Best sitcom

[The Stranger]

What is the best sitcom of all time?

If there is enough interest, this will be the nomination thread for an elimination tournament.

Animated ones count.

I nominate Cheers.

[kipin]

Seinfeld.

[Dynasty]

Hello Larry.

[Yeti]

Frasier.

I know critics love it but it's criminally underrated by the general public.

[The Stranger]

[ QUOTE ]
Hello Larry.

[/ QUOTE ]

Not familiar with that one. Is it a Three's Company spinoff?

[CallMeIshmael]

The Office (British version)

[Jerkass333]

I hereby nominate Arrested Development. Chickens dont clap.

[M2d]

Cheers or Taxi

[Dynasty]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Hello Larry.

[/ QUOTE ]

Not familiar with that one. Is it a Three's Company spinoff?

[/ QUOTE ]

It's famous for bombing because McLean Stephenson left M.A.S.H. to do this show. It last less than half a year.

My real choice would be All in the Family.

[The Stranger]

[ QUOTE ]

My real choice would be All in the Family.

[/ QUOTE ]

nh

[Alobar]

There are lots of them, but honestly, its Sienfield, and it isnt eevn close enough for there to be good discussion about it.

[James Boston]

[ QUOTE ]
Seinfeld.

[/ QUOTE ]

[istewart]

[ QUOTE ]
There are lots of them, but honestly, its Sienfield, and it isnt eevn close enough for there to be good discussion about it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Despite his botching of the English language, Alobar is correct.

[Patrick del Poker Grande]

[ QUOTE ]
There are lots of them, but honestly, its Sienfield, and it isnt eevn close enough for there to be good discussion about it.

[/ QUOTE ]
This is the real answer, but since we're coming up with nominations for a tournament, I'll say The Simpsons. I can't believe nobody said this yet.

[CallMeIshmael]

[ QUOTE ]
Despite his botching of the English language, Alobar is correct.

[/ QUOTE ]


FWIW, I thought it was #1 BY FAR until I saw the office. Now, the two are close, but I have the office ahead.

[Patrick del Poker Grande]

Oh yeah, and M*A*S*H. Cheers is already well-covered.

[The Stranger]

[ QUOTE ]
There are lots of them, but honestly, its Sienfield, and it isnt eevn close enough for there to be good discussion about it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sanford and Son was better than Seinfeld, but I already put in my nomination. IMO, Cheers was better than Seinfeld too.

[CallMeIshmael]

[ QUOTE ]
I'll say The Simpsons. I can't believe nobody said this yet.

[/ QUOTE ]

Does it count? (I thought sitcom implied not cartoon)

[Patrick del Poker Grande]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I'll say The Simpsons. I can't believe nobody said this yet.

[/ QUOTE ]

Does it count? (I thought sitcom implied not cartoon)

[/ QUOTE ]
It's an animated sitcom. Also, from the OP:
[ QUOTE ]
Animated ones count.

[/ QUOTE ]

[SmileyEH]

Arrested Development by like 18 light years.

-SmileyEH

[Patrick del Poker Grande]

I expect it to go down in flames with this crowd, but let's throw The Cosby Show in there too.

[CallMeIshmael]

LOL

[istewart]

Dharma and Greg.

[Yeti]

I like Seinfeld.

It's funny. I like Jerry. I really like Larry David. It's got some witty dialogue. It makes me smile, sometimes chuckle. It's familiar.

But it's not the funniest, or the best.

[modaddy]

Soap. No contest.

[WEASEL45]

i love lucy

[WillMagic]

[ QUOTE ]
The Office (British version)

[/ QUOTE ]

Will

[istewart]

I was under the impression that you were not American. If so, it's pretty clear why you wouldn't like it as much.

[Yeti]

I'm not. I 'get' it. It just doesn't make my sides split. Perhaps it's not intended to.

I like CYE a lot more..

[The Stranger]

The Andy Griffith Show.

[istewart]

[ QUOTE ]
I like CYE a lot more..

