In the realm of television comedy, few shows have captured the hearts and minds of audiences quite like 'Everybody Loves Raymond'. This beloved sitcom, with its relatable characters and warm, comforting tone, has left an indelible mark on the genre. But what makes it truly special is its ability to evoke a sense of familiarity and warmth, even in the midst of its comedic conflicts. So, if you're seeking more comedies that offer that same comforting feeling, look no further. These are the 10 best TV shows like 'Everybody Loves Raymond'.
Home Improvement
ABC
'Home Improvement' is a charming and entertaining sitcom that shares a similar formula to 'Everybody Loves Raymond'. It stars Tim Allen as Tim 'The Tool-Man' Taylor, a local Detroit TV show host with a tough, wisecracking wife, three adorable sons, and a neighbor who conspicuously never shows his face. While 'Raymond' has its share of domestic squabbles, it's fundamentally a gentle, good-hearted show. 'Home Improvement', on the other hand, has a rougher edge, especially in its portrayal of Tim as a brash, even chauvinistic manly man. But it always finds its way back home to improve its comically flawed characters.
The King of Queens
CBS
'The King of Queens' is a working-class family show that stars Kevin James as everyman Doug Heffernan, a package delivery person. The tone often leans a little more vulgar or churlish than 'Raymond', but James' natural charisma makes it hard not to find him endearing. The connection between the shows continued almost immediately, as Romano and his 'Raymond' castmates crossed over, returned the favor, and officially placed both sitcoms in the same universe.
King of the Hill
Hulu
'King of the Hill' is a slowed and reverbed version of 'Raymond', following a middle-class, loving but rigid father and husband, Hank Hill, as he navigates an ever-changing domestic life. While 'Raymond' can get loud and even aggressive in its comedic conflicts, 'King of the Hill' stays reserved. It's rare to say an animated show feels more realistic than a live-action show, but here we are. Both Hank Hill and Ray Barone are stubborn traditionalists, and both have to be dragged into adapting to the modern world.
Mad About You
NBC
'Mad About You' is a married couple trying their best to get through their days without the titular 'mad' taking on a different definition. It's a little like the domestic relatability of 'Raymond' crossed with the acerbic sensibilities of 'Seinfeld'. The show isn't exactly as cozy as 'Raymond', and Paul Buchman is a more difficult protagonist than Ray Barone. Nevertheless, the shows share a similar point of view about family life, with frustration turning into satisfaction and sharpness softening into warmth.
The Middle
ABC
'The Middle' is comfort viewing of the highest order, a single-cam comedy uninterested in provocation or experimentation. It zeroes in on its relationships, especially nailing that very Midwestern quality of trying to keep up appearances despite a core vulnerability. Patricia Heaton, who shines on 'Raymond', might have her crowning achievement as a TV comedy performer in 'The Middle'. She and Neil Flynn, who you might best know as the ad-libbing janitor on 'Scrubs', have a lived-in chemistry rivaled by few other TV couples.
Modern Family
ABC
'Modern Family' takes the mockumentary format of its contemporaries like 'The Office' and largely ditches its ubiquitous dive into cringe comedy. Instead, it offers a revealing, lovely look into the everyday dynamics of a family unit, no matter what that family unit looks like. The Dunphy stories are charming and familiar, but they aren't the only pleasures of 'Modern Family'. The show also delves into the lives of a gay couple and a blended family, making it a quietly groundbreaking show in terms of representation in mainstream pop culture.
The Nanny
CBS
'The Nanny' is a street-smart Queens woman with a lust for the finer things in life. She lands a job as a nanny to the children of wealthy widower Maxwell Sheffield in his lavish Manhattan home, navigating their culture clashes to warm their hearts and give them exactly what they need. It's an alluring cocktail of many familiar ingredients that nonetheless tastes fresh and relentlessly funny all these years later.
One Day at a Time (2017)
Netflix
The reboot of 'One Day at a Time' is one of the great underrated sitcoms of recent years. It's a single mom raising two kids in the Alvarez family in Los Angeles, struggling to pay the bills while managing her mental health after serving in the military. Like 'Raymond', it uses the multicam form to its fullest advantage, giving tightly written jokes and the characters' deep, driving emotions equal room.
Reba
The WB
'Reba' is a frank show, bolstered by some of the most pointed line deliveries from Reba McEntire in sitcom history. She plays Reba Hart, a tough, wisecracking woman whose life gets spun on its axis when she discovers that her husband has been having an affair with his dental hygienist, Barbra Jean, who is now expecting a baby. 'Reba' treats its audience with intelligence even as its jokes go broad, making for a delightful mixture of highbrow and lowbrow pleasures.
Roseanne
ABC
'Roseanne' is a clear antecedent of not just 'Everybody Loves Raymond' but many contemporary working-class sitcoms. It broke the mold, becoming one of the best shows of the '90s. Burgeoning standup comic Roseanne Barr starred as Roseanne Conner, the hardworking and hard-living matriarch of a family that included her husband, her sister, and her three children, with a fourth arriving later in Season 8. Like Barr's well-honed stand-up persona, Roseanne Conner was caustic, loud, in-your-face, and fiercely independent.
