2013-2014 Network Sitcoms: The Best

And here are the eight best sitcoms this season.  Here are my lists of the eight worst and eight mid-range comedies.

8. Sean Saves the World (Season 1, NBC)

I am honestly surprised that I enjoyed this so much.  Critics have been hating on this series, but it is the perfect example of what a multi-camera sitcom can do.  There is a specific energy to this and the decent dialogue works well with the limited settings.  Sean Hayes' personality really sells this show and he is entertaining to watch.  Thomas Lennon also has a great character role that he makes the most out of.  It is not ground breaking, but it is fun to watch.  It is a type of show that has not been done well in far too long.  It is physical and broad but still honest and well set up.  I hope that it maintains quality and finds an audience.  Pleasantly surprised, would suggest that people keep an open mind.

7. The Mindy Project (Season 2, Fox)

One of two sitcoms that premiered last year to make it to a second season.  It had a strong first season but it was unfocused as the supporting cast kept changing.  The cast still has not settled but it has a comfortable focus on the hilarious Ike Barinholz and stand-out Chris Messina.  Of course this not an ensemble, it is a star vehicle for Mindy Kaling who is always a great romantic comedy lead.  She is relatable and able to look foolish while being smart and attractive.  The show seems to be finding its focus.  Kaling is a great writer and showrunner as well, it seems that she has found a way to make her show work.  It should only improv from here.  Also good guest work from James Franco and Bill Hader.

6. The Middle (Season 5, ABC)

It is easy to take this show for granted.  It is not the flashiest on television and does not garner much attention, but the quality has been incredibly consistent.  The family ensemble is one of the best on television.  All five leads have impeccable chemistry and can carry their own stories.  This season the show is working with the characters' growth.  It is always funny and very sweet.

5. New Girl (Season 3, Fox)

Last year season 2 of New Girl was must see TV.  Nick and Jess had the best unresolved sexual tension on television in years.  Now the characters are reacting to their new relationship.  The show's quality is continuing and I will definitely continue to keep up with it this season.

4. Trophy Wife (Season 1, ABC)

Despite the gimmick title this series plays its situation very sincere.  To the characters the young stepmom and two ex-wives is just part of the characters' lives.  The adults are perfectly cast with performers that can combine both comedy and drama effortlessly.  The show is also stronger because the three children can all act (something missing in many of this season's new shows).  The writing is very good and it is just entertaining.  A great new series.

3. Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Season 1, Fox)

Michael Schur knows how to create a sitcom better than almost anyone working in TV today and he does it again with this new series.  Great ensemble across the board.  Special mention to Terry Crews, who gets to focus his massive energy differently as he is playing such a timid character.  Andre Braugher is definitely up for an Emmy with his character who really makes this series work.  Braugher plays it very seriously, but there is some subtle humor in his very intentional delivery along with believable drama and personal issues.  A very different performance among the traditional broad sitcom star.  However for me the stand-out is the scene stealing Chelsea Peretti who is always hilarious.

2. Modern Family (Season 5, ABC)

There is some backlash for this series since it consistently does so well at the Emmys.  But that is because the show is just always funny.  The characters all work and they have very real varied dynamics.  This season premiere is one of the best episodes of the show with great jokes such as Christopher Walk-in-Closet and Cam coaching a football team while dressed like George Washington.  Just a good show that you can always count on.

1. Parks and Recreation (Season 6, NBC)

At this point the series is pretty self-sufficient.  There are enough settings, running gags and side characters in place for the writers to draw from.  The main class is well developed that their character arcs seem very natural and they can interact believably with any character.  The show may suffer with Chris Pratt's partial absence and the upcoming departure of Rashida Jones and Robe Lowe.  But it is truly the best ensemble on television and looks like it is off to another great season.

2013-2014 Sitcoms: ABC

Tuesdays

The Goldbergs
Their two new Tuesday night sitcoms have the perfect lead-in of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.  The first new series seems reminiscent of Freaks and Geeks and especially The Wonder Years.  It is being marketed around 80's nostalgia, and 80's throwbacks have had differing levels of success in the past few years.  I can see this being a more difficult sell as it seems to be much more of a dramedy and not as broad as the rest of ABC's lineup.  It could potentially grow a cult following and might just surprised.

Trophy Wife
This series is produced by two of the best writers of The Office and stars a well balanced ensemble of Malin Akerman, Bradley Whitford, Michaeala Watkins, Ryan Lee, Natalie Morales and Marcia Gay Harden, who all appear to be great fits for their roles.  I could see this being a better fit on Wednesday nights as it seems similar in tone with Modern Family.  This is one of the series I am most excited for this season.

Wednesday

The Middle
Wednesday nights continues to use The Middle as its lead-in, the Patricia Heaton lead series is now in its fifth season.  Not a runaway hit, but it is dependable and well liked.  Now that it is in syndication on ABC Family and soon to be Hallmark its profile should raise considerably (ala How I Met Your Mother and Big Bang Theory).

Back in the Game
This series features Maggie Lawson as a single mother that is good at baseball but has a bad relationship with her father (James Caan).  This series looks decent enough, albeit unimpressive.  Don't see a whole series here, but it looks fun.  It could be ABC's first cancellation of the series (see it being replaced with Trophy Wife), but it could surprise.

Modern Family
ABC's most successful series keeps its same time slot for its fifth season.  Although last season was not as well received as the three previous ones it continues to be a hit with audiences and The Emmys.  This will continue to be the cornerstone for ABC comedies.

Super Fun Night
ABC is wisely marketing this around Rebel Wilson's involvement in Bridesmaids and Pitch Perfect.  Which are two female led movies that surprised at the box-office and managed to get a large enough male following.  Wilson is a star that ABC was lucky to get and she should bring in a good sized audience on her likability alone.  The series looks funny too.

Friday

Last Man Standing
ABC is smart by having their more family friendly sitcoms on Friday nights, harkening back to TGIF.  The Tim Allen lead series should continue to do decently by Friday standards.

The Neighbors
Moving The Neighbors Fridays is a good move.  The series is family friendly and if it gets enough episodes it could rerun on one of Disney's other networks.  Should do fine for a Friday night series.

Mid-Season

Suburgatory
Suburgatory returns mid-season for its third season.  See this replacing The Goldbergs or one of the Friday night series.  Pretty much just a filler, doesn't have a huge following.  Don't see it continuing past this season.

Mixology
Also premiering mid-season is what feels like How I Met Your Mother meets 24.  The series takes place in one night, which will make it less accessible for television.  There are no named stars involved but it is marketed on the creators of The Hangover (who also wrote the flops The Change-Up and 21 & Over).  This seems to be going after a similar demographic as Happy Endings and Don't Trust the B, which did not succeed.  It could find an audience online, but don't know where this would fit on its schedule.