Sunday, January 20, 2013

Classic Comedy [Updated: 3/14]

Before reading this, I suggest you read the introduction to this site where I say what I'm doing.  


This post is fairly self-explanatory in its title: it's a category of shows that are "classic."  What did i deem classic?  Well, any show that has been off the air for quite a while - I didn't have a specific timeline, but it turns out the closest show ended in 2006.  Well, and Arrested Development.  I have no logical reason why the show that came back last year is on a list of shows that have ended well before.  Just go with it.  Without further ado, the list of shows I plan to watch sometime in the future.

The Andy Griffith Show
Years: 1960-1968, 8 Seasons

Why: If you don't know why this is on my list, there's no hope for you.  This show was one of the premiere comedies back in the day and I'm intrigued to see if it holds up.  Then there's also getting to see Don Knotts, a performer I never really was able to see.  As an added bonus, Ron Howard once being known as a child star is somewhat baffling to me, but it happened and this show is proof.  (Please tell me he was at least a good actor because his career produces rage-inducing jealousy from me.  Actor for two immensely popular TV shows for about 20 years and then sustain a decent, if mostly unimpressive directing career.  I want that.)

Status: This show is shelved for the foreseeable future.  Once I'm finished with The Simpsons, I will either decide to pick a show that was chronologically first or pick what I think will be a better comedy.  So it's either going to be watched relatively soon or quite a bit in the future.

Arrested Development
Years: 2003-2005, 2013, 4 seasons

Why: I couldn't tell you why it's on this specific list, but it's fairly easy to figure out why it's a show on my television shows to watch.  This witty, joke-filled comedy is easily one of the best comedies in this century.  Plus, this cast is crazy talented with a Michael Cera before he was famous, Michael Bateman before he was a movie star, Will Arnett, Jessica Walter, and Jeffrey Tambor.  Oh yeah and Ron Howard got to narrate this show, that lucky bastard.

Status: I have seen the first three seasons and five episodes of the second.  Unfortunately, there has been no desire for whatever reason to finish the fourth season.  I can't explain it and I'd love to finish this show, but I always want to watch something else.  I should finish this show this year though.

Cheers
Years: 1982-1993, 11 seasons

Why: You know what the why part might be redundant on a lot of these comedies.  Cheers is like a staple of modern American television.  Ted Danson is the man and this was him in his prime.  The lone problem I run into with this show is that it's ELEVEN seasons.  I'm that sad-sack type who likes to complete shows.

Status: I momentarily started to watch it for six episodes.  I loved it, but I stopped for some reason and haven't started again yet.  Not to worry, I'll either watch The Andy Griffith Show or this show after I finish The Simpsons.  And this show will almost certainly be right after The Andy Griffith Show if I go that route.

The Dick Van Dyke Show
Years: 1961-1966, 5 seasons

Why: What convinced me to watch this show were the names really.  You've got creator Carl Reiner, Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore... these are names I know are comedy legends, but I've never actually seen most of their work.  It's pretty nice that this show will give me the opportunity to watch them all work that magic on one show.  Also, on the bright side is that it's short-running and is on Netflix.  The Mary Tyler Moore show is NOT on this list, but it very well could make its way on from this show.

Status: This will likely come at a much later date.  I might try to watch this in conjunction with The Andy Griffith Show as a way to not burn out on one show and knock out two shows at once while still keeping both fresh.  Otherwise, expect this show to be waaay into the future.

Fraiser
Years: 1993-2004, 11 seasons

Why: Well, Leslie Grammar seems pretty awesome and this show seems to be well-received.  It's not as obvious a choice as Cheers and it doesn't really feature actors known for much outside of this show.  I don't have many reasons for choosing this, just that it fits nicely in with Cheers ending and it seems like a good show.

Status: Obviously I am not watching this until I finish Cheers.  Since Cheers is 11 seasons... yeah this is going to be quite a while.

Freaks and Geeks
Years: 1999-2000, 1 season

Why: This is commonly listed as one of the most unfortunate cancellations ever.  The cast on this show is just a who's who of the modern comedy world - except back when they hadn't done anything.  This show discovered an enormous amount of actors.  There's James Franco, Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, Sam Levinne, Linda Cardellini, Martin Starr... not all of them became famous, but they should have.  Anyway, this is rightly considered a classic and is a must-watch for television comedy fans.

Status: I have seen 10ish episodes and will finish soon.  This is kind of the same case as Arrested Development, except I am afraid to finish because then it will be the end as opposed to just generally not being that interested in season four of AD.

Friends
Years: 1994-2004, 10 seasons

Why: Well, I've already finished the series and it's listed as one of my favorite series of all time.  Judge me for that fact as you will, but this is a show I grew up on.  I won't deny the show is little more than just a half hour of entertainment but it's still funny to me  and I thoroughly enjoy watching this show if I feel like laughing.

