An HBO series about a two-man folk parody band from New Zealand trying to make it big in America. Starring Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement (left and right) who play fictionalized versions of themselves. It basically follows their day to day lives including things like meetings with their somewhat dim-witted band manager or their troubles with women. The description might sound by the book but the show has some of the best writing and deadpan delivery ever, and is easily one of my favorite shows. Each episode contains one or two of their songs, usually in a music video sort of format. In my opinion the songs are hit or miss, but the rest of the show is well worth it regardless.
Currently nominated for a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series. There are only two seasons and the guys said they're not sure if they could commit to a third with all the other stuff they have going on, but I'm crossing my fingers anyway. Maybe if they win the Emmy, they'll rethink their position.
Hard to find videos that aren't just of their songs.
The first two seasons of Little Britain. Monty Pythonesque surreal humour charicaturing ordinary British folk. Narrated by Tom Baker! Don't bother with season 3 or the USA stuff, a bit too much grossout and rehash of earlier jokes.
Also, Harry Hill. A bald, bespectacled man with a huge collar and a knack for wordplay, quick one liners and running gags. Definately hunt down his standup. If you have any knowledge of British Television in general, you may want to hunt down his TV Burp show, which lampoons what was on TV for that given week.
RMS Oceanic on
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NappuccinoSurveyor of Things and StuffRegistered Userregular
Hospital comedy. A bunch of doctors and other administrative types who are all ridiculously odd but very well imagined, having relationships. Pretty surreal and with great editing, this is an absolute gem of a show.
Hmm...a surreal comedy set in a hospital, with odd characters and great editing...
Sorry, can't think of a comparable show.
In the meantime, below is a random YouTube clip that I hope you find amusing.
Green Wing is far far far far far (far far far faaaaaaar) better than Scrubs and actually quite different. The serious abloo bloo relationship stuff is also full of jokes while they're being serious. It's really good.
Little Britain is fucking awful, mentioning it in the same sentence as Python should get you hung, drawn and quartered. The jokes might have been funny the first time, but every subsequent episode is just the exact same jokes in slightly different settings.
Spike Milligan was a hilarious British guy who called the Prince of Wales a 'grovelling little bastard': http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkOAUht3G5o
He later faxed the prince, saying "I suppose a knighthood is out of the question?"
He was responsible for the australian broadcasting company changing their interview policy for this incident:
'He was interviewed live on air and remained in the studio for the news broadcast that followed (read by Rod McNeil), during which Milligan constantly interjected, adding his own name to news items. As a result, he was banned from making any further live appearances on the ABC. The ABC also changed its national policy so that talent had to leave the studio after interviews were complete.'
<3s to all those who mentioned The Mighty Boosh, IT Crowd, Black Books, Darkplace, and Flight of the Conchords.
And for those of you who like Richard Ayoade or Matt Holness, you'll love Man to Man with Dean Learner.
Ayoade plays Dean Learner, one of the characters from Darkplace, and Matt Holness plays a different guest in every episode, who Ayoade interviews. Very well written dialogue, and a good mix of Darkplacey deliberately-bad stories.
OH god, I've just seen the US version of Coupling. Its really really bad. At least i'm not a fan. Stick with the BBC version at least for Jeff and his welsh accent
Corner Gas. A sitcom set in a small rural town in Saskatchewan called Dog River. The show is centered on the gas station owner. As you might guess from the fact it takes place in Saskatchewan, the show is about nothing. Basically each episode has some ordinary premise (taxes, someone's birthday, etc.) and the craziness of the characters makes it hilarious. In a way, this is similar to Seinfeld, except this show is actually funny. Also, it uses fantasy sequences like Scrubs, and tons of celebrity guest stars (including two sitting Prime Ministers and a former Governor General).
There's something very comforting to me about Corner Gas. I don't know if I necessarily find it super hilarious, but it keeps a smile on my face. I think it's because I grew up on the plains (just south of Winnipeg in Minnesota). When I describe it to people I say it's like a combination of Seinfeld and the Red Green Show. It really doesn't have anything structurally in common w/ Red Green, but there's something about it that feels similar. It's gentler than Seinfeld.
