General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhats your all time favorite comedy show?
I have many like The Jefferson's, Designing Women. Golden Girls, Will & Grace, Big Bang Theory & this year I added to the list the Millers (just to name a few).
But If I had to pick one, it would a oldie "I love Lucy". She always brings a smile to my face.
Also if you really think about it theres a underlying message as to the sign of the times to these shows.
Anyone want to share their favorites?
H2O Man
(74,827 posts)mithnanthy
(1,725 posts)Every show cracked me up! Re-runs still do.
Cooley Hurd
(26,877 posts)William769
(55,783 posts)msanthrope
(37,549 posts)Glassunion
(10,201 posts)William769
(55,783 posts)And the Glenn Beck show!
babylonsister
(171,435 posts)Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)Shadowflash
(1,536 posts)Ranchemp.
(1,991 posts)Barney Miller.
SidDithers
(44,228 posts)Sid
Ranchemp.
(1,991 posts)ryan_cats
(2,061 posts)I said that to my wife and she had know idea what I was talking about. She did know that Jack Soo died of cancer.
Barney Miller was awesome.
SidDithers
(44,228 posts)Barney Miller's Hash Brownies is definitely one. The WKRP turkeys episode, obviously, but the Payola episode is another - Carlson's "monkey on my foot" line gets me every time.
Seinfeld's Keith Hernandez episode.
The Newhart finale.
Mary Tyler Moore's Chuckles episode.
Taxi - Jim Ignatowski playing the piano. "I must have had music lessons"
I'm sure there are others, but those are the ones that immediately come to mind.
Sid
ailsagirl
(23,427 posts)I have the collection
Eleanors38
(18,318 posts)Ranchemp.
(1,991 posts)I think NYPD were one of the last major PD's to transition to semi autos.
AndreaCG
(2,331 posts)Night Court was total crap when it came to authenticity. 99.9% of cases are dull, the first two ancient female court officers (and they're court officers in NYC not bailiffs) were like something out of a 50s prison movie, not at all realistic and most importantly where the hell was the court reporter taking down the testimony? They could have taken a page from real life and had the court reporter going deaf like one of ours was. That could have been funny.
Ranchemp.
(1,991 posts)el_bryanto
(11,804 posts)Better Off Ted, and Fawlty Towers.
Bryant
SummerSnow
(12,608 posts)brucefan
(1,549 posts)Modern Family on reruns.it is fast overtaking Seinfeld as my favorite comedy.
William769
(55,783 posts)I like you am catching up on past seasons. I don't know how I missed this one in the beginning.
TwilightGardener
(46,416 posts)Seinfeld, King of Queens (the most underrated TV comedy, IMO--the writing and character development were brilliant), The Office (up until Steve Carell left). Just now starting to warm up to Big Bang Theory. Honorable mention: Malcolm in the Middle--not really a comedy, but hilarious most of the time.
Tom Rinaldo
(22,980 posts)...plus anything that ever had Jonathan Winters on live. And Marty Hartman, Mary Hartman; which I guess one must consider a comedy.
hlthe2b
(105,120 posts)several others, but those immediately come to mind.... I Love Lucy is a classic, of course...
William769
(55,783 posts)I never really got Frazier though that one wasn't my cup of tea for some reason (all my brothers loved it though).
salin
(48,958 posts)and Northern Exposure.
hlthe2b
(105,120 posts)sufrommich
(22,871 posts)than any other sitcom with Parks and Rec a very,very close second.
hlthe2b
(105,120 posts)I find the others waay too formulaic and laugh tracks drive me insane. Admittedly, I haven't seen Parks and Rec, though.
Modern Family, though, has fantastic writing and timing.
Drew Richards
(1,558 posts)NYC_SKP
(68,644 posts)I also love I Love Lucy, but I was younger then.
I related to Opie and it was a funny show, then I was just the right age to love MTM and Newhart!
Happy New Year, you!
billh58
(6,640 posts)Cheers...
And, edited to add: Benny Hill
samsingh
(17,741 posts)get smart
cheers
Newhart
Coach
mary tyler moore
Downwinder
(12,869 posts)bluedigger
(17,133 posts)Honorable Mention to Seinfeld, The Office, and McHale's Navy.
Bennyboy
(10,440 posts)The one I've watched the most is Andy Griffith though, followed By Lucy. only due to time.
Dick Van Dyke, Taxi, Cheers, Seinfeld, Curb, M.A.S.H., Frasier, Barney Miller, Cosby, Friends, Monk, are among the best comedies ever that are no longer on the air, but will watch everytime they are on if I am watching TV and there is no sports on.
