Parks & Rec; The Best American Comedy of the past 10 years? If not, what is?

squonk · 15-09-2014 9:04am

I adore Parks and Rec BUT the pilot was very short on laughs and I wondered half way through season 1 why I was still watching. Since then there's been a massive turn around and it's one of my favourite shows ever at this stage.

HOWEVER I vote for It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia. I started watching about 2 years ago during an extended stay in hospital. The very first episode was called "The Gang Gets Racist" which peaked my curiosity and the minute I started to watch I was hooked. I'm up to Season 9 now almost 2 years later and I'm saving episodes like fine wines at this stage. It's hard to find a show so offensive and hilarious at the same time. During the same time I've been watching Parks & Rec and it's had some off seasons and some great ones. The Parks & Rec crew are like buddies I'd like to hang out with so it's always great seeing more of them. I'd never want to hang out at Paddy's Pub though although the comedy is far more consistent and sharper.

AnonoBoy · 15-09-2014 9:31am

Too hard to call really (although I voted for Sunny)

It's pretty much a toss up for me between these four

Parks and Rec
Community (not season 4 - that didn't happen, ok?)
Arrested Development
It's Always Sunny

deisedude · 15-09-2014 10:49am

Don't get me wrong I love always Sunny but there are 1 or 2 absolutely terrible episodes per season where I don't laugh once. When its on form its exceptional though

don ramo · 15-09-2014 11:07am

i gave it to entourage as its the only show that i have actually gone back and rewatced on that list, and it was just as funny the second time around, the first 6 seasons are top class, the last 2 are pretty poor, but as a whole it was a great show, vince and E could be drags at times but the rest of the gang more than made up for it, every show on the list has its drama elements, entourage probably has the most drama of all the shows on the list, but id still consider it a comedy, and a damn good one at that,

of that list the only show that i would really look forward to re-watching is parks and rec, mainly cause it took me so long to really get the characters in the show, it wasn't until season 3 or 4 that i realised Ron Swanson was a complete legend,

pickarooney · 15-09-2014 12:01pm

ktulu123 wrote: »

A show that seems to get little mention ever is House of Lies, caught up with it over the summer & it's fantastic imo. Great cast too, Don Cheadle, Kristen Bell, Ben Schwartz(John Ralphio). If anyone is looking for a smart black comedy show to watch, give this a try

I knew there had to be someone somewhere who enjoyed this garbage. Don't be fooled by the great cast people, it's the worst show in the world. And I have never missed an episode.

lertsnim · 15-09-2014 12:35pm

Arrested Development

Penn · 15-09-2014 12:39pm

Tough call between Arrested Development and Community, but I went Arrested Development not just because Community had the gas leak year, but the season before that wasn't that great either bar a few episodes, so that brings its average down.

Arrested Development's 4th Netflix season wasn't fantastic, but I think it was still solid enough.

Vet Thrower · 15-09-2014 12:49pm

For me, Curb Your Enthusiasm, It's Always Sunny, and Arrested Development are head and shoulders above everything else.

If I had to pick one, it would be Curb, purely on the strength of the ski lift episode, which is the funniest thing I have ever seen.

I hated Veep, although I watched every episode of it for lack of anything better to watch. These political porn shows are all the same.

Optimalprimerib · 15-09-2014 1:05pm

Im going for the league. Some fantastic characters. And each episode is very clever in which it can be very easy to miss the punchline first time round. Might watch parks later though

willabur · 15-09-2014 1:27pm

gave my vote for Arrested Development, for me the first two seasons are complete Genius.
I do love Its always Sunny in Philadelphia tho.

and like others have said I am going to have to revisit Parks & Rec, I found the episodes of season 1 that I watched really boring and hammy

Thargor · 15-09-2014 1:36pm

Its Always Sunny for me, funny that thats only the second time its been mentioned in 3 pages but its currently winning the poll. The occasional dud episode where there wont be a single smile as has been said but theres no other comedy on that list that comes close to making me laugh out loud like IASIP, sometimes Frank or Charlie will say something that will have me trying not to be sick Ill be laughing so hard, or it will just show the way they live, everything about them is perfect comedy, stuff like The Nightman, the D.E.N.N.I.S system and a million other things are just another level of intelligent writing compared to every other show on the poll, sometimes you get the same in Community.

Community: Intelligent, well written, perfect casting for every single minor and major character, perfect injokes and throwback references that other shows would assume their audiences are too thick to understand and wouldnt do, Alison Brie...

Modern Family - Smug, obvious cliches, obvious set ups, same old sh1t every ep, only the women in it keep me downloading tbh.

