Sitcoms are the true American pastime (yeah, we said it). They’re much more entertaining to watch than a baseball game, and way funnier, too. These TV shows make us laugh with their constant barrage of wacky characters and bizarre adventures, but the best part of every sitcom is always the one-liners. Sure, most of the dialogue is hilarious, but it’s those attention-grabbing one-liners that stick with us long after we’ve watched and keep us grinning from ear to ear after the show is over. Sometimes these one-liners have absolutely nothing to do with the plot itself, but they are easily quotable and get stuck in the heads of viewers like a catchy song on the radio.
Witty one-liners and great comedy have always gone hand in hand. The best comedy writers have often said the secret to a good one-liner is to make it both concise and meaningful. On Seinfeld, Jerry and his ragtag team of friends were a well-oiled machine that produced legendary line after legendary line. Modern shows like The Office, Parks and Recreation, and The Good Place have given the world of pop culture so many one-liners that it’s nearly impossible to keep count. Thanks to these popular shows (and so many others), society will be likely quoting certain sitcom characters until the end of time.
Whether the line is short or long, sharp or big, witty or crude, these one-liners have found a permanent home in the pop culture zeitgeist. They make us laugh, scratch our heads, or do something in between—and that’s exactly why we love them. So, if you’re ready to take a look through some of the funniest and most memorable things ever uttered on television, here are the best one-liners in sitcom history.
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