The Best-Cast TV Show? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Fleet · 09-17-2016, 12:06 AM

What do you think was the best-cast TV show? I thought about it years ago and came up with an answer very quickly.

It is not in my top 10 favorite shows, but my choice would be...

Gilligan's Island.

Not only was it very well-cast, but the acting was done very sincerely for a "silly" show. I have seen the pilot episode with the three actors/actresses who were replaced and the replacements (Russell Johnson, Tina Louise, Dawn Wells) were much better.

For a runner-up, it's hard to pick, but my choice would be...

All in the Family.

treky · 09-17-2016, 03:27 AM

THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES

Marvo301 · 09-17-2016, 02:46 PM

For me it's "The Dick Van Dyke Show" hands down. Every single actor and actress on that show is perfectly cast for the parts they are playing!

tlc38tlc38 · 09-17-2016, 04:47 PM

There are so many good ones...

Desperate Housewives: Awesome cast! One of the best ever.

Mama's Family: They all complimented each other so well.

Designing Women: I actually think these ladies (the original cast) work better together than the cast of "The Golden Girls".

Step by Step: Great ensemble cast. Good choices on the kids.

Green Acres: Very talented comedic cast. It's a shame the original Doris Ziffel couldn't stay until the end of the series.

The Beverly Hillbillies: Iconic cast.

The Wonder Years: One of the best sitcom casts in history. Very professional actors.

Nordy · 09-17-2016, 05:50 PM

The Big Bang Theory: Even with the girls added it hasn't lost its appeal 10 seasons in.
Gilmore Girls: Just an excellent cast even with Edward Herrman,
Newhart: Just seems like good cast of characters you would see in Vermont.

Edison · 09-17-2016, 07:27 PM

Some great contenders, but if Sheldon devised a per capita laugh count alga..al-just go with ballpark : The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

danderson400 · 09-17-2016, 08:05 PM

China Beach, especially with Dana Delany as Nurse McMurphy and Marg Helgenberger as KC.
St. Elsewhere, because of a few of the regular cast, but also because of the actresses who played the nurses sometimes.

danderson400 · 09-17-2016, 08:29 PM

China Beach's cast was really good. Dana, Marg and some of the others were great. some of the acting was really genuine, like with the USO girl(Chloe Webb?) singing to the dying solder. that one was genuine in terms of how the show was acted.

PhoenixAcres · 09-17-2016, 10:00 PM

I'll go along with what some others have said. For me I'd say it's between Seinfeld, Gilligan's Island, Cheers, or Green Acres.
Green Acres may have been one of the earliest pioneers among sitcoms to employ an extended, ensemble cast of 10+ regular or recurring characters at a time, and all were brilliantly cast and performed.

scrapple · 09-18-2016, 10:18 PM

I think Bewitched was so successful because of it's supporting cast. Unlike I Dream Of Jeannie, which really had nothing beyond Major Healy and Dr. Bellows, Bewitched had Endora, Larry Tate, Gladys and Abner Kravitz, Aunt Clara, Dr. Bombay, Uncle Arthur, Serena, Tabitha, Maurice, etc.

But the best ensemble cast for me was Frasier...that cast just gelled perfectly.

Rookielove · 09-19-2016, 12:23 AM

I Dream of Jeannie -- Major Nelson, Jeannie, Major Healy, Dr. Bellows, Amanda Bellows, General Shaeffer, General Peterson, and Jeannie II were a great cast of characters. I thought all the actors were very talented and extremely funny.

Julia -- Everyone gelled together perfectly.

Good Times -- Perfect combination. Everyone was extremely talented.

Sanford and Son -- You got the feeling that the actors were friends in real life.

The Jeffersons -- Just perfect.......the interactions were great.

Gidget -- The actors were great.

227 -- The actors felt like family and worked together perfectly.

Three's Company -- Excellent chemistry.

Adamantium · 09-19-2016, 09:01 AM

I can’t name just one… and I won’t.

NewsRadio - One of the greatest ensembles in sitcom history. Any two actors could play off each other and it worked. They all had such great chemistry with one another. There is no weak link in the lineup.

