[Dr. Sivana]

The show itself invented the sitcom.

Not quite. There were sitcoms on radio long before "I Love Lucy", including Lucille Ball's "My Favorite Husband". "Burns and Allen", "Amos and Andy", "The Aldrich Family", "Lum 'n' Abner", "Fibber McGee and Molly", "Duffy's Tavern" could all qualify as humorous sitcoms.

In television, "I Love Lucy" is predated by "Burns and Allen", "The Aldrich Family" and "The Goldbergs" (plus a lot of REALLY obscure shows that came and went)

[freepertoo]

I discovered Fibber McGee and Molly a few years ago. Really very funny stuff and great radio actors. I recommend.