18 Best Multi-Camera Sitcoms

How Long It Ran: The show ran for 180 episodes across 7 seasons, from 1985 to 1992.

The Golden Girls stands out because it featured a group of friends or co-workers forming an unusual family unit.Other sitcoms had not done this. The Golden Girls showed this setup. The group formed an untraditional family unit, unlike other sitcoms.The Golden Girls.No other show featured main characters who were all older women. The show ended its original run over 30 years ago, yet it remains current today as it was in the 1980s.The show tackled topics other sitcoms avoided. These topics included homophobia, addiction, age discrimination, and mortality. The show also showed that women of a certain age could have full lives, work in the workforce, and enjoy active romantic and sexual lives. The characters were not just funny and loyal; they had flaws and made bad decisions and held biases.These flaws and biases made the characters very relatable.Highlight Reel:

The Golden Girls.The Golden Girls earned the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series in 1986 and 1987. All four main actors—Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty—won Emmys for their work on the series.The series earned the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series in 1986 and 1987. Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty all won Emmys for their work on the show.All in the Family.I Love Lucy.Will & Grace.All in the FamilyThese shows accomplished this feat.Will & GraceI Love Lucy ran for 180 episodes across 6 seasons, from 1951 to 1957.Schitt's CreekBall played a stay-at-home wife, a typical role for female leads in 1950s series. However, she was one of the few allowed to show ambitions beyond being a wife and mother; many early episodes showed her trying to enter show business. Since William Frawley and Vivian Vance were key parts of the show, the series is seen as the first to feature an ensemble cast.

Highlight Reel:180 episodes, 6 seasons, 1951-1957

It was a pioneer in production; it was the first scripted television show shot on 35 mm film in front of a live studio audience.Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz married in real life. They had to create an act and perform it on the road to convince CBS executives that audiences would accept the Cuban-born entertainer as Ball's television husband. The act succeeded, and Arnaz became the first Hispanic male lead on an English-language primetime TV program.the first Hispanic male leadLucille Ball played a stay-at-home wife on the show, a typical role for female leads in 1950s series. Yet, she was one of the few allowed to show ambitions beyond wife and mother; many early episodes featured her attempts to enter show business. William Frawley and Vivian Vance played important parts, making the series the first to feature an ensemble cast.

Highlight Reel: I Love Lucy has never been off the air since its first broadcast. It debuted on Oct. 15, 1951; that is over 72 years ago now. This show pioneered production methods; it was the first scripted television show shot on 35 mm film in front of a live studio audience.to be shot on 35 mm film in front of a live studio audience. The show won five Emmy Awards during its initial run. It ranked first in Nielsen ratings in four of its six seasons, including its final year. Hollywood stars like William Holden, John Wayne, Eve Arden, Bob Hope, Richard Widmark, and Orson Welles, many of whom worked with Ball in movies, appeared as guest stars. The episode “Lucy Goes To The Hospital,” drew more viewers than any other TV show up to that time. This episode featured Lucy Ricardo giving birth to her son, “Little Ricky.”aired on the same nightBall gave birth to her son, Desi Arnaz, Jr. on Jan. 19, 1953.

How Long It Ran: 180 episodes, 9 seasons, 1989-1998.

Why It Stands Out: This “show about nothing." went against sitcom structure in the 1980s and 1990s. It did not use one main and one secondary plotline per episode.Seinfeld tended to have separate plotlines for each main character. These plots did not merge until the end of the show. Episodes focused on small daily moments. Writers avoided big issues or moral themes. Larry David's rule was: “No hugging, no learning"..",SeinfeldSeinfeld also suggested main characters did not need to be likable for success. Jerry, Elaine, George, and Kramer acted self-absorbed or like jerks. Yet, they were funny and interesting. Their flaws made viewers relate.

Highlight Reel: After failing to hit the Top 20 Nielsen ratings in its first four seasons, Seinfeldranked in the Top 3 in each of its last five years. It became the third series (I Love Lucy and The Andy Griffith Show) ever to top ratings in its final season. It earned a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series for seven years (1992-1998), winning once in 1993. The Writers Guild of America voted in 2013 Seinfeld the second best-written TV show of all-time(The Sopranos ranked first); Season Four’s “The Contest” is a top episode. Season Three’s “The Boyfriend” featured New York Mets star Keith Hernandez. Season Seven’s episode was “The Soup Nazi.”T.V. Guide ranked #1 on its 2009 list of the “100 Greatest Episodes of All-Time," Season Three's “The Boyfriend,” which guest starred New York Mets' star Keith Hernandez, and Season Seven's “The Soup Nazi.”

