My 50 Favorite Sitcoms of All Time

[Gideon58]

I think this list is pretty self-explanatory. Here we go:

50.
Empty Nest

http://www.emptynestonline.net/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/mainpagecast.71185230_std.png

Very underrated show with first rate work from Richard Mulligan and Dinah Manoff.

49.
My World and Welcome to It

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bTNO1T3icqQ/UDDzKj9-cKI/AAAAAAAAstI/PI_2KtkZ-uY/s640/dy2nnb1jsjwdsjwn.jpg

The wit and wisdom of James Thurber came vividly to life in this sitcom that actually blended animation with real characters.

[honeykid]

I saw some episodes of Empty Nest. I don't really remember anything about it. In fact, were it not for Richard Mulligan I don't think I'd be sure I saw it.

I've not heard of My World and Welcome to It.

[Gideon58]

48.
Family Affair

http://judsontheatre.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Family-Affair-Cast.jpg

Brian Keith was very sexy as Uncle Bill and I loved Mr. French's love/hate relatioship with the kids.

47.
Bosom Buddies

http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/graphics/news3/BosomBuddies_S1.jpg

The show that put Tom Hanks on the map.

[seanc]

You started with two shows I have seen an episode or two of and two I have never heard of. Looking forward to the rest though. I have fond memories of quite a few sitcoms.

[christine]

Never heard of any so far. The mix of animation and reality sounds interesting in My World.

[Gideon58]

46.
Green Acres

http://www.maggiore.net/greenacres/images/Anim_Homepage.gif

In addition to a very catchy theme song, I thought Eva Gabor was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen...I was a kid.

45.
The New Dick Van Dyke Show

https://jacksonupperco.files.wordpress.com/2014/12/the_new_dick_van_dyke_show_tv_title_1971-500x3281.jpg

Needless to say, it did not impact television the way his first sitcom did, but the show was funny and I loved his chemistry with Hope Lange.

[honeykid]

I don't know Family Affairs, but Bosom Buddies used to be on BBC1 in the afternoon, I think, when I was supposed to be at school.

[honeykid]

Never got on with Green Acres (channel 4 about 5pm for any UK viewers who're wondering how I'd seen it). DVD is either a cock-er-ney cockney in a film I hate or a doctor/detective with his son in the afternoon. :D

[christine]

I vaguely remember Green Acres. The Dick Van Dyck show used to be popular here in the UK but can't recall seeing the New one

[seanc]

Seen a few of both of those, my mother watched them. Not my thang

[gbgoodies]

Empty Nest is a very underrated show. Richard Mulligan was great, and David Leisure was hysterical as his neighbor Charley Dietz, but I always thought that Dreyfuss stole the show. :laugh:

I've been watching Family Affair on cable recently, and it's a great show, but I think I would probably call it more of a family show than a sitcom. The two young kids look like they could be twins in real life.

Bosom Buddies was hysterical. Anyone who hasn't seen this should watch it. Tom Hanks should have stuck with comedy.

I was never a big fan of Green Acres, but I love the theme song. When I was a kid, I thought the show was about the Green Acres Mall near here. :shrug:

I've never seen The New Dick Van Dyke Show, but I loved his first show, and anything with Dick Van Dyke in it deserves + rep in my opinion.

I've never heard of My World and Welcome to It.

[matt72582]

I like...
-Louie
-Peep Show
-The Larry Sanders Show
-Chappelle Show (except the last 5 minutes)
-Da Ali G Show
-Roseanne
-Curb Your Enthusiasm
-Seinfeld
-Always Sunny In Philadelphia
and others I'm forgetting....

[gbgoodies]

Before you finish your list, you should watch the show Stark Raving Mad with Tony Shaloub (Monk) and Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother). It only lasted one season, (18 episodes aired, but all 22 episodes that were filmed are on YouTube), but it won the People's Choice Award for Best New Comedy.

Here's the link to the pilot episode. (I'm sure you can find the rest of the episodes from there.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtUlUnZ3nMU

[Gideon58]

44.
Out of Practice

https://yuq.me/tv/02/680/4749.jpg

It didn't even stay on the air for a full season, but the work of Henry Winkler and the incomparable Stockard Channing as divorced psychiatrists made it worth watching, not to mention solid support from a pre-MODERN FAMILY Ty Burrell

43.
Alice

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Fp7dX-4fL.jpg

Can't believe it actually stayed on the air for NINE seasons, but it was an entertaining show for the majority of its time on the air.

[Citizen Rules]

I gave a rep for Green Acres. I loved that show as a kid and I will be watching it again in the near future. I never heard of the The New Dick Van Dyke Show. Just a though, if each show had its own post you might be able to tell which shows were the most popular by the reps.

[Miss Vicky]

I've never watched any of these.

[honeykid]

Not seen Out Of Practice, but I used to love Alice when I was a kid. I don't think they'd shown it since. :(

[Gideon58]

I gave a rep for Green Acres. I loved that show as a kid and I will be watching it again in the near future. I never heard of the The New Dick Van Dyke Show. Just a though, if each show had its own post you might be able to tell which shows were the most popular by the reps.

Good idea, Citizen, I will continue my list one show at a time.

[Gideon58]

42.
Here's Lucy

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a0/Hereslucy-header.jpg

This was Lucy's third sitcom and even though she was a getting a little old for the kind of slapstick we expected from her, it was fun seeing her work with her real life kids and this show attracted a lot of impressive guest stars, including Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.

[Rhys]

I am looking forward to the rest! You may even influence a new sitcom on me!

[Gideon58]

41.
It Takes Two

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/_CYllZtajks/hqdefault.jpg

Short-lived sitcom about married doctors raising two teenagers. Patty Duke and Richard Crenna worked well together and I have always been of the opinion that Patty Duke is always worth watching. The kids were played by future stars Anthony Edwards and Helen Hunt.

[gbgoodies]

41.
It Takes Two

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/_CYllZtajks/hqdefault.jpg

Short-lived sitcom about married doctors raising two teenagers. Patty Duke and Richard Crenna worked well together and I have always been of the opinion that Patty Duke is always worth watching. The kids were played by future stars Anthony Edwards and Helen Hunt.


