IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS: Dying Is Easy...Comedy Is Hard

With the new Fall Season looming, I of course have various thoughts on the new crop of shows the major networks are offering the public.  Some of the Dramas look interesting (Elementary, Last Resort, Nashville), some of them look ho-hum (The Mob Doctor, half of The CW's new shows), others are more in the middle (Revolution, Vegas, Chicago Fire) and others look downright awful (666 Park Avenue, Made In Jersey, the other half of the The CW's new shows).

But the real issue I'm having trouble with this Fall is the new batch of Sitcoms four of the major networks are giving us.  Let's face it: the Sitcom is dying.  While shows like Modern Family, Parks and Recreation and The Big Bang Theory are trying their hardest to save the art form from its life support status, cable shows and network "dramedies" are definitely changing the face of TV Comedy.  Which is why it saddens me that with 9 new Sitcoms premiering on Broadcast TV this Fall, only about a third of them look like they have the potential to be the next 30 Rock (which is sadly saying "Goodbye" to us after this year!).  And believe me when I just say "have the potential."  Based on what I've seen, even the ones that can be called "Good" have a long way to go before they reach the status Tina Fey's gem has.  So today, I want to take you through the 9 new Sitcoms and give you my first impressions of them based on their trailers, network promotions and (in some cases) their first episodes (5 of the new Comedies have their pilots available on Hulu.com and I will let you know which ones!).

Let's start with CBS!
Partners
Premieres: September 24
Regular Time Slot: Mondays at 8:30 PM
Premise: Two friends/business partners, one straight and the other gay, are closer with each other than with their significant others (in other words, a bro-mance!).
Impressions: If this seems like familiar territory for a Sitcom, it certainly is for its creators: Dave Kohan and Max Mutchnick, the minds behind Will & Grace (who have had a close friendship ever since they wrote for Seinfeld and Friends).  The cast seems likable: Numb3rs' David Krumholtz and Ugly Betty's Michael Urie play the best buds; while One Tree Hill's Sophia Bush and Superman Returns star Brandon Routh play their respective significant others.  And it seems like it will fit in with CBS' other hits like The Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother and last year's break-out 2 Broke Girls.  Yet there is something about this show that just seems like "Been there, done that."  It is basically Will & Grace, where "Grace" has been changed to "Greg."  It could pass for decent, however it could really tank.  It's on a delicate precipice.
Grade: B-/C+

That's it for CBS' new Sitcom (yes they only have one new Sitcom!). Let's move on to ABC!
The Neighbors
Premieres: September 26
Regular Time Slot: Wednesdays at 8:30 PM
Premise: A typical suburban family is thrown for a loop when they realize their seemingly nice new neighbors are space aliens.
Impressions: This just looks horrible.  It looks like a bad version of a bad 1980s Sitcom (like a bad version of ALF, which is odd because I always thought ALF was the bad version of ALF!).  It even stars Square Pegs' Jami Gertz!  Maybe this IS a bad 1980s Sitcom!  Wait a minute...has Disney finally perfected Time Travel?!?!  It certainly seems that way!
Grade: D

Malibu Country
Premieres: November 2
Regular Time Slot: Fridays at 8:30 PM
Premise: Country superstar Reba McEntire plays a country singer who, after a divorce, moves her family from Nashville to Southern California (and the SPOILER is her character's name: Reba!).
Impressions: As much as I like Reba McEntire and her forays into "acting" (her turn on Broadway as Annie Oakley earned her well-deserved raves!), she never seems to be able to play any character that isn't a variation of herself.  And while I found her previous Sitcom quite charming (it's becoming more and more popular in Cable syndication!), this one should just be titled Reba in L.A. or Reba Takes On Hollywood or some variation that involves Reba and the Greater Los Angeles area.  We'll have to wait until November to see if this show can survive.  On a side note: It is always great to see the brilliant Lily Tomlin.  And Sara Rue and Jai Rodriguez are each charming enough to get some laughs and attention.  I will say Reba has an eye for getting good co-stars (more on that later!).
Grade: C

From the House of Mouse to the House that Rupert built, next up is FOX!
Ben and Kate
Premieres: September 25
Regular Time Slot: Tuesdays at 8:30 PM
Premise: The title characters are brother and sister.  They have a bond that no one (including their quirky behavior) can break.
Impressions: Initially, when I saw the trailers back in May, this was the show I wanted to root for and wanted to like.  It's trailer isn't overwhelmingly impressive, but its premise is the most intriguing.  I have yet to watch the full pilot, but I have seen plenty of clips.  And overall, it seems like the show will ultimately be Kate (the extremely likable Dakota Johnson) meeting wrong guy after wrong guy week after week; while her clownish, irresponsible brother Ben (a somewhat hilarious Nate Faxon) ineptly tries to care for her wise-beyond-her-years young daughter (We Bought a Zoo's adorable Maggie Elizabeth Jones).  I have hopes, but they could easily be dashed.  Airing between FOX hits Raising Hope and New Girl certainly couldn't hurt!
Grade: B-

