All Time Great Overlooked Sit-Coms [Archive]

Donnie Iris

09-30-2009, 12:17 PM

I caught a bit of today's show when they were discussing all-time great sit-coms. Rather than re-hash that topic, it got me thinking of some of my favorite comedic television shows. They would be no where near any "all-time" great list but were hysterical nonetheless. A quick three that come to mind:

Strangers with Candy: Amy Sedaris, Stephen Colbert, Paul Dinello... need I say more?

Dog Bites Man: It lasted like 8 episodes and I'm not even sure it would be considered a sit-com. If falls more in the mocumentary category but it was a comedic TV series. Zach Galifinakis among others were on it.

Arrested Development: Obligatory (and may have been mentioned on the show)

Thoughts?

razorboy

09-30-2009, 12:18 PM

Barney Miller.

Dude!

09-30-2009, 12:23 PM

Greatest overlooked sitcom....

Square Pegs !

Boogie in Va

09-30-2009, 12:24 PM

Sanford & Son

"nuf said.

Dell

09-30-2009, 12:35 PM

"Get a Life"...Chris Elliott sitcom...the fact that I felt I needed to tell you that should have caused me to back out...but I liked it a lot...

Ritalin

09-30-2009, 12:52 PM

I say it every time: News Radio was a perfect show.

realmenhatelife

09-30-2009, 12:54 PM

News Radio

I dont think Arrested Development was over looked, people constantly bring up how much they love it, the DVDs sold a ton and there eventually will be a movie.

Hottub

09-30-2009, 01:02 PM

http://artfiles.art.com/images/-/Odd-Couple-Photograph-C10102413.jpeg

http://cdn1.ioffer.com/img/item/100/797/481/FmzqkhYMOe78vju.jpg

epo

09-30-2009, 01:05 PM

I'll say "Herman's Head". It was on Fox was it first started, but it was an interesting application of the Ned Herrmann brain dominance model.

Devo37

09-30-2009, 01:58 PM

News Radio.

...until Phil Hartman was killed. it was pretty awful with Jon lovitz.

i was always partial to My Favorite Martian.

RhinoinMN

09-30-2009, 02:06 PM

Parker Lewis Can't Loose.

Jujubees2

09-30-2009, 02:28 PM

It wasn't around long but it was great...

http://www.2ube.com/police-squad/police-squad.png

furie

09-30-2009, 02:42 PM

Action, starring Jay Mohr

furie

09-30-2009, 03:10 PM

Furtherman

09-30-2009, 03:43 PM

Anyone remember The Marshall Chronicles? ABC, early 90's I think. Wasn't on long but was hysterical.

A more recent one was on ABC Family called The Middleman. One day geeks will give it the praise that brilliant show deserves.

thepaulo

09-30-2009, 04:52 PM

Captain Nice

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061239/

razorboy

09-30-2009, 04:57 PM

The Adventures of Brisco County Jr.

KatPw

09-30-2009, 04:58 PM

Parker Lewis Can't Loose.

THIS. I watched the first episode online recently. Still awesome.

Contra

09-30-2009, 05:08 PM

Aw man I loved Parker Lewis Can't Loose. I always think about those kids that walked through the hallways and there would be a storm of destruction behind them.

I don't think its been long enough yet, but if this show doesn't eventually get more praise or support I'll have to put it in this category
http://apresici.a.p.pic.centerblog.net/g4txo0vn.jpg

epo

09-30-2009, 05:12 PM

I don't think its been long enough yet, but if this show doesn't eventually get more praise or support I'll have to put it in this category
http://apresici.a.p.pic.centerblog.net/g4txo0vn.jpg

How I Met Your Mother gets plenty of credit.

TheMojoPin

09-30-2009, 05:28 PM

How I Met Your Mother gets plenty of credit.

Too much.

TheMojoPin

09-30-2009, 05:29 PM

[SIZE="2"]...until Phil Hartman was killed. it was pretty awful with Jon lovitz.

I respectfully disagree.

It seems like people bring up that final season as if it was defined by or ruined by Lovitz, but he's really not that dominant a character. They definitely didn't seem sure of what to do with him at first, but I think it's unfair to the rest of the really great ensemble to talk about that last season like it sucked just because Hartman was gone. For God's sake, that last season gave us Johnny Johnson!

fezident

09-30-2009, 05:48 PM

Parker Lewis Can't Loose.
FUCKIN' A!

Great show.

TheMojoPin

09-30-2009, 05:51 PM

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gcCM-hpejcU/SJvH8VZeFjI/AAAAAAAAAE0/XgkkGJYHj4c/s400/pete2.jpg

Contra

09-30-2009, 05:52 PM

How I Met Your Mother gets plenty of credit.

Really? I just never seem to see many write ups about it, good or bad.
Or really hear people talk about it.

Willmore

09-30-2009, 07:08 PM

Sports Night.

Brilliant show, I must've watched it 3-4 times.

epo

09-30-2009, 07:22 PM

Really? I just never seem to see many write ups about it, good or bad.
Or really hear people talk about it.

I doubt any show that is in its fifth season and has generally positive reviews is "overlooked".

Tall_James

09-30-2009, 07:34 PM

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gcCM-hpejcU/SJvH8VZeFjI/AAAAAAAAAE0/XgkkGJYHj4c/s400/pete2.jpg

This is why you are the greatest Mod ever.

Any show that features Marshall Crenshaw as a meter reader deserves to last 30 years.

Contra

09-30-2009, 07:35 PM

I doubt any show that is in its fifth season and has generally positive reviews is "overlooked".

