TV Guide's 50 Greatest Families of All Time
This list is a list of the greatest families in television history based on critical reception, diversity, accolades and cultural impact. Excluding shows with negative, mixed or panned reception. No specific ranking. *=Comedy
--Extra Mentions
The Connors (Roseanne)
The Bankses (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air)
The Bellamys (Upstairs, Downstairs)
The Bradfords (Eight Is Enough)
The Bundys (Married...With Children)
The Camdens (7th Heaven)
The Carringtons (Dynasty)
The Cohens (The O.C.)
The Cunninghams (Happy Days)
The Davises (Family Affair)
The Evanses (Good Times)
The Formans (That '70s Show)
The Taylors (Home Improvement)
The Gilmores (Gilmore Girls)
The Heffernans (The King of Queens)
The Ingallses (Little House on the Prairie)
The Lawrences (Family)
The Lopezes (George Lopez)
The Munsters (The Munsters)
The Nelsons (The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet)
The Barones (Everybody Loves Raymond)
The Romanos (One Day at a Time)
The Salingers (Party of Five)
The Tanners (Full House)
The Walshes (Beverly Hills, 90210)
The Winslows (Family Matters)
--Extra Mentions
The Connors (Roseanne)
The Bankses (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air)
The Bellamys (Upstairs, Downstairs)
The Bradfords (Eight Is Enough)
The Bundys (Married...With Children)
The Camdens (7th Heaven)
The Carringtons (Dynasty)
The Cohens (The O.C.)
The Cunninghams (Happy Days)
The Davises (Family Affair)
The Evanses (Good Times)
The Formans (That '70s Show)
The Taylors (Home Improvement)
The Gilmores (Gilmore Girls)
The Heffernans (The King of Queens)
The Ingallses (Little House on the Prairie)
The Lawrences (Family)
The Lopezes (George Lopez)
The Munsters (The Munsters)
The Nelsons (The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet)
The Barones (Everybody Loves Raymond)
The Romanos (One Day at a Time)
The Salingers (Party of Five)
The Tanners (Full House)
The Walshes (Beverly Hills, 90210)
The Winslows (Family Matters)
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- CreatorSherwood SchwartzStarsRobert ReedFlorence HendersonAnn B. DavisThe misadventures of a large family united when a widower and a widow marry.*The Bradys
- CreatorDavid ChaseStarsJames GandolfiniLorraine BraccoEdie FalcoNew Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano deals with personal and professional issues in his home and business life that affect his mental state, leading him to seek professional psychiatric counseling.The Sopranos
- CreatorNorman LearStarsCarroll O'ConnorJean StapletonRob ReinerA working class man constantly squabbles with his family over the important issues of the day.The Bunkers
- CreatorAli LeRoiChris RockStarsTerry CrewsTichina ArnoldTequan RichmondA young African-American teen attempts to survive with his dysfunctional family and his all-white school in the 1980s.the Cosbys replaced
* - CreatorDavid JacobsStarsLarry HagmanKen KerchevalPatrick DuffyJ.R. Ewing, a Texas oil baron, uses manipulation and blackmail to achieve his ambitions, both business and personal. He often comes into conflict with his brother Bobby, his arch-enemy Cliff Barnes and his long-suffering wife Sue Ellen.The Ewings
- CreatorJoe ConnellyBob MosherDick ConwayStarsJerry MathersHugh BeaumontBarbara BillingsleyThe misadventures of a suburban boy, family and friends.* The Cleavers
- CreatorDavid LevyStarsJohn AstinCarolyn JonesJackie CooganThe misadventures of a blissfully macabre but extremely loving family.The Addams
- CreatorEarl Hamner Jr.StarsJon WalmsleyMary Beth McDonoughEric ScottThe life and trials of a 1930s and 1940s Virginia mountain family through financial depression and World War II.The Waltons
- CreatorEd JamesStarsRobert YoungLauren ChapinJane WyattThe popular radio show comes to life in this hit sitcom about a wise family man, Jim Anderson, his common-sense wife Margaret and their children Betty, Bud and Kathy.*The Andersons
- CreatorCarol BlackNeal MarlensStarsFred SavageDan LauriaAlley MillsKevin Arnold recalls growing up during the late 60s and early 70s; the turbulent social times make the transition from child to adult unusually interesting.*The Arnolds
- CreatorPaul HenningStarsBuddy EbsenDonna DouglasIrene RyanA nouveau-riche hillbilly family moves to Beverly Hills and shakes up the privileged society with their hayseed ways.The Clampetts
