When Saturday Night Live lands on a winning idea, the chances are high that the writers and performers will milk that idea for all it’s worth in the weeks, months, and years to come. Which is why many fans expected Ryan Gosling’s return as guest host to include a reprisal of the hyper-viral Beavis and Butt-Head sketch from 2024, arguably the biggest sketch of that year. We even know that a follow-up sketch was written and rehearsed, so what happened?

SNL's current "IT Girl" Ashley Padilla, who has amassed MVP status as a featured player, opened up about the missed opportunity when speaking with Deadline, and it sounds like Ryan Gosling himself may have had a bigger-than-expected influence on the follow-up sketch getting scrapped before the live taping. As she put it:

To her point, Ryan Gosling is not an actor who's ever been synonymous with making samey and rote acting choices, and one would have to put some real thought into identifying any sequels that he's been a part of. (All I could think of is Blade Runner 2049, and he wasn't in the original, so it barely counts.) He likely could have turned his Barbie character Ken into its own franchise, but it's just not his style. He and Mikey Day did get back in costume for Fall Guy’s red carpet, but even that technically stood apart from the SNL sketch.

Padilla continued, speaking to the idea that Gosling embraced the new and unfamiliar sketches that were pitched, resulting in more viral sketches like "Passing Notes," and more on-screen breaks from the actors.

To be fair, it's possible that Ryan Gosling had zero issues with reprising his Beavis lookalike role, and the decision to scrap the new sketch was made by Lorne Michaels or someone else on staff. It's truly a tragedy that fans didn't get to see it, largely due to Sarah Sherman dressing up as Tina Belcher from Bob's Burgers. To that end, Padilla shared:

I know it's too much to ask to hope for that or another B&B sketch to resurface during the rest of Season 51, as there are only a few episodes left, and none of the upcoming guest hosts seem very fitting for it. Unless Olivia Rodrigo is made up to look like Daria...

Saturday Night Live airs Saturday nights on NBC at 11:35 p.m. ET, and episodes are available to stream via Peacock subscription.

When I first heard word that this past weekend’s episode of Saturday Night Live cut a new Beavis & Butt-head sketch featuring host Ryan Gosling, my first reaction was admittedly relief. When the original version aired in April 2024, it was instantly recognized as an all-timer for the long-running NBC show – highlights including outstanding makeup/costuming and Heidi Gardner being unable to keep it together – and that kind of magic is hard to reproduce. After new details have come out, however, I’m rethinking my initial opinion, specifically because the sequel would have seen Sarah Sherman paying homage to Bob’s Burgers.

New info about the cancelled sketch has arrived via LateNighter, as while it didn’t make it to air, it was included in the show’s rehearsal. The sketch was going to feature Ashley Padilla as the anchor of a NewsNation segment (replacing Gardner, who left the show in mid-2025), and while it’s unclear who in the SNL cast she was going to be interviewing (a role Kenan Thompson played in the original), Ryan Gosling and Mikey Day were going to return dressed up as Beavis and Butt-head. As an extra bonus, Sarah Sherman was going to be featured as another apparently disruptive audience member with a shockingly similar appearance to Tina Belcher from Bob’s Burgers – presumably replete with black wig, thick-rimmed glasses, blue shirt and skirt, and plenty of awkwardness.

Here’s the good news: it’s possible that we may still get to see it. The Saturday Night Live rehearsals are filmed, and it’s occasionally the case that cut sketches end up being posted to the show’s official YouTube channel. It doesn't happen all of the time, but it's also not unheard of. At the very least, we can keep our fingers crossed that Sarah Sherman posts a shot of herself in her Tina costume to her social channels (or perhaps she can share a video that also showcases her impression of Dan Mintz’s voice, as I'm just as curious about that as her look/mannerisms in character).

While the “Beavis and Butt-head” sequel sketch hasn’t yet been uploaded, fans can enjoy a number of winners from this past weekend’s broadcast, including “Cyclops,” “Wedding Tradition” and the “Passing Notes” sketch that played as a kind of prank on Ryan Gosling and Ashley Padilla thanks to secret changes made after rehearsal. The channel also hosts the original from 2024, which is definitely worth revisiting if it’s been a minute since you last watched:

For those looking forward to more Saturday Night Live, the show is set to air a new episode at the end of this week and will feature Harry Styles as both host and musical guest. Expectations perhaps aren’t “Beavis and Butt-head”-level high, but we should get at least a couple of memorable moments.

As a Millennial, I cherish both King Of The Hill and Beavis And Butt-head. The shows have wholly different comedic sensibilities, but they both notably spawned from the brilliant mind of Mike Judge (the latter co-created by the likewise brilliant Greg Daniels), and they’ve been making me laugh for the vast majority of my life, from the original airings, to reruns, to recent revivals. In regards to the most recent runs of episodes – including Season 14 of King Of The Hill and three new seasons of Beavis And Butt-Head – I’ve been amazed by the remarkable consistency and how everything I’ve loved about the shows has been beautifully recaptured.

And it makes me wonder why the hell we can’t get a new season of Daria to go with them.

To be clear, I am aware that Daria is a show that was made by different creative minds. While the title character was introduced in Beavis And Butt-head, Mike Judge’s commitment to King Of The Hill meant that he couldn’t be a creative contributor to the spinoff and it was made without him. That left the story of television’s most sarcastic teenager in the hands of creators Glenn Eichler and Susie Lewis Lynn… and they crafted what is one of the greatest coming-of-age shows of all time. The MTV original arguably exists as more a cousin of the two Judge creations than a sibling, but they’ve nonetheless caused me to develop a pop culture itch that is in need of scratching now that a tremendously high level of quality has been executed with the revival approach.

There Has Admittedly Been An Effort To Return To The World Of Daria… But It Disappeared

To be fair, there has been an attempt to bring back Daria, but it took a vastly different direction when it went into development. In 2018, MTV Studios announced work on a new show that would be called Daria & Jodie, with supporting character Jodie Landon promoted to be a co-lead, and it became simply Jodie about one year later – with Tracee Ellis Ross attached to both star and produce as a young adult incarnation of the protagonist.

About three years after that, Jodie morphed into a feature, lining up some great talent including The Good Place’s William Jackson Harper and King Of The Hill’s Pamela Adlon… but it disappeared two years later. MTV Studios announced in 2024 that the movie was not moving forward, and though there was a tease that a search was happening for a new home, nothing came of that effort.

Beyond what’s been reported, I don’t know that happened with Jodie or why the decision was made to pull the plug. But with that effort in the past, I’m hoping that a tabula rasa approach can be taken to bringing back Daria, and I’m particularly hopeful that the show takes a cue from the original show’s Season 2 finale.

The Blueprint For A Daria Revival Exists In Season 2’s “Write Where It Hurts”

I could list many reasons why modern incarnations of both King Of The Hill and Beavis And Butt-head have been so successful, but a prominent quality has been a willingness to evolve the show. In the case of our favorite family from Arlen, Texas, audiences are catching up with the characters about eight years since we last saw them, and when it comes to the two biggest idiots on television, the new seasons deliver stories with them both as modern teens and adults. I very much want to catch up with Daria in the same way, and Season 2’s “Write Where It Hurts” offers an exceptional preview of what a revival series could be.

For those who don’t recall, the episode finds the ennui-brimming Daria Morgendorffer given a challenging assignment by her English teacher to write a short story that includes people she knows. She makes various swings with different genres, from Victorian romance to Shakespearean drama, but after being dissatisfied with that approach she tries something different: she imagines a time in the near future when she is a married adult with a career as a columnist and visits with her parents, who are now retired, and her sister Quinn is also married and raising four children. It’s a wonderful and adept appreciation on the character’s behalf understanding how the relationship between parents and their kids vastly change after the teenage years – and I would blissfully watch multiple seasons of the matured Morgendorffers.

The new season of Beavis And Butt-head is airing now, and King Of The Hill has been renewed for Season 15, and I don’t want to be greedy, but there is probably no show out there right now that I would want to see get a revival more than Daria. Given the fate of Jodie, I’m not sure it’s something that we’ll ever get to see, but I’m nonetheless going to keep my fingers crossed.

One of Saturday Night Live’s most delightfully bizarre sketches in recent memory — host Ryan Gosling dressing up as Beavis opposite Mikey Day's real-life version of Butt-Head — almost made it to air years earlier. But according to the veteran cast member, the popular bit faced a long road to the Studio 8H stage, with a failed first attempt involving a different star entirely: Jonah Hill.

In a recent interview with Variety, Mikey Day opened up about the now-viral sketch and its unexpected journey to air. A longtime SNL writer and cast member, Day is best known for helping create fan-favorite oddities, such as David S. Pumpkins and the recurring “Miss Rafferty” alien abduction sketches with Kate McKinnon. However, the concept, centered around the culturally controversial cartoon characters, he revealed, had been quietly circulating in the writers' room for years. He explained:

The host of Is it Cake? (streaming with a Netflix subscription) and his writing partner, Streeter Seidell, continued to tinker with the concept, attempting another version during Oscar Isaac’s hosting week. Unfortunately, that iteration never even reached dress rehearsal. Day continued:

As a result, the sketch was shelved temporarily. Day admitted to the outlet that they were about to completely give up on the idea altogether, that is, until Ryan Gosling returned to host, and everything changed. According to the longtime cast member, Gosling “changes our lives every time he hosts,” and the revived version aired to immediate praise and widespread fan love, with both Gosling and the writer-performer fully committed to their prosthetic-heavy transformations and vacant stares. The sketch was bolstered by Heidi Gardner’s barely-contained laughter, which only added to the charm.

It’s not the first time a weird Mikey Day sketch has gone viral after years of quiet development. In fact, that’s become something of a specialty for Day and Seidell, whose writing partnership has produced everything from the aforementioned Tom Hanks’ legendary David S. Pumpkins to a laundry list of breakout bits that help newer cast members shine.

The SNL standout, who joined the show in 2013 as a writer before being promoted to featured cast, says part of the magic of working on the show is its unpredictability. He explained:

The sketch comedy mainstay doesn’t spend too much time dissecting where his sketch ideas come from, whether they’re sparked by an old commercial, a Disney ride, or a nostalgic cartoon from MTV’s heyday. “When it works, it just kind of works,” he shrugged. And honestly, it’s hard to argue with that logic. On paper, the Beavis and Butt-Head sketch sounds like a long shot, but when it finally hit the screen, it exceeded all expectations. Thankfully, the team didn’t shelve the idea before they found the perfect Beavis in Ryan Gosling.

SNL recently wrapped its landmark 50th season, and fans can stream it, along with all previous seasons, including Season 49, which featured Mikey Day’s Beavis and Butt-Head sketch, exclusively with a Peacock subscription.

Sitcoms are meant to bring joy into the homes of those who watch them. However, not every episode manages to please every viewer and, in some instances, might stir up enough outrage to get banned. Such a fate actually befell some of the following episodes from the best sitcoms of all time which caused controversy.

"The Puppy Episode" - Ellen

At the same time Ellen Degeneres came out of the closet in real life, so did her sitcom alter ego – the first lead character on a TV series to do so – in "The Puppy Episode." While the two-part Season 4 episode of Ellen proved to be an Emmy-winning success and a big ratings win, many affiliates of ABC refused to air the episode and several sponsors chose not to advertise during its broadcast

"Edith's 50 Birthday" - All In The Family

In a two-part episode from the eighth season of All in the Family called "Edith's 50th Birthday," Jean Stapleton's character is nearly assaulted by a stranger posing as a detective whom she manages to escape but not without traumatizing circumstances. While remembered as one of the most powerful dramatic moments in a sitcom, seeing a character like Edith involved in such a harrowing situation was overwhelmingly "heartbreaking" for some to watch.

"Partial Terms Of Endearment" - Family Guy

Originally intended to be the Season 8 finale for Family Guy, "Partial Terms Of Endearment" sees Lois (Alex Borstein) agree to carry a child for a couple but, when they suddenly die in an accident, she considers having an abortion. The episode's satirical approach to a hotly debated serious topic led it to be banned from airing on American television but has been made available in the United States on DVD.

"Running Zack" - Saved By The Bell

Zack Morris is known today as one of the most ill-behaved sitcom kids for many reasons but one time Saved by the Bell tried to pain him in an admirable light has since backfired heavily. Star Mark-Paul Gosselaar later voiced regret over this Saved by the Bell episode in which his character discovers he has Native American ancestry and actually dons a headdress for a class presentation.

"You Say Potatoe, I Say Potato" - Murphy Brown

In the Season 4 finale of Murphy Brown, Candace Bergen's title character chooses to raise her new baby on her own – a decision that was criticized by then-Vice President Dan Quayle. The following season's premiere was written in response to this and even directly acknowledged the vice president's comments.

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" - Roseanne

Roseanne was a revolutionary moment in sitcom history as a TV show featuring blue-collar characters but it also pushed boundaries in many other ways, such as an episode when Roseanne Barr's title character kisses a woman in a lesbian Barr. The comedian had to fight ABC on their hesitation to air the episode fearing there it would spark a backlash from religious conservatives and they turned out to be right.

"The Bicycle Man" - Diff'rent Strokes

In a famous "very special episode" of Diff'rent Strokes, Arnold (Gary Coleman) and his friend, Dudley (Shavar Ross) discover that a bicycle shop owner named Mr. Horton (Gordon Jump) is the kind of grown-up parents would not want their children to be alone with. While acclaimed for its bold depiction of the dangers of inappropriate attention from adults directed at minors, it was criticized for not downplaying its humor as much as it could have.

"Episode #1.1" - Soap

Right out of the gate, the revolutionary daytime drama spoof Soap garnered intense backlash by a wide margin for its approach to topics that were still very sensitive in the late 1970s. Billy Crystal's character, Jodie Dallas, was criticized both by anti-gay groups as well as the gay community, which felt that the otherwise groundbreaking characters portrayed their culture in a stereotypical and mocking fashion.

"Maude's Dilemma" - Maude

In the premiere season of Maude, the also beloved spin-off from All in the Family aired a two-part episode in which Bea Arthur's title character becomes pregnant and decides that, at her age, she would rather not have the baby. "Maude's Dilemma" was the first episode of a television show to acknowledge the abortion debate, which led to CBS receiving thousands of letters in protest.

"The Puerto Rican Day" - Seinfeld

The penultimate episode of Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David's mega-hit comedy is not considered one of the best episodes of Seinfeld for the same reasons it was taken out of circulation for years. "The Puerto Rican Day" – in which the gang gets stuck in traffic due to the eponymous parade – was viewed as culturally insensitive, particularly for one scene when Kramer accidentally lights a Puerto Rican flag on fire and tries to stomp it out, but has since been made available in syndication and on streaming.

"Lucy Is Enceinte" - I Love Lucy

In the 1950s, saying the word "pregnant" was not permitted on television, which is why you never actually hear Lucy (Lucille Ball) say the word in her many attempts to tell Ricky (Desi Arnaz) her big news in this classic I Love Lucy episode. Despite its clever censorship, "Lucy is Enceinte" almost did not air due to advertisers' reluctance because the mere topic of making Lucy pregnant would mean acknowledging that she and Ricky had been intimate.

"The Speech" - The IT Crowd

In the third season of the hilarious British sitcom, The IT Crowd, Matt Berry's Douglas Reynholm discovers his girlfriend, April, is a transwoman (as demonstrated in a tasteless montage of her performing traditionally masculine tasks), which leads to a violent end to their relationship. Considered abhorrent upon broadcast, the U.K.'s Channel 4 decided to pull the episode from its streaming service in 2020, prompting creator Graham Lineman to cut ties with the network.

"The One With The Lesbian Wedding" - Friends

The first TV series to depict the marriage between two women was Friends in Season 2's "The One with the Lesbian Wedding." However, many NBC network affiliates, including in Texas, refused to air the episode in which Ross' ex-wife, Carol (Jane Sibbett), and her girlfriend, Susan (Jessica Hecht), tie the knot.

"Advanced Dungeons & Dragons" - Community

For years, the Season 2 Community episode, "Advanced Dungeons & Dragons" was not available to stream, due to a moment when Ken Jeong's Chang dons what appears to be blackface to cosplay as a "dark elf." However, Community cast member Yvette Nicole Brown, when speaking to Gizmodo, defended the episode, especially since her character, Shirley Bennett, calls out Chang's insensitive act.

"Stark Raving Dad" - The Simpsons

Michael Jackson makes an uncredited appearance in an episode of The Simpsons as the voice of an institutionalized man who believes he is the "Thriller" singer. In 2019, following the release of the documentary, Leaving Neverland, the episode was pulled from circulation and has since been made unavailable to stream.

"Eric's Buddy" - That 70s Show

Joseph Gordon-Levitt guest starred on That '70s Show as Buddy, whom Eric (Topher Grace) discovers is interested in more than lab partners when he plants a kiss on him. The otherwise refreshingly open-minded episode has been criticized for reducing the openly gay character to not much more than a punchline and a means for Eric to reinforce his identity as a straight man.

"200" - South Park

South Park is known for its many boundary-pushing moments, which creator Matt Stone and Trey Parker decided to pay tribute to in the animated series' two-part 200th episode. Unsurprisingly, the episode would face heavy backlash and, since its initial broadcast, has been censored for its depiction of Muslim faith.

"Koi Pond" - The Office

One example of an ill-fated prank from The Office that some fans have probably never seen comes from the since-removed cold open for an episode called "Koi Pond." In it, Michael (Steve Carell) stages a suicide for Dunder-Miffling's Halloween haunted house attraction, traumatizing the young trick-or-treaters and angering viewers for its insensitive approach to the subject.

"Comedians" - Beavis And Butt-Head

When Beavis and Butt-Head pursue stand-up comedy careers and fail, they retaliate by setting fire to the club where they performed and happily giggle as it burns to the ground. In 1993, a The New York Times report claimed that five-year-old Austin Messner watched the episode and accidentally killed his sister by setting his own home on fire, prompting MTV to pull it from rotation. However, in 2008, the 20-year-old Messner revealed (via PopCulture) that he never watched Beavis and Butt-Head because his addict mother could not afford cable.

"I'll See You In Court" - Married... With Children

While Married... with Children never had the squeakiest reputation, Fox refused to air an episode in which Al (Ed O'Neill) and Peg Bundy (Katey Sagal) discover their night at a motel was recorded and file a lawsuit. While initially deemed in poor taste, an edited version of the episode finally made it to air on FX years later.

"Live Show" - 30 Rock

Both times 30 Rock put on a live episode, the shows were met with backlash for the use of Blackface. For instance, the East Coast broadcast of Season 5's "Live Show" would be pulled from syndication for a scene in which guest star Jon Hamm's character shows off his hand transplant from a Black donor.

"Prom-ises, Prom-ises" - Boy Meets World

Some episodes of the beloved TGIF comedy Boy Meets World were removed from Disney Channel's rotation of reruns, including Season 5's "Prom-ises, Prom-ises." The plot sees teen lovers Cory (Ben Savage) and Topanga (Danielle Fishel) considering the decision to consummate their relationship on prom night, only to discover his parents are having their own fun in a nearby hotel room.

"The Hunger Strike" - The Boondocks

It took 12 years for "The Hunger Strike," an episode of The Boondocks that was originally called "BET Sucks" and set to air on Adult Swim in 2008, to finally be shown on American television. The actual reason for the banning has not been confirmed but reports claim that BET threatened litigation, due to its overtly scathing spoofing of the cable network's programming.

"Mid-Life Crustacean" - SpongeBob Squarepants

Even a Nicktoon as beloved as SpongeBob Squarepants has a couple of episodes that modern audiences will never see on Nickelodeon or with a Paramount+ subscription and, in retrospect, it is surprising that one of them ever made it to air. Season 3's "Mid-Life Crustacean" involves a scene when Mr. Krabs (Clancy Brown), in a bid to reclaim his youth, joins SpongeBob (Tom Kenny) and Patrick (Bill Fagerbakke) to raid a woman's undergarment drawer, only to discover too late that they have broken into his mother's house.

"Boston" - Aqua Teen Hunger Force

In 2007, battery-powered LED placards designed to resemble Aqua Teen Hunger Force characters called The Mooninites were placed around Boston as a marketing strategy for the adult animated movie, Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters, but were mistaken for explosive devices. The original show's writers decided to create an episode based on the incident, in which Frylock (Carey Means), Master Shake (Dana Snyder), and Meatwad (Dave Wilis) are mistaken for explosives in Boston. The episode would become the first in the series to get banned but was later leaked online in 2015.

"Something's Up There" - Back To You

The short-lived Fox sitcom Back to You – starring Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton as bickering news anchors – has been largely forgotten since it ended in 2008. However, one episode was deemed controversial upon airing for the following line said to a Polish character when trying to convince them to go bowling: "Come on, it's in your blood, like Kielbasa and collaborating with the Nazis."

"Leap Frogs" - Rocko's Modern Life

Not only was Rocko's Modern Life one of the weirdest Nicktoons ever but it was especially one of the lewdest. Nickelodeon let plenty of mature humor slide but did ban an episode in which Mrs. Bighead tries to seduce the titular wallaby.

"Elephant Issues" - Tiny Toon Adventures

The Steven Spielberg-produced Tiny Toon Adventures served as a new era for the Looney Tunes legacy but did make a few dark turns during its run. For instance, one banned episode, which was meant to serve as a PSA of sorts, saw Buster Bunny, Plucky Duck, and Hamton J. Pig getting intoxicated and suffering a car accident

"Dentist" - Adventure Time

The plot of the Adventure Time Season 6 episode, "Dentist," – in which Finn (Jeremy Shada) receives oral treatment from a colony of ants – offers nothing controversial in concept. However, it caused a bit of an internet uproar when a character named Lt. Gamergate (which is the name of a type of ant) was interpreted as a reference to the recently developing "GamerGate" movement.

30. "Fat Like Me" - Daria

Spun-off from Beavis and Butt-Head, Daria followed the misadventures of the cynical, monotone titular teen (voiced by Tracy Grandstaff). One episode of the animated never aired in reruns on the Nickelodeon subsidiary Teen Nick (formerly known as The N) because of the way it depicts obesity's connection to high school social status.

"Terms Of Endearment" - Drawn Together

Drawn Together is a mockumentary-style animated Comedy Central series following a group of cartoon characters living together. One episode was met with controversy for its satirical portrayal of the horse riding accident that paralyzed Superman actor Christopher Reeve, who passed away shortly before the series premiered.

"Man's Best Friend" - Ren & Stimpy

One of the most unhinged episodes of Ren & Stimpy was banned on Nickelodeon for a violent scene in which Ren beats up a character with an oar, as well as the depiction of dog treats that, for some reason, look like cigars and feces. The episode was later broadcast on MTV, which is certainly a more appropriate home for its subject matter.

Saturday Night Live is celebrating its 50th Season on NBC this year, which will extend into the 2025 TV schedule. As new SNL hosts and musical guests get added, it's only natural that the stellar current cast look back on memorable moments. Main cast member Heidi Gardner, who has become quite the familiar face every Saturday night, recently did just that. Known for being somewhat stoic while in character, Gardner notably broke last season during the show's viral Beavis and Butt-Head sketch and, now, the comedian is explaining what happened.

This particular sketch from Season 49, written by Mikey Day, saw the writer and fan favorite host Ryan Gosling dress as cartoon characters Beavis and Butt-Head. Everything was going relatively well, until suddenly, the ever-reliable Gardner broke character in a laughing fit. She recently told Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast host Amanda Hirsch that she is still baffled by the moment to this day:

The effect was almost immediate, like letting the air out of a balloon. Once the Hustle alum broke, the rest of the cast, including guest host Ryan Gosling, struggled to get through their lines, with the exception of 22-season vet Kenan Thompson.

It’s not uncommon for an SNL cast member to crack a smile or two during a performance. It's a small acknowledgment of the silliness going on before regaining their composure and moving on. Still, it's understandable why Heidi Gardner would break upon seeing co-star Mikey Day as Butthead, considering that wild viral look. The Shrinking actress now seems to think the environment was just ripe for this sort of break, almost as if it were out of her control:

The SNL writer is most likely referring to the infamous group break during the Disneyland Debbie Downer sketch with Lindsey Lohan. Only Lohan managed to pull herself together at the very end of the sketch before walking off, most likely to laugh off screen. Both this Debbie Downer sketch and Season 49’s Beavis and Butt-Head sketch received similar attention, where in almost everyone agreed the complete breaks by cast members really made the sketch hilarious. So it’s safe to say this sketch has earned its place as one of the best unexpected SNL moments.

I have to say, these past few years, the cast has been churning out consistently hilarious content, spearheaded by people like Heidi Gardner, Mikey Day, Bowen Yang, Chloe Fineman and Sarah Shurman. They all have such great chemistry and ability to build off each other, almost to a fault. As for Gardner, she explained exactly what happened in the moment that triggered the laughing fit:

Since the fall premiere, SNL has seen its fair share of viral moments like this one, and it’s shaping up to be another memorable season. I’m quite excited for this talented new cast to collaborate with the SNL legends they bring back for the 50th Anniversary Special, set to premiere next year.

In an ideal world, fans would possibly see Heidi Gardner partner up with Rachel Dratch to write a special Debbie Downer skit, or maybe Beavis and Butt-Head will make appearances in the inevitable Jeopardy! sketch. Regardless, it may not matter how much pride Gardner takes in staying in character, as she may not have a choice in breaking with the stacked cast of comedians we are sure to see on the screen.

The SNL 50th Anniversary Special will air on February 16 on NBC and will be available to stream with a Peacock subscription. Also, new episodes of Saturday Night Live are still airing on the eponymous night at 11:30 p.m. ET on the same network.

The only people who really know what it’s like to work behind the scenes on a powerhouse program like Saturday Night Live are the veterans who survived that particular “war.” There are so many stories about entertainment battle scars earned on SNL, with sketches behind cut as talented comedians work to find the best recurring characters or a bit that’s going to have legs as a viral sensation. Currently, Jason Reitman has a movie in theaters that tries to capture the magic that goes into bringing Saturday Night Live to life each week. And Rachel Sennott, co-star of Saturday Night, shares some insight of what it was like to be backstage on SNL during the creation of a legendary sketch. Here’s what she told us.

While interviewing the Saturday Night cast about their time working on the movie, I asked Sennott – who has experience as both a writer and a performer – which role she’d like to do on SNL for a full season. Sennott wrote the 2023 comedy Bottoms, in which she also starred, but is also known for appearing in Bodies, Bodies, Bodies (a vastly underappreciated horror movie), and 2020’s Shiva Baby. I wondered if she’d prefer to write or perform on SNL, and her answer involved one classic sketch from Ryan Gosling’s tenure on the show. Sennott told CinemaBlend:

As someone who sees both sides of the process, Rachel Sennott clearly prefers to work on the “kitchen” side of the equation, reveling in the process of HOW the sausage gets made, instead of delivering it to the hungry audience. Then again, when you are in the writers’ room for the development for something as bizarre and eye-catching as the Beavis and Butt-Head sketch on SNL, you probably catch a high off the creativity, and then chase that buzz for the rest of your career.

Ryan Gosling, somehow, was perfect to play a normal man who resembled Beavis on a Saturday Night Live sketch… one that went beyond a viral sensation and actually bled over into the actor’s promotion for The Fall Guy earlier this year. I think SNL co-star Heidi Gardner is still cracking up over the look of both Gosling and Mikey Day, who played a live-action Butt-Head.

Right now, Jason Reitman’s Saturday Night is entertaining audiences looking for laughs from an upcoming 2024 movie. As we drift into the Awards season, films tend to get more serious, so lighter fare is appreciated. And if you have seen Saturday Night already, then you have to read about this cool scene that Reitman stepped into. Or, skated into.

And if you want to hunt for more viral moments from SNL, keep watching the 50th season of the late-night institution. The next batch of hosts includes Michael Keaton (on October 19) and John Mulaney (November 2).

