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Summary
Warning : This article discusses unmanageable topics , including racism and domesticated vilification .
Although sitcomshave always prioritise humor , several core episodes still massively affect the writing style and the TV manufacture in meaningful ways . Some ofthe highest - rated TV episodeswere memorable not only because they were suspect , but also because they bravely addressed important societal issues . Others were notable because of when they aired in history or fascinating new production techniques that were implemented .
Some ofthe best sitcoms of all timehave include a groundbreaking episode that redefined the genre overall . Multiplegroundbreaking show changed how TV was watchedby breaking down the barriers of talk over difficult topics and advance other form of address to do the same . While sitcoms may have been create with a focal point on laughter and light-hearted storylines , over time , some episodes became legendary for how they changed the genre .
October on Netflix is pack with new video show and movies let in Lincoln Lawyer , and the Kung Fu Panda franchise .
10The Contest - Seinfeld
Season 4, Episode 11
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Cast
Seinfeld asterisk Jerry Seinfeld as a fend - up comedian whose life in New York City is made even more chaotic by his far-out mathematical group of friends who unite him in wrestling with aliveness ’s most perplexing yet often trivial question . Often described as " a show about nothing , " Seinfeld mines the humor in life ’s mundane situations like waiting in line , searching for a lost detail , or the trials and tribulations of dating . Co - star is Julia Louis - Dreyfus as Jerry ’s ex - lady friend and current platonic pal , Elaine Benes ; Jason Alexander as George Costanza , Jerry ’s neurotic hard - luck best admirer ; and Michael Richards as Jerry ’s flaky neighbour , Kramer .
TheSeinfeldepisode “ The Contest”revolved around an intense contest between Jerry , George , Elaine , and Kramer to see who could go the long without masturbating . At the prison term of airing , this was a extremely controversial subject matter . However , the manner the installment was executed setSeinfeldapart from other sitcom . Throughout the hilarious survival match , the word onanism did not feature once , and the characters used various euphemisms as a replacement , including phrases like “ Lord of the Manor ” and “ King of the Castle . ”
That sexuality was relevant at any old age
This was a brilliant way forSeinfeldto work around the tabu topic and certain spoken communication seize to it , which pave the manner for other situation comedy and TV demo to follow . The unmediated avoidance of acknowledging the right wording for the gang ’s ego - denial added an extra layer of humor to the episode , too , because of how obvious it was . It was also interesting to see such a storyline extend by part who were n’t a group of teen , which proved that sexuality was relevant at any long time .
9My Screw Up - Scrubs
Season 3, Episode 14
Scrubs is a Sitcom and Medical Comedy / Drama create by Bill Lawrence that follows a group of aesculapian bookman throughout their daily lives at the Sacred Heart Teaching Hospital . The serial star Zach Braff , Sarah Chalke , and Donald Faison , as they work their way up from Medical Interns while beguile all sorts of infirmary shenanigans .
While many sitcoms have an episode when over - the - top comedy is discarded for a unfathomed moment , no show did it as well asScrubs , with the episode “ My Screw Up . ” The installment is considered to have one ofthe crowing sitcom plot of land twistsever becauseit spent so long luring audiences into a false sense of security , only for a shocking death to be revealed at the end . Dr. Cox remained tightlipped with his ex - blood brother - in - law and best friend , Ben , but when he believed that they were due to wait on his son ’s first birthday party , he was really at Ben ’s funeral .
This jarring developing was amoment inScrubsthat made many cry . While the show covered rather unmanageable topics , being coif in a hospital , the show had n’t run into such emotional ground until “ My Screw Up . ”This instalment was also the start of a brilliant character electric discharge for Cox , who was proven to be more than just an aggressive comedic gadget . His complexities as a person were highlighted through his sorrow , andScrubsdid a perfect job with the overall tone of the sequence . Scrubsknew when to quit the jest without fright of ruin the show ’s tempo or value .
8Pilot - Mary Kay And Johnny
Season 1, Episode 1
Mary Kay and Johnnywasthe first situation comedy in television history . The 1947 show star the real - life couple Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns , who also write the TV show . Although the genre changed hugelyin the year followingMary Kay and Johnny ’s release , it established several sitcom rules that inspired other shows . Mary Kay and Johnnywas aformulaic TV showfocused on the titulary characters ’ wedlock and the issue they confront together , but each installment ended with everything wrapped up .
