Starting Lineups: Greatest Modern TV Comedies

Every now and then, we like to dabble outside of the sports realm. After all, talking about sports 24/7 can be exhausting. Last week, we mixed sports with pleasure by giving you the hottest female athletes out there today. This week, we go back to entertainment world and give you our take on the "Greatest Modern TV Comedies of All-Time". Now, by "modern", we mean TV shows within our age bracket(mid-to-late 80's-to-present day). Gabe made a rule for no variety/sketch shows, meaning Saturday Night Live couldn't make the cut(although I did technically break that rule with one of my picks, but only because I was unaware of said rule prior to making my list). So, here are our respective lists on the best of the crop of funny TV shows in recent memory.



Dave:

9. "Cheers" (1982-1993) - I was never a HUGE fan of "Cheers" and, truth be told, a case can be made for "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" or "How I Met Your Mother" making the final spot ahead of them. It was just hard to leave a comedy that was so good for so long off this list in place of newer shows that aren't as proven. My problem with "Cheers" was that it had a lot of good supporting actors but no real star(depending on how you felt about Ted Danson, who I was never high on or Kelsey Grammar, who became big with "Fraiser", a "Cheers" semi-spinoff that I didn't care for much either.) Woody Harrelson, Shelly Long, John Ratzenberger, George Wendt and Rhea Perlman were all outstanding in their roles and, with the exception of Ratzenberger(who probably became more famous as "Hamm" in the Toy Story movies) and Harrelson(who was a B-list movie actor until his Oscar nom in "The Messenger"), none of them ever went on to do anything more memorable than their roles on the show. So, "Cheers" is here for nostalgia purposes and a kick-ass theme song, but if this list is made a couple years from now, I'd be hard-pressed to put them here again.


8. "The Cosby Show" (1984-1992) - Arguably, the best comedy of the mid-80's. It was the quintessential family comedy. Not just the stereotypical "black family comedy" like Tyler Perry has been making money off of the last decade, "The Cosby Show" transcended race. The main reason for its appeal starts and ends with its leading man: Bill Cosby(one of the five greatest comedians EVER). The supporting cast wasn't too bad either: Malcolm Jamal-Warner, Lisa Bonet, Phylicia Rashad, and the comebacking Keshia Knight-Pullam. The show was less about struggle(like "Good Times" and "What's Happening") and more about the everyday life of a successful family, highlighted by the once-in-a-generation wit and intellect of Cosby.

7. "Seinfeld" (1990-1998) - Along with "ER" and "Friends"(a show you couldn't even bribe me into putting on the list because it's so dreadful), "Seinfeld" is among the best TV shows of the 90's, sitcom or otherwise. Realistically, it should be higher, but I found that the shows that are above them suited my brand of comedy(which is more crass and had more "shock value") moreso than "Seinfeld" did. Still, you can't deny the show's place on this list. It epitimized NBC's "Must See TV" slogan. It made household names out of supporting cast members that went on to spend the better part of this decade destroying their star power(though none more than Michael Richards, who played "Kramer"). Like "The Cosby Show", the main allure of "Seinfeld" is the amazing comedic creativity of its star: Jerry Seinfeld. Now, some find Seinfeld the comic to be among the greatest ever, but I'll gladly be in the minority on that one. Regardless, the appeal of "Seinfeld" is undeniable and, perhaps if I was someone who wanted something that was funny but not as edgy, I would put this show much higher.

6. "Arrested Development" (2003-2006) - People like my wife and Gabe and a few other of my friends are huge fans of "Arrested Development" will campaign for a higher spot. Truth be told, it may be the best comedy to end far too soon. That's why it's down this far on the list. As great as the three seasons of A.D. were, it was only three seasons. Still, the show brought Jason Bateman back from the dead, introduced the world to the hotness of Portia De Rossi and gave us Michael Cera years before "Juno" made him famous. Well-written, quirky, with the right amount of edge. It may very well be the perfect comedy. It just also happened to be short-lived.

