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There is a very fine line between the moronically mundane and the mindfully magnificent, between the momentary appeal of nonsensical silliness and the enduring legacy of excellence. Some of the most brilliant television series ever released have toed this line with astonishing skill, presenting thought-provoking observations on contemporary society beneath a foolhardy façade of unassuming asininity.
Ranging from vulgar teenage comedies to the awe-inspiring absurdity of adult animation, and even to the underrated impact and influence of some of the boldest family sitcoms the medium has ever seen, each of these 10 series has a depth and a genius to them that many overlook on first viewing. Slapstick silliness and smut may abound in these shows, but audiences shouldn’t think that is all they offer.
15
‘The Office’ (2005–2013)
Based on the UK series of the same name, and even emulating its mockumentary format, The Office excels as an absurd distortion of workplace chaos as it immerses viewers in the Scranton branch of a paper supply company. Under the management of the well-meaning but often offensive and misguided Michael Scott (Steve Carell), the employees balance their time between going about their work and embarking on numerous misadventures that lead to all kinds of calamity.
Its gleeful, energized delight goes hand-in-hand with its frenetic lunacy, but the true masterstroke of The Office—and the quality that distinguishes it from Ricky Gervais’s British predecessor—is its underlying sense of heart. The silliness is grounded in emotional realism, making the characters more than just walking punch-lines or shallow caricatures, but nuanced and deeply relatable spins on stereotypical workplace personalities. Its infectious goofiness works in tandem with its heartfelt warmth to make for the ultimate comfort comedy, one that is still enjoyed and rewatched by the masses well over a decade on from its conclusion.
14
‘Trailer Park Boys’ (2001–2026)
Another hit series that soared with its mockumentary format, Trailer Park Boys is an unrestrained descent into absurdist brilliance anchored by strong and unforgettable characterizations. The comedic Canadian TV series follows the mania and hilarity that ensues when three ex-cons start living together in a trailer park. The trio embark on all manner of mischievous misadventures while struggling to adjust to their new lifestyle.
It leans heavily on inspired depravity, pairing the lowbrow obscenity and criminal instincts of the characters with a sneakily sweet air of loyalty, community, support, and brotherhood. It doesn’t invest in these qualities to the point of becoming soppy or sentimental, but the presence of the three men’s sincere connection allows for their antics to boast a sense of good-natured chaos, even if the results of their labor are typically disastrous.
13
‘Futurama’ (1999–Present)
A series that is perhaps undervalued in the wheelhouse of animated comedy, Futurama was dismissed by many as being a sci-fi knockoff of The Simpsons due to its similar animation style and comedic tastes, and the creative in-put of Matt Groening and David X. Cohen. However, its ability to combine lowbrow crassness with advanced scientific concepts, refined philosophical points, and a litany of memorable and beloved characters is testament enough to its genius.
Fry (Billy West) is a pizza delivery boy from 1999 who ends up 1000 years in the future when he accidentally places himself in a cryosleep chamber. Awakening at the dawn of the 31st century, Fry finds work for an interplanetary delivery company and enjoys a series of wacky adventures with his colleagues. The series’ ability to embark on feverishly absurd tangents and include ridiculous gags without sacrificing narrative quality is one of its defining strengths, as is its gradual character arcs and melancholic themes that ground the series in emotional earnestness and prevent the zany humor from feeling hollow.
12
‘Monty Python’s Flying Circus’ (1969–1974)
There are few in the history of film and television who have perfected the nature of stupid comedy quite like Monty Python. The British troupe is fondly remembered for their work in comedy cinema, with enduring classics like Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Monty Python’s Life of Brian. However, before those pictures came to be, they first ingratiated themselves to British audiences with their sketch comedy series, Monty Python’s Flying Circus.
Through short and snappy skits, Monty Python’s appetite for sheer ridiculousness is even more profound than it is in their movies, with everything from crude innuendo to sight gags, animated chaos, deadpan absurdist satire, and even abrupt outbursts of musical mayhem being used to conjure laughs. Beneath its frenzied chaos, however, the sketch comedy series makes pointed and surprisingly timeless observations on the idiosyncrasies of British life, the nature of class, and the perplexing lunacy of social norms. Its four-season run is a treat of comic purity that features everything from lowbrow smut to intelligent philosophical musings.
11
‘Bob’s Burgers’ (2011–Present)
Even more so than many other animated comedy series, Bob’s Burgers leans heavily into the appeal of stupidity as it follows third-generation restaurateur Bob Belcher (H. Jon Benjamin) as he manages his struggling burger shop with help from his uptight wife and their three underachieving children. However, the series never stoops to mean-spirited satire to conjure laughs, actively subverting the “disaster family” sitcom formula as it explores a loving and wholesome blue-collar family dynamic.
