A toast to barwars' Top 50

[barwars]

Sitcoms ONLY


50.
49.
48.
47.
46.
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44.
43.
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40.
39.
38. The Beverly Hillbilles -- Well doggies. This was the most popular sitcom of the 1960s, which dominated the ratings, but was deplored by critics. It has remained a fan favorite ever since, although Im unclear about how current critics feel.
37. Newsradio -- A sharp, smart, funny series that critics adored. This late 90s sitcom featured the late Phil Hartman, who sadly died at the end of the 4th season.
36. Laverne & Shirley -- They were The Odd Couple that weren't that odd. It surpassed it's parent show in both ratings and laughs. One of the greatest spinoffs of all time.
35. Mama's Family -- The most famous character to ever appear on The Carol Burnett Show got a spinoff, and rightfully so. Originally ran on NBC for 2 seasons before getting cancelled, it was picked up for an even longer run in syndication. Featuring classic characters, and even more classic insults, this is truely one of the greatest sitcoms of all time.
34. Boy Meets World -- The smartest of all of TGIF's 90s shows, this was something the entire family could watch, and not feel guilty about it. It was smart, funny, and endearing. It was either cut too short, or ran too long. But for what it is, BMW didn't treat its audience like idiots, because really -- they weren't.
33. The Facts of Life -- A moderate success in the ratings, this show achieved its highest status through syndication. Its often poked fun at in other TV shows and movies, but before Cheers, this was NBC's longest running sitcom.
32. Maude -- Possibly the most shocking series of all time, with the most talked about episode ever. A true classic that made us laugh and cry.
31. The Simpsons -- Sure, The Flintstones invented it, but The Simpsons perfected it. And primetime cartoons have been a FOX staple since. The longest running sitcom of all time, with lovable characters and over 300 episodes filled with laughs, this will sure to be entertaining the world long beyond its 15+ year run.
30. WKRP in Cincinnatti -- A radio station, a radio manager, some DJs, and some music. It was a fairly simple concept, but what really put it over the top was that it still brought laughs.
29. Family Ties -- Plain and simple, the smartest written family sitcom ever. The characters were real, as were the situations. If it weren't for the "annoying-add-a-kid", this show would make the top 10.
28. Murphy Brown -- She was the Mary Richards of the 90s, and her co-horts were just as funny as the gang at WJM-TV. A classic sitcom about a classic premise, the workplace.
27. Welcome Back, Kotter -- Welcome back, welcome back. The themesong says it all, its a true classic that has stood the test of time, and is always welcomed back.
26. The Jeffersons -- Norman Lear's most successful series, and the most accessible. Rich, poor, black, white, "zebra", everyone could relate to this show.
25. The Honeymooners -- To the moon!! And it went, came back, and went again. One of the most beloved series of all time, that never looses its luster.
24. My Three Sons -- A TV staple throughout the 60s. This show was filled with morals and laughs, but neither were shoved down our throats.
23. Ellen -- Was the first show to have an openly gay character in the lead, it ended too soon, but for its own good. After Ellen came out, she kept coming out, and coming out, which got old fast.
22. Friends -- The most popular show in recent history, that shows no sign of slowing down, even if it has stopped. With its spinoff, Joey, on the way, the laughs are sure to keep on rolling.
21. Mork & Mindy -- One of the funniest series of all time that launched a comedic icon, one of the greatest actors of all time, Robin Williams.
20. Golden Girls -- The highest rated syndicated show of all time, is also one of the finest. An unexpected hit that entertained both the young and old.
19. The Wonder Year -- A hit with the general public, along with a cult following, not to mention critics. A genuinely smart series that took a different look at the past. Smart, funny, and realistic. This was nostalgia at its best.
18. The Odd Couple -- It was a movie. It was a play. But it still IS a TV show, and a fine one at that. Tony Randall and Jack Klugman made classic characters their own, and even funnier. The interactions between characters is gold. This is one of the most highly regarded series of all time. Very few people dont like this show. Gary Marshall's crowning achievement.
17. Taxi -- The first in a long line of ensemble casts. The classic "what does the yellow light mean?" scene has often been considered the funniest moment in TV history. Launched the career of many Hollywood staples, both in front of and behind the camera.
16. Happy Days -- A true classic, that nobody can deny. The first nostalgic series that was a big hit. Still adored today, the post-Ritchie years are underpar, but for the most part, it was gold. Invented one of the most widely known TV terms, "jump the shark".
15. The Brady Bunch -- Like Gilligan's Island before it, this is another cult hit from Sherwood Shwartz that has remained an icon in TV history. 3 spinoffs, 3 spoofs, 1 reunion movie, 1 bio-pic, and millions of reruns later, it still remains a hit.
14. Bewitched -- The greatest "fantasy" sitcom ever. The interactions between the characters are priceless. If there was no Endora, we'd never see a "Marie Barone"
13. The Bob Newhart Show -- Sharp and funny, proved to the world that TV doesn't have to be dumb. Bob Newhart created possibly the first neurotic character for television.
12. Gilligan's Island -- The biggest cult classic sitcom ever, second only to Star Trek overall. Only lasted 3 seasons, but still holds the title as most syndicated show ever.
11. The Andy Griffith Show -- The most realistic of all the rural-60s comedies, and also the smartest. Was a gem during the first 5 seasons, but once Don Knotts left.... so did the comedy.
10. Frasier -- The greatest spinoff ever, stepped out of its parent's show shadow, but still never forgot where it began. Proved that a critic's darling can be a hit with fans. Won more awards than any other show in TV history.
9. Three's Company -- A true groundbreaker that remains fresh and funny.
8. Mary Tyler Moore -- Possibly the most highly regarded series of all time.
7. The Dick Van Dyke Show -- The first true, greatly written sitcom, that entertained critics and the public alike.
6. The Cosby Show -- Saved the sitcom format in the fall of 1984 and brought a failing network to #1.
5. M*A*S*H -- The American Sitcom. Loved by critics and the general public alike.
4. Cheers -- Just down right funny. A simple set, with wonderful characters, whether you love it or not, it's the greatest sitcom that didn't break any barriers. It played it safe, and made us laugh -- what a sitcom was meant to do. A hit with the critics from day one, and perfect proof that a show needs time before it finds an audience. And it did, all the way to #1.
3. Seinfeld -- A cult hit that went mainstream, and obtained an even bigger cult status. Destined to become the highest selling TVDVDs of all time.
2. All in the Family -- Shook up TV, and the world in general, still remains funny and vibrant.
1. I Love Lucy -- It made the sitcom what it is today, and still remains funny.


