Sometimes, the right lighthearted comedy TV show. After all, you don't always need overly dramatic stories, dangerous situations, and thrilling cliffhangers to have a great TV series. All you need in order to make a timeless classic is some lovable characters and some good laughs.
Whether you feel like The Golden Girls or taking a ride to Schitt's Creek, these shows are always perfect for lifting your spirits. While they may not always receive the critical acclaim that more dramatic shows get, a lighthearted comedy is sometimes just what the doctor ordered. Because of this, it is important to have a bunch of these nice, warm TV shows as options whenever they are needed. When the time finally comes to put your feet up and relax, it is always reassuring to know that you can heal your soul with a beloved comedy.
10 Schitt's Creek (2015-2020)
A Six-Season, Heartwarming Canadian Comedy
Schitt's Creek is a sitcom series created by and starring Dan and Eugene Levy. When the Rose family's business manager embezzles funds from their fortune, they discover that all of their money is gone except for one last piece of property - a small town called Schitt's Creek that they purchased for fun years ago. Now forced to acclimate to an average, borderline impoverished life, the Rose family will attempt to make due with what they have while trying to revitalize the town.
- Seasons
- 6
The Canadian sitcom Schitt's Creek, has become a hugely popular option for audiences looking for some great laughs and fun characters. The six-season series follows the daily lives of a four-person family who is forced to move to the humble town of Schitt's Creek after abruptly losing the extravagant wealth to which they had become accustomed.
This Emmy-winning series was created by the father/son duo of Eugene and Dan Levy, with the pair also starring alongside Catherine O'Hara and Annie Murphy. While each episode of Schitt's Creek contains its own hilarious situations for all the main characters, the series as a whole does maintain a consistent over-arching narrative, something that is not guaranteed for all sitcoms.
Over the course of six seasons, viewers get to watch all the characters grow, becoming more humble, wise, and kind, thanks to their interactions with the friendly residents of the small town. Being able to observe the genuine growth of these lovable characters is certain to warm the hearts of any audience.
9 Ted Lasso (2020-Present)
The Importance Of Always Believing
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Ted Lasso
- Release Date
- August 14, 2020
- Showrunner
- Bill Lawrence
- Writers
- Brendan Hunt, Joe Kelly, Bill Lawrence
Cast
Ted Lasso
Rebecca Welton
WHERE TO WATCH
Ted Lasso is an American football coach who moves to England, hired to manage a struggling soccer team, despite having no experience. With cynical players and a doubtful town, Ted will have to convince them that he's fit for the job.
- Seasons
- 3
In of characters who are good for the soul, there is perhaps no better leading man than the titular character on Ted Lasso. Played by Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso is a lovably optimistic college football coach whose life is turned upside down when he is unexpectedly hired to coach an English Premiere League soccer team, unaware that his hiring was a move intended by the new owner to deliberately tank the team.
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Ted Lasso is one of the most wholesome shows on TV, and includes several fantastic episodes that help it achieve this much-wanted status.
The critically acclaimed series currently has three seasons in the books, each packed with complex characters and inspiring stories. Ted Lasso promises to win over the audiences with the endless charm of its leading man, just as Ted manages to win over all the other characters in the series.
The Emmy-winning performance by Sudeikis gives viewers the feeling that they are not simply watching a TV show, but interacting with an old friend.
His warmth and optimism are relentlessly infectious, making it impossible for the audience to root against him. The Emmy-winning performance by Sudeikis gives viewers the feeling that they are not simply watching a TV show, but interacting with an old friend. With a ing cast of charming characters backing up the lovable lead, Ted Lasso is sure to raise viewers' spirits, and encourage them to believe.
