I never knew “how you doin?” was from Friends until now. I’ll do my best to expunge it from my system.
Most people know it from the show, but if my friend who was born and raised in Brooklyn is correct, it is a commonly used phrase. At least when he would regale me with tales of his youth that’s how he portrayed the locals.
- “so this big cucin comes up to me, says how you doin’, you doin’ a’ight?”*
Could just be theatrics, but it definitely predates Friends.
I figured it was just that, Brooklynese.
Meh, I can always play it off like that.
right?
Although there are frequent ridiculous moments, I’m having a tough time envisioning 24 as a sitcom.
Not a true sitcom, but Homestar Runner really confuses me. It’s not off the wall, it’s just off - it’s not really starting from anywhere, and comes across as totally irrelevant.
Fawlty Towers, mainly because I can’t stand John Cleese.
Will & Grace - lord, if North Korea decided it needed a comedy show, it’d probably have more soul than Will & Grace.
Humour has a short sell by date; Every single cult classic I’ve seen from the 70s was an embarrassment, while Victorian farce is this bizzare mish mash of elegant writing and preschool humour. Monty Python has faired better, but a lot of it is painful for somebody who’s grown up with the likes of the Simpsons. Moreover, in 30 years times, my kids will probably cringe when they switch to a rerun of Family Guy during the commercial break.
I do like Friends though… While I hate the subject matter, I find the scripts are quite intricate.
“How you doin’?” meaning “How are you?” is just Brooklynese.
But I think “How you doin’?” with the specific meaning of “I’m hitting on you” was invented by Friends.
I can’t be in the same house as a T.V. turned to I don’t understand why anybody Loves Raymond. I don’t really like any sitcoms that didn’t filter over here from the U.K., but that’s the only one I feel should have it’s own section in the Geneva Convention.
I’ve been itching to find a thread to toss in my hatred for 24. This was close and convenient and I thought I’d hear a LOT more bitching about it.
Ok, I’ll admit it. I hate Cheers. I’ve tried to like, tried to understand why it’s considered a pantheon-level comedy, but to no avail. The characters aren’t half bad but they’ve never made me laugh.
In reality, I find most sitcoms pretty hateful, but Cheers is the one that everyone else loves.
I used to like sitcoms. Then I became an adult. Haven’t much been able to watch one since.
Everyone Loves Raymond, Everyone Hates Chris, and Joanie Loves Chachi. It’s like some kind of horrible word problem from hell.
Ach. I hate nearly every modern sitcom on tv now, and the dramas and hour-long whatchamacallits too. Everybody loves Raymond! Malcom in the Middle! Seinfeld! Will and Grace! The Sopranos! 24! Lost! King of the Hill! I’ll die before I watch Sex in the City or the OC, or any shows like that (I’ve been forced into it a couple times, and loathed every moment). And I just can’t bring myself to like any Law and Order. Just too contrived (I liked Dragnet, though).
The only sitcoms/dramas I liked were from when I was little - the simpsons, the wonder years, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Living Single, Clarissa Explains it All (if you can call that one), My So Called Life and Picket Fences. Six Feet Under, Family guy and Futurama are about the only exceptions I can think of.
I’ll have to admit, though, to watching Friends constantly. But I don’t admire, love or respect the characters. I find speech flubs and ridiculous excuses to be hilarious, I guess that’s why. And I enjoyed Lisa Kudrow’s quirks. The later seasons fall in with all the other shows as horse crap, though.
Cheers (I hate this show, but I love “Frasier”)
Seinfeld
Friends
Everybody Loves Raymond
The Honeymooners
Anything with Lucy in it except I Love Lucy (which I can tolerate)
Green Acres