Best '50s Sitcom
A situation comedy, or sitcom, is a genre of comedy centered on a fixed set of characters who carry over from episode to episode. Sitcoms can be contrasted with sketch comedy where a troupe may use new characters in each sketch, and stand-up comedy where a comedian tells jokes and stories to an audience. Sitcoms originated in radio, but today are found mostly on television as one of its dominant narrative forms. This form can also include mockumentaries.A situation comedy television program may be recorded in front of a studio audience, depending on the program's production format. The effect of a live studio audience can be imitated or enhanced by the use of a laugh track.
Which one of these '50s sitcoms do you think is the best ?
Discuss here
Which one of these '50s sitcoms do you think is the best ?
Discuss here
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- StarsLucille BallDesi ArnazVivian VanceThe wife of a band leader constantly tries to become a star - in spite of her having no talent, and gets herself (along with her best friend) into the funniest predicaments.
- StarsJack BennyEddie 'Rochester' AndersonDon WilsonThe comic misadventures of the "skinflint" comedian and his friends.
- StarsGeorge BurnsGracie AllenBea BenaderetNeighbor Blanche Morton frequently joined Gracie in escapades which annoy hubby Harry and provides George with an opportunity to offer a humorous soliloquy.
- CreatorJoe ConnellyBob MosherDick ConwayStarsJerry MathersHugh BeaumontBarbara BillingsleyThe misadventures of a suburban boy, family and friends.
- CreatorJackie GleasonStarsJackie GleasonArt CarneyAudrey MeadowsA bus driver and his sewer worker friend struggle to strike it rich while their wives look on with weary patience.
- CreatorEd JamesStarsRobert YoungLauren ChapinJane WyattThe popular radio show comes to life in this hit sitcom about a wise family man, Jim Anderson, his common-sense wife Margaret and their children Betty, Bud and Kathy.
- StarsOzzie NelsonHarriet NelsonRicky NelsonOzzie and Harriet Nelson raise their two sons Ricky and David. As the sons age, they experience teenage dating problems, marriage and careers.
- CreatorIrving PincusStarsWalter BrennanRichard CrennaKathleen NolanFrom the hills of West Virginia, Amos McCoy moves his family to an inherited farm in California. Grandpa Amos is quick to give advice to his three grandchildren and wonders how his neighbors ever managed without him around.
- CreatorWilliam RobertsStarsDonna ReedPaul PetersenCarl BetzA loving mother and wife deals with situations and problems of a middle-class family in the late 1950s and the early 1960s.
- CreatorMax ShulmanStarsDwayne HickmanBob DenverFrank FaylenA young man schemes and attempts to get the "better things in life" mostly popularity, success, and most importantly, girls.
- StarsDanny ThomasRusty HamerMarjorie LordDanny is a New York entertainer. Between his co-stars at the nightclub where he performs and his wife and kids, he has dilemmas galore, which he somehow manages to resolve and still laugh.
- StarsHerbert AndersonJay NorthGloria HenryTelevision episodes built around the same sorts of incidents found in Hank Ketcham's long-running comic strip.
- StarsBud AbbottLou CostelloSid FieldsBud and Lou are unemployed actors living in Mr. Fields' boarding house. Lou's girlfriend Hillary lives across the hall. Any premise would lead to slapstick, puns, lots of gimmicks from their movies.
- CreatorNat HikenStarsPhil SilversHarvey LembeckPaul FordMaster Sergeant Bilko, regularly helped by the soldiers at Fort Baxter's motor pool, spends little time performing his duties by constantly trying to obtain money through various get-rich-quick scams and promotions.
- CreatorCharles J. CorrellFreeman F. GosdenStarsAlvin ChildressSpencer WilliamsTim MooreStories mostly centered on The Kingfish's schemes to get rich, often by duping his brothers in the Mystic Knights of the Sea Lodge. Andy was particularly dupable. Amos mostly narrated.
- StarsEve ArdenGale GordonJane MorganMiss Brooks is an English teacher who has a low paying job, lousy boss, has a crush on a teacher and whose student drives her to school. She lives in a boarding house.
- StarsRobert CummingsAnn B. DavisRosemary DeCampThe romantic misadventures of Bob Collins, a suave, sophisticated bachelor and photographer operating in Hollywood, California. The show is centered around his womanizing ways with his models, and his sister's attempts to make him settle down.
- StarsWilliam BendixMarjorie ReynoldsWesley MorganRiley worked in an aircraft plant in California, but viewers usually saw him at home, cheerfully disrupting life with his malapropisms and ill timed intervention into minor problems.
- CreatorFrank FoxStarsGale StormCharles FarrellClarence KolbMargie lives with her father Vern and her crazy schemes get him into trouble especially with his boss Mr. Honeywell. She frequently involves Charlie and Mrs. Odetts in her plans. Freddie is her boyfriend while Roberta likes Vern.
- StarsJohn ForsytheNoreen CorcoranSammee TongThe misadventures of a single adoptive father raising a teenage niece with the help of his manservant.
- StarsJoan DavisJim BackusGeraldine CarrThe adventures of the scatterbrained wife of a respected city judge.
- CreatorChic YoungStarsArthur LakePamela BrittonAnn BarnesArthur Lake had played Dagwood in a long series of "Blondie" movies. This show, retelling stories and situations familiar to readers of the comic strip, lasted one year.
- CreatorDavid SwiftStarsWally CoxPatricia BenoitTony RandallMr. Peepers is a shy science teacher at Jefferson Junior High. He is always faced with problems but is never outwitted.
- StarsAnn SothernDon PorterAnn TyrrellSusie is secretary to handsome talent agent Peter Sands and keeps getting messed up in (and messing up) his private life. She's assisted (usually) by receptionist Vi and semi-rival Sylvia. Cagey is Peter's business rival. The show alternated Sunday nights with "The Jack Benny Show."
- CreatorWalter R. BrooksSonia ChernusWalter BrooksStarsAllan LaneAlan YoungConnie HinesThe misadventures of a wisecracking talking horse and his human owner.
- StarsDanny ThomasRusty HamerMarjorie LordDanny is a New York entertainer. Between his co-stars at the nightclub where he performs and his wife and kids, he has dilemmas galore, which he somehow manages to resolve and still laugh.
- StarsLassieJon ProvostJune LockhartThe ongoing saga of the Martin family and their beloved collie, Lassie.