Your top 5 greatest sitcoms

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » July 19, 2007, 12:56 pm

I agree! The first US season was basically just a (loose) copy of the first UK season. Which is one of the reasons it was only 6 episodes which seems to be the typical UK season length for a lot of shows. After watching the first 3 US seasons before ever seeing the UK version I prefer the US version and I don't really see what would make the UK version superior other than it being first.

Xatrei · Post by **Xatrei** » July 19, 2007, 1:12 pm

For me, having watched the BBC version first, I'm sure that it being the original has some affect on which I prefer. Personally, I like (or is it hate?) the David Brent character more than Michael Scott. I think Gervais and Carell are both brilliant, and do wonderful jobs with their characters. As for other characters, Dawn > Pam, Tim > Jim, but Dwight > Gareth. The US version is developing a more detailed and interesting story line, given the luxury of having a longer production run. Overall, I love the BBC version, and really like the NBC version, which is why it fell just short of my top 5.

Nick - If you haven't, I do recommend that you watch more of the US version. As others have said, it really does improve and is quite good.

Has anyone seen the German, French or French Canadian versions of the show? Are they any good? How do they compare? I may have to see if I can track down the German episodes. I'm SOL au Francais unless I can find a dubbed or subbed video.

miir · Post by **miir** » July 19, 2007, 1:21 pm

Arrested Development > The Office

Arrested Development is a fucking great show and the humor is way more sublime and complex than the Office... but in terms of 'laugh out loud' funny, The Office is tops in my opinion.

Personally, I like (or is it hate?) the David Brent character more than Michael Scott. I think Gervais and Carell are both brilliant, and do wonderful jobs with their characters. As for other characters, Dawn > Pam, Tim > Jim, but Dwight > Gareth

Gervais and Carell are a toss-up for me.
I don't like the Pam character much.
Jim > Tim and Dwight > all.

The lesser characters on the US Office are far superior.
Creed Bratton is my absolute favorite.
Ryan and Kelly crack me up.

Xatrei · Post by **Xatrei** » July 19, 2007, 1:32 pm

Yeah, Gervais v. Corell is a toss-up for me, too, so I give the nod to Brent as the better character. Ryan & Kelly are hysterical, and Creed is by far the funniest of all the supporting characters (which is saying a lot, I think). I think the fact that each series in the BBC version only had 6 episodes prevented it from developing a really detailed and interesting cast of interesting supporting characters, as there just wasn't time to deal them as adequately as they can on the NBC version. This is a great example of what I meant by the NBC version being able to develop a more compelling story with its longer run.

Next season should be really interesting with Ryan's promotion.

Nick · Post by **Nick** » July 20, 2007, 2:22 pm

Sylvus wrote:
Nick wrote:The U.S Version of the Office is fucking shit.

Seriously, the US version of the Office is one of the most lamentably crap remakes of a good idea i've ever seen.
I don't believe that you've watched more than an episode of the US version of the Office and you're just repeating the line that the UK version is superior. It's easily the funniest show in production today.

It's my belief that the Office (UK) is no longer in production, and I'm not saying it isn't superior to the US version, but to call the US version shit is ridiculous.

Believe whatever the fuck you want man, you're still going to be just as wrong regardless. I've watched various episodes from the first and second series, and frankly, it's (imo) pretty lame.

Midnyte_Ragebringer · Post by **Midnyte_Ragebringer** » July 20, 2007, 4:01 pm

In no particular order...

All in the Family
The Honeymooners
Seinfeld
Friends
Everybody Loves Raymond

Xyun · Post by **Xyun** » July 24, 2007, 11:16 pm

Married with Children

Night Court

Perfect Strangers

Frazier

Seinfeld

p.s. I hate scrubs with a passion.

Dregor Thule · Post by **Dregor Thule** » July 25, 2007, 12:37 am

I hate YOU with a passion.

That would make a stellar sitcom!

Chidoro · Post by **Chidoro** » August 6, 2007, 5:23 pm

Dregor Thule wrote:I'm one of those who finds Curb Your Enthusiasm kind of irritating. Or rather, I find Larry David's character irritating. I've tried to watch it a few times, but I usually end up wanting to hit the guy, which is odd, because I liked Seinfeld, and I liked the character of George Costanza whom as I understand it was based off Larry David ><

That's really the idea. It's grating and brutal but funny as hell if you're comfortable in your own skin. We watch it using On Demand and string together a bunch of them instead of watching a movie most friday nights.

