From returning favorites to new arrivals, plenty of shows did a great job of making us laugh in 2009, and the best managed to show us wonderful characters and make us think a little bit, too. Here are my picks for the best TV comedies of 2009.
1. ‘30 Rock’ (NBC)
Photo courtesy of NBC
Even as it starts to show signs of wear in its fourth season, Tina Fey’s genius, multilayered workplace comedy remains sharp and original, and delivers more laughs per episode than any other show. Fey’s portrayal of the sad, lonely Liz Lemon is funny and surprisingly affecting, and Alec Baldwin and Tracy Morgan continue to show new facets of their hilarious characters. An uneven season of 30 Rock is better than a good season of most other shows.
2. ‘Better Off Ted’ (ABC)
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This little sitcom that could debuted midseason on ABC to positive reviews but small ratings, seemingly destined to be a cult show killed before its time. But ABC made a surprising choice to give it a second season, so we got to see more of the twisted company that is Veridian Dynamics, with its bizarre products and ridiculous corporate culture, plus more of Portia de Rossi’s great performance as the world’s most unfeeling boss.
3. ‘Party Down’ (Starz)
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Veronica Mars creator Rob Thomas made a spectacular if somewhat unheralded return to TV with this layered, often subtle gem about the employees of a Los Angeles catering company. Mixing showbiz satire with strong character development, goofy humor with surprising emotional depth, Party Down improved steadily over the course of its first season, buoyed by a stellar ensemble cast and some wonderful guest stars (many drawn from Thomas’ old show).
4. ‘Community’ (NBC)
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The final piece in NBC’s solid Thursday-night comedy lineup, this show debuted impressively and has kept up the quality, with a nice mix of snarky comedy and genuine heart (reminiscent of departed NBC Thursday show My Name Is Earl). Joel McHale has proved to be a capable lead as the fast-talking lawyer stuck in community college, and the strong supporting characters have made Community into a real ensemble show. Partway through its first season, it seems to be just scratching the surface of an exciting, well-drawn world.
5. ‘Flight of the Conchords’ (HBO)
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Sadly, we may have seen the end of folk duo Bret and Jemaine’s adventures in New York City, but the second season of the funniest show on HBO made the most of its 10 episodes, with inspired musical numbers, surreal storylines and a complete dedication to absurdity. Sometimes the best talent for a performer (musician, actor, comedian) to have is knowing when to leave audiences wanting more.
6. ‘Cougar Town’ (ABC)
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The highlight of ABC’s new Wednesday-night comedy block, this show from Scrubs creator Bill Lawrence transcended its tacky title to become a refreshingly honest and funny look at the perils of getting older. Courteney Cox effectively capture the insecurities of a newly single woman looking to start dating again at 40, and the show is incisive without being condescending. At times it’s a little too cuddly, but the characters keep things grounded.
7. ‘How I Met Your Mother’ (CBS)
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Nestled amid some of the blandest shows on TV, How I Met Your Mother has never been the most popular sitcom on CBS, or particularly flashy, but it’s built over time into a well-crafted, lived-in chronicle of a group of friends who feel like real people, whose humor comes as much from their relationships as from clever one-liners. Even into its fifth season, HIMYM found ways to make the lives of these young New Yorkers fresh, interesting and funny.
8. ‘Important Things With Demetri Martin’ (Comedy Central)
Photo courtesy of Comedy Central
Sketch comedy is inherently hit-or-miss, but this vehicle for deadpan comedian Demetri Martin hits more often than any other sketch show on the air right now. Combining Martin’s creative, cerebral stand-up with traditional sketches, animation and offbeat non sequiturs, Important Things delivers a kind of oddball comedy that you won’t find anywhere else on TV.
9. ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’ (FX)
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Honestly, the more popular this show gets, the more dedicated its fanbase becomes, the less funny it really is. But even in decline, the button-pushing show about five horrible people who own the world’s worst bar is still often surprisingly funny, and never afraid to go to dark, twisted places for its humor. I wish it were as fresh and clever as when it first started, but it’s still good for several horrified laughs per episode.
10. ‘10 Things I Hate About You’ (ABC Family)
Photo courtesy of ABC Family
A sitcom based on a decade-old teen movie, airing on super-square ABC Family? That sounds like a terrible idea, but the first season of the TV-series version of 10 Things I Hate About You proved to be smart, fun family TV in the best sense of the term, with teen characters who weren’t just stereotypes, a sibling dynamic with as much love as sarcasm, and a real respect for the perils of growing up. It wasn’t ever the funniest thing on TV, but it was always a comfortable place to spend half an hour.
