Greatest Forgotten TV Sitcoms
by BWRocks | created - 09 Oct 2016 | updated - 10 Oct 2016 | Public- Instant Watch Options
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1. Pinwright's Progress (1946– )
30 min | Comedy
Misadventures of a multiple store proprietor.
Stars: James Hayter, Clarence Wright, Daphne Maddox, Charles Irwin
considered the very first modern sitcom complete series is lost
2. Mary Kay and Johnny (1947–1950)
30 min | Comedy
The adventures and misadventures of the strait-laced bank employee Johnny Stearns and his zany wife Mary Kay.
Stars: Mary Kay Stearns, John Stearns, Nydia Westman, Howard Fischer
Votes: 54
most of the series is believed to be lost
3. The Aldrich Family (1949–1953)
30 min | Comedy, Family
Based on a popular radio show, this middle-class-American-family comedy is built around the life of the Aldrich family of Elm Street, Centerville and particularly focuses on the adventures of high-schooler Henry Aldrich.
Stars: House Jameson, Jackie Kelk, Mary Malone, Robert Casey
Votes: 46
never released on DVD yet
4. The Life of Riley (1953–1958)
30 min | Comedy
Riley worked in an aircraft plant in California, but viewers usually saw him at home, cheerfully disrupting life with his malapropisms and ill timed intervention into minor problems.
Stars: William Bendix, Marjorie Reynolds, Wesley Morgan, Tom D'Andrea
Votes: 447
updated version of the series that premiered on TV in '49 (and radio in '41)
never released on DVD yet
5. The Real McCoys (1957–1963)
TV-14 | 30 min | Comedy, Family
From 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.
Stars: Walter Brennan, Richard Crenna, Kathleen Nolan, Tony Martinez
Votes: 1,297
seasons 1 & 2 are out on DVD
6. Bachelor Father (1957–1962)
30 min | Comedy, Family
The misadventures of a single adoptive father raising a teenage niece with the help of his manservant.
Stars: John Forsythe, Noreen Corcoran, Sammee Tong, Bernadette Withers
Votes: 583
never released on DVD yet
7. The Stu Erwin Show (1950–1955)
30 min | Comedy
Stu Erwin played a mild-mannered high-school principal, with June Collyer as his wife.
Stars: Stuart Erwin, June Collyer, Ann E. Todd, Sheila James Kuehl
Votes: 136
(also know as "The Trouble with Father")
several compilation DVDs have been released
8. Meet Corliss Archer (1954– )
30 min | Comedy
Pert blond teenager Corliss Archer must balance her life at school, her lovable but goofy boyfriend Dexter and her well-meaning but clueless parents.
Stars: Ann Baker, Mary Brian, John Eldredge, Robert Ellis
Votes: 72
updated version of the series that premiered on TV in '51 (and radio in '43)
several compilation DVDs have been released
9. Maude (1972–1978)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
"All In The Family" spin-off centered around Edith's cousin, Maude Findlay, a liberal, independent woman living in Tuckahoe, New York.
Stars: Bea Arthur, Bill Macy, Conrad Bain, Adrienne Barbeau
Votes: 4,703
complete series is out on DVD
10. It Takes Two (1982–1983)
30 min | Comedy
Sam and Molly Quinn are two hardworking career people just too busy with their careers (he's a doctor, she's a lawyer) to pay attention to each other or their teenagers.
Stars: Richard Crenna, Patty Duke, Billie Bird, Helen Hunt
Votes: 106
never released on DVD yet
11. Life with Lucy (1986)
30 min | Comedy
Lucy Barker is a grandmother who constantly gets into comedic predicaments while living with her daughter's family.
Stars: Lucille Ball, Gale Gordon, Ann Dusenberry, Larry Anderson
Votes: 417
never released on DVD yet
12. Julia (1968–1971)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy
Julia Baker is a young African-American woman working as a nurse. She is also a widow (her husband died in Vietnam) trying to raise a young son alone.
Stars: Diahann Carroll, Lloyd Nolan, Marc Copage, Michael Link
Votes: 688
never released on DVD yet
13. Man About the House (1973–1976)
30 min | Comedy
Sitcom exploring the trials and tribulations created by one man and two women flat-sharing in the 70s.
Stars: Richard O'Sullivan, Paula Wilcox, Sally Thomsett, Yootha Joyce
Votes: 1,577
seasons 1 & 2 are out on DVD (and the complete series is out on DVD on Region-2)
14. It's a Living (1980–1989)
TV-14 | 30 min | Comedy
This series featured a group of waitresses (and a pianist, Sonny) who work at a fancy restaurant at the top of a skyscraper.
Stars: Gail Edwards, Barrie Youngfellow, Paul Kreppel, Marian Mercer
Votes: 1,268
never released on DVD yet
15. Alice (1976–1985)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
The misadventures and trials of an aspiring singer and her co-workers at a greasy-spoon diner.
Stars: Linda Lavin, Vic Tayback, Beth Howland, Philip McKeon
Votes: 5,480
Seasons 1 to 4 are out on DVD as well as 1 compilation best-of DVD
16. The New Odd Couple (1982–1983)
30 min | Comedy
An African American remake of the television series inspired by the Neil Simon play about two friends living together despite their completely disparate attitudes to life.
Stars: Ron Glass, Demond Wilson, John Schuck, Bart Braverman
Votes: 170
never released on DVD yet
17. Amen (1986–1991)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
Rev. Rueben Gregory, finds dealing with the headstrong, opinionated, and unethical Deacon Ernest Frye--who works as a lawyer when not tending to church business--won't make his job easy.