How long was according to Jim on the air?
Not saying it was overlooked, just saying bad shows do get multiple seasons.

TheMojoPin

09-30-2009, 07:37 PM

This is why you are the greatest Mod ever.

Any show that features Marshall Crenshaw as a meter reader deserves to last 30 years.

The soundtrack for the show is still so great.

Contra

09-30-2009, 08:32 PM

Sports Night.

Brilliant show, I must've watched it 3-4 times.

I'll second Sports Night, great show, but is it a sit-com or a dramady?

PapaBear

09-30-2009, 08:53 PM

I think a lot of these WOULD be on an "all time great" list.

Willmore

09-30-2009, 10:32 PM

I'll second Sports Night, great show, but is it a sit-com or a dramady?

Fair point. But I think that despite Sports Night being on the dramedy side of the spectrum, as opposed to something like Seinfeld, they should be in the same genre. Namely, because there are so many shows that go in between the two that anything that is 30 minutes long and has comedy in it should automatically be put into the same category. I reserve dramedy for hour-long shows, something like Freaks and Geeks, say.

Take MASH, it's a sitcom, it has all the characteristics of the sitcom, but 20% of the show was this dark dark shit that's closer to true drama than even dramedy.
Instead of trying to figure out what show is what, I just lump all 30 minutes comedies into the sitcom genre.

A.J.

10-01-2009, 04:58 AM

Donnie Iris

10-01-2009, 08:42 AM

I think a lot of these WOULD be on an "all time great" list.

Possibly. But then looks what is respected and/or popular to the masses...

SP1!

10-01-2009, 09:57 AM

I respectfully disagree.

It seems like people bring up that final season as if it was defined by or ruined by Lovitz, but he's really not that dominant a character. They definitely didn't seem sure of what to do with him at first, but I think it's unfair to the rest of the really great ensemble to talk about that last season like it sucked just because Hartman was gone. For God's sake, that last season gave us Johnny Johnson!

If lovitz was on it from the start it wouldnt have been a big deal its not like hartman was great the first few episodes, towards the end I started to like lovitz's character but early on he looked uncomfortable.

Newsradio is one of my favorites of all time.

AKA

10-01-2009, 09:58 AM

The Bernie Mac Show, Sports Night, Action and Arrested Development

<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hjHiVKzDqEA&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hjHiVKzDqEA&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>

Information you don't know you needed - the creator of the Paul Lynde Show, Hugh Ackerman, was also behind shows like Leave it To Beaver, Gidget and The Flying Nun, and many, many more. He had been CBS' first executive sent to head up their West Coast division, and was responsible for green lighting I Love Lucy, which he even appeared on.

He was married to Elinor Donohue, the oldest daughter on Father Knows Best, Andy's first girlfriend on The Andy Griffith Show, and Chris Elliott's mother on Get A Life (also mentioned on this list).

http://atimetodance.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/moreyouknow.jpg

Dude!

10-01-2009, 10:00 AM

Originally Posted by AKA
He was married to Elinor Donohue, the oldest daughter on Father Knows Best, Andy's first girlfriend on The Andy Griffith Show, and Chris Elliott's mother on Get A Life (also mentioned on this list).

how about an update
on Billy Gray and Lauren Chapin?

SP1!

10-01-2009, 10:33 AM

furie

10-01-2009, 02:32 PM

I respectfully disagree.

It seems like people bring up that final season as if it was defined by or ruined by Lovitz, but he's really not that dominant a character. They definitely didn't seem sure of what to do with him at first, but I think it's unfair to the rest of the really great ensemble to talk about that last season like it sucked just because Hartman was gone. For God's sake, that last season gave us Johnny Johnson!

Lovitz's performance just seemed so forced
not only did he kill that show, that show killed his career.

IamFogHat

10-01-2009, 02:38 PM

Lock it the fuck up
http://martabreen.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/lucky-louie.jpg

GregoryJoseph

10-01-2009, 02:45 PM

Watching that makes you wonder how anyone could have believed lynde was straight

I loved that show when I was in kindergarten. I thought it was hysterical how funny Paul Lynde talked.

I didn't realize he was so effeminate until years later.

west milly Tom

10-01-2009, 02:48 PM

http://i38.tinypic.com/2vw7foi.jpg

Btw Pete & Pete was awesome, not as good as Salute Your Shorts though.

west milly Tom

10-01-2009, 03:08 PM

Out of This world

Fuck this Storm

Dude!

10-01-2009, 03:24 PM

furie

10-01-2009, 03:41 PM

Lock it the fuck up
http://martabreen.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/lucky-louie.jpg

meh

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TheMojoPin

10-01-2009, 07:20 PM

Lovitz's performance just seemed so forced
not only did he kill that show, that show killed his career.

But how did he kill the show? It's not like they forced him front and center in the final season. Everyone else was still hilarious.

epo

10-01-2009, 07:49 PM

Lock it the fuck up
http://martabreen.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/lucky-louie.jpg

Really? Overlooked for what?

Spagett

10-01-2009, 07:55 PM

I love louis CK, but this show was dogshit

Willmore

10-01-2009, 08:39 PM

I love louis CK, but this show was dogshit

It was good not great. Though, it had some great talent - Norton, Louis C K, the chick that player his wife and is on Californication now.

TjM

10-02-2009, 04:33 AM

Barney Miller.

Seconded

SP1!

10-02-2009, 05:07 AM

Seconded

No Fish love?

furie

10-02-2009, 08:28 AM

But how did he kill the show? It's not like they forced him front and center in the final season. Everyone else was still hilarious.

because unlike hartman, the other's couldnply play off of him. his interaction with the rest of the cast just fell flat.