I think Big Bang is nice and is a soon to be classic. the Crazy Ones is a really amazing comedy. in fact I like most of the comedies that came out this year.
libnnc
(9,996 posts)MASH, Designing Women, MTM, The Bob Newhart Show, All in the Family, basically anything that was on CBS between 1973-1985.
SidDithers
(44,228 posts)Best moment on television, ever, when he woke up from the dream with Suzanne Pleshette in bed next to him.
Sid
LumosMaxima
(585 posts)William769
(55,783 posts)Billy Crystal.
ScreamingMeemie
(68,918 posts)If you could get past the barely employed 20-somethings having awesome two-bedroom apartments in NYC, the show had me rolling.
Also, I laughed out loud more than a few times at "Frazier" and "Coach."
William769
(55,783 posts)ScreamingMeemie
(68,918 posts)RandiFan1290
(6,334 posts)also like Big Bang Theory, Modern Family, Mr. Show, Trailer Park Boys and "Britcoms" like League of Gentlemen and Little Britain
XRubicon
(2,233 posts)rrneck
(17,671 posts)Nay
(12,051 posts)dionysus
(26,467 posts)Don't worry, it'll ride up with wear.
dionysus
(26,467 posts)TorchTheWitch
(11,065 posts)I burned all ten seasons onto DVD's. Fawlty Towers was another great one.
pepperbear
(5,688 posts)to name a few.
reformist2
(9,841 posts)Seinfeld is up there, along with Friends, Cheers, Frasier, and the Mary Tyler Moore Show. Also, I think Dharma and Greg and NewsRadio are really good, very underrated. My all time fave though, and I'll probably be stoned for this, probably has to be The Brady Bunch. Goofy, cheesy, yes, but genuinely funny and sweet. Not always laugh-out-loud comedy, but comedy in the classic sense. And no TV show has ever had better child actors.
MADem
(135,425 posts)The new show, about the kid with the video camera in the eighties, though the old one, in black and white, which has an entirely different premise, has its charms! I'll bet there are some who have no idea what I'm talking about...!
I also enjoy "adult cartoons" like Family Guy, Cleveland Show, Boondocks, etc. Some of the dialogue is appalling but they make me laugh. On NETFLIX there is a show called "Lilyhammer" that is a Sopranos-style comedy (starring the Bruce Springsteen musician who played Silvio in that show) about a mobster who went into witness protection in Norway that is going into its 3rd season, and that is frickin' HILARIOUS. Horrible, and hilarious. Funny-ghastly! You have to tolerate subtitles because this is a bilingual program, but it's good--you learn a lot about Norway, too, in the process of watching the show!
I also enjoyed Nurse Jackie, and there is another new "medical dramedy" on cable starring Niecy Nash (and she is superb in her role--just the best thing on screen) called "Getting On" that looks promising. I've tried to get into "Hello Ladies" but it leaves me flat, which is a shame because I sometimes enjoy comedy around a UK-based protagonist--maybe it's the writing, I dunno.
William769
(55,783 posts)I tried the Goldberg's (I just couldn't get into it).
MADem
(135,425 posts)It gets under your skin--you remember all those idiotic things from the eighties. The mother (you want to kill her at first, then you start liking her in an odd way--she's a real busybody who wants the best for her children) has the Fawcett flip, the father (who takes off his pants when he comes home and wanders around in his underwear so he doesn't ruin his crease) doesn't know how to work the VCR and yells a lot, ineffectually, the children fight over stupid things that are half-forgotten cultural references, and the grandfather is one of those old horndog guys you'd see at the disco who bridges the generations because the youngest kid, especially, confides in him. It's got the same snark vibe as The Millers with a kid at the center of it all -- a kind of Jewish THE WONDER YEARS, only a bit more sardonic.
I enjoy the hell out of television--it helps me fill in the gaps when I was away from USA, which was often. When VCRs first came out, I was one of the earliest adapters, and I had my family send me great swathes of recorded over-the-air television; I'd get eight hours of TV at a pop (recorded on the slowest speed to get the most outta the tape!), commercials and all, and it helped me keep in touch with American culture and changes to it.
William769
(55,783 posts)MADem
(135,425 posts)I keep coming back and reading the new posts, and I keep saying "Yeah....that was good! Oooooh, another good one for the list!!! Gee, never saw that one!"
I like a thread where people are AGREEING on stuff for a change! Hee hee!
Laxman
(2,421 posts)followed by Mary Tyler Moore, Taxi and Cheers.
TroglodyteScholar
(5,477 posts)Should be the darling of any liberal message board.
