Which American tv-comedy ?
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Topics not related to music
Forum Name: General Polls
Forum Description: Create polls on topics not related to music
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=59061
Printed Date: November 24 2024 at 23:28
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Which American tv-comedy ?
Posted By: progrules
Subject: Which American tv-comedy ?
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 03:51
|
Okay, this was very hard to do. I checked all comedies on the Wikepedia list, otherwise I couldn't have done this. In the past there has been a topic like this about British comedies but I couldn't find one of America's sitcoms. I took the 25 best-known and most popular ones I could find on the list. And since there have been hundreds of sitcoms so far in American TV-history I had to leave out several great ones (max=25).
Sorry for that. You can mention your favorite in a post of course if it's not on the list.
Another interesting way of posting could be a top 10 out of these 25 fantastic comedies. Have fun !
This would be mine:
1. Friends
2. Cheers
3. Taxi
4. Married ... with children
5. All in the Family
6. Frasier
7. Family Ties
8. Seinfeld
9. Rosanna
10. According to Jim/Perfect Strangers ------------- A day without prog is a wasted day |
Replies:
Posted By: Chris S
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 03:54
|
OK even after quite a few years....Seinfeld reigns supreme then Frasier! ------------- ...As I venture through the slipstream, between the viaducts in your dreams...[/COLOR] |
Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 04:11
|
Friends. But also My Name Is Earl and Reaper IO can't do a top 10. I only like 3 otr 4 of them, then it really taile offf.
------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow"> 
|
Posted By: npjnpj
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 04:34
| Friends for me too, but I'm missing Becker. I really like that program. Probaly because of Terry Farrell though. |
Posted By: Rocktopus
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 04:58
|
Seinfeld. Most of these are truly awful.
------------- Over land and under ashes In the sunlight, see - it flashes Find a fly and eat his eye But don't believe in me Don't believe in me Don't believe in me |
Posted By: E-Dub
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 06:48
|
Seinfeld I'm really getting into The Office, though. Freakin' Steve Carell plays the perfect moron. E ------------- 
|
Posted By: progmetalhead
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 08:00
|
No Big Bang Theory??
Total genius IMO ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/colt2112" rel="nofollow - http://www.last.fm/user/colt2112 Colt - Admin Team MMA 
|
Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 08:12
Yes!  So my list so far.... Friends Big Bang Theory My Name Is Earl Reaper Curb Your Enthusiasm Everybody Loves Raymond (new)
------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow">
|
progmetalhead wrote:Posted By: TheCaptain
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 08:14
|
From the list? Ugh... Fresh Prince of Bel-Air I suppose. I haven't seen it in many years but the only other show I have seen is Friends. If I had to make a top 10 of comedies, I couldn't use any from the list. I also couldn't make it to 10. 1. Arrested Development (Huge drop) 2. Futurama 3. The Simpsons 4. It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia 5. 30 Rock 6. Scrubs 7. The Office ------------- Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal. |
Posted By: Stooge
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 10:26
| Got to love the Sein!! |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 10:31
Married ... with children, truly awful, but on purpose, and I liked who it offended. M*A*S*H was pretty good, though it kind of got stuck in a rut. I was just watching Malcolm In The Middle this morning, which wasn't included in poll. It's pretty good.
What's funny if for you to declare most of these as awful, you must have subjected yourself to them, and I do believe that makes you a masochist.  |
Posted By: The T
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 11:01
|
Seinfeld by 87122817 miles. Many of those are terrible. Some are good. Seinfeld was inspired. ------------- 
|
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 11:02
Since The Big Bang Theory isn't there - I vote Roseanne ('cept that isn't there either  ) as it shares two of the actors.
(I think I recognised 1/3rd of the shows listed  )------------- What? |
Posted By: progrules
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 12:35
I have to admit it's a funny list but I wanted to dive in history as well. Many never saw Here's Lucy probably and that show is incredibly outdated of course.
To me these are all big names in history but I don't like them all by any means. Most of these comedies are or were very popular over here.
And about history: it's significant that Cheers totally dominated the eighties here in Holland leaving all the others palish maybe with exception of Taxi and Soap (hey, I forgot that one !).
But when Cheers ceased in 1993 it had a great natural follow up in Friends. Most popular comedy ever in the Netherlands without competition. Seinfeld is more for the intellectuals. ------------- A day without prog is a wasted day |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 12:43
|
Soap was pretty good. Anyone remember Fernwood 2nite?
