Which is the meanest sitcom?

Have you ever noticed just how nasty most sitcoms are? How characters fail, fail and then fail some more, before suffering some more.

But which is the meanest and harshest?

Malcolm in the Middle, every one in that show is a loser and a victim? The episode where they feed Dewey dogfood, then make him shit on the lawn?

or

Peep Show, where the 2 characters had break downs in the first series and were reduced to alcoholic wrecks stalking each other in their flat?

Perhaps Neil's life of misery in The Young Ones? Buried in the garden, nailed to the floor and worse.

Horribly but good naturedly, I thought they survived Black Adder the 3rd?

It's more that with Peep Show and Malcolm in the Middle, there never ever is a happy ending.

Every episode ends with excruciating misery and/or embarassment.

And it's always thoroughly deserved.

The dog/barge episode of Peep Show is a case in point.

That last episode was wonderful, I did love Nathan Barley.

Throw a drink in his face, now pinch his arse.

Nighty Night always left a sour taste in my mouth. Jill Night was funny at first, but became quite tiresome after a while.

That was a very mean sitcom, they paralysed then killed the poor vicar.

Malcolm and family do sometimes get to win, usually in the form of a particularly elaborate and nasty practical joke played on a tormentor.

One Foot in the Grave became extraordinarily mean spirited towards the end, as when they tried to get laughs from Mildred's suicide; but in terms of unremitting (and often extremely painful) failure few could match poor old Frank Spencer.

You know Sorry! was quite horrible, poor Timothy was one of life's eternal losers.

Quote: Timbo @ December 16 2008, 11:01 AM GMT

but in terms of unremitting (and often extremely painful) failure few could match poor old Frank Spencer.

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Crucially, Frank was never broken by the things that happened to him.

Quote: Timbo @ December 16 2008, 11:01 AM GMT

Malcolm and family do sometimes get to win, usually in the form of a particularly elaborate and nasty practical joke played on a tormentor.

One Foot in the Grave became extraordinarily mean spirited towards the end, as when they tried to get laughs from Mildred's suicide; but in terms of unremitting (and often extremely painful) failure few could match poor old Frank Spencer.

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But Spencer was essentially happy and had a well fit wife, who he must have shagged at least once.

Quote: Griff @ December 16 2008, 11:04 AM GMT

Married With Children was quite sour.

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Mitigated by the seriously hot daughter.

The Simpsons was never that down beat, because essentially they all loved each other.

Quote: sootyj @ December 16 2008, 11:02 AM GMT

You know Sorry! was quite horrible, poor Timothy was one of life's eternal losers.

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Tell me about it...

I loathed Sorry!; not only did the lead character share my name, I could actually recognise something of myself in him ... It was a bit like someone had sat down to write a sitcom with the express intention of ripping the piss out of me. And to add insult to injury, it wasn't even funny!

Quote: Timbo @ December 16 2008, 11:11 AM GMT

I loathed Sorry!; not only did the lead character share my name, I could actually recognise something of myself in him ... It was a bit like someone had sat down to write a sitcom with the express intention of ripping the piss out of me. And to add insult to injury, it wasn't even funny!

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I liked it! Sorry.

Quote: Griff @ December 16 2008, 11:04 AM GMT

Married With Children was quite sour.

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Oh, yea that was a mean one.

I am still trying to visualise Ronnie Barker on roller skates...