Which (American) network has the best comedies?

Thread: Which (American) network has the best comedies?

  1. the_mango55's Avatar

    the_mango55 said: October 07, 2010 01:55 PM

    Default Which (American) network has the best comedies?

    This is only currently running sitcoms.

    Personally, I'd rank them

    1) NBC: (30 rock, The Office, Community, Parks & Rec, Outsourced) - NBC's comedies always seem the funniest to me. It helps that they seem to have completely abandoned the "studio audience" idea so familiar to comedy, which allows more freedom for filming angles and better delivered awkward moments.

    2) Fox & FX: (Raising Hope, Running Wilde, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The League) - I didn't include Animated shows in this, just wanted live action comedies, but if I did Fox/FX might have ran away with it, considering Simpsons, Family Guy, and Archer. The Fox comedies are just starting but look kind of promising, and the FX comedies are both awesome.

    3) ABC: (Modern Family, Cougartown, The Middle, Better with You) - Modern Family is one of the best comedies around, and Cougartown and The Middle are sometimes good for a laugh. Haven't seen better with you but the preview I just watched looked horrible.

    ...
    ...
    ...

    4) CBS: (2.5 men, How I Met Your Mother, Big Bang Theory, $#*! My Dad Says, Mike & Molly) - Awful, completely terrible. The only one of these shows I can even tolerate is HIMYM. Unfortunatly I'm pretty sure CBS has the most successful comedies, so not everyone is ready to move beyond stale sitcom conventions like studio audiences and cheesy catchphrases.
    ttt
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  2. Jaketh's Avatar

    Jaketh said: October 07, 2010 06:14 PM

    Default Re: Which (American) network has the best comedies?

    CBS for sure, Two and a half men and Big Bang theory
     

  3. Last Roman's Avatar

    Last Roman said: October 07, 2010 10:38 PM

    Default Re: Which (American) network has the best comedies?

    FX: It's Always Sunny and Archer, closely followed by NBC.

    edit: didn't see the no animation part.

    But still FX/Fox. BTW, Two and Half Men is one of the most overrated shows ever, besides Friends and House. shudder.
    Last edited by Last Roman; October 07, 2010 at 10:40 PM.
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  4. Lord Rahl's Avatar

    Lord Rahl said: October 07, 2010 10:49 PM

    Default Re: Which (American) network has the best comedies?

    I hardly watch any comedies or shows in general. If I'm going to watch a comedy then I'll basically watch South Park and that's it. I really liked FX's Louie. HBO's Curb and Showtime's Californication were both good (although Curb is much better).

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  5. therussian's Avatar

    therussian said: October 07, 2010 11:08 PM

    Default Re: Which (American) network has the best comedies?

    Quote Originally Posted by Lord Rahl View Post
    I hardly watch any comedies or shows in general. If I'm going to watch a comedy then I'll basically watch South Park and that's it. I really liked FX's Louie. HBO's Curb and Showtime's Californication were both good (although Curb is much better).
    Yeah, don't forget about Louie on FX. Brilliant show, but it is ing weird.


    And though they're not technically comedies, "Rescue Me" is one of my favourite shows ever, and FX's new show "Terriers" is amazing as well. Donal Logue is fantastic in it.
    Last edited by therussian; October 08, 2010 at 12:00 AM.

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  6. Lord Rahl's Avatar

    Lord Rahl said: October 12, 2010 02:24 PM

    Default Re: Which (American) network has the best comedies?

    Quote Originally Posted by therussian View Post
    Yeah, don't forget about Louie on FX. Brilliant show, but it is ing weird.

    I'm obsessed with Louie. I don't know why I didn't mention it. It is sort of like Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm in its everyday and situational humor but Louie CK is a genius. I don't think I've laughed more from watching a show. I laugh even more than when I watch South Park! Louie is totally a guy show. It shows how hilarious being a guy can be.


    And though they're not technically comedies, "Rescue Me" is one of my favourite shows ever, and FX's new show "Terriers" is amazing as well. Donal Logue is fantastic in it.

    FX definitely has shows much better than the big networks. The Wire, The Shield, Rescue Me, Sons of Anarchy, Louie, and Terriers were and are all great shows. The only show I thought wasn't great was Justified and that's too bad because I thought it looked promising. The Shield might be the greatest cop show of all time. When Forest Whitaker was in the show it was some of the best and most intense acting I've ever seen. Rescue Me lacked a lot in its last few seasons, unfortunately. Terriers looks promising though.

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  7. GoodSmurfin's Avatar

    GoodSmurfin said: October 07, 2010 11:00 PM

    Default Re: Which (American) network has the best comedies?