- StarsFred MacMurrayStanley LivingstonDon GradyWidower Steve Douglas raises three sons with the help of his father-in-law, and is later aided by the boys' great-uncle. An adopted son, a stepdaughter, wives, and another generation of sons join the loving family in later seasons.The Douglases
- CreatorJoseph BarberaWilliam HannaStarsAlan ReedMel BlancJean Vander PylThe misadventures of two modern-day Stone Age families, the Flintstones and the Rubbles.*The Flintstones
- CreatorNorman LearDon NichollMichael RossStarsIsabel SanfordSherman HemsleyRoxie RokerA nouveau riche, African-American family who move into a luxury apartment building develop close, if occasionally fractious, relationships with other tenants.The Jeffersons
- CreatorGary David GoldbergStarsMichael J. FoxMichael GrossMeredith BaxterChronicles liberal ex-hippies Steven and Elyse Keaton, their conservative son Alex, daughters Mallory and Jennifer, and later, youngest child Andrew.*The Keatons
- CreatorWilliam AsherSidney SheldonStarsPatty DukeJean ByronWilliam SchallertTeenager Patty Lane and her worldly identical cousin Cathy navigate family and high school life.*The Lanes
- CreatorLinwood BoomerMichael GloubermanGary MurphyStarsFrankie MunizBryan CranstonJustin BerfieldA gifted young teen tries to survive life with his dimwitted, dysfunctional family.*The Wilkinsons
- CreatorCarl ReinerStarsDick Van DykeMary Tyler MooreRose MarieThe misadventures of a TV writer both at work and at home.*The Petries
- CreatorSteven LevitanChristopher LloydStarsEd O'NeillSofía VergaraJulie BowenThree different, but related, families face trials and tribulations in their own uniquely comedic ways.*The Pritchetts & the Dunphys
- StarsLucille BallDesi ArnazVivian VanceThe wife of a band leader constantly tries to become a star - in spite of her having no talent, and gets herself (along with her best friend) into the funniest predicaments.*The Ricardos
- CreatorNorman LearStarsRedd FoxxDemond WilsonLaWanda PageThe misadventures of a cantankerous junk dealer and his frustrated son.The Sanfords
- CreatorJames L. BrooksMatt GroeningSam SimonStarsDan CastellanetaNancy CartwrightHarry ShearerThe satiric adventures of a working-class family in the misfit city of Springfield.The Simpsons
- CreatorWilliam RobertsStarsDonna ReedPaul PetersenCarl BetzA loving mother and wife deals with situations and problems of a middle-class family in the late 1950s and the early 1960s.*The Stones
- CreatorSheldon LeonardAaron RubenDanny ThomasStarsAndy GriffithRon HowardDon KnottsWidower Sheriff Andy Taylor, and his son Opie, live with Andy's Aunt Bee in Mayberry, North Carolina. With virtually no crimes to solve, most of Andy's time is spent philosophizing and calming down his cousin Deputy Barney Fife.The Taylors
- CreatorVince GilliganStarsBryan CranstonAaron PaulAnna GunnA chemistry teacher diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer turns to manufacturing and selling methamphetamine with a former student in order to secure his family's future.The Whites
- CreatorSusan HarrisStarsKatherine HelmondRod RoddyRichard MulliganThe soap-operish antics of two families: the Campbells and the Tates.The Tates & The Campbells
- CreatorAlan BallStarsPeter KrauseMichael C. HallFrances ConroyA chronicle of the lives of a dysfunctional family who run an independent funeral home in Los Angeles.The Fishers
- CreatorMitchell HurwitzStarsJason BatemanMichael CeraPortia de RossiLevel-headed son Michael Bluth takes over family affairs after his father is imprisoned. But the rest of his spoiled, dysfunctional family are making his job unbearable.*The Bluths
- StarsDanny ThomasRusty HamerMarjorie LordDanny is a New York entertainer. Between his co-stars at the nightclub where he performs and his wife and kids, he has dilemmas galore, which he somehow manages to resolve and still laugh.the Connors replaced
*The Thomases - CreatorDavid DortortFred HamiltonStarsLorne GreeneMichael LandonDan BlockerThe Wild West adventures of Ben Cartwright and his sons as they run and defend their Nevada ranch while helping the surrounding community.Upstairs Downstairs replaced
