Anyone watched anything genuinely funny lately?

[VB]

Been looking for something new and this came up.

Real answers from people here are usually more useful than search results.

I suspect the answer is more nuanced than it first looks, which is why I wanted to ask people who have been there.

Is it just me or does anyone else feel the same way?

[codeberg]

Comedy recommendations always feel like a personality test. Someone says a show had them in tears, then the next person watches it stone-faced. That's half the fun of these threads though, you end up with a much wider list than any review site could give you.

[Totally]

If something makes you laugh out loud when you're watching alone, that's usually a good sign. It's surprisingly rare these days. Most shows get a smile at best, but very few get an actual laugh.

[VB]

Has anyone mentioned "The Nice Guys" yet? It somehow gets overlooked every time comedy films come up. The chemistry between the two leads carries the whole thing.

[codeberg]

Some of the funniest moments are the ones that clearly weren't meant to be huge jokes. Just a character's expression or awkward silence can end up being the bit everyone remembers.

[Quanta]

Maybe it's just me, but a lot of newer comedies seem afraid to slow down. Every line has to be a joke, and after a while it starts to feel exhausting instead of funny.

Been rewatching Only Fools and Horses lately and it still holds up ridiculously well. The jokes are obvious sometimes, but the timing and characters make it work. Del Boy and Rodney are still one of the best comedy pairings ever created.

Also watched The Office again recently. The awkwardness is painful, but that is exactly why it works. Some scenes make you want to hide behind a cushion while laughing

[ElPresidente]

Weirdly, the older I get the more I appreciate dry humour. Years ago I wanted constant punchlines.

Now a perfectly timed deadpan response is enough to get me laughing.  being a scot don't just put us down as Rab c nesbit ?

[QuantumDay]

Going to disagree with a couple of the recommendations above. Tried them because people kept praising them and they just never clicked. Nothing wrong with them, they just weren't for me.

[One-One-Five]

One thing I miss is comedy films becoming genuine word-of-mouth hits. It feels like people discover them through streaming now rather than everyone quoting the same movie for months.

If you want something a bit newer, Derry Girls is brilliant. The characters are completely chaotic and the writing is sharp without trying too hard.

Another one that surprised me was Ghosts. The idea sounds like it could get old quickly, but the different personalities of the ghosts make it surprisingly funny.

[JayJ]

If a comedy has likable characters, I'm much more forgiving when a few jokes don't land. Spending time with entertaining people is half the appeal anyway.

Went back to Blackadder recently and forgot how many great lines are packed into every episode. The second series especially is comedy gold.

For something more silly, The Inbetweeners is still one of the funniest shows for awkward teenage disasters. Some of it has aged better than expected, some of it is pure cringe, but it definitely gets laughs.

[codeberg]

Sometimes the funniest thing to do is rewatch an old favorite instead of searching endlessly for something new. At least you know you're going to enjoy the evening instead of spending an hour wondering if it gets better.

My recent comedy pick would be People Just Do Nothing. The whole fake pirate radio setup sounds ridiculous, but the characters are so committed to their own nonsense that it becomes hilarious.

Also cannot go wrong with Fawlty Towers. Short run, but nearly every episode is memorable. Basil Fawlty trying to keep control of anything is basically a recipe for disaster

[VidiTechnica]

One thing I've noticed is that the comedies people remember years later usually aren't the ones with the biggest marketing campaigns. They're the shows or films someone casually recommends with, "Just trust me and watch the first couple of episodes." Those are often the ones that end up becoming favorites.

The other factor is rewatchability. Plenty of comedies are funny once because the jokes are unexpected, but only a handful stay funny when you already know what's coming. That's a pretty good test of how well they're written.

A lot of the recommendations in this thread are going on my watch list, so thanks everyone. Always nice finding something that's actually made real people laugh instead of just being labelled a comedy.

Going back to oldies like only fools and horses.

[Paige_68]

Feel like comedy has become much more fragmented over the last few years. Twenty years ago it seemed like everyone had seen the same handful of sitcoms and comedy films, so there was always something to quote. Now there are hundreds of streaming exclusives and everyone has their own favorites.

