So my last two blogs have been rather angry rants, or have been about rather weighty subject matter. I thought I'd break away from that and tackle something a touch more lighthearted - Comedy Television! Well I might as well just jump into it!
10. Spaced
Forget about The Big Bang Theory, this is the ultimate show about geeks. Unlike The Big Bang Theory, the characters on this show feel like real people, despite the surrealness of the show. Also, unlike The Big Bang Theory, this show is actually funny. I mean, it's Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, and Edgar Wright making a show about playing video games, reading comics, and watching movies. This show also paved the way for shows like Community by being filled to the brim with references and homages, and not giving a flying fuck how weird it is. There's an episode early on where Tim plays Resident Evil for two days straight, goes to an Avant Garde theatre performance and punches a transgender artist because he hallucinates and thinks it's a zombie. It's freaking gold! Not to mention, on DVD there's a feature called the homage-o-meter, that displays every single reference in the show. There are so many than I'd ever dream of catching!
9. Archer
Despite being a spy genre spoof along the lines of Get Smart, or Austin Powers, this show actually reminds me of Arrested Development more than anything. That's probably because nearly THE ENTIRE FUCKING CAST ends up in it at some point. Other than that, there's the fact that this show is willing to use any sort of humour - smut, puns, inuendos, obscure literature references - and constantly merges high brow comedy with low brow. Also, it has a LOT of in jokes, and the pacing of the humour is similar. Oh, and I forgot, THESE ARE TERRIBLE PEOPLE! In the best way possible though.
8. Red Dwarf
If you've never watched this show, WHY THE SMEG NOT?! Seriously, this show is a classic. Sci Fi comedy at it's best. I mean there's Lister, who has been in Stasis for 3 million years, only to emerge to find out that every one on his ship is dead, the computer has chosen the person he hates most to reanimate as a hologram for company, and there's a being that evolved from his pet cat! It's a brilliant set up, it's insanely hilarious and silly, yet at the same time it's a very human show, as all of these characters have their strengths and weaknesses, and they're all far from perfect. Also, this show invented the word smeg, which is the greatest imaginary curse word ever, and it has some of the best insults I've ever heard on television!
7. Louie
You know how Seinfeld is supposed to be a show about nothing? That's bullshit. This is the real show about nothing. The episodes are usually two short films that have nothing to do with each other, and even with those, there is no three act structure. It's just some funny stuff that happens in someones day. Occasionally, the show isn't even a comedy, it turns into a full on drama. There's an episode where his friend comes and tells him he wants to kill himself, and the conversation is just so intense and real that you can't help but admire it. Another episode starts with a group of comics discussing the word "faggot" with a homosexual man, and it's both hilarious and insightful. The best part of Louie? You never know what you're going to get. You don't know if you'll get a heart warming story that truly makes you happy, or an episode that is extremely dark. You don't know if the episode will make you piss yourself laughing or have you on the edge of your seat with tension. The show is truly unique, and that's something that is lacking from the market.
6. Black Books
Dear god is this show hilarious. The main character (Dylan Moran) is an utter jerk who owns a book store. He hates everyone - including himself - and doesn't want to sell any books because then he'll have to do work. This leads him to hire an Assistant (Bill Fucking Bailey), and the dynamic between the two is brilliant. Everyone on this show is utterly insane, and nothing is ever normal. Who could forget such brilliant lines as "Yes, I think you should shave your beard, then nail it to a frisbee, and fling it over a rainbow." Or when Jehovah's Witnesses rock up at his door and when he lets them in to get out of doing his taxes, they proclaim "It's a trap, run!" and "Sorry, we've never actually been indoors before." It's completely insane and completely hilarious, and I advise you to watch it immediately!
5. South Park
I think a lot of people dismiss this show simply because of the over the top vulgarity this show displays. However, if you look deeper, you will find one of the most biting, insightful, and intelligent satire's on television. There is nothing these guys won't poke holes in, like religion, politics, pornography, facebook, authority, video games - absolutely everything is fair game in South Park. They are the ballsiest motherfuckers in comedy, and that has to at least earn your respect.
4. Scrubs
The second season of Scrubs is one of the best pieces of television comedy. Every season after season 5 displays some of the worst. I think it's all down to the characters, and how you can grow so attached to them. I mean, I watched up until season 8 just because I liked the cast. The show makes me happy when I watch it, and I can't quite put my finger on it. Maybe it just reminds me of good times in my life, or maybe it's just because this show can be ball bustingly hilarious at times!
