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50 Greatest Comedy Sketches of all Time

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Old 08-14-08 | 11:06 AM
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50 Greatest Comedy Sketches of all Time

IFC posted this, heavy on Saturday Night Live and Monty Python. Good to see The State on the list. What do you think of the list?

http://www.ifc.com/film/film-news/50...ketches-of.php

Last edited by Paul1957; 08-14-08 at 11:52 AM.
Old 08-15-08 | 03:08 PM
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I checked out the #1 rated skit, Dead Parrot, and I think that one is a dud. The #3 rated skit, Argument Clinic, is very funny. I was happy to see that Who's on First was rated #2.

I have found that there were many Pythons that would leave me scratching my head and thinking: "that was funny?" Yet many are hilarious.
Old 08-15-08 | 05:11 PM
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I don't know how you couldn't love the dead parrot sketch! Truly a classic.
Old 08-15-08 | 07:00 PM
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bah... land shark should be in the top 10.
Old 08-15-08 | 08:16 PM
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ehhh...i guess its an ok list.
I would include:
Brian Fellows: Safari Planet (Saturday Night Live)
Teaching with Billiards ("Mandy Patinkin as a horse ) (Mr. Show)
Old 08-15-08 | 08:20 PM
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That list needs more cowbell.
Old 08-15-08 | 11:04 PM
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I would have used "Monster Parties" and "The Civil War - The Re-enactments" from Mr. Show instead.

I didn't see any Hardcore TV on there; maybe they just hadn't heard of it. "Raging Bullwinkle" and "This Old Whorehouse" were hilarious.
Old 08-15-08 | 11:11 PM
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I can't see the list at work. Was the Carol Burnett skit on there with Tim Conway going on about the elephants that were conjoined twins? I love that skit.
Old 08-16-08 | 12:58 AM
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Originally Posted by collven
I can't see the list at work. Was the Carol Burnett skit on there with Tim Conway going on about the elephants that were conjoined twins? I love that skit.
I think that's more famous for being an outtake. But no, it's not on there. In fact, "Went with the Wind" is the only Carol Burnett sketch on the list
Old 08-16-08 | 07:10 AM
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Not the worst list of its kind, but it could be better. No way should a Vanilla Ice parody - however clever or accurate it may be - be considered one of the greatest comedy sketches of all time, in the same way that killing roaches with a bazooka should not be considered good marksmanship. Too much back burner SNL material gets credit, too (but it's sad to see a great sketch like "Synchronized Swimming" fall victim to that music rights bullshit). I'd say lose the "Dead Parrot" sketch - other similar Python sketches, from "Book Shop" to "Rogue Cheddar" mine the same vein with better results, IMO - and put "Argument Clinic" in the top spot. I also would have included more UK stuff:

"Wanking" from Big Train



And an accurate representation of the experience of buying a house, from Jam (NSFW)

Old 08-16-08 | 07:18 AM
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Too much SNL.
Old 08-16-08 | 08:58 AM
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Argument Clinic is funnier than the Dead Parrot, but the DP is more popular, so it gets to be #1.

I've never understood why people found the cowbell thing so funny, other than the idea that SNL sucks so bad now, when they do anything that's funny, it becomes the funniest thing ever by default.

Chapelle has done much funnier stuff than the racial draft and Rick James.

Where was Chris Rock's how not to get pulled over by the police? What about that 3 Stooges "slowly I turned" thing? Or anything by them?
Old 08-16-08 | 09:12 AM
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Originally Posted by Drexl
I would have used "Monster Parties" and "The Civil War - The Re-enactments" from Mr. Show instead.

I didn't see any Hardcore TV on there; maybe they just hadn't heard of it. "Raging Bullwinkle" and "This Old Whorehouse" were hilarious.
I loved Hardcore TV. I still remember the porn aid sketch and this old whorehouse was hilarious.
Old 08-16-08 | 10:39 AM
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"Word Association" is on the list. Chevy Chase and Richard Pryor, it's (pun intened) too funny for words.
Old 08-16-08 | 04:17 PM
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I was just happy to see "$240 Worth of Pudding" from The State. One of my all time favorites.

And "Porcupine Racetrack" of course.

Last edited by Draven; 08-16-08 at 04:20 PM.
Old 08-16-08 | 04:38 PM
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Racial draft I thought was never very good. What about the skit where Eddie Murphy donned the makeup to be a white guy. White White baby was well deserved I loved that sketch. Plus without this the list is incomplete probably the funniest thing ever done on MTV
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/XVMLivHTXac&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/XVMLivHTXac&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

Also the seinfeld gameshow from snl was pretty great, and what up "Ride the Snake" from Jim CArrey
Old 08-17-08 | 12:59 AM
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Who's on First is the greatest sketch ever, but falls to two probably for age. Argument is also funnier than parrot.
Old 08-17-08 | 09:23 AM
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Damn, I'm blocked at work and my home computer is broken.

I can't see for myself but I wonder if it has one of my favorite sketches (from the otherwise fairly poor MadTV).

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Old 08-17-08 | 11:25 AM
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Would add:

1. SNL - Farley/Swayze - Chippendales audition
2. SNL - Baldwin - Always Be Cobbling
3. SNL - Belushi - Donuts of Champions
4. Monty Python - Funniest Joke Ever Told
5. Mad TV - Nicole Sullivan - Lick My Baby Back Behind
Old 08-17-08 | 12:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Luther Heggs
And an accurate representation of the experience of buying a house, from Jam (NSFW)

Wow, well, I certainly haven't ever seen that before. Mark Heap (Brian) from Spaced?
Old 08-17-08 | 12:56 PM
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<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/l2D3-FkoXNU&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/l2D3-FkoXNU&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
Old 08-17-08 | 10:20 PM
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If Abbott & Costello skits are allowed, then I can think of a lot more that should be in the top 50.

No Conehead sketch should be anywhere on that list, especially in the top 10.

What about Shatner telling off sci-fi convention geeks?
Old 08-18-08 | 01:28 AM
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I will never understand why the hell so many people think the Dead Parrot sketch is the greatest sketch ever. It's not even Monty Python's best sketch. Argument Clinic or even Ministry of Silly Walks would be far more deserving of the #1 spot.

But thank god they included Kids in the Hall's Head Crusher vs. Face Pincher.

And the Wanking from Big Train reminds me of this:

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Old 08-18-08 | 03:25 AM
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So much SNL and neither

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ACB_Dwzkew4&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ACB_Dwzkew4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

or

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Yfsrg28jE7k&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Yfsrg28jE7k&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
Old 08-18-08 | 04:20 AM
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Originally Posted by Dr. Mantle

But thank god they included Kids in the Hall's Head Crusher vs. Face Pincher.
Yeah thats good but those Chicken Lady sketches shouldnt even been in a Kids in the Hall top 50 let alone the top 50 sketches of all time.


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