The list of the world’s most successful television shows is a long, winding road that begins in the dirt and ends with an awards ceremony in New York. It’s not always easy to guess who will win or what will be remembered about a particular season. But as we approach the end of one of the most successful seasons in history, it’s time to examine some of the funniest television shows that have ever been created. Read on for our list of the funniest TV shows of all time, and see if you can find your way into one of them this season.
American Dad!
American Dad! probably has the most laugh-inducing opening credits in television history. The first season of the series, which starred Will Ferrell as a father with a loving but eccentric child, saw Ferrell take on the role of a character that is almost entirely made up of dialogue. This opening sequence was perhaps the most memorable opening sequence in television history, and it’s still brilliant today. American Dad! is also one of the most recognizable shows in America and is still shining a light on aspects of the contemporary humor scene.
The Office
The first of our funniest TV shows, The Office is perhaps most recognized for its parodies and lampooning of other television shows. However, that doesn’t mean that The Office isn’t still a classic in its own right. It’s one of the most laughs-inducing shows of all time, and it’s probably one of the most recognizable shows in the world today. The Office even has its own popular line of underwear (the underwear line was first called the “Office shirt”), which you can probably see practically everywhere these days.
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is one of the most iconic and successful television series of all time. Created by Mattel’s very own Bill Oakmiller and with a cast that included eventualxes Homer, Marge, and Lisa, the show is a throwback to the more traditional soap opera format. Despite being a successful series, The Simpsons never fully achieved the popularity that it received thanks to the popularity of its contemporaries. However, the show still managed to retain its charm and charm entirely thanks to its off-kilter, off-date humor. The Simpsons is still turning heads in its 20s and 30s thanks to its off-kilter, off-date humor, and it’s one of the most recognizable shows in the world today.
The Rumpelstiltskin Story
In his book The Art of Landing, Michael Korson discusses his time working as a voice actor for various American television shows between 1976 and 1979. One of his credits is the episode “The Rumpelstiltskin Show” from the first season of The Office. Korson worked on The Office for three seasons, and he credits the show’s tenacious main character Rumpelstiltskin with inspiring his interest in magic. Korson has said that he’s “always been interested in magic, and I guess when I got the call to voice him in The Office, it triggered something in me that said, ‘Why not do what I want to do?’ ”
MAD TV
Like The Office, MAD TV also saw the return of Willingham as the show’s main character, and it also featured a much-discussed appearance by fellow Big Brother alum John Mayer. However, the MAD TV special was different, as it was also the first to air in a brand-new setting, on a network that had never produced a MAD show before. The special also featured appearances from fellow Big Brother alumni Alana Kep and Will Young, as well as host Jay Leno, who guest-hosted the show for part of the season.
Friends
Despite being packed with big name guests like Will Ferrell, David Spade, and The Golden Girls’ Minka Dinkin, Friends was always a family show, and its core cast continued to perform throughout its run. The show also featured some of the most popular characters of all time, including Bill and Azealia Banks’s Menna and George Takei’s Dr. Akio. The special that brought the cast together for the first time in five years was called Friends Live, and it saw the return of all but two of the series’ original cast members.
The Man Show
The Man Show was the first of several sitcoms that featured recurring subjects that were almost entirely made up of dialogue. The Man Show was created by Merv Griffin and would go on to win two Emmys for outstanding Comedy or Seamish TV, and it still continues to be a very popular series. The Man Show has been broadcast through several network affiliates since its initial broadcast in 1980, and it’s still drawing laughs today.
How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother is perhaps most famous for its recurring characters, which included Will Smith as the show’s lead, Amy Poehler as his best friend Joy, and Bill Hader as their computer. The series was produced by Will Packer, who also created and created the hit series Modern Family and served as the show’s executive producer for many years. Like many of the show’s competitors, How I Met Your Mother was a straight-faced, fun-loving show that often parodied or lampooned contemporary media.