they say laughter is the best medicine
would you like some warm nuts sir after
watching these shows suffice it to say
we're cured welcome to watchmojo.com and
today we're counting down our picks for
the top 10 funniest TV shows of all time
for this list hilarity is the main
criteria we've looked at everything
scripted shows sketch comedy animated
series you name it if the show makes us
laugh it has a chance to make our list
in a cave training anyone else want to
chime in number 10
South Park all right listen up my name
is PC principal I don't know about you
but frankly I'm sick and tired of how
minority groups are marginalized in
today's society I'm here because this
place is lost in a time warp
you can hardly imagine the things that
can happen in a quiet little redneck
podunk white-trash mountain town
thankfully Trey Parker and Matt Stone
can and they've had audiences begging
for more
since they first debuted Stan Kyle
Cartman and Kenny as paper cutouts
[Music]
originally focusing on the misadventures
of these smart mouth kids the show has
since reinvented itself to become the
most brutal honest and downright
hilarious political and social satire on
television Eric you march right up to
your room again Eric you get your butt
to bed no means no Katmai this town and
its vast array of increasingly
hysterical characters put America in its
place week after week but really how can
you be offended it's self Park and so
the party journeyed onward the great
wizard the skillful Ranger and the
covetous Jew
paladin Cartman Jews can't be Pat is
number nine friends six good-looking
singles in their late 20s living in New
York City you'd be forgiven for being
skeptical of this shows originality but
friends took this familiar concept and
repackaged it into a comedy phenomenon
you know what okay fine don't get up you
just sit right there I just hope you
don't mind you know my hand right here
oh oh not touching okay bet not touching
okay
the antics of Rachel Monica Phoebe
Chandler Ross and Joey connected with
the audience on so many levels spawning
catchphrases hair styles water fountain
dances and we're sure several moves to
the Big Apple well what kind of guy are
you looking for well someone that has
his own tux or the ability to rent a tux
so he has to be a male who has at least
$50 Oh
at its core though it is pure comedy
gold as it highlights the crazy
scenarios sarcasm inside jokes
thoughtfulness and at times
thoughtlessness and of course the
genuine love we all experience with
those we consider our closest friends
what can I do to show you how how much
how much I want you to be there you
could drink the fat all right welcome to
an adult conversation
number eight Saturday Night Live
[Music]
take a look at a few of the names on the
original cast of SNL Dan Aykroyd John
Belushi
Chevy Chase Jane Curtin what about this
Johnny Human Torch these comedy legends
started a show that has since included
over 140 brilliant cast members Lauren
Michaels conception of a sketch comedy
show that takes itself seriously SNL has
become America's go-to for both silly
sketches and politically scorching burns
in the wake of bin Laden's death al
Adele was chosen because of his military
background his youth and because he was
the last one to shout not it each
generation of cast members continues to
redefine the show keeping it a relevant
staple of our television diet SNL has
launched countless careers and spawned
so many beloved movies we're not sure
where comedy would be without it what
the heck are you doing here number seven
Arrested Development who are these
people this is my family no well I don't
like these people Michael Bluth and his
morally corrupt narcissistic family
pushed the boundaries of television from
the very first episode while its
original run may have ended too early we
savor every despicable moment they
treated us - the cast is brilliant from
Will Arnett's brutally harsh magician
job - Portia de Rossi spoiled
judgemental Lindsay - Jessica Walters
dominating Lucille if you're saying I
play favorites you're wrong I love all
my children equally
I don't care if in show did we mention
the main cast also includes Michael Cera
Tony Hale Jeffrey Tambor David Cross and
Jason Bateman through never nudes
questionable love affairs the chicken
dance and so much more Arrested
Development gives us the best moments of
the worst people I don't want you
forgiveness dad I want the guy with the
one arm and the fake blood Jay Walter
weatherman how do I get a hold of it
yeah he's dead you killed him when he
left the door open with the air
conditioner
that's sakes dad he's not dead number
six the office are we ready for the game
but you would follow me to the ends of
the earth grumbling all the way Michael
Dwight Jim Pam these characters will
live in our hearts forever ricky gervais
cease UK version changed sitcoms through
the fake documentary premise but it's
the US version that perfected it
I am Michael Scott I am the captain of
this party I'm Captain Jack I'm captain
of the ship ah
I'm also captain of anyone who sets foot
on the ship okay in an office when you
are ranking people manager is higher
than captain balancing uproarious
situations an outstanding ensemble cast
of characters and storylines audiences
found themselves truly invested in the
office had us caring about what we were
laughing at whether it was Michaels
