Favorite Sitcom "Serious" Episode - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

jayman75 · 07-17-2003, 10:31 PM

Sitcoms are always funny, but sometimes they do an episode that deals with something serious and/or important.

Excluding series finales (because those are often sad), name a favorite or at least memorable serious episode. I'll start...

The episode of "The Golden Girls" when Sophia's son (Dorothy's brother) Phil dies. Sophia was upset that she had done something to make him be a cross-dresser.

www.geocities.com/mindynat

DianeChambers87 · 07-17-2003, 11:36 PM

Cheers "endless slumper", when Sam's lucky bottle cap is stolen, and as a recovering alcoholic it helped him stop drinking, in the episode he starts wanting a drink really badly and almost does. I like the episode because it shows the struggling side of Sam.

*PinkLady* · 07-17-2003, 11:37 PM

I really don't like serious sitcom episodes. They take themselves too seriously a lot of the time.

dawsongirl · 07-18-2003, 03:48 AM

The episode of Archie Bunker's Place when Edith dies.

Brad Russ · 07-18-2003, 04:38 AM

There are so many great serious sitcom episodes to choose from, but the one that stands out in my mind is the episode of The Facts Of Life where Blair gets into a car accident. I remember that one touching me incredibly as a kid.

JT · 07-18-2003, 09:02 AM

Three's Company: "Some of That Jazz"

Christopher · 07-18-2003, 12:07 PM

The Golden Girls episode where Sophia's friend wants to kill herself and wants Sophia there to hold her hand when she goes. This is my all time favorite serious episode of a sitcom.

peter may · 07-18-2003, 12:55 PM

the only one that comes to mind is an episode of "COACH" where Hayden tries to figure out why he let one of his players take steroids!

dlemond · 07-18-2003, 01:13 PM

These are the first that come to mind:

MASH - Goodbye, Farewell and Amen

The last episode (though there were plenty of serious ones).

Family Ties - A, My Name is Alex

When Alex´s friend Greg dies in a car accident, Alex is thrown into a state of shock and begins to seriously question the meaning and purpose of his own life.

WKRP in Cincinnati - In Concert

At a concert by the Who in Cincinnati on December 3, 1979, eleven kids were trampled to death when the crowd rushed to get seats. The first part of this episode takes place before that concert; the second act takes place the day after, and presents the characters' reactions to the tragedy

Chocoholic · 07-18-2003, 01:45 PM

"Bill Moves On"- NewsRadio

It was a wonderful, touching tribute to a great character and a wonderful actor. It's a shame Phil Hartman was taken from us so young and so tragically.

James · 07-18-2003, 02:59 PM

Two episodes from The Waltons:

"The First Casualty" (11/10/77) - Erin's boyfriend G. W. Haines is killed in a training accident with the Army.

"Day of Infamy" (12/7/78) - Mary Ellen's husband, while stationed in Pearl Harbor, is killed during the Japanese attack during World War II. (In a future episode, however, he ended up surviving after all, living a new life in Florida.)

Sitcomwriter · 07-18-2003, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by James
Two episodes from The Waltons:

The Waltons isn't even a dramadey.It's a straight-up drama.He's asking for serious episodes of usually funny shows aka. "Very Special" sitcom episodes.

Anyway, One that comes to mind is the "Curb Your Enthusiasm" episode "The Terrorist Attack" which showed that Larry and Cheryl really do love each other.

Will and Grace Fanatic · 07-18-2003, 06:56 PM

The episode of Roseanne where Roseanne discover Jackie has been getting beaten by Fisher.

wayman · 07-18-2003, 07:00 PM

The episode of 'Designing Women' entitled "The Rowdy Girls" where Charlene finds out her cousin is a victim of domestic violence.

'Soap' also had some serious scenes in its episodes.

David · 07-18-2003, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dawsongirl
The episode of Archie Bunker's Place when Edith dies.