3. Parks and Recreation
The Office is a great show, but dear god can it be awkward. Some scenes in that show are just so frustrating to watch that I can't put up with it sometimes. Thankfully, that's where Parks and Recreation comes in. It's The Office, but more light hearted and surreal. I love that in a landscape of cynacism, this is a show displaying pure optimism. It's such a warm show, and it is also really funny! All of these characters are hilarious, and April is now officially my dream girl. Andy is one of the best idiots on TV, and RON FUCKING SWANSON!!!! I mean, that guy is a legend. "Fishing is for sport, not food. Fish meat is practically a vegetable." Brilliant! There isn't a single character on the show that I don't like, and that really is a credit to the writers.
2. Community
Firstly, DAN HARMON IS BACK FOR SEASON 5!!!! Halle-fucking-lujah! This is brilliant news, because even though season four had some good episodes, it was mostly a stinking pile of shit. This show is just so clever, meta, and hilarious. Even if you don't get the references in the show, the characters are witty and likeable enough for you to endure. This show has some of the best episodes of tv comedy EVER. The zombie episode, the dungeons and dragons episode, the different timelines episode, and who could forget, the paintball episodes! This show is fantastic, and you should all watch it.
1. Arrested Development
This is the smartest comedy ever to grace television. It will take an entire season to set up a joke, it will reference itself, it will break the fourth wall, and it will go ANYWHERE for comedy. The show rewards repeated viewings, as everytime you rewatch the show, you will notice something new. Something in the background. A joke that didn't make sense until the second viewing. Of course, there are still regular jokes, and they're all hilarious. Oh, and if you didn't like season 4, you're an idiot. Rewatch it. Every second of that season is either a joke or setting up a joke. Also, look up who George Maharris is. I guarantee you will wet yourself when re-watching George Michael's episodes. Not to mention G.O.B.'s second episode is among the series best!
Out of your list, there are only three shows that I actually like. I leave it to you to guess which three.
I have no idea why, but I'm leaning towards Red Dwarf, and South Park, I can't think what the other could be! But that's fine. This isn't a definative list of shows everyone must like, and if we all liked the same things this world would be very boring :)
South Park is one. Scrubs and Arrested Development are the other two. Haven't watched Black Books, but a friend has recommended it, so I may give it a try sometime.
Well you still have pretty great taste! Some people find Black Books a touch depressing, but if you like Arrested Development, I don't see it as a problem.
Ha, last summer a neighbor and I shred through two seasons of Louie. It's honestly one of the best shows thta I've watched. Archer is great too, and I almost freaked out when I got near the bottom of the list and Arrested Development wasn't there until the end. Don't scare me like that Blake, you'll give me a heart attack. I wanna get into Community but it's not on Netflix. Boo-hoo. I'm one of those South Park overlookers too, and now you've made me wanna go check that out. I got through the first season of Scrubs but I didn't go on longer because I had discovered Arrested Development. Now my friend has lapped me in the Scrubs watching scene, he got to season 5 in the time it took me to finish one season. One show that you should check out is The Inbetweeners. No, not the crappy MTV one, the original British one. That show is so funny and the characters are amazing. It also gave birth to one of the funniest insults: "Breifcase wanker"
Yeah, I love The Inbetweeners. It so narrowly missed out on being on this list, as did 30 Rock. What did you think of the movie?
And yeah, I overlooked South Park for so long, but when I actually sat down and watched it I was completely amazed at the level of sophistication on offer in that show! Some episodes are purely dumb, but most tackle pretty serious issues.
Also, with Community, Dan Harmon said people should pirate it, because it will raise awareness of the show. So I say go for it! The first half of the first season is a bit meh though, so I'd start from season 2.
I actually just discovered the Inbetweeners. I sat down yesterday and got through a season and a half of it in one sitting. They still don't have the third season on Netflix so I'll watch the movie after they put that up.
Yeah. I still think Simon vomiting on Carlies brother is brilliant!
cool cool cool cool.
Love the half of them that I have seen. Red Dwarf would probably be at the top of my list.
Hot. Hot hot hot.
Lukewarm lukewarm lukewarm lukewarm.
Lol! WATCH COMMUNITY! Then you'll giggle at our references.
oh, and where is the big bang theory? I was sure that it was going to be on here.
Just missed out on account of every other show in the univers being better than it. Except Full House. Fuck that show.
