For over seven decades,ABChas created some of the most unforgettable shows in television history, such asLaverne & Shirley,The Brady Bunch, andTaxi. ABC first made waves on the radio in 1943 and, five years later, it made its television debut, followed by hit series includingLeave It to BeaverandWagon Train.Since then, the infamous network has turned out dozens of popular shows and sitcoms, but some have had an immense impact on pop culture and audiences around the world that deserve to be placed in the category of exclusive greatness.
ABC has always produced a blend of shows ranging from laugh-out-loud sitcoms to courtroom dramas and out of all the memorable series, only a select few have managed to stay in the network’s top slots. From the 1990s hit show,Full House, to the iconicHappy Dayscreated by television legend,Gary Marshall, these are the best ABC series of all time, ranked.
10’Full House' (1987-1995)
Starring Bob Saget, John Stamos, and Candace Cameron Bure
Bob Sagetstars in the 90s sitcom,Full House, as Danny Tanner, who, after the death of his wife, is left to care for and raise his three young daughters. With the help of his brother-in-law, Jesse (John Stamos), and friend, Joey (Dave Coulier), they all pitch in on parenting duties and support the girls as they each navigate their way through the typical ups and downs of growing up.
Full Housewas a unique sitcom and one of the first to depict an American family without a mother figure. The show features a comically dysfunctional family who, many times, are faced with certain subjects and issues that most fathers weren’t known to address.Full Housebroke down various stereotypes about parenting mixed in with hysterical scenarios and famous catchphrases (specifically, the adorable “You got it dude!")and, according to one of the show’s producers, it was considered to beThe Brady Bunchof the 1990s.
Full House (US)
Full Housecan be streamed on Hulu in the U.S.
Watch on Hulu
9’The Practice' (1997-2004)
Starring Dylan McDermott, Kelli Williams, and Lara Flynn Boyle
Set in Boston, Massachusetts, the popular legal drama,The Practice, focuses on an ambitious attorney, Bobby Donnell, played byDylan McDermott, who, unlike his partners, believes high-profile cases are not always about financial reward, striving to do the right thing for society before someone’s wallet. Torn between his instincts and legal ethics, Donnell tries to satisfy both his conscience and those in his prominent firm.
The Practicecenters around the American justice system and legal proceedings led by McDermott, who is both intense and charming as the unconventional Bobby Donnell.There had been several notable courtroom dramas beforeThe Practice, but it was one of the first to provide an extensive view into the legal process and ethical struggles many attorneys grapple with regularly. The series won two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Drama Series in 1998 and 1999, and eventually led to the successful spin-off seriesBoston Legal.
The Practice
The Practicecan be streamed on Prime Video in the U.S.
Watch on Prime
8’Maverick' (1957-1962)
Starring James Garner, Jack Kelly, and Roger Moore
In the 1950s, television had a stack of entertaining Western series, but ABC’sMaverickmixed up the traditional Wild West setting with the smooth-talking poker player, Bret Maverick. Played byJames Garner, Maverick tries his card-dealing luck on riverboats and inside saloons as he makes his way through the American Frontier accompanied by his brother, Bart (Jack Kelly).
Garner is magnificent in the popular Western series,Maverick, who initially doesn’t appear to be much of a threat with his suave words and peak appearance, but there’s more to this poker rounder than what meets the eye, making this an exceptional ABC series. The show featured significant guest stars, including Western icons likeClint EastwoodandLee Van Cleef,and other classic stars such asJoel Grey,Robert Redford, andConnie Stevens. In 1994, the series was adapted into a movie starringMel Gibsonas Bret Maverick, appearing alongsideJodie Fosterand Garner, who played an against-type role as Marshal Zane Cooper.
Maverickcan be streamed on Prime Video in the U.S.
7’Taxi' (1978-1983)
Starring Tony Danza, Judd Hirsch, and Danny DeVito
An iconic sitcom,Taxifollows the misfit employees and drivers of the Sunshine Cab Company in New York City. For almost everyone on the payroll, the job at the cab company is simply temporary until they can find something in their intended career field, but in the meantime, the co-workers soon become more than just those they see daily and start to feel more like a family than a company.
Throughout its five-season run,Taxiearned over thirty Primetime Emmy Award nominations, winning eighteen, which also includes three consecutive years of winning for Outstanding Comedy Series.With an eccentric cast of familiar faces such as Danny DeVito, Tony Danza, Christopher Lloyd, and Judd Hirsch,Taxiis considered to be one of the greatest sitcoms of all time and has remained in syndication since it ended in 1983. In 2023,VarietyrankedTaxiat number seventy-five on its list of the 100 greatest television shows of all time.
Taxican be streamed on Paramount+ in the U.S.
Watch on Paramount+
6’Bewitched' (1964-1972)
Starring Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick York, and Agnes Moorehead
In the classic sitcom,Bewitched, Samantha (Elizabeth Mongomery) and New York advertising executive, Darrin Stephens (Dick York) are a young married couple living in the suburbs and, while they appear to be the all-American family next door, there’s one catch to this lovely couple; Samantha is secretly a witch. While the couple attempt to keep up their appearance and Samantha’s secret to themselves, there are moments where she simply can’t resist using her powers.
Bewitchedwas one if not the first series to take the element of fantasy and spin it into a relatable everyday family. Despite the show’s magical qualities, Bewitched still featured traditional themes of the family sitcom, such as raising children, hosting dinner parties, and, of course, relatives popping in unannounced, especially Samantha’s meddling mother, Andora, who is played by theunderrated Golden Age star,Agnes Moorehead.Considering Montgomery’s contagious charm and the show’s unique quality of the supernatural,Bewitchedis easily one of the best ABC shows of all time.
