(CNN) After spending much of the past two years working on CNN's documentary series "History of the Sitcom," I think I can finally offer an answer on what defines the genre. Yes, "I Love Lucy" is a sitcom. So are "The Honeymooners"; "All in the Family"; "Cheers"; "The Cosby Show"; "Seinfeld"; and "Friends." But those newer shows, just like the aforementioned classics, are all part of the sitcom's evolution. "I Love Lucy," though not the first sitcom (several had been on before its premiere in 1951), has and will run forever.

Source: CNN July 11, 2021 13:30 UTC