Hey there, boils and ghouls. If you’re like me, then all of this cheerful, sunny, generous summer weather is only distracting you from the fact that TV COMEDY IS IN RE-RUNS IN THE SUMMER! Isn’t that the worst? I want to know what’s happening on The Office! I need to know who’s smooching on Community! How are the two men handling that half man? Well fret not, sister (or sista) because your prescription for the summer re-run doldrums are these ten hilarious shows of yesteryear that if you haven’t seen, they will be NEW to you. So next time you’re craving some fresh, new comedic television on those lonely summer nights, head to your nearest Queen, Suspect Video, or rental chain of choice and check these babies out. Plus, conveniently placed links will give you a sample of what these shows have to offer (yay for clicking fetishists). Let’s get this partay started!
10. Psychoville
Psychoville is a wonderful little seven episode series (although more is coming) from the BBC that at first glance may appear to be a cheap rip-off of “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” but in fact is a wonderful, eccentric character study. The series revolves around six characters (a serial killer mom and son, a one-handed clown, a blind old millionaire that collects stuffed animals, a dwarf actor who may or may not have telekinesis, and a nurse that thinks a practice child is her actual offspring) that are all being blackmailed with the same ominous warning, “I know what you did.” As the series progresses, you see more of this mystery progress, and how these seemingly unrelated characters all share a history.
Perhaps the most impressive thing about this show is that creators, Reece Shearsmith and David Pemberton (League of Gentlemen) both play a whopping four characters each, and they’re honestly unrecognizable in each role. Additionally, the show is worth checking out for its strange mix of British humour and morbid death, and just the sheer surrealism brought forth. There’s a ton of great setpieces, like the dwarf actor starring in porns like “Snow White and the Seven Cocks,” one-armed Mr. Jelly’s back-story on how he gets his hook, and nurse Joy stealing real blood transfusions to make her doll “real.” There’s even an episode that pays homage to Hitchock’s “Rope” that is done ENTIRELY IN ONE SHOT. God, it’s just so smart and well-done it blows my mind. Lastly, the conclusion to the mystery manages to be satisfying and amusing, which is pretty much all I look for in a mystery/comedy.
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9. Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law
Harvey Birdman probably has the best plot out of all out Adult Swim’s former cartoons: A former superhero-now-lawyer defends classic cartoon characters in court (alliteration is your friend). Sure, on a surface level, this seems like a “cute” concept where you can juxtapose ideas like Fred Flintstone being a mob boss, or Quest/Bannon paternity suits, but this show ends up delving a lot deeper and becomes a fantastic little thing that learns when to stick to its formula, and when to stray away (I think the show’s best episode may very well be a mock orientation video for the show’s law firm).
Each episode of Birdman only clocks in at eleven minutes, things move at a crazyyyy frenetic pace which adds a great sense of urgency and “what the fuck-ness” to it all, where you really can’t predict where things are headed. When a great series of running gags accompany this, as well as how each episode seems to nonsensically end with everyone laughing, you’ve got a really enjoyable program that just wants to be fun. It also doesn’t hurt that Gary Cole and Stephen Colbert do some near-perfect voice work on the show, and Paget Brewster as Birdgirl may be the most all over the place, high-energy character I have ever seen. I am in love with her.
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8. Better Off Ted
Better Off Ted is the most recent show on this list. And while its title may be terrible, its comedy is laughable (this is a good thing). The show observes Ted (surprise, surprise) and his co-workers at Veridian Dynamics, a money-driven company that makes ridiculous “evil” inventions. Even this sounds dumb, but please check out some episodes and you’ll realize how different and smart this show is (racial water fountains is a great episode). It’s almost the anti-Office where it takes real, mundane work plots, but extrapolates them like crazy. You get some beautiful, witty banter in this show that I would say rivals that of “Arrested Development” at times, and the acting is top-notch. Portia De Rossi does a great job playing a cold, disconnected boss that is completely different than anything you saw in Lindsey Bluth. The episodes are also full of sweeping Steadicam shots that just look gorgeous and make it feel unique from the rest of comedies out there. Even down to it’s title, Better Off Ted sounds like a show you will hate, but I guarantee that you will laugh at something in it.