8 The Golden Girls (1985-1992)
Thank You For Being A Friend
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The Golden Girls
- Release Date
- 1985 - 1992-00-00
- Network
- NBC
- Showrunner
- Susan Harris
Cast
Betty White
WHERE TO WATCH
The Golden Girls follows Dorothy Zbornak (Bea Arthur), Rose Nylund (Betty White), Blanche Devereaux (Rue McClanahan), and Sophia Petrillo (Estelle Getty) as they live together in Miami. Throughout its seven seasons, the beloved series created by Susan Harris won 11 Primetime Emmys and continues to be one of the most beloved sitcoms of the ‘80s and ‘90s.
- Directors
- Susan Harris
- Writers
- Susan Harris
- Seasons
- 7
With a run of 180 episodes, it's no secret that The Golden Girls has been a popular comfort show for years. The Emmy-winning series explores the daily shenanigans of four elderly women living together in Miami. The main characters are played by the beloved quartet of Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty.
With a parade of guests appearing over the course of the series (including children, love interests, and other friends), The Golden Girls always strives to surprise and delight its audiences. While the main characters of the series may all fall within the same demographic, the show does attract a broad audience, and has continued to do so for years.
The charming blend of silly scenarios, lovable characters, and tender moments makes The Golden Girls a great option to warm one's heart. The show also serves as a lasting reminder that growing older does not by any means indicate that life will stop being fun. Dorothy, Rose, Blanche, and Sophia prove that, if anything, the fun is just getting started.
7 Boy Meets World (1993-2000)
A Charming, Entertaining Coming-Of-Age Show
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Boy Meets World
- Release Date
- 1993 - 2000-00-00
- Network
- ABC
- Showrunner
- Michael Jacobs
Cast
Ben Savage-
William Daniels
WHERE TO WATCH
In this coming-of-age sitcom, Cory Matthews navigates middle and eventually high school, exploring his relationships with his friends and family and learning life lessons along the way.
- Directors
- Michael Jacobs
- Writers
- Michael Jacobs
- Seasons
- 7
For seven seasons, viewers of Boy Meets World tuned in to watch Cory, Topanga, and the rest of their friends grow from immature (but nevertheless lovable) sixth-graders all the way into capable, wiser college students. The show was a hit on ABC for several years, with audiences loving to see what kind of mischief the characters would get into each week.
Every episode primarily focused on a different lesson to be learned as one grows older, following Cory as he gets himself into new kinds of trouble, but never failing to learn a valuable truth about life in the process. Boy Meets World has no shortage of reasons for being great for the soul.
For one, the magic of being able to watch the same cast of characters grow and change together is heartwarming in a way that cannot be understated. Viewers are made to feel welcomed into Cory's family, knowing that everyone is always appreciated, quirks and all. Additionally, the audience is often encouraged to learn alongside Cory and his friends, with the show touching on subjects that extend far beyond the walls of John Quincy Adams Middle School, making the viewing experience as enlightening as it is entertaining.
6 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996-2001)
One Of The Most Creative Concepts For A Sitcom
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3rd Rock From the Sun is a sitcom about a group of extraterrestrials on an undercover mission to study human behavior on Earth. Posing as a human family, the Solomons grapple with the complexities of human life, led by their high commander Dick Solomon, played by John Lithgow. The series explores their comedic adventures and misunderstandings as they attempt to navigate and comprehend the intricacies of human society.
- Seasons
- 6
- Creator(s)
- Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner
3rd Rock from the Sun certainly presents one of the more creative concepts for a sitcom, but it never fails to make the most of it. The six-season series follows the comedic exploits of a group of aliens tasked with posing as a normal, human family on Earth. The four main characters never fail to get caught in tricky situations as they struggle to understand how humans act.
The series won a ton of Emmys over the course of its run from the '90s to the early 2000s, particularly for the performances by John Lithgow and Kristen Johnston. 3rd Rock from the Sun surprised audiences by turning a crew of aliens into one of the most relatable families on television.
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Though maybe not for the same reasons as the show's characters, viewers can easily sympathize with the ways they struggle to fit in, and how their goal is simply to be accepted by others. Of course, these struggles are demonstrated in hilarious ways, with the family often failing to be fully convincing as people of Earth. 3rd Rock from the Sun never fails to remind viewers of what makes them human, making the show a consistently fulfilling watch.
