March Madness-- SITCOM STYLE! (Rd. 1)

Cafe Society
1

Alright, we’re nipple-deep in the March Madness Basketball tourney. 64 teams battle it out for that One Shining Moment, where they are crowned kings of the college basketball world. So I thought what better time than now to hold a March Madness Sitcom tourney, allowing 64 sitcoms to duke it out for the crown of Least Objectionable Sitcom Evar! One Shining Moment, indeed.

A friend and I compiled a list of 64 sitcoms, from the 1960s through the present day. They’ve been arranged into four regions (there’s gonna be overlap):

I. 1960s & 1970s
II. 1970s & 1980s
III. 1980s & 1990s
IV. 1990s & 2000s
Every sitcom is paired up with another sitcom, and it’s your job to vote.

Here’s the voting criteria: In each sitcom matchup, imagine those are the only two options on TV right now; between those two shows, vote for the ONE that you would watch. Pick one show from each matchup. Simple as that. Only vote once per round.

I’ll tally the votes, and the winning shows will move on to the next round.

Polls for the first round will be open from 10 pm EST on Thursday, March 23 until 8 pm EST March 24 (22 hours).

If all goes according to plan, we’ll have a champion by next Wednesday at 8 p.m. Ties will be decided by me flipping a coin (hey, this ain’t rocket surgery).

The Matchups:

Region I.
Beverly Hillbillies vs. Goodtimes
The Andy Griffith Show vs. The Dick Van Dyke Show
Leave it to Beaver vs. Mr. Ed
The Donna Reed Show vs. Laverne and Shirley
The Mary Tyler Moore Show vs. The Bob Newhart Show
Gilligan’s Island vs. Green Acres
The Jeffersons vs. The Brady Bunch
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis vs. I Love Lucy

Region II.
Mork & Mindy vs. Happy Days
MASH vs. The Facts of Life
What’s Happening vs. Diff’rent Strokes
All in the Family vs. Bosom Buddies
Soap vs. WKRP in Cincinnati
The Wonder Years vs. Cheers
Who’s the Boss vs. Three’s Company
Newhart vs. ALF

Region III.
The Cosby Show vs. Friends
Night Court vs. Seinfeld
Murphy Brown vs. Fresh Prince of Bel Air
Growing Pains vs. Golden Girls
Everybody Loves Raymond vs. The Drew Carey Show
The Simpsons vs. King of the Hill
Will & Grace vs. Married With Children
Roseanne vs. Family Ties

Region IV.
Scrubs vs. Malcolm in the Middle
Bernie Mac vs. Arrested Development
Home Improvement vs. Frasier
Futurama vs. Family Guy
News Radio vs. Just Shoot Me
Spin City vs. The Office
Martin vs. 3rd Rock From the Sun
My Name is Earl vs. That 70s Show
Hope this works…get voting!

2

My picks:

Region I.
**Beverly Hillbillies ** vs. Goodtimes
The Andy Griffith Show vs. The Dick Van Dyke Show
Leave it to Beaver vs. Mr. Ed
The Donna Reed Show vs. Laverne and Shirley
The Mary Tyler Moore Show vs. The Bob Newhart Show
Gilligan’s Island vs. Green Acres
The Jeffersons vs. The Brady Bunch
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis vs. I Love Lucy

Region II.
Mork & Mindy vs. Happy Days
MASH vs. The Facts of Life
What’s Happening vs. Diff’rent Strokes
All in the Family vs. Bosom Buddies
Soap vs. WKRP in Cincinnati
The Wonder Years vs. Cheers
Who’s the Boss vs. Three’s Company
Newhart vs. ALF

Region III.
The Cosby Show vs. Friends
Night Court vs. Seinfeld
Murphy Brown vs. Fresh Prince of Bel Air
Growing Pains vs. Golden Girls
Everybody Loves Raymond vs. The Drew Carey Show
The Simpsons vs. King of the Hill
Will & Grace vs. Married With Children
Roseanne vs. Family Ties

Region IV.
Scrubs vs. Malcolm in the Middle
Bernie Mac vs. Arrested Development
Home Improvement vs. Frasier
Futurama vs. Family Guy
News Radio vs. Just Shoot Me
Spin City vs. The Office
Martin vs. 3rd Rock From the Sun
My Name is Earl vs. That 70s Show

