by Michael Frissore

Created on: April 22, 2008

Where have all the good sitcoms gone? This question is asked as if, until recently, we've been flooded with really good sitcoms. The truth is, first of all, that good sitcoms are in the eyes and ears of the beholders. I understand that. Some people really enjoy "Saved by the Bell" and "Alf." But really, truly funny sitcoms in the U.S. have been few and far between since the dawn of television.

The Honeymooners, The Dick Van Dyke Show, the 70s trio of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, All in the Family and M*A*S*H. And Taxi, Cheers and Seinfeld. Maybe The Odd Couple. I offer to you that that is the end of the list. I may be forgetting some, but not many. I'm not even a M*A*S*H fan myself, but I respect it as a comedy. I personally still like Bewitched, but it did have a tendency toward repetition. There are other decent ones, such as NewsRadio and Lucky Louie, but they weren't really mainstream successes. And Lucy? Come on.

If someone's going to tell me that any shows, from My Mother the Car to Happy Days to The Golden Girls to Boy Meets World, weren't equally as bad as current garbage like Back to You, Til Death, Big Bang Theory, and Two and a Half Men, I will laugh in their face like I don't laugh at any of these sitcoms.

Today's viewer is incredibly lucky and indebted to NBC for a line-up of My Name is Earl, 30 Rock, The Office, and Scrubs, the latter being the far weaker of these shows, in my opinion. Whereas Cheers had to share a night with the likes of Family Ties and The Cosby Show, and Seinfeld had to share with Friends and Will & Grace, Thursday nights are now full of great comedy.

And let us not forget FOX's animated shows, that, while not technically "sitcoms," are the funniest things network television has to offer today. The Simpsons, while still great, has nothing on The Family Guy and American Dad in the comedy department.

I ask you to name me a time in history when there have been no fewer than five actual "must-see" comedies. If you're pining for the days of The Facts of Life of My Favorite Martian, then we have different ideas of what true comedy is.

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