------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
|
Posted By: St.Cleve Chronicle
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 13:46
|
Friends is my favourite. I also seem to have partially inherited my grandfather's tv-tastes: Married with children, Benny Hill, On the buses (the last two are British, I know) |
Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 13:48
I have to say, I just never got Seinfeld, so I avoid it. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow">
|
Posted By: rdtprog
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 13:54
To me it was WKRP in Cincinnati where i liked every character, especially the girls...
------------- Music is the refuge of souls ulcerated by happiness. Emile M. Cioran |
Posted By: JJLehto
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 14:33
|
Now, this is a story all about how My life got flipped-turned upside down And I liked to take a minute Just sit right there I'll tell you how I became the prince of a town called Bel Air In west Philadelphia born and raised On the playground was where I spent most of my days Chillin' out maxin' relaxin' all cool And all shootin some b-ball outside of the school When a couple of guys Who were up to no good Startin making trouble in my neighborhood I got in one little fight and my mom got scared She said 'You're movin' with your auntie and uncle in Bel Air' I begged and pleaded with her day after day But she packed my suite case and send me on my way She gave me a kiss and then she gave me my ticket. I put my walkman on and said, 'I might as well kick it'. First class, yo this is bad Drinking orange juice out of a champagne glass. Is this what the people of Bel-Air Living like? Hmmmmm this might be alright. But wait I hear there're prissy, wine all that Is Bel-Air the type of place they send this cool cat? I don't think sow I'll see when I get there I hope they're prepared for the prince of Bel-Air Well, the plane landed and when I came out There was a dude who looked like a cop standing there with my name out I ain't trying to get arrested I just got here I sprang with the quickness like lightening, disappeared I whistled for a cab and when it came near The license plate said fresh and it had dice in the mirror If anything I can say this cab is rare But I thought 'Now forget it' - 'Yo homes to Bel Air' I pulled up to the house about 7 or 8 And I yelled to the cabbie 'Yo homes smell ya later' I looked at my kingdom I was finally there To sit on my throne as the Prince of Bel Air |
Posted By: harmonium.ro
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 14:58
|
I thought you left Seinfeld out so I voted MASH, my mistake. Seinfeld is my favourite. I also like MASH, Friends, The Nanny, Cheers, Frasier, Taxi. Not on the list: Dharma & Greg! Great one. Does anyone remember it? |
Posted By: moreitsythanyou
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 15:08
|
On the list: THE NANNY I grew up watching that show. Not on the list: 30 Rock -------------  <font color=white>butts, lol[/COLOR] |
Posted By: Pekka
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 16:28
|
Friends all the way. I think that's pretty much the only one of that list that I've watched regularly (all ten seasons four or five times). I've loved the Frasier episodes I've seen as well, but I haven't gotten my hands on any dvd boxes yet. ------------- http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=42652" rel="nofollow - It's on PA! 
|
Posted By: Failcore
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 16:40
| Out of these, Seinfeld, with Taxi a close second, and Frasier third. I loathe Friends. Other honorable mentions that are not on the list are Just Shoot Me, Two and a Half Men. |
Posted By: Failcore
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 16:42
i don't really consider Reaper to be a comedy. More like a very hilarious drama. Nevertheless, glad to the show getting some love. |
Posted By: oddballava
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 17:34
| I was going to mention WKRP in Cincinnati but someone beat me to it. Loni Anderson was hot (of course) but I always had a small crush on Jan Smithers, my kind of gal! |
Posted By: Matthew T
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 18:54
I went for Seinfeld. Me being an old fart would have suggested The Honeymooners and The Beverley Hillbillies ( funny that could be the music) as well but Friends, Heres Lucy and Married with Chidren are a good laugh as well.------------- Matt |
Posted By: JLocke
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 19:49
|
Well, seeing as how I love Seinfield, I would have voted that, but it's already winning and Frasier has gotten no votes, which is simply unacceptable. So Frasier gets my vote. One of the most intelligent American Television Sitcoms I have ever seen. |
Posted By: MFP
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 19:53
|
Seinfeld and Frasier are my favourites. |
Posted By: JLocke
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 19:57
Vote for Frasier, 'cause Seinfeld is already going to win, an Dr. Crane has almost zero support here, it seems. He needs all the love he can get. |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 20:36
|
Suddenly Susan and Here's Lucy? You've gotta be kidding. Best one on list is All in the Family followed by Taxi, MASH, Roseanne, Seinfeld.. missing is The Odd Couple, Mary Hartman Mary Hartman, King of Queens, The Honeymooners |
Posted By: The Pessimist
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 20:39
|
I'm partial to That 70s Show, but Frasier's sophisticated, yet sometimes slapstick, wit grabs me the most from this list.
