here's the difference i see between the four most successful shows that follow this criteria, at least in the past few years, along with their (minor) differences:
- everybody loves raymond: oooh look, we were stupid enough to buy a house across the street from the husband's parents! and it includes an overbearing mother, and a wife who clearly doesn't get enough bow chicka wow wow to be perpetually bitchy.
- yes, dear: this one has an apparently wildly rich executive who appears to be castrated, even moreso than men in other shows. he literally has no balls. and he let his sister-in-law move in with her husband and kids.
- king of queens: ooh, this one's got a fat husband with a skinny, hot wife! however, in every episode he (typically) finds ways to fuck everything up while his wife comes in and saves the day...all within 23 minutes.
- still standing: another fat husband/skinny wife combo. however, in this one, both parents are portrayed as morons while the kids know everything. we get to hear stories like the wife going into labour during live aid, which frankly gives me nightmares.