Never heard of Black Books, I may have to check that out.
I also am a fan of Friday Night Dinner.
Great list. Although I would change up the order a lot and some of them probably wouldn’t make the top ten, I count almost all of these among my favorites (with the exception of Louie, which I’ve never seen).
Some other favorites are the Mighty Boosh, Garth Marenghi’s Dark Place, The Simpsons, Eastbound and Down, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Futurama, Freaks and Geeks, King of the Hill, 30 Rock, and although it's stupid, Beavis and Butthead.
30 Rock just missed out, and I completely forgot about Garth Marenghi's Dark Place! Also, you need to watch Louie!
Parks & Recreation is great. I still want to check out Community too. Just been kinda busy!
WATCH IT!!!
Only seen four of these on a somewhat regular basis at any time: Scrubs, South Park, Arrested Development when it first aired, and some of what was syndicated of Red Dwarf on PBS when I was younger. I should really watch Louie, I like his stand up.
Out of those, South Park is my favorite. Love how topical and irreverent the show is, and how it gives valid moral lessons in the midst of its vulgarity.
My favorite comedy TV show is Mystery Science Theater 3000. It's also my number one all-time favorite TV show ever.
My top 10 are
Red Dwarf
Black Adder
Fawlty Towers
Red Dwarf
Black Adder
Fawlty Towers
Red Dwarf
Black Adder
Fawlty Towers
Red Dwarf
and Monty Python's Flying Circus!
Ok, so that's 11.
I love Red Dwarf. I use to watch it all the time. My 6yr old daughter loves it too. She asked me for my dvds a few days ago. 
I still hadn't got around to watching Arrested Development beyond the 3rd eps of the new season yet, but I'll get back to it.
Another cool show is IT Crowd. You ever saw that?
Red Dwarf Rules!
I have everything except the latest season on DVD, including Back To Earth. My son loves the series too.
What do you think of the latest season? I thought it was a pretty damn good return to form, despite a few really bad jokes.
I haven't seen any of it yet but really bad jokes come with the territory. :)
I need to pick it up somehow. It may be on the telly but I watch TV so infrequently I've never found it.
I download all my tv as I don't own one and then by the dvds when they come out. I used to wait, but then shit kept getting spoiled for me so I was like fuck it.
The last season is surprisingly good.
IT Crowd is awesome, but it's from the maker of Black Books and I liked that better, so I put it in instead. It is one show that narrowly missed out. I could do a top 20 of this shit!
I never saw Black Books, but now I have to check it out.
'lets just say it how it is..... food rapist. Hey Pam do you want some food thats supposed to be cream filled?'
Dude Archer Rocks! so many moments to love about that series like when Lana facepalms and asks him if he's looking for predator! quality list Blake, you are a man of fine taste (though Blackadder and IT crowd would have to have been in mine).
oh and possibly League of Gentlemen
Yeah, BlackAdder is one of those shows I need to rewatch now that I appreciate shows like that. Also, as I said before, Black Books is by one of the makers of the IT Crowd, but it's better in almost everyway, so that's why IT Crowd didn't make it on. I still love that show though.
Very true, Black books is pretty amazing.... love that wine episode!
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I'M A ROBOT PROSTITUTE FROM THE FUTURE!!!
Really like Scrubs and Community. Both are among my favorites. Sadly I haven't seen much or anything of the shows on your list, but I plan to fix that.
As far as other favorite comedies go, The Simpsons, Futurama, How I Met Your Mother, My Name is Earl, Seinfeld (cliche, I know) and Friends (don't kill me) would be the ones at the top of my head. I also like what i've seen of the US version of The Office.
How I Met Your Mother was surprisingly good until season 5, where it was kind of meh. I've seen so much How I Met Your Mother I just can't stomach it any more. My ex girlfriend was freaking obsessed with it!
Oh, and I also forgot to mention 30 Rock. I love that one.
Blackadder is mentioned a couple times in here and I've seen it listed on a few "Best TV Shows of All Time" lists. I'm curious about it, but considering I despise Mr. Bean, I'm kind of hesistant to give it a chance. So my question for anybody reading this who has seen BlackAdder is - Is it anything at all like Mr. Bean, and will my hatred for Mr Bean affect my feelings towards Blackadder?
The first season is a little bit, everything after that is nothing like it. He plays a smart coward closer to rimmer than mr bean. It's also a lot darker than mr bean.