Mad vs Friends - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Tiger32 · 01-18-2002, 12:33 AM

Which was the better series Mad About You or Friends?

I personally liked both series, however Mad About You started to lose steam the last couple of years. I kind of feel that Friends is doing the same thing, despite the high ratings, the story lines are not as good as the early years.

My vote is for Friends.

Will and Grace Fanatic · 07-01-2002, 01:59 PM

I like Mad About You better.

Amas_Veritas · 08-18-2003, 05:33 AM

mad about u roxs and always will its timeless!!!!!!!!!

MariposaLKB · 08-18-2003, 07:21 AM

...that most long-running series start to fizzle out in the last year or so. But "Mad About You" doesn't seem to have been as bad at that as some others.

As for the comparison: the original concept of "Friends" seems to have been showing that men and women can be very close friends without sex, which is a wonderful ideal. But I think it went overboard detailing the sex lives of the characters. (Except perhaps for Ross and Rachel, who IMHO should have stayed together. or been together all along--but I know that would have made for less dramatic tension, and the show probably would have suffered). I say this as a parent who sees, by volunteering at our school, that children in lower elementary grades are citing this show as their favorite--I think it could give them a warped idea of what romantic love is (as opposed to the love between frends of whichever gender, which is very well-characterized).

OK, call me hopelessly old-fashioned, but at least on MAY most of the raging sexual chemistry was between married people! (To be honest, my least favorite story arcs on the show were the relationships between Ira and Fran--really, Ira and any of his casual girlfriends--and Paul's sister and her lover.) MAY came out when I was first married, and it kinda gave me hope that there could be good sex inside of marriage LOL! So it will always have a special place in my heart.

hawaii five-o · 08-18-2003, 07:18 PM

"Mad About You" was best during the early years, before Mabel came along and Helen Hunt became a movie star.

Crimson and Clover · 08-18-2003, 11:20 PM

Mad About You

felicitylen · 08-19-2003, 11:03 PM

Mad About You

ImKukie · 08-22-2003, 09:15 AM

I too have to go with MAD ABOUT YOU. I must have seen each episode 10 times & still laugh at the same parts. I've collected TONS of memorabillia from the show & know tons & tons of useless trivia from it as well. When it was on in primetime, I never minded when I missed Friends but if the VCR didn't tape MAY I was deffinatly dissapointed.

Don't get me wrong, I love FRIENDS but I am a hopeless romantic & I loved the realism between the characters on the show of MAY.
Friends is great to make me laugh but MAY not only tickles the funny bone but touches the heart as well. They are my fantasy couple if you will. Chandler & Monica or Ross & Rachel could never match Paul & Jamie.

Just one gals opinion.....

david&maddie4ever · 09-29-2003, 06:04 PM

Oh, my God...Mad About You! I know this might sound CRAZY, but I don't even LIKE "Friends"!

MAY was a great comedy that portrayed the life and times of Paul and Jamie Buchman. Almost like "Seinfeld", it was a show about NOTHING! (It STILL rocked!!!)

Later.

david&maddie4ever

barwars · 03-10-2004, 04:06 PM

Definately "Mad About You".

And I agree about it being like Seinfeld.... except this focuses on a married couple rather than 4 friends.

Rhiannon · 04-08-2004, 01:32 PM

Mad About You is so much better than Friends.

MandieR1980 · 04-10-2004, 10:04 PM

Mad About You, never saw the big deal with Friends

crystals · 11-30-2004, 04:39 AM

Mad About You. It's an awesome show. Sometimes when I have nothing to do in the evenings I will watch the show on WTN. It's one of the best sitcoms that came out of the '90s.

Skywalker · 02-23-2005, 11:59 PM

Friends

shordie02 · 05-24-2005, 11:51 AM

I would have to go with Friends. It's my favorite t.v. show. Don't get me wrong, I love MAY, but IMO, Friends usually had better stories going on. Sometimes MAY seemed a little empty, but it still had its good moments.

01-18-2002, 12:33 AM	#1
Tiger32 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 14, 2002 Posts: 624	Mad vs Friends Which was the better series Mad About You or Friends? I personally liked both series, however Mad About You started to lose steam the last couple of years. I kind of feel that Friends is doing the same thing, despite the high ratings, the story lines are not as good as the early years. My vote is for Friends.

07-01-2002, 01:59 PM	#2
Will and Grace Fanatic be happy Senior Member Join Date: Feb 15, 2002 Location: seattle, washington Posts: 2,746	I like Mad About You better.
	__________________ love is love

08-18-2003, 05:33 AM	#3
Amas_Veritas lime in the coconut Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 18, 2003 Location: UnDeR tHaT MoOn Posts: 10	mad about u roxs and always will its timeless!!!!!!!!!
	__________________ Sometimes when the wind is warm or the crickets sing, I dream of a love that even time will lie down and be still for .·'˜¨.·'˜¨Lizzy¨˜'·.¨˜'·.