So perfect in every way....
reddread
(6,896 posts)I was gobsmacked to find out there was anything good on TV when I stumbled across Arrested Development.
Thank you Ron Howard and Co.
And Susan Harris, shame on you for stopping that incredible ensemble too soon!
I blamed the Moral Majority for decades, they just did in Bernadette Peters.
Soap is still the best by far.
Gemini Cat
(2,820 posts)The Young Ones, Last of the Summer Wine, Coach, and Mystery Science Theatre 3000.
Douglas Carpenter
(20,226 posts)Garrett Morris. Dan Aykroyd. Lorrain Newman, Jane Curtin, Gilda Radner and that whole crew were involved. Of earlier generation shows - I believe, Green Acres introduced a level of creativity in situation comedy that was certainly a breakthrough as Laugh In was a breakthrough in variety type comedy shows.
NRaleighLiberal
(60,333 posts)William769
(55,783 posts)Go Vols
(5,902 posts)The Smothers Brothers Show,Laugh In.
movonne
(9,623 posts)meadowlark5
(2,795 posts)I grew up watching Saturday night tv starting with the Mary Tyler Moore show and the Bob Newhart Show then the Carol Burnett show. I was probably 12-13yrs old but loved those shows and Saturday night tv.
brewens
(15,109 posts)targetpractice
(4,919 posts)Hands down for me because it's funnier the more times you watch it.
etherealtruth
(22,165 posts)polichick
(37,420 posts)It cracks me up countless times during one episode.
Loved Golden Girls and Seinfeld - still enjoy them on CD.
Response to William769 (Original post)
William769 This message was self-deleted by its author.
CountAllVotes
(20,973 posts)I must have seen every episode of this program that was ever made!
Lucille Ball was a great comedian and husband Dezi ... well he served a purpose, I suppose that is about all I can say about him -- he was funny too however!
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)and on I Love Lucy they along with director Marc Daniels and camera chief Karl Fruend they developed the multi camera method that still dominates the half hour comedy form. Desilu as a production entity was no slouch. Desi was a musician and successful bandleader, just like Ricky.
He and Lucy should both get credit for breaking barriers of the time by playing married people on TV with his accent and all. It took effort, and they did that.
sendero
(28,552 posts).... but these would all be finalists in order of my rating:
Fawlty Towers - brilliant but gone too soon
Seinfeld - seriously a new paradigm in the sitcom, groundbreaking
Big Bank Theory - consistently excellent dialog, believable characters, interesting situations and freaking funny
Modern Family - great characters with fresh plots, nice
I love a good sitcom and there are so many bad ones it must not be that easy to make a good one!
RainDog
(28,784 posts)treestar
(82,383 posts)Lucy was a comic genius. As a kid, the first time I saw those episodes (they were already old reruns) I laughed out loud.
dembotoz
(16,922 posts)City Lights
(25,171 posts)Followed by M*A*S*H and I Love Lucy.
asjr
(10,479 posts)Sid Cesar and Imogene Coca in "Your Show of Shows". Two of the most talented people I have ever seen.
MADem
(135,425 posts)mucifer
(24,556 posts)all started on that show.
LadyHawkAZ
(6,199 posts)House of Roberts
(5,546 posts)'As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly' is the best known line from the show, but the funniest episode was the two parter where Fever thought the 'phone cops' were after him, because the transmitter blew up!
Walk away
(9,494 posts)music replacing the songs the DJs played.
Ellipsis
(9,145 posts)Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)count as reasonable. Everything Norman Lear ever did. Mary Tyler Moore. Monty Python's Flying Circus. The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer is pretty funny. Buffalo Bill. Rising Damp. I'm Alan Partridge. I could spend all day. I'd love to do just that.
William769
(55,783 posts)How could I possibly forget Roseanne!
She help get me though the late eighties & early nineties!
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)people. One of the first gay inclusive shows. It was more subversive than many understand and one of the best TV comedies of all time.
I'm editing because I forgot what I was going to post, it's understandable to forget some great show, that's why I called your question impossible. I could answer for hours and still leave out shows I love.
choie
(4,384 posts)Roseanne!!! also Bugs Bunny (if we can include cartoon series!)
Blue Belle
(5,912 posts)I watched them religiously as a kid and when they are on today they still make me laugh.
Gidney N Cloyd
(19,847 posts)I thought I was the only one who didn't get it.
William769
(55,783 posts)I now must be whipped with a wet noodle.
She is right up there with LUCY!
Gidney N Cloyd
(19,847 posts)pipi_k
(21,020 posts)it's "I Love Lucy". I've seen every episode, multiple times, and I still laugh at them.
