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The 50 best comedies of all time (according to Complex)

9 Mar 2013

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Cards on the table, I'm posted this ranking because I love their top 5 very much.

In bold are the comedies that have been in production in the 2010s.

1. Arrested Development : 4 seasons / 67 episodes, 2003 - ? (FOX/Netflix).
2. 30 Rock : 7 seasons / 138 episodes, 2006-2013 (NBC).
3. Curb your Enthusiasm : 8 seasons / 80 episodes (+ 1 special), 2000 - ? (HBO).
4. Party Down : 2 seasons / 20 episodes, 2009-2010 (Starz).
5. Seinfeld : 9 seasons / 180 episodes, 1989-1998 (NBC).

6. Martin : 5 seasons / 132 episodes, 1992-1997 (FOX).
7. The Office : 9 seasons / 200 episodes, 2005-2013 (NBC).
8. I Love Lucy : 6 seasons / 181 episodes, 1951-1957 (CBS).
9. Taxi : 5 seasons / 114 episodes, 1978-1983 (ABC/NBC).
10. The Cosby Show : 8 seasons / 202 episodes, 1984-1992 (NBC).

11. Parks and Recreation : 5 seasons / 80 episodes, 2009 - ? (NBC).
12. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air : 6 seasons / 148 episodes, 1990-1996 (NBC).
13. Cheers : 11 seasons / 270 episodes, 1982-1993 (NBC).
14. The Three Stooges : syndication.
15. The Larry Sanders Show : 6 seasons / 89 episodes, 1992-1998 (HBO).
16. The Abbott and Costello Show : 2 seasons / 52 episodes, 1952-1954 (syndication).
17. The Honeymooners : 1 season / 39 episodes, 1955-1956 (CBS).
18. The Bernie Mac Show : 5 seasons / 104 episodes, 2001-2006 (FOX).
19. The Golden Girls : 7 seasons / 180 episodes, 1985-1992 (NBC).
20. Sanford and Son : 6 seasons / 135 episodes, 1972-1977 (NBC).

21. Will and Grace : 8 seasons / 184 episodes, 1998-2006 (NBC).
22. Newhart : 8 seasons / 184 episodes, 1982-1990 (CBS).
23. Louie : 3 seasons / 39 episodes, 2010 - ? (FX).
24. Night Court : 9 seasons / 194 episodes, 1984-1992 (NBC).
25. Modern Family : 4 seasons / 96 episodes, 2009 - ? (ABC).
26. Scrubs : 8 seasons / 169 episodes, 2001-2009 (NBC/ABC).
27. Friends : 10 seasons / 236 episodes, 1994-2004 (NBC).
28. Married… with Children : 11 seasons / 259 episodes, 1987-1997 (FOX).
29. Reno 911! : 6 seasons / 88 episodes (+ 1 film), 2003-2009 (Comedy Central).
30. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia : 8 seasons / 94 episodes, 2005 - ? (FX).

31. All in the Family : 9 seasons / 208 episodes, 1971-1979 (CBS).
32. Flight of the Conchords : 2 seasons / 22 episodes, 2007-2009 (HBO).
33. Extras : 2 seasons / 13 episodes, 2005-2006 (HBO).
34. Police Squad! : 1 season / 6 episodes (+ 3 films), 1982 (ABC).
35. Everybody Hates Chris : 4 seasons / 88 episodes, 2005-2009 (CW).
36. Get a Life : 2 seasons / 35 episodes, 1990-1992 (FOX).
37. The Mary Tyler Moore Show : 7 seasons / 168 episodes, 1970-1977 (CBS).
38. That 70's Show : 8 seasons / 200 episodes, 1998-2006 (FOX).
39. Malcolm in the Middle : 6 seasons / 151 episodes, 2000-2006 (FOX).
40. Roseanne : 10 seasons / 222 episodes, 1988-1997 (ABC).

