# The Shitcom: An American Tragedy **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 2, 2005, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shitcom-an-american-tragedy/333658 "2005-12-02T01:56:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![anu-la1979](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@anu-la1979](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anu-la1979)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shitcom-an-american-tragedy/333658/61 "2005-12-02T19:46:52Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by **Kalhoun** : And don’t even get me started on black comedies. By black I mean African American. I think they’re degrading stereotypes for the most part. In all fairness, I’ve hated this format for so long that I haven’t actually looked at one lately. If I’m wrong, I hope someone will chime in and correct me. Good Times??? Yes, I know they were groundbreaking in that they addressed issues concerning the black community back in the 70s. But then fercrissakes make it a drama. Because they weren’t funny. Hey now, the Cosby Show was one of my favourite shows growing up and still ranks #2 in my three fave sitcoms ever (Seinfeld and Three’s Company making up 1 and 3 respectively). Clare was a lawyer and Cosby was a doctor. In “Everybody Hates Chris” the family is depicted as not-wealthy but they’re still a stable nuclear family unit with loving (if slightly eccentric) parents who are trying to the best by their kids. ---
**Author:** ![scotandrsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shitcom-an-american-tragedy/333658/62 "2005-12-02T20:03:06Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > FYI…wrong kid. I made the same mistake. Well, dang it if you ain’t right! Terrible misapprehension to saddle the poor kid with. ---
**Author:** ![scotandrsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shitcom-an-american-tragedy/333658/63 "2005-12-02T20:15:39Z")
> [@scotandrsn](#): > > Well, dang it if you ain’t right! > > Terrible misapprehension to saddle the poor kid with. But can you really blame me for mistaking a younger[Angus T. Jones](http://ia.imdb.com/media/imdb/01/I/36/86/12m.jpg) for [Spencer Breslin](http://ia.imdb.com/media/imdb/01/I/71/66/12m.jpg)? ---
**Author:** ![scotandrsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shitcom-an-american-tragedy/333658/64 "2005-12-02T20:17:01Z")
> [@scotandrsn](#): > > But can you really blame me for mistaking a younger[Angus T. Jones](http://ia.imdb.com/media/imdb/01/I/36/86/12m.jpg) for [Spencer Breslin](http://ia.imdb.com/media/imdb/01/I/71/66/12m.jpg)? Whoops! Sorry, image links worked when pasted into the URL field, butnot when posted! ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shitcom-an-american-tragedy/333658/65 "2005-12-02T20:17:57Z")
I have to confess never seeing a full episode of **Mad About You.** I always assumed it was only popular because of its spot on Thursday Nights. I was never that fond of \*\*Seinfeld \*\* or **Friends** **Scottandrsn,** your list has a number of “flagship” shows on it, that draw an audience of their own. They still may suck, but they don’t qualify as “\*hitcoms.” ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shitcom-an-american-tragedy/333658/66 "2005-12-02T20:21:23Z")
> [@scotandrsn](#): > > But can you really blame me for mistaking a younger[Angus T. Jones](http://ia.imdb.com/media/imdb/01/I/36/86/12m.jpg) for [Spencer Breslin](http://ia.imdb.com/media/imdb/01/I/71/66/12m.jpg)? links don’t work please provide better links ---
**Author:** ![scotandrsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shitcom-an-american-tragedy/333658/67 "2005-12-02T20:31:09Z")
> [@anyrose](#): > > links don’t work > please provide better links The images were from their IMDB pages: [Jones](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0427489/) [Breslin](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0107748/) If you didn’t see them right next to each other, you’d never know they were two different kids. ---
**Author:** ![scotandrsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shitcom-an-american-tragedy/333658/68 "2005-12-02T20:48:48Z")
> [@Hello Again](#): > > -If you had to line them up from best to worst (or, if you prefer, from worst to worstiest), how would you rate the Seinfeld-ER Shitcoms? As amazing as it seems, there were only four seasons of Seinfeld-ER shitcoms. From best to worst, I’d have to say: Veronica’s Closet (1997-1998): I actually liked this show alright, and it had some decent writing. The idea of a character who could not figure out that he was gay despite all evidence to the contrary was pulled off quite well, I thought. Caroline in the City (1995-1996): Some good performers here with mediocre concept and writing, but it ranks high because I appeared on it as an extra. Suddenly Susan (1996-1997): Some OK performances and writing, but had to contend with the absolute lack of acting ability or comic timing on the part of Brooke Shields. Madman of the People (1994-1995): Utter dreck. ---
**Author:** ![Bomzaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@Bomzaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bomzaway)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shitcom-an-american-tragedy/333658/69 "2005-12-02T21:22:17Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > If “Blossom” wasn’t a shitcom, then I hope to never see one. I actually liked _Blossom_. She was smart and not terribly pretty (which was oddly refreshing at the time), one brother was a idiot, the other was a recovering drug addict and Dad was a musician. Don’t remember much else, other than her friend Six, but I recall enjoying that show more than not. Ah well, to each his own. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shitcom-an-american-tragedy/333658/70 "2005-12-02T21:26:20Z")
> [@scotandrsn](#): > > But can you really blame me for mistaking a younger[Angus T. Jones](http://ia.imdb.com/media/imdb/01/I/36/86/12m.jpg) for [Spencer Breslin](http://ia.imdb.com/media/imdb/01/I/71/66/12m.jpg)? I love both these kids. They’re naturally cute — not that forced, precocious kinda cute that makes you want to put your foot on their throad. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shitcom-an-american-tragedy/333658/71 "2005-12-02T21:28:21Z")
Throat. Ahem! ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shitcom-an-american-tragedy/333658/72 "2005-12-02T23:01:28Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > You know, I’ve heard many people claim this, but I’ve yet to see any evidence of it. Just another show with cliched sitcom characters going through hackneyed sitcom plots. Horses for courses. Tony Shaloub and Thomas Haden Church alone made the show worth watching. And Crystal Bernard was smoking hot. ---
**Author:** ![soulmurk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@soulmurk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soulmurk)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2005, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shitcom-an-american-tragedy/333658/73 "2005-12-03T01:40:10Z")
> [@scotandrsn](#): > > Mondays: > CBS: > **The King of Queens** : Great, shockingly! I avoided this show for years on the presumption of shitcomhood, but started to get into reruns about two years ago around dinner time in the kitchen. Now it’s must-see in our house. > **How I Met Your Mother** : Great, shockingly! The reputation of the second slot of the hour as a haven for shitcoms is so ingrained that I think the high quality of this show has caught everyone by surprise. > **Two and a Half Men** Great, shockingly! When this show premiered, the presence of Charlie Sheen, Jon Cryer, and that horrible little wretch whose outburst “I grow up to be a complete loser!” in promos for the film “The Kid” destroyed whatever respect I ever had for Bruce Willis spelled shitcom to me from the get-go, but I ended up seeing a couple of episodes on plane rides in the last year and laughed out loud. Charlie Sheen has a decent comic timing, Jon Cryer has finally grown the hell up, and the little wretch, with a couple more years under his belt, has turned into a decent comedic actor for his age, without the grating precociousness normally seen in sitcom kids. > **Out of Practice** :I won’t call it great, but again, given the reputation of the second half hour, it’s surprising that it’s as decent as it is. Admit it, you work for CBS. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shitcom-an-american-tragedy/333658.md?page=3)