by Nick Somoski

Created on: June 07, 2009   Last Updated: December 22, 2010

Some of my fondest childhood memories are of my family and me sitting around our television watching TV. Every Tuesday night, we would watch Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, and Three's Company on ABC, while every Saturday night we'd sit down to enjoy the comedy of Archie Bunker and Mary Tyler Moore. Our family came together and genuinely enjoyed each other's presence, and I loved that.

Even today, television brings my family together. We'll watch shows like American Idol and Survivor together. All across the country, families have come together for years, thanks to the likings of some of the best television shows ever to hit the airwaves.

1. The Cosby Show - Not only did it revive the sitcom genre in 1984, but it put NBC at the top of the ratings and gave families something to enjoy watching together. This was a show that you didn't need to feel embarrassed watching with your parents or children, because it was just funny. Everything about The Cosby Show remained comedy at its roots, allowing you to laugh along and set aside a half hour of your life every Thursday night to just enjoy the moment. The Huxtables were a family that everyone loved to watch. It reminded you of your own family, and viewers invited them into their homes for 8 years, making it one of the truly best family shows in television history.

2. All in the Family - Because of the topicality that Archie Bunker brought to his family, families found themselves playing along and fighting along with the Bunkers. This was a show that families could watch together and think about the issues that each episode brought. It was the #1 show for five years - clearly viewers agreed that you didn't need to be political to enjoy the humor. As the title suggests, its realism brought an entirely new perspective on the American family.

3. The Andy Griffith Show - A show about a father, who's sheriff of the town, his deputy, his son, and his housekeeper . . . this is what drew families to watch it. In the 1960s, Andy Griffith was the ideal family show. It involved storylines that the entire family could enjoy. To this day, I'll watch it with my kids on TV Land, and for a black and white show, they seem to enjoy it. They were one of the most realistic TV families of the time, and they struck a cord with all types of television viewers.

4. Happy Days - Every Tuesday night, families (including my own) gathered around their TV sets to watch the Cunninghams. Happy Days showcased the typical 1950s family, reminding

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