<p>I am so picky, it is sad. Although I like Jim Carrey in more serious things, most of his other stuff just makes me groan.
Ditto with Will Ferrell. ( but I am willing to try again if you think something of theirs is hysterical)
And I am not current on who is funny so I need lots of suggestions!</p>
<p>I like 30 Rock, Monty Python, early Woody Allen. Don’t like stuff that is mean spirited.
Have seen all of Jeeves & Wooster, & thanks to who ever recommended fortysomething.
That was fun.
I am trying Norman Cousins approach of using humor for pain relief. He found that ten minutes of belly laughs, let him sleep pain free for two hours. I am in chronic pain & while I can shut it out for a while to get something done, it rebounds later.</p>
<p>If it is available on streaming on Netflix, that works the best. The DVD player on my laptop is very particular, but that may be the only way to see I love Lucy.</p>
<p>( oh yay! I see some of I Love Lucy is on Amazon instant video)
:)</p>
<p>Yes books are good too. I have read a few of Evanovich, but not for a long time. I’ve also read most of David Sedaris, which made me pee my pants laughing, but unfortunately it doesn’t have the same effect once you’ve read it three or four times.</p>
<p>Just finished rereading HeartBurn and I remember nothing in honor of Nora Ephron. Maybe I will watch when Harry met Sally.
:)</p>
<p>As for books Carl Hiassen always makes me laugh out loud. David Sedaris is great, but I find I like him best in small doses and I prefer him as an audiobook.</p>
<p>Barney Miller. It’s all good (I think there are 7 seasons) but the funniest episode is probably the one where Mr. Kopechne thinks he’s a werewolf. And Taxi, especially the episode where Louie is convinced the lady in the wheelchair is faking it, or the one where Reverend Jim is getting his driver’s license.</p>
<p>I was going to say Barney Miller, also Night Court. I remember laughing hysterically at that one. The Odd Couple. Frasier is good too. If you’re a British TV fan, try Balck Adder, Ab Fab and maybe Benny Hill. My D is a huge fan of all three, say they’re great. </p>
<p>I don’t read much humor but there’s a series (Leo Waterman) by Tacoma area writer GM Ford (yes, it’s a pen name) about a PI and his merry band of men set in Seattle that caused a friend of mine to fall out of her chair laughing. Think of it as Spencer for Hire only VERY funny. I cracked up through the entire set. The first book is “Who the Hell is Wanda Fuca?” Locals will get that joke.</p>
<p>Books by Mike Faricy especially those featuring his protagonist Devlin Haskell…lots of lol moments for me. “Are you there Vodka, it’s me Chelsea” by Chelsea Handler. “How not to run a B&B” by Bobby Hutchinson. Movies; 21 Jump Street with Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill…I thought this would be too stupid but I actually had lots of lol moments. TV; Any Big Bang Theory episode or Parks & Recreation.</p>
<p>One of my favorite funny books is “Headlong” by the prolific writer/dramatist Michael Freyn. It’s about a man who thinks he’s found a priceless long-lost painting. The book is very humane, funny, and offers a great insight into art history. A quick, fun educational read - what more can you ask for in a book?</p>
<p>If you want humor in small portions, look up Just For Laughs on Youtube. It is a Canadian prank show - there is a whole bunch of episodes posted on Youtube. :)</p>
<p>For books - Sarah Vowell! She never fails to make me laugh out loud.</p>
<p>So cool to see several people mention Barney Miller above. It was the favorite show in our house in the late 70s. Great ensemble, wonderful character actors, very funny dialog. My late dad looked exactly like Hal Linden (well, his nose might have been a bit more Roman. But everyone mentioned the resemblance).</p>
<p>I enjoy sitcoms like Frasier, Taxi, Will and Grace, and Wings - comedies where someone is always either setting up or delivering a wisecrack. Sometimes a bit mean-spirited, but still so funny, and the rhythm is soothing. Big Bang Theory and HIMYM are great fun at first (I love Jason Segal, NPH, and the entire BBT crew), but they’re on so constantly that it’s hard not to memorize entire episodes.</p>
<p>I can’t really identify with Big Bang or How I Met Your Mother. My older kids like them and our hipster relatives think they’re the Greatest Shows EVER, but I just don’t get the appeal. And slapstick (Lucy) was never my thing, nor the cornpone stuff on Andy Griffith. I guess I’d need a different list if it were me.</p>
<p>If you like interesting stand up, try Eddie Izzard. I think all his specials are funny, but Dressed to Kill is probably the best. </p>
<p>Old Whose Line is it Anyways is good for a cheap laugh. I also like Sports Night, Mary Tyler Moore, WKRP in Cincinnati (at least the Thanksgiving episode), Spin City, and Newsradio are a few that could be fun for reruns.</p>
<p>LasMa & I are polar opposites politically, but I totally agree with her here. Big Bang Theory is just hysterical!! Maybe it helps if you have a science background.</p>
I am in chronic pain & while I can shut it out for a while to get something done, it rebounds later.</p>