For all the differences people have, one thing uniting us is the “I want to be anywhere but here” feeling during unavoidably cringe-worthy situations, which don’t even need to be happening in real life. (Better if not, really.) Certain TV shows are memorably beloved breeding grounds for skin-crawling awkwardness, and we so often can’t get enough. (As such, several series mentioned rank among our picks for the 100 Best Sitcoms.)

For all my personal embarrassments suffered, I can easily take comfort in watching fa-a-a-ar worse things happening to fictional characters and comedians populating such hyper-cringey shows. From classic TV to more current shows, we're journeying down a past best taken with fingers partially covering one's eyes.

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia

Quite possibly the undisputed champions of behavior that would make [insert the worst person you can think of] blush, The Gang from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia exemplifies cringe behavior through a mixture of "zero shame" and "zero empathy," and the ensemble of side characters don't fare better. Frank popping out of a couch in his birthday suit will forever be a haunting highlight.

Extras

A comedian who turned cringe comedy into a lucrative artform, Ricky Gervais' HBO/BBC series Extras excels here for several reasons. Gervais' Andy being a magnet for mishaps, his ever-smiling agent Darren Lamb's blistering candidness, and each episode's self-imploding celebrity cameo. See: Kate Winslet, Daniel Radcliffe, David Bowie, all the rest.

Beavis And Butt-Head

Beavis & Butt-Head's MTV era honed in on disaffected youth and light anarchy, but much of its Paramount+ and Comedy Central revival revels in its gag factor and cringiness. Their exceedingly palpable stupidity has them mistaking a ladies’ room for an escape room, and trying to grow tobacco plants with cigarette butts, but it's always hilarious.

Between Two Ferns

Zany-comedy experts Scott Aukerman and B.J. Porter created the anti-cozy talk show Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis, building upon the Hangover trilogy star's burst of stand-up comedy popularity. Celebrities like Michael Cera, Jon Hamm and Charlize Theron went through the ad-libbed interview wringer, never quite syncing with the host.

Married...With Children

The Bundys are the TV family equivalent of “nice place to visit, but wouldn’t want to live there,” but Married…with Children is indeed a grimace-provoking joy to visit. For 11 seasons. Al, Peg, Kelly and Bud are the most eye-twitchingly cringey people in the room, whether singular or in group form, and we root for them anyway, despite their inherent grossness and complete lack of self-awareness.

Nathan For You

A unique blend of docuseries and improvisation, Nathan for You is a rare example of equal-opportunity cringe, where not everything relies on characters’ embarrassment. Here, a fictionalized version of Nathan Fielder aims to help real small businesses in baffling and complicated ways that speak to his own personal hang-ups. (Everybody remember Dumb Starbucks?) It’s incredible watching everyone’s befuddled faces as they try to make logical sense of Nathan’s gonzo ideas and suggestions.

Da Ali G Show

Sasha Baron Cohen became an internationally renowned comedian with Da Ali G Show, which birthed “voice of da yoof” host Ali G and two ready-for-spinoff characters: Kazakhstan implant Borat and gay Austrian fashion designer Brüno. Cohen’s brash comedy definitely makes certain viewers squirmy in any setting, but he’s arguably best known for agonizing interviews with celebs and politicians who are utterly clueless.

The Larry Sanders Show

No clicking! Based in part on star and co-creator Garry Shandling’s Tonight Show guest-host experiences, The Larry Sanders Show is upper-echelon comedy, and much of its humor stems from things going sour in the lives of Larry and his optimistically beleaguered TV sidekick Hank Kingsley. While perhaps not as unendingly cringe-inducing as other classics, more than enough misguided decisions and implosions go down for viewers to suffer first-degree second-hand embarrassment.

Fawlty Towers

If the Mount Rushmore of TV Cringe existed, John Cleese’s Basil Fawlty would be hastily carved up there, given how staggeringly awkward things get at the titular hotel. Basil’s stubborn pride, sporadic laziness, and standoffish nature makes him socially combative with wife Sybil (Prunella Scales), Spanish waiter Manuel (the late, great Andrew Sachs), and guests both fancy and commonplace. Only 12 episodes exist, and “The Germans” and “The Kipper and the Corpse” are stomach-churning standouts.

The Increasingly Poor Decisions Of Todd Margaret

David Cross’s pitch-black IFC comedy The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret deserves a permanent award for Most Applicable Title. Every episode is a wildly amusing exercise in spectator patience, as temp worker Todd becomes chaos incarnate with every move and word, leading to increasingly heightening consequences. Cross’ ability to make viewers want to die inside remains immaculately intact across all seasons, with an intentional shift in story for the third.

Hello Ladies

The Office and Extras vet Stephen Merchant struck out on his own to strike out with women as Hello Ladies' L.A. import Stuart Pritchard. Alongside co-stars Kevin Weisman and Kyle Mooney, Merchant brilliantly leans into making Stuart a vexatious magnet for disaster who never quite lose his ability to smile and move on to the next romantic dumpster fire.

I Think You Should Leave With Tim Robinson

So much cringe comedy is set to traditional sitcom runtimes, but I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson aims to make viewers as uproariously uncomfortable as quickly as possible. Episodes clock in around 15 minutes, but feature a week’s worth of social horror, from office workers lying about eating hot dogs during meetings to drivers taking joke bumper stickers literally to pageants for “Little Buff Boys.”

The Tom Green Show

A pioneer of televised indie comedy, Tom Green broke into the mainstream for his willingness to do anything to get any reaction from those watching. The stunts and shock comedy, mixed with bare-bones production values, inspired many shows to come, but few could top the innate discomfort of watching Green make life hell for his parents, suckle cow udders, or test random business employees' patience with his eccentric behavior.

Worst Week

Based on a UK sitcom, CBS’ Worst Week starred Kyle Bornheimer and Erinn Hayes as agent-of-mayhem Sam and pregnant fiancé Mel, whose goals of surprising her family with wedding and baby news could not go worse. (Her ever-frustrated dad is played by That ‘70s Show great Kurtwood Smith.) We’re talking exploding vehicles, misplaced family heirlooms, mishandled Christmas gifts, dirty diapers, and so much more.

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

Aline Brosh McKenna and Rachel Bloom's Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is a musical comedy series like no other, centering on a behaviorally challenged lawyer who inexplicably moves across the country for a childhood crush. Unabashedly candid about mental struggles, feminism, and all manner of relationships, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is perhaps The CW's most brilliant series, leaving audiences both emotionally crushed and highly amused by Rebecca’s life choices and A+ musical fantasies.

The Inbetweeners

The Inbetweeners is the perfect personification of post-pubescent teenage boyhood, putting a giant magnifying glass on rampantly inappropriate awkwardness. Friends Will, Simon, Jay and Neil strive for popularity and romance, failing miserably every time. It’s impossible to avoid second-hand humiliation from episodes like “Caravan Club” and “The Fashion Show,” not to mention the spinoff film's waterslide terror.

Family Guy

Among the most popular animated series of all time , Family Guy has never strayed from its core tenets: cutaway gags and morally exempt characters. Where most shows put forth one-note cringe, the awk sauce inspired by Quagmire and Herbert is on a completely different planet — probably Uranus — from Meg-specific ickiness, but it dovetails nonetheless. Just like that time I tailed those two doves. [Cutaway to noir bird sanctuary.]

The Mick

It’s Always Sunny great Kaitlin Olson fronted arguably broadcast TV’s raunchiest and most cringe-worthy comedy. Olson’s Mickey and sporadic boif Jimmy (Scott MacArthur) are the worst conceivable guardians for the Pemberton siblings, and all are privy to the most horrifying downward spirals across each episode of The Mick, where unimpeded greed and pride lead to various forms of physical trauma and emotional stunting. If it makes Thomas Barbusca’s Chip scream like a woman, watch out.

Ziwe

Satire queen Ziwe Fumudoh created cringe gold with Baited with Ziwe, but went platinum with Showtime's Ziwe. With interviews akin to the Daily Show’s best, Ziwe leads guests unwittingly down self-exposing paths to test their limits, assuming they exist. (Chet Hanks = pret-ty limitless.) Beloved personalities like Phoebe Bridgers, Fran Lebowitz, and Michael Che can't escape becoming victims of silence-provoking cringe.

Freaks And Geeks

To be sure, Freaks and Geeks is more heart-on-its-sleeve comedy than cringe-heavy, but few would argue that much of what happens to John Francis Daley’s Sam, Martin Starr’s Bill and Samm Levine’s Neal across the dramedy’s iconic single season classifies as relateably awkward. Maybe not everyone has worn a Parisian night suit to school, or accidentally pooped, or had crushes refer to them as siblings, but we all know that feeling of “bury me deep” discomfort.

The Office (UK)

With a face even a mother would warily shrug at, Ricky Gervais' David Brent made life an uncomfortable hellscape for Wernham Hogg employees and audiences. At no moment is David Brent not a cringe monster, from his goonish and seemingly unending dances to his attempts at flirting to his legendary music video for "If You Don't Know Me By Now." And yet, Tim and Dawn...

Curb Your Enthusiasm

Larry David took Seinfeld's circular plotting and applied it to a fictional version of his own life along with an unhealthy injection of audience-shocking cringe. It doesn't even matter how telegraphed the path is from Larry's buffoonish actions to inevitable calamity, it always works, and it always makes me want to jump into my television to apologize to whatever man, woman, child, or animal Larry just offended.

The Eric Andre Show

Part of the point of The Eric Andre Show is not knowing what to expect, but you can be absolutely certain watching host Eric André's antics (and his guests' faces) will rank highly among the most awkward moments of your day. This is the high bar for cringe talk shows, and you don't want to know what it's slathered with.

The Curse

The rare hour-long drama that can also clock as cringe-comedy, Nathan Fielder and Emma Stone's The Curse checks all the boxes thanks to Asher and Whitney sacrificing their better instincts to secure an HGTV show based on an unproven and potentially harmful premise. Co-creator Benny Safdie's chaos-minded muse and in-show director further necessitates bathroom breaks just to escape.

The Life And Times Of Tim

HBO is the home to A+ discomfort, and Steve Dildarian’s animated comedy The Life and Times of Tim fits squarely in that mold, with a dose of Nick Kroll in there for good measure. Every episode is guaranteed to spin out into bafflingly absurd situations often caused by the main character's questionable actions.

The Comeback

Lisa Kudrow followed mega-hit Friends with the Hollywood-skewing cringe-fest The Comeback, centering on actress Valerie Cherish's returns to the limelight across two years-apart seasons. Due to the reality TV element, Kudrow delivers a layered, career-best performance that rarely allows her authentic self to shine, while all the other parts of herself are hauntingly inappropriate.

Peep Show

UK comedy kings David Mitchell and Robert Webb produced a magnum cinge-us with Peep Show, whose first-person-perspective visual format locks viewers into the front row of horrors like Mark and Dobby's closet shenanigans, the Christmas special dinner and the wedding.

South Park

South Park's characters have been an entertainment staple, and its creators have yet to lose control of delivering hatchet-sharp satire in plenty of cringe-friendly ways. It's easier to think about topics that haven't been awkwardly skewered by this show than vice versa.

Tim And Eric Awesome Show, Great Job

Adult Swim ambassadors Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim are a cringe TV industry unto themselves, and the monolithic Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job gets under viewers' skin immediately with its title punctuation, and it only gets better / worse from there.

The Rehearsal

Cringe-master Nathan Fielder mixes real life with production design magic for HBO’s The Rehearsal, in which normal people practice an array of difficult impending conversations from their real lives, set in painstaking recreations of subjects’ homes and other real-world locations (like a Raising Cane’s restaurant). It’s a baffling mix of reality and absurdity that makes me itchy just thinking about being at the center of an episode.

The Office (U.S.)

Perhaps the most successful UK-to-U.S. remake ever, Greg Daniels’ The Office successfully imprinted David Brent’s “please like me” personality onto Steve Carell’s Michael Scott, and cringe-comedy history ensued. The mockumentary arguably lasted too long, but its best years will forever be celebrated for HBP-inducing eps such as “The Dundies,” “Safety Training,” “Stress Relief” and more. Jim and Pam are adored for good reason, but nothing overshadows Michael’s ugh factor.

Louie

The Emmy-winning Louie will likely never escape the shadow of creator Louis C.K.’s real-life controversies, but that doesn’t necessarily change its five-season run delivering some of TV’s most cringe-inducing moments. The main character’s inherently humiliating nature makes him suck with women, suck at professional life, and kinda suck with his kids. Louie is also noteworthy for its meta-cringe episode that addressed C.K.’s legitimate joke-stealing accusations against Dane Cook.

God, I’m getting old. I know a lot of Gen X’ers like to say, “Remember when MTV used to play music?” But, as a “geriatric” millennial, all I’m saying is, “Remember when MTV used to have a whole buncha great shows?” 

If you’re a fellow elder millennial like myself, then you know exactly what I’m talking about. Some of those shows were MTV cartoons (and two of them are on this list), but there were so many other great live-action programs that this ‘90s kid spent literal hours watching MTV. 

Just to name a few that didn’t make the list: Celebrity Deathmatch, MTV’s Loveline, The Tom Green Show, MTV Sports, 12 Angry Viewers, and Idiot Savants. I loved you all, but not as much as these 10 other shows.  

10. The Grind 

I know you probably don’t want to hear about some loser’s sexual awakening, but, oh man. The Grind was it for me. The show was basically just people dancing. And, I’m not saying dancing well, like in the Step Up movies, which I still miss. I’m talking about just gyrating, and pelvic thrusting, often to rap music, but sometimes to hit pop songs of the era.

I would often dance along to these songs, too, and sweat a whole lot, so it was also great exercise for me. 

It’s kind of crazy to think that MTV was so music-centric back in the ‘90s that they would just let people dance to their hearts’ content, and it was considered legitimate television. That’s all it was, and it was glorious. Oh, man. I miss the ‘90s. 

9. Headbanger's Ball 

I love music. And, when I say that, I mean all music. While I was definitely listening to The Notorious B.I.G. and 2Pac back in the ‘90s, I was also deeply into Metallica, Rage Against the Machine, Marilyn Manson, and Tool. But, those were just some of the mainstream metal groups that I was listening to. 

It took Headbangers Ball, though, to get me into bands like Pantera, Motorhead, Anthrax, and a whole slew of other great bands that I’m still into today. 

Headbangers Ball was awesome, because there were often interviews with groups, which really put faces to the musicians. One thing that blew my mind was that since I was so used to lead singers screaming their heads off, I was taken aback when I’d hear them just casually talking during an interview. It made them look like, I don’t know, normal human beings. It’s a shame that the show ended in the mid-90s, but it started in the ‘80s, so it had a good run. 

8. Singled Out 

Back in the ‘90s, I was mostly in elementary school, but for three uncomfortable years, I was in middle school, and I was deeply in love with one girl. Of course I didn’t know much about dating, and a show like Singled Out definitely didn’t help me on my journey to learning about it. But, thankfully, at least the show was enjoyable. 

On the program, which was hosted by Chris Hardwick, who would eventually become the host of Talking Dead  (Remember Talking Dead?!), and The Masked Singer’s Jenny McCarthy, 50 single women would compete for a date with one man, and 50 single men would compete for a date with one woman. So, it was kind of like The Bachelor, or The Bachelorette, before either of those shows existed. 

It was also really silly. Basically, there would be a series of questions, and the person in the hot seat would “single out” the kind of date they were looking for by picking a category. Sometimes, the person would regret their choices when they saw some of the hot people that they kicked off, and those were always the best moments. 

I’ll tell you, the dating world was nothing like Singled Out when I entered it…And, that’s probably for the best.  

7. Yo! MTV Raps

I mentioned earlier that I love all music, and I do. If you’ll check out my current record collection, I have everybody from John Denver, to Windows96, to Barbra Streisand. 

However, back in the ‘90s, rap music was definitely my preferred genre. Here’s an analogy for you: Headbangers Ball : Metal :: Yo! MTV Raps : hip-hop, because it was basically the same show, but with rap music instead of metal. 

There would be interviews, videos from all sorts of acts, and just an overall appreciation for the culture. I’ll also never forget that it was hosted by Doctor Dre (That’s Doctor Dre. Not Dr. Dre), and his friend Ed Lover. They made for a great team on an overall great show.  

6. MTV Unplugged 

MTV Unplugged was like the show for me. On it, some of my favorite bands, like Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Stone Temple Pilots, etc. stripped down their electric sounds, lit up some candles, and performed most of their hits, but with acoustic instruments. 

One of the biggest highlights was LL Cool J Unplugged. His “Mama Said Knock You Out” was such a totally different experience with live instruments. Another notable episode was when Oasis performed, and their lead singer, Liam Gallagher, bowed out at the last second. So, his older brother, Noel, filled in for him, only for Liam to be in the audience, heckling the band. Ah, memories.  

5. Road Rules 

Road Rules was pretty much The Real World, but in an RV and more gimmicky. On the show, its…contestants (?) would complete a series of challenges along the way to their destination. They didn’t have any money, so they’d have to get by and find all sorts of clues. 

That was interesting, but I mostly liked all of the bickering each season. They eventually went to Europe one year, and I had an intense desire as a teenager to go there one day in the future that unfortunately never transpired. Maybe one day…though, sans the RV. That doesn’t seem like much fun anymore. 

4. Total Request Live 

Total Request Live is a bit of a cheat since it debuted in the late ‘90s, but it still played a major part in my youth. 

The concept was simple. People would call In and request what videos they wanted to see, and then MTV would play them. Carson Daly was our host, and he'd interview people while fans screamed.

This was the first show that made me realize that people liked some of the same music that I liked. I'll never forget when Wu-tang Clan’s “Triumph” was the number one song one afternoon. It made me feel connected to so many people that day. What a rush. 

3. The Real World 

The Real World both excited me, but also frightened me when I was a teenager. On the show, a bunch of young adults were living in a house together, and basically had to get along to the best of their abilities. But, they would often argue over some of the pettiest stuff, and it worried me that this was what “the real world” would actually be like once I reached adulthood. 

Everybody was also hooking up with one another it seemed, and this was the part that excited me. Once again, my own real life wasn’t a reflection of what I was watching on television, but that’s just me. I wasn’t like the people that I once saw on The Real World, and it took me to get to my own adulthood to fully understand that that was okay. I couldn’t be somebody I wasn’t, even if I tried.  

2. Beavis And Butt-Head 

Mike Judge worked on two of the greatest animated shows of all time in Beavis and Butt-Head, and King of the Hill. While the latter may have been the better show, the former is the one that most informed my teenage years. 

It was just such a ridiculous show, but also one that resonated with me because I would later come to know people in high school who were just like Beavis and Butt-Head. 

I'm talking about the sit in the back, do-nothing's who cracked jokes all day and hit on girls (to zero success). It was funny to watch Beavis and Butt-Head, but revelatory when I learned that people like them actually existed. What a bunch of fart knockers.  

1. Daria  

While I knew people like Beavis and Butt-Head in high school, I was Daria. I connected with no other show on MTV like I did this one, which is strange, because Daria was definitely a teenage girl, and dealt with teenage girl issues. That said, I still felt like her on many occasions while growing up. Her, and her artistic friend, Jane Lane. 

On the show, Daria had to deal with all of the extroverts around her, and as a pessimistic introvert myself, Daria just spoke to me. Strange, but true.

How many of these shows did you watch back in the ‘90s? 

In the history of MTV’s original programming, no scripted show utilized the network’s music video output quite like Beavis and Butt-Head, whose central slacker duo often rails against pop music’s biggest hits while kneeling at the altar of heavy metal. Alongside showcasing mainstream releases, the twice-revived series remains a conduit for music that can be classified best as MTV-famous, if not necessarily radio-friendly across the country.

As such, so many of the songs showcased in episodes of this all-time great animated TV series are now forever bound to my memories of seeing and hearing Beavis and/or Butt-Head’s rabid excitement, palpable disgust, and hilariously awful singalongs. So hop on the closest busted couch with a tray of questionable nachos and read on. 

“Put Your Mouth on Me" - Eddie Murphy

Seen In: Season 2’s “The Butt-Head Experience”

For many, Eddie Murphy’s musical career began and ended with “Party All the Time,” but Beavis and Butt-Head reminded us all that 1989’s “Put Your Mouth on Me” existed, even if they changed the channel before the verse actually started. “Didn’t this guy used to be in the movies?”

“Parklife” - Blur

Seen In: Season 5’s “Lightning Strikes”

For all that Blur’s “Song 2” was as inescapable as oxygen for a span in the 1990s, other singles such as their “happy little tune” title track to 1994’s Parklife weren’t quite as pervasive in the zeitgeist. Perhaps because it inspires people like Beavis to want to change the channel before the first lyric is completed. But if they all came with the pair riffing on Family Feud, that might be different.

“Psychobilly Freakout” - The Reverend Horton Heat

Seen In: Season 5’s “What’s the Deal”

The Reverend Horton Heat made their music of choice clear with their debut album single “Psychobilly Freakout.” While the original track later made its way onto Guitar Hero Smash Hits, I still remember it best with Mike Judge’s Beavis instantly parroting the title back. The track also earned this A+ Butt-Head description: “It’s like country music, but it’s like country music after you’ve been, like, playing centipede for like 24 hours.”

“Liar’ - Rollins Band

Seen In: Season 4’s “Liar Liar”

Henry Rollins is an artist whose performances are always enhanced plenty-fold by actually seeing him in action, so it’s no surprise MTV was fond of the band’s early ‘90s efforts, such as their spoken-word-turned-to-hollering hit “Liar.” That lack of surprise extends to the chaotic, paint-splattered video making its way onto Beavis and Butt-Head’s television, leading to one of Beavis’ classic non-fire-related freakouts: “Yes! Lie! Liarrrrr! Yes!”

“Hay Fever” - The Trash Can Sinatras

Seen In: Season 3’s “True Crime”

Scottish band The Trash Can Sinatras’ 1993 single “Hay Fever” completely escapes my memory in any respect beyond the rapid-movement visual effect utilized in the music video, which gave Beavis and Butt-Head’s animators a chance to do the same with Butt-Head. While also letting Mike Judge poke fun at Brit-pop and the titular characters’ geographical ignorance.

“California” - Wax

Seen In: Season 5’s “Another Friday Night”

With no disrespect to the band Wax, I’ll admittedly only recognize their 1995 single “California” if somebody says, “The one with the music video of a guy on fire running in slow motion.” Also known as “Beavis’ utopia.”

“In These Arms” - Bon Jovi

Seen In: Season 3’s “Car Wash”

Bon Jovi was as radio-friendly as acts could get throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s, but instead of any all-timer karaoke-ready classics, the boys landed on the band’s 1993 release “In These Arms,” which goes about as well as one would expect. Which is better: Butt-Head jokingly asking if Jon Bon Jovi is actually Jane Fonda, or Beavis’ raspy warbling? Right, it’s both.

“Neighbor” - Ugly Kid Joe

Seen In: Season 3’s “Scratch ‘n’ Win”

Hard rock outfit Ugly Kid Joe — or Ugly Kid Chode if you’re Butt-Head — made their Beavis and Butt-Head debut with the music video for their 1992 single “Neighbor.” More memorable to me than any lyric in this song is Butt-Head cheering on the dude in the armchair as he digs between his toes and eats whatever he comes away with.

“I Love You” - Vanilla Ice

Seen In: Season 6’s “Babysitting”

Three seasons after the lads watched “Ice Ice Baby,” Beavis and Butt-Head spent a lot of time giggling upon seeing Vanilla Ice once more for the track “I Love You.” Beavis rarely sounds more studious than he did with this summation: “They’re always, like, putting this guy down and you know, like, making fun of him, and saying he sucks and stuff. But you know, um, he really does suck, and this is one of those times where everyone is right.”

“Scatman” - Scatman John

Seen In: Season 6’s “No Service”

Few novelty songs represent the ‘90s quite like Scatman John’s semi-self-titled 1994 oddity “Scatman (Ski-Ba-Bop-Ba-Dop-Bop),” and few songs have made Beavis fly instantly off the Cornholio-adjacent handle quite like that same track. Which isn’t to say either of the teens liked it, although they came to appreciate the idea that the song might have been about poop. Always with the silver lining, these two.

“Reflections Of Passion” - Yanni

Seen In: Season 5’s “Pregnant Pause”

“Whoa, look at that, it’s Geraldo!” A declaration that sounded more optimistic than Beavis and Butt-Head’s eventual realization that they were actually watching a video from Yanni, whose ‘90s street cred was just south of Kenny G’s. Amusingly, It’s a video where Butt-Head trolls Beavis by turning the TV louder and claiming something cool is about to happen, but it never does, and we all lose.

"Everybody Get On Up" - Carmen Elektra

Seen In: Season 2’s “No Laughing”

Model and Baywatch vet Carmen Electra likes throwing back to past career moments, but popping up on Beavis and Butt-Head probably isn’t a go-to memory for her, just like the single “Everybody Get on Up” probably isn’t a go-to memory for anyone who didn’t watch this episode a bunch.

“Torture” - The Jacksons

Seen In: Season 2’s “At the Sideshow”

One of the relatively rare Jacksons singles to be lead by someone other than Michael, “Torture” is the kind of song I probably couldn’t recognize in a lineup without Beavis and Butt-Head calling out for Tito. Given how quickly they change the channel, I’m not sure I’ve ever heard the end of this song. But how about that Tito, amirite?

“Ultra Twist!” - The Cramps

Seen In: Season 5’s “To the Rescue”

Psychobilly legends The Cramps debuted their 1994 single “Ultra Twist!” on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, and less than a year later, its leather-clad music video made it to Beavis and Butt-Head’s TV, where they mistook it for an episode of Tales from the Crypt. At the time, I appreciated Beavis’ impressions of the Cryptkeeper and his grandmother more than the song, which has since been, uh, rectified.

“Old Timer” - that dog.

Seen In: Season 5’s “Tainted Meat”

The ‘90s punk band that dog., fronted by Yellowjackets theme co-writer Anna Waronker, may not be the most familiar, but Beavis and Butt-Head fans likely remember the hot dog stand-set music video for “Old Timer,” in which Beavis freaked out over the use of a fryer — “Fryerrrr!” — and divulged his not-so-sanitary use of hairnets.

“Devil’s Johnson” - Ethyl Meatplow

Seen In: Season 3’s "Young, Gifted, & Crude"

“Scummy people are cool. . . Slimy people rule.” Beavis and Butt-Head’s wit and wisdom knows no bounds. Although the rest of their take on early-’90s dance-rock band Ethyl Meatplow consisted mostly of both teens making sure they heard the name of the song correctly, so I guess that counts as a bound.

“Mean Machine” - Sugar Ray

Seen In: Season 5’s “Bang The Drum Slowly”

Before becoming an entertainment industry mainstay, Mark McGrath and Sugar Ray churned out offbeat and self-aware hard rock tracks like 1995’s “Mean Machine” (with a video directed by McG). Even more enjoyable than the song is Butt-Head’s candid enjoyment of watching the band members’ synchronized dance moves.

“Twiggy, Twiggy” - Pizzicato 5

Seen In: Season 5’s “Lightning Strikes”

A band I’ll admit to being almost completely unfamiliar with outside of the context of Beavis and Butt-Head, the genre-mashing Japanese pop group Pizzicato Five gained some ocean-crossing fandom from the video for their single “Twiggy, Twiggy” showing up on MTV. While it unfortunately features a bit of cheap foreign-language humor, the clip is perhaps most memorable for Beavis mistaking someone in the video for a character from the ‘60s sitcom My Three Sons. A reference teens are making in every generation.

“Judge The Hot Fudge” - The Didjits

Seen In: Season 5’s “Choke”

The theatrical punk band The Didjits never really cracked into the mainstream, but one of their closest calls was when the 1993 single “Judge Hot Fudge” confused Beavis and Butt-Head into thinking they weren’t watching a legitimate music video. Because if “it was serious, it would suck.”

“The Right Kind Of Love” - Jeremy Jordan

Seen In: Season 2’s “Burger World”

Pop star Jeremy Jordan landed arguably his biggest hit with 1992’s “The Right Kind of Love,” as featured on the Beverly Hills 90210 soundtrack. And while I watched that show as well, I mostly remember the song for being a classic hate-watch track for Beavis and Butt-Head, causing Beavis to repeatedly demand Butt-Head change the channel. Thankfully for all, it worked.

