In the realm of sketch comedy, where absurdity meets satire and slapstick, the best shows have left an indelible mark on audiences and the industry alike. From the iconic 'Saturday Night Live' to the cult favorite 'Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!', these series have not only entertained but also pushed the boundaries of what sketch comedy can be. Each show on this list brings something unique to the table, whether it's the surrealism of 'The Kids in the Hall', the political satire of 'The Whitest Kids U' Know', or the diverse perspectives of 'A Black Lady Sketch Show'.
However, amidst the laughter and the memorable sketches, there's a deeper question to consider: what makes a sketch comedy show truly great? Is it the talent behind the camera, the writing, or the ability to capture the zeitgeist? In my opinion, it's a combination of all these elements, but also something more intangible. It's the ability to make you laugh, to make you think, and to make you feel something, even if it's just a fleeting moment of joy.
So, let's dive into the world of sketch comedy and explore the best shows that have ever aired. From the iconic 'Saturday Night Live' to the cult favorite 'Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!', these series have not only entertained but also pushed the boundaries of what sketch comedy can be.
- Saturday Night Live
As great as the other sketch comedy TV shows on this list are, no show deserves the #1 spot more than 'Saturday Night Live'. For over 50 years, 'SNL' has taken the brightest up-and-coming American and Canadian comedians out of theaters like The Second City, Groundlings, and Upright Citizens Brigade and broadcast them into everybody's living rooms. It's been over 1,000 episodes now, introducing the comedy world to the likes of Gilda Radner, Eddie Murphy, Mike Myers, Molly Shannon, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Andy Samberg, Kate McKinnon, and, more recently, Marcello Hernandez and Ashley Padilla. The list of indelible stars who've emerged thanks to 'SNL' is, frankly, extensive.
- Mr. Show w/ Bob & David
Ask any comedian what shows inspired them to pursue sketch comedy, and more often than not, you'll probably hear 'Mr. Show' cited as a major influence. The HBO series was co-created by and starred Bob Odenkirk and David Cross, and employed a wide variety of future comedy legends, including Tom Kenny, Scott Aukerman, Sarah Silverman, Jack Black, and Jill Talley. Among the best aspects of 'Mr. Show' is how each sketch seamlessly transitions into the next, intrinsically tying together some of the smartest sketch writing ever aired on television.
- Monty Python's Flying Circus
The British comedians known as Monty Python are among the most influential comedic minds that have ever lived, mostly thanks to their BBC series 'Monty Python's Flying Circus', which ran from 1969 to 1974. The group consisted of John Cleese, Eric Idle, Michael Palin, Graham Chapman, Terry Jones, and Terry Gilliam, all of whom starred in the television series that predated their better-known film work with 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail'.
- Key & Peele
After meeting as cast members on 'MADtv', Keegan Michael-Key and Jordan Peele started their own sketch comedy series, 'Key & Peele', which has since become one of the best Comedy Central shows of all time. Despite having clear inspiration format-wise from 'Chappelle's Show', 'Key & Peele' quickly carved out its own niche with sketches that parodied Black characters in pop culture, movie tropes, and African-American history. Plenty of sketches even tread into horror territory, foreshadowing Peele's shift to filmmaking, with examples including 'Aggressive Telemarketer', 'Baby Forest Whitaker', and 'Weird Playlist'.
- I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson
If you're a fan of sketch comedy, chances are there are at least five sketches from 'I Think You Should Leave' that you quote daily. Although Tim Robinson's time on 'SNL' as a cast member and writer wasn't exactly a star-making turn, 'I Think You Should Leave' has turned him into comedy's newest savior, providing three seasons (so far) of sketches focused on characters refusing to admit they're wrong, desperately trying to look cool in front of others, and skirting responsibility. Its recurring cast also includes co-creator Zach Kanin, Robinson's former 'Detroiters' co-star Sam Richardson, comedians Patti Harrison and Connor O'Malley, and 'SNL' compatriots like Will Forte and Vanessa Bayer.
- Second City Television (SCTV)
The Second City theaters in Chicago and Toronto were a breeding ground for many future stars of 'Saturday Night Live', but 'Second City Television', or 'SCTV', was the sketch comedy series featuring those Toronto-based players who hadn't transitioned to 30 Rock. Among that small-but-pivotal cast were John Candy, Catherine O'Hara, Eugene Levy, Martin Short, Andrea Martin, and Rick Moranis, all of whom would go on to become massive comedy stars in both film and television.
