make the laundry go from a mound of madness to a stack of clothes you’ll soon forget to put away, this is the stuff.

MTV True Life (1998 - 2017)

MTV True Life was a long-running documentary series that chronicled pretty much every aspect of life for teenagers, adults, and everyone else. With dozens of episodes about everything from wrestling to odd obsessions, you’ll have a lot of variety when you’re folding the sheets.

How I Met Your Mother (2005 - 2014)

How I Met Your Mother has nine seasons of romance, bromance, chaos, and more twists and turns than anyone can count. That’s why it’s such a darn good show for the weekly (or monthly) laundry experience. Watch Ted Mosby fall in and out of love and back in it again as you contemplate your own life, or at least laundry decisions.

The so-called "Golden Age" or "Peak TV era" of television is broadly (and roughly) defined as the running from the debut of The Sopranos to the finale of Better Call Saul. This isn't a perfect description, as there are still some really amazing shows that continue part, like, say, Severance, just to name one. But, for this article, we're going to stick to those parameters. Without further ado, here is our list of some of the truly great shows from the Peak Era of television.

Game Of Thrones

We certainly couldn't make this list without the grand dragon on them all, HBO's Game of Thrones. Though the ending made a lot of people mad and you can argue that the show declined greatly in its last couple of seasons, it doesn't diminish the greatest of the show's early years. With some of the most shocking moments in TV history, the show was must-watch TV for all eight seasons.

Atlanta

Creator and star of Atlanta Donald Glover proved yet again that he is a once-in-a-lifetime talent. Over six years and four seasons the show and its star were showered with acclaim and industry awards, including multiple Golden Globes and Emmys. Not only did Glover win an Emmy for acting on the FX series, but he became the first African-American to win Best Director at the Emmys in the show's first season.

The West Wing

There aren't a lot of network TV shows on this list, but one that simply has to be is The West Wing. For seven seasons in the early 2000s, the NBC hit was one of the best shows in network history. Featuring a long list of stars that included Martin Sheen, Rob Lowe, Dulé Hill, Allison Janney, and many other cast members, The West Wing gave us all a look into all that government can be if we want it to be.

Lost

Pardon the pun, but it's fair to say that ABC's Lost lost its way towards the end. A confluence of events, including a writer's strike, left fans more than a little annoyed with the show's final couple of seasons, but those first few years were simply incredible. The show, which debuted in 2004, was one of the first shows that was ever described as "bingable" and with good reasons, the cliffhangers were amazing.

Mad Men

In a lot of ways, AMC's Mad Men kind of came out of nowhere. Set in the 1960s, it was unlike anything on TV at the time and the longer it went on, the better it got, which is rare for any show. It made a star out of Jon Hamm and fascinated viewers each week both with its wonderful storytelling and its look back at one of the most turbulent and interesting decades in American history.

The Office

In an era when sitcoms were evolving and struggling to keep up with their dramatic counterparts, The Office was one of the biggest shows of all time (that's what she said). Steve Carell's performance as the worst boss in the world became one of the most quotable and memed shows ever. It's true the NBC show did suffer some when Carell left after Season 7, the legacy of the show was well-established by then.

Downton Abbey

If you had bet on a period piece set on an opulent estate during Edwardian England would be a massive hit, most of the time, you'd lose. If you placed that bet on Downton Abbey, however, you'd have won big. There are no action sequences, stunts, or special effects. It's simply a wonderfully told story with fantastic characters played by excellent actors.

Better Call Saul

As a spinoff to another Peak TV era show, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul found its own place in television history. It's a very different show from the show that birthed it, as it's a little more surreal and, frankly, funny. In some people's eyes, the AMC's show's finale in 2022 marks the end of an era.

The Wire

Famously, The Wire was never a monster hit for HBO. Certainly not on the level of The Sopranos, which ran during roughly the same few years. Still, it has maintained a spot at the top or near the top of almost any list of "Best TV Shows in History." The Wire plays out like a 60-hour movie or a great book. The character development is unrivaled and the storytelling is heartbreaking, uplifting, and frustrating (in a good way). There is no doubt that the show will be remembered as one of the best for a long, long time.

Breaking Bad

What can we write about Breaking Bad that hasn't already been written. Widely considered the best (or close to the best) TV show of all time, the Bryan Cranston-led show was wildly popular with both fans and critics alike. It is one of the darkest shows in history, but that never diminished the love for it.

Narcos

Netflix landed itself a massive hit with Narcos in 2015. Wagner Moura, who played the kingpin Pablo Escobar stole the show with his uncanny and incredible performance as the notorious drug lord and Pedro Pascal found a new level of fame as one of the DEA agents trying to bring Escobar down. The show's third season, which shifted away from the Escobar story after the character's death wasn't quite on the level of the first two, but the show was popular enough to launch a spinoff, Narcos: Mexico, which ran for three seasons as well.

The Sopranos

The Sopranos' debut on HBO in January of 1999 marks the unofficial beginning of the Golden Age of Television - or at least the modern Golden Age. The production value, storytelling, and acting on the show were unlike anything anyone had ever seen. the characters were fully formed almost from the moment they first hit the screen and the story that unfolded, about a mafia boss played by the late, great James Gandolfini trying to keep both his crime family and his actual family together was simply unparalleled. Right down to the end and the show's much-talked-about finale.

Grey's Anatomy

As one of the longest-running prime-time shows in history, Grey's Anatomy has run for almost the entire era of "peak TV." Since its debut in 2005 and over more than 20 seasons and 400 episodes, the show has just kept chugging along with a devoted fanbase who stayed with it over the decades and though the endless cast changes can be frustrating, the show is remarkable.

24

One of the very first "bingable" shows would have to be 24. The Kiefer Sutherland-led action show from Fox kept viewers on the edge of their seats for nine seasons, one TV movie (24: Redemption), and a couple of spin-offs. It all made 24 one of the most bankable franchises of the era.

Six Feet Under

The early 2000s were an incredible era for HBO. Along with The Sopranos and The Wire, the network had another one of the best shows of the era with Six Feet Under. The show told the story of the Fisher family and their trials and turbulations running the family business, a funeral home. Mix in some supernatural elements and HBO had a unique hit on their hands.

Modern Family

Network sitcoms that enter the general cultural zeitgeist are few and far between these days. Certainly not like they were in their heyday of the 1970s and '80s. There are still a few that break through though, like Modern Family. For a time, it seemed as those everyone in the country was watching the ups and downs of the most dysfunctional and wonder families in TV history. For 11 seasons, the ABC hit dominated the ratings and is still a hit on streaming years after airing its finale in 2020.

Orange Is the New Black

Orange Is the New Black wasn't the first "prestige TV" show from Netflix, but it's safe to say it solidified Netflix's spot among the biggest players in the industry. For seven seasons over six years, the prison comedy-drama told the semi-autobiographical story of Piper Kerman, whose book of the same name was the basis for the show. Kerman spent a year in prison and many of the stories in the show reflected or told the experiences she had while in jail.

Deadwood

Many of the best Westerns on film came out many decades ago. On TV, there were big hits in the '50s and '60s like Gunsmoke and Bonanza, but the best Western television show of the 21st Century, Deadwood has almost nothing in common with any of those. The show was dark, crass, and unlike anything else on TV. The verbose language and insane moments made must-see TV at the time. Sadly it was never quite as popular as it should have been and that made for some herky-jerky starts-and-stops between seasons, but the show never dipped in quality.

Friday Night Lights

"Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose," from a speech by Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler) in Friday Night Lights has become part of the television canon, just as the show has. Based on the movie starring Billy Bob Thornton about the spectacle that is high school football in Texas, the show has outshined its source material in almost every way.

Veep

Julia Louis-Dreyfus is unique. She not only starred in the biggest sitcom of the 1990s, Seinfeld, but she's followed it up with two more hot shows. First in the '00s she won awards for The New Adventures of Old Christine and then in the 2010s had maybe her best performance as the hapless, power-hungry Vice President on HBO's Veep for which she won an incredible seven Emmys in a row.

House Of Cards

In 2013 Netflix loudly announced it was ready to be a player in the Peak Age of TV with House Of Cards, starring Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright. Based on a British show of the same name, the show highlighted the darkest corners of politics and despite the show losing some steam when Kevin Spacey got caught in the middle of a serious legal battle forcing him off the show and effectively ending his career, it still deserves recognition for all six seasons it ran for.

The Walking Dead

Over 11 seasons and 177 episodes, it's fair to say that not every moment on The Walking Dead was peak TV. That doesn't tell the whole story though, because when The Walking Dead was great, it was really great. The AMC zombie show was a ratings monster and cultivated one of the most dedicated fanbases ever, which led to multiple spinoffs that will seemingly run forever.

Boardwalk Empire

When Boardwalk Empire premiered on HBO in 2009, it came with a lot of hype as the mind behind it, Terrence Winter, had been of the key creative minds behind The Sopranos. While Boardwalk Empire never quite reached the lofty heights of The Sopranos, it was still one of the best shows on TV in its time.

Sons Of Anarchy

Like a few other shows on this list, FX's Sons Of Anarchy isn't a perfect show. There were some ill-advised plot decisions, like moving the gang to Ireland for a while, but like those other shows, when SOA was good, it was really, really good. The characters became our own dysfunctional family who we laughed, cried, and died with over the show's seven seasons. A spinoff, Mayans M.C., wasn't as good, but it also found a fanbase and lasted for five seasons.

The Americans

Of all the shows on this list, the one that maybe flew under the radar more than most has to be The Americans. The FX show was just... cool. It was a spy thriller that brought the Cold War back to U.S. television. Set in the '80s and starring Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys, the show ran for six great seasons and never really fell off as so many other shows do.

30 Rock

How do you follow up an incredible run as a star and head writer on SNL? Well, if you're as talented and funny as Tina Fey, you create one of the most beloved sitcoms of the 21st Century with 30 Rock. If nothing else, the show left us with the important bit of advice that you should never go with a hippie to a second location.

Justified

FX's Justified updated the Western for the 21st Century. Based on a book for Elmore Leonard and starring Timothy Olyphant as a 21st-century lawman with with his heart in the 19th Century, Justified was as noir as you'd expect from a story by Leonard and the acting is, across the board, fantastic.

True Detective

One of the darkest shows during the Peak Era of TV had to be True Detective, especially the first season. The unconventional storytelling was brought to life brilliantly by stars Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson and while the show was still great for a couple of more seasons, it really was that first season that stood out and above the others.

Succession

On HBO's Succession, the entire Roy family are all awful people. It's a show entirely made of characters we love to hate. We hated them so much, we couldn't wait to tune in each week to see what awful things they would do and it made the show unique and magical in that way.

Homeland

Showtime's Homeland started with a bang in its first season, or rather, almost ended its first season with a bang that never happened. The spy thriller starring Claire Danes and Damian Lewis was the ultimate nail-biter as no one really knew how the season would end. While the end of that first season was probably the pinnacle of the show, it ended up airing for seven more excellent seasons.

Battlestar Galactica

Interestingly, though there are some exceptions, Sci-Fi wasn't a huge part of the era. One of those exceptions was Battlestar Galactica, a reboot of the old series from the 1970s. The new version was a mystery wrapped in a space adventure and featured some of the craziest twists of any show from the time.

Barry

It's always cool to see an actor known primarily for their comedic talents take on a more serious role and Bill Hader in Barry is a perfect example. Sure, there is some dark comedy in the show of course, but, especially as the show went on, the character played by Hader was as complex as any character we've seen on TV and Hader is amazing.

Jon Hamm is one of the most acclaimed actors of his time – not just for his Emmy and Golden Globe-winning performance in the Mad Men cast as Don Draper and other dramatic works but also for his stellar comedic timing, which he has demonstrated as an all-time great Saturday Night Live host and in other hilarious TV shows and movies. Relive these moments of comedy gold with our picks for some of the funniest Jon Hamm quotes.

"On A Bed Made Of Money" - Mad Men

A defining Don Draper moment from Mad Men occurs in the first season of the hits AMC period drama series. When asked how he sleeps at night making a living perpetuating lies, Jon Hamm’s 1960s-era ad executive drops this epic comeback.

"I'm A Man Of Faith. I Believe In Gosh And His Son, Jeepers..." - Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Jon Hamm would prove that he can also play a despicable, albeit extremely kooky, villain with his role as Rev. Richard Wayne Gary Wayne on Netflix's Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, starring his former acting student, Ellie Kemper. When presenting his opening statement in a trial against him, the cult leader and captor attempts to convince the jury that he was merely exercising his religious beliefs but does not seem to have deities straight.

"I Believe We Outsource That Sort Of Thing" - Good Omens

Jon Hamm portrayed an unmerciful version of Gabriel the Archangel in the series adaptation of the satirical fantasy novel, Good Omens. He demonstrates the original Amazon Prime TV show's clever modernization of biblical lore when answering Aziraphale's (Michael Sheen) question about who summons the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

"A Lot Of Guys Come Up To Me And Say That They Totally Identify With Don Draper, Which I'm Pretty Sure Means That They Just Really Wanna Cheat On Their Wife" - Saturday Night Live

Among his many defining qualities – from his drinking and smoking habits to his talent for whipping up a winning ad slogan on the spot – Mad Men's Don Draper is, perhaps, best known as an unfaithful serial womanizer. Jon Hamm would address in his monologue from the second time he hosted Saturday Night Live.

"And I Just Refilled The Cans" - Archer

In the two-part Season 4 finale of one of the best animated TV shows, Archer, Jon Hamm lent his voice to Captain Hazel "Hank" Murphy – a character who originated on the classic animated adventure series, SeaLab 2020 and was later parodied on Sealab 2021. The misguided underwater laboratory leader meets a bitter end when he is crushed by a soda vending machine, which might have been a little lighter had he not recently replenished it.

"You Are No Longer My Number 3!" - Bridesmaids

Jon Hamm gives one of the most hilarious, scene-stealing performances in his uncredited role in the Bridesmaids cast as Ted, who shares a purely physical, one-sided relationship with Annie (Kristen Wiig). However, her status as one of his top three side pieces comes to an end when she decides she has had enough of him, prompting him to utter one of Bridesmaids' best one-liners as he drives away.

"They Used Footage Of Me From My High School Swim Team To Draw Prince Eric" - 30 Rock

In one of the best 30 Rock episodes, Liz Lemon (creator Tina Fey) starts dating Dr. Drew Baird (Jon Hamm), whose handsomeness has allowed him to live in a bubble of blissful ignorance all his life. When she compares his look to a "Disney Prince," he reveals that he was the actual inspiration for Ariel's love interest in 1989's The Little Mermaid, which is one of the most believable gags from the otherwise absurd sitcom.

"You Can't Turn The Interior Of A Car Into A Urinal" - Clear History

In the 2013 HBO original movie Clear History, Jon Hamm plays electric car manufacturer Will Haney, whose argument with marketing executive Nathan (Larry David) causes the latter to back out of the deal, which he later comes to regret. One point of their conflict is Will's rejection of an idea for a device installed in the vehicle that allows the driver to urinate while on the road.

"I Do Not Sully The Temple Of My Celestial Body With Gross Matter" - Good Omens

Being a heavenly angel blessed with eternal life means that you could probably eat any food you wanted without consequence. However, Jon Hamm's vain iteration of Gabriel the Archangel from Good Omens still balks at the idea when he spots Aziraphale at a sushi restaurant.

"Sergio!" Saturday Night Live

In the hilarious SNL Digital Short, "The Curse," Andy Samberg plays a businessman whose life is ruined by a spell that causes him to experience random, disruptive visits by a saxophone player named Sergio (Jon Hamm). The mysterious musician's appearances are capped off when breaks the fourth wall and blurts out his name in a nondescript accent, accompanied by a caption at the bottom right-hand corner.

“Imagine That It Was 2009” - Billy On The Street

Jon Hamm appears in an episode of Billy on the Street in which he and Billy Eichner ask random bystanders if they would have relations with both of them. Eichner mentions that the actor does not get the buzz he used to so Hamm asks one woman to recall a time when he was on top of the world.

"I Don't Think About You At All" - Mad Men

Perhaps the ultimate Don Draper quote (or, more accurately, insult) comes from the Season 9 Mad Men episode, "Dark Shadows." After a disgruntled Michael Ginsberg (Ben Feldman) tells Draper that he feels bad for him and his high and mighty attitude, the executive drops this scintillating burn right before leaving the elevator.

"Everyone Wants To See A Middle-Aged Superman, With The Power Of Handicapped Parking" - Conan

In 2010, Jon Hamm was rumored to be considered to play Superman, which Conan O'Brien enthusiastically brought up when the actor appeared on his self-titled TBS talk show that year. The then-39-year-old then responded by poking fun at what a version of the Man of Steel portrayed by him might be like.

"That Rat Was A Devil's Trick. Just Like When The Devil Made It SOUND Like I Was Arguing With A Pizza Guy About What A Half Hour Means" - Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

In a funny flashback from Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, the still-captive title character confronts Jon Hamm's Rev. Richard Wayne Gary Wayne about evidence she found suggesting the world had not ended after all. He tries to convince her that the rat she discovered was not real but a satanic illusion, much like when she thought she heard the reverend trying to score a free pizza delivery.

"Thank You For The, Literally, Hundreds Of Opportunities You Have Given Me" - Parks And Recreation

One of Jon Hamm's best random cameos occurs in the Season 6 finale of Parks and Recreation, in which he plays the most incompetent person Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) has ever worked with, Ed. After announcing he has lost a very important document, Knope promptly gives him the shaft, which accepts before courteously thanking her for his many undeserved chances.

"'What's Up, Hamm Solo?'" - Saturday Night Live

SNL's fake compilation of Star Wars: The Force Awakens auditions mostly features cast members impersonating famous actors but does feature a few celebrities appearing as themselves, such as Jon Hamm. The actor shows he is clearly a fan of the Star Wars movies by showing up in full costume – not as Harrison Ford's Han Solo as one might assume but as a similar character of his own creation.

"Would It Be Possible For Me To Be Sent To A Women's Prison?" - Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

In the Season 1 finale of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Jon Hamm's Rev. Richard Wayne Gary Wayne is thankfully found guilty of intentionally holding Kimmy and other young women captive for personal gain. He lets the blinds come down completely as he is being escorted out of the courtroom by requesting that he be locked up with other females.

"Stay Calm. I Just Need To Shake It Loose" - 30 Rock

Liz Lemon's absent-minded boyfriend from Season 3 of 30 Rock, Drew Baird, must have been able to become a certified pediatrician purely because of his looks and not for his intelligence. Otherwise, he would have known the Heimlich maneuver instead of assuming that shaking the obstruction loose or pushing it down were acceptable choking remedies.

