What English Language TV Comedy Should We Watch Next?
February 15, 2013 7:46 PM Subscribe
I'm running out of ideas for TV comedies to watch. What do you recommend?
Currently the wife and I are watching It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and enjoying it a lot. Once it's over, we're not sure what TV comedy to watch next. Can you suggest an english language comedy to watch (US or UK is fine) based on our tastes, which are as follows.
Also, let's just get this out of the way; no to Modern Family. Tried it. Hated it.
SHOWS WE HAVE WATCHED AND LIKED
Community
Arrested Development
Fraiser
Black Books
Seinfeld
The Office (both UK & US)
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Extras
Father Ted
How I Met Your Mother
Just Shoot Me
Louie
Parks & Recreation
30 Rock
Big Bang Theory
Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret
The Thick of It
Veep
We also enjoy animated stuff like Family Guy, American Dad, Cleveland Show, The Simpsons (first 10 seasons), Futurama, The Boondocks and The Venture Brothers.
Any suggestions based on these tastes would be appreciated! Thanks!
Currently the wife and I are watching It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and enjoying it a lot. Once it's over, we're not sure what TV comedy to watch next. Can you suggest an english language comedy to watch (US or UK is fine) based on our tastes, which are as follows.
Also, let's just get this out of the way; no to Modern Family. Tried it. Hated it.
SHOWS WE HAVE WATCHED AND LIKED
Community
Arrested Development
Fraiser
Black Books
Seinfeld
The Office (both UK & US)
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Extras
Father Ted
How I Met Your Mother
Just Shoot Me
Louie
Parks & Recreation
30 Rock
Big Bang Theory
Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret
The Thick of It
Veep
We also enjoy animated stuff like Family Guy, American Dad, Cleveland Show, The Simpsons (first 10 seasons), Futurama, The Boondocks and The Venture Brothers.
Any suggestions based on these tastes would be appreciated! Thanks!
Peep Show. It's hilarious, it's British, and it's as misanthropic as Always Sunny. Misfits is kinda a superhero show but it's also a hilarious British comedy.
There's some Australian shows you might like: The Librarians, Review With Myles Barlow, Angry Boys, and Wilfred.
posted by Charlemagne In Sweatpants at 7:50 PM on February 15, 2013 [6 favorites]
There's some Australian shows you might like: The Librarians, Review With Myles Barlow, Angry Boys, and Wilfred.
posted by Charlemagne In Sweatpants at 7:50 PM on February 15, 2013 [6 favorites]
Bob's Burgers is surprisingly funny.
posted by littlesq at 7:50 PM on February 15, 2013 [7 favorites]
posted by littlesq at 7:50 PM on February 15, 2013 [7 favorites]
Best answer: Second on the Peep Show recommendation.
posted by mygoditsbob at 7:53 PM on February 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by mygoditsbob at 7:53 PM on February 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
Yes, Archer. And maybe Better Off Ted although I haven't finished it.
posted by showbiz_liz at 7:56 PM on February 15, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by showbiz_liz at 7:56 PM on February 15, 2013 [2 favorites]
The League would be worth a try.
posted by the twistinside at 7:56 PM on February 15, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by the twistinside at 7:56 PM on February 15, 2013 [3 favorites]
Possibly Keeping Up Appearances or Fawlty Towers? They're older, but hold up reasonably well, I think.
Also, Better Off Ted.
posted by MeghanC at 7:56 PM on February 15, 2013 [3 favorites]
Also, Better Off Ted.
posted by MeghanC at 7:56 PM on February 15, 2013 [3 favorites]
The Royle Family. It's basically a show about a family sitting around watching TV together, so you should be able to tell if it's for you by the first ten minutes.
posted by Lorin at 7:58 PM on February 15, 2013
posted by Lorin at 7:58 PM on February 15, 2013
I came in to recommend Peep Show, and am happy to see several others have done the same.
Party Down is also really funny.
Fry and Laurie is surprisingly fantastic.
You can always just watch Arrested again. It seriously never gets old - it improves on repeated viewings.
Friends and Seinfeld are classics, but they're classics for a reason.
posted by k8lin at 7:58 PM on February 15, 2013
Party Down is also really funny.
