The Classic Sitcoms you need to enjoy for the first, or 20th time this winter.
In this fall and winter season, a good sitcom, a warm blanket and a cup of your favorite hot drink is just what you need. Here’s a list of sitcoms, past and current, that you can fill your room with.
“Friends” (1994)
“Friends” is a fairly well known sitcom. But if you haven’t seen it, it’s a story of six friends who live near each other, going through all of the ups and downs of life together. Through it all, they discover what true friendship and love is and continuously always have each other’s backs.
This is a great sitcom because of the witty banter and the fact that the show follows them growing up. Seeing that even in sitcoms people go through issues, it makes it more relatable and shows adulting is not always like a fairytale.
Through a storyline of comedy and moments that address real life issues, it shows having a good set of friends can make any moment in life worthwhile.
This show streams on MAX and Hulu
“One Day At A Time” (2017)
This Netflix sitcom follows the family dynamic of a Cuban-American household: a recently divorced veteran and nurse, her rather traditional mother, her children who are head strong and her loyal building manager battle.
This show navigates topics of real world issues, family dynamics and raising kids who speak their minds and stand by what they believe in.
It’s worth a watch because the show’s episodic, showing that with every episode there’s a new situation to deal with. This teaches us with every circumstance, we need to take everything one day at a time and rely on those around us.
“Big Bang Theory” (2007)
This sitcom follows a friend group of scientists and physicists through their lives working at CalTech. While they may be brilliant in their field of expertise, their knowledge falls short when it comes to real life situations, social events and romance.
The show follows how they navigate quantum physics and other big science terms, but also how they come to realize there’s more to life than just science.
Growing up with this show and watching it with my family, it didn’t give advice on growing up but rather it was more of a comedic relief to life. It was always a reliable show to just sit and be with my family.
This show airs on HBO MAX and Hulu
Photo by Ben Griffiths via Unsplash
“Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (2013)
While the first four seasons are on Netflix, the other four can be found on Peacock. This sitcom is about a police force in Brooklyn, New York. The city runs carefree, till a new Captain comes in with high expectations.
This isn’t just some precinct with high arrest records, smart and comedic detectives, —the job to them isn’t the only thing that matters. They have become a found family, supporting each other through victories and helping each other when things go rogue.
This is a great show to watch when you just need to turn off your mind. It’s such an easy show to follow when you just need entertainment or some tugs on your heartstrings.
“New Girl” (2011)
A girl moves into an apartment with three guys after a relationship goes wrong. At first things are tense, I mean it’s a girl who walks on rainbows and moves in with men who have their own way of living.
The show encompasses how the most random of people can form the strongest of bonds and become a family. They come from all walks of life but somehow they are just what each other needs.
I love this show because it shows real brotherhood between guy friends, but also it shows how love can blossom from friendship.
You can stream “New Girl,” now on Netflix.
“That 70’s Show” (1998)
This show follows a friend group coming up on adulthood in the 1970s. While trying to prove they are independent and have everything planned out, they only show they have a lot left to learn.
They learn what it means to be young, in love and true friends.
I like this show because it depicts teens who are really eager to grow up and to know everything. Through the show, there are issues that slow them down and teach them to take life by the moments.
You can watch this on Peacock.
“Abbott Elementary” (2021)
This is a mockumentary style show, filming the lives of school teachers in Philadelphia. The school district has set them up for failure, but with their dedication, they’re putting in the work to change students’ lives. They do what they can for their students.
Despite being under-funded and under-believed-in, they rise to the occasion to be the best teachers they can be.
As a child of two teachers, seeing this show depict how dedicated teachers are to their students, hits super close to home for me.
Stream on Hulu.
“Community“ (2009)
When a disbarred lawyer has to go to community college to get a shot at becoming a lawyer again, he joins a Spanish study group for his class. What used to be just a study group turns into a bond of unbreakable friendships.
While this seems like a normal sitcom, it unravels to be full of twists and turns of outlandish storylines.
I haven’t watched this show all the way through but I have seen a few episodes here and there. The strangeness of this show and the out of pocket comments make me want to watch it in its entirety.
Watch this show on Peacock.
“Modern Family” (2009)
Also a documentary style sitcom, but this one shows how unconventional family dynamics can be. It features three households that make up one family. Each is very diverse in how they work, but is universal in that it explores all of the pivotal moments of growing up.
Even though it does seem to be unconventional, it shows how important family is to each other despite what it looks like. A family has love interwoven, no matter if it looks different than someone else’s family.
I love this show because it shows there’s no exact formula to what family is. As long as there’s love and kindness, it’s family
Streaming on Hulu
“Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” (1990)
If you know the theme song, then you know what the show is about. If you don’t, it’s about a teenager who grows up in West Philadelphia, but his mother sends him to live with his Aunt and Uncle in Bel Air after he gets caught up in a fight.
The free spirited teen has fun living a new lifestyle at the expense of his wealthy family, he starts to live extravagantly while also navigating what life has to offer.
I have seen this show on tv when I was younger. I liked it because it was a show to watch after school.
You can watch this classic sitcom on Hulu