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drealmer7: I watched 8 episodes of Arrested Development and thought it was one of the worst things I'd ever seen.
I really hate you. :P
I REALLY. REALLY HATE YOU. NO REALLY. :P
Now, for something useful: Arrested Development is the BEST sitcom EVER period.
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DaCostaBR: Really? I'm a physicist too. Granted I haven't started my Masters yet. I have seen my fair share of douchebags, even a couple of weirdos, but no cliched nerds or autistic persons.
Too many physicists on this forum. I am one as well. And I haven't come across a nerd or Sheldon-clone either. Ever. In fact, if anything, physicists are kinda wild.
Post edited July 05, 2016 by sunshinecorp
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DaCostaBR: Really? I'm a physicist too. Granted I haven't started my Masters yet. I have seen my fair share of douchebags, even a couple of weirdos, but no cliched nerds or autistic persons.
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sunshinecorp: Too many physicists on this forum. I am one as well. And I haven't come across a nerd or Sheldon-clone either. Ever. In fact, if anything, physicists are kinda wild.
I know! When I say "weirdo", I mean like the guy with the highest grades on my class, who never watched movies, or TV, or played games, etc. He spent all his free time studying, going on facebook, or reading really strange pseudo-spiritual stuff about Atlantis. He'd go on about how the people of Atlantis were made of energy, or spiritual stuff like Reiki. His biggest dream in life was to become a Yoga instructor.

So he was weird, but on the complete opposite end of the spectrum from people with autism or Asperger's.
The Simpsons had some great seasons, especially that one before the movie came out. Many episode had different stories to tell, it was like they tried to press as much in the short air time they could. After the movie I honestly lost any interest, because they moved back to an easier storytelling. Also the first seasons feel really dated today, for me not watchable anymore. Personally I prefer Futurama, but there is also the same story. Great episodes, but also some boring stuff, for me especially the dvd movies. I'm still sad they not renewed the series again, because some of the last episodes were really great.

The Big Bang Story was also great at the beginning. But with success the focus moved from fresh and special to more mainstream humour. Some folks say it has become the new Friends and I agree with that. I stopped watching the series maybe two seasons ago. Let see how long the cash cow can graze on the field before it's time for the butcher.

So what's great today? I would say South Park has become really good. I hated it at the beginning because of it's main focus of more lavatorial humour. But over time it has become really sarcastic with great black humour. I also liked IT Crowd - well done british humour with something new. And they stopped at the right time before it has become stale. And I also liked Becker, also something special for it's time.
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DaCostaBR: I know! When I say "weirdo", I mean like the guy with the highest grades on my class, who never watched movies, or TV, or played games, etc. He spent all his free time studying, going on facebook, or reading really strange pseudo-spiritual stuff about Atlantis. He'd go on about how the people of Atlantis were made of energy, or spiritual stuff like Reiki. His biggest dream in life was to become a Yoga instructor.

So he was weird, but on the complete opposite end of the spectrum from people with autism or Asperger's.
Yup. Drug laden weird. That's what describes most of us. And without having to take drugs either. It's super-weird.
Worst : I have to agree with TBBT, but that's not completely black. I actually really enjoyed the earlier seasons ( but clearly not all characters, and definitely not the archetypal summary it makes of geek culture). I can't really tell how many seasons I just couldn't watch in the end ; I just know I rank it the worst because it has the biggest loss of quality over time of everything I know, as far as I watched.

Best : Yes to IT Crowd. Pure genius in the weirdest way possible.
Best -

Bottom - the late, great Rik Mayall and Ade Edmondson take the anarchic humour of the Young Ones and turn it up to 11 for a more grownup audience.

Black Adder - after a so-so first series this show really took off in the second series as one of the most consistently funny sitcoms of all time. It also has one of the most poignant last episodes that TV has delivered to date.