The Mindy Project
Premieres: September 25
Regular Time Slot: Tuesdays at 9:30 PM
Premise: The Office supporting player Mindy Kaling steps into the spotlight as a top doctor whose love life needs the kind of work she puts into her career.
Impressions: Of all the new Sitcoms, this is the ones the critics say to watch.  I have seen half of the pilot and she certainly is a star.  Yet I am getting this strange "Déjà vu" feeling.  It feels like when they offered her this Sitcom, they told her they wanted to see her as a Meg Ryan-ish Ally McBeal type.  And that genre has never really thrilled me (though I initially adored Ally McBeal back in its first few years and When Harry Met Sally... is still rightfully lauded as a hallmark of the genre!).  If this Sitcom is to be a hit, it will have to be on the shoulders of its Grade A star (who honestly was one of the best parts of The Office over the last few years!).  And it is possible, FOX was able to do it last year with New Girl and its Emmy-nominated star Zooey Deschanel!  Maybe some of that magic can rub off on Mindy (let's hope!).
Grade: B

Both shows' pilots are available for viewing on Hulu.com.
And lastly, the network with the most new Sitcoms this Fall: NBC!
Go On
Premieres: September 11
Regular Time Slot: Tuesdays at 9 PM
Premise: Matthew Perry stars a sports radio show host who, after the loss of his wife, must attend several hours of group therapy.
Impressions: After watching the pilot in August (NBC gave a sneak peek during the Olympics!), I can safely say that this new show has the most impressive cast of the Fall season.  In addition to Perry (who hasn't had a TV hit since a little show called Friends!), the therapy group features Tony-winners Laura Benanti and Julie White, Everybody Hates Chris' Tyler James Williams (who is growing into a really good actor!) and always delightful character actors Suzy Nakamura and Bill Cobbs.  Harold and Kumar's John Cho has a small supporting role as Perry's sarcastic and bottom-line boss.  This show has the most potential of all the Sitcoms this Fall, which means it will probably get cancelled before it can really develop.
Grade: B+

The New Normal
Premieres: September 11
Regular Time Slot: Tuesdays at 9:30 PM
Premise: From Glee creator Ryan Murphy, a gay couple enlists the help of a single mother to expand their family.
Impressions: Ryan Murphy has proven he is good at launching an interesting series (Nip/Tuck, American Horror Story and, of course, Glee).  It's just that once you get passed the usual excellent first episodes, the bloom comes off the rose faster than you can say let's do a Led Zeppelin and Barbra Streisand Mash-Up!  The cast (which includes National Treasure's hilarious Justin Bartha, The Book of Mormon star Andrew Rannells and the amazing Ellen Barkin) is certainly not something to overlook.  And the characters seem like typical Murphy-like characters (Barkin is like a richer, snobbier version of Sue Sylvester, if that exists!).  However, Murphy likes to get message-y.  Glee has become a referendum on teen bullying and expressing who you are (and why it makes you special!).  This show seems to be along the lines of what defines a family and all children need is love to grow into the best they can be.  We've heard all this before, yet in an Election year where both parties are putting "family values" on the table, it seems like we all need to hear it more often.
Grade: B-

Guys With Kids
Premieres: September 12
Regular Time Slot: Wednesdays at 8:30 PM
Premise: The title pretty much says it all.  It's about fathers and their daily life as dads.
Impressions: This Jimmy Fallon-produced show has a few things going in its favor.  It's a Family Sitcom in a day and age where not many of those exist.  It features the very likable Anthony Anderson alongside blast-from-the-past Tempest Bledsoe (Vanessa from The Cosby Show) as his loving and patient wife.  However, in 2012, playing with the "Guy taking the Mommy role" stereotype just comes off as un-appealing.  If this were back in the 1980s, on the heels of the Feminist movement, it might have had a fighting chance.  But here we are in the 21st Century and: Yes, men can be responsible Fathers without looking like complete and utter morons.  But what can I expect from the same company that idolizes Jimmy Fallon?
Grade: C-

Animal Practice
Premieres: September 26
Regular Time Slot: Wednesdays at 8 PM
Premise: Weeds' Justin Kirk stars as a House-like veterinarian who loves animals but just can't stand people (maybe PETA can sponsor the show!).
Impressions: What can you say about a show where a theatrically trained, Emmy-nominated actor gets to recite one-liners to a character named Dr. Monkey?!?!  Not even the very charming Joanna Garcia-Swisher (who co-starred on Reba as McEntire's cheerleader daughter!) can save this train wreck.  But as I like both Kirk and Garcia-Swisher (and the sneak peek had great ratings the night of the Olympics Closing Ceremonies!), this show might have a chance of making it through a full season before it gets chopped next May.
Grade: D+

Both Go On and Animal Practice aired their pilots during the Summer Olympics, so they are available on Hulu.com.  NBC has also made The New Normal pilot available on Hulu.

