I no longer look forward to new television seasons when it comes to comedies. If you throw out NBC's thursday night lineup, and "South Park", the comedy genre is in a huge rut. Especially when you look at the traditional sitcoms. Even the ones that generally receive critical raves are bad.

Take "Two and Half Men" for instance. Seriously, take it! One of the most annoying half hours of television I've ever seen. I kept reading that it was good, my family assured me it was good, friends I knew told me it was good. I watched it. It stinks. Jon Cryer is especially annoying. Charlie Sheen is Charlie Sheen, which is to say his character is a butthole. And the kid who's the "half" isn't all that cute or funny, himself.

"How I Met Your Mother" is another terrible show that consistantly gets good reviews. I think Neil Patrick Harris has good comic timing. I also like the majority of the cast, which consists of ex-"Freaks and Geeks" and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" cast members. But the jokes kinda stink, if you ask me. In fact, if it weren't for the cast, these jokes would sound like they were written by a bunch of reefer-smoking college kids.

But maybe I'm not seeing something. I also hated "Friends", "Everybody Loves Raymond", and "Will and Grace". All painfully unfunny. Maybe it's just the obvious jokes and painful setups that bother me. There are no real truths to any of these shows, which is why the jokes generally fall flat.

However, I did find great geniune humor in "Seinfeld" and "The Simpsons". And I do think "The Office" is the funniest show currently on prime time tv. Maybe it's just the traditional sitcoms that give me problems. Either way, there isn't much to laugh at today on tv.

• RE: Sitcoms Stink,bullzeye, 08:45 AM, 03-23-07
  • RE: Earl,Pretty_Kitty, 01:16 PM, 03-24-07
• RE: Sitcoms Stink,emydi, 10:38 AM, 03-23-07
• RE: Sitcoms Stink,trigirl, 10:52 AM, 03-23-07
• RE: Sitcoms Stink,susang, 11:33 AM, 03-23-07

With a few exceptions, I haven't been into the sitcom genre since the 80's, when Cosby, Family Ties and Cheers ruled the day. Alas, all good things came to an end as all of these shows ran out of gas and ended up being too painful to watch.

In terms of today's offering - I have already agreed that "The Office" is outstanding. And I probably wouldn't have discovered it if not for the thread you started on it. I used to watch "Everyone Hates Chris", but lost interest (is it even on anymore?), fairly quickly. Surprised you didn't mention "Earl", a show I have recently rediscovered - Jaime Pressly's character alone makes this a great watch.

I can honestly say that I have not seen a single episode of all of the other shows you mentioned.

A birthday present from Tribe

isn't it funny that her name is "Joy"?
The Office is the first sitcom I've loved since Seinfeld.

I watch Scrubs, 30 Rock, HIMYM, South Park and EHatesC (yes it's on Monday at 8 and replayed the next Sun at 6:30pm) and the Simpsons are still on...I just don't watch it anymore...CANNOT WAIT FOR MOVIE THOUGH!! I don't watch Office bc it's always been on Thurs and I already watched Survivor etc. I already watch enuf as it is...but what I have seen it's very funny...maybe I'll buy the DVDs

I agree tho Sitcoms have not fared well of late. I love Seinfeld--probably in my top 5 shows ever...hmmm that's a whole other thread!

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Hate sitcoms too. Could never understand the Friends craze...other than checking out the latest hairstyles. snooze

Loved Cheers as a kid. Seinfeld as an adult. Only recently have discovered Arrested Development on DVD.
Not sure how I completely missed that series, but am crazy about it...guess everyone else did too that is why it got cancelled.

Enjoy Scrub, Earl and Simpsons but don't go out of my way to watch them. Why is it that sitcoms svck so bad? You mentioned Two and Half Men...oh my heck...I'd rather have teeth extracted.

I feel less alone now. Everyone I knew loved Friends, and I was the only one who hated it.

Raymond: saw it once (that was the last time).

Sitcoms as a whole were better years ago. But I am biased, being 40+.

I used to look forward to Will & Grace, but it became boring when G married Harry Connick Jr. And having guest stars didn't seem to help.

The Office cast is top-notch!