[/ QUOTE ]

At least you got one thing going for you. /images/graemlins/smile.gif

[brassnuts]

Blossom.

END. OF. THREAD.

[istewart]

Six was hot.

[CallMeIshmael]

[ QUOTE ]
Six was hot.

[/ QUOTE ]

[twang]

1. The Simpsons: Top quality + super stamina = winner.
2. The Office (British version): Absolute top quality but cashed out before the first downswing.
3. Seinfeld: Same as The Simpsons, just less of it.

[dtbog]

Holy shit -- no one said Curb Your Enthusiasm?

Well, Curb Your Enthusiasm... though Seinfeld kicks ass as well.

-dB

[Vince Young]

[ QUOTE ]
The Simpsons.

[/ QUOTE ]

[Willluck]

I can't believe no one has mentioned Newsradio.

[The Stranger]

[ QUOTE ]
Holy shit -- no one said Curb Your Enthusiasm?

Well, Curb Your Enthusiasm... though Seinfeld kicks ass as well.

-dB

[/ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]


I'm not. I 'get' it. It just doesn't make my sides split. Perhaps it's not intended to.

I like CYE a lot more..

[/ QUOTE ]

[twang]

http://www.crazyaboutmovies.com/ImagesAOL/fullhouse.jpg

[The Stranger]

http://www.bobsagetisgod.com/dino.gif

[twang]

Yep.

[The Stranger]

http://www.bobsagetisgod.com/2.jpg

[Iplayragstoo]

LMAO /images/graemlins/grin.gif

[TimTimSalabim]

In addition to ones already mentioned:

Get A Life
Coupling (British version)
Bakersfield P.D.

[twang]

I was very disappointed to see him making an obscene gesture. This is not the Bob Saget we all love. I'm convinced it's photoshopped.

[Alobar]

[ QUOTE ]
I was very disappointed to see him making an obscene gesture. This is not the Bob Saget we all love. I'm convinced it's photoshopped.

[/ QUOTE ]

from what I understand hes really raunchy in his stand up, and very funny. I still havent gathered the desire to find out for msyelf tho, beacuse he is sooooo unfunny in everything else, and I hate full house so much, that I cant stand him.

[brassnuts]

In case it wasn't obvious, I was kidding. However, I think Moesha would have been a better joke. Seriously, I guess I go with Seinfeld.

But, this thread tickled a few axions that haven't been fired in years. A few shows of a forgotten past:

Dinosaurs
Perfect Strangers
Life Goes On (Corky RULED)
Highway to Heaven
My Two Dads
Sidekicks

[kyro]

I know I'm going to be flamed hardcore for this...but I loved Friends.

Other ones I enjoyed:
Fresh Prince of Bel Air
Spin City
Family Guy

I never liked Seinfeld. They had some cute episodes...but for the most part I could sleep through them.

[JMP300z]

Boy Meets World.
Scrubs.
Sports Night.
Curb.

[zoomOut]

[ QUOTE ]
I expect it to go down in flames with this crowd, but let's throw The Cosby Show in there too.

[/ QUOTE ]

Patrick you always crack me up.

Simpsons
Futurama
Seinfeld

I think I am the only one who ever watched Just Shoot Me.
Best episode was Elliot's slow brother Donnie. God that was funny. Cheers was often too painful to watch. The women in that show were irritating as hell.

[kyro]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I was very disappointed to see him making an obscene gesture. This is not the Bob Saget we all love. I'm convinced it's photoshopped.

[/ QUOTE ]

from what I understand hes really raunchy in his stand up, and very funny. I still havent gathered the desire to find out for msyelf tho, beacuse he is sooooo unfunny in everything else, and I hate full house so much, that I cant stand him.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is a lie as he is godlike in AFHV.

[twang]

[ QUOTE ]
from what I understand hes really raunchy in his stand up, and very funny.

[/ QUOTE ]
This is a very bizarre piece of information.

[Roy Munson]

When Things Were Rotten

[The Stranger]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I was very disappointed to see him making an obscene gesture. This is not the Bob Saget we all love. I'm convinced it's photoshopped.