There you have it.  The new Sitcoms that the major networks hope will help save the dying genre.  I don't know what that says about Audience taste or Network standards, but it definitely feels like there is some apathy in the air.  I guess that old saying is true: Dying is easy, its Comedy that is hard!

10 FAVORITES (61): Sitcom Siblings

As most of you saw when I listed my Top 60 Sitcoms, some of the best Sitcoms have dealt with family relationships.  And as most of us who have one know that any good family conflict arises between siblings.  When I say conflict, I mean anything from fighting over clothes and toys to suing each other over money (luckily, my own brother and I have only experienced the first two, not the latter...yet!).  TV has given us a plethora of siblings that have displayed good conflict (and even grown from it!).  While Dramas have their range of Waltons, Ewings or Sopranos and Reality TV has given us too many Gosselins, Duggars and Kardashians; it is the Sitcoms that have given some of the best sibling relationships in TV history.  There are even Sitcoms where the whole premise revolved around the relationship between two siblings.  Therefore, this week's 10 FAVORITES is devoted to:

THE 10 BEST SITCOM SIBLINGS

SIBLINGS #10
Mitchell Pritchett and Claire Dunphy
Modern Family, ABC
There are many reasons to love ABC's Emmy-winning hit.  One of the things many fans have pointed out as a major positive is the relationship between controlling Mom Claire Dunphy (the delightful Emmy-winner Julie Bowen) and her uptight gay brother Mitchell Pritchett (the hilarious Jesse Tyler Ferguson).

SIBLINGS #9

Joe and Brian Hackett
Wings, NBC
The charm of this underrated NBC hit was in the relationship between the two siblings at its forefront,  pilots Joe and Brian Hackett (played by Tim Daly and Steven Weber, respectively).  Joe was straight-laced, meticulous and serious.  Brian was fun-loving, irresponsible and all-over-the-place.  The two couldn't be more different.  Just what siblings should be!

SIBLINGS #8
Julia and Suzanne Sugarbaker
Designing Women, CBS
Like Joe and Brian Hackett, these sisters were about as different as different can be.  Played to perfection by Delta Burke and the late Dixie Carter, the Sugarbaker sisters made for some of the show's funniest moments.  Usually it was Carter's Julia reacting to the outrageous-ness of Burke's Suzzanne that made the chemistry so great.  It's probably why the show never quite worked once Burke left the show after its fifth season.

SIBLINGS #7
Roseanne Connor and Jackie Harris
Roseanne, ABC
Though this was another Sitcom that showcased a family and kids, the sibling relationship that made the show was the one between Roseanne and Jackie.  Both Roseanne and Laurie Metcalf won Emmys for their work and the some of the show's best moments came from the scenes between the two.  What made Metcalf's interpretation so lauded was how she was able to seem so pathetic next to Roseanne.  Who new Roseanne was the sane one in her family?!?!

SIBLINGS #6
Alex, Mallory and Jennifer Keaton
Family Ties, NBC
It was no surprise that Elyse and Steven Keaton made it onto the TV Mom and Dad lists.  So it should be no surprise that their children have made it onto this one.  And in this trio, we have a great range of typical kid personalities: conservative know-it-all Alex (the great Michael J. Fox), vain shopaholic Mallory (Justine Bateman) and sarcastic tomboy Jennifer (Tina Yothers).  Yes, young Andy was added later, but only for the standard "we-need-a-cute-kid" factor that TV networks love.


SIBLINGS #5
Ross Geller and Monica Geller-Bing
Friends, NBC
Though the scene below may be one of the ickiest, the relationship between Ross and Monica was (most of the time) just a typical sibling relationship.  He was beloved by their parents to the point of being a nerdy Mama's boy.  She got criticized by her mother and had a weight problem in her teens.  But in their adulthood, they were there for each other when they needed.  Monica cared for her brother through his (many) divorces and Ross supported Monica in her relationship and eventual marriage to his best friend, Chandler.  The whole time both David Schwimmer and Courtney Cox gave the characters a great mix of hilarity and heart.

SIBLINGS #4
Ray and Robert Barone
Everybody Loves Raymond, CBS
According to Robert, Ray had it all.  Ray had the beautiful wife.  Ray had the three cute kids.  Ray especially had the affection and admiration of their parents.  Robert usually got the leftovers.  Both Ray Romano and Brad Garrett infused Ray and Robert's relationship with their own style and the results were hilarious.  Robert got to needle Ray whenever Ray was in trouble.  And Ray had moments of triumph to (lightly) rub in Robert's face.  I think all siblings can relate to that!

