Comedy Fans Can Match The Comedian To Their Sitcoms
- by Ben Sherlock
- – on
- in Movies and TV
TV shows are seen as the reward that comedians get for years of hard work. Back in the '90s, they would go out on the road and refine their act and make appearances on late night talk shows. The best, like Jerry Seinfeld and Ray Romano, were rewarded with their own TV shows.
These days, there are a lot more avenues for comedians to take in order to get their own TV shows. They can release content on YouTube or do a podcast or get involved with Netflix, but getting their own TV show is still seen as the ultimate goal. To have their own Seinfeld or their own Louie is the dream. Now, all kinds of comedians have their own TV shows: Aziz Ansari, Donald Glover, Tina Fey, Bill Burr etc. Plus, comics like Kumail Nanjiani and Chelsea Peretti have recurring roles in larger ensemble sitcoms. Even the more alternative comics like Patton Oswalt and David Cross and Zach Galifianakis have starred in sitcoms.
The truest of comedy fans will be able to match all of these famous comedians to the iconic sitcoms that they starred in. So, sit back, settle down, yadda yadda yadda, and give it a try!
Which surrealist sitcom does Donald Glover star in?
Donald Glover's FX sitcom about a struggling rapper who works as a manager for his slightly more famous cousin is one of the most critically acclaimed series on television right now. It can't be predicted what will happen on the show from episode to episode. One episode could cast a man as Justin Bieber, while another one will be inspired by the Jordan Peele movie Get Out. The only glue that holds the whole thing together is Glover's unique sense of humor and the show's surrealist tone. What is the name of the surrealist sitcom that Donald Glover stars in?
Which Netflix series stars Aziz Ansari?
Before his NBC mockumentary comedy series Parks and Recreation had even ended its seven-season run, Aziz Ansari was given an order for his own series on Netflix. Now that is impressive, right? He had made a couple of popular standup comedy specials for the Netflix streaming service and they decided to give him his own series in which he plays a struggling actor. The character is based heavily on Ansari himself and deals with the same topics that his acclaimed standup comedy does. What is the title of the Netflix comedy series starring Aziz Ansari? Every comedy fan should know this one!
Which HBO sitcom stars Larry David as a fictionalized version of himself?
Larry David left Seinfeld, which he co-created with Jerry Seinfeld, after its seventh season. This was two seasons before Seinfeld actually went off the air, but according to Wikipedia, David was looking for a change of pace. He wrote and directed his own movie, Sour Grapes, and then he got back into standup comedy. He began developing a standup special for HBO, but the parts of it that were more successful were the scripted scenes with improvised dialogue, so that was developed into a series. Who can tell us which HBO sitcom stars Larry David as a fictionalized version of himself?
Which Netflix animated sitcom stars Bill Burr as a '70s family man?
Netflix has been finding some success in the past few years with animated comedy series. One of those series stars the standup comic Bill Burr as a husband and father in the 1970s. The serialized story that carries the show from season to season is what differentiates it from other animated family comedy series like The Simpsons and Family Guy. Also, the lack of restrictions held to a streaming service mean that this Netflix show can push things a little further and be a little bit more out there. Which Netflix animated sitcom stars Bill Burr as a '70s family man?
What is the name of Ray Romano's '90s sitcom?
Ray Romano has a new standup comedy special arriving on Netflix soon called Ray Romano: Right Here, Around the Corner. The special will take him back to the New York comedy club where it all began, the Comedy Cellar. Romano became a popular comic performing in the Cellar and he was soon offered his own sitcom, which became this iconic family comedy. It stars Romano as sports writer and family man, Ray Barone who has a wife and three kids and whose parents and older brother lived across the street. What is the name of Ray Romano's iconic '90s sitcom?
What meta sitcom did Tina Fey create and star in?
