Charlie Chaplin once said, "Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in long shot." Now that's an interesting adage—because if we look at our lives, what angers us the most often brings out laughter when portrayed on screen. And that’s the whole point of comedy, don’t you think? To make light of life’s miseries.
Today’s recommendation is not just a show, but a whole genre—one that has deeply influenced pop culture.
Sitcoms.
Even the word itself has a chucklesome energy to it. Sitcom stands for situational comedy, and it centers around a recurring set of characters as they navigate humorous situations within a consistent setting. Now, the definition might make it sound like the genre is so confined to be made into a TV shows, but trust me, sitcoms are among the longest-running and most beloved shows of all time. Their success is nothing short of phenomenal.
Without further ado, let me walk you through some of the greatest sitcoms of all time—and what makes them so iconic:
1. The Office(US)
Created by Ricky Gervais and starring talents like Steve Carell and John Krasinski, The Office is often considered the greatest sitcom ever. The characters are hilarious, and the cold openings are legendary. I once laughed for half an hour straight watching the opening sequence of the “Casual Friday” episode where Kevin spills chili—it’s pure gold. Every episode is a comedy overload. Fun fact: Billie Eilish is a huge fan of The Office. The show has nine seasons, and I’ve watched it twice. Every time I reach the finale, a few tears find their way down my cheeks.
Available on Prime Video
2. The Big Bang Theory
The title might make you think it’s a geeky show but infact it is a show about geeky people—being a show about physicists it never fails to connect with all types of audience,even people who hate science love this show. Created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, The Big Bang Theory is smart, funny, and surprisingly heartfelt. Sheldon Cooper is the show-stealer—if you haven’t heard of him, I truly pity you. He became such an iconic character that he got his own spin-off, Young Sheldon. Fun fact: even some notable noble laureates worked as script writers for the show.
Available on Netflix and Prime Video
3. FRIENDS
The most famous sitcom of all time—no one can deny that. Created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, FRIENDS is adored by all generations—from millennials to Gen Z and even Gen Alpha. It’s a trendsetter that reshaped sitcoms and pop culture. Amid all the years, it never lost its humor. The characters are unforgettable, the writing is sharp, and the jokes are timeless. If you haven’t come across a Chandler meme or Joey’s “How you doin’?”—do you even use Instagram?
Available on Prime Video, Netflix, and JioCinema
4. Fleabag
Often called one of the most underrated shows of all time, Fleabag is a gem. Created and starred by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, it’s a comedy-drama that breaks the fourth wall and pulls you into its narrative in the most delightful way. Phoebe’s writing is top-tier, and the humor is sharp, dark, and refreshingly honest.
Fleabag is one of it's kind and often revered as the best of dark comedy.The narrative is yet another highlight of the show.
Available on Prime Video
5. How I Met Your Mother
Created by Carter Bays and Craig Thomas, How I Met Your Mother blends romance and humor brilliantly. It’s full of eccentric yet relatable moments. And let’s not forget Barney Stinson—arguably one of the funniest sitcom characters ever written and Robin, God! she's is probably the most beautiful character I've ever seen--Once you start watching HIMYM you can't help yourself but fall in love with her. If you have a knack for rom-coms with a twist, this one’s for you.
Available on Disney+ Hotstar and Prime Video
If you think these are the only great sitcoms, you’re barking up the wrong tree. This is just the surface. Once you dive into the ocean of sitcoms, you’ll discover true joy. What makes them special is how they let us travel with the characters—we grow with them, laugh with them, and even cry with them. They become a part of us. Chandler, Barney, Sheldon, Phil, Michael, Phoebe—they’re not just characters, they’re companions.
There are many more to explore, and we’ll definitely cover that in Part 2 of this blog. Why should only books and movies have sequels? Blogs deserve one too.
It’s high time to embark on the sitcom journey…
