Copyright Screen Rant
It can be overwhelming to consider watching a sitcom with more than a few seasons, but these high-quality comedy series had long, fantastic runs. While some TV comedies are short-lived but still funny, like the underrated 2001 college series Undeclared and the one-season Trophy Wife, there are many that have more than five seasons. Whether we're watching the actors and writers of a late-night sketch comedy show deal with their stressful careers and personal lives or picking from some of the most famous 1990s shows, these sitcoms are worth watching. Some of the shows were even on the air for a decade and still impress us with their smart characters and relatable situations. New Girl (2011-2018) 7 Seasons A cheerful examination of life with roommates and a celebration of the joy of being yourself, New Girl remains great for seven seasons, which can't be said of every sitcom. Jess Day (Zooey Deschanel) is full of quirks and shows you all her awkward mannerisms and embarrassing moments, which makes her endlessly lovable. Jess would be enough of a draw on New Girl, but the show also has smart characters like Winston Bishop (Lamorne Morris), who thrives on playing pranks. Even though the sitcom is silly, the characters grow and settle down by the end, which makes it a gratifying viewing experience. The Goldbergs (2013-2023) 10 Seasons The hilarious and quirky family at the heart of The Goldbergs makes it one of the greatest sitcoms of the 2010s and 2020s. Its nostalgic '80s setting and smart storytelling are also big reasons why it's such a solid show. In every episode, you hear voiceovers from the talented Patton Oswalt in the role of Adam, who is now grown up and reflecting on his happy childhood and wacky family. But the sitcom wouldn't have lasted for 10 seasons or been anywhere near as funny without Wendi McLendon-Covey's performance as Beverly, Adam's bubbly, competitive, and loving mom. 30 Rock (2006-2013) 7 Seasons From poking fun at the fast-paced world of late-night TV shows like Saturday Night Live to being a showcase for Tina Fey's comedic talent, 30 Rock is a must-watch for any comedy fan. Over seven seasons, the series focuses on Liz Lemon's (Fey) personal issues and love life, but never forgets that she's an ambitious and confident character. Since she's always her sometimes strange and whimsical self, it's refreshing to see a show with such a vibrant protagonist who never apologizes for being who she is. 30 Rock season 7 is also just as good as the first one. The finale deals with the show-within-a-show, TGS With Tracy Jordan, going off the air, which is a perfect final moving moment. Friends (1994-2004) 10 Seasons Despite the fact that some parts of Friends are dated or problematic now, everyone should watch the iconic '90s sitcom and experience the heartwarming dynamic between the six main characters. All 10 seasons are worth it and are a relatable and fun journey. From Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston) becoming aware of Ross Geller's (David Schwimmer) love for her at the end of season 1 to most of the characters settling down in season 10, it's a satisfying ride. You really get to know each character, from Phoebe Buffay's (Lisa Kudrow) quirks to Monica Geller's (Courteney Cox) love of a clean home. You also get to observe the friend group's good times, like the classic Thanksgiving episodes, and hard moments, which are realistic and moving. Murphy Brown (1988-1998) 10 Seasons Broadcast journalist Murphy Brown (Candice Bergen) is at the center of this inspiring story, which is one of the most compelling sitcoms that aired for a decade. The sitcom's excellent 10 seasons focus on the main character's love life and desire to become a mother but also paint a satisfying picture of her reporting career. Besides enjoying and relating to the protagonist's life journey, you'll also love watching Lily Tomlin play Kay Carter-Shepley in season 9 and get to know the bubbly journalist Corky Sherwood (Faith Ford) who is nothing like Murphy. Since there are female characters besides Murphy who are also intelligent and interesting, Murphy Brown is a perfect example of a sitcom that has a solid female protagonist but fleshes out the others, too. The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air (1990-1996) 6 Seasons The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is a classic for a reason, and every episode is great. While the premise of Will (Will Smith) living with his wealthy family is intriguing, you have to watch every episode in order to see the sweet bond between the main characters. And once you get through the entire series, you can fully appreciate the Fresh Prince moments that stand out in popular culture, like Aunt Vivian (Janet Hubert) and Carlton Banks's (Alfonso Ribeiro) dance moves. It would have been easy to imagine the sitcom lasting even longer than it did because there are plenty of funny episodes but some moving ones, too, like Will having an emotional and upsetting visit with his biological father in season 4. Night Court (1984-1992) 9 Seasons From Harry Anderson's hilarious judge Harry T. Stone to the premise of a court that hears cases in the evening, Night Court is one of the most interesting sitcoms from the '80s and '90s. There are some genuinely goofy moments, like a monkey being part of a case in season 3's "Monkey Business." The show maintains its fun, warm, and compassionate tone throughout all nine seasons. Although the episodes center around the strange or unnerving cases that Harry works on, you see more of the dynamic between him and the other characters with the passage of time. There's a particularly heartwarming storyline involving Dan Fielding (John Larroquette) at the beginning of season 6, which proves that some of the most compelling episodes happen later on. It's also fun to watch the entire series and observe the various celebrity guest stars, from Gilbert Gottfried to Michael J. Fox. And since the Night Court revival aired from 2023 to 2025, it's great to go back and see the original. The Golden Girls (1985-1992) 7 Seasons The best part of watching a sitcom that has more than a few seasons is feeling like you know the characters in real life. The joy of watching seven seasons of The Golden Girls is seeing each main character as a unique individual. Since the premise is watching the happy moments and the struggles of a group of older women who live together, the show is always comforting and warm. And rather than featuring upsetting plotlines that don't make sense or completely changing characters, The Golden Girls remains high quality. By the time you get to the intense romantic plotline involving Dorothy Zbornak (Bea Arthur) in the series finale, you'll likely feel you just watched a cozy sitcom that you can keep turning back to rather than feeling like you need to avoid certain awkward or boring episodes. Cheers (1982-1993) 11 Seasons It might seem like a sitcom that runs for more than 10 seasons would become boring, but Cheers remains comforting throughout. From quirky accountant Norm Peterson (George Wendt) to lovable bar owner Sam Malone (Ted Danson), you'll appreciate how much the main characters bond from the pilot to the series finale. Although every episode of Cheers is, of course, humorous, the storylines get more emotional as the show goes on, which rewards you for continuing to tune in. In season 8, Sam wonders if he should keep working as a bartender, which is relatable since everyone has ups and downs in their careers. Seinfeld (1989-1998) 9 Seasons Even though Seinfeld season 1 isn't perfect and many viewers aren't thrilled with the series finale, which admittedly has a different tone and feeling than the rest of the series, it's still a fantastic sitcom that deserves all its praise. Besides famous episodes like "The Chinese Restaurant", Seinfeld is also known for its smaller moments and relatable, authentic storylines. The humor comes from the main characters finding themselves in frustrating situations, but Jerry Seinfeld and his friends are also annoyed by other people regularly, which is always hilarious to watch.