Ditto

07-17-2003, 10:31 PM	#1
jayman75 I Love the 80s! Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 27, 2000 Location: THE GREAT UNITED STATES Posts: 3,809	Favorite Sitcom "Serious" Episode Sitcoms are always funny, but sometimes they do an episode that deals with something serious and/or important. Excluding series finales (because those are often sad), name a favorite or at least memorable serious episode. I'll start... The episode of "The Golden Girls" when Sophia's son (Dorothy's brother) Phil dies. Sophia was upset that she had done something to make him be a cross-dresser. www.geocities.com/mindynat

07-17-2003, 11:36 PM	#2
DianeChambers87 Elizabeth B. Malone Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 16, 2003 Location: Swampland USA Posts: 5,178	Cheers "endless slumper", when Sam's lucky bottle cap is stolen, and as a recovering alcoholic it helped him stop drinking, in the episode he starts wanting a drink really badly and almost does. I like the episode because it shows the struggling side of Sam.
	__________________ Strange Fascinations, Fascinating me

07-18-2003, 04:38 AM	#5
Brad Russ Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 17, 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 10,085	There are so many great serious sitcom episodes to choose from, but the one that stands out in my mind is the episode of The Facts Of Life where Blair gets into a car accident. I remember that one touching me incredibly as a kid.
	__________________ St. John 15:13 - Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Currently my favorite song.

07-18-2003, 09:02 AM	#6
JT Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 29, 2001 Location: USA Posts: 7,223	Three's Company: "Some of That Jazz"
	__________________ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrEbJBFWIPk

07-18-2003, 06:56 PM	#13
Will and Grace Fanatic be happy Senior Member Join Date: Feb 15, 2002 Location: seattle, washington Posts: 2,746	The episode of Roseanne where Roseanne discover Jackie has been getting beaten by Fisher.
	__________________ love is love

07-17-2003, 11:37 PM	#3
PinkLady Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jun 04, 2002 Posts: 7,457	I really don't like serious sitcom episodes. They take themselves too seriously a lot of the time.

07-18-2003, 03:48 AM	#4
dawsongirl Member Forum Icon Join Date: Jan 04, 2001 Posts: 53,140	The episode of Archie Bunker's Place when Edith dies.

07-18-2003, 12:07 PM	#7
Christopher The OG Core Four Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 15, 2001 Posts: 14,833	The Golden Girls episode where Sophia's friend wants to kill herself and wants Sophia there to hold her hand when she goes. This is my all time favorite serious episode of a sitcom.

07-18-2003, 12:55 PM	#8
peter may The SO Limey Senior Member Join Date: Feb 26, 2002 Location: LONDON Posts: 1,883	the only one that comes to mind is an episode of "COACH" where Hayden tries to figure out why he let one of his players take steroids!

07-18-2003, 01:13 PM	#9
dlemond Hey, I know you. Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 03, 2001 Location: New Jersey Posts: 6,751	These are the first that come to mind: MASH - Goodbye, Farewell and Amen The last episode (though there were plenty of serious ones). Family Ties - A, My Name is Alex When Alex´s friend Greg dies in a car accident, Alex is thrown into a state of shock and begins to seriously question the meaning and purpose of his own life. WKRP in Cincinnati - In Concert At a concert by the Who in Cincinnati on December 3, 1979, eleven kids were trampled to death when the crowd rushed to get seats. The first part of this episode takes place before that concert; the second act takes place the day after, and presents the characters' reactions to the tragedy

07-18-2003, 01:45 PM	#10
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	"Bill Moves On"- NewsRadio It was a wonderful, touching tribute to a great character and a wonderful actor. It's a shame Phil Hartman was taken from us so young and so tragically.

07-18-2003, 02:59 PM	#11
James Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 07, 2001 Location: Dayton, Ohio, USA Posts: 6,370	Two episodes from The Waltons: "The First Casualty" (11/10/77) - Erin's boyfriend G. W. Haines is killed in a training accident with the Army. "Day of Infamy" (12/7/78) - Mary Ellen's husband, while stationed in Pearl Harbor, is killed during the Japanese attack during World War II. (In a future episode, however, he ended up surviving after all, living a new life in Florida.)

07-18-2003, 07:00 PM	#14
wayman Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 15, 2002 Location: Iowa Posts: 237	The episode of 'Designing Women' entitled "The Rowdy Girls" where Charlene finds out her cousin is a victim of domestic violence. 'Soap' also had some serious scenes in its episodes.