39 Greatest Television Families

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These are some of the greatest comedic and dramatic television families of all time.

Let us know if your favorite TV family didn't make the list!

1. The Pritchetts and the Dunphys - Modern Family

This might seem like a unique take on the modern family, but you'll discover it was a long-term collaborative effort that paved the way for this success. That doesn't mean we're not treated to one of the funniest, most genuine extended families ever to grace the airwaves.

2. The Andersons - Father Knows Best

Airing originals from 1953 to 1964 on prime-time network television, the show was so successful it continued running another three years on primetime after production ended. No other show in television history has done that.

3. The Arnolds - The Wonder Years

The series followed the life of Kevin Arnold from the ages of 12-17, starting in 1968 through 1973. Probably best remembered for Daniel Stern's voiceover as the adult Kevin Arnold narrating the story.

4. The Seavers - Growing Pains

Running from 1985-1992 the series featured a working mother and a stay at home dad and introduced America to the wonder that is Leonardo DiCaprio!

5. The Gilmores - Gilmore Girls

Lorelei and Rory were the mother/daughter duo every girl aspired to be whether as a mother or a daughter. Jared Padalecki and Melissa McCarthy got their starts on the show and it's not the only great family on the list featuring Lauren Graham!

6. The Hecks - The Middle

This series about a mom surviving life with her dysfunctional family in Orson, Indiana features two actresses who find themselves on the list in other great TV families!

7. The Jennings - The Americans

This is Matthew Rhys' first family on the list. The Jennings are hardly normal, as they're Soviet spies who live as American while sending secrets back to their homeland. Their struggle is not to succumb to American ways too completely.

8. The Drummonds - Diff'rent Strokes

The series aired on two different networks from 1978 through 1986. When their mother dies, brothers Arnold and Wills (what chu talkin' bout Willis?!) is taken in by their mom's employer, Mr. Drummand and his daughter, Kimberly. Their housekeeper Mrs. Garrett later spun off to headline The Facts of Life.

9. The Addamses - The Addams Family

Snap snap! The Addams Family only aired from 1964-1966 but never left our minds, later spawning movies in their honor. The extended family is supernatural in origin and has macabre interests.

10. The Kennishes and The Vasquezes - Switched at Birth

These two families would never have met if their daughters hadn't been switched at birth. Now they're one big happy family airing, appropriately on ABC Family.

11. The Bluths - Arrested Development

This formerly wealthery and habitually dysfunctional family refuses to die. Cancelled on Fox, it later resurfaced on Netflix where it will likely continue.

12. The Huxtables - The Cosby Show

You'd think the family would be the Cosbys, right? Not so! Doctor Cliff Huxtable and his wife, an attorney, Clair had five children and lived in Brooklyn. The series ran from 1984-1992 and was comedic but dealt with dramatic issues, as well.

13. The Bunkers - All in the Family

Archie Bunker and his wife Edith dominated television from 1971-1979 as a blue collar family lead by Archie as the politically incorrect patriarch. Their neighbors spun off to be one of the other great families on the list.

14. The Stephens - Bewitched

What would a list of great families be without at least one witch in the mix? The series ran from 1964-1972 and followed the trials and tribulations of Samantha Stephens and her mortal husband, Darren (played by two different actors named Dick!).

15. The Walkers - Brothers & Sisters

This family marks Matthew Rhys' second appearance on the list. The series dealt with death, adultery, homosexuality and a myriad of other dramatic issues during its run.

16. The Cohens - The O.C.

Wealthy couple Sandy and Kirsten Cohen adopted Ryan Atwood and their son, Seth, gave to us Chrismukkah. What more could you want from a family?

17. The Lawrences - Family

A show simply titled "Family" has to make the list, right?! Running from 1976-1980, the series dealt with topical issues such as adultery, divorce, breast cancer, teenage sexuality and homosexuality. It's Meredith Baxter's first appearance on the great family list.

18. The Ewings - Dallas

They were absolutely scandalous in their first run from 1978-1991 and remain so as they live on now on TNT.

19. The Cleavers - Leave it to Beaver

They're like the Dick and Jane books of TV shows. Mrs. Cleaver always in a fancy frock with a tray of cookies and Mr. Cleaver doling out advice for Wally and Beaver after they enter the yard through their white picket fence.

20. The Simpsons - The Simpsons

The Simpsons is the longest-running American sitcom, the longest-running American animated program, and in 2009 it surpassed Gunsmoke as the longest-running American scripted primetime television series.