How Long It Ran: 275 episodes, 11 seasons, 1982-1993.

Why It Stands Out: For the first few seasons of Cheers, the series focused on the love-hate dynamic between Sam and Diane. This was arguably the first “will-they-or-won't-they” romantic couple in TV history.Shelley Long left after Season 5; Kirstie Alley replaced her. The show had to almost start over again.. The show stayed highly successful in both critical reviews and ratings. This success came from the strong chemistry among the cast.Cheers was one of the few shows that overcame losing two original main characters. Nicholas Colasanto, who played “Coach,” died in Season 3; Woody Harrelson played “Woody” in Season 4. The show also helped popularize multi-episode plotlines and cliffhanger endings in sitcoms; a fact that Cheers'co-creator Les Charles later seemed to regret.",

Highlight Reel: Cheers received a Primetime Emmy nomination for Most Outstanding Comedy Series in all 11 seasons, winning four times. This is good for a show that was Cheers nearly canceled after its first season due to bad ratings.Ted Danson, Long, Rhea Perlman, Alley, and Harrelson all earned Emmy Awards for their acting on the series. The show also spawned two spin-offs.The TortellisandFrasier.

How Long It Ran:236 episodes, 10 seasons, 1994-2004

Why It Stands Out:AlthoughFriendsFriends wasn't the first show with an ensemble cast. It might have been the first with every member equally important. Earlier ensemble shows often had one or two main characters and supporting roles for the rest. The show also set a path for series likeThe Big Bang TheoryandNew Girl, which focused on friends in their twentiesjust hanging out. It affected pop culture. Young women copied Jennifer Aniston's hair, and the show's catchphrases entered everyday speech.

Highlight Reel:FriendsFriends earned Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Comedy Series in 1995, 1996, 1999, and 2000. It won the award for its eighth season in 2002. Kevin Bright, an executive producer, told The Hollywood ReporterThe Hollywood Reporterin 2020 that whenFriendsfinally won the Emmy,I was so shocked, it was hard [to speak]. I remember just being a wreck up onstage…” The ensemble show also featured guest stars like Brad Pitt, Susan Sarandon, Paul Rudd, Tom Selleck, Gary Oldman, Christina Applegate, and Bruce Willis.

How Long It Ran:168 episodes, 7 seasons, 1970-1977

Why It Stands Out:WhenThe Mary Tyler Moore ShowThe Mary Tyler Moore Show debuted in 1970. Few shows had a central female character who was unmarried, independent, and career-driven. That Girl existed in the 1960s, but that show focused more on the young actress's relationship with her boyfriend than on her career. While Ann Marie seemed like a virgin, The Mary Tyler Moore Showfocused on the relationship between the young actress and her boyfriend.in the 1960s, but that show focused as much on the relationship between the young actress and her boyfriend as it did on her career. Ann Marie was clearly supposed to be a virgin, butThe Mary Tyler Moore Showimplied Mary Richards (and Rhoda and Sue Ann) were sexually active, which was rare for unmarried female TV characters in the 1970s. The show also was one of theHighlight Reel:In 2013, the Writers Guild of America voted

The Mary Tyler Moore ShowIn 2013, the Writers Guild of America votedThe Mary Tyler Moore Showchanged television. The show won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series three years in a row (1975-1977), andof all-time, while in 2007Timenamed it as one of 17 shows that hadRhoda, Phyllis,. The show won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series three years in a row (1975-1977), andLou Grant.(Moore, Ed Asner, Ted Knight, Valerie Harper, Betty White, Cloris Leachman, and Georgia Engel) either won or were nominated for Emmys for their work on the series. The show also spawned three spin-offs(Rhoda, Phyllis, Lou Grant).Why It Stands Out:The Big Bang Theory

How Long It Ran:279 episodes, 12 seasons, 2007-2019

Why It Stands Out:The Big Bang TheoryThe Big Bang Theory premiered when nerd culture grew mainstream.The series fit into this culture.Aspiring actress Penny was the exception; the main characters were Cal Tech scientists. Nerds thrived in their work and loved comic books and Star Trek.Star Trek.The characters struggled with social interactions outside. The show attracted viewers who related to these outsiders whose world opened up after Penny joined their family.

Highlight Reel:The show did not win the award.The Big Bang Theory.The Big Bang Theory earned four Primetime Emmy nominations for Most Outstanding Comedy Series. Jim Parsons won the Emmy.Jim Parsons won the Emmy.Parsons won the Emmy four times for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. The show featured many guest stars, including Bob Newhart and Wil Wheaton, and physicist Stephen Hawking.Stephen Hawking.The show spawned a spin-off, Young Sheldon.Young Sheldon..

