2005 Classic Ranked Best 'American Sitcom' of All Time

The Office tops Collider's list of the greatest U.S. sitcoms ever.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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More than a decade after it ended, the beloved sitcom "The Office" has been ranked the best American sitcom of all time by Collider. The show, which premiered in 2005 and ran for nine seasons, followed the employees of the Scranton, Pennsylvania branch of the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. At the center of the series was Steve Carell's character Michael Scott, whose "blend of cringe-worthy leadership and surprising vulnerability" helped anchor the show's mockumentary-style humor.

Why it matters

The Office transformed workplace awkwardness into timeless comedy and continues to resonate with audiences nearly two decades later, particularly among younger viewers who cite it as a comfort-watch staple. The show's influence can be seen in later hits like Modern Family and Abbott Elementary, and its legacy has expanded with a follow-up series, The Paper, premiering on Peacock.

The details

Premiering in 2005, The Office was adapted for American audiences by Greg Daniels from the British series created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. Though its first season received mixed reviews, Daniels adjusted the tone in subsequent seasons, softening the harsher edges and making the characters more relatable and optimistic. Over nine seasons and more than 200 episodes, The Office became a cultural phenomenon and launched the careers of actors including Mindy Kaling, John Krasinski, and B.J. Novak.

  • The Office premiered in 2005.
  • The show ran for nine seasons, ending its run in 2013.
  • More than a decade after its finale, The Office remains one of the most-streamed comedies in the world.

The players

The Office

An American sitcom that aired on NBC from 2005 to 2013, adapted from the British series of the same name.

Steve Carell

The actor who portrayed Michael Scott, the central character of The Office, described as having "an enormous emotional blind spot" in his portrayal of the role.

Greg Daniels

The showrunner who adapted The Office for American audiences, adjusting the tone and making the characters more relatable in subsequent seasons.

Ricky Gervais

The co-creator of the original British version of The Office, which served as the basis for the American adaptation.

Stephen Merchant

The co-creator of the original British version of The Office, which served as the basis for the American adaptation.

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What they’re saying

“Michael Scott is someone with an enormous emotional blind spot. He is someone who truly does not understand how others perceive him. And if he did gain any knowledge, his head would explode.”

— Steve Carell (NPR)

The takeaway

In a television era crowded with prestige dramas and rapid-fire content cycles, The Office endures as a defining American sitcom, transforming workplace awkwardness into timeless comedy and continuing to resonate with audiences nearly two decades later.