21. The Matthews - Boy Meets World

Cory Matthews was so darn popular as a child that when he grew up, he got his own show as a father wherein his daughter meets the world. That's progress!

22. The Solomons - Third Rock from the Sun

Aliens come to earth and try to live like us. And they introduce us to the amazing talent of Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

23. The Bradys - The Brady Bunch

Here's the story of a lovely lady, who was bring up three very lovey girls, all of them had hair of gold, like their mother, the youngest one in curls. Here's the story, of a man named Brady, Who was busy with three boys of his own, They were four men, living all together, Yet they were all alone. Till the one day when the lady met this fellow And they knew it was much more than a hunch, That this group must somehow form a family. That's the way we all became the Brady Bunch.

24. The Bundys - Married with Children

Let's be honest, Al and Peg Bundy were the couple we most wanted to emulate deep down inside, right? Ed O'Neill started off this slideshow. He has a penchant for ruling families! Love and marriage...

25. The Ricardos - I Love Lucy

What was really great about this fictional family was that it was formed by the real one - Married couple Lucy and Desi Arnaz. Plus, Lucille Ball was hella funny.

26. The Winslows - Family Matters

Running on two networks from 1989-1998, Family Matters kind of lost focus of its family in favor of neighbor Steve Urkel, but it's still one of the longest running African American family sitcoms, right after The Jeffersons!

27. The Fishers - Six Feet Under

Dealing primarily with death because the Fisher family ran a funeral home, we were treated to one of the most realistic and gut wrenching portrayals of an American family ever on television. This is Peter Krause's first entry on the great family list.

28. The Tanners - Full House

Three men raising the children of the Danny Tanner after the death of his wife. The Full House gang has been making a comeback over the last year, sans their youngest members, the Olsen twins. There's word of a revival series coming soon. Yay or nay??

29. The Whites - Breaking Bad

They put the dis in dysfunction but damn if they didn't steal the hearts of viewers around the world anyway.

30. The Barones - Everybody Loves Raymond

Inlaws, annoying idiosyncracies that occur between spouses and so much more, Everybody Loves Raymond ran from 1996-2005 and never lost steam. It also spawned The King of Queens and the Heffernan family.

31. The Sopranos - The Sopranos

Years after the mob family left the air in one of the most controversial series finales of all times, it's still making news. If James Gandolfini had lived, so would have the Sopranos, I think. We still miss them.

32. The Keatons - Family Ties

Who can forget Alex P. Keaton? If you've never seen the young Michael J. Fox play the conservative son of liberal parents, give it a whirl! This marks Meredith Baxter's second family on the list (both with the word family in the title)!

33. The Partridges - The Partridge Family

Airing from 1970-1974 this series left pre-pubescent and teen girls breathless. David Cassidy's daughter now carries the legacy of his name forward. The series was about a musical family making money as a touring group after the death of their patriarch months prior the series launch.

34. The Griffins - The Family Guy

It seems today that all you see is violence in movies and sex on TV. But where are those good old fashion values on which we used to rely?! Lucky theres a family guy! Lucky theres a man who positively can do all the things that make us laugh and cry! He's A FAM-ILY GUUUUUUUYYY!!!!

35. The Conners - Roseanne

There were two Beckys on Roseanne, the series about the working class family who let it all hang out. Luckily, they got together later with both ladies for a photo shoot! Roseanne aired from 1988 to 1997 and was well-known for its Halloween episodes, something Modern Family has tried to emulate with the Dunphys.

36. The Bravermans - Parenthood

Heading into its last season Parenthood has made us laugh and cry with deeply emotional stories about an extended family. This is the second appearance on the list by Peter Krause and Lauren Graham, who also happen to be dating.

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Shows:
Modern Family, Gilmore Girls, The Middle, The Americans, Switched at Birth, Arrested Development, Brothers & Sisters, Dallas, The Simpsons, Breaking Bad, The Sopranos, Family Guy, Parenthood, Downton Abbey
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The OC
Related Photos:
Modern Family Slideshows, Gilmore Girls Slideshows, The Middle Slideshows, The Americans Slideshows, Switched at Birth Slideshows, Arrested Development Slideshows, Brothers & Sisters Slideshows, The OC Slideshows, Dallas Slideshows, The Simpsons Slideshows, Breaking Bad Slideshows, The Sopranos Slideshows, Family Guy Slideshows, Parenthood Slideshows, Downton Abbey Slideshows
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Modern Family Quotes

You could pretend to get sick at the table. You know cough, stomachache, dealer's choice, I don't care just sell it.

Mitchell

Thank you Uncle Manny!

Haley