Comedy Sitcoms to rival FRIENDS

A couple of days ago, I was discussing tv sitcoms with a friend and she said something which I totally disagreed with.

"No matter what you say Roshan, the fact is that there hasn't been a comedy sitcom half as good as FRIENDS in the last decade."

Apparently, it was a popular opinion online as well. But I'm not quite as convinced as you all. 

You realise that it is nearly 19 years since Ross, Rachel and  company first appeared on television ? Granted it was an iconic show and had tremendous ratings, but have there really been no other comedy shows that you felt deserved as much applause ( if not more ) as FRIENDS ?

For the consideration of all those who feel that FRIENDS is the beginning and end of all Tv sitcoms in the last two decades, I would like to suggest a few ( in no particular order ) that bring a smile to my face even today when I come across them.  

01. 30 Rock

• After a first season that played midway between comedy and depicting the hardships of being a woman in a man's world of producing TV shows, luckily 30 Rock embraced it's silliness outright and went on to be comedic gold. 
• Tina Fey as the dorky Liz Lemon, Alec Baldwin as her mentor and die-hard Republican Jack Donaghy, Tracy Morgan and Jane Krakowski as the most overbearing celebrity TV actors you will ever find.
• Rapid-fire wit with a no holds barred attitude. 

2. Will and Grace 

• Gay lawyer. Jewish woman. Rich drunk socialite. Gay dancer/actor. Every possible stereotype you could think of was there and the humour bordered from plain funny to downright naughty.
• A show where the funniest stars were ironically the friends of the two title characters.
• Was one of the biggest victims of the FRIENDS juggernaut. Deserved better.

 3. Arrested Development

• The smartest and most underrated comedy of the last decade.
• Depicts the life of the most dysfunctional family you will ever meet. 
• After the head of the family is arrested, the prodigal son is forced to take over. The biggest problem for his family's success sadly... is his family !
• Drawback : I get why people who see one or two episodes would not get much of the humour. The fact is, you need to watch it the way I eventually did : the entire three seasons together. That's when you grasp the brilliance of the script-writers who make even seemingly small events from the first few episodes have a massive significance as the show goes on. 
• Not laugh-out-loud funny. More of the "Heh. That was cool" variety.

4. Modern Family

• One of the better comedies of the last few years, giving a mock-documentary style peek into the lives of three inter-linked families.
• Again, not necessarily laugh-out-loud funny.
• High feel-good factor. Also tries ( and often succeeds ) in sneaking in a few life-lessons.
• To get an idea of their sense of humour, check out this hilarious skit they put up for the Emmy awards 'depicting' the most evil star of the show. Hilarious. 

 5. Two and a Half Men

• Salman Khan is to Bollywood what Charlie Sheen is to Hollywood. He just has to be there, playing himself. 
• When you come down to it, the show is basically about a rich boozing womanizer and his brother and nephew who stay with him. But you still watch it for Charlie Sheen. 
• His 'death' on the show pretty much killed the show as well. Sorry Ashton Kutcher.

6. Two Broke Girls

• The storyline revolves around two girls trying to make a success out of their dream of a cupcake franchise.
• It works because of Kat Dennings devil-may-care attitude ( which will make the puritans blush ) and Beth Behrs as a heiress now forced to work with her as a waitress after going broke.
• Definitely 'laugh out loud' funny. 
• I have a major crush on Kat Dennings. 'nuf said.

7. Happy Endings

• A more quirky, adult version of FRIENDS perhaps. 
• Give this show a chance. Like most critics, you will be pleasantly surprised at how funny it is after awhile.
• After Lily and Marshall ( How I Met Your Mother ), has one of the most hilarious husband-wife duos in the form of Brad and Jane.
• High feel-good factor. Like 30 Rock, not afraid to embrace it's silliness head on.

8. Rules of Engagement

• Highly underrated, in my opinion. Again, give it a chance.
• While being funny and very likable, it also depicts relationships at different levels with each of it's couples ( the long term marriage, the newly engaged and ...well, the womanizer with a PA who detests him ! )

9. Big Bang Theory

• I did not give it a chance in hell when I heard the concept - 4 nerdy scientist geeks and a girl.
• But it's actually not just done well, but really blossomed well over the years, adding new characters and even landing some major guest appearances for it's fans.
• While it is not a necessity, knowing your comic books and sci-fi shows is an added bonus to enjoying some of the jokes.

Consolation prizes :

a) Scrubs : One of my personal favourites, I did not add it in the above list simply because I don't really see it as a comedy. The storylines about this medical show were often brilliant depicting two-three different events and linking them together at the end of the episode. And while the humour was absolutely brilliant, there were too many life-lessons ( I've spoke about this earlier here ) for it to be labeled as just a comedy. Also the ending of the show... one of the most heart warming endings ever. 

b) New Girl :  Single girl living with three male roommates with very 'very' different characteristics. Zooey Deschenal is the USP as the most naturally awkward girl you can find on TV. Again, it was a toss-up between this and Two Broke Girls... I personally prefer the latter.

c) Cougar Town : The only one on this list starring a 'FRIENDS' alumni, this show by the creative team behind 'Scrubs' offers a pretty laidback look on life for a recently divorced wine-chugging mom and her pals, including her ex-husband, her neighbours and her teenage son. Courtney Cox ups the 'Monica Chandler' characteristics a notch ( bossy, domineering yet insecure ). The USP of the show is the feel good factor and the chemistry between the gang. 

d) How I Met Your Mother : Like Scrubs, this is another favourite yet it doesn't make the cut. Why ? Because when you think of it, the USP of this show isn't really the comedy, is it ? It's the brilliance of the script writers. No, not in delaying the reveal of who the mother is ( which is frankly getting a tad annoying after 8 seasons ), but because of the unique methods of story-telling and twists they bring within many individual episodes. Moments from earlier in the episode are revealed to have a different interpretation by the end. Oh yes, and Neil Patrick Harris as Barney Stinson. Annnd the Lily-and-Marshall marriage that most of us wish we could emulate.

e) Community : Filled with pop-culture references and unique methods of story-telling ( including an episode where, believe-it-or-not, the main characters were basically arcade game pixels versions of themselves ), this show which follows a bunch of people trying to pass out of community college is following the road of Arrested Development where it is too smart for it's own good. Pays some wonderful homages to past movies and TV shows. Deserves a better fan base.

What's your take on the list ? Any you would like to add or delete ? 
Or am I totally off-base and none really do come close to FRIENDS ?


Authors note : You, the readers, have added the following sitcoms to the above list.

• That 70s Show
• Dharma and Greg
• Malcolm in the Middle
• Everybody Loves Raymond
• Frasier
• Seinfeld
• Sex and the City