Sitcoms have been a staple on television since the dawn of TV in the 1950s. For decades, the genre has made audiences laugh with zany characters who find themselves in the oddest of situations, but recently, sitcoms have also started to make audiences fall in love with characters in new ways. This is largely because the genre has expanded beyond its routes to create characters with heartwarming emotional arcs.
Love stories have become an important part of sitcoms in recent years, with goofy, underdog male characters often coming out on top as the ideal boyfriend. From enemies to lovers to childhood friends to lovers, sitcoms are full of rom-com tropes that don't feel cheesy because the love interests sell it so well.
Ben Wyatt - Parks And Recreation
Ben Wyatt (Adam Scott) might not be the ideal boyfriend in the real world, but he became one in Parks and Recreation. He was introduced to the show in the season 2 finale and was set to be a major antagonist for Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler).
While Ben may have started out as a thorn in Leslie's side, the two quickly put their differences aside and realized they're a lot more alike than they thought. Ben is a fantastic boyfriend because he s Leslie no matter what. He also always knows how to make her laugh and knows her better than anyone.
Chidi Anagonye - The Good Place
Chidi Anagonye (William Jackson Harper) is one of the main characters in Michael Schur's best original sitcoms. He's immediately "assigned" to be Eleanor's (Kristin Bell) soulmate, which is a bit of a headache for him. However, as the two get to know each other and uncover the truths of the world they're in, they start to fall for each other ... again and again,
Though he's a bit of an indecisive character, it's clear that he's all in when it comes to his relationship with Eleanor. They both each other and make each other better people, which is exactly what a good boyfriend should do.
Cory Matthews - Boy Meets World
Cory Matthews (Ben Savage) set the bar for boyfriends extremely high in the '90s when he won over the hearts of millions in Boy Meets World. As the main character, fans watched Cory go from an awkward middle schooler to a charming college-aged adult, all the while watching him fall more in love with Topanga (Danielle Fishel).
It's a classic best friends to lovers TV story, which is why Cory and Topanga's love story is so iconic. Though Cory made mistakes, he constantly put his heart on the line for Topanga and even stood up to his parents when they disagreed with them getting married so young. He always ed the little things and was always there to pick her up when she needed it.
Geoff Schwartz - The Goldbergs
The Goldbergs might not be the most iconic family sitcom, but it's surely one of the greatest ones to premiere in the 2010s. It has also given viewers Geoff Schwartz (Sam Lerner), one of the most underrated sitcom boyfriends of all time. Though Geoff starts out as Barry's (Troy Gentile) nerdy best friend who has a crush on Erica (Hayley Orrantia), he has grown into a heartfelt and romantic young man who is now Erica's husband.
One of the reasons Geoff is so great is that he never pressured Erica into having a relationship with him and instead harbored his crush in a non-stalker-y way. He's the type of boyfriend who's not afraid to organize a cheesy romantic gesture, which he's done countless times. And though he hates confrontation, he's willing to fight anyone who makes Erica unhappy.
Jake Peralta - Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg) may not seem like the ideal boyfriend, but several seasons of Brooklyn Nine-Nine definitely turned him into one. From the very first episode, it's clear that Jake has a crush on Amy (Melissa Fumero). They're not even together, but Jake stops at nothing to make her laugh, which should have been proof that he was going to be an amazing boyfriend.
Their relationship nearly ends before it had time to begin due to the fact that they're co-workers. Instead of that being a problem, Jake puts his career on the line because that's how serious he is about Amy. His dedication to her never wavers and he ends up being the ive and hilarious boyfriend Amy needs.
Jim Halpert - The Office
When it comes to iconic workplace sitcom boyfriends, Jim Halpert (John Krasinski) has become the blueprint for this millennium. While it's clear from the very first episode of The Office that Jim has a crush on Pam (Jenna Fischer), he never crosses the line since she's in a relationship. Instead of outright flirting, Jim spends his time trying to make Pam laugh during their boring workdays.
Jim never once makes Pam feel bad about her choices, and even separates himself from her to not make things more complicated than they should be. Thankfully, these two find their way back to each other. Though they only date for a brief period, watching Jim in "boyfriend" mode is swoon-worthy time and time again.
Jonah Simms - Superstore
Jonah Simms (Ben Feldman) may be the new employee at Cloud 9, but he wastes no time getting acclimated with his fellow co-workers. Though a bit insufferable at times, Jonah makes up for it with his charming looks and his massive heart.
While it's clear Jonah has a crush on Amy (America Ferrera), he spends much of the earlier seasons of fans some of Superstore's best moments. From constantly making her laugh to being by her side during her pregnancy, Jonah definitely raised the standards of what being a good boyfriend looks like.
Patrick Brewer - Schitt's Creek
Patrick Brewer (Noah Reid) was introduced to Schitt's Creek's third season as an employee of the town's business licensing offices. It's there that he meets David (Dan Levy) and agrees to help him open up the apothecary. Patrick isn't just new to town, but he's also new to exploring his sexuality, which provides a unique set of obstacles for his relationship with David.
As Patrick begins to understand that he's falling in love with David, he pulls out all the cheesy romantic gestures, from anniversary gifts to romantic serenades. While Patrick is definitely a hopeless romantic, it's his unwavering and ability to be completely truthful with David that makes him such a great boyfriend.
Roy Kent - Ted Lasso
best comedy shows of 2020. Beyond that, it's also given audiences the best grumpy boyfriend ever: Roy Kent (Brett Goldstein).
Roy may start as a grumpy and brash character, but it's through his evolving relationship with Keeley (Juno Temple) that fans see a softer side of him. Roy is quick to point out Keeley deserves better in her current relationship and he steps up to the plate when she expresses an interest in him. Despite his own career turmoil, he's constantly cheering her on as she starts her own empire.
Steve Hale - Full House
Steve Hale (Scott Weiner) was yet another TV boyfriend who set the standards too high. He ed the cast of Full House in season 6 as DJ's boyfriend whom she met while on a summer study program in Spain.
While there's no denying how much Steve loves and cares for DJ, it is his attentiveness to her loved ones that help him be a great boyfriend. Instead of pulling DJ away from her family, he often finds himself hanging out with them to show just how much he cares about her. Even when they break up, Steve manages to show he still cares by showing up to take DJ to her senior prom.