Originally posted by NoEarthlyReasonHere are some relatively new US TV sitcoms [some may be Canadian] that I rate 'overall-dud' regardless of whatever redeeming features they may have:
I need something to cheer me up.
Bad Samaritans
Dads
Enlisted [pulled after 9 episodes ~ almost all right...]
Package Deal
Sean Saves The World
Spun Out
Ground Floor
Kirstie
Originally posted by catfoodtimHere are a few interesting comedies that I overlooked earlier:
Haven't seen the rest you recommended, which I've added to my list.
Cardinal Burns [sketches ~ better than Little Britain, I reckon]
W1A
House Of Fools [so awful, it's good... Vic Reeves Big Night Out revisited]
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Originally posted by Great King RatNever saw Community but couldn't stand Big Bang Theory at all. So I'm with you on that.
Community. Such a shame that it was recently canceled after 5 seasons. Was hoping for 6 seasons and a movie.
Can't believe that laughtrack-crap like The Big Bang Theory continues forever and quality stuff like Community has only just made it to 5 seasons (they've mostly had poor ratings).
Originally posted by Great King RatHow you going to know if somethings funny if you don't carry a laugh track around with you?
I reckon he'd bring with him his own laugh track.
God, how I hate laugh tracks.
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol roflao roflao roflao roflao roflao roflao roflao roflao roflao roflao roflao.
Originally posted by Great King RatI'm about half way through series 2 of Big Bang Theory and I reckon it is still delivering something funny and with verve. It would not surprise me if it wilts later. It's all on a hard drive here somewhere.
The creator of Big bang theory is apparantly also responsible for Dharma and Greg as well as Two and a half man.
Dharma and Greg, I thought, was OK. Perhaps it was held together by the performance of Jenna Elfman who is also good in the doomed and short-lived but really pretty funny "Penn 1600" which was axed after just one season.
Another one-season-wonder was "Go On" with Friends' Matthew Perry which I thought was brisk and witty and carried off well by an ensemble cast ~ but it got the axe nevertheless.
Two and a Half men ~ I saw about 2-3 episodes whenever whoever he was was still in it, but I was not inclined to download any more.
Originally posted by Great King RatM*A*S*H was broadcast in the US with a laugh track, or so I am told, but in the UK they had the option of turning it off, which they did. One evening in the late 70s it went out in the UK with the laugh track inadvertently switched on and afterwards the BBC2 announcer apologized. It never happened again. When I downloaded all 11 series a few years back, some had the laugh track hard wired into the video files. M*A*S*H, I think is pretty funny and very clever ~ wry, rueful, mordant, cynical, whimsical, surreal, maybe ~ but it doesn't work ~ it simply does not work ~ with a laugh track. It's just not 'canned laughter comedy'.
God, how I hate laugh tracks.
Originally posted by NoEarthlyReasonNER, are you familiar with "House of Cards"? During my son's birthday visit this past March he downloaded Episodes 1-13 of both Seasons 1 and 2. I've watched the first ten so far; the characters are believable and dovetail effectively and seamlessly within the intriguing ongoing plot. Explicit sexual references in a crisp dialogue and partial nudity cameos weren't in the least gratuitous. This series is as enjoyable entertainment as was the similar experience reading the novel Shibumi years ago.
I'm in the UK. I have access to the Amazon streaming service, plus 3 disc rentals per month, as well as a Sky+ HD box with catch up TV for several channels (BBC, ITV, 4, E4, etc .) but none of the premium 'packages'.
[b]Likes and favourites:
HIGNFY
Frasier and Cheers
30 Rock
House
Only Fools and Horses
Clive Anderson Talks Back
Whose ...[text shortened]... d some laugh-out-loud moments but was also pretty ordinary at times. I'd watch it again, though.[/b]
Originally posted by Grampy BobbyYeah, good series Grampy Bobby, but not a comedy.
NER, are you familiar with "House of Cards"? During my son's birthday visit this past March he downloaded Episodes 1-13 of both Seasons 1 and 2. I've watched the first ten so far; the characters are believable and dovetail effectively and seamlessly within the intriguing ongoing plot. Explicit sexual references in a crisp dialogue and partial nudity cam ...[text shortened]... is as enjoyable entertainment as was the similar experience reading the novel Shibumi years ago.
Originally posted by FMFAgreed. I've also seen classic Hanna Barbara cartoons such as The Flintstones with "canned laughter". That's just surreal. Who thought "that might be a good idea"??
M*A*S*H was broadcast in the US with a laugh track, or so I am told, but in the UK they had the option of turning it off, which they did. One evening in the late 70s it went out in the UK with the laugh track inadvertently switched on and afterwards the BBC2 announcer apologized. It never happened again. When I downloaded all 11 series a few years back, some had ...[text shortened]... n't work ~ it simply does not work ~ with a laugh track. It's just not 'canned laughter comedy'.
Pretty much the only show where I don't mind the laugh track/audience is Seinfeld.
Well, except for the little stand-up thingy Jerry Seinfeld did at the beginning and end of the show. That was bad.