"They're All Gone. I Had Them Murdered" - The Graham Norton Show

While appearing on the popular U.K. talk show, The Graham Norton Show, Jon Hamm tells a story about how Mad Men producers initially believed he was not attractive enough to play Don Draper. Fellow guest Charlize Theron then asks if they are blind and if they are "still alive and working" in the industry, which inspires Hamm to make this joke.

"We Should Definitely Start Using The 'Ambitious Susan'" - Curb Your Enthusiasm

Jon Hamm became one of the absolute best Curb Your Enthusiasm guest stars when he appeared as himself shadowing Larry David as research for a role inspired by the comedian. Through spending so much time with Larry, he begins to take on some of his most despicable characteristics, such as when he belittles a fellow dinner party guest with this joke after she says that the term "Lazy Susan" has racist and misogynistic connotations.

"If You Can Find A Better Place For Pork And Champagne, Keep It To Yourself" - Saturday Night Live

"Hamm & Bublé" (pronounced "bubbly" in this case) is both a great SNL sketch featuring the host as themselves (Jon Hamm) and a great SNL sketch featuring a famous musician (musical guest Michael Bublé). It is framed as an ad for a restaurant specializing in ham and champagne (sometimes used together), which the Canadian crooner tries to discreetly reveal he is being forced to participate in by this hilariously misguided and controlling version of Hamm.

"I Was The Number One Dead Horse Removal Service For Local Farmers" - Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

One of Jon Hamm's funniest moments as Rev. Richard Wayne Gary Wayne on Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt sees him filming an audition tape to be on The Apprentice. He discusses his successful business removing the corpses of deceased farm horses before revealing that some of his competitors became suspicious when too many horses were dying in his area.

"Apparently, I'm Here To Help You Sit Down" - The Greatest Event In Television History

The first episode of Adult Swim's four-part, mockumentary-style miniseries The Greatest Event in Television History chronicles Adam Scott and Jon Hamm's recreation of the opening credits of Simon & Simon, which is so disastrous that Hamm suddenly and mysteriously dies. In the third episode, Hamm comes back as a ghost to help Scott get over his inability to sit in a chair for his recreation of the opening titles for Too Close for Comfort.

"I Can't Believe You've Held Eye Contact This Long, Honestly" - Late Night With Conan O'Brien

During Jon Hamm's first interview with Conan O'Brien (from his last year at Late Night), the actor's reputation as a Hollywood hunk was addressed. The actor jokingly discussed the "precautions" he has had to take to make others feel more comfortable when interacting with him due to this extreme handsomeness and commended the late-night talk show host for his ability to look directly at him.

"Automatically, We Go To Hebrew And Then It's Gonna Be A Whole Thing" - Keeping Up With The Joneses

In the 2016 spy comedy Keeping Up with the Joneses, Jon Hamm and Gal Gadot play a couple whose hidden lives as secret agents are uncovered by their average neighbors, played by Zach Galifianakis and Isla Fisher. They also discover that they do not have the perfect marriage, sometimes demonstrated by Gadot's character and her tendency to berate her husband in a language he does not understand when she is irritated with him.

"She's A Pirate, Price, And My Jolly Roger Was At Full Mast The Whole Drive Over" - Saturday Night Live

Jon Hamm delivers a gut-busting impersonation of James Mason in SNL's "Vincent Price's Halloween Special" sketch. The actor arrives at the home of the horror movie icon (played by Bill Hader) with Sunset Boulevard's Gloria Swanson who claims her Halloween costume is a pirate, prompting Mason's in-poor-taste joke.

"Can You Just Imagine That These Are On You Now?" - Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

In Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, during the trial against Rev. Richard Wayne Gary Wayne, the cult leader is, somehow, able to manipulate everyone in the courtroom by Kimmy. For instance, he fails to perform a handcuffs escape trick in front of her and just decides to see if she will play along with it, to no avail.

"If Anyone Wants To Hang, I Will Be At Subway!" - Parks And Recreation

Following his Season 6 cameo on Parks and Recreation as Ed, Jon Hamm reprises the role in the Season 7 premiere. We see him finally leave City Hall but not without letting people know they find him at a certain restaurant chain at an unspecified location. Good luck spotting him!

"That's It! Bite The Head, Gary. Bite The Head Hard!" - Saturday Night Live

In Season 36, SNL produced a partially live-action version of "The Ambiguously Gay Duo" starring Jon Hamm as Ace and Jimmy Fallon as Gary. The hilarious pre-recorded bit ends the very suggestive sight of the duo trying to defeat a giant killer eel, with Ace securing its tail from between his legs, forcing Gary to bite its head off.

“Of Course There Does! Otherwise, How Would We Win It?" - Good Omens

A main plot point in Good Omens is Gabriel's push to bring forth the Apocalypse and incite war between angels and demons. When Aziraphale pleads that there does not need to be a heavenly war, he only has this to say.

"My Ponytail Is Cool. God Said So" - Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Rev. Richard Wayne Gary Wayne attempts to fight Kimmy Schmidt's insult about his hair by claiming it has approval from the Almighty.

"To Be In Star Wars When I Grow Up" - The Tonight Show

On The Tonight Show, when gathering words and phrases for a game of "Mad Libs Theatre," Jimmy Fallon asks Jon Hamm to give him a childhood birthday wish. As he gives his answer, he glares enviously at fellow guest Keri Russell, who was in 2019's Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

Sitcoms are meant to bring joy into the homes of those who watch them. However, not every episode manages to please every viewer and, in some instances, might stir up enough outrage to get banned. Such a fate actually befell some of the following episodes from the best sitcoms of all time which caused controversy.

"The Puppy Episode" - Ellen

At the same time Ellen Degeneres came out of the closet in real life, so did her sitcom alter ego – the first lead character on a TV series to do so – in "The Puppy Episode." While the two-part Season 4 episode of Ellen proved to be an Emmy-winning success and a big ratings win, many affiliates of ABC refused to air the episode and several sponsors chose not to advertise during its broadcast

"Edith's 50 Birthday" - All In The Family

In a two-part episode from the eighth season of All in the Family called "Edith's 50th Birthday," Jean Stapleton's character is nearly assaulted by a stranger posing as a detective whom she manages to escape but not without traumatizing circumstances. While remembered as one of the most powerful dramatic moments in a sitcom, seeing a character like Edith involved in such a harrowing situation was overwhelmingly "heartbreaking" for some to watch.

"Partial Terms Of Endearment" - Family Guy

Originally intended to be the Season 8 finale for Family Guy, "Partial Terms Of Endearment" sees Lois (Alex Borstein) agree to carry a child for a couple but, when they suddenly die in an accident, she considers having an abortion. The episode's satirical approach to a hotly debated serious topic led it to be banned from airing on American television but has been made available in the United States on DVD.

"Running Zack" - Saved By The Bell

Zack Morris is known today as one of the most ill-behaved sitcom kids for many reasons but one time Saved by the Bell tried to pain him in an admirable light has since backfired heavily. Star Mark-Paul Gosselaar later voiced regret over this Saved by the Bell episode in which his character discovers he has Native American ancestry and actually dons a headdress for a class presentation.

"You Say Potatoe, I Say Potato" - Murphy Brown

In the Season 4 finale of Murphy Brown, Candace Bergen's title character chooses to raise her new baby on her own – a decision that was criticized by then-Vice President Dan Quayle. The following season's premiere was written in response to this and even directly acknowledged the vice president's comments.

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" - Roseanne

Roseanne was a revolutionary moment in sitcom history as a TV show featuring blue-collar characters but it also pushed boundaries in many other ways, such as an episode when Roseanne Barr's title character kisses a woman in a lesbian Barr. The comedian had to fight ABC on their hesitation to air the episode fearing there it would spark a backlash from religious conservatives and they turned out to be right.

"The Bicycle Man" - Diff'rent Strokes

In a famous "very special episode" of Diff'rent Strokes, Arnold (Gary Coleman) and his friend, Dudley (Shavar Ross) discover that a bicycle shop owner named Mr. Horton (Gordon Jump) is the kind of grown-up parents would not want their children to be alone with. While acclaimed for its bold depiction of the dangers of inappropriate attention from adults directed at minors, it was criticized for not downplaying its humor as much as it could have.

"Episode #1.1" - Soap

Right out of the gate, the revolutionary daytime drama spoof Soap garnered intense backlash by a wide margin for its approach to topics that were still very sensitive in the late 1970s. Billy Crystal's character, Jodie Dallas, was criticized both by anti-gay groups as well as the gay community, which felt that the otherwise groundbreaking characters portrayed their culture in a stereotypical and mocking fashion.

"Maude's Dilemma" - Maude

In the premiere season of Maude, the also beloved spin-off from All in the Family aired a two-part episode in which Bea Arthur's title character becomes pregnant and decides that, at her age, she would rather not have the baby. "Maude's Dilemma" was the first episode of a television show to acknowledge the abortion debate, which led to CBS receiving thousands of letters in protest.

"The Puerto Rican Day" - Seinfeld

The penultimate episode of Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David's mega-hit comedy is not considered one of the best episodes of Seinfeld for the same reasons it was taken out of circulation for years. "The Puerto Rican Day" – in which the gang gets stuck in traffic due to the eponymous parade – was viewed as culturally insensitive, particularly for one scene when Kramer accidentally lights a Puerto Rican flag on fire and tries to stomp it out, but has since been made available in syndication and on streaming.

"Lucy Is Enceinte" - I Love Lucy

In the 1950s, saying the word "pregnant" was not permitted on television, which is why you never actually hear Lucy (Lucille Ball) say the word in her many attempts to tell Ricky (Desi Arnaz) her big news in this classic I Love Lucy episode. Despite its clever censorship, "Lucy is Enceinte" almost did not air due to advertisers' reluctance because the mere topic of making Lucy pregnant would mean acknowledging that she and Ricky had been intimate.

"The Speech" - The IT Crowd

In the third season of the hilarious British sitcom, The IT Crowd, Matt Berry's Douglas Reynholm discovers his girlfriend, April, is a transwoman (as demonstrated in a tasteless montage of her performing traditionally masculine tasks), which leads to a violent end to their relationship. Considered abhorrent upon broadcast, the U.K.'s Channel 4 decided to pull the episode from its streaming service in 2020, prompting creator Graham Lineman to cut ties with the network.

"The One With The Lesbian Wedding" - Friends

The first TV series to depict the marriage between two women was Friends in Season 2's "The One with the Lesbian Wedding." However, many NBC network affiliates, including in Texas, refused to air the episode in which Ross' ex-wife, Carol (Jane Sibbett), and her girlfriend, Susan (Jessica Hecht), tie the knot.

"Advanced Dungeons & Dragons" - Community

For years, the Season 2 Community episode, "Advanced Dungeons & Dragons" was not available to stream, due to a moment when Ken Jeong's Chang dons what appears to be blackface to cosplay as a "dark elf." However, Community cast member Yvette Nicole Brown, when speaking to Gizmodo, defended the episode, especially since her character, Shirley Bennett, calls out Chang's insensitive act.

"Stark Raving Dad" - The Simpsons

Michael Jackson makes an uncredited appearance in an episode of The Simpsons as the voice of an institutionalized man who believes he is the "Thriller" singer. In 2019, following the release of the documentary, Leaving Neverland, the episode was pulled from circulation and has since been made unavailable to stream.

"Eric's Buddy" - That 70s Show

Joseph Gordon-Levitt guest starred on That '70s Show as Buddy, whom Eric (Topher Grace) discovers is interested in more than lab partners when he plants a kiss on him. The otherwise refreshingly open-minded episode has been criticized for reducing the openly gay character to not much more than a punchline and a means for Eric to reinforce his identity as a straight man.

"200" - South Park

South Park is known for its many boundary-pushing moments, which creator Matt Stone and Trey Parker decided to pay tribute to in the animated series' two-part 200th episode. Unsurprisingly, the episode would face heavy backlash and, since its initial broadcast, has been censored for its depiction of Muslim faith.

"Koi Pond" - The Office

One example of an ill-fated prank from The Office that some fans have probably never seen comes from the since-removed cold open for an episode called "Koi Pond." In it, Michael (Steve Carell) stages a suicide for Dunder-Miffling's Halloween haunted house attraction, traumatizing the young trick-or-treaters and angering viewers for its insensitive approach to the subject.

"Comedians" - Beavis And Butt-Head

When Beavis and Butt-Head pursue stand-up comedy careers and fail, they retaliate by setting fire to the club where they performed and happily giggle as it burns to the ground. In 1993, a The New York Times report claimed that five-year-old Austin Messner watched the episode and accidentally killed his sister by setting his own home on fire, prompting MTV to pull it from rotation. However, in 2008, the 20-year-old Messner revealed (via PopCulture) that he never watched Beavis and Butt-Head because his addict mother could not afford cable.

"I'll See You In Court" - Married... With Children

While Married... with Children never had the squeakiest reputation, Fox refused to air an episode in which Al (Ed O'Neill) and Peg Bundy (Katey Sagal) discover their night at a motel was recorded and file a lawsuit. While initially deemed in poor taste, an edited version of the episode finally made it to air on FX years later.

"Live Show" - 30 Rock

Both times 30 Rock put on a live episode, the shows were met with backlash for the use of Blackface. For instance, the East Coast broadcast of Season 5's "Live Show" would be pulled from syndication for a scene in which guest star Jon Hamm's character shows off his hand transplant from a Black donor.

"Prom-ises, Prom-ises" - Boy Meets World

Some episodes of the beloved TGIF comedy Boy Meets World were removed from Disney Channel's rotation of reruns, including Season 5's "Prom-ises, Prom-ises." The plot sees teen lovers Cory (Ben Savage) and Topanga (Danielle Fishel) considering the decision to consummate their relationship on prom night, only to discover his parents are having their own fun in a nearby hotel room.

"The Hunger Strike" - The Boondocks

It took 12 years for "The Hunger Strike," an episode of The Boondocks that was originally called "BET Sucks" and set to air on Adult Swim in 2008, to finally be shown on American television. The actual reason for the banning has not been confirmed but reports claim that BET threatened litigation, due to its overtly scathing spoofing of the cable network's programming.

"Mid-Life Crustacean" - SpongeBob Squarepants

Even a Nicktoon as beloved as SpongeBob Squarepants has a couple of episodes that modern audiences will never see on Nickelodeon or with a Paramount+ subscription and, in retrospect, it is surprising that one of them ever made it to air. Season 3's "Mid-Life Crustacean" involves a scene when Mr. Krabs (Clancy Brown), in a bid to reclaim his youth, joins SpongeBob (Tom Kenny) and Patrick (Bill Fagerbakke) to raid a woman's undergarment drawer, only to discover too late that they have broken into his mother's house.

"Boston" - Aqua Teen Hunger Force

In 2007, battery-powered LED placards designed to resemble Aqua Teen Hunger Force characters called The Mooninites were placed around Boston as a marketing strategy for the adult animated movie, Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters, but were mistaken for explosive devices. The original show's writers decided to create an episode based on the incident, in which Frylock (Carey Means), Master Shake (Dana Snyder), and Meatwad (Dave Wilis) are mistaken for explosives in Boston. The episode would become the first in the series to get banned but was later leaked online in 2015.

"Something's Up There" - Back To You

The short-lived Fox sitcom Back to You – starring Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton as bickering news anchors – has been largely forgotten since it ended in 2008. However, one episode was deemed controversial upon airing for the following line said to a Polish character when trying to convince them to go bowling: "Come on, it's in your blood, like Kielbasa and collaborating with the Nazis."

"Leap Frogs" - Rocko's Modern Life

Not only was Rocko's Modern Life one of the weirdest Nicktoons ever but it was especially one of the lewdest. Nickelodeon let plenty of mature humor slide but did ban an episode in which Mrs. Bighead tries to seduce the titular wallaby.

"Elephant Issues" - Tiny Toon Adventures

The Steven Spielberg-produced Tiny Toon Adventures served as a new era for the Looney Tunes legacy but did make a few dark turns during its run. For instance, one banned episode, which was meant to serve as a PSA of sorts, saw Buster Bunny, Plucky Duck, and Hamton J. Pig getting intoxicated and suffering a car accident

"Dentist" - Adventure Time

The plot of the Adventure Time Season 6 episode, "Dentist," – in which Finn (Jeremy Shada) receives oral treatment from a colony of ants – offers nothing controversial in concept. However, it caused a bit of an internet uproar when a character named Lt. Gamergate (which is the name of a type of ant) was interpreted as a reference to the recently developing "GamerGate" movement.

30. "Fat Like Me" - Daria

Spun-off from Beavis and Butt-Head, Daria followed the misadventures of the cynical, monotone titular teen (voiced by Tracy Grandstaff). One episode of the animated never aired in reruns on the Nickelodeon subsidiary Teen Nick (formerly known as The N) because of the way it depicts obesity's connection to high school social status.

"Terms Of Endearment" - Drawn Together

Drawn Together is a mockumentary-style animated Comedy Central series following a group of cartoon characters living together. One episode was met with controversy for its satirical portrayal of the horse riding accident that paralyzed Superman actor Christopher Reeve, who passed away shortly before the series premiered.

"Man's Best Friend" - Ren & Stimpy

One of the most unhinged episodes of Ren & Stimpy was banned on Nickelodeon for a violent scene in which Ren beats up a character with an oar, as well as the depiction of dog treats that, for some reason, look like cigars and feces. The episode was later broadcast on MTV, which is certainly a more appropriate home for its subject matter.

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

Friends

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

How I Met Your Mother

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

30 Rock

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

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia

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

Abbott Elementary

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

Frasier

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

The Office

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

Community

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

Cheers

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

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

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

Two And A Half Men

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

Parks And Recreation

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

That '70s Show

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

Seinfeld

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

The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air

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

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

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

The Golden Girls

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

Bob's Burgers

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

I Love Lucy

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

Modern Family

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

The Nanny

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

Curb Your Enthusiasm

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

Full House

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

The Simpsons

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

The Big Bang Theory

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

South Park

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

Scrubs

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

Schitt's Creek

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

Veep

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

Rick And Morty

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

Arrested Development

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

Everybody Hates Chris

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

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

Moms are strong by nature but TV's toughest moms rule their roost with high standards, great expectations and strong discipline. From sitcom staples like Roseanne Conner and Clair Huxtable to dramatic dames like Cersei Lannister and Cookie Lyon, these iron-fisted mamas don't get the credit they deserve when it comes to their strict and stern parenting styles. Here are 32 of our favorites. 

Roseanne Conner (Roseanne)

The fierce working-class "domestic goddess" at the center of the ABC sitcom Roseanne was always crazy-quick with a wisecrack and was never one to hold back an opinion. But though known for her loud, sarcastic and domineering nature, Roseanne Conner (Roseanne Barr) was always loving and protective towards her four kids, daughters Becky (Lecy Goranson and Sarah Chalke) and Darlene (Sara Gilbert), and sons D.J. (Michael Fishman) and Jerry (Cole and Morgan Roberts).