- The Muppet Show
It simply doesn't get more 'showbiz' than the Muppets, who had been television staples for over a decade before Jim Henson's 'The Muppet Show' premiered. The variety comedy series ran from 1976 to 1981, with puppets primarily voiced by Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, and Fran Brill, among others. Hosted by Kermit the Frog and his cavalcade of felted friends struggling to keep the show on the air, 'The Muppet Show' included sketch comedy, musical performances, parody, and other variety segments hosted by various cast members, often with celebrity guest stars ranging from up-and-coming stars to Hollywood royalty.
- Chappelle's Show
Although Dave Chappelle's name is synonymous with controversy these days, it can't be denied how influential and massive 'Chappelle's Show' was during its heyday. Co-created with Neal Brennan, 'Chappelle's Show' focused primarily on social satire and character pieces starring the titular comedian, with a recurring cast that included comedians like Paul Mooney and Bill Burr. However, Chappelle is always front and center with now-iconic characters like drug addict Tyrone Biggums, blind racist Clayton Bigsby, and professional hater Silky Johnson.
- A Black Lady Sketch Show
In recent years, it's been tough for a brand-new sketch comedy show to emerge and capture the attention of audiences. However, one of the few exceptions to this rule is HBO's 'A Black Lady Sketch Show', a highly acclaimed sketch program that premiered in 2019, filling a much-needed void in sketch comedy television for more diversity, especially of women of color. The main cast included Robin Thede, Ashley Nicole Black, Gabrielle Dennis, and Skye Townsend, with future 'Abbott Elementary' creator and star Quinta Brunson in the cast for the first season.
- The Whitest Kids U' Know
'The Whitest Kids U' Know' may have been incredibly niche during its run from 2007 to 2011, but especially in today's climate, its comedy feels ahead of its time. The group, formed in the early 2000s in New York City, included Sam Brown, Darren Trumeter, Timmy Williams, Zach Cregger, and Trevor Moore, the latter of whom was arguably the breakout star, especially in solo pieces like 'It's Illegal to Say' and 'Trevor Talks to Kids'.
- The Kids in the Hall
Canadian sketch comedy troupe The Kids in the Hall (consisting of Dave Foley, Kevin McDonald, Mark McKinney, Scott Thompson, and Bruce McCulloch) was together on and off in the 1980s before Lorne Michaels saw them perform and quickly had their own sketch series greenlit. 'The Kids in the Hall' premiered on HBO in the U.S. and CBC Television in Canada, airing for five seasons between 1989 and 1995, before returning for a sixth on Amazon Prime Video in 2022.
- In Living Color
It's surprising, in hindsight, that a show like 'In Living Color', with a star-studded cast and strong ratings, didn't last longer than five seasons. However, behind-the-scenes turmoil ultimately led to the cancellation of the Fox series, which premiered in 1990 and broke new ground as a sketch comedy show with a predominantly African-American cast, featuring the entire Wayans family, who would later go on to star in the 'Scary Movie' franchise.
- Upright Citizens Brigade
These days, Upright Citizens Brigade is regarded as one of the more influential modern comedy institutions, but its humble beginnings were as an improv and sketch group founded by Matt Walsh, Amy Poehler, Matt Besser, and Ian Roberts. Beyond turning UCB into a physical theater and training center, those four comedians starred in a short-lived Comedy Central sketch series, 'Upright Citizens Brigade', which feels like a window into their work before the more well-known projects involving all of them.
- MADtv
'MADtv' always had the reputation of being the weaker competitor to 'Saturday Night Live', but it still deserves credit for being the show's most well-known competition. In its original incarnation, 'MADtv' ran for 15 seasons from 1995 to 2009 on Fox, and differed from 'SNL' in being edgier, more diverse, and more popular among middle-American audiences. Take, for instance, the incisive satirical sketch 'iRack', which parodied Apple products and America's involvement in the Middle East, or the heavily censored version of 'The Sopranos' made for network TV audiences.
- Portlandia
Even though Fred Armisen excelled during his years on 'Saturday Night Live', watching 'Portlandia' feels like digging far deeper into the comedian's brain than a mainstream sketch comedy show could provide. With Sleater-Kinney's Carrie Brownstein, 'Portlandia' is a sketch series set entirely in Portland, Oregon, examining the eclectic townspeople encountered by a fictionalized Fred and Carrie. There's the eccentric and quirky Bryce and Lisa, whose business ad 'Put A Bird On It!' is a highlight of the show's first season, second-wave feminists Candace and Toni, and aggressive hipsters Spyke and Iris.