My other choice would be "That 70s Show", which I didn't see when it was on TV. I was watching it on Netflix last year, a couple of episodes each night.
OMG. Hugely hilarious. IMO, anyway.
Especially Leo.
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)trip in an RV? The Long Long Trailer. Priceless
My favorite Lucy was when she fell asleep sunbathing and burnt her armpits.
LittleBlue
(10,362 posts)Can't decide between those two.
Vashta Nerada
(3,922 posts)They don't need a laugh track on that show. I know when to laugh.
I used to be a fan of The Big Bang Theory, but the quality of the humor has gone downhill in the last few years. I'm not going to watch it anymore.
Kahuna
(27,314 posts)PearliePoo2
(7,768 posts)All In The Family
Laugh-In
Carol Burnett
I Love Lucy
TlalocW
(15,568 posts)Best show ever. Search your hearts. You know this to be true.
TlalocW
LuvNewcastle
(16,971 posts)When I was a kid, my favorite was Bewitched. I still watch any Bewitched episode I happen to see.
indepat
(20,899 posts)Duckhunter935
(16,974 posts)B&W Andy Griffith show. Big Bang Theory and WKRP
Bjorn Against
(12,041 posts)I know recent years may not quite measure up to the classic episodes, but when you look at just how many great episodes have been released over the years I think it adds up to the best comedy show of all time. There are just so many great characters, truly funny humor, lots of spot on social commentary, and let's not forget that when it was first released there was nothing else like it on television, it redefined what animated television was all about and showed that animation can tell stories that appeal to adults in ways that live action can not.
Wounded Bear
(60,086 posts)May not have even ran more than one season, but what a great idea. Basically it showed the differing personalities esconced in one person as he tried to live day-to-day life. There were four 'characters' that followed him around and commented and argued about every decision he made.
lordsummerisle
(4,652 posts)Never understood why it didn't catch on.
bif
(23,585 posts)rudolph the red
(666 posts)a friend turned me on to Black Adder recently...fantastic show.
TorchTheWitch
(11,065 posts)roody
(10,849 posts)So funny and cancelled in spite of good ratings. "Doctor Dick."
Luminous Animal
(27,310 posts)Community, Parks & Rec
Edited to add Fawlty Towers and It's Always Sunny
PeaceNikki
(27,985 posts)A girl can dream....
Your list is much like mine.
eerily so.
Initech
(101,142 posts)No particular order:
- 30 Rock
- Seinfeld
- The Simpsons
- Archer
- Arrested Development
-It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia
Zorra
(27,670 posts)Both shows frequently blended roflmao humor with spot on social commentary.
JustAnotherGen
(33,044 posts)All In The Family - Chappelle Show - and currently - It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia
All use hard subjects to make us laugh.
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)ChisolmTrailDem
(9,463 posts)Big Bang Theory, Mike & Molly, The Millers, & Two and A Half Men.
Classic favorites are...
Seinfeld, M*A*S*H, Cheers, & All in the Family.
Oldie favories are...
Andy Griffith, Honeymooners, I Love Lucy, & The Munsters.
Favorite sitcom families are...
Leave it to Beaver, The Brady Bunch, Fresh Prince of Belaire, & Family Ties.
dwilso40641
(200 posts)Hoyt
(54,770 posts)Tommy Smothers could make me laugh just doing/saying nothing.
Freddie
(9,527 posts)Not always politically correct (in hindsight) but often hilarious. Every time we get Chinese food one of us has to say "makes me burp!"
JustAnotherGen
(33,044 posts)Just seeing the totle puts the the theme song in my head! do do do doot - doo doo doo doo doo dooooo - do do do doot . . .
elehhhhna
(32,076 posts)by a mile
sufrommich
(22,871 posts)I was just watching an SCTV DVD last week that had the Alek Trebeck community college version of Jeopardy on it,laughed so hard it hurt.
SidDithers
(44,228 posts)Sid
winter is coming
(11,785 posts)ohheckyeah
(9,314 posts)Holly_Hobby
(3,033 posts)F Troop, Hogan's Heroes, Carol Burnett. I'm old
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)immoderate
(20,885 posts)Or maybe not.
--imm
ailsagirl
(23,427 posts)larkrake
(1,674 posts)SidDithers
(44,228 posts)more recently it's British stuff - Mitchell and Webb and Miranda.
Sid
chieftain
(3,222 posts)rurallib
(62,967 posts)also loved Roseanne, Mary Tyler Moore, All in the Family.
But a special nod for Car 54 Where Are You?
edhopper
(34,433 posts)Flying Circus.
