1. Family Guy
Creator: Seth MacFarlane
Debut: January 31, 1999
Premise: The show centers around the Griffin family—Peter, Lois, Meg, Chris, Stewie, and their talking dog, Brian. Set in the fictional town of Quahog, Rhode Island, it uses humor, satire, and pop culture references to tackle various societal and family dynamics.
Unique Aspects: Known for its edgy humor, cutaway gags, and irreverent take on serious topics.
2. The Simpsons
Creator: Matt Groening
Debut: December 17, 1989Premise: This long-running sitcom revolves around the Simpson family—Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie. They live in the fictional town of Springfield, dealing with everyday family and societal issues through satirical and humorous lenses.
Unique Aspects: Known for predicting future events, its iconic characters, and its impact on popular culture. It’s one of the longest-running TV shows ever.
3. SpongeBob SquarePants
Creator: Stephen Hillenburg
Debut: May 1, 1999
Premise: The show is set in the underwater city of Bikini Bottom and follows SpongeBob, a happy-go-lucky sea sponge who works at the Krusty Krab restaurant. His friends include Patrick Star, Sandy Cheeks, Squidward Tentacles, and Mr. Krabs.
Unique Aspects: Its whimsical, colorful animation, absurd humor, and appeal to both children and adults have made it a cultural phenomenon.