40 Greatest Sketch-Comedy TV Shows of All Time
Rolling Stone
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- CreatorGraham ChapmanEric IdleTerry JonesStarsGraham ChapmanJohn CleeseTerry GilliamThe original surreal sketch comedy showcase for the Monty Python troupe.
- CreatorLorne MichaelsStarsThe Saturday Night Live BandDon PardoDarrell HammondA famous guest host stars in parodies and sketches created by the cast of this witty show.
- CreatorDavid CrossBob OdenkirkStarsBob OdenkirkDavid CrossJohn EnnisThis is a sketch-comedy show. The twist here is that all of the sketches (even the monologue) are connected in some strange way.
- CreatorNeal BrennanDave ChappelleStarsDave ChappelleDonnell RawlingsRudy RushComedian Dave Chappelle hosts this sketch-comedy show that parodies many of the nuances of race and culture.
- CreatorKeegan-Michael KeyJordan PeeleStarsKeegan-Michael KeyJordan PeeleMetta World PeaceProject sees Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele in front of a live studio audience bantering about a topic weaved between filmed shorts and sketches.
- CreatorSylvester L. Weaver Jr.StarsSid CaesarImogene CocaFelisa VanoffBest remembered by its posterior title, Your Show of Shows, this live variety show included comedy sketches with TV pioneers Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca.
- StarsCarol BurnettVicki LawrenceThe Ernie Flatt DancersTelevision show featuring skits by Carol Burnett and her comedy troupe.
- StarsDavid FoleyBruce McCullochKevin McDonaldThe TV series of the Canadian sketch comedy troupe that, more often than not, puts bizarre, unique, and insane twists in their skits.
- CreatorKeenen Ivory WayansStarsKeenen Ivory WayansJim CarreyKelly Coffield ParkThe Wayans siblings present an African-American focused sketch comedy show.
- CreatorJim HensonJack BurnsStarsJim HensonFrank OzRichard HuntKermit the Frog and his fellow Muppets put on a vaudeville show at their theatre, bringing in a famous celebrity to help out for each episode.
- CreatorDigby WolfeStarsDan RowanDick MartinGary OwensThe original rapid fire sketch comedy show.
- StarsStephen FryHugh LaurieDeborah NortonComedians Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie perform a variety of comedy skits and the occasional musical number.
- CreatorAndrew AlexanderBernard SahlinsStarsJoe FlahertyEugene LevyAndrea MartinThe staff of Melonville's TV station put on programming that is unique in its own silly way.
- StarsRichard PryorRobin WilliamsEdie McClurgAn American comedy series hosted by comedian Richard Pryor
- StarsTom SmothersDick SmothersPat PaulsenThe Smothers Brothers host a comedy variety show that became notorious for its topical satirical humor.
- CreatorKevin AllisonJonathan K. BendisMichael Ian BlackStarsKevin AllisonMichael Ian BlackRobert Ben GarantEach episode contains 30 minutes of extremely bizarre and funny sketch comedy performed by THE STATE, an 11 member sketch comedy troupe who wrote and starred in various sketches seen throughout the program.
- CreatorDana CarveyRobert SmigelStarsDana CarveySteve CarellBill ChottRiffs on pop culture, politics and even the show's own sponsors.
- StarsErnie KovacsEdie AdamsPat WhiteAn American comedy show, hosted by comedian Ernie Kovacs who often changed the show's format during its run. It was variously retooled as a daytime show, prime-time show, late-night show, and talk show. The show was originally created for Philadelphia's television market, but was then broadcast nationally.
- CreatorJudd ApatowJeff KahnBen StillerStarsBen StillerAndy DickJaneane GarofaloThis comedy/variety show specialized in parodies of movies and television shows and commercials. Often, they would also have a special guest (e.g., a TV actor) join them.
- StarsLes LyeAbby HagyardChristine McGladeSketch TV by young amateur actors in true classic Nick-style. But whatever you do, never admit that you don't know or ask for water.
- CreatorMatt BesserAmy PoehlerIan RobertsStarsMatt BesserAmy PoehlerIan RobertsAgents Adair, Antoine, Colby, and Trotter both monitor and create chaos across the universe.
- CreatorFred ArmisenCarrie BrownsteinJonathan KriselStarsFred ArmisenCarrie BrownsteinKyle MacLachlanA sketch-comedy series that parodies life in Portland, Oregon.
- StarsPaul WhitehouseCharlie HigsonArabella WeirUK comedy sketch show depicting most forms of stereotypical British society.
- StarsRowan AtkinsonMel SmithPamela StephensonBritish sketch comedy starring the likes of Rowan Atkinson and Mel Smith.
- CreatorJerry BelsonJames L. BrooksKen EstinStarsTracey UllmanDan CastellanetaSam McMurrayTracey Ullman hosts a variety show containing sketches, song-and-dance routines, and The Simpsons.
- CreatorTim HeideckerEric WareheimStarsTim HeideckerEric WareheimBob OdenkirkTwo comedians, average nobodies, and celebrity guest stars perform bizarre low-budget comedy sketches.
- CreatorDaniel PowellAmy SchumerStarsAmy SchumerKevin KaneKyle DunniganAmy Schumer switches from sketches to doing stand-up to interviewing people on the street and people of interest, usually following a certain theme.
- StarsDawn FrenchJennifer SaundersSimon BrintComedy duo Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders satirically present aspects of British life, films such as Batman Forever and Pulp Fiction.
- StarsChristopher MorrisSteve CooganPatrick MarberA spoof of the British style of news broadcasting - including ridiculous stories, patronising vox pops, offensively hard-hitting research and a sports presenter clearly struggling for metaphors.
- CreatorFax BahrAdam SmallStarsMichael McDonaldDebra WilsonAries SpearsA sketch comedy show based on the seminal Mad Magazine.
- CreatorStephen ColbertPaul DinelloMitch RouseStarsAmy SedarisStephen ColbertMitch Rouse30 minute sketch comedy featuring Stephen Colbert that aired on Comedy Central in 1995.
- CreatorJudd ApatowWill FerrellAdam McKayStarsSteve TomRob HuebelChristine Scott BennettA series of comedy sketches brought to you by the people at "Funny or Die."
- StarsAndy DickPaul HendersonLacy LivingstonComedian Andy Dick stars in this MTV sketch comedy series that features his unique brand of humor.
- StarsAlex WinterLee ArenbergDanny CookseyMTV sketch comedy show.
- CreatorMatt LucasDavid WalliamsStarsMatt LucasDavid WalliamsTom BakerMatt Lucas and David Walliams, the creators of this character-comedy sketch show, delight in all that is mad, bad, quirky and generally bonkers about the people and places of Britain.
- CreatorDan SchneiderStarsAmanda BynesDrake BellNancy SullivanA comedy sketch show centered around All That (1994) alum Amanda Bynes.
- CreatorAziz AnsariTom GianasRob HuebelStarsAziz AnsariRob HuebelPaul ScheerA half-hour show of edgy short films.
- CreatorBill LeeJohn MoffittStarsJack BurnsBrandis KempMark BlankfieldLive late-night comedy sketch show similar to "Saturday Night Live."
- StarsMark GatissSteve PembertonReece ShearsmithAn interweaving narrative chronicling the antics of such diverse characters as: a transgender taxi driver, a family obsessed with hygiene and toads, a fiery reverend, a carnival owner who kidnaps women into marriage, and a xenophobic couple who run a local shop for local people.