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What has made you laugh recently?
I'm most interested in entertainment/media of any form - movies, tv shows, youtubers, stand-ups, theatre, music, whatever.
Something that was really (truly) funny to you, not just "comedy genre".
If you find yourself laughing more actively at the world around you then feel free to mention that too, with context.
You can explain why it makes you laugh, too, if you like. Although more importantly please indicate how much you laughed at a particular thing.
Untitled Goose Game
Thank you for this. Apparently I had enough points on my Switch to get this for $2, this game looks incredible.
So far as media goes, I've recently been watching a lot of Reno 911! Between that and SNL's Weekend Update I've had a few good laughs. Typically, I'm a far too serious person but silly humor always gets me.
However, something pretty comical happened today. My boyfriend got bit on the d*** by a fire ant. We had been bug catching previously and went out for dinner. When we got home he felt something down there... then it bit him. So here we are, in front of the living room window, and he strips down frantically searching for the culprit. A fire ant. I haven't laughed so hard in months! It was one of those episodes where your sides start to hurt. Aw man, good times.
We started rewatching The Office, recently, and holy hell, it's somehow funnier than ever? Somehow, the anticipation is often as funny as the punchline and the better you know the characters going in, the better it works. Like, I found myself laughing out loud just reading the title of certain episodes. I'm having such a great time with that show!
The Improvised Star Trek podcast is one of the funniest podcasts I've ever come across, and their most recent episodes has them in top form. They're going to be wrapping up their run soon, but they have a pretty deep backlog to work their way through.
Sounds fun! Bookmarked.
My stray dog acting like a psychopath at a pure breed that responded like he was part of the British monarchy.
Nathan for You. If you haven't heard of it, I'll give you a brief synopsis. A business consultant who "graduated from one of Canada's top business schools with really good grades" films a documentary/reality TV-style show where he helps 1-2 struggling businesses per episode with unorthodox ideas and strategies. In one of my favorite episodes, he works with an import/export company to help them skirt tariff laws by rebranding smoke detectors as a musical instrument. Like most episodes, this quickly spirals out of control as Nathan doubles down on one harebrained idea with more harebrained ideas.
The businesses are real, and the people he enlists for help don't realize they're on a comedy show. Only Nathan and his crew know the full scheme, but the scheme is ever-changing based on how things unfold.
I showed this to my family last Christmas when we were all together and honestly did not expect the reaction it got. I knew it was gasping-for-air-funny but hadn't watched with anyone else before.
I had no idea, I assumed everything was scripted. That actually makes it funnier.
I just stumbled into it after browsing around on Hulu, and I was really blown away. I think part of the reason I really like it is because it's such a perfect parody of the shows like it from the early '00s. It makes me think of the original Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares, or Hotel Hell. A varation on this line comes up at least once per episode...
...and I practically fall off the couch laughing every time.
My god, Nathan for You is brilliant! I kinda want more shows like that in my life but wouldn't even know how to describe it (like, not literally ironic reality shows about helping struggling business owners, just the general vibes and level of weirdness). It's so unique.
there’s a bit at the beginning of Rihanna’s Savage x Fenty show on Netflix where Migos comes out and performs in this shallow little pool and I swear it’s the funniest shit EVER. They’re just rapping, doing their thing and dancing around this small pool and their ankles and shoes are getting visibly wet. There’s this one shot of the three of them, just their feet actually doing this little two-step jig in unison, just splashing and getting water all over and... for some reason it just had me dying lmao. It was lame but somehow endearing at the same time? Hahahaha it was funny asf.
I just recently discovered Devo and i find their music to be very fun, it is extremely sarcastic and irreverent but still thoughtful. I've specifically been listening to Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!
Make sure to watch their music videos as well, they're as wonderful and weird as the songs themselves.
If you're not familiar with them, I'd also recommend Talking Heads from the same general genre of "80s wacky synth-pop".
