Sitcoms: They just don't make them like they used to...

[PrettyinPink55]

Do you agree or disagree and why do you think that is?

[Buffyboy323]

Of course. I think everyone in America agree's with you on this one......The 70's-90's had the best sitcoms ever..IMO.....I only watch like 3 sitcoms these days, and not all the time either.

[Dumballa]

There are so many shows that are on/come and go today. And most is just crap. And there are a few good sitcoms like 'Two Half Men' 'Twins' *Simpsons. But when you compare it to the 70's and 80's as far as the number of good sitcoms on overall . . they useta make'm better.

[rjb182]

Personally, I find the problem to be the prevalence of "mean" humor. A lot of shows just seem to thrive on digging up as much nasty-sounding dirt and having the characters throw it around as though it were funny.

It's one thing to be edgy. It's another thing to have a cast full of unsympathetic jerks. I think too often today, the prevailing show model is the latter.

[friendsfan77]

There are few exceptions to that rule, in my eyes. Although you are right. I think for the most part, the sitcom really isn't the same as it used to be.

[Mrs. John Ritter]

I totally agree. They don't make sitcoms the way they used to. Some of them are ok, but the ones from the 70's-90's were 100 times better.

[felicitylen]

I agree with everyone's comments. The sitcoms from the 70-90s were the best. I think the sitcoms today are trying too hard. They want to be edgy but it comes off like crap. The sitcoms back then were just right for the up and coming times. Now, some of the shows today are pure crap and too silly.

[lockdown06]

There are a few sitcoms i watch today.....but most of the good shows came from the 70's and 80's

[PrettyinPink55]

When do you think the turning point was for the sitcom?

[Dumballa]

when every channel tried to put one out every new season. b4 . . . what there was CBS, NBC, ABC, i guess FOX . . . now every channel has a sitcom or the like . . . tha sh*ts watered down to tha max

[Stuck In The '70's]

When do you think the turning point was for the sitcom?
I think when everyone tried to copy the sucess of Friends and for the most part they were unsuccessful. How many bad sitcoms did NBC put in their 8:30 and 9:30 Thursday timeslots that they advertised as must see TV?

[troopoleon8897]

Agree, There are some sitcoms shows that are actully original and not boring...

In my opinin they are these:
The whole CBS Monday (TKoQ, HIMYM, TAAHM, & OoP)
Arrested Development
According To Jim
Freddie
Everybody Hates Chris
My Name Is Earl
The Office
Twins
Crumbs (looks very original)

So I think we are getting better at sitcoms this year than the years past
I Think the sitcom era has gone up and down like this...

1950's - 30% good
1960's - 60% good
1970-1977 - 95% good
1978-1983 - 80% good
1984-1996 - 99% good
1997-2001 - 80% good
2001-2004 - 60% good
2005-present - 75% good

[slackermonkey]

I'm starting to think the sitcom genre is on its way to picking back up... lots of new sitcoms have come this past season and a half that are fresh and creative, or at least attempting something different. Not to mention "Scrubs" and "Arrested Development," both of which have been around awhile.

[PrettyinPink55]

Oh, I definetly think there is an improvement. But still, we're still not up to par as we used to be.

So would you rather have a sitcom with or without a laugh track?

[Dumballa]

without
laff tracks work on few shows

[Seth]

Having also seen a full episode of the show linked below, I can say I now wholeheartedly disagree with the title of this thread.
http://www.sitcomsonline.com/crumbsreview.html

[Dragonflies]

The only sitcom that I think is truly great is Less Than Perfect :) I'm gonna give some of the new ones coming out a try though, Crumbs and Emily's Reasons Why Not look pretty good in the previews I've seen.

[Mrs. Ducky]

IMO, laugh tracks are fun and quirky. Out of control studio audiences on the other hand...

[TJL]

I probably am one of the few here who actually prefers watching new sitcoms instead of old.
Granted, sitcoms aren't as popular as they used to be - there is so much more to choose from on TV nowadays - but there will always be some new show that will keep the genre alive, and new ideas and ways of storytelling will keep things fresh and new.

[PrettyinPink55]

I think it's interesting to hear everyone's opinions.

I am actually going to check Crumbs out, because it looks good, and I love Fred Savage.

[troopoleon8897]

I Think 2006 will be the Year that the Sitcom becomes Great Again...!