Top 5 sitcom classics

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SALT LAKE CITY — The situation comedy — or sitcom, as it is usually called — has been around since the early days of radio. With the initial broadcast of “Sam ‘n’ Henry” on WGN in Chicago, the sitcom format was born. The date was Jan. 12, 1926.

With the introduction of television, sitcoms were one of the first formats adapted to fit the medium. Over the years, there have been a number of popular sitcoms. Here, in one man's opinion, is a list of the top 5 sitcoms of all time, starting from the bottom.

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5. "M*A*S*H": This long-running show first aired in 1972 and ended in 1983. This show was set in Korea during the Korean War. It followed the staff of a mobile army surgical hospital as they battled to save lives and deal with the stress of fighting a war. This show was adapted from a 1970 feature film titled "MASH." The final episode of "M*A*S*H" was noted for being the most-watched episode in U.S. television history: 105.97 million viewers tuned in to watch the show end.

4. "I Love Lucy": This early sitcom ran from 1951 to 1957. An early pioneer for television, it was the most-watched show in the U.S. for four out of six seasons. "I Love Lucy" followed the daily exploits of Lucy, her husband Ricky, and their best friends Fred and Ethel. "I Love Lucy" was the first show to end its run at the top of the Nielsen ratings.

You tell us

This is a solid list, but I would argue "The Honeymooners," and "Cheers" should be on there. I may even put in a plug for "Arrested Development." Share your top 5 list on our comment board and Facebook.

3. "The Cosby Show": This show aired for eight seasons, from 1984 to 1992. "The Cosby Show" followed the daily life of an African-American family living in Brooklyn. Bill Cosby played the father, Cliff Huxtable. This was one of the first sitcoms developed from a standup comedy act. It opened the door for other notable sitcoms that followed this format. TV Guide called this show, “TV’s biggest hit of the 1980’s.”

2. "The Simpsons": Debuting on Dec. 17, 1989, this satirical animated sitcom is about to start its 23rd season. This show is the longest-running U.S. sitcom and the longest-running American animated program. This often irreverent show is famous for its parody of the American lifestyle. Over the years, this show has featured many guest stars and actually holds the world record for most guest stars featured in a television series.

1. "Seinfeld": This hit show began airing in 1989 and ended in 1998. "Seinfeld" was a show about nothing. Part of its appeal was the ability to work just about anything into the plot. Based on the comedy of its main star, Jerry Seinfeld, this show quickly became part of America’s culture. During its nine-year run, this show pushed the boundaries of television decency with a number of controversial topics. TV Guide called "Seinfeld" “the greatest television show of all time.”

Love them or hate them, sitcoms are a part of our culture. With the creation of reality TV, Americans may be seeing fewer sitcoms now than in the past, but the sitcom continues to be a staple of television entertainment.

Steve Larson is one of the founders of Information Alliance, a Utah based data collection company. He currently serves as VP of Sales. Steve spends his free time writing and practicing photography. He also enjoys spending time outdoors.