# Funniest moments in recent TV **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 5, 2009, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-moments-in-recent-tv/512669 "2009-10-05T14:38:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-moments-in-recent-tv/512669/41 "2009-10-07T12:22:49Z")
I have to second Kramer’s “I’m out!” And though I wasn’t always the biggest fan of _Everybody Loves Raymond_, every now and then there was an episode that was so perfectly crafted you had to give them props. In one, Raymond complained that he doesn’t get to make enough decisions around the house. Deborah calls his bluff and lets him do all the deciding for a while. One of his first acts is to buy a garden hose that is way too short. Then, a series of poor decisions, in part involving facial tissues and bug spray, somehow leads to the kitchen curtains catching fire. The payoff gag has Ray rushing in trying to douse the fire with the too-short hose. (No, my description doesn’t do it justice. Hilarious episode.) ---
**Author:** ![PoorYorick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PoorYorick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoorYorick)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-moments-in-recent-tv/512669/42 "2009-10-07T12:42:25Z")
David Hyde Pierce as Niles Cramer in _Frazier_ was a master at physical comedy. His apex was probably the Valentines Day episode, completely in mime, where he’s trying to get ready for a date and keeps passing out whenever he sees the blood from a cut finger. The description doesn’t do it justice, but I saw a rerun a couple of weeks ago and it still holds up as well as the first time I saw it. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-moments-in-recent-tv/512669/43 "2009-10-07T12:55:49Z")
Niles Crane [ironing](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mWiPaQ872c). ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-moments-in-recent-tv/512669/44 "2009-10-07T12:56:52Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Father Ted: [“These are small, but the ones out there are far away.”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmU_q5xrnto) I love that one! And damn you, **GuanoLad** , I was going to post that one. It never fails to get me off humor wise. ---
**Author:** ![PoorYorick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PoorYorick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoorYorick)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-moments-in-recent-tv/512669/45 "2009-10-07T12:58:05Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Niles Crane [ironing](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mWiPaQ872c). That’s the one. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-moments-in-recent-tv/512669/46 "2009-10-07T13:03:40Z")
> [@PoorYorick](#): > > That’s the one. Thanks. It was actually a weird simulpost - I was searching for and watching it while you were posting. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-moments-in-recent-tv/512669/47 "2009-10-07T13:16:30Z")
It probably won’t hold up as a classic, but if we’re talking the funniest moment of the last two years or so from today’s perspective, I’d probably go with Amy Poehler’s Palin Rap. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-moments-in-recent-tv/512669/48 "2009-10-07T13:32:53Z")
> [@Marlitharn](#): > > From _Roseanne_, [Jackie tries to call](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zheeF5yPak&feature=PlayList&p=49874937F1165067&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=43) an aunt after her father dies. Skip ahead to 1:45 for the funny. > > Also from _Roseanne_, from that abysmal final season that in a just and caring world would never have happened, Debbie Reynolds guest starred as Dan’s insane off-her-meds mother in the third-to-last episode, and was frigging hilarious. Oh, yeah, that “He’s fine!” payoff is fantastic. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-moments-in-recent-tv/512669/49 "2009-10-07T14:33:37Z")
Another good one from _Father Ted_: [Ted loses his shit trying to write a song with Dougal](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysZzWXe_mAw). ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-moments-in-recent-tv/512669/50 "2009-10-07T16:39:44Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Niles Crane [ironing](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mWiPaQ872c). I think the best part of that is when he goes to get the scissors, realizes the time and takes a couple running steps. He then stops, carefully adjusts the scissors so they’re point down and slowly walks back to the ironing board. ---
**Author:** ![KSO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@KSO](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KSO)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-moments-in-recent-tv/512669/51 "2009-10-07T17:09:51Z")
Arrested Development–the scene where they got the word “c\*nt” on air. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-moments-in-recent-tv/512669/52 "2009-10-07T17:55:57Z")
> [@BiblioCat](#): > > I think the best part of that is when he goes to get the scissors, realizes the time and takes a couple running steps. He then stops, carefully adjusts the scissors so they’re point down and slowly walks back to the ironing board. Reminds me of one of my favorite Cheers/Frasier Crane moments. I don’t remember the context, but he’s running around the bar with big shears open in his hand, “I’M RUNNING WITH SCISSORS!!” ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-moments-in-recent-tv/512669/53 "2009-10-07T18:40:05Z")