Clair Huxtable (The Cosby Show)

Despite having to juggle raising five children, maintaining a household and continuing a successful law career, The Cosby Show's Clair Huxtable (Phylicia Rashad) was always a vision of class and composure. While her husband Cliff was the more fun-loving and boisterous parent, Clair was the disciplinarian of the Huxtable residence and was assertive in teaching her kids about responsibility and respect. 

Peggy Bundy (Married... With Children)

With her refusal to cook, clean or cater to her boorish husband Al (Ed O'Neil), Peggy Bundy (Katey Sagal) from the beloved blue-collar comedy Married... with Children was TV's ultimate anti-housewife. Where other small-screen moms used their iron fist to ensure order and discipline, Peg unapologetically prioritized her own couch-sitting, Oprah-watching "Me Time" over traditional parenting and domestic work. But that doesn't mean she didn't regularly make time to voice her opinions about her lackluster hubby and kids Kelly (Christina Applegate) and Bud (David Faustino).

Wilma Flintstone (The Flintstones) 

When you're married to a literal caveman, it's no surprise that Wilma Flintstone had to be level-headed and strong-willed for the sake of her family. Throughout the classic cartoon series The Flintstones, the Stone Age mama was tender and caring to her hubby Fred and daughter Pebbles but was known to utilize a firm hand — and a frying pan — when things got a little too rambunctious in her household. 

Claire Dunphy (Modern Family)

Often regulated to being the strict mom opposite goofy dad Phil (Ty Burrell), Claire (Julie Bowen) is the hardworking and often anxiety-ridden head of the Dunphy household. In trying to wrangle her husband and three children — Haley (Sarah Hyland), Alex (Ariel Winter) and Luke (Nolan Gould) — The Modern Family matriarch can regularly be neurotic and controlling but every ounce of that effort clearly comes from a place of love. 

Jessica Huang (Fresh Off The Boat)

Just as her husband Louis (Randall Park) described her, Jessica Huang (Constance Wu) from the ABC sitcom Fresh Off the Boat is "aggressive yet elegant." No-nonsense, traditional and very competitive, she pushes both her spouse and their sons Eddie (Hudson Yang), Emery (Forrest Wheeler) and Evan (Ian Chen) to succeed in their careers and academics, respectively. For example, she's plenty pleased with Evan's future plans of becoming "doctor/president," but less so when Eddie reveals that he wants to go to culinary school instead of college.

Cersei Lannister (Game Of Thrones)

Like many things in her life, Cersei Lannister's (Lena Headey) relationship with her children throughout Game of Thrones was often fueled by her own pride and need for power. However, that doesn't mean that Cersei wouldn't kill for her kids — and she did. When it came to the safety of Joffrey (Jack Gleeson), Myrcella (Nell Tiger Free) and Tommen (Dean-Charles Chapman), she parented with a leonine fierceness, to the danger of her enemies. 

Florida Evans (Good Times)

First introduced as a feisty maid in Maude, strong-willed Chicago mother Florida Evans (Esther Rolle) is the heart and soul of the original Good Times. Despite considerable financial issues and a never-ending list of chores and responsibilities, Florida always kept her household in line, offering up stern but loving discipline and instilling valuable morals in her three children J.J. (Jimmy Walker) Thelma (Bern Nadette Stanis), and Michael Evans (Ralph Carter). 

Lois Wilkerson (Malcolm In The Middle)

As the mother of five highly mischievous and unruly young boys, we really can't blame Malcolm in the Middle's Lois Wilkerson (Jane Kaczmarek) for being a touch stubborn, overbearing and hotheaded. Lois genuinely cares about her children, but her idea of discipline is jokingly dubbed "sadistic" by the boys: "Your punishment isn't over until that bathroom floor is so clean you'll be eating off it. Which is what you'll be doing for the next three weeks," she memorably punished son Reese in Season 6. 

Norma Bates (Bates Motel)

Now, we're certainly not suggesting that Norma Bates (Vera Farmiga) had a healthy parenting style throughout the A&E horror drama Bates Motel, but she certainly was a devoted, if domineering, mother to Norman (Freddie Highmore). Norma can be clingy and critical of her son — and has especially harsh opinions about the girls Norman hangs out with — but she always does everything in her power to protect him. 

Emily Gilmore (Gilmore Girls)

It seems like the only people Emily Gilmore (Kelly Bishop) is more judgmental of than her own daughter Lorelai (Lauren Graham) — no picnic in the mom department, herself — are her maids, who she seemingly hired and fired every other episode of Gilmore Girls. The wealthy matriarch of the eponymous family is known for her high standards, snooty attitude and controlling nature: a textbook example is forcing Lorelai and granddaughter Rory (Alexis Bledel) to attend Friday night dinner at her home every week, no exceptions. 

Debra Barone (Everybody Loves Raymond)

A classic example of a TV mom having to play the "bad cop" to a "fun dad" type is Debra Barone (Patricia Heaton) from Everybody Loves Raymond. While husband Ray (Ray Romano) often gets up to nearly as many hijinks as their kids Ally (Madylin Sweeten), Geoffrey and Michael (Sullivan and Sawyer Sweeten), Debra is all business. She's responsible, hardworking and not afraid to speak her mind — except, it seems, when it comes to her meddling mother-in-law Marie (Doris Roberts). 

Harriette Winslow (Family Matters)

The matriarch of the Winslow family (largely played by Jo Marie Payton but replaced with Judyann Elder in Family Matters' final season) knows order and discipline: she left the police force when she became pregnant with her eldest, Eddie (Darius McCrary). Raising three kids, Harriette is regularly the voice of reason in the Winslow household but is a sharp-tongued disciplinarian when she needs to be. 

Colleen Donaghy (30 Rock)

Portrayed by the legendarily brash Elaine Stritch, the mother of Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin) always dishes out tough love when it comes to her son. With just one of her many characteristically biting quips (“Don’t talk to me like that Jack. I breastfed you for nine years!”) Colleen is able to instantly turn her slick, successful businessman of a son into a fearful little boy. 

Beverly Goldberg (The Goldbergs)

The Goldbergs' Beverly (Wendi McLendon-Covey) puts the "mother" in "smother" — hugs are mandatory and she can often be found meddling in various areas of her kids' worlds, from school to sports to social life. But the snuggies-loving matriarch can be strict, tough and opinionated, not only when it comes to her children Erica (Hayley Orrantia), Barry (Troy Gentile) and Adam (Sean Giambrone) but also herself: "I have failed as a mother!" is the character's main catchphrase. 

Galina ‘Red’ Reznikov (Orange Is The New Black)

Yes, even prisoners need a mother figure and Litchfield Penitentiary has Red (Kate Mulgrew). Compassionate but very cunning — this is a woman who was in cahoots with the Russian Mafia, after all — she rules her block of the prison with a watchful eye, explicitly prohibiting her girls from partaking in drugs whilst running a well-oiled smuggling ring to get them the contraband goods they need. 

Vivian Banks (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air)

Firstly, we're specifically talking about Aunt Viv as portrayed by Janet Hubert for the first half of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. (Daphne Maxwell Reid took over the role in season four after Hubert was dismissed from the show.) As no-nonsense as she was nurturing, Hubert's take on the character was more fiery than her successor, a strong, confident university professor who wasn't afraid to lay down a hard lesson to her three children, her students or her troublemaking nephew (Will Smith). 

Marge Simpson (The Simpsons)

Marge is the blue-haired, bee-hived moralistic center of the Simpsons family. With a fam that includes an oafish husband like Homer, a notorious prankster like Bart and an eternal infant like Maggie, The Simpsons matriarch has to run a tight ship to maintain order in her antics-filled household. She doesn't approve of the kids' violent video games or cartoons, has followed Bart's whereabouts through his cell phone and is always pushing her family to go to mass. As Homer says of his wife: "If it were up to [Marge], all we would ever do is work and go to church."

Violet Crawley (Downton Abbey)

Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham (played by Dame Maggie Smith), is not exactly known for being a cuddly grandmother sort. Instead, the stately Downton Abbey matriarch is defined by her dry wit, direct nature and deep investment in maintaining the family's traditions, honor and legacy. 

Barbara Howard (Abbott Elementary)

Barbara Howard (Emmy winner Sheryl Lee Ralph) didn't just raise kids of her own at home — she's raised whole classrooms full of impressionable youngins as a kindergarten teacher at Willard R. Abbott Elementary School for the past two decades. Super old-school (no, she will not be learning that new teaching technology, thank you very much) and strictly religion, she's the kind of teacher who quiets rowdy classrooms the second she steps foot into them. 

Tami Taylor (Friday Night Lights)

As both a mother to teen daughter Julie (Aimee Teegarden) and little Gracie Belle (Madilyn Landry) and a counselor at Dillon High School to countless students, Connie Britton's tough yet compassionate Tami Taylor regularly guided the youth with equal parts firmness and fairness. Through five seasons of Friday Night Lights, she was a sounding board and a calm authority, but always with a little bit of Southern sweetness sprinkled on top. 

Jill Taylor (Home Improvement)

The lion-hearted leading lady of the Taylor family, Jill (Patricia Richardson) raises her three sons Brad (Zachery Ty Bryan), Randy (Jonathan Taylor Thomas) and Mark (Taran Noah Smith) with a stern hand and Type-A attitude while also remaining lovingly perceptive and good-naturedly allowing for silly moments. However, you know that when she addresses her husband Tim (Tim Allen) or her sons by their full name, somebody is definitely in trouble. 

Cookie Lyon (Empire)

Talk about one tough cookie: Empire's queen bee Cookie Lyon (Taraji P. Henson) tells it like it is, demands respect and doesn't tolerate nonsense in any aspect of her life, including when it comes to her children Andre (Trai Byers), Jamal (Jussie Smollett) and Hakeem (Bryshere Y. Gray). She can be extremely headstrong and brash, but she definitely has a caring and compassionate side and she always puts her family first. 

Sophia Petrillo (The Golden Girls)

Sarcasm and sass certainly seem to be genetic in the Petrillo household: both mom Sophia (Estelle Getty) and daughter Dorothy Zbornak (Bea Arthur) possess each personality trait in spades. As Dorothy's actual parent and the surrogate mother of her roommates Blanche Devereaux (Rue McClanahan) and Rose Nyland (Betty White), Sophia doles out wisecracks and criticisms often — about Dorothy’s lack of love life, Blanche’s promiscuity and Rose’s stupidity — but beneath all of her hilarious put-downs beats a lot of love. 

Nalini Vishwakumar (Never Have I Ever)

Never Have I Ever's Nalini (Poorna Jagannathan) can be hard on her teen daughter Devi (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) but her overly strict and at times overbearing nature stems from not only her traditional Indian upbringing but also her sheer love and concern for her child. (As fans no doubt remember, Nalini lost her husband to a heart attack before the start of the series, a trauma which sparked temporary paralysis in her daughter.) Sometimes it's hard for her to show tenderness, but her heart is always in the right place. 

Olivia Walton (The Waltons)

Yes, Olivia Walton (Michael Learned) is an exceedingly sweet and compassionate lady, but there's one area of her life in which she does not play around: her parenting. She prompts all seven of her children (John-Boy, Jason, Mary-Ellen, Ben, Erin Walton, Jim-Bob and Elizabeth) to have good manners and posture, requires them to read the Bible and never miss Sunday service, and will resort to scolding her children if they misbehave. 

Carmela Soprano (The Sopranos) 

Steely and steadfast, Carmela Soprano (Edie Falco) is like any good Italian-American mom: she's armed with a deep sense of obligation to her family, works hard to create a (somewhat) stable environment for daughter Meadow (Jamie-Lynn Sigler) and son A.J. (Robert Iler), and can make a mean lasagna. With her husband Tony (James Gandolfini) busy with Mafia business, Carmela does the lion's share of the parenting and when it comes to chastising her children, she's proven to be just as formidable as her spouse.

Thelma Harper (Mama’s Family)

Known simply as Mama, Thelma Harper (Vicki Lawrence) from the NBC sitcom Mama's Family headed her household with a sharp wit, an acid tongue and a quick temper. Bluntly outspoken and hilariously grumpy, the series version of the character was actually reportedly softer-edged than the original iteration conceived for The Carol Burnett Show. And despite Mama's frequent bickering and bad attitude, all of her cooking, cleaning and curmudgeonly care is clearly out of love.  

Gemma Teller Morrow (Sons Of Anarchy) 

A more hard-edged mama than her other famous TV mom character Peg Bundy, Katey Sagal's Gemma Teller Morrow is unapologetic about how protective she is of not only her son Jax (Charlie Hunnam) and grandchildren but also her surrogate family, the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club. Equipped with equal parts savagery and vulnerability, she's adapted to her gritty environment and can be tough, competitive and manipulative in the lengths she'll go to to defend those she loves.

Penelope Alvarez (One Day At A Time)

Don't let her quirky, fun-loving demeanor fool you — as One Day at a Time's main madre Penelope Alvarez (Justina Machado) is quick to remind you, she's a "total badass." As a single Cuban-American mother, a nurse practitioner and a former Staff Sergeant in the United States Army, "Lupe" has a strong work ethic and sense of discipline, which she makes sure to instill in her children Elena (Isabella Gomez) and Alex (Marcel Ruiz).

Evelyn Harper (Two And A Half Men)

Son Alan Harper (Jon Cryer) doesn't jokingly call her "the queen of darkness" for nothing. Yes, the wealthy and five-time-widowed Evelyn (played by Holland Taylor) can be quite cold, callous and critical when it comes to her sons Alan and Charlie (Charlie Sheen) and grandson Jake (Angus T. Jones). She majorly disapproves of Alan's failed marriages as well as Charlie's personal hobbies — granted, the latter is drinking, gambling and womanizing, so she might be onto something. 

Lynette Scavo (Desperate Housewives)

Having to deal with four demanding children (Porter, Preston, Parker and Penny) as a stay-at-home mom while her husband Tom (Doug Savant) is at the office every day, Lynette (Felicity Huffman) is understandably stressed much of the time, which tends to manifest itself as a neurotic and controlling nature. She also often tends to go over the top when it comes to disciplining her children — for example, she once ditched her kiddos on the side of the road to teach them about following orders. 

Some TV shows stumble their way to the finish line, such as these series that went on way too long. But others end the race cruising to victory, with final seasons and series finales that satisfyingly wrap up the journey their characters were on over the years. From classic comedies like Cheers to acclaimed dramas like The Americans to sci-fi standouts like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, here are TV 32 shows that absolutely nailed their farewells. (WARNING! Obviously there are spoilers ahead!)

Succession

Succession creator Jesse Armstrong could have milked all of that Shakespearean family drama for one or two more seasons but smartly decided to end the hit HBO drama after four seasons because "this was simply how this story had to go," Armstrong told Vulture. And it ended in brutally brilliant fashion, with outsider Tom Wambsgans (Matthew Macfadyen) sniveling his way to the top of Waystar Royco over Roy siblings Connor (Alan Ruck), Kendall (Jeremy Armstrong), Roman (Kieran Culkin) and Shiv (Sarah Snook). 

Breaking Bad

It was inevitable: after five seasons of greed and ruthlessness, chemistry teacher-turned-meth cooker Walter White (Bryan Cranston) had to die. But what a way to go, with an explosive, critically acclaimed final run — both halves of season five won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in 2013 and 2014 — that not only offered up some of the drama's greatest episodes ("Ozymandias" is one for the history books) but cemented the TV series as one of the best ever.

Newhart

Nowadays, the "it was all a dream" twist has become a cliché but when the CBS sitcom Newhart pulled that very move back in 1990, it cemented itself as one of the most memorable moments in pop culture history. In the final minutes of the comedy's series finale, lead character Dick Loudon (Bob Newhart) woke up after getting knocked out by a golf ball in Vermont — the surprise was that he was now in a Chicago bedroom as Bob Hartley, his famous The Bob Newhart Show character, with TV wife Emily (special guest Suzanne Pleshette) by his side.

Mad Men

Fitting for an iconic and complicated character like Don Draper (Jon Hamm) — and finally earning the actor that much-deserved Emmy for Best Actor — Mad Men left viewers with quite an ambiguous conclusion when it ended in 2015 after seven seasons. The existential finale saw the advertising executive searching for inner peace at a meditation retreat, or was he really just tapping into some Zen as inspiration for that famous Coca-Cola advert? We'll never know!

The Leftovers

Grounded by a standout performance by Carrie Coon as Nora Durst, the conclusion of HBO's The Leftovers was ambiguous yet sentimental, a gratifying and thematically fitting send-off for the complex drama. Following Nora in her decision to enter a radioactive machine that could reunite her with her husband and children who vanished in the "Sudden Departure," the series finale didn't so much answer all of our questions about all the ones who left — we still don't entirely understand the quantum mechanics of it all — as it did give hope to the ones left behind. 

30 Rock

The seventh and final season of 30 Rock said goodbye to Liz (Tina Fey), Jack (Alec Baldwin), Tracy (Tracy Morgan), Kenneth (Jack McBrayer) and Jenna (Jane Krakowski) in equal parts hilarious and heartfelt fashion, with all of the nostalgic callbacks, witty one-liners and delightful absurdism that fans have come to know and love from the NBC sitcom. The series finale also movingly said farewell to the real-life behind-the-scenes folks from 30 Rock by casting them as the TGS crew. 

Parks And Recreation

Co-written by lead Amy Poehler, the series finale of Parks and Recreation warmly said goodbye to both beloved characters and the city of Pawnee. The sweet two-parter took place mostly in the future, with happy endings for all: Garry (Jim O'Heir) being elected mayor (with Christie Brinkley as his wife, no less); Andy (Chris Pratt) and April (Aubrey Plaza) becoming parents; Ron (Nick Offerman) taking over as superintendent of the Pawnee National Park; and Leslie (Poehler) continuing her life of political service...potentially all the way to the White House?

Fringe

The final episode of the Fox sci-fi drama Fringe was a bittersweet one for Olivia (Anna Torv), Peter (Joshua Jackson) and Walter (John Noble). The fifth season had jumped far into the dystopian future overtaken by the Observers. Walter sacrificed himself and took Michael (Rowan Longworth) into a wormhole even farther into the future to stop the Observer invasion from ever happening in the first place. In the process, the story reset back to 2015, where Walter sadly no longer existed, but through time-travel magic, he still managed to send his son a drawing of a white tulip.

