Top 10 Sitcoms

Discussion of non-Disney entertainment.
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Goliath
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Post by Goliath »

2099net wrote:[...] But arguably Ab Fab benefits from long rest periods between series and specials.
That's a show that has gotten rave reviews in The Netherlands, but I've never seen the appeal of it. I've tried other Brit-coms, (Keeping Up Appearances, Men Behaving Badly, Blackadder to name some), but I guess they're just not for me. The one I liked was My Family, but I think you'll agree that one was very US-styled.
Disney's Divinity wrote: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. [...]
In general, I think most shows go on too long. On the other hand, some are cancelled too soon. Most shows have to find their true form, but after they do, they become repetitive after a while. That's why I included specific seasons between brackets behind each show's title.
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Post by Avaitor »

I only have time for 5, and I'm not putting animated sitcoms on the list. I may come back to them later or add more, though. I'm also adding in favorite clips of mine.

1- How I Met Your Mother

A very recent addition to the top of the list, but for six seasons now, I think this has been far and away the best thing on television. For one thing, the The character development is AMAZING, for one thing. The main five characters have gone through a lot over the course of Ted's hunt for the woman he plans to spend the rest of his life with, from Marshall and Lily's evolving relationship, Robin's changing desire and intentions, and Barney Stinson in general.

Barney, man. What's there to say about him that hasn't already been said? It's hard to believe that such a chauvinistic character can be played by a gay man. pure class.

<iframe width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/jblnE7oWpdg" frameborder="0"></iframe>

This is why I love Barney.

2- Married... With Children

This is like the ultimate man's sitcom. Al Bundy is the voice of males the world over, while Peg makes for a good contrast, and their relationship has such tight chemistry. The kids as well as Marcy and both husbands add to the show's appeal, too. I'll admit that later seasons did get too cartoony and low-class, but even then, there's still good stuff throughout.

<iframe width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4RdtX9fwTOk" frameborder="0"></iframe>

Al at his best.

3- That 70's Show

As a big lover of music from this era, I find the soundtrack and atmosphere on the show great. That wouldn't mean as much if the cast wasn't talented enough to make it work, and thankfully, they are. I sincerely think Ashton Kutcher was at his best as Michael Kelso and Kurtwood Smith was incredible as Red throughout the entire show's run. The series should have ended at its fifth season like they originally intended, since the next few seasons weren't anywhere near as good, but the memories will always be there.

<iframe width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/WkeHtSuWiIs" frameborder="0"></iframe>

That said, this scene comes from the last season, but may be one of the funniest moments in the show's history.

4- The Young Ones

My favorite Britcom. It appeals to the psycho/punk/metalhead/hippie in me. Too bad it only lasted 2 series.

<iframe width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bomygz1Ygkk" frameborder="0"></iframe>

^This is one of the most poignant attacks on the entertainment industry that I've ever heard.

5- The Wonder Years/Boy Meets World

Two different but somewhat similar shows, I grew up watching both of the Savage brothers shows as a kid and hold them at a similar regard.

Wonder Years was a lovingly sweet look back at baby boomer nostalgia, taking on the counterculture movement of the late 60's/early 70's through the eyes of a spectator, so we can get a bit of both sides. The soundtrack is incredible, hosting a good supply of hits from that era, but we'll never get the show on DVD due to licensing issues. If you take away the music, you take away the most important character on the show, and very few people would be happy with that.

Meanwhile, Boy Meets World was a somewhat basic school comedy. The older the characters and the show got, the raunchier and more entertaining it became. The show was made by a solid cast and scripts that could be funny, sad, or sometimes even both.

<iframe width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/P93GT2Oow_8" frameborder="0"></iframe>

Have to find just a BMW clip this time, though. Classic Eric.
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Post by pap64 »

Dr Frankenollie wrote:The only sitcoms I enjoy are:
1. South Park
2. The Simpsons
3. The Critic

...all of which are animated. I more-or-less despise most sitcoms, due to the obnoxius Z-stars that normally star in them, the irritating pop culture references, the numerous cliches and the horrible, horrible sound of canned laughter. :angry:
And yet all the three shows you mentioned are series that rely on social satire and mockery of pop culture in order to drive the point across as well as fuel its humor.

Sure, referencing pop culture and mocking pop culture are different things, but all three shows rely on the audience's knowledge of pop culture and social trends in order to make them more appealing.
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RIPJoeRanft
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Post by RIPJoeRanft »

1. The Simpsons - not sure if this counts, but damn it...that show was pure sitcom gold for like ten years, with an enormous cast of colorful characters, wonderful storylines, and catchy, fun music. although many dismiss its quality now, i think it still delivers good, if not great, episodes on a fairly consistent basis (they have their stinkers, but i enjoyed almost all of last season's bunch).

