Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Groin Injury, G-G-Groin Injury
The steroids thing has gotten boring. Baseball is still too far away, as are the NCAA Championships and the NBA postseason. Football is over. The lead story coming out of the weekend was Nascar. It's a dead time in sports, which means it's time to shift focus.
I heard this debate on the radio recently and thought I'd weight in. The question: What are your five favorite sitcoms of all time? To keep this narrow, let's restrict it to comedies that are 30 minutes or shorter. Other than that, make your own rules. I wouldn't consider Entourage or Weeds, for instance, as sitcoms, but some might. I'm no dictator here.
My nominees are, for the most part, pretty easy. For anyone of our generation, Seinfeld is close to a no-brainer, and there's no way I could make this list without Cheers. I think The Office is about the funniest thing going, so that gets a nod. My fourth show I don't think is a great show, but it appeals to my sense of humor, and that's Scrubs. My last pick came down to three shows, but I went with Coach over 30 Rock and Undeclared.
So that's it: Cheers, Coach, The Office, Scrubs and Seinfeld. And the rest of the Meaters?
I heard this debate on the radio recently and thought I'd weight in. The question: What are your five favorite sitcoms of all time? To keep this narrow, let's restrict it to comedies that are 30 minutes or shorter. Other than that, make your own rules. I wouldn't consider Entourage or Weeds, for instance, as sitcoms, but some might. I'm no dictator here.
My nominees are, for the most part, pretty easy. For anyone of our generation, Seinfeld is close to a no-brainer, and there's no way I could make this list without Cheers. I think The Office is about the funniest thing going, so that gets a nod. My fourth show I don't think is a great show, but it appeals to my sense of humor, and that's Scrubs. My last pick came down to three shows, but I went with Coach over 30 Rock and Undeclared.
So that's it: Cheers, Coach, The Office, Scrubs and Seinfeld. And the rest of the Meaters?
# posted by EJ @ 2:12 PM 
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A solid question. For me, my undisputed, hands down, no questions asked #1 is Arrested Development. Nothing else comes close. I can (and occasionally do) watch about 5 or 6 episodes in a row without beginning to tire of it.
At #2, I'd also go with Scrubs up through the last two or three seasons.
#3, Seinfeld. Can't go wrong. Creative and well-written.
After that, it gets tough. Any of about 10 different shows can be in the 4 and 5 slots.
#4, Family Guy. Probably the winner in Laughs Per Minute (LPMs).
#5, The Office. Good Characters.
First Honorable Mention: Family Ties (loved it growing up), Simpsons (has just gone on so long that I don't watch like I did in the mid- to late 90s), Cheers (perhaps my most watched sitcom in terms of pure hours logged?), South Park (hit and miss, but its hits - such as the mormon episode or the world of warcraft epidode - are some of the best episodes of TV of all time).
Second Honorable Mention - Frazier (another well-written show), Friends (sorry, but I admit it), Golden Girls (hot senior action), Cosby Show (best when the kids are dropped a the pool), Malcolm in the Middle (largely for Hal).
At #2, I'd also go with Scrubs up through the last two or three seasons.
#3, Seinfeld. Can't go wrong. Creative and well-written.
After that, it gets tough. Any of about 10 different shows can be in the 4 and 5 slots.
#4, Family Guy. Probably the winner in Laughs Per Minute (LPMs).
#5, The Office. Good Characters.
First Honorable Mention: Family Ties (loved it growing up), Simpsons (has just gone on so long that I don't watch like I did in the mid- to late 90s), Cheers (perhaps my most watched sitcom in terms of pure hours logged?), South Park (hit and miss, but its hits - such as the mormon episode or the world of warcraft epidode - are some of the best episodes of TV of all time).
Second Honorable Mention - Frazier (another well-written show), Friends (sorry, but I admit it), Golden Girls (hot senior action), Cosby Show (best when the kids are dropped a the pool), Malcolm in the Middle (largely for Hal).
Neglected to mention Always Sunny in Phila. Put that in at #4 and bump everything else one. Also, put 30 Rock into the first HM.