SIBLINGS #3
The Huxtable Kids (Sondra, Denise, Theo, Vanessa and Rudy)
The Cosby Show, NBC
Both Cliff and Clair topped their respective TV Parent lists, so their kids need to be near the top of their list. The Huxtable kids bickered with each other, protected each other and helped each other.  You had Sondra, who was practically an adult off at Princeton.  Then you had Denise, who wavered between fashionable and flaky.  Then there was Theo, the only male who seemed determined to make Cliff's hair go gray.  Then there was Vanessa, whose growth from 12 to 19 was charted in the show's 8 seasons.  And lastly, there was sweet little Rudy, the requisite cute kiddie.

SIBLINGS #2

Bart and Lisa Simpson
The Simpsons, FOX
When you think of Sitcom families, you cannot go another second without mentioning The Simpsons.  Bart and Lisa practically personify the typical young sibling relationship.  They hate each other one minute and then the next minute they're best friends.  Lisa is smart and bit of a know-it-all, while Bart is your typical impish slacker.  Yet their relationship defines for many what a good TV sibling relationship is...but there is one more!

AND...
SIBLINGS #1
Frasier and Niles Crane
Frasier, NBC
While Bart and Lisa may be iconic, Frasier and Niles are the ultimate Sitcom siblings.  First of all, who knew a spin-off could be just as successful as its predecessor?  What put Frasier over the top as a show was the undeniable chemistry between Kelsey Grammer and David Hyde Pierce as the two esteemed psychiatrist brothers.  Unlike a lot of the siblings on this list who thrive in their differences, these siblings seemed to celebrate their similarities.  Their love of a good glass of sherry or a night at the opera were so alike that they were often mistaken as the same person.  The two were even lampooned on shows like The Simpsons (where Grammer and Hyde Pierce voiced the roles of Sideshow Bob and his brother Cecil, respectively!).

10 FAVORITES (56): Jumping Sharks

Television is a vast landscape with shows that are around for all of five minutes to shows that seem to go on forever (and ever...and ever!).  For the ones that go on too long, there is a name for that.  It is a delightful little trope that has made its way into our cultural lexicon: Jumping the Shark.  There is even a whole website devoted to figuring out exactly when TV shows (past and present!) indeed "jumped the shark."  This year, a couple of the shows that would have been considered shoe-ins for this category announced their impending departure (House M.D. and Desperate Housewives).  And some of the more popular "bubble shows" have been announced for renewal but with the caveat that next year will be their last.  But there are several other shows that are currently airing on Network TV that deserve a good reprimand.  They have waded their way into Shark-Jumping Territory and they should take a page out of Fringe's notebook and think about calling next season their "Swan Song."  This week's 10 FAVORITES are devoted to that group of shows that have, in effect: Jumped the Shark.  (QUICK NOTE: I have not ranked this list, as that might cause too many heated discussions. So they are listed somewhat alphabetically.)

TV SHOWS THAT HAVE

JUMPED THE SHARK

BONES

When the show first started, there was clear sexual tension between Dr. Brennan and Agent Booth (perfectly played by Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz).  But now that the two characters have finally hooked up and it has resulted in a child, the tension is not as good as it used to be.  The cases are still "fresh" (excuse the term when referring to dead bodies!), but the changing dynamic is quickly getting old.  The two are now literally a married couple (without actually being married!) and they have now gone into the territory that shows like JAG and The X-Files did by diffusing the unspoken sexual tension with actual sex.  Plus the revolving door of "squinterns," which once breathed new life into the show, has now lasted longer than most normal internships. 

THE CSI FRANCHISE
The original has already been renewed for next year, but CBS is beginning to hem and haw when it comes to its two spin-offs.  Both shows have now suffered from abnormal hiatuses this year and original CSI has gone through almost as many cast changes and departures as the original Law & Order (the NBC franchise that inspired CBS to have one!).  While Ted Danson may be playing completely against type and Elizabeth Shue weekly shows why she was an Oscar-nominated actress, CBS might want to consider next year the last for one of their flagship procedurals.

GLEE

I'm going to rant a bit here, folks.  Because this one is definitely on its way to shark-jumping territory (if its not there already!).  The first season was too phenomenal that nothing they could have done would have lived up to it.  So a less-than-stellar second season and an all-over-the-map third season has made the show more disconnected and out-of-touch from what the audiences really want.  And, as far as I'm concerned, they still haven't done the worst they could do.  Yes, this year's Christmas episode was one long "WTF!" and that mid-season jumble filled episode with an attempted suicide and a climactic car crash were definitely over-the-top.  But all of that will pale in comparison to what the creators seem to have planned for the McKinley High students post-Graduation (all the charming Disco or Whitney tributes and cameos by Whoopi and LiLo aren't helping!), since rumors abound that its "senior" stars including Lea Michele, Chris Colfer and Cory Monteith have 7-YEAR CONTRACTS!  Seriously, who hires an actor to play a High School student for 7 YEARS?!?  Apparently FOX does.

