The One With The Romance
There are so many great things to love about sitcoms. They’re light. They’re funny. However, their romantic pairings are often the driving force behind the fanbase. Let’s take a look at some of the best couples sitcoms have to offer.
Luke & Lorelai (Gilmore Girls)
Forget Rory and her stream of immature teenage boys, Luke was always where it’s at. Gilmore Girls lore states that Luke wasn’t even meant to be a recurring character. However, the chemistry between the actors was too strong to deny. The fanbase thanks the showrunners for that decision every single day.
Top 10 Unforgettable Luke & Lorelai Moments, MsMojo
Edith & Archie (All In The Family)
Archie Bunker is a hard man to love. However, Edith does it willingly, week in and week out. Not only were Edith and Archie Bunker the perfect blend of comedy, but they were also the perfect blend of love. Her sweetness tamed his grumpiness… most of the time.
Cory & Topanga (Boy Meets World)
A whole generation of kids grew up knowing that they wanted what Cory and Topanga had. They were the perfect coming-of-age couple, and they taught so many 90s and 2000s kids what love—true love—looked like. Not all high school sweethearts are meant to be, but we all knew Cory and Topanga were from the start.
Cory And Topanga Moments From Season 7 (Boy Meets World), Boy Meets World Weekly
Marshall & Lily (How I Met Your Mother)
Technically, How I Met Your Mother was about the love life of Ted. However, anyone who watched the show knows that Lily and Marshall were the true romance and the heart of the show. They were ridiculous and sweet; they were human and that’s what made audiences root for them.
Top 10 Lily and Marshall Moments, HIMYM, MsMojo
Randal & Beth (This Is Us)
This Is Us swept the nation when it aired in 2016. It was a format that we hadn’t seen on television before and likely won’t see again. Some may argue that Jack and Rebecca are the heart of the show, and they may have a point. However, Randall and Beth weathered every storm together with love, sass, and good communication. That’s what makes us love them.
This Is Us (NBC) This Is Randall & Beth Promo HD, TV Promos
Jim & Pam (The Office)
Name a more iconic television couple than Jim and Pam. I’ll wait. We’re not saying that they’re the best couple on TV (who can choose the best when there are so many options?), but they certainly have a huge fanbase. Even when Roy laid claim to Pam’s heart, audiences knew that it would be Jim & Pam.
Jim & Pam Get Hammered - The Office US, The Office
Lucy & Ricky (I Love Lucy)
It’s right there in the name. We all love Lucy, but no one loves Lucy quite as much as her husband, Ricky. The push-and-pull of their relationship was universally relatable, and they were one of the first multi-ethnic couples on television.
I LOVE LUCY - Lucy & Ricky Ricardo: When I Fall in Love, KJ Ricardo
Seth & Summer (The OC)
The geeky boy in love with the popular girl who doesn’t even know his name has been done hundreds of times. It will be done a hundred more. However, few of them will match up to The OC’s Seth and Summer. Unlike pale imitations, Seth and Summer both grow as characters, learning to truly see each other as they fall in love.
Seth & Summer [The O.C.] || It's Always Been You, Amber De Fere
Dre & Rainbow (Black-ish)
As the series went on, Dre and Rainbow faced their problems. However, that’s what makes them so relatable, and therefore lovable. Love isn’t always enough. You need to work on yourself and your communication too. Their heart and determination make them a classic television couple for sure.
Dre and Bow Look Back on Fond Memories - black-ish, ABC
Phil & Vivian (The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air)
If there is one truth that needs to be universally acknowledged, it is that good TV parents make your heart swoon. Sure, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is about Will Smith’s character. However, Phil and Vivian provide such solid, loving support in the background that you will always fall in love with them.
Uncle Phil's Outbursts | The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Warner Bros. TV
Kurt & Blaine (Glee)
Glee has been under controversy ever since it wrapped up. It was far from perfect, and the drama behind the scenes might’ve been chaotic. However, Kurt and Blaine were perfection. Not only were they an early representation of LGBT couples when there weren’t a lot of mainstream options, but their relationship was just good. Plus, their duets were fire, always.
Jake & Amy (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)
If there is one rule of television, it is that banter is almost always flirting. If it isn’t flirting…well, the writers got it wrong. Jake and Amy take their time growing together. However, once they do, their romance is pure perfection. They know each other. They love each other. They support each other.
Jake and Amy from FIERCE rivals to the PERFECT couple 💖 | Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Meredith & Derek (Grey’s Anatomy)
We won’t talk about that episode (if you know, you know). However, regardless of where their story ended up, Meredith and Derek were the heart of Grey’s Anatomy. A one-night stand should not have turned into something so beautiful, and yet here we are.
Meredith & Derek | Season 1, Judith B
Ben & Leslie (Parks And Recreation)
Parks And Recreation was struggling in the ratings when they tried something new. They wrote off characters that weren’t working and brought in new characters, Chris Traeger and Ben Wyatt. This was a stroke of genius that would save the show. Few couples are as perfect for each other as Ben and Leslie were; they are relationship goals, without a doubt.