Five is tough, with so many factors to consider -- longevity, memorable episodes, classic, one-of-a-kind characters, fashion (see #5), syndication watchability... 30 Rock and Office are still too fresh to be measured against the all-time greats. Kind of like Johan Santana. I mean, a year ago I was crazy about My Name is Earl, but now, I wouldn't even call it top 20. I have to go with:
1. Cheers
2. Simpsons
3. Seinfeld
4. Scrubs
5. Fresh Prince of Bel Air
Honoroables: Cosby, Family Guy, Family Ties...
1. Cheers
2. Simpsons
3. Seinfeld
4. Scrubs
5. Fresh Prince of Bel Air
Honoroables: Cosby, Family Guy, Family Ties...
Such an interesting question. I love the office, but agree with Budds that it may be to early for that. Like tagging Kurt Warner as a HOFer in the middle of those 3-4 years. Give ittime and it will climb up my list (assuming it does not jumop the shark). Another item to think about is the age of the meater community. Add the meater-folks to this list and you will probably see shows like the Honeymooners, MASH and All in the Family. To me, a key factor is continued laughs after all these years. EJ and I were discussing Wings and how watching back now, it is just not funny.
That being said:
1. Seinfeld. Jerry and the gang make me laugh still today.
2. Cheers. I still laugh when I sing Albania in my head. Would almost tag this is a 1b
3. Frasier
4. Office
5. Three's company..oh that Mr. Firley(sp?)
Honorable mention...Friends (did not want to, but that continued laughability factor bumps it up the list), cosby (early years),MASH, family ties, growing pains (how many shows can have characters called stinky sullivane and boner and not be at least mentioned).
That being said:
1. Seinfeld. Jerry and the gang make me laugh still today.
2. Cheers. I still laugh when I sing Albania in my head. Would almost tag this is a 1b
3. Frasier
4. Office
5. Three's company..oh that Mr. Firley(sp?)
Honorable mention...Friends (did not want to, but that continued laughability factor bumps it up the list), cosby (early years),MASH, family ties, growing pains (how many shows can have characters called stinky sullivane and boner and not be at least mentioned).
Joe brings up a good point with "Boner" Stabone. In any sitcom with a teenager, there has to be a goofy-named friend or mischievous sidekick (or both), going all the way back to Lumpy Rutherford and Eddie Haskel. There's Cockroach from Cosby, Kimmy Gibler in Full House (who, incidentally, studied abroad in Denmark with one of my friends), Jazz in Fresh Prince, Skippy(?) in Family Ties. There's a whole other list to rank...
I agree with Thunder on Arrested Development -- that was on my short list, as was MASH. Family Ties was also a good one -- quality show. Plus, Boner's dad's name was Sylvester; that always made me laugh.
It's funny to watch some of these shows now. Cheers and MASH hold up great, but Growing Pains is actually pretty painful. Other shows that upon later viewing are not funny - Wings (as Joe mentioned) and Night Court. And Frasier was a really good show, though it dropped off a cliff the last few seasons.
And Fresh Prince may not have been a great show, but it makes me laugh every time. That episode when Jazz gets thrown back in the house -- classic.
By the way, the list so far has the following votes:
Seinfeld - 4
Cheers - 3
Scrubs - 3
The Office - 2
Arrested Development - 1
Always Sunny in Philly - 1
Coach - 1
Frasier - 1
Family Guy - 1
Fresh Prince - 1
The Simpsons - 1
Three's Company - 1
It's funny to watch some of these shows now. Cheers and MASH hold up great, but Growing Pains is actually pretty painful. Other shows that upon later viewing are not funny - Wings (as Joe mentioned) and Night Court. And Frasier was a really good show, though it dropped off a cliff the last few seasons.
And Fresh Prince may not have been a great show, but it makes me laugh every time. That episode when Jazz gets thrown back in the house -- classic.
By the way, the list so far has the following votes:
Seinfeld - 4
Cheers - 3
Scrubs - 3
The Office - 2
Arrested Development - 1
Always Sunny in Philly - 1
Coach - 1
Frasier - 1
Family Guy - 1
Fresh Prince - 1
The Simpsons - 1
Three's Company - 1
1. The Simpsons- I don't watch it as much as a used to, but you can't be the longest running sitcom and not make this list. Sorry Joe D.
