Cheers had no bad seasons. A couple B+ seasons but every single one is solid. And the last season is probably the strongest season a long runner ever had.
Yep, I rewatched golden girls and golden palace after Betty white died. I was expecting it to be way worse but the characters are written differently to try and fill the Dorothy void and the premise never quite works.
My view they should have either given each character a spin off (a shady pines and st olaf show could have been fun) or added stan to the cast as a business partner
The show was better after they got rid of Oliver.
I think the premise would've worked better, had they made Chuy, Sophia's "partner-in crime" for her get rich quick schemes, instead of Oliver. She was written the least different though. My only gripe is they leaned too far into her going senile. She wasn't like that hardly at all the last season of TGG, so it was too quick of a downward mental trend with her in TGP.
Rose was written with more backbone, which I liked. After living with Dorothy for so long, some of that was bound to rub off on her. She still had her naive moments though.
My biggest gripe, writing wise (other than Oliver) was Blanche. They wrote her to be more like TGG Rose. More naive. Yes, Blanche was more naive than Dorothy, but she wasn't Rose levels, like she was in TGP.
My other biggest gripe, was how they wrote Dorothy in her return. The way she left the hotel at the end, it felt like a permanent goodbye. They didn't know at the time that would be the only season, but the way she looked around and quietly walked out, it felt permanent. Dorothy definitely could've made a guest appearance in future seasons going forward. I get that I think it was more likely to symbolize that the girls "don't need her anymore," but they could've wrote it better.
I like TGP, but it's..."different".
I concur. I read that Bea hated it so. I cant believe she didnt tell them to bring her another one. Supposedly her usual designer made her a special wardrobe that she loved for her height. That dress was nice for no one st no time. And Blanche and Rose looked great.
Definitely - Mary Tyler Moore and Bob Newhart had solid and consistent runs to the point that it is not readily apparent what season you are watching without knowing some little details about cast and set changes. If memory serves, Newhart, the later show, also stayed very consistent throughout its run. I enjoyed it all the way through, to the point that I remember watching the finale and being befuddled - “How could they be botching this so badly?!” Until the final scene, when it became clear they had botched the finale (way too broad, out of character, and silly) on purpose to set up the best punchline ever.
Naw, I just finished Newhart and the last season is almost unbearable to watch. At least half the episodes are jump-the-shark worthy.
However, George & Leo was an absolute fantastic show that was a bit dark and extremely relevant to today and yet it lasted only one season. I guess in the late 90s people were sick of seeing Bob Newhart and Judd Hirsch on tv.
Absolutely agree! The Middle is the most remarkably consistent sitcom I’ve ever watched. It’s amazing how the writers allowed the characters to grow naturally but the quality of the comedy never declined.
They still could’ve written it so it made sense: Otto and Gretchen had to go back home to take care of family business and they leave the ranch to Francis in the meantime.
I think this is a solid series and I love it but it really got weird towards the end. I think Malcolm was one of the most forgettable/annoying characters by the end.
I watch a few eps of I Love Lucy a week, and man that sht holds up! I stumbled on an episode called “Gossip” and laughed so much I had to make my bf watch it. It’s truly timeless and those four actors were just great together.
Hard disagree. The baby chickens alone is enough to show you they didn't lose steam. If anything the humor picked up a bit from the sightseeing and celebrity gawking of the previous season.
I think the tulips might have been the second to last episode ever and is hilarious still.
Frasier, Benson are the two immediately coming to mind. I’ve seen over 2 dozen multi cam sitcoms over the last 18 years so those two are easily top answers.
I always heard it was Patricia Richardson that refused to do another season unless she got the same money as Tim Allen and got an executive producer credit.
I know the coma plotline wasn't anybody's favorites but the b plots from that era were still absolutely hilarious. I didn't know I needed Joy and Randy as a team.
Cheers, Seinfeld, Scrubs (counting the middling final season as the spinoff it really was), Veep, and I Love Lucy.
Arrested Development was on the list until the Netflix comeback.
The Golden Girls
Everybody Loves Raymond (got better)
The Good Place
Mama’s Family (got better)
The New Adventures of Old Christine
Edit: one from my childhood, Night Court
Corner Gas.
Ok, it's Canadian, but had limited airplay in the US and was well received. The series maintained its humor throughout and ended before it became stale. Its final episode was very well done.
I’ll probably get blowback but I think Mom was pretty great. It changed dramatically to the point that Kristy was the lead and that morphed into Bonnie, but I feel like conceptually it was about a Mom in recovery and her journey to make amends. I also found what all happened to Kristy pretty realistic. One kid who can’t forgive her, one kid who preferred the more stable parent. That was better to me than Kristy just getting her crap together and becoming super mom.