[/ QUOTE ]

from what I understand hes really raunchy in his stand up, and very funny. I still havent gathered the desire to find out for msyelf tho, beacuse he is sooooo unfunny in everything else, and I hate full house so much, that I cant stand him.

[/ QUOTE ]

Reunion show at the comedy store (http://laugh-svca.www.conxion.com/media/mp3/saget/Bob_Saget-Want_To_Have_A_Boy.mp3)

[Dan Rutter]

I say the Simpsons, Seinfeld is in second for me.

[justin D]

Newhart, just a great show. It really needs to be released to DVD.

[Kurn, son of Mogh]

The Simpsons

[Bulldog]

C'mon, only The Simpsons and Seinfeld can even be in the discussion. I loved the office, but 13 episodes can't compare to hundreds, no matter how good it was.

[Patrick del Poker Grande]

Seinfeld and The Simpsons definitely have to be the number 1 and 2 seeds. I'll put Cheers in at #3 and then I don't know who gets #4.

[battschr]

The Simpsons and Arrested Development.

[Drac]

My current favorite is Family Guy. Never watched it before this season. Thank Sklansky for TiVo and Adult Swim. Damn funny stuff.

All time it has to be the Simpsons.

[andyfox]

My nominees:

M.A.S.H.
All in the Family
Taxi
Everybody Loves Raymond
Frazier

[battschr]

[ QUOTE ]
My nominees:

M.A.S.H.
All in the Family
Taxi
Everybody Loves Raymond
Frazier

[/ QUOTE ]

I hate ELR and Frazier.

[Your Mom]

[ QUOTE ]
Arrested Development by like 18 light years.

-SmileyEH

[/ QUOTE ]

That show gives me a seizure. Can't they find someone to work the [censored] camera the right way?

[Your Mom]

Seinfeld, a clear #1. Sportsnight and Dinosaurs very underated.

[Patrick del Poker Grande]

[ QUOTE ]
Seinfeld, a clear #1. Sportsnight and Dinosaurs very underated.

[/ QUOTE ]
Sportsnight is the second worst show of all time. Only That's My Bush beats it out for worst show ever. Terrible. Terrible.

[Punker]

(bypassing the two clear choices of Simpsons and Seinfeld)

Mainstream choice: Married with children

Obscure choice: Sledge Hammer

[Patrick del Poker Grande]

[ QUOTE ]
Mainstream choice: Married with children

[/ QUOTE ]
Yes. This show deserves nomination. I'm surprised it hasn't been mentioned yet.

[wonderwes]

http://www.classic-tv.com/shows/images/nightcourt.jpg

I thought Night Court was one of the best sitcoms I watched.

[Patrick del Poker Grande]

[ QUOTE ]
http://www.classic-tv.com/shows/images/nightcourt.jpg

I thought Night Court was one of the best sitcoms I watched.

[/ QUOTE ]
[censored]! How did I forget about Night Court?

[JustSomeJackass]

I, like many others, would have The Simpsons and Seinfeld at #1/#2.

Others not mentioned that I enjoyed:

Roseanne (except the last few seasons)
WKRP in Cincinnati

[CallMeIshmael]

I just want to say: Im glad that the Simpsons:Family Guy mention ratio is where it is currently at.


(and Im well aware that this comment might send off a billion FG votes... so I will ignore all future votes /images/graemlins/grin.gif)

[commodore64]

dream on

[CallMeIshmael]

[ QUOTE ]
I loved the office, but 13 episodes can't compare to hundreds, no matter how good it was.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thats a good point. And the office was certainly the type of show that wasnt going to be good for 100 episodes.


BUT... those 13 episodes were SOOOOOOOO good.

[PhatTBoll]

http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Boulevard/2587/fish1.jpg

[fluxrad]

[ QUOTE ]
Seinfeld.

[/ QUOTE ]

AINEC.

[krazyace5]

All in the Family, Home Improvement

No one mentioned The Jeffersons.

Anyone remember Mama's Family?

