Endearing and Realistic Sitcom Families Through the Years

Diaper changes, babysitters, first dates, play dates, and balancing acts are the things that a winning family sitcom are made of. Hollywood has it down to an artform, perfecting the family sitcom genre over the years. From the Huxtables to the Tanners, fictional television families have managed to engage and entertain American audiences from the opening credits. More than that, by making their experiences relatable and realistic, television sitcom families have captured the hearts of viewers.

The Cosby Show: The Huxtables

Starring Bill Cosby, The Cosby Show followed the Cliff and Claire Huxtable and their five children through the years. From five year old daughter Rudy to five year old granddaughter Olivia, watching the Huxtable children grow up and go through real world problems made them one of television's most relatable sitcom families. Intersperced with humor, the experience the Huxtables had were real, and often, touching.

Full House: The Tanners

Though the family structure of Full House's Tanner household may have been unique, their stories weren't. Single father Danny might have struggled with finding time to date and coping with the loss of his wife, but he also struggled with balancing three children, a house, and a job. From DJ's concerns about weight and make up to Michelle's first day of kingergarten, American audiences were engaged with this not-so-nuclear family. In addition, it provided a springboard for parents and conversations about different family types, the death of a parent, and a single parent household.

Malcolm in the Middle: The Wilkersons

Though the outlandish experiences that Malcolm's family often undergo might make it seem as though the family is particularly unrelatable, in fact, the antics of parents Lois and Hal hit close to home for many parents. Between financial woes, unexpected pregnancies, teenage boys running wild, and a motto of doing what works instead of what the book says has endeared Malcolm and his clan to the hearts of millions. Lois and Hal give a voice to what many parents think, but are too afraid to say and do. Unrealistic happenings aside, Malcolm in the Middle's Wilkerson family are one of the most relatable and recent families in sitcom television in recent years.

Family Ties: The Keatons

Another 1980s family sitcom, Family Ties provided another relatable and humorous family in the Keatons. With the Keaton's older children dealing with high school, academics, popularity, and love, viewers were also exposed to parents Elyse and Steven as they handled it all. Parents who didn't always agree, made mistakes, and occasionally embarassed their children were as relatable in the 1980s as they are today. Factor in Michael J. Fox and Justine Bateman playing Alex and Mallory, respectively, and it's no wonder that Family Ties had viewers enthralled.

Growing Pains: The Seavers

The Seaver Family experienced it all--from a work at home dad and a rising journalist mother to three children all struggling to grow up in their own right. With a fitting title, Growing Pains followed the Seaver family and their experiences for eight years. This relatable family sitcom caught viewers' attention, yet again for their realistic portrayal of parents, who didn't always agree, teen angst, and the place for the younger child in it all.

The Seavers, Keatons, Wilkersons, Tanners, and Huxtables each brought something unique to the family sitcom genre. Yet at the same time, these families proved to be relatable, endearing, and real in a way that caught the attention of television viewers nationwide.

Sources:

IMDB; http://www.imdb.cm