1994 | THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT!

Welcome to a new Wildcard Wednesday, on a Tuesday! This week, I’m answering a question submitted by MDay991, who asked me to choose my favorite of all the short-lived sitcoms I’ve covered so far in my “Potpourri” series. As of this writing, I have written 20 Potpourri posts featuring 101 shows (not counting the nine “pop-outs”). So, for the record, here’s a list of my favorites out of those posts — separated into three categories: QUITE GOOD, PRETTY DECENT, and SIMPLY NOTABLE. A QUITE GOOD show is typically well-designed and indicates real promise, evidenced by a handful of good or great episodes, making it potentially on par with our Sitcom Tuesday staples. A PRETTY DECENT show is better than the average, implies the capacity to improve, and maybe has a good episode or two as well — it’s a solid Wildcard Wednesday offering. A SIMPLY NOTABLE show is not great and perhaps not even good, but it’s unique and possibly even enjoyable in some way, one of those sitcoms that’s simply worth noting and discussing — equivalent to an Honorable Mention. Now, inclusion here does not mean these shows are imperfect — heck, no sitcom, even the classics, is perfect! — but it does indicate my thoughts on them relative to the rest of this genre.

Obviously, this is not a complete listing of all the best Wildcard Wednesday efforts I’ve featured — only the ones afforded Potpourri treatment — so please don’t view this as an official ranking of all the non-Tuesday shows I’ve ever discussed or will ever discuss (that is, I’m not updating this post as I continue to offer more Potpourris — it’s a snapshot in time). Also, please know that if a title covered in the Potpourri series is not present on this list, you can assume that I consider it either not good, crucially mediocre, or merely not worth mentioning. So, with that said, I hope this selection of 52 worthwhile short-lived sitcoms expands upon, helps clarify, and also updates the record as to my current thoughts. (Oh, and by the way, they are listed below in chronological airing order. I’ve also included my nine Potpourri Pop-Outs in red, for reference.)