Every cinephile would remember the 2000s because it marked the golden era for television sitcoms.
This remarkable decade produced a slew of sitcoms that are still celebrated for their enduring humor and cultural impact.
Most of the best sitcoms of the 2000s had themes including family dynamics, workplace shenanigans, friendships, etc.
You probably still tingle when you binge over its mockumentary-style comedies and unconventional storytelling techniques.
Well, don’t get too ahead of yourself! Here is a curated list of the best sitcoms of the 2000s for you!
1. Friends (1994-2004)
- Cast: Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, David Schwimmer.
- IMDb Rating: 8.9/10
Friends is a timeless sitcom sensation of the 2000s that captured many hearts when it premiered in 1994.
The show proved that laughter works every time, thanks to its infectious humor.
Ross, Monica, Joey, Phoebe, Chandler, and Rachel all stumble through countless hilarious moments in a bid to lead “normal” lives.
One thing that catapulted Friends to sitcom stardom is its clever plot and razor-sharp writing.
You’ll laugh until you’re as red-faced as Ross after a spray tan mishap.
2. The Office (2005-2013)
- Cast: Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, B.J. Novak, Mindy Kaling.
- IMDb Rating: 8.9/10
A bunch of office misfits are stuck in what you may call a corporate jungle.
They have no other option than to leave a paper trail of laughs, awkward moments, and the occasional stapler theft.
This is one of the best sitcoms of the 2000s that connects the triangle of working in an office.
You will find that even the most mundane tasks can become fodder for laughter.
3. How I Met Your Mother (2005-2014)
- Cast: Josh Radnor, Jason Segel, Cobie Smulders, Neil Patrick Harris, Alyson Hannigan.
- IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
Ted and his gang of friends are out on a quest for love and everything in between.
To survive, they must stay afloat in the unsteady waters of dating, friendships, and a mysterious yellow umbrella.
However, a ray of hope shines on their narrowed search for love in New York City.
Will they succeed? Filled with heartwarming moments thrown in along the way for good measure, you’ll only come up for air after binge-watching all nine seasons.
4. Arrested Development (2003-2006, 2013-2019)
- Cast: Jason Bateman, Portia de Rossi, Will Arnett, Michael Cera, Alia Shawkat, Tony Hale.
- IMDb Rating: 8.7/10
Just when you think you’ve seen it all, right? Get ready for a dysfunctional family reunion like no other!
Enter The Bluth family, known for their bizarre antics, failed businesses, and many tantrums.
After his father is put behind bars, Michael Bluth, the laid-back son, assumes control of the household. But his family makes his job intolerable.
This is one of the best sitcoms of the 2000s, with the Bluths serving up a buffet of eccentricity and questionable business practices.
5. The Big Bang Theory (2007-2019)
- Cast: Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Mayim Bialik.
- IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
Prepare for a Big Bang of nerdy humor, awkward social interactions, and scientific shenanigans.
In the story, four brilliant but socially clueless scientists collide with their aspiring actress neighbor.
Sheldon and Leonard seem to know more about quantum physics than they care to admit.
Nonetheless, they are utterly incapable of handling social situations, especially those involving women.
The show combines geek culture, awkward characters, and laugh-out-loud moments.
Feel free to dive deep into the lives of some brilliant scientists and their interactions with the world around them.
6. Scrubs (2001-2010)
- Cast: Zach Braff, Donald Faison, Sarah Chalke, John C. McGinley, Judy Reyes, Ken Jenkins.
- IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
Scrubs offers a comedic yet heartfelt look at the lives of doctors, nurses, and medical interns.
If you are a fan of blended humor and sentiments, then strap up nicely.
John Dorian is a doctor who struggles to advance in his field of medicine.
However, he has to keep up with oddball personnel, erratic patients, and strange circumstances at the facility.
Though it has a medical tone to its humor, you’ll find Scrubs quite exciting among the best sitcoms of the 2000s.
