It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

It seems like all of the very best comedies on television are underrated these days. They are on these obscure channels, that are the sister channel, of the sister channel of a major network. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, the best comedy on TV, is on FXX. Even FX was too mainstream for them! Fox had to create an entirely new channel with an extra “X” on it just for them! All of the comedies in my Top 5 TV Comedies article that I wrote last December can be included on this list too, and in fact, I could have easily titled that article, “Top 5 Underrated TV Comedies,” as well. So, for this article, I had to dig even deeper. Here are the Top 5 Even More Underrated TV Comedies:

1) Maron – Bet you don’t know what channel number IFC is on without looking? But that is where you will find Marc Maron’s brilliant show, Maron. The show takes all of Maron’s signature neuroticism, anger, and insecurities, and packages it in a style similar to Curb Your Enthusiasm. There are even a few wisdom bombs dropped in here and there. Season 4 premieres on May 4, and I highly recommend giving this show a shot.

2) Grace and Frankie – Netflix might be easy to find, but you will have to pay an extra $9.99/month to get it. It is worth it, as they are starting to cultivate some of the very best comedies on TV, and Grace and Frankie might be the best of them all. And the most underrated. You wouldn’t think a show about four senior citizens would be in my wheelhouse, but funny is funny, and this show is funny. The material is all very new and fresh, and the acting is nothing short of outstanding. Season 2 premieres on May 6.

3) Episodes – Another underrated show on a premium channel, Showtime. Episodes is a hybrid British/American comedy that satirizes Hollywood. The show stars Matt LeBlanc, who is surprisingly very funny in it, but it is really more of an ensemble cast, and all of them play their roles perfectly. It is a very understated and witty show that deserves more attention. Season 5 is currently in production, and a release date has not been announced.

4) Review – You can find Review on Comedy Central, which is as close to mainstream as it gets for this list. Review is a show within a show, where one man attempts to review all of life’s experiences, both the good and the bad. It is truly very unique and there is nothing to really compare it to, other than the Australian TV show that is was adapted from, but you get my point. Season 3 will be their final season, and a release date has not been announced.

5) The Carbonaro Effect – truTV is the most underrated TV channel, period. This spot could have easily gone to Those Who Can’t, Billy on the Street, or Fameless, but the new season of The Carbonaro Effect is on right now, and they are absolutely killing it. It is a prank show, where a magician goes undercover and creates hilarious illusions to fool unsuspecting marks. The show makes you realize how easily people’s minds can be blown when they see a great illusion that they were not expecting to see. Like I mentioned earlier, Season 2 is airing now, and truTV is constantly marathoning all of their shows, which is awesome.

By Michael Halpern
Email: michaelhalpern@imaginarybrickwall.com
Twitter: Imaginary Brick Wall (@ImaginaryBrickW)

There has never been a better time to be a fan of TV comedies. Maybe I really should not be calling them “TV” comedies anymore, right, considering you can watch on your phone these days. On second thought, I really should not be calling it a “phone” anymore, either, considering you can watch TV on it. Wait, what? Let’s just move on. Here are the top 5 comedies on “TV” today:

1) “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” – If TV comedies had a Hall of Fame, this show would get in on the first ballot. From social satire, to over-the-top insanity, Sunny amazingly continues to blaze new trails going on their 11th season. This show is not for the faint of heart, but good comedy rarely is. Watch at your own risk.

2) “Nathan For You” – The label, “comedy genius,” gets thrown around far too often, but when it comes to Nathan Fielder, it is truly accurate. Watching Fielder pull off his absurd stunts, in order to “help” small businesses, leaves the audience in what I can only describe as an “hilarious awe.” A master of deception, Fielder always has one more trick up his sleeve just when you think you have seen it all.

3) “Impractical Jokers” – The best marathon show on TV. Nothing to do on a lazy Sunday afternoon? How about laughing your ass off for three straight hours, while watching four guys cleverly try to embarrass each other on the streets of New York. The key to the show is the genuine, lifelong friendship between the guys, and before long, it is easy to feel like you are just one of the gang.

4) “Real Husbands of Hollywood” – Do not be turned off by the horrible title, this show is a true gem. It mixes the best elements of shows like Curb Your Enthusiasm, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and various mockumentaries, with Kevin Hart’s style and humor. The result is a resounding, outrageous success. Do yourself a favor, and watch this show.

5) “The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret” – The most underrated show on TV. Criminally underrated. Seriously, if you are a fan of comedy, and have not devoured the two, six episode seasons on Netflix yet, you should be arrested. The first season aired in 2009 and the second season aired in 2012. Season 3 is scheduled to come out in January. I can only assume the three-year gap between seasons is because absolutely nobody has heard of this show. Which is odd, because it stars David Cross and Will Arnett, of Arrested Development fame. Come to think of it, maybe these guys are just destined to star in great shows that get noticed after they are already cancelled … maybe that can be what their next show is about. Either way, in order for Todd Margaret to not go the way of Arrested Development, do them a favor, and watch this show.

Honorable Mentions: Inside Amy Schumer; Episodes; Grace and Frankie; Master of None; F is for Family.

By Michael Halpern
Email: michaelhalpern@imaginarybrickwall.com