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red dog 1

(27,802 posts)
Sat Feb 23, 2019, 07:35 PM Feb 2019

Post a brief description of a sit-com, old or new, and see if anyone knows the name of it.

Television sit-com set in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
The main character is a 30-year-old who has been working for most of his life as a paperboy for the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

132 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Post a brief description of a sit-com, old or new, and see if anyone knows the name of it. (Original Post) red dog 1 Feb 2019 OP
The Chris Elliot show? Dream Girl Feb 2019 #1
Do you remember the name of the show? red dog 1 Feb 2019 #2
Yes. Wasn't he a paper boy? It was hilarious but short lived Dream Girl Feb 2019 #4
He was a paper boy. red dog 1 Feb 2019 #18
Chris Elliott is in 49jim Feb 2019 #34
I do remember the shows opening theme song was "Stand" by REM ArnoldLayne Feb 2019 #120
Get A Life eppur_se_muova Feb 2019 #121
Roommates and/or their neighbors have some sort of misconception about some situation. flying rabbit Feb 2019 #3
Hmmm...The Sopranos...? First Speaker Feb 2019 #5
No flying rabbit Feb 2019 #8
Oh I dunno...you can interpret it as such... First Speaker Feb 2019 #11
Yes flying rabbit Feb 2019 #12
Three's Company? red dog 1 Feb 2019 #16
Winnah! flying rabbit Feb 2019 #54
Friends Mr.Bill Feb 2019 #22
No flying rabbit Feb 2019 #57
Three's Company (n/t) PJMcK Feb 2019 #31
You are correct. flying rabbit Feb 2019 #56
Chicago psychologist has a long, very bizarre dream... First Speaker Feb 2019 #6
The Larry Darryl and Darryl Show! Tom Kitten Feb 2019 #14
This message was self-deleted by its author doc03 Feb 2019 #41
Newhart? True Blue American Feb 2019 #79
The Bob Newhart Show Ohiogal Feb 2019 #103
Base player gets a chair with the Boston Symphony sarge43 Feb 2019 #7
that would be Friends and Lovers starring Paul Sand Tom Kitten Feb 2019 #13
Wow. I thought I was the only one left who remembered it. sarge43 Feb 2019 #15
I liked it too catrose Feb 2019 #51
Count me in, I was a fan, too! Ohiogal Feb 2019 #104
That's Bass Player (n/t) PJMcK Feb 2019 #37
This message was self-deleted by its author 912gdm Feb 2019 #9
A department store in Boston 912gdm Feb 2019 #10
A sit-com? red dog 1 Feb 2019 #17
Yes..... 912gdm Feb 2019 #19
Based on "Open All Hours" which is a hysterical Britcom yellowdogintexas Feb 2019 #88
Saw the new version a couple weeks ago happybird Feb 2019 #101
Sounds like Are You Being Served leftieNanner Feb 2019 #60
Your half right. 912gdm Feb 2019 #90
Two young men with little money work at a small advertising agency red dog 1 Feb 2019 #20
bosum buddies Kurt V. Feb 2019 #27
You got it! red dog 1 Feb 2019 #85
People in the Army during the Korean war Mr.Bill Feb 2019 #21
Mobile Army Surgical Hospital red dog 1 Feb 2019 #23
Yep. Mr.Bill Feb 2019 #24
I think I've seen every single episode of MASH red dog 1 Feb 2019 #25
Me, too. Mr.Bill Feb 2019 #26
I've seen every episode at least 20 times Clash City Rocker Feb 2019 #127
Car 54 where aaaarrree you? jpak Feb 2019 #28
Nope red dog 1 Feb 2019 #30
Car 54, Where Are You? True Blue American Feb 2019 #94
They are best friends and neighbors that work as rivetors at doc03 Feb 2019 #29
The Life of Riley procon Feb 2019 #44
Just looked it up in Wikipedia. I remember the TV series well but didn't know doc03 Feb 2019 #50
Mom is reincarnated in an unusual manner (n/t) PJMcK Feb 2019 #32
My mother the car? nt doc03 Feb 2019 #33
You win! PJMcK Feb 2019 #38
Jerry Van Dyke True Blue American Feb 2019 #93
My Mother The Car. nt eppur_se_muova Feb 2019 #122
Astronauts become friends with cavemen (n/t) PJMcK Feb 2019 #35
It's about time. consider_this Feb 2019 #47
Bingo! PJMcK Feb 2019 #61
Precursor to Modern Family (n/t) PJMcK Feb 2019 #36
An Ivy League professor inherits a restaurant in a city far away. Cousin Dupree Feb 2019 #39
Frank's Place Leith Feb 2019 #70
