28 Years Ago, A Star-Studded Workplace Sitcom Redefined The Genre

In 1998, sitcoms were characterized by laugh tracks, memorable one-liners, and farcical situations. Hits like Friends, Frasier, and Seinfelddominated the scene, often earning decade-long runs that elevated their casts and characters into household names. Much of the time, episode plots felt like vehicles for jokes, with the shows' most iconic scenes able to be enjoyed in a vacuum with little other context.