# Best sitcom of the last 30 years? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 20, 2010, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcom-of-the-last-30-years/533181 "2010-03-20T22:56:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mr\_Shine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr_shine/32/464_2.png) [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcom-of-the-last-30-years/533181/21 "2010-03-23T09:54:32Z")
With a disclaimer that I haven’t seen a single episode of some of the ones on the list, Frasier wins it hands down, with Seinfeld/Taxi jostling for second place. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcom-of-the-last-30-years/533181/22 "2010-03-23T11:15:07Z")
I would have voted for “The Patty Duke Show” but that ended almost 45 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcom-of-the-last-30-years/533181/23 "2010-03-23T12:15:40Z")
Don’t see _Third Rock_ on there, so I voted _WKRP_. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcom-of-the-last-30-years/533181/24 "2010-03-23T13:29:49Z")
“Home Improvement” is a blatant omission, IMHO. It beat the pants off Seinfeld in the ratings when they were matched up head to head on Tuesday night. Slapstick gets no respect from critics, but Home Improvement had GREAT slapstick. Seinfeld had 4 self-involved people getting lost in parking garages. 😃 Of those listed, I voted for Taxi. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcom-of-the-last-30-years/533181/25 "2010-03-23T15:44:56Z")
The Big Bang Theory gets better and better. In five years it will be on the list. ---
**Author:** ![Khendrask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@Khendrask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khendrask)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcom-of-the-last-30-years/533181/26 "2010-03-23T16:15:27Z")
Benson… Oh, on the list? Seinfeld. ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcom-of-the-last-30-years/533181/27 "2010-03-23T16:25:37Z")
Gotta be Frasier for me. The quality of writing for that show really stands out imo. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcom-of-the-last-30-years/533181/28 "2010-03-23T16:31:44Z")
I voted for _Roseanne_, because it was not only _very, very_ funny (in the first seasons, anyway), but also _very_ realistic. They had a family like mine. There was crap on the stairs, waiting to be carried up; there was a hand-crocheted afghan on the back of the sofa; the family wore _the same clothes_ more than once; Roseanne and Dan argued over whether to pay the electric bill or the gas bill. On and on. _But_ if _Night Court_ had been on the list, I’d definitely have been torn. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcom-of-the-last-30-years/533181/29 "2010-03-24T19:09:03Z")
Arrested Development though I have only watched one season so far. I liked Seinfeld quite a lot too. A bit surprised there are so few votes for Curb your Enthusiasm; I thought it captured the essence of what made Seinfeld great while doing away with the more conventional sitcom stuff. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcom-of-the-last-30-years/533181/30 "2010-03-24T19:17:40Z")
I voted Friends, but _That '70s Show_ is severely underrated. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcom-of-the-last-30-years/533181/31 "2010-03-24T19:17:44Z")
What? No Blackadder? Perhaps this could be remedied with a cunning plan … ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcom-of-the-last-30-years/533181/32 "2010-03-24T19:32:36Z")
I’m tempted by the Simpsons, but I really don’t think it can be compared with “traditional” sitcoms. For humor, pathos, and a little trailblazing, I went with MASH. ---
**Author:** ![Anamorphic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anamorphic/32/3057_2.png) [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcom-of-the-last-30-years/533181/33 "2010-03-24T19:32:46Z")
It’s tough to pick one. There are some truly great shows on that list. I clicked Taxi first, then thought about Arrested Development for a few moments, considered a few others as well… before finally settling on The Simpsons. Even though it’s obviously gone way, way down in quality, you just can’t deny its greatness for so long. How much it’s become ingrained in our culture. I just finished reading [The Simpsons: An Uncensored, Unauthorized History](http://www.amazon.com/Simpsons-Uncensored-Unauthorized-History/dp/0865479887/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1269458634&sr=1-1), which probably had a lot to do with my decision. It really reminded me of how great that show was in its prime (and its prime lasted for a long time), and how influential it was. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcom-of-the-last-30-years/533181/34 "2010-03-24T19:38:24Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > Both _Barney Miller_ and _The Dick Van Dyke Show_ were better than anything on the list, although _Fawlty Towers_ does give both a run for their money. The two latter shows are older than 30 years old, and Barney Miller’s run was mostly in the 70s. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcom-of-the-last-30-years/533181/35 "2010-03-24T19:52:04Z")
> [@Mr.Excellent](#): > > What? No Blackadder? > > Perhaps this could be remedied with a cunning plan … Have you read this thread thoroughly? It has already been pointed out that this is for American sitcoms. I would say Arrested Development, easily. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcom-of-the-last-30-years/533181/36 "2010-03-24T19:53:53Z")
I think _Seinfeld_ comes in first, with _the Simpsons_ coming in a close 2nd. _South Park_ has it’s moements, but it’s target audience is too narrow for me to really like it. Both writers are very talented and I feel they could be doing a lot better. I really like _the King of Queens_, I wouldn’t call it classic, but it holds up well in reruns and I like the characters, it’s one of those comedies you can watch or listen to and it keeps you company ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcom-of-the-last-30-years/533181/37 "2010-03-24T19:53:59Z")
It was either Soap or 30 Rock. I love shows that are self aware. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcom-of-the-last-30-years/533181/38 "2010-03-24T20:36:46Z")
> [@Anamorphic](#): > > Even though it’s obviously gone way, way down in quality, you just can’t deny its greatness for so long. How much it’s become ingrained in our culture. I just finished reading [The Simpsons: An Uncensored, Unauthorized History](http://www.amazon.com/Simpsons-Uncensored-Unauthorized-History/dp/0865479887/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1269458634&sr=1-1), which probably had a lot to do with my decision. It really reminded me of how great that show was in its prime (and its prime lasted for a long time), and how influential it was. “The Simpsons” was a great show for longer than Arrested Development and Taxi were shows, _combined._ There’s a lot of great shows on that list but IMHO, “The Simpsons” is actually being tragically underrated in this thread. It is the best sitcom ever made, ever, in any country, in my humble opinion. Few shows have ever been funnier, and no funny show has ever been as influential AND as innovative AND as daring AND as subversive. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcom-of-the-last-30-years/533181/39 "2010-03-24T20:44:51Z")
I voted Curb Your Enthusiasm based on the fact that I don’t think they’ve had a clunker season. Runners-up: M_A_S\*H’s second half was no longer a sitcom but a half hour drama Arrested Development had that wretched Wee Britain horror. Roseanne had the lottery crap. ---
**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:** [March 24, 2010, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcom-of-the-last-30-years/533181/40 "2010-03-24T20:48:03Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > “The Simpsons” was a great show for longer than Arrested Development and Taxi were shows, _combined._ This was ultimately my reasoning, as well. (Except for me it was _Larry Sanders Show_ and _Taxi_.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcom-of-the-last-30-years/533181.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcom-of-the-last-30-years/533181.md?page=3)