Anyone Who Can Name All These Funny Shows Is Probably Hilarious
- by Lucas Wesley
- – on
- in Movies and TV
Let’s face it—not everyone can be a comedian. Fun as it is to make everyone around us laugh, some people simply can’t call upon this ability on the regular, if at all. Luckily, television has been shining a spotlight on people who actually are funny for decades, and small elements of their magic has been permeating into the public ever since. Watching TV might not necessarily help a person come up with jokes of their own, but even someone lacking in wit can quote Homer Simpson and get a room to chuckle in appreciation.
In fact, should someone truly dedicate their free time to watching sitcoms, they might just be able to call upon a reference or quotation for just about every scenario one could imagine. The catch is they actually need to remember the funniest moments to be able to do this, and understand the humor well enough to apply what they’ve learned at the appropriate times.
Unfortunately, there’s no exact number of shows one could watch in order to make the jump from “not funny” to “funny,” so the best anyone can really do is view as much TV as they possibly can and hope for the best. To ensure the right shows are involved in the process, keep reading for a quiz on funny TV shows that only hilarious people will be able to pass.
Which series is about fourth graders in Colorado?
Originally just a show about kids with dirty mouths, this cartoon has since become one of the greatest forms of social commentary on television. Stan, Kyle, Kenny, and Cartman have gone on adventures with wide ranging ramifications far beyond their quiet little mountain town, but no matter where they go or how intense things get, the kids always make being funny their first priority. Unfortunately, the adults in town aren’t quite so bright, which explains how the boys became so cynical in their young age.
Which series documents life at Dunder Mifflin?
There’s nothing less funny to most people than going to work every day, which makes the accomplishments of Michael Scott and the Dunder Mifflin staff all the more impressive. Sure, few people would want to actually work there, but watching Michael work his magic on television always provides plenty of laughs. Thanks to his emotional employees, the series also provided great amounts of drama and romance, almost making audiences wonder when they had time to get work done. Of course, with Michael at the help, productivity is hardly a priority.
What show is about six pals who frequent Central Perk?
Navigating life and love and New York City is tough work for anybody, making it all but essential anyone going through this process has someone there to lean on during times of struggle. The six pals of this show are lucky enough to have five each, with many combinations finding the romance they look for within their own group. Of course, it took several years for them to notice how they all felt about one another, leaving room for plenty of laughs until they found that happiness.
Which variety show stars Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein?
The dream of the ‘90s are alive with this variety show, which perfectly understands the sensibilities of the modern hipster. While most sketch programs rely on huge casts, all Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein need are a few costumes, and they alone can embody any character the show requires. Of course, there are also a few special guest stars when more than two people are in a given sketch, but ultimately, Armisen and Brownstein always provide the highlights, and put birds on them, because why not?
Which cartoon takes place in the year 3,000?
Fantasize as people might about the future, will it really be all that different 1,000 years from now than it is today? Sure, there might be talking robots and tubes that shoot people all around town, but for a delivery guy like Philip J. Fry, not all that much changed. Okay, so long days spent watching TV between pizza deliveries have been replaced with routine journeys into outer space, and now he has a talking robot friend named Bender. Fry’s still the same guy on the inside, though, with a sense of humor that transcends time.
What sitcom details physicist friends in Pasadena?
The mere fact people are outrageously smart doesn’t mean they can’t also be funny. If anything, having the extra knowledge base simply means a person can joke about all sorts of intelligent topics that someone without a PhD would never understand. The only catch is that the average audience member may not notice when a joke was made, hence the use of a helpful signifier by way of, “Bazinga.” Not that the humor is bound to go over people’s heads, with millions worldwide of all intelligence levels making this one of the highest rated comedies on TV today.
What sitcom is about a man reconnecting his family with their heritage?
Beautiful as it is that all cultures are gradually coming together and getting along, it’s important for people to hang onto their roots and know where they came from. Well, that’s how Dre Johnson sees it, anyway, doing whatever he can to ensure his children are well in tune with their culture. Of course, the kids don’t care that much about what they’re old man is constantly harping, more inclined to follow the example of their hippie mother Rainbow and brush off the past to fully experience the present instead.
