Best Comedy on the air? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

winkwilliams · 02-15-2002, 05:46 PM

What do you think is the best comedy on the air? I think it is, and has been for many years, "The Simpsons". It's the little show that could and has. I continue to be amazed at the consistent level of hilarity and consistency. The fat Tony milk rat milk gag in an episode aired first about two years ago, has to be one of the greatest gags they have ever pulled off. I don't think I have ever laughed longer or harder. Can anyone explain why it has never been nominated, let alone won, an emmy for best comedy? Is it that the old fogies who long for the days of "Donna Reed" don't get it and dominate the voting population? It is criminal that this show hasn't gotten a pile of emmys by now.
Other candidates for best comedy: (all a distant second to Homer and the gang imho)

Malcolm In The Middle- frantic, fast and funny. Great cast, writing and production values. The best show paired with "Simpsons" so far. (well, maybe "Babes" was it, LOL. Or "Drexall's Class" aka, "Shut Up Kids".)

Friends-I hate to admit it as I loathed this show as an annoying bunch of white bread twentysomethings trying-to-get-laid-in-the big-city for many years. I started watching it last year, against my will, and discovered it to be very well written and with a "Mary Tyler Moore Show" like cohesive and likable cast. I like Lisa Kudrow most of all and think Chandler gets many of the best lines. I totally get why it's so popular.

Sex and the City-This is another show that I ignored for the past few years. It looked awfully feminine. This summer a friend gave me a DVD set of the first season to watch and I became hooked. It is well written, well produced and makes great use of NYC as a backdrop. It is consistently funny and has, ahem, balls in it's frank and often real way of addressing untouchable broadcast network issues. From skidmarks to vibrators, they don't squirm away. Samantha is my favorite character as I can relate to her unapologetic sexual appetite. It's a landmark woman's role.
*I have to admit, I wince now when I see those original opening credits that include two lengthy shots of the World Trade Center.

What are your choices?

Sitcomwriter · 02-15-2002, 05:52 PM

Friends
Frasier
Curb your Enthusiasim
Reba
Ally Mcbeal

Chocoholic · 02-15-2002, 06:19 PM

Wings is my all-time favorite TV show. I thought the cast did a really great job. I loved all of the characters (which is very rare for me) and I thought each character had depth and a distinct personality and I thought they all complemented each other very well and they each added something to the show. I thought the writing, jokes, and plots were intelligent, interesting, and funny. I thought the show had a nice, warm heart without being overly sappy and sentimental. I can watch a huge majority of the episodes over and over again and laugh hysterically each time. Wings may never have been the favorite of the TV critics, Neilson families, and awards shows, but it will always be #1 in my mind.

The Simpsons is runner-up for the same reasons. Good characters, good plots, good writing, etc.

TJL · 02-15-2002, 08:13 PM

This is a tough one.
SitcomWriter mentioned two that are great (Curb Your Enthusiasm and Frasier) and I have posted many times about how much I love Frasier, but to be quite honest, the one sitcom that makes me laugh out loud week after week is...

"That 70's Show."

A close second would be "Family Guy."

While there are other higher quality sitcoms out there, these two are funny, and they make me laugh.

kirkfan · 02-16-2002, 03:25 PM

I like That 70's show and Drew Carey the best.

Central Perk · 02-16-2002, 04:13 PM

Friends
Everybody Loves Raymond
The Simpsons

02-15-2002, 05:46 PM	#1
winkwilliams Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 15, 2002 Location: yonkers, ny Posts: 98	Best Comedy on the air? What do you think is the best comedy on the air? I think it is, and has been for many years, "The Simpsons". It's the little show that could and has. I continue to be amazed at the consistent level of hilarity and consistency. The fat Tony milk rat milk gag in an episode aired first about two years ago, has to be one of the greatest gags they have ever pulled off. I don't think I have ever laughed longer or harder. Can anyone explain why it has never been nominated, let alone won, an emmy for best comedy? Is it that the old fogies who long for the days of "Donna Reed" don't get it and dominate the voting population? It is criminal that this show hasn't gotten a pile of emmys by now. Other candidates for best comedy: (all a distant second to Homer and the gang imho) Malcolm In The Middle- frantic, fast and funny. Great cast, writing and production values. The best show paired with "Simpsons" so far. (well, maybe "Babes" was it, LOL. Or "Drexall's Class" aka, "Shut Up Kids".) Friends-I hate to admit it as I loathed this show as an annoying bunch of white bread twentysomethings trying-to-get-laid-in-the big-city for many years. I started watching it last year, against my will, and discovered it to be very well written and with a "Mary Tyler Moore Show" like cohesive and likable cast. I like Lisa Kudrow most of all and think Chandler gets many of the best lines. I totally get why it's so popular. Sex and the City-This is another show that I ignored for the past few years. It looked awfully feminine. This summer a friend gave me a DVD set of the first season to watch and I became hooked. It is well written, well produced and makes great use of NYC as a backdrop. It is consistently funny and has, ahem, balls in it's frank and often real way of addressing untouchable broadcast network issues. From skidmarks to vibrators, they don't squirm away. Samantha is my favorite character as I can relate to her unapologetic sexual appetite. It's a landmark woman's role. *I have to admit, I wince now when I see those original opening credits that include two lengthy shots of the World Trade Center. What are your choices?
	__________________ Wink Williams "I may be desperate, but I'm not dead." Last edited by winkwilliams; 02-15-2002 at 05:53 PM.

02-15-2002, 08:13 PM	#4
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	This is a tough one. SitcomWriter mentioned two that are great (Curb Your Enthusiasm and Frasier) and I have posted many times about how much I love Frasier, but to be quite honest, the one sitcom that makes me laugh out loud week after week is... "That 70's Show." A close second would be "Family Guy." While there are other higher quality sitcoms out there, these two are funny, and they make me laugh.
	__________________ "I think I'll stroll up to the front to see how the shooting's going..." - Capt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce Read my blogs! http://centralparkamisguide.com/ http://dvdcriticscorner.com Visit me on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=641138880 Hey, I do the tweet thing too! http://twitter.com/TomLevier My shop of handmade items! http://www.etsy.com/shop/ColdGarageCreations

02-15-2002, 05:52 PM	#2
Sitcomwriter Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 27, 2001 Posts: 7,356	Friends Frasier Curb your Enthusiasim Reba Ally Mcbeal

02-15-2002, 06:19 PM	#3
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	Wings is my all-time favorite TV show. I thought the cast did a really great job. I loved all of the characters (which is very rare for me) and I thought each character had depth and a distinct personality and I thought they all complemented each other very well and they each added something to the show. I thought the writing, jokes, and plots were intelligent, interesting, and funny. I thought the show had a nice, warm heart without being overly sappy and sentimental. I can watch a huge majority of the episodes over and over again and laugh hysterically each time. Wings may never have been the favorite of the TV critics, Neilson families, and awards shows, but it will always be #1 in my mind. The Simpsons is runner-up for the same reasons. Good characters, good plots, good writing, etc.

02-16-2002, 03:25 PM	#5
kirkfan Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 16, 2002 Posts: 50	I like That 70's show and Drew Carey the best.

02-16-2002, 04:13 PM	#6
Central Perk ~~~~~ Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 10, 2002 Posts: 4,553	Friends Everybody Loves Raymond The Simpsons