Justified

The story of Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant) continued with the sequel series Justified: City Primeval, but the end of its predecessor Justified was a more than satisfactory closing chapter in and of itself, especially in wrapping up Raylan's rivalry with friend-turned-foe Boyd Crowder (Walton Goggins). The Harlan County criminal was an endlessly quotable character across all six seasons of the FX drama, but his final words — “We dug coal together" — prove he saved the best line for last.

The Shield

One of the most gripping crime dramas of the 2000s, The Shield lived up to its own reputation with its bold finish, which saw Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis) trying so hard to stay out of prison that he got a fate worse than incarceration: with blood on his hands, his family running from him, and him banished to a desk job. With police sirens blaring in the distance, Vic grabbed the gun from his desk drawer and left the ICE building. Where he went, we'll never know, but it surely can't be good. 

Cheers

It can be hard to leave those special places where everybody knows your name, but if you have to, at least take "One for the Road." Such is the title of Cheers' standout series finale, which poured one out for all of our beloved barflies: Woody (Woody Harrelson) was elected Boston councilman; Norm (George Wendt) finally got his coveted city job; Cliff (John Ratzenberger) was promoted at the Post Office; and Sam (Ted Danson) chose between reconciliation with the one who got away, Diane (Shelley Long), and the real love of his life, the bar itself. 

MASH

It's the most-watched finale of all time for a reason: seen by a TV audience of 121.6 million, the 1983 end of MASH beautifully brought closure to the dysfunctional members of the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital. With the Korean War coming to a close, the camp had to go their separate ways, but no departure tugged at our hearts quite like the one between Hawkeye (Alan Alda) and B.J. (Mike Farrell), which saw the former leave on a helicopter only to spot the latter's parting message: the word "GOODBYE" spelled out with rocks on the ground below.

The Sopranos

One of the most polarizing TV finales of all time was also one of the most powerful. That shocking The Sopranos ending was a masterclass in embracing ambiguity and racking up tension, with Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) seemingly enjoying a simple diner meal and some Journey tunes with his wife (Edie Falco) and son (Robert Iler) while keeping an eye on every patron entering the establishment. As the diner door opened and the bell rang, Tony looked up — and the screen cut to black. Was it Meadow (Jamie-Lynn Sigler), who finally found a parking spot? Or was it someone far more nefarious? Frustratingly and fantastically, we will never know. 

Six Feet Under

It seems so obvious now to end a series about a family that owns a funeral home by fast-forwarding into the future to see how each character dies, but the laying to rest of the HBO drama Six Feet Under felt clever and emotional when it aired back in 2005. An episode of television dominated by death doesn't sound all that cheerful, but getting to see the Fishers years down the line — particularly Claire (Lauren Ambrose), the last one standing at 102 — felt as right and cyclical as life itself. 

Friday Night Lights

"Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose." Such was the motto of football coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) and the showrunners of Friday Night Lights took it to heart when it came to graduating the high school-set drama series. Despite the gleam of game glory blurring his vision — the East Dillon Lions happily won that tense match-up against the Dillon Panthers — Coach Taylor clearly saw that it was only right for him to leave Texas behind by the series' end, moving to Philadelphia to support his beloved wife Tami (Connie Britton) and her new job as dean of admissions at Braemore College. Couple's goals, much?

The Wire

One of the best episodes of The Wire is its last, which managed to wrap everything up while also leaving things intriguingly open. It showed that Baltimore and all of its complexities would continue long after the credits roll. Things could change — Carcetti (Aidan Gillen) could become governor, Templeton (Tom McCarthy) could win a Pulitzer, Michael (Tristan Wilds) could become the new Omar, McNulty (Dominic West) could leave the police department — but, devastatingly, many things would always stay the same. 

The West Wing

The end of The West Wing was the end of an era — literally, as the seventh and final season chronicled the last weeks of President Jed Bartlet's (Martin Sheen) administration. The series finale was a heartfelt farewell to the former POTUS as well as all of the government employees and officials in his orbit, including C.J. (Allison Janney), Leo (John Spencer), Josh (Bradley Whitford) and Donna (Janel Moloney). But it didn't languish in nostalgia: "What are you thinking about?" Stockard Channing's Abbey asked Jed at the show's end. "Tomorrow," he replied. 

ER

The medical drama came full circle for its grand finale, which echoed its premiere episode 15 years prior by taking place over the course of 24 hours in the emergency room of Cook County General Hospital. The cases are dramatic and dizzyingly varied, from emergency cesarean sections to terminal cancer diagnoses to triage patients from an industrial explosion. As the theme music played, the camera pulled out for ER's final, effective shot: the entire exterior of the hospital, seen for the first and only time in the show's history, with all of that curative frenzy happening within. 

Battlestar Galactica

After years spent traversing the stars and avoiding being blown to smithereens by enemy Cylons, the Battlestar Galactica crew and the last remaining humans finally made it to Earth — well, the Earth of the distant past — at the end of the Sci-Fi Channel series. That primitive planet eventually evolves into modern-day civilization and the epilogue picks up 150,000 years in the future, where half-human, half-Cylon Hera has been announced as a "Mitochondrial Eve," the progenitor of modern-day humanity. Leaving us with Jimi Hendrix's warning cry "All Along the Watchtower," the finale chillingly questioned whether humans are doomed to repeat themselves. 

Buffy The Vampire Slayer

There's a lot of pressure with being the "Chosen One," as Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) no doubt learned through seven seasons of the iconic fantasy series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. But after 140-plus episodes of single-handedly saving Sunnydale and suffering greatly in the process, Buffy recognizes that she doesn't have to do it all alone. In the series finale, the Hellmouth crumbles and Sunnydale is destroyed but Buffy has the Scooby Gang and a new crop of Slayers by her side, and a whole future ahead of her.

The Mary Tyler Moore Show

"We kept putting off writing that last show," said executive producer Allan Burns as he accepted The Mary Tyler Moore Show's Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in 1977. "I think it said what we wanted it to say. It was poignant." Poignant, yes, but also plenty funny, with Mary (TV icon Mary Tyler Moore), Lou (Edward Asner), Murray (Gavin MacLeod) and Sue Ann (Betty White) ultimately getting fired from WJM-TV. From that group shuffle to the tissue box to the swan song of "It's a Long Way to Tipperary," the finale had us laughing and crying in equal turns.  

The Americans

With a high-stakes show like The Americans, it seemed only inevitable for Russian spies Elizabeth (Keri Russell) and Philip Jennings (Matthew Rhys) to be exposed and have to flee the United States for Mother Russia. Despite that eventuality, the FX drama still managed to end on a tensely unexpected and devastating note, with both their American-born children Paige staying behind. That shot of Paige (Holly Taylor) standing on the platform as Philip and Elizabeth's train pulled away will haunt us for years to come.

Parenthood

Over six seasons, Parenthood fans came to love the Braverman clan like their own family, which made it all the harder to say goodbye when the show ended in 2015. But even though the series finale was a tearjerking one, with patriarch Zeek (Craig T. Nelson) dying peacefully in his sleep, a hopeful time-jump showed that all would be well with the Bravermans, with weddings, pregnancies, graduations, vacations and puppies at Christmas all happily in their futures. 

Better Call Saul

It's hard enough to make a great spin-off of an already great show. But to end that spin-off with as much acclaim as its predecessor is a whole other thing entirely. Better Call Saul, part of the Breaking Bad universe, did just that with its sixth season, which saw Jimmy McGill-turned-Saul Goodman-turned-Gene Takavic (Bob Odenkirk) finally facing the consequences of his choices. However, as co-creator Peter Gould told AMC, Saul's end can actually be seen as hopeful: "In spite of the fact that he's in prison, which is terrible, Jimmy is Jimmy again. He's recovered his soul."

The Good Place

Though diehards of The Good Place would have wanted to spend eternity with all of its beloved characters, the NBC afterlife comedy did come to an end in 2020 after four seasons and 53 episodes. But it did so with a characteristically funny and cathartic conclusion, which saw Eleanor (Kristen Bell), Chidi (William Jackson Harper) and Jason (Manny Jacinto) ready to step through the door and move on from the Good Place, and Michael (Ted Danson) made human and allowed to live out a normal life down on Earth. 

Angel

Trying to save the world from evil forces is a nearly impossible but always worthwhile task, as the Angel series finale "Not Fade Away" powerfully showed. After a season of loss, including the deaths of both Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) and Fred (Amy Acker), it would have been very easy for Angel (David Boreanaz) and the rest of the Angel Investigations team to wallow in their grief and raise a white flag. But, even knowing that it would likely end in their own demise, Angel, Spike (James Marsters), Gunn (J August Richards) and Illyria (Acker) chose to go into battle against the supernatural baddies and fight for good.

Friends

What Friends got so right in its tenth and final season was showing how transient of a town New York City is, especially when you grow from those lively twentysomething years to your more settled thirties. "The Last One" saw Monica (Courteney Cox) and Chandler (Matthew Perry) adopt twins and move out of that famously purple-walled West Village apartment for the suburbs. After Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow), Joey (Matt LeBlanc) and the recently reunited Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) and Ross (David Schwimmer) returned their keys, Chandler landed one final hilarious quote before they went — where else? — to Central Perk one last time.

The Office

Sure, there's an argument to be made that The Office should have ended after Steve Carrell's Michael Scott left Dunder Mifflin Paper Company and Scranton, PA, at the end of season seven. But though the show was shaky in the years following that character's exit, if it had ended years earlier, fans wouldn't have gotten that sentimental happy ending, with Michael pulling off the perfect surprise at the wedding of Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson) and Angela Martin (Angela Kinsey) to serve as best man and drop the final "That's what she said." 

Star Trek: The Next Generation

All good things must come to an end, and that includes the adventures of the Starfleet crew of the Federation starship Enterprise-D. In the farewell to sci-fi favorite Star Trek: The Next Generation, Captain Jean-Luc Picard mentally jumps around in time: from the present, then back to the ship's first mission seven years ago and then 25 years into the future. In each era, Picard makes it so that the Enterprise stops a temporal anomaly, which destroys the ship but saves humanity. It all ends up being a test from Q (John de Lancie) but Picard passes, and in the present, he finally joins the crew's poker game.

Fleabag

After the brilliance of Fleabag's first season, it seemed impossible that Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Co. could match the sharp wit and gut-punching emotion with a season 2 of the BBC One dramedy. But PWB managed to prove every naysayer wrong with that devastatingly romantic and electrifyingly funny second — and, judging by that fourth-wall-breaking final scene, last — season, which famously saw our nameless heroine meet and fall for a "quite hot" priest, played by Andrew Scott. 

Veep

The end of Veep, one of the most consistently hilarious shows in all of television, saw Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) get everything that she always wanted: namely, the Oval Office. Yes, the seemingly perpetual Vice President became POTUS by the series finale, a ruthless political rise that saw her betray those closest to her, especially her loyal aide Gary (Tony Hale). But Selina gets a viciously hilarious comeuppance when, 24 years in the future, coverage of her funeral is interrupted by the breaking news that American icon and "Philadelphia 2 star" Tom Hanks has died. 

Avatar: The Last Airbender

The epic four-part finale of Avatar: The Last Airbender not only gave every major character their chance to shine but also cemented it as one of the best-animated shows of the 21st century. In his spectacular final face-off against Ozai, Aang stays dedicated to pacifism and decides not to kill Fire Lord Ozai, instead using energy bending to remove his firepower as punishment for his crimes. In doing so, the final installments offer up a philosophical exercise that's far more mature and sophisticated than anyone would expect from a "kiddie" show. 

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. 

There aren’t many comedians with better track records than Tina Fey. The former Saturday Night Live head writer has done everything from sketch comedy to making movies to television to Broadway to publishing, and she’s found success in pretty much everything she’s tried. It’s a credit to her wide variety of interests, as well as her wit which has proven to be applicable to pretty much everything she’s tried.

All that success is also a credit to how widely accessible her comedy is. That’s not to say she’s never doing high concept bits or niche material, but a lot of what she finds funny is broadly relatable. Her perspective also feels entirely reasonable, which is probably why she often plays the straight woman with a biting wit in a lot of her roles.

If you’re looking for a laugh or just a reminder of why Tina Fey is such a national treasure, here are some of her funniest and most enjoyable quotes.

“Some people say ‘Never let them see you cry.’ I say, if you’re so mad you could just cry, then cry. It terrifies everyone.”

This quote is from Tina Fey’s best-selling page-turner Bossypants, and it’s a perfect example of the comedian’s style. It’s a razor-sharp amalgamation of a joke, an honest assessment, and thoughtful life advice. You don’t want to be the person who cries all the time, but sometimes an unexpected cry can cause everyone to stop and actually work to improve the situation.

“Whitney Houston’s cover of “I Will Always Love You” was constantly on my FM Walkman radio around that time. I think that made me cry because I associated it with absolutely no one.”

Tina Fey has been married for more than two decades now, but once upon a time, she was alone and being bombarded by songs about love. We’ve all been there, silently listening to a song that’s meant to glorify a relationship that we can’t connect with in the slightest. As that type of music goes, however, better it be Whitney Houston than many of her competitors. 

“Living a lie will eat you up inside. Like that parasite I got from eating sushi on Amtrak”

This quote is from 30 Rock, and it’s perfectly in keeping with her character, who thinks about food incessantly and is always willing to take a chance on risky dishes. As a big sushi fan, I get the impulse, and as someone who has been burned before, I relate to the downsides. 

“Why are my arms so weak? It's like I did that pushup last year for nothing!”

I'm always here for some good self-deprecating humor, and that type of comedy is often a central part of Tina Fey’s schtick. Her 30 Rock character Liz Lemon took a lot of jabs at herself, but because she was also a successful career woman with hilarious one-liners about other people too, the jokes about herself never felt awkward or uncomfortable, just hilarious. 

“(Lovers?) Oh that word bums me out unless it’s between meat and pizza.”

While I'm not someone who's opposed to pineapple myself, there's no real doubt that meat pizza, or maybe meatza, is a national treasure. If you think you’re too good for it, you can exit out of this article and go find something else to read. Or, you can use some common sense, cancel whatever plans you have and order a meat lovers pizza for dinner tonight. Go ahead, thank me later.

"Oh, Pete. That's later. Maybe we'll be dead by then."

A lot of Tina Fey jokes ride that line between morbid and life-affirming. I can't get this one in particular out of my head, because it's a perfect example of taking the common premise of people telling you to do stuff because you have a limited amount of time, and it recommends you not do stuff because you have a limited amount of time. It’s just a well-crafted joke. 

(On Why She Didn’t Take A Longer Maternity Leave) “I had to get back to work. NBC has me under contract; the baby and I have only a verbal agreement."

Tina Fey missed about a month and a half of SNL episodes after she gave birth to her daughter back in 2005. She was asked by reporters why she returned to the show, and she dropped that fantastic quote about being more contractually tied by NBC than her daughter. The tongue-in-cheek response simultaneously is great because it's very funny, but also simultaneously says a lot.  

"I want to roll my eyes right now, but the doctor says that, if I keep doing it, my ocular muscles might spasm and eject my eyeballs."

Sometimes being intelligent and judgmental is a tough combination. It leads to a lot of eye rolls, which Tina Fey hilariously made light of with this joke about being so frustrated it’s causing medical problems. In her defense, sometimes trying not to react with your face to something really stupid feels like it’s going to cause a medical problem too.

"I had a great time doing (Sarah Palin) but it was one of the strangest things that's ever happened to me. You can grow up thinking, ‘I want to be on Saturday Night Live one day’ or ‘I want to be in a movie someday’, but you never think, ‘I hope there's a politician who looks just like me.’

Tina Fey has spoken often about not being particularly into impressions, but sometimes the perfect character finds you. The comedian talked about that in an interview with The Times in which she admitted it was an opportunity she did absolutely nothing to earn but found a lot of success in doing. 

“If reality TV has taught us anything, it's that you can't keep people with no shame down.”

Because the show involves a lot of creative types and actors with big personalities, 30 Rock spends a lot of time grappling with fame and all the various opportunities out there. In those instances, Fey’s Liz Lemon is often the detached observer, and none of her quotes have ever rang more true than this one.

"How many of you have ever felt personally victimized by Regina George?"

I struggled with how many Mean Girls quotes to put on this list because it feels like there so many that have entered popular culture. Tina Fey wrote them all, but I picked this one, as it’s the only one she personally says in the movie. After Mean Girls' Regina George gives a speech about how she shouldn’t have to be involved in a group therapy session because she didn’t do anything wrong, Fey’s character shames her in the best possible way; Fey later said it felt like deja vu to re-film the gym scene for the 2024 movie.

"I believe that all anyone really wants in this life is to sit in peace and eat a sandwich." 

Have you ever met someone whose mood didn’t at least momentarily improve by eating a really delicious sandwich? OK maybe Sally from When Harry Met Sally and a number of other picky orderers in some of the best rom-coms. Regardless, everyone always obsesses over life’s big decisions and rightfully so. Choices like who to marry and whether to have kids are certainly important, but sometimes the thing that has the biggest effect on our daily happiness level is ordering the right thing off the menu.

“You can’t be that kid standing at the top of the waterslide, overthinking it. You have to go down the chute.”

I love this quote because it’s both a funny observation and great life advice. We’ve all seen that kid at the top of the waterslide (or woman on The Amazing Race) who cannot decide whether to go down or not. Sometimes you just have to close your eyes and go through the chute because the alternative of not doing it is worse than the risk of doing it.

“You know I can’t wear green, Jenna! The Clinique lady says I have witch undertones.”

One of the best things about Tina Fey’s comedy is simply how she words things. She’s very good at coming up with funny scenarios, but she’s also good at choosing really specific words that make that scenario as funny as possible. The basic joke here of choosing or not choosing certain colors because of make-up advice is a solid and relatable one, but the phrase “witch undertones” really boils that cauldron. 

“Realizations are the worst.”

You might think the point of life is self-improvement, but when you realize things about yourself, you have to actually work to change them. That’s the hilarious premise behind Liz Lemon’s realization about realizations, and it’s extremely relatable. Change is hard, and not changing is so much easier. 

“Really? I already have a drink. Do you think he’d buy me mozzarella sticks?

Sometimes the fastest way to a girl’s heart isn’t through a drink. It’s through mozzarella sticks, which can touch the soul of a certain thirty-something in the way a Long Island Iced Tea cannot. You just need the right dipping sauce though. A good mozzarella cheese stick with a mediocre dipping sauce is an all-time what could have been situation. 

“I want to go to there.”

Most of the quotes on this list involve really clever wordplay or a funny premise, but we can’t have a list of great Tina Fey quotes and not include probably her most famous one from 30 Rock. This is the one, the big kahuna, the line that immortalized Liz Lemon as the true weirdo she is. It’s also, in its own way, a great commentary on who we all are as people. We think we’re smart and clever and above marketing and peer pressure, but sometimes we see something that looks super fun or cool or attractive and just think “I want to go to there.”