“Show Me Your Soul” - Red Hot Chili Peppers

Seen In: Season 2’s “Sign Here”

A single from the 1990 smash rom-com Pretty Woman, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Show Me Your Soul” delivers all the white-boy funk fans desired from the band at the time, and even earned some of Beavis and Butt-Head’s funk-deficient dance moves from the show’s earliest years. It's nowhere near as overplayed as the rest of their hits catalog.

“Pride and Joy” - Coverdale and Page

Seen In: Season 5’s “Temporary Insanity”

Former Whitesnake frontman David Coverdale teamed up with Led Zeppelin legend Jimmy Page for the 1993 collab album Coverdale-Page, and the results can be summed up best by Beavis and Butt-Head’s own convo during the music video for “Pride and Joy,” in which they talked about classic bands who keep the same name despite only having one original member still performing. Granted, Beavis mistakenly thought this was just a severely pared-down Zeppelin, but still.

“Monkey Business” - Skid Row

Seen In: Season 3’s “Ball Breakers”

Skid Row may have taken the hair metal world by storm with their debut, but the first track off of their sophomore album (which was also a hit, to be sure) did little to impress Beavis and/or Butt-Head, though it makes for a truly classic video segment. Not so much for calling Masked Singer vet and high-note legend Sebastian Bach a girl, but for making fun of his performative aggression, for putting them to sleep, for inspiring Butt-Head to fart, and so on.

“Only One” - Goo Goo Dolls

Seen In: Season 5’s “Spare Me”

Goo Goo Dolls hit it big with the 1995 hit “Name,” but A Boy Named Goo’s first single is the less-celebrated “Only One,” whose makeshift island-set music video sparked Beavis and Butt-Head’s simple-but-memorable convo about what three items they’d take to a desert island. Beavis’ answer: some crackers, a swimsuit, and maybe some cheez whiz to put on the crackers. Butt-Head’s answer: “three chicks.”

“Cantspeak” - Danzig

Seen In: Season 5’s “Animation Sucks”

With a video that makes Beavis and Butt-Head say plop a lot, and also gives the former a chance to make a kitty litter-related confession, Danzig’s 1994 single “Cantspeak” is as chill as the hard rock band gets, sparking Beavis to boast that he could whoop Glenn Danzig, which is about I’d pay to see.

“Black Sunshine” - White Zombie

Seen In: Season 2's "Home Improvement"

Neither MTV nor Beavis and Butt-Head ever shied away from a banging White Zombie video, with both of the band’s debut album singles airing on the animated series. Even though the popularity of "More Human than Human" pretty much eclipsed everything else, no one can deny the power of "Black Sunshine," which held the show's teens rapt and silent for half of its runtime.

“The Animal Song” - The Europeans

Seen In: Season 3’s “Canoe”

Beavis and Butt-Head dipped back a decade to showcase The Europeans’ 1982 single “The Animal Song,” which ranks among the duo’s most hated videos that they inevitably still watched more than 90 seconds if only to talk about how much it sucked. Among Butt-Head’s most zen lines ever, even if he had to repeat it while yelling: “Just because something’s cool doesn’t mean something else doesn’t suck.”

“Cool Kids” - Kix

Seen In: Season 3’s “Kidnapped”

95% of the time when either Beavis and/or Butt-Head devalues a song’s existence in the first five seconds, it’s a spot-on assessment that makes for a fun segment. Kix’s 1983 music video for “Cool Kids” did not deviate from the formula. The Season 3 spot featured one of the duo’s sickest possible burns: “These are supposed to be cool kids? I’d hate to see the uncool kids.”

“Martin Scorsese” - King Missile

Seen In: Season 3’s “Plate Frisbee”

No, the song isn’t called “Martin Scores Easy,” Butt-Head, and maybe this dude shouldn’t settle down. King Missile’s 1992 single “Martin Scorsese” is a one-of-a-kind violence-soaked screed about the Oscar-winning director that quickly amped Beavis up with its talk about grabbing necks and twisting noses. Not the most melodic track for car radio singalongs.

“Crazy Love” - Gruntruck

Seen In: Season 2’s “Friday Night”

“It doesn’t even suck,” is about as good of a compliment as one can earn from Beavis and Butt-Head, and landing a spot on the MTV hit was indeed a move in the right direction for the grunge band Gruntruck, especially given how much the duo thought they rocked with the video for “Crazy Love.” And had I ever heard it anywhere but on the show, I’d have likely quoted them.

“Ebeneezer Goode” - The Shamen

Seen In: Season 3's "Kidnapped, Part II"

The Scottish electronica group The Shamens released the track “Ebeneezer Goode” in 1992, which didn’t quite have the impact in the U.S. that it did in the UK. But Beavis and Butt-Head fans know it as a song that provided the soundbites of Beavis saying “naughty, naughty” a bunch of times with a British accent, as well as him having a faux seizure.

“The Night The Master Comes” - Electric Sun

Seen In: Season 3’s “Meet God”

Psychedelic rockers Electric Sun made exactly zero fans out of Beavis and Butt-Head with the cheeseball video for their 1985 track “The Night the Master Comes,” whose opening hilariously makes Butt-Head say, “Uh-uh” before any actual words come out. And when those words did emerge, they repeatedly addressed how awful it was right up until the channel was changed.

Will we ever get to see a live-action Beavis and Butt-Head series with Ryan Gosling and Mikey Day reprising their insta-classic Saturday Night Live sketch to sit and watch music videos in live-action like MST3K? They donned the outfits again on the red carpet for Gosling’s Fall Guy premiere, so one can only hope. In the meantime, check out all the episodes available to stream on Paramount+.

Though Kenan Thompson has spent more time than usual reflecting back on his youthful acting days, in part because of the Quiet on Set docuseries, whose controversial stories largely came from the era after which he’d left Nickelodeon. He’s obviously still as all that as ever, thanks to his multi-decade tenure on Saturday Night Live, and he’s both excited and proud to bring largely care-free laughs to audiences every season. Just don’t ask him for specifics on how to create viral comedy gold.

Having been front and center for some of SNL’s net-spanning viral clips over the years, Kenan Thompson probably seems like a perfect person to solicit advice about crafting something that speaks to the masses, but even after 21 years on the gig, the Kenan and Kel vet is just as surprised as anyone by the show’s biggest hits, and 2024’s most popular segment is no exception. Speaking at Cannes Lions (via Deadline), Thompson shared this when asked how to go about creating a series-transcending clip.

To be fair, both Beavis and Butt-Head have been making fans laugh anew as part of Mike Judge's second revival series, which will be debuting its third modern-era season at some point after the 2024 TV season is over. The MTV original is one of the best animated series of all time, has also sparked two different feature films. So the metal-loving slackers are slightly more important than just "two cartoon characters from 30 years ago," but his point is still valid.

Because who in their right mind would have, sight unseen, predicted that Ryan Gosling and MIkey Day's portrayals as the Highland, TX duo would comfortably spend weeks atop the pop culture zeitgeist, thanks in part to Heidi Gardner's inability to stop herself from laughing during the sketch? Likely nobody, and it only speaks to how hard it is to plan a viral sketch that the Beavis and Butt-Head idea was actually written and attempted back in 2018, but didn't make the final cut until 2024.

Kenan Thompson knows that he can't force popularity to happen by magic, and says the next best thing to do is just to do one's best, and that some of it will break through to the masses. As he put it:

Not even Bob Newhart could have foreseen Mikey Day's problematic teeth and Gosling's nose-wig combination becoming such a prominent visual that eclipsed most of Saturday Night Live's 49th season. But I 100% want to see the iconic comedian in a Beavis and Butt-Head episode no. Maybe the teens take a trip up to a secluded family-run inn...

While waiting for more from the long-running NBC favorite, relive some of the best sketches from Season 49 below.

All currently available episodes of Saturday Night Live can be streamed with a Peacock subscription, while Beavis and Butt-Head can be streamed with a Paramount+ subscription.

For anyone who thinks that Saturday Night Live is no longer a valid cultural institution, one of the installments that aired amid the 2024 TV schedule provided the ultimate case against such thoughts. Thanks to Ryan Gosling’s recent hosting stint on the landmark sketch comedy show, and more specifically the Beavis and Butthead sketch that’s been making the rounds, the series has been enjoying some great press. Since the episode, new BTS information on the segment's conception has been divulged, and some interesting details have come to light. Now, as it turns out, the "biggest challenge" in mounting this years in the waiting SNL sketch didn't involved crafting Gosling's Beavis, but rather writer/star Mikey Day's Butt-Head. 

During a chat with THR, the show’s makeup department head, Louie Zakarian, discussed the preparations that went into giving Mikey Day his striking appearance as the MTV comedy icon. And, as one would have expected, the piece that drove it all home was Butt-Head’s iconic upper lip, as Zakarian explains below: 

When you really think about it, that sentiment absolutely tracks as one begins to break down one of the most popular Saturday Night Live sketches from this, or any season. Sure, doing the voice and dressing like Butt-Head is still intimidating; but for Mikey Day, having to look the part was no easy feat. Especially when, on a less makeup intensive day, this is what the man looks like: 

Louie Zakarian, as well as SNL hair designer Jodie Mancuso, have been making the rounds to talk up the simply titled sketch “Beavis and Butt-Head” quite a bit lately. It was through their commentary that fans learned how this SNL sketch almost involved Jonah Hill, as it was written several years back by head writer Streeter Sedell and Mikey Day himself. 

The report sourced above also mentioned that this comedic delight could have had a second life during Oscar Isaac’s 2022 guest spot, but it was once again cut. Now that “Beavis and Butt-Head” has finally happened, stories like Heidi Garner’s big character break have been as fun to behold as the sketch itself. 

So, in case you’ve somehow missed this moment of comedy, or just want to watch it again for yourself, here’s the SNL sketch of the moment in its entirety: 

I can’t believe the moderator’s name was literally a setup for that final button of a gag. "Beavis and Butt-Head" is the definition of a sketch that keeps on giving and, as SNL enters its 50th season, I have to wonder how they'll try to clear the bar of acclaim that this sketch has set up. Perhaps it's time for Aubrey Plaza to host, in the hopes of making a Daria-centric counterpart to make it all complete?

If you’re in the mood for more of the shenanigans that Saturday Night Live has been up to recently, you’re in luck. Through access to a Peacock subscription, you can catch some of those laughs for yourself. Or, if you really want to challenge yourself, see how long it takes you to not laugh at Mikey Day and Ryan Gosling’s perfectly ridiculous makeup jobs.

Of all the major highlights from Saturday Night Live Season 49, one of the biggest is arguably the now-famous Beavis and Butt-Head sketch. The segment saw host Ryan Gosling dress up as Beavis alongside cast member Mikey Day, who embodied Butt-Head, and both looked wild. So much so that series regular Heidi Gardner couldn’t help but laugh upon seeing their looks, particularly Day’s. Since that taping, additional details about the segment have been divulged, and it’s more recently been revealed that the viral sketch was actually written years before Gosling was involved. Details regarding what happened to that original incarnation – as well as how Jonah Hill was involved – have also come to light. 

The sketch definitely works due to the performances of Ryan Gosling, Mikey Day, Heidi Gardner and Kenan Thompson. However, it also works in great part because of the hair and makeup styling that was done. Credit for those elements goes to hairstylist Jodi Mancuso and makeup designer Louie Zakarian. The two spoke to The Ankler about their work on the hilarious segment from the show, shedding light on key details in the process. It was during that conversation that the two confirmed that this skit had been attempted several times over the years. Mancuso clarified that the first attempt occurred in 2018, with Zakarian adding that Jonah Hill was initially set to star in it. As for why it didn’t happen, Mancuso attributed it to multiple factors: 

It’s understandable as to why this would be such a challenging feat to pull off. From a visual standpoint, Beavis and Butt-Head are two unusual characters, even by cartoon standards. So adapting their looks for a live-action production would certainly be tough. Also, considering Jonah Hill’s comedic sensibilities and his tendency to go all out when hosting SNL, it makes sense that he would be part of something like this. I’m thankful, though, that the creative team didn’t give up on the idea after those initial attempts. Jodie Mancuso went on to explain that when it was most recently pitched, she was game to try it again, but she initially faced some pushback for a suggestion she made: 

Ultimately, everyone moved forward with the production and put in the work necessary to make it happen. And, while everything eventually panned out well, Louie Zakarian recalled that a few small changes still had to be made shortly before showtime:

The combined efforts of the cast and crew resulted in what can now be considered an iconic moment in SNL’s illustrious history. Fans reacted to the Beavis and Butt-Head sketch throughout the entire week following the taping, and many are still buzzing about it now. The sketch’s popularity was so strong that Ryan Gosling and Mikey Day reprised their respective roles during the premiere of the former’s action flick, The Fall Guy. 

All the while, Heidi Gardner opened up about breaking during the performance, explaining that she was trying her best to recover. While she saw the two during dress rehearsal, the additional prosthetics added to the two actors are what ultimately broke Gardner. At the same time, Kenan Thompson held steady, maintaining his composure throughout. Check out the sketch for yourself, which shows two men who look like the famous cartoon teens (inadvertently) causing a fuss amid a NewsNation discussion:

I’m not sure anyone will ever forget this SNL sketch, and it’s not hard to understand why. It’s interesting to think what it would’ve looked like with Jonah Hill’s involvement years ago. Still, what we have is so perfect that it leaves no doubt in my mind that this is the version that was meant to come to fruition. 

You can stream every episode of Saturday Night Live Season 49 with a Peacock subscription now. And, while you wait for the landmark 50th season to debut this fall, check out other shows that can be found on the 2024 TV schedule.

Though television programming existed in various forms for more than a decade before the first situation comedies officially arrived in the late 1940s, the sitcom quickly became one of the most popular and duplicated genres for the next 80+ years. From stand-up comics to Hollywood icons, sitcoms are responsible for some of pop culture’s biggest stars, from Jerry Seinfeld to Jennifer Aniston to Dick Van Dyke to Lucille Ball, as well as some of the most memorable catchphrases.

Despite broadcast networks no longer championing sitcoms as much as in years past, with streaming services picking up the slack — Netflix is now more known for multi-camera sitcoms than any of the Big 4 — TV comedies will likely continue to keep audiences breathless with laughter for many more years to come. As such, CinemaBlend’s staff came together to celebrate and rank the 100 best sitcoms of all time, with the order stemming partially from our writers’ sharing scores for more than 200 different series, along with other contributing factors.

So sit back in your favorite recliner, grab an extra-large Squishee (or an ice-cold Duff, if you’re of age) and settle into the coziness, comfort, and occasional cringeworthiness of the best TV sitcoms of all time, according to CinemaBlend.

100. Bewitched

You know a show is a classic when even Marvel is drawing inspiration from it nearly 50 years after its end. The fantasy sitcom Bewitched worked its magic at CBS for eight seasons, partially due to the phenomenal comedic acting of Elizabeth Montgomery and Dick York, who was famously replaced by Dick Sargent due to York's worsening health issues. Add in an equally impressive ensemble cast including Agnes Moorehead, David White, and Paul Lynde (just to name a few), and it's no wonder Bewitched was a nose-twitching delight of a show that doesn't need supernatural abilities to be great.

99. Laverne and Shirley

Arguably the most successful Happy Days spinoff, as well as one of the best TV comedies of all time, Laverne & Shirley followed two best friends and bottle-cappers as they navigated life and everything it threw at them in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (later Burbank, California). Though similar in tone to its predecessor, this long-running sitcom relied more on the physical comedy talents masterfully pulled by stars Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams. And when it comes to iconic opening credits sequences, Laverne & Shirley was in a league of its own with all those shots of the fictional Shotz Brewery along with that classic theme.

98. Beavis And Butt-Head

No Beavis And Butt-Head fan will argue that the show isn’t dumb. Because it is. It really, really is, in each of its iterations. The two eponymous characters rank as two of the most unambiguously stupid protagonists to ever grace a TV screen, and every word they say is unadulterated idiocy. Ironically, though, that’s the genius of Mike Judge’s creation. The impossibly dumb leads allow for stories that no other sitcom can reasonably or responsibly touch with any degree of verisimilitude, while also permitting some outrageously weird takes on music videos (and social clips) across various eras.

97. Hogan's Heroes

War stories are often suited for prestige dramas, but Hogan's Heroes proved that a P.O.W. camp comedy could be just as awards-worthy. During its 168-episode run, Bob Crane's titular leader and his squad constantly thwarted Nazi enemies with fast-talking and constant hijinks (many of which were put into play by future game show legend Richard Dawson). Lasting as long as World War II did itself, Hogan's Heroes showcased how reflecting on past tragedies with humor can make for memorable art.

96. How I Met Your Mother

How I Met Your Mother may be higher on this list if not for fan opinions of the final season, but I would 100% say that it’s worth watching despite a lackluster ending. This show is about finding out how Josh Radnor’s Ted met his future wife, but it really thrives as a series about best friends. As Neil Patrick Harris’ Barney Stinson would say, this ensemble is legen–wait for it–dary, and those who check it out will definitely be invested in what the cast is doing now that the series is over.

95. Mork & Mindy

Today we all know what an immense talent Robin Williams was, and the absolutely wild places he could take comedy. Imagine not knowing any of that, and then turning on an early episode of Mork & Mindy, where he must have come across quite like somebody from another world, much like the character he played. Mork from Ork gave Williams the freedom to do almost anything on screen opposite Pam Dawber’s Mindy (and later Jonathan Winters), and it’s no surprise he took over Hollywood after four successful seasons.

94. The Adventures of Pete and Pete

Plenty of shows focus on the weirdness of suburbia, but Nickelodeon’s The Adventures of Pete & Pete still stands awkwardly as one of the best. As Older Pete (Michael Maronna) and Younger Pete (Danny Tamberelli) navigate the oddities of Wellsville, life lessons and warm memories are gifted to viewers by creators Will McRobb and Chris Viscardi. Pete & Pete delivers its homespun tales with a deep-seated love of ‘50s and ‘60s pop culture, and with one of the more impressive celebrity guest star rosters of kid-centric TV. Where else will you find REM’s Michael Stipe as a conspiratorial ice cream man?

93. black-ish

Watching Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross’ Andre and Rainbow Johnson raise their family amidst navigating various challenges in and around their largely white-populated neighborhood, all while still hanging onto their Black identities, makes for eight seasons of exceptional sitcom storytelling. While black-ish went on to launch two spinoffs, the original still stands as the cream of the crop, expertly balancing pointed social commentary and humor regarding a variety of topics, racial and otherwise. Plus, TV grandfather-dom looks great on Laurence Fishburne.

92. The Munsters

What happens when a family largely modeled after Universal’s Classic Monsters takes up residence in the middle of suburban America’s Mockingbird Heights? You get The Munsters, which slotted in nicely among other comedic offerings in the ‘60s while also satirizing sitcom tropes of the era. Although Fred Gwynne’s bumbling patriarch Herman was often the driving force behind the weekly shenanigans, Lily, Grandpa, Eddie and Marilyn (the only “normal” looking one) were all far more endearing than their monstrous counterparts, making The Munsters a great platform for chaotic, yet heartfelt entertainment.

91. Happy Endings

Best friends are always good sitcom fodder, as David Caspe’s Happy Endings proved for three seasons on ABC ahead of its fan-angering cancellation. Damon Wayans Jr.’s cucumber-cool Brad and Eliza Coupe’s A-type Jane are the group’s PDA-friendly couple, while her sister, Elisha Cuthbert’s confusion-prone Alex, is exes-ish with Zachary Knighton’s dorky-smooth Dave. The group is rounded out by Adam Pally’s schlubbo-sexual Max and Casey Wilson’s serial dater Penny. Perhaps the only sitcom whose leads share a fictional history as Real World vets, Happy Endings is as fun and fancy-free as romance-fueled sitcoms get.

90. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Less than two years after Ellie Kemper played Erin Hannon for the last time on The Office, she sunshine-smiled her way through a bonkers show of her own with Netflix’s original Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. The series, which centered on former cult member Kimmy’s surreal and gung-ho acclimation to life in a “real” world she hadn’t lived in for years. One of the more unique shows from creators Tina Fey and Robert Carlock, Kimmy could have made this list just for turning the multi-talent Tituss Burgess into a small-screen regular. Extra kudos for the follow-up movie Kimmy vs the Reverend.

89. That '70s Show

Starring Topher Grace and running for eight seasons from 1998-2006, That ‘70s Show transports any generational audience who watches back to the late 1970s for the horned-up (and oh-so-slightly drugged-up) exploits of high school besties and their respective parents. The teens were played by actors who would go on to become bona fide stars, including Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, Wilmer Valderrama, and Laura Prepon. The Circle in Eric’s basement was always reliable for big laughs, and though its final season suffered from cast exits, Netflix’s That ‘90s Show kept the good times going far more successfully than That ‘80s Show.

88. Extras

Ricky Gervais and Steven Merchant followed up on the smash success of The Office by crossing the ocean to HBO for the Hollywood-skewing riot Extras, which hinged on the fraught character trifecta of Gervais’ dispirited actor Andy, his god-awful agent Darren (Merchant) and his kind-hearted and oblivious actress BFF Maggie (Ashley Jensen). While only two seasons and a Christmas special, it’s a modern classic not only for its gloriously cornball faux sitcom When the Whistle Blows, but for bonkers celebrity cameos from Kate Winslet, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellan and more. Gervais also delivers an all-time Top 5 spit-take in one episode.

87. The Bernie Mac Show

The late Bernie Mac is still widely viewed as a comedy giant, and his eponymous family sitcom is a major reason for that. The Bernie Mac Show definitely isn’t the first comedy to be headlined by a stand-up, but it’s one of the few that so perfectly utilized the talents of its lead. Mac’s signature brand of no-nonsense humor is especially hilarious when he bounces off his A+ co-stars. But, overall, what makes this series one of the great modern Black sitcoms is its funny, warm and nuanced depiction of familial dynamics amongst African Americans.

86. Gilligan's Island

Before The Brady Bunch (but after The Red Skelton Show), screenwriter and producer Sherwood Schwartz launched 1964's smash-hit Gilligan's Island, and the fictional voyage was far more doomed than the show's. Starring Bob Denver and Alan Hale, the sitcom won over viewers with plots hinged on island inventions, unexpected visitors, dream sequences, and random items washing up ashore. While the show famously never hit one hundred episodes, its premise was beloved enough to spark several TV movies and the truly baffling Saturday morning cartoon spinoff Gilligan's Planet.

85. Mad About You

Chemistry is usually all it takes to keep a sitcom afloat, whether its shared by an ensemble (see: Friends) or tethered to a winning duo like Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt in Mad About You. It helps that both actors lent their movie-level wattage to the sitcom for eight seasons, exploring marriage and eventually parenthood in New York City. (Reiser previously co-starred in My Two Dads, to be sure.) But despite the parade of stellar comedic co-stars — Hank Azaria, Lisa Kudrow, Carol Burnett, and Mel Brooks? Come on! — it was Paul and Jamie keeping us invested. We were mad about them, and maybe a different kind of mad about Mabel.

84. Three's Company

Three’s Company is an interesting case-study in dated sitcom writing, as 90% of the jokes that prop up the show wouldn’t fly today. Almost every single line can be construed as sexual innuendo, and the plot twists of a given Three’s Company episode are so driven by silly miscommunications, the formula is basically cliche. However, John Ritter’s deep reservoir of charm, when combined with his incredible chemistry with the female roommates that came in and out of his orbit, made it an overall win, and one of the most memorable and breezy sitcoms of the 1970s and ‘80s.

83. Family Guy

What can be said about Family Guy that hasn’t already been said? While Seth MacFarlane’s first mega-hit doesn’t feel quite as crude as other late night animated fare these days, it quickly cemented itself as an envelope-pushing primetime entry thanks to its murderous baby, they hyper-perverse Quagmire, and the less said about Herbert, the better. The series made a meme-worthy artform out of cutaway gags, man vs. chicken fights and lowbrow pop culture spoofs. At this point, the Griffins are basically as widespread as the Simpsons, and Brian would certainly drink to that.

82. Malcolm In The Middle

Malcolm in the Middle was a key part of Fox’s Sunday comedy lineup for six of its seven seasons from 2000-2006. At the time, the Frankie Muniz-starring comedy was a rare example of a single-camera sitcom that eschewed a laugh track and had its lead regularly breaking the fourth wall. The family was known to deal with serious issues in the background of the shenanigans of the sibling trio, which helped the sitcom win seven Emmys. It was also Bryan Cranston’s breakout primetime TV role, proving he was a comedy legend years before dipping into drama for Breaking Bad.

81. The Facts Of Life

A spinoff of Diff’rent Strokes, The Facts of Life is one of the most successful TV offshoots that shares little with its predecessor, and for good reason. The coming-of-age sitcom explores adolescence in a way that neither its predecessor nor follow-up projects ever could, with a perfectly cast ensemble of young actresses led by the incomparable Charlotte Rae. This sitcom exists because of Rae’s previously stellar work, and her warmth and charm in the role of Mrs. Garrett helped make a family out of her girls, from Natalie to Tootie to Jo to Blair and the rest.

80. The Addams Family

Although The Addams Family started off as a single-panel New Yorker comic strip published from 1938 to 1964, it was the TV series premiering that same latter year which made the family a pop culture favorite. Watching Morticia, Gomez, Uncle Fester, Wednesday, Pugsley, Grandmama, Lurch and Thing freak people out with their macabre tastes and supernatural antics never got old, and without the popularity of this show, it’s doubtful these ghoulish characters would have returned in a variety of live-action and animated projects in later years.

79. My Name Is Earl

My Name Is Earl earned its way to sitcom greatness thanks to star Jason Lee’s all-in performance as Earl Hickey, as well as the great premise that sees Earl attempting to right the litany of past wrongs committed against seemingly everyone he’d ever met. (The concept also helps make it easy to drop in on any random episode without really needing to see what happened beforehand.) Ethan Suplee, Eddie Steeples and Jaime Pressley are equally brilliant in their respective roles, and we can still relate to Earl to this day anytime we struggle to keep our eyes open while taking a picture.

78. The Middle

Every once in awhile, a show sneaks it way into the zeitgeist and in our memories. The Middle, a show about a quirky middle-class family from the Midwest ran for nine years and hit home for a wide and nostalgic audience. It was a breath of fresh air and an honest take on class and what it was really like to grow up in, well, “the middle” of everything. Ironically, it was the ending of the show that stuck with most, but all good things must come to an end. 

77. Dave

This whole entry could be spent talking about how Dave is driven by the exceptional talent of David “Lil Dicky” Burd, who has a truly offbeat world perspective to go along with his legitimate gifts as a rapper. But that would be a disservice to Davionte "GaTa" Ganter, who proves over the course of the three seasons to be the NSFW series’ true heart. It gets funny and ridiculous, but it can also deliver a nice, solid gut punch courtesy of your investment in the characters’ plights for recognition.

76. Spin City

Arguably TV's least polarizing political sitcom, Spin City was a winning candidate for its six-season term in part due to co-creators Bill Lawrence and Gary David Goldberg. The latter also created Family Ties, and brought Michael J. Fox into the lead role here as well, with Charlie Sheen successfully taking over in Season 5 after Fox's medical-related exit Spin City is also a melting pot of TV excellence, boasting Connie Britton, Carla Gugino, Richard Kind, Alan Ruck and more greats filling out the NYC mayor’s office.

75. The Andy Griffith Show

One of the most iconic and wholesome sitcoms of the 20th century, The Andy Griffith Show gave audiences nearly 250 episodes with the residents of the fictional town of Mayberry, North Carolina, centering on local sheriff Andy Taylor, played with aw-shucks charm by Griffith. Characters like Barney Fife (Don Knotts), Gomer Pyle (Jim Nabors), Aunt Bee (Frances Bavier), and Opie (a young Ron Howard) made for plenty of the early highlights in sitcom history, both in black-and-white and color.

