# Most Overrated Sitcom of All Time **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 12, 2005, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-overrated-sitcom-of-all-time/312086 "2005-07-12T00:01:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-overrated-sitcom-of-all-time/312086/101 "2015-10-19T16:27:28Z")
I thought _Gilligan’s Island_ was the funniest thing on the air; never missed an episode, and it kept me in stitches, every time. I was also fond of _The Beverly Hillbillies_. …of course, I was something like five years old at the time, as well. I’ve watched it since then, and have found that my tastes have kind of left it behind. _Friends_ is all right; I always kind of thought of it as “Lowest Common Denominator Television.” It doesn’t send me screaming from the room or anything. _Seinfeld_, on the other hand… well, Jerry Seinfeld’s stand up routine is funny. His show, on the other hand… I never understood why so many people seemed to think it was genius, although I will admit it had its moments. ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-overrated-sitcom-of-all-time/312086/102 "2015-10-19T17:09:34Z")
> [@SykoSkotty](#): > > The Middle. How is that show still on the air? Because it’s better than the overrated Modern Family. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-overrated-sitcom-of-all-time/312086/103 "2015-10-19T19:29:31Z")
NM. Didn’t get it was a zombie thread. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-overrated-sitcom-of-all-time/312086/104 "2015-10-19T21:14:20Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > \*\*\*Cosby > > _ **Married … with Children** _, on the other hand, is pure gold! :o “That’s gold, Jerry! Gold!” --Kenny Bania ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-overrated-sitcom-of-all-time/312086/105 "2015-10-19T21:30:30Z")
In the original time period of this thread, I would have gone along with Friends. Just awful. In the current time period, mos def Modern Family. I adore Julie Bowen, but don’t like any of the rest of the characters and why is Sophia Vergara so darn LOUD??? ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-overrated-sitcom-of-all-time/312086/106 "2015-10-19T21:49:28Z")
> [@stillownedbysetters](#): > > In the original time period of this thread, I would have gone along with Friends. Just awful. > > In the current time period, mos def Modern Family. I adore Julie Bowen, but don’t like any of the rest of the characters and why is Sophia Vergara so darn LOUD??? Because the average male viewer needs a reason not to want to fuck her. Duh! And in response to some points made ten years ago: _Seinfeld_ is brilliant because it presents selfishness and narcissism as attractive traits. And _Will & Grace_ is awful because it keeps congratulating itself for breaking ground that hasn’t been _un_broken in decades. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-overrated-sitcom-of-all-time/312086/107 "2015-10-19T22:36:04Z")
Everyone saying Seinfeld is flat out wrong. The only way they could be wronger is they were the ones saying I Love Lucy. Anyway, 30 Rock never should have gotten on the air, it was terminally not funny, but that’s what one should expect with Tina Fay as the lead. ---
**Author:** ![opinionator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/58956e/32.png) [@opinionator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/opinionator)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-overrated-sitcom-of-all-time/312086/108 "2015-10-19T23:44:15Z")
Friends ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-overrated-sitcom-of-all-time/312086/109 "2015-10-19T23:56:38Z")
The only thing on _ **Friends** _ that was ever worthy of my attention was Paget Brewster wearing nothing but a football jersey and gym socks. Oh…my…God! :o ---
**Author:** ![Eugene\_of\_Sandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c37758/32.png) [@Eugene\_of\_Sandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eugene_of_Sandwich)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-overrated-sitcom-of-all-time/312086/110 "2015-10-20T01:17:59Z")
_Friends_ wasn’t funny it was hip. Or something. ---
**Author:** ![OffByOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/45deac/32.png) [@OffByOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OffByOne)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-overrated-sitcom-of-all-time/312086/111 "2015-10-20T16:19:38Z")
Put me down for The Big Bang Theory. I tried to watch this once, because everyone was talking about how funny it was. Well, I could tell where I was _supposed_ to laugh (although the Laff-Trak helped), but the lines just weren’t funny. The main character is a sociopath who believes ALL other people exist just to serve him, while the other “geniuses” kiss his butt. I guess that I will start to get the hate once this is posted, but I have to have my say. ---
