The best TV show (comedy) you've never heard of! (kinda long)

CallMeIshmael · #1 03-12-2005, 09:41 PM

Before I reveal what the title promises, I feel I need to go into a little background.

Firstly, I'm not one that goes around telling people you 'have to hear/see this' unless its the truth.

Also, I'll list what I would consider the 5 funniest modern programs that you have heard of (in order). Just, so people can get a sense of what I find funny.

Honourable mention: Curb your enthusiasm and Late night with conan o'brien. Conan has REALLY gone down hill in the past year though.

5) Family Guy: A little too random at times, and definitely not as 'good' as any of the other four, it is perhaps the 'laugh out loud' funniest of the group. I'll never forget stuey's rendition of rocketman. Can't wait for the return.

4) Arrested development: If the title of the post were 'the best show you're not watching', this would be it. I feel the second season is not a good as the first, they've gone a little too far out there IMHO with some of the storylines, and they have really cut down on Gob's segway. But a weak episode is still one of the funniest half hours of television you can find today.

3) The Simpsons: This is a difficult one to judge. If they stopped making episdoes after season 8, it would be at least 1 notch higher, and very possibly #1. The 4th and 5th season era (read: last exit to springfield, cape feare, rosebud type episodes) are some of the best stuff I've ever seen. Nowadays, its barely watchable, and thats why it lands at #3.

2) The daily show with Jon Stewart: Stewart is hot these days, and for good reason. The show is at it's best ever. Undercredited, however, are the correspondents. I don't think Stephen Colbert could do something I don't find funny. Corddory and Helms are amazing as well.

1) Seinfeld: really, what else could it be? I don't really need to say anything. Amazing characters, both main and side. Every piece of dialogue is original and witty.

So, if you agree with me there, and are sick of the utter crap that is on TV these days, you HAVE to get your hands on a copy of 'The Office', available on DVD.

Its a British TV show, they only made 14 episodes (2 seasons of 6, then 2 1 hour specials), after which the co-creators said they had done everything they wanted to do with the series.

It is a mockumentary of a paper merchant's office in Slough, England. Following the life of the boss: David Brent. I don't want to spoil it, but if your looking for something to watch, I can't recommend something more highly.

Word of note: some of the accents can be difficult, so I say watch it with subtitles.

InchoateHand · #2 03-12-2005, 09:43 PM

I don't agree with your order, but I agree with your conclusion.

JackWilson · #3 03-12-2005, 09:47 PM

Heh, this was on South African TV a while ago...

I should say the humour is definitely not for everyone and it's about as far removed from American sitcoms as you get. However, I found it to be hilarious.

The David Brent character is the most realistic "I think I'm cool but I'm actually the biggest loser on earth" character ever, and that's what made it funny for me. The skinny guy (forgot his name) had some incredible moments too.

pshreck · #4 03-12-2005, 09:58 PM

Spaced > The Office

daveymck · #5 03-12-2005, 10:02 PM

If you like and "get" the office try and track down Pheonix Nights, a mockumentary about a british working mens club. The current big thing in the UK is a series called Little Britain, its quite good in parts is a sketch show. I suspect little britain might not work for US humour but for 20 minutes per eposiode isnt wasting your whole life.

Isnt released in the US but if you can find them on p2p or bitorrent I would give it a chance.

mason55 · #6 03-12-2005, 10:08 PM

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The best TV show (comedy) you've never heard of!

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Not to be an ass, but I think probably everyone has heard of the office.

pshreck · #7 03-12-2005, 10:10 PM

Yeah, I almost thought he was gonna say Spaced because no one has heard of this, but it is an absolutely hilarious sitcom.

Voltron87 · #8 03-12-2005, 10:10 PM

I would say if someone enjoys Curb your Enthusiasm, FG, and Seinfeld they will love The Office.

1. Seinfeld
2. FG
3. The Simpsons

are my top three. But choosing between FG and SF is tough.

Chappelle's show is only in its 2nd season, but if it continues at this rate the possibilities are endless.

As per the Daily Show, it is up there. It has some of the funniest stuff on, and it has an enormous amount of material. The con of it is some days are hit or miss, you can have 30 minute episodes where 3 minutes are the funniest stuff you've ever seen and the other 27 are meh.

mason55 · #9 03-12-2005, 10:13 PM

Why hasn't anyone mentioned Married with Children? That's one of the most, if not THE most, revolutionary sitcoms ever to air.

I see this thread quickly descending into a flamewar over sitcoms.

pshreck · #10 03-12-2005, 10:19 PM

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Chappelle's show is only in its 2nd season, but if it continues at this rate the possibilities are endless.

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The third season is officially delayed, and I have read some things saying that a large part of it has to do with poor writing and skits filmed that in hindsight weren't funny.

No skit show in history has had consistently good seasons, I don't know why he would be the first.