Top 10 Sitcoms

[Jay]

What are your top 10 favortie sitcoms of all time?

[Disneykid]

1. Friends
2. The Golden Girls
3. I Love Lucy
4. I Dream of Jeannie
5. Bewitched
6. Mary Tyler Moore
7. 30 Rock
8. The Odd Couple
9. Happy Days
10. Laverne & Shirley

[Duckburger]

1) Frasier
2) Friends
3) Seinfeld
4) The Addams Family ('60s)
5) 30 Rock
6) Will & Grace
7) Community
8) Mad About You
9) 3rd Rock From the Sun
10) The Flintstones

[schoollover]

1. The Nanny
2. The Golden Girls
3. Roseaane
4. The Middle
5. Modern Family
6. Are we there yet?
7. The Cosby show
8. I Love Lucy
9. Hot in Cleveland
10. Frasier

[Goliath]

I'll give my top 10 later, but I just wanted to say I'd enjoy reading some (short) explanations behind the rankings. Why did you put a particular sitcom on that particular spot on the top 10? What do you like about it? And how does Jay's own top 10 look like?

[Disney's Divinity]

I recommend this for anyone who's trying to remember shows:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sitcoms

Favorites list (haven't watched enough to make a "best list." )

1. The Golden Girls ~ The earlier seasons are more cliché, but the mid to later seasons are hilarious. I’ve re-watched the series probably some 20 times. I always put it on as background noise, because it never ages.
2. Daria
3. Roseanne
4. Frasier ~ This was a show that took a while to grow on me, but I honestly love it these days.
5. Are You Being Served? ~ There were re-runs of this on channel 26 this past year. Unfortunately, they stopped airing it, but I really loved this show. All of the cast is amazing.
6. Keeping Up Appearances ~ When I first watched this show, I absolutely love it. Of course, I fell out of love with it a little because almost every episode feels the same. Still, Mrs. Bucket is the heart of the show. The other characters grew on me.
7. Mama’s Family ~ Vicki Lawrence is the main reason for this. I like the later seasons the best. The cast in the earlier seasons was mundane. Iola and Naomi are more interesting. Of course, Vinton and Bubba never worked for me, but the show’s pretty good regardless.
8. Waiting For God
9. Reba ~ Another show that picked up after a season or two. The Van and Barbra Jean characters found their niche then, and I always thought Reba (the character) was good.
10. Designing Women ~ I love this show (minus the later seasons). Delta Burke and Annie Potts were especially hilarious. The only criticism was that the dialogue was often long-winded, and didn’t feel come across as the way real people would talk. Still, love the show. Too bad that the behind-the-scenes bs killed it.
11. The Big Bang Theory ~ Mostly for Jim Parsons.
12. All in the Family ~ I didn’t grow up on this, but I caught some re-runs on TVLand, and I was glued. Of course, it doesn’t hold up well with time, and I do get bored with it. To be honest, Archie and Edith are the only reasons I tune in, but when Mike and Gloria moved out you realize how important they were for the other two to bounce off of.
13. Will & Grace ~ Love this show, especially for Megan Mullally. I actually enjoy Will and Grace, too. Jack’s probably the reason for the lower ranking.
14. MASH ~ I didn’t quite get this show when I first started watching it. After I’d seen 10-20 episodes, I started to like it more (sort of like Frasier--it takes a little to grow on me).
15. Boy Meets World ~ I haven’t seen this in forever, but I remember loving the later seasons (when they’re in high school and college). I honestly loved all the characters (Topanga, Feeny and Shawn were my favorites) and I enjoyed a lot of the running jokes.

Other mentions: The Cosby Show, Maude, The Facts of Life, Gimme A Break!, Growing Pains, That 70’s Show, South Park, The Nanny (later seasons), Bewitched (for Endora) and Sister, Sister (for Jackee Harry)

I used to love Sabrina, the Teenage Witch when I was young, and I still enjoy Salem and the aunts but Sabrina herself is really annoying. The only shows I haven’t watched much of that might would end up here if I had seen it is The Mary Tyler Moore Show. They don’t re-run it, so I’ve never seen anything but clips from it, unfortunately. I’d like to see more of 3rd Rock from the Sun, too. Don’t get the love for Friends, Cheers (the Kirstie Alley years were somewhat entertaining), and Seinfeld though, and I tried.

I don’t really watch any new sitcoms, but I’ve lately started catching Happy Endings, which is actually decent. Maybe it’ll grow into something better in later seasons. I would also like to watch Raising Hope from the beginning, if for nothing but Cloris Leachman. Plus, I’ve heard good things about Community, but I’ve never seen it. Haven’t seen 30 Rock, Modern Family, and The Office either.

