i have a feeling the 'best' is prob MTM, but i haven't really watched it in two decades so i'll go with 30 rock.
AITF seems very very different from anything else here, and not just because the themes are different. the vibe is really unsettling. most beloved sitcoms tend to have a kind of placid, comfortable atmosphere to them, but here it feels like all of the characters are constantly either screaming at each other, storming off in disgust, or dissolving into hysterics. must have been all the more shocking coming at the end of a decade of sitcoms about wisecracking witches and talking horses (tho tbh if i have to watch a sitcom i'd rather watch one from that era than most of these).
― (The Other) J.D. (J.D.), Tuesday, 26 August 2014 19:10 (ten years ago) link
what amazes me about ELR is how something can be so bleak and mean-spirited and still be so completely unfunny
― Daphnis Celesta, Tuesday, 26 August 2014 19:53 (ten years ago) link
it feels like all of the characters are constantly either screaming at each other, storming off in disgust, or dissolving into hysterics
It's set in Queens.
― son of a lewd monk (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 26 August 2014 19:54 (ten years ago) link
ZING!
― Nhex, Tuesday, 26 August 2014 19:56 (ten years ago) link
I feel weird sticking up here for Everybody Loves Raymond, surely one of the most popular sitcoms ever, but within its bitterness there's something surprisingly real in it, and it was often funny. It IS a broad farce, but I'd be lying if I didn't see a lot of recognizable humanity. It does deserve to be above the pack of standard family sitcoms.
ELR's primary takeaway for me was in feeling really, really sorry for straight people.
― Nhex, Tuesday, 26 August 2014 20:03 (ten years ago) link
For a couple years there my sister had syndicated ELR reruns on every time I visited, and it was fucking hell imho. Couldn't make it through 10 mins.
― son of a lewd monk (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 26 August 2014 20:05 (ten years ago) link
Peter Boyle and Doris Roberts were the glue of the show, and could've anchored it with any other surrounding cast.
― Everyone's a closet ned. (Johnny Fever), Tuesday, 26 August 2014 20:07 (ten years ago) link
Primo "Meathead as dolt" episode.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clFl59-zArk
― a guy named Christian White who represents the typical white Christian (Eric H.), Monday, 8 September 2014 03:27 (ten years ago) link
I haven't watched All in the Family for a long time--it probably hasn't been in network syndication here for at least 25 years. (I'd happily buy a box of the complete series if I found one cheap enough.) So even though that might be the right answer for me, I'll go with MTM, which I've watched recently.
Larry Sanders (3 Emmys) over all of them.
― clemenza, Monday, 8 September 2014 14:26 (ten years ago) link
Despite AITF feeling like the only show here with "import" (for better and def worse), I'm pretty sure I'll end up voting Taxi.
― a guy named Christian White who represents the typical white Christian (Eric H.), Monday, 8 September 2014 14:34 (ten years ago) link
Without a doubt.
― Coarse Apple Slaw (Old Lunch), Monday, 8 September 2014 14:44 (ten years ago) link
― Coarse Apple Slaw (Old Lunch), Monday, September 8, 2014 10:44 AM (2 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
Thirded.
― MaudAddam (cryptosicko), Monday, 8 September 2014 14:47 (ten years ago) link
Hell, Dave Coulier's Out of Control over at least half of them.
― a guy named Christian White who represents the typical white Christian (Eric H.), Monday, 8 September 2014 14:49 (ten years ago) link
Despite AITF feeling like the only show here with "import" (for better and def worse),
yes, we know you like totally meaningless art.
― son of a lewd monk (Dr Morbius), Monday, 8 September 2014 15:33 (ten years ago) link
I don't like you, you meaningless fart.
― a guy named Christian White who represents the typical white Christian (Eric H.), Monday, 8 September 2014 15:35 (ten years ago) link
damn, you've been stealing snappy patter from Hawks films!
― son of a lewd monk (Dr Morbius), Monday, 8 September 2014 15:38 (ten years ago) link
also: stifle.
― son of a lewd monk (Dr Morbius), Monday, 8 September 2014 15:39 (ten years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.
― System, Monday, 15 September 2014 00:01 (ten years ago) link
Hahahahaha.
No.
― a guy named Christian White who represents the typical white Christian (Eric H.), Monday, 15 September 2014 02:42 (ten years ago) link