The subversive, animated satire about Springfield’s unfortunate family soon became a favorite when it premiered in 1989. That was then; now it’s the TV longest-running comedy. For a cartoon series to draw such a broad adult audience is quite a feat. with “Time” magazine calling it the best TV show of the 20th century in 1999.
It’s been decades since it first aired, and the cartoon is still one of the most popular shows of its kind.
Cheers
Before "Friends" was even a spark of an idea, there was "Cheers." The astonishingly popular series debuted in 1982, bringing together stars like Ted Danson and Shelley Long into the view of public cognizance. At first, the first season brought in poor ratings, and the show was almost axed, but the network carried on, and "Cheers" became one of the greatest comedies ever to grace our TV screens.
The show carried on for 11 seasons, scooping up awards across the board. The series would probably have continued for a lot longer if Ted Danson hadn't decided to leave.
The Honeymooners
Jackie Gleason starred in the show he created alongside Audrey Meadows. Initially, the series had everything it took to be a success as it raked in the viewing numbers. Despite a promising start, ratings swiftly dropped, thanks in part to direct competition from NBC's popular program "The Perry Como Show."
Interesting fact, Gleason wanted to make "The Honeymooners" a success so badly that he paid the majority of production costs out of his own salary.
M*A*S*H
It's definitely a show worth a watch as it was very progressive for its time, and the writing is top-notch. The war comedy-drama was in equal parts moving as well as hilarious thanks to the efforts of Alan Alda and his cast of superb actors. The creators pulled the concept from Richard Hooker's 1968 novel and turned it into one of the highest-rated shows in history.
Viewers couldn't get enough of the exploits of Hawkeye and his crew. Just in the finale, over 125 million viewers tuned in to watch the spectacular 2-and-a-half hour conclusion.
Roseanne
"Roseanne" is an irreproachable comedy, while being a showcase for middle America's middle class. The show centers around the Conner family, who often felt lost in their own country that made them feel left behind. Viewers could relate as they saw their own financial concerns, family struggles, and job instability mirrored back to them, this time, but steeped with mischievous humor.
The show is bolstered by a cast of comedic pros, specifically John Goodman and Laurie Metcalf, even after its too-long original run and then infamous 2018 return, the sitcom remains indispensable to the TV comedy conversation.