Was comedy better years ago?

I'm 35 and comedy was way better in the past, most of the modern stuff to me is absolute crap. Comedies like Only Fools & Horses or Married With Children would never make it out as a new series these days.

Far too many annoying politically correct people out there that complain about the smallest thing.
 
I think it's not really terrible now, but I do feel that more shows made me laugh around the early to mid 2000s than now. Scrubs, Futurama, Malcolm in the Middle, The Simpsons (when it was funny) etc.
 
The best comedy was before the early 00s imo.

Anything like Monty Python, Men Behaving Badly, Red Dwarf, Fawlty Towers and Black Adder would fear getting themselves arrested in the name of the woke.

Fans of South Park will end up in San Quentin, again given the woke agenda!
 
These new comedies I barely laugh at. Though love The Royle Family.

I have got the box sets to OFAH, Blackadder, Dad’s Army and Open All Hours.

Though not impressed with Still Open All Hours.

Think PC and millennials not understanding that humour categories have changed over the past few decades.

Only US comedies I find funny and laugh at are Cheers, Scrubs and Frasier.
 
There’s plenty of good comedy. How about People Just Do Nothing? That’s genius.

The examples you’ve used are literally the best of their era. I’m sure there’s a lot of crap that fell by the wayside.
 
I think you're just looking with rose tinted glasses, that's not to say that those shows arent all masterpieces of comedy though.

Personally some of my favourites in the past few years have been Veep, its always sunny in Philadelphia and eastbound and down. The one theguy above mentioned is also good (people just do nothing).

Every show has its classic episode that is absolute gold.
 
everyone is different, i prefer comedy from the 60`s and 70`s because it was far more light hearted and innocent. Some of the shows you mention i have watched and liked but they were amateurish like blackadder series 1, bottom and the young ones.
 
I stumbled into It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia while infected with Covid over Christmas. I've devoured all that was on Netflix since then. Excellent, dark/cringe comedy without stupid canned laughter and despite the amount of episodes often hits the mark (although some episodes are total flat).

Another golden show is What We Do in the Shadows. Also check out Stath Lets Flats.

The shows mentioned in the OP? I don't find them funny any more, it's like going to get your favourite cheese but it's covered in mould that needs to be scraped off, but even then it still stinks. I think comedy is transient and moves with the times.

Also, check out Bo Burnham if you haven't.
 
Sitcoms were definitely better in the past. I think that there has been a drive to tone them down over the years; you definitely couldn't get away with Harry Enfield, fast show or the league of gentlemen today.

Having said that, there are loads of classic sitcoms that are very wholesome, Dad's Army, vicar of Dibley, Allo Allo etc etc.

For comedy today you have to watch stand-up comedy (Netflix is good) as the sitcom format is dead.
 
If we’re talking TV comedy shows, yes.

We’ll not see comedy writing partners like Croft and Perry or Le Frenais and Clement again.

The Two Ronnies and Morcambe & Wise were a combination of comic genius and perfectionism, Eric Morcambe being well known for re-filming sketches again and again until he was happy with it.
 
Comedy is too subjective to make any decent comparison. (For instance I really don’t find Morcombe & Wise funny, but obviously they must have something).

There have been loads of great series in the last few years, but the fractured nature of tv viewing (many channels, streaming etc) means they’re harder to find.

Off the top of my head eg The Inbetweeners, The thick of it, This Country, Veep, I Think You Should Leave. (And none of these are “woke”).
 
Luckystrike123 said:
Sitcoms were definitely better in the past. I think that there has been a drive to tone them down over the years; you definitely couldn't get away with Harry Enfield, fast show or the league of gentlemen today.
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People always say this but I think it’s nonsense. “You wouldn’t get away with making that these days”.

But look at South Park, Always Sunny, Bo Burnham etc.

In the past there was lots of bland middle of the road comedy too, we just don’t think about it any more because it’s dull and hasn’t stood the rest of time. The bland stuff from today won’t either.
 
As with most things, the tv shows, music, etc that you grew up with and enjoyed in your teens 20s tend to be the things you like.

And things are constantly changing, so the comedy of today will appeal more to the generation of today, not us older folk.

That's just life.

I recently rewatched the whole BlackAdder series and still absolutely LOVE it, and did similar with Coupling not too long ago.

But there have been a number of more recent comedies that I really enjoyed too, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend was fantastic, and for a more retro-sitcom feel, I really enjoyed the lesser-known LA To Vegas.
 
If anyone can match or come close to the quality of the writing in Yes, Minister (the original, not the remake), then I'll consider it. My personal favourite.
 
Definitely was better, everything has to be pc now

like no one was offended with fawlty towers or little brittan years ago

now people are offended if you say hello to them
 
Does anyone still enjoy Carry on laughing series? It's still my favourite comedy, you can't beat Sid James, Kenneth Williams and Charles Hawtrey. Unfortunately, they won't make films like it anymore as it would be accused of every ism in the dictionary.
 
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