Sitcoms have been a staple of television for decades, but not all of them left the cultural mark of Friends or Seinfeld.
Some quietly faded into the abyss of reruns and forgotten VHS collections.
Let’s dust off the cobwebs and take a trip down TV memory lane with these 10 sitcoms you’ve probably erased from your brain.
1. Mary Kay and Johnny
Before Lucy was loving Ricky, there was Mary Kay and Johnny. Airing from 1947 to 1950, this was the first-ever TV sitcom, starring real-life couple Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns.
Fun fact: It was also the first show to feature a married couple sharing a bed—truly scandalous for the time.
While groundbreaking, its plots were so mundane that even your grandma’s stories about grocery shopping sound more exciting.
2. The Life of Riley
Long before sitcom dads were cracking dad jokes, there was Chester A. Riley, the bumbling yet lovable lead of The Life of Riley (1949-1958).
Played by William Bendix, Riley’s catchphrase, “What a revoltin’ development this is!” became mildly iconic, but the show’s staying power? Not so much.
It’s like the forgotten middle child of TV history.
3. The Real McCoy
While often confused with The Real McCoys, a West Virginia family’s hilarious fish-out-of-water antics when they moved to a California farm, this one is a BBC sketch comedy show that ran from 1991 to 1996.
This groundbreaking series featured an array of Black and Asian comedy stars delivering sharp, witty sketches that tackled everything from cultural identity to everyday absurdities.
With its mix of satire, slapstick, and poignant commentary, The Real McCoy was a trailblazer for diverse representation in British television—and it’s high time it got the recognition it deserves.
4. Meet Corliss Archer
This teenage-centric sitcom aired in 1954 and featured Corliss Archer, your typical wholesome girl-next-door.
Think of her as the proto-Rory Gilmore but with 1950s-level “drama,” like a botched date or a misunderstanding over a phone call.
Unfortunately, her antics were so lightweight, even helium balloons felt grounded by comparison.
5. Maude
Spin-offs are tricky, but Maude (1972-1978) managed to make a splash.
Starring Bea Arthur as the bold and brash Maude Findlay, this show tackled progressive topics like women’s rights and mental health with biting humor.
It’s surprising how many people forget about Maude considering its cultural relevance, but hey, that’s the price of being overshadowed by All in the Family and The Golden Girls.
6. Julia
Starring Diahann Carroll, Julia (1968-1971) was groundbreaking as one of the first TV shows to feature a Black woman in a non-stereotypical leading role.
Carroll played Julia Baker, a widowed nurse raising her son. The show was trailblazing, but its gentle tone wasn’t flashy enough to etch it deeply into pop culture history.
7. It’s a Living
Ever wonder what the waitstaff at a fancy restaurant does when they’re not serving overpriced cocktails? It’s a Living (1980-1989) tried to answer that.
Set in a posh Los Angeles restaurant, this sitcom followed a group of waitresses juggling work, romance, and the occasional awful tip.
Despite its charm, it’s mostly remembered for its theme song—and by “remembered,” we mean “Googled occasionally.”
8. The 5 Mrs. Buchanans
Think Desperate Housewives but with less scandal and more sass.
The 5 Mrs. Buchanans (1994-1995) followed five women who had nothing in common except their mutual hatred for their meddling mother-in-law.
The show had sharp humor and plenty of potential, but it was tragically canceled after just one season. Turns out, audiences weren’t ready for a sitcom driven by pure in-law angst.
9. The Torkelsons
The Torkelsons (1991-1993) was about a quirky single mom and her five kids living in Oklahoma, often narrated by the eldest daughter’s diary entries.
Despite its heartfelt charm, it’s often confused with its retooled sequel series, Almost Home. Sadly, even the most devoted fans struggle to remember which was which.
10. The Golden Palace
After The Golden Girls ended, three of the fab four—Blanche, Rose, and Sophia—tried to keep the magic alive by running a hotel in The Golden Palace (1992-1993).
While it had its moments (and a young Don Cheadle!), it couldn’t fill the Bea Arthur-sized hole in our hearts.
The show was canceled after one season, leaving it as a bittersweet footnote to the Golden Girls legacy.