Fry and Laurie is surprisingly fantastic.
You can always just watch Arrested again. It seriously never gets old - it improves on repeated viewings.
Friends and Seinfeld are classics, but they're classics for a reason.
posted by k8lin at 7:58 PM on February 15, 2013
Girls
Peep Show
The League of Gentlemen
Summer Heights High
Green Wing
posted by hot soup girl at 7:58 PM on February 15, 2013 [3 favorites]
Peep Show
The League of Gentlemen
Summer Heights High
Green Wing
posted by hot soup girl at 7:58 PM on February 15, 2013 [3 favorites]
Seconding some of the recommendations here (Bob's Burgers, yes. Archer, yes indeed. PARTY DOWN!) but also Happy Endings. It's doomed to get canceled soon, I think, but holy shit, is it good.
posted by youandiandaflame at 7:59 PM on February 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by youandiandaflame at 7:59 PM on February 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Better Off Ted. Better Off Ted. Also: Better Off Ted.
posted by diamondsky at 8:01 PM on February 15, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by diamondsky at 8:01 PM on February 15, 2013 [5 favorites]
Spaced + Peep Show (times a million (Peep show is fantastic))
posted by wrok at 8:03 PM on February 15, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by wrok at 8:03 PM on February 15, 2013 [2 favorites]
Green Wing is fantastic.
posted by fshgrl at 8:10 PM on February 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by fshgrl at 8:10 PM on February 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
I would recommend Delocated and Bob's Burgers based on your preferences. I don't like Modern Family either. Love Community, Arrested Development, and Louie.
posted by wondermouse at 8:10 PM on February 15, 2013
posted by wondermouse at 8:10 PM on February 15, 2013
The Vicar of Dibley!! And Slings and Arrows, though I'm not sure if its a comedy or a drama.
posted by Mimzy at 8:12 PM on February 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Mimzy at 8:12 PM on February 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
Yes, Party Down! Also: The IT Crowd and That Mitchell and Webb Look.
posted by perryfugue at 8:13 PM on February 15, 2013 [7 favorites]
posted by perryfugue at 8:13 PM on February 15, 2013 [7 favorites]
I like quite a few things on your list and loved "Flight of the Conchords".
Also really enjoy "Archer", so I'll nth that.
posted by backwards guitar at 8:18 PM on February 15, 2013 [3 favorites]
Also really enjoy "Archer", so I'll nth that.
posted by backwards guitar at 8:18 PM on February 15, 2013 [3 favorites]
Saxondale (accents can get thick)
I've been liking "Go On" as easy watching, same with The Mindy Project.
Life's Too Short
posted by rhizome at 8:20 PM on February 15, 2013
I've been liking "Go On" as easy watching, same with The Mindy Project.
Life's Too Short
posted by rhizome at 8:20 PM on February 15, 2013
The first season of the awfully named Happy Endings had a lot of laughs.
posted by purpleclover at 8:23 PM on February 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by purpleclover at 8:23 PM on February 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
Nthing Spaced, IT Crowd, Fawlty Towers, and Keeping Up Appearances.
Also consider Stella and Scrubs, and perhaps early seasons of MASH.
posted by cellar door at 8:32 PM on February 15, 2013
Also consider Stella and Scrubs, and perhaps early seasons of MASH.
posted by cellar door at 8:32 PM on February 15, 2013
Coupling was pretty great.
Since you don't mind animated stuff, Drawn Together is just wrong.
For what it's worth, I don't like Modern Family either, and I'm also one of the seemingly few people who also didn't like Peep Show.
posted by cali59 at 8:34 PM on February 15, 2013
Since you don't mind animated stuff, Drawn Together is just wrong.
For what it's worth, I don't like Modern Family either, and I'm also one of the seemingly few people who also didn't like Peep Show.
posted by cali59 at 8:34 PM on February 15, 2013
It's not to my tastes, but lots of people think "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" is subversive comic genius.
posted by under_petticoat_rule at 9:16 PM on February 15, 2013
posted by under_petticoat_rule at 9:16 PM on February 15, 2013
People Like Us is absolutely genius. So dead-pan that if you don't pay attention you might not even realize that it's a comedy. There are multiple seasons, some from radio, some from television. I've had trouble getting the TV ones so have listened mostly on radio, and I almost prefer it that way.