5 Jury Duty (2023)
A Courtroom Comedy Like No Other
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Jury Duty
- Release Date
- 2023 - 2023-00-00
- Showrunner
- Cody Heller
- Directors
- Jake Szymanski
Cast
-
Ronald Gladden
-
Ishmel Sahid
-
Edy Modica
WHERE TO WATCH
Jury Duty is a comedy/documentary series created for Amazon Freevee that explores the inner workings of the American Judicial system - with a twist. The show follows a unique format where a fake court case is created, with the entire experience controlled from inside and outside of the courtroom, and everyone is in on it except for a single juror. The show explores the fictional case through the perspective of the singular outlying juror.
- Seasons
- 1
- Main Genre
- Comedy
In 2023, Amazon released the single-season sitcom, Jury Duty, a TV program far different from any other previous courtroom show. What makes Jury Duty so unique is the fact that the main character, Ronald Gladden, has no idea he is on TV. To Ronald, he is merely fulfilling his civic duty of participating on a jury for which he was selected.
Jury Duty is great for the soul because it proves to the audience that there are, in fact, good people left in the world.
In reality, the entire chaotic, weeks-long courtroom process is actually a carefully designed ruse, with every other person involved (the other jurors, the judge, the witnesses, etc.) being an actor. Jury Duty is great for the soul because it proves to the audience that there are, in fact, good people left in the world.
Throughout the series, the creators constantly throw bizarre predicaments and uncomfortable situations at Ronald, but he consistently makes the right decisions, acting selflessly and with genuine kindness towards those around him. The fact that Ronald is unaware he is being filmed makes his actions all the more heartwarming. Jury Duty is an outside-the-box show that is bound to restore some faith in humanity.
4 Parks and Recreation (2009-2015)
A Suitable Follow-Up To The Office
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Parks and Recreation
- Release Date
- 2009 - 2015-00-00
- Network
- NBC
- Showrunner
- Michael Schur
WHERE TO WATCH
This political sitcom full of humor and heart follows the adventures of Leslie Knope, deputy director of the Parks Department in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana. Every week holds a new crisis of small-town politics, but Leslie and her friends work tirelessly to make Pawnee — and the world — a better place.
- Directors
- Michael Schur
- Writers
- Nick Offerman
- Seasons
- 7
The mockumentary, Parks and Recreation, is a lighthearted mainstream comedy that has been making audiences laugh since its debut in 2009. Set in the fictional small town of Pawnee, Indiana, the series follows the work and lives of the oddball group of employees of the Pawnee Parks and Recreation Department.
The series features a stellar cast of unique characters, including the ever-optimistic Leslie Knope (played by Amy Poehler) and the anti-government department director, Ron Swanson (played by Nick Offerman). Though full of hilarious situations, Parks and Recreation is, at its core, a show about a group of people working together to make their town a better place.
Though all the characters are wildly different, their shared connection and unwavering friendship is ceaselessly endearing to watch. Spearheaded by its delightful cast, Parks and Recreation offers viewers an entertaining inside look at a tiny chapter of the U.S. government, without ever coming off as overly cynical.
3 Cheers (1982-1993)
Where Everybody Knows Your Name
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Cheers
- Release Date
- 1982 - 1993-00-00
- Network
- NBC
- Showrunner
- James Burrows, Glen Charles, Les Charles, Ken Estin, Sam Simon, David Angell, Peter Casey, David Lee, Bill Steinkellner, Cheri Steinkellner, Phoef Sutton, Tom Anderson, Dan O'Shannon
Cast
Uncredited
Shelley LongRebecca Howe
WHERE TO WATCH
One of the most well-known American sitcoms of the 1980s and 90s, Cheers is primarily set in Boston at the Cheers bar, and features and ensemble cast that includes Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Rhea Pearlman, Kelsey Grammer, and George Wendt. Danson's Sam Malone acts as the bar's proprietor, and episodes depict the lives of Cheers' staff and patrons during the bar's operating hours. The series ran for 11 seasons and gave rise to popular spin-off shows such as Frasier.
