The Top 10 Funniest Sitcom Episodes of All Time, Ranked!
Nothing beats a good laugh, and iconic TV sitcoms always put smiles on our faces and lift us up when we're feeling down. The funniest sitcom episodes have spawned many a quotable line — who can forget when Ross yelled, "We were on a break!" on Friends, or when the soup nazi barked, "No soup for you!" on Seinfeld? — and we can never get tired of rewatching them.
We've compiled a countdown of our picks for 10 essential sitcom episodes, along with clips that are sure to have you cracking up just as much as you did the first time you saw them. From the classic '50s slapstick of I Love Lucy to the unbeatable '80s ensemble hijinks of Cheers to the '00s geeky goodness of The Big Bang Theory, here are our picks for the 10 funniest sitcom episodes of all time.
10. The Office
The episode: Season 5, Episode 13: "Stress Relief" (2009)
Synopsis: Dwight's too-realistic fire alarm gives Stanley a heart attack. After Stanley is released from the hospital, his doctors warn him to keep his stress levels under control. Michael arranges for a CPR training session for the employees, but they are too easily distracted and the lesson proves fruitless.
Why we love it: The Office always makes us cringe and laugh at the same time, which is no easy feat. "Stress Relief" takes awkward dynamics we might recognize from our own workplaces and cranks them up to a level of true absurdity.
Related: ‘The Office’ and ‘Monk’ Star Melora Hardin’s Must-See Movies and TV Shows
9. The Big Bang Theory
The episode: Season 2, Episode 14: "The Financial Permeability" (2009)
Synopsis: The guys are trying to figure out where they can eat dinner and still make it to a movie on time, under the constraints of Sheldon-approved restaurants and theaters.
Why we love it: The episode provides one of the most endearing displays of Sheldon's signature nerdy obsessiveness. The guy treats going to dinner and a movie just as seriously as he does theoretical physics, and we can't help but love him for it!
8. Frasier
The episode: Season 3, Episode 1: "She's the Boss" (1995)
Synopsis: Frasier is trying to sleep when Niles comes over and accidentally fires a starter's pistol.
Why we love it: Frasier and Niles are our favorite TV brothers, and this episode is a great showcase for their signature mix of playfulness and pretension. Kelsey Grammer's portrayal of exhausted frustration here is truly something to behold.
Related: ‘Frasier’ Reboot: What To Know About Dr. Crane’s Much-Anticipated Comeback
7. I Love Lucy
The episode: Season 2, Episode 1: "Job Switching" (1952)
Synopsis: After Ricky and Fred get upset about the girls' spending, Lucy and Ethel go to work in a candy factory while the boys do the housework.
CBS Photo Archive/Getty
Why we love it: This is one of the most beloved and funniest episodes of I Love Lucy, and for good reason. Lucille Ball's physical comedy is on full display (we'll never forget the faces she makes as she stuffs her mouth with chocolates!) and the theme of men and women switching roles remains surprisingly prescient over 70 (!) years later.
Related: Behind-The-Scenes Secrets of the 10 Funniest ‘I Love Lucy’ Episodes
6. All in the Family
The episode: Season 5, Episode 6: "Archie's Helping Hand" (1974)
Synopsis: Archie persuades his boss to hire Irene as a bookkeeper. While she'd undoubtedly do a good job in that position, the boss thinks she'd do even better as a forklift operator. It isn't long before Archie finds himself working alongside Irene!
Silver Screen Collection/Getty
Why we love it: All in the Family perfectly captured the shifting political dynamics of the '70s, and this is one of the funniest sitcom episodes because it did a particularly good job of putting Archie in his place for his stubborn sexism.
Related: ‘All in the Family’ Cast: A Look Back at the Bunkers and How They Changed Television
5. Cheers
The episode: Season 5, Episode 9: "Thanksgiving Orphans" (1986)
Synopsis: Thanksgiving is approaching and no one has anything to do. Diane suggests they spend Thanksgiving together in Carla's new home. Carla agrees to a potluck dinner, with Norm in charge of the humongous turkey. Nothing seems to be going according to plan and the episode culminates in an epic food fight, followed by Norm's wife Vera's arrival, which should be the first time viewers actually get to see her face but, well, just watch…
NBC Television/Fotos International/Getty
Why we love it: Celebrating Thanksgiving with the Cheers gang is simultaneously cozy and hilarious, and there's nothing funnier than a good food fight. While Christmas episodes of sitcoms tend to get all the glory, we think Thanksgiving episodes can be even better! (Click through for The 9 Best Thanksgiving TV Episodes, Ranked).
Related: Wanna Go Where Everybody Knows Your Name? See the ‘Cheers’ Cast Then and Now
4. Seinfeld
The episode: Season 4, Episode 13: "The Pick" (1992)
Synopsis: Elaine decides to put her picture on her Christmas cards and Kramer agrees to be the photographer. The only problem? She accidentally exposes just a little too much of herself for the camera, and doesn't find out until she's already mailed the cards out.
Why we love it: A ridiculously embarrassing situation is pushed to brilliant heights, thanks to Julia Louis-Dreyfus' comedic genius. When she starts getting mad, we start cracking up!
3. The Golden Girls
The episode: Season 2, Episode 2: "Ladies of the Evening" (1986)
Synopsis: Dorothy, Rose and Blanche win tickets to attend a post-premiere movie party with Burt Reynolds, but they only win three tickets, and decide to leave Sofia at home. However, a hitch in their plan occurs when they are mistaken for prostitutes and arrested, with only Sofia left to bail them out.
Fotos International/Getty
Why we love it: The Golden Girls brilliantly subverted TV conventions around older women, and this episode gave the girls a fabulously bawdy showcase, thanks to a wild case of mistaken identity.
Related: ‘The Golden Girls’ Secrets: 12 Amazing Stories About Rose, Blanche, Dorothy and Sophia
2. Everybody Loves Raymond
The episode: Season 3, Episode 12: "The Toaster" (1998)
Synopsis: When Ray gives his parents an engraved toaster for Christmas, they exchange it right away without even opening it. After learning it was specially engraved, they go to a store to try to exchange it for Ray's toaster.
Why we love it: Ah, that uncomfortable situation where you get a gift you don't like from a beloved family member... We've all been there, right? The cringe-inducing relatability and familiar family dynamics make this episode a classic.
RELATED: Where Are They Now: The Cast of ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’!
1. Friends
The episode: Season 6, Episode 9: "The One Where Ross Got High" (1999)
Synopsis: During Thanksgiving, Ross is forced to reveal the reason why his parents, Jack and Judy, don't like Chandler, who is living with his girlfriend, Monica. Meanwhile, Rachel tries to make dessert for the gang and Joey and Ross try to get out of their holiday obligations when they are invited to hang out with Joey's female roommate and her dancer friends.
Why we love it: This takes our top prize of funniest sitcom episodes because the lovable, eternally LOL-inducing ensemble cast is on absolute fire in this essential holiday special. There's a lot going on: bad cooking, sexy roommates, family tensions and more — and the wacky mixture is comedy gold.
Related: ‘Friends’ Flashback: See All of Rachel’s Boyfriends Then and Now
Read on for more about our favorite sitcoms!
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‘Boy Meets World’ Cast Then And Now: Find Out What Happened to the Stars of the Beloved 90s Sitcom
‘That Girl’ Cast: A Look Back at the Groundbreaking ’60s Sitcom
