James Burrows never became a household name the way actors or showrunners do. But if you’ve laughed at a sitcom over the last 50 years, there’s a good chance he helped shape it.
Burrows directed more than 1,000 television episodes and played a major role in defining the modern multi-camera sitcom. His career stretches from the golden age of network television to the streaming era, touching some of the most influential comedy series ever made.
Here are the shows that best define his legacy, even if he isn’t with us anymore.
1. Cheers (1982–1993)
If there’s one title that belongs at the top, it’s Cheers.
Burrows co-created the series and directed the vast majority of its run. The show transformed a simple Boston bar into one of television’s most beloved settings and launched the careers of Ted Danson, Rhea Perlman, Woody Harrelson, Kelsey Grammer, and many others.
More importantly, Cheers became the blueprint for ensemble sitcoms. Many of the relationship dynamics and character-driven comedy that later appeared in Friends, How I Met Your Mother, and countless others can be traced back here.
2. Taxi (1978–1983)
Before Cheers, there was Taxi.
The series followed a group of New York cab drivers chasing bigger dreams while working dead-end jobs. It balanced comedy and drama better than almost any sitcom of its era and remains one of television’s most respected ensemble comedies. Burrows directed dozens of episodes and helped establish the show’s distinctive tone.
For many comedy historians, Taxi is where Burrows first demonstrated the directing style that would later make him famous.
3. Friends (1994–2004)
Burrows didn’t create Friends, but his influence on the show is bigger than many viewers realize.
He directed several early episodes, including key first-season installments that helped establish the rhythm, chemistry, and visual style that would define the series for a decade.
When people think of sitcom comfort viewing, Friends is usually near the top of the list. Burrows helped set that foundation.
4. Frasier (1993–2004)
Creating a successful sitcom is difficult.
Creating a spin-off that’s arguably as good as the original is almost impossible.
Burrows directed the acclaimed pilot episode and numerous installments of Frasier, helping turn Kelsey Grammer’s character from Cheers into the centerpiece of one of television’s smartest comedies. The series went on to win multiple Emmy Awards and remains a benchmark for sophisticated sitcom writing.
5. Will & Grace (1998–2006, 2017–2020)
Few directors become as closely associated with a show as Burrows did with Will & Grace.
He directed every episode of the original run, an astonishing achievement considering the series lasted eight seasons and became one of NBC’s signature sitcoms.
The show’s cultural impact was enormous. It brought LGBTQ+ characters into mainstream sitcom storytelling and helped reshape television comedy heading into the 2000s.
6. The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970–1977)
This wasn’t James Burrows’ biggest success, but it was where everything started.
His first directing opportunities came on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, one of the most influential sitcoms ever produced. The series changed television by centering on an independent professional woman and redefining workplace comedy.
Without this show, there might never have been a James Burrows television empire.
7. The Big Bang Theory (2007–2019)
By the time The Big Bang Theory arrived, Burrows was already a legend.
Still, he contributed to the series during its formative years and helped guide another sitcom that would become a ratings powerhouse. The show’s success proved that traditional multi-camera comedies could still dominate in a changing television landscape.
8. 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996–2001)
Often overlooked today, 3rd Rock from the Sun was one of the most inventive sitcoms of the 1990s.
Its premise, aliens trying to understand human behavior, could have become a gimmick. Instead, it became a clever comedy driven by strong performances and sharp writing. Burrows directed the pilot, helping establish the show’s unique comedic voice.
9. Two and a Half Men (2003–2015)
Burrows wasn’t involved throughout the entire series, but his work on the pilot helped launch what became one of television’s biggest ratings hits.
The show’s success demonstrated his ability to spot sitcom potential even decades into his career.
10. Mike & Molly (2010–2016)
By this point, James Burrows had become television comedy’s secret weapon.
Whenever a network wanted a sitcom pilot to have the best possible chance of succeeding, Burrows was often the first call. Mike & Molly became another long-running hit and further extended his influence into a new generation of comedy viewers.
James Burrows rarely stood in front of the camera, but his fingerprints are everywhere in television comedy. From Taxi and Cheers to Friends, Frasier, and Will & Grace, he helped define what a sitcom looks and feels like.
Most directors are associated with one great show. James Burrows helped create an entire era.