7. Parks and Recreation (2009-2015)
- Cast: Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, Aziz Ansari, Nick Offerman, Aubrey Plaza, Chris Pratt.
- IMDb Rating: 8.6/10
Welcome to Pawnee, Indiana, where Leslie Knope tries hard enough to keep things together.
Knope and her employees try to turn a small-town park into a grand adventure of bureaucracy.
However, her reasonably straightforward project is obstructed by clumsy bureaucrats at every stage.
This begs the question, will she sail through? Try to keep up as these dedicated public servants face many challenges while delivering plenty of laughs.
8. Malcolm in the Middle (2000-2006)
- Cast: Frankie Muniz, Bryan Cranston, Jane Kaczmarek, Justin Berfield, Erik Per Sullivan.
- IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
Malcolm in the Middle offers a comedic and relatable look at the ups and downs of growing up in a chaotic household.
You’ll be completely blown away by Malcolm’s experiences which makes the show worthwhile.
Our hero is the middle child of a dysfunctional family, which you may have guessed from the title.
He is drawn between adolescence, school, and his knack for finding trouble. There’s no denying it is one of the best sitcoms of the 2000s for obvious reasons.
9. 30 Rock (2006-2013)
- Cast: Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, Tracy Morgan, Jane Krakowski, Jack McBrayer.
- IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
30 Rock is a fictional sketch comedy show where Liz Lemon is the mastermind behind the madness.
She wrangles an eccentric cast, corporate interference, and Tracy Jordan’s unpredictable antics.
Liz has to control her interactions with the executive producer and the erratic show’s star.
It turns out the show’s head writer becomes the plot’s focus. Talk about unprecedented!
10. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005-present)
- Cast: Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton, Rob McElhenney, Kaitlin Olson, Danny DeVito.
- IMDb Rating: 8.8/10
A group of misfits who open a pub hoping to cash cheques end up cashing in-jokes. It’s always sunny in Philadelphia, thanks to the gang’s endless supply of bad ideas.
Drenched in questionable morals sometimes, they have an impressive talent for turning everyday situations into chaotic comedy gold.
This is one of the best sitcoms of the 2000s that will prepare you for a sunny-side-up. It serves irreverent humor while stringing you along with a dysfunctional camaraderie.
11. The IT Crowd (2006-2013)
- Cast: Chris O’Dowd, Richard Ayoade, Katherine Parkinson, Matt Berry.
- IMDb Rating: 8.5/10
The IT Crowd is your go-to if you are open to a harmless laugh riot.
Three socially awkward techies battle against the forces of technology, clueless managers, and their awkward misadventures.
They work in a dingy, cluttered basement instead of a top-tier black site in the middle of nowhere.
Brace yourself for a dose of nerd-infused comedy that will leave you wondering if turning it off and on really fixes everything.
12. Community (2009-2015)
- Cast: Joel McHale, Gillian Jacobs, Danny Pudi, Alison Brie, Donald Glover, Ken Jeong.
- IMDb Rating: 8.5/10
Greendale Community College is a zany world of craziness where students and teachers have a hard pass on life. Their
outrageous shenanigans cleverly mock the very concept of higher education.
Greendale Community College isn’t just your regular school. Its curriculum is filled with meta-humor and more pop culture references than you can shake at a diplomat. The show is downright one of the best sitcoms of the 2000s.
13. Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000-present)
- Cast: Larry David, Cheryl Hines, Jeff Garlin, Susie Essman, JB Smoove.
- IMDb Rating: 8.7/10
David is a semi-retired television writer and producer in Los Angeles.
His life is plagued with several neurotic and socially awkward encounters with everyday situations.
Luckily, his misadventures present many hilarious moments that’ll make you laugh and cringe simultaneously.
See the world through Larry’s eyes, where the smallest of social conventions can turn into comedic catastrophes.