[Chernabog_Rocks]

Thanks for the link Divinity

In no particular order....


1) 3rd Rock From the Sun ~ Used to watch it all the time when I was younger.
2) Dharma and Greg ~ Loved the two main leads, wish this was still on.
3) Dinosaurs
4) Fresh Prince of Bel-Air ~ It took a while to grow on me
5) Friends ~ Oddly this took a whil to grow on me as well until I sat and gave it a chance

6) Full House ~ Grew up with this
7) Home Improvement ~ Again, grew up with it.
Will and Grace ~ Like DD, I love Karen on this show.
9) MASH
10) Saved By The Bell

Honorable Mentions: The Simpsons and Just Shoot Me

To explain a majority of the shows it can pretty much be summed up as "Nostalgia" All of these shows I've grown up with either as Reruns (MASH) or while they were still considered 'New.'

I'm not going to say that any of these are great shows, or the best but to me they were enjoyable enough to watch at the time. Aside from that, I would happily pick (and have) any season sets I'm able to get my hands on for these shows.

[dvdjunkie]

In no particular order here are 10 of my favorite sit-coms:

Life of Riley
Father Knows Best
I Love Lucy
The Cosby Show
All In The Family
Married With Children
Dinosaurs
Home Improvement
Mary Tyler Moore Show
M*A*S*H

I could list another 10 or twenty, but the thread says "Top !0".

[milojthatch]

Everybody Loves Raymond
Home Improvement
Murphy Brown
Perfect Strangers
The Middle
Family Matters (early seasons)
Growing Pains
I Love Lucy
Frasier
Reba

[Khonnor]

A top 10?

Hmzz...let me see what I have on DVD and make a top-10 from those...

Some may not be a sitcom, as much as just a comedy show, but still...


from 10 to 1

10. Roseanne (just some seasons, not all)
09. The Simple Life (hilariously over the top stupidity)
08. Community (only watched season 1 so far, but really enjoyed it)
07. Grosse Pointe (was cancelled after 17 episodes, but so fun)
06. Will & Grace (don't really like it as much as others, but still some fun episodes)

05. Arrested Development (started really strong)
04. That 70s Show
03. Friends (it's just classic, don't like it as much as 10 years ago)
02. The Golden Girls (classic and awesome)
01. Sex & the City (not really a sitcom, but still funny)

[2099net]

In no order:

The League Of Gentlemen
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_League_of_Gentlemen

This has it all - dark sometimes quite chilling comedy, homages and tributes to great genre films and most importantly it's overflowing with talent. To have 3 actors play well over 60 character throughout the 3 series and write the series (along with the fourth member of the League) is incredible. It puts Eddie Murphy's "highly acclaimed" Klumps performances to shame. Most people dislike the more narrative led third series, but its probably the best, a welcome move from catchphrase lead humour. However, my personal favorite episode is the Christmas Special. Everytime I watch it, I get more out of it.

Blackadder Specifically Blackadder The Third
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackadder

One of Britain's most beloved sit-coms, the Blackadder series has taken us on a trip through Britain's most recognisable periods of history. While the first series isn't quite the disaster most commentators make it out to be its only from the second series onwards that the show finds its feet. By making Blackadder a modern man with modern values stuck in the past it allows for some quite strong social satire between the innuendo and slapstick. Most people find Blackadder Goes Forth set in the trenches of World War One the best - it certainly has the most pathos, but the third series is my favourite with the Ink and Incapability episode revolving around Samuel Johnson's first dictionary being perhaps the best crafted thirty minute farce ever created.

Yes Minister/Yes Prime Minister
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yes_minister

And from the often low-brow humour of Blackadder we go to the highbrow humour of Yes Minister and its sequel Yes Prime Minister. As funny today as ever, the dialogue in this series simply shines. And of course, good dialogue is nothing without good actors and each and every actor here is constantly at the top of their game. Paul Eddington is often overlooked, but his almost always befuddled Jim Hacker is tour-de-force performance. And of course, occasionally even Jim Hacker can get his way...

Father Ted
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Father_Ted

Surreal comedy set (surprisingly for a British sit-com) in Ireland. Well, Craggy Island just off the cost of Ireland. Again this series shines because the actors are so good at their roles. In addition, Ted himself can be rather cold and calculating at times and is far from perfect ("That money was just resting in my account!"). It's a small point, but it strengthens the logic of why Ted would be banished to such a remote barren place. When confronted by some of the surrealism, that central performance, character and logic of Father Ted Crilly holds everything together perfectly.

