# Smart Comedies **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted\ **Created:** [September 26, 2022, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-comedies/972239 "2022-09-26T05:30:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-comedies/972239/22 "2022-09-26T16:26:34Z")
It was brought up earlier, but some episodes did rely on misunderstandings. So not a 100% match to the criteria presented in the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-comedies/972239/23 "2022-09-26T16:38:39Z")
Yeah, I meant the first Bob Newhart series that didn’t have that sort of goofiness. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-comedies/972239/24 "2022-09-26T16:45:40Z")
> [@Lancia](#): > > An old British series called _As Time Goes By_ with Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer. Believable, likeable characters, no stupid people (at least, none of the regulars are – quite the opposite, they’re all almost too intelligent for their own good), and plots that are realistic. I remember that one for the hot daughter, or was it the daughter’s friend? But it was also a good show 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-comedies/972239/25 "2022-09-26T16:49:55Z")
_As Time Goes By_ is a perfectly fine show, but it didn’t grab me. Sometimes, I’d really enjoy. Other times it bored me to tears. Another short run show that I loved was _Frank’s Place._ Tim Reid inherits a New Orleans bar from his estranged father. Reid is a Boston professor who ends up keeping the bar and living in New Orleans. Great peripheral characters. Wonderful tone. _Where_’_s_ _Ed_? was a great episode. It had a brief scene at the end that freaked my (very young at the time) niece out. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-comedies/972239/26 "2022-09-26T17:01:25Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > What? Nobody brings up **The Dick Van Dyke Show**? … > [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > My best offering is The Dick Van Dyke Show ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-comedies/972239/27 "2022-09-26T17:01:36Z")
_The Good Place_ does feature possibly the stupidest character in the history of television, so might be eliminated based on the OP. I will second “News Radio”, and propose the Aaron Sorkin comedy “Sports Night”. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-comedies/972239/28 "2022-09-26T17:03:46Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > Hi. I’m Larry and this is my brother Daryl and this is my other brother Daryl. - It just occurred to me that it should have been revealed that the second Daryl spelled his name Daryll. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-comedies/972239/29 "2022-09-26T17:06:14Z")
> [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](#): > > _The Good Place_ does feature possibly the stupidest character in the history of television, so might be eliminated based on the OP. Sure, but he had one of my favorite lines in recent TV history. Defending his suggestion for throwing a Molotov Cocktail to deal with a problem, he said “I’m telling you, Molotov cocktails work. Any time I had a problem, and I threw a Molotov cocktail, boom! Right away, I had a different problem” ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-comedies/972239/30 "2022-09-26T17:38:33Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > I would say that Frasier meets the OPs criteria. I never quite got into Frasier. “Oh it’s so smart!” No, it isn’t. Frasier is a radio psychiatrist. Yes, he’s smart. Niles is … investment? Yes, he’s smart. But the show really was a “fish-out-of-water” show. All of the humor came from snobby Niles and Frasier having to deal with ex-cop Martin and his chair and dog, or language differences with Daphne. I don’t see “smart” in that. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-comedies/972239/31 "2022-09-26T17:46:26Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > Another short run show that I loved was _Frank’s Place._ Tim Reid inherits a New Orleans bar… Speaking of shows starring an actor from an ensamble show… I enjoyed watching the John Larroquette Show, but it’s been eons since I’ve seen it; I think it only lasted two seasons, tops. (hmm. IMDB says 4 seasons. Shows you what I know!) Alcoholic starting a new life in a new city. I distinctly remember John attending AA meetings at a bar. The first one he was at, he asks the bartender what a 1 month coin was worth, and the bartender saying “one beer” or something like that. I have liked him in everything I’ve seen him in, including Stripes. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-comedies/972239/32 "2022-09-26T17:47:27Z")
Third for Newsradio. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-comedies/972239/33 "2022-09-26T17:53:52Z")
