What kind of humor do I like?

November 11, 2008 5:04 PM

What kind of humor do I like?

I have no difficulties finding books, art or music that I love. I know where to look, what to seek, therefore I can always have new stuff to read, appreciate and listen.

However, things are not so easy when it comes to humor and comedy. I spend a lot of my spare time trying to find funny videos or shows or stand-ups but I find it much harder to see something I like. Tormented by this waste of time, during which I could be having fun, I have decided to ask the hive mind what I like, so I can find a pattern which will help me make my search easier.

Here are some things I like (reasons and examples in parenthesis):

- Seinfeld (clever / I can relate to)
- Family Guy (just plain funny / like the pop culture references)
- Dave Chappelle (his stand-ups, rick james impression, black white supremacist)
- Coen Brothers (fantastic dialogs, surreal situations, raising arizona, big lebowski, fargo)
- Monty Python (surreal situations, clever jokes)
- Airplane!, Naked Gun, Top Secret (plain funny, slapstick, some surreal situations)
- The Onion website (absurd things dealt with like they are the most normal things in the world)
- Dr. Strangelove (movie)
- Some like it hot (movie)
- Spanish Mike (youtube video)
- Terry Tate, office linebacker (reebok campain of the early 2000s - see youtube)
- Spinal Tap (i love comedies ridiculing heavy metal and glam rock)
- Louis C.K. (stand-up, self-derogatory humor)
- Saturday Night Live (some sketches, usually impressions of known people)


Things I don't like:

- Scrubs (reasonably funny, but I hate the "moral fiber lessons" at the end)
- Austin Powers (silly)
- Simpsons (boring - clever but where are the laughs)
- Fart jokes
- Woody Allen (boring - i think i'm gonna get killed by this one)
- Adam Sandler (a single character in all movies, and still unfunny / silly)
- Jim Carrey (way too silly and face-twisting-based)
- South Park (too many fart jokes, moral fiber lessons at the end)

Well, this is not a comprehensive list, but I think it can help the hive mind answer one of the two questions: If you find a pattern here, can you tell me what it is? If you don't, can you recommend something that will fit in the "things I like" list so I don't have to look for hours on the Internet?

posted by dcrocha to Media & Arts (27 answers total)

I don't know that your sense of humor can be classified easily (or that anyone's can) but I would tend to say it's more deadpan and satirical than, say, pratfalls and bodily functions.

As for recommendations, first would have to be The Office, although I can't guarantee you'll like it. It has some over-the-top characters, but to me the humor comes from how unfunny they are, and their colleagues and friends' reactions to that. I've never seen the British version but I have only heard wonderful things about it.

Additionally, if you like clever wordplay and surreal situations, I have to recommend Lily Tomlin in The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe... it is still the single funniest thing in the world to me, I can't get over it.

Just about everything Dorothy Parker has ever written, too, is somewhat satirical and punny and irreverent. It's very dark, though.

Hmm... I don't know if they'd fit into your taste but Sloane Croseley and Sarah Vowell are hilarious writers. David Sedaris, too.

(I just realized I've mostly recommended authors but you don't have any listed... hope you like them, anyway).
posted by SputnikSweetheart at 5:23 PM on November 11, 2008

30 Rock (TV) Straight up funny but clever
Peep Show (UK TV) Grim but funny real life but a bit more humour, POV
The Mighty Boosh (UK TV) Extremely surreal situations.

P.S. Family Guy has loads of fart jokes ;-)
posted by i_cola at 5:26 PM on November 11, 2008

The Smothers Brothers.
Early Bill Cosby.
Bob Newhart.
Derik and Clive.
Lots of comedy out there yet to find.
posted by waraw at 5:31 PM on November 11, 2008

Humor is the most subjective and unclassifiable thing in the world, but I'll offer that your likes seem to me to be either surreal or cynical, whereas the only thing that unites some of your disparate dislikes (Scrubs, South Park, Carrey-Sandler stupidity) is, deep down, their fundamental lack of cynicism. (Note that this doesn't mean Carrey and Sandler themselves, as actor-producers rather than characters, may not be cynically trying to milk as much money as they can from the public -- a different matter.)

Vast amounts of stand-up comedy is cynical, but most of it's terrible, because cynical is the easiest pose for a starting-out stand-up to adopt. In the surreal vein I'll just give a shout-out to Vic Reeves Big Night Out, classic British post-Python ridiculousness from the early 1990s. Various bits are on YouTube.
posted by game warden to the events rhino at 5:32 PM on November 11, 2008

The Larry Sanders Show will change your life.
posted by mullacc at 5:39 PM on November 11, 2008 [1 favorite]

In general, you don't like wacky, over-the-top comedy. You like low-key or subtle or intellectual humor.