Ben & Leslie just being crazy horny teenagers | Parks and Recreation, Parks and Recreation
Uncle Jesse & Aunt Becky (Full House)
Full House raised so many 90s kids. Those 90s kids turned into teenagers and adults who knew that Uncle Jesse needed to be with Becky. Someone had to turn Jesse into a family man, and Becky was the only woman to do it.
Full House - Uncle Jesse proposes to Becky, Mr. Bear
David & Patrick (Schitt’s Creek)
Starting in Canada on the CBC, Schitt’s Creek made it big when it hit the American market. David Rose has long been a fan favorite. However, when Patrick was introduced in the later seasons as a love interest for David, the hearts of fans warmed. Patrick was the perfect balance to David’s chaotic energy, and they make you believe in love.
David and Patrick’s Love Story - Schitt’s Creek, Schitt's Creek
Blair & Chuck (Gossip Girl)
Let’s be honest, no one should aspire to be anyone on Gossip Girl. The glamorous lifestyle churned out personality flaws in every character that needed to be dealt with (but that was part of the fun). However, Blair and Chuck’s love carried a steady heartbeat throughout all of the drama and angst that surrounded them.
Chuck & Blair | Gossip Girl, Warner Bros. TV
Claire & Jamie (Outlander)
There would be no Outlander without Claire and Jamie. Despite being part of two very different worlds, it is immediately clear that Claire was made for Jamie and vice versa. Their lives were far from easy, but their love was worth it.
Jamie and Claire's Relationship | Outlander Behind The Scenes, Sony Pics at Home UK
Stef & Lena (The Fosters)
Sometimes, you watch television for the fantasy. Other times, you want the reassurance that love is possible, despite the hardships. That is what Stef and Lena offered. They had their highs and they had their lows, but through it all, they had each other. That is what love is.
The Fosters | Season 4, Episode 16: Stef and Lena Get Married, Again! | Freeform, Freeform
Coach Taylor & Tami (Friday Night Lights)
We said it from the top, sometimes the romance just steals the show. Yes, fans of Friday Night Lights are here for the game, and the players involved. But they’re also here for coach and Tami. They are the goals we're all looking for.
Friday Night Lights | Coach Taylor and Tami: The Perfect Relationship?, Peacock
Mitch & Cam (Modern Family)
All of the couples in Modern Family had their strengths. However, Mitch and Cam truly balanced each other out. Their flaws complimented the other’s strength, and even when they didn’t see eye-to-eye, you knew that they had each other’s back, because that is what love is.
The Best Cam and Mitchell Moments (Mashup) | Modern Family | TBS, TBS
Frank & Estelle (Seinfeld)
Sometimes, your favorite couple is a couple that can never seem to get along. Frank and Estelle were hilarious whenever they were on-screen. They were also hilarious because we all know a couple like them: arguing all day long, but everyone knows they’d do anything for each other.
Costanzas Meet the Rosses - Seinfeld, Seinfeld Shorts
Chidi & Eleanor (The Good Place)
We dare you to watch The Good Place and not fall in love with Eleanor and Chidi. She needs to learn to emote. He needs to learn to live a little. They were meant to drive each other up the wall, and instead, they balanced each other perfectly. We don’t care what “The Bad Place” says, these two are soulmate material.
Chidi Remembers Eleanor - The Good Place, The Good Place
Mindy & Danny (The Mindy Project)
Some of the best relationships on television play the long game. There is something in a true slow burn that is just enjoyable to watch. It takes time for Mindy and Danny to see the potential of their relationship for themselves. However, the ride of them getting there is a great one.
Danny Makes Mindy Quit Her Job - The Mindy Project, The Mindy Project
Fran & Mr Sheffield (The Nanny)
The Nanny practically invented the “will they, won’t they” premise. They made audiences wait a long time to see our title nanny get together with Mr Sheffield. However, that didn’t mean that viewers didn’t know they were meant to be, basically from the start.
Fran Wakes Maxwell Up | The Nanny, The Nanny
Dwayne & Whitley (A Different World)
A lot of the couples that are beloved fall into the category of “opposites attract”. The premise soothes something inside of us, telling us that there are few differences that can’t be overcome. For Dwayne and Whitley, their blooming romance challenges them, and helps them become better versions of themselves.
Cute and funny moments from Dwayne and Whitley, Deborah C. Eke.
Carol & Mike (The Brady Bunch)
The Bradys prove that you don’t have to get love right the first time, and there is always a second chance for you. This might be a second marriage for both; however, you never doubt that Carol and Mike love each other. They hold together their family through all the chaos.
Mike and Carol Brady Switch Parenting Rolls!, The Brady Bunch
Willow & Tara (Buffy The Vampire Slayer)
If nothing else, Willow and Tara deserve to be mentioned because they provide a much-needed dose of representation for young women everywhere. However, they aren’t a good couple despite or because of their sexuality. They’re a good couple because they are a good couple. Their slow burn, friends-to-lovers romance gives viewers a beautiful look into how love grows slowly over time.
Willow Rosenberg & Tara Maclay (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), 129Ashley129
Veronica & Logan (Veronica Mars)
They probably shouldn’t be a thing. Veronica is a detective. Logan is a bad boy. On paper, they should clash. However, on-screen, Veronica and Logan just work. They challenge each other, but they also trust each other, which is something we all need.