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7. Home Movies
I have such fond love for this show, and it’s probably the perfect thing to dig into in the summer. It’s also probably one of the most quotable shows I’ve ever come across. While the very simple plot of, Brendon, Jason, and Melissa, three children who love to make movies may seem average, and even juvenile, this show excels with it. The main humour comes from its extreme conversational style (people are talking over each other, and you’d swear it was “live”) as well as its movie parodies. Much like Better Off Ted though, this show soon surpasses its concept and starts doing much more. I think the most pleasure in this program can be found with just how comfortable the voice cast is with each other and how naturally everything gels.
It’d also be impossible to recommend Home Movies without touching on Jon H. Benjamin, and his fantastic work as Coach McGuirk in this show. If you only watched Coach McGuirk scenes from an episode, and ignored everything else, you’d still laugh much more than you would during a typical comedy. A cautionary word though, the shorter first season of the show is a little less polished than the rest. I’d suggest starting with season two, if you want a better representation of how funny this show is.
Best of Coach McGuirk
6. Frisky Dingo
I don’t even think Matt Thompson and Adam Reed (both from former “Sealab 2021” fame, and Reed of current “Archer” fame) realize how brilliant a show they created. Frisky Dingo is about billionaire Xander Crews (and his superhero alter-ego, Awesome-X) and the villain Killface, who is trying to use his Annihilatrix to push the earth into the sun. That’s pretty much all you need to know, and even then, you have no idea what you are getting into. This is a crazy show that just builds, and builds, and builds. Forget about what I said about Birdman having callbacks, Frisky Dingo lives off them. By the end, it may only be callbacks, but you will love it, and you will be quoting every single line.
What I love most about Frisky Dingo is that while I suppose it is a superhero show, Xander Crews and Killface barely ever fight (and for a good duration are both blinded), and the second season takes such a tremendous tonal shift with the two running for office, and fighting for the presidency. That is super clever. This show has plenty of characters, and tons to talk about, but Xander Crews is pretty much unadulterated id, which is as fun as it gets. Add to that super-intelligent ants, Death Rabbit Fights, and rape wigs and you’ve got yourself a winner. Boosh.
Best of the Xtacles
5. NewsRadio
NewsRadio is one of the best ensemble sitcoms you’ll see. It has Dave Foley, Maura Tierney, Andy Dick, Stephen Root, and Phil fucking Hartman (among others). It’s about the ins and outs of a bunch of quirky co-workers at the WNYX news-radio station, and these are probably some of the most callous people you will meet.
What is so enjoyable about NewsRadio is how everything about it should be force feeding you a stale sitcom down your throat, but this thing works. And it really really works (and then Hartman was killed…). And perhaps the reason why is that each episode really seems like a long piece of sketch comedy, that slowly adds layers to it. The humour here is super varied though, with most episodes having a really well put together physical gag with Andy Dick’s accident-prone Matthew, or some piece of absurdity from Hartman’s Bill McNeil, but chances are you will find something you like in this. It also has the luxury of featuring a ton of really great guest stars, like Jerry Seinfeld, David Cross, Jon Stewart, and Bob Odenkirk. This show just does so much right. There’s an episode where Dave painstakingly writes a eulogy for a loner of an employee he knows nothing about, only to see his funeral full of people in Klan garb. There’s a sight gag with the Hamburglar that I’m laughing at right now.
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4. Stella
Marx Bros. on crack. That is Stella, plain and simple. This show may not appeal to everyone, but if you like it, I think you’ll fall in love it. Michael Ian Black, Michael Showalter, and David Wain (from The State; and this show too, borrows many of its sensibilities from sketch comedy) are basically three man-children that just run around in suits, and hilarity ensues. They mug up to the camera, they do tableaux, they break the fourth wall…Stella is all over the place, and the best recommendation I could give would be just to watch the pilot, which is pretty much overflowing with jokes. It’s only ten episodes long, but in that time I think they get more jokes out than most multi-season shows do. If you laugh at wordplay like “You called us old maid” “No, we said aulde maid. Like should aulde acquaintances be forgot…”, the difference between “funk rock” and “funk rock,” or skewing of plot conventions like a contest conveniently being for the exact same amount of money that our heroes need, or a bad fake mustache working as an infallible disguise, then Stella is for you.
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3. Duckman
Duckman was recently released on DVD, and it amazes me how in spite of being on over ten years ago, it somehow just as relevant and had amazing foresight. There are episodes lampooning things like reality TV (although at the time it is referring to shows like “Cops” and “America’s Most Wanted”) that hold up incredibly well nowadays. The premise of the show is that Duckman (voiced with sheer angsty glee by Jason Alexander) works with his Phillip Marlowe-esque partner, Cornfed work to solve crimes as detectives, while Duckman also deals with his fractured family life.