Cheers - Not only did they have the perfect cast but they were probably the best at replacements. All the actors were great and fit well together.

Community - Just a wonderful cast. There’s nine main characters (not counting the replacements in the later seasons) and they just gel together. The actors are all working on new shows and movies, with the exception of Chevy Chase, so they’re clearly a talented bunch.

Married … With Children - They were all great together and surprisingly all but David Faustino haven’t been typecast. This show could get a little raunchy and stupid at times but the cast kept it entertaining and funny.

Fallon97 · 09-19-2016, 09:25 AM

Here are mine:

Blackish

Lincoln Heights

Charlie's Angels

The Golden Girls

Soul Food: The Series

I Dream of Jeannie

Sister, Sister

The Love Boat

Patty Duke · 09-19-2016, 10:14 AM

Mama's Family
The Love Boat
Everybody Loves Raymond
Fantasy Island
CHIPS
Dick Van Dyke
Reba
The Golden Girls
The Jefferson's
All In The Family
Room 222

lakesgirl · 09-19-2016, 10:18 AM

I really thought Roseanne was well cast. The parents and the kids looked like a typical blue collar family - not like Hollywood actors. However, when they show recast Becky, that was really jarring IMO. The new actress that played Becky looked straight out of Hollywood.

09-17-2016, 12:06 AM	#1
Fleet Mansions, limousines & H-ween Forum Star Join Date: Jan 06, 2002 Location: Northridge/Porter Ranch, California Posts: 15,625	The Best-Cast TV Show? What do you think was the best-cast TV show? I thought about it years ago and came up with an answer very quickly. It is not in my top 10 favorite shows, but my choice would be... Gilligan's Island. Not only was it very well-cast, but the acting was done very sincerely for a "silly" show. I have seen the pilot episode with the three actors/actresses who were replaced and the replacements (Russell Johnson, Tina Louise, Dawn Wells) were much better. For a runner-up, it's hard to pick, but my choice would be... All in the Family.
	__________________ 1976 Cadillac Fleetwood Seventy-Five Limousine.

09-17-2016, 03:27 AM	#2
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES
	__________________ the Clampetts are in a fancy Beverly Hills jewelry store. Granny points to a tray of rubies. Granny: "How much fer one o' them red diamonds?" clerk: "Madam, those are rubies." Granny: "OK ask her kin we buy one offa her." clerk: " The ruby I am talking about is not a lady." Granny: "Lissen, how she got them diamonds is her business. I'm just sayin' ask her kin we buy one from her."

09-17-2016, 02:46 PM	#3
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,460	For me it's "The Dick Van Dyke Show" hands down. Every single actor and actress on that show is perfectly cast for the parts they are playing!
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

09-17-2016, 04:47 PM	#4
tlc38tlc38 Every day’s a Dolly day! Forum Star Join Date: May 02, 2008 Location: I’m just travelin’ thru Posts: 19,273	There are so many good ones... Desperate Housewives: Awesome cast! One of the best ever. Mama's Family: They all complimented each other so well. Designing Women: I actually think these ladies (the original cast) work better together than the cast of "The Golden Girls". Step by Step: Great ensemble cast. Good choices on the kids. Green Acres: Very talented comedic cast. It's a shame the original Doris Ziffel couldn't stay until the end of the series. The Beverly Hillbillies: Iconic cast. The Wonder Years: One of the best sitcom casts in history. Very professional actors.
	__________________ Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. Deuteronomy 15:10 In loving memory of my best friend, my Mama.

09-17-2016, 05:50 PM	#5
Nordy Gilmore Guy and Proud of it!! Senior Member Join Date: Nov 14, 2012 Location: Rockford, IL Posts: 2,590	The Big Bang Theory: Even with the girls added it hasn't lost its appeal 10 seasons in. Gilmore Girls: Just an excellent cast even with Edward Herrman, Newhart: Just seems like good cast of characters you would see in Vermont.
	__________________ "If eating cake is wrong, I don't want to be right." —Lorelai Gilmore

09-17-2016, 07:27 PM	#6
Edison Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 01, 2006 Posts: 2,430	Some great contenders, but if Sheldon devised a per capita laugh count alga..al-just go with ballpark : The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

09-17-2016, 08:05 PM	#7
danderson400 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 24, 2015 Location: danderson400 Posts: 652	China Beach, especially with Dana Delany as Nurse McMurphy and Marg Helgenberger as KC. St. Elsewhere, because of a few of the regular cast, but also because of the actresses who played the nurses sometimes.