I can't believe this is on your list, but in a good way. I loved this show. I wish I could find it on DVD.

The episode that stands out in my mind is the one with the grandmother and her bird. Do you remember that one? It was hysterical. :lol:

[Gideon58]

I can't believe this is on your list, but in a good way. I loved this show. I wish I could find it on DVD.

The episode that stands out in my mind is the one with the grandmother and her bird. Do you remember that one? It was hysterical. :lol:
It's funny that you mentioned the episode with the grandmother and the bird...do you remember that the grandmother was played by an actress named Billie Bird?

[Gideon58]

40.
Get Smart

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/get_smart-tv.jpg

The creative genius of Mel Brooks and Buck Henry created this roll-on-the-floor funny James Bond spoof that provided consistent laughs on a weekly basis. Don Adams was so funny as Maxwell Smart and never really found another role that fit him the way this one did...though he was a great as the voice of Inspector Gadget.

[Gideon58]

39.
Dear John

http://www.crazyabouttv.com/Images/dearjohn.jpg

Some razor-sharp writing and a solid ensemble cast led by Judd Hirsh were the primary reasons to watch this sparkling comedy about a support group for divorcees.

[Gideon58]

38.
The Bill Cosby Show

http://brioux.tv/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/bill-coby-show2-20120224-161825-large.jpg

After playing Kelly Robinson and before he played Heathcliff Huxtable, Cosby played a physical education teacher named Chet Kincaid who cared, sometimes a little too much, about his students. The show was well-written and had a kick-ass theme song.

[Gideon58]

37.
The Patty Duke Show

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm105/lebonbonmulticolore/VIDEO_TStitle10ch0frame2818.jpg

I thought Patty Duke was AMAZING on this show...she created two distinctly separate characters in Patty and Cathy Lane on a weekly basis. She was especially brilliant when Patty would pretend to be Cathy. I still know all the words to the theme song.

[gbgoodies]

It's funny that you mentioned the episode with the grandmother and the bird...do you remember that the grandmother was played by an actress named Billie Bird?


Yes, I remember that the grandmother was played by Billie Bird. She was so funny in that show.

In the episode, the grandmother was taking care of a bird, (I think it was a friend's bird). She was talking to it like it was real, but it was a fake bird. (It may have been a dead bird that had been stuffed, but the point is that the bird wasn't alive, even though the grandmother acted like it was alive.) The teenage kids thought they accidentally killed the bird, but they didn't want the grandmother to get upset, so they replaced it with a real live bird. Then the grandmother thought the kids were crazy when they treated it like a real bird, until she saw a live bird and couldn't figure out what happened.

I haven't seen the episode since it originally aired, so I may have some of the details a bit mixed up, but that was the basic plot of the episode, and I remember that it was probably the funniest episode of any show that I had seen at the time. (I wish I could find it online somewhere, but no luck. :( )

[gbgoodies]

39.
Dear John

http://www.crazyabouttv.com/Images/dearjohn.jpg

Some razor-sharp writing and a solid ensemble cast led by Judd Hirsh were the primary reasons to watch this sparkling comedy about a support group for divorcees.


Dear John is another lesser-known great sitcom that I thought I was the only person who remembered it. It even had one of my favorite theme songs. :up:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSNT4Y6-5fI

[Citizen Rules]

I use to watch Here's Lucy as a kid, though I can't remember anything about it. Also use to watch Get Smart...Barbara Feldon is a dish! Even as a kid I knew that!
http://www.classictvbeauties.com/Barbara_Feldon_as_99.jpg

[Citizen Rules]

I like your thread as I watch old TV series. Last night I finished watching Kung Fu. I'm in season 2 of Mary Tyler Moore. I'm getting some good ideas for the next TV series I'll watch. It might be Green Acres or The Patty Duke Show

[Sedai]

Here is my list of my Top 50 favorite Sitcoms:




And thus concludes my list.

Thank you for your time. :)

[Gideon58]

In addition to being a looker, Feldon also had an amazing voice....SO sexy...I could listen to her talk for days. I would have bought any product that she did the voiceover for in a commericial, second only to Sally Kellerman.

[Gideon58]

36.
The Hogan Family

http://gapersblock.com/ac/2011/09/09/Screen%20shot%202011-09-09%20at%207.16.03%20PM.png

This show was originally titled Valerie, after its original star, Valerie Harper, but then Harper had major contract disputes with NBC and was eventually fired from her own show, which was then called Valerie's Family. When it was clear that Harper was not returning to the show, her character was killed off, the title again changed to The Hogan Family, Sandy Duncan was brought on the show to play her sister-in-law and Jason Bateman became a major teen idol.

[Gideon58]

35.
Married with Children

http://static.parade.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/lead-married-with-children.jpg

It was never concerned with being politically correct, but it sure was funny.

[Gideon58]

34.
The Beverly Hillbillies

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4e/The_Beverly_Hillbillies.jpg

I don't know why, but I thought this show was really funny...I especially loved the hate/hate relationship between Granny (Irene Ryan) and Mrs. Drysdale (Harriet McGibbon).

[honeykid]

I loved Married... With Children. Over here it was usually shown sometime around midnight on a Thursday. I had school, but I rarely went, so I watched it.

I loved Dear John, but I loved the original.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynXt2oVabCs

The BBC used to show the US version at night, too. I think this was the first programme I was aware of that had a US version.

[Gideon58]

33.
That Girl

http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/graphics/news3/ThatGirl_S4.jpg

OK, when I think about it now, how an unemployed actress could afford that gorgeous one-bedroom apartment in the middle of Manhattan, even in the mid 60's, is a mystery to me, but it did not stop me from enjoying this fluffy sitcom and Marlo Thomas was very easy on the eyes.

[Gideon58]

32.
Modern Family

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b0/Modern-Familytigtlecard.jpg

One of the best comic ensembles on television right now...love that Ed O'Neill was given the opportunity to prove that he was capable of playing more than Al Bundy and Ty Burrell is comic genius as Phil Dunphy.

[Gideon58]

31.
Soap

http://www.g33k-e.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/t100_tv_soap1.jpg

Creator Susan Harris broke all the rules for television comedy with this outrageous send-up of daytime dramas.

