15 Of The Most Iconic LA-Based Sitcoms Of All Time

Do LA sitcoms rule supreme?

Ah, the sitcom. While the definition of the popular TV genre has somewhat evolved over the years, the soul of the sitcom has remained the same.

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Situational comedies are amazing because they can take real-life situations and make light of them, while still teaching viewers a valuable lesson. Los Angeles is one of the most popular cities in the world, so of course, several classic sitcoms have been based there. 

The City of Angels may even boast the best sitcoms of all time. But that's a conversation for another day.

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Over the last handful of decades, Los Angeles-based sitcoms have dominated popular culture. There's just something about the vibe in LA that makes for great television. 

To prove how dope LA-based sitcoms have been, I've compiled this list of 15 iconic series that took place in the city I love.

From The Brady Bunch to The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, these are 15 iconic LA-based sitcoms — in no particular order — that made a huge splash on pop culture!

1. The Bernie Mac Show

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RIP a true legend. This sitcom is heartwarming, hilarious, and one of the most down-to-earth depictions of Black culture and Los Angeles culture. Bernie Mac is a GOAT for this (and much more). 

2. The Brady Bunch

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An All-American classic, The Brady Bunch was iconic and trendy, and the theme song is still stuck in my head in 2021. 

3. Saved By The Bell (1989)

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Saved By The Bell was so iconic they just created a reboot! I don't think any remake could ever touch this classic, but who knows. 

4. Black-ish

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Kenya Barris struck gold and spawned an entire franchise with this emotional and over-the-top sitcom. This may be one of the best depictions of a Black family on modern-day television. 

5. The George Lopez Show

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If you fell asleep with the TV on Nick at Nite between 2007 and 2015, you probably woke up to this series playing on repeat at 2 a.m. It's actually probably still playing now...

6. Modern Family

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This show has taken over the homes of viewers across the nation. The mockumentary-style sitcom is an important piece of pop culture at this point. 

7. The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air

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In my humble opinion, this is the greatest sitcom of all time. Will Smith leads a timeless cast as the fish-out-of-water concept meets Black culture in Los Angeles. 

8. What's Happening Now!!

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This gem followed a group of teens in Los Angeles. "Rerun" became a popular figure when this show debuted in the late '70s, but the entire cast really clicked comedically. 

9. Curb Your Enthusiasm

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Curb Your Enthusiasm has a cult following, and it's easy to understand why. Larry David really deserves all the roses for this. All of them. 

(To be honest though, the whole creative team behind this series is just *chef kiss*)

10. Moesha

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Brandy's '90s sitcom gave us so many memorable moments for the culture that it's easy to ignore some of the more cheesy acting. From Usher to Kobe, Mary J to Jamie Foxx, the guest appearances on this series were super dope!

11. BoJack Horseman

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Maybe not a proper sitcom, but an animated one nonetheless. Bojack Horseman starts off like a regular adult animated series before the second and subsequent seasons dive into very real and hard-hitting topics. 

12. Girlfriends

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Girlfriends followed a group of Black women in Los Angeles as they maneuvered friendship, love, and their careers. It gained massive popularity in the early 2000s, and helped launch Tracee Ellis Ross into sitcom royalty. 

13. New Girl

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This whole damn cast is so charming. New Girl follows Zooey Deschanel after she moves in with a group of quirky guys after dumping her cheating boyfriend. 

14. Insecure

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Insecure is such a modern-day staple in LA culture that it HAD to make this list. Issa Rae catapulted her career to superstardom with this series, which is coming to an end after a successful run. 

15. Sanford and Son

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It really doesn't get much more classic than this. Redd Foxx, LaWanda Page, and Demond Wilson brought the nation racial humor and plotlines that would influence sitcoms for decades to come. 

Are there any LA-based sitcoms you think should have made this list? Let me know below in the comment section!