Ill finish later.

[Chain Gang Member]

Put in Three's Company(two girls living with a man in sin) & Married With Children(anti-Cosby).They changed TV history too.Plus Happy Days

[LucyFan]

Originally posted by barwars88
9 Frasier -- The greatest spinoff ever, stepped out of its parent's show shadow.
8 Mary Tyler Moore -- Possibly the most highly regarded series of all time.
7 The Dick Van Dyke Show -- The first true, greatly written sitcom, that entertained critics and the public alike.
6 The Cosby Show -- Saved the sitcom format in the fall of 1985 and brought a failing network to #1.
5 Seinfeld -- A cult hit that went mainstream, and obtained an even bigger cult status. Destined to become the highest selling TVDVDs of all time.
4 M*A*S*H -- The American Sitcom. Loved by critics and the general public alike.
3 Cheers -- Just down right funny.
2 All in the Family -- Shook up TV, and the world in general, still remains funny and vibrant.
1. I Love Lucy -- It made the sitcom what it is today, and still remains funny.

I'm surprised that neither


Ill finish later.

I'm surprised The Andy Griffith Show wasn't included in the top five. Believe or not, that show has made an huge impact on television.

Another thing, it's awfully ironic that both Cheers and it's spin-off, Frasier are included in the Top 10. I can't imagine either one of them being that high in the list.

[AKA]

Originally posted by LucyFan
I'm surprised The Andy Griffith Show wasn't included in the top five. Believe or not, that show has made an huge impact on television.

Another thing, it's awfully ironic that both Cheers and it's spin-off, Frasier are included in the Top 10. I can't imagine either one of them being that high in the list.

You can't? Where have you been the last 22 years? Both are two of the most highly acclaimed sitcoms of all time.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083399/awards
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106004/awards

[barwars]

Originally posted by LucyFan
I'm surprised The Andy Griffith Show wasn't included in the top five. Believe or not, that show has made an huge impact on television.

I said Ill finish later, it'll be on there.

[barwars]

Originally posted by LucyFan
I'm surprised The Andy Griffith Show wasn't included in the top five. Believe or not, that show has made an huge impact on television.

Im not saying its a bad sitcom (i love the Don Knotts years).... but what "huge impact" did it have??





Top 20 are finished.

[Chocoholic]

If I see Everybody Loves Raymond up there before The Simpsons, Wings, or NewsRadio, I'm gonna get SOOOOOOOOO mad at you!

[FamilyTiesGOP]

Originally posted by AKA
You can't? Where have you been the last 22 years? Both are two of the most highly acclaimed sitcoms of all time.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083399/awards
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106004/awards

Thanks for beating me to the punch. As soon as I read that post about Cheers and Frasier not belonging in the top 10, it made me mad. Frasier Crane was just the longest running sitcom character in television history. Longer than Lucy...

[Chocoholic]

Originally posted by FamilyTiesGOP
Frasier Crane was just the longest running sitcom character in television history. Longer than Lucy...

Funnier than Lucy too!

[LucyFan]

Originally posted by FamilyTiesGOP
Thanks for beating me to the punch. As soon as I read that post about Cheers and Frasier not belonging in the top 10, it made me mad. Frasier Crane was just the longest running sitcom character in television history. Longer than Lucy...

That's a matter of opinion. Lucy played her character throughout 1950's, 1960's, and early 70's. You do the math!

[LucyFan]

Originally posted by Sideshow Kristen
Funnier than Lucy too!

I would have to disagree.

[barwars]

Originally posted by LucyFan
That's a matter of opinion. Lucy played her character throughout 1950's, 1960's, and early 70's. You do the math!

NO she didnt.
Lucy ACTED on TV during those years.
But it was a different character on each show.
Its NOT the same thing.

[Dean Winchester]

Originally posted by LucyFan
That's a matter of opinion. Lucy played her character throughout 1950's, 1960's, and early 70's. You do the math!

well, just because you hate Cheers doesn't mean it's not one of the biggest sitcoms of all time. I hate Everybody Loves Raymond, but I won't deny that it's been one of the biggest sitcoms of the past decade.

[barwars]

Originally posted by LucyFan
That's a matter of opinion. Lucy played her character throughout 1950's, 1960's, and early 70's. You do the math!

It's NOT a matter of opinion, its a FACT.
Dr. Frasier Crane is the longest running sitcom character in the history of television.
NOBODY will ever surpass that.

[FamilyTiesGOP]

Originally posted by barwars88
It's NOT a matter of opinion, its a FACT.
Dr. Frasier Crane is the longest running sitcom character in the history of television.
NOBODY will ever surpass that.

Thanks for clearing this up (although for most of us it wasn't necessary because we understood the orginal point...). LucyFan obviously doesn't know the difference between actor and character. Kelsey Grammer's character Frasier Crane was on longer than Lucille Ball's character Lucy Ricardo. No question about that.

And it is not an opinion, it is a fact. I heard it on TV Land myself.