Goodbye, punching bag.
Television said goodbye to an important part of its essence last week, when Fox confirmed that Til Death will be laid to rest after four seasons.
Til Death was that show, the comedy that somehow found its way onto the schedule each season despite poor ratings and non-existent critical acclaim (in fact, those two items were the only funny things about it). It starred a guy (Everybody Loves Raymond's Brad Garrett) who was famous from another project, it was done on a cheap budget and strictly for business reasons, and it didn't exactly push the envelope in terms of creative comedy writing.
Til Death took the crown from According to Jim, another network comedy that elicited groans each year it was renewed (it lasted eight painful seasons before finally being mercy-killed in 2009). Now, I'll be the first to admit that the disdain for both of those shows may be unwarranted—I've seen clips from both and thought they were horrible, but haven't sat through any full episodes to see if they got any better. That said, I haven't seen a Carrot Top stand-up special either, but I feel pretty safe mocking him. Am I comparing Til Death to Carrot Top? Yes, yes I am. They're the punching bags of their respective fields, but they at least know it.
The importance of a bad sitcom is especially weighty for us TV journalists or columnists or bloggers or whatever we're called these days, because the reigning "worst show" provides that all-important measure by which we can say "at least it's not as bad as [According to Jim/Til Death]."
So with Til Death wrapping up permanently this year, what show will next wear the crown etched with the words "Why the heck is this still on?"
Scanning the comedy landscape for disasters reveals a group of candidates that's slimmer than it's ever been. The proliferation of single-camera comedies and higher concepts leaves the field slightly barren, with few easy targets. (The usual suspects are multi-camera family comedies, which are easier to loathe than a Jay Leno monologue.)
But there is one show that fits nearly all the criteria and is my candidate to become TV's new Carrot Top: Rules of Engagement. It's got the laugh track, the low-hanging-fruit jokes, and actors mailing it in for a paycheck. It's a poor man's How I Met Your Mother, and I don't even like How I Met Your Mother. We need a new champion of ineptitude, a universally frowned-upon show that we can all point and laugh at. I humbly submit Rules of Engagement to be our new Til Death.
P.S. I hope I don't get fired for this article.
What s*itcom do you think will take over for Til Death and According to Jim?
Follow TV.com writer Tim Surette on Twitter: @TimAtTVDotCom
Two and a half men! Why is this still on TV?
Are you kidding This is the funniest show on tv that and Two and Half men.. Dumbasses. then Mercy gets cancel.. Geez..
I stand corrected. I did watch Joey until it was cancelled. Now that is sad.
I think the last sitcom I followed was Frasier. How sad is that?
Worst comedy? Pretty much anything and everything that has aired within the last 10-15 years, including now. And to Kevinhague, those 80's comedies you mentioned are actually pretty funny, not the best, but certainly not terrible.
Two and a half men and Gary Unmarried are awful. Seriously, people have said The Office?!?! That's the best comedy on right now!
The office, that show is soo bad!
Definitely Friends, or maybe Everybody loves Raymond. Why people like that crap is beyond me.
I think most of the comedy's from the 80's can be clasified as much worse, as the ones mentioned above. Just be very thankfull if you didn't have to see: Who's the boss, family ties, growing pains, webster... it's hard to keep my food in, just thinking back of this crap.
Why the author is talking about shows he didn't watch?
I agree so with Costello7. I worked in an office all my life, and forgot about that show. I think it is the worst comedy I've seen.
I don't know that any comedy is that great anymore. A comedy should make you laugh such as the ones that are now gone. Golden Girls, Raymond, Friends, King of Queens, Reba, All in the family, I love Lucy etc. I would not watch one episode where these laid to rest shows didn't make me laugh, feel good and forget your troubles when viewing them. That is what a good comedy needs to have. There are none that I care for, but I do like How I met your Mother. I have yet to watch 30 Rock, so I can't say, but is sure gets the awards. One I tried to watch was Will and Grace, but it could not keep my attention. Not funny enough. I do like How I met your Mother, It is a Friends kind of show, but not as funny by no means. So writers out there, come up with another good one. The actors they pick can make or break a show too. I just know that Matthew Perry would make you laugh just watching his facial expressions, and Kevin James also.moreless
I DIsagree about Rules of Engagement. Better than it gets credit for. Two and Half Men used to be great and is now just too tired. Cougar Town doesn't do anything for me. Same with Community, Parks and Recreation, and Accidently on Pourpose.
Hey Tim Surette,What horrible things to say about a show you never even watched. Sure 'Til Death wasn't Seinfeld or Cheers, but it was at least worth sitting through one episode.I found it at least entertaining. I especially like to fact that there were no less than 4 (four) different actresses that played the daughter in the series:Lindsey Broad as Allison StarkKrysten Ritter as Allison StarkKate Micucci as AllyLaura Clery as AllisonAnd none looked even vaguely similar to any of the others.Not to mention the episodes where Doug (the daughter's boyfriend/husband) was convinced he was on a sitcom. And this last season is soooo out of order that with each episode the kids are married then not married and back and forth. I suppose they made all the episodes in order but just put the titles in a box, shook it up and showed them in the order in which they were pulled. A really quirky and enjoyable show. But you'll never know because you won't take the time to watch. Your loss.moreless
Two and a Half Men = Yuck!
