CBS Series Ranked Among the Best Sitcoms of All Time 43 Years Later
Over the years, the sitcom has become a vitally important piece of American culture, with broadcast networks throughout the United States producing many enduring and iconic shows over the decades. However, some stand out from the rest.
While sitcoms are designed to offer lighthearted laughs and easy viewing, the best ones offer a true connection to characters and the ability to tackle serious subjects while still blending humor. That's where the 1970s sitcom M*A*S*H* truly excelled, and it remains a legendary show to this day.
M*A*S*H*
Premiering in 1972 on CBS, M*A*S*H* is a dramedy series set during the Korean War that follows the surgeons and staff of the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital as they use humor and camaraderie to cope with the war.
"The staff of an Army hospital in the Korean War find that laughter is the best way to deal with their situation," the IMDb synopsis for the show reads.
The show ran for 11 seasons and became one of the most critically acclaimed series in television history, winning 14 Emmy Awards.
Its 1983 series finale, "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen," drew an estimated 106 million viewers, which is a record for a scripted series finale that still stands today.
'War is no laughing matter'
While it's been over 50 years since the show originally aired and over 40 since it concluded, M*A*S*H* is still receiving praise.
Earlier this month, Lucas Kloberdanz-Dyck of Collider put together a list of the 10 best American sitcoms of all time, and M*A*S*H* made the list, checking in at No. 6.
"War is no laughing matter, but somehow, fans couldn't help themselves when it came to M*A*S*H*, the first classic sitcom on this list. Set during the Korean War, this series follows the medical staff and doctors of a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital as they travel around the country helping patients and having fun while they do it," Kloberdanz-Dyck wrote for Collider.
"Most sitcoms are pure comedy with some emotional moments, but M*A*S*H* proved that they could be engaging dramas as well. This dramedy had a fun group of characters with hilarious and compelling arcs that blended natural with the dramatic moments and occasional high-stakes seriousness. The M*A*S*H* finale is still the most-watched episode in American TV history, highlighting its legacy," he continued.
Kloberdanz-Dyck's ranking is actually consistent with where Rolling Stone ranked the legendary series on its own list of the top sitcoms, which it published back in May of 2021. M*A*S*H* was ranked No. 6 by Rolling Stone, as well.
"M*A*S*H* spent 11 seasons covering the Korean War, a conflict that lasted only a fraction of that time. That lifespan allowed the series to essentially have three separate runs under one title: as an anti-establishment farce in the spirit of the Robert Altman film that inspired it, then a more warmhearted and experimental sitcom (remember that black-and-white documentary episode?), and finally an earnest dramedy about the toll the war had on Army medical personnel like Hawkeye (Alan Alda), Margaret (Loretta Swit), Colonel Potter (Harry Morgan), and the rest," Rolling Stone writes. "It was in that last guise that M*A*S*H* gave us its tear-jerking, epic-length series finale, which remains the most-watched single episode of television nearly 40 years later. But the lines often blurred, with those screwball early episodes making room for tragedy, while Hawkeye occasionally busted out his Groucho Marx impression, even near the more sentimental end."
Needless to say, M*A*S*H* has left quite a legacy and his earned its spot in television history, even if it might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the term "sitcom."
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 30, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published June 30, 2026 at 2:59 PM.