At first look, Duckman is fun because Alexander plays Duckman as an insanely egotistical, perverted asshole, which is fun, but the series almost feels like a Rod Serling production from the ‘50s. It has stuff to say. There’s an episode that tackles all of Dostoyevsky’s works, which doesn’t at all sound like it’d be entertaining as a cartoon, another as a noir-thriller, or another that basically attacks all “Friends-like” sitcoms. Duckman is a wonderful little gem that manages to be smarter than the rest of television while simultaneously being more offensive and derogatory. And Frank Zappa doing the music doesn’t hurt. Also, all four seasons are spread out over two DVD sets for a great deal.
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2. The Larry Sanders Show
Without The Larry Sanders Show, there would be no “The Office”, or “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” or possibly even no “Entourage.” The show stars Garry Shandling as fictional late night host, Larry Sanders, as he runs his show with its crew. The show is really the first to premiere the “mockumentary” style approach, as well as mixing behind the scene elements with “real” segments. In each episode of Larry Sanders, you see the relevant show-related stresses, as well as actual celebrities (Jim Carrey and David Duchovony do career-making guest spots) being interviewed and bands performing on the show. While the show really perfects that awkward atmosphere that almost has become tired in shows now, it also does a great job illustrating how crushing and duplicitous the entertainment industry can be.
The real stand-out performer here is Jeffrey Tambor as Hank Kingsley, who plays Larry’s sidekick and announcer on his show, who is just the most reprehensible, selfish character you will see. If you thought Tambor was great on “Arrested Development,” this knocks it all out of the water. Judd Apatow also got his start on this show, and it’s great to see his early episodes and slow progression into comedy.
I’ll admit that Larry Sanders may even be too dry or real for people when it starts, but it is a great treat, and glimpse into Hollywood. There’s also a great plotline on the show between Larry and Jon Stewart feuding for a late night spot that is so similar to the recent Conan/Leno business it is scary. If you’re still hesitant, any Hank episode is a good place to start.
Best of Hank Kingsley
1. Sports Night
Sports Night died because it was too good, and too funny for itself. It was one of those beautiful stars that eventually imploded in on itself. Aaron Sorkin (The West Wing, Studio 60) brings you a show about the cast and crew of a late night sports news show. Much like Larry Sanders, you’re seeing the behind-the-scenes of a fictional show, but the real focus here are the characters. Sorkin does an astounding job creating people; not stock characters, or stereotypes, but actual people. By the end of this show, I fully cared about this cast, and their relationships, and their struggles.
While the show does dip into the dramatic territory often, it is funny, perhaps some of the funniest stuff I’ve seen, and it’s all in the language. Sports Night is a show that truly cares about words. It’s some of the most beautiful poetry you’ll see on your screen. This is banter at its best (“It’s a vicious circle.” “It is.” “It’s a neverending circle.” “Just keeps going round and round.” “Never ends.” “That’s what makes it vicious.” “And a circle.”) And when you add the show’s trademark tracking shots and walk-and-talks, it doesn’t even feel like television; this is cinema-type stuff.` There are also some absolutely stunning monologues in this show too. Like, you could use a speech from this show and easily get a date with someone as a result.
It’s worth talking about the cast, as it is headlined by some fantastic actors like Peter Krause (Six Feet Under), Felicity Huffman (Desperate Housewives), and Josh Charles (In Treatment), but everyone does a great job that you just get lost in. The show, with seamless ease, also shifts its focus between characters, and you won’t even notice. And if you have any reservations for this show due to the fact that “Sports” is in the title, drop them immediately. I’m not a sports guy. Besides knowing that Stanley Cup is one of the better hockey players, I know nothing, yet this show is at the top of my list. If you only have time to commit to one of these shows over your summer, please check out Sports Night. I can’t do it justice here, but the writing is just some of the best you’ll come across. PS: There’s a horrendous laugh track inserted into the show by the network during the first season to make it more “accessible” but it’s just a disaster due to how fast-paced the show is. It’s slowly phased out though.
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Well, there, in my humble opinion is some great comedy to keep you busy over the summer. That is, if reading this article didn’t exhaust your entire holiday. Keep on laughing, internet users!
Listingly Yours,
Daniel Kurland
The Raisin Gang
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