This article was written, by me, on June 3, 1997 and posted to the rec.arts.tv newsgroup. That original article has been somewhat edited by me before being placed on the web on June 6, 1997.
BEST COMEDIES:
1. 3rd Rock
2. Frasier
3. Ned & Stacey
4. Newsradio
5. Friends
"Special Mention" : Flash Forward
Honorable Mentions : Seinfeld, Clueless, Suddenly Susan,
(in no order) The Nanny, Something So Right
Guilty Pleasure(s) : Sabrina The Teenaged Witch,
Nick Freno Licensed Teacher
Biggest Disappointment : Spin City
Most Overrated : Mad About You
Seen, at least 2-3 times : Boston Common, Brotherly Love, Unhappily
(but no special mention) Ever After, Party Girl, Mr. Rhodes, Caroline
in the City, Chicago Sons, Spin City, Pearl,
Townies, Temporarily Yours, Almost Perfect,
The Drew Carey Show, Men Behaving Badly,
The Single Guy, Just Shoot Me, The Naked Truth,
Fired Up, Boy Meets World, Step by Step,
Pauly, Social Studies
I know this will be controversial. But there is only one clear choice for 'Best Comedy of the Season'. And that choice is NBC's "Third Rock From the Sun". "Heresy", you say. "Why?!", you demand.
It's simple: because everything on this show works. First off, you have an oustanding cast. And I'm not just taking about the leads: Lithgow, Johnston, Stewart and Gordon-Levitt. Everyone on this show is brilliant: Mary Albright, Nina, Don the cop, Mrs. Dubcheck, August, Dick's college class, etc. The list goes on and on. Secondly, the writing is brilliant. This show is like "Seinfeld" used to be: an inspirationally astute mirror of how our society works on a fundamental level. This shows just works in every one of its aspects. Quite simply, it's the best of the best.
A close second is my perennial choice for 'Best Comedy", NBC'S "Frasier". I don't need to go into details here: I've done it before. But an excellent cast, combined with astute (and often hysterical) writing makes "Frasier" one of the best comedies on the air, year in and year out.
My third choice is my personal favorite, FOX's (now cancelled) "Ned & Stacey". Many fans of the show were disappointed with this season (season #2) of "Ned & Stacey". Some complained that there wasn't enough Stacey this season, or that the writing wasn't as sharp. To me, this almost misses the point: the genius of "Ned & Stacey" was Thomas Haden Church, and Thomas Haden Church (nearly) alone. I can't describe why I liked this show (or Haden Church's portrayal) as much as I did. But, essentially, this comedy was totally on my wavelength, and I loved every minute of this show. I hope that Haden Church (and Nadia Dajani) get other TV jobs (and soon), because I think Church is one of the most gifted comedians on TV right now. I will truly miss his Ned, the zaniest character on all of TV.
My fourth choice is TV's most underrated comedy: NBC's "Newsradio". Now here is a comedy with a large ensemble (regular) cast (unlike the first three shows I've mentioned, which have smaller core casts), but this show has a large cast that's essentially perfect. Unlike some shows, there's not one person in this cast who isn't very good, or whose character annoys me. In addition, "Newsradio" had probably the funniest single episode of any show this season: if you haven't seen the 'daydream/daymare' episode, see it; it was the funniest thing I saw all season! Thankfully, NBC grabbed a clue, and renewed "Newsradio" in a better timeslot for next Fall. I.J.B. says "Check it out!"
Finally, my last vote actually goes to the much maligned "Friends" (NBC). Personally, this show was in trouble with me last season: the never-ending "Will Ross & Rachel finally get together?..." drama just didn't work on this show (which is a comedy, after all). This season, mercifully, this situation was resolved, and the result was much better ensemble comedy, the kind of thing we saw in season #1. Now I'm still not totally thrilled with this show: there are still too many "serious" dramatic episodes and storylines, and I still dislike the Ross-&-Rachel storyline. But, overall, this show has satisfyingly improved this season, and is back in form as one of TV's best comedies.
