My Favorite Sitcoms

(Well. A good sitcom requires great writing, great characters, and, of course, great acting doesn’t hurt, right?)

#1 The Big Bang Theory (Greatest character ever: Sheldon Cooper. Unbelievable the guest celebrities they get, especially great physicist Stephen Hawking, and Great astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson. Did you know one of his books is on YouTube—extremely intersting astrophysics, starting with the creation (forgive me) and evolution of the universe. I watched it ‘till burnout, enjoyed it, and even understood it.)

#2 Seinfeld (Great characters, I think Kramer, George, his dad, Elaine and Neumann, the bit parts, Steinbrenner, Puddy, Larry David and Jerry are the best. I imagine Seinfeld played a large role in the writing—genius.. Turns out, in a sitcom, who needs a plot?)

#3 The Office (Dwight is the best, but everybody good)

#4 The Beverly Hillbillies (What can you say about Buddy Ebson? Song and dance man in the ‘30s, a relative of Holly Golitely (Audrey Hepburn, I like to think her husband) in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, funniest Hillbilly since June Carter way back in YouTubes with Hank Williams. Others very good too. Did you know Jethro was the son of the world champ boxer with the irrepressible laugh Max Baer?)

#5 M*A*S*H ( long series of many great characters. Col. Potter must have been thrilled to make it out of Dragnet (Actually, I like that show a lot too—more power to Jack Webb!), can get very serious, which is, I think, a good thing)

#6 The Andy Griffith Show (really the Barney Fife show. Andy also very good, with lovable entourage Gomer, Goober, Floyd the barber, Aunt Bea…)

#7 Happy Days (Everyone good, Fonzie and Mork from Ork great. Nice evocation of the 50s (?))

#8 Gilligan’s Island (Alan Hale Jr., and Bob Denver great. Whatever you may say about it, a very amusing way to spend a half hour)