------------- "Market value is irrelevant to intrinsic value." Arnold Schoenberg |
Posted By: crimson87
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 20:45
| Grounded for Life and the Nanny , those were some of the few that I enjoyed , I usually prefer British comedies over american ones |
Posted By: progkidjoel
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 21:55
Word. ------------- 
|
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 22:33
|
Of course if you're speaking strictly US TV comedy, Saturday Night Live was the best. I grew up on Laugh Inn, Carol Burnett, etc. Then I was co-opted by Monty Python. US Situation Comedies With Live Actors would narrow things down a little better. Hogan's Heroes was big favorite with me when I was growing up. I also see no Gilligan's Island, I Love Lucy, Barney Miller, Sanford and Son, (Redd Foxx was a really "dirty" stand up comic BTW), etc. But hey, you only get so many slots... Jeeze, how many sitcoms have we put out anyway? Lately though, my favorite US TV comedies are the cartoons you can see on Adult Swim... ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
|
Posted By: manofmystery
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 22:49
|
Have to show some support for mankinds greatest hero:
Seinfield would be second on this list but The Simpsons was truely the greatest television show of all time during a remarkable stretch of flawless episodes from seasons 3 through 8
And where's Sanford & Son and Beverly Hillbillies on this list? classics -------------  Time always wins. |
Posted By: LandofLein
Date Posted: June 27 2009 at 01:12
|
Friends and Seinfeld
but It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is the best TV show made by humans
|
Posted By: Rocktopus
Date Posted: June 27 2009 at 05:31
Is there any other way for me to find out if something is any good or not? If I am a masochist, most people are. ------------- Over land and under ashes In the sunlight, see - it flashes Find a fly and eat his eye But don't believe in me Don't believe in me Don't believe in me |
Posted By: progrules
Date Posted: June 27 2009 at 10:12
You don't like Brooke ??? What's the matter with you ?
http://www.google.nl/imgres?imgurl=http://images.askmen.com/galleries/actress/brooke-shields/pictures/brooke-shields-picture-1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.askmen.com/women/galleries/actress/brooke-shields/picture-4.html&h=490&w=376&sz=41&tbnid=SkQxbl1YvdeapM:&tbnh=130&tbnw=100&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbrooke%2Bshields&hl=nl&usg=__g6QcPGuf184P5c3RO9Jclla-HB8=&ei=IDZGSvPTDY_T-Qbyy5ET&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=1&ct=image">
  Besides, as I already said: I wanted to include several decades and not every comedy on the list is my personal fav. ------------- A day without prog is a wasted day |
Posted By: Abstrakt
Date Posted: June 27 2009 at 11:56
| Seinfeld!!! Giddy-up! |
Posted By: lazland
Date Posted: June 27 2009 at 13:05
|
MASH is the ONLY American TV comedy show that this bloke from Wales has ever remotely obsessed about. At turns funny, sad, bittersweet, tragic, and ridiculous. A question for my American friends - was this, as I've always imagined, rather untypical of the usual TV fare you get over there? Or am I completely wrong?  ------------- Enhance your life. Get down to www.lazland.org Now also broadcasting on www.progzilla.com Every Saturday, 4.00 p.m. UK time! |
Posted By: ClemofNazareth
Date Posted: June 27 2009 at 13:33
Apparently a lot. (I cheated; this is from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sitcoms - Wikipedia - and I can think of a few that are missing...) 100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd ------------- "Peace is the only battle worth waging." Albert Camus |
Posted By: harmonium.ro
Date Posted: June 27 2009 at 13:37
| What about Everybody Loves Raymond? I really liked that one. |
Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: June 27 2009 at 13:39
I love it and its going on my list. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow">
|
Posted By: Moogtron III
Date Posted: June 27 2009 at 13:53
|
The early years of The Cosby Show were the best I ever saw.