According to Wikipedia, Tina Fey began developing this show as a sitcom about the people who work on a cable news show. However, the NBC executives who read it could tell that she was basing the show on her experiences as the head writer of their sketch variety series Saturday Night Live. So, they encouraged her to rewrite the show to be about the cast and crew of a sketch show, which would free her up to use her own experiences and not veil them. What meta-sitcom about a TV sketch comedy did the talented Tina Fey create and star in?
Which show starred Tim Allen as a tool expert and family man?
The role that Tim Allen is best known for is probably Buzz Lightyear from the Toy Story animated movie franchise. However, before he was cast as the deluded Space Ranger who would soon become Sheriff Woody's best friend, Allen cut his teeth in the sitcom game. This family sitcom stars Allen as a suburban dad named Tim Taylor who is so obsessed with tools that he has made them his livelihood with an entire TV show about tools called Tool Time. What is the name of the classic sitcom that starred Tim Allen as a tool expert and family man?
Which high school sitcom does Patton Oswalt currently star in?
This is the show that got fans of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia worried that Glenn Howerton would be leaving the show. His character Dennis Reynolds had an ambiguous ending in the previous season of the show, its twelfth one. So, it seemed like he might be leaving the show, and the thirteen season's premiere episode dealt with how the rest of the cast would react to him not being around anymore. He did return to the show, but he wasn't in every episode, because of his commitments to this show. Which high school sitcom does Patton Oswalt currently star in?
Which Ricky Gervais sitcom was later remade by NBC?
Ricky Gervais has starred in a number of sitcoms, and he also has a new darkly comic series coming up on Netflix, but the first one is still his best known. It was a mockumentary series about the inner workings of a paper company. He played the regional manager, David Brent. The show was later remade to great success by NBC. Gervais was replaced by Steve Carell in the remake, who played the regional manager Michael Scott. Gervais had little involvement in that show but does often joke about it. Which sitcom starring Ricky Gervais was later remade by NBC?
What is the name of Jerry Seinfeld's self-titled sitcom?
There is a story arc in the fourth season of this show, according to IMDb, in which Jerry Seinfeld is approached by some NBC executives after performing in a comedy club. They want to see if he's interested in making a TV show with them and he ends up developing a sitcom pilot for them in which he will play a fictionalized version of himself. He works on the show with his friend George Costanza, who is based on Larry David. This is essentially how Seinfeld and David made the show to begin with. What is the name of Jerry Seinfeld's self-titled sitcom?
Which HBO sitcom co-stars Kumail Nanjiani?
According to IMDb, Kumail Nanjiani was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay last year along with his wife Emily V. Gordon for their script for the movie The Big Sick. The Big Sick was one of the highest grossing indie movies of 2017, according to Box Office Mojo. But before the level of fame that The Big Sick brought along, Kumail Nanjiani had been a main cast member of an HBO comedy series about the tech industry for a few seasons. What is the title of the HBO sitcom that features Kumail Nanjiani in the main cast?
What is the title of Louis CK's absurdist FX sitcom?
Louis CK created this sitcom in which he plays a fictionalized version of himself, and he also wrote, directed, edited, and executive produced the show. According to Wikipedia, he would have FX send him a shoestring budget of $200,000 for each episode and he would simply produce it himself and then send it to them when it was ready to air. There were five seasons of the show for a total of 61 episodes, concluding its final season in 2015. Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfeld, and Jim Norton all played themselves. What is the title of Louis CK's absurdist FX sitcom?
What is Kevin James' latest sitcom called?
Kevin James stars in this sitcom as a recently retired police officer who lives in New York with his family. The series was retooled for its second season, as the female lead was replaced by Leah Remini. Remini had previously starred with James in the wildly successful sitcom The King of Queens, and so the network was able to market this show as a reunion when they brought her in to star with James yet again. According to Wikipedia, the show has been canceled following the airing of its two seasons. What is the title of Kevin James' latest sitcom?
What was Ellen DeGeneres' sitcom called before changing its title to Ellen?