2. Seinfeld- Another classic
3. Arrested Development- Such a disappointment that this show was cancelled. A shorter run than that WB classic "Girlfriends," everyone's favorite ABC TGiF show "Step by Step," "Reba," "Herman's Head." It's sickening. Do know it was basically cancelled for "The War at Home" starring Michael Rappaport. Just sad.
4. Family Guy-
Lois: I guarantee you a man made that commercial.
Peter: Of course a man made it. It's a commercial Lois, not a delicious thanksgiving dinner.
5. 2 and Half Men- I don't know why, but I can't get enough of it.
2. Seinfeld- Another classic
3. Arrested Development- Such a disappointment that this show was cancelled. A shorter run than that WB classic "Girlfriends," everyone's favorite ABC TGiF show "Step by Step," "Reba," "Herman's Head." It's sickening. Do know it was basically cancelled for "The War at Home" starring Michael Rappaport. Just sad.
4. Family Guy-
Lois: I guarantee you a man made that commercial.
Peter: Of course a man made it. It's a commercial Lois, not a delicious thanksgiving dinner.
5. 2 and Half Men- I don't know why, but I can't get enough of it.
Actually, this Family Guy quote says it all (In relation to my anger about Arrested Development being cancelled):
Peter: Everybody I've got bad news. We've been cancelled.
Lois: Oh no Peter! How could they do that?
Peter: Well unfortuantely Lois, there's just no more room on the schedule. We just gotta accept the fact that FOX has to make room for terrific shows like Dark Angel, Titus, Undeclared, Action, That 80's Show, Wonder Falls, Fast Lane, Andy Richter Controls The Universe, Skin, Girl's Club, Cracking Up, The Pitts, Firefly, Get Real, Freaky Links, Wanda At Large, Costello, The Lone Gunman, A Minute with Stan Hooper, Normal Ohio, Pasadena, Harsh Realm, Keen Eddy, The Street, American Embassy, Cedric The Entertainer, The Tick, Louie, And Greg The Bunny....
Peter: Everybody I've got bad news. We've been cancelled.
Lois: Oh no Peter! How could they do that?
Peter: Well unfortuantely Lois, there's just no more room on the schedule. We just gotta accept the fact that FOX has to make room for terrific shows like Dark Angel, Titus, Undeclared, Action, That 80's Show, Wonder Falls, Fast Lane, Andy Richter Controls The Universe, Skin, Girl's Club, Cracking Up, The Pitts, Firefly, Get Real, Freaky Links, Wanda At Large, Costello, The Lone Gunman, A Minute with Stan Hooper, Normal Ohio, Pasadena, Harsh Realm, Keen Eddy, The Street, American Embassy, Cedric The Entertainer, The Tick, Louie, And Greg The Bunny....
1. Arrested Development
2. Simpsons
3. South Park
4. Seinfeld
5. Saved by the Bell
HM - Family Guy, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Futurama, Spaced (BBC)
2. Simpsons
3. South Park
4. Seinfeld
5. Saved by the Bell
HM - Family Guy, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Futurama, Spaced (BBC)
I love Sunny. In fact there are several episodes permanently on my Tivo. It's just had a pretty short run so far.
Here's a confession: I'm in love with a man. What? I'm in love with a man... a man named God. Does that make me gay? Am I gay for God? You betcha.
Here's a confession: I'm in love with a man. What? I'm in love with a man... a man named God. Does that make me gay? Am I gay for God? You betcha.
Wow. Thanks in large part to Maxipriest's three posts in a row, this could be closing in on a record for posts. Screw sports, it's more TV stuff to come.
In the meantime, the updated standings:
Seinfeld - 6
Arrested Development - 3
Cheers - 3
Scrubs - 3
The Simpsons - 3
Family Guy - 2
The Office - 2
Always Sunny in Philly - 1
Coach - 1
Frasier - 1
Fresh Prince - 1
Saved by the Bell - 1
South Park - 1
Three's Company - 1
Two and a Half Men - 1
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In the meantime, the updated standings:
Seinfeld - 6
Arrested Development - 3
Cheers - 3
Scrubs - 3
The Simpsons - 3
Family Guy - 2
The Office - 2
Always Sunny in Philly - 1
Coach - 1
Frasier - 1
Fresh Prince - 1
Saved by the Bell - 1
South Park - 1
Three's Company - 1
Two and a Half Men - 1
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