About This Quiz
When it comes to watching television, there are two types of people: those who want to relax and those who want to get pumped up. There is only one genre of television that gives viewers both of these things, and that is the situation comedy. Sitcoms are exactly what they sound like. An entire show is based on an off the wall situation (i.e. an ex-baseball player opens a bar or four ladies in their golden years are living together). Additionally, sitcoms are filled with characters who are snappy and play off each other.ÂÂ
Since the dawn of television, there have been hundreds of attempts at sitcoms, and the ones that gain traction tend to last years or even span decades. These shows are remembered years after they're canceled and they find their way into syndication and can be found on various networks at various times ... helping them gain even more ground.
If you're an avid viewer, you've probably made your way across at least one sitcom that you just love to watch, and perhaps one that you seek out when it's off the air. However, if you're a sitcom-a-holic, you could probably name all of these sitcoms we've chosen if we tell you three characters' names. Take this quiz to see where you land on the spectrum.
While the show does give us some arguments, "The Brady Bunch" (1969-74) doesn't necessarily give us the actual drama that would be included when two different families merge together because a couple of parents got married.
When you put an entire family in a situation that they aren't used to, you have the best base of the sitcom recipe. "The Beverly Hillbillies" (1962-71) delivered this beautifully with its odd characters and fun episodes.
In this show, Lucy got into more trouble than any housewife of the 1950s was supposed to. While "I Love Lucy" only lasted six seasons, it was syndicated for decades after the show ended. That's how many generations it touched.
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While you might think that a show called "That '70s Show" would last 10 years, this one only went eight seasons. The cast members kind of fell apart and though many of them were friends, the star of the show didn't have a clean break.
Will Smith may have made waves on the big screen, but he really got his start as a rapper and TV star. He wasn't that great when he began (you can spot him mouthing other character's lines), but he became an on-screen gem in no time.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, comedians were getting sitcoms like nobody's business, and Ray Romano was no different. He plays Raymond, a dorky sports columnist who has to continuously put out fires between his mother and wife.
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"Sanford and Son" (1972-77) was about a businessman and his son who was his partner. Fred is always looking to make money on something, but it always seems to backfire on him for some reason.
For some reason, people love to see a pining dorky main character who is constantly in search of love ... and that was what "How I Met Your Mother" was all about. It got old quick, so show runners started focusing on other characters.
"Fresh Off the Boat" (2015-present) is all about what it's like to grow up in an Asian family in the 1990s. It's a beautifully orchestrated way to show how this family's culture is held onto as they assimilate to their surroundings.
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"Family Matters" (1989-98) is one of those shows that starts a little slow, until showrunners learned about the pure genius of a nerdy neighbor who was a little clumsy. It's a good thing he had a crush on the daughter of the main character.
The first few seasons of "Scrubs" were pretty amazing works of comedy genius. You learn what it's like to become a doctor through the eyes of a young intern. Each episode carries a heavy weight of reality as you find laughter wherever you can.
The late '70s and early '80s gave way to some pretty suggestive sitcoms. "Three's Company" (1977-84) gave us two young, beautiful women living with a horndog of a man. It made for some interesting situations, which are what sitcoms are all about.
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If people thought that house was full in the early 1990s, they should know how much FULLER it is these days. The new spin-off has just as much cheese as the original, with the added bonus of seeing our favorite characters all grown up.
"Family Ties" (1982-89) was an excellent source of comedy that was for everyone. Alex P. Keaton is the son of two liberal hippie radicals from the 1960s, but he couldn't more different from his family. He idolizes Ronald Reagan and can't get enough of capitalism.
One would think that a show that talks about scientific facts that are above most people's heads would turn audiences off. The 12-year run of "The Big Bang Theory" proved that theory wrong as we realized that it was funny not to understand.
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When Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor runs his own show, spends time with his family and makes clumsy mistakes, you know there is no end to the laughter. This show gave us heartwarming moments as well as hilarious missteps.
The good, the bad and the ugly all show up in this hilarious sitcom that began in 2016. This show is all about what happens after you die, and it is perfectly in line with everything you might think that it is.