For my "Special (Comedy) Mention", I'm going way off the beaten path to single out a show that I have concluded was simply... brilliant. And that show was the Disney Channel's (and at one time, ABC's) "Flash Forward".
Those who visit my web page or who read my posts have probably figured out that I have a weakness for 'teen-themed' shows (particularly teen-themed comedies). But of all the shows in this genre that I've seen, "Flash Forward" is probably the best show of them all.
It's an amazing little feat: the makers of this show have combined the best element of comedies as varied as "Parker Lewis (Can't Lose)", "The Adventures of Pete and Pete" and "Running the Halls" to "Square Pegs", "Clarissa Explains It All" and "Saved by the Bell". Then they've thrown in just the smallest pinch of the poignancy of something like "Party of Five" or "The Torkelsons". The result is what was certainly the best "children's show" (and I hate that term, because a successful show will appeal to all ages) of this year (or several), and what may have been the best comedy of the year.
The success of this show was further bolstered by the protrayals of two very talented young actors (as well as a couple of likable supporting actors) who hit all the right notes in every scene.
I just can't not say enough about how much I really love this show. I think it's perfect.
This show probably won't appeal to all tastes. But if you like any of the shows that I've mentioned above, I strongly urge you to tune into "Flash Forward" on the Disney channel. I promise, you won't be disappointed.
The departure of Larry David has been felt on the set of NBC's "Seinfeld". While still quite a funny show, something inexplicable seems to be missing from TV's most popular comedy this season. It's as if "Seinfeld" has become a caricature of itself, as if the show itself is no longer "in" on its own joke this season. Still, while not up to the level of some preceding seasons, "Seinfeld" is still among the best comedies on television.
Some don't like the TV version of "Clueless" (ABC) as much as the Alicia Silverstone movie version. Well, duh! TV shows can never duplicate the winning formulas of movies. In order to succeed, the TV versions need to go in a new direction. And I think the TV version of "Clueless" has successfully done this. Lead by the highly appealing Rachel Blanchard as the ditzy-spoiled-clueless Cher Horowitz, the TV version has tended to emphasize satire more, while the movie version emphasized character more. And basically, it works for me! This is why I'm glad that "Clueless" will return (to UPN) next season. ...Like, this show's a total 'Baldwin'!
No show has been more maligned this season that NBC's "Suddenly Susan". But do you wanna be let in on a little secret?... {It's actually funny.} If "Susan" were just "The Brooke Shields Show", I doubt it would work. But the over-the-top exuberance of star Shields is tempered by some winning performances by Judd Nelson, Gathy Griffin and especially Nestor Carbonell, and some generally funny writing. If I have a complaint about "Susan", it's that Shields could use a little more direction (on occasion) to tone down her performance. Now, SS doesn't always work (some episodes were clunkers), but it was better than almost every other new sitcom this season. Overall, this show does not deserve the reputation it has gotten. In short: try and look beyond your personal feelings about Brooke Shields (whatever they are), sit back, and enjoy this show.
Fortunately, I think CBS's "The Nanny" has rebounded this season from a less than satisfying third season, last year. After a self-conscious start, "The Nanny" got out from under the repetitive Fran-Maxwell storyline, and has gotten back to the Fran Drescher slapstick and the winning secondary performances that made the show a winner originally. While I still find the show focuses too much on Fran and Sylvia Fine, and does not nearly utilize the Sheffield kids enough (especially Brighton, and to a lesser extent, Gracie), all in all this season has been a pretty good one from "The Nanny".
And finally, I've got to give another "Honorable Mention" to another premature (and unfair) casualty of the network schedule: NBC's "Something So Right". Not glamorous, and totally ignored, this little gem managed to do something that many sitcoms fail to do: be funny, week after week. Led by funny man, Jere Burns, "Something So Right" was helped immensely by its recurring ex-spouse characters, and an off-kilter sense of humor. Why NBC yanked this show (which was actually funny, and had decent ratings), but kept "Men Behaving Badly", I will never know.