08-18-2003, 07:21 AM	#4
MariposaLKB She flies alone Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 06, 2001 Location: The great unknown Posts: 3,436	I agree... ...that most long-running series start to fizzle out in the last year or so. But "Mad About You" doesn't seem to have been as bad at that as some others. As for the comparison: the original concept of "Friends" seems to have been showing that men and women can be very close friends without sex, which is a wonderful ideal. But I think it went overboard detailing the sex lives of the characters. (Except perhaps for Ross and Rachel, who IMHO should have stayed together. or been together all along--but I know that would have made for less dramatic tension, and the show probably would have suffered). I say this as a parent who sees, by volunteering at our school, that children in lower elementary grades are citing this show as their favorite--I think it could give them a warped idea of what romantic love is (as opposed to the love between frends of whichever gender, which is very well-characterized). OK, call me hopelessly old-fashioned, but at least on MAY most of the raging sexual chemistry was between married people! (To be honest, my least favorite story arcs on the show were the relationships between Ira and Fran--really, Ira and any of his casual girlfriends--and Paul's sister and her lover.) MAY came out when I was first married, and it kinda gave me hope that there could be good sex inside of marriage LOL! So it will always have a special place in my heart.
	__________________ Within a cage Try to escape Her silent rage But no one ever listens... -Butterfly (Mariposa)

08-18-2003, 11:20 PM	#6
Crimson and Clover Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 09, 2002 Location: NC Posts: 17,345	Mad About You
	__________________ Friend me: http://www.facebook.com/MaryLynnCall My Etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/MotherMary You'll never find a sweeter combination As peace and love - Mishka

08-18-2003, 07:18 PM	#5
hawaii five-o Book 'Em, Dano Senior Member Join Date: Jun 27, 2003 Location: At home, eating cereal straight out of the box Posts: 1,406	"Mad About You" was best during the early years, before Mabel came along and Helen Hunt became a movie star.

08-19-2003, 11:03 PM	#7
felicitylen Keep Austin WEIRD Senior Member Join Date: Apr 17, 2003 Location: Hook 'em Horns Posts: 1,606	Mad About You

08-22-2003, 09:15 AM	#8
ImKukie and with good reason Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 03, 2002 Location: Maine Posts: 94	I too have to go with MAD ABOUT YOU. I must have seen each episode 10 times & still laugh at the same parts. I've collected TONS of memorabillia from the show & know tons & tons of useless trivia from it as well. When it was on in primetime, I never minded when I missed Friends but if the VCR didn't tape MAY I was deffinatly dissapointed. Don't get me wrong, I love FRIENDS but I am a hopeless romantic & I loved the realism between the characters on the show of MAY. Friends is great to make me laugh but MAY not only tickles the funny bone but touches the heart as well. They are my fantasy couple if you will. Chandler & Monica or Ross & Rachel could never match Paul & Jamie. Just one gals opinion.....
	__________________ "Who did you ignore before you met me?" -Jamie, "The Alan Brady Show" Mad About You

09-29-2003, 06:04 PM	#9
david&maddie4ever ...the hard way... Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 01, 2003 Location: ...staring at my calendar, counting the days until the release of Moonlighting on DVD... Posts: 3,580	Oh, my God...Mad About You! I know this might sound CRAZY, but I don't even LIKE "Friends"! MAY was a great comedy that portrayed the life and times of Paul and Jamie Buchman. Almost like "Seinfeld", it was a show about NOTHING! (It STILL rocked!!!) Later. david&maddie4ever
	__________________ living and loving and learning ...the hard way...

03-10-2004, 04:06 PM	#10
barwars .. Forum Star Join Date: May 04, 2002 Posts: 13,273	Definately "Mad About You". And I agree about it being like Seinfeld.... except this focuses on a married couple rather than 4 friends.

04-08-2004, 01:32 PM	#11
Rhiannon oh, snap! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Jul 19, 2002 Location: middle of nowhere Posts: 11,097	Mad About You is so much better than Friends.
	__________________ Nothing better the feeling is so fine Simply put I saw your love stream flow

04-10-2004, 10:04 PM	#12
MandieR1980 Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 03, 2001 Location: East Taunton, Massachusetts Posts: 2,635	Mad About You, never saw the big deal with Friends
	__________________ Mandie myspace.com/mlr930

11-30-2004, 04:39 AM	#13
crystals Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 02, 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 1,829	Mad About You. It's an awesome show. Sometimes when I have nothing to do in the evenings I will watch the show on WTN. It's one of the best sitcoms that came out of the '90s.
	__________________ The man who lends a helping hand is the true hero.

02-23-2005, 11:59 PM	#14
Skywalker Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 04, 2003 Posts: 14,204	Friends

05-24-2005, 11:51 AM	#15
shordie02 shordie02 Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 06, 2005 Posts: 62	I would have to go with Friends. It's my favorite t.v. show. Don't get me wrong, I love MAY, but IMO, Friends usually had better stories going on. Sometimes MAY seemed a little empty, but it still had its good moments.
	__________________ "They don't know that we know they know we know." --Phoebe (Season 5)