That isn't necessarily a bad thing because there's probably more variety than ever before. If you like awkward humor, absurd comedy, dark comedy, or something completely off the wall, there's almost certainly a show made just for you.

[error.404]

Sorted it the same way. Once you do something once yourself you always know you can do it again.

Turned out alright when I did it

[RustyHawk]

The downside is that recommendations are much more hit and miss. A series that one person calls the funniest thing they've ever seen might leave someone else completely cold. That's why threads like this are useful, because people usually explain why they enjoyed something rather than just giving it a star rating.]

Just finished a rewatch of The IT Crowd and it is still one of the easiest comedy watches. The ridiculous situations, deadpan delivery, and complete lack of normal behaviour from the characters make it great.

If films count, Hot Fuzz is always worth a mention. It is funny on the surface, but the amount of detail packed into the jokes makes it better every time you watch it.

[Faded Owen]

Sometimes mood matters just as much as the show itself. There have been evenings where a comedy everyone raves about barely got a smile out of me, then I came back to it a few months later and couldn't stop laughing.

Another thing I appreciate is when a comedy isn't afraid to let its characters breathe. Constant punchlines can get tiring, but if the cast feels believable then even simple conversations can become funny. A lot of my favorite scenes are just people reacting to increasingly ridiculous situations rather than firing off one-liners every few seconds.

[Owen84]

So if a recommendation doesn't click straight away, it might be worth giving it another chance later. Not every comedy lands at the right time, and some really do grow on you after you've spent a little longer with the characters.

[Beth3.0]

Live comedy is my favourite. especially in clubs. there is a risk of it being flat or booed off the stage

[GoldbergFan_X]

People are always quick to write someone off after one bad performance. Injuries change everything and people forget to factor that in.

Time will tell on this one

[Dark Hawk]

For anyone who has not seen it, Father Ted is still one of the funniest shows out there. The whole setup is completely absurd, but the characters play it so seriously that it makes it even better.

Thanks for the thread

[Finley]

Been dipping into The Thick of It too. The insults are almost impressive, although probably not a show to watch if you are trying to relax after a stressful day

Cheers for sharing.

[WildManSteve40]

Watched Peep Show again and it still makes me laugh because every character is such a disaster in their own way. The internal thoughts being completely different from what they say out loud is such a good comedy idea.

Also recommend Detectorists. It is a much calmer type of funny, more about the characters and little moments rather than constant jokes. Great if you want something easygoing.

[Batista]

If you're after something with fast dialogue rather than slapstick, give "Derry Girls" a shot if you somehow missed it.

The pacing is brilliant and even the background characters get great moments.

Ended up laughing at lines that shouldn't have been funny on paper.

[PhotonBurst76]

Could depend on what kind of comedy you enjoy. Dry, awkward, absurd, dark, or completely ridiculous all hit differently.

For awkward humor, "Jury Duty" surprised me a lot.

The premise sounded gimmicky, but it turned out to be much sweeter than expected.

[Builder]

Some comedies take three or four episodes before they find their rhythm.

People often give up after one episode, then wonder why everyone recommends it.

A fair few of my favorites didn't click immediately, so sometimes it's worth sticking with them a little longer.

[ECWAlex98]

Been revisiting older sitcoms recently instead of chasing new releases. Good writing seems to age much better than references to whatever was trending that year.

There's something comforting about putting on a familiar episode after a long day.

[NeutrinoX56]

One recommendation that doesn't seem to get mentioned enough is "What We Do in the Shadows."

The mockumentary format could have worn thin quickly, but the cast absolutely sells it.

Even the throwaway jokes end up paying off later.

[LordJonathan92]

Comedy is probably the most subjective genre there is.

A film that leaves one person crying with laughter can have someone else checking how much time is left.

Makes recommendation threads fun though, because you always end up discovering something unexpected.

[BiasField16]

British panel shows have been filling that gap for me lately. They're easy to watch without committing to a long story, and the chemistry between regular guests often ends up being funnier than scripted sitcoms. Great background viewing too.

Had a random rewatch of Red Dwarf recently and forgot how funny the early series were. The mix of science fiction and ridiculous comedy should not work as well as it does, but the characters carry it.