Office USA - My fave for a long time before I discovered Always Sunny but after Micheal left it nosedived and I grew to hate it a bit, as big a drop in quality between seasons as The Simpsons.

How I Met Your Mother - Utter sh1t, something to watch with a girlfriend.

Parks & Recreation - Had its moments in the first couple of series, Burt Macklen, Little Sebastian etc but it got a bit too smug and knowing in later seasons and I started to dislike it more than enjoy it, it was better when it was more subtle digs at small town America than the wacky adventures you get in later series.

By far the worst thing on that list though is The Big Bang Theory (2 And A Half Men doesnt even count as comedy imo), is it the only one with a laugh track aswell? That tells you all you need to know, its just not funny, its the same few jokes over and over and over, Sheldon was good for the first couple of seasons but I cant even watch it for 5 minutes when Im channel hopping now.

don ramo · 15-09-2014 2:16pm

Thargor wrote: »

By far the worst thing on that list though is The Big Bang Theory (2 And A Half Men doesnt even count as comedy imo), is it the only one with a laugh track aswell? That tells you all you need to know, its just not funny, its the same few jokes over and over and over, Sheldon was good for the first couple of seasons but I cant even watch it for 5 minutes when Im channel hopping now.

try not let facts get in the way of a good post, TBBT is the only show taped in front of a LIVE studio audience, and the reason the audience thinks the show is funny is cause they love the show, your not gonna advertise for fans of new girl or arrested development to come to the live audience event for the big bang theory,

every show has its audience, thats why there are over 500 shows currently being made in the US alone every year, what one person loves another will hate, so you have to make something for the latter also,

Thargor · 15-09-2014 2:22pm

There is no way in hell that that is natural laughter coming from a group of people, maybe they film it in front of a live audience but then tweak the laughing themselves later. Every single line from every character is followed by a pause and an exact amount of laugh track, no live audience sounds like that, especially with the multiple takes every scene would require...

don ramo · 15-09-2014 3:17pm

Thargor wrote: »

There is no way in hell that that is natural laughter coming from a group of people, maybe they film it in front of a live audience but then tweak the laughing themselves later. Every single line from every character is followed by a pause and an exact amount of laugh track, no live audience sounds like that, especially with the multiple takes every scene would require...

well prove it, they probably dont use the laugh from the 5th take, and more than likely use the laugh from the second or if it works out first take, most scenes are done 3-5 times in front of the audience and jokes are tweaked by the writers if the audience dont respond,

last time u was at a comedy show, or even a funny film, the audience generally laughs about the same at each joke, maybe the odd one would be of particular hilarity to get a more uncontrollable laugh, but in my experience the laugh from 100-200 people generally keeps the same note,

it quiet easy to just dismiss it, but fact are facts until proven otherwise,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_JpscKD5oc

philthrill69 · 15-09-2014 3:22pm

Any chance of adding silicon valley to the list if it's not already been suggested? I know they're only after one season but i honestly haven't laughed at a tv show like i laugh at silicon valley for years.

Thargor · 15-09-2014 3:31pm

don ramo wrote: »

well prove it, they probably dont use the laugh from the 5th take

Well what does it matter where they recorded the laughter? 1st take, 2nd take, studio audience, building across the street? The point is its still a laugh track and its still loud and intrusive that and grates on the ears, most other shows dropped it around the time Friends was coming to an end.

Every episode would be about 10 minutes long if they cut out all the long pauses in dialog after Every. Single. Line. out of each characters mouths to play this hysterical laughter over jokes that dont even deserve a smile.

Kirby · 15-09-2014 4:06pm

Thargor wrote: »

Well what does it matter where they recorded the laughter? 1st take, 2nd take, studio audience, building across the street? The point is its still a laugh track and its still loud and intrusive that and grates on the ears, most other shows dropped it around the time Friends was coming to an end.

Every episode would be about 10 minutes long if they cut out all the long pauses in dialog after Every. Single. Line. out of each characters mouths to play this hysterical laughter over jokes that dont even deserve a smile.

Humour is subjective. Some people like stuff like Mrs Browns boys and Tommy Tiernan which I find the least funny thing in existence....but some people like it.

ricero · 15-09-2014 4:10pm

no eastbound and down even in the options ? seriously underrated show and for me the best us comedy of the last 10 years.

kenny ****ing powers endorses this message

Thargor · 15-09-2014 4:12pm

Kirby wrote: »

Humour is subjective. Some people like stuff like Mrs Browns boys and Tommy Tiernan which I find the least funny thing in existence....but some people like it.

