The 2010s were something of a golden age for sitcoms. Bridging the gap between established network TV and the rise of streaming platforms, the decade
The 2010s were something of a golden age for sitcoms. Bridging the gap between established network TV and the rise of streaming platforms, the decade pushed the boundaries of comedy, producing some of the most universally acclaimed shows that are now considered masterpieces of the genre. Part of what made these sitcoms so great is the way they blended humor with emotional storytelling, deep character development, and cultural commentary, much of which still holds up today.
Not all of them started in the 2010s — quite a few actually began in the slow 2000s but still had a significant social and cultural impact through the next decade — but they’re all equally iconic and definitive of the time. From mockumentaries and single-camera sitcoms to workplace comedies and social and political satires, we’ve gathered together some of the funniest and most iconic sitcoms of the decade that not only provide endless laughs but are also celebrated for their writing, acting, character designs, and pop culture influence. So, without further ado, here’s our ranked selection of the funniest sitcoms of the 2010s.
8
‘Broad City’ (2014–2019)
Created by and starring Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson, Broad City is Comedy Central’s most-acclaimed sitcom, adapted from the duo’s independent web series of the same name produced between 2009 and 2011. A dramatized take on Glazer and Jacobson’s real-life friendship and experiences, the series follows Abbi Abrams, an aspiring artist, and Ilana Wexler, an extroverted slacker and marijuana enthusiast, as they navigate daily life and try to make it in New York City. Other recurring cast members include Hannibal Buress, Arturo Castro, Stephen Schneider, John Gemberling, and Eliot Glazer.
Broad City is often wildly absurd, mostly sweet, and always hilarious, powered by clever writing and forthright performances. While the show’s focus is Abbi and Ilana’s deep friendship, the sitcom never relies on typical tropes; rather, it subverts those expectations with its unapologetically flawed and messy protagonists. Incredibly comical, relatable, and subliminally empowering, Broad City has earned critical acclaim throughout its five-season run, and easily ranks among the best comedies of the 2010s.
7
‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’ (2013–2021)
Created by Michael Schur and Dan Goor, Brooklyn Nine-Nine follows the staff at the titular, fictional precinct of the NYPD as they adjust to their stern fresh commanding officer, Captain Raymond Holt. The series focuses on seven detectives, particularly Detective Jake Peralta, who becomes Holt’s (and the squad’s) biggest problem with his eccentric and often annoying antics, leading to hilarious outcomes. Andy Samberg stars as Jake and Andre Braugher as Captain Holt, with Stephanie Beatriz, Terry Crews, Melissa Fumero, Joe Lo Truglio, Chelsea Peretti, Dirk Blocker, and Joel McKinnon Miller in other notable roles.
A unique sitcom of its time, Brooklyn Nine-Nine is both a police procedural and a workplace sitcom, defined by its quirkiness and progressive social commentary. The series is celebrated for revitalizing the established workplace comedy with its perfect balance of slapstick humor and procedural parody, elevated by its diverse and talented cast. Riotous and often keen, Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s comedy thrives mainly on the disordered contrast between Peralta’s immature energy and Holt’s deadpan stoicism, which forms the engine of much of its misadventures.
A current sitcom classic created by Dan Harmon, Community is a madcap adult comedy revolving around an oddball study group at a fictional Colorado community college. The series begins with a disbarred lawyer joining the college to re-earn his license and forming the said group, which attracts various misfits who become inseparable friends. The show boasts an ensemble cast featuring some of comedy’s finest, with Joel McHale, Gillian Jacobs, Alison Brie, Ken Jeong, Donald Glover, Danny Pudi, Yvette Nicole Brown, and Chevy Chase as the key characters.
A sitcom that simultaneously satirizes and pays homage to sitcom clichés and TV tropes, Community was revolutionary for its time and one of the most meta comedy shows of the decade. The riotous escapades of the group come alive through some of the most experimental storytelling the genre had seen at the time, with concept-based narratives, alternate timelines, and animated episodes. Unconventional and self-aware, Community continues to provide laughs and comfort to a dedicated legion of fans today.
5
‘Schitt’s Creek’ (2015–2020)
Eugene and Dan Levy’s family sitcom that became a huge cultural phenomenon, Schitt’s Creek tells the story of the Roses, a has-been wealthy family who get bankrupted by their business manager and are forced to relocate to the shoddy titular town, which they had once bought as a joke. There begins the miserable fresh life of Johnny and Moira, and their adult children, Alexis and David, whose high-society attitudes clash against their fresh normal as they learn to adapt to the paltry lifestyle. Catherine O’Hara, Annie Murphy, Eugene Levy, and Dan Levy bring their comedic best to their main characters that are now icons of current comedy.