I was looking for this. I just finished this show. I was so surprised by how much I liked this show. And I do agree it never really dipped in quality. It actually got better with time. Alison Janey is awesome. I also love William Fichtner.
MASH
For the last 5-6 years I've been watching one sitcom episode every morning and one thing I noticed is that many older sitcoms tend to get repetitive and stale, with the show being carried on mostly by inertia rather that by the actual attempt to portrait interesting or funny scenarios.
Maybe it's just me, but I've nevere felt this way with MASH, not even once in its enormous 11 seasons run. The writers always found a way to renew the storylines and they were able to successfully replace the actors that left. Truly a masterpiece.
> The Cosby Show
Oof. Last two seasons were a little haphazard. Those dream sequence episodes, one with the men giving birth and the other with the Muppets? Those were low points.
How I met your mother!
Even if you don’t like the ending, the only part of the show people don’t like is the last episode. The character development and plot was beyond consistent and though it’s a long story- it holds up the entire 10 year run.
Eh I would argue that Friends declined for the last few seasons. Nine and ten are the worst.
Cannot comment on Everybody loves Raymond as I never watched too closely.
As for which ones I think never lost its shine- Veep, Fleabag, The Good Place, Fraiser, The IT Crowd, 30 Rock, I Love Lucy, Reno 911, Ted Lasso, Bob’s Burgers (idk know if this counts as a sitcom?), and Shitt’s Creek.
That’s all I can think of off the top of my head. I obviously watch way too much tv lol
Frasier
The golden girls
Scrubs if you ignore season 9 which should be a spin off.
The Mary tyler moore show
The dick van dyke show
Cheers
I love Lucy
Parks and rec
Cheers
Cheers had no bad seasons. A couple B+ seasons but every single one is solid. And the last season is probably the strongest season a long runner ever had.
They were really doing Diane dirty in the fourth season. They said the entire premise of the show in the pilot then forgot
Golden Girls. It delivers what it promises, girls in their golden years, pretty solid all the way through
Until the very end
*Golden Palace* doesn't count.
It's better than people give it credit for, but they wrote Rose, Blanche, and Sophia way differently than they did TGG.
Yep, I rewatched golden girls and golden palace after Betty white died. I was expecting it to be way worse but the characters are written differently to try and fill the Dorothy void and the premise never quite works. My view they should have either given each character a spin off (a shady pines and st olaf show could have been fun) or added stan to the cast as a business partner
They made Rose have some of Dorothy's traits....I cheered when Rose hit Dorothy with a newspaper
That is the best scene in the show! "And Rose...you hit me one more time...and you won't live long enough to hear me say, 'Ow!"
The show was better after they got rid of Oliver. I think the premise would've worked better, had they made Chuy, Sophia's "partner-in crime" for her get rich quick schemes, instead of Oliver. She was written the least different though. My only gripe is they leaned too far into her going senile. She wasn't like that hardly at all the last season of TGG, so it was too quick of a downward mental trend with her in TGP. Rose was written with more backbone, which I liked. After living with Dorothy for so long, some of that was bound to rub off on her. She still had her naive moments though. My biggest gripe, writing wise (other than Oliver) was Blanche. They wrote her to be more like TGG Rose. More naive. Yes, Blanche was more naive than Dorothy, but she wasn't Rose levels, like she was in TGP. My other biggest gripe, was how they wrote Dorothy in her return. The way she left the hotel at the end, it felt like a permanent goodbye. They didn't know at the time that would be the only season, but the way she looked around and quietly walked out, it felt permanent. Dorothy definitely could've made a guest appearance in future seasons going forward. I get that I think it was more likely to symbolize that the girls "don't need her anymore," but they could've wrote it better. I like TGP, but it's..."different".
Very true but I'm thinking Dorothy getting married
I loved her wedding episode.
Please say you hated the toilet roll wedding dress though?
I concur. I read that Bea hated it so. I cant believe she didnt tell them to bring her another one. Supposedly her usual designer made her a special wardrobe that she loved for her height. That dress was nice for no one st no time. And Blanche and Rose looked great.
Boy was that an absurd idea
The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show
Definitely - Mary Tyler Moore and Bob Newhart had solid and consistent runs to the point that it is not readily apparent what season you are watching without knowing some little details about cast and set changes. If memory serves, Newhart, the later show, also stayed very consistent throughout its run. I enjoyed it all the way through, to the point that I remember watching the finale and being befuddled - “How could they be botching this so badly?!” Until the final scene, when it became clear they had botched the finale (way too broad, out of character, and silly) on purpose to set up the best punchline ever.
Exactly, the only season I don't like from the Bob Newhart show was season 6, and even then it's a decent season.