Veronica & Logan Are Endgame | Veronica Mars, Warner Bros. TV
Nathan & Haley (One Tree Hill)
In the real world, your high school romance just can’t last. In the television world, it can be the start of something beautiful. Nathan and Haley’s relationship is simple. It’s sweet. It holds a center in a teen drama that, well, should be all about the drama.
nathan and haley s1 scenes | one tree hill, dunphysfourthchild
Harriette & Carl (Family Matters)
If you can find someone who always supports you, who always balances out your chaos, then you will be set for life. That is exactly what Harriette and Carl had. Carl could always get in trouble, and Harriette would always be there to help him out.
FAMILY MATTERS - Carl & Harriette Have Bad Luck at the Airport, A FUSCO - Classic TV
Louis & Jessica (Fresh Off The Boat)
Louis and Jessica may have had different views of how to deal with living in a culture different from their own. Jessica wanted to fight for the culture of her ancestors, while Louis loved embracing the culture they’d moved to. However, they always understood each other, knew what they needed, and fought for it.
Jessica and Louis are Godparents – Fresh Off The Boat, ABC
Paul & Jamie (Mad About You)
A lot of shows like to end after the “happily ever after”. Mad About You took a different approach, and instead showed us the life after Paul and Jamie say “I do”. Sure, it isn’t always easy. However, they prove over and over just how “mad” they are about each other.
Jamie and Paul Find Love Letters! | Mad About You, Throwback TV Clips
Ian & Mickey (Shameless)
No one in Shameless is perfect. They all have a whole hotel full of baggage trying to hold them back. Ian and Mickey’s love is messy to the extreme. However, that’s what makes it beautiful; they meet each other in the middle of the mess and love each other because of it, not despite it.
'Tell Us About Ian & Mickey' Ep. 7 Official Clip | Shameless | Season 11, Shameless
Jane & Rafael (Jane The Virgin)
Jane and Rafael’s story is… unique, to say the least. However, they show how supportive and good love can be. Regardless of their obstacles, they always come back to each other, supporting what the other needs.
Top 10 Best Jane & Rafael Moments on Jane the Virgin, MsMojo
Pacey & Joey (Dawson’s Creek)
They say that you should fall in love with your best friend. Pacey and Joey prove why that’s a good idea. They’re sweet. They’re fun. They’re friends first and lovers second. That’s what makes it beautiful.
Top 10 Pacey & Joey Moments on Dawson's Creek, MsMojo
Glenn & Maggie (The Walking Dead)
It’s hard to think of The Walking Dead as the sort of show in which you find love. However, sometimes the harshest conditions develop the most beautiful loves. That’s the case for Maggie and Glenn, even if they’re always afraid of that love being doomed.
Glenn & Maggie | Too Close To Touch | The Walking Dead (Music Video), Mate Gamez
Philip & Elizabeth (The Americans)
Few things are as stressful as being KGB spies during the Cold War. Philip and Elizabeth prove the strength of their relationship by persevering, despite these pressures.
philip + elizabeth | ashes on the ground, xladyxmacbethx
Jess & Nick (New Girl)
“Will they, won’t they” have been overdone in media. However, there are a few occasions in which the tug and pull between the two characters is perfect. Jess and Nick from New Girl had the perfect balance of tension that left audience members rooting for them, no matter how many times they went from on to off and back again.
New Girl Season 7 Nick & Jess Recap (HD) Final Season, TV Promos
Oliver & Conner (How To Get Away With Murder)
It’s hard to grow a relationship when you’re always keeping secrets. Oliver and Conner have to overcome a lot to grow together. However, despite it all, they are always there to ground and support each other.
Connor and Oliver’s Wedding - How To Get Away With Murder, ABC
George & Louise (The Jeffersons)
You know that you are a dream couple, when you get your own TV show, just for being you. Everyone loved The Jeffersons so much when the appeared on All In The Family that they got their own show. Their love only continued to grow as they were given more screentime.
The Jeffersons | Louise Leaves George! | The Norman Lear Effect, The Norman Lear Effect
Emma & Killian (Once Upon A Time)
Who would have thought that Captain Hook would be made for love? Once Upon A Time made a lot of interesting interpretations of fairytales. Some worked. Some didn’t. Emma and Killian (Hook) worked, developing from reluctant allies to true loves.
Emma Asks Hook to Move In - Once Upon a Time, ABC
Monica & Chandler (Friends)
Sure, Friends will always be remembered for Ross and Rachel, but we think that they should move over to make room for Monica and Chandler. Their romance was slower. It was more subtle. However, it was genuine. They knew who each other was and loved them because of that. They showed what love should be. We all want what Monica and Chandler have.
In 2023, Matthew Perry revealed how he saved the couple's relationship behind-the-scenes. Perry fought against a writing decision to have Chandler cheat on Monica, fearing that fans of the show would "never forgive his character. Thankfully, Perry got his way and one of the best sitcom couples stayed wholesome to the end.
The Full Monica and Chandler Story | Friends, Still Watching Netflix
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