How Long It Ran: It ran for 264 episodes across 11 seasons, from 1993 to 2004.

Why It Stands Out:A spin-off from Cheers.This series mixed sharp, clever writing with silly situations. It showed Frasier's and his brother's elitism against their father's down-to-earth nature, the father's live-in caregiver, and the producer of Frasier's radio show. The show kept its main group for all 11 seasons, which is rare for long shows.

Highlight Reel: Frasier.Frasier took home 37 Primetime Emmy Awards during its 11 seasons. That is the most any series has won.That is the most any series has won.This streak ended in 2016, when Game of Thrones surpassed that number.Game of Thrones.Five of the 37 Emmys went to Outstanding Comedy Series. The show had many notable guest appearances. Actors who either won or were nominated for an Emmy include Nathan Lane, JoBeth Williams, Bebe Neuwirth, Shelley Long, James Earl Jones, Marsha Mason, Christine Baranski, Anthony LaPaglia, and Jean Smart.All these actors either won or were nominated for an Emmy for their work on the show.The show earned an Emmy for their work: Nathan Lane, JoBeth Williams, Bebe Neuwirth, Shelley Long, James Earl Jones, Marsha Mason, Christine Baranski, Anthony LaPaglia, and Jean Smart. Paramount+ premiered a reboot in 2023. This reboot sets the action in Boston.Paramount+ premiered a Frasier reboot in 2023, set in Boston.The reboot sets the action in Boston.

How Long It Ran: It ran for 255 episodes across 11 seasons, from 1974 to 1984.

Why It Stands Out: The year 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of the premiere of a popular show from the 1970s and 1980s. The show was originally meant to serve as a vehicle for Ron Howard, who was a child star playing Opie, Andy Taylor's young son, on The Andy Griffith Show.The Andy Griffith Show.Happy Days.Happy Days.Happy Days became one of the first shows where a supporting actor, Henry Winkler, became a breakout star. TV Guide named "Fonzie" (played by Winkler) the fourth-greatest TV character of all time.Fonzie.The show also drove a nostalgic interest in 1950s things. Viewers looked for an escape from events like Watergate and the Vietnam War.1950s.Viewers sought an escape from events like Watergate and the Vietnam War.

Highlight Reel: Happy DaysHappy Days ran for 11 seasons. It earned a Top 5 spot in Nielsen ratings for three straight years.The show topped the ratings for the 1976-77 season.Happy Days aired for the 1976-77 season. It also spawned more.How Long It Ran:253 episodes, 11 seasons, 1975-1985.Why It Stands Out:Laverne & Shirley, Mork & Mindy.was one of the first shows to show an upper-class Black family.Joanie Loves Chachi.The Jeffersons

was a spin-off from All in the Family.The Jeffersons ran for 253 episodes across 11 seasons, from 1975 to 1985.

Highlight Reel:The Jeffersons.ran for 253 episodes, making it the second-longest running series by episode with a mainly Black cast in television history (behind only Tyler Perry's House of Payne).When Isabel Sanford, who played Louise “Weezy” Jefferson, won the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 1981, she became the first African-American to ever take home that award.George Jefferson's dry cleaning business let him and his wife move from their blue-collar neighborhood to a wealthy area on Manhattan's East Side. In 2022, Norman Lear, the show's creator, said.172 episodes, 8 seasons, 1977-1984.He said, "We always wanted them to reflect America, like showing a well-off Black family." George Jefferson, the writers of The Jeffersons, created a Black character who spoke his truth about white people, racism, or any other topic, no matter how uncomfortable it made others. This makes sense because George was a mirror image of Archie Bunker in many of his opinions. The characters of Tom and Helen Willis showed one of the first married couples on television.Three's CompanyWith its premise of a single man (who pretends to be queer) becoming the platonic roommate of two single women, Three's Company was the first American sitcom to address the sexual issues that could arise in co-ed living situations. In the mid-1970s, unmarried men and women living together, even platonically, remained a controversial idea. Although the main characters never had sex, Three's Company often hinted at the possibility.All in the Family.George was a mirror image of Archie Bunker in many of his opinions. The characters of Tom and Helen Willis showed one of the first married couples on television.Highlight Reel:Based on the British sitcom Man About the House.

