The best sitcom couples of all time

It’s impossible to talk about sitcom couples without mentioning Jim and Pam. They’re simultaneously king and queen of the will-they-won’t-they trope and the steadfast, reliable couple we know we can count on. The writers wanted Jim to cheat on Pam in the later seasons, and thankfully, John Krasinski intercepted. He knew viewers wouldn’t forgive that sin. 

Every good sitcom needs a will-they-won’t-they that lasts the entire series, and for The Office, that’s Dwight and Angela. The pair eventually marries on Schrute Farms, just like Angela had planned when she was engaged to Andy, and the two are visibly as happy as they’ve ever been throughout the finale. 

After Michael Scott’s years-long search for the love of his life, he finds the adorable HR rep Holly who’s just as dorky as he is. Despite his obvious shortcomings as a boss, it’s impossible not to root for Michael when he meets Holly, and the blow of his bittersweet departure is softened just a bit, knowing he’s off to start a life with his soon-to-be wife. 

Despite the chaos at their house, watching Phil and Claire on screen is incredibly comforting. Though Claire is more uptight than most moms and Phil is more ridiculous than most dads, we all know a couple just like these two. It might even be our parents. 

Let’s face it: Cam and Mitch are why we watched Modern Family. Their sassy dynamic is responsible for some of the series' best moments, and it only gets better when their daughter Lily can spar with them. We knew from the pilot they were going to be sitcom couple gold. 

Ben and Leslie are the world’s most adorable political couple. He supports all her dreams and quirks while she encourages him and pushes him to be better. If real politicians acted more like Ben and Leslie, the world would be a better place. Ben and Leslie for president. 

April and Andy of Parks and Recreation epitomize the phrase “opposites attract.” Sunny and loveable meets dark and standoffish, and it somehow works perfectly. And with their three-legged dog, Champion, this unlikely pair makes one oddly endearing family. 

Chris and Ann are admittedly an unconventional couple. The duo makes out the first night they meet and don’t officially begin dating again until after Ann’s pregnant with Chris’ baby. Caring, loving, and sweet together, Chris and Ann are one of the rare television couples you’re sure would actually be together in real life. 

Monica and Chandler are one of the best sitcom couples of all time, but arguably, the best aspect of their relationship is how they get together. After a drunken hookup in London, Monica and Chandler go months hiding their relationship from their friends and family, and the episodes are a high point of the entire series. Few episodes of television are as funny as Joey doing his best to keep their relationship a secret.  

The only bad thing about Phoebe and Mike’s relationship on Friends is that it doesn’t begin until late in the series. Their meet-cute is hysterical, their wedding is stunning, and everything in between is what television couple love stories are made of. It’s tough to make a main character fall in love with a supporting character, but it works seamlessly with Phoebe and Mike. 

Despite Schmidt doing everything in his power to keep Cece from loving him, she still does, and fans of the show thank her. Once they finally get together, Schmidt and Cece give us Ruth, a darling addition to the show who somehow gives us even more iconic Nick Miller lines.

Despite being so obviously perfect for each other, we didn’t mind having to wait until the penultimate season of New Girl for Nick and Jess to finally give it an honest try. The other partners they bring into the loft are amusing characters, and the dynamic of friends-turned-lovers-turned-exes still living together never gets old.

Normally a father falling in love with his nanny would be a salacious plot line. Still, since Mr. Sheffield is a widower in need of a mother to his children, it’s totally copacetic and something every fan was waiting for. Since Fran and Mr. Sheffield act like they’re married far before becoming an official couple, they’re clearly meant to be together. 

The actor switch of Aunt Viv aside, she and Uncle Phil make one fantastic couple. Both strong and supportive, they’re the kind of couple we all need: stable, steadfast, and bound to get through anything. Since those couples are hard to find in real life, we’re glad we have one on television. 

When Jake and Amy run into Doug Judy on their cruise, he perfectly sums up why we can’t get enough of them: together, they’re just loveable. Jake and Amy make each other better detectives and better people, and watching them grow together never gets old, no matter how many times we’ve rewatched Brooklyn Nine-Nine. 

Two people who are obviously meant for each other, Captain Holt and Kevin bond over their shared love of academia and grammatically correct sentences. Like many real-life couples, the pandemic almost tears them apart, but thanks to some meddling from the squad, Captain Holt and Kevin get a real wedding after all. 

Everything about Uncle Jesse and Aunt Becky’s relationship is heartwarming. They’re supportive of and sweet to one another, and though we wish we could trade places with Aunt Becky, we can’t help but be happy whenever they’re together on screen. And the song Uncle Jesse writes and sings to Aunt Becky at their wedding? Swoon. 

Most men in Johnny Rose’s position would find themselves single after losing everything thanks to a shady financial advisor, but Moira proves that for everything she is, a gold digger, she is not. Moira is as cooky and dramatic as Johnny is rational and level-headed, and their relationship is as sweet as it gets. 

After years of Niles being married to Maris, the wife we never see, while pining after his father’s physical therapist, he finally works up the courage to tell Daphne that he loves her and that he has for years. Seeing one of the quirkiest characters in all of television in a healthy relationship is nothing short of heartwarming. 

Cantankerous meets caring in Red and Kitty Foreman. The couple makes us believe in love in That ‘70s Show, and they prove it does endure when they reprise their roles for That ‘90s Show. No television parents are quite like Red and Kitty, and if we could spend as much time with them as their children’s friends do, we’d be thrilled.