Ohio Chatter
Ohio Chatter

Forums

All Threads Serious Business Sports Politics Archive Pick 'ems
Log In Create Account

Rank your top 5 personal favorite TV shows

Home ▸ Archive ▸ Serious Business ▸ Rank your top 5 personal favorite TV shows
reclegend22's avatar

reclegend22

Cool Hand Luke

8,772 posts
Dec 30, 2012 5:46 PM
There are plenty of shows without laugh tracks that are excellent, and I'd argue much better than Big Bang Theory. The Office, Parks and Rec, Sunny, The League, etc. As I said, though, the Big Bang Theory is produced in a way that allows for ample time for the laugh track to play out, which causes for awkward pauses in dialogue between the actors.
Dec 30, 2012 5:46pm
P

PropJoe

Banned

28 posts
Dec 30, 2012 5:46 PM
Ironman92;1353192 wrote:The NFL wouldn't be very exciting without crowd noise, announcing and many other things.

It's TV.....everything is used to improve the entertainment level.
Best comedies of the last decade
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Arrested Development
Louie
The Office
Parks and Rec
Community
South Park
Early Family Guy
Always Sunny

None have a laugh track. It's an outdated concept that is insulting to the viewer's intelligence. If you like the Big Bang Theory, fine. But this nonsense about how it's smart comedy because it has "nerd humor" is ridiculous. It's a stereotypical CBS comedy targeted at the lowest common denominator. Which to give them credit, is probably why they dominate the ratings.
Dec 30, 2012 5:46pm
reclegend22's avatar

reclegend22

Cool Hand Luke

8,772 posts
Dec 30, 2012 5:54 PM
PropJoe;1353222 wrote:Best comedies of the last decade
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Arrested Development
Louie
The Office
Parks and Rec
Community
South Park
Early Family Guy
Always Sunny

None have a laugh track. It's an outdated concept that is insulting to the viewer's intelligence. If you like the Big Bang Theory, fine. But this nonsense about how it's smart comedy because it has "nerd humor" is ridiculous. It's a stereotypical CBS comedy targeted at the lowest common denominator. Which to give them credit, is probably why they dominate the ratings.
The more I think about it, the more I really agree with you. It's OK that all the '90s sitcoms had laugh tracks, such as Seinfeld, which is one of my all-time favorite shows, but that's because that's just how sitcoms were filmed in those days. So I can look past that. Great points, Joe. While I have watched Big Bang Theory from time to time, it's never a show that I have watched in prime time, only via reruns, and have never viewed the seasons as purchasable. I think your points explain why I've never felt that way perfectly.
Dec 30, 2012 5:54pm
G

gut

Senior Member

15,058 posts
Dec 30, 2012 6:01 PM
I personally never found the Office very funny. The episodes I liked usually got ripped on here. That ridiculously awkward over-acting has just never appealed to me.

And you guys are making too much out of the laughtrack. Shows are written to incorporate that, as has been pointed out. Plenty of shows with laughtracks aren't remotely funny. You can't have your punchlines trampled by laughter and have the audience miss half the jokes.
Dec 30, 2012 6:01pm
P

PropJoe

Banned

28 posts
Dec 30, 2012 6:06 PM
Dec 30, 2012 6:06pm
Ironman92's avatar

Ironman92

Administrator

49,363 posts
Dec 30, 2012 6:49 PM
PropJoe;1353222 wrote:Best comedies of the last decade
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Arrested Development
Louie
The Office
Parks and Rec
Community
South Park
Early Family Guy
Always Sunny

None have a laugh track. It's an outdated concept that is insulting to the viewer's intelligence. If you like the Big Bang Theory, fine. But this nonsense about how it's smart comedy because it has "nerd humor" is ridiculous. It's a stereotypical CBS comedy targeted at the lowest common denominator. Which to give them credit, is probably why they dominate the ratings.

