Barney Miller 1975-1982 8 years
All in the Family 1971-1979 9 years
The Jeffersons 1975-1985 11 years
Maude 1972-1978 7 years
Good Times 1974-1979 6 years

All of these shows lasted at least a half decade with most of them closer to a full decade in length. I think they just found it "easier" to write dumb characters than take risks with scripts that could push a few buttons.

"The Dick Van Dyke Show", "The Beverly Hillbillies", "The Honeymooners", "The Bob Newhart Show", "The Mary Tyler Moore Show", "The Andy Griffith Show" , "The Carol Burnett Show", "Gilligan's Island" , "McHale's Navy", "Hogan's Hero's", and some others then any of what you listed.

And I think if one were to surf thru the channels that do show alot of re-runs, one will see a preponderance of the shows I've listed compared to the the ones you've listed.

That is what I meant by staying power.

Those were my two favorites. The Jeffersons was good also.

I would not only say that they are smart and progressive but they are also in, at least, the top 20 of all time. I watched a LOT of TV back in the day.

And I don't see the show trying to tackle any issues the way the old shows used to. Most of the humor revolves around how nerds are socially inept compared to the rest of society.

Shows like Waiting For God indicated how many felt that some senior homes seemed little more than dumping grounds but some were not going to stand for it without a fight. Last of The summer Wine had a lot of issues about retirement and how some long for childhood days, old girlfriends and many seemed to want for cash or a new mate. Brit coms also will dare to have more seniors and less of the pretty people. It adds realism. Many of their stages are very bare,very rustic complete with chipped cups,frumpy clothes and less than up to date furniture. That is the way many people live. Far too many sit coms, here, have maids,housekeepers and dishes that look showroom new. It would be difficult to talk about the homeless when the characters look very unconcerned of the world around them.
We used to have Maude which dealt with social issues and Good Times that showed a little of what a housing project could be like. But I never remember shows that came from poverty,the homeless nor even what it's like living in a shelter. This is sad because it could start an education for many who haven't a clue of living the "dark side" in this country--the country where your only home is a street corner and they keep evicting you off that warm street grate. We need to be able to educate people(perhaps with a gentle touch to not scare them away) about the day to day existence of being hungry(especially kids),what it's like to not have health care or a job or a vehicle to get a job. The "plots" are there. We just need networks willing to deal with heavy issues rather than the silly and constant sex-coms.

"Last Man Standing" And something about Neighbors.
Never seen them before, pretty sure I won't see them again.
I think the last sitcom I watched regularly was Roseanne

yeah, it's right close to awful. We like the one about the Neighbors though - aliens are funny. They were funny on 3rd Rock From The Sun and they were funny on My Favorite Martian and a few in between.


I can't say I'm a big fan of Tim Allen but I did love Galaxy Quest.

It was a sitcom done in Claymation and produced by Ron Howard and Eddie Murphy.

It lasted one season. "PJs" refers to "The Projects", or high rise government housing where poor people live.

It had a character named Smokey the Crackhead. He wore a button that said "Lose Weight Now! Ask me How!" Maybe making fun of pyramid schemes and sleazy weight loss companies??

The main character was a building superintendent (maintenance man) named Thurgood Orenthal Stubbs. There's lots of social commentary on black people just in those 3 names!!
Levi Stubbs is one of the Four Tops. Thurgood and Orenthal most people should be able to figure out.

It was full of social commentary about poor black people and very witty. A ghost showed up and said he was an "Apparition-American".

I think it was canceled because it did not have super wholesome black people in it like The Cosby Show.

The Simpsons has a lot of subtle commentary on social issues but you have to watch and listen carefully. It doesn't have a laugh track either, in case you are conditioned to laugh when you hear a laugh track, whether or not the line was funny.