GOSSIP GIRL

The show has definitely made its stamp on the culture (when President Obama references you in a speech, I think you've made it!).  But after 5 years, stars Blake Lively and Leighton Meester are exploring their burgeoning film careers.  And once you lose your sexy stars, the show will completely fall off the radar (which is something this fifth-place Network cannot afford for one of their flagship shows!).

GREY'S ANATOMY

For many fans of this medical soap opera, the show "Jumped the Shark" last year with its mega-musical episode that centered on the tuneful delusions of the near-death Dr. Callie Torres (the fabulous Tony-winner Sara Ramirez).  Now, with rumors that stars Patrick Dempsey (aka McDreamy!) and Ellen Pompeo (who just happens to play the Grey in Grey's Anatomy!) might not sign on for next year, the show might just lose the strong storylines and heartwarming characters that once brought female audiences in droves to the show a few years ago.

LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT

My father religiously watched this show.  He even loves catching this show in its many reruns on USANetwork.  He was very pleased back in 2006 when star Mariska Hargitay won an Emmy Award as Best Actress in a Drama Series (and my father NEVER cares about the Emmys!).  But this year's big cast change (re: the exodus of Cristopher Meloni's stone-faced and complicated Detective Elliot Stabler), has made him abandon the NBC procedural he once championed.  After almost 15 years, maybe creator Dick Wolf should let next year's "Special Victims" be the last ones of the Peacock's profitable franchise.

THE OFFICE

It has already been said by many others...and I'm gonna repeat it: Steve Carell's departure was a blow to this show's dynamic.  Now, it seems that Ed Helms (who was "promoted-from-within" to replace Carell) is eyeing a similar departure (or at least threatening to behind-the-scenes!).  The show has won awards.  It has taken over a prime spot on TV (once owned by the likes of Cheers and Seinfeld!).  It has made comedic all-stars of most of its cast.  It is time for Scranton's Dunder-Mifflin office to close its doors and that "mockumentary" crew to pack up and go home.

REALITY COMPETITION SHOWS

Let's just face it.  The luster is gone.  The bloom is off this rose.  There are really just too many reality shows to say which ones have passed their prime (Idol, DWTS, ANTM, Celebrity Apprentice...just to name a few!).  Most of these shows are in their 8th or even 12th season and they keep using the argument that "Reality TV is cheaper than Scripted TV."  Well, that argument is wearing really thin when promotions for Idol and DWTS cost as much as the budgets on New Girl or 2 Broke Girls.  And then you see the hosts, trainers and judges of these various shows signing on for über-million dollar contracts that would make the casts of Seinfeld and Friends jealous.  Time for these shows to hang up their mirrorballs, stop "firing" celebrities and live with the "Idols" and "Top Models" they've already given us.

THE SETH MACFARLANE SHOWS

Even MacFarlane himself has stated that his landmark sitcom (Family Guy) should have ended years ago.  Now he could be saying this to get people to focus on his other two shows (which, let's face it, are often not as good as Family Guy) or to promote his other projects (his upcoming film Ted or his proposed reboot of The Flintstones).  No matter what his motives are, Family Guy and American Dad! are beginning to show their age and without the original, spin-off The Cleveland Show would just not make sense.

TWO AND A HALF MEN

The show was already on "hollow legs" when Charlie Sheen was drunkenly slurring his way through scenes between angry diatribes aimed at creator Chuck Lorre.  Now with Ashton Kutcher, though the show is still extremely popular in ratings, that can be likened to how people love to watch the beginning of a car accident.  I think the viewers are just hanging in there until the show fails completely (if Kutcher doesn't sign on for next year, we may suffer through a revolving door of "Men" getting paid way too much to take Sheen's place!).

IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS: The Silver FOX

When I was little and it came to Broadcast Television, there were ONLY 3 networks: The Alphabet (ABC), The Eye (CBS) and The Peacock (NBC).  By the mid-to-late 1980s, each of "the big three" had cornered their own niche audience.  ABC aired several family-friendly shows (like The Wonder Years and Full House) plus other more mature fare for their 10PM time slots (see Moonlighting or thirtysomething).  CBS seemed to have a wider audience but with special attention to both older demographics (especially with their Sunday schedule: 60 Minutes and Murder, She Wrote) and female audiences (with primetime soaps like Dallas and female-led sitcoms like Designing Women).  And then NBC, who also had a wide audience, aired shows that were especially popular with both the critics AND the Emmy Awards (sitcoms like Cheers, The Cosby Show or The Golden Girls and dramas like Hill Street Blues, St. Elsewhere or L.A. Law).