5. "Married With Children" (1987-1997) - When it comes to edgy, "Married With Children" pushed the envelope. Back when TV shows were too family-oriented to talk about sex and marital strife and other taboo topics that scared away sponsors, "Married With Children" was unafraid to go there. Led by chavunistic leading man Al Bundy(played excellently by Ed O'Neill), "Married With Children" focused on painting a picture of the misery side to marriage. Rather than try to be cookie-cutter with a cute story about the joys of a happy family, "Married With Children" exposed the shortcomings of a dysfunctional family and saturated audiences with the kind of sophomoric, tawdry humor that hadn't really been seen until then. The success of the show changed the TV sitcoms from "Brady Bunch"-style family shows to something a bit more risque.


4. "South Park" (1997-present) - Picked up almost exactly where "Married With Children" left off and continued to push the envelope of controversy and adult humor. It's impossible to explain the excellence of "South Park" in print. It's extremely well-written by two men who are unafraid to take chances and thunder away at society's sacred cows(religion, sex, sexual orientation, etc.) Along with "The Simpsons", it opened the door for cruder animated comedies like "Family Guy" and became the go-to show for fans looking to see big time Hollywood stars and headlines transformed into racy, comedic satire.



3. "The Simpsons" (1989-present) - Simply put, there'd be no "South Park" without "The Simpsons". It was the quintessential animated family comedy with the stones to cross the lines. "The Simpsons" never crossed the lines that "South Park" crossed, but it still had no problem tearing down anyone from star actors to huge political figures. It has been the show that every actor has wanted to make a guest appearence on and, at the end of the day, how can you argue with a show that has managed to make it to 21 seasons and counting and has been a merchandising juggernaut for two decades?



2. "The Office" (2005-present) - Maybe the idea behind "The Office" was derived from the hit show of the same name on BBC, but there's no questioning the brilliance of the American version. The show owes much of its success to lead man Steve Carell(who expertly plays oblivious, pestering boss Michael Scott) and Rainn Wilson(as ubur-nerd and super-kissass Dwight Shrute). It also features one of the best supporting casts on TV led by America's favorite TV couple Pam(played by unbelievably hot Jenna Fischer) and Jim(played by movie-flop-guarentee John Krasinski). It popularized the phrase "That's What She Said" (a phrase that I overuse and Gabe hates), as well as help originate the title behind the very blog you are reading("Boom. Roasted." was a line from Carell's attempt at roasting his co-workers during one of the better episodes of season four). The show's humor has dwindled recently and who knows what the future holds when Carell steps down after this upcoming season. Regardless, over the past half-decade, there hasn't been a better comedy on television. Period. Bar none. Bottom line....

1. "Chappelle's Show" (2003-2006) - ......mainly because America lost "Chappelle's Show" far too early. I know, I know, "Chappelle's Show" isn't a tradition sitcom and it may go against Gabe's rule of "No Sketch/Variety Shows", but how can you not put this show on the list? For three seasons(two and a half, really), is was the best show on television. It was well-written(by the comedic genius of Chappelle and sidekick/unsung hero Neal Brennan). It was controversial. It was brilliant. It produced more memorable sketches in its short run than the last two decades of SNL. "The Racial Draft", "Samuel Jackson Beer", "True Hollywood Stories: Rick James", "True Hollywood Stories: Prince", "Clayton Bigsby", "The Madd Real World". It was appointment television every week, and if Chappelle never succumbs to the pressure of superstardom and "Chappelle's Show" is still on the air, then it would still be the best show on television. Without question.


Gabe:


9: Z Rock - They're a Brooklyn band. It's rock-n-roll they live....well, I'll let the boys tell it...





