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

Three people who've never been in my kitchen.

Well, folks, we’ve finally made it. We’ve made it to the Final Four of the Ultimate TV Comedies bracket! …Unless of course, we’re not actually at that stage of the bracket. In fact, it’s entirely possible that the Final Four of the bracket are on a plane right now to Toronto. Or they’re in Anaheim. Or they’re flying somewhere else. (Can you tell that I’ve been paying attention to the non-news regarding Shohei Ohtani’s whereabouts as a player in the 2024 season? Also, I’m typing these words on the afternoon before you’re reading this, so if actual news has happened in the last 16 hours, keep in mind that these references may be wildly dated.)

Anyway. We really are at the Final Four, and these are your final shows:

Cheers vs. Arrested Development

M*A*S*H vs. The Simpsons

Three of these four shows have won Emmys for Best Comedy Series. Three of these shows ran at least 11 seasons, and of course, one of them is more than 30 years old. Quality and influence run rampant in our Final Four.

But what’s going to the big finish on Monday? Well, that’s up to you, and your first big choice is today.

Let’s go!

(1) Cheers vs. (2) Arrested Development: While these two comedies are fundamentally different from each other in almost every way, they are both rightfully beloved by lots of people and also very influential in a lot of different ways. How many modern comedies owe a debt to one or both of these sitcoms? How much of the Marvel Cinematic Universe might look different if, say, Arrested Development (whose first season was directed primarily, though not entirely, by Anthony and Joe Russo) wasn’t renewed for a full first season or wasn’t given a second season? The Russos eventually moved onto Community, but again…talk about a show that doesn’t exist without the story of the Bluths first.

But even a show like Arrested Development, with its whip-fast pacing, cutaway jokes, shaky-cam-style faux-documentary shooting, etc., owes a debt to Cheers. Because, really, just about every sitcom of the last 40 years owes a debt to Cheers, which still holds up remarkably well in the year of our Lord 2023. It is timeless, it is brilliant, and yes, I think it should go to the finale.

But what do you think?

Cheers

Arrested Development