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March 29, 2009

MICHELE M. BENDER | TV survey results are in

By MICHELE M. BENDER The Tribune-Democrat Sun Mar 29, 2009, 11:13 PM EDT

“MASH” won! Readers responding to my second Dead-Of-Winter TV Survey selected “MASH” as BEST SITCOM EVER!

John C. called it “Dramady at its finest.”

A. from Nanty Glo described it as “the only show that can make you laugh and cry in the same half-hour. I howled at Klinger’s costumes, and I howled in a different way when Colonel Blake died.”

Many of you took me to task for overlooking other favorites.

While “Seinfeld” never amused me, many folks regard it as classic.

“Hilarious, adult humor,” declared S.L.

My cousin Nick and others scolded me for omitting “ Barney Miller” and “Night Court.”

Barney, Wojo and Fish certainly deserve an honorable mention.

As for “Night Court,” when Selma died, the heart went out of it. Marsha Warfield’s character, Roz, was great, but just couldn’t fill Selma’s shoes.

C. disagreed with my No. 10 choice, “I Love Lucy.” “It was too predictable, following the same formula show after show,” she e-mailed. “My litmus test is whether a show makes me laugh out loud.”

B.T. asked, “Who can forget Tuesday evenings with Richie and The Fonz on ‘Happy Days’?” N. from Southmont reminded me of the former Thursday night staple, “Cheers.” Both those programs left their mark on TV history for sure.

Some readers disagreed with me, big time!

“You obviously have no sense of humor,” P. from Portage chided me. “I loved every one of those sitcoms on your WORSTS list!”

“You cut me to the quick,” wrote Z. from Menoher Heights. “I am the biggest ‘Hogan’s Heroes’ fan ever!”

Oops.

While I selected “Hogan’s” as WORST ever, you folks overwhelmingly picked a newcomer, and I mean OVERWHELMINGLY!

You hate “Two and a Half Men” so much that it wouldn’t shock me to hear an angry mob with torches and pitchforks descended on CBS!

“ ‘Two and a Half Men’ has to be the most sexist, crass, explicit sitcom ever to hold down such an early time slot,” wrote M. from Gallitzin. “It’s absolute garbage!”

M.D. pronounced it “dirty,” adding “How does that teenaged boy fit in that mess?”

“It’s really awful,” agreed my cousin Tanya.

I missed it on my original WORSTS list because I’ve never actually seen it. Let me explain.

It’s on right before my 9 p.m. Wednesday night fave, “Criminal Minds.”

The times I tuned in early, I caught pieces of the ends.

These snippets filled with dysfunctional bachelors, sexism, hangovers and more convinced me that “Half” didn’t belong in my world.

So, what did we learn?

Viewers are truly disgusted with the smut running rampant on our channels today. We miss the talent and creativity that distinguished the classic sitcoms of the past.

“How I long for the old days with decent entertainment!” wrote John M.

I hear that! Long live Hawkeye!

Michele Mikesic Bender is a Johnstown resident and a member of The Tribune-Democrat’s Readership Advisory Committee.

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