I also liked The Nanny a lot, and Cheers was good as well. All In The Family was a good early comedy.
|
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: June 27 2009 at 14:19
...now that's one I missed  ------------- What? |
Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: June 27 2009 at 14:35
|
I votedfor "Marriedwith Children" dueto the first years.
The problem is that usually USA comedies start funny and become stupid after some years
For example, not oroiginaly a comedy, but I loved Boston Legal until William Shatner's role as Denny Crane became simply stupid and they added that character called Jerry "Hands" Espenson who ruined a great program turning it into a retarded comedy.
Iván ------------- 
|
Posted By: ClemofNazareth
Date Posted: June 27 2009 at 14:43
Was actually a funny show, although pretty predictable. ------------- "Peace is the only battle worth waging." Albert Camus |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: June 27 2009 at 14:49
I'd say that's right, MASH was one of a kind not just in it's mix of human drama with nutty comedy, but the many innovative experiments it did; the newsreel documentary episodes, the one entirely from the point of view of a wounded soldier, the dream episode.. brilliant show and went beyond even the greatness of Taxi or Roseanne |
Posted By: Moogtron III
Date Posted: June 27 2009 at 14:56
| I also enjoyed MASH a lot. I forgot about that. Especially the episodes with the first cast. |
Posted By: Stooge
Date Posted: June 27 2009 at 17:20
|
Based on the Wikipedia list, here are the american comedies that I enjoy watching (I'll bold my favorites): American Dad! The Andy Griffith Show Andy Richter Controls the Universe Arrested Development Batman (so over-the-top!!) Becker Cheers Coach Curb Your Enthusiasm (My current favorite) Everybody Loves Raymond Family Guy Family Matters (The later episodes were just ridiculous though) Family Ties The Flintstones Frasier The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Futurama Gilligan's Island Happy Days Home Improvement I Love Lucy The Jetsons Just Shoot Me The King of Queens King of The Hill Leave It to Beaver Malcolm In The Middle Married... with Children NewsRadio The Office (US) Seinfeld (bought Season 6 DVDs today!!) The Simpsons South Park Spin City Taxi Tom Goes to the Mayor Welcome Back, Kotter Who's the Boss? Some of these I haven't seen in a LONG time, but would watch a rerun if I come across it channel surfing. |
Posted By: johnobvious
Date Posted: June 27 2009 at 21:35
|
Always torn between MASH and Seinfeld but give Mash the slightest of edges. Seinfeld could make you laugh but MASH could make you laugh and cry. One of a kind.
------------- Biggles was in rehab last Saturday |
Posted By: mr.cub
Date Posted: June 28 2009 at 00:46
|
Seinfeld by a wide margin ------------- 
|
Posted By: Noak
Date Posted: June 29 2009 at 13:26
| Seinfeld of course. If Hogan's Heroes would've been on the list I might have picked that. |
Posted By: stonebeard
Date Posted: June 29 2009 at 13:48
|
Arrested Development is the single best comedy show ever. Even better than Seinfeld or Monty Python, though the last one might not even count because it's a sketch comedy show. Here's my top 5 comedies (not sketch shows): 1. Arrested Development 2. Seinfeld 3. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia 4. Curb Your Enthusiasm 5. The Office (US) Typical laugh-track sitcoms are an affront to comedy. Some ones have moments of brilliance like Frasier, and of course Seinfeld managed to kick the ass out of everything at the time, but it's sad they still dominate. ------------- http://soundcloud.com/drewagler" rel="nofollow - My soundcloud. Please give feedback if you want! |
Posted By: JLocke
Date Posted: June 29 2009 at 15:59
| Still . . . no Family Guy or Simpsons as choices in this poll? Boo! |
Posted By: JLocke
Date Posted: June 29 2009 at 16:01
Couldn't agree with you more. Canned laughter has driven me mad for years, now. One of the most ridiculous concepts television has ever seen. My opinion. Though, if we're including Brit shows in that argument, Fawlty Towers will always reign supreme, I don't care if it has a laugh track or not. |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: June 29 2009 at 16:14
 this statement is so counterintuitive it makes me dizzy |
Posted By: Stooge
Date Posted: June 29 2009 at 18:49
I like your list, but I still haven't seen It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: June 29 2009 at 19:27
Psst. Psst. Python doesn't count because it's British. Now for an American sketch comedy show that was more or less concurrent: Laugh In. I grew up on that one. It started the process of warping my sense of humor that Monty Python continued to do in re-runs and movies. Laugh In actually seems to have not aged well, where as Python is a different matter to me. Then there was Hee Haw...