To pick a top group for me it's Curb, All in the Family (pre the archie's place disaster), and Seinfeld. I never really watched seinfeld when it was on, picked up on it in re-runs mostly and that's a shame because it really is a great show.

Never liked mash and i tried multiple times to watch it. maybe the stupid laugh track in the middle of korea didn't help. I hate when a show tries to tell me when I am supposed to be laughing. i think that is what makes an Office or a Curb so much better.

miir · Post by **miir** » August 7, 2007, 4:49 pm

I'm surprised that All in The Family made it into so many peoples top 5s.

Momopi · Post by **Momopi** » August 9, 2007, 10:30 am

i'm suprised noone is listing newhart or the bob newhart show. Guess you have to be old to remember how good those were.

Boogahz · Post by **Boogahz** » August 9, 2007, 10:38 am

Momopi wrote:i'm suprised noone is listing newhart or the bob newhart show. Guess you have to be old to remember how good those were.

3rd mention of Newhart in this thread...by you!

I remember watching it, but it was hard to identify with the characters which kept me from watching more often. Also, I never really set my schedule to watch any sitcom...even before the VCR/DVR.

miir · Post by **miir** » August 9, 2007, 10:43 am

I loved Newhart and The Bob Newhart show... I just prefer sitcoms that are more edgy.
Bob Newhart is lighthearted, innocuous observational humor... a lot like Bill Cosby.
I find both Newhart and Cosby incredibly funny... but not funny enough to be on my top 5 sitcoms.

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » September 7, 2007, 3:54 pm

Not sure if they are in my 'greatest' list yet but two sitcoms I have seen lately that I have found fairly funny:

The IT Crowd (British show. Just started second season. Search newsgroups!)
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Season 1 and 2 complete. Season 3 to start 9/13)

NBC is stealing The IT Crowd like they did The Office and will be 'Americanized' and aired the beginning of 2008. I'm not sure they'll be able to match the UK version. At least I've seen the British version first so I can be all snobby about the US version when it comes out like people are with The Ofice.

Leonaerd · Post by **Leonaerd** » September 8, 2007, 12:12 am

The Office
Friends
Family Guy
Futurama
Frasier

fuck the limit of 5, fuck sitcoms. "Your top 10 greatest funny shows"

sealab 2021
harvey birdman
venture bros
robot chicken
south park

miir · Post by **miir** » September 9, 2007, 1:39 am

sealab 2021
harvey birdman
venture bros
robot chicken

I'm a huge fucking fan of all Adult Swim shows.

Leonaerd · Post by **Leonaerd** » September 9, 2007, 10:55 pm

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » September 10, 2007, 10:24 pm

Check out the Russian and Chilean version of Married w/Children.

The Russian version is authorized, not sure about the Chilean:

Russian:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/10/world ... xprod=digg

Chile:

http://www.mega.cl/jadmega/index.php?op ... &Itemid=16

The international audience endorses Married With Children...surprising as I thought that show's humor would be the least understood by foreigners.

Zamtuk · Post by **Zamtuk** » September 11, 2007, 10:51 am

miir wrote:
sealab 2021
harvey birdman
venture bros
robot chicken
I'm a huge fucking fan of all Adult Swim shows.

Yeah, Moral Orel and Aqua Teen are some of the funniest shows to come around in a long time. Even the Aqua Teen movie was fantastic.

Tyek · Post by **Tyek** » September 11, 2007, 2:22 pm

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Season 1 and 2 complete. Season 3 to start 9/13)

Great show, got the Tivo ready to capture it all starting this Thursday at 10pm. FX Channel.

Jice Virago · Post by **Jice Virago** » September 12, 2007, 4:46 pm

1) All in the Family
2) Curb your Enthusiasm
3) Cheers
4) Mash
5) Scrubs

In that order.

Honorable mention to: Northern Exposure and Rosanne

VariaVespasa · Post by **VariaVespasa** » September 13, 2007, 4:04 am

How I Met Your Mother.
Drop the Dead Donkey.
Married, With Children.
Scrubs.
Malcolm In The Middle.

Leonaerd · Post by **Leonaerd** » September 13, 2007, 12:45 pm

Oooh How I Met your Mother and MitM are both really good shows...

I guess I never really think about how many quality funny shows there actually are. It's impossible to pick 5.

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » September 14, 2007, 2:54 am

Tyek wrote:
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Season 1 and 2 complete. Season 3 to start 9/13)
Great show, got the Tivo ready to capture it all starting this Thursday at 10pm. FX Channel.