[Gideon58]

30.
Californication

http://imagerip.net/images/californic.jpg

David Duchovny did a complete 180 from his stone-faced character on The X-Files with this edgy cable sitcom about a hard-drinking womanizing writer named Hank Moody whose obsession with his ex-wife doesn't keeping him from sleeping with anything in a skirt that looks in his direction while continuing to disappoint his teenage daughter.

[honeykid]

I used to love Soap when I was a kid. :) Another late night comedy shown over here, though I think it might've been shown a little earlier when it was first shown over here. I'm not sure.

[Gideon58]

29.
The Doris Day Show

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51F67YN0AQL.jpg

After the death of husband Marty Melcher, Doris Day learned that he had contracted with CBS for her to do a television series without her knowledge. The show ran for five seasons and the format of the show changed every season. In season one, she was a widow with 2 children living on a farm with her father (Denver Pyle). In season five, she magically became single with no children and was working as a magazine reporter in San Franciso. Despite the inability to settle on a format, the show remained watchable due to the endless charm of its enchanting leading lady.

[Gideon58]

28.
I Love Lucy

http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/ilovelucyandricky/images/9/99/I_Love_Lucy_Cast.JPG/revision/latest?cb=20130630135520

A lot of people might have rated this higher on their list, but this show deserves mention somewhere because it was historical. A female star became the head of her own production company and convinced a television network to give her a television series where she would play opposite her real-life Cuban husband, which network excutives fought every step of the way, but Lucy got her way and created what is probably the most famous sitcom ever...my favorite arc of the show was when the Ricardos and the Mertzes went to Hollywood.

[Gideon58]

27.
The Bob Newhart Show

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/510WYPETQ0L.jpg

I think most people preferred his later sitcom Newhart, but I loved this show...the writing was terrific and I loved the chemistry between Newhart and the late Suzanne Pleshette.

[Gideon58]

26.
WKRP in Cincinnatti

http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/923bobfm.com/files/2013/05/WKRP.jpg

Clever writing and a strong ensemble cast made this one work.

[honeykid]

Loved WKRP. Another one that was either on channel 4 around 5pm or in the middle of the night. I adored it, though.

[Gideon58]

25.
Murphy Brown

http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/2013/sandbox/news/131125/murphy-brown-1-600x450.jpg

Her Oscar-nominated performance in the 1979 comedy Starting Over led to Candice Bergen being offered the lead in this bold sitcom that took characters like Ann Marie and Mary Richards to a new level. Bergen won five Emmys for her work as an investigative reporter for a TV magazine show who we learn during the pilot has just finished a stint at the Betty Ford Center to deal with her alcoholism. The show doesn't hold up as well as it should due to all the topical political references, but the writing is solid for the most part and Bergen is backed by a perfect ensemble cast. The departure of Grant Shaud as Muprhy's much younger boss Miles Silverberg near the end of the run hurt the show because the combative relationship between Murphy and Miles was one of the best things about the show. I also loved Murphy's relationship with her house painter, Eldin (Robert Pastorelli).

[Gideon58]

24.
The Dick Van Dyke Show

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/JR3a4knC8No/hqdefault.jpg

The genius of Carl Reiner behind the camera, the endless charm and talent of Van Dyke, two of TV's funniest supporting characters played by Morey Amsterdam and Rose Marie, and an enchanting television newcomer named Mary Tyler Moore all contributed to making this sitcom the icon it is.

[Gideon58]

23.
The Lucy Show

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/78/Lucille_Ball_Danny_Kaye_The_Lucy_Show_1964.JPG

This was the second of four sitcoms starring the comedy icon, and though I know I am in the minority on this, this was my favorite of the four shows. Like The Doris Day Show, the show had trouble settling on a format, but one thing that worked and was not messed with was the unbeatable team of Lucy as Lucy Carmichael and Gale Gordon as her boss Mr. Mooney...as long as these two were driving each other crazy, we really didn't care what else was going on.

[Gideon58]

22.
Cheers

http://s3.amazonaws.com/rapgenius/1358289139_68011.jpg

I definitely preferred the Rebecca Howe years to the Diane Chambers years, but the show was very funny with a great ensemble of regulars that remained watchable for eleven seasons.

[christine]

I like Modern Family and Married with Children, but I used to adored the Beverly Hillbillies :)

[Gideon58]

21.
Who's the Boss?

http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/tasteofcountry.com/files/2012/09/Whos-the-Boss.jpg

For my money, this show featured the greatest sexual tension between two main characters on a sitcom...Tony Micelli and Angela Bower produced sexual heat for eight seasons and the writers actually had the sense to capitalize on that. Too many sitcoms have ruined the sexual tension between characters by having them have sex but this show never made that mistake, which had us behind Tony and Angela as a couple from the pilot to the final episode, which BTW, were pretty much identical.

[Gideon58]

20.
The Brady Bunch

http://www.wcvb.com/image/view/-/24228408/highRes/4/-/7wqmehz/-/Brady-Bunch-WATN---cast-grid-jpg.jpg

OK, let's all be honest here...it has become very fashionable over the years to make fun of this show, but let's be honest...we all have seen at least one episode, we all know at least one line of dialogue from the show, we have all had a sexual fantasy about one of the kids on the show, and it is probably the only sitcom in television history where EVERYONE knows the words to the theme song. And it's not every sitcom that actually produced three different spin-offs and two theatrical films.

[Gideon58]

19.
Ugly Betty

http://voice.fan.tv/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/79352-16-e1365393083899.jpg

This show was actually a perfect marriage of the situation comedy and the prime time soap centered around a completely likable lead character who was flawed but had us behind her from her first appearance in that dreadful poncho. It was so much fun watching the character blossom and stand up for herself over the years and hoping one week she would find true love with her boss Daniel and hoping they would just remain friends the next. Mention should also be made of Vanessa Williams' delicious send-up of Alexis on Dynasty...the venemous Wilhemena Slater.