74. Family Matters

Airing for nine seasons from 1989-1997, Family Matters became a beloved sitcom for multiple generations regularly tuning into ABC’s TGIF lineup. The spinoff of Perfect Strangers followed the highs and lows of the Winslow family, with Die Hard vet Reginald VelJohnson becoming an iconic sitcom dad as Carl Winslow. Of course, Jaleel White’s Steve Urkel famously stole the spotlight as the nerd-tastic breakout star, sporting the signature “Did I do that?” catchphrase. Yes, he certainly did, if by “that” he meant annoying his unrequited love Laura or creating alternate versions of himself via sitcom science.

73. The Wonder Years

The Wonder Years aired from 1988-1993, but very fathfully recreated the late ‘60s and early ‘70s to invite audiences into the lives of the Arnold family. Starring Fred Savage in his breakout role (alongside fellow greats Dan Lauria, Alley Mills, and Danica McKellar), the coming-of-age comedy touched on Vietnam War politics, high school romance, deaths of loved ones, sibling rivalries and more, with Daniel Stern's narration a key source of its charm and emotional heft. From using Joe Cocker’s unforgettable “With a Little Help from My Friends” to its powerful-yet-unplanned finale, it’s no wonder that this classic eventually inspired a reboot.

72. The Flintstones

The Flintstones is arguably the first animated project to prove itself as much of a classic sitcom as anything in live-action. Premiering back in 1960 and running for six wildly successful seasons, the sitcom follows the titular family within a fictional and idealized version of the Stone Age. Its popularity kept it airing in syndication for decades,later inspiring spinoffs, live-action movies, TV specials, ice cream pops, and (of course) the most memorable vitamins down the medicine aisle.

71. The Proud Family

The Proud Family was one of the standout shows of ABC’s One Saturday Morning programming block, walking the line between cartoony kids show and legitimate family drama quite well. Disney+’s more recent Louder And Prouder revival is evidence of that popularity and storytelling skills. Kyla Pratt’s Penny Proud is as relatable a TV teen as can be, and Sugar Mama (voiced by Family Matters’ Jo Marie Payton) is the kind of grandmother anyone would appreciate, sans bodyslams.

70. The Drew Carey Show

Long before he became host of The Price is Right, Drew Carey jumped from standup comedy to sitcom stardom with The Drew Carey Show, which ran for nine increasingly zany seasons from 1995-2004. The comedian starred as a fictionalized version of himself living in Ohio, working at a mundane job surrounded by a core group of friends with hijinks to spare. (Particularly during the A+ April Fool’s Day episodes.) This was the first big scripted TV role for cast members like Christa Miller, Diedrich Baker, Ryan Stiles, Craig Ferguson, and John Carroll Lynch. Hopefully fans can agree with the show on one thing: Cleveland Rocks!

69. Designing Women

If watching four sassy, professional ladies flourish, flounder, and tell it like it is sounds like something you can get behind, then look no further than Designing Women. The comedy starred the all-time great cast of Dixie Carter, Young Sheldon’s Annie Potts, Delta Burke and Hacks star Jean Smart as co-workers sharing their personal and professional trials and triumphs to side-splitting effect over several seasons. Even better, the show managed to work in a lot of social commentary that’s still relevant today, and no one has ever taken down bullies and bigots like Carter’s Julia Sugarbaker.

68. Night Court

Many sitcoms can be vehicles for a single great comedian to shine, but the strength of the original Night Court was its ensemble. (And that sax-y theme.) Harry Anderson played de facto leader Judge Harry Stone alongside John Laroquette, Markie Post, Richard Moll and more, and the jury of TV audiences gave the verdict of Night Court being guilty of hilarity. Despite the fact that the show’s format could seem as formulaic as real-life courtroom dockets, silliness often ensued, and fans were happy to watch these talents play off each other for an enviable nine-season run. Its popularity endures with Melissa Rauch’s 2023 revival.

67. The Honeymooners

TV shows have a way of changing the pop culture landscape by being quotable, and The Honeymooners is one of the earliest sitcoms whose influence is definitely still felt in that category, with “One of these days Alice…” and “To the moon!” persisting so many decades later. The all-time classic follows two New York City couples and the various shenanigans they get into, with Ralph and Alice famously played by Jackie Gleason and Audrey Meadows, respectively. And while the empty threats of domestic violence might be jarring for newcomers, The Honeymooners significantly set the stage for so many sitcoms to follow.

66. Raising Hope

Wacky isn’t always a word that comes up when discussing family sitcoms, but Raising Hope fits that description to a T. The Chance family is filled with more lovable and well-meaning weirdos than you’d think could possibly fit into half-hour eps, but they all have their odd (and potentially relatable) quirks. From dad Burt (who picks his nose by using all 10 fingers), to matriarch Maw Maw (who can frequently be found shirtless and/or braless and giving off old people smells), you’d be hard-pressed to land on an episode that doesn’t make you choke on your big dill pickle.

65. Fresh Off The Boat

Everyone loves a good family sitcom, and while Fresh Off the Boat is technically about the young, hip-hop-obsessed son within a Taiwanese-American family in Orlando, the real comedic meat of the show is his mom, Jessica (Constance Wu). We’ve never seen a mom like Jessica Huang before. Yes, she’s loving, but it’s an absurdly tough, uncompromising love that pushes her nice, America-loving husband and three sons to excel. She’s also fiercely competitive and not someone to mess with, which diners-and-dashers can attest to, and is a big reason why Fresh Off the Boat will always be watchable.

64. Everybody Hates Chris

Abbott Elementary fans can attest to Tyler James Williams’ comedic chops, but he first honed them from his younger Hollywood days as the star of Everybody Hates Chris. Created by Chris Rock (who narrates) and Ali LeRoi, the show is based on the stand-up legend’s teenage years, and finds ways of making everyday occurrences the most hilarious things in the world, often landing a wide-eyed Chris in trouble. From James’ impressive performance as a teenager to the rest of the cast (including a stellar Terry Crews’ dad mode), Everybody Hates Chris is a must-watch for comedy lovers of all ages.

63. Get Smart

Secret agent movies were big in the 1960s, so how could one go wrong with a spoof comedy series created by Mel Brooks and Buck Henry? Get Smart stars Don Adams’ Maxwell Smart (aka the bumbling CONTROL Agent 86) often teaming up with Barbara Feldon’s more-than-capable sidekick, Agent 99, to thwart the evil, if not entirely professional, efforts of the cabal KAOS. From the series’ iconic opening credits to Max’s shoe phone, Get Smart stands the test of time, with some great catchphrases to boot, including “MIssed it by that much,” and, “Would you believe…?”

62. Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23

We sometimes wonder how well creator Nahnatchka Khan’s Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23 would have fared if it lasted beyond its celebrated two-season run. And we wish we were given the chance to actually see that hypothetical third season for ourselves, as the 26 episodes we did get were spot on. Pairing Dreama Walker’s naive June with Krysten Ritter’s scheming Chloe made for an odd couple who knew how to have exciting adventures. Frequent appearances by an early-career Eric André and an always charming James Van Der Beek only made this ABC series all the sweeter.

61. Good Times

A quality sitcom spinoff can be a challenge. Repeat what worked on the original, or try to do something totally different? Good Times spun off from Maude (which itself was an All In The Family offshoot), and succeeded through carving out its own authentic niche centering around the hard-working and cash-strapped characters of Florida (Esther Rolle) and James Evans (John Amos). The two leads were excellent throughout, though Good Times eventually shifted its primary focus to Jimmie Walker, the sitcom’s breakout star who coined the phrase “Dynomite!” and rode that marketing freight train to global superstardom. A series that lives up to its name, and then some.

60. The Nanny

The Nanny has long been synonymous with its star Fran Drescher, who played the titular Nanny Fine throughout the show’s six-season run on CBS. Despite being a quintessential ‘90s sitcom, the show’s comedy still feels super fresh and contemporary, even if the pop culture references are dated. Descher is truly unbelievable as Fran, and The Nanny has one of the best TV theme songs of all time. And it’s a show that younger generations absolutely NEED to binge-watch, amidst the ongoing hope for fans to see more.

59. Archer

If Archer were merely an expertly crafted James Bond parody, we’d still love it. However, this long-running FX staple’s greatness comes from the lore-heavy, spy-fi universe that creator Adam Reed’s built atop the back of loving send-ups to the espionage subgenre. H. Jon Benjamin anchored an all-timer voice cast that delivered dialogue and performances as sharp as Lana’s switchblade. The show veered from staleness by aping different genres for Danger Island and other “Coma Seasons,” further widening the comedic field of play, and I can’t imagine anyone wouldn’t finger Archer as the wildest workplace sitcom to date. Phrasing, BOOM!

58. Happy Days

When one thinks of Happy Days, the first image that likely comes to mind is Henry Winkler’s Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli giving a cool-as-hell thumb’s up. Though he was initially just a minor player, the leather-donning jukebox-smacking ladie’s man quickly became the show’s most popular character. But its picturesque version of the 1950s and 1960s is just as iconic, as is the entire Cunnhingham family (except maybe for the disappearing brother Chuck) and further ensemble, which spawned a whopping seven spinoffs. And if you don’t agree with all that, well, sit on it!

57. Martin

A couple of years before he became an action movie king in Bad Boys, Martin Lawrence created and starred in his own sitcom, which gave fans five seasons of over-the-top episodes. Lawrence’s Martin Payne is a loud, rambunctious, and highly opinionated Detroit disc jockey who constantly finds himself in all kinds of trouble both at work and at home with Tisha Campbell’s Gina. (A dynamic that shifted in the final season for BTS reasons.) Martin himself was fun, but his various other personas —Sheneneh Jenkins, Rosco, and Dragonfly Jones — gave the sitcom a fun and unique spin, foreshadowing Lawrence’s later career.

56. Living Single

Living Single is one of those sitcoms that thankfully managed to age well , premiering back in 1993 and following a group of friends residing together in a Brooklyn brownstone. With a killer cast including Queen Latifah (who also performed the outstanding theme song), Kim Coles, Kim Fields and Erika Alexander, Living Single’s formula succeeded ahead of Friends reaching more sensational heights, and the topic of influences there has made for many discussions. Regardless, the sitcom is a Black TV treasure, and boasts a trove of terrific musicians, athletes and comedians as guest stars, from Flip Wilson to Chaka Khan.

55. Will and Grace

Will & Grace might as well have also had Jack and Karen in the title as well, such was the strength of this foursome as they unsuccessfully dated and schmoozed their way to making LGBTQ+ history. The NBC Must See TV classic was an Emmy darling during its initial eight-season run, and its ongoing popularity beyond the “final” season inspired NBC to revive it for another two seasons. Which thankfully meant more from the bevy of guests and recurring stars that popped up over the years, from Matt Damon to Matt Bomer to Madonna.

54. Murphy Brown

Sure, Murphy Brown fulfilled the sitcom basics of starring a single, middle-aged working woman (whose eventual single-mom status shook up the status quo), being funny, and serving up great characters — Jim Dial, slugger — to support the Aretha Franklin-loving titular lead. Arguably most important, though, its its rare delivery of a flawed female main character (recovering alcoholic) who’s frequently irascible, dedicated to her job as a journalist, and unafraid to speak up in a male-heavy industry, giving audiences every reason to root for through every uproarious rant and unnecessary assistant change. There’s a reason Candice Bergen earned five Emmys from seven nominations for her work across ten seasons.

53. The Bob Newhart Show

Nobody can do deadpan humor quite like the eponymous star of The Bob Newhart Show. The beauty of this 1970s sitcom was that it allowed Bob Newhart to play off of those stand-up comedy strengths, acting as the straight man to his psychologist Bob Hartley’s many unique patients. Co-starring Suzanne Pleshette as Bob’s beloved wife Emily — the two made sitcom history together on his next sitcom as well — and Peter Bonerz and Bill Daily as his pals, The Bob Newhart Show remains exemplary for its character-driven laughs.

52. Sanford And Son

The laughs that Sanford and Son delivers from episode to episode are fairly unique compared to other sitcoms. Redd Foxx and Demond Wilson are perfectly cast as Fred and Lamont Sanford, respectively, playing off of each other in ways reminiscent of comedy duos in vaudeville and radio shows. The writers also deserve a lot of credit for effectively employing racial humor, considered edgy at that time, as well as for bringing in hilarious characters like “Aunt” Esther Anderson and Grady Wilson. But Foxx – who just oozes superior comedic timing – steals so many scenes with his energetic performances. “This is the big one!”

51. Superstore

All things consumerism considered, it’s almost surprising so few workplace comedies are anything like Superstore. For six seasons, viewers watched Amy (Oscar nominee America Ferrera), Jonah (Ben Feldman) and their wacky big box store co-workers readily getting into myriad insane scrapes and intriguingly complicated relationships, while trying to maintain order (or causing disorder) within the retail sphere. Superstore gives fans peak workplace sitcom, with innumerable sight gags for those watching closely, as well as a low-key, slow-burn mystery involving feet showing up all over the store. It’s a hilarious win-win that theoretically helps everyone see their jobs aren’t as bad as they could be.

50. The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air

Before the Men in Black and Bad Boys franchises and that Academy Award-winning role in King Richard, Will Smith veered away from his successful rap career to introduce viewers to…Will Smith…for The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Just saying its name instantly brings its classic theme song to mind.

Following a kid from West Philly sent off to live with his affluent uncle’s family in Bel-Air, this sitcom oozed ‘90s sitcom charm and hilarity, helping Will Smith expand his comedic talents opposite the great James Avery, Janet Hubert (for a spell) and more. From the Carlton dance to that classic “very special episode” where Will gets shot, Fresh Prince features plenty of justification for its continued success in syndication and streaming.

49. Family Ties

Eventually, Family Ties became known as “The Michael J. Fox Show,” and it was hard to avoid. Fox was a charismatic ball of energy who became a bona fide superstar during the run of the show, and even eclipsed famous guest stars such as Tom Hanks when they appeared.

But before Fox reached all-star status, Family Ties won over audiences as a warm, endearing, and relatable sitcom about liberal parents trying their best to raise their three kids – one of whom happened to be a briefcase-toting, card-carrying Republican. We all saw ourselves in at least one member of the Keaton family, and tuned in weekly to appreciate the ties that bound them all together.

48. Mr. Bean

Rowan Atkinson would have been amazing during the silent film era, but is thankfully a more modern talent, since we otherwise might never have known the childlike, frustration-spiked foibles of Mr. Bean. Co-created by the comedian’s Black Adder partners in hilarity, Ben Elton and Richard Curtis, Mr. Bean is an idiosyncratic sitcom in that its five-year stretch comprised 15 sporadically aired one-off episodes, as opposed to seasons, which inspired a pair of feature films, an animated series, and more pop culture greatness.

Atkinson brings his physical comedy mastery to a plethora of disaster-laden circumstances, from nonchalantly changing into a swimsuit to getting ready for the dentist while driving to being locked out of a hotel room and dozens of other awkward moments.

47. The Mick

Only two seasons of The Mick aired between January 2017 and April 2018, telling the story of a foul-mouthed dirtbag forced to be the guardian of her affluent niece and nephews, and all 37 episodes are send-you-doubled-over-off-your-couch hilarious. Which means a lot of people were sleeping on this brilliance when it aired, and we’re still sore about it.

Led by Kaitlin Olsen, the entire cast is spectacular (with a special hat tip to the brilliant Scott MacArthur as the oft-injured ne'er-do-well Jimmy), but what truly makes this show exceptional is its beyond-dark sensibilities and unwillingness to accept the idea of a “line” that can’t be crossed. The final scene of the series finale is actually a perfect ending in that sense, and we’re sure that more seasons would have pushed it higher up the rankings.

46. The Jeffersons

Norman Lear & Co.nailed it when they moved George, Louise and Lionel Jefferson from All in the Family to their own show. The Jeffersons is 30-minute comedy at its finest, offering an excellent premise, and an array of interesting stories built on it. Sherman Hemsley and Isabel Sanford are electric as George and Lousie, effortlessly conveying their on-screen marriage with warmth, humor and occasional contention, all while surrounded by a strong supporting cast.

There’s also the series’ impact on Black culture and the TV landscape as a whole. It’s one of the earliest shows to have depicted an upper class African American family – and the complexities of such a dynamic. We should all be grateful that these characters moved on up.

45. 30 Rock

If there were any doubts that Tina Fey could transport her magic touch from SNL to a scripted sitcom, 30 Rock proved them pointless. The show-within-a-show’s very first season won the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series, and scored nominations for Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin. (Both went on to win elsewhere in the NBC comedy’s seven-season run.)

The show is infinitely quotable, thanks in large part to Tracy Morgan and Jane Krakowski, and recruited standout part-time stars ranging from Matt Damon to David Schwrimmer to – of course – Steve “How do you do, fellow kids?” Buscemi. Plus, it imparted the following important lesson from Tracy Jordan: “Live every week like it’s Shark Week.” No SNL knowledge is needed to appreciate the sketch-skewing humor, but it’ll help.

44. Scrubs

Hospital dramas have become as commonplace as any TV offering, so having Scrubs around to follow its doctors, nurses and Sacred Heart staff through a comedic lens continues to be a welcome respite. Not to say Scrubs wasn’t without its emotional and poignant moments, since one could argue it functions nearly as well as a dramatic series when in that mode.

But the humor is where Scrubs’ gets surgical with it. Whether we were joining J.D. in his wild daydreams, or the crazy events unfolding between characters while treating patients, this show excelled at delivering the laughs. If only we could witness John C. McGinley’s Dr. Cox ranting at residents while a nameless Janitor pranks people within a real-life hospital. Additionally, J.D. and Turk are one of TV’s all-time best-buddy pairings.

43. Bob's Burgers

In all of sitcom family-dom, few clans are as relatable in their middle-class weirdness as the Belcher family that serves up the titular meals and good-time goofiness on Bob’s Burgers. The beloved series from creator Loren Bouchard has followed sitcom standards to a T while building up its hilarity-filled universe of Italian restaurateur rivals, handyman besties, and plenty of schoolchildren I’d much rather watch on TV than deal with at home. But it’s the Belchers that keep us coming back.

From H. Jon Benjamin’s expertly exasperated attempts to get by to Louise’s rebellious sadism to Tina’s butt fascination, Bob’s Burgers is as timeless as the hamburger itself, and isn’t afraid to mix sweetness into the juvenile hijinks. A must-watch for pun enthusiasts.

42. The Cosby Show

Decades after its debut on NBC, The Cosby Show remains a seminal piece of TV work. This sharp family comedy offers a warm look at a family (who just happened to be Black) and, while the Huxtables are quite pristine, they never feel unrelatable, except perhaps where sweaters are concerned. The impeccable ensemble boasts the likes of Phylicia Rashad, Malcolm-Jamal Warner and Keshia Knight Pulliam masterfully playing off the series’ titular star. Give the writing staff credit, too, for formulating some eternally classic episodes, like “Goodbye Mr. Fish” and “Happy Anniversary.”

Of course, the show’s legacy has been further evaluated due to Bill Cosby’s legal entanglements, and understandably so. That debate will surely continue, though what’s hard to deny is the sitcom’s game-changing position in the cultural lexicon.

41. Party Down

“Are we having fun yet?” The oft-used sarcastic throwback to Henry’s (Adam Scott) singular professional achievement is actually a pretty fitting way to sum up the careers of the motley crew of caterers on Party Down. The aspiring actors and writers who comprise the eponymous catering company would certainly rather be pursuing their passions than serving drinks and apps to their rich customers, but with each episode plunking them into a different bougie event, it was delightful to see the ridiculous and usually cringey situations they would get themselves into.

On top of a fabulous ensemble cast featuring the likes of Ken Marino, Jane Lynch, Lizzy Caplan and Martin Starr, Party Down featured A+ cameos at each catering function. That Steve Guttenberg episode? Chef’s kiss, or at least a caterer’s kiss.

40. The Boondocks

We may never get another animated series about American society as unabashedly insightful as The Boondocks, which was created by Aaron McGruder and based on his comic strip of the same name. Each episode provides a thoughtful examination of the Black experience, principally seen through the eyes of young intellectual Huey Freeman and his gangster-wannabe brother Riley (both voiced by Oscar/Emmy Award-winner Regina King), under the spotty guidance of their John Witherspoon-voiced Granddad.

Not only does McGruder's bold writing provide clever observations about everything from rap music to movie theater decorum, but the anime style continues to remain eye-popping and brilliantly utilized. Especially with the killer kung-fu sequences, which demonstrate a deep love for both the animation medium and the martial arts action genre.

39. Abbott Elementary

Arguably one of the best sitcoms currently airing, Abbott Elementary took the world by storm when it premiered in 2021, introducing the world to Quinta Brunson’s brilliance as Janine Teagues. The Black Lady Sketch Show vet created, writes, produces and stars in the show centering on a Philadelphia school’s staff, and her care and love for it is infectious.

Between Gregory and Janine’s will-they-won’t-they relationship, hilarious talking heads and well-established characters with silly interests (like Ava being a doomsday prepper), this show has all the hallmarks of classic mockumentaries. However, its setting at an elementary school and the unique chemistry the incredible cast has developed make this ABC comedy one that will undoubtedly stand the test of time. (And it won’t need a stool like Janine, amirite, Ava?)

38. The IT Crowd

As if Graham Linehan’s entertainment legacy wasn’t already assured by Father Ted, the man went and crafted another all-time Britcom with The IT Crowd. (Okay, Black Books, too.) The basic premise follows the lives of corporate climber Jen (Katherine Parkinson) and IT department slackers Roy (Chris O’Dowd) and Moss (Richard Ayoade). A classic workplace sitcom trio if there ever was one.

In execution, the 25-episode run was far more fun and unpredictable than the set-up. Skewering corporate culture and malfeasance, as well as all things personal and pop, The IT Crowd feels like a cheeky mix between Seinfeld and Spaced. Not to mention this being a great place to get a Matt Berry fix.

37. Community

It’s difficult to summarize what makes Community such an exceptional sitcom. Its meta awareness and deep love of pop culture is a key ingredient, executed principally through the genius character that is Danny Pudi’s Abed Nadir. But that’s an example of the phenomenal way the show balances the unique voices of its seven main characters – be it the confident idiocy of Donald Glover’s Troy Barnes, the extreme selfishness of Joel McHale’s Jeff Winger, or ridiculous uptightness of Alison Brie’s Annie Edison.

These characters planted in an environment of ever-growing weirdness that is Greendale Community College permits wild, creative, and clever single episode stories… but also not to be slept on are its effective emotional swings (Like I said, it’s really Dean-ficult to sum up!)

36. Modern Family

Modern Family was one of the first family sitcoms to eschew studio audience laughter for the single-camera format, and its massive success and influence was undeniable. Running for eleven seasons, the star-studded sitcom gave viewers a front seat to watching the blended Pritchett and Dunphy families grow up together.

But what makes Modern Family one of the best sitcoms ever is its relatability and ability to tap into all the emotions. There’s plenty to laugh at, thanks to hilarious deliveries from Ed O’Neill, Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell and others, and more episodes than can be poignant, whether it’s about love, sexuality, growing up, or plenty of other feelings to connect to.

35. Arrested Development

At the far end of the “wholesome sitcom family” spectrum is the Bluth clan responsible for the majority of the conning and downward spiraling on Arrested Development. (Ron Howard’s Narrator: “They really were.”) With too many A+ cast members to namecheck in one breath, the fourth wall-breaking comedy is technically about the legal troubles surrounding the family company following a major scandal, but it’s really about the family’s myriad other problems.

Let’s see, we have twin-fidelity, oedipal complexes galore, PTSD from both Army (Mother!) and loss of limb, rampant alcoholism, potentially incestuous foreplay, hair metal magic, and never-nudism, though that’s a corner of a snowflake atop the tallest mountain of comedic quirks. Come for the brilliant performances, stay for the smartest callback jokes on TV.

34. WKRP In Cincinnati

WKRP in Cincinnati is one of those shows that never seems to receive its flowers quite enough alongside others from the era. Airing for four seasons between 1978 and 1982, the comedy takes place at a struggling AM radio station in the heart of the Midwest, and boasts everything one would want in a sitcom: great jokes, iconic characters, and unforgettable TV moments.

Despite early schedule struggles, WKRP eventually found its footing on CBS, thanks to audiences loving the comedic stylings of Howard Hesseman’s Dr. Johnny Fever, Tim Reid’s Venus Flytrap, and Richard Sanders’ Les Nessman. It’s always been a hit with radio DJs, for good reason, and produced quite possibly the greatest Thanksgiving TV treat (that doesn’t have Charlie Brown in it) with “Turkeys Away.”

33. The Critic

In the wake of The Simpsons’ success, creators Al Jean and Mike Reiss shaped a cult classic with The Critic, focused on bitter film critic Jay Sherman, voiced with gusto by Jon Lovitz. The animated sitcom took after its spiritual cousin, offering up both heartfelt and cuttingly satirical gags, and bouncing from ABC to Fox only sharpened the show’s edge.

Keenly lampooning the world of show business, The Critic’s writers crafted A+ parodies of classic films, fake cinematic atrocities so bad they’re funny, and welcomed cameos from actual critics. Anyone wanting to see Siskel & Ebert in a fist fight need look no further. Two words aptly sum up how we feel about this series not lasting nearly as long as The Simpsons: “It stinks.”

32. Married...with Children

With Frank Sinatra’s “Love and Marriage” performance as its subversively optimistic theme song, Married with Children is the gleefully bawdy archetype for sitcoms about miserable people. Ed O’Neill’s misogyny-encrusted slopfest Al Bundy stiff-arms his way through life with affection-seeking wife Peg, blonde joke incarnate daughter Kelly, and lazy hornball son Bud. And Katey Sagal, Christina Applegate and David Faustino are the epitome of “the family you love to watch, but would hate to live with.”

As the live-action series that put Fox on the map, Married with Children has long been celebrated for its politically incorrect humor and cartoonishly offensive storylines, and it remains among the most offensive TV shows of all time. But it worked because the Bundy’s always came out worse than anyone else.

31. Gravity Falls

Gravity Falls’ offbeat sitcom greatness truly deserves recognition for a show that may be written off for being a Disney Channel original. Creator and cast member Alex Hirsch crafted a well-animated, off-kilter show that wins over younger viewers with its thrills, humor and heart, while also capturing older viewers with overarching mysteries, surprisingly deep lore, and barrages of callbacks, clues and pause-required animation details. (Long live Bill Cypher!)

At the center of all the madness is the perfectly realized Pines family — Grunkle Stan, Dipper and Mabel — and their friends and co-workers like Wendy, Soos and others. With two seasons and 40 episodes under its belt, Gravity Falls is a tight show that builds to a very satisfying conclusion, even if fans railed against its cancellation at the time.

30. Parks And Recreation

When Parks and Recreation premiered, SNL and UCB vet Amy Poehler was its biggest name, but the careers of co-stars such as Nick Offerman, Chris Pratt, Retta and Aubrey Plaza exploded in the years after. And it’s no surprise, since the NBC sitcom is where they were able to hone their characters distinct personalities for seven seasons.

Parks and Rec follows the misfit-lite group running Pawnee, Indiana’s parks department Indiana, and had little trouble getting into the wildest hijinks in each 30-minute runtime. The episode “Flu Season” delivers the goods in a nutshell, between Amy Poehler pretending she’s not sick, Chris Pratt’s physical comedy, and Nick Offerman perfectly portraying Ron Swanson’s disdain for government work. Parks and Rec is a quirky and lively show that deserves a spot in everyone’s lives.

29. Letterkenny

It's not often that a show can lean heavily on both the importance of morals and the notion of violence, but Letterkenny managed to strike an amazing balance between the two for twelve seasons. The Canadian sitcom is known for its amazingly paced banter and extensive wordplay and unique phrasings. As if the amazing comedic timing wasn't enough, one of the main themes continues to acknowledge the importance of standing up for what you believe in and striving to do good in the world. "If a friend asks for help, you help them."

Creator and star of the show, Jared Keeso, has also recently hit another comedic home run in the Letterkenny extended universe with the spinoff Shoresy.