3

Region I.
Beverly Hillbillies vs. Goodtimes
The Andy Griffith Show vs. The Dick Van Dyke Show
Leave it to Beaver vs. Mr. Ed
The Donna Reed Show vs. Laverne and Shirley
The Mary Tyler Moore Show vs. The Bob Newhart Show
Gilligan’s Island vs. Green Acres
The Jeffersons vs. The Brady Bunch
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis vs. I Love Lucy

Region II.
Mork & Mindy vs. Happy Days
MASH vs. The Facts of Life
What’s Happening vs. Diff’rent Strokes
All in the Family vs. Bosom Buddies
Soap vs. WKRP in Cincinnati
The Wonder Years vs. Cheers
Who’s the Boss vs. Three’s Company
Newhart vs. ALF

Region III.
The Cosby Show vs. Friends
Night Court vs. Seinfeld
Murphy Brown vs. Fresh Prince of Bel Air
Growing Pains vs. Golden Girls
Everybody Loves Raymond vs. The Drew Carey Show
The Simpsons vs. King of the Hill
Will & Grace vs. Married With Children
Roseanne vs. Family Ties

Region IV.
Scrubs vs. Malcolm in the Middle
Bernie Mac vs. Arrested Development
Home Improvement vs. Frasier
Futurama vs. Family Guy
News Radio vs. Just Shoot Me
Spin City vs. The Office
Martin vs. 3rd Rock From the Sun
My Name is Earl vs. That 70s Show

My Final Four: The Mary Tyler Moore Show (close one over Lucy)
Cheers (outlasts M.A.S.H.)
The Simpsons (beating back a game Seinfeld)
Arrested Development (the Cinderella pick over Frasier)

4

Beverly Hillbillies vs. Good Times
The Andy Griffith Show vs. The Dick Van Dyke Show
Leave it to Beaver vs. Mr. Ed
The Donna Reed Show vs. Laverne and Shirley
The Mary Tyler Moore Show vs. The Bob Newhart Show
Gilligan’s Island vs. Green Acres
The Jeffersons vs. The Brady Bunch
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis vs. I Love Lucy

Region II.
Mork & Mindy vs. Happy Days
MASH vs. The Facts of Life
What’s Happening vs. Diff’rent Strokes
All in the Family vs. Bosom Buddies
Soap vs. WKRP in Cincinnati
The Wonder Years vs. Cheers
Who’s the Boss vs. Three’s Company
Newhart vs. ALF

Region III.
The Cosby Show vs. Friends
Night Court vs. Seinfeld
Murphy Brown vs. Fresh Prince of Bel Air
Growing Pains vs. Golden Girls
Everybody Loves Raymond vs. The Drew Carey Show
The Simpsons vs. King of the Hill
Will & Grace vs. Married With Children
Roseanne vs. Family Ties

Region IV.
Scrubs vs. Malcolm in the Middle
Bernie Mac vs. Arrested Development
Home Improvement vs. Frasier
Futurama vs. Family Guy
News Radio vs. Just Shoot Me
Spin City vs. The Office
Martin vs. 3rd Rock From the Sun
My Name is Earl vs. That 70s Show

5

Region I.
Beverly Hillbillies vs. Goodtimes
The Andy Griffith Show vs. The Dick Van Dyke Show
Leave it to Beaver vs. Mr. Ed
The Donna Reed Show vs. Laverne and Shirley
The Mary Tyler Moore Show vs. The Bob Newhart Show
Gilligan’s Island vs. Green Acres
The Jeffersons vs. The Brady Bunch
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis vs. I Love Lucy

Region II.
Mork & Mindy vs. Happy Days
MASH vs. The Facts of Life
What’s Happening vs. Diff’rent Strokes
All in the Family vs. Bosom Buddies
Soap vs. WKRP in Cincinnati
The Wonder Years vs. Cheers
Who’s the Boss vs. Three’s Company
Newhart vs. ALF

Region III.
The Cosby Show vs. Friends
Night Court vs. Seinfeld
Murphy Brown vs. Fresh Prince of Bel Air
Growing Pains vs. Golden Girls
Everybody Loves Raymond vs. The Drew Carey Show
The Simpsons vs. King of the Hill
Will & Grace vs. Married With Children
Roseanne vs. Family Ties

Region IV.
Scrubs vs. Malcolm in the Middle
Bernie Mac vs. Arrested Development
Home Improvement vs. Frasier
Futurama vs. Family Guy
News Radio vs. Just Shoot Me
Spin City vs. The Office
Martin vs. 3rd Rock From the Sun
My Name is Earl vs. That 70s Show

6

What, no one likes the TV?

bump

7

I feel the need to give my beloved Night Court a fighting chance, even though I know it will be crushed.