"I also have a lot of imaginary arguments with couples on House Hunters: Why can't people look past paint color?"

Is there a more infuriating show in the entire world than House Hunters? Nothing makes me more concerned about our collective problem solving skills than watching people pay 50 grand more for a house because they really liked the backsplash or to Fey’s chagrin, putting too much emphasis on what colors the walls currently are, as if painting isn’t an easy, relatively inexpensive task. 

"Did you just stick your gum under my coffee table?"

Tina Fey plays the straight woman in Baby Mama; so, most of the memorable quotes are from Amy Poehler’s more outrageous character, but at least a few times a year when I see someone chewing gum around me, I ask them if they’re going to stick it under the coffee table. It’s one of the most memorable moments from an underrated movie, and Fey’s delivery is always perfect, as is her follow-up sarcasm when Poehler accuses her of being the one to stick gum under her own coffee table.

“If you want to make an audience laugh, you dress a man up like an old lady and push her down the stairs. If you want to make comedy writers laugh, you push an actual old lady down the stairs.”

Not every famous comedian is a student of comedy, but Tina Fey has always been very open about how much she loves the art. She moved to Chicago specifically to do Improv, and after she took over as SNL head writer, she gave many interviews about what makes people laugh. The above quote is from a story in The New Yorker, and it’s yet another thoughtful observation from the comedian.

“If I could push a button and five people in the world would die, but I get free cable for life? I’d do it.”

Think about this joke for a second. We all laughed at the fact that Tina Fey would literally kill people to get her cable bill paid because she was being charged such outrageous prices. We related to the impulse to murder on some disturbing level because we were all sick of being charged $150 a month for a bunch of channels we didn’t watch. That’s why it should surprise no one that most people eventually ditched cable as soon as a viable alternative came around.

“If you retain nothing else, always remember the most important rule of beauty, which is: Who cares?”

Tina Fey’s Bossypants struck a chord with millions of readers because it was so honest about so many things. One of those things is beauty, which is a recurring topic. Fey talks extensively about societal expectations and what many women do to be seen, but it’s all summed up perfectly here.

“My ability to turn good news into anxiety is rivaled only by my ability to turn anxiety into chin acne.”

Here’s another example of terrific humor that’s self-deprecating but very relatable. We all can identify with overthinking something, and we can all identify with the annoyances of chin acne, especially when it feels like it was caused by us stressing ourselves out too much.

“Lesson learned? When people say, "You really, really must" do something, it means you don't really have to. No one ever says, "You really, really must deliver the baby during labor." When it's true, it doesn't need to be said.”

People are always telling us we must do something, but an overwhelming majority of those things we must do are really just recommendations. I’ll get to the art gallery eventually. It’s not the most important thing on my to-do list, at all.

“There ain’t no party like a Liz Lemon party because a Liz Lemon party is mandatory.”

Liz Lemon is sometimes a way more self-aware, way more likable version of Michael Scott from The Office. She’s constantly dealing with the stresses and problems of being the boss, while also trying to create a fun work environment but also at the same time trying to actually get work done. It’s an impossible balancing act and leads to situations like throwing mandatory parties she still hopes will be fun.

(On Touring With Amy Poehler) “We are like rock stars. We’re just out and about impregnating people everywhere we go. It’s such a paid mom’s weekend because we go and we’re like, ‘I hear there’s interesting vintage shopping’ in whatever city we go to and then we have a nice lunch. It’s just like (Chris) Rock and (Dave) Chappelle.”

As part of Tina Fey’s goal of dominating every single comedic medium, she started touring with Amy Poehler. The two would visit various cities and talk about all sorts of observations. Fey was asked if the women lived like rock stars while they were gone, and she dropped this hilarious quote about “impregnating people” before admitting they’re hitting up fun lunch spots and vintage shopping.

“I just wish I could start a relationship about 12 years in, when you really don't have to try anymore, and you can just sit around together and goof on TV shows, and then go to bed without anybody trying any funny business.”

This quote probably makes some people sad, but in other ways, it’s also quite optimistic. We all talk about the more obvious things we want in relationships, but the healthiest ones are always the ones where you can be yourself and just connect with your partner in a way that’s honest and supports the rest of your life. That’s what Liz Lemon was looking for, at least.

“Hey, where are my Sno Balls? I was gonna go to the gym later; so, I deserve a treat.”

Listen, as a person who loves working out, this joke's a little on me; however, I recognize that some of us are avid calorie counters and others of us need a little motivation to get to the gym. That’s Liz Lemon, and I, for one, think she deserves her snack for going.

“I’m 37, please don’t make me go to Brooklyn.”

Unlike the Pete Davidsons of the SNL world, Tina Fey was a little older when she got started and had a great run on TV and the big screen in her thirties and forties. Her radical honesty around things like not caring about being cool or, in this case, going to Brooklyn set her apart from the pop culture aimed at younger people and helped her really build a fanbase with people her own age.

"If we are gonna pay this much for crab, it better sing and dance and introduce us to the Little Mermaid!"

Date Night definitely isn’t one of Tina Fey’s most-watched movies, but it’s a fun little ride filled with pretty good jokes. Here, she makes light of how insane the prices are at a fancy restaurant she goes to, while also referencing The Little Mermaid's infamous Sebastian scene, who is an absolute delight and would be worth whatever money you’d have to pay to watch him perform. Not to eat him. I don’t want to think about that.

“We're grown-ups! We don't have to clean up after ourselves.”

Sisters is an underrated gem, and while many of Tina Fey’s lines go hard into obscenity, this is a great example of lighter fare that cracks me up every. single. time. Adults definitely do not have to clean up after themselves. Though you don't want to become one of those people that others think are dirty. Messy is OK. Dirty's another story.

"So grease up them poles because Philly's gonna win and one of these guys is going to punch a police horse."

I really enjoy Tina Fey's brief return to SNL ahead of Super Bowl Weekend 2018. Unlike most of these other quotes imparting some sage-yet-hilarious life advance, her return to the late-night sketch comedy series harkened back to her Philadelphia Hometown roots, and it even made Pete Davidson break character a bit across the stage. If you've ever seen Philly after a sporting event, you should get it. 

So there you have it, a smattering of some of Tina Fey's iconic one-liners, plus some sound advice and occasional laugh-out-loud funny observations. Fey is a gem among former SNL cast members and we're so lucky we have more than 20 years of comedic moments to choose from her oeuvre. 

Over the last several decades, the critical view of television has changed from being a lesser, more mass produced art form, not on the level of movies, to being the place for some of the most creative and progressive content being produced. Much of that collective reappraisal is due to HBO. In the late '90s and early 2000s, the premium cable company poured money into original productions like The Sopranos, Sex And The City, The Wire, Six Feet Under and more. 

As the awards, critical praise, positive fan feedback and subscriptions poured in, more TV networks started taking chances on difficult and complicated subject matter and shelling out to attract major stars. HBO still remains arguably the most famous and successful prestige TV network, but over the last few decades, tons of other networks have taken their chances with riskier and complicated shows. Many of those chances have paid off too.

Here’s a look at some really famous and really successful prestige TV shows that didn’t air on HBO but likely took some level of inspiration from the path the network blazed.

House Of Cards (Netflix)

Few shows in the history of television have upended the entire industry more than House Of Cards. The political drama was the first major original production from Netflix, and the reviews were overwhelmingly positive. Emmy nominations in all the major categories helped create a ton of word of mouth, and within a few years, Netflix’s long-term strategy shifted from a focus on acquiring content to a focus on producing content. 

Downton Abbey (ITV/ PBS)

Every awards voter knows period piece family dramas set among the aristocracy can be major contenders for awards, but Downton Abbey proved just how popular they can be with a broad audience too. The sprawling historical drama found huge popularity in both Britain and The United States, ultimately producing six seasons and multiple movies, and yes, of course, it won plenty of awards too.

The Americans (FX)

One of my personal favorite shows on this entire list, The Americans was a bit of a slow build. Its first season got very solid ratings and a few nominations, but within a few seasons, the spy drama about a Russian family pretending to be Americans was attracting huge Metacritic scores and picking up Emmy nominations in all the major categories for both the show itself and its brilliant lead actors Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys. 

Breaking Bad (AMC)

Widely considered to be one of the greatest shows of all-time, Breaking Bad may not have been on premium cable, but its subject matter was every bit as uncomfortable and morally complicated as anything found elsewhere. By the end of its incredible five-season run, the show had won two Emmys for Outstanding Drama, as well as acting Emmys for three of its primary actors and nominations for two more. 

The Good Wife (CBS)

Prestige TV shows typically have shorter seasons. Maintaining the highest quality over ten episodes is a lot easier than doing it over the twenty-plus network TV typically requires, but The Good Wife was able to maintain high quality thanks to really tight scripts that perfectly blended courtroom case-of-the-week style procedural elements with real character development. Great acting performances also helped, as its actors were collectively nominated an astounding thirty times at The Emmys over just six seasons.

Justified (FX)

Prestige TV shows are most often classified by the number of awards they won, but sometimes it’s about elevating a genre and having an original vision. That’s the case with Justified. It had eight Emmy nominations (and two wins for Margo Martindale and Jeremy Davies), but it’s here mostly because of how much life and originality it brought to the crime genre. It slowly evolved past being a procedural and into a carefully plotted linear story featuring a holler of fascinating backwoods personalities.

Orange Is The New Black (Netflix)

Whether awards voters were asked to call it a comedy or a drama, Orange Is The New Black found a very large and very passionate fanbase with its unique blend of prison shenanigans and societal commentary. It also helped prove Netflix was going to be a long-term threat for prestige television awards long after House Of Cards was gone.

The Great (Hulu)

The Great is maybe the most outlandish show I have ever watched and this comes from someone that’s watched Twin Peaks multiple times. There was no line this show wouldn’t cross, but with a filthy wit, it was able to ride the line between stupid and clever and rewrite the history of Catherine The Great And Peter III’s relationship in a really fascinating way. Reviews were great, and by the end, the lead actors were getting recognized for huge awards.

Lost (ABC)

I’m not sure there will be a single entry on this list that’s more divisive than Lost. The show, which Wikipedia calls a science fiction adventure drama, lost the patience of a percentage of its audience by the end, but it’s impossible to deny just how hooked millions were there for awhile. And with good reason. It got fifty-four Emmy nominations during its run and many are still discovering its joys on streaming.

30 Rock (NBC)

The bar is a lot higher for a comedy to be considered Prestige television, but there are few comedies in the history of television more praised and widely respected than 30 Rock. The hysterical take on the backstage politics behind making a TV show won Outstanding Comedy at the Emmys three times and in later seasons, attracted some of the biggest stars in the world for multi-episode guest spots.

Mad Men (AMC)

Apart from the fact that it’s utterly fantastic, Mad Men is one of the most important TV shows of the last few decades because it conclusively proved literally any network had the ability to create one of the buzziest, most acclaimed series on television, including AMC which launched Mad Men as its first original program. It also turned Jon Hamm into a huge star, and shined a light on many members of its talented supporting cast.

Dexter (Showtime)

Yeah, I know Dexter was inconsistent during its run, but man, was that Dark Passenger fun to ride around with when it was good. Showtime’s drama about a serial killer who tried to live by a moral code netted its primary actor, Michael C Hall, five well-earned Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead and netted terrific vet John Lithgow a guest star Emmy win for his terrifying work in Season 4. 

Homeland (Showtime)

Homeland didn’t have quite the universal acclaim in its later seasons, but there aren’t many shows in TV history that could match the universal acclaim of its early seasons. Its terrific first season won Outstanding Drama at The Emmys, as well as statues for its two lead actors Claire Danes and Damian Lewis. Altogether, it’s probably the most talked about and acclaimed series in Showtime history, and that’s huge praise given what else has been on that network.

The West Wing (NBC)

The West Wing is perhaps a little more inside the box and network TV-ish than a lot of other entries on this list, but to me, that’s part of its appeal. It’s well put together enough to consistently provide payoff moments, but it’s good enough at what it’s doing that the formula rarely gets in the way. Voters agreed, as it nominated the show for an astounding ninety-eight Emmys.

Ted Lasso (Apple+)

At its absolute best, Ted Lasso, the show but also, the person, has a way of making you feel so unreservedly happy. Before you realize it, you’re rooting for these characters more passionately and with more love in your heart than you ever knew was possible for a TV show. Critics, fans and awards voters all agreed too, as for awhile there, Ted Lasso became the most talked about thing on streaming.

Weeds (Showtime)

Given it ran for eight seasons, Weeds is far from the most nominated show on this list. Some of its actors did well at The Emmys, but what’s really important long-term about the drug dealing dramedy is how it turned what could have been a goofy, throwaway premise of suburban mom turned drug dealer into sharply written material that explored many different emotions and tones. It was never content to remain the same, which is the opposite of what many comedies want.

Grey's Anatomy (ABC)

This choice for sure is picking up some eyerolls, but people forget how freakin’ good Grey’s Anatomy was during its first handful of seasons. It earned multiple Outstanding Drama nominations, and many of its actors, most prominently Sandra Oh and Chandra Wilson, were nominated for their performances. Its third season premiere was also watched live by more than twenty-five million people, which was a huge number at the time, especially for a critical darling.

24 (FOX)

24’s unconventional format of having episodes correspond to specific hours was a masterstroke, given the high pressure intensity of its subject matter. It was also able to really push the line with network television but more in the way of aggression and physical violence. It felt dangerous at the time, and decades later, that ever-present ferocity still comes through. It was consistently rewarded by critics and awards voters too in a way you almost never see for something this action-packed.

Modern Family (ABC)

Modern Family works so well because it’s really good at many different types of comedy. It has an overarching tone, sure, but because it brings together multiple generations, as well as many varied characters, it mines a lot of different subject matter for humor. That allows the show to feel fresh and keep from getting repetitive for longer than most comedies. Its wild range is probably best exemplified by the show somehow getting a combined six nominations in the Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress Emmy categories in the same year.

Better Call Saul (AMC)

There aren’t many spinoff shows in the history of television that pick right up where the original left off in terms of quality. Better Call Saul is a rare exception, which is positively insane given the original quality it needed to aspire to was maybe the greatest show ever in Breaking Bad. Fortunately, Bob Odenkirk is an absolute delight to watch, and Better Call Saul was able to give many of Breaking Bad’s greatest side characters more chances to shine.

Schitt's Creek (CBC)

If you want to know how beloved Schitt’s Creek was when it went off the air, especially among awards voters, look no further than the acting nominations it got during its last run at The Emmys. It somehow netted nine nominations just in the on-screen performance categories. It was a great final moment for a show that was often able to feel like both the best parts of a sitcom and the best parts of a linear dramedy at the same time.

Mr. Robot (USA)

Over the course of four critically acclaimed seasons, Mr. Robot built up a passionate fanbase who loved the dynamic between Rami Malek and Christian Slater, as well as the score and pace of the series. Starting mostly with its second season, it was also honored quite a bit by various award shows, including The Emmys, which gave Malek the Best Lead Actor award, along with nominating the show itself, guest actor BD Wong and more. 

Rescue Me (FX)

A show on FX about firefighters starring stand-up comedian Dennis Leary probably wouldn’t strike most people as a future Emmy winner and critical darling, but Rescue Me was never afraid of tackling more complicated material. That willingness to explore tougher subject matter attracted audiences, as well as high profile guest stars including Michael J Fox who picked up an Emmy for his contributions. 

This Is Us (NBC)

This is Us was so popular during its first few seasons that NBC gave it the post Super Bowl slot. The show took full advantage and aired a Super Bowl-themed episode that many consider to be one of the best of This Is Us’ entire run. It’s a perfect example of how the show, at its best, weaves together the type of complicated subject matter Emmy voters go for, while remaining broad enough to satisfy a massive audience. The actors in particularly were consistently hit with nominations, especially Sterling K Brown who was recognized by The Emmys five times.

The Crown (Netflix)

Typically when a show connects with a large audience, critics and awards voters, those behind the scenes do everything they can to keep the magic going with the original cast. Not The Crown. Rather than focus on a narrow window, the show hurtled forward, picking up new leads and new characters every few seasons, while somehow still maintaining enough quality to connect with Emmy voters and please its legion of fans.

The L Word (Showtime)

The L Word was never as enticing to awards voters as it should have been, though Ossie Davis did notably win an Emmy for Guest Actor, but its popularity and effect on prestige TV’s willingness to tackle LGBT+ subject matter cannot be overstated. Over the course of six seasons, the show tackled a wide variety of subjects and built a rich, complicated world of interconnected characters for its fanbase to root for and sometimes get mad at. 

Fargo (FX)

Taking spiritual inspiration from The Coen Brothers’ movie of the same name, no one was quite sure what to expect when Fargo premiered back in 2014, but the result was a fantastic crime narrative that was entirely different, yet oddly similar to the pace of the original film. Critics were overwhelmingly hot and loads of major nominations followed, especially for the actors. Subsequent seasons went in very different directions, but the basic spirit and popularity with awards voters remained. 

The Handmaid's Tale (Hulu)

House Of Cards may have been the first streaming show to get significant critical acclaim and awards nominations, but The Handmaid’s Tale is actually the first one to win Best Drama at The Emmys. The unnerving and often disturbing adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s novel is a tough watch but can be so rewarding, as millions of viewers found out. Its first few seasons in particular were showered with praise and numerous nominations for both the show itself and its brilliant cast.

Arrested Development (FOX/ Netflix)

Has a comedy ever used a narrator better than Arrested Development? The well-written and often deeply weird comedy never attracted the biggest audience, but it was a huge hit with its fanbase and critics, who adored the complicated relationships between its characters and their ridiculous recurring jokes and plots. By the end of its short run, it won Best Comedy and Best Writing at The Emmys and saw four of its cast members nominated in acting categories.

Ozark (Netflix)

It took a little time for enough awards voters to give Ozark a chance, as the first season mainly only saw wide praise for Jason Bateman’s work, but once voters gave it a chance, the nominations started flying in. The show’s last three seasons were all nominated for Best Drama at The Emmys and Julia Garner won multiple times in the supporting category for her incredible work. New fans also keep discovering the show and taking to social media, where the hype train continues, despite not being on the air anymore.

Killing Eve (BBC Three/ BBC America)

There’s no shortage of fans and critics with opinions about Killing Eve's divisive final season, but the first two, in particular, remain beloved by pretty much everyone. Not surprisingly, perennial awards contender Sandra Oh got four Emmy noms for her work on the show, but voters also flipped for Jodie Comer, who got nominated three times and took home a win. Not bad for a spy thriller that wasn’t initially seen by some as a prestige project.

