All-Time Best Sit-Coms on TV

[Michael]

Okay, a companion thread to the other one.

Which sit-coms were actually good?

Certainly some of the older ones were very good: M*A*S*H and All in the Family come to mind as particularly good examples of the genre.

I just saw a couple of episodes of All in the Family recently and I must say the humor in that show seems to hold up remarkably well over time which is surprising since the show was so heavily 'political' in its day. Archie Bunker himself must be considered one of the greatest tv characters of all time.

[dilettante]

I'll nominate Fraiser ('93) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106004/) and The Dick Van Dyke Show ('61) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054533/) as among the best.

EDIT: Oh, and if we're counting animated sit-coms, The Simpsons needs a nod, at least for it's better years.

[drgoodtrips]

You just beat me to the punch with the Simpson's. And, I fully agree that it's certainly no longer worth that title, but was in its heyday (seasons 4-7 or so, and with good moments persisting another 3 years after that).

[Michael]

Yes Simpsons has been one of the greatest comedy shows of all time. No doubt of that. :)

As for Archie Bunker, it occurs to me that he might be the true original inspiration for Stephen Colbert. :ummm:

[dilettante]

You just beat me to the punch with the Simpson's. And, I fully agree that it's certainly no longer worth that title, but was in its heyday (seasons 4-7 or so, and with good moments persisting another 3 years after that).

Yeah, we have seasons 3-7 on DVD. I started watching the latest season online last Spring (after not seeing new episodes for years) and was shocked at how truly idiotic it had become. At first I thought maybe my tastes had just changed, but then I went back and watched some old shows and it was still as funny as ever.
Is Groaning still doing the writing?

[drgoodtrips]

I don't know who's doing the writing now, but I do know that Conan O'Brien did a lot of it during the best years. I think there's been a pretty good amount of turnover in the writing staff since it's been on for 20 years or whatever.

I had an idea a long time ago that they should just age the characters and do the show with Bart as an 18 year old, Lisa as a 16 year old, and Maggie as a 12 year old (or whatever that works out to).

Though, in the case of Grandpa, that might get downright depressing.

[Michael]

Matt Groenig is the creator and chief writer of The Simpsons and always has been.

His "Life in Hell" comic strip has been running here in Toronto for decades.

[Michael]

Btw, I have to nominate "Get Smart". Not because it was one of the greatest (because it wasn't) but because it was just a damn funny show.

[drgoodtrips]

I'm having trouble considering ones I liked versus "the best". For instance, I loved "Married With Children" and "Beavis and Butthead" growing up, but I wouldn't consider them "great", really.

[dilettante]

Btw, I have to nominate "Get Smart". Not because it was one of the greatest (because it wasn't) but because it was just a damn funny show.

:agree:

[Michael]

I'm having trouble considering ones I liked versus "the best". For instance, I loved "Married With Children" and "Beavis and Butthead" growing up, but I wouldn't consider them "great", really.

Same category as I'd put "Get Smart" in. Funny and entertaining tv shows, but nowhere near the greatness of something like "All in the Family".

And I'll have to also agree with whoever nominated "Frazier" - but again, not the best, but a certainly an intelligent comedy.

[wphelan]

Arrested Development

That's my easy pick for best comedy television program of all-time. I've got all three seasons on dvd, and I recommend everyone go out and watch it. Now! :D

[The Drunk Guy]

Arrested Development

That's my easy pick for best comedy television program of all-time. I've got all three seasons on dvd, and I recommend everyone go out and watch it. Now! :D
Beat me to it. I haven't even watched that much, but what I have seen is priceless.

I will go another route...

South Park - Before Family Guy and other "satirical" shows ever came about, South Park came out with guns blazing, shitting on everything and everyone. George Carlin once said, "It is the role of the comedian to define the line and then deliberately cross it," and Matt and Trey have done fine jobs of doing just that. Tackling everything that annoys in America, nothing is safe from the adolescent assault of South Park. Sure, most of the jokes are quickie "fart jokes," but there are so many that lay bare the faults of so much.

[partofme]

Beat me to it. I haven't even watched that much, but what I have seen is priceless.

I will go another route...

South Park - Before Family Guy and other "satirical" shows ever came about, South Park came out with guns blazing, shitting on everything and everyone. George Carlin once said, "It is the role of the comedian to define the line and then deliberately cross it," and Matt and Trey have done fine jobs of doing just that. Tackling everything that annoys in America, nothing is safe from the adolescent assault of South Park. Sure, most of the jokes are quickie "fart jokes," but there are so many that lay bare the faults of so much.


You can watch every episode of Arrested Development on Hulu. Personally I love everything named so far but I really have a soft spot for Seinfeld.

[partofme]

Matt Groenig is the creator and chief writer of The Simpsons and always has been.

His "Life in Hell" comic strip has been running here in Toronto for decades.

I had a book full of Life is Hell and School is Hell comics when I was around 12 or so and loved it.

[partofme]

Okay, a companion thread to the other one.

Which sit-coms were actually good?

Certainly some of the older ones were very good: M*A*S*H and All in the Family come to mind as particularly good examples of the genre.

I just saw a couple of episodes of All in the Family recently and I must say the humor in that show seems to hold up remarkably well over time which is surprising since the show was so heavily 'political' in its day. Archie Bunker himself must be considered one of the greatest tv characters of all time.

Both are great. I really love M*A*S*H*. I was always amazed that it could be funny as hell in one episode and then a solid drama in others.

[The Drunk Guy]

Both are great. I really love M*A*S*H*. I was always amazed that it could be funny as hell in one episode and then a solid drama in others.
Speaking of "dramedy," I was tempted to comment on Dexter. Although I wouldn't call it a "best" show, the jokes are solid and dark.

[partofme]

Speaking of "dramedy," I was tempted to comment on Dexter. Although I wouldn't call it a "best" show, the jokes are solid and dark.

The thing about Dexter is each season is worse than the one before. The first season was excellent. The second was good but a bit disappointing. And the third was pretty weak in my opinion. I'll probably go ahead and give the new season a try but I'm not sure I'm going to stick with it if it isn't compelling.

[The Drunk Guy]

The thing about Dexter is each season is worse than the one before. The first season was excellent. The second was good but a bit disappointing. And the third was pretty weak in my opinion. I'll probably go ahead and give the new season a try but I'm not sure I'm going to stick with it if it isn't compelling.
We just finished Season 2 (godDAMN, do I love Netflix) and I liked it more than Season 1. They're showing reruns every Sunday and I think we'll be in time to catch all of Season 3 before the new shows start.

[Greendruid]

Same category as I'd put "Get Smart" in. Funny and entertaining tv shows, but nowhere near the greatness of something like "All in the Family".

And I'll have to also agree with whoever nominated "Frazier" - but again, not the best, but a certainly an intelligent comedy.

One of the funniest physical comedy skits I've ever seen. David Hyde Pearce nailed this one (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xW-kzsvX690&feature=PlayList&p=E849CBE0EE089400&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=41) - the dog even did a great job!

[The Drunk Girl]

You know it is a lot harder to pick out the best when the worst is so much easier to do :lol:

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia is a good one to watch. I love how they fuck one another over just to get ahead. It's not the best show by far, but definitely funny as shit. And, Danny DiVito as the dad...icing on the cake