While many people who lived in the projects of Chicago know that things weren't always fun and games, "Good Times" (1974-80) tried to put a light spin on the living situation of this family. Everyone has to laugh at something.
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While the latest version of the "Sabrina" franchise is much darker, Melissa Joan Hart knocked it out of the park with the lighthearted comedy version of the story that originated in comic books.
The adult humor in this show reminded us that we can laugh at intelligent things. While "Frasier" (1993-2004) wasn't for everyone, it did give us a sense of sophistication that comedy of that era was missing.
"Mama's Family" ran for six seasons and gave us hilarious moments with a young girl in an old lady's wig. She went off about pretty much everything, and we loved watching her, because she reminded us of our own parents.
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"Cheers" was a sitcom about an ex-baseball player who opens a bar. He has regulars always sitting at their favorite stools, and everyone knows everyone's name there. It's a wholesome bar, run by a womanizer.
This brilliant show gave us a behind-the-scenes look at a television variety show. The actors were needy and the staff was a little off the wall, and we loved every minute of it. It also showed us that Tina Fey is an absolute genius.
"My Two Dads" wasn't about what you think it's about (this is the late '80s we are talking about.) As a matter of fact, the show is about two guys who get joint custody of a young girl after her mom dies. You know ... it's funny.
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"Gimme a Break!" (1981-87) was about a housekeeper who didn't take guff from the children she was taking care of. As a matter of fact, she didn't take guff from anyone. It was hilarious, and everyone should be thanking Nell Carter for her excellent performance.
If you've never seen a single episode of "Mad About You" (1992-99), we suggest taking another look. For its time, it was more of an adult comedy, and if you weren't paying attention, you could easily miss some of the jokes.
Hitting the scene in 2009 "Modern Family" is a hilarious sitcom that aims to show an honest perspective on family life. With a little something for everyone, it's no wonder that this delightful comedy has stolen our hearts!
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"Sister, Sister" (1994-99) was a sitcom about twins who were separated at birth. They come together as their parents magically decide to move in with one another. This was every 13-year-old girl's dream in the 1990s: meet your twin and live with them.
"Two and a Half Men" was a show about a single dad just trying to make it. He moves in with his rich and famous brother (the one who eventually dies in a terrible way) and hilarity ensues.
"New Girl" (2011-2018) originally focused on the main character Jessica Day. However, they soon realized that every character in that apartment had a personality, and once writers tapped into every personality working together, the show became a hit.
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Looking back, it isn't hard to see that "Arrested Development" was way ahead of its time. It was clear that producers and directors had a lot of fun making the show, but America just wasn't ready for the comedy. Luckily, they're bringing it back.
Many sitcoms from the 1970s and '80s were simply about friends living together. "Laverne & Shirley" was no different, but they did discuss some things that were unheard of ... using code words, of course.
Fred Savage's success on "The Wonder Years" led to his younger brother Ben getting a role on "Boy Meets World" (1993-2000), a show that was much funnier and of the times, compared to the former.
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Want an ugly alien asking questions about how Earth works? What if he likes to eat cats? If all of this satisfies your needs, you have to be a huge fan of "ALF" (1986-90). This sitcom was all about keeping the alien hidden from other people.
"Community" (2009-15) showed us that it's never too late to go back to school, especially if you are no longer able to practice law. However, you may have to start from scratch ... like at a community college.
"Blossom" (1990-95) gave us some great moments, and the show's star even went on to become a certified genius. She had an ongoing role on "The Big Bang Theory" as Sheldon's girlfriend as well.
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"One Day at a Time" (1975-84) begins with a single mother moving to Indianapolis. While many people still didn't like the idea of divorced moms being the heroes on TV, this show lasted nine seasons.
If you were wondering what the 1980s looked like in Brooklyn, New York, you need to watch this show. It's a throwback that is narrated by Chris Rock, and it tells the story of a little boy just trying to get by (in a funny way).
In 1994, things changed for everyone as we watched young New York residents live in apartments that they simply would not have been able to afford without constantly stressing over money. It's a good thing no one ever made Rachel pay the rent.
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There is nothing like watching a wide-eyed optimist try to take on the government in her small town ... and then in a wider region. Leslie Knope shows us that believing in something is a greater power than anything else on Earth.