I liked the Dumpster Baby episode. It was a good start to Season 3. I thought the second episode was more of a miss though. It had its moments but overall ended up feeling a bit flat to me.

Chidoro · Post by **Chidoro** » September 14, 2007, 10:16 am

Jice Virago wrote:Honorable mention to: Northern Exposure and Rosanne

Rosanne definitely made me laugh. And that is an impresive feat because I just wanted to hate her (and I am sure I'm not alone).

Knarlz · Post by **Knarlz** » September 14, 2007, 11:54 am

The flying nun
f troop
family affair
small wonder
my mother the car

Leonaerd · Post by **Leonaerd** » September 15, 2007, 9:35 pm

I've never heard of any of those. Are you from the future??

Spang · Post by **Spang** » September 15, 2007, 9:50 pm

The past is more like it.

Kilmoll the Sexy · Post by **Kilmoll the Sexy** » September 26, 2007, 7:56 pm

I feel I must add The Gary Schandling Show to my list to make a top 6.

Kwonryu DragonFist · September 26, 2007, 11:37 pm

OZ
Rome
Married with Children (Thought Bundys Wife was a MILF back then)
All American Hero : RocketMan (Connie Selecca rocked)
Buck Rogers with Wilma Deering (she was hot back then)

Sajko · Post by **Sajko** » September 27, 2007, 12:39 am

Oz owns! Downloaded all the seasons not to long ago and re-watching em all.

Other than Oz,
Arrested Development
The Office (UK & US)
Kitchen Confidential
Entourage

Ogbar · Post by **Ogbar** » September 27, 2007, 1:34 am

In no particular order, my top 5:

"Fawlty Towers"
"Mary Tyler Moore Show"
"Dick Van Dyke Show"
"Sienfeld"
"Bob Newhart Show"

Near miss:
"I Love Lucy"
"Honeymooners"

Honorable mention:
"Murphy Brown" - so very funny in the beginning, but it dropped off hard and ran 2-3 years too long (maybe more)
"Extras" - very funny show from the UK (and shown on HBO)
"The Powers that Be" - a very funny show that, sadly, no one watched and was canceled in it's first season. John Forsythe played a Senator and he had a wacky family. It was filmed very much like a BBC production (stage style sets and blocking, etc) and it was hilarious. It was the first time I ever saw David Hyde Pierce in anything, and he played a whipped husband to the Senator's daughter to perfection.
"Soap" - drop dead classic funny show from the 70s.

For the record, I hated "MASH" after McLean Stevenson and Wayne Rogers left, and I thought "Happy Days" jumped the shark long long long before Fonzie, er, jumped the shark (was good for a couple of years at best). I never understood either show's longevity. As for "Arrested Development": I've never seen it. "The Office" (US), eh, it's all right. I've never seen "The Office" (UK), but I'm sure I'd like it based on the fact that "Extras"'s Ricky Gervais was in it (he is a very funny actor).

Lalanae · Post by **Lalanae** » October 25, 2007, 11:10 pm

Lalanae wrote:In order:

(1) Arrested Development
(2) The Office (BBC)
(3) The Office (U.S.)
(4) Curb Your Enthusiasm
(5) Scrubs

I don't really watch many sitcoms anymore, preferring TV drama or, better yet, "dramedies" like Big Love or Veronica Mars.

Changing #5. I'm on Season 2 of Little Britain and its been one of the best comedy shows I've seen lately. Eric and I regularly quote the show these days

Bumping Scrubs off the list and I'd have to say I'm enjoying it more than Curb. So new list in order:

(1) Arrested Development
(2) The Office (BBC)
(3) The Office (U.S.)
(4) Little Britain
(5) Curb Your Enthusiasm

Xatrei · Post by **Xatrei** » October 30, 2007, 5:39 am

Aslanna wrote:Not sure if they are in my 'greatest' list yet but two sitcoms I have seen lately that I have found fairly funny:

The IT Crowd (British show. Just started second season. Search newsgroups!)
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Season 1 and 2 complete. Season 3 to start 9/13)

NBC is stealing The IT Crowd like they did The Office and will be 'Americanized' and aired the beginning of 2008. I'm not sure they'll be able to match the UK version. At least I've seen the British version first so I can be all snobby about the US version when it comes out like people are with The Ofice.

