Entertainment
10 Comedy Shows With the Most Jokes Per Minute, Ranked
We turn on television comedies to laugh. And in this day and age, we search for things that we can get the best bang for our buck. While comedies will likely keep you laughing from start to finish, which shows actually have the most laughs per minute? While maybe not scientifically speaking, the 10 shows on this list have a high volume of jokes within their given runtime.
The comedies listed below are some of the greatest series thanks to their brilliant writing and top-tier acting. It’s through this dynamic combo that those jokes land and leave us wanting more. There’s a reason these shows with high joke counts also happen to be among the most rewatchable in television history. From workplace sitcoms to tear-inducing mockumentaries, these comedies will always be funny, no matter how many times you hear the jokes.
10
‘The Big Bang Theory’ (2007–2019)
One of the most popular series to ever air on CBS is The Big Bang Theory. Created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, the series follows four socially awkward, genius scientists — Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons), Leonard Hofstadter (Johnny Galecki), Howard Wolowitz (Simon Helberg), and Raj Koothrappali (Kunal Nayyar) — and their free-spirited neighbor, Penny (Kaley Cuoco). Blending traditional sitcom comedy with geek culture, The Big Bang Theory delights by showing how these brilliant minds navigate romance, career ambitions, and everyday social situations. Utilizing the desire to keep the live studio audience howling, The Big Bang Theory‘s rapid-fire jokes set against the contrast of character types lead to the hilarity of the fish-out-of-water dynamic.
Though the show may be a bit cringeworthy in the early seasons due to the kinds of jokes the writers went for, it never deterred the devoted fan base from tuning in. Running for 12 seasons and launching three spin-off shows, The Big Bang Theory‘s comedy experiment resulted in profound success. The Big Bang Theory may have been niche, but to the fans who got it, they never stopped laughing. In the age of the beauty-and-geek genre, The Big Bang Theory played on those tropes, and the audience related to the situations. At the end of the day, the appeal was how geek and nerd culture would be infused into the comedy.
9
‘Friends’ (1994–2004)
The epitome of ’90s comedy was Friends. Created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, Friends followed six close-knit twenty-somethings — Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston), her roommate Monica Geller (Courteney Cox), Monica’s brother Ross (David Schwimmer), his friend Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry), his roommate Joey Tribbiani (Matt LeBlanc), and Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow). Across 10 beloved seasons, Friends chronicled their lives as they navigated love, professional careers, and growing up. Each episode featured a litany of hilarious jokes, humorous situations, and quotable lines that proved Friends simply dominated in the comedy department.
Friends used accessibility to capture relatable work woes, dating anxieties, and ordinary moments of adulting into rapid-fire laughs. With six very distinct characters, they each had their own humorous vocabulary that worked individually, as well as as a unit. Friends flourished with high-octane one-liners and situations, many of which led to iconic catchphrases. If someone were to mention words such as “pivot” or “unagi,” Friends will pop into your mind. Say “we were on a break,” and once again, it’s Friends. These bits became permanent fixtures in the comedy hall of fame. Not many comedies can be quoted at such a frequency as Friends. That’s a mark of successful humor.
8
‘Angie Tribeca’ (2016–2018)
If you’ve reached this entry and are perplexed as to why you never heard of this show, it’s understandable. Angie Tribeca was a TBS show, so there’s that. But once you watch, you’ll be sorely disappointed that you missed a perfectly hilarious comedy. Created by Steve and Nancy Carell (yes, you read that right), Angie Tribeca follows Rashida Jones in the titular role. A lone-wolf veteran of the LAPD’s RHCU, or Really Heinous Crimes Unit, Angie, her partner J. Geills (Hayes MacArthur), and her squad investigate ridiculous, highly specific crimes, ranging from the murder of a ventriloquist to a string of baker suicides. Avoiding realistic police work in favor of pure, unadulterated silliness, Angie Tribeca paired its high-energy pacing with whip-smart writing and deadpan delivery.
Angie Tribeca was a parody police procedural in the same vein as The Naked Gun. In that capacity, everything was meant to be a joke. From names to observational humor, Angie Tribeca was a non-stop laugh riot. The high density of jokes was intentional as the writers jam-packed the script with wit through sight gags, puns, and absurdity. The thing about this style of comedy is that there are jokes that will not reach everyone on time, so when they land, it might be because you’re on a 10-second joke delay. That’s just a notch into the brilliance of the writing. A sincerely underrated comedy, Angie Tribeca deserves to be in the same conversation as the other single-cam greats of the time.
7
‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’ (2013–2021)
During the golden age of single-camera workplace comedies, one of the top-tier entries came from Dan Goor and Michael Schur. That show was Brooklyn Nine-Nine. A star vehicle for Saturday Night Live alumni Andy Samberg, Brooklyn Nine-Nine follows the eccentric, lovable, and diverse group of detectives working in the fictional 99th Precinct in Brooklyn. The show centers around the dynamic between Detective Jake Peralta (Samberg), a brilliant but immature and carefree hotshot, and Captain Raymond Holt (Andre Braugher), a stern, no-nonsense commanding officer on a mission to whip the precinct into shape. Featuring a large ensemble of eccentric characters, Brooklyn Nine-Nine brilliantly subverted sitcom and police tropes, balancing fast-paced humor with genuinely heartwarming ensemble chemistry.