Region I.
Beverly Hillbillies vs. Goodtimes
The Andy Griffith Show vs. The Dick Van Dyke Show
Leave it to Beaver vs. Mr. Ed
The Donna Reed Show vs. Laverne and Shirley
The Mary Tyler Moore Show vs. The Bob Newhart Show
Gilligan’s Island vs. Green Acres
The Jeffersons vs. The Brady Bunch
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis vs. I Love Lucy

Region II.
Mork & Mindy vs. Happy Days
MASH vs. The Facts of Life
What’s Happening vs. Diff’rent Strokes
All in the Family vs. Bosom Buddies
Soap vs. WKRP in Cincinnati
**The Wonder Years ** vs. Cheers
Who’s the Boss vs. Three’s Company
Newhart vs. ALF

Region III.
The Cosby Show vs. Friends
Night Court vs. Seinfeld
Murphy Brown vs. Fresh Prince of Bel Air
Growing Pains vs. Golden Girls
Everybody Loves Raymond vs. The Drew Carey Show
The Simpsons vs. King of the Hill
Will & Grace vs. Married With Children
Roseanne vs. Family Ties

Region IV.
Scrubs vs. Malcolm in the Middle
Bernie Mac vs. Arrested Development
Home Improvement vs. Frasier
Futurama vs. Family Guy
News Radio vs. Just Shoot Me
Spin City vs. The Office
Martin vs. 3rd Rock From the Sun
My Name is Earl vs. That 70s Show

8

Region I.
Beverly Hillbillies vs. Goodtimes
The Andy Griffith Show vs. The Dick Van Dyke Show
Leave it to Beaver vs. Mr. Ed
The Donna Reed Show vs. Laverne and Shirley
The Mary Tyler Moore Show vs. The Bob Newhart Show
Gilligan’s Island vs. Green Acres
The Jeffersons vs. The Brady Bunch
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis vs. I Love Lucy

Region II.
Mork & Mindy vs. Happy Days
MASH vs. The Facts of Life
What’s Happening vs. Diff’rent Strokes
All in the Family vs. Bosom Buddies
Soap vs. WKRP in Cincinnati
The Wonder Years vs. Cheers
Who’s the Boss vs. Three’s Company
Newhart vs. ALF

Region III.
The Cosby Show vs. Friends
Night Court vs. Seinfeld
Murphy Brown vs. Fresh Prince of Bel Air
Growing Pains vs. Golden Girls
Everybody Loves Raymond vs. The Drew Carey Show
The Simpsons vs. King of the Hill
Will & Grace vs. Married With Children
Roseanne vs. Family Ties

Region IV.
Scrubs vs. Malcolm in the Middle
Bernie Mac vs. Arrested Development
Home Improvement vs. Frasier
Futurama vs. Family Guy
News Radio vs. Just Shoot Me
Spin City vs. The Office
Martin vs. 3rd Rock From the Sun
My Name is Earl vs. That 70s Show

9

Strange.

If there are two shows I love, they are paired together. If there are two shows I’ve never seen, they are paired together. Is this some eeeevil plot to drive me crazy?

The Matchups:

Region I.
Beverly Hillbillies vs. Goodtimes (don’t know either)
The Andy Griffith Show vs. The Dick Van Dyke Show (love both)
Leave it to Beaver vs. Mr. Ed (don’t know either)
The Donna Reed Show vs. Laverne and Shirley
The Mary Tyler Moore Show vs. The Bob Newhart Show (love both)
Gilligan’s Island vs. Green Acres
The Jeffersons vs. The Brady Bunch
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis vs. I Love Lucy (don’t really know either)

Region II.
Mork & Mindy vs. Happy Days
MASH vs. The Facts of Life
What’s Happening vs. Diff’rent Strokes (ick)
All in the Family vs. Bosom Buddies
Soap vs. WKRP in Cincinnati (love both)
The Wonder Years vs. Cheers
Who’s the Boss vs. Three’s Company
Newhart vs. ALF

Region III.
The Cosby Show vs. Friends
Night Court vs. Seinfeld
Murphy Brown vs. Fresh Prince of Bel Air
Growing Pains vs. Golden Girls
Everybody Loves Raymond vs. The Drew Carey Show
The Simpsons vs. King of the Hill
Will & Grace vs. Married With Children
Roseanne vs. Family Ties

