The Ultimate TV Comedies Bracket -- Round One, Day Fourteen

Are we having fun yet?

Can you sense it, everyone? Can you smell it? I don’t just mean waffles because of the photo above this paragraph. I mean the fact that we are very close to reaching the end of the first round of the Ultimate TV Comedies Bracket. After today, it’s just two more sets of matchups and then we’re down to 64 seeds. But first, some big modern favorites are looking for your votes.

Let’s go!

(7) Parks and Recreation vs. (58) That 70’s Show: I am not entirely sure that Parks and Recreation has aged super-well, for reasons large and small. (Large: its view of government officials within the eponymous department feels a bit more flattering than it ought to. Small: remember when Louis CK played Leslie’s boyfriend?) But even in the moment, I thought it was very funny and warm and charming, and That 70’s Show was never a huge favorite of mine.

For now, I vote Knope. You?

Parks and Recreation

That 70’s Show

(26) Abbott Elementary vs. (39) Rick and Morty: Honesty time. I have seen neither of these shows. Yes, really, I have managed to avoid (not exactly on purpose) a very well-liked sitcom about teachers and the cult animated sitcom that inspired people to go nuts looking for sauces at McDonald’s. (I am aware that these shows are more than those reductive descriptions.) In spite of the fact that, as the YouTube clip implies, Taraji P. Henson is apparently old enough to play Quinta Brunson’s mother (and the former is 19 years older than the latter, so…she really is!), I’m sticking with the teachers. Sorry to all the Szechuan sauce fans out there.

But what do you think?

Abbott Elementary

Rick and Morty

(10) The Mary Tyler Moore Show vs. (55) Just Shoot Me: Another gimme, right? The Mary Tyler Moore Show is one of those foundational sitcoms that led to so many other great shows and films, creating a star out of Ed Asner, re-establishing Mary Tyler Moore as a brilliant comedienne, and inspiring countless others. Just Shoot Me was funny, too, but…y’know, influential wins out sometimes.

The Mary Tyler Moore Show

Just Shoot Me

(23) Party Down vs. (42) New Girl: Gotta be honest, this is a toughie. Party Down is the rare show that inspired a good reboot, and its original episodes were brilliant if very downbeat. New Girl hasn’t had a reboot, but was very funny in its heyday and featured Jake Johnson in possibly his best role aside from Peter B. Parker.

Once again: I am glad I don’t vote. But you do. So vote now!

Party Down

New Girl