Agreed. Very underrated show. Clash City Rocker Feb 2019 #128
Rich girl. Poor boy. PJMcK Feb 2019 #40
Two friends one works as a bus driver and his doc03 Feb 2019 #42
Honeymooners? consider_this Feb 2019 #45
Yep! doc03 Feb 2019 #49
He hits it big in the dry cleaning business and moves from the projects to doc03 Feb 2019 #43
the Jeffersons consider_this Feb 2019 #46
Winner! doc03 Feb 2019 #48
A grumpy old man and his young partner have a doc03 Feb 2019 #52
Steptoe and Son? Sanity Claws Feb 2019 #53
Wow never heard of that one I thought you maybe meant Sanford and Son. I see Steotoe and doc03 Feb 2019 #63
My mistake Sanity Claws Feb 2019 #68
Close True Blue American Feb 2019 #96
Chico and The Man? leftieNanner Feb 2019 #62
That's it nt doc03 Feb 2019 #64
A married couple live in an apartment connected to a firehouse by a plank. Sneederbunk Feb 2019 #55
He & She? NanceGreggs Feb 2019 #59
Bingo! It had great writing. Sneederbunk Feb 2019 #65
Loved that show! NanceGreggs Feb 2019 #67
Olive and pie. n/t MuseRider Feb 2019 #58
Grocery store stockboy and Janitor has TV connection with Jovian puppets. nt aka-chmeee Feb 2019 #66
A proud liberal in the '70s that was uncompromisin', enterprisin', anything but tranquilizin' FM123 Feb 2019 #69
Maude Leith Feb 2019 #71
Moxie, she sure did! FM123 Feb 2019 #75
What is mercuryblues Feb 2019 #72
Right on Maude! FM123 Feb 2019 #76
Here's one... Leith Feb 2019 #73
A happily married woman with 3 kids mercuryblues Feb 2019 #74
Mr. Angel, a middle-aged man, shows up to help individuals facing crises and challenges. no_hypocrisy Feb 2019 #77
Mrs. Bucket True Blue American Feb 2019 #78
Keeping Up Appearances nt yellowdogintexas Feb 2019 #89
:) True Blue American Feb 2019 #91
Big shot movie producer in Hollywood lapfog_1 Feb 2019 #80
loveable detectives deal with oddball perps in NYC dameatball Feb 2019 #81
Barney Miller - n/t lapfog_1 Feb 2019 #82
Correctamundo!! dameatball Feb 2019 #83
A two person band consider_this Feb 2019 #84
Flight of the Conchords happybird Feb 2019 #106
Correct. consider_this Feb 2019 #118
OMG, I forgot about that happybird Feb 2019 #123
British sit-com....A married couple decide to become self-sufficient. red dog 1 Feb 2019 #86
The Good Neighbors (aka The Goode Life) yellowdogintexas Feb 2019 #87
Oh,yes, good one. True Blue American Feb 2019 #92
Unmarried pair of erudite secret agents get called for oddball government missions DFW Feb 2019 #95
Get Smart? red dog 1 Feb 2019 #97
Umm, not quite DFW Feb 2019 #98
Mission Impossible? red dog 1 Feb 2019 #99
X-Files? red dog 1 Feb 2019 #100
Mrs. Peele, we're needed jls4561 Feb 2019 #109
I KNOW I spent too much time thinking about how I wanted a week alone with Emma Peel!! DFW Feb 2019 #116
The Avengers? red dog 1 Feb 2019 #114
There you go! n/t DFW Feb 2019 #115
Something and Mrs. Something A DAY IN THE LIFE Feb 2019 #105
Scarecrow & Mrs King Angleae Feb 2019 #119
The Man From U.N.C.L.E.? Ohiogal Feb 2019 #107
No, although.......... DFW Feb 2019 #117
You're right and I agree. Ohiogal Feb 2019 #131
Written by Buck Henry A DAY IN THE LIFE Feb 2019 #102
Buck Henry was ahead of his time. red dog 1 Feb 2019 #108
He wrote for SNL, didn't he? Ohiogal Feb 2019 #110
Oh yeah, I think you're right. red dog 1 Feb 2019 #112
I'm one of the few people who saw that, apparently, but I can't remember the name. eppur_se_muova Feb 2019 #124
Hotel owner who hates guests, has tendency to overreact happybird Feb 2019 #111
Fawlty Towers red dog 1 Feb 2019 #113
No matter how many times I see it happybird Feb 2019 #125
Poor Manuel is right! red dog 1 Feb 2019 #132
Forced out of job by ex, Pulitzer-Prize winning photojournalist goes to work for sleazy tabloid. nt eppur_se_muova Feb 2019 #126
A whiny teen grows up by dying, and helping others deal with their death Clash City Rocker Feb 2019 #129
Life and loves among the creators of the third-rated sports network in America Clash City Rocker Feb 2019 #130

