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WS of Sit-coms - FINALS!! -- All in the Family v Odd Couple

All in the Family

15 votes

The Odd Couple

10 votes

Frayed Knot Feb 16 2011 08:00 AM

For the glory of having the Crane Pool Forum end all debate as to which show is the greatest sit-com in the history of mankind, select the one which deserves that honor. (and, once that happens, all other accolades are meaningless) All in the Family or The Odd Couple The winner will be declared at 10AM on Friday

Benjamin Grimm Feb 16 2011 08:05 AM Re: WS of Sit-coms - FINALS!! -- All in the Family v Odd Couple

All in the Family. Easily.

Benjamin Grimm Feb 16 2011 08:07 AM Re: WS of Sit-coms - FINALS!! -- All in the Family v Odd Couple

I really really thought that the finals would come down to All in the Family vs. The Honeymooners. Instead, this reminds me of the 1984 World Series. Everyone thought it would be the Cubs and the Tigers, but somehow the San Diego Padres snuck in. (Could say the same thing about the 2006 Series, with the Cardinals playing the part of the Padres, but that's still a bit of a sore subject.)

themetfairy Feb 16 2011 08:08 AM Re: WS of Sit-coms - FINALS!! -- All in the Family v Odd Couple

All in the Family. It was ground breaking, and sustained a higher quality for a much longer time than Felix and Oscar did.

metirish Feb 16 2011 09:21 AM Re: WS of Sit-coms - FINALS!! -- All in the Family v Odd Couple

Benjamin Grimm wrote: All in the Family. Easily. This

HahnSolo Feb 16 2011 09:25 AM Re: WS of Sit-coms - FINALS!! -- All in the Family v Odd Couple

I went with The Odd Couple. It was my favorite show to watch in reruns growing up. I also think they finished at the right time. A first season to establish their characters, classic seasons 2, 3, 4 (which i'd match up with any 3 seasons of any comedy), then once the magic started to fade (with a weaker fifth season) they pulled the plug. All in the Family is right up there for me, though. I'm glad these two made the finals.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 16 2011 09:49 AM Re: WS of Sit-coms - FINALS!! -- All in the Family v Odd Couple

AitF had a better prime, and sustained it longer. Oh, yeah, it was kinda funny, too.

sharpie Feb 16 2011 10:14 AM Re: WS of Sit-coms - FINALS!! -- All in the Family v Odd Couple

I'm sorry, I can't see this one being close at all. The Odd Couple was fine, it was pretty funny, but I never made a point to watch it when it was first run. It was good formula TV, nothing groundbreaking but easy to watch. For several years there, however, All in the Family was an event in the way TV shows rarely are these days. Points have to be given for groundbreakingness as well as the fact that it was really funny for a long time and even in its decline was still a first-rate show (yes, Archie Bunker's Place was a travesty but that shouldn't be held against AintheF).

soupcan Feb 16 2011 10:28 AM Re: WS of Sit-coms - FINALS!! -- All in the Family v Odd Couple

Odd Couple.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 16 2011 11:08 AM Re: WS of Sit-coms - FINALS!! -- All in the Family v Odd Couple

All in the Family is Tom Seaver and Candy Cummings. The Odd Couple is (still) Don Sutton. Compared to 40 years ago, society has shifted so much towards Political Correctness that today, AiTF could only be produced by a pay-cable station. I'm with Grimm on TOC sneaking into this final. TOC as 2nd best sitcom all-time? Not in my book? Was Don Sutton the 2d best pitcher of the '70s?

batmagadanleadoff Feb 16 2011 11:12 AM Re: WS of Sit-coms - FINALS!! -- All in the Family v Odd Couple

Holy moly! The Odd Couple is winning, 8-7.

HahnSolo Feb 16 2011 11:21 AM Re: WS of Sit-coms - FINALS!! -- All in the Family v Odd Couple

I'm with Grimm on TOC sneaking into this final. TOC as 2nd best sitcom all-time? Not in my book? Was Don Sutton the 2d best pitcher of the '70s? "Sneaking", really? Previous results would suggest otherwise. Odd Couple Votes this tournament: First Round: 23 votes; narrowly edged by only AITF and MASH with 24 votes each. Second Round: 22 votes; top vote getter among 8 shows, including Seinfeld (19 votes), Get Smart and Barney Miller (15 each) Quarterfinals: first head to head matchup is with Bob Newhart Show. Odd Couple wins 19-8. Final Four: Defeats Honeymooners 21-12.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 16 2011 11:30 AM Re: WS of Sit-coms - FINALS!! -- All in the Family v Odd Couple

HahnSolo wrote: batmagadanleadoff wrote: I'm with Grimm on TOC sneaking into this final. TOC as 2nd best sitcom all-time? Not in my book? Was Don Sutton the 2d best pitcher of the '70s? "Sneaking", really? Previous results would suggest otherwise. If you had to rank all of the sitcoms that were included in this tournament from first (or best) to last, do you rank TOC among the top two?