Pose (FX)

The loudest support for Pose came from those who couldn’t get enough of Billy Porter’s fantastic lead performance. He was repeatedly nominated and picked up an Emmy win during the show’s run, but there was also a lot of acclaim for individual seasons themselves too, as Ryan Murphy’s exploration of New York City’s LGBT+ subculture gave an opportunity for so many talented supporting actors to have their moment. 

On Friday, July 21, 2023, the world lost one of the most revered, legendary talents in music history, Tony Bennett, at the age of 96. Many other icons of the craft have paid tribute to the crooner in the days since his passing and now we are paying our respects in our own way. The following is a look back at some of the moments when Bennett tried his hand at acting and, in particular, as the greatest role he ever played: himself.

The Scout (1994)

One of Bennett’s earlier cameos as himself is in two scenes from one the earlier films of Academy Award winner Brendan Fraser’s career and one of the most underrated, great sports movies of the ‘90s, as well, The Scout. Bennett first appears at his own concert, where he points out that the latest New York Yankee — Fraser’s character, Steve Nebraska — is in the audience, before the young baseball pitcher precedes to upstage the crooner with his rendition of “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” much to the embarrassment of the man who recruited him, Al Percolo (Albert Brooks). He shows up again to sing the National Anthem for Game 1 of the World Series, where Nebraska is playing.

Analyze This (1999)

Another time in the ‘90s when Bennett performed a classic tune in a movie was in the final scene from Analyze This. One of the best movies co-written and directed by the late Harold Ramis — who also had some notable, if not underrated, movie appearances of his own — this comedy is about a psychiatrist (Billy Crystal) who is reluctantly assigned to treat a mafia criminal (Academy Award winner Robert De Niro) reeling from a near-death experience. Bennett is seen performing “I’ve Got the World on a String” during a personal show for Crystal’s character, Ben Sobel, following his marriage to his new wife, Laura (Lisa Kudrow).

Bruce Almighty (2003)

Another great comedy starring a Friends cast member in which Bennett makes a brief, but quite memorable appearance is one of the best Jim Carrey movies, Bruce Almighty. This time, he is performing at a restaurant where our title character (Carrey) is having a celebratory dinner with his girlfriend, Grace (Jennifer Aniston), who is shocked when Bruce exchanges casual glances with the singer. What really perfects the scene, however, is that Bennett is singing “If I Ruled the World” in a movie about a man who gets the chance to do just that when he is imbued with the power of God (Morgan Freeman).

Entourage (2008)

Bennett would also make cameos on a number of TV shows, such as on the long-running, Emmy-winning dramedy, Entourage. In the Season 5 episode, “Unlike a Virgin,” Vince (Adrian Grenier) has a run-in with his singer ex-girlfriend, Justine, (Gossip Girl cast member Leighton Meester) who invites him and his friends to watch the making of her latest music video, which also features Bennett. Justine introduces Vince to Bennett, who happens to have been a big fan of his performance in James Cameron’s Aquaman movie, and expresses his regret of not seeing the sequel, to which Vince assures him it is find because Jake Gyllenhaal assumed the role for that one.

Saturday Night Live (2006)

After years of being impersonated on SNL by Alec Baldwin as the host of his own talk show, The Tony Bennett Show, Bennett appeared alongside the Saturday Night Live host hall-of-famer in one of the last editions of the sketch, but not as himself demanding retribution for mockery like some others have. The singer -- going by his actual legal name, Anthony Benedetto -- seems to appear in the bit as a thank you for Baldwin’s sincere approach to imitating him by playing a nearly starstruck Tony Bennett impersonator who reveals he performs the singer's biggest hit under the stage name, “Phony Bennett.”

30 Rock (2012)

Years after his SNL cameo alongside Baldwin, Bennett appeared on a show poking fun at what goes on behind the scenes of a sketch comedy series that also starred Baldwin, 30 Rock, in Episode 7 of Season 7, “Mazel Tov, Dummies!” In it, Liz Lemon (creator Tina Fey) is having a courthouse wedding to Criss (James Marsden) which — keeping in tone with any of the best 30 Rock episodes — is chock-full of absurdities, among them the sight of a singing Bennett. 

Muppets Most Wanted (2014)

Another time when Bennett appeared in a title also starring Tina Fey was in 2014 with an appearance in Muppets Most Wanted (one of the movie’s many great celebrity cameos) for a scene that parodies Hollywood’s obsession with sequels. The meta moment sees Bennett working the craft services table on the set of the movie with his frequent collaborator, Lady Gaga (who also shared a lasting friendship with Bennett, as Rolling Stone recalls).

Blue Bloods (2011)

Lady Gaga is just one of many modern talents whom Bennett would perform duets with some of the most revered musical talents working today, such as Lady Gaga Carrie Underwood. The American Idol winner was seen performing a beautiful rendition of “It Had to Be You” with Bennett on the Season 2 premiere of the CBS crime drama, Blue Bloods, at a fundraiser attended by Frank Regan (Tom Selleck) and his daughter, Erin (Bridget Moynahan).

The Simpsons (1990)

Many of the best episodes of The Simpsons are known for their celebrity cameos, but the first person to ever lend their voice to the series as themselves was none other than Tony Bennett. It was in the Season 2 episode “Dancin’ Homer” when he appeared to sing a song called “Capital City” — a parody of “New York, New York” — while running into the titular family as the tour the eponymous urban community.

Bennett was a one-of-kind talent whose presence warmed your heart no matter what he was doing. The nine appearances on the big and small screen above are just a handful of examples to prove that.

It’s hard to single out 30 Rock’s best episodes, since the NBC comedy is recognized as one of the best of all time. The concepts, characters, and 30 Rock running jokes mean there’s rarely a dull moment, and each episode is packed with guest stars and brilliant one-liners. But, we’ve narrowed down the best episodes from 30 Rock’s seven-season run and ranked them for you. Without further ado, here they are!

10. “Governor Dunston” (Season 7, Episode 2)

The plot of the first episode on our list revolves around a bumbling new Republican vice presidential candidate who looks exactly like Tracy. The governor is the perfect topic for a TGS sketch, but Jack and Liz’s agreement to tank NBC with bad sketches puts a damper on the writers’ room. 

Liz and the writers are able to work around Jack’s “no politics” rule by using Dunston’s words verbatim—unfortunately, since Tracy is a beloved comedian, his performance makes the governor seem like a lovable dummy.

It feels eerily like 30 Rock predicted the future with the Governor Dunston storyline, especially if you watch any SNL Weekend Update clips from 2016-2020, which is why this episode is always remembered as one of my favorites.

Some A-plus B-plots from this episode include Kenneth’s mom (Catherine O’Hara) coming to town with her “friend” Ron (Bryan Cranston) and Liz organizing her sex life.

9. “Mamma Mia” (Season 3, Episode 21)

After Jack finds out that his father is not actually his biological dad, he enlists the help of his personal private investigator (Steve Buscemi) to determine who his real dad might be.

The PI brings back three possible candidates, so Liz proposes a “Mamma Mia” (meaning they’ll trick all three men into coming to New York to meet Jack). Take it from Liz, the expert on familial relationships: 

The first man is Korean, and the second man is infertile after being injured in the line of duty—which means Jack’s father is Milton Greene, a liberal professor who’s nothing like Jack. It’s perfect timing, too—Milton needs a kidney, and Jack just might be a match.

The episode combines Jack’s moral dilemma with the story of Tracy connecting with his long lost “son,” who’s really a 40-year old man, making for an absurd but touching episode. Plus, without "Mamma Mia," we never would have heard the star-studded charity song "Kidney NOW!"

8. “Sandwich Day” (Season 2, Episode 14)

Sandwich Day: The most special lunch of the year, where all the teamsters pick up secret subs from a secret location.

But this sandwich day Floyd is coming back to town, so Liz is preoccupied. Tracy and the writers decide what Liz doesn’t know can’t hurt her, and they eat her sandwich.

When Liz realizes her sandwich is gone, she threatens the writers and Kenneth, saying she’ll cut them all chins if they don’t find a new sandwich for her.

This episode would have made the list based on that alone, but "Sandwich Day" really cements itself as 30 Rock gold when Liz slams her entire sandwich at TSA before chasing Floyd through the airport—because we CAN have it all!!!

7. “Succession” (Season 2, Episode 13)

In Season 2, Jack is poised to take over NBC as the replacement for longtime CEO Don Geiss. He has to pick his own replacement, though—who better to pick than his own mentee?

Liz is surprised to find out she actually likes the corporate life—she’s praised for doing minimal work, and the salary is seriously slap-worthy.

However, the star of this Season 2 episode is Tracy’s quest to create a pornographic video game. Frank insists it can’t be done—if it was possible, he would have done it already.

Tracy hits a stroke of genius and is able to do what Frank couldn’t—create the perfect porn game. The episode turns into a spoof of the Mozart biopic Amadeus, with Frank representing jealous rival composer Antonio Salieri. It’s genius writing, and definitely one of the most unforgettable moments of the entire series.

6. “Reunion” (Season 3, Episode 5)

Liz is a little nervous to return home for her high school reunion, so she invites Jack to tag along as her plus one. However, when she arrives, Liz learns that she wasn’t her high school’s lovable dork—she was the heartless bully.

Jack, on the other hand, grabs a name tag and poses as “Larry Braverman,” who happened to be Mr. Popular at Liz’s high school. Jack spends the night reminiscing on the good ol’ days (that never really happened) while Liz sulks.

At the end of the event, Liz’s classmates try to Carrie her on stage and a woman comes forward to share that Larry Braverman is the father of her son. Liz and Jack make a quick escape, but not before unleashing a few last nasty comments on the crowd.

You're sure to laugh out loud when you watch this episode for the first time. “Reunion” also includes my favorite “I want to go to there” of the whole series. I’d risk getting drenched in blood for a Longhorn Steakhouse gift card, too.

5. “Dealbreakers Talk Show #0001” (Season 4, Episode 7)

Liz finds her fifteen minutes of fame with “Dealbreakers,” a sketch about red flags when dating men. Due to the success of Liz’s catchphrase, Jack decides to greenlight a “Dealbreakers” talk show starring Liz herself.

Unfortunately, there’s a lot of pressure on Jack and Liz for the show to do well, and it’s a lot easier said than done to be easy, breezy, and beautiful in front of the camera. The show tanks, but Jack is able to sell the footage from the opening credits to a soap opera.

Frank also prepares to become Liz’s replacement as head writer of TGS, but by the end of the episode he’s stressed and strung out and even wears his hair like Liz. The episode is stressful and hectic, but Liz’s awkwardness on camera makes this episode ridiculously funny.

Meanwhile, in one of my personal favorite plotlines, Tracy decides to EGOT.

4. “Brooklyn Without Limits” (Season 5, Episode 7)

30 Rock is known for nabbing high-profile guest stars, one of whom was Mad Men cast member John Slattery. 

While Slattery is cool and collected as Roger Sterling, he’s comically crass as presidential hopeful Steven Austin, whose political beliefs include “no paved roads” and “legal slavery.”

Jack must wrestle with the moral dilemma of supporting an insane man for president just to support his own agenda, while Liz must do the same after finding the perfect pair of jeans. They’re from a really cool shop called Brooklyn Without Limits—which Jack informs her is actually owned by Haliburton.

Ultimately, Jack gives up his political scheme and Liz gets rid of the jeans, both taking the moral high ground for once. Jenna takes the moral high ground, too, when she drops her plan to get Tracy banned from the Golden Globes (despite being banned for life herself). Any episode where Jenna has a heart is one of the best in my book, but Slattery's guest appearance is what really makes this episode shine.

3. “The Bubble” (Season 3, Episode 15)

I truly think about this episode all the time. Liz’s new boyfriend, Drew (Jon Hamm), is a successful and handsome doctor who’s good at pretty much everything—or at least that’s what people tell him.

Liz tries to explain to Drew that he lives in a “bubble,” meaning people treat him differently because he’s beautiful. Jack tells Liz to enjoy the bubble, but it starts to become clear that Drew may have achieved some of his accomplishments strictly based on his looks. For example, he can’t do the heimlich on Liz when she’s choking (reminder: he’s a DOCTOR), and he can’t play tennis for shit, despite having worked as a tennis instructor.

Liz proves her point to Drew by asking a server for the ridiculous off-menu item Drew had wanted to order. The server can’t see Drew’s beautiful face, so she basically tells Liz to eff off. It’s an episode that will hit close to home if you’re not as beautiful as Jon Hamm, and arguably one of the show's all time best. 

2. “Jackie Jormp Jomp” (Season 3, Episode 18)

In one of 30 Rock’s wackier plotlines, Jenna and Jack embark on the task of creating an unauthorized Janis Joplin biopic titled “Sing Dem Blues White Girl: The Jackie Jormp Jomp Story.” There’s a mixup during the promotion though, and Jenna’s death is accidentally announced at the Kid’s Choice Awards.

Jenna is very much alive, but Jack sees Jenna’s “posthumous” performance as a genius way to stir up intrigue for the film. They decide to produce a memorial for her on the TGS stage, but Jenna can’t resist the urge to sing in front of a live audience and jumps onstage. It’s incredibly cringey, but very on-brand for Jenna.

The whole Jackie Jormp-Jomp plot is one of my all-time favorites, but Jenna's memorial service is what really sends this episode over the edge. Who knew that a slow rendition of "Muffin Top" would be one of the best moments in the show's history?

Liz also accidentally joins a fight club.

1. “The Tuxedo Begins” (Season 6, Episode 8)

Exhausted by constantly trying to be an upstanding New Yorker, Liz gives up completely and decides to lean into the filth by posing as a crazy lady. Equipped with a wig, a hunchback, and a tupperware of stinky food to bring on the subway, Liz embraces her new role as a New Yorker people cross the street to avoid.

Jack is having a rough time as a New Yorker, too—after being mugged and feeling really emasculated, he decides to run for mayor (despite the fact that he’s too afraid to leave his office).

Jack and Liz square off in a battle of right vs. wrong—should they keep trying to make their city a better place? Or should they sink down further and join in the chaos? 

Not to be outdone, Jenna’s story in this episode revolves around her and her boyfriend Paul “normaling,” a depraved new fetish where couples act completely normal. It’s a ridiculous episode from beginning to end, and the Batman motifs tie it all together beautifully—making "The Tuxedo Begins" one of the funniest bits of television of all time.

If you have a Peacock subscription, you can find all seven seasons of 30 Rock on the NBC streaming service. It's also one of the many shows available to stream on Hulu.

Tina Fey’s critically acclaimed series, 30 Rock, is all about the fake show business of TGS, a sketch comedy series that bears a lot of similarities to NBC’s Saturday Night Live. Just like the real SNL cast, the cast members of TGS often dip their feet into the waters of acting on the silver screen. Jenna and Tracy each star in their fair share of fictional movies throughout the series, although most of them sound like fever dreams.

Here are some of the best fake movies in 30 Rock, including some starring TGS’s own Jenna Maroney and Tracy Jordan, ranked from least to most absurd.

9. Tracy Jordan’s Aunt Phatso’s Jack Donaghy’s We At It Again

Tracy (played by SNL alum Tracy Morgan) is no stranger to dressing up as a woman—his Honky Grandma Be Trippin’ movies may look an awful lot like the Madea movies, but they’ve definitely made him a lot of money. It makes sense that he would try it again with Aunt Phatso.

In particular, Tracy Jordan’s Aunt Phatso’s Jack Donaghy’s We At It Again is an especially intriguing movie. The villain, Jack Donaghy, is meant to resemble the real Jack—except Jack can’t sue Tracy for slander, because everything the villain does or says in the movie is something Jack has said or done in real life.

Aunt Phatso is another blockbuster hit for Tracy, so it’s hard to argue with his concept (even if he did plagiarize Tyler Perry to get it done).

8. Kidnapped By Danger: The Avery Jessup Story

To tell the story of his wife’s kidnapping, Jack enlists the help of Jenna (Jane Krakowski) and Donaghy-lookalike Lance Drake Mandrell (really just Alec Baldwin’s little brother, William Baldwin) to create a made-for-TV movie that can stir up public support for his wife’s situation. Liz writes the movie herself.

Liz’s script even includes an in-depth recollection of Jack’s love triangle with Avery and Nancy (Julianne Moore), who’s played by Cynthia Nixon.

I probably wouldn’t watch this one, but I’ve definitely seen stranger story concepts on Lifetime. The story would have been more absurd if they’d gone with Liz’s original script, but maybe the cleaner version was better for the Lifetime audience.

7. Hard To Watch Based On The Novel Stone Cold Bummer By Manipulate

This spoof on Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire earned Tracy his Oscar as well as his EGOT. The movie is really hard to watch, telling a story of homelessness, addiction, and suffering in the Bronx. No, it’s REALLY hard to watch—the main character uses a football for a toilet and his mother explodes.

Tracy’s Oscar campaign reminds me a whole lot of similar Oscar-bait movies that are just plain hard to watch, but as far as 30 Rock movies go, this one actually makes a lot of sense.

6. Jefferson

After learning he’s really a direct descendant of Thomas Jefferson, Tracy has the brilliant idea to create a Thomas Jefferson biopic. But there’s a twist: Tracy plays all the characters (like Eddie Murphy in The Nutty Professor).

It’s an earnest concept for a movie—especially in the post-Hamilton era, where one could more easily see a Black actor playing Thomas Jefferson. Deciding to play every character was probably not Tracy’s best idea, though, so this one ranks relatively high on the absurdity scale.

5. Take My Hand

Originally intended as a gory slasher movie, Take My Hand could have been Jenna’s chance to enter the world of horror movies. After intervention from Jack to make the film profitable and pushback from Connecticut (where the film is being shot), the movie ends up being a light-hearted pro-Connecticut Walmart commercial:

My stomach is a little too sensitive for most gore-fest movies, but I might actually be able to get through this one. However, the “visit Connecticut” vibes definitely make this one of the weirdest movies on the list.

4. A Dog Took My Face And Gave Me A Better Face To Change The World: The Celeste Cunningham Story

Now here’s a Lifetime movie concept I could get sucked into. A Dog Took My Face and Gave Me a Better Face to Change the World: The Celeste Cunningham Story is the true story of liberal politician Celeste Cunningham (Edie Falco), who used to be much uglier before she was shot in the face by her neighbor’s dog and given a face transplant.

The best part about this fake movie is that Kristen Wiig plays Celeste. Wiig does an excellent job portraying how terrifying it would be to be shot by a dog.

So, this movie has a successful face transplant, an attempted murder, AND a dog? I’m in, but only because of how ridiculous it sounds.

3. Leap Dave Williams

Everyone’s favorite movie that Liz has never heard of is Leap Dave Williams, a play on Leap Day William. Fun fact: Tracy actually had a cameo in this movie, although his only line was “Give me your wallet, old man!”

