Sitcoms have always been a fascinating lens through which to view American culture, and the sitcom couples at the center of many shows demonstrate how societal standards evolve over time. There was a time when censorship meant that even married couples like Rob and Laura Petrie in the Dick Van Dyke Show had to share separate beds.
While there is endless debate over the best sitcom couples of all time, this list is more interested in which TV couples have been banned from multiple restaurants for being caught in flagrante. While many TV shows string will-they, won’t-they romances out for too long, these sitcom couples can’t keep their hands off each other.
Related to but different from the most chaotic TV couples ever, these partners have been making audiences laugh and blush from the DTLA loft in New Girl to Dunder Mufflin’s warehouse in The Office.
10
Samantha & Darrin Stephens
Bewitched (1964–1972)
Samantha and Darrin Stephens on Bewitched were one of television’s earliest examples of a couple whose passion couldn’t be contained. Considered extremely sensual for the 1960s, they were regularly caught kissing or cuddling in public spaces, neighbor-facing windows, and even Darrin’s office, often drawing amused or scandalized commentary from other characters.
Even mild intimacy was provocative for the era. Just a decade after The Honeymooners mined domestic violence for laughs, Samantha and Darrin’s playful but unmistakable chemistry reflected a shift in network standards, showing that romance and physical desire could be funny, endearing, and subtly subversive, all while navigating the strict censorship of the time.
9
Brad Williams & Jane Kerkovich-Williams
Happy Endings (2011-2013)
Brad and Jane on Happy Endings are proof that even a married couple can be a highlight in a friend-group ensemble. While sitcoms often rely on single characters for story flexibility, Brad and Jane brought their own dynamic energy, keeping viewers laughing with unexpected, over-the-top antics.
The show mined plenty of humor from their uncontainable sexual chemistry, like getting kicked out of restaurants for being caught in the bathroom, and their annual winter fight became a bizarrely charming marker that spring was near. Beyond the chaos, their devotion and stability shine through, making them surprisingly grounded amid the show’s madness.
Brad and Jane’s combination of loyalty and unrestrained passion makes them endlessly entertaining in one of the most underrated friendship sitcoms. ABC, take note: this couple deserves a spin-off.
8
Stan & Francine Smith
American Dad! (2005-Present)
Stan and Francine are an animated couple whose sexual chaos is both outrageous and central to the comedy of many of American Dad!‘s best episodes. Unlike live-action sitcoms, animated series can push physical humor and absurdity to extremes, and Stan and Francine take full advantage, causing destruction and wreaking havoc in restaurants, fairs, and even government buildings.
Their over-the-top lust is often paired with the show’s signature satire, highlighting Stan’s obsession with control and Francine’s sly, mischievous side. While their antics are exaggerated by animation, their chaotic romance is both funny and oddly relatable. Stan and Francine prove that, in animation, no place is too public and no limit is too extreme for marital passion.
7
Major Frank Burns and Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan
MASH (1972-1983)
Major Frank Burns and Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan on MASH are one of television’s early examples of a scandalously public military romance. A product of its time, Houlihan’s nickname reflects both the era’s casual sexism and the show’s use of sexual tension for comedy.
The two frequently hook up in supply closets, tents, and offices, only to be caught by half the 4077th, causing camp-wide chaos. One of their most infamous moments comes when a microphone accidentally broadcasts their affair over the PA system, ensuring everyone knows exactly what they were up to.
Their hardly clandestine romance delivers laughs, embarrassment, and scandal. Burns and Houlihan are a notorious example of a secret, messy, hypersexual workplace relationship that simply can’t keep it under wraps — even if actress Loretta Swit objected to the affair.
6
Al & Peggy Bundy
Married… With Children (1987-1997)
Al and Peggy Bundy on Married… with Children are the archetypal outrageous sitcom couple, turning public misbehavior into a running gag. While Ed O’Neill is now known for playing Jay Pritchett, husband to sexy Gloria Delgado, it’s actually a different Modern Family couple that will make this list. Al and Peggy’s marriage is chaotic, bawdy, and unapologetically raunchy.