Schitt’s Creek grew from an average-rated sitcom into a multi-award-winning cult favorite, thanks largely to its perfect cast and their perfect comedic delivery, particularly O’Hara’s phenomenal depiction of Moira Rose, which earned her 11 awards. Besides its inventive mockery of the out-of-touch, uber-rich facing harsh realities, it is also a comforting comedy about personal transformation and acceptance. Cathartically comical in every episode, Schitt’s Creek is self-aware, theatrical, and heartfelt all at once, and it effectively redefined dysfunctional family sitcoms.
4
‘Parks and Recreation’ (2009–2015)
A cult-hit political satire mockumentary created by Greg Daniels and Michael Schur, Parks and Recreation revolves around ever-enthusiastic mid-level bureaucrat Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler), who works in the titular department of the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana. Along with her quirky colleagues and newfound friend, local nurse Ann Perkins (Rashida Jones), Leslie attempts to improve the conditions of her beloved hometown while navigating endless government red tape, politics, and romance. The series also stars Aziz Ansari, Nick Offerman, Aubrey Plaza, Chris Pratt, Paul Schneider, Adam Scott, Rob Lowe, and Retta as key characters.
What begins as a local municipality sitcom evolves into a comforting comedy about friendship, found family, and massive ambitions. While Parks and Recreation did not earn widespread popularity or massive viewership when it first started, the series went on to define the cultural zeitgeist of its era, making the careers of many of its stars. During its run, Parks and Recreation achieved critical acclaim for its keen writing, excellent acting, and wholesome optimism, and it still ranks among NBC’s best sitcoms of all time.
3
‘Modern Family’ (2009–2020)
A multi-award-winning sitcom created by Christopher Lloyd and Steven Levitan, Modern Family follows the lives of three very diverse family setups, all interrelated through wealthy patriarch Jay Pritchett. The series follows the hilariously disordered dynamics of the dysfunctional family as they navigate their modern-day lives in suburban Los Angeles. The sitcom stars Ed O’Neill, Sofía Vergara, Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and Eric Stonestreet as the heads of their respective family units.
Presented in a mockumentary style with handheld, single-camera movements, direct-to-camera interviews, and characters breaking the fourth wall, Modern Family takes the workplace sitcom setup popularized by The Office and blends it with family comedy. The series derives its laughter from the comedic interpretations of the real-life contemporary social and cultural landscape, supported by award-winning performances. One of the longest-running live-action sitcoms of all time, Modern Family earned sweeping accolades during its broadcast, earning 22 Emmys and a Golden Globe Award, and became a 2010s pop culture icon.
2
‘The Big Bang Theory’ (2007–2019)
A sitcom that inspired an entire generation, Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady’s The Big Bang Theory is a fun and energetic sitcom about physicists Leonard and Sheldon, their neighbor and aspiring actress Penny, and their friends and coworkers, engineer Howard and astrophysicist Rajesh. As they navigate daily life, careers, and romance in Pasadena, California, their social ineptness and awkward attitudes often lead them to ridiculous situations with hilarious outcomes. The lead characters played by Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Kunal Nayyar, and Simon Helberg have since become pop culture touchstones, and the later seasons also star Mayim Bialik, Melissa Rauch, and Kevin Sussman in main cast roles.
Driven by its terrific performances and pitch-perfect delivery, The Big Bang Theory helped revive geek culture and bring it to mainstream television with its quirky spin on nerd-energy. The show draws its humor from the idiosyncrasies of its characters and evolved into a mature comedy about friendships over the course of its 12-season run. The Big Bang Theory is not only one of the most popular and successful shows of its time, but a landmark of comedy television that has since spawned three spin-off sequels.
1
‘Veep’ (2012–2019)
Armando Iannucci’s adaptation of the British political satire sitcom The Thick of It, Veep is a legendary HBO comedy centered on Selina Meyer, the eccentric Vice President of the United States. The show follows Selina and her dysfunctional staff as they struggle with their professional and personal lives while attempting to make their mark with nonsensical politics and interpersonal squabbles. Julia Louis-Dreyfus delivers a one-of-a-kind central performance as the fictional VPOTUS, with Anna Chlumsky, Tony Hale, Reid Scott, Timothy Simons, Matt Walsh, Kevin Dunn, Sufe Bradshaw, and Gary Cole as other key characters.
With its razor-sharp banter and ruthless political satire, Veep sits at the pinnacle of political comedies of the 21st century. The show draws all its humor from exposing the petty egos and absurdity behind high-stakes Washington politics that is often closer to reality than what many political dramas have achieved. A riotously inventive take on American bureaucracy and politics, Veep is not only a fantastically written and performed sitcom but a show that remains uncannily prescient nearly a decade after its finale.
