The S1E1 Podcast
Join us every week where we’ll be picking a different sitcom and judging it solely on its very first televised episode. In doing so we’ll be challenging ourselves to erase any knowledge of future episodes so we can deliver an unbiased opinion. At the end of each show we’ll tell you if this is a show we would green light or cancel. Tune in to find out which mega shows wouldn’t make the cut, what forgettable mistakes we give a pass, and who started exactly where they should be.
Episodes
"$#*! My Dad Says" was a sitcom that aired on CBS from 2010-2011. Inspired by the popular Twitter feed created by Justin Halpern, the series starred William Shatner as Ed Goodson, a cantankerous and outspoken father whose blunt life advice often clashed with modern sensibilities. Jonathan Sadowski played his adult son, Henry, who moved back in with Ed after losing his job, setting up a premise filled with intergenerational humor, f...
Salute Your Shorts is a sitcom that aired on Nickelodeon from 1991-1992, set at the fictional Camp Anawanna. The show follows a group of teenage campers navigating a summer of friendships, rivalries, and pranks. All of which while under the half-watchful eye of their counselor, "Ug". The show's appeal lies in its ability to balance silly slapstick humor with a level of gritty realness and authenticity.
Despite only running for two ...
Suddenly Susan is sitcom that ran from 1996-2000 on NBC. In it Brooke Shields starred as Susan Keane who begins a journey of self-discovery after leaving her fiancé at the altar. She then returns to her job at The Gate, a trendy publication owned by her ex’s brother. He offers her a new role: writing a column about navigating single life, aptly titled “Suddenly Susan.” This sets the stage for a workplace comedy filled with quirky c...
Florida Girls is a Pop TV original sitcom that aired in 2019. The show follows the lives of four women living in a small, working-class town in Florida. Despite their ages they have not yet fully embraced adult responsibilities. Instead of pursuing typical career paths or higher education, they spend their time partying and making poor life choices.
The show was praised for its funny, fresh perspective on female friendship, and for...
"Two and a Half Men" is a CBS sitcom that aired from 2003 to 2015. The show was created by Chuck Lorre and Lee Aronsohn, and became one of the most successful sitcoms during its run. The story begins when Alan (Jon Cryer), a neurotic and unlucky-in-love chiropractor, is kicked out of his house by his ex-wife, Judith, and shows up at the Malibu beach house of his older brother, Charlie (Charlie Sheen). Charlie, a wealthy bachelor an...
"The George Carlin Show" is a sitcom that aired on Fox from 1994-1995. The show centers around George O'Grady, a curmudgeonly New York City cab driver in his 50s who hangs out at a neighborhood bar. While it follows a traditional sitcom format with a laugh track and episodic structure, Carlin's involvement ensured that the writing frequently touched on anti-establishment themes, and generational conflicts.
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"Dads" is sitcom that aired on FOX from 2013-2014. The series stars Seth Green and Giovanni Ribisi who play two successful video game developers in their 30s whose lives are turned upside down when their overbearing and dysfunctional fathers move in with them. Much of the show's comedic dynamic is based on culture clash, and boundary-pushing jokes.
"Dads" received largely negative reviews from critics upon its premiere for relying...
The Grinder is a sitcom that aired on FOX from 2015–2016 starring Rob Lowe as Dean Sanderson, a TV actor famous for playing a lawyer who returns to his hometown and attempts to practice law alongside his actual attorney brother, Stewart (Fred Savage). The show cleverly parodied legal dramas by contrasting Dean's melodramatic, fictional courtroom experience with the realities of practicing law.
Critics praised the series, with many ...
"Gilligan’s Island" is a sitcom that aired on CBS from 1964-1967. The show follows the comedic adventures of seven castaways who become stranded on a deserted island after a tropical storm wrecks their boat, the S.S. Minnow. Much of the show's humor is driven from the contrast between the characters’ personalities and their adaptation (or lack thereof) to island life.
Although it was originally met with mixed reviews from critics, ...
"Alice" is a sitcom that aired on CBS from 1976-1985. The show is based on the 1974 Martin Scorsese film, "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore". The story follows Alice Hyatt, a widow who moves from New Jersey to Phoenix, Arizona, with her son, Tommy. She then takes a job at a roadside eatery named Mel’s Diner. One of the show's catchphrases, "Kiss my grits!" remains a part of the cultural lexicon.
