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Since the beginning of scripted television, viewers have turned to the small screen for some good ole fashioned comic relief. Whether it’s a darkly funny animated series like The Simpsons or a comforting show about a group of friends hanging out at a bar like Cheers, television comedies provide the perfect escape from daily life.
When TV shows find their audiences and become massive hits, networks like to keep the cash cows on air as long as possible. These sitcoms are the not-so-rare few that struck comic gold, making their stars very, very rich, and keeping audiences happy for years, or in some cases even decades.