[Gideon58]

18.
The Golden Girls

http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1865879/thumbs/o-GOLDEN-GIRLS-TV-SHOW-facebook.jpg

The sitcom that proved that life for women is not over after the age of 50...loved Rue McClanahan as Blanche. Can't believe three of the four actresses who starred in this show are no longer with us,

[Gideon58]

17.
Rhoda

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/photos/rhodacast.jpg

A virtually unknown actress named Valerie Haper made such an impression in a second banana role on The Mary Tyler Moore Show that the character was spun off into her own show. When I first heard Rhoda was getting her own show, I didn't think it would work because I really thought Rhoda wouldn't work without Mary, but I was wrong...and how freaking brilliant was Nancy Walker as Rhoda's mother, Ida?

[Gideon58]

16.
Parks and Recreation

http://www.glamour.com/images/entertainment/2013/09/parks-and-rec-cast-1-main.jpg

I originally tuned into this show during season 3 and then went back watched seasons 1 and 2 marathon style and was hooked from then on...one of the funniest sitcoms ever created...strikingly original characters and edgy writing...every single episode of this show made me laugh out loud.

[Gideon58]

15.
Two and a Half Men

http://www.thewrap.com/sites/default/files/two-and-a-half-men2.jpg

The show was never the same after Charlie Sheen left but I did watch the entire run...even with Sheen gone and Alan Harper being turned into one of the most unlikable characters in television history, I kept watching...what can I say, the show made me laugh.

[gbgoodies]

27.
The Bob Newhart Show

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/510WYPETQ0L.jpg

I think most people preferred his later sitcom Newhart, but I loved this show...the writing was terrific and I loved the chemistry between Newhart and the late Suzanne Pleshette.


Both of Bob Newhart's shows were funny, but I agree with you that Bob Newhart's earlier show was much funnier. Even the secondary characters like Mr. Carlin and Howard Borden were hysterical, and the Thanksgiving episode when they all got drunk was one of the funniest episodes ever.

[gbgoodies]

26.
WKRP in Cincinnatti

http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/923bobfm.com/files/2013/05/WKRP.jpg

Clever writing and a strong ensemble cast made this one work.


I recently re-watched this show when it aired on cable, and it definitely stands the test of time. It's still one of the funniest shows ever, especially the infamous Thanksgiving episode "Turkeys Away".

[gbgoodies]

24.
The Dick Van Dyke Show

http://www.funnytheworld.com/2014/Apr/DVDShowTitle.jpg

The genius of Carl Reiner behind the camera, the endless charm and talent of Van Dyke, two of TV's funniest supporting characters played by Morey Amsterdam and Rose Marie, and an enchanting television newcomer named Mary Tyler Moore all contributed to making this sitcom the icon it is.


This is one of my all-time favorite TV shows. It was #3 on my TV show list, and the second sitcom on my list, (behind "The Big Bang Theory" and "Castle").

(My first four shows were actually a four-way tie for 1st Place, and it could have easily been my #1 show if I had made my list on a different day.)

[gbgoodies]

15.
Two and a Half Men

http://cache.pakistantoday.com.pk/579780-two-and-a-half-men-cast.jpg

The show was never the same after Charlie Sheen left but I did watch the entire run...even with Sheen gone and Alan Harper being turned into one of the most unlikable characters in television history, I kept watching...what can I say, the show made me laugh.


I loved "Two and a Half Men" until Charlie Sheen left, and then the show went downhill fast. I watched it all the way through to the final episode, and it still had some funny moments, but it just wasn't a great show anymore.

They went the wrong direction with the raunchy and disgusting humor, and changing Jake from a smart aleck kid into an idiot. He was much funnier when he was younger.

[Gideon58]

Both of Bob Newhart's shows were funny, but I agree with you that Bob Newhart's earlier show was much funnier. Even the secondary characters like Mr. Carlin and Howard Borden were hysterical, and the Thanksgiving episode when they all got drunk was one of the funniest episodes ever.
I loved that Thanksgiving episode too.

[Gideon58]

14.
Frasier

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/photopost/data/517/Frasier_Castt.jpg

This was one of those very rare instances when a spin-off was actually better than the show it was spun off from...this was a show for television viewers who liked their comedy with a little substance behind it. Probably the best-written sitcom ever, the situations and dialogue actually required complete attention. Kelsey Grammer's Frasier Crane was kept true to the character that was introduced on Cheers, but created a new life and career for the character that was viable and believable. David Hyde Pierce was nothing short of brilliant as Frasier's brother's Niles and I thought the idea of making Niles a psychiatrist as well was a master stroke...also loved Niles' relationship with his invisible wife, Maris. John Mahoney was wonderful as Frasier's grumpy dad. I was also impressed that this show actually addressed the fact that Frasier claimed that his father was dead on an episode of Cheers. This was the thinking man's sitcom.

[Gideon58]

13.
Happy Days

http://image.toutlecine.com/photos/j/o/u/jours-heureux-tv-02-g.jpg

OK, let's be honest here, this show had a very bumpy journey during its time on the air. I loved the first couple of seasons when "Rock Around the Clock" was still the theme song and it was shot on film and the show was primarily about apple-cheeked Richie Cunningham, his relationship with his family and his two best friends, Potsie Weber and Ralph Malph, during the carefree 1950's. The show then switched to three-camera shooting and a secondary character named Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli was pushed center stage and the show basically became The Fonzie Show, but it was OK, because Fonzie's relationship with Richie was still the core of the show and Ron Howard was a perfect straight man, but when Ron Howard left the show, it became completely unwatchable, but the first seven seasons of the show were very entertaining ones.

[honeykid]

I loved Frasier. I think it's the pinnacle of sitcom writing. It's not my favourite, but I think it's the best overall.

[Gideon58]

12.
New Girl

http://images.tvrage.com/shows/29/28304.jpg

One of the funniest acting ensembles on TV right now and probably the best comedy writing on network television right now. And anytime with Fat Schmidt is time well spent.

