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Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
Why beat around the bush? It’s been a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad couple of years. Last year, I devoted my best of the year list to the biggest tear-jerking moments of 2020 because I’m a weirdo who needs sad TV deaths and Pixar movies to cry. But now it’s been a whole other year of COVID scares and weekends away from family and friends. I’ve cried enough. It’s time to laugh.
There’s no rhyme or reason to the things that made me laugh the hardest this year. Some were ridiculously elaborate music videos. A lot of them were animated. All were weird, but weird in their own unique way. What can I say? I appreciate wild swings from people who are unapologetically themselves. Anyway, these 10 jokes and bit brought me a little joy in a dark year. Here’s hoping they can do the same for you.
'Succession': Cousin Greg Sells His Soul
I was sure my favorite part of Succession would be Logan Roy’s (Brian Cox) terrifyingly relevant doughnuts. But then Cousin Greg (Nicolas Braun) had his say. In the TV betrayal of the year, Tom (Matthew Macfadyen) sold out his own wife to the Roy family patriarch. Naturally, he offered to take Greg along with him, which prompted this excellent answer: “What am I gonna do with a soul anyways? Souls are boring. Boo, souls.” Boo souls, indeed.
'Big Mouth': Nick and Judd's Fight
There are oh-so-many well-crafted, multi-dimensional jokes in Big Mouth. Yet the one that had me pressing rewind is anything but that. In “The Green-Eyed Monster”, Nick (Nick Kroll) realizes that his friend Jessi (Jessi Klein) has a crush on his brother instead of him. That rage prompts this flawless exchange at the dinner table:
Nick: Hey Judd, can you pass me the salad dressing, you fucking slut?
Judd: How bout some balsamic, bitch.
Do you start with the fact that Judd (Jon Daley) is completely unfazed by being called a “fucking slut”? Or do you dive into how Nick alone gets blamed for this fight? Regardless, it perfectly sums up everyone’s weird relationship with their brother, and I am here for it.
'The Great North': The Feast of Not People
By now, I’ve lost at least three hours chuckling to myself about the Feast of Not People. The Great North’s second episode introduces its dark legend. When the first inhabitants of thier town first arrived, they had to suffer through an incredibly hard winter that forced them to eat people. To celebrate their resilience, the Feast of Not People was born, a holiday where people eat anything that isn’t another person to honor how far they’ve come. It’s just… so so weird and so deeply silly. Yet what makes it sillier is how “Feast of Not People Adventure” ends.
'Rick and Morty': Summer's Monologue
Rick and Morty Season 5 had some high highs and some low lows. But nothing took me off guard as much as the first scene in “Gotron Jerrysis Rickvangelion”. When Summer (Spencer Grammer) stole Morty’s (Justin Roiland) inner monologue from him, I knew that no matter how bumpy this show got, I would still be watching.
'Solar Opposites': The 'Solar Opposites' Do a Christmas Video
When I first saw the shockingly catchy “WTF Is Christmas?”, I thought this elaborate claymation music video featuring Darren Criss would be part of “A Very Solar Holiday Opposites Special.” No. Not even a little bit. Not only does this song never appear in Solar Opposites‘ first holiday special, but its very premise is completely irrelevant to the standalone episode. Korvo (Justin Roiland) doesn’t need an explanation about Christmas in the special. He already knows almost everything about it and is very much a fan. Instead of contributing anything of narrative value, this music video brutally mocks every pandering TV special while giving audiences a dose of this show’s obscene, warped charm. That’s what Christmas is all about.
'How to with John Wilson': John Learns About Wine
I have Josh Sorokach to thank for introducing me to this gem. Season 2’s “How to Appreciate Wine” is as disjointed and bizarre as the rest of this show. Only this time around, the episode comes with a truly scream-worthy twist. I won’t spoil anything; you have to discover this wild ride for yourself. But John Wilson’s brand of wholesome, curious comedy continues to be a lifeline to any weirdo who’s ever felt disconnected from the world.
'Mythic Quest': Poppy's Insane Speech
Choosing a favorite bit in Mythic Quest is like picking the cutest puppy. It’s a task you’re destined to fail. But there will always be a special place in my heart for “Grouchy Goat”, an episode that lets Poppy Li (Charlotte Nicdao) rise to her full psychotic, dictatorial potential. After relentlessly bullying her design team and failing to inspire them, Poppy decides to speak at a Women in Gaming conference to up her leadership stats. It’s hard to pinpoint the best part of this disastrous speech: Poppy unhooking her club-appropriate dress halfway through, her purse absolutely packed full of candy wrappers, or the fact that this entire speech was designed to manipulate people into feeling inspired. Poppy still may not know anything about leadership, but she knows how to make me laugh.
Please Don't Destroy: "Rami Malek Wants a Treat"
The latest iteration of SNL has been a blessing. For the first time in a while, it feels like old and new cast members alike have been working together to transform this NBC staple into something that feels more like them. But out of so many excellent sketches in Season 47, it’s Please Don’t Destroy’s bizarrely wholesome comedy that’s made me hit replay the most. This time around, Rami Malek has been doing a good job as host and wants a treat. If you’ve ever fruitlessly fought with a cat, this sketch will speak to you too.
'Girls5Eva': "New York Lonely Boy"
Clearly, Meredith Scardino made a deal with the devil because it is criminal to have so many truly funny songs that slap this hard. I chuckled at the endlessly complicated directions in “The Splingee” and nodded sympathetically to “I’m Afraid (Dawn’s Song of Fears)”, but only “New York Lonely Boy” has managed to make me spit take. As someone who grew up breaking things and covered in Florida marsh mud, seeing a child enjoy wasabi and get excited about hats is just so deeply, hilariously sad. God bless those lonely boys.
'I Think You Should Leave': The Safari Fedora
Tim Robinson is responsible for the hardest I’ve laughed all year. Is that sad? Maybe. Will I watch Season 2’s “You sure about that? You sure about that that’s why?” every chance I get? You know it. Don’t spoil yourself. Just watch the madness and relax into the stupidity.