The show was a ratings success, espec...
"The Mary Tyler Moore Show" is a sitcom that aired on CBS from 1970 to 1977. The show starred Mary Tyler Moore as Mary Richards, a single, independent woman working as a TV news producer in Minneapolis. More than a workplace comedy, it helped reshape how America viewed women in the 1970.
The show was gigantic success winning over both critics and viewers alike. In its run "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" won a total of 29 Emmys. Will t...
"Joanie Loves Chachi" is an ABC sitcom that aired from 1982-1983. It was a "Happy Days" spin-off that followed Joanie Cunningham and Chachi Arcola to Chicago where they pursued music careers and furthering their relationship.
After the initial curiosity wore off, ratings declined rapidly. ABC decided to pull the plug, and both Joanie and Chachi were written back into Happy Days for its final season. "Joanie Loves Chachi" has become...
The Brady Bunch is a sitcom that aired from 1969 to 1974. It begins with Mike Brady, a widowed architect with three sons marries Carol who has three daughters. Together, they form a family of eight, along with their live-in housekeeper, Alice. Despite the challenges, the Bradys always come together with love and understanding.
Though it wasn't a major hit during its original run, The Brady Bunch gained immense popularity in syndica...
"Charlie Hoover" is a short-lived 1991 Fox sitcom. The series starred Tim Matheson as Charlie Hoover and Sam Kinison as Hugh, a wild, outspoken manifestation of Charlie's inner voice. Its humor relies heavily on Sam Kinison’s signature loud, over-the-top comedic style. The contrast between Hugh's bombastic personality and Charlie’s meekness is the central comedic engine.
"Charlie Hoover" received mixed at best reviews and struggled...
"Whitney" is a semi-autobiographical comedy created by and starring Whitney Cummings that aired on NBC from 2011–2013. It follows Whitney, a photographer, and her live-in boyfriend, Alex (Chris D'Elia), as they navigate their three-year relationship without the intention of getting married.
Critics were mixed in their reviews but many felt the show lacked originality. NBC decided to not renew the show for a third season due to its ...
"The Charmings" was an ABC sitcom that aired from 1987-1988. The show followed the adventures of Snow White and Prince Charming, who after a thousand year spell found themselves in 20th-century Los Angeles. Along with their two sons, the wicked stepmother Lillian, and a wisecracking Magic Mirror, they tried to adapt to modern life while clashing with contemporary norms.
While some viewers appreciated "The Charmings" quirky premise,...
St. Denis Medical is a mockumentary-style sitcom that premiered on NBC in 2024. The show is set in an underfunded hospital in Oregon, where overworked doctors and nurses strive to treat patients while juggling their own personal and professional challenges.
St. Denis Medical was created by Eric Ledgin and Justin Spitzer. Spitzer best known for creating the hit show, Superstore. Will the S1E1 boys rate this one as high as they did S...
"Maron" is a semi-autobiographical sitcom created by and starring Marc Maron. It spanned four seasons on IFC airing from 2013 to 2016. The show follows a fictionalized version of Maron as he navigates his life as a podcaster, comedian, and recovering addict.
Critics and fans appreciated the show's unique voice and Maron's candid storytelling. While it didn't achieve mainstream popularity, "Maron" garnered a loyal fanbase and solid ...
The Thin Blue Line is a British sitcom that aired on BBC1 from 1995 to 1996. The show is about a police station in the fictional English town of Gasforth. The series stars Rowan Atkinson as Inspector Raymond Fowler, a by-the-book officer who often clashes with Detective Inspector Derek Grim (played by David Haig). The two represent opposing views on policing, traditional vs modern.
Despite The Thin Blue Line's short run of two seri...
"Laverne & Shirley" is a sitcom that aired from 1976 to 1983. This "Happy Days" spin-off follows the antics of Laverne DeFazio (played by Penny Marshall) and Shirley Feeney (played by Cindy Williams), two best friends and roommates who work as bottle-cappers at the Shotz Brewery in Milwaukee. The iconic opening theme song, "Making Our Dreams Come True," remains one of the most recognizable TV themes.
"Laverne & Shirley" was...
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