Highbrow Comedy Shows That Impress You Most

Over 900 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of Highbrow Comedy Shows That Impress You Most
Voting Rules
Vote up the smartest comedies and sitcoms that don't take the low road to laughs that are currently airing new episodes.

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. 

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.

Photo: Veep / HBO
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