I honestly would rank it that high. It was cutting edge with many of it's storylines and I cant think of another show that makes me laugh out loud as much as this one. What do you all think? Where would you rank the DVD show as far as situation comedies go?
shareIn the top three, topped by only The Andy Griffith Show and possibly Seinfeld.
shareI've always considered it the best. I can't think of a better sitcom. But top 10 sounds fair.
shareAs a long-time fan of TV comedies, who has thousands of episodes of dozens of series on DVD, I have ranked my favorites. For most of my life, I considered Dick Van Dyke to be THE funniest series ever. Andy Griffith--due to the last three seasons--has to rank lower on the list, but still in the top ten.
But after going through Seinfeld again a couple of years ago, I concluded that the zany foursome's show topped even Dick Van Dyke, which I dropped to # 2 on my list. Most of my top ten are from the 60s--what I call the "Golden Era of Sit-coms."
The only series post-Seinfeld that even gets any consideration from me is Last Man Standing. I reserve a ranking for it until it completes its run, but as of now, it would also be in my top ten.
If I could meet Dick and tell him that 50 years after his series left the air, I still consider it no worse than the 2nd funniest series ever...I think he would not mind at all that I didn't say it's still # 1. (I know he wouldn't really care what little-ol'-me says, but in the realm of the compliment...)
Why don't we just shoot 'em down and be through with it?
I suppose taste is subjective. I'd put "The Dick Van Dyke" show #3 behind "I Love Lucy" and Cheers," with "Seinfeld" close behind. I was a big fan of "The Andy Griffith Show" when it first aired (I'm that old), but don't rewatch it as faithfully as I do other comedies.
shareI don't think this show is that great. I have no idea why it has acclaim. IMO it's mediocre at best.
Most of the episodes are very boring and repetitive.
Writers talking about writing a scene, which they do in almost every episode, is neither funny nor entertaining.
Ditto for the old maid desperately whining about being unable to find a husband in every episode.
Ditto for the wiseguy making bald joke insults about his boss in every episode.
Ditto for Richie who invariably ruins every single scene/episode in which he speaks, with his atrocious [complete and utter failure at] acting, which always instantly & without fail kills the story-world dead.
Not to mention the fact that most episodes have little to no story in them.
Anyway, being in the top 10 sitcoms of all-time still would not be an accomplishment. Well-over 99% of sitcoms are trash. 10 good ones have never been made.
The Dick Van Dyke Show has always been my favorite sitcom, hands down. If I had to watch one show, and only one show for the rest of my life it would be Dick Van Dyke. Favorite episode is Ghost of A. Chantz. Yes, a few episodes were less than great, but the series as a whole was wonderfully entertaining.
share1) The Dick Van Dyke Show
2) As Time Goes By [British--Judi Dench]
3) The Andy Griffith Show
4) The Bob Newhart Show
5) Father Knows Best
6) My Three Sons
7) Bewitched
8) The Mary Tyler Moore Show
9) Brothers [Showtime, 1980s]
10) Fawlty Towers [British--John Cleese]
This is a list of sitcoms in particular (rather than comedies of any type), so it doesn't include sketch comedies such as Monty Python's Flying Circus, A Bit of Fry and Laurie, The Carol Burnett Show, etc.
👍 Completely agree with your first four. The next three are all shows I've enjoyed but I'm not sure if they'd be in my top ten, however Mary Tyler Moore would be up there, too. I haven't seen Brothers or Fawlty Towers so I have no opinion on those.
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