Man About the House, ABC premiered Three's Company in the spring of 1977. It became the highest-rated midseason show in network television history. It ranked in the Top 10 of Nielsen ratings in each of its first six full seasons. It also started two spin-offs:The Jeffersons ran for 253 episodes, making it the second-longest running series.It is the second-longest running series.With a mainly Black cast in television history (behind only Tyler Perry's House of Payne).Tyler Perry's House of Payne.Isabel Sanford, who played Louise “Weezy” Jefferson, won the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 1981.Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.She became the first African-American to win that award in 1981.She became the first African-American to ever take home that award.How Long It Ran:.

How Long It Ran:.Three's Company ran for 172 episodes across 8 seasons, from 1977 to 1984.

Why It Stands Out:Three's Company featured a straight single man who pretended to be queer becoming the platonic roommate of two single women.Three's Company.It was the first American sitcom to address the sexual implications and general issues that could arise in co-ed living situations.It was the first American sitcom to address the sexual implications and general issues that could arise in co-ed living situations.Unmarried men and women living together, even platonically, remained a controversial idea in the mid-1970s. None of the main characters ever had sex, but Three's Company often hinted at that possibility.Three's Company.Critics hated the show. Complaints included calling it cheap “t*ts and *ss” comedy and demeaning toward women. Viewers watched the show, and Suzanne Somers became a sex symbol and pinup girl like Charlie's Angels' star Farrah Fawcett.Charlie's Angels'.Viewed in 2024, the show is a broad farce. It showed an innocent depiction of the sexual revolution, but in the 1970s, many conservative groups protested it.

Highlight Reel:Based on the British sitcom. Man About the House.Man About the House premiered on ABC.Three's Company premiered in the spring of 1977.Three's Company became the highest-rated midseason show in network television history. It ranked in the Top 10 of Nielsen ratings in each of its first six full seasons. It also created two spin-offs.The Ropers and Three's A Crowd.Three's Company andThree's A Crowd.

How Long It Ran: It ran for 148 episodes across 6 seasons, from 1990 to 1996.

Why It Stands Out: Will Smith launched his acting career besides.The Fresh Prince of Bel-AirIt introduced hip-hop music, fashion, and culture to a wider, mainstream audience. The show showed an upper-class Black family but dropped a teenager from the 'hood into that life. In the 1990s, most shows featured characters from the same money class. The comedy also tackled serious issues like racism and classism. The show's lasting effect is shown by how it was turned into a drama series.Bel-AirIt premiered in February 2022.

Highlight Reel: Despite being a hit series with a big pop culture impact, The Fresh Prince of Bel-AirThe Television Academy gave the show little recognition. The show's only Primetime Emmy nomination was for Outstanding Lighting Direction in 1996. Top episodes include "Papa's Got A Brand New Excuse," where Will breaks down when his hopes for a real relationship with his absent dad (guest star Ben Vereen) shatter, and the Season One episode "72 Hours"., where Carlton struggles to fit in when he and Will visit Jazz in Compton and gets involved in a plan to sell stolen goods.

How Long It Ran: It had 158 episodes over 5 seasons, running from 1961 to 1966.

Why It Stands Out:BeforeThe Dick Van Dyke ShowThe Dick Van Dyke Show premiered in 1961. Sitcoms usually focused on the main character's home life. This show focused equally on his work life—as the head writer for a TV variety show—and his home life with his wife and young son. Buddy, Sally, and Mel were not just Rob Petrie's coworkers; they were also his and his wife's friends.The Dick Van Dyke ShowIt also broke new ground because it was the vision of a single writer-producer (Carl Reiner). Many series today have a single person as the vision. That was not true in the early 1960s. It also mixed slapstick with smart writing.Carl Reiner stars. In the 21st century, many series come from one person's vision. That was not true in the early 1960s. This show mixed slapstick with sharp writing.

Highlight Reel: Even though it was calledThe Dick Van Dyke Show, it was a true ensemble cast, not just a solo star. Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore each won Primetime Emmys for acting on the series. Rose Marie and Morey Amsterdam both got Emmy nominations for their performances. The series won three Emmys for Outstanding Comedy Series. The show also introduced Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore, two real television legends, to many viewers.

How Long It Ran: It had 192 episodes across 8 seasons, from 1987 to 1995.

Why It Stands Out: Full HouseFull House was not the first sitcom built around a widowed father trying to raise his kids mostly alone.The Andy Griffith Show, My Three Sons The Courtship of Eddie's Father.andDiff'rent Strokes(among others) covered this ground back to the early 1960s. Full House might have been the first sitcom featuring a baby star; specifically, twin babies. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen were nine months old when they started playing Michelle Tanner. Despite an ensemble cast, the Olsen twins drew the most attention. They became preteen icons, selling much merchandise, starring in films, and starting their own production company.Full HouseFull House might have featured the first sitcom with a baby as the breakout star, or twin babies. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen were nine months old when they started playing Michelle Tanner. The Olsen twins gained the most attention. They became preteen icons. They sold much merchandise. They starred in films. They started their own production company.

