The Ultimate TV Comedies Bracket -- Round Three, Day Two
...Her?
Hey, folks! I will note here — since I didn’t do it yesterday — that in case anyone was wondering, I really have backed away from Twitter. I suppose I could reactivate my account within the next few weeks (I apparently have 30 days before my account is well and truly gone), but…yeah. Barring a miracle in the form of a certain anti-Semitic, racist, transphobic, xenophobic, sexist billionaire owner being kicked to the curb, I’m done.
You know what else is done? Four sitcoms in today’s matchups of the third round of the Ultimate TV Comedies bracket! (Nice segue, I know.) Let’s start the vote!
(2) Arrested Development vs. (15) The Golden Girls: Did you know that Mitchell Hurwitz, the creator of Arrested Development, once wrote for The Golden Girls? It’s true! Back in the early days of his career, he was one of a handful of folks writing on the series’ later seasons (also among them was Marc Cherry, who would create another big mid-2000s show, Desperate Housewives). News you can use.
Anyway. Are you going to turn down Gob Bluth talking about club sauce? I don’t think so.
Arrested Development
The Golden Girls
(7) 30 Rock vs. (23) Ted Lasso: At some point soon (read: the next round), I’m going to vote against 30 Rock, because I find that its “Tell as many jokes as humanly possible in as little time as humanly possible” approach gets exhausting after a point. But again, that point is not today. Between these two shows starring SNL alums, it’s gotta go to Liz Lemon.
30 Rock
Ted Lasso
(3) All in the Family vs. (46) Schitt’s Creek: I think for the sheer influence and importance of its existence, All in the Family has to win here. But, boy, Moira Rose doing that fruit-wine ad is hilarious. The Roses had a good run.
All in the Family
Schitt’s Creek
(6) The Dick Van Dyke Show vs. (11) The Bob Newhart Show: Dick Van Dyke vs. Bob Newhart! Bert the chimney-sweep versus Bernard the mouse! CBS against…CBS! Now, in spite of the fact that these two enormously talented legends both had shows named after them, both of the shows were popular, and the two men themselves are still with us (legends both of them), only one can win today.
Good thing I don’t vote. I’d probably give it to The Dick Van Dyke Show but just by a nose. What do you think?
The Dick Van Dyke Show
The Bob Newhart Show
You made me choose between two of my total all time favorites! Had to go with Bob but just just barely.
Wow, Josh, you really do not like Bob Newhart (based on how you seeded his two sitcoms).
Also, my biggest hangup with 30 Rock versus Ted Lasso is that 30 Rock had such a mean, cynical undercurrent to it, particularly in the later seasons. It's why I much preferred Parks and Rec, which had the same zany and ridiculous humor, but with more optimism and genuine affection for the characters. Nevertheless, 30 Rock at its best made me laugh harder than any other sitcom ever has, so it gets my vote here.