Comedy shows are supposed to make you laugh, which is a fact that should be obvious to pretty much anyone who understands the definition of the word. And while there are many comedy shows, some of them deserve way more attention than they actually get. Yet the guarantee of constant laughter is not always so cut-and-dry, because genres can easily be blended. Plus, the best comedies can make you cry just as the best dramas can give you moments of hilarious levity. That’s just the nature of both life and fiction.
Still, some comedies just really manage to hit that sweet spot between hilarious and absolutely devastating. And some of the best episodes of these shows left me a sobbing mess even as they made me laugh.
The Good Place’s “Whenever You’re Ready”
Watch The Good Place on Amazon Prime Video
The Good Place was no stranger to emotionally charged episodes during its run, but it mostly kept things on the lighter side even as it dealt with pretty complex themes. But the final season really ramped up the emotional devastation, and it all culminated in the wonderful series finale, “Whenever You’re Ready.” It’s really the perfect ending for a show that spent four seasons giving viewers some of the best character arcs that a comedy has ever managed.
Perhaps that’s why it leaves me a crying, blubbering mess every single time I rewatch The Good Place. It doesn’t pull any punches, and it’s all the better for it. I will avoid giving away too much just in case you haven’t gotten around to watching it, but I recommend you do so as soon as possible. This is an episode that will stick with you long after you’ve finished watching it.
Futurama’s “Jurassic Bark”
Watch Futurama on Hulu
You had to know this was coming when you clicked on this list. I mean, I knew I would write it when I pitched this article. Futurama is a ridiculous show that’s often more focused on bizarre premises, hilarious character moments, and glorious satire. Every once in a while, though, Futurama knows just how to hit you right in the feels. And nothing hits as hard as “Jurassic Bark.”
The reason this episode works so well and gets to the core of your emotions is that it remains funny. Of course, Fry would stop just short of actually bringing his dog Seymour back to life, only for the show to cruelly reveal that final sequence with Seymour waiting for the rest of his life for Fry to come back. It’s a gut-punch moment, and I’m still not over it all these years later.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’s “Papa’s Got a Brand New Excuse”
Watch The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air on Hulu
Older sitcoms could be hit or miss when it comes to creating hard-hitting emotional moments, especially those from the ’90s. And that’s fine, mostly, because they were more focused on light-hearted laughs. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, however, had some moments that could leave you sobbing alone in your own bedroom.
One of those moments for me was the episode “Papa’s Got a Brand New Excuse,” where Will (Will Smith) is once again abandoned by his father, and he just completely breaks down over it. It’s a raw, surprisingly effective moment that lives in my head rent-free. Maybe that’s because of my own issues with family, but it’s a powerhouse of an episode and an early indication of just how great an actor Smith is.
Friends’ “The One Hundredth”
Watch Friends on HBO Max
I know that Friends isn’t exactly a well-loved show in modern times, but it’s easily one of those shows I like to binge when I’m feeling burned out. And while I would say its emotional moments never really hit like something out of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, there are still some great moments that will make you cry. A lot of this is because of how ridiculously talented the main cast is, of course. They could really sell some truly ridiculous plot lines.
But in “The One Hundredth,” Friends manages to hit me in my emotional core when Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) has to give up the triplets after giving birth to them. She knew this moment was coming, and so do we, but it doesn’t make it any less difficult to watch. Kudrow brings her A game to this moment, and you can feel her pain, even if it is more bittersweet than anything else.
The Bear’s “Fishes”
Watch The Bear on Hulu
I would understand if you pushed back on calling The Bear a comedy, but as long as it continues to be nominated for comedy-based awards, I guess I will continue to treat it like one. This show has many truly sad moments, which is largely due to the great writing and brilliant cast. But, as someone who comes from a dysfunctional family, nothing hits close to home quite like “Fishes” in the second season.
Viewers are treated to a family dinner in the past, and it’s pure chaos. It’s not an episode I look forward to rewatching on repeat viewings of The Bear, even though it’s brilliantly sad. But by the end, I’m glad I stuck with it, because it’s sob-inducing every single time, and sometimes we all need a good cry just as much as we need a healthy laugh.
The best comedies have a little sadness at their core
I know that comedy shows are supposed to make you laugh, and many viewers probably use them to escape the sadness of reality. But for me, I think the best comedic-based television is rooted in despair at least a little bit. For me, these episodes really get to the core of that belief. With that in mind, there are quite a few sitcoms I could watch forever without getting bored in the least bit.
