Alan Brady's Hair
03-18-2017, 11:04 PM
We sometimes get threads asking about "classic" sitcoms, but what "classic" means is seldom addressed. On the internet, "classic" tends to end up with a nearly limitless definition.
I'm using the term "most influential," but in a sense these are "classic" shows - these are the series that I think define or inspire whole classes or types of shows that came after them (limited to the U.S., because I just don't know enough about other countries). They could be the first show of a certain type, or a show that took a type of show to higher level, so that other copied it.
I Love Lucy: basically established the domestic sitcom
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet: established the family sitcom
Leave It to Beaver: twisted the family sitcom so that the focus was very strongly on what the kids did away from the house
Andy Griffith Show and My Three Sons: single parent shows aka domestic sitcoms with sex
The Dick van Dyke Show: the mixed home/work show where most episodes were balanced between the two settings
The Cosby Show: the 80s domestic sitcom with "very special episodes" (although, see Different Strokes)
The Odd Couple: the mismatched pairings who somehow live together for years
Barney Miller, Taxi, and WKRP: the workplace sitcom that almost does away with the home lives of the characters; Barney Miller's interesting, because it tried to mix home and work, and moved away from that. Taxi and WKRP were developing the workplace at almost the same time.
Seinfeld: really interesting, almost reestablishes the domestic sitcom, but without the families. References to workplaces are intermittent; also, follows Abbott and Costello in focusing relentlessly on what's funny
The Phil Silvers Show: established the military sitcom with the operator running everything under the nose of the commanders. This could be real starting point of the workplace sitcoms.
Amos and Andy, The Honeymooners and Sanford and Son: "gritty," working class sitcoms.
The Beverly Hillbillies: established the fantasy shows of the 60s and "fish out of water" shows
The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show and Green Acres: shows that played with the medium and conventions of television as a plot device.
The Monkees: the counter-culture sitcom, allowed viewers to claim they were hip
All in the Family: the overtly political show
3 ' s Company: the overtly sexual show
Chico and the Man and Welcome Back, Kotter: the sitcom built around the material of a stand up comedian
Facts of Life: I think this leads into shows like Golden Girls, Designing Women, Living Single
Cheers: hugely influential in more recent years; show with season long story arcs, focused around adults, with a long-running will they/won't they-on again/off again story at the center
Married with Children: raunch TV
The Simpsons: 90s and beyond animated sitcoms
The Office (US): the low-key, quirky, single-camera shows
Big Bang Theory: I guess this is just interesting rather than influential right now. I think that it's interesting in that it could be turning from a young adult "will they/won't they" into a standard domestic sitcom before our eyes.
Obviously, I'm out of touch with recent trends. I don't really watch much that's new unless people I know tell me I have to try something. I'm a little skeptical, too, that with several hundred shows in production now that any one of them is going to be as influential as some of the older shows were.
I'm using the term "most influential," but in a sense these are "classic" shows - these are the series that I think define or inspire whole classes or types of shows that came after them (limited to the U.S., because I just don't know enough about other countries). They could be the first show of a certain type, or a show that took a type of show to higher level, so that other copied it.
I Love Lucy: basically established the domestic sitcom
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet: established the family sitcom
Leave It to Beaver: twisted the family sitcom so that the focus was very strongly on what the kids did away from the house
Andy Griffith Show and My Three Sons: single parent shows aka domestic sitcoms with sex
The Dick van Dyke Show: the mixed home/work show where most episodes were balanced between the two settings
The Cosby Show: the 80s domestic sitcom with "very special episodes" (although, see Different Strokes)
The Odd Couple: the mismatched pairings who somehow live together for years
Barney Miller, Taxi, and WKRP: the workplace sitcom that almost does away with the home lives of the characters; Barney Miller's interesting, because it tried to mix home and work, and moved away from that. Taxi and WKRP were developing the workplace at almost the same time.
Seinfeld: really interesting, almost reestablishes the domestic sitcom, but without the families. References to workplaces are intermittent; also, follows Abbott and Costello in focusing relentlessly on what's funny
The Phil Silvers Show: established the military sitcom with the operator running everything under the nose of the commanders. This could be real starting point of the workplace sitcoms.
Amos and Andy, The Honeymooners and Sanford and Son: "gritty," working class sitcoms.
The Beverly Hillbillies: established the fantasy shows of the 60s and "fish out of water" shows
The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show and Green Acres: shows that played with the medium and conventions of television as a plot device.
The Monkees: the counter-culture sitcom, allowed viewers to claim they were hip
All in the Family: the overtly political show
3 ' s Company: the overtly sexual show
Chico and the Man and Welcome Back, Kotter: the sitcom built around the material of a stand up comedian
Facts of Life: I think this leads into shows like Golden Girls, Designing Women, Living Single
Cheers: hugely influential in more recent years; show with season long story arcs, focused around adults, with a long-running will they/won't they-on again/off again story at the center
Married with Children: raunch TV
The Simpsons: 90s and beyond animated sitcoms
The Office (US): the low-key, quirky, single-camera shows
Big Bang Theory: I guess this is just interesting rather than influential right now. I think that it's interesting in that it could be turning from a young adult "will they/won't they" into a standard domestic sitcom before our eyes.
Obviously, I'm out of touch with recent trends. I don't really watch much that's new unless people I know tell me I have to try something. I'm a little skeptical, too, that with several hundred shows in production now that any one of them is going to be as influential as some of the older shows were.