[Gideon58]

11.
Friends

http://cdn.buzznet.com/assets/imgx/2/1/0/6/4/3/8/0/large-21064380.jpg

I have to confess that I didn't watch this show in prime time. I discovered this show in syndication and actually regretted not watching with everyone else. The show was kind of silly and pointless, but it did make me laugh. I thought it was really interesting that the creators decided to make two of the friends brother and sister, which added an interesting layer to a lot of the stories. The six actors were pretty much a well-oiled machine, but I especially loved Matthew Perry as Chandler...that guy was funny as hell. The casting of the main characters' parents was also perfection, especially Elliott Gould and Christina Pickles as Mr. and Mrs.Geller, Teri Garr as Phoebe's mom, Ron Leibman and Marlo Thomas as Rachel's parents, and Kathleen Turner as Chandler's drag queen father. The on-off relationship between Ross and Rachel got tiresome, but I LOVED the romance of Chandler and Monica. This show garnered major laughs while actually making me care about these people.

[Camo]

Chandler is probably my favourite ever Sitcom character.

[Gideon58]

10.
I Dream of Jeannie

http://idreamofjeannie.weebly.com/uploads/7/0/9/1/7091213/7087014_orig.jpg

What can I say? Barbara Eden was gorgeous and wore that harem outfit like she was born in it. Larry Hagman's charm and impeccable comic timing made him a great TV leading man and this show also featured one of TV's greatest villains in Dr. Bellows (Hayden Roarke)...I used to hate the way he would just barge into Major Nelson's house without knocking or ringing the bell in order to bust the guy. Eden and Hagman produced major sexual tension which, of course, was ruined when they got married, but it was a fun five seasons nonetheless.

[Gideon58]

9.
The Cosby Show

http://spinoff.comicbookresources.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cosby-show.jpg

Like it or not, this show made history...it was the first sitcom featuring a black family that was upper middle class, dad was a doctor and mom was a lawyer and we actually got to see both of them working. They had five children who definitely weren't the Bradys but most issues were played to some sort of conclusion...Theo's difficulties in school were eventually traced to his being dyslexic...Denise's aimlessness found her married and an instant stepmother and even the alleged perfect child, Vanessa, ended up married to a MUCH older man, who though Cliff was in denial about it, was a lot like him and Cliff ended up respecting. The show was criticized for ignoring black issues, but we were never allowed to forget they were black...after one episode where everybody was mad at everybody, it all came to a stop when MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech was being shown in honor of his birthday. And how can you not love Theo meeting "the real world:, Denise and Theo literally running into Steve Wonder, and the family lip-synching to James Brown for Grandma & Grandpa's anniversary?

[Gideon58]

8.
Entourage

http://www.entertainmentwallpaper.com/images/desktops/movie/tv_entourage10.jpg

God, I just wanted to BE Vincent Chase...this guy had a dream life. I wouldn't have minded being Eli Gold either.

[Gideon58]

7.
The Odd Couple

http://darkcommandos.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8354f822a69e201a73d9db45c970d-pi

Probably the best sitcom based on a movie and play and one of the funniest sitcoms ever. There were some continuity issues, like the fact that three different episodes were done about how Felix and Oscar met for the first time, but all three were very funny. I can't recall two actors in television history who worked together more seamlessly than Tony Randall and Jack Klugman...can't believe they are no longer with us. I loved this show, I have entire episodes memorized, including the opening, "On September 13th, Felix Unger was asked to remove himself from his place of residence...that request came from his wife...deep down he knew she was right, but he also knew that one day he would return to her. With nowhere else to go, he appeared at the home of his friend Oscar Madison...several years earlier, Madison's wife had thrown him out, requesting that he never return...can two divorced men share an apartment without driving each other crazy?"

[Gideon58]

6.
Seinfeld

http://wnct.images.worldnow.com/images/4117209_G.jpg

I know there are a lot of people out there who would have this show # 1 on their list. Like Friends, this is another show that I did not watch in prime time but discovered when it went into syndication and what I discovered was a sometimes scorchingly brilliant sitcom that definitely was not "about nothing." I do have some issues with the show that primarily have to due with the four lead characters. I found Jerry, Elaine, George, and Kramer to be four of the most self-absorbed, arrogant, selfish, and sometimes very vicious people I have ever seen. There was a lot of behavior that came from this quartet that should not have been glamorized, but was undeniably funny. I was impressed though that the show did deal with my feelings in the series finale, which addressed my issues with the characters brilliantly, looking at their behavior with an objective eye, bringing back all the characters they had wronged for nine seasons and concluding with the characters languishing in a jail cell. Jerry and Larry David's writing was nothing short of brilliant and rarely missed a laugh...loved "The Contest", "The Puffy Shirt", "The Package", and especially "The Hamptons". This show also featured some of the greatest recurring characters ever...how could you not love Newman. J. Peterman, David Puddy, Poppy, Crazy Joe Davola, Jackie Chiles and Kenny Banya? Not to mention the flawless work of Barney Martin, Liz Sheridan, Jerry Stiller, and Estelle Harris as Jerry and George's parents. Despite my personal issues, the brilliance here could not be overlooked.

[Gideon58]

5.
Bewitched

http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/images/publications/wct/2012-10-10/Coverofthirdseason-color.jpg

For my money, the best sitcom of the 1960's and is still a show I never tire of re-watching. The show featured some state of the art visual effects for the 1960's, but what it had above everything else was the enchanting Elizabeth Montgomery, who I fell in love with the second she hit my TV screen. William Asher, Montgomery's husband at the time and the creative genius behind the camera, knew how to make his wife look good and knew how to keep the public happy. After five seasons, Dick York, who played Samantha's husband Darrin, was having health issues that prevented him from continuing to play the role. Asher knew that audiences would not accept Samantha with someone other than Darrin so he simply recast the role with Dick Sargent, who ironically had been offered the role originally but was unavailable at the time. As for addressing the change onscreen, Asher chose not to. He also smartly eased viewers into the change when during the summer hiatus of the fifth season, Asher only broadcast episodes in which Darrin didn't appear so that the appearance of NuDarrin wasn't so jarring. Agnes Moorhead was brilliant as Samantha's nasty mother, Endora and loved all of Samantha's crazy relatives, especially her Uncle Arthur, hilariously played by Paul Lynde. It's so sad thinking about this show now because most of the cast is no longer with us. The only cast member who's still alive is Erin Murphy, who played Samantha's daughter Tabitha.

