# Best sitcom ever? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 19, 2012, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcom-ever/628677 "2012-07-19T02:10:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcom-ever/628677/81 "2012-07-21T00:08:56Z")
How could you leave off Seinfeld? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcom-ever/628677/82 "2012-07-21T00:09:05Z")
_The Dick Van Dyke Show_. By a lightyear. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcom-ever/628677/83 "2012-07-21T01:07:24Z")
Almost every long-running show (comedy, drama, variety, whatever) starts to run out of steam at some point. The only one on the list I think maintained its level of quality all the way to the end was _Mary Tyler Moore_. But my vote is for the prime example of start-to-finish excellence – _The Dick Van Dyke Show._ ---
**Author:** ![breezman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@breezman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/breezman)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcom-ever/628677/84 "2012-07-21T02:49:49Z")
None of the above. I’d have a tough time choosing between Sanford and Son, Newhart, The Andy Griffith Show, and Mr. Belvedere. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcom-ever/628677/85 "2012-07-21T02:53:43Z")
Fawlty Towers: Short-lived. Police Squad: Even shorter. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcom-ever/628677/86 "2012-07-21T02:58:51Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Other: _WKRP in Cincinnati_. Actually Spoons, this is a damned fine proposal. This was funny and at times very relevant (Who, Moral Majority, Flying Turkeys…) ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcom-ever/628677/87 "2012-07-21T03:03:48Z")
Odd list, but of what you listed, I would pick South Park. However,I chose “Other” being Cheers then My Name is Earl Big Bang Theory Reno 911 How I met Your Mother ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcom-ever/628677/88 "2012-07-21T04:42:09Z")
Other: The Dick Van Dyke Show. ---
**Author:** ![denquixote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@denquixote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/denquixote)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcom-ever/628677/89 "2012-07-21T06:24:29Z")
> [@Carmady](#): > > 1. Everybody Loves Raymond > > (huge gap) > > 1. Arrested Development > 2. Seinfeld > 3. Newsradio > 4. Curb Your Enthusiasm > 5. Community > 6. Scrubs Did you vote because i just voted for Raymond and now it says it has one vote. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcom-ever/628677/90 "2012-07-21T12:23:14Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Almost every long-running show (comedy, drama, variety, whatever) starts to run out of steam at some point. The only one on the list I think maintained its level of quality all the way to the end was _Mary Tyler Moore_. > > But my vote is for the prime example of start-to-finish excellence – _The Dick Van Dyke Show._ I would contend that Seinfeld didn’t run out of steam, until the very last episode anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcom-ever/628677/91 "2012-07-21T13:15:56Z")
> [@Mr.Excellent](#): > > Blackadder. Brilliant, but not as brilliant as Yes Minister, IMHO. Obviously, our tastes vary. > [@](#): > > And the series finale was probably the best of any sitcom I’ve seen. OTOH on this we can most definitely agree. ---
**Author:** ![oreally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7ab992/32.png) [@oreally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oreally)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcom-ever/628677/92 "2012-07-21T13:55:42Z")
Padon all, I left off some biggies. Tempted to create a new poll but don’t blame the mods if they dlt one or the other but hate to lose the comments - I wonder if they could put up the new poll w/the old thread? ---
**Author:** ![nogravity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9d8465/32.png) [@nogravity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nogravity)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcom-ever/628677/93 "2012-07-21T19:03:44Z")
1. Seinfeld 2. Taxi 3. Bob Newhart 4. Simpsons (1-8) 5. Frasier 6. Barney Miller 7. Green Acres 8. Arrested Development 9. 30 Rock (love the characters and the lines but I’m never sure of all the blatant ripoffs of Seinfeld plots are because the show is weak or if it’s an homage). 10. Newhart Brit Stuff Fawlty Towers Yes Minister Yes Prime Minister To the Manor Born Absolutely Fabulous Mapp and Lucia (I’m not sure if this is really a sitcom or not). ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcom-ever/628677/94 "2012-07-21T19:08:15Z")
It’s hard to beat cheers, friends, and Seinfeld, if you’re measuring “best” by “most watched.” ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcom-ever/628677/95 "2012-07-22T00:34:00Z")
Barney Miller. _“I don’ wanna marry Ag-a-ness, Baaney. It isn’t the marryin’ paat, it’s the Ag-a-ness paat!”_ ---
**Author:** ![oreally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7ab992/32.png) [@oreally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oreally)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcom-ever/628677/96 "2012-07-22T00:55:29Z")
> [@Mosier](#): > > if you’re measuring “best” by “most watched.” 😕 That’s some kind of joke, right? ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcom-ever/628677/97 "2012-07-22T01:52:02Z")
Still can’t get over the fact you left off Seinfeld. It’s the only TV show I own every season on DVD. ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcom-ever/628677/98 "2012-07-22T02:01:17Z")
Other. 1. Fawlty Towers 2. Surgical Spirit ---
**Author:** ![Scubaqueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@Scubaqueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scubaqueen)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcom-ever/628677/99 "2012-07-24T20:08:09Z")
> [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > Other: WKRP in Cincinati This. Best. Sitcom. Ever. ‘Somewhere, there’s volkswagon beetle without seatcovers…’ ‘OH MY GOD, they’re turkeys!’ ‘Chi-chi-Rod-we-gez.’ ‘As god is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly.’ BWAHAHAHAHA!!! ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcom-ever/628677/100 "2012-07-24T21:07:59Z")
> [@Scubaqueen](#): > > ‘Chi-chi-Rod-we-gez.’ Nitpick: it “Chi Chi Rod-ri-gweez.” And hopefully he will play up to par next time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcom-ever/628677.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcom-ever/628677.md?page=6)