L0oniX
(31,493 posts)cthulu2016
(10,960 posts)Lifelong Dem
(344 posts)And that was Abbott and Costello. Jerry Lewis was good too. Today it's more like It's always sunny in Philadelphia. I'm 56 years old for reference.
Tierra_y_Libertad
(50,414 posts)tularetom
(23,664 posts)Oldies, Cheers, Seinfeld, Arrested Development
Mosby
(17,036 posts)Politicalboi
(15,189 posts)Is the place to be.
Ishoutandscream2
(6,724 posts)Faryn Balyncd
(5,125 posts)Hard to choose.
doc03
(36,261 posts)marsis
(301 posts)spanone
(137,284 posts)Ino
(3,366 posts)I love mockumentaries!
gulliver
(13,303 posts)one_voice
(20,043 posts)Cuz I can't pick just one.
All in the family
Good times
The Jeffersons
Will & Grace
Roseanne
I like the new ones The Goldbergs, The Millers, and I'll watch Trophy wife sometimes.
Designing Women
Golden Girls
I don't like sticoms much...but there have been a few I like. I watch Will & Grace all the time on WE tv.
Scootaloo
(25,699 posts)Never was there a funnier cartoon. Nor will there be again.
JeffHead
(1,186 posts)TransitJohn
(6,933 posts)It's the shrillest unfunniest shit ever on TV. I'd rather watch Gilligan's Island.
3catwoman3
(25,050 posts)...in my strong dislike for that program, and all its later iterations. That caterwauling crybaby stuff was like nails on a chalkboard.
Even when I was a little girl, I found it disgusting that a woman had to act stupid (either in real life, or in a role) to be successful, or be deceptive in order to get what she wanted.
Top faves:
M*A*S*H
Mary Tyler Moore
Dick Van Dyke
Cheers
Cosby (especially the very first episode)
Response to William769 (Original post)
Name removed Message auto-removed
lob1
(3,820 posts)solarhydrocan
(551 posts)One of the funniest shows ever
valerief
(53,235 posts)Egalitarian Thug
(12,448 posts)CatholicEdHead
(9,740 posts)With Woody's wedding being as good as it gets.
More recently The Big Bang Theory is pretty good.
Rod Beauvex
(564 posts)I'm not a big TV watcher at any rate, and I find I have a hard time watching anything I have seen once or twice.
Nonetheless, am I the only one who actually likes How I Met Your Mother?
minivan2
(214 posts)Last edited Tue Jan 7, 2014, 03:10 AM - Edit history (1)
Doctor Who is my favorite at the moment.
I can't stand Big Bang Theory, anybody else agree with me?
Rod Beauvex
(564 posts)I haven't seen that much of Big Bang, but it seems to me like it never really got out of it's first season.
Do you remember That 70's Show, how after the first or second season the whole 70s thing became a back drop, and started focusing on more general subjects? Big Bang is still kind of stuck on the whole 'nerd stereotypes' thing, not wanting to stray to far from the theme.
minivan2
(214 posts)I mean, I understand the jokes, but they just aren't funny.
bobclark86
(1,415 posts)DemLife
(33 posts)Queer as Folk
Agschmid
(28,749 posts)You think? Or is that a gay joke?
Response to DemLife (Reply #141)
uppityperson This message was self-deleted by its author.
opiate69
(10,129 posts)Matariki
(18,775 posts)A-Schwarzenegger
(15,600 posts)Your Show of Shows.
William769
(55,783 posts)Vattel
(9,289 posts)SidDithers
(44,228 posts)When Jen turns around, and Moss is behind the bar, I almost peed myself.
Sid
Matariki
(18,775 posts)ailsagirl
(23,427 posts)Frasier
Barney Miller
Andy Griffith Show (when Don Knotts played Barney)
Dick Van Dyke
Soap (not every episode but often it could be funny)
also
MASH (once Charles joined the group)
I Love Lucy (earlier episodes)
tridim
(45,358 posts)Inkfreak
(1,695 posts)Just fantastically funny.
Walk away
(9,494 posts)Mz Pip
(27,700 posts)I love the Brit's comedies. Not all of them but Absolutely Fabulous and Monty Python were genius IMHO.
I love Bob Newhart, 3rd Rock from the Sun and now Big Bang Theory.
Walk away
(9,494 posts)Sissyk
(12,665 posts)I am not necessarily listing my favorites; just comedy's I didn't see listed already.
Happy days
Lavergne and Shirley
Wyans family show - cant think of the name
Who's the Boss
Charles n charge
Different strokes
Matariki
(18,775 posts)XRubicon
(2,233 posts)After I watched it for a while, I realized it was a soap opera... It is hands down the best comedy show I have ever seen.
flobee1
(870 posts)greatest of all time
Paper Roses
(7,495 posts)Barney Miller.