    Comedy Central
     

  8. Dilettante's Avatar

    Dilettante said: October 08, 2010 12:27 AM

    Default Re: Which (American) network has the best comedies?

    I am with the mango, NBC for sure.

    Mmmm... mangos.

    Laugh tracks can go suck a big, hard, dripping...

    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
     

  9. hippacrocafish's Avatar

    hippacrocafish said: October 08, 2010 01:55 AM

    Default Re: Which (American) network has the best comedies?

    Quote Originally Posted by Dilettante View Post
    I am with the mango, NBC for sure.

    Mmmm... mangos.

    Laugh tracks can go suck a big, hard, dripping...

    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    My God I hate laugh tracks, to me it's saying "LAUGH NOW IDIOT! THIS IS FUNNY!" The only show I didn't mind them in was Fawlty Towers because I was always laughing anyway.

    Sunny in Philedelphia is the only live-action comedy I like, I do not like conventional sitcoms at all, so FX (Even though I voted the last option).
     

  10. Gaidin's Avatar

    Gaidin said: October 08, 2010 12:44 AM

    Default Re: Which (American) network has the best comedies?

    ABC had Better Off Ted. My vote is sealed.
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  11. Dr. Croccer's Avatar

    Dr. Croccer said: October 08, 2010 08:11 AM

    Default Re: Which (American) network has the best comedies?

    NBC and Fox have 30 Rock, The Office and IASIP so they get my vote.

    Whoever runs CBS should be dragged out in the street and shot for destroying our collective intelligence.
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  12. Manco's Avatar

    Manco said: October 08, 2010 08:12 AM

    Default Re: Which (American) network has the best comedies?

    Sunny and Community are both my favourites but since Fox/FX has Archer as well as Sunny I'm giving it to them.
    Some day I'll actually write all the reviews I keep promising...
     

  13. Stavroforos said: October 08, 2010 09:40 AM

    Default Re: Which (American) network has the best comedies?

    NBC, 'coz it has SNL, and the other comedies are good too.

    I prefer animation for humor though, mainly South Park whenever it's airing.
     

  14. razor-'s Avatar

    razor- said: October 08, 2010 12:42 PM

    Default Re: Which (American) network has the best comedies?

    Not a big fan of American sit-coms, though I watch them a lot now, being unemployed (they beat most other stuff broadcast during daytime). I think I prefer CBS's. How I Met Your Mother has a lot of innovative ideas, Two and a Half Men has some good smaller roles, like Berta and Evelyn and Big Bang Theory has that cute looking girl.




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  15. the_mango55's Avatar

    the_mango55 said: October 08, 2010 01:15 PM

    Default Re: Which (American) network has the best comedies?

    Quote Originally Posted by Manco View Post
    Sunny and Community are both my favourites but since Fox/FX has Archer as well as Sunny I'm giving it to them.
    Archer isn't included in this. Only live action.

    Quote Originally Posted by razor- View Post
    Not a big fan of American sit-coms, though I watch them a lot now, being unemployed (they beat most other stuff broadcast during daytime). I think I prefer CBS's. How I Met Your Mother has a lot of innovative ideas, Two and a Half Men has some good smaller roles, like Berta and Evelyn and Big Bang Theory has that cute looking girl.
    There's nothing innovative about any of CBS' comedies.
    ttt
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  16. Manco's Avatar

    Manco said: October 08, 2010 05:06 PM

    Default Re: Which (American) network has the best comedies?

    Quote Originally Posted by the_mango55 View Post
    Archer isn't included in this. Only live action.
    I don't let the man limit my choices
    Some day I'll actually write all the reviews I keep promising...
     

  17. Horsa's Avatar

    Horsa said: October 09, 2010 04:11 PM

    Default Re: Which (American) network has the best comedies?

    None. Americans seem to find it impossible to write a good comedy.

    Well... There's been a few, but not very many.
    Son of absinthia

     

  18. the_mango55's Avatar

    the_mango55 said: October 09, 2010 04:59 PM

    Default Re: Which (American) network has the best comedies?

    Quote Originally Posted by Víkingr View Post
    None. Americans seem to find it impossible to write a good comedy.

    Well... There's been a few, but not very many.
    You've obviously just been watching CBS comedies.
    ttt
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  19. Gaidin's Avatar

    Gaidin said: October 09, 2010 07:22 PM

    Default Re: Which (American) network has the best comedies?

    Quote Originally Posted by Víkingr View Post
    None. Americans seem to find it impossible to write a good comedy.

    Well... There's been a few, but not very many.
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  20. Kurtz's Avatar

    Kurtz said: October 10, 2010 12:41 PM

    Default Re: Which (American) network has the best comedies?

    Fox had Arrested Development, but they canceled it like a bunch of ing morons.