Edgy DC Feb 16 2011 11:33 AM Re: WS of Sit-coms - FINALS!! -- All in the Family v Odd Couple

I dug All in the Family. I even enjoyed Archie Bunker's Place. I think Archie Bunker is the greatest characterization in sitcom history. But if it came on right now and The Odd Couple was on another channel, I'd go with Felix and Oscar.

HahnSolo Feb 16 2011 11:37 AM Re: WS of Sit-coms - FINALS!! -- All in the Family v Odd Couple

batmagadanleadoff wrote: batmagadanleadoff wrote: I'm with Grimm on TOC sneaking into this final. TOC as 2nd best sitcom all-time? Not in my book? Was Don Sutton the 2d best pitcher of the '70s? "Sneaking", really? Previous results would suggest otherwise. If you had to rank all of the sitcoms that were included in this tournament from first (or best) to last, do you rank TOC among the top two? Odd Couple, All in the Family, Seinfeld would probably be my top 3. But even if the answer were no, in a tournament, the best don't always make it to the end. And my only beef (and it's not really a beef) with your statement was the word "sneaking". Odd Couple hasn't had to sweat at any point.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 16 2011 11:39 AM Re: WS of Sit-coms - FINALS!! -- All in the Family v Odd Couple

HahnSolo wrote: ... in a tournament, the best don't always make it to the end. Wasn't that my point?

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 16 2011 11:40 AM Re: WS of Sit-coms - FINALS!! -- All in the Family v Odd Couple

I voted AitF. I do wonder, though, whether historical import or innovation-- however notable such import/innovation might be-- are the best yardsticks by which to judge the best sitcom. It's a little like judging best pop song based on whether the pop song was the first to use a certain instrument or chord progression, innit?

G-Fafif Feb 16 2011 11:47 AM Re: WS of Sit-coms - FINALS!! -- All in the Family v Odd Couple

One show was lovable and quotable. One show was brilliant and innovative (with a substantial quotable quotient of its own). One holds up a little better in reruns but the other is no slouch as I've recently re-re-rediscovered. Each had unwatchable phases (one early, one late). Both mention the Mets. Glad they both aired. Glad I was just old enough to appreciate both of them when they were on network, glad they've continued to resurface now and then. Archie, however, like his man Nixon... is The One.

TheOldMole Feb 16 2011 12:02 PM Re: WS of Sit-coms - FINALS!! -- All in the Family v Odd Couple

Tough call. My heart is still with The Honeymooners, though these were both great series. I went with Archie -- more important stuff, and consistently funny. They both were consistently funny. Besides, AitF was a completely original concept. Probably none of those are good reasons for voting. So, in the immortal words of Sarah Palin, WTF.

RealityChuck Feb 16 2011 12:13 PM Re: WS of Sit-coms - FINALS!! -- All in the Family v Odd Couple

Neither would make my top twenty, but All in the Family at least was revolutionary in unflinchingly using social issues for comedy.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 16 2011 12:29 PM Re: WS of Sit-coms - FINALS!! -- All in the Family v Odd Couple

I always wondered if Archie Bunker's character was influenced, or inspired, by Peter Boyle's character in the 1969 movie, Joe.

Edgy DC Feb 16 2011 12:40 PM Re: WS of Sit-coms - FINALS!! -- All in the Family v Odd Couple

TheOldMole wrote: Tough call. My heart is still with The Honeymooners, though these were both great series. I went with Archie -- more important stuff, and consistently funny. They both were consistently funny. Besides, AitF was a completely original concept. Probably none of those are good reasons for voting.. All in the Family was actually derived from a BritCom called Till Death Do Us Part. In fact, variations were lauched in numerous countries.

Fman99 Feb 16 2011 06:41 PM Re: WS of Sit-coms - FINALS!! -- All in the Family v Odd Couple

Benjamin Grimm wrote: All in the Family. Easily. Yep.

Kong76 Feb 16 2011 07:37 PM Re: WS of Sit-coms - FINALS!! -- All in the Family v Odd Couple

All in the Family for me ... love The Odd Couple ... rinse, repeat.

Rockin' Doc Feb 16 2011 07:49 PM Re: WS of Sit-coms - FINALS!! -- All in the Family v Odd Couple

Don't be a Meathead, vote for Archie.

The Second Spitter Feb 17 2011 02:31 AM Re: WS of Sit-coms - FINALS!! -- All in the Family v Odd Couple

metirish wrote: Benjamin Grimm wrote: All in the Family. Easily. This Lemme guess. All in the Family screened on RTÉ Two on Mondays at 1am?