With many cop programs going the dark and gritty route, Brooklyn Nine-Nine flipped that around for a colorful and ridiculous romp. The cops spend as much time solving crimes as they do playing office pranks and simply being immature. That’s the draw and allure of the sitcom. As one of the wordiest comedies around, Brooklyn Nine-Nine relied heavily on witty banter and endless humor to keep the comedy alive. Brooklyn Nine-Nine never punched down. The workplace setting saw the co-workers largely as equals, showing respect and support despite their ribbing. Brooklyn Nine-Nine, which ran for eight seasons, was unique in that it gave its characters room to grow, avoiding the trap of being stuck in an archetype box. Through that, the humor evolved, keeping the comedy fresh.
6
‘The Office’ (2005–2013)
The world of sitcoms changed when multi-camera shows gave way to single-camera series. In exchange for laugh tracks and a live studio audience came dry humor that relied on the audience to decide when they wanted to laugh. Perhaps the most beloved and iconic example of this was The Office. Based on the British version created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, the Greg Daniels-adapted series followed the daily lives of the employees at Dunder Mifflin Paper Company’s Scranton branch. Across nine dynamic seasons, The Office captures the hilarious workplace dynamics, awkward romances, and cringe-worthy encounters led by their highly inappropriate but well-meaning boss, Michael Scott (Steve Carell). Boasting one of the greatest large ensembles, The Office masterfully balanced absurdity and laugh-out-loud humor with heartfelt moments and genuine relationships. The Office took the mundane and made it hilarious.
What the series did excruciatingly well was take the smallest moments and turn them into the biggest events. In turn, it led to comedy unlike anything you’d seen before. The mockumentary style gave way to cringe humor through its filming style. Through the interview-style format, the characters had the freedom to narrate the action and allow their true feelings to emerge. Whether it’s nervously checking in to see if anyone else is in on the absurdity or simply fueling the fire of the awkwardness, The Office‘s unique style allowed for laughs beyond the actual situation. Between recurring bits, including Jim Halpert (John Krasinski) and Dwight Schrute’s (Rainn Wilson) endless prank war, the bumbling antics of Kevin Malone (Brian Baumgartner), or just how ridiculous office romances can get, The Office was never afraid to go to extremes, even when it was intended to make you uncomfortable. The cinéma vérité format became a television game-changer that we’re forever grateful for.
5
‘Arrested Development’ (2003–2006, 2013–2019)
Fish-out-of-water stories are often perfect entries into hilarity. They’re made even better when it’s paired with a schadenfreude appeal. The Bluths were a family that was created for you to laugh at their misfortunes. That’s what made Arrested Development so great. Created by Mitchell Hurwitz, the satirical sitcom follows the formerly wealthy, wildly dysfunctional Bluth clan. When the family patriarch, George Bluth Sr. (Jeffrey Tambor), is sent to prison for white-collar fraud, it’s up to his level-headed son Michael (Jason Bateman) to take over the family’s faltering real estate business while keeping his incredibly self-absorbed family in line and out of trouble. Relying heavily on complex, interconnected storylines, recurring bits and gags, and absolutely insane situations, Arrested Development balanced documentary-style visual gags with multi-layered humor to capture the flaws that only we could laugh at.
During its initial FOX run, Arrested Development was a product of its time, but when it made the move to Netflix, the series had more freedom to explore and play. It even experimented with an entire season in which you could binge the episodes in any order, in which everything is connected, but how you consumed it led to a different delivery of humor. It was through those risks that Arrested Development stood out as a titan of comedy. What Arrested Development flourished with was its characters and the brilliant acting company that portrayed them. Save for Bateman’s Michael, who served as the story’s straight man, nearly every word that the characters uttered was unintentionally hilarious. From the quote machine that was Lucille Bluth (Jessica Walter) to the clueless GOB (Will Arnett), the physical humor out of Buster (Tony Hale) to the cringeness of Tobias Fünke (David Cross), Arrested Development shone through character work. As one of the greatest shows for callbacks, Arrested Development set the tone for the century. You simply cannot stop smiling while watching this show.
4
‘Parks and Recreation’ (2009–2015)
The combined forces of Greg Daniels and Michael Schur gave the world one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time, Parks and Recreation. The hit series follows the eccentric and perfectly optimistic Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler), who serves as the deputy director of the Parks and Recreation Department in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana. Leading a quirky team of less-than-enthusiastic coworkers, Parks and Recreation crafted a brilliant world filled with colorful characters who favor warmth over cringe. Layered with running gags and distinct dynamics, Parks and Recreation was, and still is, a breath of fresh air in the world of comedy.