They were running an IT Crowd marathon on TV last night, so I checked out a couple of episodes. It's like Big Bang Theory, only funny. In fact, probably the funniest show imaginable based around this subculture. I haven't laughed so hard in years. This clip absolutely killed me and my friend, as we had watched Arrested Development on DVD earlier in the day, which has one of these ads.
This is like dropping a megaton satire bomb into the thread. It is pure venom. I love it. Seriously some of the best writing in a television show EVER. I'd invoke Mamet's name as a comparison, but I don't know if it really fits. Also check out the film that spun off of this, "In The Loop."
I'd recommend some newer comedy albums, but it seems to me recently that where people used to get their comedy fix from albums, they're getting them from weekly comedy podcasts. One of my favorite comedy podcast moments: Jon Daly as Bill Cosby Bukowski, guesting on Marc Maron's WTF with Erin Foley, a lesbian comedian.
I just started watching Modern Family on Blu-Ray. For some reason I thought the show was some kind of serious show or something but after other comedies reccomeneded it I bought the first two seasons. Its fantastic and hilarious in a almost Arrested Development way.
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zepherinRussian warship, go fuck yourselfRegistered Userregular
Someone mentioned always sunny and I would like to put an addendum to that. There are some not so good episodes especially in the first couple seasons so what you should do is find a link for
"the gang solves the gas crisis" and watch it to the end. The build up is a bit slow, but the second half is so ridiculously funny that it doesn't even matter, and if you like that check out the series. If you are like what is this shit, you won't like the rest of it.
Castle is funny, but I'm not sure if it is what you would call a comedy. If you like funny shows where there is a murder mystery then Castle is your show.
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zepherinRussian warship, go fuck yourselfRegistered Userregular
edited October 2011
double post my browser glitched funny. Please delete
If it hasn't been mentioned yet Louie is one of these best comedies on TV right now, it gets real surreal and has a dark sense of humor sometimes but everybody ought to try it once.
Although CK is in my top 5 comedians of all time so I may be biased.
The sorta kinda stepchild of Cheers, Wings was often derided as just being Cheers in an airport. Its critical reception on NBC was rather underwhelming, but it found new life as a frequent rerun on the USA network, which is where I discovered it as a wee lad during summer breaks. Now, the comedy of Wings wasn't cutting edge by any means. However, it's an endearing show because of the lovable characters at Tom Nevers Field, who you really get to know and love. The two main leads are Joe Hackett, owner of the small commuter airline Sandpiper Air, and his wild and reckless brother Brian. Joe often played the straight man role to Brian's womanizing and goofball persona. Over time, we get to know the various denizens of the airport, like Roy Biggins, the fat, crude competitor to Joe, and Antonio Scarpacci, bitter and pathetic taxi driver of the island. It's all good wholesome comedy which never seems mean spirited, which makes sense because this group of characters is in many ways a family, and we enjoy watching them as one. There's also a sort of sweet nostalgic tone to many episodes, because of the deep connection between Joe and Brian, and their childhood friend Helen Chapel, which is an element that's missing from the similar Cheers.
I read an article about Community in Wired and found out the guy behind it is essentially Abed. Makes a lot of sense.
He's like Abed if Abed had emotions and overreacted to things.
I love Dan, but he definitely takes criticism of his show personally which... is good because it keeps the show's quality up there. But it's also bad because he'll probably die of a heart attack in 3 years.
"and the morning stars I have seen
and the gengars who are guiding me" -- W.S. Merwin
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zepherinRussian warship, go fuck yourselfRegistered Userregular
Delta Assault: while wings was a good show and I enjoyed watching it, I think we need to have a statue of limitations because we can go back and name all sorts of funny shows that were on over the years, and it simply becomes too much information.
Delta Assault: while wings was a good show and I enjoyed watching it, I think we need to have a statue of limitations because we can go back and name all sorts of funny shows that were on over the years, and it simply becomes too much information.