Sorry I couldn't help myself.  [] []Actually I'm quite in agreement with all of that. Spring for a live audience or leave it out. ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
|
Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: June 29 2009 at 20:53
|
Mork and Mindy on the list but not ALF?
Iván
BTW: Yes, The Big Bang Theory is hilarious -------------
|
Posted By: Evolutionary Sleeper
Date Posted: June 29 2009 at 20:57
|
From the list...Married with Children. The Office is my fav though. ------------- 
|
Posted By: progrules
Date Posted: June 30 2009 at 01:40
Did you have to do this ?  It takes so much space !!  ------------- A day without prog is a wasted day |
Posted By: progrules
Date Posted: June 30 2009 at 01:51
Damn you Ivan ! Why do you always make spot on posts ?
Other very good examples of this phenomenon are Friends (last two seasons and especially the very last one which were extremely disappointing compared the brilliant first 8) and Some mothers do 'ave 'em (first 10 episodes just about the best comedy I ever saw in my life but second series insipid and a waste).
The only one that knew when to stop was Fawlty Towers with just 12 episodes but all hilarious. (sorry to switch to the british comedies all over sudden but they are perfect examples for my opinion) ------------- A day without prog is a wasted day |
Posted By: Badabing666
Date Posted: July 06 2009 at 09:09
|
I voted for Frasier but here would have plumped for Earl & Randy Hickey if they had been an option 1 My Name Is Earl 2 Frasier/Cheers 3 Arrested Development 4 M*A*S*H 5 Curb Your Enthusiasm |
Posted By: SgtPepper67
Date Posted: July 06 2009 at 20:00
|
I watch Seinfield sometimes and it's somewhat entertaining but I never understood why people in the US like it so much, it's ok but it's not really that funny to me. I take Friends anytime.
------------- 
In the end the love you take is equal to the love you made... |
Posted By: SaltyJon
Date Posted: July 07 2009 at 00:34
|
From the list, Married...With Children. From everything, Futurama by a loooooong shot.
------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Salty_Jon" rel="nofollow"> 
|
Posted By: Garion81
Date Posted: July 07 2009 at 14:54
|
From your list I was inclined to go with Married with Children but instead went with Taxi. It is amazing how many people in that series went on to great success in other ventures. On the bottom side I have never been able to like Seinfeld and after two or three shows avoided it like the plague.
Off the list Get Smart, The Simpsons, Malcolm in the Middle and Two and Half Men all deserve nods. Drew Carry also had some really good moments as well but really suffered the last couple of years.
------------- 
"What are you going to do when that damn thing rusts?" |
Posted By: John McIntyre
Date Posted: July 07 2009 at 15:58
|
In the 50-odd years I've been watching British TV (largely because I've lived my entire life in Britain!), I have been subjected to a variety of comedic TV from the U.S. and I have to say it's been largely disappointing. I voted for M*A*S*H, which has been head and shoulders above anything else Uncle Sam has had to offer. It takes a direct kick in the genitals of authority and the military establishment and makes aerosols of our so-called political masters. In the futility and the bloodshed (literally) of war, a group of humans retain their sanity by going nuts. The scripts were manically and excruciatingly funny, with smart-arse.....sorry.....smart ass Groucho Marx-like one-liners. I often wonder how much ad-libbing was done in the TV series - I do know that Robert Altman actively encouraged it in the M*A*S*H film. As far as I'm concerned, M*A*S*H has been the finest export from the U S of A, with Miller beer coming second.
"Taxi" was OK, but it got a bit desperate after the 3rd or 4th series. They also toiled for plot-lines.
"Friends" was aimed at a too-narrow viewing audience.
If I had a higher IQ, I would probably appreciate the humour in "Frasier", but a lot of it flew over my head.
I've no idea if a thread exists for British comedy, but you can put me down for "Have I Got News For You", "Drop The Dead Donkey" (they should NEVER had taken that off the air) and "They Think It's All Over". ------------- I am one of only about 1,800 people in the world with an original M400 Mellotron! |