Bewitchedcan be streamed on Tubi in the U.S.
Watch on Tubi
5’Three’s Company' (1976-1984)
Starring John Ritter, Joyce DeWitt, and Suzanne Somers
When Janet Woods (Joyce DeWitt) and Crissy Snow (Suzanne Somers) need to find a new roommate to move into their Santa Monica apartment, they decide to give the room to a party-boy bachelor, Jack Tripper (the lateJohn Ritter). As they become fast friends, the series chronicles the trio’s hilarious misunderstandings and miscommunications surrounding their individual lives that almost always lead to some hysterical escapades.
Three’s Companywas one of the first sitcoms to portray male and female roommates living together as young singles.Aside from the series' groundbreaking concept,Three’s Companyis noted for its catchy theme song (Come and knock on our door!), tongue-in-cheek jokes, and slapstick humor mainly carried by Ritter, who delivers some of the best physical comedy ever seen on television. The show earned several Primetime Emmy Award nominations throughout its run, and, in 1984, Ritter won for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.
Three’s Company
Three’s Companycan be streamed on Pluto TV in the U.S.
Watch on Pluto TV
4’Laverne & Shirley' (1976-1983)
Starring Cindy Williams, Penny Marshall, and Michael McKean
Set during the 1950s in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Laverne DeFazio (Penny Marshall) and Shirley Feeny (Cindy Williams) are longtime roommates who work together as bottle cappers in a brewery and rely on each other to get through the rough times and celebrate the good times together. As they try to find their place in the world, they know they can always count on each other to help them find their way.
Laverne & Shirleyis a spin-off of the hit series,Happy Days, and by the series' third season, it was one of the most-watched television shows of all time. With the ridiculous antics of neighbors, Lenny and Squiggy (played byBetter Call Saulstar,Michael McKean, andDavid Lander) to always keep them on their toes and a turbulent single life,Laverne & Shirleybecame known for its physical comedy and playing against the traditional female stereotypes, establishing itself as one of the best ABC shows in television history.
Laverne & Shirley
Laverne & Shirleycan be streamed on Pluto TV in the U.S.
3’Modern Family' (2009-2020)
Starring Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell, and Ed O’Neill
In the mockumentary sitcom,Modern Family, viewers witness the everyday lives of an extended family who give an honest and usually hysterical view into the vast changing world of being a parent and child in today’s modern world. With parents, Claire and Phil (Julie Bowen, Ty Burell)and Claire’s brother, Mitchell and his husband, Cam (Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Eric Stonestreet), plus their dad, Jay and his new wife Gloria (Ed O’Neill,Sofía Vergara), each family endure their own share of mishaps and antics while also trying to raise family’s of their own.
The award-winning series,Modern Family, is the epitome of a blended family and, through humor and heartfelt moments, speaks to a vast range of viewers, making it one of the all-time best ABC shows. Throughout its eleven-season run, Modern Family won twenty-two Emmy Awards, including, five for Outstanding Comedy Series, and in 2011, it won a Golden Globe for Best Television Series-Musical or Comedy.Modern Familycontinues to be a favorite among viewers and is remembered for its eccentric characters and diverse family units that accurately speak to a majority of today’s families across the globe.
Modern Family
Modern Familycan be streamed on Peacock in the U.S.
Watch on Peacock
2’The Brady Bunch' (1969-1974)
Starring Florence Henderson, Robert Reed, and Maureen McCormick
Here’s the story…(Kidding)The Brady Bunchwas a trailblazer for the family sitcom and while they might appear to be just your large everyday family, their family dynamic is what made them one of ABC’s greatest shows of all time. When a widower and father, Mike Brady (Robert Reed), who has three sons, meets a single mother, Carol (Florence Henderson), who has three girls, the two eventually get married and join their families together under one happy roof.
The Brady Bunchis a staple in the sitcom genre and is recognized for its first-of-its-kind family dynamic as well as its musical aspect, which led to the release of several hit records.According toThe Hollywood Reporter, the show was also known for being the first to use the multi-dynamic image technique in the show’s iconic opening, which eventually became known as the Brady Bunch effect. WhileThe Brady Bunchbecame one of the most popular sitcoms of the 1970s, it gained additional notoriety for its variety of guest stars, includingVincent Price,Joe Namath, and lead singer ofThe Monkees,Davy Jones.
The Brady Bunch
The Brady Bunchcan be streamed on Paramount+ in the U.S.
1’Happy Days' (1974-1984)
Starring Ron Howard, Henry Winkler, and Marion Ross
Ron Howardstars in the iconic sitcom,Happy Days, as teenager, Richie Cummingham, who lives in Wisconsin during the 1950s with his loving family. As Richie deals with the typical teen experiences and struggles, he’s supported by his best friends, Potsie (Anson Weber), Ralph (Don Most), and his cool, motorcycle-riding pal, Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli (Henry Winkler).
Happy Daysis the quintessential sitcom that altered the world of television forever.Despite initially earning mixed reviews from critics,Happy Dayswent on to become one of ABC’s biggest series and has been immortalized in American pop culture. Even though the series helped launch Howard’s career, Winkler’s character eventually stole the spotlight, gaining worldwide popularity for his bad boy with a heart-of-gold image and his infamous catchphrase, “Ayyye!“Happy Daysis also known for its successful spin-offs, includingLaverne & ShirleyandMork & MindystarringRobin WilliamsandPam Dawber.
