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.
10’American Vandal' (2017–2018)
Created by Dan Perrault and Tony Yacenda
A hysterical and ceaselessly brilliant skewering of the true crime phenomenon that has erupted in recent years,American Vandalis 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 Vandalsoars as an all-consuming satiricalmasterpiece. It conjures surprisingly engrossing central mysteries whileoffering considered queries on the exploitative state of today’s entertainment and engaging with notions of social mediaand 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.
American Vandal
9’Rick and Morty' (2013–)
Created by Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon
There is a peculiarity to the intelligence and genius ofRick 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 ofRick and Mortyresides 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.
Rick and Morty
8’Mr. Bean' (1990)
Created by Rowan Atkinson and Richard Curtis
There is so much aboutMr. Beanthat 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, theoffbeat British sitcom remainsone of the most well-known titles in comedy television. The series simply followsRowan 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, whileAtkinson’s mastery of physical humor and visual gags has made the character truly universal. Many would be quick to suggest thatMr. 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–)
Created by Rob McElhenney
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 Philadelphiadid 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 across 16 seasons(and counting), 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.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
6’All in the Family' (1971–1979)
Developed by Norman Lear
If modern audiences were to revisit the iconic 70s sitcomAll 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 togreat discussion points and observations about issues such as discrimination, gentrification, and the impact of the Vietnam Waron American society. Its formula of laughs and enlightenment has been adopted by countless sitcoms since, makingAll in the Familynot only a stroke of writing genius, but one of themost influential series of all timeas well.
All In The Family
5’Archer' (2009–2023)
Created by Adam Reed
A defining title in the rampant popularity ofadult animation throughout the 2010s,Archeris an absurd parody of the spy thrillers of yesteryear that lampoons the genre’s more superfluous trademarks while imbuing its story with surprising nuance and pathos. Set primarily during the Cold War era, it follows the zany operatives of an American intelligence agency as they conduct various missions, with the alcoholic, womanizing, and narcissistic master spy Sterling Archer (H. Jon Benjamin) being the core focus.
While it is renowned for its most outlandish and juvenile traits,Archertruly stays with audiences forits remarkably clever conceptualization, its razor-sharp writing, and its ability to skewer spy cinema’s most anachronistic aspectswhile still incorporating them into the story with substance and meaning. It mixes scorching social satire and rapid-fire dialogue with the endless possibilities of its animation style to make for an engrossing and thought-provoking laugh-out-loud series that proves utter ridiculousness and layered genius don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
4’The Inbetweeners' (2008–2010)
Created by Damon Beesley and Iain Morris
Crude, often repulsive, and always painfully accurate,The Inbetweenersis an agonizing encapsulation of adolescent experiences that everyone has been through, and many would prefer to forget. The British sitcom follows teenager Will McKenzie (Simon Bird) as he transitions to a public high school where he befriends three irreverent and largely unpopular students. Together, the quartet launch pitiful attempts to enhance their reputation with their peers and fulfill their sexual desires with the girls that they know, pursuits that almost always result in failure and hilarity.
The genius ofThe Inbetweenersresides in its authenticity. The fact that every single one ofits most hysterical jokes brings with it not only uproarious laughter, but a stinging, shameful tinge of humiliation as well, is a testament to the precision and perfection of the writing and the performances. It handles all the minutiae of male teenage tribulation with both heart and honesty, ensuring that every vulgar punchline is not merely smut, but a profound cultural skewering of shared experiences that are as fun as they arecringeworthy to see brought to the screen.
The Inbetweeners
3’The Simpsons' (1989–)
Created by Matt Groening
A towering icon of small-screen entertainment,The Simpsonshas carved out a unique niche in the landscape of comedy television with its irreverence, its use of slapstick humor, and its animated fun. These are traits that ensure the series, at first glance at least, may appear as mere child’s play, but underneath its colorful veneer of silliness residesa profound reservoir of razor-sharp social commentary that is relentless in its endeavor to satirizeevery element of modern American society.
Over the course of its 36-year history,The Simpsonshas become ingrained in the fabric of Western society as it follows the misadventures of the residents of Springfield, placing a particular emphasis on the working-class Simpson household. In addition to its sensational social commentary, the hit series also flaunts its genius through the immediacy and legacy of its most impressionable characters, with Homer, Bart, Lisa, and Marge all defining icons of American entertainment in recent decades.
The Simpsons
2’Seinfeld' (1989–1998)
Created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld
Famously dubbed a show about nothing,Seinfeldsimply follows comedianJerry Seinfeldand his friends as they navigate life in New York City, with episodes covering everything from romantic mishaps to the most trivial concerns. The series is arguablythe defining icon of 1990s television, and while its fixation on unimportant and innocuous facets of daily life has certainly struck some viewers as menial, there is no denying the observational excellence of the series’ writing and delivery.
The true genius ofSeinfeldpresents itself in the engulfing emphasis of its most ridiculous debacles, be it the neurotic and live-wired George Costanza (Jason Alexander) being confronted over his double-dipping antics or the simplicity of the group waiting for their table at a Chinese restaurant. It is unlike any other series,a tantalizing tapestry of human behavior and humor that is brought vividly to lifeby the eccentricity of even its one-off characters and the exuberance of the actors behind them.
1’South Park' (1997–)
Created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone
If someone was to derideSouth Parkas being an egregiously crude and overly explicit comedy series, then it would technically be hard to argue. However, the criticism would be a complete oversight of the show’ssustained magnificence as a scorching and unflinching satire that has always had its grasp firmly fixated on the pulse of modern America. Its 26 seasons follow the residents of the Colorado town of South Park, namely four young boys whose maniacal misadventures see them combat everything from celebrity personalities to supernatural beings.
With each episode of the series being produced in the week leading up to its premiere, the creators have the unique ability to comment on trending topics when they are at their peak. As such, the show has developed a reputation for pushing the boundaries of acceptable television—and has even overstepped the line,with severalSouth Parkepisodes being banned. Many may regard this appetite for controversy as a sign of flagrant obscenity and thoughtless political incorrectness, but the series has always used its absurdity to bring new insights to its thematic focuses with remarkable contemplation and, usually, a prophetic sensibility that avoids becoming emotionally invested in the issues it examines.
South Park
NEXT:The Best Comedy TV Shows of All Time, Ranked According to IMDb
