People all over the world love to watch situational comedies, or sitcoms, for their signature lighthearted atmosphere and lovable characters. The humor is often simple and sometimes slapstick, and the storylines are usually easy to catch onto for people who start watching mid-season.
As a result of their friendly nature, sitcoms often run on for a long time due to popular demand. Today we’ll be looking at 10 of the most popular sitcoms and ranking them by how long they ran on before they concluded. We’ll also learn some fun facts about each one!
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Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps
Origin: UK
First Year: 2001
Key Character: Donna Henshaw
Source: wikimedia.org
This popular British TV show featured the lives of five characters in their twenties and was broadcast through BBC Two, BBC Choice, and BBC Three. The series was filmed at a number of different locations, one of which was later closed and converted into a Buddhist temple! There are a few incontinuities in the series, such as differences in the stories of how Janet and Jonny got together, but these are usually said to add to the sitcom’s charm.
Did you know?
Only one f-bomb is allowed to drop during each series, and it’s always reserved for the last episode.
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Everybody Loves Raymond
Origin: USA
First Year: 1996
Key Character: Ray Barone
Source: wikimedia.org
Ray Barone, played by Ray Romano, is a sports writer with a quirky family that takes up a great deal of his time and attention. Ray Romano had been doing stand-up comedy for over a decade and was originally asked to participate in the show after he gave an especially memorable performance on The Late Show With David Letterman. The vast majority of the content in the show is based on the real family lives of Ray Romano and writer Philip Rosenthal.
Did you know?
The actors who play Raymond’s children on the show are actually siblings in real life!
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Friends
Origin: USA
First Year: 1994
Key Character: Chandler
Source: wikimedia.org
David Crane and Marta Kauffman originally created this show under the name Insomnia Cafe, but eventually decided that “Friends” was catchier. The cast portrays a group of adult friends, several of which are roommates, and the story follows their romantic and interpersonal lives. Jennifer Aniston and Matthew Perry were both signed onto other projects while casting for Friends was taking place. Fortunately for fans of the show, the other deals fell through.
Did you know?
At first, NBC thought that the cast members were too young for their roles and pushed for an older character to balance things out.
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The Love Boat
Origin: USA
First Year: 1977
Key Character: Captain Stubing
Source: wikimedia.org
The various characters of this sitcom come together aboard the luxury cruise ship the S.S. Pacific Princess as guests of her captain, Merrill Stubing. The show primarily focuses on Captain Stubing and his crew as they keep things running smoothly while the ship’s passengers have comedic, romantic adventures. In addition to the usual episodes, some three or four-hour specials were aired in 1986, 1987, and 1990.
Did you know?
The Love Boat hung on to the classic laugh tracks that so many other shows abandoned in favor of a live studio audience and was the last show of its type to use them.
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Frasier
Origin: USA
First Year: 1993
Key Character: Frasier Crane
Source: wikimedia.org
Frasier actually started out as a spinoff of a different popular sitcom: Cheers. The character of psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane made a brief appearance in an episode of Cheers and, while his role was first meant to be temporary, he did such a great job that his performance heralded the beginning of a whole new sitcom! The resulting storyline follows Frasier Crane after he moves back to his hometown of Seattle to become a radio show host.
Did you know?
The cast of Frasier won an impressive total of 37 Primetime Emmy Awards!
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Two and a Half Men
Origin: USA
First Year: 2003
Key Character: Charlie Harper
Source: wikimedia.org
Two and a Half Men follows the antics of Charlie Harper, a jingle writer, and his brother and nephew. Charlie Harper was played by Charlie Sheen, and many people said that the character’s struggles with substance abuse and gambling weren’t far off from Sheen’s real life. In fact, one cast member reported being asked to conceal Sheen’s adult materials on set! When Sheen enlisted in drug rehabilitation, he was dropped from the cast of the show and his role was filled by Ashton Kutcher.
Did you know?
The character Rose was first introduced as Charlie’s stalker in the pilot episode.
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Birds of a Feather
Origin: UK
First Year: 1989
Key Character: Sharon
Source: wikimedia.org
This sitcom features a pair of women who are brought together and live as roommates when both of their husbands are jailed for armed robbery. The first run of Birds of a Feather came to an end on Christmas Eve after a nine-year stint and came back again later after around 15 years. There was also a Christmas special that was filmed in Malta!
Did you know?
Part of the reason the characters Tracey and Sharon demonstrate such a genuine rapport is that their actors, Linda Robson and Pauline Quirke, grew up as best friends in real life.
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It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Origin: USA
First Year: 2005
Key Character: Frank Reynolds
Source: wikimedia.org
This sitcom was written, developed, and produced mainly by Rob McElhenney, Glenn Howerton, and Charlie Day. In addition to his contributions behind the scenes, Charlie Day also played the eccentric character Charlie Kelly. Danny DeVito also signed on for a temporary role, only to enjoy it enough to stay for the long haul. Together the characters encounter all kinds of obstacles, many of which involve their own plans backfiring.
Did you know?
It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia was actually almost cancelled after its first season ended, but fortunately, FX decided to give it more of an opportunity to develop.
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Chucklevision
Origin: UK
First Year: 1987
Key Character: The Chuckle brothers
Source: wikimedia.org
Chucklevision stars Barry and Paul Elliott as the Chuckle Brothers in this popular British comedy show. In each independent episode, the Chuckle Brothers take on a new challenge of some sort, usually overcomplicating everything just for kicks. They are also often accompanied by a character who is known simply by his catchphrase: “No Slacking!” In 2019, Radio Times ranked Chucklevision as the best CBBC show of all time.
Did you know?
The Chuckle Brothers sometimes brought other siblings on the show to play other characters, including a villain with the catchphrase “Getoutofit!”.
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Last of the Summer Wine
Origin: UK
First Year: 1973
Key Character: Peter Sallis
Source: wikimedia.org
Last of the Summer Wine is the longest-running sitcom ever aired according to its number of seasons. The story present three elderly men who continue to behave childishly and never grow old. While many fans feel that the show has gone downhill over the years, they continue to enjoy the family-friendly humor and good-spirited portrayal of the elderly. Even the British Royal Family keeps up with the show!