They are frequently kicked out of motels, stores, and even carnival rides for their sexual behavior or suggestive antics, with near-hookups and escalating arguments in public forming a staple of the series’ humor. Yet the couple’s enduring devotion gives the Married… with Children surprising grounding. Al and Peggy run hot, which is enduringly entertaining.
5
Ron Swanson & Tammy II
Parks And Recreation (2009-2015)
Ron Swanson and Tammy II on Parks and Recreation are combustible and hilariously destructive, made even more entertaining by the fact that they’re a TV couple played by IRL spouses Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally. Tammy is Leslie’s seductive nemesis, and Ron can’t resist giving in to his ex-wife’s chaotic allure.
Their jail-cell makeout in their wedding attire is peak comedy, with Ron’s hair braided and his robe akimbo. The couple’s uncontainable passion amplifies the show’s comedy, turning every scene they share into a perfect mix of lust, chaos, and laughter. Nothing and no one in Pawnee is safe from their wild chemistry.
4
Dwight Shrute & Angela Martin
The Office (2005-2013)
Dwight and Angela on The Office are defined less by romance and more by their chaotic, obsessive chemistry. Unlike Jim and Pam’s ultimate friends-to-lovers arc, Dwight and Angela are drawn to each other in unconventional and often extreme ways — secret rendezvous in the office, clandestine trysts in the warehouse, and a borderline unhealthy fixation that occasionally veers into cheating.
Their bizarre quirks, power plays, and rigid personalities make their interactions unpredictable, hilarious, and wildly horny. Yet despite the chaos, the show rewards their devotion with a surprisingly satisfying conclusion in The Office series finale. Dwight and Angela prove that sometimes the most memorable sitcom couples are the ones whose passion is messy but utterly unforgettable.
3
Phil & Claire Dunphy
Modern Family (2009-2020)
Phil and Claire Dunphy on Modern Family are the quintessential “every couple,” giving audiences a relatable lens into marriage amid the show’s less normative pairings, like Jay and Gloria or Cam and Mitchell. While Gloria’s sexiness is constantly joked about, Claire is the one who unleashes her inner goddess, much to viewers’ delight.
Phil and Claire share a playful and uninhibited chemistry, developing sexy alter egos for Modern Family‘s Valentine’s Day episodes or being accidentally walked in on by their kids during their anniversary. Phil’s attraction to Gloria is played for laughs, but it’s surprising that he and Claire only have three kids. Phil and Claire prove that marital passion can be funny, bold, and endlessly entertaining.
2
Schmidt & Cece
New Girl (2011-2018)
Schmidt and Cece on New Girl started as a purely physical, almost inexplicable hookup, predating Jess and Nick’s iconic first kiss. Their early chemistry was chaotic, passionate, and often hilariously over-the-top, with neither able to fully articulate the physics of their lovemaking.
Over time, however, their relationship deepens, evolving into an emotional and supportive partnership while maintaining the fervent desire that made their beginning so combustible. Even as married, home-owning parents, Schmidt’s adoration of Cece’s body and mind remains a running gag, and a testament to their enduring chemistry.
While New Girl never condoned Schmidt’s toxic behavior in early seasons, it’s surprising that his relationship with Cece became the longest-running in the show. New Girl’s healthiest relationship somehow grew from its horniest.
1
Morticia & Gomez Addams
The Addams Family (1964-1966)
Gomez and Morticia Addams on The Addams Family are television’s horniest couple, and they were decades ahead of their time. Their relationship is defined by constant near-makeouts, lingering neck kisses, and passionate embraces that never fail to delight.
The series was short-lived, but their marital passion continued in the movies and now on Wednesday, keeping the sparks alive for new generations. Morticia and Gomez are one of the best Halloween couples with a fairytale romance, as well.
Their lusty antics were so explicit for the 1960s that some network affiliates lodged complaints. Beyond the comedy and gothic charm, their unabashed desire for one another set a standard for on-screen marital passion, proving that even in the most macabre of households, true romance, even among sitcom couples, can and should be fiery, fun, and impossible to ignore.
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