The 25 best comedy series of all time

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

From the timeless classics I Love Lucy to the modern Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

1. I love Lucy

• USA, 1951-1957.
• Comedy.
• Duration: 6 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 4.

Lucy is married to an actor. But most importantly, she herself dreams of performing on stage. But the husband does not agree with this. And then Lucy begins to arrange funny scenes and practical jokes at home, showing her talent.

The jokes from this series, which has long been recognized as a real classic, do not become obsolete. And in the 21st century, you can laugh at some scenes with the same pleasure as in the middle of the 20th century. The point is that at the heart of it is simply wit and human relations. And this is true at all times.

2. Dad's army

• Great Britain, 1968-1977.
• Sitcom.
• Duration: 9 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 1.

In the midst of World War II, the Nazis are advancing on the south coast of England. All men have already been called up to the front, and only old people and teenagers have remained in the nearest settlements. They have to defend their home.

Even in war stories there is a place for humor. Part of the reason is that the author of the series, Jimmy Perry, took his own memories as a basis and turned life situations into a great sitcom.

3. Damn service at the MES hospital

• USA, 1972-1983.
• Medical drama, black comedy.
• Duration: 11 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 4.

After the success of the comedy "MES Field Hospital", the series continued to tell about the fate of the main characters. This is exactly the same collection of funny and sometimes touching tales from the life of employees of a mobile military hospital during the Korean War.

4. The Folty Towers Hotel

• Great Britain, 1975-1979.
• Comedy.
• Duration: 2 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 8.

The action takes place at the Folty Towers Hotel on the English Riviera. The owner does not understand well how to manage the hotel, and compensates for all this with rudeness. Together with him, the work of the hotel is supported by his domineering wife, ridiculous waiter and business maid.

5. Cheers

• USA, 1982-1993.
• Sitcom.
• Duration: 11 seasons.
• IMDb: 7, 8.

Former baseball star Sam Malone owns a small bar called Cheers in Boston. Every day a company of regulars gathers there, making fun of each other, discussing their relationships and concerns, and sharing stories from their lives. In Russia, the series was released under the names "Merry Company" and "Let's Be Healthy".

6. Hello, hello

• Great Britain, 1982-1992.
• Sitcom.
• Duration: 9 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 3.

René Artois owns a cafe in northern France during the occupation. He communicates well with the commandant of the city, Colonel Von Strom. But still, Rene is constantly drawn into various intrigues: either the French resistance hides the pilots from him, or the fascists are trying to find a rare picture. And for the owner himself, it is more important that his wife does not find out about his connections with the waitresses.

This series appeared as a parody of numerous films about the French resistance. Therefore, all the characters here are very grotesque: French women always wear berets and stockings, and the Germans badly distort the English language.

7. Black viper

• Great Britain, 1983-1989.
• Sitcom Historical.
• Duration: 4 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 1.

The action of this series takes place in different eras: from the Middle Ages to the First World War. All of Rowan Atkinson's characters bear the surname Blackadder ("black viper"). Each time they participate in important historical events. And, of course, various troubles constantly occur due to their fault.

The plot intertwines real cases, inserts from works of fiction and just comedic fiction. Although by the season finale, the authors still sometimes try to get rid of historical inconsistencies.

8. The Cosby Show

• USA, 1984-1992.
• Sitcom.
• Duration: 8 seasons.
• IMDb: 7, 4.

In the center of the plot is an ordinary middle-class family. The father of the family, Cliff Huxtable, is an obstetrician; his wife, Claire, is a successful lawyer. And at home they somehow have to cope with four children of different ages. Moreover, Cliff with all his might pretends to be a strict father, but in fact, his wife commands everything.

Now Bill Cosby's name is back on track for a sexual harassment lawsuit. And in the eighties he was called "America's main daddy", because it was "The Cosby Show" that made the sitcom genre popular again, spawning many other popular projects.

9. Seinfeld

• USA, 1989-1998.
• Sitcom.
• Duration: 9 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 8.

Stand-up comedian Jerry Seinfeld in the late 80s came up with an unusual sitcom for that time. He did not talk about family and colleagues, but simply about close friends. Most of the characters behave funny and even neurotic, but Seinfeld himself often acts as the voice of reason in the midst of the madness of what is happening.

It is rather difficult to describe the plot of the series, because even the authors themselves said that this is "a show about nothing." But there are plenty of funny scenes in it. And here they abandoned some kind of central line, and Seinfeld also comments on everything that happens from the stage.

10. Jeeves and Worcester

• Great Britain, 1990-1993.
• Comedy.
• Duration: 4 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 4.

The famous comedy duo of Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry gained popularity thanks to the film adaptation of the stories of P. G. Woodhouse about the hapless aristocrat Bertie Wooster and his all-knowing and witty valet Jeeves. While the master constantly gets involved in some kind of trouble, the servant easily deals with the most difficult situations, while maintaining a calm face.

11. Mr. Bean

• Great Britain, 1990-1995.
• Sitcom.
• Duration: 1 season.
• IMDb: 8, 5.

The oddball Mr. Bean wears the same tweed jacket, has completely ridiculous habits and constantly gets into stupid situations. He can't even really communicate with people, but only mutters something under his breath. Where Bean works and what he does in life is unknown. He just runs into different people and does stupid things.

Rowan Atkinson, guided by comedians from silent films, decided to show sketches without words. That is why "Mr. Bean" is understandable in any country of the world, even without translation.

12. Friends

• USA, 1994-2004.
• Sitcom.
• Duration: 10 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 9.