41. Workaholics : 3 seasons / 40 episodes, 2011 - ? (Comedy Central).
42. The Wayans Bros : 5 seasons / 101 episodes, 1995-1999 (WB).
43. Eastbound and Down : 3 seasons / 21 episodes, 2009 - ? (HBO).
44. Freaks and Geeks : 1 season / 18 episodes, 1999-2000 (NBC).
45. M*A*S*H : 11 seasons / 251 episodes, 1972-1983 (CBS).
46. The Big Bang Theory : 6 seasons / 135 episodes, 2007 - ? (CBS).
47. How I Met Your Mother : 9 seasons / 208 episodes, 2005-2014 (CBS).
48. NewsRadio : 5 seasons / 97 episodes, 1995-1999 (NBC).
49. Everybody Loves Raymond : 9 seasons / 210 episodes, 1996-2005 (CBS).
50. Community : 4 seasons / 84 episodes, 2009 - ? (NBC).


It's worth pointing out that among these 50 best comedies of all time :

- 25 have aired entirely or partially in the 2000s.
- 14 have aired entirely or partially in the 2010s.

- 16 series come from NBC (most represented network), incl. 13 shows in the top 27 ! It's followed by CBS (9) & FOX (7), despite being a young network (26 years old) where animation (non-eligible) is abundant.

- Workaholics is the most recent show (launched April 6, 2011) followed by Louie (June 29, 2010), Modern Family (Sept. 23, 2009), Community (Sept. 17, 2009), Parks & Rec (April 9, 2009) & Party Down (March 20, 2009).

- Community is 50th, below HIMYM, TBBT, and plenty of sitcoms which would never even have dared to have storylines like the ones featured on Community. But nostalgia can sometimes trump inventivity I guess.

- Bored to Death, Better Off Ted, Raising Hope, The Comeback & The League have been omitted somehow.

Source.

28 comments:

  1. Friends at 27?

    Child Please....

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  2. I agree, 27 is far too high. I'd have it around 80th place

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  3. I don't disagree that a number of these shows should be on the top list, but the order I vastly disagree with.

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  4. How can mash be so low? 45! That's ridiculous.

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  5. disqus_e2BmCVpvQ89 March 2013 at 09:55

    The Big Bang Theory is the only one from this list , who is actually funny for me.

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  6. Could not agree more. Most overrated show ever.

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  7. Freaks and Geeks, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Scrubs are all way too low. I'd have them all in the top 5 with Scrubs number 1.

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  8. The Nanny was one of the best comedy shows I've watched. It's a shame it's not listed here.

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  9. Not a bad list at all.


    I could pick nits about how I would reorder many of the series, but I agree with most of the shows being on the list overall. The Top 10 specifically is quite accurate for me other than I would lower Martin and raise Cheers into the Top 10 somewhere..

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  10. Friends 27? OH God...

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  11. Am I the only one that finds it weird that two and a half men is not there?

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  12. MASH at 45th? ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? ¬¬'
    I wasn't even born back when it aired and I know it's the best by far.

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  13. Frasier is not on the list, which makes the list invalid.

    ReplyDelete
  14. alibabajuvenacca9 March 2013 at 11:15

    So glad its always sunny is on the list! I thought it would be higher though

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  15. I do not agree with this list. What a load of crap.

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  16. What a lot of crap.

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  17. How is friends at 27?

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  18. Newsradio was hilarious. Damn Phil Hartman's loony wife :(

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  19. Talk about a subjective list! I HATE (as in not funny at all) 2 of the 5 top 5 shows, so whatever. My top 5 would be MASH, Frasier, Scrubs, Friends and Seinfeld. I'm 42, so that will explain my choices.

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  20. Television comedies have evolved over the years. Apples and oranges. I think Louie should be in the top 10.

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  21. I'm glad see TBBT and HIMYM in this, but I miss TAHM.

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  22. This is a s*** list, I mean, Friends #27?? Bye

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  23. I love that Martin and The Cosby Show are in the top 10

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  24. 'A Different World' is not listed nor is 'Out All Night'.

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  25. Sharon, have you seen Friends, and I mean every episode?

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  26. Sharon, you dislike friends but you like "the Bates Motel"? You should probably not review TV.

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  27. MASH should be higher up, so should Friends. And Frasier and Dick Van Dyke show need to be added. But I'm so happy to see Parks and Rec, Party Down and Community (even at last place) up there. Oh well, it's so subjective that I doubt anyone will ever make a list that everyone agrees with.

    ReplyDelete

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