[Gideon58]

4.
Will & Grace

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2012/9/6/1346940430200/the-cast-of-Will--Grace-009.jpg

The show went a little guest star crazy after the fifth season and the premise went astray when Grace (Debra Messing) actually married Leo (Harry Connick Jr.), but the quartet of lead characters was one of the strongest comic ensembles ever and really didn't need any big name guest stars to make the show work. Megan Mullally's Karen Walker might be the funniest supporting character on a sitcom ever.

[Gideon58]

3.
All in the Family

http://www.episodegenerator.com/wp-content/uploads/family.jpg

The creative genius that is Norman Lear brought us this groundbreaking sitcom that broke all the rules and redefined subjects that were taboo for television...homosexuality, rape, homelessness, the Ku Klux Klan, menopause, draft dodging, impotence, nothing was sacred here. No show seamlessly blended the laugh and the tear the way this one did. Character actor Carroll O'Connor became a household name with his uncompromising work as Archie Bunker as did Jean Stapleton as the ever patient Edith, but it was the interplay between ultra-conservative Archie and his ultra-liberal son-in-law Mike (Rob Reiner) and daughter Gloria (Sally Struthers) that really made this show sizzle. The show died for me when Reiner and Struthers left and they tried to continue, even morphing the show into something called Archie Bunker's Place, but the magic was gone.

[Gideon58]

2.
The Mary Tyler Moore Show

http://a.abcnews.com/images/Entertainment/gty_cast_mary_tyler_moore_lpl_130306_wmain.jpg

Circa 1969, Mary Tyler Moore's career was going nowhere until she agreed to appear in a CBS television special with former co-star Dick Van Dyke called Dick Van Dyke and the Other Woman...Van Dyke graciously allowed Moore to shine in this special and she so impressed CBS that they offered her her own sitcom and this classic was the result. Funny and likable characters, didn't take a lot of chances, but was always watchable with some of the funniest supporting characters ever...whoever imagined Betty White would have nailed the bitchiness of Sue Ann Nivens? Who didn't want to see Ted and Georgette get together, despite his sometimes dreadful treatment of her? And how many of us really wanted to see something happen between Mary and Lou (Edward Asner), even though we knew it was wrong? Fortunately, it was addressed in an episode the final season and we learned that it was wrong. Moore also had the sense to end the show while it was still on top after seven seasons instead of waiting to be cancelled, but it did spawn three spin-offs.

I'll admit right now, I'm troubled with some of this top ten and some of it might change. but I have no doubts about number one....drum roll please....

[dadgumblah]

Gideon, I'm loving this list, and loving the reminder of shows I've forgotten. Dear John is an example. I watched that show faithfully but in the ensuing years sort of forgot it. Nice that you remembered it. I loved Jane Carr as the support group leader who was always asking if something was "sexual?" And Jere Burns stood out as the slimy member of the group who never failed to make me laugh.

I guess I'm one of the few besides you, Gideon, that remembers My World and Welcome To It. William Windom was great but I thought his daughter, played by Lisa Gerritsen, was a scene-stealer.

The Dick Van Dyke show is one of the best sitcoms ever. I could list any number of classic episodes but I was particularly enamored of the fifth and final season, which included Dick buying the latest sports car called The Tarantula. :) Also included is the episode where Dick takes his ugly dog , named Horrible, to a groomer who is played by the great Billy De Wolfe. He tells Billy, "I want you to make Horrible beautiful," and Billy responds in his famous snobbish way, "And your second choice?" Over-all, one of the best sitcoms ever.

Glad to see Frasier so high on the list. One of my personal favorite shows of all time, be it comedy or drama. Every thing you said about it is true, and I'd like to add Peri Gilpin as the beautiful and earthy Roz, Frasier's producer. Also, Jane Leeves as the sexy physical therapist for Frasier's dad and whom his brother Niles pines away for years. Intelligent humor but not above anyone's head. I love how Frasier and his brother are snooty one moment and then low-brow the next minute as the people they think they're above. I'm currently watching all the seasons in reruns every day.

As the list gets closer to the end, I'm thinking that my favorite comedy of all time will be at the top. Great topic and great entries in the list.

[Gideon58]

1.
Roseanne

http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/screencrush.com/442/files/2014/01/Roseanne.jpg

OK, season nine was crap and Sarah Chalke never really worked replacing Lecy Goranson as Becky, but this was network television's most realistic depiction of a dysfunctional family EVER. The Conners put a humorous spin on events that real families dealt with. We felt Roseanne when she walked out on her job at Wellmann's and then swept hair at a beauty parlor. We felt Dan when his dream of opening a motorcycle shop went down the drain. We understood when the Conners lights were turned off because they couldn't afford to pay their utility bill. We understood Dan and Roseanne's anger when Becky ran away and married her boyfriend Mark and we understood when younger daughter Darlene got pregnant on the family trip to Disney World. We understood these people, we knew people like them, we WERE the Conners and we loved that they allowed us to see the humor in these very human tragedies. Roseanne developed into a plausible actress and not just a standup comedienne reciting funny lines and John Goodman was nothing short of brilliant as Dan Conner, possibly television's best husband and father.

[honeykid]

The creative genius that is Norman Lear brought us this groundbreaking sitcom that broke all the rules .
Well, it's much easier when the original had already run for six years. ;)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Till_Death_Us_Do_Part

I see he also did Sanford & Son... Which had been running ten years.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steptoe_and_Son

Although I suspect that this was very different.

Roseanne was great. I loved that programme, though I stopped watching a season or two before the end, I think. I preferred the new Becky. :o I love the end of her first episode, too.

Friends is one of my all time favourite programmes and my favourite sitcom. I watch it every day.

[Citizen Rules]

Excellent job on this! Nice write ups and great choices. You listed many of my favorite shows:)

I'm on season 2 of your number 2 choice The Mary Tyler Moore Show. I'm surprised at just how good the show is and Valerie Harper is such a naturalistic comedian too. I'll have to watch Rhoda.

