|
|
 |
|
 |
I Love Lucy
CBS, 1951-61
 Everyone throughout the world loves Lucy. Still syndicated
internationally, Lucille Ball, then-husband
Desi Arnaz as the Ricardos and their sidekicks William Frawley and Vivan
Vance as the Mertzes,
continue to live on in infamy. Ball and her cohorts set the standard for
what all situation comedies to
come would and should aspire to, as the landmark series chronicled the
antics of the housewife, her Cuban
bandleader husband and their friends, neighbors and landlords, the
Mertzes. Make a reference to the
grape-stomping episode, the trip to Hollywood season and many more --
and even infrequent TV viewers
will know what you're talking about. The best. Period. |
 |
M*A*S*H
CBS, 1972-83
 The series ran longer than the war it depicted, and it's impact on the
television viewing audience may,
fortunately or unfortunately, be more significant than the Korean war.
The stories of the doctors, nurses,
patients and administrators of the 4077th brought both comedy and pathos
into the viewing audiences
homes. The sitcom from Larry Gelbart broke many traditions and set many
new standards. It also was
one of those rare occasions when the series was better than the movie.
The series effectively made cast
transitions and introduced a whole new concept to the meaning of
television comedy - the introduction of
the (occasional) dramedy. |
 |
Star Trek
NBC, 1966-69
 The original. William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy couldn't have asked for
a better seminal role to start
their successful careers. The series, courtesy of the genius that was
Gene Roddenberry, that started the
billion-dollar franchise was clever, engaging and now, campily classic.
Each adventure of the Starship
Enterprise is held in fond memory of both TV fans and of course,
Trekkers. |
 |
The Andy Griffith Show
CBS, 1960-68
 A look at life at small-town life in Mayberry, North Carolina. The local sheriff, Andy Taylor (Griffith), kept peace among the locals, while trying to raise young Opie (Ron Howard) without a mother. Among the town's many unique characters were Taylor's over-zealous deputy, Barney Fife (Don Knotts), and the almost-always happy gas station attendant Gomer Pyle (Jim Nabors). |
 |
Cheers
NBC, 1983-93
 Whether you're a fan of the Diane Chambers or the Rebecca Howe years,
"Cheers" is one of those series,
as are all the top 10 shows, that can be watched repeatedly in
rebroadcasts. Chronicling the lives of
recovered alcoholic and ex-baseball player Sam Malone (Ted Danson) and
the gang at his Cheers bar
made Thursday nights on NBC what they are today. |
 |
The Dick Van Dyke Show
CBS, 1961-66
Widely considered one of television's best-written comedies, this series followed television writer Rob Petrie (Van Dyke) as he dealt with the ups and downs of a Hollywood career writing for star Alan Brady (Carl Reiner). His home life featured caring wife Laura (Mary Tyler Moore), who often kept the sometimes-neurotic Rob in check. |
 |
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
CBS, 1970-77
 A groundbreaking series in its depiction of a single woman's life, this series followed Mary Richards, a woman in her early 30s, as she tried to start a new life in Minneapolis after an unsuccessful relationship. She found a job at a local TV station, and quickly worked her way through the ranks, all the while faced with many problems faced by women of her age in real life. |
 |
Bewitched
ABC, 1964-72
The little story of a witch who decided she'd rather be an average housewife. Samantha Steven (Elizabeth Montgomery) tried her hardest to keep her powers under wraps, but frequent appearances by her mother, Endora (Agnes Moorehead) and other relatives meant she was always trying to get out of some mess. Samantha's husband, Darrin (played by Dick York, then Dick Sargent) tried to keep the witchcraft under control, but with one wiggle of her nose, Samantha invariably made those plans go awry. |
 |
The Twilight Zone
CBS, 1959-65
Led by former playwright Rod Serling, this anthology series set the stage for many imitators, but few series could deliver the quality stories found in "The Twilight Zone." Usually off-beat with ironic twists or surprise endings, this series still sets the standard within the genre. It returned in an updated version in 1985, without the leadership of Serling, who passed away in 1975. |
 |
All in the Family
CBS, 1971-83
Based on a hit Brit series, "All in the Family" introduced the first
openly dysfunctional family on TV. No
longer were TV families the envy of audiences. Archie and Edith Bunker
(Carroll O'Connor and Jean
Stapleton) were more like the American every man than had ever been
depicted on TV. Norman Lear's
series was the first blue-collar (not "Roseanne," contrary to
popular belief), hilariously
relatable sitcom. The epitome of politically incorrect, Bunker was the
outspoken, foot-in-mouth any guy
whose job and neighborhood were being "taken over" by immigrants,
homosexuals and, according to him,
other "undesirables." Soon to be seen again on cable, it spawned the spin-offs "The Jeffersons," "Maude," "Gloria" and "Archie Bunker's Place." |
|
|
Tonight In Primetime
|
|
|
|