2. Arrested Development - an obvious choice for me here. no show has ever packed the hysterical humor, terrific characters, and constant one-liners, plus probably the best cast of all-time sitcom-wise. many of the show's stars are now huge hollywood names, and guest stars like henry winkler, charlize theron, scott baio, julia louis-dreyfus, liza minnelli, carl weathers, etc. were an eclectic and very, very game bunch. too bad it lasted only three seasons.

3. All in the Family - now keep in mind i'm only 23, so i missed out on this classic when it originally aired. but this one still holds up today. although some things may have aged poorly (the clothes, the fashion, etc.) the humor, the situations, the performances of archie and edith still hold up as top-notch as any show out there.

4. The Golden Girls - a show that i will remember fondly growing up. these four women were marvelous on the show, grade-A actresses all of them, often juggling wonderfully subtle and serious performances with the frequent gut-busting joke. its funny to hear that many of the shows writers were just out of college males, writing very funny material for these aging ladies, including the eventual creator of my number 2. somehow it worked.

5. Curb Your Enthusiasm - very funny show. larry david is a guy you either love or hate, but man, do i find his humor intoxicating.

6. Seinfeld - what can you say? huge fanbase that was warrented, some unforgettable characters and episodes, and a show that will live on forever.

7. Parks and Recreation - perhaps the best overall comedy to debut since arrested development, parks and recreations is like the office, only on steroids. it's funnier, has better characters, better stories...it's can't miss comedic television in my book with a talented group who make it work.

8. The Office - a very influential show, that can sometimes be hit-or-miss but helped usher along a new and exciting form of comedy with its initial popularity and buzz.

9. Community - this may be a little too high for community, but i'm more of a drama tv guy anyway so i haven't been exposed to all that many quality sitcoms. and this one is terrific, high-concept stuff that actually delivers more often than not with quirky star-making performances from the likes of alison brie, danny pudi, and donald glover. it's only been two seasons, but it deserves some recognition to those who haven't seen it. start at the beginning of the show's run, and have fun watching!

10. Boy Meets World - more for nostalgia reasons than actual show quality. it started out as a laughably bad disney channel-esque show, with an awkward young boy trying to fit in. however, the show did have its moments midway through the shows run, when many episodes worked on a few levels. the humor, drama, characters, etc. sometimes snowballed into really compelling television. i found corey to be a likeable lead...topanga, shawn, eric, were great teen characters as well. and feeny is legendary in my book. who can forget the tear-inducing series finale?
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Goliath
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Post by Goliath »

Avaitor wrote:Have to find just a BMW clip this time, though. Classic Eric.
Actually, that is the mentally retarded season 7 Eric whom I hated. I liked the goofy, dim-witted but 'real', rounded Eric from the first 6 seasons. But I'm probably looking far too deep in a simple sitcom. :wink:

@ Dr. Frankenollie: I've always liked this little segment:

<object width="425" height="349"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/Fc38U ... ram><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/Fc38U ... 3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="349" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
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Post by jpanimation »

Sorry for resurrecting this old thread; I saw it a way back but forgot to post. I just remembered it the other day and still wanted to post my favorites, so here's my quick top five...

1. Seinfeld

The mother of all sitcoms, this show is just timeless. Sure, the first couple of seasons weren't all together yet but once it hit it's stride, nothing could stop it. I got into this show after my brother showed me Curb You Enthusiasm a few years ago, which I like but I LOVE this show. It may be 20 years old but it's funnier then anything on TV. The casting is perfect and the humor is perfect. LOVE IT!!!

2. Arrested Development

While this show may not be as funny as other shows, it certainly has a great cast of well developed characters, well written story arcs, and a certain witty kind of humor to it that mainly relies on the audience knowing the characters. It's just well made all around. What's even more surprising is that, even though it was cancelled early in it's life, the creators came up with an incredibly satisfying ending that feel like it was always meant to be.


3. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

I honestly expected nothing going into this, as I haven't really heard anything about it but holy shit was I blown away. I was hooked from episode one, as this show is just funny as hell. There hasn't been this many laugh out loud moments since Seinfeld. Hell, they even have arguments about stupid things, just like in Seinfeld. God I love this show, it's the funniest thing on TV.


4. Modern Family

It's only been two seasons but I was hooked since one. Once again, it may not be the funniest show on TV but the characters all have great chemistry and are all well written. Knowing the characters is key for the humor to work. Each character has at least one episode in which they shine, which makes choosing a favorite character all the harder (although, it would probably never be Manny or Gloria).