Oh goodie....another 34 ACT guy. Thanks for your opinion on the ten best comedies. Thanks for letting me know what is funny and that since I think BBT is funny I must be a decent bit of an idiot.
Dec 30, 2012 6:49pm
G

gut

Senior Member

15,058 posts
Dec 30, 2012 7:39 PM
Ironman92;1353270 wrote:Oh goodie....another 34 ACT guy. Thanks for your opinion on the ten best comedies. Thanks for letting me know what is funny and that since I think BBT is funny I must be a decent bit of an idiot.
One can't be a fan of The Office and talk trash. It's purely Naked Gun-style slap stick, and not nearly as funny.
Dec 30, 2012 7:39pm
V

vball10set

paying it forward

24,795 posts
Dec 30, 2012 8:01 PM
reclegend22;1352860 wrote:While I didn't list Big Bang Theory, it is a great show, for all the reasons listed above. The humor is very smart. It's definitely not your typical show, many of which are targeted at the least common denominator, as ccrunner pointed out earlier. Big Bang Theory is great in my view for the same reasons that Dawson's Creek and House, M.D. were. It's clever and makes you think.
reclegend22;1353225 wrote:While I have watched Big Bang Theory from time to time, it's never a show that I have watched in prime time, only via reruns, and have never viewed the seasons as purchasable. I think your points explain why I've never felt that way perfectly.
Lol.
Dec 30, 2012 8:01pm
Ironman92's avatar

Ironman92

Administrator

49,363 posts
Dec 30, 2012 8:30 PM
I don't know how can anyone can say one show it funnier than any other....it's ridiculously subjective. People are different. I would guess those of you on here that are 22-26 think a lot differently on humor than those in the 35+ range.

I though the Cosby show was funny growing up but have never watched a rerun and never will.

I prefer dumb funny. Dumb and Dumber for me over Napoleon Dynamite. A good Tex Avery cartoon over South Park.
Dec 30, 2012 8:30pm
SportsAndLady's avatar

SportsAndLady

Senior Member

35,632 posts
Dec 30, 2012 8:47 PM
Terry_Tate;1352607 wrote:Just bought season 1 of The Wire. Going to start it tonight.
How far did you get?

Prepare to be hooked..Season 2 is GOAT.
Dec 30, 2012 8:47pm
karen lotz's avatar

karen lotz

TuTu Train

22,284 posts
Dec 30, 2012 8:52 PM
I downloaded all 5 seasons a few weeks ago and am midway through season 3 now. Really good.
Dec 30, 2012 8:52pm
reclegend22's avatar

reclegend22

Cool Hand Luke

8,772 posts
Dec 30, 2012 8:54 PM
vball10set;1353369 wrote:Lol.
Lol. Legitimately. I laughed after reading my quotes back to back.
Dec 30, 2012 8:54pm
Terry_Tate's avatar

Terry_Tate

Senior Member

7,606 posts
Dec 30, 2012 8:57 PM
SportsAndLady;1353411 wrote:How far did you get?

Prepare to be hooked..Season 2 is GOAT.

Episode 5 right now. Really good so far, took awhile to get used to seeing Julius from Remember The Titans play a drug dealer, lol.
Dec 30, 2012 8:57pm
TedSheckler's avatar

TedSheckler

Emporium Entrepreneur

3,974 posts
Dec 30, 2012 11:36 PM
Terry_Tate;1353422 wrote:Episode 5 right now. Really good so far, took awhile to get used to seeing Julius from Remember The Titans play a drug dealer, lol.
So you've seen the famous scene in S01E04. "The f*ck scene".
Dec 30, 2012 11:36pm
Terry_Tate's avatar

Terry_Tate

Senior Member

7,606 posts
Dec 31, 2012 12:11 AM
TedSheckler;1353624 wrote:So you've seen the famous scene in S01E04. "The f*ck scene".

Haha, yeah, I was thinking "Man that's a lot of fucks, seems like a little too much."
Dec 31, 2012 12:11am
M

Manhattan Buckeye

Senior Member

7,566 posts
Dec 31, 2012 12:45 AM
SportsAndLady;1353411 wrote:How far did you get?