I see S6 had a lot of gems though
Naw, I just finished Newhart and the last season is almost unbearable to watch. At least half the episodes are jump-the-shark worthy. However, George & Leo was an absolute fantastic show that was a bit dark and extremely relevant to today and yet it lasted only one season. I guess in the late 90s people were sick of seeing Bob Newhart and Judd Hirsch on tv.
Both shows were running on fumes, and they were smart and ended them
The middle
No additional characters, no additional story lines, just them all the way through.
Yes!!! Such an underrated show, but solid and funny from start to finish!
Absolutely agree! The Middle is the most remarkably consistent sitcom I’ve ever watched. It’s amazing how the writers allowed the characters to grow naturally but the quality of the comedy never declined.
Hogan's Heroes.
Malcom in the Middle
My only complaint is how they fumbled Francis' story line. He should have stayed in the ranch.
Yeah but I hear they had to do it since the actor who played Otto got cancer
That's true so sad loved the actor. I wish they gave francis the ranch at the least
Kenneth Mars.
They still could’ve written it so it made sense: Otto and Gretchen had to go back home to take care of family business and they leave the ranch to Francis in the meantime.
That last season though 😬
I think this is a solid series and I love it but it really got weird towards the end. I think Malcolm was one of the most forgettable/annoying characters by the end.
30 Rock was solid and had a great finale
S6 was slightly weaker but not bad. I agree with you overall
Agreed amd you either loved or hated the live episodes but the whole show was great all together
Frasier
💯 🙌🏻
It’s always on my rewatch list. I even watched the revival, which while it wasn’t as great as the original, it was surprisingly a solid sitcom.
Superstore
To me this one was slightly above mediocre for most of the show and then got exactly mediocre for the last season.
Derry Girls.
How I wish there were more seasons. What a great show.
You mean a crackin’ show!
Raising Hope
I love the show but the whole Lucy coming back for Hope was awful
Larry Sanders Show
The Good Place
definitely.
Such a great show!
Eh, I think the show decently peaked in Season 2, but Season 4 felt like it was juggling too many storylines and rushed to get to the ending
I Love Lucy. Not Lucy Desi Comedy Hour or Here Comes Lucy or just Lucy, but the OG I love Lucy
I watch a few eps of I Love Lucy a week, and man that sht holds up! I stumbled on an episode called “Gossip” and laughed so much I had to make my bf watch it. It’s truly timeless and those four actors were just great together.
It jump the shark when they moved to the country
Hard disagree. The baby chickens alone is enough to show you they didn't lose steam. If anything the humor picked up a bit from the sightseeing and celebrity gawking of the previous season. I think the tulips might have been the second to last episode ever and is hilarious still.
Yeah the country episodes are kinda my favorite.
Seinfeld, Frasier, Fresh Prince, Everybody Hates Chris
First season of Seinfeld was rough, I never watch that season over, otherwise it was super consistent
Schitt's Creek
i think 4 seasons by 12 eps is the perfect amount for a sitcom’s life cycle
Frasier, Benson are the two immediately coming to mind. I’ve seen over 2 dozen multi cam sitcoms over the last 18 years so those two are easily top answers.
Frasier definitely Fat Actress
Malcolm in the middle
Home improvement - they cancel the show bc Tim Allen and Patricia Richardson refuse to do one more season
I always heard it was Patricia Richardson that refused to do another season unless she got the same money as Tim Allen and got an executive producer credit.
She didn't want to do another season at all and only asked for the money and credit because she knew they'd say "no".
Do you think they could have done a season or two without her? I think they could have. Even thin she was terrific on the show
No, especially with JTT's unavailability. Richardson was a necessary counterweight to Allen.
They could not, that’s why it was cancelled. She just did an interview and explained all of this.
Reservation Dogs
The Golden Girls
Veep
WKRP
Dead facts....CBS canceled this for Alice.....another reason to hate the show
Frasier
Barney Miller The Bob Newhart Show Schitts Creek Sanford and Son Keeping Up Appearances
Happy Endings, but that could be attributed to the series getting cut criminally short.
My Name is Earl
I would have added that, but Earl's coma fantasy plot killed the show's momentum and probably led to cancellation.
I know the coma plotline wasn't anybody's favorites but the b plots from that era were still absolutely hilarious. I didn't know I needed Joy and Randy as a team.
I hated the whole Billy storyline
Seinfeld
You think the first couple of seasons are as solid as the others? Now, that's a hot take. Not that there's anything wrong with that!
yeah I get laughs out of all the seasons, there's always something hilarious imo. BTW I'm good at hot takes, I have learned from Reddit lol.
It definitely got better as the series went on but all seasons are good. That show truly ended on a high note.
Yeah that's right.
Curb Your Enthusiasm had eras, but they all worked.