One thing that doesn't fit is Woody Allen -- but his output is very erratic, so it's hard to say (depends which of his movies you've seen).
posted by Jaltcoh at 5:46 PM on November 11, 2008

For Surreal try Mr. Show. Give it a few episodes to grow on you, if it doesn't hit you at first.
posted by lorrer at 5:55 PM on November 11, 2008

Best answer: It sounds like you enjoy humor that has underpinnings of thought and wit, as well as an appreciation of the absurd and surreal. You don't like things that are profane for profanity's sake, but don't object to profanity as long as there is some thought or element of surprise behind it. You're insulted be over the top moralizing - you prefer satire that doesn't feel the need to announce itself. You don't care for self absorbed or self pitying characters. You enjoy classic slapstick, and comedies of manners.

You could take The three Variable Funny Test if you like to do that sort of thing, but it might tell you you like Woody Alllen, which you don't.

Some things you might enjoy:

Red Dwarf
Spaced (or, for that matter, Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz)
Black Books
Little Britain
The Daily Show and The Colbert Report (both available on Hulu, if you are cable deprived)
James Thurber
Blackadder
P.G. Wodehouse (the PBS adaptations with Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry are great, too)
The Thin Man


Some others suggested The Smothers Brothers and Bob Newhart's stand-up, which are absolute classics.
posted by louche mustachio at 6:00 PM on November 11, 2008 [2 favorites]

You need to see Repo Man. You might like NewsRadio, too, although unfortunately it's a little uneven, and it's the kind of show (like Cheers and Arrested Development) where you have to see a lot of it and get a good feel for the characters before the humor reveals itself. But it's on Hulu, so you can try it for free.

I'll second Larry Sanders, too. And you might also like The Newsroom, a Canadian Larry Sanders rip-off set in the news department of a public TV station--it's not as good, but the last episode of its original run (they came back and did a couple more seasons a few years later) is incredibly funny.

And if your dislike of the Simpsons is based on the pathetic empty shell of a program that they've been making for the last 10 years, then you should check out the earlier stuff, because it's totally different. Season 7 is particularly good.
posted by equalpants at 6:02 PM on November 11, 2008

Best answer: A lot of your choices, both like and dislike, mirror my own. I'd categorize it as satirical, pop-culture laced, some shots of parody and dryness.

For standup, try: Jim Gaffigan, Mitch Hedberg, Brian Posehn, Nick Swardson.

TV: Metalocalypse, seconding lorrer's suggestion of Mr. Show.

Movies: Do you like Mel Brooks? His humor is right at the core of what I love. Young Frankenstein, Spaceballs, and History of the World: Part I are some of my very favorites.
posted by rachaelfaith at 6:08 PM on November 11, 2008 [1 favorite]

I don't quite know how to describe your sense of humor, I would say you like satire and cynical humor, and not gross-out, dumb, or trite (the life lesson stuff) comedy.

However, I am certain that you will enjoy Curb Your Enthusiasm.
posted by emd3737 at 6:10 PM on November 11, 2008

Best answer: Have you heard Woody Allen's early standup? Don't write him off until you've given Standup Comic or Nightclub Years 1964-1968 a listen. Try Look Around You and Eddie Izzard. You can find ample clips of both on Youtube.
posted by PueExMachina at 6:18 PM on November 11, 2008

But how do you feel about lolcats, hmm?
posted by jeffburdges at 6:18 PM on November 11, 2008

Best answer: Curb Your Enthusism if you like Sienfield, It's always sunny in philidelphia Sienfield on crack, and Arrest and Development for clever.
posted by Rolandkorn at 6:43 PM on November 11, 2008

Aqua Teen Hunger Force and Sealab 2021 for your surreal/absurdist needs.

The Venture Brothers is probably the best animated show on TV right now.

Mystery Science Theater 3000 shows dudes from the Upper Midwest can do smart satire.
posted by dirigibleman at 6:53 PM on November 11, 2008

Best answer: Howard Stern is The Onion personified, because if you find him offensive insrtead of funny, then the joke is on you.
posted by Zambrano at 6:54 PM on November 11, 2008

Kids In The Hall
That Mitchell & Webb Look / Situation
Big Train
Father Ted
Pretty much anything involving Bill Bailey
Mr. Show
posted by droplet at 6:55 PM on November 11, 2008

It'd be interesting to see a list of the different types of humor out there, and possibly use that as a jumping off point for defining the type of stuff you like. Anybody know of one?
posted by iamkimiam at 6:55 PM on November 11, 2008

some more stand-ups:
Nick DiPaulo
Patrice O'Neal
Bill Burr
Mitch Hedberg (unbelieveable!)
Brian Regan
posted by Mach5 at 6:57 PM on November 11, 2008

Best answer: Here's a good intro ep for Mystery Science Theater 3000. It got random pop cultural references right where Family Guy gets it utterly wrong. In my opinion anyway.

