The Top 300 Greatest TV Shows of All Time: FBG Consensus: 50 Lists received. 18: MASH (181 Viewers)

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

18 - M*A*S*H​

Comedy
Score: 967
Average Rank: 30.7

The staff of an army hospital in the Korean war find that laughter is the best way to deal with their situation.

List Breakdown

Hastur 1
UncleZen 3
Rand al Thor 5
BlackCrowes 5
whoknew 8
Atomic Punk 9
Pip's Invitation 10
Nick Vermeil 21
Bottomfeeder Sports 25
Eephus 27
Chaos34 29
Barry2 31
Gally 32
Brutal Penquin 33
Yo Mama 35
Todem 36
Binky 41
turnjose7 44
Psychopav 47
Runkle 49
The Gator 56
Jayrod 61
John Madden's Lunchbox 62
simey 67

I was honestly too young to appreciate this show.
Always enjoyed it on repeats.
Ive probably only watched a few episodes as an adult but one that haunted me is the final episode, Goodbye, Farewell and Amen where Hawkeye recalls telling a woman to shut the “chicken” up. Only it wasnt a chicken.

17 - Curb Your Enthusiasm​

Comedy
Score: 1055
Average Rank: 31.9

The life and times of Larry David and the predicaments he gets himself in with his friends and complete strangers.

List Breakdown

Keith R 5
whoknew 6
Frostillicus 6
Atomic Punk 7
shuke 7
KarmaPolice 7
The Gator 11
John Madden's Lunchbox 14
Dr Octopus 14
ilov80s 16
Dan Lambskin 20
Sullie 31
landrys hat 32
Binky 33
Runkle 38
Jayrod 42
turnjose7 42
Gally 44
gr00vus 45
Barry2 46
Scoresman 51
krista4 51
steelerfan1 53
AAABatteries 54
Todem 58
timschochet 60
Maik Jeaunz 69

When compared to Seinfeld, not as good, but thats a very high bar.
This show is brilliant in moments and its format being more freewheeling and allowing the actors to riff works well for the most part.
Some annoying characters not withstanding, Larry David is marvellous. A true genius.

 

[falguy]

18 - M*A*S*H​

Comedy
Score: 967
Average Rank: 30.7

The staff of an army hospital in the Korean war find that laughter is the best way to deal with their situation.

List Breakdown

Hastur 1
UncleZen 3
Rand al Thor 5
BlackCrowes 5
whoknew 8
Atomic Punk 9
Pip's Invitation 10
Nick Vermeil 21
Bottomfeeder Sports 25
Eephus 27
Chaos34 29
Barry2 31
Gally 32
Brutal Penquin 33
Yo Mama 35
Todem 36
Binky 41
turnjose7 44
Psychopav 47
Runkle 49
The Gator 56
Jayrod 61
John Madden's Lunchbox 62
simey 67

There is no such thing as a ‘perfect’ television show, but M*A*S*H comes awfully close. With over a decade of cast changes, it didn’t waver in its mission: Find humor in tragedy.

To this day, Alan Alda is the only person to win Emmy’s for acting, directing, and writing for the same series.

So many people were watching the series finale, it broke the New York Sewer system during the first commercial break due to overuse. Of the most watched television broadcasts of all time, the M*A*S*H finale is the only show in the top 20 that is not a Super Bowl.

Blake or Potter? Burns or Winchester? Who played the best drunk? All life altering questions reserved for the greatest of philosophers. OK, maybe I went a bit far…

I love this show so much, about 3 years ago I drove 3 hours to Knoxville, TN to attend one of those ‘Con’ shows just to do a meet and greet with Jamie Farr and got a signed photo of him in the Scarlett O’Hara dress(IYKYK). Long day, but worth it.

this show is home to the best "occasional character" in a sitcom in TV history.

Would be an interesting topic. I think Puddy and Peterman are pretty fantastic in Seinfeld.
High Five

 

[Zeppelin]

Neither M*A*S*H nor All in the Family in the Top 10.

Too many damn youngsters on this board.

Its crazy.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Would be an interesting topic. I think Puddy and Peterman are pretty fantastic in Seinfeld

2 good ones. Mr. Bookman was another.

 

[Gally]

Would be an interesting topic. I think Puddy and Peterman are pretty fantastic in Seinfeld

2 good ones. Mr. Bookman was another.

Is Newman on too much to be an "occasional" character because he would be up there. Another one being Tim Whatley. Also Mr Pitt. Just too many great side characters to name them all.

