For the past 75+ years, situation comedies have been an institution of American culture. Selecting a "best of" for anything is always subjective, and this is a broad survey of TV comedies, but I had some criteria for inclusion:
1. only scripted TV comedies (no variety shows, improv, stand-up, etc.)
2. standard TV comedy length of 20-35 minutes (no shows 15 minutes or less, no shows 45 minutes to an hour...sorry, Love Boat)
3. American TV shows or foreign shows that aired their first runs simultaneously on US TV
4. all comedies with 100 episodes or more, regardless of popularity
5. shows with less than 100 episodes, but with significant cultural impact or critical acclaim

The "Honorable Mention" section is for those shows that stand out from the pack for their impact, but did not quite make the cut for the top 250.

The title cards for each decade show a picture from that decade's most popular show. The background music heard for each decade is from that decade's second most popular show.

I hope you enjoy the products of my research! Of course, no copyright infringement is intended. Keep laughing...it's so important. :)