Rising Damp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rising_damp

There's only two words to describe why this show is so good. "Leonard Rossiter" a true comedy genius. Considering each episode was played out on three or four standing sets with four characters (and the occasional - very occasional guest star) the only thing it had going for it was character. And each character shined.

Dinnerladies
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinnerladies

Victoria Wood should be a national treasure. Sadly, it seems certain people seem to enjoy knocking her at the moment. But she's given us no end of pleasure with her stand-up, songs and plays. Dinnerladies was a labour of love and she said it almost gave her a breakdown, but you can tell each and every script was drafted to perfection. In addition the show spotlighted - shall we say - older women. And each and every one of them are acted to perfection.

I'm Alan Partridge
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Partridge

Ah-ha! If there's one thing the British do well for their comedy, it's comedy grotesques. And top of the list of grotesques must be Alan Partridge a vain, selfish, ignorant, arrogant little man full of his own self-importance. And yet we the audience love him not only for his embarassing toe-curling actions, but also because deep down, he's a rather sad, lonely man and his shows are full of pathos.

Hancock's Half Hour
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hancock%27s_Half_Hour

Probably the first British television sit-com. I'm not sure. And yes, today some of the episodes are dated and somewhat unfunny. But some are just as fresh today as they were in the 1950's. Even today myself and my father have a running gag involving one of his lines from The Blood Donor. Just saying it can reduce us both to tears of laughter.

Jam and Jerusalem (Clatterford US)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jam_and_Jerusalem

I wouldn't call this a sit-com, although that's how it was marketed. I'd say it was more of a gentle drama with wit. Sadly, its marketing and the fact it was created by Jennifer Saunders (of French and Saunders fame) undoubtedly meant that most people were expecting something else and didn't quite "get" the series. A shame, as it has moved me to tears of laughter and tears of sadness over its three seasons. I genuinely believe this is one of the best shows every made for television - worldwide.

Bleak Expectations RADIO! Yes a radio sit-com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bleak_Expectations

Its not as odd as you may think - many successful comedies on British TV have come from radio - not least The League of Gentlemen the subject of my first selection. And indeed, the creative team behind Bleak Expectations have been commissioned to create a TV series themselves.

A spoof of Victorian literature, especially Dickens this series was probably written for me and me alone. Sadly it's fair to say the quality has decreased with each new series, but the first series is comedy gold. I have it on my MP3 player and often find myself dipping in for a quick laugh.

[dvdjunkie]

Never heard of any of those. Must be a UK thing!!

[Goliath]

1. Frasier (season 1-7)

It's the perfectly rounded characters that make this show really work. They're not the one-sided stock figures you see in many other sitcoms. The characters are being worked on until very far into the series. It's also the only sitcom I can think of where the comedy naturally flows from the dialogue, instead of having characters stopping the action to make the joke. 'Frasier' feels natural. The writing is just so clever; the writers aren't afraid to make jokes that not everybody would get. But most of all, it's Kelsey Grammer and especially David Hyde Pierce as Niles who, at least to me, have redefined acting in sitcoms. Very well done!

2. Friends (season 1-7)

The best ensemble sitcom I've ever seen. The only regret I have is that, later on in the show, they began reducing the characters to one or maybe two traits. But those first years, they had excellent character-driven plots. You just believed these people were all dear friends and they worked together great. It was refreshing to have a sitcom that didn't abide to the 'lesson/moral of the week' formula or didn't always have rounded-out stories every week. It was one on-going story, which always kept me watching. Of course, Chandler was my favorite.

3. Boy Meets World (season 2-6)

It started out as a very conventional, not too special family show and it ended as a pathetic parody on itself which ruined everything that was great about the characters... but in-between those seasons was a great sitcom. I always enjoyed the bizarre, surreal elements and the spoofs/parodies that made it so unlike any other sitcom out there. But more than that, I loved the relationships between the characters and how the show took teenagers seriously. By that, I refer mainly to the Cory-Topanga relationship. Teenage love is often not taken seriously ("it's only puppy love"), but I remember being that age and I remember how I felt back then, and the writers hit the nail right on the head. Even if the drama got too soap-operaesque sometimes, I still love it.

4. Buiten de Zone

A Flemish comedy, consisting of only 20 episodes; not widely known outside of Belgium. It deals with five adolescents who are volunteering for a phone-line for troubled youth. For lack of calls, they compensate by discussing and fantasizing about all kinds of subjects, which are translated into absurd, surreal and bizarre short sketches. These involve a lot of spoofs/parodies, word-plays, twisting of historical situations etc. It's really clever how, besides having these over-the-top sketches, the writers have made these characters form real bonds. I didn't think that could ever work, but BdZ has proven it can. This is a show that I hold very dear and which I revist time after time. I know every episode by heart, yet I never grow tired of them, because the jokes are just so incredibly inventive that I still am amazed by them.