red dog 1

(27,802 posts)
18. He was a paper boy.
Sun Feb 24, 2019, 04:47 PM
Feb 2019

It was hilarious but short-lived, and I loved it

Do you have a favorite episode?

Mine would probably be the one where his mother talks his father into taking him and his buddy camping.
His father deliberately "loses" his son + friend, and, hungry & lost, they find some psychedelic berries and hallucinate.

flying rabbit

(4,634 posts)
3. Roommates and/or their neighbors have some sort of misconception about some situation.
Sat Feb 23, 2019, 08:02 PM
Feb 2019

Hi jinks ensue. Figure it out in the end. Lather, rinse, repeat.

First Speaker

(4,858 posts)
11. Oh I dunno...you can interpret it as such...
Sun Feb 24, 2019, 12:25 AM
Feb 2019

...with Tony seen as a descendant, in a way, of Ralph Kramden. When he says, To the Moon, it has a whole new meaning. But I was actually making a not-very-successful attempt to be funny...

flying rabbit

(4,634 posts)
12. Yes
Sun Feb 24, 2019, 12:42 AM
Feb 2019

there are a lot of things that could fit into my description. Think physical comedy and cheesy as hell.

Response to Tom Kitten (Reply #14)

sarge43

(28,941 posts)
7. Base player gets a chair with the Boston Symphony
Sat Feb 23, 2019, 10:18 PM
Feb 2019

Makes friends, but has trouble navigating the sea of love.

Tom Kitten

(7,347 posts)
13. that would be Friends and Lovers starring Paul Sand
Sun Feb 24, 2019, 12:52 AM
Feb 2019

I remember that show! Well I remember him and the orchestra, had to google the title. As I remember as a preteen watching it was pretty good! Carol Burnett liked him too, see him a lot on her show reruns.

sarge43

(28,941 posts)
15. Wow. I thought I was the only one left who remembered it.
Sun Feb 24, 2019, 08:20 AM
Feb 2019

I enjoyed it. I wonder why it was cancelled so quickly.

Ohiogal

(31,999 posts)
104. Count me in, I was a fan, too!
Tue Feb 26, 2019, 05:22 PM
Feb 2019

Remember when Paul Sand guested on the Mary Tyler Moore show as her tax accountant?

Response to red dog 1 (Original post)

912gdm

(959 posts)
10. A department store in Boston
Sun Feb 24, 2019, 12:17 AM
Feb 2019

An old patriarch has had a store for decades and needs to look to his younger heir to revitalize the business.

yellowdogintexas

(22,252 posts)
88. Based on "Open All Hours" which is a hysterical Britcom
Mon Feb 25, 2019, 10:39 PM
Feb 2019

There is a sequel out now which stars the nephew as the grumpus

However I can't recall the American version

happybird

(4,608 posts)
101. Saw the new version a couple weeks ago
Tue Feb 26, 2019, 05:18 PM
Feb 2019

and was tickled to see the 'real' Granville playing the curmudgeon!

