Seven Solidly Funny Sitcoms Whose Full Runs Are Only Available on YouTube
For most Bob Newhart fans, his original sitcom, The Bob Newhart Show, is his crown jewel, but I’ll admit a slight preference for his 1980s show Newhart. Perhaps it’s because I grew up watching the second show on Nick at Nite or maybe it’s because broader characters — like Larry, Darryl and Darryl — seemed to make Newhart slightly angrier (and even funnier) than he was in the original.
Whatever the reason, when I revisited the series last year, I was enjoying the eight-season trip down memory lane until I realized that the show’s series finale — which is usually regarded as one of the greatest in TV history — was missing from Amazon Prime. Not only that, but several other episodes were missing, too. It turns out, YouTube is the only place where you can watch the entirety of the show.
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While people might not think of YouTube as the place to stream an entire series, there are a number of sitcoms whose full runs are only available there. While I’d hesitate to call most of them “great,” many are solidly funny shows that lasted at least a few seasons. So the next time your dad changes his Netflix password without telling you, you know where to turn.
Norm
Norm Macdonald’s first sitcom had a convoluted premise: He plays an ex-hockey player who became a social worker for community service. Still, the show delivers some reliable laughs thanks to Macdonald’s singular delivery. Max Wright — better known as the dad on ALF — plays Norm’s frustrated boss who also happens to be hilarious. While the show made it to DVD in 2010, it’s not on streaming anywhere besides YouTube and Amazon lists the DVD set at $350 (definitely not worth it).
Titus
Titus is the only show on this list that I’d consider to be both great and important. Along with more successful shows like Malcolm in the Middle, Titus helped to change the face of sitcoms in the early 2000s by moving away from the multi-camera format. It’s too bad that Fox tanked the series prematurely due to a feud with the head of the network.
Still Standing
Still Standing was one of the lesser sitcoms on CBS’ Monday night lineup in the early aughts (this was the era of Everybody Loves Raymond and The King of Queens). The show follows a couple who are “still standing” after several years of marriage and parenting. It’s not particularly special in any real way, but Mark Addy, who plays the husband, is a funny guy and Jami Gertz, who plays his wife, is similarly solid. Is it great? No, but good enough to last four seasons on CBS.
Yes, Dear
Yes, Dear was another one of those lesser CBS sitcoms from the early aughts, but the show focuses on two couples instead of one (bold choice!). I’d argue this show was even more forgettable than Still Standing, but it lasted for six whole seasons, so someone out there likes this series, and if they’re looking for it, YouTube is the place.
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.
Most people probably aren’t familiar with this series, but back in the 1960s, it had its moment. Jim Nabors’ charming hick doughboy Gomer Pyle was a beloved recurring character on The Andy Griffith Show — so much so that he was given his own spin-off, which lasted for five years. Perhaps the Andy Griffith completists out there need this, or maybe the show is good on its own. I really don’t know, but it’s on YouTube, available whenever I want to check it out.
The Adventures of Pete & Pete
Early 1990s Nickelodeon watchers have been clamoring for The Adventures of Pete & Pete to make it to streaming for years. Yet, despite hosting nearly every other Nickelodeon show on Paramount+ — including much more obscure stuff like Kablam! — the quirky adventures of two brothers with the exact same name still elude us, except on YouTube.
Newhart
Funny enough, since I watched Newhart on Prime a year ago, the show has since been removed entirely and now the only place to get any of it is on YouTube. Whether or not it’s the lesser of Newhart’s two big shows, it’s still solid comedy from one of the 20th century's most important voices in comedy — and it ran longer than Newhart’s original show — so it deserves a proper home. Until then, however, I’ll be following the adventures of Larry, his brother Darryl and his other brother Darryl via crappy uploads on the world’s most watched video streaming service.
