[MTVN]

Originally Posted by Alf

In your life time or ever?

When was the last time Friends was a regular on one of the four main UK channels BBC1, BBC2, ITV or Channel 4?

Certainly my lifetime and thats even though no one my age will have started watching it till after it finished. Literally everyone knows about it and could tell you the basic premise despite the fact it hasn't been on one of the four main channels in a while (although can't have been that long ago it was on C4)

[Mystic Mock]

Tbf I've only seen a few episodes of Friends, but it's not as quirky or as fun as shows like Arrested Development, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Community, or Parks & Recreation imo based on what I've seen of the show.

[Marsh.]

24 years old and still a pop culture phenomenon. Surely is the greatest, or at least one of them.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by Mystic Mock

Tbf I've only seen a few episodes of Friends, but it's not as quirky or as fun as shows like Arrested Development, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Community, or Parks & Recreation imo based on what I've seen of the show.

No Mock that is not correct

none of the above shows are anywhere close to Friends

not even close

[Mokka]

Originally Posted by Alf

In your life time or ever?

When was the last time Friends was a regular on one of the four main UK channels BBC1, BBC2, ITV or Channel 4?

But Alf, tv viewing has moved on from syndication to Netflix and Crave and any form of streaming. It's being streamed daily in your country by choice... not just because a local station is playing it in a dead time slot

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Mokka

But Alf, tv viewing has moved on from syndication to Netflix and Crave and any form of streaming. It's being streamed daily in your country by choice... not just because a local station is playing it in a dead time slot

Only Fools and Horses teas

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

The ones in bold are brilliant, the rest are entirely limited to the (now ageing) generation that they were aimed at and have not really stood the test of time, other than nostalgically for the people who remember them in their prime, so I don't think are contenders for "true" objective greatness (although everyone is of course entitled to their personal greats).

Tbf I'm 21 and I found Allo Allo funny.

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

No Mock that is not correct

none of the above shows are anywhere close to Friends

not even close

They may not be as popular, but their style of humour is more to my style as I'm not into the OTT Rom-Com elements of shows like Friends.

[Alf]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

The ones in bold are brilliant, the rest are entirely limited to the (now ageing) generation that they were aimed at and have not really stood the test of time, other than nostalgically for the people who remember them in their prime, so I don't think are contenders for "true" objective greatness (although everyone is of course entitled to their personal greats).

Dad's Army is still Saturday night prime time television on BBC2 to this day. It was even prime time on Christmas day just gone. They finished making them 41 years ago.

[Tony Montana]

Originally Posted by Alf

In your life time or ever?

When was the last time Friends was a regular on one of the four main UK channels BBC1, BBC2, ITV or Channel 4?

Originally Posted by MTVN

Certainly my lifetime and thats even though no one my age will have started watching it till after it finished. Literally everyone knows about it and could tell you the basic premise despite the fact it hasn't been on one of the four main channels in a while (although can't have been that long ago it was on C4)

It Ended on Channel 4 in 2011

[James]

Originally Posted by James

One of the best I think, but it went on too long. It declined when Chandler and Monica moved in together.

I only got into it later (with repeats) - I didn't like the look of it when it started.

I haven't watched American sitcoms much - I think the only other ones I watched were Happy Days and Larry Sanders.



A lot of those are classics. I've watched about half of them. Apart from Dads' Army and Fawlty Towers I haven't watched 70s and earlier sitcoms.

Also seen Porridge.

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

The ones in bold are brilliant, the rest are entirely limited to the (now ageing) generation that they were aimed at and have not really stood the test of time, other than nostalgically for the people who remember them in their prime, so I don't think are contenders for "true" objective greatness (although everyone is of course entitled to their personal greats).

I came across an episode of Allo Allo recently and thought it actually stood up.

[LaLaLand]

Originally Posted by Mystic Mock

Tbf I've only seen a few episodes of Friends, but it's not as quirky or as fun as shows like Arrested Development, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Community, or Parks & Recreation imo based on what I've seen of the show.

Now THERE'S one of the best of all time!

[Tony Montana]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

It clearly is the greatest. It's not the funniest or the most consistent or even necessarily my own personal favourite; but that's not the question. There simply isn't another sitcom that has been the same international and intergenerational phenomenon or even close.