28. The Mary Tyler Moore Show

Four years after winning TV audiences’ hearts for the last time on The Dick Van Dyke Show, Mary Tyler Moore struck further gold with her own titular sitcom, earning a spot high on the pyramid of inspirational female pop culture icons. For seven seasons, Moore’s Mary Richards worked diligently amidst other colorful characters in the MJM newsroom, such as Gavin McCleod’s snarky Murray, Ted Knight’s dimwitted Ted, and Ed Anser’s ever-stoic (and spinoff-bound) Lou Grant. Not to mention Betty White’s ego-puff Sue Ann.

Outside the office, some of the Emmy-amassing show’s best scenes featured Mary mixing it up with her neighbor buddies Rhoda and Phyllis, portrayed with respective pizazz by Valerie Harper and Cloris Leachman. “Chuckles Bites the Dust” and “The Last Show” are as good as sitcom TV gets.

27. Friends

“Best sitcom” conversations can’t happen without mentioning Friends once or a dozen times. As the epitome of Must-See TV in the 1990s and early aughts, the sitcom skyrocketed its six stars — Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox. Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer — to fame. Decades later, the reruns are ever-present on TV and streaming, and the gang’s catchphrases continue to resonate as new generations make their way through Central Perk’s doors..

You don’t even have to have been a regular viewer to have heard Ross’ infamous “Pivot!” shout, to have a favorite Chandler quote, or to take a side on the Ross and Rachel “we were on a break” debate. Such universal recognition is relatively rare for a show that’s been off the air for 20 years.

26. The Office (UK)

We never would’ve met Steve Carell’s Michael Scott if there hadn’t been David Brent. Ricky Gerais and Stephen Merchant brought The Office to UK small screens in 2001 and, through two brief seasons and a Christmas special, introduced audiences everywhere to a new level of cringe in the form of this hilarious mockumentary series (one which kept its documentation scenarios realistic).

This dry and occasionally super-awkward comedy follows one branch of a paper company and its workers — played by Gervais, Martin Freeman, Mackenzie Crook, Lucy Davis and several other talented actors — as they attempt to get through each and every workday, dignity optional. It’s the simplicity of the show and the way the characters played off one another that made The Office a true gem.

25. Roseanne

Whether viewers are from the working class midwest or other parts of the country, Roseanne found a way to be relatable to so many. Through the sea of picture-perfect television families came the tidal wave that is the Conner family, who bickered, joked and suffered through enduring hard times. At the core of it all was a family raised by two parents, portrayed by Roseanne Barr and John Goodman, whose love remained strong throughout.

The Conners were never the idealized family everyone strives to be, but still feels like a mirror of what blue class households are really like. And despite the baffling retconned lottery season, and Barr’s off-screen controversy, Roseanne’s comfort-TV legacy remains as timeless as the family’s living room furniture.

24. The Dick Van Dyke Show

There are great workplace comedies and there are great domestic family comedies, but The Dick Van Dyke Show somehow stands out among the best ever in both capacities. From the moment Van Dyke goes barreling over that ottoman, you know you’re in for something special, as the star’s gifts for physical and verbal comedy are nearly unparalleled. He’s often not even the one delivering the best jokes, because his reaction to his legendary co-stars is the true punchline.

Speaking of, the show was very much a group effort, despite its single-star title. Conceived and written by co-star Carl Reiner, and co-starring the incomparable Mary Tyler Moore, Rose Marie, and Maury Amsterdam, all the pieces come together perfectly to make one of the most consistently high-quality sitcoms of all time.

23. What We Do In The Shadows

What We Do in the Shadows is a bonkers TV show that shouldn’t work, just like the vampires yelling “Bat!” shouldn’t work as a catchphrase, but it all absolutely does. The mockumentary, spunoff from the co-creators’ film of the same name, follows a group of ridiculous, socially out-of-touch bloodsuckers — save for energy vamp Colin Robinson and human familiar Guillermo — trying to prove their worth in Staten Island.

Despite how silly and NSFW the show is, movie-level prosthetics and visual effects help to elevate and add shocks to the narrative. The cast is truly outstanding, as it goes for any Matt Berry-infused cast, and WWDITS has earned as much awards recognition as any TV horror comedy. With murder and duplicitousness afoot, the series still hits all the sitcom benchmarks, including a fun neighbor (the mind-sapped Sean), a great theme song, and a bunch of A+ celebrity cameos.

22. The Office (U.S.)

Following the success of Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant’s brilliant U.K. series of the same name, Greg Daniels’ adaptation of The Office took the mockumentary style of its predecessor – along with some of the more amusing traits and dynamics of its characters – and set out to tell new stories with office workers in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Whether it’s the hilarious standout ensemble of characters (led for most seasons by Steve Carell’s cringe-perfecting boss Michael Scott), the way it embraces the mundanity of office life, or how it follows years of these workers’ lives over years while squeezing every drop of humor along the way, The Office continues to be funny, relatable and — for many of us — a comfortable place to return to in the years since its fantastic 9-season run ended. Not to mention the timeless romances of Pam and Jim, Dwight and Angela, Phyllis and Bob Vance, Vance Refrigeration.

21. South Park

With more than 25 seasons and a growing number of one-off specials, South Park reigns supreme as a long-running pillar of TV satire. A look at the 20 best episodes from the series is an easy way to effectively understand just how relevant this series has been on so many levels, evolving from a Kenny-killing, catchphrase machine to a show with a lot more to say than T-shirt fodder.

What other TV series, much less animated comedy, has taken on major religious institutions, accused killers, wild dieting trends, controversial music superstars and world politics throughout its run? If others exist, they probably didn’t do it as well as South Park does, and there’s still no end in sight to the Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s pop culture phenomenon, even if the duo have understandably been less prolific animators in later years.

20. Brooklyn Nine-Nine

From some of the best TV cold opens – “I Want It That Way” sung by suspects, I mean, come on, it’s genius – to ongoing gags ike the annual heist, and “title of your sex tape” that make you laugh so hard your side hurts, Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a wild sitcom that is surprising in the best ways and absolutely irresistible as comfort comedy.

Led by Andy Samberg, Andre Braugher, Melissa Fumero, Stephanie Beatriz, Terry Crews and Joe Lo Truglio, this team of detectives quite literally never gets old, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine only got better in time as everyone grew comfortable in their roles and leaned into the silliness of their surroundings. Especially the all-time terrible cop duo of Hitchcock and Scully.

All around, what Dan Goor and Michael Schur created was so special, and as Jake Peralta would say “cool, cool, cool.”

19. Newhart

Bob Newhart struck TV gold a second time (not counting his stand-up appearances) with the endlessly cozy treasure Newhart, which centered on the comings and goings within the Stratford Inn in small-town Vermont. You know, the kind of small town where a man named Larry can have one brother named Darryl, and then also another brother named Darryl. It’s there where the star comedian and Mary Frann’s Dick and Joanna Loudon take over after a move from New York City, but their big-city know-how can’t quite compete with the quirkiness of their fellow residents.

Nothing ever gets old when it comes to watching the core cast — including Tom Poston, Julia Duffy and Peter Scolar — and the revolving door of recurring actors and guest stars bounce their energies off of Bob Newhart’s. And we’d be remiss not to give Newhart its flowers for shattering TV reality with its truly iconic finale twist.

18. All in the Family

All in the Family is arguably one of the most important TV series ever made, sitcom or otherwise, and shows don’t get the chance to change television if you’re not also good enough to stay on it in the first place. Not only was All in the Family successful enough to span eight seasons, but it also spawned five spinoffs. Despite the fact that the show’s primary character Archie Bunker was specifically designed to be the most bigoted person you know, it somehow all works so incredibly well. You love him even while you hate him, which is a testament to the abilities of creator Norman Lear and star Carroll O’Connor.

Dealing with, and poking fun at, topics that had been seen as taboo to even address previously, All in the Family courted its share of controversy and certainly ruffled some feathers. But that’s just further proof that it left an indelible and influential mark upon audiences everywhere.

17. Frasier

For a TV spinoff to be anywhere near as popular as its parent show is a huge accomplishment, and NBC’s Frasier pulled off just such a transition following Cheers’ conclusion. To be sure, it was plainly great to see Kelsey Grammer’s Frasier Crane taking center stage after all those stool-sat years as an ensemble character. However, it’s unlikely the sitcom would have been nearly as successful without the supporting cast of David Hyde Pierce’s Niles, Jane Leeves’ Daphne, Peri Gilpin’s Roz and John Mahoney’s Martin.

These five characters’ unique personalities and the dynamics they share with one another make them one of the best sitcom casts of all time, and we’ll throw Eddie a bone there as well. Let’s not gloss over the intelligent writing Frasier consistently delivered, which was part of the show’s 37 Emmy wins over its eleven years on the air. Its continued popularity even sparked the Parmaount+ revival of the same name.

16. Taxi

Speaking to Taxi’s greatness takes little beyond listing the murderer’s row of talent yukking it up for five seasons at the Sunshine Cab Company: Judd Hirsch, Danny DeVito, Marilu Henner, Andy Kaufman, Tony Danza, Jeff Conaway, Christopher Lloyd, and Carol Kane. Theoretically, these actors could have struck gold with any TV narrative, but the New York setting provided the comedically ideal edge and neuroses that earned the show 18 Emmys and millions of fans. (Not that Kaufman’s Latka Gravas was a local.) Not to mention the quartet of sitcom royalty in creators James L. Brooks, Stan Daniels, David Davis, and Ed Weinberger.

Despite such over-the-top personalities, Taxi excels at grounded and heartfelt storytelling as much as broader humor, never shying away from the characters’ relatable struggles or the hot-button issues of the time. Extra points for its appearances from future Cheers stars Ted Danson, Rhea Perlman and George Wendt.

15. The Golden Girls

The Golden Girls is excellent enough to convince audiences that spending your twilight years in a shared living space with your mother and two roommates is a blueprint for endless laughs, when that might not match up with reality. It’s a credit to the stellar cast comprising Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty. Queens, one and all. Amidst all the drama, the endless insults thrown around, and the cheesecake, the foursome’s friendship really shines through in this show.

It’s indeed that friendship that causes the gals to get into some absolutely wild adventures. Who can forget the time Rose nearly ended the Cold War with the Soviets with a letter? Not every narrative goes quite so big as that, even if Blanche plays up her romances as such, but it’s always a helluva fun ride.

14. Curb Your Enthusiasm

After Seinfeld concluded its historic run in the late ‘90s, series co-creator Larry David could have ridden off into the sunset atop a horse made from residual checks. Instead, the stickler for human behavior not only created true sitcom brilliance, but also broke new ground for HBO and self-deprecating celeb cameos.

Curb Your Enthusiasm — far more than a pretty, pretty, pretty good show — never failed to inspire laughs and shocks in equal order, following David’s over-the-top fictionalized version of himself (think George Costanza on shame-eliminating steroids), facing so many provocatively awkward situations with a vast array of friends, colleagues, contemporaries, and eventual enemies. (R.I.P. Richard Lewis and Bob Einstein.) The largely improvised show found new ways to be both relevant and funny across 24 years and 12 seasons, a task that’s easier said (and avoided) than done. And it also delivered an all-timer of a finale, poking fun at Seinfeld’s polarizing conclusion.

13. The Larry Sanders Show

As host of the fictional late night talk show The Larry Sanders Show, Garry Shandling implores his audience to stay tuned, ordering them, “No flipping!” It was an easy command to obey when it came to HBO’s The Larry Sanders Show, still one of the bravest, funniest, and most insightful programs that happily sinks its teeth into the Hollywood hand that feeds.

Larry is just an exaggerated caricature of Garry Shandling, who let all of his own neurosis and anxieties fly out of the mouth of his insecure comedic television personality who desperately wanted to be liked by his chosen industry. And the show got a lot of mileage out of real-life celebrities appearing and poking fun at their public personas. (David Duchovny for the win.) But it’s the supporting cast – led by the late Rip Torn and the wonderful Jeffrey Tambor – that elevates Larry Sanders to legendary status. There’ll never be another as biting and satirical as this.

12. Spaced

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost’s long history with director Edgar Wright includes the so-called Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and The World's End). Before that, though, they rocked the sitcom landscape with the UK gem Spaced. A relatable premise is vital to a good sitcom, and it was so easy to fall in love with pro slacker Tim (Pegg) and the uber-dramatic Daisy (Jessica Stevenson) while shrewdly securing their affordable apartment under the watchful eye of Julia Deaken’s landlady Marsha.

In addition to watching Tim and Daisy maintain their ruse of being a “professional couple” while figuring out the whole adulting thing, Spaced — one of Simon Pegg’s best projects — packed in endless horror movie references, video game easter eggs, and more pop culture love. (The pantomime gun fight is everything.) It also featured a supporting cast of hilariously exaggerated characters that will NOT have you wanting to “skip to the end.”

11. The Good Place

Sitcoms are, by design, often stagnant, with the same characters facing similar situations week after week. If the jokes land, everything works, but if not, well… Then along came The Good Place to throw those preconceptions out the window. If creator Michael Schur had just repeated Season 1’s twisty premise for five seasons, it would have still been good, but The Good Place achieved true greatness with its storytelling.

Fronted by Kristen Bell and Ted Danson in top-tier fashion, The Good Place takes massive risks with its afterlife-set narrative, changing elements from one season to the next. The house of (God) cards would have tumbled down had it not all worked as infallibly as the big man himself, but it never even wavered. Indeed, The Good Place is simply forking unbelievable from beginning to end, buttressed by fully realized characters portrayed by co-leads William Jackson Harper, Jameela Jamil, Manny Jacinto, and D’Arcy Carden. Stream the show for everyone now, Janet. Janet..?

10. Fawlty Towers

As part of Monty Python’s sextet of comedy masterminds, John Cleese had already conquered the world of sketch comedy and film, so the next obvious move was to craft a largely perfect sitcom with then-wife Connie Booth, and Fawlty Towers was just such perfection across twelve increasingly fraught.

Set within the non-existing titular hotel in Torquay, Cleese’s Basil Fawlty suffers the existence of everyone around him, especially Prunella Scales’ Sybil, his oft-demanding wife, and the language issues of Andrew Sachs’ Manuel, the establishment’s Spanish waiter. Booth’s chambermaid Polly gets slightly less irritation for being regularly competent. A hotel owner who hates his clientele is in the high-concept echelon, and the series offered up an eternally memorable selection of frequent and one-time guests, as well as builders, inspectors and others whose actions bring Basil’s blood pressure to a proper boil.

Similar to other classic ‘70s and ‘80s sitcoms, Fawlty Towers has been both celebrated and derided for its politically incorrect humor. It's perhaps exemplified best by the series’ marquee episode “The Germans,” and is something Cleese intends to replicate with the revival series he’s creating with daughter Camilla.

9. Cheers

Locations can mean everything to a sitcom. Memorable shows are set in places to which we want to return, from Mel’s Diner to the Dunder Mifflin offices to, of course, the bar from Cheers – where everybody knows your name. Audiences became such regulars to the comfortable sitcom, we practically expected to hear our own names shouted out, a la Norm, when we turned the program on.

The familiarity and welcomeness of Cheers kept us tuning in, even as some of the cast rotated. We all invested heavily in the “will they or won’t they” relationship of barkeep Sam Malone (Ted Danson) and waitress Diane Chambers (Shelley Long), but stuck around when Diane was replaced by Rebecca (Kirstie Alley); and Southern simpleton Woody (Woody Harrelson) was embraced after first filling in for the departed Coach (Nicholas Colasanto). Not that anyone could ever replace Cliff Clavin.

Television hasn’t been the same since Cheers closed its doors, with Frasier going a completely different spinoff route, and I’m not sure another show can be set in a bar, and reach the high bar set by this program.

8. The Simpsons

I think there’s an argument to be made that The Simpsons should have a place on any top 100 list when it comes to describing the best television, regardless of what additional parameters there may be. Part of the allure of this series, as it heads toward 800 episodes, is that there’s not really anything it hasn’t done at this point. There’s a Simpsons episode for whatever mood readers are feeling that day, though it may take a bit of research to figure out which one that is. 

What I love most about The Simpsons is how the series has evolved with time and how the show has modernized the characters with the times while still retaining the core elements that audiences loved about them. Sure, seeing Homer Simpson send memes to Lisa on a smartphone can feel a bit jarring sometimes, but it’s also 100% on-brand for the patriarch and definitely less weird in the modern day to younger audiences compared to if he was still using a rotary phone. Plus, if you prefer the old stuff, it’s all available to stream on Disney+

7. I Love Lucy

For the majority of TV’s existence as an entertainment platform, sitcoms have been synonymous with Lucille Ball, who achieved icon status several times over during her run as Lucy Ricardo in I Love Lucy (and other incarnations and later series). The series remains a blueprint reference for sitcom-crafting, and was revolutionary at the time for not only its star, but for her real-life husband Desi Arnaz portraying her faux hubby Ricky, and more.

While I Love Lucy could occasionally pull an emotional heartstring or two, its strength was comedy, and Ball maximized that concept throughout its run. Lucy and Ricky are as loud and wild a TV couple as can be, especially opposite their slightly more subdued neighbors Fred and Ethel Mertz. From Lucy’s efforts to get into Ricky’s shows to her attempts to hock Vitameatavegamin to her and Ethel’s conveyor belt struggles, the show regularly produced unforgettable sequences.

I Love Lucy is also revolutionary for women in television, with Ball helping pave the way for so many other amazing female actresses to lead their own successful shows, even if struggles are still real on that front. No need for further ‘splanation: I Love Lucy is TV gold.

6. Schitt's Creek

Schitt’s Creek didn’t truly hit the mainstream until its final season, but when people found it, its popularity exploded and its legacy was cemented. Created by father-son duo Dan and Eugene Levy, the comedy centers on a rich family who loses all their money, with the titular town as their silver lining. Annie Murphy and Catherine O’Hara co-star alongside the Levys in this most hilarious fish out of water story.

Seeing these four totally out of their element within the less-than-chic town is an easy way in for viewers. But the hooks that keep people watching are Catherine O’Hara’s ridiculous fake accent, Dan Levy’s sassy one-liners, Annie Murphy’s over-the-top everything as Alexis, Eugene Levy’s brilliant straight-man reactions, and the heartfelt growth this family goes through as they learn to love each other and the town they now call home.

Since the show became a sensation, lines like “Ew David!” have entered the everyday lexicon, and impersonations of Moira and Alexis can be seen frequently on social media. Schitt’s Creek shined bright when it was on — remember the network Pop? — and since then it’s cemented itself as a permanent part of the zeitgeist.

5. It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia

Rarely does a piece of pop culture offer up a character who constantly proves themself to be unendingly vile, self-consumed, aloof, destructive and terrible for society. But a combination of those words describes literally every single character who speaks in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Of course, the biggest and most hilarious offenders are the central Paddy’s Pub gang made up of possible serial killer Dennis (Glenn Howerton), his slightly less evil Bird…e… sister Dee, the sexually fluid approval-seeking Mac (Rob McElhenny), glue-eating connoisseur and janitor Charlie (Charlie Day) and the shockingly demented and depraved Frank (Danny DeVito).

No stone goes unturned when it comes to shocking viewers with how low these characters will go to achieve even the most meaningless iota of recognition or selfish pleasure. There’s racially charged (and socially questionable) takes on Lethal Weapon and The Wiz, exploiting all manner of substance and behavior addictions, satirical jabs at gun control, welfare, sexual assault, and much more. Its unsanitary hilarity is cherished among fans who have watched it live on longer than any other TV comedy in history, with no end in sight. (Except for Danny DeVito’s bare one, that is.)

4. King Of The Hill

Animation isn’t often a medium for classic sitcoms, but Mike Judge’s King of the Hill delivered on all fronts by settling audiences into the everyday life of the Hill family. Hank, Peggy, Bobby, and an assortment of other Arlen standouts kept viewers rolling and clamoring for more Southern-fried hilarity during its 13-season stretch. (And more is on the way thanks to Hulu’s revival.)

King of the Hill tackles issues while poking fun at them in ways that most viewers can probably relate to — from the stresses of the workplace to the terror of puberty to the awkwardness of family — adding a layer of realism to the two-dimensional characters’ world. To that end, Judge’s series is also atypical for adhering to realism throughout, as opposed to going off the cartoonish deep end for laughs (outside of dream sequences, that is).

Judge’s Hank and Kathy Najimy’s Peggy, along with Brittany Murphy’s Luanne and Pamela Adlon’s Bobby, provide a lot of the show’s heart and soul with their struggles and not-always-brilliant reactions to those struggles. But it always helps to have friends around like the hapless good’n Bill, the conspiracy-obsessed Dale and the mush-mouthed Boomhauer.

3. Seinfeld

It’s joked that Seinfeld is “a show about nothing,” and that’s a fair surface-only assessment. The NBC hit provides no lasting messages or morals, and it focuses the majority of its creative energy on eccentric minutiae of everyday life – be it waiting forever for a table at a restaurant or getting in disputes with cashiers over proper change. Characters don’t grow or change — save for temporary shrinkage and mustache-growing — and there’s no reach for deep themes. They’re not even nice people.

And yet, it’s utterly brilliant, timeless, and endlessly rewatchable.

Jerry, George, Kramer and Elaine each have their own unique and hilarious personalities strengthened by the actors’ performances, which in turn drives hilarious stories that unlock the real magic of the show: the way everything intertwines. Kramer golfing on the beach is its own weird gag, but also perfectly sets up George being called into action to rescue a beached whale after previously lying about being a marine biologist. Just about every sitcom since the early 1990s has tried to capture some of the magic of the nine-season series, but there is only one Seinfeld. (A notion that Newman would applaud.)

2. Veep

Veep was the [censored] creation of Armando Iannucci, the mastermind known for The Thick of It and Alan Partridge’s various incarnations, and HBO’s political workplace comedy is dripping with just as much satire and [censored] as anything graced by his Midas touch before or after. It’s one of the fastest and foulest sitcoms to date, with a jokes-per-minute rate that rivals other rapid-paced greats like The Simpsons and Arrested Development, and a [censored]-per-minute rate that is second to none.

As it goes with the best of the best, Veep boasts and expansive ensemble of uppermost geniuses, as led by Emmy magnet Julie Louis-Dreyfus’ Vice President (and then some) Selina Meyer, whose struggles to remain a boss in Washington D.C. means absolute hell for the masses of aides, pundits, strategists, etc. in her orbit. That applies most to her body man and extra appendage Gary, played with aplomb by Tony Hale.

Every Veep co-star brings something perfect to the table, from Anna Chlumsky’s rage suppression as Amy to Matt Walsh’s common sense suppression as Mike; from Reid Scott’s smarm-oozing Dan to Timothy Simons’ arbitrary naysayer Jonah. And we’d just as easily watch spinoffs centered on Kevin Dunn’s Ben and Gary Cole’s Kent, as well as Sam Richardson’s go-getter Richard Splett.

1. BoJack Horseman

One of the best animated TV shows of all time, Netflix’s BoJack Horseman took the adult-toon formula and evolved it into six seasons of one of TV history’s most unique offerings that — at least in CinemaBlend’s perspective — is the sitcom GOAT. Will Arnett is perfect voicing the tragic title character, a past-his-prime ‘90s sitcom star and substance abuser, and he’s bolstered by a who’s who of talented actors portrayed well-written characters, including fan-favorites Diane Nguyen (Alison Brie) and Mr. Peanutbutter (Paul F. Tompkins).

After establishing its sitcom formula in its earliest wordplay-embracing seasons, Bojack Horseman begins getting experimental with its format in phenomenal ways, such as with Season 3’s “Fish Out of Water,” a thought-provoking underwater story with no dialogue, or Season 5’s “Big Churro,” a full-length Bojack eulogy following a big character death.

There are certainly laughs to be had, for sure — big, hearty, consistent, gut-shredding, animalistic laughs throughout all six seasons — but don’t be surprised if you end up shedding a tear or suffering an existential crisis or two along the way as well. The show-within-a-show Horsin’ Around probably wouldn’t have made it onto this list, but BoJack Horseman itself is a Triple Crown winner of the highest order.

It’s been three weeks since Ryan Gosling’s Saturday Night Live episode aired on the 2024 TV schedule, and people still can’t stop laughing about the Season 49 SNL host and Mikey Day dressing up as Beavis and Butt-Head. Since the sketch aired and went viral, many of its stars have spoken out about how basically everyone broke, focusing specifically on Heidi Gardner losing it when she saw her co-star as Butt-Head for the first time. Now, Mikey Day is telling his side of this story, explaining how his look made his co-star break during the hilarious viral moment. 

The sketch featured Gosling and Day playing guys who looked like Beavis and Butt-Head who were attending a talk about AI, and it centered around how distracting they were because of their looks. Both men were wearing prosthetics, and when cast members laid eyes on them, they couldn’t help but crack up, especially Heidi Gardner, who was playing the moderator. 

Mikey Day was then asked why his co-star couldn’t stop laughing when he appeared on Late Night with Seth Meyers, and he proceeded to explain the differences between how he looked during dress rehearsal and the live show:

Mikey Day went on to explain that Gardner told him her thoughts on his appearance, saying he looked like an alien of sorts. I’d imagine seeing your friend in all those silly prosthetics for the first time on air would be a lot to take in. So, I totally get why she broke. It makes even more sense when you read what her co-star said next about their relationship off-screen:

Seth Meyers, who is an SNL alum himself, went on to ask Day if he put some extra “sauce” on his performance to try and get Gardner to laugh. Moments on SNL where cast members break are some of the funniest and most iconic, so it makes sense why the actor admitted to adding a little extra flair to his performance, as he said:

If I were in that sketch, I would have been like Heidi Gardner, not Kenan Thompson, who was one of the few who didn’t break. Day and Gosling looked wild in the bit, and it 100% caught me by surprise and left me laughing. It sounds like the exact same thing happened to Gardner when she saw her co-star behind her. 

Like many fans who are still laughing about the Beavis and Butt-Head sketch, I can’t get enough about how they pulled it off and the cast members' reactions to it. On top of that, I thought it was fantastic when Gosling and Day reprised their roles at The Fall Guy premiere last week. 

All-in-all, this is proving to be one of the most iconic moments in modern SNL history, and I’m so happy Mikey Day told his side of the story regarding how the sketch ended up with basically everyone in hysterics. 

To go back and see this sketch within its Saturday Night Live episode, you can stream it with a Peacock subscription. If you want to see Gardner and Day killing it “live from New York,” you can catch new episodes of SNL on Saturdays at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC or Peacock. 

Here are a handful of things I didn’t have on my Bingo card for 2024: MTV staples Beavis and Butt-Head making a return to the pop culture conversation; Barbie sensation Ryan Gosling being the reason that Beavis and Butt-Head returned to popularity, and; Gosling dressing like Beavis alongside Saturday Night Live cast member Mikey Day’s Butt-Head on the red carpet for the premiere of the upcoming 2024 blockbuster The Fall Guy. But that’s exactly what happened during the recent premiere of David Leitch’s well-received action thriller, which won over crowds in Austin for SXSW and is preparing to kick off the summer season this Friday.

After taking a trip down the red carpet alongside The Fall Guy co-star Emily Blunt, Ryan Gosling apparently returned to the top of the promotional walk and changed his appearance so that he’d look like the guy who looks like Beavis, made famous on a recent Saturday Night Live sketch. Gosling and Day stopped for photos and looked like this:

The randomness of the sketch continues to draw laughs. In the skit, Gosling and Day’s characters are not playing Beavis and Butt-Head, the celebrated culture commentators who think most things are stupid. They, instead, play people attending an A.I. summit who are mistaken for Beavis and Butt-Head, though they don’t see the similarities.   

If you somehow missed the skit on SNL, it played like this:

Ryan Gosling’s ability to make fun of himself is a big part of the reason why he’s considered one of the industry’s moist charming movie stars. Whether its his penchant for appearing in “Hey girl” memes, or his viral Papyrus sketch that fueled a long-running Avatar joke, Gosling can aim his sharp sense of humor directly at his own traits. I can’t imagine may other A-listers who’d show up at the premiere of their latest blockbuster dressed as Beavis. Gosling’s built different, and we love him for it. 