09-17-2016, 08:29 PM	#8
danderson400 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 24, 2015 Location: danderson400 Posts: 652	China Beach's cast was really good. Dana, Marg and some of the others were great. some of the acting was really genuine, like with the USO girl(Chloe Webb?) singing to the dying solder. that one was genuine in terms of how the show was acted.

09-17-2016, 10:00 PM	#9
PhoenixAcres Member Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 26, 2016 Location: United States Posts: 6,824	I'll go along with what some others have said. For me I'd say it's between Seinfeld, Gilligan's Island, Cheers, or Green Acres. Green Acres may have been one of the earliest pioneers among sitcoms to employ an extended, ensemble cast of 10+ regular or recurring characters at a time, and all were brilliantly cast and performed.

09-18-2016, 10:18 PM	#10
scrapple Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 03, 2012 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 259	I think Bewitched was so successful because of it's supporting cast. Unlike I Dream Of Jeannie, which really had nothing beyond Major Healy and Dr. Bellows, Bewitched had Endora, Larry Tate, Gladys and Abner Kravitz, Aunt Clara, Dr. Bombay, Uncle Arthur, Serena, Tabitha, Maurice, etc. But the best ensemble cast for me was Frasier...that cast just gelled perfectly.

09-19-2016, 12:23 AM	#11
Rookielove Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 14, 2011 Location: America Posts: 235	I Dream of Jeannie -- Major Nelson, Jeannie, Major Healy, Dr. Bellows, Amanda Bellows, General Shaeffer, General Peterson, and Jeannie II were a great cast of characters. I thought all the actors were very talented and extremely funny. Julia -- Everyone gelled together perfectly. Good Times -- Perfect combination. Everyone was extremely talented. Sanford and Son -- You got the feeling that the actors were friends in real life. The Jeffersons -- Just perfect.......the interactions were great. Gidget -- The actors were great. 227 -- The actors felt like family and worked together perfectly. Three's Company -- Excellent chemistry.

09-19-2016, 09:01 AM	#12
Adamantium TVAdam No More Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 11, 2002 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 7,839	I can’t name just one… and I won’t. NewsRadio - One of the greatest ensembles in sitcom history. Any two actors could play off each other and it worked. They all had such great chemistry with one another. There is no weak link in the lineup. Cheers - Not only did they have the perfect cast but they were probably the best at replacements. All the actors were great and fit well together. Community - Just a wonderful cast. There’s nine main characters (not counting the replacements in the later seasons) and they just gel together. The actors are all working on new shows and movies, with the exception of Chevy Chase, so they’re clearly a talented bunch. Married … With Children - They were all great together and surprisingly all but David Faustino haven’t been typecast. This show could get a little raunchy and stupid at times but the cast kept it entertaining and funny.

09-19-2016, 09:25 AM	#13
Fallon97 Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 04, 2007 Location: America Posts: 1,272	Here are mine: Blackish Lincoln Heights Charlie's Angels The Golden Girls Soul Food: The Series I Dream of Jeannie Sister, Sister The Love Boat

09-19-2016, 10:14 AM	#14
Patty Duke Good night, John Boy Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 09, 2013 Location: The Land of Milk and Honey Posts: 788	Mama's Family The Love Boat Everybody Loves Raymond Fantasy Island CHIPS Dick Van Dyke Reba The Golden Girls The Jefferson's All In The Family Room 222
	__________________ Hebrews 13:2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

09-19-2016, 10:18 AM	#15
lakesgirl Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 14, 2014 Posts: 2,116	I really thought Roseanne was well cast. The parents and the kids looked like a typical blue collar family - not like Hollywood actors. However, when they show recast Becky, that was really jarring IMO. The new actress that played Becky looked straight out of Hollywood.