Ten Favorite TV Sitcoms

With my all-time favorite TV show returning September 20 (and with a preview of it appearing on HBO tonight at 10 p.m.), I thought I would present my top ten list of favorite sitcoms. These are all shows that, while watching, I found myself laughing out loud quite often.
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1. Curb Your Enthusiasm – (HBO 2000-present)
IMBD description: Seinfeld co-creator Larry David stars as himself in this hilarious, off-kilter comedy series that presents an unflinching, self-depreciating depiction of his life.
Why I laughed so hard: I totally identify with Larry, being a semi-retired balding Jewish guy married to a WASP and who constantly puts my foot in my mouth while waiting in line at the bank or in the waiting room of a doctor's office.
Funniest memory: Larry at the Incest Survivor's Support Group, having to make up a story about his uncle.
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2. Seinfeld - (NBC, 1990-1998)
IMBD description: The continuing misadventures of neurotic New York stand-up comedian Jerry Seinfeld and his equally neurotic New York friends.
Why I laughed so hard: I guess I didn't think of them as that neurotic, and of course I identified with George. But all the characters were memorable, especially George and Jerry's parents, Uncle Leo, Mr. Pitt, and of course my favorite, the evil Newman.
Funniest memory: George in his hospital bed trying to pay attention to his mother while watching the silhouette of a sexy nurse giving a sponge bath to the female patient in the next bed.
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3. All In The Family – (CBS, 1971–1979)
IMBD description: A working class bigot constantly squabbles with his family over the important issues of the day.
Why I laughed so hard: As a liberal, Baby Boomer sort of hippie in the 1970s, I totally identified with Meathead and loved to see Archie get his comeuppances. The fact that it was the first show to deal with serious issues in a humorous way was inspiring.
Funniest memory: Archie getting extremely aggravated at Michael, because he got dressed sock shoe, sock shoe, instead of sock sock, shoe, shoe.
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4. The Office – (NBC, 2005–present)
IMBD description: A mockumentary on a group of typical office workers, where the workday consists of ego clashes, inappropriate behavior, and tedium.
Why I laughed so hard: Michael Scott could be the single funniest character in TV history! How 30 Rock keeps winning the Emmy over The Office is a tremendous injustice. Dwight, Kevin, Phyllis, Creed, what more can I say?
Funniest memory: Michael's speech on the “Booze Cruise” that led to someone jumping overboard. Actually any speech by Michael to his staff, whether the subject is sexual harassment or stealing office supplies.
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5. The Larry Sanders Show - (HBO, 1992-1998)
IMBD description: A comedic behind the scenes look at a late night talk show.
Why I laughed so hard: This was the first truly hysterical cable series that broke through the barriers erected by network comedies. The portrayal of Larry's, Artie's, and Hank's insecurities bouncing off one another was both revealing and very, very funny.
Funniest memory: Any attempt by Hank “Hey Now” Hank Kingsley to make money outside of the show, such as endorsing various products or opening his rotating restaurant.
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6. The Phil Silvers Show (Sergeant Bilko) – (CBS, 1955-1959)
IMBD description: Sgt. Ernie Bilko is the ultimate con man. He runs the motor pool at a small Kansas US Army Camp.
Why I laughed so hard – I always watched this show with my father and brother, and we used to kid my dad that he looked like Private Doberman. Bilko's various money-making schemes and his buttering up of Colonel Hall's wife always broke me up.
Funniest memory: The episode “The Twitch,” in which Bilko creates a pool on how many times a boring guest speaker will twitch during her speech was probably my favorite and funniest episode on any show ever!
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7. The Honeymooners – (CBS, 1955-56) (Originally a sketch on various Jackie Gleason variety shows)
IMBD description: A bus driver and his sewer worker friend struggle to strike it rich while their wives look on with weary patience.
Why I laughed so hard: The interplay between bus driver Ralph Kramden and sewer worker Ed Norton has never been topped by any duo on any show since. While most other sit-coms in this era took place in white suburbia, the Kramdens lived in a spartan Brooklyn tenement.
Funniest memory: About to win the top prize on a quiz show, Gleason's Kramden fails to know the name and author of the song “Swanee River,” which Norton always used to warm up with on the piano whenever they practiced.
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8. The Mary Tyler Moore Show - (CBS, 1970-1977)
IMBD description: The lives and trials of a young single woman and her friends, both at work and at home.
Why I laughed so hard: Simply the fact that was a tremendously well-written and acted show. All of the characters surrounding Mary were funny and unique, especially Rhoda, Phyllis, Lou, and the wonderful announcer, Ted Baxter.
Funniest memory: Mary breaking out in uncontrollable laughter at the funeral of Chuckles the Clown. You had to be there.
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9. Weeds (HBO, 2005-present)
IMBD description: Comedy about a suburban mother turned marijuana dealer.
Why I laughed so hard: I didn't say these were the best or funniest sit-coms ever, just my favorites. And there is something about the absurd wackiness of this show that is so unbelievable, I can't stop chuckling while watching it.
Funniest memory: Kevin Nealon's character Doug goes to a marijuana festival and “researches” various strains of pot. I don't know, this episode just struck my funny bone.
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10. The Bob Newhart Show – (CBS, 1972-1978)
IMBD description: The professional and personal misadventures of a psychologist and his family, patients, friends and colleagues.
Why I laughed so hard: In the 1970s, this show completed the best night of comedies in history. It was the real “Must see TV,” as people all over America stayed home on Saturday nights to watch Archie, Mary, and Bob. Newhart's dry wit played perfectly against his whacky patients, especially when they did group therapy.
Funniest memory: Any scene involving Mr. Carlin, the paranoid, neurotic patient who was insecure and hostile, yet extremely lovable.
Overall, putting together this list was harder than I thought it would be. I have to give Honorable Mention mentions to the following: I Love Lucy, Mash, The Odd Couple, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (mainly because I had a mad teen age crush on Tuesday Weld's Thalia Menninger), and Car 54 Where are You? And finally, the short-lived but brilliant HBO show Lucky Louie.