Aided by its brilliant conversational nature, a byproduct of the cast recording their lines together and allowing for organic improvisation and overlapping dialogue, Bob’s Burgers finds its comedic heart in the art of witty wordplay and the relatability of fluid family bickering. The absurd brilliance of the animated sight gags only adds to this intriguing and warm-hearted dimension, making Bob’s Burgers one of the most resonant and charming animated sitcoms television has to offer.
10
‘American Vandal’ (2017–2018)
A hysterical and ceaselessly brilliant skewering of the true crime phenomenon that has erupted in recent years, American Vandal is a delightful blending of parody and potty humor. It follows two high school students as they investigate pranks carried out by their peers to determine who was truly behind them. Season 1 sees them looking into a case where 27 faculty cars were vandalized with phallic imagery, while Season 2 revolves around a mystery concerning contaminated cafeteria lemonade in a Catholic school.
Despite the juvenile nature of its premise, American Vandal soars as an all-consuming satirical masterpiece. It conjures surprisingly engrossing central mysteries while offering considered queries on the exploitative state of today’s entertainment and engaging with notions of social media and the modern teenage experience with authenticity and intelligence. In this regard, it uses its license for obscenity and absurdity fantastically, making for a profound and piercing parody that is as confident and assured in making penis jokes as it is illuminating essential issues in modern society.
9
‘Rick and Morty’ (2013–Present)
There is a peculiarity to the intelligence and genius of Rick and Morty. On one hand, anyone obsessively dictating to you that it is smart only proves that it has an appeal to stupid people. On the other hand, there is an inspired brilliance to its comedy that has to be respected. The animated series marries cartoonish absurdity and sci-fi intricacy as it follows the many misadventures of a depressed, eccentric, and alcoholic mad scientist and his naïve and kind-hearted young grandson.
The magnificence of Rick and Morty resides in how seamlessly it juggles its many different comedy styles, tones, and ideas. Many of its most well-known gags are examples of unadulterated lunacy and low-brow humor, and yet there is a philosophical might to the series that has a certain knack for blindsiding viewers amid all the tomfoolery. Its grasp on complex scientific theories and its extensive mockery of pop culture are also factors that serve as a testament to the series’ excellence and perhaps overlooked intelligence.
8
‘Mr. Bean’ (1990–1995)
There is so much about Mr. Bean that feels like it offers a momentary chuckle, only to be instantly forgotten and never thought of again. And yet, despite the fact that the series consists of just 15 episodes across one season, which was released 30 years ago, the offbeat British sitcom remains one of the most well-known titles in comedy television. The series simply follows Rowan Atkinson’s eponymous character in his daily misadventures as his unusual wit and his peculiar perspective of the world always conspire to get him in awkward situations.
There is a certain simplicity to the idea that is timeless, while Atkinson’s mastery of physical humor and visual gags has made the character truly universal. Many would be quick to suggest that Mr. Bean’s childlike naivety and slapstick silliness are what makes it stupid, but these qualities imbue the series with the ability to appeal to absolutely anyone in the world, while also making Bean himself a surprisingly endearing and sympathetic character despite his muteness and absurdity.
7
‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’ (2005–Present)
In any form of narrative writing, it is seldom advised that one make all their main characters as despicable, unlikable, and irredeemable as is humanly possible. Somehow, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia did exactly this and struck comedy gold, and that is not something that can be accomplished by accident. The irreverent sitcom follows five toxic and completely immoral friends in their efforts to manage a decrepit Irish bar in Philadelphia, with the group being led on many manic and monstrous misadventures in the process.
Profound, nihilistic, and always finding new ways to shock fans with its characters’ depravity, the hit series has thrived with its exceptional comedy performances and writing. Perhaps the greatest testament to its genius, however, has been its longevity, with the series’ consistent excellence highlighting that it doesn’t entertain with mere shock value, but through its unbridled creativity and its ceaseless sense of dare to push the boundaries of what society will deem to be acceptable.
6
‘All in the Family’ (1971–1979)
If modern audiences were to revisit the iconic 70s sitcom All in the Family, the chances are they would consider it funny, but ultimately outdated and completely out of taste. After all, the brash and insensitive style that marked the comedy of that era has become archaic. However, what viewers of today perhaps wouldn’t initially understand is how pioneering the series was, with it being the first sitcom to actively address trending social issues in a manner that is both insightful and fun.
It follows the Queens-based Bunker family as they navigate the trials of working-class life with Archie Bunker’s (Carroll O’Connor) prejudiced and narrow-minded views often clashing with the perspectives of his wife and children. All in the Family’s boof-headed veneer often gives way to great discussion points and observations about issues such as discrimination, gentrification, and the impact of the Vietnam War on American society. Its formula of laughs and enlightenment has been adopted by countless sitcoms since, making All in the Family not only a stroke of writing genius, but one of the most influential series of all time as well.
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Ryan Heffernan
Almontather Rassoul
