WhileSeinfeldremains one of the most beloved sitcoms on TV, there have been plenty of shows that have come out in the last decade or so that are equally worthy of praise. While everyone may have genres that they gravitate towards, and some people favor drama over action, or sci-fi over fantasy, most people tend to enjoy a good sitcom. Sitcoms are comforting, relaxing, and enjoyable in a way that few other shows achieve.
While the situations can range from the mundane, to the outlandish, there is always an element of comedy, and core characters who make each new situation into a hilarious opportunity. And whileSeinfeldwas by no means the first sitcom, it did feel like a seismic shift had taken place with these types of shows, and it opened the door for a lot more creativity in the genre going forward.
10Extraordinary
One incredible example of a modern sitcom, which continues to have a core focus on a group of people living in close proximity and their day-to-day challenges, isExtraordinary. While the essential plot is pretty simple, there is one key change that makes this sitcom different, and also explains the name: Nearly everyone has superpowers. That’s right, in the age of the superhero genre taking over, a sitcom has been made around people with powers.
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However, unlike the gritty, realistic takes on superhero stories likeThe Boys,Extraordinaryfeatures powered people who range from having super strength and the ability to fly, to others who can turn into a cat, or 3D print items with their body, provided they have enough time. The show is hilarious, unique, and features a brilliant cast, which all adds up to create one of the best sitcoms of the 2020s so far.
9Schitt’s Creek
Schitt’s Creekavoids the usual group of friends cast and replaces it with a family of four. When thewealthy Rose familylose everything and declare bankruptcy, they are left with a single town they purchased as a joke due to the rundown conditions and hilarious name. However, now forced to move in to Schitt’s Creek and adjust to life without the comforts they have grown to depend on, things are not easy for the Rose’s.
The series follows a typical sitcom format, with each new episode providing situations for the Rose family to tackle. But the execution, writing, and comedy throughout is truly spectacular. Over the course of the series' run,Schitt’s Creekwon nine Primetime Emmys, which is just one less thanSeinfeld. However, it did manage to do that with less than half the total episode count. It also features a star-studded cast including Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara as the parents.
8What We Do In The Shadows
Image via Hulu
What We Do in the Shadowsalso features an incredibly unique twist on the sitcom format, with the series following a group of four vampires in a mockumentary-style show. The series was inspired by a film of the same name that was released in 2014. However, the show explores this hilarious idea across 6 seasons. And in that time, the show has managed to rack up an impressive 29 Primetime Emmy nominations.
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The series is clever, absurd, and full of brilliant interactions between the vampires and the other regulars who find themselves linked to these supernatural beings. It is also aided by the incredibly talented comedy ensemble, with actors like Matt Berry standing out thanks to his comedic timing, bravado, and his general sense of humor, which brings something special to the show. For fans of blending genres,What We Do in the Shadowsis overflowing with hilarious highlights in every episode as the absurdity of the circumstances is brought to light.
7Young Sheldon
For the most part, comedy spin-offs tend to do less well than the shows that inspired them. However, there are some notable exceptions.Mork & Mindypropelled Robin Williams to international acclaimafter a brief appearance inHappy Days. Likewise,Frasiermanaged to take on a life of its own after the series originally started as a spin-off fromCheers. In both cases, the spin-off managed to make a name for itself and develop a fanbase independent of the original series. And whileYoung Sheldonmay feature one of the lead characters fromThe Big Bang Theory, the fact that this series is a prequel which recast Iain Armitage to play the part of a young Sheldon Cooper helped to set the series apart.
Young Sheldonalso focuses on a family, though Sheldon stands out due to his genius intellect. It’s witty, heartfelt, and sees the characters grow up over the course of the seven-season run, and following the show’s conclusion, it managed to inspire another spin-off following Sheldon’s older brother. However, there is no guarantee thatGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriagewill have the same success asYoung SheldonorTBBT.
6Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Changing gears,Brooklyn Nine-Ninefeatures a very different type of sitcom that blends genres and puts the focus on a group of coworkers. In the Ninety-Ninth Precinct of the NYPD, a rag-tag team of detectives have one of the most interesting dynamics on the force. With the talented, yet incredibly childish Jake Peralta standing out as one of the top agents, Jake becomes the star of the show. However, that is not to say that the rest of the cast are not spectacular in their own ways.