The show follows the trials and exploits of Paulie Z, David Z, and Joey C. By night they are a regular, trying to make it, three-piece Brooklyn rock band called Zo2. By day they are a children's party band called The Z Brothers. The show is based on the real story of the real band Zo2, with the guys playing themselves. The show is semi-scripted and in addition to being talented musicians the guys are funny. It features comedians Lynne Koplitz and Jay Oakerson, as their manager and a club owner, respectively, and has a had a litany of guest appearances. They have had a whole list of comics, from Dave Attell and Patrice O'Neal to Joan Rivers, musicians, John Popper, Daryl Hall, Dave Navarro,etc., and other celebrities, Warren Sapp, Chris Jericho, etc. These guests usually, much like the main cast, play exaggerated versions of themselves. For example, Warren Sapp, as himself, filling in on drums for a battle of the bands when Joey C gets injured. The show is on IFC and DVD, and if you can find it, watch it.


8. The Current Wednesday Night Line-up on ABC - Modern Family, Cougar Town, The Middle - I am putting these shows together, and in a low spot, because they are a little new. But they are smart and hilarious. Modern Family is the gem of this group. It's a show about, well, a modern family. Ed O'Neill (well known for Married With Children, not so much for Little Giants) plays a rich older man re-married to a young hot Colombian woman. He lives with her and her son. The show also centers around his daughter, her husband, and their three kids, as well as his son, his son's husband, and their adopted daughter Lily. Each character is unique and the show is funny simply because of the way these characters interact in the situations they find themselves. Cougar Town is about a woman, her son, her ex-husband, and her friends in the neighborhood. It has grown on me because of it's quick wit. The jokes, sometimes subtle, sometimes not (sometimes very much not), come really fast. The Middle is the quirky lead-in to all of this. Centered around a seemingly normal mid-western family, this show is quirky where other shows are edgy. Each character has something, not really a flaw but more of a hang-up, that prevents them from being normal. The comedy is in their interactions and their hang-ups.


7. Scrubs - I put Scrubs on my list because there aren't many shows that have made me laugh out loud like this one. I always found Dr. Cox hilarious and I thought J.D. daydreams were always funny. Scrubs was also emotional and every now and then said something poignant. They also tried and failed at that a few times, but I still give them props for the ambition. I would have had the show higher on my list if it wasn't for the mess they made this last season. They ended the show perfectly. The "final" episode, lets call it J.D.'s final episode, was a perfect end to the show. Then they brought it back with newer characters and a convoluted storyline. Truthfully, I didn't even watch that season, it could still be on the air for all I know. When coming up with this list I considered the shows in their entirety, so Scrubs gets knocked down a few spots for that debacle at the end.


6. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - A show about five people, all of whom (some of whom?) run a bar, which never seems to have any customers. None of the characters really have any redeeming qualities. They are all selfish and immoral. Each episode seems to be another scatter brained idea for them to make money, which usually ends with them back at the bar, yelling at each other, blaming each other for what went wrong. The comedy is crude, but still fresh. The characters are unique and the interactions are really funny. They go beyond the lines of good taste, but instead of being offended, I'm laughing my ass off.


5. The Office - American or British, I don't care, take your pick. The British version only ran for two seasons, which is something the Brits do a lot (more on that later). The American version adapted the British scripts for the first seasons of it's version, but then picked up the ball and ran with it from there. This show is funny because everyone can relate to it. It's genius is in its unique pseudo-documentary style and the dry subtle humor. Most of the jokes aren't big and flashy (although some are), but are usually a few words, or a gesture, or in Jim's case, a look. This is another one that has run a little too long and resorted to the plot tricks....weddings, babies, etc. I take it down a notch or two for that, but the early and middle seasons are simply great.