Six friends - Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Joey, Chandler and Ross - spend most of their free time together. They help each other to cope with the difficulties of life, rejoice in victories and, of course, fall in love.

Friends has long been recognized as one of the best sitcoms of all time. It's all about simple and lively characters: each viewer will definitely recognize himself in one of the heroes. And the situations in which they find themselves are familiar to many.

13. Curb Your Enthusiasm

• USA, 2000 - present.
• Black comedy.
• Duration: 9 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 7.

The creator of the Seinfeld project, Larry David, made a story about himself. The fictional version of David also works in show business and creates series. But at the same time, he is also a stubborn neurotic who does not want to take up work in any way, preferring to play golf. Larry's wife has to somehow force him to take up his mind.

14. Clinic

• USA, 2001-2010.
• Medical drama, black comedy.
• Duration: 9 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 3.

John Dorian, aka JD, comes to work as an intern at the clinic with his college best friend Chris Turk. They immediately have to face all the difficulties of the new profession and the inhabitants of the clinic: the talented but sarcastic Dr. Cox, the intolerable boss Kelso and other interesting characters.

In addition to purely comedic moments, there are many life stories in the series. The thing is that the creator of the project, Bill Lawrence, took some ideas from the letters that fans sent him.

15. Development delay

• USA, 2003 - present.
• Comedy.
• Duration: 5 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 8.

Michael Bluth was born into a wealthy family and until some time lived quite calmly. But then it turned out that his father did not pay taxes, for which he ended up in prison. And now it is Michael who needs to somehow support the business and prevent the family from falling apart. And the characters of his relatives are very difficult.

The Russo brothers' production project was released on Fox for only three years, but after a long hiatus, he returned with two more seasons. And now, perhaps, it will continue further.

16. Mighty Bush

• UK, 2004-2007.
• Comedy, musical, fantasy.
• Duration: 3 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 3.

One of the weirdest comedy series was created by the famous comedy troupe of the same name. The plot is an absurd musical fantasy, and the episodes are not logically connected with each other.

During the series' release, some musical performers, for example, Gary Newman and the Razorlight group, managed to take part in it.

17. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

• USA, 2005 - present.
• Sitcom, black comedy.
• Duration: 13 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 8.

Four friends run an Irish bar in a not-so-prestigious area of Philadelphia. They themselves are also not distinguished by piety: the heroes constantly lie and are rude to each other. It is because of this that they always find themselves in ridiculous situations.

18. Office

• USA, 2005-2013.
• Comedy, mock documentary, satire.
• Duration: 9 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 8.

The series tells about the everyday life of the office staff of Dunder Mifflin, a paper supplier. Each employee has his own story, problems and complexes, and all have one obnoxious boss.

The American "Office" is one of those cases when the remake turned out to be brighter and more interesting than the British original. It was this project that made actors such as Steve Carell and John Krasinski famous.

19. How I Met Your Mother

• USA, 2005–2014.
• Sitcom, romantic comedy.
• Duration: 9 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 3.

Ted sets his kids up and talks about how he met their mom. Only the story begins long before that, from the moment when his friend Marshall decided to propose to his girlfriend. And a convinced bachelor Barney helps Ted himself find a girl.

20. The Big Bang Theory

• USA, 2007-2019.
• Sitcom.
• Duration: 12 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 1.

Friends Leonard and Sheldon are well versed in physics, but they have absolutely no idea how to communicate with girls. Their buddies Raj and Howard are no better looking. But everything changes when a simple and beautiful Penny settles next to Leonard.

In 12 seasons, The Big Bang Theory has transformed from a sitcom for geeks and geeks into a family comedy about relationships. But still, many viewers, until the last episode, worried about the main characters.

21. Parks and recreation areas

• USA, 2009-2015.
• Comedy, satire.
• Duration: 7 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 6.

Official Leslie Knope once realized that her work was of no use. But she soon found out about a career dug by a bankrupt developer. Leslie decides to turn this place into a recreation park. But there are also other contenders for the territory.

22. Community

• USA, 2009-2015.
• Sitcom.
• Duration: 6 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 5.

Seven very different people ended up at Greendale Community College. There is an arrogant former lawyer, a single mother, a witty Palestinian, and other bright personalities. At first it is difficult for all of them to find a common language, but over time the company will become friends.

23. American Family

• USA, 2009 - present.
• Comedy.
• Duration: 10 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 4.

The plot of the series revolves around the relationship of three families. Low-key Jay married hot Gloria, Phil and Claire Dunphy have been together for many years and are raising three children. And Jay's son Mitchell and his partner Cameron decide to adopt a girl from Vietnam.

For 10 years, the characters of the series have already changed a lot, but still the project has not lost its relevance. And now it has already been announced for sure that "American Family" will leave the screens after the 11th season.

24. Vice President

• USA, 2012–2019.
• Comedy, satire.
• Duration: 7 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 3.

This satirical series from HBO focuses on former Senator Celine Meyer, who unexpectedly received the post of vice president of the country. And the new position turns out to be not at all as simple as it seemed to her before.

25. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

• USA, 2017 - present.
• Comedy, drama.
• Duration: 2 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 8.

Midge Maisel is doing well: her father provides for her and two small children, her husband dreams of becoming a comedian and performing on stage. But suddenly the beloved goes to his secretary. And then Midge thinks for the first time: what does she herself want from life. And it turns out that she is able to amuse people much better than her husband.

This series has collected almost every possible award in comedy nominations. Both the plot and the leading actors were noted. And now everyone is looking forward to the third season.