The Top 50 Comedy Sketches of All Time archived

I have to say that the BOC/cow bell sketch gets me every time - so funny

I knew this as a Python sketch, but is this the 'original'? Cleese and Chapman, I recognize, and looks like Marty Feldman on the right. Who's the gent on the left?

It's not on the list but I always loved the Richard Pryor SNL Exorcist sketch (the bed is on my foot!). I was surprised that not a single sketch from MAD TV made the list. Overall, the show is hit and miss but there have been some hilarious sketches over the years. I was happy to see the Upright Citizens Brigade on there

I think this list a flawed because there are no Honeymooners on the list and that started out as a series of sketches on the Jackie Gleason Show and Cavalcade of Stars. For shame...

What about Benny Hill?

I also noticed the absence of the Carol Burnett Show, the 'Nudge, Nudge, Wink, Wink' Python sketch or anything from 'In Living Color'

Yeah, I also think In Living Color had to be in there somewhere. Not sure about MADTV

Silent Man - You're right about who's there; it's all pre-Python. The 4th man is Tim Brooke-Taylor. Here's the full description:

32. Four Yorkshiremen - At Last the 1948 Show
It's an obnoxious truth of existence that rich people always claim that life was easier and happier when they were poor. Never was this idiocy more satisfyingly lampooned as by the cast of "At Last the 1948 Show," Marty Feldman, Tim Brooke-Taylor, and a pre-Monty Python John Cleese and Graham Chapman, in their "Four Yorkshiremen" sketch. Lounging in tuxedos with cigars and fine champagne, they reminisce about the "good old days" when they were penniless and happy, back when they grateful even for a simple cup of tea. "Cup of cold tea," Graham interjects. "Without milk or sugar!" adds John. "Or tea!" replies Tim. Thus begins a hysterical bout of one-upsmanship, filled to the brim with classic British absurdism. "House? You were lucky to have a house! We used to live in one room, 26 of us!" says Graham, to which Tim replies, "Room? You were lucky to have a room! We used to have to live in a corridor!", to which Marty responds "Corridor? I used to dream of living in a corridor!" And so on until the very rules of time and space have been shattered in the interest of poverty pride. The sketch is so perfect that Python covered it in their live shows. —M.S.

Glad to see SCTV represented. I think they should have had something in the top 10. What gives with the SNL "Cheeseburger, cheeseburger" skit. I was watching the night that skit was on and thought it was the weakest skit of the night. I believe it was towards the end of the show which is where they dumped all their throwaway skits.

Posted By: arnomationI also noticed the absence of the Carol Burnett Show

I thought I saw the "Gone With The Wind" bit

I thought I saw the "Gone With The Wind" bit

I must have missed that. Though, I don't think that was her funniest bit and there probably should have been more than one from her show.

What about Harvey Korman as the patient and Tim Conway as the dentist?---That still always cracks me up.

Bud and Lou ask Mr. Fields about farm life ...

If it were a scientific study, the top 50 would be all Python

The Cowbell one nearly killed me! I hadn't seen that one before. Christopher Walken is brilliant. Everytime he said, "I gonna need more cowbell." I lost it.

I enjoyed David Cross' Mr. Show one about his Pre-taped call-in talk show. I hadn't seen the show before either, I had only enjoyed his work as a never-nude on Arrested Development.

There is a Living Color one. I prefer Blaine and Antoine's Men on Film. And where was Fire Marshall Bill? Oh and Handy-Man!

My favorite Carol Burnett was when she was Mrs. Whiggins (Ha-whiggins as Tim Conway would say as Mr. Tudball).

A good list that could (and will) spark endless debate. Great to see Ernie Kovacs and Your Show of Shows represented- pioneers who were hysterically funny when censorship was enormous (during McCarthyism). I would have expected at least one Johnny Carson sketch- Dragnet, Teatime Movie, Karnak- and perhaps a Smothers Brothers sketch. Great choices abound! I'm with the SCTV/Python/Original SNL fans, so I can't complain at all.

Glad to see they had "Citizen Kane" from The Kids in the Hall at #40. I think we've all been in situations where we can identify with Kevin McDonald.

How about Monty Python's 'Dead Parrot' routine? Hilarious!!!:rolling::crazy::rolling::swingin:

I love Monty Python, but I have to give the # 1 spot to Who's On First.
The clip posted on that site isn't the best though, Abbott & Costello were older there and actually slipped up once.

Bob Newhart's phone routines were great too.. and maybe some Marx Brothers should be in there somewhere.

The late and very great Marty Feldman once did a skit in which he was in an orchestra (I have a recollection that he was either the conductor or the cymbal player) and there was a fly buzzing around. He was committed to killing the fly. Mid-song. By the end of the song he had knocked over the entire orchestra.

I think it's a good list but my favorite python bit is the Ministry of Silly Walks followed by The Cherry Orchard. On the SNL side, the skit that I loved the absolute best is the Superhero Party in 1979.

S-

nice weather youve dragged home with you!

Calli, I'm with you with Harvey Korman and Tim Conway - the dentist skit is hilarious - one of the funniest ever, in my opinion

Posted By: daveIf it were a scientific study, the top 50 would be all Python

NO, no, no Dave... decidely not. And I'd bet that they'd (the Python cast) be the first ones to say that their skits ought NOT be only ones in a top 50..... they'd cite Gilbert & Sullivan, or other British comedy troupes of the 40's & 50's.

For my two-cents, the best top two though would be Abbot & Costello's 'Who's on first' and Python's 'Spanish tourism' monologue (given by Eric Idle; "...Torrelimos, Torrelimos...").

damn work filter - any Dave Chappelle on there?

I haven't read the list but no-one has mentioned the Pythons' granny-bashers, Room for an Argument, Cheese Shop...the album covers themselves, and the bokks, the silliness of the songs - all of them from Eric on; Philosophers Football...

Are the Goons in the list? I must go and check. Do you people know of John Clarke and Bruce Dawe? Fred Dagge? ...Going to check that list...

Nice to see that the Mr Show got a couple of mentions. They missed my all time favorite though:

jackie gleason and art carney doing the "64,000 Answer" episode