 

[Dan Lambskin]

Would be an interesting topic. I think Puddy and Peterman are pretty fantastic in Seinfeld

2 good ones. Mr. Bookman was another.

Is Newman on too much to be an "occasional" character because he would be up there. Another one being Tim Whatley. Also Mr Pitt. Just too many great side characters to name them all.

Morty Seinfeld
The Costanzas

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Would be an interesting topic. I think Puddy and Peterman are pretty fantastic in Seinfeld

2 good ones. Mr. Bookman was another.

Is Newman on too much to be an "occasional" character because he would be up there. Another one being Tim Whatley. Also Mr Pitt. Just too many great side characters to name them all.

Newman I would probably disqualify due to number of appearances. But the others would qualify.

 

[The Gator]

Would be an interesting topic. I think Puddy and Peterman are pretty fantastic in Seinfeld

2 good ones. Mr. Bookman was another.

Love that episode.

Jerry trying not to laugh when Bookman is berating him in his apartment kills me

 

[rockaction]

So for all the talk of All In The Family being too old for people and MASH is 18? Alan Alda?

Don’t really know how to process that other than gallows humor ages better?

 

[KarmaPolice]

17 - Curb Your Enthusiasm​

Comedy
Score: 1055
Average Rank: 31.9

The life and times of Larry David and the predicaments he gets himself in with his friends and complete strangers.

List Breakdown

Keith R 5
whoknew 6
Frostillicus 6
Atomic Punk 7
shuke 7
KarmaPolice 7
The Gator 11
John Madden's Lunchbox 14
Dr Octopus 14
ilov80s 16
Dan Lambskin 20
Sullie 31
landrys hat 32
Binky 33
Runkle 38
Jayrod 42
turnjose7 42
Gally 44
gr00vus 45
Barry2 46
Scoresman 51
krista4 51
steelerfan1 53
AAABatteries 54
Todem 58
timschochet 60
Maik Jeaunz 69

Pretty, pretty, pretty good ranking.

 

[Psychopav]

Has theme songs been done? I like this format better than drafts I think. I would do theme songs.

Spoiler, here's my GOAT.

 

[KarmaPolice]

18 - M*A*S*H​

Comedy
Score: 967
Average Rank: 30.7

The staff of an army hospital in the Korean war find that laughter is the best way to deal with their situation.

List Breakdown

Hastur 1
UncleZen 3
Rand al Thor 5
BlackCrowes 5
whoknew 8
Atomic Punk 9
Pip's Invitation 10
Nick Vermeil 21
Bottomfeeder Sports 25
Eephus 27
Chaos34 29
Barry2 31
Gally 32
Brutal Penquin 33
Yo Mama 35
Todem 36
Binky 41
turnjose7 44
Psychopav 47
Runkle 49
The Gator 56
Jayrod 61
John Madden's Lunchbox 62
simey 67

I was honestly too young to appreciate this show.
Always enjoyed it on repeats.
Ive probably only watched a few episodes as an adult but one that haunted me is the final episode, Goodbye, Farewell and Amen where Hawkeye recalls telling a woman to shut the “chicken” up. Only it wasnt a chicken.

17 - Curb Your Enthusiasm​

Comedy
Score: 1055
Average Rank: 31.9

The life and times of Larry David and the predicaments he gets himself in with his friends and complete strangers.

List Breakdown

Keith R 5
whoknew 6
Frostillicus 6
Atomic Punk 7
shuke 7
KarmaPolice 7
The Gator 11
John Madden's Lunchbox 14
Dr Octopus 14
ilov80s 16
Dan Lambskin 20
Sullie 31
landrys hat 32
Binky 33
Runkle 38
Jayrod 42
turnjose7 42
Gally 44
gr00vus 45
Barry2 46
Scoresman 51
krista4 51
steelerfan1 53
AAABatteries 54
Todem 58
timschochet 60
Maik Jeaunz 69

When compared to Seinfeld, not as good, but thats a very high bar.
This show is brilliant in moments and its format being more freewheeling and allowing the actors to riff works well for the most part.
Some annoying characters not withstanding, Larry David is marvellous. A true genius.

Interesting. When I would describe it to people, I would call it a funnier Seinfeld with worse acting. Spoiler alert - I have Curb ranked higher. IMO being largely improved gives it the higher degree of difficulty, and it pulled it off amazingly.

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

Has theme songs been done?