Following a The Santa Clause-style arc, the main character (played by Jim Carrey) slowly transforms into Leap Day Williams, the Santa of Leap Day.

If all of that sounds absurd, you’re in the same boat as Liz Lemon. I guess February 29th is a holiday some people just don't get.

2. The Rural Juror

I don’t know what this movie is about, but neither does anyone else. The Rural Juror is a hard to pronounce film adaptation of a novel by Kevin Grisham, John Grisham’s brother. Jenna scores the role of southern lawyer Constance Justice. Since the title is so hard to say, it becomes an inside joke on the show.

Jenna also records a song for the film, which is equally hard to understand:

I can’t wait for the sequel, Urban Fervor.

1. Sing Dem Blues White Girl: The Jackie Jormp-Jomp Story

Jenna’s Janis Joplin biopic could have been her ticket to A-list celebritydom—until they lost the life rights and had to make a few changes for legal reasons.

The finished product is Sing Dem Blues White Girl: The Jackie Jormp-Jomp Story, featuring Jackie Jormp-Jomp’s famous hit “Take Another Little Chunk of My Lung.”

The biopic is riddled with other mistakes, thanks in part to the writers’ editing on the Janis Joplin Wikipedia page. Joplin does NOT eat cats, contrary to Jenna’s thorough research.

Episodes of 30 Rock are available to stream with a Peacock subscription. You can also find the show on Hulu.

I grew up with one of the best Thursday night sitcom lineups of all time. Every Thursday, I would plop myself down in front of the TV and watch two consecutive hours of NBC comedies: Community, then Parks and Rec, then The Office, and finally, 30 Rock.

Created by Tina Fey, 30 Rock spoofs the experience of writing for a weekly sketch comedy show (much like Fey did herself on Saturday Night Live). The show is famous for going completely off the rails, introducing a number of insane characters and plots that make the show more absurd than your average sitcom.

Running jokes are this workplace comedy's bread and butter, so today I’m breaking down a bunch of my favorite 30 Rock inside jokes that come up throughout the series.

Something Weird Goes On In Kenneth’s Home Town

Kenneth the Page comes from the town of Stone Mountain, Georgia. We know that he grew up on a pig farm and has some off-the-wall religious beliefs, but there always seems to be something much more sinister going on in Kenneth’s home town.

Kenneth drops hints about his hometown throughout the series, like that he and his family all drink “hill people milk” and that they have no political beliefs because “choosing is a sin.” But, maybe his religion actually works—considering it’s suggested that Kenneth might be immortal.

The Royal Tampa Academy Of Dramatic Tricks

Liz and Jenna met at Northwestern University, where Jenna trained as a vocal performer. But Jenna’s first alma mater is actually the Royal Tampa Academy of Dramatic Tricks.

At the academy, Jenna studied game show pointing and theater superstitions, while majoring in portraying prom queens and murdered runaways.

Astronaut Mike Dexter

Liz isn’t too picky when it comes to love. Her guy just has to be a world-famous astronaut named Mike Dexter.

Astronaut Mike Dexter is Liz’s dream guy—except for the fact that he’s entirely imaginary. I can’t get over the fact that Liz’s dream guy has a job where he’ll be gone most of the time, but I do relate. Liz and I both love our alone time.

Condoleezza Rice Is Jack’s Ex

It’s revealed in Season 1 that Jack is dating Condoleezza Rice, former Secretary of State under George W. Bush. It’s just one example of the power Jack holds in the Republican party.

Later in the series, Jack needs a favor from Rice, so the two face off in an instrumental duel featuring a cameo from Rice herself. Jack plays the flute, while Rice plays the piano (which she actually plays in real life).

Lutz Sucks

If there’s one thing all the writers can agree on, it’s that Lutz is the worst.

John Lutz has a thyroid problem, a confusing sexual identity, and is related to Twilight actor Kellan Lutz. But the thing Lutz sucks most at is choosing where the writers should order lunch from.

While writing for TGS’ last episode, Lutz even legally changes his last name to “Aardvark” to rig the alphabetical choice in his favor.

Frank’s Hats

If you walked into Frank Rossitano’s closet, you’d probably just see rows and rows of trucker hats. Frank wears a different trucker hat in practically every episode of 30 Rock, each with its own absurd phrase written across the front.

Some of Frank’s best hats include “Half Centaur,” “Ninja Expert,” “Crop Octagon,” “Speling Expirt,” and the simple but effective “Horny.”

Even better, Judah Freidlander (the actor who played Frank) shared in an interview with Flavorwire that all the hats on the show were from his own collection.

Jenna And Tracy’s Enemies To Friends Arc

Tracy Jordan is a big-name movie star, beloved by the masses. So when he first joins the cast of TGS, Jenna is understandably threatened.

Though they start out as enemies, Tracy and Jenna ultimately realize that as “famouses” they have a lot more in common than they thought. The two strike up an unlikely friendship that only occasionally reverts back into jealousy and sabotage.

Dr. Leo Spaceman

The doctor at 30 Rockefeller Plaza is Dr. Leo Spaceman (it’s Spa-cheh-man, not Space-man), played by SNL alum Chris Parnell.

It’s debatable whether or not Dr. Spaceman is actually an MD—he encourages Jack to eat a big breakfast the morning before surgery, doesn’t know how to say “diabetes,” and comments that the heart is in a different place on everybody. If only medicine were an exact science. 

Liz’s Relationship With Food

Do not come between Liz Lemon and her food. From Cheesy Blasters to Sabor de Soledad, Liz Lemon has an affection for junk food—the unhealthier the better.

Let’s not forget what happens when people mess with Liz’s food. When the writers eat Liz’s special sandwich on Sandwich Day, she threatens them with violence if they don’t procure a new sandwich for her.

Tracy And Jenna’s Ridiculous Fictional Movies

Jenna and Tracy work on a number of ridiculous fictional films throughout the series. Who could forget Kidnapped by Danger, the TV-movie where Jenna plays Jack’s wife (who’s been kidnapped by Kim Jong Un), or Hard to Watch: Based on the Novel Stone Cold Bummer, the film that earned Tracy his EGOT? We certainly can’t forget A Blaffair to Rememblack, Tracy’s remake of An Affair to Remember.

My favorite fake 30 Rock films, however, are Rural Juror, a movie plagued by confusion about the title, and Jackie Jormp-Jomp, Jenna’s unlicensed Janis Joplin biopic.

The Cutthroat Page Program

Kenneth’s pride and joy in life is being a member of NBC’s page program. What you might not know is how high the stakes are in the page program. We learn that the head page, Donny, forces his peers to compete in Page-offs and that he has a particular dislike of Kenneth.

The page program is real—Aubrey Plaza actually worked as an NBC page at 30 Rock—but definitely not as intense as the real life page program Kenneth has to go through.

Liz’s Romantic History With Grizz

Grizz and Dot Com are members of Tracy’s entourage, and they’re frequently involved in shenanigans around 30 Rock. The two men are meant to seem big and intimidating, but the pair are actually big softies who spend their time looking after Tracy.

After a fateful Halloween party at Kenneth’s, Grizz becomes romantically involved with Liz. We never really hear what happens between them, other than the fact that Liz made Grizz cry.

Grizz has a really hard time getting over Liz, so the fling comes up a lot throughout the series.

30 Rock is available to stream with a subscription to Peacock, but all six seasons are also included with a Hulu subscription.

It’s a pretty special feeling when you can recognize someone by their voice alone, and The Bob’s Burgers Movie star Kristen Schaal is certainly an actress that is instantly recognizable upon hearing her unique and quirky voice. Schaal is a comedic actress who, despite being fired from South Park early in her career, not only lends her voice to some of the most fun animated movies and series of our time, but also acts in some pretty great live action roles, as well. Here are some great Kristen Schaal movies and tv shows that are a real good time if you like the lovable actress.

Bob’s Burgers (Hulu)

Centered on a family in New Jersey who live above the burger joint they run together, Bob’s Burgers is an animated comedy series that brings a lot of eccentric and lovable characters together. Bob, the male head of the Belcher family, is basically the Gordon Ramsey of burgers, but even though his food is to die for, he's struggling to make ends meet and keep his restaurant and chef dreams alive.

Honestly, Bob’s Burgers is the ultimate comfort show. It’s like the series form of a warm hug, and always manages to make you feel good even though it does handle some rough topics at times. Kristen Schaal voices Louise, the youngest of the three Belcher children, and her sweet voice acts as a kind of foil to Louise’s chaotic nature. The ongoing show has 12 bingeable seasons full of some pretty great episodes and a 2022 film that's part of the new movie releases, so be prepared to be in it for the long haul with this gem.

Stream Bob’s Burgers on Hulu.
Buy Bob’s Burgers on Amazon.

The Last Man On Earth (Hulu)

While the title is pretty self explanatory, The Last Man on Earth centers on a man, played by the series creator Will Forte, who believes himself to be the last man living on Earth after a virus wipes out humanity. After leaving signs of his survival and stealing major historical and cultural artifacts all over the continental US, he finally locates another survivor, played by Kristen Schaal, whom he finds to be one of the most annoying people he has ever met, but feels obligated to repopulate the planet with her.

The Last Man on Earth is a hilarious take on a post-apocalyptic world. It’s like Zombieland without the zombies and with less people. While Will Forte and Kristen Schaal’s intense characters bring a ton of comedy to the series, it’s a show that has some real depth to it and explores mankind’s inner workings. If you love Schaal’s sense of humor but prefer a live action series, The Last Man on Earth is probably exactly what you’re looking for.

Stream The Last Man on Earth on Hulu.
Buy The Last Man on Earth on Amazon.

The Heart, She Holler (HBO Max)

Just looking at the title, you probably have no clue what to expect from The Heart, She Holler and I would implore you to just go ahead and dive in blind, because it is quite the experience. However, here’s a little explanation: it’s like if Trailer Park Boys and Schitt’s Creek had a baby, and that baby grew up on a steady diet of Days of Our Lives and a whole lot of vintage horror flicks. The plot of the show really doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of everything that is going on there, but basically Patton Oswalt’s isolated character inherits a town and comes back to run it surrounded by a number of questionable characters.

The Heart, She Holler is unhinged, and that’s putting it lightly. Fans of Kristen Schaal will be used to a good amount of weirdness and unexpected humor, and this Adult Swim series is great for gauging just how much chaos you can handle.

Stream The Heart, She Holler on HBO Max.
Buy The Heart, She Holler on Amazon.

What We Do In The Shadows (Hulu)

What We Do in the Shadows is a comedy series about a group of bizarre vampires who have been roommates for hundreds of years. The series, based on a previously made film of the same name, is shot mockumentary style and follows the nights of the group of vampire friends. It’s kind of like if the Friends friends were vampires.

For people who like Kristen Schaal and the regular crowd she tends to team up with, What We Do in the Shadows is a must. Schaal has a relatively large recurring role in the series as The Guide, a vampire who works for the vampire council in summoning vampires accused of crimes. The humor in the series is A+, and right up Schaal’s alley.

Stream What We Do in the Shadows on Hulu.
Buy What We Do in the Shadow on Amazon.

Flight Of The Conchords (HBO Max)

Created by stars Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie, Flight of the Conchords sees the two play fictionalized versions of themselves as they leave New Zealand for The Big Apple to make a go of it as folk music artists.

Flight of the Conchords is another series that puts Kristen Schaal alongside people she frequently works with, and the effect is awesome. Schaal plays a super fan (pretty much the only fan) of the titular band. She’s borderline obsessive and appears in a majority of the episodes. Flight of the Conchords is a gem of a show, and was at near the beginning of Schaal’s now extensive comedy career, so it’s a great one to revisit.

Stream Flight of the Conchords on HBO Max.
Buy Flight of the Conchords on Amazon.

BoJack Horseman

BoJack Horseman centers around a horse, voiced by Will Arnett, who is struggling with depression and addiction after his very popular show was canceled. It’s an adult, animated comedy series that is honestly pretty dark, but that the stark realness of the show is foiled by how incredibly satirical it is, is just one of the many brilliances that come from the series.

While Kristen Schaal isn’t a main character of the series, her recurring character of Sarah Lynn reflects some of the same themes as the titular BoJack character. This dark satirical take on real life struggles and ideas is a theme fans can see in a number of Schaal’s projects, and BoJack Horseman is one that does it extremely well, making it definitely worth checking out if you haven’t already.

Stream BoJack Horseman on Netflix.
Buy BoJack Horseman on Blu-ray/DVD on Amazon.

Our Flag Means Death (HBO Max)

A romantic, adventure comedy about pirates starring Thor: Love and Thunder’s Taika Waititi? I am beyond on board. The new series centers around a rich aristocrat in the early 1700s who decides he wants to give it all up and become a pirate. Cue the hilarity. 

Fans of Kristen Schaal will love this show, as it has plenty of connections to her other projects like Flight of the Conchords and What We Do in the Shadows, making the on screen chemistry between her and the other comedic actors A+, and giving fans a very familiar comedy style. Schaal has only appeared in a few episodes so far, but fans will fondly find the show akin to her other works. 

Stream Our Flag Means Death on HBO Max.

Gravity Falls (Hulu)

After being sent to the titular town in Oregon to live with their eccentric uncle, the Dipper twins are thrown into the mystical secrets that Gravity Falls has to unveil. The Kristen Schaal and Jason Ritter led animated series is kind of like a cross between Scooby Doo and Haven with a lot of endearing humor. 

Gravity Falls won two Primetime Emmys and is beloved by children, teens, and adults alike. It’s a little different than the more mature dark comedies and adult-humored projects Kristen Schaal is a part of, but Gravity Falls is one of the very few productions that almost everyone can agree is superb, with both seasons earning a place on the very select list of productions with 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Stream Gravity Falls on Hulu.
Buy Gravity Falls on Amazon.

30 Rock (Hulu)

Created, written, and starring the great Tina Fey, 30 Rock is a comedy series based on her time as head writer for Saturday Night Live. The cast of 30 Rock includes big names like Alec Baldwin and Tracy Morgan and it won an impressive 16 Primetime Emmys. 

I love Kristen Schaal in 30 Rock, even though she had a small recurring role. She is her regular chaotic self in the series and is a nice addition to the many different strong and satirical characters that are present through the entire seven seasons of the series.

Stream 30 Rock on Hulu.
Buy 30 Rock on Amazon.

The Toy Story Franchise (Disney+)

Toy Story is one of Disney / Pixar's most popular and recognizable franchises and it spans over 20 years, reaching generations of children. The franchise is centered on a group of toys that come alive when no one is watching and get into all kinds of sticky situations, helping each other as a team along the way.

Toy Story is beloved and holds a special place in a lot of people’s hearts. Kristen Schaal joined the Toy Story cast in the third film as the triceratops toy, Trixie, and fans will recognize her voice pretty instantly as a nice addition. She is a relatively minor character, although Trixie is the central figure in one of the franchise’s shorts, Toy Story That Time Forgot.

Stream the Toy Story franchise on Disney+.
Buy the Toy Story franchise on Amazon.

With The Bob’s Burgers Movie recently released in theaters and getting rave reviews, now is pretty much the perfect time to revisit some of Kristen Schaal’s best roles, or even watch some of them for the first time. Luckily, pretty much everything notable she has worked on is available to stream online, but for now you’ll have to head into theaters for her newly released film. I know, what a drag. 

When thinking of women in comedy, you’d be pretty hard pressed to keep Tina Fey from popping up in your mind pretty quickly. Fey has made her mark on the comedy world as a writer, an actress, and a producer. She is someone who speaks her mind, isn’t afraid to tell it like it is, and someone you couldn’t ignore even if you wanted - and I really don’t know why you’d want to. She’s had some serious bangers over the last 3 decades, and we’ve compiled a list of her best movies and TV shows here and how you can watch them at home.

Saturday Night Live (1997 - 2021)

Of course, we’ve got to start with Saturday Night Live when talking about Tina Fey. The live comedy show has been a TV staple since the mid '70s and has had countless celebrities grace its stage while delivering some seriously iconic sketches and satirical takes on current events. The sketch-based weekly comedy show has been home to many faces of comedy over the years, Fey having been one of them. 

Although the show has housed an impressive number of talented comedians and host celebrities, Tina Fey has carved out a pretty big chunk of SNL’s history herself. She has acted as a cast member in over 100 episodes since the late ‘90s, has acted as head writer for 175 episodes, and has come back to host the show six times since her exit in 2006. She was the first female head writer on the show back in 1999 (Season 25) and helped open the door for other women to follow. Bam. All hail the Queen.

Stream Saturday Night Live on Peacock.
Buy Saturday Night Live digitally on Amazon.

30 Rock (2006 - 2013)

Speaking of the Queen, Tina Fey took her vast experience on SNL and created, wrote, and starred in a show based on it. 30 Rock sees Fey, as a kind of version of herself, playing a head writer of a successful comedy-sketch show. The cast of 30 Rock contains Tracy Morgan and Alec Baldwin, who both star opposite Fey in this meta-esque comedy show.

A testament to how truly brilliant Tina Fey is, 30 Rock has won 16 Primetime Emmys and a slew of other awards. Pretty much everything about the show is funny and Fey killed it.

Stream 30 Rock on Peacock.
Buy 30 Rock digitally on Amazon.
Buy 30 Rock on Blu-Ray on Amazon.

Mean Girls (2004)

Now a cult classic, Mean Girls is a vital teen flick about a new girl in town going up against a group of, you guessed it, mean girls. The film stars Lindsay Lohan along with Rachel McAdams and Amanda Seyfried, who were both at the beginning of their successful acting careers at the time.

Tina Fey has a small, but hilarious part as the school principal, but she also wrote the screenplay and acted as a producer for the movie, and is even developing a musical based on the film.

Rent/Buy Mean Girls digitally on Amazon.
Buy Mean Girls on DVD on Amazon.

Date Night (2010)

Date Night is centers on a couple who have been married for quite some time and have fallen into a pretty stale routine together. When indulging in a rare date night, the two are thrown into an unexpected, exciting, and dangerous situation. Tina Fey plays opposite Steve Carrell, and the two comedians are complimented by a pretty hilarious cast and a very shirtless Mark Wahlberg. Yeah, it’s basically a huge cast win all around.

Stream Date Night on Amazon Prime.
Buy Date Night on DVD on Amazon.

Baby Mama (2008)

If you look up “soulmates” in the dictionary, you’ll see a picture of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler in Baby Mama. The two funny actresses have been seen together throughout both of their careers, and this movie brings more of that great dynamic to the screen. Poehler’s character is pregnant with Fey’s character’s baby (surrogate situation) and the two polar opposite characters are forced to live together. Hilarity and friendship ensue.