Region IV.
Scrubs vs. Malcolm in the Middle (don’t know either)
Bernie Mac vs. Arrested Development
Home Improvement vs. Frasier
Futurama vs. Family Guy (don’t know either)
News Radio vs. Just Shoot Me
Spin City vs. The Office (don’t know either)
Martin vs. 3rd Rock From the Sun
My Name is Earl vs. That 70s Show

10

Region I.
Beverly Hillbillies vs. Goodtimes –
The Andy Griffith Show vs. **The Dick Van Dyke Show **–
Leave it to Beaver vs. Mr. Ed
The Donna Reed Show vs. Laverne and Shirley
The Mary Tyler Moore Show vs. The Bob Newhart Show
**Gilligan’s Island **vs. Green Acres
The Jeffersons vs. The Brady Bunch
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis vs. I Love Lucy

Region II.
Mork & Mindy vs. Happy Days
**MASH **vs. The Facts of Life
What’s Happening vs. Diff’rent Strokes
**All in the Family **vs. Bosom Buddies
Soap vs. WKRP in Cincinnati
The Wonder Years vs. Cheers
**Who’s the Boss **vs. Three’s Company
**Newhart **vs. ALF

Region III.
The Cosby Show vs.** Friends**
Night Court vs. Seinfeld
Murphy Brown vs. Fresh Prince of Bel Air
Growing Pains vs. Golden Girls
Everybody Loves Raymond vs. The Drew Carey Show
The Simpsons vs. King of the Hill
Will & Grace vs.** Married With Children**
Roseanne vs. Family Ties

Region IV.
Scrubs vs. Malcolm in the Middle
Bernie Mac vs.** Arrested Development**
Home Improvement vs.** Frasier**
Futurama vs. Family Guy
News Radio vs. Just Shoot Me
Spin City vs. The Office
Martin vs. 3rd Rock From the Sun
My Name is Earl vs. That 70s Show

11

Region I.
Beverly Hillbillies vs.Goodtimes
The Andy Griffith Show vs. The Dick Van Dyke Show
**Leave it to Beaver **vs. Mr. Ed
The Donna Reed Show vs. Laverne and Shirley
The Mary Tyler Moore Show vs. The Bob Newhart Show
Gilligan’s Island vs. Green Acres
The Jeffersons vs. The Brady Bunch
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis vs. I Love Lucy

Region II.
Mork & Mindy vs. Happy Days
MASH vs. The Facts of Life
What’s Happening vs. Diff’rent Strokes
All in the Family vs. Bosom Buddies
Soap vs. WKRP in Cincinnati
The Wonder Years vs. Cheers
Who’s the Boss vs. Three’s Company
Newhart vs. ALF

Region III.
The Cosby Show vs. Friends
Night Court vs. Seinfeld
Murphy Brown vs. Fresh Prince of Bel Air
Growing Pains vs. Golden Girls
Everybody Loves Raymond vs. The Drew Carey Show
The Simpsons vs. King of the Hill
Will & Grace vs. Married With Children
Roseanne vs. Family Ties

Region IV.
Scrubs vs.Malcolm in the Middle
Bernie Mac vs. Arrested Development
Home Improvement vs.** Frasier**
Futurama vs. Family Guy
News Radio vs. Just Shoot Me
Spin City vs. The Office
Martin vs. 3rd Rock From the Sun
My Name is Earl vs. That 70s Show

12

Region I.
**Beverly Hillbillies vs. Goodtimes
The Andy Griffith Show vs. **The Dick Van Dyke Show
**Leave it to Beaver vs. Mr. Ed
The Donna Reed Show vs. **Laverne and Shirley
The Mary Tyler Moore Show vs. **The Bob Newhart Show
**Gilligan’s Island vs. Green Acres
The Jeffersons vs. **The Brady Bunch
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis vs. **I Love Lucy

Region II.
**Mork & Mindy vs. Happy Days
**MASH vs. The Facts of Life
**What’s Happening vs. Diff’rent Strokes
**All in the Family vs. Bosom Buddies
Soap vs. **WKRP in Cincinnati
The Wonder Years vs. **Cheers
Who’s the Boss vs. **Three’s Company
**Newhart vs. ALF