5. That 70’s Show

The early seasons of this show were great. I recently re-watched a few of them on TeenNick and I was laughing just as hard as I did when it premiered (which was my test for determining which sitcoms would make the list). The cast of characters is likable, iconic even (who doesn't love Red?) and it had it's own unique identity. Although I agree with Aviator; this show unfortunately took a dive after season five, with season seven being terrible and eight simply unwatchable.

Other sitcoms I enjoy that didn't make the list include Friends and Community.
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Post by Avaitor »

jpanimation wrote: 3. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

I honestly expected nothing going into this, as I haven't really heard anything about it but holy shit was I blown away. I was hooked from episode one, as this show is just funny as hell. There hasn't been this many laugh out loud moments since Seinfeld. Hell, they even have arguments about stupid things, just like in Seinfeld. God I love this show, it's the funniest thing on TV.
Oh man, I recently got into this one, and I have to agree. It's a hilarious, if morally bankrupt, show. I'd tie with How I Met Your Mother and fellow FX series Archer to be the funniest shows on TV, but they're all great.

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/WqBAPcVs5xM" frameborder="0"></iframe>

This is one of my favorite scenes from the show. "Little green ghouls, buddy!"
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Post by jpanimation »

Avaitor wrote:I'd tie with How I Met Your Mother and fellow FX series Archer to be the funniest shows on TV, but they're all great.
I've yet to see How I Met Your Mother, I've heard the comparisons to Friends but I definitely love Archer. Season 2 was a huge step up from Season 1. I just wasn't sure if shows like Archer and The Venture Bros would count as sitcoms, so I didn't include them.

Anyways, I have a list of shows that I plan on watching when I work out (I get through 3-4 episodes a day that way). I've just added How I Met Your Mother to that list (I'll rent the DVDs as I've heard the networks cut out too much content in favor of commercials).
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Post by Avaitor »

jpanimation wrote:
Avaitor wrote:I'd tie with How I Met Your Mother and fellow FX series Archer to be the funniest shows on TV, but they're all great.
I've yet to see How I Met Your Mother, I've heard the comparisons to Friends but I definitely love Archer. Season 2 was a huge step up from 1. I just wasn't sure if shows like Archer and The Venture Bros would count as sitcoms, so I didn't include them.
I don't count animated series either, and even if I did, Archer wouldn't make my cut on here, because to me, it's not a sitcom. Just because it's a primetime comedy, doesn't make it a sitcom. I just wanted to mention it in general.

I hope you enjoy HIMYM if you get a chance to watch it. I actually didn't start watching until over a year ago, when I watched the 100th episode per request of my best friend. I was instantly impressed, and he gave me a site to watch all the episodes. It took me about 2 weeks to watch the first 99, while also keeping up with the new ones.

Needless to say, I became hooked, and I think there's potential for anyone who enjoys character development and rewarding continuity in their comedy to enjoy it.

And I really like your list, as well. I haven't seen much of Arrested Development (it's pretty high on my to-watch list), but I like everything else on there.
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Post by ajmrowland »

no order

the simpsons
two and a half men
8 simple rules
full house
malcolm in the middle
that 70's show
ned's declassified
seinfeld
American Dad
Family Guy
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Post by Rose Dome »

Here are my favorites (in no particular order):

Fawlty Towers
It has great gags, and situations that manage to be both ridiculous and relatable. I find it a hoot rotfl

The Simpsons
It should have ended over a decade ago, but when it first began this was fantastic. Realistic family situations, funny characters, and clever nods to popular culture, made it a winner :clap:

Seinfeld
It didn't bog itself down with plot and character development. It just concerned itself with it's own amusing brand of absurd humour :P

Frasier
So intlligently written. It was brilliant :D

Friends
It got a bit glamorous and simplistic near the end, but it started off with likable characters who you were always laughing with rather than at :)

The Vicar of Dibley
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Vicar_of_Dibley
I'm an agnostic, but that doesn't lessen my enjoyment of this gem. The quirky characters never leave a dull moment, and it always impresses me how Geraldine can be nice yet funny :lol:

Everybody Loves Raymond
This one is probably too gentle for some, but I really liked it. It went haywire near the end (the bookcase :x ), but it was witty and warm to start off with.

Futurama
Coming after The Simpsons, this show was never going to be a phenomenal sucess, but I think it's great. It had bizarre (and often quite dark) humour, and imperfect characters who had their weaknesses and their limits, but were still deserving of sympathy. It also had moments of drama that touch me deeply. I can't give it's return much praise, but it was excellent during it's original run.