912gdm

(959 posts)
90. Your half right.
Tue Feb 26, 2019, 01:19 AM
Feb 2019

It was an unfair submission... but fun... . Beane's of Boston only aired the pilot and it was so horrible it was never aired again. This was the American spinoff of Are You Being Served and they used the script for German Week.

Watch if you dare

red dog 1

(27,802 posts)
20. Two young men with little money work at a small advertising agency
Sun Feb 24, 2019, 04:52 PM
Feb 2019

Unable to afford an apartment, they decide to dress up as women after work each day so they can share a room at a women's residence hotel.

Clash City Rocker

(3,396 posts)
127. I've seen every episode at least 20 times
Tue Feb 26, 2019, 08:51 PM
Feb 2019

And I was delighted to see the show streaming on Hulu lately. I usually hate seeing a TV show repeatedly, but this is the best show ever.

doc03

(35,337 posts)
29. They are best friends and neighbors that work as rivetors at
Sun Feb 24, 2019, 07:06 PM
Feb 2019

an airplane assembly line in California.

procon

(15,805 posts)
44. The Life of Riley
Sun Feb 24, 2019, 08:18 PM
Feb 2019

My pop, who worked at Lockheed in Burbank, Ca in the same era, loved that show. It sure brings back nice memories of our family all sitting together in front of that tiny TV screen to watch all the evening shows. He was fond of the show's popular catchphrase, "What a revoltin' development this is!" that William Bendix used in every episode. Jim Gillis, played by Tom D'Andrea was Chester A. Riley's buddy and neighbor.

doc03

(35,337 posts)
50. Just looked it up in Wikipedia. I remember the TV series well but didn't know
Sun Feb 24, 2019, 08:34 PM
Feb 2019

it was originally a radio program and a movie.

Cousin Dupree

(1,866 posts)
39. An Ivy League professor inherits a restaurant in a city far away.
Sun Feb 24, 2019, 07:30 PM
Feb 2019

He travels to the other city in preparation for selling the restaurant. When he returns to the Ivy university, his life goes sideways and he ends up moving to the other city and keeping the restaurant. The vast differences in his previous town vs. his new town and it’s denizens make for lots of hilarity and thought-provoking plots.

doc03

(35,337 posts)
43. He hits it big in the dry cleaning business and moves from the projects to
Sun Feb 24, 2019, 08:04 PM
Feb 2019

an upscale apartment building.

doc03

(35,337 posts)
63. Wow never heard of that one I thought you maybe meant Sanford and Son. I see Steotoe and
Sun Feb 24, 2019, 09:10 PM
Feb 2019

son were on BBC.

Sanity Claws

(21,848 posts)
68. My mistake
Sun Feb 24, 2019, 09:29 PM
Feb 2019

The show was so long ago. The original was Steptoe and Son on the BBC; it was adapted for US television as Sanford and Son. I got them mixed up.

Either way, it sounds like I didn't get the right answer.

Leith

(7,809 posts)
73. Here's one...
Sun Feb 24, 2019, 11:06 PM
Feb 2019

A married couple who realize that they will never make the millions they dreamt of, quit the rat race to become domestic servants to a rich industrialist who rarely stays in the mansion they take care of.

mercuryblues

(14,531 posts)
74. A happily married woman with 3 kids
Sun Feb 24, 2019, 11:11 PM
Feb 2019

has her celebrity sister move in with her after she literally torched her career in Hollywood.

no_hypocrisy

(46,104 posts)
77. Mr. Angel, a middle-aged man, shows up to help individuals facing crises and challenges.
Mon Feb 25, 2019, 08:04 AM
Feb 2019

He snaps his fingers and people stop moving. He snaps his fingers again and they start moving and the crises resolve. (Sitcom didn't last a year.)

lapfog_1

(29,204 posts)
80. Big shot movie producer in Hollywood
Mon Feb 25, 2019, 08:54 AM
Feb 2019

releases a box office clunker has one more chance to make a hit, hires his prostitute / girl friend to be an associate producer and lives with his uncle / chief of security.