But there seemed to be one audience that was being ignored, at least as far as the powers-that-be at the 20th Century Fox studio were concerned.  Several people (who were around college-age), were looking for programs that catered to their humor, to their style or even to their subversive nature.  And so, a fledgling network was born.  And now 25 years later, "the big three" have expanded into "the big four" (technically "the big five" when you count The CW, but it's not their anniversary!).  In honor of FOX's 25th Anniversary, I would like to take you through their brief history by sharing with you what I believe are the 25 shows that have shaped FOX into what it is today.  Some of them you could probably name right off and others are more like afterthoughts, but all 25 of them made their mark in the network's landscape and helped to re-shape what modern Television is all about.

IN THE BEGINNING...

Married...With Children

21 Jump Street

The Simpsons

These are the shows that birthed FOX.  Married...With Children first aired on April 5, 1987 and 21 Jump Street aired a week later.  The Simpsons first aired as animated shorts between the sketches on Tracey Ullman's comedy-variety show (which aired after Married...With Children) before gaining their very own animated sitcom two years later (a show that is still running today, by the way!).  Married... was especially different as its humor was extremely controversial and graphic showing the complete dysfunction of the Bundy clan.  21 Jump Street, which is now more famous for launching the career of a man named Johnny Depp, was compared in its gritty style to NBC's Hill Street Blues but had a younger appeal.  And as mentioned earlier, the history of The Simpsons is in some way the history of FOX itself.

LEGAL REALITIES
America's Most Wanted
COPS
With a subversive sitcoms (both live and animated) and gritty cop dramas, FOX wanted to jump-the-gun (no pun intended!) before the reality show blitzkrieg.  With both the FBI-led America's Most Wanted and the police docu-series COPS, FOX really was a forerunner before the other networks decided to produce cheaper (and more popular) reality shows.

STEAMY SPELLING SOAPS

Beverly Hills, 90210

Melrose Place

When Johnny Depp left 21 Jump Street to have a film career, FOX needed some shows that had the same youth/teen appeal.  Enter Aaron Spelling (who had massive hits with ABC like Charlie's Angels, Dynasty and The Love Boat).  He was also looking to market programs to a teen audience (and one that could feature is young daughter in the cast!). With the original 90210 in 1990 and Melrose Place two years later, Spelling seemed to define teen viewing in the 1990s.

SKETCH-Y DIVERSITY

In Living Color

MADtv

By the early 1990s, NBC had cornered the market in comedy-variety with Saturday Night Live (which by then had been running over 15 years!).  FOX began with a variety show starring Tracey Ullman, but when that show's animated shorts eclipsed it in popularity, Ullman found herself without a job.  But a few years later, comedian Keenan Ivory Wayans and his pals (including his brother Damon and sister Kim) created a sketch comedy series that appealed to a different audience...a multicultural audience.  With its brash style and SNL-like sketches, the young cast of In Living Color became comedy superstars (especially Jim Carrey, then known as "James Carrey").  They even had hip-hop dancers known as the Fly Girls that personified their show's style (one of them was a young Jennifer Lopez!).  In Living Color's popularity inspired FOX to try their hand at late night variety (to compete with SNL) and thence MADtv was born.

BRING IN 'DA FUNNY

Martin

Living Single

Fresh off the success of In Living Color, FOX wanted to have more comedy shows that appealed to African-American audiences.  Comedian Martin Lawrence, with his many different personalities, had a very successful sitcom that centered around his in-your-face style.  To follow that, Living Single focused on the lives of 4 single African-American women (which included rap star Queen Latifah, former Facts of Life star Kim Fields and In Living Color regular Kim Coles).  Both shows are still quite popular in syndication on various cable networks and are fondly remembered by those of us who grew up with these shows that helped change the face of sitcoms in the '90s.

RE-DEFINING THE GENRES (AND THE EMMYS!)

The X-Files

Ally McBeal

As I said above, NBC seemed to have the Emmy market covered with shows like Cheers, L.A. Law, Seinfeld and E.R. throughout my growth into adulthood.  But FOX was fearless in trying to gain support from audiences and critics when it came to getting awards.  With the sci-fi drama The X-Files, FOX had a major contender.  Audiences took to it with rabid fascination and soon the awards followed.  Emmys finally recognized it with a Best Drama Series nomination in its third season (1995) and two years later star Gillian Anderson won Best Actress in a Drama (making it the first major Emmy for FOX to win!).  To follow that, David E. Kelley's romantic-dramedy Ally McBeal caused a pop culture fervor with its short skirts and dancing babies.  The show became the first FOX series to win the top prize in 1999 when its second season received Best Comedy Series over the likes of Friends, Frasier and Everybody Loves Raymond.

