MAS*H - which is on the list - ended in 1983. On that basis, my vote would have gone for Barney Miller, which ended in 1982.
In any case, I selected Frasier. For longevity, damn fine writing and acting, cleverness and wit, consistency, and for making me laugh more than any of the others.
Very difficult choice for me, but I went with Roseanne. For me, its first 5.5 years have never gotten stale. I can watch them over and over and still laugh and wonder in amazement at the incredible acting and writing (both of which captured so much truth).
MASH* would have been my #2, closely with The Simpsons and Seinfeld.
I haven’t voted, and probably won’t cast one, but on that list I’d probably say The Simpsons.
The answer to the OP, however, is The Golden Girls.
I chose Get A Life because it was becoming too difficult for me to choose just one and because I was unsure as to whether or not anyone else would vote for it. I think it is an awesome show. And, it’s lucky that Fox at the time was willing to take risks on shows and really let them play out. There’s not much of a chance that a show like Get a Life would last more than a month in today’s network landscape.
The Simpsons is a good choice. I agree that it is not as good as it is now as it was in it’s prime, but I still find a lot to laugh about many of the new episodes. I feel like it really started to pick up steam again after the movie (which I loved.)
In fact, I could see a credible argument for pretty much all of the choices. I didn’t like all of them. but I can sort of see an argument even for those I dislike (I would just think you were dumb for liking it.) I don’t think Entourage belongs on the list. Not that it is a bad show, but in spite of it’s length I never really considered it a comedy. I thought of it more as a drama with some funny bits.
NewsRadio hands down and second place to 3rd Rock From the Sun.
Arrested Development??? Bah Humbug - people only vote for it because it is recent and stuck in their short-term memory.
Futurama, definitely.
It’s possible I may be overestimating it because it’s so recent, but I really want to say How I Met Your Mother. It seems like a mediocre show on first glance, but the writing and acting are absolutely brilliant.
From the list Friends, Cheers and Seinfeld are all a cut above. Voted Cheers out of nostalgia.
Also would have liked to see Fresh Prince on the list, although I wouldn’t have voted for it.
There are several nominees in this thread that are worthy of a vote for different reasons. What I particularily like about Frasier is how classy and timeless it is. In some ways, it feels like watching classic Hollywood brought up to modern date. Seinfeld, on the other hand, is purely Seinfeld. At the time, there was nothing like it and watching it made it feel like it was really breaking ground.
I’m interested in how this list was generated as it seems biased towards current sit-coms.
The time period and sit-com criteria are too broad. What do you mean by “The Best”?
There are some notable shows missing… The Jeffersons, Happy Days, Different Strokes, The Facts of Life, Good Times, The Cosby Show, Newhart, etc…
Barney Miller
Night Court
The Nanny