The Cartwrights - CreatorPaul HenningStarsEdgar BuchananLinda HenningBea BenaderetThe misadventures of the family staff of The Shady Rest Hotel and their neighbors of Hooterville.Eight is Enough replaced
The Carsons - CreatorFrank FoxStarsGale StormCharles FarrellClarence KolbMargie lives with her father Vern and her crazy schemes get him into trouble especially with his boss Mr. Honeywell. She frequently involves Charlie and Mrs. Odetts in her plans. Freddie is her boyfriend while Roberta likes Vern.7th Heaven replaced
The Albrights - CreatorIrving PincusStarsWalter BrennanRichard CrennaKathleen NolanFrom the hills of West Virginia, Amos McCoy moves his family to an inherited farm in California. Grandpa Amos is quick to give advice to his three grandchildren and wonders how his neighbors ever managed without him around.Dynasty replaced
The McCoys - CreatorSol SaksStarsElizabeth MontgomeryDick YorkDick SargentA witch married to an ordinary man cannot resist using her magic powers to solve the problems her family faces.The O.C. replaced
The Stephenses - CreatorJoseph BarberaWilliam HannaStarsGeorge O'HanlonJanet WaldoMel BlancThe misadventures of a futuristic family.Downtown Abbey replaced
*The Jetsons - CreatorMichael JacobsApril KellyStarsBen SavageRider StrongWilliam DanielsAn adolescent with two siblings tests his various theories about life as he endures the trials of growing up alongside a good friend.Happy Days replaced
*The Matthews - StarsLassieJon ProvostJune LockhartThe ongoing saga of the Martin family and their beloved collie, Lassie.The Courtship of Eddie's Father replaced
The Martins - CreatorSherwood SchwartzStarsBob DenverAlan Hale Jr.Jim BackusFour men and three women are stranded on an uncharted island following a torrential storm.Family Affair replaced
Various families - CreatorJon Robin BaitzStarsDave AnnableCalista FlockhartRachel GriffithsThe story of the drama surrounding a family's adult siblings.Good Times replaced
The Walkers - CreatorTed KeyStarsShirley BoothBobby BuntrockDon DeForeThe misadventures of the Baxter family and their live-in maid, Hazel Burke.Home Improvement replaced
The Baxters - StarsDaniel BrochuJ.T. TurnerJodie RestherBased on the books by Marc Brown, these are the adventures of Arthur, an 8-year-old aardvark, and his family and friends as they grow up and learn how to be good neighbors to one another.The King of Queens replaced
*Various families - CreatorMichael PoryesSusan ShermanStarsRaven-SymonéOrlando BrownAnneliese van der PolA teenage girl periodically receives brief psychic visions of the near future. Trying to make these visions come true results in trouble, and hilarious situations, for the girl and her friends.Beverly Hills 90210 replaced
*The Baxters - CreatorMark McCorkleBob SchooleyStarsChristy Carlson RomanoWill FriedleNancy CartwrightA high school cheerleader and her clumsy best friend balance their duties as global crime-fighters with the typical challenges of adolescence.Full House replaced
The Possibles - CreatorA.I. BezzeridesLouis F. EdelmanStarsRichard LongPeter BreckLee MajorsThe Wild West adventures of the Barkley family in California's San Joaquin Valley.Gilmore Girls replaced
The Barkleys - StarsStuart ErwinJune CollyerAnn E. ToddStu Erwin played a mild-mannered high-school principal, with June Collyer as his wife.The Middle replaced
The Erwins - CreatorMarshall HerskovitzEdward ZwickStarsTimothy BusfieldPolly DraperMel HarrisSeven tricenarians living in Philadelphia struggle with everyday adult angst.Family replaced
The Steadmans - CreatorMatt DearbornStarsShia LaBeoufChristy Carlson RomanoA.J. TrauthThe Stevens family live in Sacramento, California, where the two younger children in the family, Ren and Louis, who have opposing personalities, often clash.That 70s Show replaced
The Stevens - CreatorJoan Ganz CooneyLloyd Morrisett Jr.StarsJim HensonFrank OzCaroll SpinneyOn a special inner city street, the inhabitants, human and muppet, teach preschool subjects with comedy, cartoons, games, and songs.Friday Night Lights replaced
- CreatorDenis LearyPeter TolanStarsDenis LearyMichael LombardiSteven PasqualeTommy Gavin deals with the fears of his job as a firefighter and seeing his ex-wife dating other men.The Gavins
- CreatorBernard SladeStarsShirley JonesDavid CassidySusan DeyThe humorous adventures of a family of pop musicians.