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Everyone loves a good sitcom. Whether it’s to seek out relatable characters, find your favorite ships, or if you simply want a nice, big, laugh — there’s a sitcom out there for everyone. Humor may be subjective, but the timeless nature of some of our top shows tells us that you can’t dispute the comedy gold of a superior sitcom.
According to Rotten Tomatoes, there is a lot of good comedy shows to enjoy, but not as many sitcoms. Fortunately for you, we’ve narrowed down this list to our top ten sitcoms of the 2010s. Whether the show began in the 2010s or continued into it, you’re in for a viewing treat.
'How I Met Your Mother' (2005-2014)
Created by Craig Thomas and Carter Bays for CBS, How I Met Your Mother is a treat for viewers, with its cult following and controversial ending guaranteeing one thing, and one thing only — a damn good time.
The show follows protagonist Ted Mosby (Josh Radnor), and flashbacks to his love life as he tells his kids about, well, how he met their mother, giving both them and the viewer rich life lessons along the way. Known for its unique structure, laugh-out-loud moments, and vast running gags, HIMYM will have you ready to suit up in the name of Barney Stinson.
'Modern Family' (2009-2020)
Running for 11 seasons, Modern Family blends sitcom and mockumentary to tell the story of three diverse families living in Los Angeles, linked together by patriarch Jay Pritchett (Ed O’Neil). Employing a mockumentary style, the show manages to make you feel warm and fuzzy one minute and burst out into laughter the next.
The antics of Jay, his children Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and Claire (Julie Bowen), and the rest of the Pritchett-Dunphy-Tucker clan are enough to draw you in for hours. From Phil’s-osophy to Cam’s (Eric Stonestreet) life on the farm, to Jay’s unconditional love for Stella (no, not his wife) — the show has something for everyone.
'It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia' (2004-)
The only show on this list that is still running, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’s status as the longest-running American live-action comedy series is reflective of its comedy gold. Following the antics of The Gang, a group of five misfit friends runs Paddy’s Pub, an unpopular Irish-style bar in South Philadelphia.
The show is notorious for its wild antics, with excessive drinking, substance use, elaborate scheming, and conspiring against one another. Lucky for us, the fictional series proves incredibly entertaining, under the guise of an incredibly underperforming pub.
'Community' (2009-2015)
Enter Greendale Community College, a fictional college in the fictional town of Greendale, and an ensemble cast consisting of Alison Brie, Donald Glover, Ken Jeong, and Chevy Chase — and you have yourselves Community. The show follows the study group that is formed in Season 1 by Jeff (Joel McHale) and all the antics that soon follow.
The premise of the show allows for super interesting characters with amazing dynamics between all members of the group. This, combined with the rich pop culture references scattered throughout the show, and the godforsaken paintball episodes, make Community a sitcom for the ages.
'The Good Place' (2016-2020)
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"This is the bad place!" — The plot twist of a lifetime as Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell), the protagonist of The Good Place, spoke the words in the Season 1 finale that would then shape the remainder of the show. A show notorious for its twists and turns, hilarious characterization, and unique concept, The Good Place is indeed a good place for sitcom galore.
Anyone is capable of being a better person, and the show teaches us just that. Using farfetched ideas and relatable traits, The Good Place shows us just how life continues after death, and change is never impossible.
'Arrested Development' (2003-2019)
The show is unofficially known for reshaping sitcoms as a genre, Arrested Development had a sporadic run at the time (with only five seasons released in its 16-year run), but has since garnered a cult following with viewers appreciating the true comedy that makes up the show.
With the original conception by Ron Howard, the idea came about to create a comedy series in the style of handheld cameras and reality television, based on a ‘riches to rags’ family. Its influence is seen everywhere, from Schitt’s Creek to Community, further propelling the incredible success of the show.
'Parks and Recreation' (2009-2015)
When you combine a hole in the ground, a broken leg, and a woman who lives and breathes parks, you have the premise for Parks and Recreation. The show follows Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler), the Deputy Director of the Parks and Recreation Department in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana.
With a star-studded cast including Chris Pratt, Aubrey Plaza, and Nick Offerman, the show is a cult classic in terms of classic sitcom mockumentary gold. If you’re looking for absurdism set in the mundane world of working in local government, this is the show for you.
30 Rock (2006-2013)
Based on Tina Fey’s real experience as head writer for Saturday Night Live, 30 Rock takes place behind the scenes of a fictional live sketch comedy airing on NBC, with its ensemble cast carrying on to have extremely successful careers to this day.
The show was influential with the use of cutaways, shaping several future sitcoms with its sudden short cuts to unrelated scenes, and its commitment to building elaborate sets with only short scenes taking place. 30 Rock uses a combination of surreal humor and parody to comment on the complex corporate structure of NBC, which is a treat for television industry buffs.
'Veep' (2012-2019)
A political satire comedy that blurs the lines between politics and sitcom, Veep follows Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), a fictional Vice President of the United States, attempting to make her mark and leave a legacy. Instead, she and her team continuously find themselves wrapped up in political mind-games.
With a mix of Meyer’s political life and personal life, the show is an excellent satire of the contemporary U.S. government and all of its inner workings, taking an intelligent, comedic approach to its current modern-day state.
The Office (U.S.) (2005-2013)
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Topping our list is the cult sitcom of all cult sitcoms. Based on the U.K. show of the same name, The Office possesses a pop culture influence like no other, combining mockumentary and the mundane with utterly hilarious sequences — all it takes is one watch of the fire drill scene to understand why.
The misadventures depicted on The Office are the pinnacle of sitcom comedy, taking elements popular sitcom elements such as cold opens, parody, mockumentary interviews, and more, and turning them into comedy gold.