> [@Lancia](#): > > An old British series called _As Time Goes By_ with Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer. I will look into that one. > [@What\_Exit](#): > > **Taxi** , Jim is a little over the top but perfect anyway and Latka at times is too much. Great workplace ensemble. > > **The Mary Tyler Moore Show** , Ted Baxter filling the same niche as Herb. 7 year run, great characters other than Ted. I will record a few Taxis- see if they stand up, the MTM show was okay, but not bingeable IMHO. > [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > My best offering is The Dick Van Dyke Show. That was one I had thought of, I will consider it, but mostly B&W, so that is a minus. > [@Chefguy](#): > > “Bob Newhart”, of course. The B&W one is a consideration, but not the one in the ski lodge, which is almost all stupids. > [@dirtball](#): > > Maybe _The Andy Griffith_ show, I watch that from time to time, it is nearly always on. IMHO, not really bingeable. > [@E-DUB](#): > > I would say that Frasier meets the OPs criteria. Good one. > [@Joey\_P](#): > > Along similar lines is Better Off Ted Great show, but only two seasons. 😢 > [@Joey\_P](#): > > I’m not sure if fits the extended criteria, but IMO, one of the smartest (semi-recent) comedies is The Good Place. It does, but I watched that and the memory is too fresh. Most of the Barney Miller, etc episodes I no longer remember any details from. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-comedies/972239/34 "2022-09-26T17:58:23Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > I am tempted to suggest NewsRadio, but I don’t know whether the OP would consider Andy Dick’s character a “stupid character.” Any show with the Dick in it is disqualified, sadly. One asshole ruined a pretty great show. > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I understand what the OP is asking but I don’t know if I would call these shows smart comedies. I feel they’re more like comfortable comedies. They’re shows based around characters the viewers will like. You are also correct. But the characters are not stupid, and they are quite witty. > [@kenobi\_65](#): > > I submit what is still one of my favorite comedies: _Pushing Daisies_. One of the shows, along with _Wonderfalls_, that was canceled far, FAR too soon. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-comedies/972239/35 "2022-09-26T17:59:10Z")
Anyone remember [Remember WENN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remember_WENN)? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-comedies/972239/36 "2022-09-26T18:11:31Z")
One of the best shows ever on television. And probably we’re the only two who do remember it. **30 Rock** was wonderfully smart. Tracy and Jenna may qualify for some as stupid, but they were basically narcissistic and narrow, focused about their own wants and needs. I think **The Larry Sanders Show,** **Murphy Brown,** and **Veep** all meet the criteria. Except for the **Murphy Brown** reboot, which had dumb written all over it with a permanent marker. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-comedies/972239/37 "2022-09-26T18:22:26Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > One of the shows, along with _Wonderfalls_, that was canceled far, FAR too soon. I think I only saw one episode of _Wonderfalls_, but not surprisingly, I definitely agree with you on _Pushing Daisies_. For those not familiar: the series premiered in the fall of 2007, and was getting good ratings, but its season was cut short (after only 9 episodes) due to a lengthy writers’ strike. After the strike was settled, the production team decided to focus on preparing a second season of episodes for the fall of 2008, rather than trying to rush out a few more “season 1” episodes that spring. But, by the time that their second season started, it had been nearly a year since the earlier episodes had aired, and they lost a fair amount of their original audience; as a result, ABC cancelled the show partway through that season. ---
**Author:** ![SDWC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@SDWC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SDWC)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-comedies/972239/38 "2022-09-26T18:41:55Z")
I’d go with Scrubs. ---
**Author:** ![anny\_m](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@anny\_m](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anny_m)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-comedies/972239/39 "2022-09-26T19:38:57Z")
One of our favorites was _Alpha House_ on Prime. It probably doesn’t meet the criteria, though. For one, there were only 2 seasons. And then the main characters were all Republican senators, so there was quite a bit of stupidity. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-comedies/972239/40 "2022-09-26T19:45:46Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > > [@CalMeacham](#): > > > > What? Nobody brings up **The Dick Van Dyke Show**? > > … > > > [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > > > My best offering is The Dick Van Dyke Show I swear that I looked through the thread to see if it was mentioned, and missed that. And using page search doesn’t do any good. I’ll also disagree that it’s disqualified by “misunderstandings”. Even when a misunderstanding is involved it’s not the cheap easily-solved type the OP says is a disqualification (example : Alan Brady gets a memo ordering him to fire some writing staff. It turns out he routinely gets such memos and ignores them. But that’s not a trivial thing you can go asking your notoriously temperamental boss about. Besides, it gave us a wonderful essay with Paul Winchell and his puppet snail. ) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-comedies/972239/41 "2022-09-26T19:48:21Z")
> [@SDWC](#): > > I’d go with Scrubs. I already have the complete series on DVD. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-comedies/972239.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-comedies/972239.md?page=3)