[pryor15]

[ QUOTE ]
Home Improvement

[/ QUOTE ]

please tell me you're kidding

[krazyace5]

I like it. /images/graemlins/crazy.gif I never really cared to much for others like Friends, Seinfeld, Frasier, etc

Of course I worked afternoons/mids for the last 12 yrs so I didn't really get to watch much of the newer stuff.

[blatz]

[ QUOTE ]

WKRP in Cincinnati

[/ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]


Les: No parachutes yet. Can't be skydivers... I can't tell

just yet what they are, but - Oh my God, Johnny, they're

turkeys!! Johnny, can you get this? Oh, they're plunging

to the earth right in front of our eyes! One just went

through the windshield of a parked car! Oh, the

humanity! The turkeys are hitting the ground like sacks

of wet cement! Not since the Hindenberg tragedy has

there been anything like this!




Mr Carlson: As God is my witness, I thought

turkeys could fly.

[/ QUOTE ]

I've been laughing at that quote at least 10 minutes.

Nothing will ever touch Seinfeld, but TAXI, WKRP, and the Jeffersons have not lost a thing with age.

Now I'm gonna go back to laughing at that quote.

[Geordie Ramone]

Barney Miller

[Claunchy]

Sports Night and Arrested Development are very close for me.

[dhaimon]

[ QUOTE ]
I know I'm going to be flamed hardcore for this...but I loved Friends.

Other ones I enjoyed:
Fresh Prince of Bel Air
Spin City
Family Guy

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes!

Add Scrubs, That 70's Show to that.

[x2ski]

[ QUOTE ]
I can't believe no one has mentioned Newsradio.

[/ QUOTE ]

Excellent call... It was best before Catherine left, and obviously before Bill (Phil Hartman) "left" as well.

Fantastic show.

[Biloxi]

Seinfeld <font color="red"> DOMINATES EVERYTHING </font>

[imported_The Vibesman]

1. The Honeymooners
2. The Simpsons
3. Cheers
4. South Park
5. The Dick Van Dyke Show

I'll throw some love to the classics. Night Court, Family Guy, and Sports Night get honorable mention from me, although Sports Night wasn't really a sitcom, but I need to defend it against the guy that compared it to That's My Bush. Seinfeld doesn't do it for me, I just don't find the cast very likeable. I've seen a couple of episodes of Arrested Development, and could take it or leave it. I don't watch sitcoms anymore, so I haven't seen most of the new shows.

[zoomOut]

The Dick Van Dyke show! An all time favorite.

A great sitcom has to be one that you can watch over and over and still laugh. That is my measure. For people who are fans of Curb Your Enthusiasm I find that it is funny the first time around but not so much on the reruns. I'm not sure why this is true. Seinfeld on the other hand is funny even after the fifth time watching the same damn episode.

(Whoever nominated Scrubs, good call. )

[The Stranger]

Where does that whole Andy Griffith, Green Acres, Beverly Hillbillies genre fit in?

[BigBaitsim (milo)]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

WKRP in Cincinnati

[/ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]


Les: No parachutes yet. Can't be skydivers... I can't tell

just yet what they are, but - Oh my God, Johnny, they're

turkeys!! Johnny, can you get this? Oh, they're plunging

to the earth right in front of our eyes! One just went

through the windshield of a parked car! Oh, the

humanity! The turkeys are hitting the ground like sacks

of wet cement! Not since the Hindenberg tragedy has

there been anything like this!




Mr Carlson: As God is my witness, I thought

turkeys could fly.

[/ QUOTE ]

I've been laughing at that quote at least 10 minutes.

Nothing will ever touch Seinfeld, but TAXI, WKRP, and the Jeffersons have not lost a thing with age.

Now I'm gonna go back to laughing at that quote.

[/ QUOTE ]


Although this quote alone puts WKRP up there, I gotta go with:

1. Seinfeld
2. The Simpsons
3. M*A*S*H

[The Stranger]

where is Saved by the Bell???

Com'on OOTiots, step it up!