For something more modern, What We Do in the Shadows is worth checking out. A group of vampires trying to handle normal life is a simple idea, but the execution is brilliant

[Cole75]

Sometimes the funniest thing isn't marketed as a comedy at all.

Certain mystery or crime shows sneak in incredibly sharp dialogue that catches you off guard.

Those unexpected laughs often land better than jokes you can see coming.

[Rhys]

Not every comedy needs to be relentless either.

A few quieter moments make the funny scenes hit harder in my opinion.

Constant joke-after-joke pacing can get exhausting after a while.

[Frost Hermit]

Animation deserves more love in these discussions.

People assume cartoons automatically mean family entertainment, but there are loads aimed squarely at adults.

Some of the smartest comedy writing is happening there.

[Matthew97]

Could always try a comedy from another country if you've exhausted the usual recommendations.

Different styles of humor can feel surprisingly fresh.

Occasionally the cultural references fly over my head, but the characters make up for it.

[Gateway Warden]

That "Hmm, not convinced" reply made me laugh more than it probably should have.

At least you're giving feedback instead of quietly disappearing.

Makes it easier for people to narrow down suggestions.

[Crossing65]

A comedy lives or dies on its cast for me.

Average jokes suddenly become memorable when the actors have great chemistry.

The opposite is true as well, where brilliant writing can't save performances that feel flat.

[NullVector]

One thing that's changed is how many comedy series are only eight episodes long now.

Less filler is nice, but sometimes there's barely enough time to get attached before the season ends.

Bit of a mixed blessing really.

[Sienna74]

Found that watching with other people changes how funny something feels.

A joke that barely raises a smile alone somehow becomes hilarious in a room full of people laughing.

Comedy really is contagious.

[Aoife11]

Dark comedies are probably my favorite because they can surprise you.

One minute it's a serious conversation, the next something completely ridiculous happens and catches you off guard.

That contrast makes the laughs feel earned.

[Cobalt Warren]

That reaction is fair, a lot of "popular" comedy right now is more clever than actually funny. It gets praised, but does not always make you laugh.

One option is going slightly older or off the mainstream path. Panel shows, stand-up specials, or even niche sitcoms tend to be more reliable for actual laughs.

There is also the mood factor. Some shows only land when you are in the right headspace, otherwise they just feel slow or forced.

If you want something lighter and quicker, shorter episodes or sketch-based stuff can work better than long-form series :-/

[Ronan76]

Streaming services have made finding comedies easier and harder at the same time.

There's a huge choice, but sorting through everything to find the funny shows is another matter.

Threads like this save a lot of trial and error.

[Quarry]

If you bounced off the usual recommendations, it might be worth switching styles rather than titles. A lot of newer comedies lean more awkward or character-driven, which can feel flat if you are after quick laughs.

Something like Taskmaster still delivers consistent, low-effort comedy. The format does a lot of the work, and the contestants usually end up being funnier than scripted shows.

Also depends what kind of funny you are after. Dry, chaotic, absurd, or just dumb in a good way all hit very differently.

If nothing else, a few clips might give you a better signal than committing to a full series

[QuantumOracle80]

Whatever you end up picking, don't judge it entirely by the trailer.

Comedy trailers have a habit of spoiling the best jokes or making a good show look painfully average.

Some of my favorites were ones I went into knowing almost nothing about.

[MondayMoan]

If you want something that flies totally under the radar, check out "Reservation Dogs" on Hulu if you haven't already. It's technically classified as a comedy, but it hits those weird emotional beats where you're laughing out loud one minute and staring blankly at the wall contemplating your life choices the next. The dialogue just feels like real teenagers talking trash to each other instead of some fifty-year-old comedy writer trying to capture "gen z slang". My brother recommended it and I rolled my eyes because everyone recommends everything these days, but it actually delivered.

That said, stay away from the second season of that one reboot everyone was talking about on Twitter last month. Total snooze fest. They traded all the sharp writing for guest stars who basically just walked on set, winked at the camera, and collected a paycheck. Trailers lied through their teeth making it look like a nonstop riot.