As the sitcom has evolved, the studio audience has been largely replaced by canned spurts of unnatural laughter. Some of the best sitcoms of the past and present are those filmed in front of real
people. Here are some of the best; if you've never seen them, queue them on Netflix or search for them on Hulu next time you need a pick-me-up!
10.) Golden Girls (NBC, 1985-1992)
Imagine revisiting the "Sex & the City" girls a couple of decades into the future and you'll get a pretty good sense of what this show is about. It even has some character parallels; Blanche Deveraux is a post-menopausal Samantha and Dorothy Zbornak is a nearly-geriatric Carrie. "Sex & the City" is practically a "Golden Girls" prequel.
9.) Perfect Strangers (ABC, 1986-1993)
Larry and his foreign, distant cousin Balki are at the center of this buddy comedy created by the man behind "Mork & Mindy." The two work together at a discount store on the ground level of their apartment building; their boss is also their landlord, a large source of comedic fodder for the show. In 1989 the show spurned the spin-off "Family Matters," which enjoyed some success in its nearly-decade-long run but never had the genuine charm of "Perfect Strangers."
8.) Two and a Half Men (CBS, 2003-)
One of the few current sitcoms featuring a live audience, "Two and a Half Men" is one of the crown jewels in CBS's prime time lineup. Charlie Sheen's ladies man character anchors the cast, sharing an apartment with his uptight brother (Jon Cryer) and underachiever nephew (Angus T. Jones). The apartment is also frequented by a sarcastic housekeeper and the brothers' shallow and conceited mother.
7.) Will & Grace (NBC, 1998-2006)
Will is a gay lawyer; Grace is a Jewish interior designer. The show circles around their friendship, as well as their relations with their friends Karen (the snobbish socialite) and Jack (the flamboyant actor). It was the first network television show to successful integrate homosexual characters and won dozens of awards and nominations during its run.
6.) The Cosby Show (NBC, 1984-1992)
10.) Golden Girls (NBC, 1985-1992)
Imagine revisiting the "Sex & the City" girls a couple of decades into the future and you'll get a pretty good sense of what this show is about. It even has some character parallels; Blanche Deveraux is a post-menopausal Samantha and Dorothy Zbornak is a nearly-geriatric Carrie. "Sex & the City" is practically a "Golden Girls" prequel.
9.) Perfect Strangers (ABC, 1986-1993)
Larry and his foreign, distant cousin Balki are at the center of this buddy comedy created by the man behind "Mork & Mindy." The two work together at a discount store on the ground level of their apartment building; their boss is also their landlord, a large source of comedic fodder for the show. In 1989 the show spurned the spin-off "Family Matters," which enjoyed some success in its nearly-decade-long run but never had the genuine charm of "Perfect Strangers."
8.) Two and a Half Men (CBS, 2003-)
One of the few current sitcoms featuring a live audience, "Two and a Half Men" is one of the crown jewels in CBS's prime time lineup. Charlie Sheen's ladies man character anchors the cast, sharing an apartment with his uptight brother (Jon Cryer) and underachiever nephew (Angus T. Jones). The apartment is also frequented by a sarcastic housekeeper and the brothers' shallow and conceited mother.
7.) Will & Grace (NBC, 1998-2006)
Will is a gay lawyer; Grace is a Jewish interior designer. The show circles around their friendship, as well as their relations with their friends Karen (the snobbish socialite) and Jack (the flamboyant actor). It was the first network television show to successful integrate homosexual characters and won dozens of awards and nominations during its run.
6.) The Cosby Show (NBC, 1984-1992)
Published by Rhonda Rowley - Featured Home Improvement Contributor; Featured Arts & Entertainment Contributor
Rhonda Rowley is a lifelong resident of western Michigan.
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Davida Chazan
06/18/2010
Nice list, but I'm a bit surprised that you didn't include "All in the Family", which was one of the first major sitcoms to be filmed in front of a live audience.
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