Top 10 Emmy Outstanding Comedy Series Winners, According To IMDb

The 21st century has been widely considered the golden age of television. Beginning with dramatic antiheroes and cinematic limited series, this eventually came to encompass all TV genres, from animation to reality to pure comedy. Some of the most massively successful sitcoms and high-brow laugh riots are on the air today, but they are part of a long industry tradition dedicated to providing post-work relief to audiences via the “tube.”

The series on this list, which bring to the table both acclaim from their run and collective approval (via IMDb) in perpetuity, are among the most recognizable American popular culture entries in history. Ross and Rachel, “the Jim look,” and hours upon hours of entertainment are encapsulated in these ten Emmy Outstanding Comedy Series winners.

10 The Phil Silvers Show (8.4)

Unlike two-hour films, television series of the past are difficult to explore and revisit. For this reason, the following list skews toward newer shows – those which have been watched since the development of IMDb. Thus, for this 1955-1959 series to make an appearance is a testament to its staying quality and charm.

Phil Silvers stars as Sergeant Bilko (the show is often referred to simply by this name), an affable Army leader who is loyal to those ranked below him and mischievous to those ranked above.

9 I Love Lucy (8.4)

From the register of vaguely familiar American cultural milieu, a deeper look into the history of television will reveal that I Love Lucy is much more than an example of a hit TV show from the early days. Influential star Lucille Ball pioneered the three-camera, live-audience sitcom format and was decades ahead of her time as a champion of representation in media.

I Love Lucy follows focuses on a housewife always engaging in shenanigans with her husband and friends, often in an attempt to crack the showbusiness world. It has more in common with contemporary entries on this list than one might imagine.

8 M*A*S*H* (8.4)

A subversive war comedy airing amid controversial American involvement in Vietnam seems far-fetched, which is precisely the reason for both M*A*S*H*‘s contemporary renown and lasting legacy.

Another element ahead of its time, M*A*S*H* was a film spin-off. Directed by Robert Altman and famous for drawing together star-studded ensemble casts, 1970’s MASH was an Oscar-winner, but still ultimately conceded to the TV version’s shadow (measured 0.9 IMDb ratings points ahead).

7 Modern Family (8.4)

The summer of 2020 has seen an inspiring rejuvenation in efforts to diversify popular entertainment. Modern Family piloted more than a decade ago with that very mission within its title. During its eleven season run, it has featured, among other positive depictions, one of television’s most prominent all-time LGBT couples in Mitchell and Cameron.

While the tone of Modern Family is light and silly, its impact is monumental. Only one other series (Frasier) is a five-time winner in this category. Curb Your Enthusiasm, Parks & Recreation, and Glee are among the shows unfortunate to have aired during its heydey.

6 The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (8.7)

Impressively, this is one of two Amazon original series in this top ten – no other streaming service makes an appearance. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is the insightful yet delightful story of a female comedian in the Eisenhower era.

Entertainment about entertainment is always, well, entertaining (three-time Emmy winner 30 Rock narrowly missed inclusion on this list). Familiar pop culture names abound in the series and Midge Maisel’s stand-up performances within episodes are pure comedy in their own right

5 Fleabag (8.7)

This high rating may be party attributed to Fleabag being currently in a phenomenon state, but what a phenomenon. This Emmy win (the most recent in the category) provided additional exposure to a show beloved by Hollywood insiders and thirsty churchgoers alike.

Creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge is the show’s resulting immediate household name. She also contributed to the script of the upcoming James Bond film, the type of multi-threat activity certain to precede a meteoric rise in both work and attention.

4 Arrested Development (8.7)

Despite winning this marquee prize for its very first season, Arrested Development holds on to its cult status. Perhaps that is possible because only the show’s most obsessed and ravenous fans could truly appreciate its ridiculously long-running and high-concept jokes.

The star-studded cast reunited for two revival seasons courtesy of Netflix that finished their run in 2019. While they were not met with quite the same uproar as its original run, fans should naturally check it out.

3 Seinfeld (8.8)

Dedicated to a “no hugs, no learning” mantra, there is not a “special episode” to be found in the entirety of Seinfeld‘s dominant nine-season run which spanned the 1990s. The characters are arguably bad people, the finale was controversially aloof, and to this day we cannot get enough.

Revitalizing Seinfeld-brand humor in recent years has been creator Larry David’s even more autobiographical Curb Your Enthusiasm on HBO. Its seventh season is dedicated to a fictional Seinfeld reunion featuring the entire original cast.

2 The Office (8.9)

There is no longer any need to distinguish it from its U.K. predecessor. Seven years past Dwight and Angela’s wedding, The Office still seems to be ubiquitous in everyday life via memes, streaming services, and dedicated trivia nights. It is among the defining shows of its generation.

Through latter projects from cast members like The Mindy Project and Silicon Valley, viewers have come to understand just how much talent was involved with the NBC sitcom, explaining both its mass appeal and Emmy recognition.

1 Friends (8.9)

Once again, the innocuous sitcom with the simplest of premises reigns supreme. Friends is not associated with some sub-genre craze; most of its stars did not go on to take Hollywood by storm. It is simply a perfect and pure specimen of enjoyable television.

Enter, the inevitable reunion. In a massive play for the streaming platform spotlight, HBO Max announced a Friends reunion special which is set to film and air this year. Details are being kept under wraps, but all six of the “friends” are on board. It might as well be called “The One That Inspired Us All To Start Friends Over From The Beginning, Again.”

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