Status: Well, I've seen every episode.  So this is essentially completed.

The Larry Sanders Show
Years: 1992-1998, 6 seasons

Why: It's getting kind of difficult trying to explain why I want to watch a television show I've never seen.  I mean I don't know it's weaknesses or strengths, I just have a general idea that it's good.  That's the case here.  Although I have seen a few episodes, and it's pretty clear this type of comedy is right up my alley.  Plus, Jeffrey Tambor's pretty great in his sidekick role.

Status: Like I said, I've seen a few episodes.  This would already be watched, but Netflix decided to take this show off and now I'm patiently waiting for them to add it back or for another avenue to watch it.  Until then, watching this show is not going to happen.

Malcolm in the Middle
Years: 2000-2006, 6 seasons

Why: I have seen quite a few Malcolm in the Middle episodes, but most of them where in my younger days.  I also kind of want to see Bryan Cranston in a funny role again to see how good he is in this role.  And I've seen just a few episodes recently, and this show is way funnier than I would have thought.  I won't dedicate any portion of time to watch this entire show, but I'll slowly re-watch all six seasons over the years.

Status: I've seen the first 10 episodes of the first season - most of which I had already seen - but this is pretty much my go to show when I'm bored and have no interest in really watching anything.

My So Called Life
Years: 1994-1995, 1 season

Why: Unlike Freaks and Geeks, I have no inkling of what this show is about, but I'm pretty sure it's remarkable in its portrayal of teenage girl life.  Now, I'm a college-aged guy so that doesn't exactly sound appealing, but from everything I've heard it's worth watching.  And it's only one season long so it's not like I will regret spending a little time watching this.

Status: I have no idea when I will watch it, but since it's only a season long, it will probably be pretty soon and chosen spontaneously.

Seinfeld
Years: 1989-1998, 9 seasons

Why: Seinfeld is a weirder case than another show in terms of how I will approach the series.  For one, I've seen a lot of the episodes already.  But I probably have only season like 30 or so episodes in its entire run so I obviously need to devote more time to watching the show.  But Seinfeld is one of those shows you almost have to buy to watch and that's not going to happen.  As long as there are free shows available and I'm broke, those shows will be watched instead of Seinfeld.

Status: The show is in limbo as its like the only show I can't find on Netflix that I don't expect ever will.

The Simpsons
Years: 1989-    , 26+ seasons

Why: No, I do not plan to watch all 26 seasons.  I plan to watch only the first eight and maybe the ninth to see how much it fell off.  But with this many on this list, I don't know if that will happen.  As far why I will watch this show, does that need any explanation really?

Status: I've seen the first four seasons so far and this is the only show I can reliably say I'm in the process of watching.  I watch a new season every few months and that would leave the finishing of this show around next year at this time.


That 70's Show
Years: 1998-2006

Why: Well, before I got into this blog, I spent time to watch every single That 70's Show episode, which were all on Youtube for some reason.  If I had never seen this show, I'm not sure I would have picked it out to watch, but since I've already done the grunt work, it's already on this list.  Not that I'm complaining.  If it this post seems like I didn't like the show, well I loved it so much I put it on my all-time favorite shows.

Status: Completed

Undeclared
Years: 2001-2002, 1 season

Why: Well, this is by the same people that created Freaks and Geeks and looks like a step below Freaks and Geeks.  But that's still a very interesting show.  This cast is also great featuring Jason Segel, Seth Rogen, and Charlie Hunman in a role that I really want to see because I hear it's way different.  Also, this show is only a season long so the time commitment is easy.

Status: Well, I won't watch this until I finish Freaks and Geeks, which should be soon.  Hopefully I can watch this in 2014, though I'm pretty slow to start comedies if you hadn't noticed.

Those are the classic comedies category I plan to watch or have already finished.  It's the biggest category with 14 shows and it has probably the widest range of time passed.  Unfortunately, I tend to give a higher amount of resistance to committing to comedies.  The only show on this list I can truly say will start and end when I plan for it to is The Simpsons, but that's both because it's revolutionary and because I am writing about each season.  The sad truth is that most of these shows I won't write about and if I don't write about them, then I have a little more trouble watching that show.

I will write about Freaks and Geeks, Undeclared, and My So Called Life, but past that I don't think I'll write about the rest.  I may just write a sort of overall look at the older series, because they are worth writing about, but the problem is season-to-season, most comedies are less appealing for me to commit to writing.  The Simpsons are the exception.  And while some of these comedies are quite revolutionary, most of them are safe by today's standards and would be hard to write more than once or twice about.

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