Remember how I said that 'guilty pleasures' were shows that you like to watch, but which you are embarrassed to admit that you watch? Well, my two sitcom picks really do fit that description: I really am embarrassed to admit I watch them!
And, yet, week after week, I find myself back watching ABC's "Sabrina, The Teenaged Witch" and WBN's "Nick Freno: Licensed Teacher". Yeah, sure I'm embarrassed that I'm watching them. But it doesn't stop me...
So what keeps bringing me back to these shows? Well, I think the answer is pretty simple: it's the leads. I think it is impossible not to like Melissa Joan Hart. Heck, it must be! "Sabrina" just isn't that funny very often (as opposed to her previous vehicle, NICK's "Clarissa Explains It All", which was funny), and it's aimed at 7-year old girls. But I keep watching...
Similarly, I just can't get enough of the constant mugging from "Nick Freno's" lead, Mitch Mullany. I like to think of him as 'a poor man's Jim Carrey', and maybe he is (or maybe not...). But he's about the only think "Freno" has going for it (of course, it may also help that "Freno" is scheduled against my least favorite show on the planet: CBS's "60 Minutes").
"Sabrina", at least, has a couple of good supporting characters/actors. Caroline Rhea is winning as Sabrina's wacky aunt. And how can you not like Salem the Cat?! Too bad, "Sabrina" rarely gets writing up to the level of these performers.
Meanwhile, about that best thing "Freno" has going for it besides Mitch Mullany is Charles Cyphers (which probably isn't saying that much), and the attractive Portia De Rossi (yeah, yeah, the kids are harmless too...). But writing? Who needs writing when you have Mitch Mullany to mug for the camera?! (Hopefully, next season, someone will actually try and write something to properly utilize Mullany's talents.)
Still, why argue with a 'guilty pleasure'? You know you'll just be back watching it next week...
And now, the really bad stuff. In thinking over this season's 'most disappointing' sitcom, I quickly came upon my pick: ABC's "Spin City". This distresses me greatly, because it was one of the new shows that I was most looking forward to, just last summer.
Why "Spin City"? For me the answer is simple: this show just simply broke faith with me. When you tell me I'm going to get a show in 'Genre A', I expect that I will actually get a show in 'Genre A'. When you instead give me a show in 'Genre B' (an overused genre, at that!) after only 6 weeks, I tend to get a little ticked off!
And what was so wrong with "Spin City" when Carla Gugino was on? Is there some law against actually trying to have a "romantic comedy" on TV?! (Considering that I can think of only one other example, there must be!) I know ABC's answer: "Well, it says right here in our focus group studies that 'office comedies' are more popular than 'romantic comedies'. Just look at NBC: they've got 'Suddenly Susan', 'Just Shoot Me', 'Newsradio', Boston Common', etc..." (Hey, ABC! Half of NBC's 'office comedies' suck!)
So, network goons: Screw the focus groups!
I don't know how many times it has to be said before the networks get it:
Rule #1: Do not interfere with your TV shows. Let them develop
as they will, and if they don't take off (in the ratings),
cancel them. But do not try and "fix" them; you'll
only make things worse, in any case.
It's just that simple folks. Next...
Originally, I was tempted to go with either "Roseanne" or "Ellen" here. And indeed, "Roseanne" is incredibly overrated with TV critics. But who cares what they say?! In addition, "Roseanne" got plenty beaten up by her own fans this season, so no one needs to hear me add to that. As for "Ellen"... does anyone really watch it?!
So I went with my perennial punching bag, NBC's "Mad About You". Sure, this show was funny, in season one. But what's the draw these days? The lame supporting characters? The annoying guest stunts? The repetitive nature of the jokes? The baby?!
Please, tell me, because I just don't understand the appeal of this show!
I guess I'm just too single to get this show...
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