Posh Nosh is another slyly funny one, BBC, just eight (short) episodes. I found them all on Youtube.
posted by benito.strauss at 9:19 PM on February 15, 2013
Posh Nosh is another slyly funny one, BBC, just eight (short) episodes. I found them all on Youtube.
posted by benito.strauss at 9:19 PM on February 15, 2013
I agree with the Peep Show and Party Down recommendations. I would like to add Workaholics. Hilarious.
posted by likeplus at 9:35 PM on February 15, 2013
posted by likeplus at 9:35 PM on February 15, 2013
And if you want BBC stuff, and don't mind the show occasionally veering into the weird-gross, I enjoyed a lot of The League of Gentlemen and Little Britain. They're both sketch shows with recurring characters.
I'm also remembering an Australian mockumentary about the lead up to the year 2000 Sydney games, called The Games. To see if it's worth your effort to track this down, watch this short bit (not from the show) featuring the two lead actors and writers of the series. I can't count the number of times I've watched it, and I laugh each time.
posted by benito.strauss at 9:35 PM on February 15, 2013
I'm also remembering an Australian mockumentary about the lead up to the year 2000 Sydney games, called The Games. To see if it's worth your effort to track this down, watch this short bit (not from the show) featuring the two lead actors and writers of the series. I can't count the number of times I've watched it, and I laugh each time.
posted by benito.strauss at 9:35 PM on February 15, 2013
Best answer: Oh yeah, I totally forgot about the IT Crowd! It's made by the same guy who did Black Books :)
posted by littlesq at 10:15 PM on February 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by littlesq at 10:15 PM on February 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
Black Adder, Mitchell and Webb Look , Armstrong and Miller and yes, Better off Ted.
posted by asra at 10:29 PM on February 15, 2013
posted by asra at 10:29 PM on February 15, 2013
This is reaching back to the 90s so I'm not sure how well it holds up, but I suggest giving Absolutely Fabulous a try.
posted by imalaowai at 10:29 PM on February 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by imalaowai at 10:29 PM on February 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
IT crowd
Party Animals
The hour
(all BBC)
And if you can do CBC I'm a republic of Doyle fan.
posted by chapps at 10:47 PM on February 15, 2013
Party Animals
The hour
(all BBC)
And if you can do CBC I'm a republic of Doyle fan.
posted by chapps at 10:47 PM on February 15, 2013
Sports Night -- Sharp, funny, written by Aaron Sorkin and requires no knowledge of sports
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 11:06 PM on February 15, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 11:06 PM on February 15, 2013 [2 favorites]
The IT Crowd
Spaced
Peep Show
Green Wing
Red Dwarf
2012
Outnumbered
Also, if you liked The Thick of It you'd probably enjoy the spin-off film In the Loop.
posted by lizabeth at 11:25 PM on February 15, 2013
Spaced
Peep Show
Green Wing
Red Dwarf
2012
Outnumbered
Also, if you liked The Thick of It you'd probably enjoy the spin-off film In the Loop.
posted by lizabeth at 11:25 PM on February 15, 2013
Better Off Ted and Party Down.
posted by lewedswiver at 11:45 PM on February 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by lewedswiver at 11:45 PM on February 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
The Inbetweeners is a UK show about 4 misfit boys in a comprehensive school (like an American public high school). It's kind of like Superbad meets Freaks and Geeks, but in the London exurbs.
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 11:49 PM on February 15, 2013
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 11:49 PM on February 15, 2013
ditto Spaced, Archer, Fry & Laurie, Posh Nosh.
Adding:
Garth Marenghi's Darkplace
Childrens Hospital
posted by juv3nal at 11:53 PM on February 15, 2013
Adding:
Garth Marenghi's Darkplace
Childrens Hospital
posted by juv3nal at 11:53 PM on February 15, 2013
Curb Your Enthusiasm is worth a try, definitely.
Louie.
Home Movies, potentially.
Another vote for IT Crowd and Flight of the Conchords, particularly season 1.
posted by k8lin at 12:39 AM on February 16, 2013
Louie.