I loved what you wrote about one of my all time top favorite shows, Bewitched. It's a great show I could watch it over and over but too bad many of the original cast members had to be replaced. 4 of them were replaced. The 5th one, Aunt Clara was never replaced after she past. I never liked the new replacements as much as the originals. Samantha wears that heart pendant any many of the episodes it was as gift from her husband.

http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/thebewitched/images/e/ef/Elizabeth-as-Samantha-Bewitched-elizabeth-montgomery-7495895-511-480-1-.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20120604101234

[honeykid]

I used to really like Rhoda. I think it was the first time I'd heard that name. Another big US hit that used to be on late night here, tucked away on BBC2 usually.

BTW, congrats on finishing your list, Gideon. :) I love sitcoms so this was a good one for me. :up:

[Gideon58]

Gideon, I'm loving this list, and loving the reminder of shows I've forgotten. Dear John is an example. I watched that show faithfully but in the ensuing years sort of forgot it. Nice that you remembered it. I loved Jane Carr as the support group leader who was always asking if something was "sexual?" And Jere Burns stood out as the slimy member of the group who never failed to make me laugh.

I guess I'm one of the few besides you, Gideon, that remembers My World and Welcome To It. William Windom was great but I thought his daughter, played by Lisa Gerritsen, was a scene-stealer.

The Dick Van Dyke show is one of the best sitcoms ever. I could list any number of classic episodes but I was particularly enamored of the fifth and final season, which included Dick buying the latest sports car called The Tarantula. :) Also included is the episode where Dick takes his ugly dog , named Horrible, to a groomer who is played by the great Billy De Wolfe. He tells Billy, "I want you to make Horrible beautiful," and Billy responds in his famous snobbish way, "And your second choice?" Over-all, one of the best sitcoms ever.

Glad to see Frasier so high on the list. One of my personal favorite shows of all time, be it comedy or drama. Every thing you said about it is true, and I'd like to add Peri Gilpin as the beautiful and earthy Roz, Frasier's producer. Also, Jane Leeves as the sexy physical therapist for Frasier's dad and whom his brother Niles pines away for years. Intelligent humor but not above anyone's head. I love how Frasier and his brother are snooty one moment and then low-brow the next minute as the people they think they're above. I'm currently watching all the seasons in reruns every day.

As the list gets closer to the end, I'm thinking that my favorite comedy of all time will be at the top. Great topic and great entries in the list.
Loved Lisa Gerritsen on that show and on The Mary Tyler Moore Show which, sadly, she got phased out of early on. Glad to share your love for Frasier...if I had done something different with that show, I would have loved to have seen the hate/hate relationship between Roz and Niles go sexual...I thought they had way more chemistry than Niles and Daphne.

[Gideon58]

Excellent job on this! Nice write ups and great choices. You listed many of my favorite shows:)

I'm on season 2 of your number 2 choice The Mary Tyler Moore Show. I'm surprised at just how good the show is and Valerie Harper is such a naturalistic comedian too. I'll have to watch Rhoda.

I loved what you wrote about one of my all time top favorite shows, Bewitched. It's a great show I could watch it over and over but too bad many of the original cast members had to be replaced. 4 of them were replaced. The 5th one, Aunt Clara was never replaced after she past. I never liked the new replacements as much as the originals. Samantha wears that heart pendant any many of the episodes it was as gift from her husband.

http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/thebewitched/images/e/ef/Elizabeth-as-Samantha-Bewitched-elizabeth-montgomery-7495895-511-480-1-.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20120604101234
I love that photo of Liz Montgomery you posted...is that from an episode? I don't recall it at all.

[dadgumblah]

Loved Lisa Gerritsen on that show and on The Mary Tyler Moore Show which, sadly, she got phased out of early on. Glad to share your love for Frasier...if I had done something different with that show, I would have loved to have seen the hate/hate relationship between Roz and Niles go sexual...I thought they had way more chemistry than Niles and Daphne.

Yes! Roz and Niles were always sniping at each other and it would have been genius to match them up, instead of Roz having all her boyfriends and then "accidentally" hooking up with Frasier and Bulldog. Loved Roz's raspy voice and her facial expressions when she was angry or frustrated. I thought it was interesting that Niles' wife Maris was never seen and on the series that they were spun off from, Cheers, you never saw Norm's wife, Vera, either.

I was hoping that my favorite comedy series, M*A*S*H would be #1. But I know a lot of people that either loved it or hated it. And some people loved the earlier comedic episodes but hated the later seasons when the show tackled the serious side of war. And knew some people that liked it vice-versa. But I can still watch it after seeing all the jokes and still love it, and love the acting. And everytime someone left the show, they always brilliantly brought someone just as talented in as a new character.

But, anyway, great list, with Frasier and The Dick Van Dyke Show being my faves on here.

[Gideon58]

Yes! Roz and Niles were always sniping at each other and it would have been genius to match them up, instead of Roz having all her boyfriends and then "accidentally" hooking up with Frasier and Bulldog. Loved Roz's raspy voice and her facial expressions when she was angry or frustrated. I thought it was interesting that Niles' wife Maris was never seen and on the series that they were spun off from, Cheers, you never saw Norm's wife, Vera, either.

I was hoping that my favorite comedy series, M*A*S*H would be #1. But I know a lot of people that either loved it or hated it. And some people loved the earlier comedic episodes but hated the later seasons when the show tackled the serious side of war. And knew some people that liked it vice-versa. But I can still watch it after seeing all the jokes and still love it, and love the acting. And everytime someone left the show, they always brilliantly brought someone just as talented in as a new character.

But, anyway, great list, with Frasier and The Dick Van Dyke Show being my faves on here.
I seriously thought about having MASH in my top ten, but as you said, I'm one of the those people who preferred the earlier seasons to the latter and never really adjusted to some of the cast changes...I had no problem with Mike Farrell replacing Wayne Rogers, but I preferred McLean Stevenson to Harry Morgan and Larry Linville to David Ogden Stiers. I also think the whole tone of the show changed when Alan Alda became executive producer and got a little full of himself. The show was much darker and just wasn't as fun to watch as the earlier seasons.