Which show documents Jeff Winger’s return to a local college?
The mere fact someone didn’t get into a great college doesn’t mean they’re life is over. That said, anyone enrolling to Greendale is probably going to struggle for the next few years. Whether a corner cutting slacker like Jeff or an overachieving like Annie, every student at this school has an unfortunate story explaining how they wound up there. On the plus side, the low standards and absurd behavior of Dean Pelton created means they have plenty of time to goof off and have fun with their situation.
Which Comedy Central program satirizes the news?
Important as it is to remain aware of what’s going on in the world, let’s face it—watching the news can be pretty boring. Unless, of course, it’s peppered with brilliant social commentary presented by the best comedians of the day. From Jon Stewart to Trevor Noah, that’s exactly what this nightly program has been offering since 1996, informing audiences about current events while also giving them ways to laugh at the world falling apart. To keep it light, they also have a tendency to interview celebrities and musicians in between world leaders.
What variety show starred Bob Odenkirk and David Cross?
Unlike most sketch comedy shows, the thing that truly set this HBO classic apart was the detail and connectivity of every scene. Random as they looked on paper, one sketch would always fluidly transition into the next, almost to the point that what came in between ideas was the funniest part of the show. Of course, the ridiculous characters and iconoclastic attitude every sketch contained can’t be forgotten, not to mention the many alternative comedy careers it launched, from the two stars to smaller players like Janeane Garofalo and Jack Black.
What series is about a middle aged woman returning to high school?
Everyone deserves a second chance in life…to an extent. Quite frankly, Jerri Blank had probably used up all her goodwill long before heading back to high school at the age of 46. A self professed user and loser, Jerri repeatedly finds that old habits die hard, and spending far more time corrupting her fellow classmates and teachers than learning from them. Not that these characters should throw their lives away like she did, but with results this funny, it may be worth considering following Jerri down her rabbit hole.
Which sitcom documents a sarcastic catering company?
Theoretically, planning a social event should be a relatively joyous affair. Sure, it can be difficult getting everything in order, but once the right staff is hired to help cater, it should be all fun and games for the host and their guests. Unless they happened to hire Ron Donald and his crew, in which case things are almost certainly going to end in disaster. Of course, whoever hires Ron should be well aware of this by now, as not a single person in his staff cares about the job, which seems to come up in every single customer review.
What variety show has aired since 1975?
Despite the talk about the stars not being “ready for primetime,” at least one member of every cast member of this series has turned into a huge star in their own right. It started with names like Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd, followed by Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock, Adam Sandler, Will Ferrell, and countless others who now define the comedy world. With the sheer amount of content this show has produced, not every sketch is a winner, but the best of the best tend to go down in sketch history.
What cartoon documents a group of secret agents?
Spies and secret agents of all kinds typically need to be quiet, sly, and, well, secretive, in order to accomplish their missions without being spotted. Despite that being pretty much common knowledge, the star of this animated sitcom is the most reckless soul since Leroy Jenkins. Always diving headfirst into every dangerous scenario, it’s typically up to his team to save him from the brink of disaster, not that he cares. To the lead spy of the operation, it’s far more important to crack jokes and have fun than it is to do whatever they were hired to do.
What retro sitcom is about the Evans family struggle?
Perhaps to an unrealistic degree, the people audiences see on TV tend to be highly advantaged in life, with big apartments in huge cities, but not the jobs to pay for them. That definitely wasn’t the case for the Evans family, who spent their whole lives desperately attempting to keep their heads above water, sharing a tiny studio apartment in the projects. Nonetheless, they found a way to enjoy the minor gifts they had in life, and the eldest child even got to experience an art career that was, dare we say, Dy-no-mite!
What variety show introduced the world to Buddy Cole?
Compared to Saturday Night Live or any other big cast variety show, these five men from Canada didn’t need all that much to make audiences laugh—all they needed was a handful of cute dresses to wear while working their magic. That said, never once did they make wearing women’s clothing part of the joke, instead using these costumes changes to create well rounded characters in both genders. When they had enough with human clothing, they also dipped into the bizarre, like giant Chicken Ladies and Hecubus’s from the Pit of Ultimate Darkness.
