What is the most popular sitcom?
There is no single answer, but Friends, Seinfeld, The Office and The Big Bang Theory are among the most popular sitcoms ever, based on ratings, streaming and fan polls.
Friends, which aired from 1994 to 2004, is often named the most popular sitcom of all time. Its final episode drew about 52 million US viewers, and it remains one of the most-streamed shows decades later. Seinfeld, which ran from 1989 to 1998, is frequently ranked as the greatest sitcom by critics.
The Big Bang Theory, running from 2007 to 2019, was the most-watched comedy on US television for much of its run. The Office, especially its American version, became hugely popular again on streaming services, where it was one of the most-watched shows of the late 2010s and early 2020s.
Record audiences
The most-watched sitcom episode in US history is the final episode of M*A*S*H in 1983, seen by about 106 million viewers. Cheers, Everybody Loves Raymond and Modern Family also drew huge audiences and won many Emmy Awards.
Did You Know?
Friends was originally going to be called Insomnia Cafe, then Friends Like Us, before producers chose the simpler title.