Region III.
The Cosby Show vs. **Friends
Night Court vs. **Seinfeld
**Murphy Brown vs. Fresh Prince of Bel Air
**Growing Pains vs. Golden Girls
Everybody Loves Raymond vs. **The Drew Carey Show
**The Simpsons vs. King of the Hill
**Will & Grace vs. Married With Children
**Roseanne vs. Family Ties

Region IV.
**Scrubs vs. Malcolm in the Middle
**Bernie Mac vs. Arrested Development
Home Improvement vs. **Frasier
Futurama vs. **Family Guy
**News Radio vs. Just Shoot Me
Spin City vs. **The Office
**Martin vs. 3rd Rock From the Sun
**My Name is Earl vs. That 70s Show

13

And that completes a somewhat-lackluster first round.

No major upsets, although there were a couple close ones. And a couple ties.

The results (winners in bold):

Region I.
**Beverly Hillbillies ** offers up some bad times to Goodtimes, 7-3
The Andy Griffith Show beaten by The Dick Van Dyke Show, 3-7
Leave it to Beaver puts Mr. Ed out to pasture, 6-4
The Donna Reed Show goes home thanks to Laverne and Shirley, 2-8
The Mary Tyler Moore Show beats The Bob Newhart Show, 6-4
Gilligan’s Island exiles Green Acres, 8-2
Our first tie, decided by coin flip puts **The Jeffersons ** over The Brady Bunch, 6-5
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis shown no love by I Love Lucy, 4-6

Region II.
Our second tie has **Mork & Mindy ** egging Happy Days, 6-5
MASH totally mashes The Facts of Life, 9-1
What’s Happening? What you talkin’ 'bout? It’s Diff’rent Strokes coming up7-3
All in the Family bounces Bosom Buddies, 7-3
Soap gets lathered by WKRP in Cincinnati, 1-9
The Wonder Years beaten by Cheers, 3-7
Who’s the Boss ousted by Three’s Company, 3-7
And Newhart sends ALF back to Melmack, 7-3

Region III.
The Cosby Show loses to Friends, 4-6
Night Court barely gets squeeked out by Seinfeld, 4-6 (almost an upset)
Murphy Brown beats Fresh Prince of Bel Air, 6-4
Growing Pains feels the wrath of the Golden Girls, 3-7
Everybody Loves Raymond, in probably the closest thing we have to an upset, gets trounced by The Drew Carey Show, 2-8
The Simpsons skunks King of the Hill, 10-0
We have another tie: Will & Grace loses the coin flip to Married With Children, 5-6
Roseanne trounced by Family Ties, 3-7

Region IV.
**Scrubs ** scrubs Malcolm in the Middle, 8-2
Bernie Mac destroyed by Arrested Development, 1-9
Home Improvement totally schooled by Frasier, 1-9
Futurama gets sent home by Family Guy, 4-6
News Radio shoots Just Shoot Me out of the tourney, 7-3
Spin City gets wiped out by The Office, 3-7
Martin loses to 3rd Rock From the Sun, 3-7
My Name is Earl shows That 70s Show what’s up, 7-3
We soldier on, despite low scoring first-round games. Next round starts in a couple hours.

14

So I was banging Debbie Dunning. Big deal.

15

I am proud to have been responsible for disrupting the shutout that The Facts Of Life would have otherwise suffered.

16

My only regret is that Gilligan’s Island beat out Green Acres.

I mean Gilligan is cool and all but Green Acres is a classic in surreal television.

17

Yeah, I was majorly bummed about this one too. I thought Hooterville would kick Gilligan’s ass.

18

I’ve never seen it, so I don’t know if I’d like it.

My sitcom education is sorely lacking.

19

Missed this thread until this round was over. But it appears my post wouldn’t have affected it much.

I disliked The Brady Bunch slightly less than The Jeffersons, so I would have tipped that the other way. But as I don’t care about either show, no big deal.

I would have been the deciding vote for Married With Children but it won the tie breaker anyway.

I would have been another vote for The Bob Newhart Show, Night Court, and Futurama but it wouldn’t have been enough.

And why didn’t The Addams Family, The Odd Couple, and Barney Miller make the play-offs?

20

Region I.
The Dick Van Dyke Show
The Mary Tyler Moore Show

Region II.
MASH
Newhart (very hard - the hardest call to me)

Region III.
Seinfeld
The Simpsons

Region IV.
Arrested Development
My Name is Earl