I dunno, he said list any great shows. I took that to mean any great shows.
Is that Curtis Armstrong (Booger from Revenge of the Nerds) as Dan in those Dan vs. Cartoons linked above? If it isn't, whoever that dude is sounds almost EXACTLY like him.
Posts
Funny brown man.
Leon is the best.
Curb Your Enthusiasm is more of an acquired taste though. And just like anything it's better after the first season.
Andre Previn Sketch
Breakfast to Music
Bedtime Conversation
An HBO series about a two-man folk parody band from New Zealand trying to make it big in America. Starring Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement (left and right) who play fictionalized versions of themselves. It basically follows their day to day lives including things like meetings with their somewhat dim-witted band manager or their troubles with women. The description might sound by the book but the show has some of the best writing and deadpan delivery ever, and is easily one of my favorite shows. Each episode contains one or two of their songs, usually in a music video sort of format. In my opinion the songs are hit or miss, but the rest of the show is well worth it regardless.
Currently nominated for a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series. There are only two seasons and the guys said they're not sure if they could commit to a third with all the other stuff they have going on, but I'm crossing my fingers anyway. Maybe if they win the Emmy, they'll rethink their position.
Hard to find videos that aren't just of their songs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drt_1BLpRYY
Also, Harry Hill. A bald, bespectacled man with a huge collar and a knack for wordplay, quick one liners and running gags. Definately hunt down his standup. If you have any knowledge of British Television in general, you may want to hunt down his TV Burp show, which lampoons what was on TV for that given week.
As such.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGOohBytKTU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbbxA8a_M_s&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmLHOGT0v4c&feature=related
"Yeah... they take after her in that sense."
edit: one more, and probably my favorite song of theirs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlYkIJVguCU
Green Wing is far far far far far (far far far faaaaaaar) better than Scrubs and actually quite different. The serious abloo bloo relationship stuff is also full of jokes while they're being serious. It's really good.
Little Britain is fucking awful, mentioning it in the same sentence as Python should get you hung, drawn and quartered. The jokes might have been funny the first time, but every subsequent episode is just the exact same jokes in slightly different settings.
The Flight of the Conchords episode where Jermaine gets an Australian girlfriend is amazing if you know any new zealanders or australians.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoF_fa9TMDk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZb4vwMV8lY
Spike Milligan was a hilarious British guy who called the Prince of Wales a 'grovelling little bastard':
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkOAUht3G5o
He later faxed the prince, saying "I suppose a knighthood is out of the question?"
He was responsible for the australian broadcasting company changing their interview policy for this incident:
'He was interviewed live on air and remained in the studio for the news broadcast that followed (read by Rod McNeil), during which Milligan constantly interjected, adding his own name to news items. As a result, he was banned from making any further live appearances on the ABC. The ABC also changed its national policy so that talent had to leave the studio after interviews were complete.'
His epitaph is "Duirt mé leat go raibh mé breoite", Irish for "I told you I was ill", and his funeral was held in an English church with his coffin draped in the Republic of Ireland's flag.
His autobiography from his time in the British Royal Artillery in WW2 is very good, you should read them.
kpop appreciation station i also like to tweet some
<3s to all those who mentioned The Mighty Boosh, IT Crowd, Black Books, Darkplace, and Flight of the Conchords.
And for those of you who like Richard Ayoade or Matt Holness, you'll love Man to Man with Dean Learner.
Ayoade plays Dean Learner, one of the characters from Darkplace, and Matt Holness plays a different guest in every episode, who Ayoade interviews. Very well written dialogue, and a good mix of Darkplacey deliberately-bad stories.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BENBUSLR9vc&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoQH440AdMU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewYiOYxDAQA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyVv1LVr3aQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyK5CdZCaaE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNsLc--TRrM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNPQavXwUf0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bs1zz4zZhdM&feature=related
Enjoy
In this clip, they look for ways to boost tourism for their town.