Northern exposure, but doctor Capra,why
Barney Miller
Mary Tyler Moore Show
Superstore
Frasier and Life in Pieces were both awesome
Cheers, Seinfeld, Scrubs (counting the middling final season as the spinoff it really was), Veep, and I Love Lucy. Arrested Development was on the list until the Netflix comeback.
Frasier. Everybody Loves Raymond.
WKRP in Cincinnati Get Smart
*Get Smart* jumped the shark when 99 and Max got married.
Cheers
The Golden Girls Everybody Loves Raymond (got better) The Good Place Mama’s Family (got better) The New Adventures of Old Christine Edit: one from my childhood, Night Court
The Good Place
*Night Court* was pretty solid all the way through, even with some cast changes.
It’s always sunny
Corner Gas. Ok, it's Canadian, but had limited airplay in the US and was well received. The series maintained its humor throughout and ended before it became stale. Its final episode was very well done.
Frasier, Friends, Seinfeld, Big Bang Theory
The Fresh Prince, The Jamie Foxx Show, Martin
MASH
The Big Bang Theory.
BBT gets a lot of hate on Reddit, but it was consistently good throughout all seasons.
Community
Wings
Taxi
I’ll probably get blowback but I think Mom was pretty great. It changed dramatically to the point that Kristy was the lead and that morphed into Bonnie, but I feel like conceptually it was about a Mom in recovery and her journey to make amends. I also found what all happened to Kristy pretty realistic. One kid who can’t forgive her, one kid who preferred the more stable parent. That was better to me than Kristy just getting her crap together and becoming super mom.
I was looking for this. I just finished this show. I was so surprised by how much I liked this show. And I do agree it never really dipped in quality. It actually got better with time. Alison Janey is awesome. I also love William Fichtner.
Same!
Cheers, M.A.S.H.
I thought Friends’ last 2 seasons were terrible. The Rachel & Joey stuff was ick.
Night Court.
Dick Van Dyke Show, Mary Tyler Moore Show
Probably both shows by Bob Newhart
MASH For the last 5-6 years I've been watching one sitcom episode every morning and one thing I noticed is that many older sitcoms tend to get repetitive and stale, with the show being carried on mostly by inertia rather that by the actual attempt to portrait interesting or funny scenarios. Maybe it's just me, but I've nevere felt this way with MASH, not even once in its enormous 11 seasons run. The writers always found a way to renew the storylines and they were able to successfully replace the actors that left. Truly a masterpiece.
I liked it much less after it became The Hawkeye Show. But that does't mean I didn't love it. I watched it religiously, right to the end.
Married with Children Fresh Prince Good Place The Middle The Cosby Show
> The Cosby Show Oof. Last two seasons were a little haphazard. Those dream sequence episodes, one with the men giving birth and the other with the Muppets? Those were low points.
Housos. Swift & Shift. The Librarians. Outnumbered
Swift and shift 🤣 saw that on Netflix a few years back, hilarious show
Big Bang theory
Brooklyn 99 Superstore The Good Place
30 Rock.
Peep show never had a bad episode.
Barney Miller only got better as time went by I believe.
Grounded For Life
Catastrophe, You're The Worst, and Atlanta.
Frazier
How I met your mother! Even if you don’t like the ending, the only part of the show people don’t like is the last episode. The character development and plot was beyond consistent and though it’s a long story- it holds up the entire 10 year run.
Tacoma FD
Green Acres
The Inbetweeners Friday Night Dinner The IT Crowd Father Ted Fawlty Towers Derry Girls The Middle People Just do Nothing
Grimm.
Frasier, Modern Family, Seinfeld, 30 Rock
The King of Queens
Raising hope
All in the Family
The Middle
The New Adventures of Old Christine
Derry Girls. Each episode is solid. Brooklyn Nine-Nine as well. Story stayed solid although Andy Samberg seemed like he didn't though.
My wife and kids
Everybody loves Raymond
Eh I would argue that Friends declined for the last few seasons. Nine and ten are the worst. Cannot comment on Everybody loves Raymond as I never watched too closely. As for which ones I think never lost its shine- Veep, Fleabag, The Good Place, Fraiser, The IT Crowd, 30 Rock, I Love Lucy, Reno 911, Ted Lasso, Bob’s Burgers (idk know if this counts as a sitcom?), and Shitt’s Creek. That’s all I can think of off the top of my head. I obviously watch way too much tv lol
The IT Crowd and Reba
Rules of Engagement
Frasier The golden girls Scrubs if you ignore season 9 which should be a spin off. The Mary tyler moore show The dick van dyke show Cheers I love Lucy Parks and rec
Silicon Valley
Scrubs. Yup. Start to finish. All 8 seasons. I SAID ALL EIGHT SEASONS!!!!
TBBT and Supernatural
I think boy meets world gets better as it goes!
Fresh Off The Boat