10 Sitcoms with Long, Quality Runs Worth Watching

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Starting a long sitcom can seem daunting, but some comedies are truly worth the commitment. While many funny shows don’t last very long – like the excellent but short-lived college series Undeclared and the single-season Trophy Wife – plenty of others have enjoyed five seasons or more.

From shows following the hectic lives of comedy performers to beloved 90s classics, these sitcoms are definitely worth checking out. Many of them ran for years – even a full decade – and still resonate today with their clever writing and characters we can all relate to.

New Girl (2011-2018)

7 Seasons

For seven seasons, New Girl stands out as a truly funny and heartwarming sitcom. It’s a bright and optimistic look at living with roommates and embracing who you are. Zooey Deschanel plays Jess Day, a wonderfully quirky and relatable character whose awkwardness and embarrassing moments are what make her so endearing.

Even just Zooey Deschanel’s character would make New Girl worth watching, but the show is also full of clever characters like Winston Bishop (Lamorne Morris), who loves to pull pranks. While it’s a funny show, it’s also rewarding to watch the characters develop and mature throughout the series.

The Goldbergs (2013-2023)

10 Seasons

With its funny and unique family, The Goldbergs is considered one of the best sitcoms of the 2010s and 2020s. The show’s clever writing and its charmingly retro 1980s vibe are key to its success.

Each episode features voiceover narration from Patton Oswalt, playing the adult Adam as he fondly remembers his childhood and unusual family. However, the show wouldn’t have been so successful or hilarious without Wendi McLendon-Covey’s portrayal of Beverly, Adam’s cheerful, competitive, and caring mother.

30 Rock (2006-2013)

7 Seasons

As a huge comedy fan, I have to say, 30 Rock is essential viewing! It’s hilarious – it brilliantly skewers the craziness of shows like Saturday Night Live, and it really lets Tina Fey’s amazing comedic skills shine. You won’t regret checking it out.

The show, spanning seven seasons, centers around Liz Lemon (played by Tina Fey) and her experiences with relationships and life. Importantly, it also highlights her drive and self-assurance. Liz is delightfully quirky and unique, and it’s a breath of fresh air to see a main character who confidently embraces her true self without apology.

I honestly think season 7 of 30 Rock is just as brilliant as when the show first started. What really got to me was the finale – watching TGS With Tracy Jordan come to an end was a truly perfect and emotional moment. It felt like saying goodbye to old friends.

Friends (1994-2004)

10 Seasons

Even though some aspects of Friends haven’t aged well, it’s still a show everyone should watch. The ’90s sitcom is iconic, and the relationships between the six friends are genuinely heartwarming. All ten seasons offer a fun and relatable experience.

From Rachel realizing Ross had feelings for her at the end of the first season to most of the characters finding stability by the tenth, Friends is a truly rewarding show to watch. You become deeply familiar with everyone – from Phoebe’s unique personality to Monica’s obsession with cleanliness.

You’ll also see the group experience both joyful moments, like their memorable Thanksgiving celebrations, and relatable struggles, which feel genuine and touching.

Murphy Brown (1988-1998)

10 Seasons

Murphy Brown, played by Candice Bergen, is the heart of this uplifting story, a sitcom that captivated audiences for ten seasons. The show brilliantly balances the main character’s personal life – her search for love and her dream of becoming a mother – with a rewarding look at her work as a journalist.

You’ll not only connect with the main character’s story, but you’ll also enjoy seeing Lily Tomlin as Kay Carter-Shepley in season 9. Plus, you’ll meet Corky Sherwood (Faith Ford), a cheerful journalist who’s a total contrast to Murphy.

Murphy Brown stands out as a sitcom with a strong female lead, but it also features other well-developed and engaging female characters. It’s a great example of a show that doesn’t rely solely on its protagonist.

The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air (1990-1996)

6 Seasons

Everyone loves The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air for good reason – it’s consistently funny and heartwarming. The show’s story, about Will (Will Smith) moving in with his affluent relatives, is interesting, but the real joy comes from watching the close relationships between the characters develop over time, so it’s best to watch the episodes in order.

After watching the whole show, you’ll really get why certain Fresh Prince moments are so famous, like the iconic dance scenes with Aunt Vivian (Janet Hubert) and Carlton Banks (Alfonso Ribeiro).

The show could have easily continued for many more seasons – it had a lot of funny episodes, but also some surprisingly touching ones. A particularly memorable example is Will’s difficult and emotional reunion with his birth father in the fourth season.

Night Court (1984-1992)

9 Seasons

Credit: MovieStillsDB

Night Court, starring Harry Anderson as the amusing Judge Harry T. Stone, stands out as a uniquely funny sitcom from the 1980s and 90s. Its unusual setting – a court that holds sessions at night – and genuinely silly storylines, like the case involving a monkey in the episode ‘Monkey Business,’ make it a memorable show.

The show consistently feels lighthearted, comforting, and kind over its nine seasons. While each episode features unusual and sometimes spooky cases for Harry to solve, the series also increasingly focuses on his relationships with the other characters.

Early in the sixth season, a surprisingly touching story arc with Dan Fielding (John Larroquette) shows that the show continued to deliver strong episodes even later in its run.

Watching the whole series is enjoyable, especially spotting the famous guest stars like Gilbert Gottfried and Michael J. Fox. Plus, with the recent revival airing from 2023 to 2025, it’s fun to revisit the original show.

The Golden Girls (1985-1992)

7 Seasons

One of the best things about long-running sitcoms is getting to know the characters as if they were real people. That’s certainly true with The Golden Girls; over seven seasons, you really get to see each character as a distinct and memorable individual.

Because the show centers around the joys and challenges of a group of older women living together, it consistently feels comforting and heartwarming. Instead of relying on illogical or jarring storylines and inconsistent character development, The Golden Girls maintains its excellent quality.

By the end of the series, especially with Dorothy’s (Bea Arthur) heartfelt romance in the finale, you’ll probably feel like you’ve enjoyed a comforting and consistently good show – one you’ll want to rewatch, not one with episodes you’d skip.

Cheers (1982-1993)

11 Seasons

You might expect a TV show lasting over ten seasons to lose its appeal, but Cheers still feels warm and inviting. Whether it’s the eccentric accountant Norm Peterson (played by George Wendt) or the charming bar owner Sam Malone (Ted Danson), you’ll enjoy watching the strong connections develop between the characters from the very first episode to the last.

While Cheers is always funny, the show’s stories become more heartfelt as it progresses, making it really satisfying to keep watching. For example, in season 8, Sam questions whether he should continue bartending – a situation many people can relate to, as everyone experiences challenges and changes in their career.

Seinfeld (1989-1998)

9 Seasons

Despite a somewhat shaky first season and a series finale that didn’t land with everyone, Seinfeld remains a truly excellent sitcom and absolutely deserves all the acclaim it’s received.

Beyond well-known episodes like “The Chinese Restaurant,” Seinfeld truly shines in its smaller, more realistic moments. The show’s humor often comes from the characters dealing with everyday annoyances and frustrating situations, but it’s equally funny to watch them get irritated by other people.

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2025-11-04 20:41