Top Ten Studio Sitcoms
The American Invasion
Say what you like about laughter tracks and living rooms that never change, but the American studio sitcom was a machine. Glossy, gag-heavy, and perfectly paced for repeat viewing. While Britain produced its fair share of comedy gold, the Yanks turned the multi-camera sitcom into an art form—and then beamed it into British homes for decades.
Here are ten that we got to watch on UK screens. In chronological order, naturally.
1. I Love Lucy (1951–1957)
Yes, it’s old. But it’s still funny. I Love Lucy wasn’t just one of the first sitcoms—it was one of the first American imports to make British viewers fall in love with the format. Lucille Ball’s timing was immaculate, the writing razor-sharp, and the physical comedy remains unmatched. Everyone from Miranda to Mrs. Brown owes her a debt.
2. The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961–1966)
This was slick. A sitcom about writing a sitcom, long before 30 Rock made it cool. Rob Petrie (Dick Van Dyke) juggled work and home life, creating a split between showbiz glamour and suburban chaos. Mary Tyler Moore was magnetic, and the show gave American comedy a sophistication that crossed the Atlantic with ease.
3. Cheers (1982–1993)
Where everybody knows your name, and a lot of British people learned theirs, too. Cheers was the gold standard for ensemble comedy. Set almost entirely in a bar, it never felt static. Sam, Diane, Carla, Norm, Cliff… all perfectly drawn. Romantic tension, philosophical barflies, and more character-driven laughs an episode than most shows manage in a decade.
4. The Golden Girls (1985–1992)
Four older (not old) women sharing a house in Miami might not sound groundbreaking, but this was lightning in a bottle. Dorothy, Blanche, Rose, and Sophia were feminist icons before the term hit mainstream sitcoms. It aired in the UK on Channel 4, but anyone who stumbled across it knew they were watching something bold, warm, and endlessly quotable.
5. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990–1996)
The theme song alone could probably get its own place on this list. The Fresh Prince was THE BBC 2 show that young Brits in the '90s watched. It was Will Smith’s breakout role and still beloved. It had heart, it had humour, it broke that fourth wall, and it smuggled in real-life issues beneath the jokes. Geoffrey the sarcastic butler? A national treasure.
6. Roseanne (1988–1997, 2018)
Unlike most sitcoms of the time, Roseanne was about working-class America. Set in the modest Conner household, it gave viewers something gritty, honest, and still sharply funny. British audiences related to the dysfunction. This wasn’t aspirational but it was relatable. And Laurie Metcalf’s Aunt Jackie remains one of the great underrated sitcom characters. I have been fortunate to see the actor three times on stage. She is outstanding.
7. Frasier (1993–2004)
How did a stuffy radio psychiatrist with a posh voice become a comedy icon? By being really well written. Frasier somehow made elitism charming. A spin-off that outshone its parent show (Cheers), it mixed highbrow farce with lowbrow slapstick and served it with sherry. Niles alone could carry ten series. Thankfully, he didn’t have to.
8. Friends (1994–2004)
There’s not much left to say about Friends that hasn’t already been said. From its pilot to its final hug, it became the definitive sitcom of its era. Monopolised the Channel 4 schedule for a decade. And it still runs on multiple UK channels. Could it be any more iconic?
9. Will & Grace (1998–2006, 2017–2020)
Stylish, sharp, and fast-talking, Will & Grace was the sitcom that brought queer culture to mainstream TV, without asking permission. It was witty, fizzy, and smarter than it ever got credit for. Karen Walker, in particular, remains one of the great scene-stealers in sitcom history. A favourite Channel 4’s Friday night schedule, and rightly so.
10. The Big Bang Theory (2007–2019)
A more recent entry, and divisive for sure, but its place in sitcom history is solid. A gang of nerdy physicists and one aspiring actress shouldn’t have been a global hit, but somehow it was. Chuck Lorre knew how to write punchlines, and British audiences came to love Sheldon’s quirks, Leonard’s awkwardness, and the perfectly-timed "Bazinga!" catchphrase.
Honourable mentions: Family Ties, Seinfeld, Mad About You, Spin City, and Everybody Loves Raymond. The US has delivered sitcoms in bulk - and while we Brits may not always admit it, we’ve loved them (nearly) just as much as our homegrown classics.
What’s your favourite American sitcom that made it big in Britain? Or one you think I missed? Let me know in the comments.
Thank you!