Prepare to be hooked..Season 2 is GOAT.
Seasons 2-4 are GOAT. They are probably the best 3 seasons of any TV.

Re The Office and slapstick, that is definitely true in the last 4 or 5 seasons but in the first 3 the humor was very subtle and not a laugh out loud type - just very smart and very touching. "Casino Night" isn't just my favorite Office episode, it might be the best "sitcom" episode of all time and there is no slapstick.

Would like to put adult animated comedies here - I loved the Simpsons, Futurama, Family Guy, King of the Hill, South Park in their heyday, but it seems like they always overstay their welcome, and in the Simpsons case have overstayed if for over a decade.
Dec 31, 2012 12:45am
G

gut

Senior Member

15,058 posts
Dec 31, 2012 1:01 AM
For me I think it was Seasons 1-3 for the Wire. But that whole dock workers thing really kinda sucked. But Stringer Bell might be the most complex and interesting character in TV history.
Dec 31, 2012 1:01am
Commander of Awesome's avatar

Commander of Awesome

Senior Pwner

23,151 posts
Dec 31, 2012 2:48 AM
Big Bang Theory sucks. Hope this helps and settles the debate once and and for all.
Dec 31, 2012 2:48am
believer's avatar

believer

Senior Member

8,153 posts
Dec 31, 2012 6:43 AM
I'd agree with the laugh track opinions. However, don't forget that some of the better sitcoms were filmed before live audiences such as Everybody Loves Raymond and Cheers.
Dec 31, 2012 6:43am
Ironman92's avatar

Ironman92

Administrator

49,363 posts
Dec 31, 2012 9:47 AM
Everybody Loves Raymond had the longest drawn out laughter pauses in television history.......it had some moments but wasn't for me.
Dec 31, 2012 9:47am
BORIStheCrusher's avatar

BORIStheCrusher

drunk

1,893 posts
Dec 31, 2012 11:55 AM
Manhattan Buckeye;1353669 wrote:Seasons 2-4 are GOAT. They are probably the best 3 seasons of any TV.
Agreed. I'm rewatching the series for the 5th time and just finished season two a few minutes ago; it gets better every time.
Dec 31, 2012 11:55am
Ty Webb's avatar

Ty Webb

Senior Member

2,798 posts
Dec 31, 2012 12:00 PM
1.Seinfield
2.OZ
3.Friday Night Lights
4.Sons of Anarchy
5.Two-A-Days
Dec 31, 2012 12:00pm
T

thavoice

Senior Member

14,376 posts
Dec 31, 2012 12:57 PM
In no order the series I enjoyed the most:

The Shield.
Married With Children.
The Simpsons.
Law and Order..regule and SVU. CI sucks.

That is all I can think of right now.....
Dec 31, 2012 12:57pm
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

GOAT

29,506 posts
Jan 3, 2013 10:36 PM
Since they are two COMPLETELY different categories:

Comedies
1. Seinfeld
2. Simpsons
3. Curb Your Enthusiasm
4. That 70s Show
5. Boy Meets World

Drama/Other:
1. Breaking Bad (Season 4 is perfection. Greatest Season of TV I have ever seen)
2. The Wire
3. Dexter
4. The Sopranos
5. Sons of Anarchy (Justified might be here/tied after Season 4. Love that show)


A few shows are too young for me to put in here. Game of Thrones, Boardwalk, Justified and The League come to mind. I need to see more then 3 Seasons before its labeled as a GOAT show. Too many have started off strong and faltered big time to list a show too early in its career.
Jan 3, 2013 10:36pm
hangonsloopy's avatar

hangonsloopy

Senior Member

1,291 posts
Jan 4, 2013 9:33 AM
1. Friends
2. Cosby
3. Boy Meets World
4. HIMYM
5. Parks and Rec
Jan 4, 2013 9:33am