According to Wikipedia, the creators of Friends changed the original title of their show to Friends to avoid the title sounding too similar to that of Ellen DeGeneres' sitcom. But when Ellen DeGeneres became more famous and she was known as the star of the show, the title was changed simply to Ellen. When she used an episode of the show to come out there was an uproar from audiences across the world, leading ABC to cancel the show. A couple of years later, Will & Grace became a smash hit. What was Ellen DeGeneres' sitcom called before changing its title to Ellen?
Which family sitcom starred Bob Saget as Danny Tanner?
The Tanner family made their way back to the small screen recently with a reboot series that also acted as a sequel to the original series. John Stamos was the biggest star to come from the first series, which told the story of a widower who enlists his two buddies to help him raise his kids. But the star of the show was really Bob Saget, who had made his name as a standup comic and went on to play old Ted in How I Met Your Mother. What is the title of the family sitcom that starred Bob Saget as Danny Tanner?
Which Happy Days spin-off starred Robin Williams as an alien?
Robin Williams was one of the biggest movie stars in the world, but it all began on TV. Williams' small character on the sitcom Happy Days, who was an alien, proved to be so popular that he was given his own show. Despite the rigidly scripted format of the sitcom and the fact that there are markings on the stage and a live studio audience watching every take, Williams would still do his signature improv comedy stylings. According to Wikipedia, it would crack up the other cast members and extend the shooting days. Which Happy Days spin-off starred Robin Williams as an alien?
Which female buddy comedy series has Hannibal Buress playing a dentist?
Hannibal Buress does not star in his own sitcom yet, but he has been given a role in one. The series actually stars Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson, who also created and wrote it and based many of the show's storylines on their own lives. They play best friends in New York City who get into all sorts of wacky misadventures. Buress plays a dentist who is also the on and off boyfriend of Glazer's character. The series airs on Comedy Central and it's about to come to an end. Which female buddy comedy series has Hannibal Buress playing a dentist?
What is Roseanne Barr's '90s family sitcom called?
This show was canceled recently and replaced with a sort of reinvention called The Conners. It began its life as a sort of spiritual successor to All in the Family, according to the Guardian. In the '90s, most of the family sitcoms were about middle-class families who live in the suburbs, and Roseanne Barr saw an unrepresented sector of society. So, when she was offered the chance to make her own sitcom, she made it a family show about a working-class family, the kind that wasn't being represented on TV. Who remembers what Roseanne Barr's '90s family sitcom was called?
Which romantic comedy series was narrated by Bob Saget?
One of the main things that people don't get about this show is that Bob Saget from Full House provides the voiceover as the older version of the Ted Mosby character. Ted is supposedly narrating the show to his kids in the year 2030. He is played by Josh Radnor in the present day telling of the story, but a lot of audiences don't understand how Radnor's voice will change to Saget's. Radnor is already an adult, so it's not like his voice will suddenly change in the next twenty years. Which romantic comedy series was narrated by Bob Saget?
Which dark sitcom stars Zach Galifianakis as a sad clown?
The sad clown has become sort of a trope in film and TV, with the likes of Krusty the Clown having the job of making people laugh while being truly sad and alone in their private lives. Zach Galifianakis has become a huge comedy star in the years since movies like The Hangover and Due Date made him a huge star. The previous route for comedians used to be stand up to TV to movies, but Galifianakis went from movies and TV to stand up. What is the title of the dark FX sitcom that stars Zach Galifianakis as a sad clown?
What was Kevin James' first sitcom?
Kevin James has been back on TV recently. But between his latest show and his first show, which co-starred Leah Remini as his wife and Jerry Stiller as his father in law who lives in the basement, he starred in a bunch of movies. He has appeared as the lead role in movies like Paul Blart: Mall Cop and Here Comes the Boom, as well as supporting roles in Adam Sandler movies like Grown Ups. This first show was the final show that premiered in the '90s to end, according to Wikipedia. What is the title of Kevin James' first sitcom?