Never fear, though. The star also took the time to walk the carpet and look every bit the movie sensation that he is. He and Emily Blunt continue to shine during this entire publicity run:

And now it’s time for you guys to see the movie. Reactions to the movie have been strong, so fans should make sure they have their tickets ready to go before the movie opens on May 3. This is a high-powered stunt comedy that sends tons of love to the concept of moviemaking, and features two illustrious movie stars trading on the on-screen chemistry they spark all picture long. It’s a guaranteed good night at the theater, so be sure to check it out.

Saturday Night Live has been making millions of people laugh for almost five decades, and every so often, a sketch will become a major part of pop culture. Two weekends ago, Ryan Gosling’s SNL episode went viral in part because in basically every sketch someone broke character. Specifically, pretty much everyone broke during the Beavis and Butt-Head sketch, with the exception of Kenan Thompson, and people are still talking about it.

Gosling and Mikey Day portrayed characters with a striking resemblance to the duo from one of the best animated series in a sketch, and it was the most talked-about moment from the episode. On top of the fact that they nailed Beavis and Butt-Head’s mannerisms and looks, Heidi Gardner could not stop laughing. Just watching it again, I can see why.

It’s been over a week since the episode aired on the 2024 TV schedule, but people cannot stop watching it. While it's not close to being one of the most popular videos on SNL's YouTube channel, the sketch has racked up almost 12 million views in just nine days, which is pretty impressive. Plenty of viewers on X (formerly known as Twitter) shared their thoughts on the sketch, and FelixRadio is still dying over the Emmy-worthy performance:

While the sketch is pretty average in terms of plot, the fact that the make-up and wardrobe were spot-on makes it even iconic. Not to mention the fact that while viewers were dying laughing at home, so were the cast members, extras, Ryan Gosling, and everyone in the audience. WestParkRunner admitted they’ve watched it so many times they've lost count:

The Beavis and Butt-Head sketch is arguably one of the funniest sketches in recent years of SNL, and every time I watch it, it just seems to get funnier. It’s definitely one of those where you can’t get tired of it, and even though it was only mid-week when they posted, ramblingfilm had already watched it a handful of times:

No matter how much time has passed or how many times the sketch is watched, it seems like Beavis and Butt-Head have earned their way into the SNL Hall of Fame. It really does get funnier every time, because on each watch you can pick up on different details and cast members breaking. CTLikesSports isn’t afraid to share that they’ve watched it an unhealthy amount:

Considering sketches on Saturday Night Live can be either a hit or a miss, it seems like it’s been a while since one has gone as viral as Beavis and Butt-Head and has made many, many people laugh. It will be hard to top it, but luckily it doesn’t look like people are getting tired of it any time soon. Viewers will just have to continue to watch Season 49 of SNL on NBC or with a Peacock subscription to see if there are any sketches worthy enough of a viral status that prompt conversation for weeks following the episode airing. 

Kenan Thompson is one of SNL’s most legendary and major cast members, as proven over his record 21 seasons on NBC’s late-night comedy milestone. As we continue to see the roster of SNL Season 49 hosts bring folks like Ryan Gosling back to Studio 8H to tangle with Thompson and his castmates, the results have been literally laughable. But surprisingly, in the already iconic Beavis and Butt-Head sketch that saw the Barbie actor, Heidi Gardner and more break with laughter, Kenan was a pillar of strength.

And for those wondering how he did it, Kenan Thompson went in depth with Variety on his process. But for those of you thinking that all of those years on All That have left him immune to breaking, that totally isn’t the case. If anything, the dress rehearsal for “Beavis and Butt-Head” proved to be the saving grace in this particular scenario, as explained by Thompson in the following remarks: 

While most of the cast and Ryan Gosling broke during this SNL sketch, which has been quite popular on YouTube and social media, somehow, even with Kenan Thompson breaking that hard during the dress rehearsal, the man kept it together during the live broadcast.

Which honestly, is even more commendable, because everyone else was probably still breaking thinking about the times that he gave into laughter. If you want to challenge yourself to try not to laugh during "Beavis and Butt-Head," feel free to watch the sketch, included below in its entirety: 

While he wasn’t trying to paint himself as an overly serious actor, Mr. Thompson admitted that the choice to remain stoic was absolutely conscious. What’s more, he cited his dedication to the work, which he respects as a comedian and friend to sketch writers like Mikey Day. Firming up his position on why he takes his comedy so seriously, Kenan Thompson explained himself as follows: 

When you’re on a job like Saturday Night Live for almost 21 years, it’s easy to fall into a groove. Learning that Kenan Thompson can fall into that groove, while also admitting he’s as susceptible to the giggles as anyone else, just makes him all the more admirable. 

Keep that in mind as you continue to watch SNL’s 49th Season on the 2024 TV schedule when it returns this weekend at 11:35 P.M. ET, on NBC. 

Animation is one of the earlier moving art forms, and has provided countless artists the means to bring their stories to life, be it through the black-and-white hues of Bosco the Talk-Ink Kid or the multicolored bliss of Fantasia. Toons can be as simple as the Oscar-winning “The Dot and the Line” from legends Chuck Jones and Maurice Noble, or they can be as endlessly complex as Wallace and Gromit’s stop-motion universe. Television has provided audiences with 80 years of memorable projects –- including some forgotten Saturday morning gems — with new shows debuting at a rapid pace, and we’re here to celebrate the very best animated series of all time.

From classic characters like Mickey Mouse and Fred Flintstone to modern favorites like Monkey D. Luffy and the Belcher family, CinemaBlend’s staff is saluting them all. So join us in paying tribute to the funniest, coolest, smartest, and most moving animated series that have graced our TV screens over the decades.

75. The Jetsons

Despite being the first show ABC ever broadcast in color, The Jetsons was canceled after a single season and only 24 total episodes. It just couldn’t find the right audience, at least until the reruns started airing on Saturday mornings and an entire generation of kids fell in love with the futuristic setting and zany plotlines. George, Jane, Judy, Elroy, Astro and Rosey eventually became so popular in syndication that more than 20 years after its cancellation, a further fifty-one episodes were produced, as well as a movie. It’s an unconventional success story but perhaps one fitting for a show filled with futuristic tech that hilariously never works as intended.

74. Aqua Teen Hunger Force

When Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim programming block premiered in September 2001, Aqua Teen Hunger Force was one of its surreal cornerstones, and it’s pretty much stayed that way ever since. The long-running series follows three anthropomorphic fast food items – Master Shake, Frylock, and Meatwad – who get into all kinds of trouble with their neighbor(s), locals, and interdimensional beings. ATHF helped usher in a new era for adult animation at the turn of the century, and it's remained just as hilarious and timeless during that historic run. But for as wild and nonsensical as it gets, there’s a certain charm that makes it not just one of the funniest shows on Adult Swim, but in all of TV animation.

73. Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends

Though not lauded quite as high as animation giants such as Walt Disney or Hanna-Barbera, Jay Ward delivered many of the medium’s most lasting creations, with The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle at the center of his zany, intelligent, and meta-before-meta-was-cool storytelling skills. The titular moose and squirrel’s serialized rivalry with the devious Boris and Natasha can never be forgotten, while the history-adoring side characters Sherman and his pup Mr. Peabody became a pop culture magnet unto themselves over the years. Now if only we could get a Fractured Fairy Tales spinoff for the 21st century…

72. What If...?

Upon its launch, part of the reason why a Disney+ subscription was so appealing involved the streaming service's new content directly connected to major IPs like the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And while we’ve been treated to a number of live-action shows, the studio also took a major risk with the multiversal animated series What If…? The comic book anthology series offers alternate realities to the MCU characters and events we know and love, and shows how the entire franchise could be radically altered if just one character's arc differed. Additionally, the voice cast of What…If? features many Marvel favorites reprising their roles to tell these ambitious stories that could never be produced in live-action.

71. The Proud Family

The Proud Family was all about Penny Proud and her wild, yet relatable, journey through high school. While the premise was simple, this show’s fabulous crew of characters is what made it iconic, and its depiction of the day-to-day lives of an African American family is what made it groundbreaking. From our lead Penny to her father Oscar, her besties Dijonay, Zoey, LaCienega and Sticky Webb — and of course Sugar Mama — this family is the best, and we’ll adore them forever.

70. Beavis and Butt-Head

Besides The Simpsons, arguably no animated series from the 1990s sparked a bigger array of multi-generational reactions around the country than Beavis and Butthead. As soon as it premiered on MTV in March 1993, Mike Judge’s groundbreaking, edgy, and unsavory cartoon became a national sensation while following two objectively moronic teenagers barely navigating school, life, nachos, and a carousel of music video commentary. Video games, movies, tons of merchandising (both official and bootleg) flooded the market in the years that followed, and there's a reason revivals keep happening: it's a great show, dammit. Mm-heh-heh.

69. Schoolhouse Rock!

Schoolhouse Rock! is an animated gem that has been passed down from generation to generation for all the right reasons. Originally debuting on TV back in 1973, the show's approach to combining educational programming with toon-filled songs cemented it as a true classic with more lasting value than most. From grammar-focused tunes like “Conjunction Junction" to the iconic intro-to-governmental-processes track “I’m Just a Bill” to even its Preamble song, Schoolhouse Rock! has had a lasting cultural impact, influencing many other shows, and even inspiring some spoofs along the way to its permanent place within pop culture.

68. Static Shock

The DC Animated Universe got a true shock to its system when Denys Cowan's Static Shock zapped onto TV screens in the early 2000s as a Saturday morning offering on Kids’ WB. Viewers were treated to some truly exciting, funny and heartfelt episodes that tracked the heroic exploits of teenager Virgil Hawkins in Dakota City. Thanks to late series creator Dwayne McDuffie and his talented team, Static Shock remains a dynamic piece of comic book fun, serving up some serious action mixed in with thoughtful social commentary on occasion. In short, this is a super-powered gem that’s rightfully still revered to this day.

67. Dexter's Laboratory

What child hasn't wished they had a secret location in their house that provided the means to do the most fantastic things their heart desires? Dexter’s Laboratory helped many youngins live vicariously through its titular brainiac, and the general hilarity of his meddling sister Dee Dee derailing it all helped make this one a definitive Cartoon Network classic. From the brain of the similarly brainy Genndy Tartakovsky, Dexter also boasted other animated shorts like Dial M For Monkey and The Justice Friends, which were all equally as enjoyable. To this day, I bet there are many who owe their ability to say “cheese omelet” in French to this wonderful series.

66. Kim Possible

“Call me, beep me, if you want to reach me,” because it’s time to talk about Kim Possible. Mixing a high-stakes spy drama with high school shenanigans appropriate for Disney Channel-aged audiences, this show is an action-packed good time. Largely centered on Kim’s missions to take down Dr. Drakken and Shego with the help (or more like attempted help) of her bestie Ron Stoppable and his naked molerat Rufus, Kim Possible defined many childhoods and taught generations of kids, and specifically girls, that anything is possible with the right mindset and gadgets.

65. Muppet Babies (1984)

How amazing are Jim Henson’s Muppets? The list goes on, but one key factor would be that Kermit and the gang brought to life what remains one of pop culture’s only genuinely great examples of “Your favorite characters, but they’re babies.” Trading TV studios and New York City exteriors for a Nanny-run nursery where the power of make-believe knows no bounds, Muppet Babies showed viewers of all ages that imagination is powered best when one is surrounded by friends to the end. Unfortunately for avid fans, the show’s abundant use of licensed TV, film, and music clips will likely keep it from ever hitting home media.

64. Family Guy

For one reason or 69 others — get it, Peter? — certain TV shows are able to get away with wildly edgy content without getting “canceled," either literally or figuratively. Granted, Seth MacFarlane's long-running fave Family Guy actually did actually get canceled by Fox back in 2002, but the '80s-adoring comedy was able to return from its shallow grave just two years later due to extraordinary DVD sales, a hit syndicated run, and the embrace of Adult Swim. and high ratings from reruns in syndication. Ever since that 2004 revival, viewers have followed the antics of Peter, Lois, Chris, Meg, Stewie and Brian along with all the ridiculous and often offensive cutaway flashbacks that fill their lives.

63. Robot Chicken 

Watching Robot Chicken calls to mind many chldhood memories of inventing scenarios with action figures modeled after classic movie and TV characters. That's essentially what Seth Green and Matthew Senreich’s stop-motion animated Adult Swim hit is: people playing with their toys. But with a bigger budget and more talented voice actors than any kids I ever played with. With boundary-pushing and insightful humor in the mix, the Emmy-winning Robot Chicken is sketch comedy at its most refreshingly unique, rebelliously raw, and deliciously nostalgic, and is not bogged down by the limitations that might come with a live-action production.

62. The Flintstones

For many people, The Flintstones is one of the first cartoons we remember watching on TV. This classic Hanna-Barbera series about a lovable caveman and his family navigating a prehistoric world field with outrageous stone-age variations of modern-day appliances and tools, is just as funny and attention-grabbing as it was upon its release more than 60 years ago, which is really saying something about its quality. On top of such indelible characters like Fred Flinstone, Barney Rubble, and the Great Gazoo, the show also has one of the most iconic opening themes of all time.

61. Freakazoid!

Though not the most marquee-ready superhero, Freakazoid!’s titular protagonist is the creation of Batman: The Animated Series legends Bruce Timm and Paul Dini, with Steven Spielberg and Tiny Toons vet Paul Ruegger leading the charge. So yeah, it’s a perfectly bonkers mix of comic book mythos mixed with slapstick and fourth-wall-breaking comedy, complete with a mini-universe of B-tier heroes and villains such as Candle Jack (but don’t say his name). Lasting two seasons from 1995-1997, Freakazoid! ss a joy for viewers of all ages, anchored by the stellar voice work of stars Paul Rugg and Ed Asner.

60. Chip 'n' Dale: Rescue Rangers

Long before the series was reimagined as a hilarious Disney+ movie starring John Mulaney and Andy Sandberg, Chip 'n' Dale: Rescue Rangers started out as a tremendous and timeless action-adventure toon about a pair of chipmunks fronting a crew of anthropomorphic animals. Thanks in part to that earworm theme, it never gets old watching Chip, Dale, Gadget Hackwrench, Monterey Jack, and Zipper solve all manner of crimes (both big and small, really small) and save the day before the end of each episode, and the show can still hold the attention of our kids all these years later.

59. Teen Titans

Some viewers probably weren’t sure what to make of Teen Titans upon its debut, but the series eventually became a hit – and for good reason. The quirky superhero romp is the definition of cartoon greatness, as it skillfully blends action and comedy, ultimately using both to great effect. Yet, most importantly, so much heart is on display amidst the explosions and sheer wackiness as well. Because of that, Robin, Cyborg, Starfire, Beast Boy and Raven remain not only one of DC’s best TV super teams, but also one of its greatest familial units. And, yes, that theme song still slaps.

58. Gargoyles

The oft-underrated Saturday morning toon Gargoyles is one of those shows that manages to deliver more than the kind of action you’d expect from Disney's weekly animated fare. It’s a dark and complex drama series with dynamic characters, beautiful animation and stories that sometimes border on Greek tragedy. Many viewers understandably still have such reverence for the tales that EP Greg Weisman and his team told about the mighty Goliath and his clan of night guardians. It’s ironic that a group of beings that turn cold as stone are among some of the warmest heroes to ever grace a TV screen.

57. DuckTales

Having quite possibly the catchiest theme song on this list that's chock-full of them is probably enough reason to include DuckTales on this list, but of course, the show has so much more going for it. Scrooge McDuck and his nephews, previously only bit players in Disney cartoons, earned the star spotlight for a show that was about as close to an action/adventure cartoon as Disney had delivered at the time, making it something fresh new, and exciting. But it was still “Disney” and thus more accessible to younger viewers than other ‘80s cartoons looking to sell action figures, drawing from Carl Banks' timeless comic run.

56. Hey Arnold!

Amidst all of Nickelodeon's best chracters, perhaps no greater role model for younger viewers exists than the football-headed protagonist of Hey Arnold! In fact, Craig Bartlett’s series offered something very few animated programs have (then or since): a diverse ensemble whom kids could potentially relate to or aspire to be like. With a stunningly grounded urban aesthetic, even in its most peculiar momens, and a hefty set of valuable life lessons that often came out of dark situations, admittedly — not to mention an absolute banger of a jazz score — Hey Arnold! is a masterstroke for the medium.

55. The Real Ghostbusters

1984's Ghostbusters inspired an immediate sequel, but when live-action follow-ups stalled, Sony did the next best thing: created this magnificent riff on the beloved property. No, they couldn’t get BIll Murray and Dan Aykroyd together every three years, but they could animate Peter, Ray, Winston and Egon for a series of animated adventures around New York City, the world, and even realms beyond. The best part about The Real Ghostbusters is that it understood the irreverent tone of Ivan Reitman’s two movies, but split the difference to also appeal directly to kids who just wanted to see Slimer. When we really need a hit of that nostalgic rush, these are the Ghostbusters stories that most deserve revisiting.

54. Teen Titans Go

DC Comics adaptations often get knocked for being too serious, but that's not the case with Teen Titans Go, an effervescent, energetic, and rapid-fire funny series centered on Robin, Cyborg, Beast Boy, Raven, and Starfire. The show embraced irreverent humor, leaning hard into its heroes' stereotypical behaviors, from Robin’s crippling need to be a leader to Raven’s broody Goth Girl energy and beyond. Without hinging on continuity or major cameos from A-list DC heroes (at least, not until Teen Titans Go! To The Movies, which was equally excellent), this slap-happy toon basically gave young kids a comic book portal where they could enjoy “waffles, waffles, waffles” without having to brood over anyone's parents getting gunned down in an alley.

53. The Powerpuff Girls

Sugar, spice, and everything nice wasn’t even half of what we got with The Powerpuff Girls. Like many other animated classics, it was a show made for kids that adults could easily also enjoy. The superpowered Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup deal with typical childhood troubles like sibling rivalry and bed wetting while also saving their town from a truly ingenious rogue’s gallery. These endearing kindergartners, their friends and foes (like arch nemesis Mojo Jojo, and Powerpuff wanna-be Princess Morbucks) provide us with laughs, lessons and intrigue, all wrapped in a parody and pop-culture focused package that doles out plenty of surprises.

52. Tiny Toon Adventures

Following in the footsteps of the iconic Looney Tunes squad was always going to be a tall order, but the Stephen Spielbeg-produced Tiny Toon Adventures understood the assignment. While the characters may have been inspired by those that came before, each one from Babs and Buster to Plucky and Hampton, was given just as much freedom to be entirely new characters, not simply the “new versions” of the classics. The humor was always on point, with plenty of gags for younger viewers, alongside references only the older “kids” watching would get.

51. Courage the Cowardly Dog

Making a cartoon for children that's as creepy as it is funny is no easy task, but Courage the Cowardly Dog found a way to execute that balance quite beautifully, relying mostly on overtly bizarre and/or paranormal villains. Courage protecting his owners, Eustace and Muriel, against everything from a cursed mummy to a duck with a mallet never gets old. It’s the most deserving Cartoon Network original that needs a revival, which could potentially still happen someday, considering Courage was part of a Scooby-Doo crossover movie released in 2021. Until that day comes, fans can revisit the entire series with a Max subscription.

50. Adventure Time

Most classic adventure cartoons engage in storytelling in a more earnest manner, but only a few effectively capture the joys of make-believe like Adventure Time — which for many is the absolute cream of the crop for Cartoon Network’s original programming. Creator Pendleton Ward’s fantasy-comedy follows Finn the Human (Jeremy Shada) and Jake the Dog (John DiMaggio) as they navigate the weird and wonderful, post-apocalyptic Land of Ooo, having a mathematical time along the way. With its charming animation, ingenious creatures, clever world-building, and a lighthearted tone that never abandons spellbinding excitement, the fun truly never ends.

49. Big Mouth

It’s not every day that audiences get a hilariously offensive animated show that actually provides accurate representation of growing up LGBTQ+. On the surface, Netflix's Big Mouth, which rocks an all-star cast led by co-creator Nick Kroll and John Mulaney, simply shows the trouble and turmoil of puberty, sexuality, hormones, and the everyday struggle that we call “life.” Lucky for viewers, it is also much, much more than that. The show follows a group of young people who tend to be accompanied by “hormone monsters” (who now have their own wacky spinoff series) who help guide them through the changes and struggles that come with growing up.

48. Arthur

Kids owe PBS for so many great animated series, but Arthur might be its crown jewel. For over 20 years, Marc Brown’s storybook aardvark, along with his friends and family, endeared themselves to the public. The author and the show’s writing staff, through their efforts, taught youngsters firm lessons in responsibility, community, empathy and much more. What’s particularly impressive is that the grade-school comedy managed to remain consistent in conveying such morals during its lengthy run. Of course, when the program wasn’t dropping vital nuggets of knowledge, it was simply exuding pure, imaginative fun. What we have here is a truly timeless show, and one that’s sure to delight audiences for generations to come.

47. Pokémon

Part of the reason Pokémon remains one of the top franchises worldwide is because the series can have a different meaning for every generation that consumes it. The kids of 2024 can watch the same show O.G. viewers watched in the late '90s and appreciate those characters in new ways, given there have been plenty of successive projects that have come loaded with over a thousand different Pokémon for children to latch onto and make their favorite. The show's awesome battles haven't quite held up when it comes to the franchise's many video games, but perhaps someday, Game Freak will give the people what they want.

46. Spider-Man

Spider-Man fandom has been known to grow from many sources, including the comics and multiple generations of live-action blockbusters, but the Spider-Man animated series from 1994 holds a special place in the hearts of millennials – as it should, because it is amazing (pun totally intended). In retrospect, the content censorship is ridiculous (this is a show where Spidey wasn’t even allowed to punch people), but the filmmakers still found ways to deliver exciting adaptations of comic book stories, and some episodes are even better than the source material. We have yet to see a better version of the Venom origin story than what was created here.

45. Batman: The Brave and the Bold

Thanks in large part to the success of Tim Burton’s Batman from 1989, it was at one point decided that the best version of the Caped Crusader is the dark and brooding version. That has now been the go-to mode for the superhero for decades – but at the very least Batman: The Brave And The Bold reminded us for a time just how much fun the Dark Knight can be. The deep voice and silly sensibilities of Diedrich Bader make him one of the best to ever play the hero, and every episode delivers a fun team-up opportunity. Every DC character is represented with love, but there’s an argument to be made that John DiMaggio's Aquaman is the all-time best version of the Atlantean king.

44. Doug

The entire Nicktoons library was a big deal for '90s kids, and who was more relatable than Doug Funnie on Doug? Through his journal entries and soaring imagination, the preteen opened up about the seemingly everyday events of his life, from getting a haircut to trying liver and onions, and we totally felt that. We understood the middle school awkwardness, the anguish of his crush on Patti Mayonnaise and just how good it felt to rock out to your favorite band (The Beets, of course! “Aw-wee-oo! Killer tofuuuuu!”). We wanted Skeeter to be our best friend and a dog as cool as Porkchop. Not to mention, the opening credits and theme song are pretty iconic.

43. Pinky and the Brain

Let’s be honest here: Pinky and the Brain was repetitive. In every episode, the two main characters did “the same thing we do every night, Pinky… try to take over the world!” But it was the way that the odd couple mice played off of each other — with Pinky being the doofus assistant to the Orson Welles-inspired mastermind mouse that is The Brain — that allowed this Animaniacs episode segment to thrive as its own standalone series. It's one we still quote to this day, using many of the cast members’ favorite jokes. Like everything in Animaniacs, Pinky and the Brain benefitted from an “anything goes” approach to humor, meaning that stories would involve Brain’s archnemesis (a hamster named Snowball) or a bit where Pinky gets elected President of the United States. And it all worked because the creators understood how to be intelligent while also being goofy.

42. X-Men: The Animated Series

Before the Marvel Cinematic Universe revitalized how big and connected comic book adaptations could be, few film and TV examples truly brought to live what people loved about the medium. X-Men: The Animated Series was one of the first, giving audiences comic book-accurate versions of the beloved mutants that felt like they jumped right off the page. The show offered long-term serializing storytelling just like the source material, something that was essentially unheard of for a Saturday morning cartoon. But whether one was an avid reader or not, these were (and perhaps still are) the definitive versions of the X-Men. It’s no wonder that decades later, the series was revived as X-Men '97.

41. Infinity Train

Created by Regular Show writer/artist Owen Dennis, the Cartoon Network-turned-Max series Infinity Train is the crown jewel of overlooked and under-discussed animated series. A highly imaginative coming-of-age sci-fi fantasy,  not the most common sub-genre, the series centers on a different interconnected story and character set in each of its four seasons, with everything taking place on a mysterious and impossibly long train where most cars present challenges for the characters to figure out and overcome. It’s an emotionally gripping and exciting tale that never goes off the rails, with a stacked cast of familiar voices.

40. Futurama

The second mega-hit series created in part by Matt Groening, Futurama has always been far more than just The Future Simpsons, thanks to its unforgettable cast of meme-ready nutjobs, egomaniacs, and bending-proficient robots. From Fry’s dopey optimism to The Professor’s absent-minded genius to Hermes’ ability to drop everything if a limbo stick comes around, the series balances its strong personalities with tons of space-faring, paradox-thwarting, time-traveling mayhem that never stops being fun. Both one of the smartest and silliest animated series of all time, and filled with some of the nerdiest jokes possible, Futurama has remained a beloved small-screen entity in part because the Planet Express crew has managed to survive multiple cancellations at Fox and Comedy Central, reaching its third lifeform at Hulu, presumably because the Hypnotoad demanded it so.

39. Mickey Mouse (Classic Disney Shorts)

There are few animated characters more famous than Mickey Mouse, and it’s safe to say the House of Mouse wouldn’t be everything it is today without Disney’s classic Mickey Mouse animated shorts that debuted in the 1920s. Smartly written and brimming with slapstick comedy, these quick hits of quirky fun introduced us to the loveable mouse — who displayed courage and strength but in a way that was achievable for any of us — along with the equally iconic Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Pluto and Goofy. Included in this series is 1935’s “The Band Concert” — Disney’s first color cartoon, which quite literally paved the way for Disney animation for 100 years and counting. And while it may not be part of that exact era, give me Goofy bungling up ski lessons any day.

38. Dragon Ball Z

Though it wasn’t the first show in the franchise, Dragon Ball Z introduced countless kids and teenagers to iconic characters like Goku, Piccolo, Vegeta, and Gohan throughout the ‘90s, especially after the anime series became a mainstay in Cartoon Network’s Toonami afternoon block. This intense cartoon about a group known as the Z Fighters who attempt to protect Earth (and later, other planets) from diabolical forces was something many of us ran home from school or off the bus to catch each weekday. The introduction of increasingly dangerous and destructive villains like Frieza, Cell, and Boo (each had their own saga) continued to raise the bar as the series went on, and make this still a gem worth revisiting.

37. Rocko's Modern Life

Is there a classic Nickelodeon show from the ‘90s that captures the spirit of the era more than Rocko’s Modern Life? This zany, surreal, and extraordinary animated series debuted in 1993 and quickly found an audience thanks to its unique style of humor that appealed to both children and adults. With characters like the neurotic titular wallaby, his best friends Heffer Wolfe and Filburt, and the various members of the Bighead family, there was so much to love about the show. It pushed the envelope with its humor and art direction and had a lot to say about the modern world, hence its name. The mammalian gang even returned to fans in 2019 with the special Static Cling.

36. Animaniacs

We still have no idea how Animaniacs creator Tom Ruegger got the greenlight to make everyone's childhood better with this hilarious, clever, but extremely inside-baseball showbiz comedy aimed at mature kids. Yes, on the surface, the Animaniacs works as a variety show, an evolution off The Muppet Show during which the hosts – the Warner siblings, one with a Liverpool accent – would set up individual cartoons. But in between, the banter and humor offered up in Animaniacs consisted of some of the funniest, most outrageous, and unpredictable jokes that would spoof Dolly Parton, Marilyn Monroe, and the idea of fingering Prince, as it were. Sometimes the show managed to be educational, but mostly it was pure lunacy, and we loved every second of it.

35. Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!

Mysteries are the most entertaining genre of storytelling. What’s more satisfying than a tidy reveal at the end of a whodunit, and a villain exclaiming how they would have gotten away with it, if not for those meddling kids? Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? followed a very popular “monster of the week” format, but wasn’t afraid to push the envelope to freak out little kids who tuned into a cartoon and were terrified by haunted suits of armor, killer clowns, and more. From its unforgettable theme song to the vocal contributions of radio icon Casey Kasem as Shaggy, Scooby-Doo Where Are You? walked so that Goosebumps and Gravity Falls could run.

34. Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated

Scooby-Doo: Mystery Incorporated is a breath of fresh air within the long-running franchise birthed by Hanna-Barbera. For this particular production, the typical case-of-the-week format isn’t in play, as serialized storytelling is utilized. It’s a great approach that really fleshes out the meddling kids and the titular canine in a way that past incarnations don’t. The humor associated with this entertainment property is definitely employed in this iteration. However, what’s also exciting is how the writers and artists aim to deliver some truly scary monsters, all seemingly tied to the antagonist Mr. E. While it’s admirable that the show sticks to its predecessors’ roots in many ways, its goal to shake up the classic formula results in an overarching mystery that’s both compelling and creepy.

33. Archer

Creator Adam Reed’s singular vision and undying creativity turned Archer from a ribald spin on James Bond into one of the most well-rounded pieces of spy fiction in existence. H. Jon Benjamin’s unmistakable voice gives life to the booze-swilling agent’s snappy insults and TV-MA euphemisms alongside a downright stellar cast that also includes Aisha Tyler, Judy Greer, Jessica Walter, Chris Parnell and more. The series is a testament to the importance of characters compared to plot, with Archer’s core group shifting from years of traditional storytelling to multiple side-mission seasons such as the Miami-set Vice, the subconscious-set Dreamland, the jungle-filled Danger Island and others. On a jokes-per-minute basis, it stands next to comedy giants like The Simpsons and Airplane!, and can drink them both under the table.

32. Batman Beyond

Debuting in 1999, Batman Beyond jumps decades forward into the future and showcases the story of a now-retired Bruce Wayne who is acting as a mentor to the next generation Dark Knight, Terry McGinnis, as voiced by the legend himself, Kevin Conroy. The show earned multiple award nominations, winning two Daytime Emmy Awards. Bruce and Terry have just enough similarities and frustrating differences to keep their dynamic captivating while still wholesome, which makes this particular animated series one of the most enjoyable to watch in the franchise. Terry is forced to work twice as hard in order to balance out both his personal life and his crime-fighting side persona, as he both learns from and teaches his mentor as they both work to stand up for what they both clearly believe in.

31. Star Wars: The Clone Wars

While a lot is owed to Genndy Tartakovsky’s Star Wars: Clone Wars, the animated side of George Lucas’ sci-fi universe truly took off in 2008 with the launch of Cartoon Network's Star Wars: The Clone Wars. The series is, in large part, what it is due to franchise guru Dave Filoni, who thought his hiring was a prank. Filoni’s respect for Lucas’ work permeates the entire CGI show, but there are also some cool elements that he himself adds to the canon, including the now-beloved Jedi Ahsoka Tano. With incredible storylines, sweet animation and strong voice acting, this show works well on its own but also stands firmly alongside the films it builds upon.

30. Bob's Burgers

One of the many things to love about Bob’s Burgers is just how close, loving, and, well, lovingly strange the main characters at the center of the show are. The Belcher family is (mostly) committed to keeping their small, family-run burger shop up and running, but their kooky adventures usually take the whole family away from the restaurant. Exasperated pessimist Bob, his happy-go-lucky wife Linda and their kids, Tina, Gene and Louise get into a number of hilariously weird scrapes that, honestly, most of us only wish we could have to make life more intriguing. Add to that Louise’s near-constant scheming, Tina’s awkwardness, and how the whole family interacts with a town full of endearing oddballs, and you have yourself a wonderfully weird winner. Tell 'em Teddy sent ya.

29. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was the perfect show for a perfect moment in time. It combined outrageous and over the top late 80s imagery with some of the first mainstream depictions of skater culture and added ninjas, an outrageous backstory and a steady stream of cheesy catchphrases. Deep in the sewer of our hearts, amidst roundhouse kicks and impossibly yellow April O’Neil jumpsuits, they carved out a place for themselves, and more than thirty years later, their ooze still remains in the form of reimagined shows, new movies and billions of dollars worth of merchandise. And despite all the success, they're still just heroes in a half-shell, and they're green. (Hey, get a grip.)

28. SpongeBob SquarePants (1999-Present)

In 1999, if you told someone a silly gap-toothed sponge would one day be as recognizable to the children of the world as Mickey Mouse or Bugs Bunny, they would’ve laughed. And yet, SpongeBob SquarePants continues to entertain the children of today, and has been lovingly embraced by the Millenials and Gen-Z who grew up with it as well. The internet is loaded with memes dedicated to the franchise, and there’s still plenty of debate as to what is in a Krabby Patty. With plenty of episodes and even some spinoffs, it feels like SpongeBob and friends will be entertaining children for many years to come.

27. Rugrats (1991)

Rugrats premiered in 1991 on Nickelodeon as one of the first three Nicktoons, aimed at a younger audience than Doug and The Ren & Stimpy Show. It was a staple for kids throughout the ‘90s and into the early 2000s, with nine seasons about the adventures of babies Tommy, Chuckie, Phil, and Lil, with regular appearances from characters like the parents, Angelica, and (eventually) Dil. The show could swing from silly to serious, with memorable episodes that ranged from covering the grief of losing a parent to the spectacular Reptar On Ice, with a dinosaur love song that still rings in the hearts of plenty of ‘90s kids. There’s a reason why this Nicktoon show went on to inspire Rugrats movies and a 2021 reboot.

26. Harley Quinn

What happens when you blend DC Comics mythology with the kind of crass adult comedy you find in shows like Family Guy and South Park? You get Harley Quinn, which follows Kaley Cuoco’s version of The Joker’s former squeeze going on adventures with Lake Bell’s Poison Ivy, her best-friend-turned-girlfriend, and getting into hijinks with fellow supervillains and superheroes alike. One doesn’t need to be a hardcore DC fan to appreciate Harley Quinn, although that definitely helps with catching the deep-cut references and Easter eggs. As long as you're in the mood for clever writing and all the edgy, not-safe-for-kids humor you could ask for, Harley Quinn is a must-[censored]-watch.

25. Gravity Falls

With hands on our bible of beasts, baubles and bafflement — Journal 3, naturally — we can solemnly swear that Gravity Falls is the weirdest, wildest and gobblewonkiest project that’s ever come out of Disney, bursting through the castle doors like rainbows from a gnome’s mouth. Created by Alex Hirsch, the mystery-hinged funfest centers on a pair of siblings, Jason Ritter’s Dipper and Kristen Schaal’s Mabel, living with their kooky and perhaps unstable great uncle, Grunkle Stan (voiced by Hirsch). And for anyone who loves codes, hidden messages, deep lore, crytozoology, conspiracies, and everything sharing that fringe space, Gravity Falls is the holy grail of animated shows. (And that grail is filled with Pitt Cola.)

Despite nearly universal love and acclaim, Disney cut Gravity Falls’ run short at just two seasons, although the actual supplementary Journal 3 (which Hirsch co-wrote) is expansive and unique enough of an experience to at least count as a one-off special. There’s still hope that fans will one day go on more adventures in the Mystery Shack with Soos, assuming Bill Cipher doesn’t muck anything up, but even if these 40 episodes are all that ever get produced, it was perfection.

24. The Boondocks

Aaron McGruder’s adaptation of his own comic strip, The Boondocks, is a must-watch for those trying to better understand racial relations, culture, and racism in the United States. With the help of some voice acting from Regina King, Riley and his brother Huey navigate the Black experience of living in a predominantly white suburb.

The Boondocks thrived on taking hot-button issues and forcing the viewer to think about not just the issue but their own reaction and perspective of that issue. The Boondocks deserves applause for how it pushed the envelope in its four seasons and offered thoughtful commentary in a way few other animated shows can.

23. Justice League

Superheroes joining forces in the DC Animated Universe wasn’t anything new prior to 2001 thanks to special pairings in Superman: The Animated Series and Batman Beyond’s “The Call” two-parter, but Justice League placed teamwork front and center. Viewers watched Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter and Hawkgirl vanquish terrestrial, alien and magical threats together, and it was a blast.

Justice League continues to be appreciated for its crisp animation, mature storytelling and stellar character development, as well as for transforming John Stewart from a B-list character to the definitive Green Lantern for a generation. Justice League makes an effective crash course for those wanting to dive into DC lore without having read any of the comics.

22. Star Trek: Lower Decks

Being such a well known and praised franchise for decades, die-hard fans were quite surprised when it was announced back in 2019 that the Star Trek franchise would be taking a shot at an adult comedy with a brand new animated show, Star Trek: Lower Decks. Written by Rick and Morty’s Mike McMahan, the show takes place in the 24th century and instead of focusing on the high-ranking officers on the Bridge Crew, it gives viewers a glimpse into the “lower deck” officers with the more humble jobs that keep the ship running…smoothly? The show often references the rest of the Star Trek earlier entries and breaks down sci-fi tropes, often in a very NSFW way, and should delight both seasoned and new fans alike.

21. Sailor Moon

If you’re of a certain age, Sailor Moon may be the first anime you ever saw in your entire life. It’s one of those ‘90s anime that was sandwiched between Fist of the North Star in the ‘80s, and the explosion that was Dragon Ball Z, and Pokemon in the later ‘90s. Even so, Sailor Moon still managed to stand out, and it still stands out today. It may be because Serena (or Usagi, if you prefer sub over dub) is so dang loveable. As is her relationship with Darien (AKA, Tuxedo Mask).

And of course, we can’t forget the many other Sailor Scouts, as they all have their own unique personalities and inner worlds. In truth, Sailor Moon is the kind of cartoon that appeals to both young girls, but also grown men in their ‘30s and ‘40s, and really, we wouldn’t have it any other way.

20. One Piece

Shows like One Piece don’t come along often, and really, we’re not sure there is any other show on television that’s like it. It’s one thing to have an astronomically high episode count, but quite another for that story to be serialized and tell a great story of a pirate adventure that’s been wowing viewers for over two decades. The character development and growth of the Straw Hat Pirates and the world-building it boasts makes this an easy choice for top-tier anime, and it’s great that Netflix finally took notice and made an equally enjoyable live-action series.

It’s a modern-day epic story equatable to Gilgamesh or Beowulf, and feels like a lived-in universe more than any other anime out there. It’s totally worth the time investment for those who feel overwhelmed by tackling the 1000+ episodes of this ongoing series.

19. The Critic

The Critic, which revolves around New York film critic, Jay Sherman (voiced by A League of Their Own’s Jon Lovitz) sometimes hits way too close to home. What we mean is, with many of us being critics ourselves, a lot of Jay’s fussy qualms about movies seem super spot on, such as the eye roll he gave to the made-up movie, Beverly Hills RoboCanine Cop and a Half 2 (Starring Clint Eastwood!).

But that’s just the beauty of The Critic, because even though Jay was often fed up with having to review so many mediocre movies, he still loved his job, and stayed a movie fan to his core. Which, again, hits very close to home. Plus, it didn’t hurt that the series had The Simpsons writers, Al Jean and Mike Reiss as showrunners. It stinks!...that we don’t have any new episodes of The Critic to watch these days.

18. Daria

Daria once described herself to a therapist as actively working to make people dislike her. She’s not wrong. Daria's main character is, at times, deeply unlikeable. She speaks as if she’s a detached observer into her own life, making callous observations in a dry, dispassionate voice. She’s like a real life narrator, condescendingly commenting on the world around her as everyone else plays volleyball and talks about who they’re going to prom with.

Despite all her efforts, however, it’s impossible to hate Daria because she’s really funny and also not wrong most of the time. High school is often pretty stupid and populated with try-hards who don’t know themselves or have any idea where they’re going. Listening to Daria judge them feels like therapy, even if, deep down, we know she’s just as lost as they are.

17. Over The Garden Wall

What’s most impressive about Over The Garden Wall is just how effectively it slips under your skin and rattles you. The familiar sibling dynamic between Wirt (Elijah Wood) and his little brother Greg (Collin Dean) is disarming, as are the fantasy elements and talking animals… but never forgotten is the terror that comes from the show’s central premise: two boys getting lost in the woods and trying to find their way home. Each chapter starts with a light touch, but ends up gripping you by the throat and invading your nightmares.

The episodes brim with fantastic and horrific imagination - from the shadowy beasts that lead souls astray to the disturbing Auntie Whispers (voiced brilliantly by John Cleese). There are only 10 episodes and none of them run over 12 minutes, but Over The Wall leaves a deep impression, and it’s wonderful to revisit annually during Spooky Season.

16. King of the Hill

I tell you what, it’s hard to get better than King of the Hill. The long-running hit (which has a Mike Judge-led revival coming to Hulu soon), focused on Hank, Peggy and their son Bobby Hill, and their day to day life in the small town of Arlen, Texas. This slice-of-life animated show used something a lot of people probably take for granted - the absurdities of relationships, work, growing up, marriage and other aspects of daily life - turned them up to 11 and made every episode across 13 seasons feel like we were laughing at our own friends and family.

Don’t we all know at least one person obsessed with lawn care? Or one boy who ain’t right? If not, you’ll certainly wish you knew the residents of Rainey Street and could call them neighbors, because mundane, working class life has never looked like so much looney fun.

15. Mickey Mouse (2013 shorts)

Mickey Mouse is one of the most iconic characters in the history of animation. He’s been everywhere and done everything. What made the new series of shorts that began in 2013 and ended in 2023 special wasn’t that they did anything differently, (though certainly the visual style was completely new for the character) it was that they went back to the beginning and let Mickey be the Mickey he was always designed to be.

The modern run of shorts, simple called Mickey Mouse, let the big-eared protagonist be the hero, but they also let him be silly, angry, surprising, and ridiculous. They pack more gags into a five-minute short than would seem possible. The shorts were new, but also served as throwbacks to earlier Mickey eras when the character had more creative freedom before he became the icon we know. They were a breath of fresh air after decades of a stagnant and sterilized mouse.

14. The Legend Of Korra

There is sometimes debate on whether Avatar: The Last Airbender or its follow-up series, The Legend of Korra, is the better cartoon. But, when it comes to us, all we have to say is, why not both? Because honestly, you can’t lose with either series. That said, The Legend of Korra definitely is special in its own right. This is a more grown-up take on the world of Avatar, where each season introduces a new threat to our heroine, Korra (Voiced by the magnificent Janet Varney).

With each season, however, we see Korra adapt and change in ways that Aang never got to do, which is enhanced by Korra’s fantastic Team Avatar of Bolin, Mako, and of course, Asami. Oh, and speaking of Asami, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention how groundbreaking this show was, as Korrasami is still one of our favorite TV couples of all time.

13. South Park

Possibly the most controversial animated show of all time, South Park. With 26 seasons under their belt, Trey Parker and Matt Stones’ on Comedy Central follows the story of four young boys and the typically pop-culture chaos that surrounds them. The show’s intro blatantly states that the show “...should not be viewed by anyone.” South Park pulls no punches and gives no f’s. T

The creators have pulled some crazy stunts in the past, like attending the 2000 Oscars while being nominated, wearing dresses, and high on LSD. They have also attempted to get their own show canceled, been banned in China, as well as hitting a television milestone by going “bleep-free” with the use of the “f-bomb” live on air. It’s a show that could not be launched today, but since it has such huge weight in the zeitgeist, expect to see some more offensive Colorado antics for some time.

12. Star Wars Rebels

Star Wars Rebels picked up the action set in the galaxy far, far away after The Clone Wars ended, and the animated series ran from 2014-2018 on Disney XD to expand on the era ahead of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story with a found family of original characters. Not only did the show prove that Star Wars doesn’t need to rely on legacy characters like Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker to tell a fantastic story and deliver arguably one of the best deaths in the franchise’s history, but it set up some stellar stories that are being expanded in live-action with Ahsoka.

There was no certainty that Rebels would succeed back in the beginning despite the popularity of The Clone Wars, but the story was solid during its original run and stands the test of time for first-time watchers and re-watchers alike. And its characters, ships and plots have remained core to the universe even beyond its conclusion.

11. Invincible

Invincible was released for those with an Amazon Prime subscription during the height of superhero mania. Despite concerns about superhero fatigue, the animated series carved stands out within the genre. Namely by being the animated answer to The Boys, and being an R-rated and wildly violent cartoon show. Invincible focuses on the title character aka Mark Grayson who is a young person coming into his own as a wildly popular hero who boasts the same powers, if not the same prowess, as his father Omni- Man, who is revealed to be something quite a bit more dangerous than anyone readily expected.

Adapted rather faithfully from Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker's comic book, the story is emotional, the action sequences are bloody and brutal, and Invincible’s voice cast is led by A-list talent like Steven Yeun, J.K. Simmons, Sandra Oh, and more. And the show is so popular that Omni-Man spawned a character in Mortal Kombat 1.

10. Justice League Unlimited

Everything that was great about Justice League got ratcheted up a notch with Justice League Unlimited. Thanks to the team’s founding heroes expanding its ranks — minus Hawkgirl, who returned later in Season 1 — this continuation allowed the DC Animated Universe to shine the spotlight on even lesser-known heroes, from Green Arrow and The Question to Booster Gold and Huntress. Like its predecessor, the show wholeheartedly embraced its printed page while also putting unique spins on its starring protagonists and antagonists.

Although there were various standalone episodes peppered throughout Justice League Unlimited, the show was at its best when delving into its serialized stories that built off plot threads from the previous DC Animated Universe shows, namely the Cadmus and Secret Society arcs. That makes Unlimited arguably feel like the most comic book-y entry in this shared continuity. While the DCAU would be revisited a handful of other times following the show’s conclusion, Unlimited definitely marked the end of an era, and it stuck the landing wonderfully.

9. Phineas and Ferb

The concept of two brothers spending their summer vacation trying to figure out a way to spend it comes with endless possibilities, and Phineas and Ferb explored them creatively and expertly. Following a formula where every episode the titular characters are always finding an over-the-top thing to do or build. Meanwhile, their sister Candace tries to bust them while their pet platypus Perry goes on a mission to stop his nemesis Dr. Doofenshmirtz and his latest -enator.

Over the years, Phineas and Ferb mastered its formula and had a blast with it. Watching the brothers build a roller-coaster, create a backyard beach, get their parents' favorite band back together and oh so much more was not only fun but creatively invigorating. Not to mention, many episodes also featured incredible original music – like the Emmy-nominated song “Ain’t Got Rhythm” – meaning you’ll be humming along and thinking about this show long after the episode ends.

8. Looney Tunes

To describe Looney Tunes as a classic is completely appropriate, and yet, somehow not quite enough. This collection of animated shorts (produced from 1930 to 1969 and then revived in the late 1970s) has provided generations of audiences with wacky adventures featuring some of the most recognizable and quotable cartoon characters ever created. Even if you’ve only seen a handful of the many, many cartoons made by Warner Bros., you likely know that Bugs Bunny usually outsmarts everyone, Sylvester and Tweety are hilarious adversaries, Daffy Duck is at his funniest when he’s angry or on the losing end of anything, and that Roadrunner is way more trouble than it’s worth to Wile E. Coyote.

Looney Tunes is yet another example of how something could, technically, be pleasantly silly enough for kids, but just mature enough to get and keep the attention of adults. (Who doesn’t know what it’s like to repeatedly miss your target like Elmer Fudd?) When you watch one of these belly-laugh inducing entries, the only thing stopping you from watching another (and another) will be a power outage… That’s a joke, son!

7. Rick and Morty

A decade ago, if you asked us to name our Top Five most thoroughly inventive, consistently thrilling, amusingly thought-provoking, and deeply moving science-fiction series, we would have never guessed an Adult Swim original comedy would make the cut. Nevertheless, Rick and Morty — co-created by the now-fired Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon — has risen above its crude animation, and even cruder humor, to be widely remembered as, not just one of the funniest sci-fi TV shows, but among the genre’s all-time finest.

It is no surprise the series was bred from a Back to the Future parody short, as the pairing of alcoholic scientist Rick Sanchez with his grandson, Morty Smith, feels like a more volatile Marty and Doc situation, which is also just one of the many ways the series brilliantly pokes fun at and pays homage to pop culture. However, the best Rick and Morty episodes — in addition to introducing eye-popping, otherworldly, and downright absurd concepts — honor the series’ more relatable themes, such as family and existential dread, which cleverly sneak up on you while you experience the duo's latest crazy adventure through time and space.

6. Attack On Titan

There’s a lot of great anime out there, from wholesome shows like Spy X Family to much more action-heavy series like Demon Slayer and JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. But when it comes to anime that just generally rivals some of the greatest television shows of all-time, then look no further than Attack on Titan, which we once called the best under-the-radar show on television. Because no show swerved like Attack on Titan did, and it all falls upon its protagonist/antagonist, Eren Yeager, who the audience is firmly behind…until we aren’t.

That’s right, Attack on Titan initially seems very simple in premise — Titans bad, people good — but soon changes dramatically to the point where we wonder if we may have had it all wrong the entire time. Are the titans were the ones who were misunderstood, and the humans were the bad guys. Plus, this is the rare exception where the anime may be superior to the manga, and if you know anything about manga, that is no small feat. This is an anime for the ages.

5. Bluey

Bluey has simply become must-watch programming for families, and don’t be surprised when Mom and Dad find themselves just as entertained as the little ones. The infectious theme song ropes you in as it introduces Mum (Chilli), Dad (Bandit), little sister Bingo and big sister Bluey, but it’s the heart-filled interactions between the Blue Heelers that have kept people coming back. Some episodes are laugh-out-loud funny — “I slipped on my beans!” — and others will hit you right in the feels and cause tears to flow freely.

Parents have become endeared to Bluey because it inspires us to be better. It encourages us to play with our kids and gives us permission to act silly in public. Why care what strangers think if you can make your kids laugh, right? But Bluey also shows the harder moments. Sometimes Bandit and Chilli don’t have time to play. Sometimes they don’t know what to say or just need some peace and quiet after partying too hard on New Year’s Eve. We need permission to want those things in real life, too.

4. The Simpsons

The Simpsons is the most popular and successful animated show in history because it’s hilarious in so many different ways. No matter what your sense of humor is, there’s almost certainly a Simpsons character that’s funny in the exact way you’re looking for. From highbrow literary references thrown out as asides to people falling over and getting injured in embarrassing or gruesome ways, and everything in between, each episode is jam-packed with jokes intended to do very different things and to appeal to very different people.

If it happened in a lesser show, it might feel like pandering, but with The Simpsons, the "whatever sticks" approach always felt like layers and variance. That’s a testament to the quality of the writing. Most shows that try to do too much are overtly better at one of the things they’re trying to do, which makes the rest seem less than or out of place. Not The Simpsons. Thanks to fantastic, complicated leads and the funniest supporting network of side characters in TV history, the writers can be funny in so many unique, challenging, satirical, irreverent and sometimes prophetic ways, and they have for more than 750 delightful episodes.

3. Avatar: The Last Airbender

From scathing commentary about imperialism to discussions of spirituality, trauma and extinction, Nickelodeon's Avatar: The Last Airbender packs deep philosophical meaning into its animated stories. This universe, centered around people boasting the ability to bend elements, follows Avatar Aang on his journey to master the elements and defeat the Fire Lord. This series from Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko is a masterful classic, filled with fun side-quests like the trio’s journey to Omashu, as well as complex politics surrounding the Royal Fire Nation family, sassy characters (we’re of course talking about Sokka and Toph), insanely well-developed story arcs like Zuko’s, and it's all taied together with mind-boggling action,

Like the Avatar, ATLA gets stronger with time, and as Aang mastered the elements, the series grew with him. No matter how old you are, this series hits hard, and the more you watch it the better it gets. Avatar: The Last Airbender seems destined to always feel timeless, and like the Avatar’s powers, this show will likely continue to be passed down through generations for years to come.

2. BoJack Horseman

It’s understandable if you watch the first episode of BoJack Horseman and don’t quite click with it. It’s a show that throws you headfirst into its world  – providing a deep inside look at Hollywood and celebrity in a reality where humans coexist with humanoid animals. That being said, as one of the first Netflix original creations, it’s a series that greatly benefited from the streamer’s binge model, as to dig deeper into the show is to fall in love with it and everything it has to say.

All six seasons of BoJack Horseman are witty, clever, and hilarious, with countless background gags that make it incredibly rewarding on rewatch – but what makes it special is just how real it is. The aesthetic may be silly, but the characters are all ultimately broken people and there is an unflinching and powerful examination of their individual damage over the course of the show. The penultimate episode of every season manages to be as emotionally devastating as anything that Hollywood has ever produced for the small screen, and each one is both shocking and mesmerizing.

1. Batman: The Animated Series

Unquestionably one of the best examples of any animated TV show appealing to both kids and adults, Batman: The Animated Series continues to stand as perhaps the greatest triumph in the media history of DC Comics’ Caped Crusader. BTAS, and by extension The New Batman Adventures, followed in the footsteps of the Tim Burton Batman movies by bringing the character back to his darker roots and inserting viewers into an anachronistic Gotham City dripping with noir flavor. Here we have a Batman who strikes fear into the hearts of criminals just as easily as he inspires the innocent.

Anchored by the late Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne, Batman: The Animated Series effectively walked the line of honoring the source material while also putting unique spins on characters like The Joker, Mr. Freeze and Two-Face, while also launching neo-icons like Harley Quinn, Renee Montoya and a handful of others who’ve become mythos mainstays. Even ignoring that BTAS launched the beloved DC Animated Universe, Bruce Timm and Eric Radomski's show serves for many as the gold(black) standard by which all other Batman adaptations are judged. 1992 may be a long time ago, but BTAS still feels wonderfully timeless.

Hopefully the next 80 years of animated series can stand up to the classic eras that have already come and gone, as well as everything happening currently. But for anyone who hasn't yet watched everything listed above, now you know the assignment, mmk?

It can be hard for any actor to stand out on a Mike Judge project, given the sheer amount of talent involved from one end to the next, whether it’s a live-action series like Silicon Valley or an animated comedy like Beavis and Butt-Head, with the creator himself in the starring roles. But I don’t think anyone ever mentioned that to actor Chris Diamantopoulos, who seemingly effortlessly serves as a highlight anytime he pops into a scene. He was, of course, the GOAT of fictional billionaires Ross Hanneman in the aforementioned HBO satire, and reteamed with Judge for Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe and then again for the dim-witted teen slackers’ episodic reboot (which can both be streamed with Paramount+ subscriptions). 

Diamantopoulos, who is also currently starring in the mystery sci-fi adventure Mrs. Davis, talked to CinemaBlend about his ever-blooming career, and he had nothing but great things to say about bringing his talents to Mike Judge’s creations, as well as about working with the man himself.  

Magically enough, the Three Stooges vet brought up my very favorite installment from the animated series’ latest reboot, as taken from the first season’s fourth episode, in which he voiced an extremely annoying and self-obsessed character, Keith, whom Beavis initially mistakes for Butt-Head, and then cannot seem to get away from the guy. The funniest moments are when Keith attempts to impress Beavis by playing a gloriously awful rendition of Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” that is still an earworm in my brain to this day. Diamantopoulos explained why it was such a great role for him, saying:

Even just looking at the character's not-quite-right face makes me giggle. 

Whether it's animated or live-action, the Inside Job star says Mike Judge has a way of making every project great from a director's perspective, because he's such a collaborator and enjoys embracing others' work. In his words:

Mike Judge and Greg Daniels are currently in the throes of riviving King of the Hill for fans with Hulu subscriptions, and I know I'm not the only person hoping that Chris Diamantopoulos finds his way into Arlen, Texas for that show's highly anticipated return. Hank Hill definitely needs a fast-talking neighbor that's easier to understand than ol' Boomhauer. 