The show introduced the trope of a frustrated married man and a less - than - levelheaded married woman , which was a big part of its humour . Mary Kay and Johnnycreated several other beginning in the situation comedy genreduring its three year on the line . It was the first show to exhibit a couple in bottom together , which was a shocking sight to see on tv set in the forties . In 1948 , Mary Kay attempted tohide her pregnancy while film the show , but it was finally written into the show . The Stearns ’ son , Christopher , then appear on the show at just a few weeks old .
7Hollywood, Part 3 - Happy Days
Season 5, Episode 3
Happy Days is a television system serial publication set in the 1950s and 1960s , exploring the life history of the Cunningham class and their friends in Milwaukee . Starring Ron Howard as Richie Cunningham and Henry Winkler as Arthur " Fonzie " Fonzarelli , the show captures the essence of mid-20th century American life story . Premiering in 1974 , it enjoys iconic status for its nostalgic portrayal of teenage life history and family dynamics .
" Hollywood , Part 3 " marked a notable shift in the storytelling and overall vogue ofHappy Days . The show was broadly speaking focus on a mathematical group of teenagers in 1950s Milwaukee , but the season 5 " Hollywood " episodes commit the crew out to California for Fonzie ’s moving-picture show audition . However , this led to one of the most nonsensical plotlines in sitcom story when Fonzie cross paths with “ the California Kid . ”Fonzie ’s mysterious rival challenged him to jump over a shark on a dyad of water ski , and he was absurdly successful in his effort .
This wild moment led to the initiation of theTV terminal figure “ jump the shark . ”This idiomatic expression carry on to be used throughout the television industry to refer to a originative decision deemed to be too magnified or unlike from its original premise . It has also been used to refer to a show running out of new ideas altogether . “Jumping the shark ” set a precedency for future sitcomsin good and bad ways . It taught shows to analyze storylines and think about whether they were too laughable , but it also challenged other situation comedy to outdo the ridiculousness of " Hollywood , Part 3 . "
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6Papa’s Got a Brand New Excuse - The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Season 4, Episode 24
The Fresh Prince of Bel - Air follows Will Smith ( Will Smith ) after he gets himself sent out from the mean street of his aboriginal West Philadelphia to the loaded Bel Air locality . Living with his wealthy Uncle Phil and Aunt Vivian , Will befriends his cousins and adjusts to a life that ’s the glacial reverse of everything he ’s accustomed to . Even with a butler and an expensive education , Will finds that growing up is n’t easy , regardless of circumstance .
The Fresh Prince of Bel - Air ’s noted installment " Papa ’s Got a Brand New Excuse " contained one of themost excited soliloquy from a TV showever . From the arcsecond the instalment aired , it was clean that Will ’s rant about his lacking father would be remember for a foresightful time . Will ’s heartbreaking remark about his father fail to come through for him , which had hap numerous time before , allowed for some fascinating character development . Unlike in premature instances , Will could see his neglectful parent for exactly what he was .
Will Smith ’s saddest momentsaw him tell Phil about what he ’d do better as a future beginner was run , specially when he permit himself to inevitably break down in his uncle ’s implements of war and need , “ Why do n’t he need me ? " In Smith ’s 2021 memoir , Will , he revealed that his father was scurrilous to his female parent in puerility . Although this was n’t recognize at the time of filming , it can be seen just how impactful the fit was to Smith . The emotion that resonated from him was so thought - provokingit broke the barrier and allowed other sitcoms to tackle more difficult topic well .
Seinfeld stars Jerry Seinfeld as a stand-up comedian whose life in New York City is made even more chaotic by his quirky group of friends who join him in wrestling with life’s most perplexing yet often trivial questions. Often described as “a show about nothing,” Seinfeld mines the humor in life’s mundane situations like waiting in line, searching for a lost item, or the trials and tribulations of dating. Co-starring is Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Jerry’s ex-girlfriend and current platonic pal, Elaine Benes; Jason Alexander as George Costanza, Jerry’s neurotic hard-luck best friend; and Michael Richards as Jerry’s eccentric neighbor, Kramer.
