5 Worst Pregnancy Storylines In Sitcom History, Ranked

In the world of sitcoms, pregnancy storylines have been both a blessing and a curse. While classics like *I Love Lucy* and *It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia* have handled these storylines masterfully, there have been instances where the introduction of a baby has actively undermined character arcs. Here, we rank the five worst pregnancy storylines in sitcom history.

First on the list is the final season of *The Big Bang Theory*. After Bernadette (Melissa Rauch) was clear about not wanting children, the writers introduced her second pregnancy storyline. While forgivable in some ways, it was frustrating because Kaley Cuoco had expressed her disapproval. The show's creators faced backlash, and the decision ultimately felt like wish fulfillment for the male characters at the expense of Bernadette's agency.

Next up is *Mad About You*. The show's couple, Helen Hunt and Paul Reiser, introduced a baby in the Season 5 finale, something Reiser had initially opposed. Critics panned the show's baby-obsessed turn, culminating in the infamous "The Conversation" episode where the baby cried for 20 minutes straight. The introduction of baby Mabel seemed like a desperate attempt to keep the series fresh, but it only hastened its cancellation.

Third, we have *Brooklyn Nine-Nine* Season 6, "Casecation." The episode features Amy Santiago (Melissa Fumero) discovering Jake (Andy Samberg) doesn't want children, leading to a structured debate. While the premise is simple, the flippant handling of the situation and the forced romantic climax left viewers uneasy. The show attempted to portray Jake's change of heart as growth, but it felt like a hostage situation.

Fourth on the list is *Modern Family* Season 10, where Haley (Sarah Hyland) becomes pregnant with twins. Despite early jokes about her accidental pregnancy, her career was initially sidelined. However, the most frustrating aspect is the choice of father: her high school boyfriend Dylan (Reid Ewing), someone she needed to outgrow. This choice sidelined Haley's career and romantic arc, making it a disappointment.

Lastly, *Murphy Brown* introduced a pregnancy storyline to challenge its lead character. While the show tackled the issue in an interesting way, the final seasons of *Murphy Brown* saw the character introduced as pregnant twice in quick succession. Her second pregnancy was somewhat forgivable due to Rauch's real-life pregnancy, but the decision to make Penny (Kaley Cuoco) pregnant in the series finale was unforgivable. It frustrated fans even more because Cuoco had explicitly stated she didn't want children.