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Emmys: The comedy series contenders in order from least to most funny
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A few weeks ago, Hollywood Reporter TV critic Tim Goodman wrote an article about how it seems like a lot of the recent Emmy nominees for outstanding comedy series aren't all that funny. He wasn't harumphing about the quality of comedy on TV; in fact, he's already said in the past that the sitcom is alive and well. No, what he was complaining about was that the shows that have been nominated recently and are in contention this year are shows that have more dramatic elements than funny ones, but either because of their format or because of the competition in the drama categories, they have to go up against shows that are much more traditional comedies. And, because shows like "The Big C" or "Glee" are dramatic in nature, the goofier comedies on the ballot don't ever stand a chance.
We wanted to figure out which shows are truly funnier than some of the ones that have gotten Emmy attention lately. So, using a purely unscientific, completely subjective method, we are taking a cue from our friends at The Awl and ranking all of the comedies that are on the Emmy ballot for outstanding comedy series, starting from the least funny and ending with the most.
Now, most of the rankings are pretty close together, so if we say "Parks and Recreation" is one slot above "Modern Family," don't take it too hard; we think both are hilarious, but we have to assign a number. And, just because we think a show is unfunny doesn't necessarily mean we think the show stinks -- "The Big C" is a fine show, but it just doesn't make us laugh that much. This is an illustrative exercise, people, one that we hope becomes what Oprah always called "a teachable moment."
Our rankings:
54. "$#*! My Dad Says"
53. "Outsourced"
52. "Workaholics"
51. "Secret Diary Of A Call Girl"
50. "The Big C"
49. "Are We There Yet?"
48. "Nurse Jackie"
47. "Blue Mountain State"
46. "Desperate Housewives"
45. "Rules of Engagement"
44. "United States of Tara"
43. "Mad Love"
42. "Episodes"
41. "Better With You"
40. "Psych"
39."Glory Daze"
38. "Perfect Couples"
37. "Hung"
36. "Entourage"
35. "Californication"
34. "Eureka"
33. "The Game"
32. "Bored To Death"
31. "Glee"
30. "Weeds"
29. "Chuck"
28. "The Good Guys"
27. "Hot in Cleveland"
26. "Greek"
25. "Melissa & Joey"
24. "Breaking In"
23. "Mr. Sunshine"
22. "Drop Dead Diva"
21. "The Hard Times Of RJ Berger"
20. "Mike & Molly"
19. "After Lately"
18. "Traffic Light"
17. "Eastbound & Down"
16. "The League"
15. "Happy Endings"
14. "Family Guy"
13. "The Increasingly Poor Decisions Of Todd Margaret"
12. "The Big Bang Theory"
11. "Raising Hope"
10. "The Office"
9. "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia"
8. "30 Rock"
7. "The Middle"
6. "How I Met Your Mother"
5. "Louie"
4. "Cougar Town"
3. "Community"
2. "Modern Family"
1. "Parks and Recreation"
How would you rank the would-be nominees for best comedy series in terms of funniness? And should shows that are more inherently dramatic be allowed to compete as comedies?
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Why is NBC's Thursday Night garbage in the top 10? Though I'm not surprised, "30 Rock" wins so often the award shows are no fun to watch anymore.
not a bad list.
the only ones i take issue with are Chuck being too low, and Psych being WAAAAAYYYY too low. Psych isnt going to win any Emmy's, but it is definitely top 15-20.
I dunno about some of the rankings... The Big Bang Theory and Raising Hope are definitely funnier than The Office.
I find Chuck funnier than many of the shows below it.
30 Rock stopped being funny at all around midseason last year.
Psych is significantly more comedic than Glee, at least to me.
Though that's the funny thing about comedy (no pun intended)...it's very subjective, and what one person might find funny is different than what another person might find funny.
Because they have the funniest show on TV. Community and Parks and Rec FTW!
I agree with the Top 10--not necessarily in that order, but all of them deserve to be in the top 10. I also agree that Psych should be WAYYYYY higher than 40. It's the comedic part that keeps people coming back--the bromance, not the mystery.
For me, Psych should be n1, it's by far the funniest of the list! And it's lower than that gross thing family guy? I for one could never see why people think it's so wonderful, but whatever...
I do believe that those comedies that have a drama edge shouldnt be allowed to compete in the same category, since they kinda end up being a genre themselves, and seeing as there are a lot of them they really should be put apart.
Outsourced should be far higher up that list.
P&R at #1 where it belongs. I've had the discussion with friends over the past few months that I think P&R is funnier than Modern Family.
Only slightly, though.
Once you watch P&R, the jokes build on each other and things are hilarious without necessarily being a "joke." (DJ Rumba, the Bulge, etc.) Glad they are getting a fourth season.
wow solid ranking, this was a product of solid analysis of comedy = great taste for media art(tv in this case).... I think that ranking is very accurate. At least as close to accurate that "subjective critical analysis" of art can be. The only show I would move up 5 spots or more higher is Chuck/RJ berger. NBC gets made fun of for low ratings not lack of quality shows. After any in depth analysis of NBC's Thursday shows it would be hard to come up with a legitament argument that they are not among the best of the best. I usually don't like shows taking over and winning every year. Its fun to spread the wealth but sometimes a show is just so consistently brilliant it has to be honored until something surpasses it and believe 30 Rock has deserved all the emmy love. now we have the majorly improved parks/rec, along with community, and modern family are all right up there with 30 rock now so its getting harder for it to win this year and beyond. It is a grey area for the drama/comedy shows that is for sure. It just depends on what balence of each the show has. If its an even amount of comedy/drama then either category works I think. Their own category would work.
I love the top five except I'd jump Community to #1, possibly as a tie cuz I love Parks and Rec as well. It's the most daring and innovative comedy on TV and personally I love spoofs and homages when they're done right.(like Airplane! or Scary Movie)
I agree the Psych should be higher up, but in the 15-20 range. In its first 3 seasons it would've deserved a top 5-10 ranking but the past season was lackluster (same goes for Chuck)
Finally someone put Glee where it belongs in respect to true comedies. Half the time Glee serves as a setup for covers of popular songs and ITS NOT EVEN SHOW CHOIR. This is coming from a guy in the band for an actual show choir called New Dimensions (they were four letters from stealing our name)
I second Cl's comment. For being the funniest shows on TV, Parks and Rec and Community FTW!!