Life of Riley
Our Miss Brooks
George Burns/Gracie Allen
Ozzie and Harriet
Tons of others that I can't remember but would do so if someone brought up their names.
Life was much more simple in the 1950's and 1960's. Great comedy without some of the offensive stuff we see today. My kids would not understand but anyone over 60 will.
Good clean laughs.
A-Schwarzenegger
(15,600 posts)I know what you mean.
thelordofhell
(4,569 posts)titaniumsalute
(4,742 posts)johnp3907
(3,820 posts)With M*A*S*H, All in the Family, and Barney Miller in a three way tie for second.
Cirque du So-What
(27,280 posts)No sitcom, from any era, has made me LOL as many times or as consistently as Seinfeld.
narnian60
(3,510 posts)Frasier, King of Queens, Get Smart, MTM, Rhoda, Will & Grace (early ones), Keeping Up Appearances, To the Manor Born, BBT, Everybody Loves Raymond.
pinto
(106,886 posts)choie
(4,384 posts)then:
Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister (British)
Good Neighbors (British)
I love Lucy
The Office (US version)
redqueen
(115,164 posts)Hands down.
After that, Friends. Love that show.
PeteSelman
(1,508 posts)Curb your enthusiasm, Big Bang, Mr. Show. Lots of good stuff.
tibbiit
(1,601 posts)"Get a Life", Chris Elliot
tib
LuvNewcastle
(16,971 posts)I think Chris Elliot is an unsung comic genius. I was so mad when they cancelled Get A Life.
Tikki
(14,708 posts)I like That Mitchell and Webb Look, also.
I, also, enjoyed the Bob Newhart comedies and the Trailer Park Boys.
Tikki
KoKo
(84,711 posts)BTW...I'm huge Brit Legacy...so I don't "trash my own" unless I think they've been on the wrong track against the People since before the "Magna Charta" ....(The Great Peoples Revolution) way back then...that our US Constitution is based on that's being defiled as we move forward with the Koch Brothers, Many Tech Moguls, the Banker Criminals like Jaime Dimon and the Chicago School of Finance's Rules for Decades!
So....it's what it is. We are supposed to be GLOBAL yet the "small of us" have little or no Voice in TPP and Other Trade Agreements or with any other Legislation FOR THE PEOPLE because it's all written by Think Tanks, PAC's and Bought and Paid for Congress and Senate by the Bankers, MIC and REST of the PTB (Powers that Be who Write All our Legislation...so that the Scum can collect the Money and pass it off onto the "PTB" who MADE THEM DO IT!"
WHATEVER..
KoKo
(84,711 posts)I do find Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert ...very funny also...because they TRY! (Given the Forces they Are Up Against!) IMHO.... Since you asked..
Laffy Kat
(16,488 posts)MASH, of course. Second, there was a BBC sit-com many, many years ago: "The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin" that I absolutely love. There is a more recent Fall and Rise available now but the older series was funnier.
K
Nay
(12,051 posts)From way back when, I loved "Mr. Ed" when I was a kid.
Also loved "Northern Exposure."
Laffy Kat
(16,488 posts)Loved it, too. Not so much a sitcom but quirky. Wonderful cast of characters.
Nay
(12,051 posts)if I could go live in that town, I probably would.
Laffy Kat
(16,488 posts)Unfortunately, it was fictional.
yuiyoshida
(42,330 posts)nt.
Art_from_Ark
(27,247 posts)Last edited Sun Jan 5, 2014, 03:21 AM - Edit history (1)
Monty Python's Flying Circus is right there at the top,
followed by, in no particular order:
The Bullwinkle Show
The Simpsons
Family Guy
Green Acres
Gilligan's Island
The Beverly Hillbillies
Get Smart
Mr. Ed
The Munsters
The Addams Family
F Troop
Sanford and Son
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir
Hogan's Heroes
The Carol Burnett Show
The Red Skelton Show
Sonny and Cher
Home Improvement
Welcome Back, Kotter
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
The Dick van Dyke Show
The Brady Bunch
It's About Time
The Monkees
Mr. Terrific
My Mother the Car
Ivan the Terrible
and I'm not sure if the original Batman series could be considered a comedy, but it certainly was funny at times.
Trajan
(19,089 posts)Funniest ever, in my book ....
For total, zany, hilarity-dense comedic art ... only the greats come close ( The Honeymooners, I Love Lucy, All in the Family, etc )
I still snicker big time to the mere mention of Festivus ... so many classic laughs from Seinfeld .... What a great run!
