History of the Sitcom

Season 1

This docuseries reunites audiences with the television friends, families, and co-workers they grew up with while introducing cutting-edge comedies that are sure to be your next binge-watch. Featuring over 180 original interviews with sitcom icons the series breaks down how sitcoms have helped generations of Americans navigate an ever-shifting cultural landscape.

Where to Watch Season 1

8 Episodes

A Family Matter
E1
A Family MatterMoms, dads, husbands, wives, brothers, sisters — more than just a hilarious reflection of the people we grow up and old with, sitcoms have opened our hearts to a more inclusive visions of what “family” can mean.
Sex & the Sitcom
E2
Sex & the SitcomSince America has long found it easier to laugh about sex than talk seriously about it, sitcom humor has had a critical role ushering in a new era of openness, not just towards sex, but toward women’s rights and gender identity.
Just Friends
E3
Just FriendsWhen Americans look beyond family or work for their identity, the “hanging out with friends” sitcom hilariously redefines the genre while also revealing television’s challenging quest for inclusivity and authentic representation.
Working for Laughs
E4
Working for LaughsWork families can be even funnier than our biological ones, since the endless array of wacky sitcom characters on the job offers hilarious insights into the state of the American workplace.
Facing Race
E5
Facing RaceIn many homes, difficult conversations about race and diversity have first happened on the sitcom screen, helping pave the way for progress with hilarity and laughter.
Movin' On Up
E6
Movin' On UpUpward mobility, the American Dream, pulling yourself up by your bootstraps – sitcom laughs have helped generations of Americans come to grips with their place in a supposed “classless” society.
Freaks, Geeks & Outsiders
E7
Freaks, Geeks & OutsidersAliens, geeks, monsters, immigrants, witches… the fresh perspective of sitcom fish-out-of-water give us funny new insights into the ever-changing face of America.
Escaping Reality
E8
Escaping RealitySitcoms have long been the ultimate comedy comfort food, but what sitcoms offer escape from – and what they offer escape to – reveal a lot about the state of the American mind, and the state of sitcom form itself.