4. 30 Rock - The premise is simple enough...Tina Fey (former head-writer for an NBC sketch show) play Liz Lemon, the head-writer of an NBC sketch show. The brilliance of this show is in the characters and Tina Fey's outlandish humor. Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy, the self-absorbed unaware executive, Tracy Morgan playing Tracy Jordan, the outrageous self-absorbed star of the show, Jane Krakowski as the self-absorbed (notice a theme) former star trying to hang on. The character interactions are great and so are Fey's little outbursts. The show is at it's best when something weird and seemingly inexplicable is presented and then accepted, usually without explanation, like "Shark Farts" or why Kenneth the page has $40,000 in Confederate currency.


3. Spaced - Another show I'm sure most people reading this have never seen, but it launched the careers of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, better known as the guys from Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. Pegg plays Tim, a struggling comic book artist (works in a comic book shop), who meets a woman named Daisy, a struggling writer (unemployed), in a coffee shop and they pretend to be a couple in order to rent an apartment. Upstairs lives the landlady, a crazy woman always drunk on red wine. Downstairs lives Brian, a weird visual artist, that the landlady has a crush on. The other main characters are Daisy's best friend Twist, who works in fashion (a dry cleaners) and is as master of the back-handed compliment, and Tim's best friend Mike, a gun nut who was kicked out of the territorial army for stealing a tank and trying to invade France. The show is very intelligent and bridges the gap between both the nerdy fan boy world and the cultured art world, much like Pegg himself (which makes sense seeing as how he co-created and co-wrote the show, with Jessica Hynes, the woman who plays Daisy). The John Woo-style gun fight in season two is a perfect example of this. The show ran for only two seasons of seven episodes each. After watching the series it feels like not enough and a perfect little piece of genius, all at the same time.


2. Arrested Development - Dave was right about me having this higher than him, and here it is. To me this show is funny mainly because of the absurdity of the characters, it's self referencing, and the word play. Anyone who has seen the show knows what I mean, loose seal and Lucille, Analrapist, etc. This is another show that some people think ended too soon, but I think it's perfect. This show left fans wanting more. When shows go on too long they have the danger of becoming stale and tired. By ending when it did Arrested Development is going to stay fresh in fans' minds and will be revered for a long time. If this show had run longer I think it could have permeated American culture the way my no. 1 did......


1. Seinfeld - I can hear the boo-birds now. "Boo! It so easy to put Seinfeld at the top. It's cliche." Trust me, I tried really hard and came up with every reason to not put it up here, but I can't. Seinfeld deserves to be at the top for many of the reasons I have gone into with the other entries on this list. But first let's start with what makes Seinfeld different. It's a show about nothing. That's the catchphrase. Really, in being about nothing, it's about everything. By not having a concrete premise, or a gimmick, the show relied on finding humor in everyday occurrences and situations. Who hasn't been frustrated by waiting to be seated at Chinese restaurant? This allowed the show to stay fresh for nine years. They never had to rely on a plot device, like a baby or wedding. The only wedding that almost happened between characters on the show was derailed when George's fiancée died from licking the poisoned invitation envelopes. There has never been a show that permeated and added to the whole of American culture like Seinfeld. Just this week my boss made a "No Soup for You!" reference when walking by a soup restaurant. Shrinkage, yadda yadda yadda, Master of Your Domain, Junior Mints, Little Kicks. They have all stayed in our minds because of this show, and the show ended in 1998. (Granted it's syndication probably has it on the air, somewhere, 24 hours a day, but that's beside the point.) Nine years, never got stale, never stalled, and is still embedded in the American consciousness...that's enough for the top spot in my book.


Bonus: If the list above is my starting line-up, this is my closing pitcher...


The League - Another one that is very new. The show is about a group of guys who are in a fantasy football league together, but it's really about the guys and their relationships and what it's like to be a guy. They are all at different points in their lives, single, married, kids, no kids, and they all are at different income levels, from Andre, the plastic surgeon who has every toy a modern man could want, to Taco a guy who makes his own deodorant and makes money selling ringtones. You don't have to play or even know that much about fantasy football to laugh. The is hilarious and has universal appeal. This show has made a big impact in a short amount of time, kind of like a closing pitcher.