Television series

Still Standing

Name: Still Standing
Genre: Comedy
Released: 2002
Cast: Mark Addy, Jami Gertz, Jennifer Irwin, Taylor Ball, Renee Olstead

Comedy
Light-hearted

Still Standing is a sitcom about a working-class Chicago couple trying to keep their marriage alive while raising three kids and themselves. It's warm and funny without being saccharine—more interested in how real people bicker, compromise, and actually like each other than in chasing big laughs. For anyone who loves their family but also finds them exhausting.

TVMaze rating

3.8

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you like a warm, domestic sitcom about a long marriage, where the bickering is affectionate and the chaos of three kids and in-laws feels lived-in.

Skip it if a sitcom built on Bill's immaturity may wear thin if you find a grown man's boyishness more tiresome than charming, and the family plots are broad rather than sharp.

What it asks of you: Half an hour per episode and 88 of them over four seasons, so it wants easy, repeated company rather than close attention, and you can dip in without losing much.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

Everybody Loves Raymond1996

The gold standard of family sitcoms. Marie is a force of nature, Debra and Ray have chemistry that crackles, and it finds comedy in the genuine friction of marriage and parenting without losing affection for anyone.

But Nine seasons can feel long. Some plots repeat, and the family dysfunction occasionally tips toward nasty rather than funny.

The Goldbergs2013

Warm, nostalgic, and genuinely sweet about family bonds without getting sappy. Adam F. Goldstein's voice-over gives it charm, and the cast feels like they actually love being around each other.

But The constant '80s references can feel forced if you weren't there. It can tip into saccharine in ways Still Standing avoids.

Schitt's Creek2015

A family learning to be a family again after losing everything. Starts as broad comedy but deepens into genuine tenderness. The found-family dynamic and character growth reward investment.

But First season is uneven. If you need characters to earn affection immediately, the Rose family takes time to win you over.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Still Standing

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Arrested Development2003

Both are about families that aren't ideal, held together by something stubborn and real. One finds comedy in acceptance; the other finds it in refusal. Same engine, opposite direction.

A family comedy that inverts every instinct Still Standing has—mean-spirited, intricate, layered with jokes that reward rewatching. But it's still about how blood ties persist even when everyone is terrible. The structure itself is the joke.

But It's all cynicism and rapid-fire reference humor. If you want warmth, you won't find it here. Some jokes land better on rewatch than first viewing.

Roseanne1988

The ancestor of this whole tradition. Roseanne and Dan are a married couple who are actually attracted to each other, tired, funny, and broke. It respects working-class life without patronizing it.

But Dated in some ways. The early seasons' laugh track can feel intrusive, and some comedy has aged poorly.

Blue Bloods2010

A family that argues and loves in equal measure, held together by ritual and genuine respect. The dinner table scenes crackle. Great ensemble cast, and the procedural element gives you real stakes.

But It's a police procedural first, family show second. If you want 30 minutes of pure domestic comedy, this isn't it.

Malcolm in the Middle2000

Kinetic, surprisingly smart, and Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek are a parental team unlike any other. The chaos feels real, and the love underneath it all is never in question.

But The energy can be exhausting. Some episodes prioritize gags over heart, and it depends heavily on enjoying broad comedy.

Parenthood2010

Multigenerational family drama that actually earns its emotional beats. It respects the difficulty of loving people while also being honest about frustration and disappointment.

But Ten seasons is a commitment. Later seasons lean heavier on melodrama than comedy, and some storylines feel repetitive.

Family Ties1982

A family genuinely curious about each other across generational lines. Michael J. Fox and Michael Gross have real chemistry, and it finds humor in ideology and values without losing the warmth.

But It's a product of its time. The politics can feel dated, and the sitcom rhythm might feel stiff if you're used to modern comedy.

Home Improvement1991

Tim Allen and Patricia Richardson actually seem to like each other, which is rare in sitcoms. It's silly but grounded, and the kids feel like real people navigating real problems.

But The jokes can be groan-worthy. It relies heavily on physical comedy and power-tool gags that don't always land, and some episodes feel thin.

Scrubs2001

Both understand that family isn't just blood—it's the people you choose to keep around. Both balance humor and genuine emotion without letting one swallow the other.

A workplace family that functions like a real one—people who annoy each other, support each other, and genuinely care. It's silly and heartfelt without apology, and it knows when to go quiet.

But Later seasons lose focus. The hospital setting gives it scope Still Standing doesn't have, which some viewers prefer and others find distracting.

Superstore2015

Both anchor comedy in the unglamorous reality of American working life and show that small moments between people matter more than plot. Both trust the audience to find humor in truth rather than exaggeration.

A workplace sitcom that's quietly one of the best shows about American life ever made. It finds comedy and dignity in ordinary work, ordinary people, ordinary struggles. It respects its characters without sentimentality.

But It's quieter and less joke-forward than Still Standing. If you need a punchline every thirty seconds, this will feel slow. Later seasons shift tone significantly.