Cleverest sitcom? Page 2

Making comparisons between sitcoms is quicksand central for two main reasons:

1. 'Entertainment' and all aspects thereof (including 'cleverness') means different things to different people. Some people think 'clever' the kind of sitcom writing which relies on outlandishly exaggerated characterisations and rude noises to impress. I don't.

2. Sitcoms are so different and, frankly, there's no hard and fast Law as to what actually constitutes a sitcom. I personally cannot accept TV cartoon/characters as qualifying but there are plenty of people who think otherwise.

It's a debate which might have its interests but which goes up a magnificent blind alley.

Quote: ContainsNuts @ February 29, 2008, 11:46 AM

But all that is written. Do you mean the angle a subject is tackled at?

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Mmm, partly I suppose. Pretty much the subject itself. Nothing to do with the writing really.

Max & Paddy.

Quote: Jolanta Zofia Nowak @ February 29, 2008, 11:58 AM

Making comparisons between sitcoms is quicksand central for two main reasons:

1. 'Entertainment' and all aspects thereof (including 'cleverness') means different things to different people. Some people think 'clever' the kind of sitcom writing which relies on outlandishly exaggerated characterisations and rude noises to impress. I don't.

2. Sitcoms are so different and, frankly, there's no hard and fast Law as to what actually constitutes a sitcom. I personally cannot accept TV cartoon/characters as qualifying but there are plenty of people who think otherwise.

It's a debate which might have its interests but which goes up a magnificent blind alley.

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Yeah but Aaron asked the question, so the definition is set.

Quote: Jolanta Zofia Nowak @ February 29, 2008, 11:58 AM

there's no hard and fast Law as to what actually constitutes a sitcom.

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A comedy. With recurring characters. In a particular situation. Sounds pretty "hard and fast" to me.

Cleverest is a tough one but I agree with the political examples that were given and with The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin. Some of the 'race' sitcoms have been clever and Frasier is one of the smartest from overseas.

I thought Coupling's storylines were very clever how they all tied together at the end, especially "The End Of The Line" episode in series 2.

Although not STRICTLY a sitcom, I loved the last series of TLOG with the lovely red carrier bag device, linking the narrative from a different character's perspective each week. I'd never have thought of doing that.

Quote: Aaron @ February 29, 2008, 12:32 PM

A comedy. With recurring characters. In a particular situation. Sounds pretty "hard and fast" to me.

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Return of the Turbo Vibrator sounds pretty hard and fast to me

STRICTLY SITCOM - Presented by Bruce Forsyth and Julia Davis on ice, where a comedy character pairs off with a minor celebrity to guess what is in Noel's big red box.

British I would have to agree with Aaron Yes Minister was the most clever. Allo Allo was also a very sharp sitcom that could contend with Yes Minister in my opinion. I know it's not a sitcom but most clever British comedy I think goes to Monty Python hands down.

American:
Simpsons: I would have to say that between seasons 5 and 10 the Simpsons could be ranked as some of the most clever comedies on televions ever.
Futurama: An incredibly clever series that just got funnier and more witty as the seasons continued.
Frasier: is in my opinion the most clever sitcom to ever come out of the US. It got pretty ridiculous and lame by the last few seasons but in general the comedy was gold. This is coming from someone who thinks Kelsey Grammer is a complete tool in real life. Have you seen his new show?! Sooooo very unfunny. Suck it Grammer.

Love thy Neighbour--- JOKE!!!

I'm going to have to go with 'The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin' Not the best sitcom, but definetly the cleverest.

Quote: Griff @ February 29, 2008, 4:27 PM

Look Around You was pretty clever, especially the first and funniest series. Although not really a sitcom, so I'm cheating.

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Not a sitcom at all. Its like me saying the X Files, which was way too clever for me. They were married right?

Quote: Aaron @ February 29, 2008, 12:32 PM

A comedy. With recurring characters. In a particular situation. Sounds pretty "hard and fast" to me.

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Sounds pretty vague and wishy washy to me...

... which is precisely WHY we are able to get the scope of sitcoms that we do...

You might as well say that the rules defining art are 'hard and fast'. After all, PAINT and CANVAS are virtually always required!

And similarly I doubt there's much mileage in discussing whether Picasso is 'cleverer' than Michelangelo. All in the eye of the beholder.

Not really. COMEDY is the equivalent of 'art'. Sitcom is the equivalent of painting. A specific genre.

Sitcom. Situation comedy. Don't know what there is to be wishy washy about really.

The Thick of It.