5Pilot - The Hank McCune Show
The Hank McCune Show ’s most significant contribution to the sitcom musical style was the intro of the laugh cartroad . The 1950s boob tube show was notably shot without a live studio audience , which was an strange thing to see at the time . Instead of real responses , the show implemented a pre - recorded track of laugh into its scenes . The Hank McCune Showwas the very first show to do this and gained significant attention for doing so . The laugh track played over Hank McCune , portraying a fabricated version of himself as he hosted a variety show and got into all mode of predicaments .
The Hank McCune Showwas endear for being a show within a show , but its use of a laugh caterpillar tread made it groundbreaking . The musical theme of a laugh cut initially made producer leery and revere that a false reaction would n’t be authentic . However , prove likeThe Pride of the FamilyandI Love Lucyquickly followed suit . The showwas canceled after three calendar month but eventually returned without the laugh caterpillar track . Although it took time for the diligence to get used to laugh tracks , it became such a staple in situation comedy that it became hard to imagine them without it .
4Sophia’s Choice - The Golden Girls
Season 4, Episode 22
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 darling serial publication create by Susan Harris won 11 Primetime Emmys and continues to be one of the most darling sitcoms of the ‘ 80s and ‘ 90s .
The Golden Girlsdelved into several darker subject throughout its trial , but its most poignant episode was “ Sophia ’s Choice . ” The sequence foreground the matter of elder abuse , but Sophia ’s personal sexual relation to her friend Lillian ’s experiences was even more impactful . Sophia had previously outride in a clinic after a slash , so she was horror-struck to learn Lillian was shack somewhere even worse after failing to return to Shady Pines . After breaking Lillian out , Sophia was heartbroken to take in she could n’t care for her friendproperly and that the facility was ill - outfit as well , leave her conflicted about what to do .
The institution ’s manager was also exhausted and contend to control the full care of his patient . What made this episode so groundbreaking ceremony , however , was its conclusion . Sophia managed to regain adequate forethought for Lillian but could n’t help oneself but reverberate on the position despite the happy ending . Many elderly mass were mistreated because of a lack of fiscal support , hence why Lillian was cared for at “ minimal standard . ”The Golden Girlswas ahead of its timebecause its character were older , but this episode prove that situation comedy needed to discourse uncomfortable but important topics , regardless of age .
3The Puppy Episode - Ellen
Ellen is a television situation comedy that air on ABC from 1994 to 1998 , starring Ellen DeGeneres as Ellen Morgan , a psychoneurotic bookstore owner . The series explores her interactions with friends and kin and is historically pregnant for its 1997 episode where the main type comes out as gay .
Ellen ’s " The Puppy Episode " was a defining second in television as the titular character came out as jocund . The two - part fib beautifully reflected DeGeneres ’ own experience in announcing her sexuality . DeGeneres came out in a 1997 episode ofThe Oprah Winfrey Show , and her character inEllenthen did the same to her healer , who Winfrey also portray . " The Puppy Episode " was a historical bit for choice - fourth dimension idiot box and made Ellen Morgan the first gay lead character in a mainstream situation comedy .
Despite some literary criticism of the sequence , the storyline greatly impacted guild ’s view ofLGBTQ+ representation in sitcoms . While it was a deep topic to brood , especially as it was so relevant to DeGeneres ’ life , the show used a combination of serious and risible minute to read the storyline brilliantly . The conversations about Morgan ’s discoveryadded an interesting depth to the narrative and demonstrated the various real - life-time reactions many LGBTQ+ masses meet . Ellen’s"The Puppy Episode " had a massive impact on all television shows after this , embracing all manner of characters and their sexualities .
2Moo Moo - Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Season 4, Episode 16
From the originative minds of Dan Goor and Michael Schur comes Brooklyn Nine - Nine , a police comedy series set in the NYPD ’s fancied 99th precinct . Headed by the comedically serious Captain Raymond Holt and protagonist Jake Peralta , the tec of the 99 deal with burglary , drug deals , and oddities in New York City , occasionally steering into substantial - world issues surrounding police perceptual experience and social concerns in the 2010s and earlier . Each detective has their own unique personality that take a shit them tolerate out , create adorable dynamics that help the show thrive for eight seasons .
Brooklyn Nine - Ninetackled discriminationfrequently , but racism was an peculiarly hot topic . With two dark men launch the precinct , the unjust treatment of people of color was often discussed in the show . However , the episode “ Moo Moo ” absolutely capsule the fear of black masses in Americaand their family relationship with law enforcement . Terry ’s tale of being racially profile by another officer was woefully precise but created several very important discourse . The officeholder failed to understand why his behavior was wrong and only apologized for not have sex Terry was a copper .
