# Hey—A new sitcom that doesn't actually suck! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 6, 2001, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-a-new-sitcom-that-doesnt-actually-suck/56976 "2001-03-06T19:24:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![beckwall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b487fb/32.png) [@beckwall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beckwall)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2001, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-a-new-sitcom-that-doesnt-actually-suck/56976/21 "2001-03-09T01:33:10Z")
The 2 best shows in years - Action and Sports Night - are gone. Only Jay Mohr’s slimy yet lovable character could get away with calling his ex-wife a “cunning stunt”. Good writing and acting on both shows, it’s a shame… ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2001, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-a-new-sitcom-that-doesnt-actually-suck/56976/22 "2001-03-09T02:09:50Z")
I’ll add my votes to both Action and Malcom. The family dynamics on Malcom are amazing, and the writing is pretty consistently sharp. Action was the first great sitcom in forever that had a total antihero in the lead role. Wickedly funny, and I really miss it. Grounded is okay, but grandpa and the little kids must go. ---
**Author:** ![nineiron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e56c9b/32.png) [@nineiron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nineiron)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2001, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-a-new-sitcom-that-doesnt-actually-suck/56976/23 "2001-03-09T02:19:27Z")
Grounded for Life is fairly funny, but I agree with those who can’t stand the teenaged girl. If I had a daughter who acted toward me like that chick does to her parents, I would sell her to the gypsies. I have to add that I personally didn’t care for Sports Night. I felt that it couldn’t decide if it wanted to be funny or dramatic, and wasn’t really succeeding at either. ---
**Author:** ![Scotticher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Scotticher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scotticher)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2001, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-a-new-sitcom-that-doesnt-actually-suck/56976/24 "2001-03-09T19:43:33Z")
[hijack] **Eve,** are you still looking for a record player that you can play 78’s on?[/hijack] Scotti ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2001, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-a-new-sitcom-that-doesnt-actually-suck/56976/25 "2001-03-09T20:14:15Z")
Scotticher—Yes, yes, yes! You have a working three-speed record player? ---
**Author:** ![Scotticher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Scotticher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scotticher)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2001, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-a-new-sitcom-that-doesnt-actually-suck/56976/26 "2001-03-10T15:39:03Z")
I may. Remember that my aunt has the one we had when I was growing up, but she didn’t want to part with it? Well, I asked her about it again and she said she will think about it. She says it still works fine, altho I don’t have a 78 record to make sure that that speed works. And it is REALLY heavy, so it might be expensive to ship it to you. But if you want it, I will start working on her. Scotti ---
**Author:** ![AETBOND417](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@AETBOND417](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AETBOND417)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2001, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-a-new-sitcom-that-doesnt-actually-suck/56976/27 "2001-03-10T15:57:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by FairyChatMom \* > \*\*I actually spent a fair amount of time mulling over just why I don’t like _Grounded…_ while I love _Malcolm…_ - It comes down to the acting. > [snip] > Does that make sense? No matter… it makes sense to me. > 🙂 \*\* I’m with **FairyChatMom** on this one. I’ve only seen one episode of _Grounded…_, but it just seemed so predictable. _Malcolm_ is one of my favorite shows now because the plots are _Simpson_-esque and the cast is great. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2001, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-a-new-sitcom-that-doesnt-actually-suck/56976/28 "2001-03-10T16:06:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by FairyChatMom \* > \*\*I actually spent a fair amount of time mulling over just why I don’t like _Grounded…_ while I love _Malcolm…_ - It comes down to the acting. > > Despite the outrageous situations, the actors on _Malcolm…_ don’t come across as if they’re acting. It’s like watching real people thrust in inane situations. > \*\* It’s funny, I always thought the acting on “Malcolm” was horribly overdone, with the exception of the actor playing Francis. I also think the subplots about Francis’s adventures in military school are the best part of the show. I think the character deserves his own spin-off. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-a-new-sitcom-that-doesnt-actually-suck/56976.md?page=1)