[Sway]

I got this off of another forum. Recently in the UK they aired a program ranking the top 20 sitcoms of all time. Not based on public opinion and popularity, but based on "the views of respected sitcom stars and writers, journalists and sitcom historians, apparently," according to what I read.

Here is the list:

Quote

1. Frasier
2. Fawlty Towers
3. Seinfeld
4. Porridge
5. The Larry Sanders Show
6. The Phil Silvers Show
7. Dad's Army
8. Blackadder
9. Spaced
10. The Office
11. Father Ted
12. Cheers
13. I'm Alan Partridge
14. Yes (Prime) Minister
15. Curb Your Enthusiasm
16. The Good Life
17. The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin
18. Hancock's Half Hour
19. Rising Damp
20. The Young Ones

What I'm wondering is what you all think are the best sitcoms of all time. I admit right now I have not seen what are apparently great sitcoms like Fawlty Towers and Porridge because all the UK programming we got here until like five years ago was on PBS. I have not even seen the original UK version of The Office (though I want to), so keep that in mind. I also freely admit satire like Get Smart went over my head as a child watching Nick at Nite, so my list probably sucks, but it's my list.

When ranking, remember sitcom is short for situation comedy this means the comedy is derived from the situation the characters get themselves into. This means we can define what a "sitcom" is beyond the "taped in front of a live studio audience" crap. For the purposes of this list, though, let's leave animated stuff off.

Anyway, my list, which I ranked based on amount it makes me laugh as well as historical context and the characters and even some nostalgia, goes like this:

1. Arrested Development - It was tough choosing between this and The Office. Everything about this show is just so perfectly set up. Brilliant. I hope another network picks it up since it's essentially been canceled.
2. The Office (US) - 1b, really. Based on the UK series, this show has come into its own. So many hilarious, cringe-worthy moments, but also such wonderful dramatic elements on the side.
3. Seinfeld - No single show has added more to our lexicon nor had more memorable characters and moments than this show. Number one in terms of most impact in my mind, but I think the above two modern sitcoms are just funnier.
4. The Cosby Show - Bill Cosby is clean, but hilarious. I love just how subtle the humor to this show is sometimes. It's not so over-the-top, and it also is a very important sitcom in a historical context, which is why it is ranked so high.
allowed to continue. I'm very glad to see the guys from The State on both this show and Reno 911! all the time.
5. Curb Your Enthusiasm - Larry David was the true mastermind behind Seinfeld and he continues his genius with this show.
6. My Name is Earl - So new, but I love where it's gone so far.
7. Andy Richter Controls the Universe - It lasted such a short time, but it was great. Ahead of its time, unfortunately.
8. Reno 911! - I don't know, it's just funny. The characters are just so ridiculous and the situations are so crazy. Very funny show which I only rank this low because it has not made much of an impact.
9. Stella - I don't know if it will come back, but it was an awesome, very different kind of comedy. Not nearly as good as Wet Hot American Summer and takes a lot of stuff from old, little-known Stella shorts, but it could get much better if I completed this thought.
10. Welcome Back, Kotter - An oldie but a goodie. One I used to watch all the time on Nick at Nite. I think it still holds up.
11. Happy Days - So many memorable characters and episodes. Sure these old shows are too tame to get big laughs these days (insert social commentary here), but it still gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling watching it today. Plus The Fonz!
12. I Love Lucy - Almost obligatory. The pioneer, period. I can't justify both this and The Dick Van Dyke Show, though, because to be honest it's up here more for historical context than how much it makes me laugh.
13. Titus - Did funny flashbacks before Family Guy ran them into the ground.
14. The Bob Newhart Show - Again, that subtle humor. Newhart's dryness has always been hilarious to me.
15. Malcolm in the Middle - Mostly the earlier seasons. I think this show is what started a lot of the non-traditional sitcoms we are so lucky to be seeing today, and for that I thank this show.
16. The Fresh Prince of Bel Air - Ah, a lot of it was cheesy, but this show had such great characters and I loved how Will interacted with the family.
17. NewsRadio - An awesome show marred by a tragedy.
18. Taxi - Andy Kaufman especially made this show for me. God I loved Andy Kaufman.
19. The Jeffersons - George Jefferson's antics made this show, and it also is important in a historical context.
20. Boy Meets World - I know, I know. But I loved it as a kid. Nostalgia. And better than the shit they have for kids nowadays like The Suite Life of Zack and Cody.

There were a lot of old shows I wanted to put on that I couldn't justify compared to new stuff I prefer. And again, I have no seen every show. Entourage, The Office (UK), etc. would probably be on if I had seen them. Also historical context and importance overall of the show sometimes took precedent over how much I actually liked it over another show.

