King of Queens was funny.
If you want traditional sitcoms, hit up the Disney Channel. “Good Luck Charlie” is probably the best early 90’s ABC era sitcom currently on TV.
Leigh-Allyn Baker is extremely hilarious as the Mother and should be on primetime TV. The whole cast has charm as well and the baby “Charlie” is growing up in the same vein as the Olsen-twins.
I saw my first episodes of BBT the other day, and while the superficial nerdity was nothing unexpected, it wasn’t what aroused my hatred. That came from everyone deciding that the way to play a nerd is to do an obnoxious, affected nasal tone with their voice. I’ve heard good things about Parsons for a long time, but he was as awful as anyone. The accolades baffle me.
Check out Better Off Ted, which I think is available on Netflix. Only lasted one season, but had some really funny moments.
Dunno if it helps, but that’s pretty much how Parsons actually talks, allowing for some slight exaggeration as Sheldon (if anything he sounds more uptight in character, not more nasal). As for the others, Helberg on the show usually goes with more of a failed “heyyy, how you doin’” sexxay basso (I actually remember him sounding nerdier as Moist), Nayyar speaks more or less like the New Delhi-raised guy he is, and Galecki has never had what you’d call a booming voice but admittedly tweaks it a little. Bawwy Kwipke, on the other hand…
Better Off Ted was everything bright and wonderful (and died far too soon), but it wasn’t what I’d call a traditional sitcom in the sense that others are talking about (single camera, no laugh track/audience). Still, I nod in happy assent to anybody attempting in any context to get that show more love.
10 Items or Less. A sitcom set in a grocery store, it only lasted a few seasons and maybe 3 people watched it. Not exactly an unmissable classic or anything, but it had a real “take nothing seriously” charm about it, and before Conan came along it was pretty much the only show that actually delivered on that TBS: Very Funny slogan. Mostly thanks to star John Lehr, a really gifted comic performer who will probably always be best known as one of the Geico cavemen but deserves much better.
also, this guy:
Fox’s 2006/2007 sitcom The Loop was far better & smarter than one might expect. Philip Baker Hall absolutely kills it as an eccentric, no BS exec. It’s quite a bit like Better Off Ted but it’s far more successful in it’s concept & execution.
I’m pretty sure the entire series is up on Hulu.
The IT Crowd. It’s like Big Bang Theory and The Office got drunk and had a pimply, awkward, but self-deprecating lovechild.
It’s also on Instant.
Big Bang Theory and the American Office have never had anything as gloriously funny as Matt Berry on The IT Crowd.
So true it hurts.
The IT Crowd is essential viewing. It is genius.
See, I’m not even watching that clip, I’m cracking up just from that image.
Or Richard Ayoade.
Hell, everyone on the show is aces. And I have a somewhat unhealthy crush on Katherine Parkinson.
Sweet Lord, YES. She’s like Christina Hendricks’ attainable sister.
I’d probably even rank IT Crowd next to Arrested Development. It’s that good.
We’ve also gotta give some love to Richmond, the office’s perpetual downer.
I’ve been a big fan of The Big Bang Theory since last year. I have to agree though, the addition of 2 other girls to give Kaley Cuoco her own “clique” was a smart move. Sometimes they are much funnier than the guys.
I was with That 70’s Show all the way to it’s end, and there are a few bright spots in the last season. I was going to pick up the complete series box set some time ago, but now I’ve read that it’s going to be put out on Blu-ray, so I’ll just wait for that.
Newsradio was pretty hilarious back in the day as well. That one episode where Bill is addicted to those old sandwiches from the vending machine was probably my favorite episode.
The first season of 8 Simple Rules For Dating My Teenage Daughter was brilliant, but mostly just because of John Ritter. Pretty sure if he wouldn’t have died, the series would have been much better. It was admirable of them to try to continue it without him, but of course it was missing that charm that only he brought.
It’s the accent that really does it. That slight lisp. Yeah.
I pretty much just ducked in and out of the last season, but I watched the last 3 episodes to the end. It may have been the very last one, I’m not sure, but the scene near the end of Kitty showing off the house and slowly, unhumorously breaking down was almost worth the 20-something episodes of asinine that preceded.