Which travelogue did Dave Attell host?
Typically, a travelogue features a chef or other worldly sort going to high class locations and enjoying the local art and culture. Dave Attell chose a decidedly different route for his Comedy Central classic, hitting up the strangest dives and hole-in-the-wall locations he can find and exploring until the sun came up after his stand-up sets. In addition to dozens of bars and strange all-hours businesses, Attell also found great humor in simply hanging out with the locals and chatting, showing that sometimes the funniest thing a comedian can do is simply stand in front of a camera.
What news program does John Oliver host?
While the most impressive thing about The Daily Show is its ability to skewer massive news stories essentially as they happen, John Oliver added another layer to the comedy by flying the coop and holding his own show once a week. The slower turnover rate gives Oliver and his staff more time to think of the funniest jokes possible about the previous seven days, and also dig deep into the research and learn the silliest elements of a given news story that the mainstream sources aren’t going to cover.
What sitcom is about a woman facing the afterlife?
They say that nothing is off limits in comedy, so perhaps it’s about time someone made a silly show about the ridiculousness of the afterlife. From the very beginning of this series, the absurdity of the great beyond was key, featuring a woman who was accidentally judged as righteous upon arrival at the Pearly Gates, when she herself knew fell well that wasn’t the case. Obviously, she wasn’t going to correct anyone, but winding up in the wrong plane of existence meant she had to get her act straight quit, before anyone found out the truth.
What show is about burgeoning web developers?
In an increasingly intelligent, digital world, it only makes sense there would be a sitcom about web sites and the people who run them. That said, the crew behind this series originally just set out to make a simple data compression app, which didn’t quite work. Not letting it get them down, they inside built an entire alternative to the Internet as we know it, instantly making them all very successful businessmen in the process. Of course, that much success arriving virtually overnight causes all sorts of chaos amongst the group.
What sitcom satirized the late night talk show genre?
With how much fun everyone seems to be having, most audiences probably assume the funniest part of talk shows is, well, whatever makes it to air. Given the hectic environment live television starring eccentric celebrities provides, though, this HBO classic took viewers behind the scenes and revealed making the show can be even funnier than the show itself. Granted, not all talk shows have a staff this charismatic, with a producer even more bombastic than the star, and a sidekick more hapless in real life than he comes off on late night.
Which series is about spiteful people working at Paddy’s Pub?
Just because people are funny doesn’t necessarily mean the general public wants to spend any time with them. Hilarious as the gang at Paddy’s Pub can be, there’s no way around the fact they’re some of the worst people ever on television, intentionally putting one another in harm’s way on a weekly basis to further their own questionable plots and schemes. Nothing better describes the typical MO than when one of them puts on a musical and another asks, “who is this versus,” presenting their mindset that everything is a battle in one succinct sentence.
What variety show featured the Wayans family?
To this day, minority voices in comedy don’t have nearly the level of representation people within those communities feel they’ve always deserved. One of the first attempts to shift this trend came in a Fox variety show created by Keenen Ivory Wayans and starring the members of his family. Of course, the Wayans brothers weren’t the only people on board, as future comedy icons like Jim Carrey and Jamie Foxx were also on board to flesh out the cast and create some of the most memorable characters of all, like Fire Marshall Bill.
Which sitcom detailed business at Blush magazine?
Not all families get along, including those forced to work together. Maya and her father Jack definitely suffer a strained relationship to say the least, and attempting to make a fashion magazine together isn’t quite helping ease tensions. Of course, it’s a valid question to whether or not Maya should work there in the first place, as the very idea of modeling and fashion as a business goes against her more feminist leanings, but she’s so busy dealing with her eccentric co-workers, this issue quickly fades to the back of her mind.
What show was about WNYX in New York?