Weird coincidence, which also made me laugh - Mark Mothersbaugh recently bought the book The Beginning Was The End from me on eBay.
I've never even listened to Devo, only became aware after my wife (who is a fan) noticed the name on the shipping address and connected the dots. Supposedly Devo based a lot of their lyrics/music concepts around this book.
Controversial? Yep.
Pseudoscientific? Oh yeah.
Author altered the shape of his skull to imitate ancient Incan trepanation? Also yes.
I'm a longtime Devo fan and I love their stuff. If you haven't seen it, they have a great cameo on Futurama.
Finally got around to watching The Good Place and have been finding myself laughing out loud frequently. I'm only through the first season so far but this show is so funny and original. Trying to catch up in time to watch some of the final season week to week.
Also, The Righteous Gemstones. I missed a few weeks so I got to watch three episodes back to back last night and could not stop laughing. Danny McBride and crew have been consistently pumping out some of the greatest TV comedy for years. Looking forward to the finale next week.
I stumbled on this Youtube sketch crew yesterday and this bit had me cracking up.
The best thing about it is that these jokes are extremely well trod ground. It takes some real talent with comedic delivery to make jokes based on such a stale premise still feel funny.
I have been obsessed with Succession lately and rewatched the entire series (so far) last week while I was off work for a holiday. Succession is made by Jesse Armstrong who has produced a few great comedies, including my personal favorite, Peep Show. Every episode of Succession has multiple lines that are so quick and funny you might miss them during the first viewing. It isn't crack-up, I-can-hardly-breathe laughter like you'd get from a Peep Show or Veep, but it does make me laugh out loud a few times per episode.
The Doughboys Podcast has yet to leave me without at least one good belly-laugh per episode.
Comedy Bang Bang can be a bit more hit-or-miss depending on the improvisers they have on, but when it's on it's on. My favorite kind of comedy is improvised bits that everyone contributes to and builds up along the way, specifically in this "conversation" format.
Most of these are radio comedy programmes. They're sometimes available legally on the BBC radio on demand service BBC Sounds (or the BBC website). Some of them are available to buy. They might also be on Youtube.
Overheard: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe6tlj35A_tcx4GFaH70kIxwNW1_-1vVt
I love The Pin (radio sketch show) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07b3rsr but I'm linking this youtube show because it's more accessible.
The Unbelievable Truth:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b050zy41
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Unbelievable_Truth_(radio_show)
This is a radio panel show where people have to speak about a subject. Almost everything they say is false, but they have to sneak 5 facts in. The other contestants need to spot the truths. They get a point for spotting a truth, they lose a point for mistaking a lie for a truth. I have every episode downloaded (many of them are available on torrent sites) and I enjoy listening to them, and I still find them genuinely funny.
John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01mk97n
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Finnemore%27s_Souvenir_Programme
Another radio sketch show. I love this because there are no targets here, everyone comes out better. It's lovely comedy, and it's very funny.
Cabin Pressure:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00lmcxj
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabin_Pressure_(radio_series)
This is a radio sitcom about a tiny airline - 2 pilots, one cabin crew, and the owner. It's written by John Finnemore with a solid cast. Over the whole show you get a lot of character development. The characters feel stable and they behave in ways that are true to the character. It's charming and lovely and, again, very funny.
Bleak Expectations:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00cwgs6
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bleak_Expectations
A Dickens pastiche. I find it very funny, and it's got a great cast. I particularly enjoy the inventions described at the beginning of each episode. Here's one example: https://youtu.be/u4wDh4Xt_ug?t=95
Bigipedia
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b012kpvx
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bigipedia
Reviews of Bigipedia often miss the point. You have to listen to all of it, because as well as the nonsense wikipedia entries there's a dark recurring theme. Here's one clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlR_aiY6nyU and another https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KK68RAK0VE&list=PL5CDBF659ADC68D06&index=2
I can bang on about British radio comedy for hours. These are my favourites but there are loads more.