The Sunday Listy: Top 5 TV comedies
Happy Sunday everyone. I’ve had a rough weekend as it was my Baby Bro’s 18th Birthday and we had too much fizzy pop last night. Thus, I apologise if my writing isn’t at its Pulitzer winning best this issue. But hey, what else is there to do on a Sunday evening? Didley squat, that’s what. Man, I do love to rhyme.
Before I crack on with this week’s Listy (name change), I just want to say that this week is probably the hardest list I have had to do. Some of my favourite comedies have fallen by the waist side and have had to be omitted. Stuff like, Modern Family, Scrubs and Eastbound and Down were all vying for that number 5 spot, but just missed out. So here is this week’s Listy and my Top 5 TV comedies.
5. 30 Rock (2006- ), Cast: Tina Faye, Alec Baldwin, Tracy Morgan
Being an aspiring screenwriter, it’s always intriguing to watch shows about screenwriting. However, the trap fall with these types of shoes is that they could contain too many in jokes and could be seen as pretentious or ‘meta’. Not 30 Rock. Saturday Night Live alumni Tina Faye's comedy about a Saturday Night Live style show is a hoot and maybe even a toot.
Proving that writing about what you know works, 30 Rock throws one line after one liner at you at a near blistering pace. However, the writing isn’t the best thing about 30 Rock. It’s the stellar cast that really shines in this comedy with standout performances from Alec Baldwin, Jack McBryer and Tracy Morgan that really make 30 Rock what it is.
4. Boston Legal (2004-2008), Cast: James Spader, William Shatner
Here we go. The reason that this list is called TV comedy and not Sit-Com. And also the reason why I may receive some stick as some people may think Boston Legal isn’t a comedy. But, in my opinion and that’s the one that counts, Boston Legal is definitely a comedy. Yes, it does deal with serious issues but primarily I think it’s a comedy at heart.
Like most sit-coms, Boston Legal is about a dysfunctional family that has to work together in order to fight adversity and triumph. The tandem of Shatner and Spader is pretty impeccable, proving that comedy isn’t just for the youngsters and Boston Legal proves that the golden oldies still have a few moves.
3. Community (2009- ) Cast: Joel McHale, Donald Glover and Chevy Chase
Community is the newest member of my comedy family. And the youngest entrant in the top 5. However, watching an episode of Community you wouldn’t think it. It has a structure and a confidence as a comedy that you find in a seasoned comedy, not one that is only three seasons long.
Community has already placed a few of its episodes in my favourite comedy episodes ever. If you don’t have time to watch them all you have to watch episodes such as Modern Warfare, Basic Rocket Science and Epidemiology. Whoever decided to cancel Community has been smoking the same things as Charlie Sheen.
2. Parks and Recreation
Also, quite a new comedy, but in its 4th season Parks and Recreation pushes its way up to the number two spot in this week’s Listy. Shock horror it’s also another comedy from comedy giants NBC and another Saturday Night Live Alumni.
This time Amy phoehler (Tina Faye’s mate) is the lead and she doesn’t miss the beat. Taking a simple premise and throwing so many laughs into it with incredible timing and great set pieces. The best thing about Parks though is its supporting cast. With Ron Swanson, Andy Dwyer, April Ludgate and Tom Haverford are all incredible characters and make the show so much more.
1. That 70s Show (1998-2006)
My winner today is the longest running show of the lot and my favourite comedy program if not television program of all time. OK, it might not be the funniest comedy of the lot, but it definitely has the most charm.
What makes That 70s Show standout from the pack though, is the ability to capture a time perfectly. Everything in 70s Show feels authentic to the 70s and nothing feels out of place. Making 70s Show my number ne this week.
Well that’s the list for this week. Feel free to comment in the section below.
Until next time, enjoy the show
@glamgrunge
Daniel Morris
5. Father Ted
ReplyDelete4. I'm Alan Partridge
3. South Park
2. The Simpsons
1. Futurama