I finally got around to checking out The IT Crowd. This show is really funny. Hopefully NBC doesn't screw up their version of it. The Office seems to be the exception to the rule with how well they handle Brit adaptations.

miir · Post by **miir** » October 30, 2007, 11:00 am

Kwonryu DragonFist wrote:OZ
Rome
Married with Children (Thought Bundys Wife was a MILF back then)
All American Hero : RocketMan (Connie Selecca rocked)
Buck Rogers with Wilma Deering (she was hot back then)

Sitcom = Situation Comedy
Usually a 22 minute program with recurring characters where the comedy is derived from situations that arise in their everyday lives.

The only one of those shows that qualifies as a sitcom is Married With Children.

I'm on Season 2 of Little Britain and its been one of the best comedy shows I've seen lately.

I

Little Britain. Vicky Pollard owns.. but technically not a sitcom. It's really more of a sketch show.

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » February 4, 2009, 2:24 am

Xatrei wrote:I finally got around to checking out The IT Crowd. This show is really funny. Hopefully NBC doesn't screw up their version of it. The Office seems to be the exception to the rule with how well they handle Brit adaptations.

Last I heard the American version was scrapped (yay). Anyway, 3 seasons of IT crowd done. Third season was alright (Didn't have any Richmond which was disappointing) but I think the first two episodes of Season 2 were the best. So if anyone wants to check it out start with those! Although I'd recommend just starting from season 1. I think they should have kept Denholm as Douglas doesn't really work for me.

Anyway, another one to check out would be The Inbetweeners which I thought was pretty good. Series 2 starting soon.

Xatrei · Post by **Xatrei** » February 4, 2009, 3:22 am

Yeah, I read somewhere that the US version got scrapped last year, but I think it's probably for the best. Odds are it would have sucked. I haven't gotten around to watching series 3 yet, but they're next after I get through watching the Brit Robin Hood series from the 80's (Robin of Sherwood) again. I haven't seen them since one of the premium channels here (HBO maybe?) aired them in the late 80's. I happened to see they were available on Netflix and queued them up.

Animalor · Post by **Animalor** » February 4, 2009, 7:58 am

I'm surprised that noone has mentionned The Big Bang Theory.

Easily one of my favorite sitcoms on TV today.

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » February 4, 2009, 11:03 am

Animalor wrote:I'm surprised that noone has mentionned The Big Bang Theory.

Easily one of my favorite sitcoms on TV today.

Well this thread was from 2007 and was before that aired I believe.

Having said that... I hate that show. I don't really see the appeal but to each their own!

Lalanae · Post by **Lalanae** » February 4, 2009, 12:49 pm

I liked Big Bang Theory at first, but I keep bumping the last disc in my Netflix queue because I'm not terribly interested in watching it anymore.

Looks like I need to update my list too!
(1) Arrested Development
(2) The Office (U.S.)
(3) Little Britain (even though its a sketch show)
(4) Curb Your Enthusiasm
(5) The Office (BBC)

I hear Curb is starting/in production now too! I guess we'll get to find out if he and Cheryl really did split up or if it was a dream sequence. I hope it wasn't. We need a new wife (a fresh perspective) to embarrass and annoy

Leonaerd · Post by **Leonaerd** » February 4, 2009, 1:11 pm

My updated list!

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Arrested Development
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

Lalanae · Post by **Lalanae** » February 6, 2009, 5:13 pm

Ok, I guess I need to bump up It's Always Sunny... in my Netflix queue...

Post by **Sylvus** » February 9, 2009, 11:27 am

Lalanae wrote:Ok, I guess I need to bump up It's Always Sunny... in my Netflix queue...

Do it, it's hilarious! Would definitely make my revised top 5 list.

Leonaerd · Post by **Leonaerd** » February 9, 2009, 9:06 pm

Also, there are tons of websites that stream the show. Hulu has 5 or so from the first season, and various british sites (you have to google around a bit) have every season.

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » May 1, 2011, 9:52 pm

Curb Your Enthusiasm season 8 starts July 10th!

Spang · Post by **Spang** » May 1, 2011, 10:33 pm

1. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
2. Arrested Development
3. Modern Family
4. Scrubs
5. Alf

Lynks · Post by **Lynks** » May 14, 2011, 8:11 pm

I'll replace the Simpsons with How I met your mother.

Boogahz · Post by **Boogahz** » May 14, 2011, 8:14 pm

recently for me...in no real order:

Rules of Engagement
The Big Bang Theory
Workaholics
30 Rock

No 5th yet