Originally Posted by MTVN

Agree with this. I don't think any other sitcom matches it for it's popularity and it's impact

Yeah I also Agree with this. Whether or Not you think it's the GOAT Sitcom, (I Easily Think it is) it still is at least top 5 and You can't deny the Pop Culture Phenomenon and Legacy it Achieved. Its impact on Television was deeper and still is. No Show Comes close IMO. Fantastic Post, Toy Soldier

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Alf

Dad's Army is still Saturday night prime time television on BBC2 to this day. It was even prime time on Christmas day just gone.

No wonder viewing figures are on the floor.

50 year old repeats on a loop.

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by GiRTh

That episode in particular, where all the random plot line come together at the end, is definitely in the Seinfeld style.

1 plotline and 1 running joke.

That's pretty standard sitcom stuff.

The rather random background running joke to pay off with a big joke at the end by colliding with the episode's main plot.

That aint Seinfeld exclusive.

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Alf

Sgt Bilko
Cheers
The Monkees
Happy Days
Simpsons
Cosby Show
The Beverley Hillbillies
Rosanne
M*A*S*H
The Munsters
The Adams Family
Fresh Prince
Golden Girls
Taxi
Mork and Mindy
Diff'rent Strokes
Bewitched

All just as internationally phenomenal as Friends, in some cases bigger.

Except the shine wore off some of those, not many stand alongside Friends as still being so popular.

Some of them ruined their own legacy by keeping going decades passed their prime, aka The Simpsons.

Friends and a few of the others know that you very rarely strike that magic twice so haven't jumped on the reunion train and, rightly, left them as they were.

As for the Cosby Show, well....

[Alf]

Originally Posted by Marsh.

No wonder viewing figures are on the floor.

50 year old repeats on a loop.

They wouldn't need to be if we still made good sitcoms these days. Sadly, we've turned into a fragile nation that finds good comedy offensive and there are too many people unable to be mocked.

So those of us that seek to just laugh at life, have to go back through the archives to find our pleasure, and some people are happy to just take Simon Cowell or whatever else they dish up.

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Alf

They wouldn't need to be if we still made good sitcoms these days. Sadly, we've turned into a fragile nation that finds good comedy offensive and there are too many people unable to be mocked.

So those of us that seek to just laugh at life, have to go back through the archives to find our pleasure, and some people are happy to just take Simon Cowell or whatever else they dish up.

Plenty quality sitcoms/shows get made. You just have to look for them. The TV industry isn't confined to three channels anymore. If you're looking for classic after classic on the same two channels these days you will be let down.

Anyway, nope, quality of sitcoms isn't really the problem since the schedules being filled with repeats has been a problem for a very, very long time.

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by Jonnii

Now THERE'S one of the best of all time!

Who's your favourite character? I love them all but I think that my favourite is Gob.

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by Alf

They wouldn't need to be if we still made good sitcoms these days. Sadly, we've turned into a fragile nation that finds good comedy offensive and there are too many people unable to be mocked.

So those of us that seek to just laugh at life, have to go back through the archives to find our pleasure, and some people are happy to just take Simon Cowell or whatever else they dish up.

The IT Crowd was a very good Sitcom I thought out of our recent efforts.

Peter File is still one of the best jokes in a Comedy imo.

[LaLaLand]

Originally Posted by Mystic Mock

Who's your favourite character? I love them all but I think that my favourite is Gob.

Oh it's got to be Lucille! Just incredible.

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by Jonnii

Oh it's got to be Lucille! Just incredible.

I love Lucille too, especially her dynamic with Buster.

[Alf]

Originally Posted by Mystic Mock

The IT Crowd was a very good Sitcom I thought out of our recent efforts.

Peter File is still one of the best jokes in a Comedy imo.

I tried it once, I watched two episodes and wasn't enjoying it, so stopped. I might give it another go sometime. My best mate loves it, he's always banging on about it.

The Detectorists is probably the best recent sitcom I've seen.

[Alf]

They don't make em' like Mrs Slocombe anymore

Youtube video

[Tony Montana]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Yes well, Seinfeld had no Chandler

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PANRt1cHKl4