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What's the best TV sitcom of all time? Help us decide!

We've narrowed the field down to 20 contenders. What do you think is the best TV sitcom ever?

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L: NBC/AP R: CBS/AP
L: (from l. to r.) Michael Richards, Jason Alexander, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Jerry Seinfeld star in Seinfeld. R: Lucille Ball stars in 'I Love Lucy.'
  • By Molly Driscoll Staff Writer

From the "show about nothing" to Lucy and Ricky's groundbreaking comedy to a poignant and funny look at doctors working during the Korean War, TV has produced various stellar sitcoms over the decades. These shows have not only entertained audiences but also changed Hollywood and society. "I Love Lucy" invented re-runs, now an industry staple. "All in the Family" challenged society's perceptions through the views of hero Archie Bunker. "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" showed home audiences the single woman life that was becoming a reality in America but not often discussed. "Roseanne" showed the struggles of a working-class family when TV ensembles were often more affluent.

Meanwhile, on the awards circuit, our contender "Frasier" currently holds the most Emmy awards, having secured a whopping 37 over its run. It broke the record held previously by poll competitor "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," which had won 29.

Of course, not every show can be an awards darling. Castaways comedy "Gilligan's Island" never received an Emmy nomination, while the medical comedy "Scrubs" was nominated but never secured an Emmy award. Time-warp program "That '70s Show" received one in 1999 for its costume design and was nominated several more times over its run, but only got its name called at the awards ceremony once.

But which of these shows is the best of all time? Monitor staff have winnowed the list down to 20 competitors for the crown, with 1951's "I Love Lucy" currently the earliest show and 2001's "Scrubs" serving as the newest contender. Vote in our poll below, which will be open through June 7, and then we'll compile an article based on your, the readers', rankings.

Have fun voting!

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