Radio may not be as important as it once was, but there are still some people who recognize it as the vital medium it can be at it’s best. Unfortunately for Dave Nelson, most of his staff at WNYX doesn’t fall into this category. Sure, the blowhard announcers see themselves as outrageously important, but the writers and office workers are more prone to goofing off than actually producing quality programming. For whatever reason, the station’s eccentric billionaire owner doesn’t seem to mind, though, so Dave’s job is safe even if he can’t get his staff on track.
What sitcom was famously “about nothing?”
Who ever said a sitcom needed a premise to be successful? Okay, maybe that’s how it went back when television was first created, but the lives of Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer forever erased the need for plot when they starred in the highest rated comedy in history, which proudly boasted it was “a show about nothing.” Of course, that’s not entirely accurate, as characters this bold create outrageously entertaining stories simply by existing, irritating just about everyone they encounter except one another—and the millions laughing along at home.
Which show documents a wealthy family that lost everything?
In the modern era, the only thing more satisfying than a rags to riches tale is one featuring a undeserving family of millionaires completely falling apart. From the very beginning, it’s clear this is the ultimate destiny of the Bluth family, once an extremely powerful clan of land developers who quickly find themselves in legal jeopardy after the patriarch may or may not have committed “light treason.” As if the premise weren’t strong enough, this series is special for it’s incredibly intricate form of joke telling, with repeated punch lines building to hilarious payoffs full seasons after the set up.
Which sitcom documents the romantic lives of Mickey and Gus?
Virtually ever show on television today features a romantic storyline of some kind. Even when a series attempts to put relationships on the back burner and focus on other elements of life, it’s inevitable one of the characters meets a special someone at one point or another. Throwing away all pretense, this Netflix series is based solely on the courtship of Mickey Dobbs and Gus Cruikshank, two open and earnest individuals who quickly come to find they have a lot in common. Of course, with love comes pain, but on the plus side, with pain comes comedy.
What cartoon documents the adventures of a mad scientist and his grandson?
Going on adventures through space and time probably sounds outrageously fun to most kids, including the child starring in this popular animated sitcom. Unfortunately, there’s a catch in that the poor child is only able to go on these adventures when accompanied by his literally insane addict grandfather, who treats each journey through space as an excuse to bolster his own ego. Unsurprisingly, the results are typically disastrous for his poor grandson, who generally seems like the much more mature member of their duo.
Which show features Jerry Seinfeld interviewing fellow funny people?
After the success of his sitcom, Jerry Seinfeld has been considered one of the top names in the comedy world. It’s all well and good for comedians to get interviewed by talk show hosts and various other sources with a love of their celebrity, but only a true master of the art form can really dig into to what makes a comic so darn funny. For these reasons, Seinfeld’s new series wherein he has personal, somewhat intimate conversations with his greatest contemporaries became an instant hit amongst fans of funny.
What cartoon stars Peter Griffin?
The power of animation creates all sorts of possibilities for jokes that a live action sitcom couldn’t make without serious expense. No show makes better use of the medium than the one starring Peter Griffin, a man prone to “remembering the time” all sorts of strange things happened in his past and that of his extended family. Sometimes, the cutaway gags get so long and intricate it feels like there’s no actual plot, but fans of the series are too busy laughing at the non stop references and jokes to worry about form.
What improv comedy show features Wayne Brady and Colin Mochrie?
Impressive as it is to painstakingly write an episode of television, present it to the masses, and earn raucous laughter and applause, there’s something extra special about a performer able to come up with outrageous jokes and scenarios at the drop of a hat. This is the basis of all improv comedy, yet only one mainstream series has presented it in a manner audiences have adored literally for decades. Originally broadcast in the UK, this series has survived three hosts and many network changes, never once dipping in the number of laughs.
Which series was about a Queens woman taking care of a high class family?
With the sheer number of people in New York City, simply moving from one borough to the next can already create a classic “fish out of water” story. That was the case with Fran Fine, a fashion positive but relatively middle class woman who essentially conned her way into a job as Mr. Sheffield’s in-home help. In addition to winning over her boss, Fran also makes friends out of Sheffield’s kids and the rest of the staff, providing plenty of laughs along the way. Unfortunately, not everyone appreciates it when she laughs herself.
