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The family sitcom has been a television mainstay for generations—from The Brady Bunch to The Dunphys of Modern Family, the wholesome genre has a way of including the audience into the highs and lows of domestic family life.
Beloved TV families come in all shapes and sizes from the nuclear but dysfunctional Bundys to the blended Bankses of Bel-Air (as well as a few animated ones) but each of the series offer a glimpse into family life that may reflect your own or offer insight into a totally different way of life.
Here are 20 on-screen families TV fans probably thought about being a part of over the years.
The Belchers from Bob's Burgers
The Belcher family consists of Bob, Linda, Tina, Gene and Louise who—spoiler alert—run their own burger restaurant. The cartoon has become renowned for its charming and witty storylines about the hilariously eccentric animated family.
The Hecks from The Middle
Arguably one of the more underrated sitcoms on this list, the Heck family of ABC's The Middle offered a warm glimpse into the life of an average working-class American family, in an accessible and witty way. The family always seem down on their luck, but their resilience as a unit is what makes the show such an endearing watch.
The Addams from The Addams Family
This spooky family has undergone many iterations but the TV version, which originally aired from 1964-1966, remains a classic. Lounging around in their gothic mansion, a loved-up Gomez and Morticia, played by John Austin and Carolyn Jones, offered a delightfully macabre alternative to other conservative shows of the era.
The Goldbergs from The Goldbergs
The Goldbergs offers a heady dose of 1980s nostalgia for peak comfort viewing. Who wouldn't love being forced into matching outfits for cheesy family portraits?
The Bankses from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
It's safe to say that Uncle Phil from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is one of television's warmest father figures. Played by the late James Avery, the Will Smith series is long over but is still beloved across generations of TV fans with a reboot on the way. Plus, who wouldn't want to live in that iconic mansion?
The Tanners from Full House
What 80s kid didn't wish they were a part of this witty family who always had endless zingy one-liners at the ready? And let's not forget the iconic San Fransisco townhouse.
The Bluths from Arrested Development
Ok, maybe you wouldn't want to be a part of this off-the-wall dysfunctional clan but they get a should out for being one of comedy's most noteworthy fictional families. We'll take a vodka rocks. And a piece of toast.
The Huangs from Fresh Off The Boat
This trailblazing sitcom offered viewers a unique look at the experience of immigrant families assimilating into American culture and was a true watershed moment for Asian American representation on screen.
The Gilmores from The Gilmore Girls
One of the smaller family units on the list, Lorelai and Rory Gilmore offer a touching portrayal of a close mother-daughter relationship. The fast-talking, coffee-chugging duo provides endless comfort viewing for its dedicated fans.
The Barones from Everybody Loves Raymond
Everybody Loves Raymond is the classic dysfunctional family sitcom—and the Barones are classic dysfunctional family that charmed their way through nine seasons with endless reruns still entertaining the masses.
The Pearsons from This Is Us
This Is Us may be just the most tear-jerking show of all time but that is a true testament to the emotional depth of the characters.
The Dunphys and The Pritchetts from Modern Family
Modern Family ran for 11 hilarious seasons and provided a modern and nuanced take on blended families, reflecting the lives of many Americans. It's been quite a run for Pritchetts, Dunphys, and Tuckers with a staggering 250 episodes filmed and 22 Emmys won.
The Cunninghams from Happy Days
What is now pure nostalgia, Happy Days boasts one of the most recognizable sitcom characters of all time in Henry Winkler's Fonzie. So beloved were the Cunningham family, the show spawned a number of spin-offs, including Laverne & Shirley and Mork & Mindy.
The Keatons from Family Ties
One of the best-loved sitcoms of the 80s, Family Ties offered a juxtaposed look at a nuclear family with liberal parents and conservative kids and is a show that many grew up with.
The Maximoffs from WandaVision
Not a typical sitcom family but Disney's WandaVision has to get a mention for its stunning pastiche of sitcoms of the last century. Despite ultimately being a flashy superhero spin-off, the series, like the sitcoms that came before it had real heart that saw viewers become deeply invested in Wanda and Vision's young family.
The Bradys from The Brady Bunch
No family sitcom list is complete without a shout-out to the Brady Bunch—the original blended modern family and an American cultural touchstone.
The Bundys from Married... With Children
Widely regarded as one of American television's best TV families, the Bundys perfected suburban dysfunctionalism—with an iconic cast to boot.
The Johnsons from Blackish
The critically acclaimed Blackish combines witty comedy with an exploration of cultural and social issues. The Washington Examiner even named "the best family TV show of the decade."
The Simpsons
We would be remiss not to give the famous yellow family a mention here. While completely dysfunctional, The Simpsons are one of television's most ubiquitous families who have been through it all over the past two decades.
The Arnolds from The Wonder Years
This coming of age sitcom provided the blueprint for many more series to come, making a truly significant impact on the industry.