Nay
(12,051 posts)thinking about it.
missingfink
(175 posts)Not too many will agree but those are my preferences.
U4ikLefty
(4,012 posts)thank you...I'll be here all week
ananda
(29,992 posts)It always makes me laugh buckets.
Lizzie Poppet
(10,164 posts)So different that it's a bit apples 'n oranges...
Brigid
(17,621 posts)Too bad only the first two seasons are on DVD. I always thought it was an underrated show.
northoftheborder
(7,593 posts)Response to William769 (Original post)
idwiyo This message was self-deleted by its author.
fadedrose
(10,044 posts)Last edited Sun Jan 5, 2014, 11:50 AM - Edit history (1)
Used to watch these while I was cooking supper after work:
Amos N'Andy, Burns and Allen.. I love Luigi . . .
Later, Cheers, All in the Family, Lucy, Red Skelton, Carol Bunett, Car 51, and I know I forgot some. After I read others', will probably edit this. and MARRIED WITH CHILDREN....edited to add
I can't understand why they took off Amos N'Andy. I guess it was because it made blacks look "dumb," but they were wrong. The program was genious, created by and acted by geniouses. They were lovable characters whom many of us learned to love as children, and the love remained.
There are many ethnic groups, 3 stooges, Jewish, Abbot & Costello, at least one was Catholic, Luigi, an Italian immigrant, whom it never bothered if it made their nationalities look dumb. Amos and Andy were pure delight and genious. I feel nothing but pity for those of you who were born too late to see and love this gem....
RebelOne
(30,947 posts)RoverSuswade
(641 posts)2) I Love Lucy
3) The Benny Hill Show
4) Andy Griffith Show
5) The World of Mr. Sweeney
idwiyo
(5,113 posts)Blackadder is definitely solid second.
Historic NY
(37,721 posts)if you check out the character's some who escaped the Nazi's and were Jewish, you'd appreciate the comedic twist.
DCBob
(24,689 posts)Ilsa
(62,101 posts)Seinfeld, Arrested Development, and The Big Bang Theory.
LuvNewcastle
(16,971 posts)Ilsa
(62,101 posts)And perhaps patterned after Green Acres in some ways.
Did you see the Two part story of the Vicar getting married? It was sweet.
LuvNewcastle
(16,971 posts)I haven't seen an episode in years, probably. They could easily make an American version of the show. It would be an awful lot better than that awful Seventh Heaven was. I think Americans would enjoy a light-hearted, liberal take on Christianity.
Ilsa
(62,101 posts)Story. I think it was written and done several years after their series had ended.
!!! Spoiler:
Richard Armitage played an accountant who moved to Dibley for the week, but went back to London on weekends. He fell in love with the vicar right away without knowing her profession. She fell for him right away as well.
Not knowing each other well, there was confusion about him and a beautiful lady who came to see him. Turns out it was his sister. They became engaged in a hilarious scene were he asks her to marry him, but she thinks he is asking her to officiate a service with this other woman.
The second half has to do with the other characters taking over the planning of her ceremony as their gift to her. Hilarity ensues. And we find out Geraldine's full name, another joke about her mother being a sound of Music fan.
CANDO
(2,068 posts)Master of my domain....favorite episode.
Starry Messenger
(32,374 posts)We watched all four seasons this summer on Netflix and I got my husband a Bluth banana stand shirt for Xmas.
Danger 5 is another favorite, too bad they only did a few episodes. It's a spoof of bad 60's team adventure spy shows.
CFLDem
(2,083 posts)w the Simpsons, South Park, and Bob's Burgers not far behind. Seinfeld is my favorite classic.
Sancho
(9,079 posts)Not only creative and great political satire long before the comedy channel, but the number of stars in the cast and guests was unbelievable. One of the funniest and most progressive tv shows ever...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061296/fullcredits
longship
(40,416 posts)Seinfeld's the only recent one I can stomach.
I despise laugh tracks, or anything remotely resembling them. I am not fooled by the "filmed before a live audience" ploy. Laugh tracks, live or otherwise, are fucking lame.
I Love Lucy? Horrible. Lucille Ball mugging.
Big Bang Theory? Sophomoric humor at best.
I like topical humor, and there were some great ones in the early days.
Sid Ceasar and Imogene Coca in "The Show of Shows".
Steve Allen on the original Tonight Show -- with his cast of lunatics.
Ernie Kovács -- innovative physical humor.
Red Skelton who could not stop laughing at his own jokes. But they were funny.
Carol Burnett who had an astounding supporting cast and they never took themselves seriously.
Laugh In -- wow! Set a new standard. Even Nixon appeared.