5. The Wonder Years (season 1-5)

Does this count as a sitcom? It's often classified as one, but I always felt it was more of a 'dramedy'. Sadly, I haven't seen it in ages. Must've been at least 10 years ago. It needs to come to dvd badly. But from what I remember, this was one of the sweetest, touching and -even though it was set in the 1970's- relatable shows I've ever seen. I always felt the show fell apart when Kevin and Paul grew apart and he started hanging out with those other kids in college, But on the other hand, that's very true to life. This show never sugar-coated anything; it didn't even have the two main love interests end up with each other. That took guts.

6. Married... with Children (season 1-6)

The show suffered a lot in the later years, when the Bundys were treated like cartoon characters, but those early years are still comedy gold. I like the whole air of political incorrectness. With tv as it is today, it's hard to imagine, but the Bundys were really doing something new on American tv. I like the earlier episodes, where Al is the ordinary working man who, through his observations, comments on American society (as opposed to Al the doofus who acts like a clown in the later years); and Steve was infinitly a better foil for Al than Jefferson! This show was harsh, insulting, it didn't spare anybody or anything, and I liked it for that.

7. Fawlty Towers

In The Netherlands, it's still considered a matter of 'good taste' to say British sitcoms are far better than American ones. I have never agreed with that sentiment, as I find most Brit-coms to be mind-boggling dull. This is the one exception. Sadly, only 12 episodes were ever made. On the other hand, that prevented it from ever becoming stale. I can watch John Cleese as Basil Fawlty over and over and over again and never becoming tired of it. He's just so good at his part of the sarcastic hotel manager, who has been beaten down by life (in the form of his wife Sibyl). The writing and the dialogue is just so clever; some of those lines are hysterical!

8. It's Like, You Know...

Unfortunately, this was a very short-lived show, which got cancelled after only two seasons. It was produced by the creators of 'Seinfeld' and was also a 'show about nothing', but with two important differences: 1) this one was set in L.A.; 2) this one was actually funny and interesting. Critics wrote that the satirizing of L.A. life wasn't funny to anyone outside of the city, but I laughed my ass off. The storylines were drawing upon the absurdities of American life and culture. The characters weren't really deep, but they didn't need to be. Actually, there was a nice storyline about the sarcastic intellectual Chris Eigeman who wanted to be with the ditzy A.J. Langer. Still too bad I've never been able to know how that would ever have worked out.

9. Happy Days (season 1-4)

Okay, I haven't seen anything past season 4; they stopped airing it on tv and it has't come out on dvd. But from what I've seen of it on YouTube; what I've read about it; and most importantly, from the last half of season 4, I'm glad I never have. I like these early seasons. It became too much about Fonzie eventually (though I love the character). The show as at its best when the stories focussed on Richie, and Fonzie was a minor character. He's a good character, but he should come in small portions. But I still love the "aaayyy"-s and the thumbs up! For such an old show, it holds up incredibly well. Sure it's way more cheesy than anything you'll see nowadays, but that's part of why I like it: it had none of the cynicism you see today.

10. 3rd Rock from the Sun (season 1-5)

If only for John Litgow as Dick. What a riot! It became less funny as the aliens got increasingly more adapted to life on earth and in later seasons it sometimes looked like a 'normal' sitcom, but at its best it was perfect social commentary in a hilarious, satirizing way. The Solomons acted as a mirror in which we could observe our sometimes ridiculous behavior. Their failure at adapting in basic environments/situations, often actually showed our own shortcomings. I like that it was never preachy about that. It even mocked the 'moral of the week' formula with their little conclusions at the Solomons' roof.

[2099net]

Never heard of any of those. Must be a UK thing!!

Yeah amazing. Fancy there being a whole world outside the US!

That's one of the reasons I put the Wikipedia links in.

[2099net]

7. Fawlty Towers

In The Netherlands, it's still considered a matter of 'good taste' to say British sitcoms are far better than American ones. I have never agreed with that sentiment, as I find most Brit-coms to be mind-boggling dull. This is the one exception. Sadly, only 12 episodes were ever made. On the other hand, that prevented it from ever becoming stale. I can watch John Cleese as Basil Fawlty over and over and over again and never becoming tired of it. He's just so good at his part of the sarcastic hotel manager, who has been beaten down by life (in the form of his wife Sibyl). The writing and the dialogue is just so clever; some of those lines are hysterical!

