Categorically speaking, what was the best sitcom of all time?

[TMC]

To keep things as easy as possible, I'll try to break things down one by one. What's example, the best sitcom per decade (i.e. the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, onward)?

Also, what sitcoms were the each best from the respective standpoint of:

• Changing the game
  
• Cleverness
  
• Comedic writing and comedic acting
  
• Constance in quality over its entire run
  
• Realness
  
• Setting the standard
  
• Wit

[icecream]

Realness shouldn't be a requirement for a best list, there are several fantasy sitcoms or sitcoms that might not be realistic that have been very good.

1950s- I Love Lucy/The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour. Cast was perfect and writing was close. It started a bit weaker in season 1 but quickly became an all time classic, literally setting the standard for sitcoms to become popular. Honorable mentions go to Bachelor Father, The Jack Benny Program, and Leave it to Beaver.

1960s- The Andy Griffith Show black and white era is probably the best, but color era drags it down. The Dick Van Dyke Show knew when to go out on top and stayed consistent in quality. Honorable mentions go to Petticoat Junction, Family Affair, The Beverly Hillbillies, and I Dream of Jeannie. Dick York era of Bewitched is great, but Dick Sargent era drags it down.

1970s- WKRP in Cincinnati had a fantastic ensemble cast and was high quality all four seasons (although the majority of its run was actually in the 80s). Fawlty Towers was also high quality, but too bad it only made 12 episodes. Honorable mentions go to Barney Miller, M*A*S*H, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em. M*A*S*H handled cast replacements perfectly. On Some Mothers Michael Crawford showed he is as great of a comedic actor as a singer. Sadly most US residents won't ever see this gem, my PBS affiliate mentioned it was not available to them. What I was able to see of it was solely online.

1980s- Benson seasons 2-5 are some of the best sitcom seasons ever made. Honorable mentions go to The Wonder Years, Family Ties, and Newhart.

1990s- Frasier seasons 1-6 are fantastic. But it didn't stay consistent in quality, while 7-11 still had several good episodes the sharp writing wasn't a given anymore. Honorable mention to first six seasons of Wings (wasn't the same when Lowell left), first seven seasons of Home Improvement (wasn't the same when Randy left), Mad About You, Coach, Murphy Brown, and Seinfeld.

2000s- Lousy reality shows! That changed the TV landscape and made it a lot worse for sitcoms. Best 2000s sitcom is Corner Gas from Canada, which easily beats anything the US put out. Best US sitcom that ran more than one season is Hope and Faith. DAG from the very start of the 2000s is the best one season sitcom of all time.

2010s- No contest here, The Middle is by far the best from this decade. The Kids Are Alright is a strong 2nd for best one season sitcom behind DAG.

2020s/Current- Nothing fantastic like so many sitcoms from previous decades. Best of the bunch is Young Sheldon, Ghosts, United States of Al, and The Neighborhood. Young Sheldon would be better if Jim Parsons didn't insist on shoving his atheist beliefs into the show and mocking Christianity.