I don't think so. JML is doing ANOTHER 80's countdown though

 

[Dennis Castro]

Would be an interesting topic. I think Puddy and Peterman are pretty fantastic in Seinfeld

2 good ones. Mr. Bookman was another.

Mr Kruger is probably my favorite.

K-UGER!

 

[FarFromHome]

Has theme songs been done? I like this format better than drafts I think. I would do theme songs.

Spoiler, here's my GOAT.

Hell ya.

 

[FarFromHome]

When I was a kid my parents had a cd that was the greatest tv theme songs of the 70's and 80's. This was my brother and I's favorite.

That intro meant it was game time

 

[Encyclopedia Brown]

As long as we're waiting, throw out some good themes from shows that assuredly didn't make this list. I'll start:

Vega$

I am still madly in love with Simone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xjb3Py_37nM

 

[FarFromHome]

Just saw a clip of All In the Family on one of my feeds. The one with Sammy Davis Jr. My goodness. Gold

 

[Jayrod]

So for all the talk of All In The Family being too old for people and MASH is 18? Alan Alda?

Don’t really know how to process that other than gallows humor ages better?

MASH got a lot of late night syndication on network channels all the way into the 2000's. I caught at least 50 episodes without trying. My brother in law who is 6 years younger than me loved the show and owned almost every episode on DVD.

I've never even seen a full episode of All in the Family.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

Has theme songs been done?

I don't think so. JML is doing ANOTHER 80's countdown though

Am i?
Thats news to me.
I dont start many threads these days, just participate in other ones.

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

Thread '100 Greatest Movies of the 80’s - Not on Timschochet’s list'

Feb 14, 2025

With thanks to our friend Timschochet who provokes excellent discussion, but his rankings are definitely his own.
Also thanks to shuke and scoresman and others who have done similar before

So with that in mind, this list will only have 3 rules.

1) If it’s on Timschochet’s list it’s not eligible. *See below
2) I want to focus on International and foreign language films to some degree. *See below
3) The final rankings will be mine. I will solicit opinions and lean heavily on other forum members. But my decisions.

1* - I will pick 10 movies of my choice from Tim’s list that look out of...

• John Maddens Lunchbox
• Replies: 33
• Forum: Footballguys Free For All

• 

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

I guess I was the only one that remembered

 

[shuke]

As long as we're waiting, throw out some good themes from shows that assuredly didn't make this list. I'll start:

Vega$

Can't believe this isn't going to make it.

 

[Dan Lambskin]

As long as we're waiting, throw out some good themes from shows that assuredly didn't make this list. I'll start:

Vega$

Can't believe this isn't going to make it.

Thought that would have been Small Wonder or ALF

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

Thread '100 Greatest Movies of the 80’s - Not on Timschochet’s list'

Feb 14, 2025

With thanks to our friend Timschochet who provokes excellent discussion, but his rankings are definitely his own.
Also thanks to shuke and scoresman and others who have done similar before

So with that in mind, this list will only have 3 rules.

1) If it’s on Timschochet’s list it’s not eligible. *See below
2) I want to focus on International and foreign language films to some degree. *See below
3) The final rankings will be mine. I will solicit opinions and lean heavily on other forum members. But my decisions.

1* - I will pick 10 movies of my choice from Tim’s list that look out of...

• John Maddens Lunchbox
• Replies: 33
• Forum: Footballguys Free For All

• 

Aah, gotcha now. Thought we were talking about 80s music threads.

 

[Zeppelin]

Just saw a clip of All In the Family on one of my feeds. The one with Sammy Davis Jr. My goodness. Gold

You should watch "Archie the Hero", and "Edith's Problem" when she went through menopause. Classics

 

[Pip's Invitation]

18 - M*A*S*H​

Comedy
Score: 967
Average Rank: 30.7

The staff of an army hospital in the Korean war find that laughter is the best way to deal with their situation.

List Breakdown

Hastur 1
UncleZen 3
Rand al Thor 5
BlackCrowes 5
whoknew 8
Atomic Punk 9
Pip's Invitation 10
Nick Vermeil 21
Bottomfeeder Sports 25
Eephus 27
Chaos34 29
Barry2 31
Gally 32
Brutal Penquin 33
Yo Mama 35
Todem 36
Binky 41
turnjose7 44
Psychopav 47
Runkle 49
The Gator 56
Jayrod 61
John Madden's Lunchbox 62
simey 67

Like Happy Days, this was a show whose early seasons I watched in syndication but whose later seasons I watched in real time. And it was probably the first show that made me think "I really like these people and want to hang out with them."* The writing was top-notch for the time and the writers and cast were equally adept at comedy and drama. It got a little preachy in its final years but was still one of the best shows on TV.

