Summary

• Some of the most successful sitcoms have incorporated serious storylines to connect with audiences on a deeper level and add authenticity.
• Shows that balance comedy with realistic elements can reach greater heights and create long-lasting impact.
• Addressing darker themes and challenges in otherwise lighthearted shows allows viewers to become invested in the characters and their journeys.

Even some of television’s most lighthearted shows manage to tackle serious issues from time to time, and when it’s done right, this can really help elevate the show into something important that survives the test of time. Plenty of lighthearted shows worry that dark storylines could potentially distract from the fun and games of the main characters, but it’s actually important to display this more serious side of life in order for audiences to fully connect with and understand a show. That’s exactly what separates these comedies from the others that might not have been as successful.

There have been plenty of popular TV sitcoms that managed to get serious with much darker storylines over the years, and these are the ones that audiences continue coming back to time and time again. Jokes and comedy are great but shows that constantly shy away from the more realistic side of life are often missing an element of authenticity that would allow them to otherwise reach greater heights. Even the funniest characters’ lives can’t be happy all the time, and sometimes, displaying them at their worst is a great way of getting viewers invested in their journeys.

12 Full House

Full House was a hugely popular comedy that followed the exploits of one man attempting to raise three young girls with the help of his brother-in-law and best friend. It was a tight-knit family comedy that always maintained a family-friendly tone, but there were still a few moments that managed to catch audiences by surprise with their seriousness. One episode in the final season, "Under The Influence," tackled issues of grief and alcohol abuse when Kimmy recovers from a drinking problem by learning about her friend’s parent’s death at the hands of a drunk driver. There are many similar moments throughout the show, but this is the most memorable.

11 Frasier

When a TV sitcom runs for as long as Frasier did, it’s inevitable that it’ll have to tackle some more serious storylines eventually. Although the show often delved into the realm of the unbelievable, most of Frasier’s most believable storylines were the ones that painted its characters as real people with real problems. From the many romantic entanglements in the show to Frasier’s heart attack incident, the show was never afraid to play with the audience’s emotions and prove that it had real stakes that could be drawn upon at any time.

10 Young Sheldon

Where The Big Bang Theory was an incredibly lighthearted sitcom that almost never dared to get serious, Young Sheldon is quite the opposite. Its comedy is much less overt and exaggerated than its predecessor’s, often flirting with drama and tragedy instead. Sheldon is an extremely likable protagonist, but he’s no stranger to isolation and family conflict. His life is clearly difficult, and while many of his problems are often played as jokes, they’re clearly real and serve to explain how he becomes the fascinating character that audiences know from The Big Bang Theory.

9 How I Met Your Mother

How I Met Your Mother was a fascinating sitcom, not just because of how revolutionary it was in of structure and form, but also regarding its ability to balance drama and comedy so effectively. Each episode is brimming with hilarious jokes and running gags, but the overarching narratives were sometimes really emotional. From Ted’s grief over Tracy to Marshall’s attempts to overcome his father’s death - even Barney’s abandonment issues. The characters had so much trauma and upset in their lives, and How I Met Your Mother was never afraid to show it.

8 Barry

Bill Hader’s Barry was never intended to be an entirely comedic show. The main character is a terrible person, a hitman with seemingly no remorse for his victims and a completely overwhelming superiority complex. Barry has done plenty of terrible things and they often come back to bite him. Although his story is often framed in a comedic way, it’s founded on tragedy and suffering that often works its way to the surface and bursts through the show’s entertaining facade. In between the jokes and romances, Barry touches on issues of mental health, violence in media, and military disillusionment that make it one of the darkest comedies of recent years.

7 Bojack Horseman

Bojack Horseman changed drastically after the first few seasons, shifting from a comedy that sometimes touched on serious issues into an all-out tragedy that just had some jokes here and there. It follows the story of Bojack Horseman, an ex-actor whose life has taken a serious turn for the worse since the glory days of his career. He’s such an interesting protagonist, constantly finding ways to sabotage his own life and make things worse for himself, which results in some shockingly dark consequences. The show touches on substance abuse, mental health problems, and crippling isolation in a way that most comedies wouldn’t dare to.

6 Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Brooklyn Nine-Nine doesn’t often breach the barrier between comedy and drama, but when it does, it can get surprisingly vulnerable. Many of the show’s darkest moments are related to the long-running relationship between protagonists Jake Peralta and Amy Santiago, both of whom are important figures in the precinct but find themselves treated differently because of their status and sex. The show also touches on how problematic the police force can be as an establishment, with Captain Holt often having to hide his sexuality in order to climb the ladder. It’s really critical of the world that it presents, which helps with those more serious storylines.

5 Fleabag

Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Fleabag is a romantic comedy that completely transformed the genre in many ways. Its constant willingness to break the fourth wall and speak directly to the audience allowed viewers to really connect with the character, which made her romantic sufferings even more devastating. Fleabag only ran for two seasons, but the way it managed to develop the relationship between the protagonist and the Hot Priest just to burn it all down at the end was a genius move that proved just how painful love can be.

4 After Life

As a comedian, Ricky Gervais has never been afraid to touch on serious issues and deconstruct them. His work is constantly making light of society’s biggest problems, and while After Life gives a much more tender atmosphere to Gervais’ comedy, it uses the exact same techniques. Throughout the show, Tony is dealing with the recent loss of his wife Lisa, and many of the show’s jokes are at his expense - but the show equally paints Tony as a lovable person who ultimately rediscovers his appreciation for life. It’s a touching story about how death doesn’t have to be the end, which audiences probably didn’t expect from such a funny show.

3 The Jeffersons

The Jeffersons ran for ten years between 1975 and 1985, and throughout that long run, the show inevitably needed some dramatic storylines in order to keep its audience’s attention. Given the progressive nature of the show as one of the first hugely successful sitcoms about a Black family, many of these darker storylines centered around the family’s problems with discrimination and prejudice. This was incredibly revolutionary for the era, as television at the time was pretty clearly separated between comedy and drama, with very few shows actually daring to blur the distinction.