But the best of all... (drumroll, please)...
The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour!!!
If you were not alive or alert during that time, you missed the greatest TV comedy ever. It was topical and the genius of the writers was astounding. Sadly cancelled too soon. This was the best of the best of TV humor. The whole country was glued to their televisionary sets every week (a tip of the hat to Gabby Hayes for "televisionary" . Unfortunately, the Smothers' political edgy topics wore the network chiefs down. The show didn't stand long in spite of the fact that the whole damned country was watching it.
That's why it was the best. It went to dangerous places which is what the best comedy always does.
On edit: added more, bolded the best.
Shrike47
(6,913 posts)There were a bunch of very funny shows. Loved Frazier. Good writers are amazingly witty. And Tommy Smothers!
Shadowflash
(1,536 posts)God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly!
Whisp
(24,096 posts)Some legends came from that show. Very well written and hilarious at times.
WillowTree
(5,325 posts)I've never seen a better job of casting than Frasier. While I couldn't find a single flaw in that aspect of it, my actual favorite was Dan Butler as Bulldog. Effin' outstanding comedic acting there. Hell, even the dog was perfect.
riverwalker
(8,694 posts)used to just crack me up.
OverBurn
(1,055 posts)ohheckyeah
(9,314 posts)Northern Exposure. I miss that show.
babylonsister
(171,435 posts)KittyWampus
(55,894 posts)Oakenshield
(626 posts)There's so much to like, it's hard to praise one aspect of the show that without feeling like I'm discrediting the rest.
Maw Kettle
(41 posts)1. I Love Lucy.
2. Malcolm in the Middle.
3. Big Bang Theory
4. Northern Exposure.
5. King of the Hill.
6. The Andy Griffith Show.
7. The Golden Girls.
8. The Beverly Hillbillies.
9. MASH.
10. Gilligan's Island.
Maw Kettle
(41 posts)That 70s Show and Designing Women! Loved both of them and watch them in reruns whenever I come across them. I think they would actually rank about 6 and 7 on my list.
dem in texas
(2,681 posts)Seinfeld is my favorite, I love King of the Hill, I know those people. One that I really liked and is not well known in the US is a Canadian Comedy series from the early 2000's called "Made in Canada", it aired on PBS in the US as the "Industry". Very adult and wicked comedy.
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Ian David
(69,059 posts)Response to William769 (Original post)
Warren DeMontague This message was self-deleted by its author.
me b zola
(19,053 posts)Growing up my favorite was 'I Love Lucy'. But Roseanne came along and blew the roof of the mother phucker.
Long live uppity women!
LeftyMom
(49,212 posts)Demo_Chris
(6,234 posts)Little Star
(17,055 posts)TBF
(33,392 posts)Hyacinth Bucket is a hoot!
valerief
(53,235 posts)Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)Hands down.
Romulox
(25,960 posts)PCIntern
(26,439 posts)great show - very funny.
Frustratedlady
(16,254 posts)I sure haven't found any from this period of time, except reruns of the above.
madokie
(51,076 posts)Without a doubt
Bradical79
(4,490 posts)would be my top 5, I think. All so different, I don't think I could just pick one.
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)catbyte
(35,351 posts)Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)tops
George falling with his pants down when Kramer didn't answer the phone "Vandalay Industries" and Jerry saying "And you want to be my latex salesman"
catbyte
(35,351 posts)"SAY VANDELAY, SAY VANDELAY
!" I also absolutely loved the backwards episode & of course the Chinese restaurant. That show was consistently hilarious. The one where they got lost in the mall parking garage was also a classic. The Sniffing Accountant, The Big Salad, Festivus. It's endless, LOL!
catbyte
(35,351 posts)FSogol
(46,071 posts)Codeine
(25,586 posts)mainstreetonce
(4,178 posts)Also the earliest season of SNL. ...funniest TV ever
Comedy mixes with drama...Ally Mc Beal and Boston Legal
Newer shows....Modern Family is great for a lot of reasons,but Big Bang is the winner for best comedy in years. The Middle also a great one.
New this season Mom with Allison Janney
The Millers
Codeine
(25,586 posts)Coming across an episode at random while channel-surfing engulfs me in a wave of nostalgia like almost nothing else.
AlinPA
(15,071 posts)yesphan
(1,595 posts)The Second Hundred Years. Oh, and Bewitched. I actually like Bewitched. As a boy, I had dreams about Elizabeth Montgomery.
Thirties Child
(543 posts)Also All in the Family, MTM, Barney Miller, Monk
joeybee12
(56,177 posts)Lucy is still side-splitting funny!
Response to William769 (Original post)
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