WKRP in Cincinnati (1978-82) vs Taxi (1978-83)

Why?

Taxi

Tough call, but I'd have to go with WKRP. While both shows were very much of their time, WKRP was funnier, the characters more likeable and believable, and it was just easier for people outside of NYC to relate to. It was also far more upbeat and the use of contemporary music made it unforgettable.

Taxi, while still very funny, also had a melancholy, almost tragic feel to it. The characters of Taxi were quintessential underdogs who you were supposed to both laugh at and feel sorry for. The dreary, urban-renewal atmosphere of late-1970s NYC was ever present, which occasionally made you forget you were watching a comedy.

Taxi, by a mile. Both shows have their merits and are enjoyable but c'mon, Taxi gave us Andy Kaufman, Danny DeVito, Christopher Lloyd... the WKRP cast are largely forgotten, particularly outside of America.

TAXI IS CLEARLY THE BETTER SHOW...HOWEVER WKRP IS A SINGULAR ENTITY...IT ENCAPSULATES A TIME PERIOD THAT NEVER EXISTED...A PASTEL TONED,HUGE LAPELED,BELL BOTTOMED,BRADY BUNCH-ESQUE VERSION OF THE 70S...IT IS MY FAVORITE RERUN REWATCH.

If your talking 1st run I'd give a huge edge to Taxi as it always seemed to come on at the right time and comfort you. WKRP was a good show as well, I think CBS moved it's timeslot almost every year.
Ultimately, I think each show had two really great years in 78 and 79. I remember the exact moment the 70's turned into the 80's and the mood of the country completely changed almost overnight. From then on it was tough for me to watch Taxi, WKRP, Mork & Mindy, Archie Bunker's Place and many others.

They are so completely different other than the fact that they ran during the same years. Usually I prefer filmed sitcoms over videotaped (because videotape just looks so cheap), but WKRP had such great writing and characters that it overcame this bias for me. I think had WKRP been filmed rather than videotaped, it would have achieved an even more legendary status.

I loved both. But taxi had Jim. Jim was an awesome character. So taxi...