What show stars Ted Danson as a doctor?
Well before House or Dr. Cox, former Cheers star Ted Danson was building the archetype of a surly, detached doctor who felt more inclined to insult his patients than treat them. Granted, his character clearly also had a big heart, choosing to use his skills in a disadvantaged neighborhood rather than coast through a big hospital where he could make big bucks, knowing people from all walks of life need proper medical treatment at time. The only problem is the food at the local diner seems to make him even more crotchety.
Which series stars a dysfunctional family with a genius middle child?
Funny as existence can be on sitcoms, certain situations that lead to comedy can also remind viewers of the near universal truth that life is unfair. This show went so far as to make the phrase part of it’s theme song, explaining how a genius who may one day save the world could be stuck in a truly horrific family situation. Not only is the family poor, a struggle made worse with every subsequent child, but a controlling mother and ridiculous father prevent the kid genius from having a life of his own. At least his brothers get to coast.
What sitcom brings viewers into the life of Al Bundy?
Love and marriage may go together like a horse and carriage, but that doesn’t mean the results are always an enchanted evening. Al and Peggy Bundy probably cared for one another a whole bunch at some point in their lives, though that ship has long since sailed, both of them severely beaten down by a low class existence and always present dark cloud over their home. Two ungrateful children who constantly get involved in absurd schemes of their own don’t help bring the family together, either, nor does an interloping neighbor who takes serious pleasure in their pain.
What show features Leslie Knope’s efforts at progress?
Progress is always an uphill battle, even with a go-getter as passionate and dedicated as Pawnee’s top civil servant, Leslie Knope. Try as she might to make the world a better place, no one else in the parks department seems even a little bit interested in her goals, making it extremely hard for her to enact change. Worst of all is her boss, Ron Swanson, a man who firmly believes in the power of the individual, but Leslie’s such a plucky personality she finds reasons to love Ron and the rest of her staff anyway.
What classic program is about a medical hospital during the Korean War?
Generally speaking, the last thing anyone wants to think about when looking for a laugh is a never ending war. Ironically, few people feel more strongly about their anti-war agenda than Hawkeye Pierce, a top medical surgeon forced to serve the army during the Korean War. While Hawk tends to get extremely depressed whenever facing the reality of his situation, he nonetheless knows exactly how to keep things light with the other doctors, cracking wise and playing games until an explosion or incoming wounded bring the fun to a halt.
Which groundbreaking series stars Donald Glover?
Life is a struggle for many people in the world today, and only through extremely hard work and dedication will they ever find the success they’re looking for. Earn Marks is a guy who could have coasted to the top off his Ivy League education, but that didn’t feel true to his calling, so he instead chose to help his cousin Paper Boi find fame and fortune as a rapper. Of course, there’s a whole lot more to it than that on this series, as surrealism and nonlinear storytelling often lead to the strongest emotions, and perhaps biggest laughs.
What show documents a young woman moving into a loft with three men?
Moving is never easy, especially when there are roommates involved. Luckily for Jessica Day, when she left her boyfriend and moved in to a loft with three strange men, everyone involved seemed nice enough, and eventually, they were all able to get along. That said, both Jess and all of her new friends are pretty awkward people, leading to some seriously silly interactions as they all get used to the new situation. Even after Jess has been living there for a while, her type A personality keeps the guys on their comedic toes.
Which series features the misadventures of a friendship family?
Chances are the very first time a human being settled into a regular 9 to 5 job, they started complaining about how they’d rather be doing anything else. Anders, Blake, and Adam all know this feeling, wishing they could revert back to the college lifestyle they shared upon first becoming friends. Luckily, by pooling their resources, they’ve found a relaxed enough existence that they can still party all day long, even from within their shared cubicle. Granted, very little work gets done, but they aren’t too concerned with this issue.
What show documents Piper Chapman’s time in prison?