There are many, many, many crappy sit-coms in the UK. ITV (one of our channels) has been making mostly crappy sit-coms for decades. However, due to the culture of British television we tend to have shorter runs and fewer seasons.

As a rule this means that programmes tend to end when they're at their best - see your comment about Fawlty Towers (and note there was a good two or three year gap between the two seasons).

Look at the UK Office or Extras. Both have had two seasons of six episodes followed by a Christmas Special to tie-up the loose ends. As a result, each series is a proper story. You can see a beginning, a middle and a definitive end to the storyline in both. In fact, I'd go as far as to say in both instances the Christmas Specials were more drama based than comedy. Again, this goes back to characters being more rounded and complete than most sit-coms.

Britain especially likes to create grotesques for its comedy. We prefer loosers with social, financial and emotional flaws rather than winners or "ordinary" families. But you can't push such characters too far or too long or else they tend to become simple caricatures. Generally most creators and networks know when to stop rather than carry on simply for money.

But that's not to say all British comedy is like that. Eddie and Pasty from Ab Fab for example have been nothing but cartoon characters from the start. But arguably Ab Fab benefits from long rest periods between series and specials.

[Disney's Divinity]

In some ways I agree with the sentiment “shorter is best,” but in some ways I don’t. I know several of my favorite series only hit their stride, imo, in the later seasons. If they had ended after the first 2 or 3, they would’ve never shown their true potential.

True, there are a lot of shows that fizzle out after the initial brilliance, but many others learn what works and what doesn’t work by fleshing out the show and its characters over time.

[PatrickvD]

1. South Park

I'm just throwing animated ones in here, since they apply to the basic rules of what a sitcom is. South Park is probably the most revolutionary TV show ever. It's way past its prime now, but I'd say the first 8 seasons are instant classics. Every one of them. Social commentary has never been done this outrageously before.

2. 30 Rock

Where to begin? Amazing satire. It's laugh out loud funny and it doesn't need a laugh track to accomplish that. Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey have amazing chemistry and the way the show satirizes television and its stupidity is just terrific. I do hope they end it once Alec Baldwin leaves. It won't be the same without him.

3. Will & Grace

While the title characters were often dull and their plots repetitive, it was all about Jack and Karen here. The episodes with John Cleese are a highlight for me. Comedic timing was perfect. Ten times funnier than Friends ever was.

4. American Dad

I'm in a small minority here and I am aware of that. I'll just say that faithful viewers of this that 'get' it will know why it's so high up on my list. Nothing like Roger and Stan going at it. And Patrick Stuart steals the show. An all time favorite.

5. Frasier

Great writing, great acting. They're the key to a good sitcom and this one had it right. The clash between cultures, supposedly high versus low, has never been done that well before. A sitcom classic.

6. The Simpsons

It's the groundbreaking early years of the Simpsons that I'd like to give a shout out to. Along with what Disney and Pixar were doing on the big screen, The Simpsons did it on TV. Animation was no longer for the kiddies. This was smart and funny. Hell, it still is every now and then.

7. Keeping up Appearances

It's pretty repetitive in terms of writing, but from the many British sitcoms, this is by far my favorite. It's just so damn funny and well acted. Patricia Routledge was the star here and everyone else was just props. It still makes me laugh even though I've seen every episode at least twice.

8. 3rd Rock from the Sun

Satire of modern life at its best. As mentioned above, the earlier seasons did it best, but once invested in these characters, the later seasons are funny still. Like many great sitcoms there's one talent in the middle that just keeps it moving. John Lithgow is funny in every second he is no screen. Probably one of the greatest sitcom performances of all time.

9. The Golden Girls

Though I find it less funny now than I did back in the 90s, it's still pretty damn funny. It's the chemistry between the actresses here, every single one insanely talented and funny. With Betty White probably at her best.

10. The Flinstones

While not as hilarious as it could have been, it's pretty groundbreaking for animation to capture the heart of viewers in primetime. Animated characters were, for the first time, given everyday personalities with everyday challenges. Set in the stone ages of course, because that's what animation can do. I do have worries about the 2013 reboot. It better be brilliant.

[Dr Frankenollie]

-

[PixarFan2006]

1.The Big Bang Theory
2.The Odd Couple
3.Malcolm in the Middle
4.I Love Lucy
5.The Middle
6.Dinosaurs
7.Home Improvement
8.The Simpsons
9.The Flintstones
10.Mr Bean (if it counts)

[Elladorine]

Daria
The Critic
God, the Devil, and Bob
The Golden Girls
Growing Pains
The Honeymooners
All in the Family
Bewitched
Bob Newhart
The Wonder Years