[jakethebake]

[ QUOTE ]
The Andy Griffith Show.

[/ QUOTE ]

Good answer. How many Emmy's did Don Knotts win? Doesn't he hold some kind of record?

[Grease]

The Office!

A British Office Space with much more off color humor (notice the American spelling).

[jakethebake]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Seinfeld, a clear #1. Sportsnight and Dinosaurs very underated.

[/ QUOTE ]
Sportsnight is the second worst show of all time. Only That's My Bush beats it out for worst show ever. Terrible. Terrible.

[/ QUOTE ]

Clearly you never saw Too Close for Comfort or Empty Nest. With that said, Sportsnight seems to get a lotta love, but I never got it. I just didn't think it was funny at all.

[jakethebake]

[ QUOTE ]
Obscure choice: Sledge Hammer

[/ QUOTE ]

Nice! I forgot that one.

[jakethebake]

[ QUOTE ]
WKRP in Cincinnati

[/ QUOTE ]

This is one of the few shows that has me laughing hysterically at some point in every episode.

[jakethebake]

[ QUOTE ]
Barney Miller

[/ QUOTE ]

Awesome! How did this one take so long to come up?

[Roy Stalin]

Get A Life

[hoopsie44]

Taxi, with Rev. Jim being one of the great characters.

Two shows, not yet mentioned that were so bad they were good: Platypus Man and Pig Sty.

[daveymck]

I cant really put any US comedy on my list maybe the Simpsons and South Park apart from that some of them can be amusing but not laugh out loud funny.

Mine

1 Fawlty Towers
2 Blackadder 2/3/4/1
3 The Office
4 Phoenix Knights
5 Red Dwarf (first few series went [censored] after that)
6 One Foot in the Grave

Have to add men behaving Badly, the young ones, early allo allo, and even some of the classics like some mothers, dads army, are you being served etc etc. On top of that stuff like Alan Partridge, League of Gentlemen, some of Fools and Horses and a few others that are far better than most mainstream US stuff.


A lot of the above except red dwarf have in common that they only went on a couple of series before being killed off and are all the better for it. The other advantage UK comedy has over US is that it tends to be 2-3 writers do the whole thing as I understand US stuff is done by huge writing teams.

I do think the US does modern drama better than the UK but comedy we have got it covered.

[Dominic]

Taxi - and it isn't even close.

Although other great ones are:

WKRP
Soap
The Honeymooners
The Simpsons
Cheers
Mash
Seinfeld
I Love Lucy
All in the Family
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
The Bob Newhart Show

[schwza]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I was very disappointed to see him making an obscene gesture. This is not the Bob Saget we all love. I'm convinced it's photoshopped.

[/ QUOTE ]

from what I understand hes really raunchy in his stand up, and very funny. I still havent gathered the desire to find out for msyelf tho, beacuse he is sooooo unfunny in everything else, and I hate full house so much, that I cant stand him.

[/ QUOTE ]

have you seen half-baked? hi-larious.

[hobbsmann]

[ QUOTE ]
where is Saved by the Bell???

Com'on OOTiots, step it up!

[/ QUOTE ]
Good one! I don't think it quite measures up to the Simpsons and Seinfeld, but worth mention.

Also....

http://www.tvcrazy.net/tvclassics/wallpaper/oldshows/miamivice/rico-tubbs.jpg

[jakethebake]

Despite the unintentional comedy, I don't think MV qualifies as a sitcom. /images/graemlins/grin.gif

[A_C_Slater]

[ QUOTE ]
where is Saved by the Bell???

Com'on OOTiots, step it up!

[/ QUOTE ]


I'll represent.

Bayside football rules!

[daveymck]

Damn I forgot about the Royle Family as well even better than the office and I would say a must watch even for the US types.

I also missed off stuff like yes minister, ab fab and a few others.

[NoChance]

My favorite would be Married With Children with The Simpsons coming in second.

I also loved watching Threes Company and Gilligan's Island back in the day.

[swede123]

My local radio station held a contest before the US Women's Open started where callers had to pick who would finish second.