14. Everybody Loves Raymond (1996-2005)
- Cast: Ray Romano, Patricia Heaton, Brad Garrett, Doris Roberts, Peter Boyle.
- IMDb Rating: 7.1/10
Does everyone body really love him? For starters, he is a successful sports writer and family man.
His well-intentioned but often misguided attempts at being a husband, father, and son provide endless laughter and relatable family dynamics.
This is probably because his parents happen to live across the street. Talk about short-distance relationships!
You’ll find this flick to be one of the best sitcoms of the 2000s that will make you appreciate your family’s quirks.
15. That ’70s Show (1998-2006)
- Cast: Topher Grace, Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher, Danny Masterson, Laura Prepon, Wilmer Valderrama.
- IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
Groove back to the ’70s with this coming-of-age sitcom straight from Nostalgia Town. It follows a group of Wisconsin teens grappling with friendship, love, and life.
They live in the fictional town of Point Place, Wisconsin, probably between 1976 and 1979.
That ’70s show is a blast from the past filled with enough retro nostalgia to make your bell bottoms shake.
16. The King of Queens (1998-2007)
- Cast: Kevin James, Leah Remini, Jerry Stiller, Victor Williams, Patton Oswalt.
- IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
Enter the royal kingdom of Doug Heffernan, set in the working-class suburb of Queens, New York.
Doug is a lovable delivery driver who balances his life between his beautiful wife and his eccentric father-in-law.
Not to forget, he also has a never-ending yearning for snacks that makes his mouth water.
Doug and his wife, Carrie, explore the everyday challenges of love, life, family, and marriage.
The King of Queens is a laugh-a-minute reign of comedy and one of the best sitcoms of the 2000s.
Doug’s star performance delivers punchlines and packages with great enthusiasm.
17. My Name Is Earl (2005-2009)
- Cast: Jason Lee, Ethan Suplee, Jaime Pressly, Nadine Velazquez, Eddie Steeples.
- IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
Earl Hickey is a part-time burglar who loses his $100,000 winning lottery ticket after being struck by a car.
He goes on a journey of redemption, where every misdeed he rights is a step toward his heavenly makeover.
It is one of the best sitcoms of the 2000s, with more harebrained schemes than a squirrel on caffeine.
In all, Earl proves that it’s never too late to be a good Earl…uh, person!
18. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990-1996)
- Cast: Will Smith, James Avery, Alfonso Ribeiro, Tatyana Ali, Karyn Parsons.
- IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
You probably still remember this show because it was loud when it premiered.
Well, here is another chance to get jiggy with Will Smith, the lovable fresh prince of Bel-air.
He does the unexpected when he flips his life upside down and moves from Philly to Bel-Air’s bougie playground.
This fish-out-of-water tale presents Will’s transition from rap to royals. It’ll make you think, “If he can do it, I can do it too!”
19. The Bernie Mac Show (2001-2006)
- Cast: Bernie Mac, Kellita Smith, Jeremy Suarez, Camille Winbush, Dee Dee Davis.
- IMDb Rating: 6.9/10
Here, the comedy maestro, Bernie Mac, takes the stage as the ultimate no-nonsense uncle.
With the help of his wife, Wanda, they reluctantly take on the responsibility of parenting when his sister drops off her three kids.
You should watch out for when Bernie starts dishing out tough love and side-splitting punchlines.
This is one of the best sitcoms of the 2000s, where you need to have a good sense of humor to survive.
20. The Office (UK version) (2001-2003)
- Cast: Ricky Gervais, Martin Freeman, Mackenzie Crook, Lucy Davis, Oliver Chris.
- IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
Your guess is correct. Your favorite show has an American twin!
The Slough’s paper company is your guide through office politics that reach cringe-worthy heights. It is all paper cuts and stapling pins!
David Brent, the horrible boss, reigns as the king of uncomfortable comedy. You’ll experience more awkward silences than a mime convention.
Remember that laughter is the best medicine when this show makes you question your workplace’s sanity.