The Office(UK)
This is the ultimate example of uncomfortable humour. It has realistic characters who I want scold, to warn, to comfort. It's comedy gold.

Outnumbered
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outnumbered
I love how realistically depicts family life. Things don't often run smoothly, yet they never feel depressingly chaotic, and throughout the disagreements, we never sense indifference. The cast are great :star:
Last edited by Rose Dome on Sat Jan 14, 2012 8:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Jay
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Post by Jay »

I forgot all about this thread lol. Here are mine in no paritcular order

Everybody Loves Raymond
Cheers
Roseanne
The Golden Girls
Boy Meets World
The Cosby Show
The Nanny
Modern Family
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Seinfeld

Honorable Mentions: Friends, Will and Grace, That 70's Show, All in the Family, Mary Tyler Moore, I Love Lucy
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Post by AladdinFan »

1. The Nanny
2. I Love Lucy
3. George Lopez Show
4. Sabrina the Teenage Witch
5. Full House
6. Better with You (Sadly got cancelled after the 1st season)
7. Accidentally on Purpose (Sadly got cancelled after the 1st season)
8. What I Like About You
9. Modern Family
10. Happy Endings

Other shows that didn't make it to the list:
2 Broke Girls
Melissa & Joey
Living with Fran (Cancelled after 1st season)
Happily Divorced
Romantically Challeged (Cancelled after airing 4 episodes)
So Little Time
Maude
Tyler Perry's House of Payne
The Simpsons
That's So Raven
Even Stevens
The Amanda Show
The Big Bang Theory
State of Georgia (Cancelled after the 1st season)
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Post by TheSequelOfDisney »

In no particular order:

Modern Family
30 Rock
Parks and Recreation
I Love Lucy
Everybody Loves Raymond
Home Improvement
Boy Meets World
Seinfeld
That 70s Show
The Brady Bunch
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Post by Mickeyfan1990 »

My Top 10:

-The Simpsons
-Family Guy
-Futurama
-American Dad
-The Life and Times of Tim
-Aqua Teen Hunger Force/Aqua Unit Patrol Squad 1
-South Park
-Robot Chicken
-The Cleveland Show
-Celebrity Deathmatch
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Post by Widdi »

10. Friends
9. Keeping Up Appearances
8. The Nanny
7. Murphy Brown
6. Community (honestly, should Community survive it could make it to number one. It has been years since I have enjoyed a show as much as this).
5. Will & Grace
4. The Simpsons
3. Arrested Development
2. Roseanne
1. The Golden Girls
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Post by slave2moonlight »

Some of my faves, not in order, not including animation:

The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
The Addams Family
The Munsters
Bewitched
I Dream of Jeannie
The Beverly Hillbillies
Gilligan's Island
Frasier
Seinfeld
The Golden girls
Cheers
That 70's Show
Empty Nest
Everybody Loves Raymond
Leave It to Beaver
The Abbott and Costello Show
I Love Lucy
The Drew Carey Show
Three's Company
Batman
Married With Children
Wizards of Waverly Place
(I guess The Jack Benny Program isn't really a "sitcom")

I could list more, but this is already over 10. As a kid, I would have named a lot of other stuff that seems too cheesy now, ha. Also, I'm sure I'm forgetting some great stuff, and some of it (like, say, The Charmings), I'm not sure how good it actually was, ha. Some stuff is great, but I'm a little tired of it, like Sanford and Son and All in the Family, among other stuff... (even a few I might have listed). I need more exposure to shows like "Always Sunny..." Seen a bit, and it was hilarious.
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Post by Rose Dome »

I'm glad to have got this started again but what appeals to you all about your favorite sitcoms?
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Post by PeterPanfan »

My all time favorite sitcom (and television show in general) is Friends. It's like comfort food... I watch it whenever I feel sad and instantly it makes me feel better. This is literally the only show in which I would stop and watch any random episode (and there are lots) that I see on TV. I own all 10 seasons and they are definitely some of my prized possessions.

I also love Boy Meets World, but I wonder if I would if it wasn't for the nostalgia that kicks in whenever I watch it. I still think Topanga Lawrence is the perfect high school girlfriend.

Arrested Development, for its outstanding sense of humor, Seinfeld, because, like Friends, it manages to always keep me entertained without getting annoying. My favorite animated sitcom is Daria because she's so relatable, and Jane Lane is just damn awesome. Recently, I've been enjoying How I Met Your Mother, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and New Girl!
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