# "We Three Queens of Sitcoms Are" **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 10, 2000, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-three-queens-of-sitcoms-are/36436 "2000-10-10T17:57:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2000, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-three-queens-of-sitcoms-are/36436/21 "2000-10-11T14:15:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dinsdale \* > \*\*(Sarah Michelle is kinda starting to show her age, tho.) \*\* And that is like what, all of 20? ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2000, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-three-queens-of-sitcoms-are/36436/22 "2000-10-11T15:14:46Z")
I’d love to be able to weigh in, here, but unfortunately I only watch PBS, and last night I was busy re-reading Proust. Geena Davis. She was good in _Buffalo Bill,_ wasn’t she? ---
**Author:** ![Jester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jester/32/8223_2.png) [@Jester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jester)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2000, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-three-queens-of-sitcoms-are/36436/23 "2000-10-11T15:37:09Z")
Well, I didn’t see Geena’s show, but I felt her pain through all of the stuff I’ve been hearing about it. My only question is, why “most unfunny thing ever”? Didn’t anybody watch the “Mike O’ Malley Show” last season? God, I still have nightmares about that one. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2000, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-three-queens-of-sitcoms-are/36436/24 "2000-10-11T15:49:55Z")
Well, there was one almost mildly amusing moment when Geena reaches behind the fridge and finds an old Peep for breakfast. Then everything went hideously unfunny again as the lisping little girl, the pompous housekeeper and the oversexed teen resurfaced. There WAS that one Peep moment, though . . . I was surprised that the NY Times this morning nearly gave thumbs-up to Bette’s and Christine’s shows tonight. Oh, yeah, Ike, that must’ve been PBS that ran the Power Puff Girls marathon last month. Back to your lard, young man! ---
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2000, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-three-queens-of-sitcoms-are/36436/25 "2000-10-11T15:57:51Z")
Local review: “A Sure ‘Bette’: Midler’s Zest Is A Winner For CBS” ‘She gladly lends her life to the season’s funniest new sitcom by playing a neurotic version of herself.’ \*\*\*\* (out of 5) The reviewer’s pretty positive about Bette, but calls the rest of the cast ‘bland’. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2000, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-three-queens-of-sitcoms-are/36436/26 "2000-10-11T16:12:12Z")
I didn’t know that DC Comics did a version of “Rememberance of Things Past.” ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2000, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-three-queens-of-sitcoms-are/36436/27 "2000-10-11T16:27:46Z")
xizor, (sigh) yep. It’s all down hill from here! All I can say is, thank G\*d they decided to bring in Buffy’s younger sister this season instead of relying upon the Golden Girls. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2000, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-three-queens-of-sitcoms-are/36436/28 "2000-10-11T16:32:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eve \* > **Oh, yeah, Ike, that must’ve been PBS that ran the Power Puff Girls marathon last month.** Hey! That was \*sociological research! ---
**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2000, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-three-queens-of-sitcoms-are/36436/29 "2000-10-11T20:40:37Z")
I don’t plan on watching any of their shows, 'cause I don’t have any control of the remote (hubby is king of the remote.) I probably wouldn’t watch Geena or Bette, though, 'cause I just don’t like them. I do, however, LOVE Christine Baranski. Please tell me her show doesn’t suck. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2000, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-three-queens-of-sitcoms-are/36436/30 "2000-10-11T21:13:48Z")
\ > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TroubleAgain \* > \*\*I don’t plan on watching any of their shows, 'cause I don’t have any control of the remote (hubby is king of the remote.) I probably wouldn’t watch Geena or Bette, though, 'cause I just don’t like them. I do, however, LOVE Christine Baranski. Please tell me her show doesn’t suck. \*\* I feel your pain. Men suck. Sometimes. Mine calls “Lifetime” - The Lesbian Channel. I \*like[/] those wife-beater movies where the guy finally gets de-balled… or something. \ \ ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-three-queens-of-sitcoms-are/36436/31 "2000-10-12T13:48:51Z")
Well, Bette Midler’s show did have one or two amusing moments, but was pretty scattershot. Poor Christine Baranski, though. She and Geena Davis should pool their salaries and put a hit on their agents. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-three-queens-of-sitcoms-are/36436/32 "2000-10-12T13:54:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TroubleAgain \* > \*\*I do, however, LOVE Christine Baranski. Please tell me her show doesn’t suck. \*\* ok , but it would be a lie. Bette’s was, um. ok for a skit on some other show. not sure it can sustain interest for any length of time. I keep on hearing a David Letterman voice saying “and wackiness ensued”. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-three-queens-of-sitcoms-are/36436/33 "2000-10-12T14:21:19Z")
Sadly, wackiness did NOT ensue. Unless you count the Goofus & Gallant Debate right afterward. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-three-queens-of-sitcoms-are/36436/34 "2000-10-12T14:21:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by wring \* > \*\* ow… Can’t you almost see the special “Thanksgiving” one, where she promises to go to the little girls class party and has trouble roasting the turkey? \*\* I don’t think Geena’s show will last that long. It was pretty bad. Maybe we’ll get a Halloween episode where she takes the kids trick-or-treating and gets the little girl mixed up with another little girl in the same costume. Bette Midler’s show was pretty good, but the age/plastic surgery/gay jokes will wear pretty thin rather quickly. The guy on Christine Baranski’s show did some really bad, really annoying Maryland Lottery commercials here and I just couldn’t get past that. “Oh, geez, it’s that annoying guy from the lottery commercials!” :click: Gotta remember to set the VCR for “Will & Grace” and “ER” tonight! ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-three-queens-of-sitcoms-are/36436/35 "2000-10-12T14:32:19Z")
I watched both premieres last night… I can only hope that the characters will be allowed to become less cartoonish and more human now that their roles have been defined. Has there ever been a pilot featuring more or less normal acting characters? I have no problem with wacky, contrived situations - it’s TV after all - but do all of the participants have to be gross caricatures?? ---
**Author:** ![stofsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dfb087/32.png) [@stofsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stofsky)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-three-queens-of-sitcoms-are/36436/36 "2000-10-12T14:33:28Z")
Watched 'em both. Wish I hadn’t. Bette Midler must have spent her entire salary on dental floss to remove the pieces of the scenery she chewed. I almost turned it off after that horrible first scene. In this week’s NYT Sunday mag the writer mentions that Bette wants to be Lucy-esque. Unfortunately, Bette ain’t Lucy (nobody is–that’d be like recasting the Stooges, or making John Goodman a Blues Brother or something) and it shows. As for the New York thing, well, can’t Baranski play any other character than the drunk bitch from Cybill? ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-three-queens-of-sitcoms-are/36436/37 "2000-10-12T19:22:01Z")
Anyone else get the impression that Bette was acting as though she were on stage, rather than on television? Over-loud voice, wildly exaggerated gestures (so they can still see you way in the back row)… Nothing about the show impressed me at all, but there were plenty of moments that made me feel sorry for Bette. A fish lying on the floor gasping for oxygen would hardly look more out of its element. I give it six weeks, absolute max. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-three-queens-of-sitcoms-are/36436/38 "2000-10-12T19:27:53Z")
You’re right, Bette is just WRONG for TV. Can you imagine Ethel Merman in a sitcom? Or Carol Channing? It was a bad idea from the get-go. Remember a few years back when Bette was so wonderful in “Gypsy?” I thought that was a success and she was going to do a B’way show every couple of years on TV—she’d be wonderful in “Mame,” “Call Me Madam,” “Hello, Dolly.” Whatever became of that? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-three-queens-of-sitcoms-are/36436.md?page=1)