immature efforts to lead his workers or
Jim's torturing of Dwight anyone who
works in an office will tell you this
show hits close to home as we can find
real versions of these characters in
pretty much any cubicle honestly every
time I try to do something fun or
exciting you make it not that way I hate
so much about the things that you choose
to be number five Fawlty Towers
Oh tell ya it's hard to believe this
show only ran for two seasons over four
years that amounts to only 12 episodes
maybe it's the reruns that have us
feeling like the show never left the air
maybe it's wishful thinking
either way John Cleese's Basil Fawlty
the titular hotel he runs and the cast
of workers he employs are cemented in
comedy history thanks to the incredibly
funny and outrageous situations they
somehow found themselves in no no he
told me to shut up yeah well he said it
to me I know I was looking at you but I
was talking to pie wasn't I funny oh yes
did you notice then that I was looking
at you about to talking to her huh
you see he was looking at you but
talking to me basil never really
succeeds in raising the tone of his
hotel but that's okay because each
problem provided audiences with an
endless supply of laughs sure enough a
stay at Fawlty Towers would have us in
stitches
[Music]
number four Monty Python's Flying Circus
now for something completely different
we wouldn't be doing our duty if we
didn't pay homage to the original sketch
comedy masterpiece gut-wrenchingly funny
Flying Circus didn't need to attack pop
culture to get laughs instead they
relied on creativity and silliness to
find unique ways to have viewers falling
out of their seats Spanish Inquisition
amongst Oh
with that said Flying Circus feared no
one and you never knew what to expect
from their show
except hilarity of course there are so
many brilliant sketches we can't vouch
for just one do yourself a favor
sit down pull up Python and prepare to
laugh tell me something do you have any
cheese yes no I'm going to ask you that
question once more if you say no do you
have any cheese at all no number three I
Love Lucy what's the matter what you
standing up for because two gorgeous
ladies enter the room my dad where they
mean that five Emmy Awards a Peabody
Award and four years as the most-watched
television show in the United States are
all we need as proof this show was
fantastic I Love Lucy broke barriers as
Lucille Ball paved the way for women in
comedy funny please you're holding up
the game
well I can't decide whether to throw
away my two queens or my three kings it
was also one of the first television
shows to depict pregnancy as well as one
of the first to depict a multi-ethnic
couple these feats aside the show was
also flat-out funny
Lucy's Daffy personality and the scheme
she and husband Ricky found themselves
in were outrageous to say the least
if this show is anything it's timeless
so thank God for syndication
[Laughter]
it's so tasty too number 2 The Simpsons
[Music]
I didn't do it Homer Bart Lisa Marge
Maggie and in fact every citizen in the
incredibly lovable town of Springfield
are by far some of the funniest and most
recognizable people ever swear at
Springfield's only choice throw up your
hands and raise your voice
[Music]
not bad for an animated show The
Simpsons very quickly became a
pop-culture phenomenon as audiences
connected with each character homer and
Bart were the initial standouts but all
of Springfield has since found a way
into our hearts as the show uses each
character regardless of significance to
tackle every issue imaginable please
Lisa I thought you loved me and yes
Futurama is bitingly funny too but let's
face it if it's worth our time The
Simpsons will do it nope nope you
wouldn't even hear me out all right yeah
before we unveil our number one pick
here are some honorable mentions I'm
using my whip what it's not dude I got
this baby
well three hey I'm Dave Chappelle and
I'm here to say a few words about
America's premier casting agent of
course I'm talking about Jerry Jacobs
she sucks hey number one
Seinfeld you know in your mind that they
had to have sex at least once to have
you but you still kind of maintained the
image in your head well I don't know I'm
not positive I can't prove it the show
about nothing ended up meaning
everything to television audiences Jerry
George Elaine and Kramer our characters
psychologists could study for years
probably in Vienna incapable of growth
each represents the inner desires and
held back screams we all feel but are
too nice to voice
grounded in reality
but bordering on the outrageous viewers
relate to every episodes crazy scenarios
the show launched an insane amount of
catchphrases still in use today Soup
Nazi close talker yadda yadda yadda
shrinkage anti den tight double-dip
sponge worthy master of your domain
serenity now the list is endless what
did I mess up
well after ordering mr. Seinfeld and mr.
Costanza debated on whether or not
Iron Man were some sort of undergarment
between his skin and his irons
television can be thankful this show was
real and it was spectacular
drop dead stop sites we're trying to
watch the movie do you agree with our
list what do you think is the funniest
TV show of all time
okay okay how many dirty stinking apes
does it take to screw in a light bulb
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