Highbrow Comedy Shows That Impress You Most
If you are someone who thinks that modern sitcoms are too basic, this list of shows with the best highbrow humor will give you hope. For audiences tuning into television to laugh and be intellectually stimulated at the same time, shows like Louie on FX and Review on Comedy Central are sure to entertain. Highbrow humor is still on the rise, as new shows like Last Man on Earth have truly impressed audiences who are tired of lazy jokes and broad humor.
But what smart sitcoms can you add to your watchlist? Highbrow comedy TV shows are often found on premium cable channels like HBO (which offers political satire with a show like Veep), and Showtime (which offers meta-humor with Episodes starring Matt LeBlanc). Some of that same meta-humor can be seen in Lisa Kudrow’s The Comeback, as well as the reliably intelligent comedy series Portlandia.
These award-winning highbrow sitcoms are not limited to subscription-only channels. In fact, the comedy writing on The Goldbergs, Broad City, and Community (from NBC to Yahoo) are all impressive and witty. Highbrow comedy shows also include animated series like Bojack Horseman on Netflix, Robot Chicken on Adult Swim, and Archer on FX.Â
So if you're ready to be tickled and impressed, check out the shows on this list of current smart comedy shows. Vote up the highbrow comedy shows you think are the best and see where the smart shows you love to watch rank.
- The lives of a programmer and his roommates.
- Four egocentric friends run a bar together in Philadelphia.
- Watch for Free with Amazon Prime Free TrialAnimated comedy centered on a suave spy, Sterling Archer, and his misguided cohorts.
- A third-generation restaurateur runs a burger joint with his wife and their three kids.
- A father suddenly appears at his adult daughter's doorstep, 20 years after disappearing.
- A whiskey-drinking, humanlike horse -- a popular '90s sitcom star -- tries to make a comeback.
- Two people explore the people and values of Portland, Ore.
- In the 1980s, a child uses a video camera to document his crazy family's life.
- Action figures spoof pop culture.
- A man armed with a business degree thinks he can give advice to people with struggling businesses.
- Watch for Free with Amazon Prime Free TrialA television actress tries desperately to revive her career.
- Comedy sketches performed by a core cast of black women.
- A new staffer on Capitol Hill discovers that aliens have eaten several congressmen's brains.
- A TV critic reviews life experiences.
- Anna sets her sights on a new neighbor until she witnesses a murder.
- Watch for Free with Amazon Prime Free TrialA group of young women struggle through their post-collegiate years.
- Brooklyn record-store owner Rob revisits her past relationships through music and pop culture.