* - preferably not in a war zone

 

[Bottomfeeder Sports]

18 - M*A*S*H​

Comedy
Score: 967
Average Rank: 30.7

The staff of an army hospital in the Korean war find that laughter is the best way to deal with their situation.

List Breakdown

Hastur 1
UncleZen 3
Rand al Thor 5
BlackCrowes 5
whoknew 8
Atomic Punk 9
Pip's Invitation 10
Nick Vermeil 21
Bottomfeeder Sports 25
Eephus 27
Chaos34 29
Barry2 31
Gally 32
Brutal Penquin 33
Yo Mama 35
Todem 36
Binky 41
turnjose7 44
Psychopav 47
Runkle 49
The Gator 56
Jayrod 61
John Madden's Lunchbox 62
simey 67

M*A*S*H

I remember where I was when Radar said Colonel Blake's plane went down and where I hid to watch the final episode in private - and so glad I did. I put 24 shows ahead of this, some that won't even make this list at all, but I would have no issues placing this number 1.

Only thing is, I watched 99% of these in black and white on a 13" B & W TV and have difficulty watching in color. And I had no difficulty with the "red" episode in black and white.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

I saw a few episodes of Curb during a brief period when I had HBO and I thought it was *too* good at what it did. Larry and co were so cringe, by design, that I found them uncomfortable to watch. I liked the idea of the show better than the execution. For my tastes, the guardrails that network TV imposed on Seinfeld may have been for the best.

I have not seen any episodes of Curb since those few back in the day and, despite now having Max, have not felt the need to revisit, despite having many friends that love the show.

 

[whoknew]

I think it's great Curb made it this high.

While nostalgic shows like MASH and All in the Family were legendary in their day and still are to some extent, something like Curb just makes me laugh so much more.

Well yea but Curb was just a pure comedy. Its only goal was to make you laugh. And it did that as good as any show ever.

M*A*S*H and All in the Family had laughs but also they were trying to make a point. They had a message that was vital to each show. That's different than Curb or Seinfeld.

That's not a swipe at either Curb or Seinfeld. I had Curb 2 spots above M*A*S*H. But they were just different shows with different goals.

 

[BlackCrowes]

18 - M*A*S*H​

Comedy
Score: 967
Average Rank: 30.7

The staff of an army hospital in the Korean war find that laughter is the best way to deal with their situation.

List Breakdown

Hastur 1
UncleZen 3
Rand al Thor 5
BlackCrowes 5
whoknew 8
Atomic Punk 9
Pip's Invitation 10
Nick Vermeil 21
Bottomfeeder Sports 25
Eephus 27
Chaos34 29
Barry2 31
Gally 32
Brutal Penquin 33
Yo Mama 35
Todem 36
Binky 41
turnjose7 44
Psychopav 47
Runkle 49
The Gator 56
Jayrod 61
John Madden's Lunchbox 62
simey 67

There is no such thing as a ‘perfect’ television show, but M*A*S*H comes awfully close. With over a decade of cast changes, it didn’t waver in its mission: Find humor in tragedy.

To this day, Alan Alda is the only person to win Emmy’s for acting, directing, and writing for the same series.

So many people were watching the series finale, it broke the New York Sewer system during the first commercial break due to overuse. Of the most watched television broadcasts of all time, the M*A*S*H finale is the only show in the top 20 that is not a Super Bowl.

Blake or Potter? Burns or Winchester? Who played the best drunk? All life altering questions reserved for the greatest of philosophers. OK, maybe I went a bit far…

I love this show so much, about 3 years ago I drove 3 hours to Knoxville, TN to attend one of those ‘Con’ shows just to do a meet and greet with Jamie Farr and got a signed photo of him in the Scarlett O’Hara dress(IYKYK). Long day, but worth it.

this show is home to the best "occasional character" in a sitcom in TV history.

He was great.

I didn't even consider M*A*S*H as it only had a few good seasons. The fun stopped when BJ replaced Trapper John.

Trapper was never funny

 

[BlackCrowes]

I know Curb was great. I just couldn’t watch it

 

[Encyclopedia Brown]

had laughs but also they were trying to make a point

Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David have stated repeatedly that their one motto in constructing the show was "no hugging and no learning".