These are the greatest shows that have aired during ABC's history. The network has a lot of popular shows on the air right now, including the multicam sitcom Shifting Gears starring Kat Dennings and Tim Allen, along with beloved procedurals The Rookie and High Potential.
When we reflect on the most memorable series that have aired over the past few decades, we realize ABC had an almost perfect show from each big genre, from an early Western to a legal drama, thriller, and a medical series that is still on the air today.
Sabrina The Teenage Witch (1996-2003)
Starring Melissa Joan Hart, Sabrina the Teenage Witch is a charming look at high schooler Sabrina Spellman dealing with her powers and living with her sweet, quirky aunts. Each episode is slightly formulaic, with Sabrina making mistakes and exploring her magic. And although it might seem cheesy and dated now, the series remains a nostalgic and entertaining rewatch.
Thirtysomething (1987-1991)
The characters in Thirtysomething standing in the kitchen
A must-watch TV show when it was on the air, Thirtysomething tells the story of Hope (Mel Harris) and Michael Stedman (Ken Olin), an advertising writer and journalist who deal with the highs and lows of new parenthood.
It's also a moving show about a friend group who love each other but are at different points in their lives. Equal attention is paid to Nancy (Patricia Wettig) and Elliot Weston (Timothy Busfield), who are having marital trouble, to smart and single Ellyn Warren (Polly Draper) and Melissa Steadman (Melanie Mayron).
While some of its cultural relevance has faded with the natural passage of time, it's still a beautiful depiction of marriage, friendship, and career problems.
My So-Called Life (1994-1995)
Angela Chase (Claire Danes) staring at something on My So-Called Life
It's not referenced as much as more recent coming-of-age dramas, but My So-Called Life remains a well-crafted series about high schooler Angela Chase (Claire Danes), her new cool friends, and her happy home life. Angela's raw voice and the show's emotional episodes about mental health, family struggles, first love, and fitting in are still impactful now.
Roseanne (1988-1997)
Roseanne Barr in Roseanne
With inspiration from comedian Roseanne Barr's life, the iconic '80s/'90s sitcom is a bit more serious than other comedies thanks to its exploration of a working-class family's everyday experiences.
It might be tricky to rewatch Roseanne thanks to the star's recent controversies, but the Conners revival has excellent character work, which proves there's a lot to appreciate about this family's relatable struggles. It's also impossible to forget the controversy surrounding the Roseanne series finale, which famously used the "it was all a dream" trope.
Abbott Elementary (2021-Present)
Quinta Brunson's Janine in a scene from Abbott Elementary season 1
With season 1 premiering only four years ago, Abbott Elementary has quickly become one of ABC's best sitcoms. The series is a fantastic and relatable look at passionate teachers at an underfunded school in Philadelphia, and talented star Quinta Brunson, who plays Janine Teagues, created it.
It can be tough for a newer sitcom to stand out, especially since we have so much choice between network shows and streaming programming. But Abbott Elementary's charming characters and exploration of real issues facing schools make it special.
The Odd Couple (1970-1975)
Tony Randall and Jack Klugman on a couch togehter on The Odd Couple
Created and executive-produced by Garry Marshall, The Odd Couple's title has become shorthand for a friendship between two people, specifically roommates, who are different from each other. The humorous tone and great performances from Jack Klugman in the role of Oscar Madison and Tony Randall playing Felix Unger make it an unforgettable part of ABC's past lineup.
Brie Van de Kamp (Marcia Cross) with a cup and saucer and Lynette Scavo (Felicity Huffman) smiling in Desperate Housewives
Since every Desperate Housewives season has a main mystery, and every episode is packed with emotional and thrilling moments, you're not going to be bored when watching this eight-season series.
The main characters grow a lot and are different from each other to be interesting. While there are some weak storylines and deaths that are a bit outlandish, it's still a solid drama.
Bewitched (1964-1972)
Elizabeth Montgomery as Samantha Stephens looking surprised in Bewitched.
Bewitched stands out from other sitcoms since it depicts a moving romance between Darrin Stephens (Dick York, Dick Sargent) and Samantha (Elizabeth Montgomery), a human and a witch. The fun suburban setting and chaotic plotlines make it a joy to watch.
Although TV fans might not celebrate Bewitched all that often anymore, the light-hearted story of a witch took hold of popular culture for a while, and it's still significant.
Charlie’s Angels (1976-1981)
Kate Jackson, Jaclyn Smith and Farrah Fawcett from Charlie's Angels sitting in a car together
Dynasty (1981-1989)
Joan Collins as Alexis Colby looking serious and unhappy on Dynasty
CBS had Dallas, and ABC aired the drama Dynasty, which can only be described as juicy, for nine seasons and over 200 episodes. Focused on the Colby and Carrington families, with fantastic acting from Joan Collins and Linda Evans, the series inspired many other nighttime soaps that heavily lean into melodrama.
Leave It To Beaver (1957-1963)
Other ABC sitcoms might be talked about more often, but the lovable characters on Leave It to Beaver and the suburban setting are still a key part of TV history. Although season 1 aired on CBS, the other five seasons aired on ABC and shared the relatable life of Jerry Mathers's child character.
When rewatching, Leave It to Beaver is undeniably dated, and by now, we've seen most of the storylines before. However, Beaver's mom, June Cleaver (Barbara Billingsley), became a shorthand reference in pop culture for a housewife, and the show was one of the earliest domestic sitcoms.
Who’s The Boss? (1982-1992)
Samantha and Tony in a scene from Who's The Boss?
With an incredible cast including Judith Light and Tony Danza, and Alyssa Milano in one of her early roles, Who's The Boss? is a great family sitcom with a cheerful tone.
