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With its plethora of TV shows and movie options, Netflix makes it difficult for the indecisive student to choose what to watch. That’s why the CUI investigated the archives of Netflix’s comedic TV category to find the best shows to fill your instant queue.
1. “The Addams Family“
Campy? Yes. Goofy? Definitely. Dated Humor? Maybe so. But that is what makes “The Addams Family” so entertaining. Despite its silliness, “The Addams Family” is more than a classic sitcom. The show uses dark comedy and recurring gags to question social norms at a time when social upheaval was happening around the world.
For a ’90s sitcom with a laugh track, “3rd Rock” is surprisingly clever. A team of undercover aliens is sent to study the ways of Earthlings, which they clearly don’t understand. The constant questioning of social norms provides an insight into our culture that most other shows don’t. The show’s subtle use of dramatic irony gives “3rd Rock” an edge over two-dimensional story lines. It also stars two Saturday Night Live alumni, John Lithgow and Jane Curtain, as well as a young Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
3. “30-Second Bunnies Theatre“
Alright, it’s time to come clean: this isn’t really a TV show. Each witty 30-second parody is shorter than most shows’ opening credits. But this concept is too good to not inform the public about. Squeaky-voiced bunnies act out classic and contemporary films, from Casablanca to Rocky to Twilight, in half a minute. Besides, every character is a bunny, even Darth Vader and King Kong.
4. “Blue Mountain State“
“Blue Mountain State” is what CU would be like if we had a winning football team. With a multitude of ladies, drugs and parties at their fingertips, the BMS football team gets into too much trouble to be bothered with class. Though the show isn’t consistently funny, the characters’ shenanigans will make your weekend look tame in comparison.
5. “The Hard Times of RJ Berger“
When word gets out that nerdy RJ Berger is, ahem, “well-hung,” instant popularity ensues. From this popularity, Berger runs into problems with girls, jocks and best friends. This coming-of-age comedy avoids being overly sappy with snappy dialogue and overtly awkward interactions.
6. “Home Movies“
Brendon Small, creator of Metalocalypse, plays his 8-year-old self in this understated animated comedy. Though the 2-D animation is crude at best, Small’s astute observations on adult social life are hilarious. Plus, H. Jon Benjamin (of Archer and Bob’s Burgers) stars as the dysfunctional soccer coach McGurk, and anything Benjamin touches turns to gold.
7. “The Kids in the Hall“
Produced by Saturday Night Live’s Lorne Michaels, “Kids in the Hall” is a late-night sketch comedy show led by five male comedians who mix monologues with parodies and impersonations. With vulgar topics and appearances in drag, “Kids in the Hall” is an entertaining replacement for the stagnant Saturday Night Live and Mad TV.
8. “Monty Python’s Flying Circus“
I hate to editorialize, but “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” is by far the best British sketch comedy show in existence. Consistently hilarious and silly, the men of Monty Python provide hours upon hours of witty and sarcastic skits with perfect comedic timing. There isn’t much more to say about Flying Circus; no review can properly do it justice.
9, “Peep Show“
“Peep Show” allows the audience to peek into the lives of roommates Mark and Jeremy. Switching between third-person and first-person camera views, “Peep Show” gives an unprecedented look into the bizarre minds of both characters. Mark’s uptight and nervous attitude and Jeremy’s disrespect for every rule make the men an unlikely pair, which naturally leads to hijinks regarding women, work and drugs.
10. “Rocko’s Modern Life“
Yes, Rocko is aimed at children. But like most 90s era Nickelodeon cartoons, there are plenty of jokes that probably went over your head as a kid. Its trippy animation and social satire proves that age-old adage that all things get better with time, and, in this case, maturity.
Contact Entertainment writer Avalon Jacka at avalon.jacka@colorado.edu.