- Directors
- James Burrows, Andy Ackerman
- Writers
- James Burrows, Glen Charles, Les Charles
- Seasons
- 11
Among the most widely recognized sitcoms of all time, Cheers ran for eleven seasons, during which it accumulated 28 Emmy wins out of its record-setting 117 nominations. The series is set in the titular Boston bar, where the main characters gather to work, drink, or simply time with their friends.
Aside from the shenanigans of the other bar patrons, much of the earlier seasons of the series is driven forward by the captivating will-they-won't-they relationship between main characters Sam (played by Ted Danson) and Diane (played by Shelley Long). With every episode being opened by its iconic theme song, Cheers is a show that welcomes viewers in, making them feel right at home among friends in the Boston bar.
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Cheers and its spin-off series Frasier have stood the test of time as two of the most beloved sitcoms of all time - but which was better?
While the show did experience several changes to the cast over its extended run, the comings-and-goings of characters never feel unnatural. Rather, it adds to the believability of the show, acknowledging that not everyone is going to be able to stay in the same place forever. Even with this reality, Cheers maintains a warm, lighthearted feel, celebrating the beauty of a place where everybody knows your name.
2 The Nanny (1993-1999)
Fran Drescher Created An Iconic Character
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Starring Fran Drescher in the lead role, The Nanny is a sitcom that appeared on CBS for six seasons in the 1990s. Created by Peter Marc Jacobson and Fran Drescher herself, the Comedy series sees a down-on-her-luck fashionista ending up as the nanny for a Broadway producer's three children.
- Seasons
- 6
When a posh Broadway producer agrees to hire a down-on-her-luck fashionista to be the new nanny for his three children, plenty of crazy situations are on the horizon. This is the setup of The Nanny, a CBS sitcom which ran for six seasons during the '90s. Starring Fran Drescher and Charles Shaughnessy, the series highlights how their contrasting lifestyles ultimately mesh to form a warm, nurturing environment for the three children, while also paving the way for a budding romance between the main characters.
While each episode is certainly packed with big laughs, the overarching story of The Nanny is what really gives it that warm, good-for-the-soul feeling. The timeless story of two highly different individuals coming together and forming a happy (albeit unconventional) family never fails to satisfy audiences. Like many long-running shows, The Nanny thrives on the way its characters grow and develop over time, with each one's unique personality helping to change each other for the better.
1 Everybody Loves Raymond (1996-2005)
A Look At The Daily Struggles Of Raising A Family
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Everybody Loves Raymond
- Release Date
- 1996 - 2005-00-00
- Network
- CBS
- Showrunner
- Phil Rosenthal
Cast
Ray Barone
Patricia HeatonDebra Barone
WHERE TO WATCH
Everybody Loves Raymond follows the dysfunctional Barone family, an Italian-American family living in Long Island, New York.
- Writers
- Ray Romano, Phil Rosenthal
- Seasons
- 9
Based on the comedy of Ray Romano, Everybody Loves Raymond is a sitcom about the daily struggles of raising a family - especially when more of the family lives right across the street. The critically acclaimed comedy follows the Barone family, which includes Ray and his wife Debra, and their three children, as well as Ray's parents and brother, who all live only a few feet away.
The viewers are bound to think of their own unusual relatives whenever watching the show, as many episodes were directly inspired by the creators' own experiences.
Each character has a strong, unique personality, guaranteeing that conflicts will arise quite frequently. Everybody Loves Raymond is an especially comforting program because of the believability of every character. The viewers are bound to think of their own unusual relatives whenever watching the show, as many episodes were directly inspired by the creators' own experiences.
The series touches on every part of raising a family, including the big moments, like weddings and birthdays, to the small ones, like arguing over what to have for dinner. Regardless of whatever conflict arises, it is always comforting to know that, at the end of the day, the characters are a family, and they love each other deeply.
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