Highlight Reel:Viewers did not favor the show. It took years to gain traction. The show did not enter the Top 20 Nielsen ratings until Season 4. The show finished eighth the following season. A sequel series followed.Fuller HouseFuller House debuted on Netflix in 2016. It ran for five seasons.

How Long It Ran:215 episodes, 9 seasons, 1989-1998

Why It Stands Out:Many Black-led sitcoms aired on network television during the 1980s and 1990s. Family Matters was a spin-off from Perfect Strangers.Family Matters- a spin-off fromPerfect StrangersFamily Matters centered on a middle-class family. The husband/father was a Chicago police officer; the wife/mother operated an elevator.According to Jo Marie Payton,who played the mother, said, “People could relate to us. We were relatable because we weren’t poor, but we weren’t super rich either. We were more relatable than any other Black show.” Viewers wondered about Judy, one of the Winslow's three children, who vanished from the series without explanation after the fourth season.

Highlight Reel:The show's breakout star was Jaleel White, who played Steve Urkel, the nerdy next-door neighbor. Ironically, Urkel was originally planned to appear in only one episode.only appear in one episodeWith 215 episodes, it is the third longest-running live-action sitcom with a mostly Black cast in U.S. television history, behind Tyler Perry's House of Payne and The Jeffersons.Tyler Perry's House of PayneandThe Jeffersons.

How Long It Ran:246 episodes, 11 seasons, 1998-2006, 2017-2020

Why It Stands Out:When Will & Grace debuted in 1998,Will & GraceWill & Grace debuted in 1998. It was one of the few television series.to have a queer character as part of the showat all, let alone have not one, but two of the main characters be gay men. The main premise of the close friendship between the gay male lawyer (played by a straight actor) and the straight female interior designer was also unique to network TV. A heated debate occurred both inside and outside the queer community regarding whether the show was revolutionary or perpetuated LGBTQIA stereotypes. This debate restarted when the series revived in 2017.

Highlight Reel:Eric McCormack, Debra Messing, Sean Hayes, and Megan Mullally won Primetime Emmys for their work on the series. This made Will & Grace one of only four comedy shows in history.Will & Graceone of just four comedy shows in history(All in the Family, The Golden Girls, and Schitt's CreekJoe Biden, then Vice President of the US, accomplished this feat in 2012.he said he thoughtthat Will & GraceWill & Grace did more to educate the American public about LGBTQIA issues than almost anything anyone has done so far.

How Long It Ran: It ran for 208 episodes across 9 seasons, from 2005 to 2014.

Why It Stands Out: How I Met Your Motherused the framing deviceTed explained to his children in 2030 how he met their late mother as the series premise. Episodes featured flashbacks that often mixed plotlines about Ted and his closest friends. The device let the show tell the same event from different angles. The series did not introduce Ted's future wife until the Season 8 finale, making viewers wonder about her identity. Though the show focused on Ted finding “The One,” it showed a strong cast, and many episodes (especially later ones) had standalone stories about characters other than Ted.

Highlight Reel: How I Met Your Motherreceived a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series in 2009. Mixed reviews followed the show's run; some seasons earned better views. The show never achieved huge ratings; its last season ranked 28th, and the finale episode was the This show is the most watched in series history.The show also inspired a spin-off, How I Met Your Father,which hit Hulu in 2020, ran two seasons, then canceled.

How Long It Ran: It ran for 231 episodes over 10 seasons, from 1988 to 1997, and again in 2018.

Why It Stands Out: Roseanne focused on the daily life of a working-class family, presenting it more realistically than late 1980s and 1990s sitcoms. The show also addressed topics other sitcoms avoided, like birth control and homophobia.

Highlight Reel: Roseanne became a huge hit early on, ranking in the Top 5 of Nielsen ratings in its first six seasons, including finished in No. 1.in its second year. Roseanne Barr and Laurie Metcalf both won Primetime Emmys for the show. A reboot, set 20 years after the original ended, premiered in March 2018 with great reviews and ratings and was renewed for a second season. Then Barr was fired.after posting controversial tweets, including a racist description of Valerie Jarrett (former Senior Advisor to Barack Obama), and ABC canceled the show. In October 2018, a retooled spin-off, The Conners, which involved every original Roseanne cast member except Barr, debuted on ABC.