There are a lot of new comedies on TV these days, and it seems like a new era of “classics” has emerged if you believe the few that sweep the Emmys every year. But that got me thinking how these shows have found success, and which older programs they’re trying to emulate to some extent. That was the onus for this list, where I discuss which shows are trying to replace which classics, or least how they share many similarities in concept, theme or tone. This is absolutely not to say one is better than the other, but it seems these shows have slid into the same sort of niche.
[Photo via ABC]
Louie is the new Seinfeld
It’s hard to compare anything to the greatest comedy of all time (which is what many would call Seinfeld), but I do believe Louie is the Seinfeld of the modern era. It’s essentially a show about nothing, where Louie gets himself into regularly uncomfortable positions, amplified by his social awkwardness, and that of everyone around him. It’s more dark than funny a lot of the time, but still is society’s best source of observational humor to some extent. Only it deals with more serious issues. Observational…drama, perhaps?
[Photo via FX]
Key and Peele is the new Chappelle’s Show
Nothing can ever truly replace Chappelle’s Show, possibly the best skit comedy show ever made (sorry SNL), but Key and Peele has really stepped up for Comedy Central the past few years. Chappelle walked away from $50M to keep doing his show, but Key and Peele are happy for even a fraction of that, and are doing their best to create skits for the viral era. Their comedy is somewhat less race-based than Chappelle’s was, but I would argue some of their skits are just as funny.
[Photo via Comedy Central]
The Middle is the new Malcolm in the Middle
I promise I didn’t just match these two up for their names alone, but the two do remind me of each other. The Middle isn’t quite as wacky as Malcolm was, but the two share tonal similarities, as well as focusing on a working class family. The Middle has the mother as the star however, while Malcolm had the titular middle child, though the two do feel pretty alike much of the time. I think Malcolm ultimately has the edge, but The Middle, running for five seasons now, has found a fanbase as well, clearly.
[Photo via ABC]
The Big Bang Theory is the new Friends
Blasphemy! Perhaps, and no, I don’t think that Big Bang is nearly as good a show as Friends, but out of every show that has tried to emulate Friends over the years (and there have been plenty) Big Bang is probably the closest in terms of theme and its level of success. If we were going with a show that actually managed to recreated the dynamic of the 6-person friends group, I’d say the now-cancelled Happy Endings would be a better fit, where Big Bang Theory has very specifically paired off all of its characters, never to have them shuffle around again. And I hardly think Leonard/Penny is the love story Ross/Rachel were. Still, the group dynamic and the massive success make the two comparable on many levels.
[Photo via CBS]
Modern Family is the new Everybody Loves Raymond/Married With Children/Home Improvement
I could probably list a few more family-based 80s/90s family sitcoms here, but I think Modern Family has found success by combining pieces from all of them. The show may have lost the laugh track and the three fixed cameras, but it’s created a multi-dimensional family unit that has resonated with the general public. In addition to being smartly written, well-acted and just…funny, Modern Family recaptures some of that family sitcom magic that we all grew up with, even if its on an unconscious level much of the time. Few sitcoms in the new era are as good as the old ones, but by tweaking the format slightly and keeping what matters, Modern Family has turned into a monster TV hit.
[Photo via ABC]
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