What is Tig Notaro's Amazon Prime show called?
Tig Notaro became a household name after her mostly improvised standup set about her cancer diagnosis was released under the title Live. The album was downloaded across the world and suddenly Notaro was a huge star. She beat cancer and has since starred in a documentary about her battle, the movie In a World..., and the standup comedy specials Boyish Girl Interrupted and the Netflix original Happy to Be Here. According to IMDb, she also had a small role in season 2 of Star Trek: Discovery on CBS All Access. What is the name of Tig Notaro's Amazon Prime show?
Which sitcom stars David Cross as Tobias Funke?
According to Wikipedia, this show was conceived by Ron Howard when he had the idea to make a scripted comedy series with the handheld camera work and docu-style of reality TV. It's about a family whose real estate business goes into turmoil when the patriarch goes to jail. The show originated on the Fox network, where it aired for three seasons that never found mainstream success but did find a cult audience, and was later picked up for another couple of seasons by Netflix. Who remembers which sitcom stars David Cross as a former psychiatrist and aspiring actor named Tobias Funke?
In which sitcom did John Oliver play a college professor called Ian Duncan?
This sitcom about a study group at a community college in California opens with a lawyer losing his license and having to go back to college to earn his degree. His only friend at the university, to begin with, is a professor named Ian Duncan, who is played by John Oliver. Oliver now hosts the HBO late night talk show Last Week Tonight, is voicing Zazu in Disney's upcoming live-action remake of The Lion King, and played the role of Dr. Bloom in Rick and Morty. Who can tell us in which sitcom did John Oliver play a college professor called Ian Duncan?
Which Netflix animated comedy stars John Mulaney as Andrew?
Standup comic John Mulaney had previously created and starred in the sitcom Mulaney as a fictionalized version of himself, although that series did not make it past its first season. He has been more successful as a comedian with specials like The Comeback Kid and Kid Gorgeous at Radio City making a splash on Netflix. He also stars in an animated comedy series on the streaming service alongside Nick Kroll as a character named Andrew who struggles with the changes happening to him in his teen years. What is the title of the Netflix animated comedy series that stars John Mulaney as Andrew?
Which sitcom did Stephen Merchant make for HBO?
Stephen Merchant was approached by some HBO executives while he was on tour with his first standup show and they asked him if he would be interested in adapting the show for television. Many of the stories from his standup special were translated into episodes of the sitcom. According to IMDb, Merchant wrote the series with Gene Stupnitsky and Lee Eisenberg, and he also starred in it as Stuart Pritchard. The show was canceled after its first season, although HBO did allow for a feature-length special to conclude the series' story. Which sitcom did Stephen Merchant end up making for HBO?
What is the name of Maria Bamford's Netflix sitcom?
Maria Bamford first came onto the scene when she took part in The Comedians of Comedy tour with Patton Oswalt, Brian Posehn, and Zach Galifianakis. The tour was a showcase for the cream of the alternative standup comedy crop, and the ensuing documentary film shot on the road made the four comics featured into stars. For a few years now, Bamford has been starring in her own comedy series for Netflix. According to Wikipedia, comedy overlord Judd Apatow once said that Maria Bamford was "the funniest woman in the world." What is the name of Maria Bamford's Netflix comedy series?
Which police procedural spoof features Chelsea Peretti as Gina?
Chelsea Peretti made her name on the standup scene and even had a special on Netflix called Chelsea Peretti: One of the Greats. However, she didn't hit the big time until she took the role of Gina Linetti, the fast-talking and social media savvy assistant of Captain Ray Holt in this parody of police procedurals. The series also stars Andy Samberg, who cut his teeth on Saturday Night Live, and Terry Crews, whose other job titles have included NFL player, comedian, TV host, and activist. In which silly spoof of police procedurals does Chelsea Peretti play a character named Gina?
