Which American sitcom has the best cast of all time? The answer to that is a difficult one, and it’s a topic viewers will never truly stop debating. Over the years, situational comedies have changed massively, and the genre doesn’t look anything like it used to. From laugh tracks in big studios to single-camera operations laced with dry humor, there are lots of different types of these shows, and the longest-running sitcoms of all time are a great example of the genre’s progression and development throughout TV history.
While there are plenty of great sitcoms from all over the world, American sitcoms are some of the most popular, and this is usually thanks to their casts. Several sitcom characters have redefined the genre forever, but it’s important to remember the actors behind these performances, too. It’s not just solely about the characters or the actors; it’s both, and these American sitcom casts are considered the best of all time because of the rapport between their wacky figures and the famous faces that portray them.
‘Scrubs’
Following the highly anticipated return of Scrubs recently, the hilarious medical sitcom has once again proved why its cast is so good. The friendships between characters like Zach Braff’s J.D., Donald Faison’s Turk, Sarah Chalke’s Elliot, Judy Reyes’ Carla, and John C. McGinley’s Cox are brilliant, and Neil Flynn’s Janitor is also one of the wackiest characters in the world of sitcoms ever, too. However, the side characters or newer additions often fall to the sidelines. While the new characters in the Scrubs revival need more time to develop, just like some past characters from the show’s original run needed but didn’t get, the sitcom has a solid cast; it’s just not the very best.
‘Schitt’s Creek’
The iconic Catherine O’Hara will forever be remembered as the shining jewel of Schitt’s Creek for her portrayal of Moira Rose. Father-and-son duo Eugene and Dan Levy encapsulate the personalities of their respective characters, Johnny and David Rose, brilliantly, resulting in plenty of comical moments opposite both O’Hara and Annie Murphy as Alexis Rose. It’s funny to remember that the cast of Schitt’s Creek aren’t actually related (bar the Levys) because of their dynamics both in and out of character, and the sitcom is a great way for the Levys to uphold O’Hara’s legacy.
‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’
Whether you’re talking about the actors or the characters, pretty much everyone agrees that the cast of Brooklyn Nine-Nine is one of the best in the history of TV. Joe Lo Truglio, Terry Crews, Andre Braugher, and Andy Samberg have been notable talents since before Brooklyn Nine-Nine‘s release anyway, but in the years since, the likes of Stephanie Beatriz and Melissa Fumero have also become beloved figures. From Brooklyn Nine-Nine‘s pilot, it was apparent that this cast would be hugely popular; it’s just a shame that Chelsea Peretti’s Gina Linetti doesn’t stick around for the full ride.
‘The Golden Girls’
The Golden Girls cast is undoubtedly iconic, and while the actors all have well-decorated filmographies, they’ll all forever be remembered as their characters in this sitcom. Bea Arthur’s Dorothy, Betty White’s Rose, Rue McClanahan’s Blanche, and Estelle Getty’s Sophia are easily one of the most famous all-female TV show casts ever, and The Golden Girls‘ best episodes are only as funny as they are because of their ridiculous antics. While each of them has their moments that feel a little out of character or nonsensical, the cast of The Golden Girls is generally renowned for being relatable and hilarious.
‘Arrested Development’
The memes that have come from Arrested Development alone make the sitcom’s cast memorable, let alone their wild and wacky characters. From Jessica Walter’s erratic Lucille Bluth to Tony Hale as her quirky son Buster, every member of Arrested Development​​​​​’s star-studded cast is unique and enthralling in their own way. This cast is responsible for some classic ’00s comedy TV moments, and while there’s no doubt that their rapport isn’t the same in the later installments, the earlier seasons of the show more than make up for it.
‘Cheers’
Without Cheers, we would likely be unaware of some of the very best sitcom actors (and characters) of all time. Cheers introduces us to comedy royalty like Ted Danson as Sam Malone, Woody Harrelson as Woody Boyd, and arguably the most important, Kelsey Grammer as Frasier Crane. It’s worth noting that when it was on the air, Cheers kept itself afloat despite losing more than one major cast member at various points, and those who filled their spots (either temporarily or permanently) did a brilliant job at matching the show’s energy, even if things had changed massively.
‘Friends’
If there’s any sitcom lineup that can be considered the most well-known worldwide, it’s the Friends ​​​​​cast. The six main characters in Friends, Jennifer Aniston’s Rachel Green, Courteney Cox’s Monica Geller, David Schwimmer’s Ross Geller, Matt LeBlanc’s Joey Tribbiani, Matthew Perry’s Chandler Bing, and Lisa Kudrow’s Phoebe Buffay, are easily the most renowned sitcom cast ever, and their antics at the heart of New York City are still keeping audiences entertained to this day. While the characters have flaws that make them relatable, they can also be a little unbearable at times, but this is what keeps viewers watching.
‘Parks and Recreation’
Parks and Recreation‘s cast stands out because not only are the main characters so attention-grabbing, but the side characters are as well. There is a massive array of oddball personalities in Parks and Recreation, from Chris Pratt as Andy Dwyer (who is also responsible for the greatest improv line in sitcom history) to Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope, and audiences immediately fall in love with these wacky figures regardless of how likable they actually are. The only slight downside to Parks and Recreation‘s extended cast, though, is that many of the smaller characters get less screen time than they deserve.
‘The Office’
The reason why the cast of The Office is one of the best in sitcom history is the character development. In the beginning, these characters are still half-formed, but by the end of the show, even the supporting characters have bloomed into fascinating and hilarious personalities. The back-and-forth between the likes of Steve Carell as Dunder Mifflin Regional Manager Michael Scott and Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute proves that there is a clear bond between both the characters and the actors portraying them, making The Office an even more enjoyable watch for viewers. The Office‘s cast is undoubtedly legendary, but the loss of a few fantastic actors/characters unfortunately edges it out from the top spot.
‘Seinfeld’
While most sitcoms have an ensemble cast, no other title has ever had a stronger core four-character setup than Seinfeld. Jerry Seinfeld, Jason Alexander’s George Costanza, Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Elaine Benes, and Michael Richards’ Cosmo Kramer are iconic sitcom characters, and their legacy shows no sign of stopping anytime soon. At a glance, these actors with very different backgrounds shouldn’t make sense together. However, Seinfeld‘s best episodes prove that they have an incredible amount of chemistry that other sitcoms are yet to match or improve upon. Although there are a lot of amazing American sitcom casts, Seinfeld ​​​​​​is definitely the best of all time.