A great sitcom rewards its viewers. Parks and Recreation did that and then some. The sharply written sitcom literally allows its fans to “treat yo self.” Between Andy Dwyer’s (Chris Pratt) recurring Burt Macklin and the infamous Lil Sebastian, Parks and Recreation rewards its viewers with continuity that gets funnier over time. As far as characters are concerned, each individual has their own quirks, so when they find themselves next to someone different, a specific dynamic is formed. And each dynamic is uniquely funny. Leslie and Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman) couldn’t be more opposite, but as a duo, they bring out some of the best comedic moments. Then, pair Ron with April Ludgate (Aubrey Plaza), and their eerily too similar dry wit becomes equally hilarious. A wonderfully endearing workplace comedy, Parks and Recreation sparks joy as it leaves you laughing.
3
‘New Girl’ (2011–2018)
This one might surprise you, but if the unscientific survey from The Atlantic is accurate, New Girl is packed with quite a few jokes per minute. Perhaps a more wholesome and real-world accurate comedy, New Girl’s humor resonates in a manner that reflects reality. Brought to life by Elizabeth Meriweather, New Girl follows Jessica Day (Zooey Deschanel), a quirky, bubbly teacher who moves into a Los Angeles loft with three single guys after her bad breakup. Sharing a home with cynical bartender Nick Miller (Jake Johnson), over-the-top marketing professional Schmidt (Max Greenfield), and highly competitive athlete-turned-cop Winston Bishop (Lamorne Morris), Jess and the boys form an unlikely bond as they navigate careers, dating, and adulthood side-by-side. Through a wonderful blend of absurd physical comedy, emotional vulnerability, and fast-paced humor, New Girl captures a core cast of characters that teach us to embrace eccentricities.
New Girl is a celebration of a found family. This helps to elevate the humor of the series. They may not be blood-related, but they certainly can rip and rib on one another for a laugh. After you’ve cried your eyes out from laughter, once the tear ducts have been replenished, you’ll weep at just how genuine they are, pulling at your heartstrings in the process. The roommates in Loft 4D are completely unhinged in their own special way, but together, they complete a perfectly quirky puzzle. The contrasting personalities often led to hilarious friction. Through that friction, brazen hijinks helped the show run for seven triumphant seasons. New Girl is proof that modern-day non-mockumentary style shows can flourish without a laugh track.
2
‘Cunk on Earth’ (2022)
And now for something a little bit different. When it comes to history, it’s not necessarily meant to be funny, but with Philomena Cunk at the helm, you’ll be left laughing until the episode ends. Created by Charlie Brooker and starring Diane Morgan, the brilliant Cunk on Earth is a satirical mockumentary that uses its five episodes to parody historical documentaries. Hosted by the delightfully clueless and deliciously deadpan journalist Cunk, Cunk on Earth traces the entire history of human civilization while interviewing real-life experts who must be prepared to answer a litany of absurd, wildly uninformed questions. With non-stop sight gags, literal interpretations, rapid-fire gimmicks, and one-liners that will leave you breathless, Cunk on Earth asks the questions you were too afraid to.
Though mockumentary-style sitcoms have filled the airwaves, this one spins the perspective and makes the documentarian the butt of the joke. Cunk on Earth makes you ponder which is more significant, the Renaissance or Beyoncé. You’re forced to wonder if Jesus Christ was the first victim of cancel culture. And Cunk will beg for an answer on whether or not King Arthur came a lot. Cunk on Earth gets you cackling as the experts are rendered baffled. Mirroring a BBC documentary — sweeping, lush landscapes, drone shots, and all — Cunk on Earth features razor-sharp writing with a standout performance that has left fans eager for more.
1
’30 Rock’ (2006–2013)
Leave it to one of the greatest writers of Saturday Night Live to deliver the most jokes per minute of any comedy. 30 Rock proves that a satirical surrealist sitcom is what audiences desperately crave. Created and starring Tina Fey, the hit seven-season favorite follows the chaotic behind-the-scenes production of a fictional sketch comedy series. Inspired by her time at SNL, Liz Lemon must handle the eccentric lineup of writers, actors, and executives while managing her own messy personal life. With rapid-fire humor, physical gags, and meta pop culture references, 30 Rock‘s dialogue, physical humor, and visual gags have made it a relentlessly absurd satire with nonstop laughs.
Between Liz’s self-deprecating tone set against the brazen egos of our counterparts, 30 Rock‘s comedy aims to get its viewers cracking up at literally everything. And if you’re not laughing out loud, you’re likely smirking, groaning, or rolling your eyes in delight. As one of the strongest written comedies of the 21st century, 30 Rock‘s eclectic mix of callbacks, absurd cutaways, and classic comedy set it apart from anything else that was on the air. Though it may be a tad uncouth by today’s standards, it’s due to the sheer brilliance the writers took with risky humor and on-the-nose observations. Many shows have attempted to replicate 30 Rock‘s immense success, but none have ever come close.
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