(VANITY) The Greatest TV Sitcoms of All Time

My television | November 13, 2005 | Lancey Howard

[Lancey Howard]

In order, I rank the greatest TV sitcoms of all time like this:

1. I Love Lucy (the template for all sitcoms)
2. The Honeymooners
3. Seinfeld
4. Barney Miller
5. M.A.S.H.
6. Cheers
7. Taxi
8. The Andy Griffith Show
9. Hogan's Heroes
10. Gilligan's Island

Honorable mention:

All in the Family
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Cosby
The Odd Couple
McHale's Navy
The Phil Silvers Show
Night Court
Friends
Gomer Pyle, USMC (early years)
Family Matters (early years)
Home Improvement
The Beverly Hillbillies
Three's Company
The Jeffersons
Happy Days
Dick Van Dyke
Coach
Green Acres

(NOTE: Omitted from the above lists were shows that were more "situation" than "comedy", such as 'Leave it to Beaver', 'The Donna Reed Show', 'Father Knows Best', etc. Also omitted were animated shows such as The Flintstones, South Park, The Simpsons, and Family Guy.)

(P.S. I am old enough to have watched all of the above shows during their first run with the exception of Lucy, The Honeymooners, and The Phil Silvers Show, all of which I caught fully in reruns. The above lists are strictly from memory, so I hope I didn't leave out anything obvious. Have fun.)

[ladyinred]

I have very vague memories of Amos and Andy, I married Joan etc. I also liked December Bride, and Pete and Gladys and Our Miss Brooks. But I was so young then, I can't remember them well. As a teen I loved The Patty Duke Show, and Gidget. Obvious that the younger generation is on this thread huh? LOL

[Vision]

MASH '71-'73 is the best television ever produced. It captures Americana

[Fiddlstix]

Ah Yes.........
But the "Real Test" is if you remember Mr. Peepers?
And just as important......who stared as Mr. Peepers?

Hint: He also stared in the TV show Hiram Holiday.......

(Just cuz I'm "Over the Hill"...."Elderly"....."Worn Out"...."Rode Hard & Put Up Wet".....don't mean my memory is totally gone yet. ROTFL)
J

[birbear]

I just rented from Netflix the MST3K with a real bad version of Hamlet.

It was pretty bad. (and not a very good episode of MST3K... it was more of a chuckle fest rather than a LOL like they usually are.)

[Nita Nupress]

I agree. I always had a warm place to sleep. Otis

ROFL!

[Nita Nupress]

If you think about it, this comedy show could not be made today. He smoked, he had guns, he spanked Opie, they went to church, they had values.

Sad, but oh-so-true. That's 5 big no-no's today!

[Nita Nupress]

Absolutely "yes" to the Don Knotts observations. I don't think I watched it much after he left. He was a comedic genius, I thought. It didn't hurt that the show's writers knew exactly how his character should be portrayed. And he pulled it off beautifully, imho.

[apackof2]

What no "Cops"?!

Just kidding

[skr]

WKRP definitely had some hilarious moments, and it probably qualifies more as a sitcom than does Remember WENN which was more of a comedy-drama. Both gave us a little behind-the-scenes look at what radio people have to do live. RW was a little more intensive in that regard, when even the sponsors' ads were live and sometimes worked into stories.

[skr]

Almost forgot, thanks for the fun thread!

[Lancey Howard]

Thanks!

I rarely get into off-topic vanity threads but every now and then I figure it's probably time to lighten up a little, especially when I see threads dealing with "Why are Freepers So Demoralized", etc. Yikes.

[Maximus of Texas]

This list is bogus if it doesn't include Joanie Loves Chachi

[Maximus of Texas]

"WKRP in Cincinnati gets my vote for best sitcom."

You just had the hots for Gary Sandy (or was it Gordon Jump?)

[teenyelliott]

Or at the very least Different Strokes.

[Maximus of Texas]

We are in agreement, Teeny! You can't get too much of Gary!

[teenyelliott]

I had my fix in the 80's. I was just singing your song for you.

[Maximus of Texas]

You are too kind. And I didn't get you anything.

[teenyelliott]

I need one of these.

[Maximus of Texas]

When you get it, let me know so I can borrow it. Actually, I need you to get a bobcat. I need to borrow that.

[teenyelliott]

That is a bobcat. It's just little.

I take it that means you will not be sending that to me for Christmas?