Sitcoms That Had Crappy Writing But Worked Due To The Cast And The Characters - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 01-21-2019, 04:09 AM

This is pretty self-explanatory. Basically, these shows in general, suffer from cliched, inconsistent, generic, or mediocre writing but were elevated by a likable cast with great chemistry.

70s show watcher · 01-24-2019, 06:55 PM

hello larry worked imho because of the cast the writing was so so but the cast was great

PhoenixAcres · 01-24-2019, 09:10 PM

Gilligan's Island

TSMIV · 01-25-2019, 05:46 PM

Designing Women. I quote lines from it all the time, so I wouldn't say the writing was bad; but some of it was cliched (and now very dated). Dixie, Delta, Annie, and Jean were perfectly cast and managed to make the political and message-y stuff from the Thomasons palatable.

jimpickens · 01-25-2019, 10:04 PM

The Beverly Hillbillies.

Heenan Fan · 01-25-2019, 11:12 PM

Married...With Children has to be up there near the top. The writing was pretty good in the early years. The last few seasons the writing was horrible, but all the actors had their characters down pat, so the show was still successful.

Heenan Fan · 01-25-2019, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 70s show watcher

hello larry worked imho because of the cast the writing was so so but the cast was great

I would agree, but the show didn't actually work. I like it, but it was cancled after only 38 episodes.

1960'sTVfan · 01-26-2019, 06:51 PM

I agree that Gilligan's Island, I Dream Of Jeannie, and Beverly Hillbillies have a stronger core of actors compared to the writing. I Dream Of Jeannie had fairly decent writing in it's 1st season but then the series switched to color episodes in season 2, and by the 3rd, 4th, and 5th seasons some episodes are nothing more than a nonsensical farce.

I suppose the opposite question can also be asked: Are there sitcoms that have great writing but with a lackluster core of actors?

jimpickens · 01-27-2019, 07:05 AM

Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.

01-21-2019, 04:09 AM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 125,569	Sitcoms That Had Crappy Writing But Worked Due To The Cast And The Characters This is pretty self-explanatory. Basically, these shows in general, suffer from cliched, inconsistent, generic, or mediocre writing but were elevated by a likable cast with great chemistry.

01-24-2019, 06:55 PM	#2
70s show watcher Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 20, 2008 Location: between point place and studio 8 h Posts: 4,549	hello larry worked imho because of the cast the writing was so so but the cast was great

01-24-2019, 09:10 PM	#3
PhoenixAcres Member Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 26, 2016 Location: United States Posts: 6,824	Gilligan's Island

01-25-2019, 05:46 PM	#4
TSMIV Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 29, 2018 Location: Arkansas Posts: 696	Designing Women. I quote lines from it all the time, so I wouldn't say the writing was bad; but some of it was cliched (and now very dated). Dixie, Delta, Annie, and Jean were perfectly cast and managed to make the political and message-y stuff from the Thomasons palatable.

01-25-2019, 10:04 PM	#5
jimpickens Member Senior Member Join Date: Nov 01, 2007 Location: weston,wv Posts: 1,389	The Beverly Hillbillies.

01-25-2019, 11:12 PM	#6
Heenan Fan Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Oct 19, 2016 Posts: 6,001	Married...With Children has to be up there near the top. The writing was pretty good in the early years. The last few seasons the writing was horrible, but all the actors had their characters down pat, so the show was still successful.

01-26-2019, 06:51 PM	#8
1960'sTVfan Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 30, 2009 Posts: 6,081	I agree that Gilligan's Island, I Dream Of Jeannie, and Beverly Hillbillies have a stronger core of actors compared to the writing. I Dream Of Jeannie had fairly decent writing in it's 1st season but then the series switched to color episodes in season 2, and by the 3rd, 4th, and 5th seasons some episodes are nothing more than a nonsensical farce. I suppose the opposite question can also be asked: Are there sitcoms that have great writing but with a lackluster core of actors?

01-27-2019, 07:05 AM	#9
jimpickens Member Senior Member Join Date: Nov 01, 2007 Location: weston,wv Posts: 1,389	Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.