The 50 Best TV Comedies Ever

Shows about nothing, shows with characters so outrageous they're almost (and sometimes literally) cartoons, shows about families and shows about friends -- they're all in our countdown of the 50 greatest TV comedies of all time. Click through and see if you agree with our list of what tickles the funny bone. --By Kimberly Potts

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50. 'Everybody Loves Raymond'
(1996-2005)

Everybody loves put-upon Ray, who tries to please wife Debra, nosy 'rents Marie and Frank and jealous bro Robert. The Barones didn't always have happy days, but their dysfunctional family was one of the most realistic.

49. 'Newhart'
(1982-1990)

Author Dick (Bob Newhart) and wife Joanna left city life behind when they bought Vermont's Stratford Inn, but their new bucolic setting was hardly boring, thanks to a lineup of small-town loonies, including daffy caretaker George and hillbilly handyman Larry, his brother Darryl and his other brother Darryl.

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48. 'Night Court'
(1984-1992)

'Night Court' was ruled by Judge Harry Stone (Harry Anderson), a magician who was as charming as he was goofy. And that made him the perfect foil for hookers and other hard-luck cases who passed through his court, not to mention womanizer D.A. Dan (John Larroquette).

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47. 'Family Guy'
(1999-present)

The naughty and pop culture-obsessed 'Family Guy' is loaded with some of TV's best characters: offensive patriarch Peter, Brian the sauced dog and Peter Lorre-sound-a-like baby Stewie, whose botched matricidal missions are second in hilarity only to his perpetually thwarted plots for world domination.

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46. 'The Jeffersons'
(1975-1985)

Though Archie Bunker never moved on up to a dee-luxe apartment in the sky, George Jefferson was, in every other way, the black Bunker -- from his bigoted philosophies and sweet, sympathetic wife Weezie to his rebellious child and his ownership of the liquor-laden hangout Charlie's Bar, with his frienemy Willis.

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45. 'Hogan's Heroes'
(1965-1971)

You have to respect a sitcom that managed to wring laughs from a Nazi POW camp setting. Even more impressive: It was a one-note joke that kept viewers tuning in. What new ways would Col. Hogan and his clever crew find to trick bumbling Col. Klink and Schultz into giving up classified info to enemies?

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44. 'Laverne & Shirley'
(1976-1983)

Not since Lucy and Ethel wreaked havoc on the chocolate factory had two female buddies sparked so many chuckles. Lenny and Squiggy provided their share of wackiness, but the heart of the show was the bottle-cappin' roomies' friendship and pursuit of love, happiness and milk 'n' Pepsi.

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43. 'The Golden Girls'
(1985-1992)

Sex and the city? Before Carrie and pals were heating up NYC, Dorothy, Blanche, Rose and Sophia were painting the town red in Miami. Sure, viewers normally don't want to think about their grannies getting their freak on, but the charm of these golden gals was that they didn't act their ages.

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42. 'Malcolm in the Middle'
(2000-2006)

High-IQ Malcolm often made snarky asides to viewers about his wacky family's antics. But the middle-class family was more normal than they or their neighbors though. And Malcolm, despite feeling isolated, was a true Wilkinson at heart.

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