There was a show called "Til Death"?!?!?<br />And it was on for FOUR seasons?!?!?!?!?!?!?! ;)
I really liked the first season of 'Til Death!!!! The arrival of JB Smoove (Kenny) killed the show... The initial premise was pretty funny with the Woodcocks living next door.... Why they strayed away from this concept.... I don't know???As for what will take its place as the sitcom "whjpping post," I don't know... But, Patrick Warburton has me tuning in every week for Rules Of Engagement.
Worst Week and Two and a Half Men... only on CBS
the office worst show everand how i met your mother is best comedy on tv
I don't like "How I Met Your Mother" either....
Worst show have to be "Two and a Half Men though".
Two and a Half Men.
Dude, big wall of text. Learn how to properly format before posting anything.
According to Jim was awful, Grounded for Life, Accidentaly on Purpose.
Accidentally on Purpose and The Big Bang Theory are really funny!!Don't know why others don't think so...Then again...we can't all like the same shows.I really don't get why Accidentally on Purpose isn't doing well.I'm sure it would do well in Europe!
Accidentally on Purpose. Gary Unmarried.
i love 2.5 men, but mostly the earlier stuff. i think anything disney wins
Who doesn't like HIMYM. It is so funny. I think the won that deserves this award should be The Office, I know so funny,but the episodes are getting boring.
I have to say, I am soooooo sick of The Office that I'll give it my vote for worst sitcom on TV. Although Parks and Recreation has sucked pretty much from the beginning.
It's funny that Tim Surette is judging shows that he admits to have "seen clips from both and thought they were horrible, but haven't sat through any full episodes to see if they got any better," but what's even funnier (hilarious, even) is that he actually thinks that he might fall under the "TV journalists or columnists" category!News flash: whining about how all the shows are not living up to your own standards is not considered journalism. It only means that you still haven't gotten past your fifth birthday.
I actually enjoy Rules of Engagement and According to Jim. They aren't the best shows, but they don't have any characters that really get on my nerves. Also they are pretty funny, but if they took Patrick Warburton off of Rules I would probably stop watching. I also have to agree that 2.5 men is about on par with these shows.
HIMYM has become terrible FYI
Hey people! This isn't about "Two and a half men", so please stop b*tching about it! Oh, and I agree with some comments: Mr. Surette, you get paid for writing articles about shows you don't even watch? I want your job! :P
I Know it was bad at times there has been far worst comedies than according to jim
30 Rock and The Office Sucks! According to Jim Rocks!
"The Office" and "Parks and Recreation" Can't stand either one most because there on when "My Name is Earl" should be on.... other then that I don't watch any sitcoms that are still being aired....
Everyone hates Two And A Half Men!!!!!!!!!!! ...am gonna cry in my Emo Corner :(
Rules of Engagement is not nearly as bad as Two and A Half Men. Two and a Half Men is tied as worst comedy on TV along with Big Band Theory. Both shows make my skin crawl.
U cant say that According to Jim is the worst comedy show - it had 8 seasons(if I remember wright) and they dont make 8 seasons for unfunny shows, and yea I like it. Ok maybe last season wasnt that good but before there were many funny ones
I don't like "The Big Bang Theory" it's not funny for me and those fake laughs second after second... I can't stand it.
According To Jim is A W E S O M E... Worst comedy on TV is "two and a half men"...
Well first of all I really like Rules of Engagement, but Til Death not so much. What about the new seasons of scrubs and how I met your mother. Scrubs suckes since the eighth Season and how i met your mother is just dull since the fifth season. And another thing. Whats wrong with you? How can you dislike shows you dont even know? And you get money for that?
2.5 men is awful. Why does it get such praise from people?It is the same joke every week. Charlie drinks and chases women, Allan is a wimp and his kid is an idiot.......episode#, oh wait that is it EVERY week.
Ok, how can you say that 'Til Death and According to Jim are the worst sitcoms on tv, if you haven't watched them. That is moronic. I wouldn't say they are the best sitcoms, but I watched them all the time and thought they were pretty good. There has been far worse shows on than these two. Rules of Engagement is funny as well. If you really want to mention worst shows, how about Do Not Disturb or Kath and Kim. They were terrible. But do us all a favor and at least watch shows before may your lame opinion of them.
60 Minutes... Unless maybe I'm missing the joke. I, for one, have not laughed once.
I agree with the people that have said Two and a Half Men.
I rarely respond to these articles, but you got me on this one. Rules of Engagement is a great comedy and I agree they mail it in sometimes, but Patrick Warburton and Spade make the show worth watching and in the end it gets the ratings that CBS needs for a fourth piece to that CBS Comedy Block.
Rules of Engagement is a good show, you have to make a new choice
I like Til Death. Sure it's a low budget no brainer, but it poked fun at itself about the number of different people playing the daughter and the son in law trying to convince everyone that they were actually living in a sitcom. Most other sitcoms I can't bear to watch, any of the CBS comedies, and even Community I don't find funny at all, what's funny about Chevy Chase acting like a idiot senior citizen. Modern Family is the funniest show on any station.