Worst -

New Girl/ How I Met Your Mother/ The Goldbergs - the Americans turn out some great shows, they are also responsible for some utter dross like these three. Don't think they have made me laugh once between them.
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sunshinecorp: Now, for something useful: Arrested Development is the BEST sitcom EVER period.
Amen!

If you haven't already I highly recommend that you check out Hurwitz' latest show (created in collaboration with Pam Brady and Maria Bamford) Lady Dynamite on Netflix! It's chock-full of his trademark humour. :)
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Lemon_Curry: Amen!

If you haven't already I highly recommend that you check out Hurwitz' latest show (created in collaboration with Pam Brady and Maria Bamford) Lady Dynamite on Netflix! It's chock-full of his trademark humour. :)
I hadn't heard of that, so thanks. Going to check it out for sure!
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ciomalau: what is a sitcom?
This one.
No german/italian ass kissing (no need to) in here but this is surely a truly enjoyable tv show.

I, I... (*speaking like an old pop*), well I think humour is often a personal, cultural and social thing.
Honestly I (being a little dense in here) never even giggled when I saw a couple of episodes from series such as Seinfeld, TBBT, Friends*, Will & Grace, Frasier, Modern Family and the list goes on, and on, and on... and on... and on... ;P

Trailer Park Boys, on the other hand... now that's funny. Well, you guys bring your sticks and torches and I'm out! :P

* my god that's the worst one. Hated these folks way more than that Winnie Cooper girl aka "here, lemme crack your skull open, Winnie"
Post edited July 05, 2016 by vicklemos
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DaCostaBR: I was thinking of how hard it seems to be finding an actually funny sitcom, which gave me the idea to trade recommendations and warnings to stay away from in a thread.

Best - It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: It's been going on for 11 seasons and it's still funny. It really shows how to make a good comedy you don't need relatable characters, or a decent budget, you just need funny jokes, and this show about four sociopaths in bar has that in spades.

Worst - The Big Bang Theory: I could complain of its portrayal of nerd culture, but if I'm going to be perfectly honest, if I actually found it funny none of that would bother me. That's its biggest crime, it's not funny. I don't want to be too harsh on it, I think a show like this always exists. A show that's generic, safe, full of laugh tracks, not very funny, yet is the most popular thing on TV. Now that's TBBT, 10 years ago it was Two and a Half Man, 10 years before that it was Friends (I know Friends has a lot of fans, and I fully expect people to list it here under best sitcoms, but personally I'm not a fan). I guess the biggest crime for me is for a show to be mediocre.
When I saw this thread I was going to mention Big Bang Theory, because it's the first title in my mind that is for some inexplicable reason adored, despite being a bit crap. Like you say, it simply isn't funny. Oh, and have you seen some of those videos where the limitless canned laughter is removed? Embarrassing stuff, it really is. Two and a half Idiots is crap too. I really don't understand how people can find this garbage funny.

Friends I actually liked at the time, it was genuinely funny. But when it comes to great sitcoms, I think it's hard to top Seinfeld. Probably hasn't aged great as there are some jokes and such about contemporary people, but it's still brilliant.

I liked How I met your mother in the beginning, but as the seasons passed by, it got increasingly cringey and annoying. Barney was the one light spot, but when they even messed him up... good grief, and good bye. Should have ended it sooner.
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vicklemos: Much like this typical suburban afrikaans family, eh? :P
Kiddin' pal, don't kill me man!
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Matewis: :) those guys are weeeeird...
Still, their music is miles ahead of most afrikaans pop music, like this crap.
I know only one afrikaans pop song which is, of course, Bok Van Blerk - De La Rey.
I mean, quite a polemic one, I know ;P
Maybe I liked the British "The Office", and "Seinfeld", the best.

Worst... I dunno, there are so many mehs, ever worse than The Big Bang Theory, which is pretty meh I admit but I am sure I've seen even worse sitcoms.
In my experience people either love Seinfeld and hate Friends or love Friends and hate Seinfeld. If anyone here loves both of them I'd really like to hear from you.