The entire “Donnie” episode from **Just Shoot Me** , an otherwise average show. Guest star David Cross as Donnie at his absolute best. [Part 1](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMfbDPL1ths) [Part 2](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzJw0_UzM-s) (There’s a Part 3 but the best scenes are in the first two parts) ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-moments-in-recent-tv/512669/54 "2009-10-09T13:10:54Z")
Third Rock from the Sun–Vicky (Jan Hooks) and Harry (French Stewart) and the Thanksgiving leftovers. When Harry put the turkey carcus on his head, I died laughing. The priceless moment from Roseanne when Bev told Roseanne she had a buyer for her share of the restaurant and the focus shifted to Leon eating that sandwich. ---
**Author:** ![PoorYorick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PoorYorick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoorYorick)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-moments-in-recent-tv/512669/55 "2009-10-09T13:14:14Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Third Rock from the Sun–Vicky (Jan Hooks) and Harry (French Stewart) and the Thanksgiving leftovers. When Harry put the turkey carcus on his head, I died laughing. That reminds me of a scene that I could watch again. Dick gets trapped in a stairwell somehow and slowly becomes stir crazy. About all I remember is him making a literal sock puppet and singing Danny Boy. I couldn’t catch my breath from laughing so hard. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Hen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@Small\_Hen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Hen)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-moments-in-recent-tv/512669/56 "2009-10-09T20:59:47Z")
“Put your helmet on, we’ll be reaching speeds of THREE!” ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-moments-in-recent-tv/512669/57 "2009-10-09T21:08:43Z")
> [@Small\_Hen](#): > > “Put your helmet on, we’ll be reaching speeds of THREE!” Thank you (“Accursed mountebank!”). The top 100 funniest moments of the past 20 years of TV all came from MST3K; this episode (“Space Mutiny”) is a good way to sum it up. But for broadcast TV, I’ll go with a few from 30 Rock: The Oprah episode (“I’m snitting next to Blorpo!”). Or when we see that Kenneth sees the world in Muppet-Vision, followed by a shot of Tina Fey walking like a muppet. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-moments-in-recent-tv/512669/58 "2009-10-10T01:27:17Z")
1989-Present means that the final episode of _Newhart_, with Bob waking up and finding himself in his old Chicago apartment next to Suzanne Pleshette, makes the cut. Also from _Everybody Loves Raymond_ “The Sculpture” where Marie makes an abstract that reminds everyone of a female anatomical part. Doris Roberts’ “Oh my God, I’m a lesbian!” was topped only by Peter Boyle’s final “HOLY CRAP!” And one scene from _Frasier_ with David Ogden Stiers as the long-time research partner of Frasier and Niles’ mother. Eddie the dog stops short and stares in turn at Stiers, Frasier and Niles in total confusion. ---
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-moments-in-recent-tv/512669/59 "2009-10-10T02:14:34Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > The entire “Donnie” episode from **Just Shoot Me** , an otherwise average show. Guest star David Cross as Donnie at his absolute best. > > [Part 1](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMfbDPL1ths) > [Part 2](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzJw0_UzM-s) > > (There’s a Part 3 but the best scenes are in the first two parts) “Chicken pot, chicken pot, chicken pot pie!” “My pants are tight!” My husband and I still use those quotes when appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-moments-in-recent-tv/512669/60 "2009-10-10T04:17:17Z")
> [@PoorYorick](#): > > That reminds me of a scene that I could watch again. Dick gets trapped in a stairwell somehow and slowly becomes stir crazy. About all I remember is him making a literal sock puppet and singing Danny Boy. I couldn’t catch my breath from laughing so hard. I remember LOLing at that one when I first watched it. I recently watched all of _Third Rock_ again and when that one came up I didn’t laugh quite as hard as the first time around. Altho it was still pretty funny 🙂 Lots of good ones from _Third Rock_. The one where Shatner says he had a dream about seeing something on the wing of a plane and Lithgow says “I had that dream too!” was utterly hilarious if you know the backstory (both actors played in a _Twilight Zone_ episode where they saw a monster on the wing of a plane they were in - obviously one was a remake of the other). I agree with the **Newhart** one. I remember watching it with my parents when it aired and since I’d seen a couple episodes of _The Bob Newhart show_, I got it and it cracked me up. I used that “Chicken pot pie…” line just today. Definitely a classic 🙂 What about scenes from **Malcolm in the Middle**? That’s a pretty kickass show. What about when Hal does his roller skating dance? I think I remember reading that Bryan Cranston actually worked at it and was able to do it all himself. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-moments-in-recent-tv/512669.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-moments-in-recent-tv/512669.md?page=4)