[christine]

Very much enjoyed reading your list Gideon! There's quite a lot I've never heard of but must've passed me by as HK says they have been on tv over in the UK. The fact that he was watching them while sagging off school is by the by :p

In my family we all loved The Beverley Hillbillies, I Dream of Jeannie and Bewitched. The other one we loved was Mr Ed. Me and my mum used to avidly watched Rhoda too, she was gorgeous :)

[honeykid]

Very much enjoyed reading your list Gideon! There's quite a lot I've never heard of but must've passed me by as HK says they have been on tv over in the UK. The fact that he was watching them while sagging off school is by the by :p
It's probably served me better than going would've. :D

In my family we all loved The Beverley Hillbillies, I Dream of Jeannie and Bewitched. The other one we loved was Mr Ed.
All those used to be on Channel 4, too. That's why I know them.:D

[Citizen Rules]

I love that photo of Liz Montgomery you posted...is that from an episode? I don't recall it at all. It's from Bewitched but I don't remember which episode either. I can tell by her hair and make up that it's an early episode. I like her look in the first few seasons better that the latter seasons.

A similar photo, also in a restaurant or lounge. They did a lot of drinking on that show.;)

http://www.vintagelingerieblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/samantha-stephens-bewitched-heart-necklace.jpg

[Gideon58]

This is one of my all-time favorite TV shows. It was #3 on my TV show list, and the second sitcom on my list, (behind "The Big Bang Theory" and "Castle").

(My first four shows were actually a four-way tie for 1st Place, and it could have easily been my #1 show if I had made my list on a different day.)
I have never been able to get through an entire episode of The Big Bang Theory or Castle.

[Gideon58]

I love the end of her first episode, too.

If you're talking about the show's send-up of the opening of The Patty Duke Show, I totally agree, it was brilliant...I loved the way they never made bones about the fact that a new actress was playing Becky and even addressed it in the script when Lecy Goranson briefly returned for a season. This show spent so much time walking the fine line of breaking the 4th wall and it almost always worked...sometimes the funniest moments on this show occurred during the final tag scene where they rolled the credits...remember when John Gooodman and Dan's poker buddies did a rap version of theme from The Beverly Hillbillies?

[Gideon58]

They did a lot of drinking on that show.

Wow, no argument on that one...Darren would have one every night when he would come home and the first words out of Sam's mouth whenever Larry Tate would come over were "Would you like a drink?"

[gbgoodies]

I have never been able to get through an entire episode of The Big Bang Theory or Castle.


Well that's sad to hear. Those are two of my all-time favorite TV shows. I can (and do) watch them over and over again.

[Gideon58]

Well that's sad to hear. Those are two of my all-time favorite TV shows. I can (and do) watch them over and over again.
And I love Nathan Fillion too...have loved him ever since he played Joey on OLTL, but for some reason, I'm not feeling Castle.

[gbgoodies]

And I love Nathan Fillion too...have loved him ever since he played Joey on OLTL, but for some reason, I'm not feeling Castle.


I'm a big fan of Nathan Fillion too, and I think Castle is his best show, (including Firefly). Richard Castle is great with his crazy theories about some of the crimes, and he acts like such a child sometimes, that he's so much fun.

[honeykid]

Usually I can't stand Nathan Fillion, but for some reason he works for me in Castle.

I didn't used to like The Big Bang Theory either, but then I caught a few episodes of much later episodes (once the girls were in it) and I think it's much better. I like them all now, but I still much prefer the later seasons with Bernadette and Amy in them.

[gbgoodies]

Usually I can't stand Nathan Fillion, but for some reason he works for me in Castle.

I didn't used to like The Big Bang Theory either, but then I caught a few episodes of much later episodes (once the girls were in it) and I think it's much better. I like them all now, but I still much prefer the later seasons with Bernadette and Amy in them.


I became a fan of The Big Bang Theory after watching the very first episode, and I think it just gets better and better with each new episode. There have been a couple of misses, but for the most part, this show is almost perfect.

And I agree that the girls definitely added a whole new level to the show.

[90sAce]

Well that's sad to hear. Those are two of my all-time favorite TV shows. I can (and do) watch them over and over again.
(Actually this is just a derailment so I'm going to keep this rant out of here).

[Memento25]

Seinfeld is my all time favorite. There are a lot of sitcoms in the Iist I will have to check out because I didn't know them. Recently I discovered a sitcom from the UK called "Only fools and horses" which is really great.

[honeykid]

Only Fools And Horses is great, you're right about that Memento. :up:

[christine]

Mangetout Rodney, mangetout ;)

[Gideon58]

Well, it's much easier when the original had already run for six years. ;)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Till_Death_Us_Do_Part

I see he also did Sanford & Son... Which had been running ten years.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steptoe_and_Son

Although I suspect that this was very different.

Roseanne was great. I loved that programme, though I stopped watching a season or two before the end, I think. I preferred the new Becky. :o I love the end of her first episode, too.

Friends is one of my all time favourite programmes and my favourite sitcom. I watch it every day.
Yes, I'm aware that All in the Family and Sanford and Son were based on other shows, but that's what it is...they were based on those British shows but the American versions had their own creative teams behind them and I seriously doubt that they just reproduced duplicates of episodes from the British versions.

[Gideon58]

They went the wrong direction with the raunchy and disgusting humor, and changing Jake from a smart aleck kid into an idiot. He was much funnier when he was younger.[/QUOTE]
They went the wrong direction with the raunchy and disgusting humor, and changing Jake from a smart aleck kid into an idiot. He was much funnier when he was younger.




OK, I don't know what show you were watching, but the humor was ALWAYS raunchy and disgusting and Jake was never the brightest bulb in the row.

[Gideon58]

I was hoping that my favorite comedy series, M*A*S*H would be #1.

Interest in M*A*S*H began to wane for me when Wayne Rogers, McLean Stevenson, and Larry Linville left the show and then Alan Alda took over as Executive Producer and the show got too serious and full of itself.

[dadgumblah]

What happened in the post above, Gideon? You posted this in response to me a good ways back. Did someone hi-jack your account? :)

[Camo]

Not to speak for Gideon, but he doesn't respond to anything outside of his threads.

[NedStark09]

Not bad but no Home Improvement. No Andy Griffith Show and No Gomer Pyle