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Just like Jerry Seinfeld, Jake is the center of attention onBrooklyn Nine-Nine. And again, the story is set in New York. But, the show does feature a crime drama element, which is heavily outweighed by the comedy, but nonetheless, it brings these genres together. The result is a wonderful and wacky mix of laughs and intrigue as the detectives work to solve cases and kick crime in the butt.
5Modern Family
Returning again to the family motif,Modern Familyis an aptly titled sitcomwhich has become widely beloved thanks to the exploration of what a family may look like in today’s day and age. One of the best parts of Seinfeld was how the show would address concerns and ideas that were directly relevant to the people who tuned in to watch the show. Careers, relationships, health, food, dating, and so on.Modern Familydoes the same in a contemporary setting.
The Patriarch of the family, Jay Prichett, is an old-fashioned guy living in a modern world, and after divorcing his wife of many years, Jay married a noticeably younger woman who has young children of her own. In addition, the show follows Jay’s two children and their families. The entire cast is brilliant, and over the course of 11 seasons, the show sees the kids grow into adulthood. The developments, changes and stories are heartwarming and hilarious, and it’s worth every second watching the 250 episodes.
4How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Motherstands out as one of the oldest entries on this list, but coming five years after the millennium, it still counts as being a lot more recent thanSeinfeld. Interestingly,HIMYMfollows a much closer format to 1990s sitcoms likeSeinfeldandFriends, with the show following a small group of friends who all live and work in New York. The show also covers similar topics that are most relevant to young adults, like dating, careers, and friendship.
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However,HIMYMhas a central premise that extends to every aspect of the show; the story of how Ted met the mother of his children.HIMYMuses this framing device to set Ted Mosby as the central character, who in the present is speaking to his teenage children. However, while telling them the story of how he met their mother, he goes into excruciating detail that results in a story that takes nine entire seasons to fully unpack. Despite this, the sitcom works extremely well, and it has become one of the giants of the genre.
3The Office
Speaking of giants of the sitcom genre, the same year saw the debut of an arguably even more popular series, withThe Office. While the friends in a bar or coffee shop premise had been proven to work well in sitcoms,The Officedid some things that really pushed the boundaries of the genre, thanks in large part to the British series of the same name that inspired it. Using a fake documentary style, not exactly a mockumentary,The Officereveals the seemingly mundane workplace of a paper sales company.
In most cases, this would be a terrible setup for a sitcom, but thanks toSteve Carell’s outstanding performance as Michael Scott, the boss of the Scranton branch of Dunder Mifflin, this show is a masterpiece. With a spectacular cast full of unique characters, dynamic relationships between coworkers, and some of the best comedy writing for any show of the 21st century to date,The Officeis one of the very best sitcoms on TV.
2Abbott Elementary
And moving along to a much more recent sitcom,Abbott Elementaryappears to take a leaf out ofThe Office’sbook with the exploration of a seemingly mundane and typical workplace that proves to be the perfect breeding ground for comedy gold.Abbott Elementaryis in its fourth season, having debuted in 2021, and the show has already earned an impressive four Primetime Emmys. And again, likeThe Office, it largely hinges on an incompetent boss.
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The series stands out thanks to the setting in a struggling, underfunded, and overworked public school as it shines the spotlight on the teachers working hard to help their students. And with such a grounded premise, it provides plenty of opportunities for the story to resonate and connect with viewers at home. As a result, the show is a sensational hit series that absolutely stands out among the sitcom greats.
1Ted Lasso
Finally, whileTed Lassodoes shift into a less relatable situation, the comedy is absolute gold. Like many of Apple TV+’s other releases, the show is incredibly well crafted, with quality writing, top tier acting, and beautiful settings throughout. WhenTed Lasso is recruited to step up as the coach of Richmond F.C. in England, the former US-based football coach is not entirely prepared for the world he is about to step into. With the clash of mindsets and culture, Ted takes a beat to find his footing, but along the way, he manages to make a big impression on the players and people of Richmond.
The show is incredibly well executed with intense emotional moments, laugh-out-loud comedy, and a captivating sports narrative that will have anyone on the edge of their seats, whether a fan of sport or not.Ted Lassois one of the best comedy shows to come out of the 2020s so far, and alongside the other incredible sitcoms listed here, it stands up toSeinfeldin terms of quality, humor, and its potential for longevity.
Seinfeld
Cast
Seinfeld is a television sitcom that follows stand-up comedian Jerry Seinfeld and his three eccentric friends, George, Elaine, and Kramer, as they navigate everyday life in New York City during the 1990s. Premiering in 1989, the series humorously explores the mundane and often trivial aspects of social interactions.
