Television comedy has always been a way for people to unwind and end their day with a laugh. The TV sitcom has been popular since the 1950s, and that popularity continues today with shows such as Modern Family, The Big Bang Theory, and Mom.
Critics agree that the heydeys of the TV comedy were the 70s and 80s. Both decades contained critically-acclaimed series that broke barriers and upped the ante on character development. Here are five of the best TV comedies from each of those fruitful decades.
The 70s: The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Mary Tyler Moore was already a beloved television star thanks to her role as “Laura Petrie” on the classic, The Dick Van Dyke Show. With her solo starring comedy, Mary Tyler Moore helped to create one of the most beloved comedies of its era.
It was a groundbreaking show, as it showed Moore’s character, “Mary Richards,” as a single and successful career woman working in television news. The writing was sharp and witty and the show surrounded the actress with a perfect cast of supporting characters—including tv superstar Betty White, who played against type and changed her career forever—which made the show something truly special.
The 80s: ALF
The idea of a sitcom where a wisecracking alien lives with a family sounded like a silly idea and everyone agreed that it was. What people weren’t prepared for was how funny the show ould become.
Max Wright as the father “Willie’ and Paul Fusco voicing ALF gave funny and endearing performances while show creators Fusco and Tom Patchett assured that, while the plots were wacky, each episode contained smart comedy that usually rose above the goofy aura of the series.
The 70s: All In The Family
In the annals of groundbreaking television, All in the Family stands tall as one of the greats. Norman Lear’s critically and audience-loved sitcom tackled race relations, pregnancy, religion, politics, etc. All subjects that were previously no-nos for network TV.
Lear’s writing threw away cliches and expectations and created a family that was relatable and lovable. It is a testament to both Norman Lear’s writing and Carrol O’ Connor’s acting that “Archie Bunker” was loved by audiences despite his bigoted, chauvinistic, and racist tendencies.
The 80s: The Tracy Ullman Show
Running three years (1987-1990), The Tracy Ullman Show was a critically lauded variety show full of sketches and song and dance numbers. Tracy Ullman is a talented comedienne and mimic that filled her show with a variety of original characters and a bevy of impressions.
The cast included Julie Kavner and Dan Castellana, who would go on to make TV history as Homer and Marge Simpson. Ullman’s show was the springboard for The Simpsons, as the animated family was created for this show and appeared on occasional episodes in a short segment.
The 70s: Barney Miller
In the 1970s, there were many TV cop shows, but none were comedies until the appearance of Barney Miller, a half-hour comedy set in an NYC precinct that focused on a varied squad of detectives led by their Captain Barney Miller.
The writing and cast made the show something special and led it to be one of the biggest hits of its era. When critics list the great TV cop shows, although it is pure comedy, Barney Miller always makes the cut.
The 80s: The Young Ones
British comedy was always ahead of the curve in just about every way. Many believe the Brit style of comedy is too dry. Monty Python broke that mold and paved the way for shows such as The Young Ones.
The show found four wildly different mates—a Punk-Rocker, a Revolutionary, A Ladies Man, and a Hippie—sharing a London flat and breezing through a wild life. The show was a riotous BBC comedy that was shown on American PBS stations. It found a large cult following thanks to its crazy comedy and occasional live musical guests such as “Madness” and “Motorhead.”
The 70s: Monty Python’s Flying Circus
Giving “the bird”—or, for the Brits, the “backward two fingers”—Monty Python’s Flying Circus shattered all expectations of what British and television comedy was all about. Eric Idle, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, Graham Chapman, and Michael Palin made up the comedy troupe, and all became international stars.
The sketches ranged from wacky to philosophical to satirical and gave fans many classic bits that they would know by heart and recite along with the show. What began as a cult favorite turned into one of the most beloved television comedies of all time.
The 80s: WKRP In Cincinnati
Loosely based on the 1978 cult film FM, WKRP in Cincinnati centered on a small radio station that goes from talk radio to Rock & Roll. Run by the son of a rich woman who hates the music, the station was filled with crazy characters who got into crazier situations.
The hit show was praised for its cast who brought heart to every character and went down in TV history as having one of the best Thanksgiving episodes of any show.
The 70s: Fawlty Towers
John Cleese parlayed his Monty Python fame into an even funnier and more beloved show. Fawlty Towers followed Basil Fawlty (Cleese) trying to keep his bed and breakfast hotel afloat. Co-written by Connie Booth, his then-wife who played “Polly,” the show was an instant success.
With a hotel full of zany staff and characters and scripts that created situations that would always give John Cleese a chance to use the full range of his comedic skills, Fawlty Towers has gone down as a beloved tv comedy classic.
The 80s: Cheers
Considered by critics to be one of the top sitcoms of all time, Cheers was enormously popular. Ted Danson starred as “Sam,” a former baseball star who opens a bar. The show was extremely well cast and started the careers of many including Shelly Long, Woody Harrelson, and Kirstie Alley,
Ted Danson shot to superstardom thanks to his honest and funny performance, and the entire cast became stars due to their funny and relatable performances and unique characters.
