My Top-10 Sitcoms of The Last 50 Years

Reaganite Republican ^ | 22 October 2015 | Reaganite Republican

[Reaganite Republican]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Hugin]

Nothing in the last 20 years? You’re dating yourself. No Seinfeld? Big Bang Theory? As for oldies, I Love Lucy and The Honeymooners would beat out Hogan’s Heroes and Gilligan’s Island IMHO.

[Zack Attack]

So many great memories. Newhard was awesome. I still remember the WKRP episode with the punk band “Scum of the earth” which was hilarious.

AITF - I read somewhere that Archie Bunker was supposed to make the right wing look ridiculous but he became a beloved national favorite instead.

Taxi - Reverend Jim’s attempt to get a drivers license was one of my favorite scenes. What do you do at a yellow light?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5XJ83PRJOU

Thanks for the flashback.

[TexasCajun]

Re: Leave it to Beaver

Where are you watching these now that Netflex removed them, not renewing its license to play them.

[verga]

“As God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly”

Hands down the funniest line ever on Television, and combined with his expression. I make it a point to watch that episode around Thanksgiving every year.

[Vic S]

I wouldn’t call it a sitcom, more of a mini-series, but “The Prisoner” from England in 1968 was great.

[stanne]

So great. When in a flashback Rob has to go from tge office to the hospital Laura’s having the baby, he’s sent out his pants to be pressed as he slept in them, readiness for baby delivery, dally screams ‘rob. Your pants’

He says in a frenzy, ‘oh. Mel can I borrow your pants?’
Mel, ‘I’m sorry Rob, I need my pants today. I’m having lunch with tge sponsor’

That was Carl Reiner. Get Smart was Mel Brooks

[Uversabound]

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

I wish I could see that episode again. If I reacall correctly, he wakes up and the whole series was a dream.

Right?

Anyways, Seinfeld I still watch every night and still makes me laugh so very much. Its funny it is dated too so the clothes and no cell phones make me nostalgic. I think its generational too, many did not like Seinfeld.

[Jane Austen]

"The Honeymooners"
"The Dick Van Dyke Show" "Flip Wilson"

[TexasCajun]

Happy Days for sure.

All In The Family, Archie was so right about Meathead's liberalism.

How 'bout Sanford & Sons?

[Hugin]

Some strange/goofy ones I like(d)

In that category I liked the short-lived Lucky.

[P-Marlowe]

If you are married, then King of Queens and Raymond have got to be on your list.

[MayflowerMadam]

“Suzanne Pleshette was a Goddess come to life!”

My friend who worked in Hollywood said that of all the women in the business, she had the filthiest mouth. For men, it was Andy Griffith. Just what I heard...

[erkelly]

I think the Dick Van Dyke show with Mary Tyler Moore, Morey Amsterdam, and I think Rosemary Cluny was very funny — and very charming.

[justlurking]

I wish I could see that episode again. If I reacall correctly, he wakes up and the whole series was a dream.

You can find that scene on YouTube. Someone already posted it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgdUWXf8jJk

[TomGuy]

One of my favorite episodes of WKRP was the one where Carlson yelled out, 'I'VE GOT A MONKEY ON MY FOOT.'

That cracked me up even more than the episode with 'As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly."

[donna]

[TexasCajun]

Wee-Doggie !! ...right on.

[Calvin Locke]

The elevator scene in each epi was sheer genius, setting up a sexual tension plot for Eddie, while rooming with Sienna Miller.

[Joe 6-pack]

Agreed: swap Night Court for Taxi, and it’s a pretty good list.

[verga]

Designing women

Hated absolutely hated this show, I am convinced it was the inspiration for "The view".