**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:** [October 20, 2015, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-overrated-sitcom-of-all-time/312086/112 "2015-10-20T16:40:19Z")
As a group, the most overrated sitcoms are the ones that bring “big stars” to small plots. Remember these? Bette Midler: _Bette_ Madeline Kahn: _Oh Madeline_ Nathan Lane:\* Encore! Encore!\* Kristin Chenoweth:\* Kristin\* Not to mention the last sitcom tries from Michael J. Fox and Robin Williams which struggled to rise from embarrassing to merely disappointing. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-overrated-sitcom-of-all-time/312086/113 "2015-10-20T17:26:13Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > Anyway, 30 Rock never should have gotten on the air, it was terminally not funny, but that’s what one should expect with Tina Fay as the lead. **30 Rock** was touch-and-go for the first few seasons–Remember the very weird episode where Liz had to take sensitivity training for sexually harassing men?–but it became great TV eventually. It was kind of understood early on that Tina Fey has a Great American Sitcom in her, **30 Rock** wasn’t it, and it was something we all would have to endure while she figured out her learning curve. Sadly, that goes double for **Kimmy Schmidt**. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-overrated-sitcom-of-all-time/312086/114 "2015-10-20T17:40:58Z")
> [@OffByOne](#): > > Put me down for The Big Bang Theory. > > I tried to watch this once, because everyone was talking about how funny it was. Well, I could tell where I was _supposed_ to laugh (although the Laff-Trak helped), but the lines just weren’t funny. > > The main character is a sociopath who believes ALL other people exist just to serve him, while the other “geniuses” kiss his butt. > > I guess that I will start to get the hate once this is posted, but I have to have my say. At what point did you start watching? I find the early episodes hilarious, while those of the last few seasons have been pretty lame. All episodes of the series are on line, should you want to check them out. Your opinion might change. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-overrated-sitcom-of-all-time/312086/115 "2015-10-20T18:34:35Z")
Everyone Loves Raymond. Every single person there is unlikeable with little redeeming qualities. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-overrated-sitcom-of-all-time/312086/116 "2015-10-20T19:27:19Z")
Home Improvement. I think they only had 3 story lines that were endlessly recycled through the run of the series. ---
**Author:** ![billions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@billions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billions)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-overrated-sitcom-of-all-time/312086/117 "2015-10-20T20:14:52Z")
Friends in my opinion is really well made, its just that its very safe, mellow and mainstream that I assume annoys people who dislike it. I’d ahve to go with YogSosoth and say Everyone Loves Raymond. That show just recycled the same old, slowwwww joke over and over again. Mind dumbilngly boring. ---
**Author:** ![Clawdio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d07c76/32.png) [@Clawdio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clawdio)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-overrated-sitcom-of-all-time/312086/118 "2015-10-20T21:26:31Z")
I’m bummed to see how many have mentioned **Roseanne**. That was one of my favorites growing up. It always seemed to me like one of the only shows at that time that was actually about a family like mine… kinda dysfunctional, lower middle class, lots of sarcastic humor, flawed… **Friends** , on the other hand, while I liked it well enough at the time, it just seems so unwatchably dated to me now. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-overrated-sitcom-of-all-time/312086/119 "2015-10-20T21:33:34Z")
> [@mr.jp](#): > > I am quite confident that this show is the winner, at least in terms of funniness. There was never anything funny that happened on this show. Regular big laughs from the audience would be when a kid said something, and Cosby repeated it. I suppose people liked it because they like to spend time with this family, rather than because of humor, but to me they just seemed sort of bland and unrealistic. Also, at one point Cosby kissed the oldest daughter on her mouth. There was one show where Vanessa lied to her parents and snuck out with her friends to go see a concert. Their car was stolen, their tickets to the concert were stolen by an “usher” and by the time they got home Claire and Cliff were righteously pissed. The scene where Claire rips her a new one still makes me shake in my boots. ---
**Author:** ![Asympotically\_fat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47c2d/32.png) [@Asympotically\_fat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asympotically_fat)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-overrated-sitcom-of-all-time/312086/120 "2015-10-20T21:39:52Z")
I really dislike **The Big Bang Theory** , it was mildly diverting when it started, but: 1. it just isn’t that funny 2. Once the humour is stripped away you have a completely unrealistic with paint-by-numbers plots (yes I realize that sitcoms can be completely unrealistic or have clever plots, for example two of my favourite **Father Ted** and **Bottom** , but if the humour isn’t hitting the mark a lot of the time you need something else to divert you). I’ll also agree with **Vicar of Dibley** , why do the BBC try to insists that this Dawn French-vehicle is a classic? I used to love **Last of the Summer Wine** when I was about 10 years old, but if I watch it now I think you’d have to be as easily pleased as a 10 year old to find it funny. It is what it is, but Reeves and Mortimer pastiched it brilliantly as “Three Blokes in a Bath”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-overrated-sitcom-of-all-time/312086.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-overrated-sitcom-of-all-time/312086.md?page=7)