THE SIMPSONS HAVE SOME COMPANY

King of the Hill

Family Guy

The Simpsons opened so many doors for FOX and they knew it.  In the late 1990s, the network started to build around the flagship series by creating an entire night of animated shows.  Of the many animated sitcoms that have popped in and out around The Simpsons' popularity, two of them seemed to stick with audiences (and even some critics!).  King of the Hill,  from Beavis and Butt-head creator Mike Judge, had a homespun humor and was more sitcom-oriented than even The Simpsons (with lessons learned at the end of every episode for both conservative propane dealer Hank Hill and his march-to-his-own-drummer son Bobby).  Then there is Family Guy, Seth MacFarlane's raunchy and even-more subversive sitcom with its cutaway gags and ten-times the dysfunction of anyone in The Simpsons' hometown of Springfield.  Both shows seemed to strengthen The Simpsons' popularity (and quality!) and therefore made themselves more prominent in the minds of those wanting a break from typical live-action fare.

STAR-MAKING COMEDIES

That 70s Show

Malcolm In the Middle

Not to be completely dominated by animated sitcoms, FOX wanted to branch out with ensemble-heavy live-action comedies.  With a nostalgic throwback (like its inspiration Happy Days), That 70s Show made stars out of its young ensemble which included Topher Grace, Laura Prepon, Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis.  The show, which ended its run in 2006, is still extremely popular in syndicated airings.  It is one of FOX's most popular shows in syndication (third only to The Simpsons and Family Guy).  FOX's other popular live-action sitcom was Malcolm In the Middle.  Similar to Married...With Children by showing the chaos of a semi-dysfunctional family, the show was very popular with audiences and garnered several Emmy nods for the two actors playing the parents Jane Kaczmarek and Bryan Cranston.  Both actors have since shown their character-actor mettle on various projects from sitcoms to dramatic series to films (with Cranston winning 3 Emmys - so far! - for his dramatic work on AMC's critical hit Breaking Bad).

THE NEW CENTURY BRINGS MORE EMMYS

24

Arrested Development

In the 2000s, bolstered by the major Emmy wins The X-Files and Ally McBeal garnered in the previous decade, FOX was not going to let it lie at just those two.  With the action-packed spy-thriller series 24, FOX had a series that grabbed the critics' attention with its fascinating hook.  The entire season of the show (24 episodes) was one hour of one day, constituting the series to basically flow in "real time."  Season 5, known as "Day 5" in show's lexicon, was the highest rated season and won Best Drama Series (over major contenders like NBC's The West Wing and HBO's The Sopranos) as well as Best Actor in a Drama for star Kiefer Sutherland.  As for Arrested Development, the short-lived but critically-beloved sitcom, the show put FOX back on Emmys radar after Ally McBeal ended.  In 2003, Arrested Development's first season beat out Frasier and Everybody Loves Raymond to the Best Comedy Series prize.

FOX'S NEWER YOUTH APPEAL

The O.C.

American Idol

In the 2000s, the youth culture that FOX first appealed to back when it first began was now what you would call middle-aged.  To grab that younger market that has since become an all-important demographic in the ratings race, FOX went back to "square one" with an Aaron Spelling-style teen drama.  For four years in the middle of the decade, The O.C. became a pop culture phenomenon especially with teen audiences as the show centered around rich teens in Orange County and their bitter rivalries.  But FOX's major hit with younger audiences was a little show that was basically a singing competition.  American Idol, which was the U.S. version of the European hit Pop Idol, has dominated FOX Broadcasting over the past decade.  With its crazy judges (Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul!) and star-making eliminations (from Kelly Clarkson to Carrie Underwood!), the show's power cannot be denied.  Even with new judges (including former Fly Girl Jennifer Lopez!), the show still manages to garner the attention of a massive audience that craves reality competitions.  Idol even has its copycats from NBC's The Voice to FOX's new Simon Cowell-import The X-Factor.

FOX'S PROCEDURAL STAPLES

House M.D.

Bones

Who said CBS could be the masters of procedural Television?  FOX, thanks to both The X-Files and 24, have built part of their current reputation around shows that solve the case within the hour, the procedural.  And they went beyond the typical police procedural that CBS was so good at (see CSI or NCIS).  They branched it out into medical science and forensic anthropology.  Led by a more dramatic Hugh Laurie, House M.D. was about a grouchy and people-repellent diagnostician who could solve any case put before him no matter how strange.  After 8 years, Laurie is hanging up his cane and stethoscope as Dr. House after garnering 6 Emmy nominations (with a possible 7th to come!).  Bones, House's sometime partner, centered on the genius-like mind of forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperence "Bones" Brennan and her knack for solving crimes with her FBI partner Sealy Booth.  The character was loosely based on a lead character from the books by noted anthropologist Kathy Reichs (Brennan being a character she loosely based on herself!).

RE-DEFINING THE GENRES (YET AGAIN!)

