Classic '60s Sitcom Called ‘One of the Most Hilarious' Is Finally Back on TV
A "rare" 1960s sitcom that fans still call one of the best ever is coming back to television.
Starting on Tuesday, May 5, Car 54, Where Are You? will join FETV's weekday lineup, airing back-to-back episodes Monday through Friday from 8:10 a.m. to 9:20 a.m. ET, according to the network's newsletter.
The series, which originally aired on NBC from 1961 to 1963, followed mismatched New York City police officers Gunther Toody and Francis Muldoon as they patrolled the fictional 53rd precinct in the Bronx. Played by Joe E. Ross and Fred Gwynne, the duo became known for their offbeat chemistry-Toody loud and impulsive, Muldoon tall, quiet and methodical-as they stumbled their way through cases with a mix of luck and persistence.
Despite running for just two seasons, the show built a loyal following that has endured for decades. When FETV shared the news on Facebook, fans quickly flooded the comments with praise.
"One of my all-time favorite sitcoms. Vastly underrated when the subject of great shows comes up," one viewer wrote.
Another called it "the best sitcom ever," while others celebrated its return as a rare opportunity to watch a series that hasn't been widely available on television in recent years.
That scarcity is part of what makes the revival notable. Car 54, Where Are You? has cycled through syndication over the decades, but it's no longer part of the current lineup on METV or Catchy Comedy, making FETV the only place on broadcast or cable TV to find it right now. As an NBC property, it is also available on the Peacock streaming service.
Created by Emmy-winning writer and director Nat Hiken, the show stood out for its sharp writing and its depiction of a diverse New York City neighborhood at a time when television rarely reflected that reality. It also helped launch the careers of several familiar faces, including Gwynne, who would later become widely known as Herman Munster.
Critics have long argued that Car 54, Where Are You? was ahead of its time. Critic Bill Gibrondescribed it as a key step in the evolution of the modern sitcom, noting that creator Nat Hiken blended theatrical comedy with a more cinematic, single-camera style that allowed for faster pacing and more inventive storytelling. He also pointed to the show's unusually diverse depiction of New York City, which reflected the real social fabric of the time in a way most early-1960s series did not. NPR critic Lloyd Schwartz similarly praised its mix of humor and realism, calling certain episodes "one of the most hilarious things" he had ever seen on television.
Even decades later, the show's reputation has held strong among both critics and fans. A 2011 Wall Street Journal feature tied to the DVD release noted that Nobel Prize-winning author William Faulkner wasm among the show's devoted viewers-an unusual endorsement for a half-hour network comedy.
Now, more than 60 years after its debut, Car 54, Where Are You? is getting another run, giving longtime fans a chance to revisit it and new viewers a chance to discover why it's still remembered as something special.
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This story was originally published May 2, 2026 at 7:47 AM.