Stream Baby Mama on Amazon Freevee.
Buy Baby Mama on DVD on Amazon.

Only Murders in the Building (2021)

What do you get when you stick a cast of great comedic actors and Selena Gomez into an apartment building? A pretty entertaining show, especially when you add murder into the mix. Only Murders in the Building centers around three neighbors who share a love for a murder mystery podcast, hosted by our girl Tine Fey’s character. The show features Steve Martin, Martin Short, and a number of funny guest stars and cameos from comedians. 

Tina Fey only has a few short appearances throughout the first season of the Hulu original series, but her absence is filled with other great comedic appearances and fans of the comedy icon will surely appreciate everything the show has going on.

Stream Only Murders in the Building on Hulu.

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (2015 - 2019)

A wild ride from start to finish, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt stars The Office’s Ellie Kemper as a sheltered girl who just got freed from an underground (literally) doomsday cult. She starts a life in New York City, which is probably the furthest from what she knows from living in her fallout shelter with three other women and the cult leader, a reverend who is flawlessly played by none other than Jon Hamm. 

Tina Fey just has a small part in the series, but it actually makes the list because she co-created the show and acted as a writer on all 51 episodes. The series was nominated for a bunch of Primetime Emmys, and won a few other awards as well.

Stream Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt on Netflix.
Buy Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt on Blu-Ray on Amazon.

Soul (2020)

Soul was one of the first Disney films to miss out on a theatrical run due to the pandemic and go straight to streaming for anyone with a Disney+ subscription. Even so, the animated film about an aging musician who keeps after his dream of hitting it big in the jazz scene was a hit, and for good reason. Soul goes deep in exploring the all the different things that go into a soul as Jamie Foxx’s character Joe goes to another realm where souls are matched with humans. The film won two Oscars and is believed by some to be evidence that Pixar is in its Golden Age.

Tina Fey voices a new soul in the film, and does an amazing job opposite Jamie Foxx. Because she can do practically anything, Fey has, of course, voice-acted before, like in the adorable film Ponyo. It’s refreshing to see her as a central character in a children’s film, especially one so successful as Soul.

Stream Soul on Disney+.
Buy Soul digitally on Amazon.
Buy Soul on DVD on Amazon.

Admission (2013)

How could we turn down a Tina Fey and Paul Rudd film? Admission sees Tina Fey’s character as a Princeton admissions officer who risks her career after she decides to meet one of the applicants who just may be the son she put up for adoption eighteen years prior. Rudd plays the teacher of the maybe-son, who suspects the relation between the two.

Admission got hit pretty hard with bad reviews and both of their critic and audience reviews on Rotten Tomatoes seem to find the film lacking. However, Tina Fey and Paul Rudd are brilliant together in the movie, and it’s worth it for fans to give the film a watch for how enjoyable the two are to watch together.

Stream Admission on HBO Max.
Rent/Buy Admission digitally on Amazon.
Buy Admission on DVD/Blu-Ray on Amazon.

Muppets Most Wanted (2014)

While Muppets Most Wanted had a less than stellar opening at the box office when it came out, it’s a fun movie, as most Muppet films are. This addition to the Muppet franchise sees the characters get roped into an international crime spree when on a world tour in Europe. Tina Fey, along with Ricky Gervais and Ty Burrell join the classic puppeteer cast.

Stream Muppets Most Wanted on Disney+.
Rent/Buy Muppets Most Wanted digitally on Amazon.
Buy Muppets Most Wanted on Blu-Ray on Amazon.

Monkey Kingdom (2015)

It’s no secret that Disney puts out some pretty spectacular nature documentaries. They are visually striking as well as entertaining, and Monkey Kingdom is no exception. The documentary follows the development of a family of Toque macaque monkeys who reside in ancient ruins located in Sri Lanka. The family goes through some serious challenges, like a monsoon and a leopard attack. The story is actually pretty action-packed.

You might be wondering exactly what comedian Tina Fey has to do with a monkey documentary, but she actually pulled a Morgan Freeman and narrated the film. While it’s a totally different kind of project for the SNL vet, it’s definitely worth a watch and is a true example of how much range Fey really has.

Stream Monkey Kingdom on Disney+.
Rent/Buy Monkey Kingdom digitally on Amazon.
Buy Monkey Kingdom on Blu-Ray on Amazon.

Tina Fey has hardcore proven herself to be a staying face in comedy, but interestingly enough has some major range with her roles and talents. Not only is she stellar at writing and actively delivering comedy on screen, but she also voice acts and narrates. The projects she puts her name on pretty much always get a laugh, and her best roles certainly deserve a watch (or even rewatch). Luckily a ton of her work is available to stream, so if you're in the mood for some belly laughs, Fey is only a click or two away.

We all love a good cameo by a celebrity appearing as themselves for a brief, but fun, little moment. However, what I have always found more amusing is when a famous person portrays themselves in a more prominent starring role from a movie, or in a TV guest appearance that serves as the main focus of that episode (or episodes), or even as the lead of the whole story. With Nicolas Cage playing himself in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, we wanted to take a look at our picks for some more of the best performances by athletes, musicians, or actors who played themselves.

Neil Patrick Harris (Harold & Kumar Movies)

Future How I Met Your Mother cast member Neil Patrick Harris was still best known as the star of Doogie Howser M.D. when he stole the show in the 2004 stoner comedy classic Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle as a highly dramatized version of himself. The Emmy nominee would reprise the role in two sequels that more heavily blend the actor’s reality with increasingly absurd fiction, including getting kicked out of Heaven by Jesus in A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas after he was previously gunned down by prostitutes in Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay. 

Cate Blanchett (Coffee And Cigarettes)

Every vignette in Coffee and Cigarettes - Jim Jarmusch’s 2003 anthology of short films starring celebrities as themselves - is gold, but Cate Blanchett leads one of the more unique and thought-provoking of the bunch called “Cousins.” The segment is, additionally, one of the most profound testaments of the two-time Oscar winner’s chameleonic talent, as she makes it so easy to forget she is playing both herself and her brunette relative, Shelly, who struggle to relate to each other while catching up in a hotel lobby.

James Van Der Beek (Don’t Trust The B**** In Apartment 23)

In 2012, James Van Der Beek made his big return to TV as a series regular on Don’t Trust the B**** in Apartment 23 in a role very close to his heart: James Van Der Beek. The actor brilliantly pokes fun at his post-leading the Dawson’s Creek cast career and predicts his future Dancing with the Stars stint as the famous best friend of Krysten Ritter’s Chloe - the title character of ABC’s short-lived, but much-acclaimed, comedy.

Bill Murray (Zombieland)

Most people would consider Bill Murray’s surprise appearance in Zombieland to be one of the greatest cameos of his career (and there are several incredible examples to choose from). However, with only four other characters in the main cast of the classic 2009 zombie comedy, I think we can justifiably count the Oscar nominee’s iconic, hilariously dead-pan portrayal as his post-apocalyptic self as a starring role despite lasting mere minutes. 

Keanu Reeves (Always Be My Maybe)

Another example of a relatively brief appearance that still earns the right to be called a starring role occurs in 2019’s Always Be My Maybe when Marcus (Randall Park) is shocked to learn that his childhood friend (and crush), Sasha (Ali Wong) is dating none other than Keanu Reeves. The John Wick star pulls no punches in his partially improvised portrayal of a wonderfully absurd version of himself in the Netflix original rom-com, in which, during a restaurant double-date, he shows up wearing glasses with no lenses and asks the waiter for a dish that plays with “the concept of time.”

Heather Langenkamp (New Nightmare)

After playing Nancy Kerrigan in two Nightmare on Elm Street movies made her one of the top Scream Queens of the 1980s, Heather Langenkamp would give, arguably, her best performance in the franchise when she returned - not as Nancy, but as herself - in 1994’s New Nightmare. The cleverly meta thriller, in which the actress is taunted by a demon assuming the appearance of Freddy Krueger, also stars fellow horror icon Robert Englund as this new take on the iconic villain and himself as well as writer and director Wes Craven.

The Beatles (A Hard Day’s Night)

The cinematic phenomenon of famous musicians offering a fictionalized peek into their lives off-stage (such as Nick Cave in 2014’s quasi-documentary 20,000 Days on Earth or Foo Fighters in the horror-comedy Studio 666 more recently) arguably began with The Beatles. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr exhibit solid comedic timing and profound athleticism while running from a swarm of screaming fans in 1964’s A Hard Day’s Night - the first of a number of dramatized films the Fab Four made together.

LeBron James (Trainwreck)

Pro basketball star LeBron James has portrayed himself onscreen several times and most recently in 2021’s Space Jam: A New Legacy - a sequel to the hit Michael Jordan/Looney Tunes collaboration from 1996. However, the Los Angeles Lakers’ Small Forward received the most acclaim of his acting career so far for playing himself in Trainwreck - star and writer Amy Schumer’s 2015 rom-com which depicts him and Bill Hader’s “sports doctor to the stars” as best friends.

Stan Lee (Mallrats)

Before his heartbreaking death in 2018, Stan Lee perfected the art of the cameo by appearing in countless Marvel movies. One of his first and most prominent acting gigs (for which he was actually mentioned in the opening credits, too) was as himself in Kevin Smith’s 1995 Clerks follow-up, Mallrats. The comic book icon makes you a “true believer” in his acting ability when he shows up for a couple of scenes to give comic book-obsessed Brody (Jason Lee) some much-needed relationship advice. 

Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm)

It is no secret among die-hard Seinfeld fans that Jason Alexander’s deeply neurotic and troublesome character, George Costanza, was heavily inspired by the personality and life experiences of co-creator Larry David. On his follow-up to Seinfeld - the long-running, HBO original comedy Curb Your Enthusiasm - David has earned several Emmy Award nominations for playing a version of himself who makes George look like a saint, burning bridges with Hollywood heavies and alienating friends and average bystanders at every turn.  

Kate Winslet (Extras)

Star and co-creator Ricky Gervais’ Hollywood satire Extras is chock full of amazing celebrity guest appearances, but Kate Winslet made a damn good case to be considered the funniest in the Emmy-winning comedy’s history. The British Titanic star is seen playing a nun on the set of a film about the Holocaust (which she admits she agreed to star in purely to win an Oscar, having not yet won for The Reader) before later proving herself to be a master in double entendres when offering fellow extra, Maggie Jacobs (Ashley Jensen), phone sex tips.

John Malkovich (Being John Malkovich)

It is a bit rare for an actor to appear in a movie as him or herself while also playing the title character, but 1999’s Being John Malkovich - from from writer Charlie Kaufman and director Spike Jonze - is also a rare kind of movie, and in many ways, too. The two-time Oscar nominee is understandably shocked and frightened by the discovery that a Manhattan puppeteer (John Cusack) has been using a magical portal to be able to take a walk in his shoes for 15 minutes at a time in this wildly creative comedy.

Bruce Campbell (My Name Is Bruce)

Another rare example of an actor playing themselves in the titular role of a film is Bruce Campbell in My Name is Bruce, which is also the last film the B-movie icon directed himself. Campbell is hilarious in the 2007 horror-comedy as a boozy, washed-up version of himself who is forced to channel his iconic Evil Dead character, Ash Williams, in order to defeat a demon wreaking havoc on a small town in Oregon.

Oprah Winfrey (30 Rock)

Another example of a memorably, and often awkwardly, hilarious guest appearance on an acclaimed TV comedy is Oprah Winfrey on Season 3 of 30 Rock. Liz Lemon (star and creator Tina Fey) is delighted to find the larger-than-life media mogul seated next to her on an airplane and cannot help but seize the opportunity to received a dose of wisdom, but who could really blame her for that?

Kevin Garnett (Uncut Gems)

As much as I agree that Adam Sandler deserved greater awards attention for his lead performance in the relentless 2019 thriller Uncut Gems, I think we should be more angry at the fact that former NBA player Kevin Garnett received no awards attention at all. I would go so far as to say I’m glad the Safdie Brothers did not get the athlete they originally wrote the part for (the Knicks’ Amar’e Stoudemire) because Garnett is electrifying as himself (circa 2012), whose interest in a rare opal sets off a series of increasingly dire circumstances for the Sandler as self-destructive jeweler, Howard Ratner.

The This Is The End Cast

The whole point of Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s 2013 directorial debut This is the End is to watch the entire cast (including Rogen, Jay Baruchel, Craig Robinson, and many, many more) as hilariously exaggerated versions of themselves who struggle to endure the Apocalypse and a merciless barrage of gags at their expense. Highlights also include an excruciatingly vain (and demonically possessed) Jonah Hill; a lewd, coke-snorting Michael Cera; an axe-wielding Emma Watson; and Channing Tatum employed by a cannibalistic Danny McBride as his sex slave.

You've got to love seeing a famous person let loose and introduce a different, completely fictional side of themselves to the world on screen. I cannot wait to see more examples of actors playing themselves in the future.

There is not much in this world that I would put above comedy. Laughing brings people joy and has been proven to be good for your health, but one thing that brings me almost as much happiness (and wallet-health) is finding a good deal. And right now, Amazon has complete collections of the some of the best TV comedies in recent (and not-so-recent) memory available at huge discounts. 

We're talking modern classics like The Office, Brooklyn 99, Silicon Valley, and Parks and Recreation, shows that have not only gained huge cult followings, but have also made big impacts on pop culture. They've given us some of the best characters in television (as well as some of the worst) and with so many of these shows constantly jumping on and off various streaming services, it's time to take matters into your own hands to make sure you always have your favorite episodes and characters right at your fingertips and in your Blu-ray player. 

The Office

I am a die-hard The Office fan, through and through. No show makes me laugh harder, or has seemingly inspired more memes. I have my lists of favorite characters and favorite episodes, and I even beat Meredith (Kate Flannery) and Oscar (Oscar Nunez) at The Office trivia (and yes, I won a Dundee for my triumph). But aside from the cringe comedy, The Office is also a fan-favorite because of the emotional and heartwarming moments that occur before the cameras of the documentary crew filming the everyday happenings within a Pennsylvania paper company. You can relive all the shenanigans for just $34.99 on Amazon.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

When Mike Schur makes a hit, he really makes a hit, as the former Office writer later co-created Brooklyn Nine-Nine, the cop and caper comedy starring Andy Sandberg and Teddy Crews was initially cancelled by Fox but found a home at NBC at the eleventh hour and was able to wrap up the show with an additional two seasons on the network. The show recently ended in Fall 2021 after an eight-season run, but fans and the cast alike are still holding out hope that the show could return in some form in the future. Until then, the entire series is 26% off its normal price on Amazon. Noice.

Seinfeld

It would be hard to find another show that has made as much of an impact on comedy and television in general more so than Seinfeld. During its nine-season run, the show was famous for having no real over-arching plots, but still kept audiences captivated right up until the end. The show also helped introduce audiences to some stars that they know and love today, many of whom you may not even remember seeing on the hit show without a subsequent viewing. The complete series is currently on sale at a huge discount.

Silicon Valley

For anyone who has ever worked at a startup or is self-aware enough to know they are an awkward human being, Mike Judge's Silicon Valley probably hits way too close to home. At its height, the hit show lost one of its biggest stars and became so popular that even Bill Gates admitted he was a fan, usually while sharing a nightly block with Seinfeld vet Julia Louis-Dreyfus' Veep (see below). You can still check out the show streaming with an HBO Max subscription, and you can now get the complete series on Amazon at a 39% discount.

Parks and Recreation

As already evidenced above, Michael Schur sitcoms are notorious for hosting hilarious ensemble casts and creating beloved lead characters, and no such character is a better and more virtuous example of this than Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope in Parks and Recreation. The show, which focuses on the inter-workings of government in a small Indiana town, ended in 2015. The Parks department did make a brief reappearance during lockdown with a Zoom-style episode that let us catch up with our favorite crew from Pawnee, and now you can own the complete series with 42% off the original price. 

30 Rock

When a show features as many SNL familiars as 30 Rock did, you know it's going to be groundbreaking, and that it will pull from the real-life experiences of those working on such a staple of late-night comedy. 30 Rock follows the chaos of running a sketch comedy show and dealing with a big-time network in New York City. The show starred Alec Ballwin, Tina Fey, and Tracy Morgan, among other SNL alums, and ran for seven seasons, almost landing a spinoff before ending altogether in 2013, but don't you worry, Amazon has you covered with a huge 66% discount on the complete series, and that sounds like a Liz Lemon party.

The Good Place

What happens after we die? That's the big question Mike Schur decided to tackle in The Good Place, starring Kristen Bell, Ted Danson, and Jameela Jamil. (Okay, so Manny Jacinto's Jason often had less purposeful inquiries.) Although it had a relatively short run and ended after just four seasons, it was the perfect amount of time for all kinds hilariously bizarre and inventive story arcs to play out, and at just $49.99 for the complete series, it's a forking steal.

Veep

One of my other all-time favorite shows is HBO's Veep, starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Anna Chlumsky, and Tony Hale. If you've never seen the show, imagine if The West Wing was highly inappropriate and featured curse words systematically placed for maximum damage. The show is clever, brutal, and absolutely not for those who are easily offended, or those who dislike hilarious character actors. However, if you have thick skin, you can pick up the complete series at a 32% discount on Amazon.

Schitt's Creek

Schitt's Creek is a Canadian television sitcom created by Dan Levy and his comedy icon father, Eugene Levy. The plot follows a mega-rich family who is forced to relocate to an unfortunately named town after losing their fortune and was lauded by critics and fans alike before finally ending with its sixth season. The stars and co-creators of Schitt's Creek even wrote a book about the show after its conclusion and now you can own the entire series for $27.49 on Amazon.

The IT Crowd

If you've never seen it, you probably still know The IT Crowd from the famous tech-support line "Have you tried turning it off and on again?" and for its core trio of Chris O'Dowd, Richard Ayoade and Katherine Parkinson. The British series follows the exploits of an IT department and ran for four seasons on Britain's Channel 4. Although we never did get that American remake, which is probably for the best, you can now own the complete series from across the pond on DVD for just $36.99 on Amazon.

Party Down

Although it only initially ran for two seasons, Party Down boasted an all-star comedic cast, including (but not limited to) Adam Scott, Ken Marino, Jane Lynch, Lizzy Caplan, And Martin Starr. It follows a group of lovable losers who moonlight as caterers while trying to make it big in Hollywood, and it's not quite over yet. Recently it was announced that Party Down will be getting a revival on Starz, so you'd better catch up quick, and it'll only cost you $8.99 for the complete series. You can also sign up for Starz for just $5/month.

There are still tons of more movies that will drop on DVD and digital download in 2022. Amazon also has new deals launching every day, so check back with CinemaBlend as we roundup the best of the best offers for entertainment fans.