Fringe

Glee

Like The X-Files did in the 1990s, Fringe is once again re-defining what a sci-fi drama can be about.  Part procedural (like Bones) but also part soap-opera drama (with its romantic entanglements and familial estrangements), Fringe is a complete original with its exploration of parallel universes and Roswell-ian creatures.  The show has a large and vocal fanbase that has kept this "bubble show" going for four years and may very well get it a fifth season renewal.  And like they did with Ally McBeal in the late '90s, FOX is once again re-defining the modern dramedy.  Let us not forget Glee!  Ryan Murphy's uber-popular (at least in its first season!) mega-musical comedy-drama has garnered so much attention that people have gotten sick of it fairly quickly (teen suicide storylines don't help either!).  But the series has made its impression and will probably stick around for a fourth and maybe even fifth season (that teen market has money to burn people!).  It also has pioneered (or at least co-pioneered) the use of other media when it comes to promoting the show (particularly iTunes and YouTube!).

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY FOX!

You have made TV life very interesting for the past 25 years!

Top 60 Sitcoms...In 30 Days! - The Best Sitcom of All-Time

Well, here we are!  30 days ago, I started my list of the 60 Greatest Sitcoms of All-Time.  Now, we have arrived at the moment of truth.  The Sitcom that has earned the honored position of #1.  Before I reveal the beloved series, take a "quick look" below at the 59 other Sitcoms you have seen over the past few weeks.  After that recap, you shall see which highly acclaimed Sitcom was so deserving of the #1 spot in our Countdown.

THE 60 BEST SITCOMS

QUICK RECAP:

60. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

59. Community

58. Coach

57. South Park

56. Scrubs

55. Head of the Class

54. Parks and Recreation

53. Diff'rent Strokes

52. Welcome Back, Kotter

51. The Drew Carey Show

50. The Office

49. 3rd Rock From the Sun

48. Family Matters

47. NewsRadio

46. Benson

45. Modern Family

44. The Bob Newhart Show

43. WKRP In Cincinnati

42. The Honeymooners

41. Wings

40. The Big Bang Theory

39. Designing Women

38. Mad About You

37. Family Guy

36. Perfect Strangers

35. How I Met Your Mother

34. Three's Company

33. Arrested Development

32. Newhart

31. Maude

30. Married...With Children

29. Laverne & Shirley

28. Hogan's Heroes

27. Will & Grace

26. The Andy Griffith Show

25. Bewitched

24. Soap

23. Roseanne

22. The Odd Couple

21. Family Ties

20. 30 Rock

19. Taxi

18. The Dick Van Dyke Show

17. The Jeffersons

16. Happy Days

15. The Mary Tyler Moore Show

14. Barney Miller
13. Murphy Brown
12. Frasier
11. I Love Lucy
10. Everybody Loves Raymond
9. Night Court
8. Seinfeld
7. Friends
6. The Golden Girls
5. The Simpsons
4. All In the Family
3. The Cosby Show
2. M*A*S*H

AND NOW...

THE BEST SITCOM OF ALL-TIME

1. Cheers, NBC (1982-1993)
What made this Sitcom so great?  Was it the eleven years as a highly respected program?  Was it the delightful cast whose careers became synonymous with their characters?  Was it the multiple upon multiple Emmy Awards and nominations the series received throughout its critically acclaimed run (even after Kirstie Alley took over for original star Shelley Long halfway through!)?  Or was it just the fact that many hilarious memories can come from just thinking of that quaint Boston bar (which has now become a "tourist mecca" in the New England metropolis!)?  Growing up in the 1980s, Cheers was the Sitcom to watch.  It was (even then!) considered the definitive in sophisticated writing, quirky characters, entertaining ensemble and perfect storytelling.  The finale (in May of 1993) was as much of an event (especially on NBC!) as any other program I had ever seen.  The relationship between former baseball pitcher-turned bartender Sam Malone (Ted Danson) and snooty waitress Diane Chambers (Ms. Long, who departed the show midway through its run) became the standard that all other great TV couples have been measured against.  Characters like Carla Tortelli (the spunky Rhea Perlman), Cliff Clavin (PIXAR fave John Ratzenberger), Dr. Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer, who successfully lead his own spin-off series!) and Norm Petersen (the brilliantly funny George Wendt) became a part of our lives.  The show even launched Woody Harrelson's successful career (two Oscar nods is not bad for the boy who started playing a dim-witted hick bartender!).  Though not the ratings juggernaut it soon became in its run, critical praise and tons of Emmy love (plus lots of support from NBC executive Brandon Tartikoff!) kept the show on people's radar enough to make it one of the most beloved programs both in its initial runs and during syndication.  I guess people always "want to go where people know people are all the same."  I guess we just "want to go where everybody knows your name."

There you have it.  The #1 Sitcom of All-Time is a show I grew up with being praised left and right.  All of these Sitcoms have influenced so much of what is on TV today.  I hope you enjoyed this list and if you disagree with the choices, that's okay!  We are all allowed our own opinions.  Each of these shows (no matter where they ranked here!) have earned a place in someone's heart.