The funniest sitcoms are not always the best - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

kalinska · 10-27-2000, 10:00 AM

Just doing an assignment on this and would like to hear anyones feedback on 'The funniest sitcoms are not always the best'

Perderabo · 10-27-2000, 11:10 AM

There are two ways to look at this:

The Funniest Sitcoms are Not Always the Best Sitcoms

The Funniest Sitcoms are Not Always the Best Shows

An English major would, of course, assert that your wording unambiguously refers to the former. But I think you should clarify your query.

Sitcoms are supposed to be funny. This kinda follows from the definition. If a sitcom is not striving to be funny, what is it's purpose? There are sitcoms "with an agenda".
"Leave it to Beaver" and "All in the Family" are classic examples. I think both suffer because the writers are more interested in preaching than in humor. Both become inacessable to people that don't share the writer's viewpoint. This is not to say that a great sitcom can't preach a little, just that humor should not take a second place.

Then we have shows that never really bought into the sitcom concept. Mash springs quickly to mind here. I assert that these shows are not sitcoms at all.

So at the end of the day, sitcoms are supposed to be funny and the best ones certainly are.

I Love Lucy
Gilligans Island
Happy Days
Addams Family
I Dream of Jeanie
Get Smart

In my mind, these are the greatest sitcoms and every one of them is funny.

LaverneShirley · 10-28-2000, 12:13 AM

Actually, it all kind of depends on how you look at the word "funny" I mean, by funny you could mean that the sitcom has comedy in its characters, plot, and dialogue. (Example, Laverne & Shirley had original characters, a lot of original plots - not all were original, but a lot were - and plenty of different dialogue) Or you could look at it as the concept of the sitcom is funny. (Example, Three's Company. The idea of two girls and a guy living together and the landlord thinks the guy is gay is funny, but the show wasn't) And there are some shows I think are funny because of their stupidity. I fall out of my chair laughing at how stupid and cheesey the Brady Bunch is. There are different ways to interpret the word "funny".

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"Well, Laverne is sort of childish"

"Childish? Childish? COming from a grown woman who throws tea parties for her stuffed cat!"

"Well at least I don't sew L's on everything I wear!"

"Well that would be pretty stupid considering your name's Shirley!"

Penny Lane · 11-24-2001, 08:59 PM

"Mama's Family" got panned alot but I thought it was very funny!It was just funny and silly without any "messages" or sermons! My beloved "Newhart" was non- preachy too! What a relief!

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Cupcake

JT · 11-24-2001, 10:19 PM

Just like Three's Company and it came from Lucille Ball's mouth:

"It didn't set out to change the world.It only made us laugh"

sitcomsrule · 11-25-2001, 12:26 PM

'The funniest sitcoms are not always the best'

i believe, that the only way that that statement can be true is if there is a lot of violence or sex in a show, it is still funny, but isn't the best, because it's not the right thing to be watching shows with violence in it.

10-27-2000, 10:00 AM	#1
kalinska Member First Time Poster Join Date: Oct 27, 2000 Location: UK Posts: 1	The funniest sitcoms are not always the best Just doing an assignment on this and would like to hear anyones feedback on 'The funniest sitcoms are not always the best'

10-27-2000, 11:10 AM	#2
Perderabo Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 28, 2000 Location: Rockville, Md, USA Posts: 171	There are two ways to look at this: The Funniest Sitcoms are Not Always the Best Sitcoms The Funniest Sitcoms are Not Always the Best Shows An English major would, of course, assert that your wording unambiguously refers to the former. But I think you should clarify your query. Sitcoms are supposed to be funny. This kinda follows from the definition. If a sitcom is not striving to be funny, what is it's purpose? There are sitcoms "with an agenda". "Leave it to Beaver" and "All in the Family" are classic examples. I think both suffer because the writers are more interested in preaching than in humor. Both become inacessable to people that don't share the writer's viewpoint. This is not to say that a great sitcom can't preach a little, just that humor should not take a second place. Then we have shows that never really bought into the sitcom concept. Mash springs quickly to mind here. I assert that these shows are not sitcoms at all. So at the end of the day, sitcoms are supposed to be funny and the best ones certainly are. I Love Lucy Gilligans Island Happy Days Addams Family I Dream of Jeanie Get Smart In my mind, these are the greatest sitcoms and every one of them is funny.

10-28-2000, 12:13 AM	#3
LaverneShirley Mission Doll Senior Member Join Date: Jul 26, 2000 Location: Liberty Twp, OH Posts: 1,552	Actually, it all kind of depends on how you look at the word "funny" I mean, by funny you could mean that the sitcom has comedy in its characters, plot, and dialogue. (Example, Laverne & Shirley had original characters, a lot of original plots - not all were original, but a lot were - and plenty of different dialogue) Or you could look at it as the concept of the sitcom is funny. (Example, Three's Company. The idea of two girls and a guy living together and the landlord thinks the guy is gay is funny, but the show wasn't) And there are some shows I think are funny because of their stupidity. I fall out of my chair laughing at how stupid and cheesey the Brady Bunch is. There are different ways to interpret the word "funny". ------------------ "Well, Laverne is sort of childish" "Childish? Childish? COming from a grown woman who throws tea parties for her stuffed cat!" "Well at least I don't sew L's on everything I wear!" "Well that would be pretty stupid considering your name's Shirley!"

11-24-2001, 08:59 PM	#4
Penny Lane Butter Pie Forum Icon Join Date: Jul 03, 2001 Location: Beneath the blue suburban skies Posts: 50,994	"Mama's Family" got panned alot but I thought it was very funny!It was just funny and silly without any "messages" or sermons! My beloved "Newhart" was non- preachy too! What a relief! ------------------ Cupcake

11-24-2001, 10:19 PM	#5
JT Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 29, 2001 Location: USA Posts: 7,223	Just like Three's Company and it came from Lucille Ball's mouth: "It didn't set out to change the world.It only made us laugh"

11-25-2001, 12:26 PM	#6
sitcomsrule Member Forum Regular Join Date: Aug 09, 2001 Location: United States Posts: 692	'The funniest sitcoms are not always the best' i believe, that the only way that that statement can be true is if there is a lot of violence or sex in a show, it is still funny, but isn't the best, because it's not the right thing to be watching shows with violence in it.