What is Marc Maron's IFC sitcom called?
Marc Maron was an obscure comedian until he began recording his podcast WTF with Marc Maron a few years ago. Now, thanks to his guests, which have included such comic legends as Mel Brooks, Garry Shandling, and Robin Williams, he has built up quite a big following. It's not huge, but it's enough for him to have been cast on the Netflix '80s wrestling dramedy series GLOW and get a couple of specials on Netflix. He was also given his own semi-autobiographical sitcom in which he plays himself, which aired on IFC. What is the title of Marc Maron's IFC sitcom?
Which HBO sitcom stars Bill Hader as a hitman turned improv comic?
The premise of this HBO comedy series sounded a little bit like a gimmick when it was first announced. It's the story of a hitman who goes out to Los Angeles on business and ends up taking a liking to the improv comedy scene that he discovers out there. However, according to Wikipedia, critics were surprised by the parallels that Hader managed to draw between the life of a hitman and the life of a comedic actor. The show was inspired by Hader's anxiety working on Saturday Night Live. Which HBO sitcom stars Bill Hader as a hitman turned improv comic?
What is the name of Mitchell and Webb's POV sitcom?
Between their various sketch shows, David Mitchell and Robert Webb found time to star in one of the most acclaimed UK sitcoms in recent memory. The show is filmed entirely from the point of view of its characters, and the thoughts of Mitchell and Webb's characters can be heard as voiceover narration. While the show wasn't a huge rating success, according to Wikipedia, it did manage to make it to nine seasons with a cult following. Mitchell plays Mark Corrigan, a loan manager, while Webb plays Jeremy Usbourne, an unemployed musician. What is the name of Mitchell and Webb's POV sitcom?
What was Jim Jefferies' short-lived FX sitcom?
Jim Jefferies has found more success as a late night talk show host and comedic political commentator on his aptly named Comedy Central series The Jim Jefferies Show. But years before that, he appeared as himself in a sitcom on the FX network. The show ended after just two seasons, and according to Wikipedia, this is partly to blame on the show's sudden move to FXX. FX's comedy-focused network was new at the time, which is why many fans of season 1 of the show couldn't find season 2. Who remembers what the title of Jim Jefferies' short-lived FX sitcom was?
What is Garry Shandling's satire of talk shows and their hosts?
Before Garry Shandling stepped down from the stand-up stage to star as a satirical talk show host in this HBO sitcom, he had previously starred in the show It's Garry Shandling's Show. That show was a slightly more traditional sitcom, although it did break the fourth wall. This one is about the crew of a talk show. The host is a character, and so are the producers and the writers and the assistants. It's a workplace comedy in which the workplace is the set of a TV show, which makes it pretty meta. What is Garry Shandling's satire of talk shows and their hosts called?
What is the title of Sarah Silverman's blend of scripted scenes and songs?
When Sarah Silverman was given her own series by Comedy Central, she did not make a traditional sitcom in the vein of Home Improvement or Everybody Loves Raymond. Instead, she made a show that was more akin to the style of Flight of the Conchords. There are some scripted scenes in the show, but they don't directly serve an overarching plot. They are also mixed in with some comedic songs and improvisation. Many of Silverman's comedian friends, like Brian Posehn and Tig Notaro, appeared on the show. What is the title of Sarah Silverman's blend of scripted scenes and songs?
Which hotel sitcom did John Cleese star in after leaving Monty Python?
John Cleese left Monty Python's famed sketch comedy series Monty Python's Flying Circus after its third season. The other five went on to make a fourth without him. In the time he had between working on the Python TV series and the Python movies, he found the time to write and star in a sitcom about the day to day lives of a bunch of hotel employees. According to Wikipedia, he based the character and the hotel on a hotel manager he met while shooting Monty Python's Flying Circus. Which hotel sitcom did John Cleese star in after leaving Monty Python?