Typically, when a person gets hauled off the prison for serious crimes, laughter is the last thing on their mind. That said, with the right mentality, the entire concept of prison can also feel like a sitcom, bringing together the craziest and most vicious people in a given area and putting them under a shared roof. Okay, so the implied violence isn’t all that funny, but when things calm down and everyone simply talks about their weird pasts, the laughs start flowing after all.
Which sitcom shows two recently divorced women experiencing life together?
Divorce is difficult for anyone to go through, and it presumably only gets harder the older a person gets, as there’s less time to piece their life back together. As if advanced age weren’t a big enough hurdle, the two women starring in this series have another crushing blow to deal with in that their husbands left them for each other, having secretly been in love for years, meaning the whole lifelong relationships were a lie. Also, the two ladies don’t much care for one another, so the fact their lives are forcibly intertwined may be the worst part.
What sitcom features a marriage falling apart?
It’s said that less than half of modern married couples truly believe in their vows and some of them barely even last a full year before having the nuptials annulled. Frances and Robert lasted a bit longer than that, not deciding to split until middle age, not that this made the process any easier. There’s a great deal of real, genuine pain in the decision, with Robert feeling he had no choice after learning Frances had eyes for another. Amazingly, this doesn’t prevent him or his ex from finding ways to laugh at their misfortune.
What retro sitcom is a man living with two women?
Truth be told, of all the sitcoms on this quiz, the tale of Jack Tripper and his female roommates feels the most outdated today. While the humor is still top notch in many regards, there just wouldn’t be any controversy about an unmarried man living with women, regardless of his orientation. That said, once modern audiences get passed the basic plot description, they’ll find a hilarious comedy of errors featuring a group of people who constantly fail to understand one another despite living under the same roof. What retro sitcom is a man living with two women?
What classic sitcom starred Lucille Ball?
Everything has to start somewhere, including the modern sitcom. According to many television experts, the first truly successful TV comedy featured an energetic foreign bandleader and his eccentric wife, who often did whatever she could to please him…only to consistently fail miserable, leaving her with some ‘splaining to do. Of course, the happy couple always found a way to move past their issues, as did their constantly warring best friends and neighbors Fred and Ethel. Even so, it’s unlikely the wife will ever be following her husband into showbiz.
What sitcom featured a New Zealand comedy folk band?
When it comes to providing consistent laughs over the course of a half hour, sitcoms are probably a better bet than songs. Unless, of course, those songs are all pure jokes from beginning to end, as is the case with this New Zealand comedy band. Then again, the only thing funnier than their musical adventures is their attempts to find fame in America with the help of a completely hapless agent, who barely understands what it is they do. They may never be rock gods, but every song they write will get a whole bunch of views on YouTube.
What series documents a mother and daughter who act like best friends?
Depending on the individuals involved, the mother-daughter relationship can either be rife for laughter or drama. In the cases of Rory and Lorelai, it’s often both, especially because these two treat one another more like BFFs than parent and child. Of course, with how funny and quick witted both women are, it’s no surprise they’d feel more inclined to shoot the breeze and joke about pop culture than talk about family or lifelong dreams. Unfortunately, things aren’t quite so fluid with Lorelai and her own parents, adding a good deal of drama to the light comedy in her household.
Which short lived show starred the Weir family?
Growing up often involves a person recognizing truths about themselves they either ignored or couldn’t deal with at a younger age. Lindsey Weir faces such a reality check at the very beginning of her series, ditching her goody too shoes Mathlete persona to start hanging out with Daniel Desario and his questionable friends. Little brother Sam gets into even funnier antics, which isn’t that surprising given his own love of comedy, classic gags, and generally being silly. He’s also a bit younger, so the heavier questions of life have yet to weigh him down.
What iconic cartoon features Homer, Marge, and their kids?
From their 1987 debut on The Tracey Ullman Show to the present day, this yellow family has been an absolute pop culture institution. More than just a silly sitcom about family life, the adventures seen in Springfield have managed to cover just about every facet of life over the course of some 600 episodes. For this reason, the show has provided more hilarious and infinitely adaptable one-liners than any other. Even people who got every other question on the quiz wrong might have a solid foundation of jokes simply by recognizing this one.