My Top-10 Sitcoms of The Last 50 Years

Reaganite Republican ^ | 22 October 2015 | Reaganite Republican

[Reaganite Republican]

Newhart (1982-1990) -Please forgive me but I actually like Bob Newhart's second major sitcom series -at the Stratford Inn in Vermont- more than the first 'shrink' series with Mary Tyler Moore, as good as that one was. In fact I think the 80s series Newhart is one of the most underrated comedy shows ever- watched it every week with friends when they were new, too funny.

Interestingly, all 184 shows are -here- on this YouTube playlist.

Cheers -This would probably make everybody's list, but honestly I never go back and watch them anymore... too much saturation I guess, and it just doesn't seem quite as clever as it did at the time. Still, too substantial to leave off... I watched every single episode for years for a reason, and it launched a few careers.

Taxi  -This or Sanford & Son really might be my very all-time favorites... pretty much the best entertainment on 70s television, imo. The characters are simply superb, Danny DeVito an absolute comedy genius supported by a top-notch cast. The writing was clever and kept you riveted to every episode, I love this show. I think my favorite is when Jim burned Louie's apartment to a blackened crisp lol.

Hogan's Heroes  -Kind of silly but I just grew up with it since I was five and loved the characters. They represented pretty much what American Baby Boom kids thought of the Germans in the 1960s... until later in the 70s when we saw what kind of cars they could put together. Was in the same room as Werner Klemperer once, somebody I worked with knew him well... seemed like a nice-enough guy.

Married with Children  -Still funny if you watch it now, and was truly something fresh and revolutionary at the time... really seemed pretty radical when it was new and the casting was brilliant. Met Katey Sagal briefly once. It's funny how not that long ago this show seemed 'naughty', when it's sexual innuendo and mini-skirted babes are nothing compared to the garbage they put on TV now.

Gilligan's Island  -I know it's pretty goofy but I watched it all the time when I was a little kid and think Mary Anne was my first crush ever when I was about 8 lol... great show.

Addams Family  -these are fantastic, what can you say. Show had a cool look and feel too. You're either Munsters or AF and I was always a bit more of an AF kid/guy, the characters were more polished and hilariously complex/eccentric, I love it. I think I got interested in investment by watching Gomez at the stock ticker.

Sanford and Son  -this is close to my favorite sitcom of all time, every character is a laugh riot, including Michelle Obama lookalike Aunt Esther (SHUT UP Fred, you heathen!). And for some reason I get a kick out of 'Grady'.

All in the Family  -this one again pertinent... listen to Archie rail against the libs, I'll be damned if he wasn't right about everything!!!

Fawlty Towers -not quite as nutty as Monty Python shows but pretty comical nonetheless: these were also shown on PBS in The States back then, with John Cleese at his finest as aspiring-yet-bumbling innkeep. I think my favorite one is where he bumps his head and goes into 'Nazi' mode, deeply insulting his German guests.

I left out cartoons like Simpsons and some other good shows lose points with me for grating political message, i.e. M*A*S*H. For some reason I was never much of a Seinfeld fan, although his standup stage act was great in the 80s. 

Then some others just didn't age all that well, like perhaps The Jeffersons or Good Times. Happy Days is pretty corny too if you go back and watch one of those these days... creating ageless comedy is an elusive art.

Green Acres, Bewitched, Brady Bunch, Andy Griffith,, and Get Smart might also get Honorable Mentions, fwiw- what say you?

[fwdude]

All in the Family needs to be near the top, despite its Leftist creators.

I think they unwittingly lampooned liberalism and political correctness much more than conservatism.

[DoodleDawg]

“Barney Miller”.

[EQAndyBuzz]

To this day, the best scene ever in any sit com is the WKRP Thanksgiving episode with the turkey drop.

Also, “Hi, I am Roberta Riggs, but my friends call me Bobbi” is classic.

[Tareli]

I would love to hear Archie Bunker’s take on Obama.

[Red Badger]

Taxi :

My favorite episode was when Louie met his girfriend’s (Played by his wife,Rhea Perlman) parents. a minister and his wife. His wife had Louie come to the kitchen to help her with the coffee, and while there calmly let Louie know that if he attempted to marry her daughter she would have a hitman kill him.................

[Red Badger]

Nor Everybody Loves Raymond?...................

[EQAndyBuzz]

To this day, the best scene ever in any sit com is the WKRP Thanksgiving episode with the turkey drop.

Also, “Hi, I am Roberta Riggs, but my friends call me Bobbi” is classic.

[justlurking]

The last scene in the finale episode of Newhart may be the best one ever made.

[Georgia Girl 2]

Newhart
WKRP
Frasier
Designing women
Seinfeld
All In The Family
Happy Days
Barney Miller
MASH
Three’s Company

[ozaukeemom]

Just a minor correction. It was Suzanne Pleshette in the first series with Bob Newhart.

I loved a lot of those old series.

[mlo]

"No Andy Griffith? No Night Court?"

Have you ever noticed that Andy's typical way of dealing with a problem is to lie to somebody?

[SuzyQue]

Hands down: Red Dwarf.

[ConservativeConnieinTN]

I don’t think All in the Family would be made today.....it would get too many liberals upset!

[circlecity]

"Married with Children -Still funny if you watch it now, and was truly something fresh and revolutionary at the time... really seemed pretty radical when it was new and the casting was brilliant. Met Katey Sagal briefly once."

I'm not a sit-com fan but I did see "Married..." a few times. Recently I've been watching the "Sons of Anarchy" series on Netflix and I've been blown away by Katy Segal. She plays an aging biker chick married to the president of the club in a role absolutely nothing like the Peg Bundy character. She just dominates the role and creates an incredibly fascinating, compelling character that generally steals the show. Just an incredible actress.

[Red Badger]

Married with Children was white trash garbage.

So much for the characters, but what about the show?.......................

[Billthedrill]

Showing my age here: I Love Lucy.

[Autonomous User]

I like your list. But that Fawlty Towers show was not a favorite of mine. I say add Red Green and dump the BritCom

[GregoTX]

[justlurking]

I had a serious crush on Jan Smithers.

But, she hasn't aged well. I saw a picture of a recent cast reunion, and she was unrecognizable.

[Fiddlstix]

..... I actually like Bob Newhart's second major sitcom series -at the Stratford Inn in Vermont- more than the first 'shrink' series with Mary Tyler Moore....

It was not Mary Tyler Moore. It was Suzanne Pleshette.
On the Newhart show it was Mary Frann
Just fyi