Stars: Sherman Hemsley, Clifton Davis, Anna Maria Horsford, Roz Ryan
Votes: 2,336
never released on DVD yet
18. The Doris Day Show (1968–1973)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy
After spending most of her life in big cities, widow Doris Martin decides to move back to the family ranch.
Stars: Doris Day, Philip Brown, Todd Starke, Denver Pyle
Votes: 877
complete series is out on DVD
19. Nine to Five (1982–1988)
30 min | Comedy
The sitcom takes us into the further adventures of the characters from the movie of the same name.
Stars: Rachel Parton George, Valerie Curtin, Sally Struthers, Edward Winter
Votes: 460
never released on DVD yet
20. Valerie (1986–1991)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy, Family
Originally is was the saga of a working mom raising her three sons alone while her pilot husband was away, but after star Valerie Harper left, Sandy Duncan stepped in as the boys' aunt.
Stars: Jason Bateman, Jeremy Licht, Dan Ponce, Josh Taylor
Votes: 1,980
never released on DVD yet
21. Empty Nest (1988–1995)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy, Drama, Family
"Empty Nest" tells of the day to day misadventures of a widowed pediatrician named Harry Weston and his two adult daughters, Barbara and Carol, who have come back to live with him after failed marriages.
Stars: Richard Mulligan, Dinah Manoff, David Leisure, Park Overall
Votes: 3,962
never released on DVD yet
22. The Golden Palace (1992–1993)
30 min | Comedy
After Dorothy remarries and moves away, Blanche, Rose, and Sophia open a hotel called The Golden Palace.
Stars: Betty White, Rue McClanahan, Estelle Getty, Don Cheadle
Votes: 2,818
never released on DVD yet
23. The Torkelsons (1991–1992)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy, Drama, Family
A working-class single mother provides for her quirky family of five kids in rural Oklahoma.
Stars: Connie Ray, Olivia Burnette, Lee Norris, Rachel Duncan
Votes: 1,312
and "Almost Home" (the second season)
never released on DVD yet
24. Three's a Crowd (1984–1985)
Not Rated | 30 min | Comedy
Jack Tripper's co-habitation with Vicky Bradford is complicated by her hostile father's interference as Jack's landlord.
Stars: John Ritter, Mary Cadorette, Alan Campbell, Robert Mandan
Votes: 1,037
never released on DVD yet
25. Down to Earth (1984–1987)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
After being struck down by a trolley (golly) in 1925, Ethel MacDoogan, a flapper, waits in heaven for a chance to help a family and earn her wings. That chance arrives in the form of the Preston family.
Stars: Carol Mansell, David Kaufman, Kyle Richards, Randy Josselyn
Votes: 86
never released on DVD yet
26. Amanda's (1983)
30 min | Comedy
Dry-witted Amanda Cartwright tries to manage a hotel despite mishaps involving her inexperienced son Marty, self-centered daughter-in-law Arlene, devoted cook Earl, and bumbling foreign bellhop Aldo.
Stars: Bea Arthur, Fred McCarren, Simone Griffeth, Rick Hurst
Votes: 129
never released on DVD yet
27. Filthy Rich (1982–1983)
24 min | Comedy
An eccentric family is forced to live under one roof to receive a share of the vast fortune that was left behind by their patriarch.
Stars: Delta Burke, Dixie Carter, Charles Frank, Jerry Hardin
Votes: 138
never released on DVD yet
28. The 5 Mrs. Buchanans (1994–1995)
30 min | Comedy
Four sisters-in-law struggle to deal with small-town life and their overbearing mother-in-law.
Stars: Judith Ivey, Beth Broderick, Harriet Sansom Harris, Charlotte Ross
Votes: 201
never released on DVD yet
29. Petticoat Junction (1963–1970)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy
The misadventures of the family staff of The Shady Rest Hotel and their neighbors of Hooterville.
Stars: Edgar Buchanan, Linda Henning, Bea Benaderet, Frank Cady
Votes: 3,652
seasons 1 to 3 are out on DVD as well as a best-of collection (of season 1 eps)
30. Checking In (1981– )
30 min | Comedy
The misadventures of Florence Johnson, a hotel maid who was previously seen serving the Jeffersons.
Stars: Marla Gibbs, Larry Linville, Liz Torres, Patrick Collins
Votes: 59
1 ep was released as a special bonus on the complete series of "The Jeffersons"
31. Apple Pie (1978)
30 min | Comedy
This comedy set in Depression-era Kansas City was based around a single hairdresser's unique approach to curing her loneliness: putting an ad in the newspaper and recruiting the folks who ... See full summary »
Stars: Rue McClanahan, Dabney Coleman, Jack Gilford, Caitlin O'Heaney
Votes: 35
never released on DVD yet
32. Car 54, Where Are You? (1961–1963)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
Sitcom featuring the zany hijinks of New York's finest.
Stars: Joe E. Ross, Fred Gwynne, Paul Reed, Al Lewis
Votes: 1,879
complete series is out on DVD
33. Ozzie's Girls (1973)
30 min | Comedy
After their two sons leave home, Ozzie and Harriet rent their rooms to two beautiful college girls.
Stars: Harriet Nelson, Brenda Sykes, Susan Sennett, Ozzie Nelson
Votes: 86
never released on DVD yet
34. Make Room for Granddaddy (1970–1971)
30 min | Comedy
An aging entertainer and his wife take on care of their 6-year-old grandson.
Stars: Danny Thomas, Marjorie Lord, Angela Cartwright, Michael Hughes
Votes: 83
1 ep was released as a bonus on the S3 DVD set of "Here's Lucy"
35. The Ghost Busters (1975)
30 min | Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Two guys and their pet gorilla hunt spooks.
Stars: Forrest Tucker, Larry Storch, Bob Burns, Richard Balin
Votes: 457
complete series is out on DVD
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