Okay, your turn.

[Selatein]

I'm not one for Sitcoms (or TV) in general, however, here's a short list and my opinions on them.

1. Seinfeld -- Even when I was a kid, and most of the humour was lost on me, I liked watching this show (albeit it happened rarely). The characters are a bit over the top at times, but it's believable. And then the humour is so true. However, I do not like Curb Your Enthusiasm, even though at least one Seinfeld writer is involved in that, it bores me.
2. NewsRadio -- I remember a few times when I could watch reruns of this every day during winter break. The humour in the office, and just how the boss is towards his employees, it just rings true to me, and the jokes were never ending. And Phil Hartman was just great, no contest.
3. Boy Meets World -- I have to say, this show was pretty funny when I was a kid. Then I really liked how towards the end of the series, it kind of grew with its target audience.

[Master of AFTER]

The fact that no one has mentioned Coach yet makes me sick to the very pit of my stomach. Also, Everybody Loves Raymond should be up there somewhere, as should The Andy Griffith Show.

I can't really contribute much else to this topic at the moment since I think roughly 96% of all sitcoms ever made are crap, and the only decent ones besides the three I listed were already mentioned above. I'll post again if I actually think of any more decent ones...

Oh, and Sway, you should totally see Fawlty Towers one of these days. It's hilarious.

[Lord Shmeckie]

Here's my list, which some people can guess already. It's all personal taste; I rarely care about importance.

1. Titus - Still one of the funniest TV shows of all time. It was well structured and stylistic in its approach, the situations were real and unforgiving, and the fact that they could find comedy in situations most shows would make into downers still makes it one of the best shows of all time. When you're laughing at the possible suicide of someone because everyone else is wondering who won their death pool, you've just been treated to REAL comedy. I could go on forever about this show, but I'll restrain myself. However, what Sway said. Ironically, I'm watching Chris Titus' special right now...
2. Reno 911 - What Sway said, sans the ranking. This show is so ridiculously funny I freaking love it. I don't think I've ever laughed so hard since, well, since Titus was cancelled. When they dropped that cat into that air conditioner fan, I was laughing for the rest of the night.
3. Seinfeld - Societal impact aside, this shit was just funny, and Kramer is still the man, to this day.
4. The Drew Carey Show - The cartooniness and half-serious nature of this show has always been great. Everything was off the wall, and awesome. Over-makeupped bitches, cross-dressing brother, an evil, creepy, & scheming boss, the april fools episodes, the Monkapotamous, s'all good.
5. My Name is Earl - What Sway said, basically. I still crack up when I think about the guy with no legs chasing Earl down with his spring leg things.

I'll finish it later.

[Nine]

Like Sel, I'm not one for many sitcoms. Here's a few:

1. All in the Family- I think this was one of the most outrageous, ground breaking sitcoms of all time, my personal favorite. They brought out everything, government, race, and a lot of funny stuff. There were a variety of episodes, just about each unique in its own way. By outrageous, I'm saying they brought all of things out and really spoke of them.

2. Good Times- It's the ghetto, who could go wrong?! But seriously, it was full of emotional plot which really interested me. Not much else to say.

3. The Munsters- Come on! A family of very different, monster -like individuals. Except Marylin... You could consider her the oddball if you'd like. The episodes were interesting because when most of them went out into society, people would be in shock at their appearance.

That's all I'm up for sharing with you people for now.

[Sway]

You're very right about All in the Family from what I know. I imagine if I had seen it it would be in place of The Jeffersons, which was AitF's spinoff.

[Bahamas]

From what I've seen, I'd list
1. Seinfeld
2. Curb Your Enthusiasm
3. My Name Is Earl
4. Dead Like Me (Cinemax Sticom, similar to Curb Your Enthusiasm)
5. The Office
6. Arrested Development
7. Scrubs

In no particular order, just what came to mind in what order. I wouldn't put them in that list from best to worst.

[Tragedy]

Cheers should clearly be #1.

[Scourge]

omgwtfnecropost!

Also, who the fuck watches Scrubs? Son of a bitch, even for a post from 2006 there were better shows on TV 5 years ago.

[Jackson]

Here's a top 20 list of my favorite sitcoms of the 2000s:

1. Everybody Loves Raymond

2. Will & Grace

3. Sex and the City

4. Arrested Development

5. 30 Rock

6. The Office

7. Two and a Half Men

8. Family Guy

9. That '70s Show

10. How I Met Your Mother

11. The King of Queens

12. Entourage

13. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

14. Malcolm in the Middle

15. Reba

16. The Bernie Mac Show

17. According to Jim

18. George Lopez

19. My Wife and Kids

20. Curb Your Enthusiasm