This thread also should have been labeled "Second Best Sitcom after Seinfeld."

Swede

[chaas4747]

1. Happy Days
2. WKRP
3. Seinfeld

[on_thg]

Newsradio

Soap and Barney Miller were pretty good too. Seinfeld and Simpsons of course.

[benza13]

Animated:

Simpsons
South Park
Family Guy (Lots of potential to move up now that its back though)

Live action

Seinfeld
NewsRadio
Married with Children

Overall:

Simpsons
Seinfeld
South Park

must be something about the S

[samjjones]

If this is going to end up in an elimination style tournament, the following situation comedies must be included:

The Mary Tyler Moore Show
The Bob Newhart Show
Larry Sanders
Fawlty Towers
Married With Children

[samjjones]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
where is Saved by the Bell???

Com'on OOTiots, step it up!

[/ QUOTE ]
Good one! I don't think it quite measures up to the Simpsons and Seinfeld, but worth mention.

Also....

http://www.tvcrazy.net/tvclassics/wallpaper/oldshows/miamivice/rico-tubbs.jpg

[/ QUOTE ]

On what planet is "Miami Vice" considered a sitcom?

[jakethebake]

I'm throwing King of the Hill in there too on the animated side.

[porkchop]

Dream On and Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman were both underrated.

[DeathDonkey]

Coupling - the British version.

-DeathDonkey

[M2d]

I think I'm the only person on the planet (or, in OOT which pretty much includes all opinions that matter) that thinks Sienfeld blows. It's stupid and boring.

Also, I'm surprised that Sanford and Son hasn't been mentioned. The theme song alone makes it gold.

[Shajen]

[ QUOTE ]
I think I'm the only person on the planet (or, in OOT which pretty much includes all opinions that matter) that thinks Sienfeld blows. It's stupid and boring.

[/ QUOTE ]

It's horrible. So that makes two.

[GrooveNougat]

Good call on Sanford and Son. Another great sitcom with another great themesong, I nominate the Dukes of Hazzard.

Yee-ha!

[touchfaith]

My top 10

Seinfeld
Soap
Married with Children
Chico and the Man
Friends
Taxi
Sanford &amp; Son
News Radio
Barney Miller
MASH

[M2d]

[ QUOTE ]
My top 10

Seinfeld
Soap
Married with Children
Chico and the Man
Friends
Taxi
Sanford &amp; Son
News Radio
Barney Miller
MASH

[/ QUOTE ]
Replace Soap with Cheers and Sienfeld with, oh, I don't know...My Two Dads? Perfect Strangers? Charles in Charge? anything? and you have yourself one hell of a list.

[Martin Aigner]

Guess tastes are different /images/graemlins/smile.gif

Malcolm in the middle
Couplings
Cibyll

[tbach24]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm throwing King of the Hill in there too on the animated side.

[/ QUOTE ]

I love King of the Hill

Bobby: Dad can we get a new TV
Hank: Bobby, America, the greatest country in the world, doesn't make TV's anymore
Bobby: Why can't we get a Japanese one?
Hank: Bobby go to your room!

[Phoenix1010]

[ QUOTE ]
I expect it to go down in flames with this crowd, but let's throw The Cosby Show in there too.

[/ QUOTE ]

This show is incredibly well done, and it accomplished everything it set out to do, while staying within the confines of the morals and values of the creators. Almost every episode was well put together and very funny. It defintely deserves a nomination.

Cheers has always been my favorite by far. I think I like a character driven show over gag driven show, although I can understand why Seinfeld would dominate this discussion.

[wayabvpar]

Seinfeld
BlackAdder
Red Dwarf
Sports Night
Coupling (British)
Cheers
Arrested Development
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Taxi
Get A Life
Not in any order.

Edited- Forgot GAL!

[CourtesyFlush]

[ QUOTE ]
dream on

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't think it would be my #1 but very good choice.

[pryor15]

it didn't age all that well. i liked it when it came out, but the reruns? not so much.

[The Stranger]

Does The Flinstones belong on this list?