If you're a fan of sitcoms like I am, you've got to be watching History Of the Sitcom on CNN.

Among the many personalities who comment on the shows is our own Bob Lesczcak, better known as Bob O'Brien who along with writing several books on the genre does weekends on New Jersey 101.5.

Bob came on my show and explained his passion for sitcoms

"Have been into sitcoms since I was a little boy. Used to watch THE ANN SOTHERN SHOW and OH SUSANNA (The Gale Storm Show) every day in reruns before walking to school in the 60s. When I was homesick or on summer vacation I got to watch reruns of THE DONNA REED SHOW, FARMER'S DAUGHTER, PEOPLE'S CHOICE, LEAVE IT TO BEAVER, DENNIS THE MENACE, LOVE THAT BOB, PETE & GLADYS, THE JACK BENNY SHOW, I LOVE LUCY etc."

Bob also explained what makes "History of the Sitcom" so different from the other type of shows.

"This sitcom salute is different because of how it's divided up — into 8 distinct categories. With 75 years of sitcoms and 184 interviewees involved (and each episode, with commercials being about 44 minutes total) there had to be a logical way of doing this, and this was the way."

Bob adds, "Also, instead of doing it chronologically and having several episodes of all black-and-white shows, the topics help to show the old and the new and the color. Also, the inclusion of streaming shows is new. Most documentaries have only delved into network shows in the past. Being a cable show, language and topics not allowed on the networks are allowed in this documentary".

Watching "History of the Sitcom" got me to thinking about all of the great New Jersey actors who helped make some of the greatest sitcoms in television history.

Here are some.

Bob Thomas, William Abbott, Lou Costello
In this March 2, 1945, file photo, Abbott, left, and Costello play cards on set in Los Angeles. Producers of a now-closed Broadway play can use Abbott and Costello's famous "Who's on First" routine over objections by the comedy duo's heirs, an appeals court ruled Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (AP Photo, File)
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If you're going alphabetically, which we're not, and if you're starting from the beginning, which we are not, then you'd have to go with "Abbot and Costello," which ran from 1952-57, starring the comedy duo of Budd Abbot, who hailed from Asbury Park, and Lou Costello who's immortalized with a statue in his home town of Paterson.  This is the show Jerry Seinfeld has said he patterned his show after.

New Jersey Hall Of Fame
In this Oct. 30, 2017, file photo, Jason Alexander attends a special screening of Marvel Studios' "Thor: Ragnarok", hosted by The Cinema Society, at The Whitby Hotel in New York. (Photo by Christopher Smith/Invision/AP, File)
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"Seinfeld" —1989-1998 —Jason Alexander who plays George Costanza was born in Newark.

Judith Light
Judith Light arrives at the 2020 Producers Guild Awards at the Hollywood Palladium on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020, in Los Angeles, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
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"Who's the Boss?" — This popular sitcom which ran from 1984-92 featured Trenton's own Judith Light as Angela Robinson Bower, a divorced advertising executive who owned the house that Tony Danza's Tony Michelli worked at.

Bebe Neuwirth
In this Oct. 7, 2015 file photo, Bebe Neuwirth attends a special screening of "Truth" at The Museum of Modern Art in New York.  (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)
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"Cheers" — 1982-1993 — Bebe Neuwirth from Newark as Frazier's wife Lilith a role she would reprise for "Frazier"1993-2004.

Zach Braff
Zach Braff attends the 2020 Santa Barbara International Film Festival Virtuosos Award on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020, in Santa Barbara, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
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"Scrubs" — 2001-2010 — Zack Braff from South Orange as Dr John Dorian

Danny DeVito
Cast member Danny DeVito arrives at the Los Angeles premiere of "Jumanji: The Next Level," at the TCL Chinese Theatre, Monday, Dec. 9, 2019. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
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"Taxi" — 1978-82 — Asbury Park's Danny DeVito as the immortal Louie DePalma.

John Amos
In this July 26, 2007, file photo, actor John Amos, of the new drama "Men in Trees," attends the ABC Summer Press Tour in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Nick Ut, FIle)
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"GoodTimes" — 1974-79 — Newark's John Amos as James Evans Sr. Amos was only 8 years older than Jimmie Walker who played his son JJ and 19 years younger than Ester Rolle who played his wife on the show

Alan Alda
Alan Alda attend the AARP 19th Annual Movies For Grownups Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel on Saturday, Jan 11, 2020, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Mark Von Holden/Invision/AP)
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"M*A*S*H" — 1972-83 — Alan Alda as "Hawkeye Pierce" lived in Leonia during filming and would commute from Los Angeles on weekends during the 11 years the show ran.

Emmys MASH Cast
Actress Loretta Swit, right, poses with actor Jamie Farr, center, and Harry Morgan, all cast members of the television series "M*A*S*H*", during the 34th Annual Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, Sept. 19, 1982. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
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Also Loretta Swit, who played Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan was born in Passaic in 1937.

John Travolta
In this Aug. 22, 2019 file photo, actor John Travolta attends the LA premiere of "The Fanatic" at the Egyptian Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)
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"Welcome Back Kotter"— 1975-79 — Englewood's John Travolta as Vinnie Barbarino

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