Also, yes, the American version of the Office. I think it'll be easier to get into than the original British one (even if you enjoy Monty Python, and I assume based on your list that you're American). But you have to start at the beginning, because the character-based humor in later episodes aren't nearly as funny if seen out of order.

The first season DVD consists of only six episodes. The pilot is okay, but the second episode, "Diversity Day," is comedy perfection. Thank us later.
posted by TheSecretDecoderRing at 7:06 PM on November 11, 2008

Best answer: DIAGNOSIS:

You generally like intellectual humor, as long as it's not pretentious (which is why you like Woody Allen. You don't care for lowbrow, which is most of your dislikes list (and I'm guessing you dont much care for the Ferrell/Stiller/Vaughn style), but you'll take some physical humor if it's intelligently done (Python). Overall, you seem to be suffering from GOOD TASTE, good as in refined.

PRESCRIPTION:

Lots of British comedy: Jeeves and Wooster, Fawlty Towers and Absolutely Fabulous come to mind, but except for J&W I'm not big into it (my wife is), so others here might have more recommendations. I knowpPublic television here shows Brit com almost every friggin night.
posted by odragul at 7:10 PM on November 11, 2008

nthing Jeeves & Wooster (with Hugh Laurie & Stephen Fry), Blackadder, AbFab, Fawlty Towers. I generally hate stand-up except for comedians who talk (rather than recite jokes) like George Carlin and Eddie Izzard.

If you like Monty Python, check out their precursors: The Goon Show, At Last the 1948 Show, and Peter Cook & Dudley Moore.

And if you like Dr. Strangelove, Monty Python, and Spinal Tap, I predict you'll like the British version of the Office much better than the US version. If you do dig the Brit version, then check out Ricky Gervais's next show, Extras, and his podcasts done with Stephen Merchant and Karl Pilkington.

Since you like Spinal Tap you might enjoy the other films Christopher Guest has directed: Best in Show, Waiting for Guffman, and A Mighty Wind. (Skip For Your Consideration, though.)

Lastly, what you need is a recommendation engine for when you exhaust the MeFi answers. For that, try Netflix and Amazon. You'll have to rate a bunch of stuff to get good recommendations, but I find it works pretty well.
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 7:42 PM on November 11, 2008

Best answer: Try this test. It scored me pretty accurately!
posted by pinksoftsoap at 9:21 PM on November 11, 2008

You sound like me. Everyone covered most of everything else, but I didn't see a mention of Flight of the Concords. Try that one out.
posted by nitsuj at 5:06 AM on November 12, 2008

Three standups to listen to; one mentioned; two not: Mitch Hedberg, Demetri Martin, Steven Wright. Of those, my bet is Demetri Martin will be your favorite.

Oh and if you liked Monty Python, try John Cleese's classic TV series Fawlty Towers.

And if you like Spinal Tap, yes, do check out Christopher Guest's movies.

And finally, a shout out for the comedy group Stella.
posted by lpsguy at 6:02 AM on November 12, 2008

judging from the list you presented, you cannot get yourself in front of Arrested Development fast enough. In my not so humble opinion, it is the funniest thing ever broadcast on American television, and the second funniest thing ever broadcast on tv at all (behind Monty Python's Flying Circus, natch). "You just won the gold medal at the sexual special olympics, don't you see?!"


Movies:

Real Genius: Val Kilmer has some comedic chops. Lasers. Popcorn. and one of the best (read: hilarious) questions ever asked of a man by a woman.

PCU: the best college movie ever. Jeremy Piven at his finest. "Come on, that was way more than 100 pounds!"

as others have said, all the Christopher Guest movies. though Tap still reigns supreme.

A Fish Called Wanda and Fierce Creatures. two of the pythons (cleese and palin) plus kevin kline, jamie lee curtis. sublimely excellent.

Wet Hot American Summer: brilliant, especially Christoper Meloni (yes, the same Christopher Meloni who is on L&O: SVU) A must see, and a must see RIGHT NOW if you spent any time at summer camp as a kid.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go fondle my sweaters.
posted by namewithoutwords at 8:26 AM on November 12, 2008

OH MAN!
completely seconding Wet Hot American Summer. it's my favorite movie of all times EVER. and, scarily enough, a fairly accurate depiction of summer camp.

if you like that, try Stella - it was a short-lived series on Comedy Central with Michael Showalter, David Wain and Michael Ian Black. so funny. very surrealist.

the Mighty Boosh is pretty wonderful too.
posted by chickadee at 1:46 PM on November 12, 2008