Die a thousand deaths.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9ZXk36G9O8
Instead of a wiseass pill popper imagine Hugh Laurie as a loving husband/father, who due to his own delusions gets into some pretty wacky situations.
Yeah... I'm not sure I'd agree this show is funny either.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfan5MacmsI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-oxsMl3iCA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJTSMQUUCf0
The harder the rain, honey, the sweeter the sun.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALZZx1xmAzg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SO5WoLnOOlU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDNgmdGMpuY
A couple good ones. Just pretty much type in "Mitchell and Webb" into youtube and you'll be set for many hours.
EDIT: One of my favorites:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNSSCAcyd7c
Dunno what is wrong with the sound.
Origin: Galedrid - Nintendo: Galedrid/3222-6858-1045
Blizzard: Galedrid#1367 - FFXIV: Galedrid Kingshand
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax0Pv5FOmdk&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsriu6a_ukw
Edit: fucking embedding won't work
Also, "Community" is gold. I will have to look into "Snuff Box".
This is like dropping a megaton satire bomb into the thread. It is pure venom. I love it. Seriously some of the best writing in a television show EVER. I'd invoke Mamet's name as a comparison, but I don't know if it really fits. Also check out the film that spun off of this, "In The Loop."
I'd recommend some newer comedy albums, but it seems to me recently that where people used to get their comedy fix from albums, they're getting them from weekly comedy podcasts. One of my favorite comedy podcast moments: Jon Daly as Bill Cosby Bukowski, guesting on Marc Maron's WTF with Erin Foley, a lesbian comedian.
I know he debuted this character earlier than this, but I prefer this performance of it.
Geek: Remixed - A Decade's worth of ruined pop culture memories
Xbox Live - Fatboy PDX
"the gang solves the gas crisis" and watch it to the end. The build up is a bit slow, but the second half is so ridiculously funny that it doesn't even matter, and if you like that check out the series. If you are like what is this shit, you won't like the rest of it.
Castle is funny, but I'm not sure if it is what you would call a comedy. If you like funny shows where there is a murder mystery then Castle is your show.
I know some people hate Sarah Silverman, but her show was pretty funny.
And for something weird, try Nick swardson Pretend time
Probably nsfw
If it hasn't been mentioned yet Louie is one of these best comedies on TV right now, it gets real surreal and has a dark sense of humor sometimes but everybody ought to try it once.
Although CK is in my top 5 comedians of all time so I may be biased.
The sorta kinda stepchild of Cheers, Wings was often derided as just being Cheers in an airport. Its critical reception on NBC was rather underwhelming, but it found new life as a frequent rerun on the USA network, which is where I discovered it as a wee lad during summer breaks. Now, the comedy of Wings wasn't cutting edge by any means. However, it's an endearing show because of the lovable characters at Tom Nevers Field, who you really get to know and love. The two main leads are Joe Hackett, owner of the small commuter airline Sandpiper Air, and his wild and reckless brother Brian. Joe often played the straight man role to Brian's womanizing and goofball persona. Over time, we get to know the various denizens of the airport, like Roy Biggins, the fat, crude competitor to Joe, and Antonio Scarpacci, bitter and pathetic taxi driver of the island. It's all good wholesome comedy which never seems mean spirited, which makes sense because this group of characters is in many ways a family, and we enjoy watching them as one. There's also a sort of sweet nostalgic tone to many episodes, because of the deep connection between Joe and Brian, and their childhood friend Helen Chapel, which is an element that's missing from the similar Cheers.
He's like Abed if Abed had emotions and overreacted to things.
I love Dan, but he definitely takes criticism of his show personally which... is good because it keeps the show's quality up there. But it's also bad because he'll probably die of a heart attack in 3 years.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTyRRSSkK4k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_nZdmg8OGs
and the gengars who are guiding me" -- W.S. Merwin
I dunno, he said list any great shows. I took that to mean any great shows.
Geek: Remixed - A Decade's worth of ruined pop culture memories
Xbox Live - Fatboy PDX