Whatchoo Talkin’ Bout?!
Round Two of our Classic Sitcom March Madness, of course!
This year as part of our March Madness celebration, we pitted 64 classic sitcom, seeded by decade, against one another – and our second round was as controversial as our first. Let’s review:
Growing Pains (1985) vs. The Fresh Prince of Bell-Air (1990)
Winner: The Fresh Prince of Bell-Air
Reason: Kirk Cameron is insane. Will Smith is a golden boy. Millennials outnumber Generation Xers. Sure. All of the above.
Happy Days (1974) vs. The Cosby Show (1984)
Winner: Happy Days
Reason: This was very very close, but Happy Days is still a seminal sitcom, and the great Cosby just couldn’t overcome it for long!
Alf (1984) vs. Diff’rent Strokes (1978)
Winner: Alf
Reason: The little-puppet-that-could did amazingly well… but ultimately Arnold was no match for Alf! See what we did there?!?!
The Beverly Hillbillies (1962) vs. The Flintstones (1970)
Winner: The Flintstones
Reason: We had no idea that The Beverly Hillbillies predated The Flintstones, or that anything predated The Flintstones for that matter.
The Golden Girls (1985) vs.Mr. Belvedere (1985)
Winner: The Golden Girls
Reason: That big ol’ boy is largely a kitschy in-joke, while the silver-maned dames have repeatedly been put forward as an example of the best in sitcom writing. Sort of how this post is the worst of web writing.
The Critic (1994) vs. Car 54, Where Are You? (1961)
Winner: The Critic
Reason: The Critic has loads of memorable scenes, characters, and lines, while Car 54 has a funny title.
I Dream of Jeannie (1965) vs. The Addams Family (1964)
Winner: The Addams Family
Reason: Coming off strong from their recent tooth-and-nail (fang and claw?) battle against The Munsters, our favorite freaky family shows us why Wishmaster never really made it as a horror franchise.
Charles in Charge (1984) vs. Hogan’s Heroes (1965)
Winner: Charles in Charge
Reason: For a show about a concentration camp in WWII, we’re surprised that Hogan did as well as it did.
Get Smart (1965) vs. Mork & Mindy (1978)
Winner: Get Smart
Reason: Another incredibly close contest, but Maxwell gets out ahead in the end. Everyone’s love/despise relationship with Robin Williams was potentially the X factor.
Home Improvement (1991) vs. Seinfeld (1989) vs. Coach (1989)
Winner: Seinfeld
Reason: Tim Allen and Jerry Seinfeld were both stand-up comedians at the same time, when one night in the mid-80s, after hours at a nightclub they were both working, they decided that they would split up the entertainment world between the two of them; to rule as they each saw fit. As part of the pact, Allen got to make better movies while Seinfeld got to win this round with NonPro. And that, children, is why we have “Bee Movie.”
All in the Family (1971) vs. Blossom (1991)
Winner: All in the Family
Reason: For a show everyone makes fun of, Blossom did well. But All in the Family is just too iconic.
Married with Children (1987) vs. Gilligan’s Island (1964)
Winner: Married with Children
Reason: The end of an era! Gilligan and crew were THE classic sitcom for a generation, but this vote illustrates how the Bundy family have gained a very warm place in the hearts of fans over the past few years.
The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1977) vs. Bewitched (1964)
Winner: Bewitched
Reason: The Mary Tyler Moore Show was in the lead for days, but Bewitched fans rallied and supported the original womensliber! All Hail Satan!
The Adventures of Pete and Pete (1993) vs. Clarissa Explains It All (1991)
Winner: The Adventures of Pete and Pete
Reason: In the words of one voter, “this one hurt.” Like the American Civil War, let’s hope this bloody conflict will unite our great TV nation, and not tear it asunder.
Perfect Strangers (1986) vs. Greatest American Hero (1981)
Winner: Perfect Strangers
Reason: The Greatest American Hero is perhaps best known for being cancelled, and was barely a sitcom to begin with, so Balki beat its ass raw.
The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961) vs. The Brady Bunch (1969)
Winner: The Dick Van Dyke Show
Reason: Let it be known that cornball kitsch will only get you so far. Professional clowning for the win!