Home Movies, potentially.
Another vote for IT Crowd and Flight of the Conchords, particularly season 1.
posted by k8lin at 12:39 AM on February 16, 2013
I love UK TV (I live in Oregon). Some of my favorites are:
Way To Go
Fresh Meat
Bad Education
Great Night Out
Legit (USA)
Pramface
Some Girls
Switch (uk)
Workaholics (USA)
posted by johnpowell at 1:25 AM on February 16, 2013
Way To Go
Fresh Meat
Bad Education
Great Night Out
Legit (USA)
Pramface
Some Girls
Switch (uk)
Workaholics (USA)
posted by johnpowell at 1:25 AM on February 16, 2013
How about the most cynical of all comedy series, Yes, Minister?
posted by Pyrogenesis at 4:52 AM on February 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Pyrogenesis at 4:52 AM on February 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
Seeing as you're digging the British stuff, a couple of mid-nineties sketch shows from the BBC, The Fast Show and Big Train might float your comedy boat. Of the two, Big Train is more of a grab-bag; the first series was written by Graham Linehan and Arthur Matthews (the second series by Matthews alone; they also contributed the wonderful Ted and Ralph sketches to The Fast Show), who also wrote Father Ted. Linehan also went on to write both Black Books and The IT Crowd, which you've already had the pleasure of seeing.
A couple of personal favourites from Big Train are The Jockeys of the Serengheti and Chaka Khan vs The Bee Gees in the Wild West.
Also, if your tastes run a little darker, you should check out The Day Today, Brass Eye and Jam, all three of which heavily involve one of the UK's finest comedy auteurs, Chris Morris.
posted by peteyjlawson at 2:42 PM on February 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
A couple of personal favourites from Big Train are The Jockeys of the Serengheti and Chaka Khan vs The Bee Gees in the Wild West.
Also, if your tastes run a little darker, you should check out The Day Today, Brass Eye and Jam, all three of which heavily involve one of the UK's finest comedy auteurs, Chris Morris.
posted by peteyjlawson at 2:42 PM on February 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
Brass Eye is brilliant, and if you're an American (like me) your jaw will drop to see that such cynicism got played on national TV.
posted by benito.strauss at 2:58 PM on February 16, 2013
posted by benito.strauss at 2:58 PM on February 16, 2013
I really like Scrubs, though more so the first few years maybe than the last two or so. It does great at being funny and then turning poignant on a dime. It has the cutaway jokes that Arrested Development later mastered.
posted by davextreme at 6:56 PM on February 16, 2013
posted by davextreme at 6:56 PM on February 16, 2013
Maybe I missed it, but was Portlandia suggested? It's not on the OP's list.
posted by mannequito at 9:41 PM on February 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by mannequito at 9:41 PM on February 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
How about a little love for the great, silly, and ill-remembered Sledge Hammer!? Not to everyone's tastes, but quite funny and ahead of its time.
posted by Dr. Wu at 11:16 PM on February 16, 2013
posted by Dr. Wu at 11:16 PM on February 16, 2013
Definitely IT crowd, Inbetweeners, and Red Dwarf (all UK).
posted by fruitopia at 7:06 PM on February 17, 2013
posted by fruitopia at 7:06 PM on February 17, 2013
Spy is a funny show about a guy who accidentally get a job as a British secret agent.
posted by catastropher at 9:22 AM on February 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by catastropher at 9:22 AM on February 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Gave Archer a go based on this and it was awesome. Completely caught up on it now, so we're gonna try either Better Off Ted or The IT Crowd next.
I've heard good things about Hot In Cleveland, and the cast looks top notch, but based on some YouTube clips I've seen it looks pretty average. Anyone seen it who can say whether it's worth a go or not?
posted by Effigy2000 at 11:45 AM on November 10, 2013
I've heard good things about Hot In Cleveland, and the cast looks top notch, but based on some YouTube clips I've seen it looks pretty average. Anyone seen it who can say whether it's worth a go or not?
posted by Effigy2000 at 11:45 AM on November 10, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by sleepingcbw at 7:48 PM on February 15, 2013 [11 favorites]