Only lasted 1 season but it was the funniest damn thing I've ever seen (it is my sense of humor as it was not a ratings hit)

happybird

(4,608 posts)
106. Flight of the Conchords
Tue Feb 26, 2019, 05:25 PM
Feb 2019

I loved that show. The manager was so freakin' ridiculous and gloriously awkward. Can't remember his name. Barry, maybe?

consider_this

(2,203 posts)
118. Correct.
Tue Feb 26, 2019, 06:58 PM
Feb 2019

I think the mgr guy's name was Reis, something like that. Loved their zany songs, especially 'Business Time'. Lol

happybird

(4,608 posts)
123. OMG, I forgot about that
Tue Feb 26, 2019, 08:33 PM
Feb 2019

just watched on YouTube.

"And you know when I'm down to my socks what time it is"


Now I'm gonna have to see how many episodes are available online. That was such a funny show.

red dog 1

(27,802 posts)
86. British sit-com....A married couple decide to become self-sufficient.
Mon Feb 25, 2019, 09:23 PM
Feb 2019

They even grow vegetables in their front yard, much to the chagrin of their next-door neighbors.

DFW

(54,378 posts)
95. Unmarried pair of erudite secret agents get called for oddball government missions
Tue Feb 26, 2019, 05:30 AM
Feb 2019

Definitely a comedy, although so tongue-in-cheek that it might not always have been recognized as such.

DFW

(54,378 posts)
98. Umm, not quite
Tue Feb 26, 2019, 04:48 PM
Feb 2019

I have heard the Don Adams character in Get Smart being described as a number of things, but "erudite" was never one of them!

Think: "we're needed."

jls4561

(1,257 posts)
109. Mrs. Peele, we're needed
Tue Feb 26, 2019, 05:27 PM
Feb 2019

I think I spent too much time trying to be Emma Peele on "The Avengers".

DFW

(54,378 posts)
116. I KNOW I spent too much time thinking about how I wanted a week alone with Emma Peel!!
Tue Feb 26, 2019, 06:44 PM
Feb 2019

I had no idea what Diana Rigg was like in real life, but in those days, I didn't care!

DFW

(54,378 posts)
117. No, although..........
Tue Feb 26, 2019, 06:47 PM
Feb 2019

Sometimes I wondered if that wasn't secretly meant as a comedy, too. I was talking about The Avengers, the British series.

 
102. Written by Buck Henry
Tue Feb 26, 2019, 05:19 PM
Feb 2019

Captain of an intergalactic garbage scow with a wacky crue: a plant (Ficus), a hermaphodite (Gene/Jean), twin beauties (one was a clone, the Betties), and a cowardly robot.

red dog 1

(27,802 posts)
112. Oh yeah, I think you're right.
Tue Feb 26, 2019, 05:37 PM
Feb 2019

I don't think he was old enough to have written for the old "Tonight Show" anyway.

eppur_se_muova

(36,262 posts)
124. I'm one of the few people who saw that, apparently, but I can't remember the name.
Tue Feb 26, 2019, 08:35 PM
Feb 2019

Quark, maybe ?


ETA: YESSSSSS!!! I Googled after posting. I sort-of-remembered it was a one-word title, something vaguely SF and vaguely oddball. Then 'Quark' popped into my head.

red dog 1

(27,802 posts)
132. Poor Manuel is right!
Wed Feb 27, 2019, 05:21 PM
Feb 2019

The actor who played him was seriously injured twice on the set.

- Once, when the director insisted that John Cleese use a real iron frying pan, instead of a foam one, in the scene where Cleese hits Manuel with it....I think he suffered a serious concussion.

- The other time was in the "Fire Drill" episode, when Manuel comes running out of the kitchen with smoke coming off him yelling "Fire!"..[Cleese tells him, "No, Manuel, there's no fire"]
The actor was seriously burned by the chemical they used to make the smoke come off him.

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