Tell that to Leonard Maltin. ;)

Also, I think the finale (which I would admit was only good and not great) got so much flack because there wasn't a typical series finale. There was no character moving away, no one starting a new life in some way, no babies born, no tearjerker moment. No wedding. I remember at the time hearing people predict that Jerry and Elaine would get married. Its like they never even watched the show.

It also demonstrated how little Bill Maher understood scripted TV.

He griped a little while before the show ended that there were never consequences for the ensembles horrible behavior.

Bull-effing-Shit!!

The sine qua non of the entire show was that every one of their behaviors, intentionally or inadvertently horrible, had consequences. The trial in the finale was a compendium of their misdeeds, no matter how slight or remote.

Difference was, they didn't care. They took their lumps and headed off to lunch.

If they are of my age group, and they have any affection for the shows they grew up on, they're morons.

TV through the 60's, 70's and 80's sucked ass, for the most part.

If he really said that then he sucks.

A show shouldn't even be considered for these lists until their off the air for 5 yrs.

Only right now, upwards of 20% of the best television made is on air now.

The best TV shows of the 70's would rival or exceed the best free network shows of today.

In no particular order:

1. Carol Burnett
2. Bob Newhart
3. Mary Tyler Moore
4. Mork and Mindy
5. M*A*S*H
6. Doc (Barnard Hughes)
7. All in the Family
8. Good Times
9. Dallas
10. Happy Days
11. Taxi
12. Barney Miller
13. Welcome Back Kotter
14. WKRP in Cinncinati
15. Sanford and Son

I'd put AD, P&R and New Girl above all but AitF, Taxi and Newhart. Community, and the cancelled 30 Rock and Happy Endings [for now] are up there with them.

I didn't hate those shows, and early M.A.S.H., along with Barney Miller and Taxi were good shows.

The rest were mind numbingly stupid in many ways.

There's a reason the TV became known as the idiot box.

Oh, and Newhart was classic.

There isn't much on "free network TV" these days, because they still try to cater to wide audiences. The good stuff is all on cable, and it has been for at least the last 15 years. Although that's changing slowly as networks include a few shows that emulate what's been successful on cable (Hannibal's probably the most recent example of that).

Some of my favorite TV shows were only funny for a couple seasons before the magic wore off.

See: Futurama, Community, Simpsons.

Makes lists like this really, really hard to put up.

Just saw the new ad for Newsroom, and Bigfoot guy calls OWS 'the American Arab spring.'

Yeesh!!

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X5pV325adg...1600/wiig1.jpg

Totally agree. No that doesn't annoy me. Yeah, it's just too slick and phony and "Oh, look how clever we all are!"

I heard they do it all while walking, too.