The premise of a man becoming a housekeeper was meant to be surprising and captivating at the time, but it seems less of a big deal now. Still, the show made a big splash at the time.
Black-ish (2014-2022)
Dre (Anthony Anderson) and Rainbow Johnson (Tracee Ellis Ross) smiling and embracing in Black-ish
A long-running ABC sitcom with eight seasons, Black-ish is about the Johnson family, and it delves deeper into more serious subjects than most sitcoms. A rare sitcom can balance these important topics and still manage to be humorous.
Episodes focus on the family's life, along with racism and politics. A prequel, Mixed-ish, and spinoff Grown-ish, which was about Zoey Johnson (Yara Shahidi), weren't as popular as the original show, though.
Three’s Company (1977-1984)
The main characters together at home on Three's Company
The Three's Company theme song has become an important part of pop culture and was an early example of a sitcom about roommates who are there for each other no matter what. The series also starred Suzanne Somers in one of her most famous roles.
These days, Three's Company isn't talked about as much as some other ABC sitcoms, and doesn't come up on streaming services all that often. But it had a long, popular run when it aired on the network during the late '70s and early '80s.
The Brady Bunch (1969-1974)
The cast members of The Brady Bunch standing together, smiling and posing for a photo
If you haven't seen the original ABC sitcom, you've likely seen at least one Brady Bunch movie and are familiar with characters like perfect Marsha and her sisters, the smart and awkward Jan, and the adorable Cindy.
The series offered a charming look at a blended family, and it's still beloved. The cheerful and memorable theme song is also likely still stuck in your head. However, the show's storylines about school issues, home life, and dating feel a bit formulaic now.
Laverne And Shirley (1976-1983)
Cindy Williams and Penny Marshall look at each other in Laverne and Shirley
However, when the ABC sitcom was on the air, viewers couldn't get enough of the two main characters, Shirley Feeney (Cindy Williams) and Laverne DeFazio (Penny Marshall), and their bond still feels powerful.
The Wonder Years (1988-1993)
Danica McKellar as Winnie and Fred Savage as Kevin sitting in the cafeteria together on The Wonder Years
A beautiful coming-of-age story about Kevin Arnold (Fred Savage) and his family, friends, and love interest Winnie Cooper (Danica McKellar), The Wonder Years is as earnest and heartfelt today as it was when it aired.
The show's exploration of social issues that were meaningful at the time, such as the Vietnam War, might not resonate quite as much now. But we can all appreciate the relatable episodes about how scary the world can seem when you're a teenager.
Happy Days (1974-1984)
Fonzie looking off-screen in Happy Days
Garry Marshall's sitcom Happy Days aired for 11 funny seasons and featured now-famous characters like teenager Richie Cunningham (Ron Howard) and cool, rebellious Fonzie (Henry Winkler). We still hear "The Fonz" referenced all the time, which proves that while many comedies have aired in the decades since, this one still matters.
Boy Meets World (1993-2000)
Shawn, Cory, Topanga, and Mr. Feeny on Boy Meets World standing in a classroom
Those of us who watched Boy Meets World on Friday nights on TGIF remember the series fondly, whether it's Topanga Lawrence (Danielle Fishel) and Cory Matthews's (Ben Savage) sweet relationship or their beloved mentor, Mr. Feeny (William Daniels).
It might not be super popular with those who aren't rewatching for nostalgia's sake, and there's no doubt that the corny tone and plotlines show their age. However, Boy Meets World is still one of the most heartfelt sitcoms about the tough process of growing up.
Modern Family (2009-2020)
Phil and Claire sitting together on the couch in Modern Family pilot
It's impressive that even compared to so many other family sitcoms, Modern Family still made a splash for 11 seasons on ABC. The show does a great job of depicting a huge family that bothers each other all the time, even though they love each other. And since so many generations are explored, it's relatable and has universal appeal.
The Lone Ranger (1949-1957)
Butch Cavendish in The Lone Ranger TV series
When Western fans talk about the genre that they love, The Lone Ranger is one of the most famous shows, and it ran for five seasons. Each episode features Tonto (Jay Silverheels) and the Lone Ranger (Clayton Moore) as they go up against variou villains. Since it came before many other Westerns, it's one of the most unforgettable ABC shows.
The Practice (1997-2004)
Bobby (Dylan McDermott) in a scene from The Practice
Every network needs a solid show about lawyers, and ABC's was The Practice, a legal drama created by David E. Kelley. The show featured a talented cast of names we now recognize from other TV shows, from Grey's Anatomy stars Jessica Capshaw and Chyler Leigh to LisaGay Hamilton, Lara Flynn Boyle, and Dylan McDermott.
Every The Practice episode has the case-of-the-week format we expect to see, but we get to know the characters, too, and they have rich lives on top of busy careers.
Lost (2004-2010)
Locke (Terry O'Quinn) and Jack (Matthew Fox) standing together looking at something while scared in Lost
Although we don't all agree on the quality of the series finale of Lost, and some would say season 6 is fairly weak, Lost is still one of ABC's most memorable series.
Grey’s Anatomy (2005-Present)
Meredith Grey and Derek Shepherd talking at the hospital on Grey's Anatomy
ABC has had other medical dramas, like the one-season show Doctor Odyssey and The Good Doctor, but Grey's Anatomy has been entertaining and shocking us since season 1 premiered in 2005. We're still invested despite a lot of cast changes, which speaks to the powerful nature of the show.
And since it's been on the air for over 20 seasons, Grey's Anatomy still has a consistent fanbase who enjoys all the shocking moments and big changes that occur in every episode.
Twin Peaks (1990-1991)
David Lynch's surreal thriller is the ultimate ABC series, thanks to the murder mystery that starts the series, the tiny town that we know so well it's as if we live there, and all the wild twists that we're still thinking about.
