>>>You may be right about this being a golden age of TV writing. One big exception IMO is sitcoms. They are as godawful as ever. In fact, worse; where is today's "MASH", "Mary Tyler Moore", "All in the Family", or even "Get Smart"?
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>>I would say "My Name is Earl" and the US version of "The Office". None of those shows perhaps except "All in The Family" stands the test of time. MASH was great in its day but is so simplistic and sexist now.
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>Simplistic? We disagree there. And you drop MTM without comment?
>And how could I have left out "Taxi" and "Seinfeld"?

MTM and Taxi just seem silly and simple. Seinfeld, now there is sitcom. Lots of complexity and inside jokes from previous episodes.

>I have heard "My Name Is Earl" is good. Also "The Office", although as a fan of the BBC original I'm afraid it will be just a cheap ripoff.

It is different, but good as well. Steve Carrel is the master of the akward moment.