Of all the comedies mentioned in this thread the only ones with laugh tracks are Big Bang, Mrs Brownes Boys and 2 and a Half Men, none of the others on the poll do which I think supports my original point that only the lowest of the modern comedies need to use them, all the others stand on their own without having to tell the viewer when to laugh...

Chip Whitley · 15-09-2014 4:19pm

I couldn't choose between Curb, Sunny or Modern Family tbh.

Have yet to watch a full season of Parks & Rec, but very much looking forward to binge-watching them all it as I'm a big Amy Poehler fan and anytime I've seen clips Chris Pratt has been hilarious.

I really enjoyed Arrested Development, but it never made me belly laugh like the others above. Also, the Netflix season of AD bored the pants off me.

fwiw I think TBBT is an awful show and Two and a Half Men had its moments when Charlie Sheen was there.

Blackhorse Slim · 15-09-2014 4:24pm

Love Community, but voted "other" - The League is easily the funniest "laugh out loud" US sitcom for me.

Birneybau · 15-09-2014 4:25pm

philthrill69 wrote: »

Any chance of adding silicon valley to the list if it's not already been suggested? I know they're only after one season but i honestly haven't laughed at a tv show like i laugh at silicon valley for years.

Is a great show alright.

I voted for '30 Rock', one of the most inventive comedies I've seen so far.

Tracy Jordan off his meds:

“We’re on a show within a show! My real name is Tracy Morgan!”

That was just a throwaway line.

IvaBigWun · 15-09-2014 6:22pm

philthrill69 wrote: »

Any chance of adding silicon valley to the list if it's not already been suggested? I know they're only after one season but i honestly haven't laughed at a tv show like i laugh at silicon valley for years.

Maybe a Mod could add them but I cant edit them in. There's always the "Other" option if not. Although Silicon Valley is nowhere near as good as the first 6 or 7 on this list.

When it was funny it was hilarious but in general I found it to be all over the shop.

HivemindXX · 15-09-2014 7:42pm

Thargor wrote: »

Of all the comedies mentioned in this thread the only ones with laugh tracks are Big Bang, Mrs Brownes Boys and 2 and a Half Men, none of the others on the poll do which I think supports my original point that only the lowest of the modern comedies need to use them, all the others stand on their own without having to tell the viewer when to laugh...

I think you've been corrected on this haven't you?

phasers · 15-09-2014 9:19pm

It's a tough one for me because my three choices have each had one bad season: community season 4, the US office season 8 and Parks and Rec season 1.

Oh wait I forgot 30 Rock! Eh.... So in summary I choose the greatest NBC Thursday night lineup. I think it was 2009/2010 when all four aired at the same time? Those were the days...

Thargor · 15-09-2014 9:38pm

HivemindXX wrote: »

I think you've been corrected on this haven't you?

No I dont think I was? Do you mean just because theres a live audience there when filming is going on a show cant be accused of having a ridiculously over the top laugh track even though there aren't really any jokes? Because it can, see Big Bang Theory and 2 Broke Girls for examples.

Birneybau · 15-09-2014 9:46pm

There are only 2 good things about 2 Broke Girls. Kat Dennings.

Also Starring LeVar Burton · 15-09-2014 10:48pm

phasers wrote: »

It's a tough one for me because my three choices have each had one bad season: community season 4, the US office season 8 and Parks and Rec season 1.

Oh wait I forgot 30 Rock! Eh.... So in summary I choose the greatest NBC Thursday night lineup. I think it was 2009/2010 when all four aired at the same time? Those were the days...

Yep. Back in the good old days... There'll be very little reason to watch NBC once Parks bows out this season...

FunLover18 · 16-09-2014 2:28am

pickarooney wrote: »

I knew there had to be someone somewhere who enjoyed this garbage. Don't be fooled by the great cast people, it's the worst show in the world. And I have never missed an episode.

SligoQueries · 16-09-2014 9:38am

I watch and enjoy Parks & Recreation, Community, The Office, It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, Modern Family, Eastbound & Down, Louie, and Arrested Development. Great shows.

None of them are funnier than Curb Your Enthusiasm. Maybe it's something to do with Parks & Recreation or Community being hip and cool, and more connectable to young people than a show about the semi-fictional life of a bald Jewish billionaire, but Curb is more consistently hilarious than any other show.

I'm currently rewatching Curb for the fifth time. I'm on season 6, and last night I watched episode 8, "The N Word". Still makes me laugh out loud. It's incredible. Besides Arrested Development, which would be my second favourite and I also love to rewatch, I have no burning desire to rewatch any of the other shows, at least as much as I have Curb.

Stuff like Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory are total crap.

Parks & Rec; The Best American Comedy of the past 10 years? If not, what is?

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