Captain Holt hesitate in filing a police report and failed to realize that he ’d work so hard to help oneself colleagues like Terry avoid the same abuse he face . The character ontogeny both Terry and Holt went through in “ Moo Moo ” was intriguing , as the two contemplate on share experiences with unlike outcomes . What was also impactful , however , was how the show ’s clean character also ponder on the issue and acknowledged that they had the perspective to see it to a sure level . Brooklyn Nine - Ninenever bomb with complex topics , and “ Moo Moo ” was a perfect exemplar of this .
Scrubs is a Sitcom and Medical Comedy/Drama created by Bill Lawrence that follows a group of medical students throughout their daily lives at the Sacred Heart Teaching Hospital. The series stars Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke, and Donald Faison, as they work their way up from Medical Interns while juggling all sorts of hospital shenanigans.
1Crime And Punishment - Roseanne
Season 5, Episode 13
Roseanne was a previous LXXX Sitcom created by Matt Williams and star Roseanne Barr , John Goodman , Laurie Metcalf , Sara Gilbert . The show followed a quality created by Roseanne Barr herself as she attempted to voyage her family life in a fictional town in Illinois .
Roseannefantastically replicated common elements of the terrible situation through Jackie ’s words .
TheRoseanneepisode " Crime and Punishment ” amazingly translated the strength ofRoseanne and Jackie ’s conflicted relationshipto the screen . The sequence reveal that Jackie was being physically abused by her beau , Fisher , a topic that sitcoms generally veer . Roseanne sensed that Jackie was n’t right , and her intestine instinct led to the find of multiple awesome bruises across her sister ’s back . Jackie heartbreakingly blamed herself for Fisher ’s actions , but Roseanne ’s stamp bread and butter allowed her to open up up about her domesticated abuse lento . Roseannefantastically replicated common elements of the terrible berth through Jackie ’s watchword .
Despite its candid portrayal of domestic vilification , Roseanneauthentically addressed the serious societal exit , and it provided a lot of hope for many . The episode broke down the stigma of the conversation and promote others to know it was okay to speak out . Jackie actress Laurie Metcalf gain an Emmy for " Crime and Punishment,”which was n’t surprising given her incredible performance . " Crime and Punishment ” not only highlighted the powerfulness of a supportive family , but it also madeRoseannestand out within thesitcomgenre for the bold elbow room it sport such a storyline .
Happy Days is a television series set in the 1950s and 1960s, exploring the lives of the Cunningham family and their friends in Milwaukee. Starring Ron Howard as Richie Cunningham and Henry Winkler as Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli, the show captures the essence of mid-20th century American life. Premiering in 1974, it enjoys iconic status for its nostalgic portrayal of teenage life and family dynamics.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air follows Will Smith (Will Smith) after he gets himself sent away from the mean streets of his native West Philadelphia to the affluent Bel Air neighborhood. Living with his wealthy Uncle Phil and Aunt Vivian, Will befriends his cousins and adjusts to a life that’s the polar opposite of everything he’s accustomed to. Even with a butler and an expensive education, Will finds that growing up isn’t easy, regardless of circumstance.
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.
Ellen is a television sitcom that aired on ABC from 1994 to 1998, starring Ellen DeGeneres as Ellen Morgan, a neurotic bookstore owner. The series explores her interactions with friends and family and is historically significant for its 1997 episode where the main character comes out as gay.
From the creative minds of Dan Goor and Michael Schur comes Brooklyn Nine-Nine, a police comedy series set in the NYPD’s fictional 99th precinct. Headed by the comedically serious Captain Raymond Holt and protagonist Jake Peralta, the detectives of the 99 deal with burglaries, drug deals, and oddities in New York City, occasionally steering into real-world issues surrounding police perception and social concerns in the 2010s and earlier. Each detective has their own unique personality that makes them stand out, creating endearing dynamics that helped the show thrive for eight seasons.
Roseanne was a late 80s Sitcom created by Matt Williams and starring Roseanne Barr, John Goodman, Laurie Metcalf, Sara Gilbert. The show followed a character created by Roseanne Barr herself as she attempted to navigate her family life in a fictional town in Illinois.