While he didn't say one way or another whether that's in the cards, he did share that he'll be in yet another one of Judge's productions, and one that also involves a reteaming Silicon Valley's Zach Woods. The actor will be supplying his vocal skills for the in-development Peacock animated series In the Know, which will star Judge, Woods, Succession's J. Smith-Cameron, Grand Crew's Carl Tart, Percy Jackson's Charlie Bushnell and Hacks' Caitlin Reilly. 

And to be expected, Diamantopoulos also had some very kind words for Zach Woods, saying:

It's a great time to be a Chris Diamantopoulos fan, as he can be heard in Beavis and Butt-Head airing new episodes on Thursdays on Paramount+, he can be seen in Mrs. Davis (also airing on Thursdays on Peacock), and he can be heard in an entirely different context as part of the wildly popular new video game Star Wars Jedi: Survivor . Not to mention his work in other recent series such as AMC's Lucky Hank and Prime Video's Daisy Jones & the Six. 

If only we could all have the power to look forward in time to see what our lives would be like, so that we could inform our present selves of how and how not to change things. Thankfully, Mike Judge’s Beavis and Butt-Head is here to remind us that everything sucks now, and the future will probably suck, too. But there’s nothing to be glum about when it comes to watching Beavis and Butt-Head’s flash-forward to their middle-aged years, which will be the case for the upcoming segment “Home Aide” from Episode 5. As seen in the exclusive clip above, age has been about as kind to this duo as they’ve been to each other, and I would watch this as a wholly separate series, assuming Beavis lives through this one. 

This isn’t the first time that fans have laid sore eyes on older versions of the destructive duo, and we’d most recently seen these specific iterations within the sci-fi mayhem of Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe earlier this year. But we’ll be spending a lot more time with them than usual very soon, and I am full of hope and optimism that the entire segment will be as hilarious as the clip above. 

First things first: Beavis and Butt-Head instantly gets a round of applause for specifically brand-checking Count Chocula — once famously portrayed by Pete Davidson on SNL — amidst a slew of generic and spoofy cereal names like “Tidal Crunch,” “Abe’s,” “Rabbit Ears,” and “Frosty.” And dammit, Butt-Head, you should know that. Chocolate marshmallows are as important to, uhhhh, daily health requirements as beer is. As much as I do want to see these two derps boozing it up until blackout now that they’re of age and don’t have to rely on Todd for such things, who am I to argue with Beavis that he can’t use his hard-earned/hard-schemed money to buy Count Chocula? 

After all, Beavis gave Butt-Head a bath. [record scratches as needle hops up off the record player and runs away screaming] That detail is no doubt in reference to a moment earlier in the episode, or their lives in general, in which Beavis physically bathed his weightier friend. It sounds as if Beavis ends up getting a job as Butt-Head’s live-in nurse, or something to that effect. Did I mention already that I want this as a fully standalone series on Paramount+? Okay, I did, good.  

Anyway, that’s when things get ramped up a notch, as Butt-Head slams Beavis in the face with his cane before plowing into him with the motorized cart and sending the screaming old fart crashing into a display of giant rubber balls. (The fact that Beavis calls him “Mr. Butt-Head” twice while begging for mercy is icing on the cake, really.) And then we witness one of Butt-Head’s most malicious acts yet as he drives his cart back and forth across Beavis’ screaming and writhing body. What are friends for, if not to realign your spine against your will?

One of my favorite things about any iteration of Beavis and Butt-Head is Mike Judge’s voice when Beavis is screaming or in any kind of pain, but even I was a teensy-weensy bit horrified at his desperate wails while Butt-Head threatened to fire him if he was still alive. Only a teensy-weensy bit, though, since the rest of me was filled with super-mature and adult-y glee.

Mike Judge’s Beavis and Butt-Head drops new episodes for Paramount+ subscribers every Thursday, making it impossible to go into the weekend with a foul mood. For more to smile at that potentially isn’t quite as destructive, head to our 2022 TV premiere schedule for a look at all the upcoming shows cropping up in the coming months.

Having first been announced two years ago, when the world was still in the early thick of quarantine-mode, Mike Judge’s Beavis and Butt-Head at last made its streaming debut for Paramount+ subscribers, and no one should consider it hyperbole when I say it doesn’t suck more than anything ever didn’t suck before. Which is to say, it’s an endearingly wonderful return to form for creator Mike Judge and his two most horned-up, self deluding creations. As the world around us gets increasingly more complex and disturbing, few are better than Judge at crafting comedic spaces where only inconsequential joy exists, even when his projects are merely reflecting the worst of us. And, uhhh, we all know what you like to do in front of a mirror, Beavis.

Watching the first two episodes was a delight, with the only drawback being that I hadn’t magically transported to the future where all of the Paramount+ eps were available for me to just marathon, but unpredictable shit like that probably would have presented its own problems. In any case, here are a handful of the thoughts that went through my head as I giddily watched Mike Judge’s Beavis and Butt-Head.  

1. I’m Still Amazed The New Show Premiered So Soon After Beavis And Butt-Head Do The Universe

Okay, so my first thought might technically be a cheat, but Mr. Van Driessen left the classroom, and you better not rat me out, dill-munch. Before the show actually started, as soon as the title screen popped up along with that signature guitar lick, I was awash with a unique glaze of gratitude to be sitting down watching new Beavis and Butt-Head TV content not even six weeks after having giggled myself to lunacy with the release of Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe. And all after having spent the past eleven years without anything new. 

2. I Want To Design A Beavis And Butt-Head Themed Escape Room 

Given the premiere’s first segment is called “Escape Room,” there likely isn’t much confusion surrounding this non-random thought. I felt this to a slightly lesser degree with MTV’s 2011 revival, but with Beavis and Butt-Head back in the zeitgeist at a time when pop culture branding has stretched beyond already questionable limits, the world needs way more awesome shit with B&B on it. (And I don’t just mean 3,000 kinds of vinyl figurines, although I’m not leaving those on the shelf either.) Building on the surprisingly quality video games and books released in the 1990s, a Beavis and Butt-Head escape room would be a superbly ridiculous way to experience this dumbed-down universe. And if it happens to be themed specifically after the bathrooms and mummy room from the episode, and there were people to score with, that’d be, uh heh-heh, that would be pret-ty cool, too, Butt-Head. 

3. Beavis And Butt-Head’s Immaturity And Stupidity Is So Much Easier To Swallow Than Anything Online 

While fans already know the characters’ middle-aged versions will be back after showing up in their second feature, Beavis and Butt-Head start off the season in the same teenage form fans have known them as for almost 30 years now. And while I can easily understand why people from all generations could find this show to be severely grating to the nerves, I remain whole-heartedly more eager to spend time with this lovingly crafted low-brow inanity over rage-scrolling through the rampant stupidity and crassness on Twitter, YouTube, and elsewhere online. Mike Judge and the writers continue to excel at “shit-talking without hate-mongering” with Beavis and Butt-Head, where so many others would have long ago doubled-down on taking things too far. 

4. Beavis And Butt-Head Commenting On YouTube And TikTok Videos Is The Smartest Example Of Pop Culture Evolving

Immediately after yelling at clouds about the demons of the Internet, I’d like to ASMR-whisper huskily right into a microphone to congratulate the Beavis and Butt-Head team on proving my decades-old hypothesis that Mike Judge deserves to be paid all the dollars to watch and comment on every form of visual media that exists. While I wasn’t so overtly enthused about the show further shifting away from music videos when plans were first announced, I understood why it was happening, and I’m more than pleased to say I guffawed harder watching them riff on the YT/TikTok videos than I did during the music ones. Smartest move ever, of anything. You hear that, hot water and sliced bread?

5. Fire! Fire! Fiiirrrre!

Arguments can be had about how much modern TV and film trailers give away, but I can’t think of a more genius move than the show’s first trailer revealing Beavis having a face-to-face with a dumpster fire. No other single word is more associated with the pyro-appreciating teen, I’d think — fire, not dumpster, or face, or having — and the trailer didn’t even tip its sauce-stained hat to the idea that the segment would be entirely focused on Beavis and the fire, without Butt-Head making an appearance at all. It was a fire, umm, fun surprise to see the fire, dammit, to see the show take a creative left turn so fire… quickly. 

6. Episodes Should Be Way Longer, So That We Could Get 30 Minutes Of Just Video-Watching

By the time the third couch commentary came up in the premiere, I reached the point of wondering just how high I should set a crowdfunding campaign to capitalize on the aforementioned idea of securing Mike Judge’s Beavis and Butt-Head-voiced commentary on multitudes of video content. And also wondering whether or not any of it was legal or ethical without actually talking to Judge first, before landing on “Let’s seeeee here, no?” for both. But dammit, with the new episodes coming in at just over 20 minutes each, there’s just not enough time for all the things I want. And I realize the first two episodes are available now, and I can watch them both in a row, but… dammit, Butt-Head… it’s time to stand around, or to take a stand, or something, mmk. I’d probably complain if they cut out more of the storylines, too, since I will never get tired of hearing Beavis holler his way through wasp attacks.

7. Butt-Head Softly Slapping Beavis’ Face Is My New Favorite Sound 

Not a whole lot of extra fluff to add to this self-explanatory entry. But the second episode delivered both true face-smacking scenes, particularly when Butt-Head lied about a bug being on Beavis’ face, and we also got the amazing new addition to face-smacking canon during the ASMR video commentary. My laugh when Butt-Head violently caressed Beavis’ face was easily louder than anything else in that segment. It shall become my new morning alarm. 

8. I Just Love Beavis And Butt-Head So Damned Much

As awesome as it will be whenever the sorta-gestating King of the Hill revival finally happens (he says optimistically), I’m admittedly surprised by how much I’ve specifically enjoyed this once-in-a-generation brand of humor returning for a new generation, and without missing a beat along the way. While perhaps not seated in the same realm of the animated kingdom as Looney Tunes, Hayao Miyazaki, and Disney, there’s a similar timelessness threaded into Mike Judge’s Beavis and Butt-Head — for me, at least — in that it tickles my brain in exactly the same way the show did when I watched as a youth, despite both the creator and the viewer (me) being decades older now. There’s something magical about that, right? I don’t know if there’s a science to why Beavis’ fasciation with a power drill in “Boxed In” is such a damned delight, especially if that part was taught while there was a power drill around. Is it too late to shoehorn a Calvin and Hobbes comparison in?

Everyone should obviously check out Mike Judge’s Beavis and Butt-Head now that it’s made its on Paramount+, with August 4 also marking the day when more of the original MTV episodes will be available on the service. 

Everything that’s old is new again on TV, as we’ve seen a slew of beloved casts reuniting for projects like retrospective specials for Friends and Fresh Prince, and tea-spilling rewatch podcasts like Pod Meets World. There have also been more than a few full-blown revivals along the way, of course, from Joe Millionaire to Law & Order to the upcoming returns for Night Court and Quantum Leap. ViacomCBS has been particularly enthusiastic about such revivals and continuations, particularly when it comes to iconic MTV fare such as Clone High, Daria, Yo! MTV Raps and Beavis and Butt-Head, with the latter animated series debuting its latest season on Paramount+ on August 4. Now, the company has confirmed Chris Rock’s family comedy Everybody Hates Chris is heading back to TV, sort of.

Unlike some of the aforementioned projects that are essentially just leaning back into what made them work in the first place, fans can expect some differences with Everybody Still Hates Chris, and not only regarding the title being one word longer now. For one, the new show will be a reimagining of the original series, and will now become an adult animated project, bypassing the all-ages live-action approach that made a star out of current Abbott Elementary lead Tyler James Williams.

As well, Everybody Still Hates Chris won’t be airing on the original comedy’s network home at The CW. (It was originally a Fox project that later landed at UPN before that network folded into the CW merger.) Instead, the new project is making the jump to streaming to join the Paramount+ family, but will still be keeping a linear TV foothold with episodes also airing on Comedy Central. It’s the same dual-platform approach that the parent company is utilizing with Mike Judge’s newest season of Beavis and Butt-Head, which follows the recently released feature Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe, as well as South Park’s split between traditional seasons and streaming mini-movies.

But despite any and all changes, there are a couple of constants that viewers can still expect. For one, Chris Rock is 100% returning to the show in a similar capacity to his prior role, in that he’ll once again be serving as an executive producer behind the scenes, and will again be lending his vocal talents to the show as its central narrator. One can only assume that the show will not tap into Rock’s current life at all, with Will Smith’s awks apology serving as the latest chapter in the Oscar Slap aftermath.

As well, the show will stick with the original concept, in that Everybody Still Hates Chris will stick with the general concept of giving fans a humorous look back at Chris Rock’s teenage years as “a skinny nerd in a large working class family in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, during the late 1980s,” per the official release. Just maybe expect a few more jokes that wouldn’t pass muster with your least amusing grandparent.

Also taking on an executive producer role will be Sanjay Shah, a writer and EP for Apple TV+’s animated musical comedy Central Park. Not to mention a former writer and story editor on King of the Hill, tying things back around to Beavis and Butt-Head creator Mike Judge. Is it too early to start clamoring for crossovers? 

Everybody Hates Chris is one of many family-geared TV shows currently streaming for those with Paramount+ subscriptions, so be sure to catch up with all four seasons again before the new series hits. When that’s done, head to our 2022 premiere schedule to see what other new and returning shows will be popping up throughout the rest of the year.

As little interest as I have in hanging out with dimwitted eterna-teenagers in real life, I could not be more pumped for Paramount+’s upcoming Beavis and Butt-Head revival series, with creator Mike Judge back in the driver’s (ed) seat. The duo’s latest shenanig-adventures will kick off anew in early August, with Judge on-hand at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con to promote their streaming TV debut on the heels of the hilariously ridiculous feature Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe. Expectedly, the creator fielded questions about another one of his beloved projects, King of the Hill, which is rumored to be getting its own revival at some point. Specifically, he was asked about the idea of a crossover between the two shows. 

Addressing the ever so harsh reality that Beavis and Butt-Head being an early MTV classic and King of the Hill being a 20th Century Fox series made it impossible for any legitimate crossovers to feasibly happen, Mike Judge did admit that was an idea that he’d considered in the past, via THR. To the point where the two animated hits theoretically already have connective DNA, if one wants to go the legally non-binding head-canon route. Here’s what Judge said: 

Anyone who watched Beavis and Butt-Head and King of the Hill during the ‘90s no doubt made the mental connection between the way Mike Judge voiced the teen’s neighbor Tom Anderson and the latter comedy’s lead Hank Hill. It’s basically the same, with his Hank performance obviously becoming more polished over time. And by all means, they look enough alike that someone might suspect this person messing with a propane tank is Hank Hill, even though it isn’t. (Okay, maybe the WitSec version of Hank Hill who's in trouble with Breaking Bad villains.)

Of course, it’s narratively impossible for Anderson to be Hank’s father, given Toby Huss’ unforgettable role as the gripe-lord Cotton Hill on King of the Hill. But I think there are enough similarities between the different series’ characters that a closer look at their family trees is warranted. 

With the way things are going now on the corporate front, it’s hard to tell whether it’s easier than ever to make a Beavis and Butt-Head crossover happen with King of the Hill, or if it’s even more unattainable. But what is definitely plausible, at the very least, is a TV return for KotH. While he didn’t say much, Mike Judge did address that inquiry at SDCC, answering with: 

Now we just sit back and wait for Judge to pull the rug out from under all of us by revealing that Todd and Boomhauer are brothers. That danged ol' bully, man.

Keep your eyes peeled for Arlen, Texas references when Mike Judge's Beavis and Butt-Head debuts for Paramount+ subscribers on Thursday, August 4. Head to our 2022 TV premiere schedule to see what new and returning shows are popping up soon.

It’s only been a few weeks since Beavis and Butt-Head’s first feature in 26 years — the well-received Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe — and somehow the gods have aligned the stars so that fans are already getting a first full look at the duo’s return to the small screen. I’m not sure I’ve ever been this pumped up about watching something so intentionally dumb, but that’s 100% the case here, and the Paramount+ trailer proved to be worth all of that excitement. Plus, it revealed the revival’s premiere date, and it’s right around the corner. The same place where Beavis makes his fudge.

Beavis and Butt-Head’s resurgence in episodic form will reach Paramount+ subscribers starting on Thursday, August 4. And as everyone who watches the trailer will see (even those who didn’t check out the film yet), creator Mike Judge hasn’t missed a beat in the years since the dimwitted duo were last seen watching music videos while making other characters’ lives seem that much more rewarding in comparison. If anything, the gap since MTV’s single-season revival in 2011 just makes the show’s signature juvenile humor that much more refreshing somehow. It’s clear that these characters remain near and dear to Judge’s brilliant brain, which can only mean good things for viewers.

The trailer offers a smorgasbord of hilarious moments that I can’t wait to see play out in full. Beavis getting manic with a power drill in the middle of Mr. Van Driessen’s class? Love it. Butt-Head’s face lodged in Beavis’ butt as they fall down stairs while inside a carboard box? Love that, too. Beavis knocking down a hornet’s nest with a rake and then apparently mailing that hornet’s nest to Mr. Van Driessen before or after also getting one in the mail? My life has been empty without this. 

Honestly, I could have watched just that first third of Beavis and Butt-Head’s first trailer and been perfectly sated, but there was thankfully another minute chock-full of weird, uncomfortable and gross moments, not to mention more of Beavis in various forms of pain. (His lip getting caught on a fishing hook is nothing short of divine.)

Plus, as someone who shamelessly loves escape rooms, I’m wholeheartedly down to watch Beavis and Butt-Head put their combined brain (intentional lack of plural usage) together to make it out of there. Of course, as indicated by them finding clues in the building’s bathroom, they probably missed a few instructions along the way. And one of those instructions was probably “learn stuff.”

There's one thing you'll never have to teach Beavis, though: Fiirrrrrre.

So head to the window, make sure Todd’s not skulking around outside, and then set your calendars for Beavis and Butt-Head’s premiere on Paramount+ on Thursday, August 4. While only seven of the previously released seasons are currently available to stream on the platform, it’s already been confirmed that all 11 seasons, plus the original music videos, will be added to the service in the near future. Combined with the upcoming return of Clone High and the Daria spinoff, it's a pretty good time to have been obsessed with MTV animated series.

In the meantime, check out other awesome TV shows that Paramount+ has to offer, and head to our 2022 TV premiere dates to see what new and returning series are on the way.

While surely not part of any kind of actual plan, it’s bizarrely perfect that 2022 is a year that audiences see the tandem return of Jackass (in the form of Jeff Tremaine’s Jackass Forever) and Beavis & Butt-Head (in the form of Mike Judge’s Beavis And Butt-Head Do The Universe). Both have origins that tie back to the early decades of original television programming on MTV, but more importantly, both brands have a genuine awareness of what they are – and what they are is “very stupid.” There is an unabashed immaturity that is at their core, and they share a comedic sensibility that can best be summed up with the perspective that a man being hit/ smacked/whacked/etc. in the testicles is fundamentally hilarious.

Obviously this is not everyone’s cup of tea, and critics/parents have been raising objections to the material since the shows’ respective inceptions. But both Jackass and Beavis & Butt-Head have found incredible success speaking directly to the audience they know perpetually exists, and an unwillingness to grow up even after 20/30 years of existence has led to wonderful contemporary success.

Back in February it was utterly delightful to see Johnny Knoxville and his friends return to purposefully destroy their bodies and abuse one another for our amusement in Jackass Forever, and now the same can be said about the titular duo in Beavis And Butt-Head Do The Universe – who have not evolved in any single way since they were introduced back in the early 1990s, and for that we can be thankful. The circumstances in which they find themselves are more extreme than ever in the new feature, but the results are still the same: which is to say they’re still inducing forehead smacks, disbelieving head shakes, and hysterical fits of raucous laughter.

Bringing us back to the year 1998, Beavis And Butt-Head Do The Universe opens with the latter kicking the former repeatedly in the groin – with the background of the activity being the high school science fair. As you’d expect based on the pair’s history, things end up going horribly wrong and multiple explosions occur, leading the two teenage idiots to find themselves in a courtroom facing sentencing. Rather than dolling out a typical punishment, however, the judge (Chi McBride) is inspired by an episode of Touched By An Angel to show leniency towards the boys, and he offers them the opportunity to attend a NASA space camp instead of sending them to juvenile hall.

While at the special science course, Beavis and Butt-Head prove themselves bizarrely adept at executing a penetrative docking maneuver, and it gets them an opportunity to travel to space and try it for real – though their interpretation of the offer is that they are going to the cosmos for the purpose of having sex with the mission’s leader, Serena Ryan (Andrea Savage). When their true incompetence reveals itself to extreme levels, Serena attempts to have them killed so that she can save the rest of her crew, but instead she sends the morons on a journey through time and space that sees them travel through a black hole back to Earth in the year 2022.

It plays fast and loose with plotting, but Beavis And Butt-Head Do The Universe is a ridiculous and fun adventure.

That may seem like plenty of plot for a film that comes in under an hour-and-a-half long, but truth be told that description only barely scratches the surface of all the things that happen in Beavis And Butt-Head Do The Universe. Once they return to Earth, the protagonists are endlessly determined to take Serena up on her “promise” and get laid for the first time, and while that takes them on a journey from one ridiculous circumstance to the next, they are also pursued by both Serena and agents from the FBI – the former wanting to kill them before they can spill any secrets, and the latter wanting to examine and dissect the heroes as sci-fi mysteries... And then there is also the intermittent appearances of a Beavis and Butt-Head from an alternate reality who desperately try to get the duo to commit to a plan that will save the fate of the universe.

Structurally speaking, the movie is kind of a mess, and at no point do you have any clear idea of where it is headed next. But that chaotic energy works for Beavis And Butt-Head Do The Universe in a way that wouldn’t work for just about any other film because it speaks directly to the way that the characters function (which is to say completely without any kind of real logic).

As it veers from an extravagant nacho buying montage, to a prison riot sequence, to a long ride with the characters in a portable toilet, it doesn’t really make any sense, but it works because Beavis and Butt-Head themselves don’t register how utterly insane their journey is. Mike Judge’s only mission seems to be to try and squeeze as many laughs as he can out of the material, and it’s thankfully a mission that proves to be a success.

Beavis And Butt-Head Do The Universe won’t convert any haters, but it will delight all pre-existing fans.

With its time travel story and toe-dipping into the multiverse, one can certainly register an attempt to literally modernize Beavis and Butt-Head, and part of the fun of the film is seeing them adjust to elements of the modern world like smart phones – but mostly the movie is a celebration of the fact that these characters don’t change, and after more than three decades that’s actually pretty remarkable. Popular culture has evolved a great deal since the 1990s, but the perversion, lazy double-entendres, and lacking attention spans are all as giggle-inducing as ever. Mike Judge knows what fans what with the duo, he doesn’t hesitate to deliver full bore, and it’s fantastic.

Those who have never cared for Beavis and Butt-Head will still find no joy in Beavis And Butt-Head Do The Universe, and I have no idea if it will speak at all to newer generations – but it can be said with absolute certainty that the movie is a gift to Gen X and Millennial fans, and it should be cherished for the genuine idiocy that it is.

Fans of MTV’s legendary slacker cartoon comedy Beavis and Butt-Head got a nice surprise a couple of years ago, when it was announced that the duo were coming back to TV with a show on Comedy Central. We also found out that the metalheads’ second film was being planned, to help kick off the adventures we’d see on the new series, and now Beavis and Butt-Head creator Mike Judge has shared a bizarre first look at the now middle-aged characters for that Paramount+ movie.

When this second Beavis and Butt-Head revival was revealed in early July of 2020, we were told that this new wave of couch potato mayhem would involve our beloved dumbasses dealing with modern day issues as (gasp!!) middle-aged men. And, now that Mike Judge has shown the older twosome on Twitter, well, you can see just how odd meeting up with them again is going to be. Take a look!

WOW. Alright, obviously neither Beavis nor Butt-Head have ever been what one would call pleasant to look at, but I still think it would be fair to say that the years have not been kind to either of them. And, honestly? That’s not far off from what anyone who watched them scheme, head bang, inhale junk food, and inflict grievous bodily harm on each other would have expected.

But! I say that while still fully shocked at just how similar Beavis looks to his former teen self, while Butt-Head…uh…does not. Even seeing that Beavis has a tiny pot belly and has seemingly aged into an even angrier version of the boy we once knew, the Butt-Head transformation is stunning to a degree that I bet no one expected. Did you immediately recognize him? Because I, for sure, didn’t, and I spent far too many hours in the ‘90s watching that dope “huh, hu, huh, huh, huh,” at any and everything that was even vaguely sexual.

When the Beavis and Butt-Head movie hits Paramount+ this year, it will be the first time we’ve seen them since their brief 2011 revival, which came after the show originally ran for eight seasons (from 1993 through 1997), and one previous movie, Beavis and Butt-Head Do America (1996). While we don’t specifically know what this new film will be about, the series is said to feature the now much older not-so-gentle men being confronted by younger generations, particularly Gen Z, and give viewers meta-commentary on themes that appeal to both groups. 

Mike Judge noted in his post that the Beavis and Butt-Head movie “and more” will be coming to Paramount+ this year, and it’s unclear right now if that means the show (which was already given a two-season order by Comedy Central) is moving to the streamer, or if some of the previously planned spinoffs and specials from the new series will also be arriving there in 2022. Either way, I guess we all best be prepared for the onslaught, and go gather much TP for our bungholes before we poop ourselves with laughter.

While you wait for Beavis and Butt-Head to return at some point this year, be sure to check out what’s coming to television soon with the 2022 TV premiere dates!

The 2021 Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is fast-approaching, and the big game traditionally means big things even for those who don't care about football. Super Bowl commercials famously pull out all the stops to fill the minutes between the game action, bringing in famous faces, bizarre plots, and usually big movie and TV trailers. Now, with the rebrand of streaming service CBS All Access to Paramount+ in the not-too-distant-future, the stars of some hit shows coming to the streamer are out to hype the change, including Star Trek's Patrick Stewart, Dora the Explorer, Beavis and Butt-Head, young Sheldon Cooper, and more.

Considering that the 90-second commercial is set on the top of a snowy mountain, I think it's safe to say that Dora the Explorer makes sense as one of the first famous faces to climb to the summit! As for some of the others, it's understandable that they might have been toward the back of the group. Paramount+ went ahead and released the Super Bowl ad days before the big game, and you can see the big names brought out to hype the streaming service. Take a look:

Star Trek: Picard star Patrick Stewart may have been the one welcoming others to the top of Mount Paramount and The Late Show's Stephen Colbert might be the one tending bar, but they're definitely not the only big names in this Super Bowl 2021 commercial. In fact, not everybody even had to be live-action to get the invitation, apparently! Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob (who is getting his own upcoming spinoff) are among the animated characters to make the climb.

Patrick Stewart also isn't the only Star Trek star on the mountain, with Star Trek: Discovery actors Anson Mount (Christopher Pike) and Ethan Peck (Spock) in costume and on hand as well. Throw in Survivor's Jeff Probst complete with tiki torch, longtime CBS star Shemar Moore, the Late Late Show host and Golden Globe nominee James Corden, who The Good Fight's Christine Baranski noted didn't actually climb, Blue Bloods' Tom Selleck, and even more called upon to dance like the metaphors they are with Stewart and Stephen Colbert.

Patrick Stewart cleared up the metaphor for viewers who might have been dazzled by SpongeBob's musical number to say that they would all live on Paramount+ as a "mountain of entertainment," which "is also a streaming service." The commercial closed by confirming that Paramount+ would include live sports, breaking news, and entertainment from all the shows represented on the mountain. All things considered, if this ad doesn't hype Super Bowl fans up for CBS All Access rebranding as Paramount+ on March 4, I'm not sure that anything can!

The rebranding of CBS to Paramount+ was confirmed back in September 2020, with the news that exclusive original series were on the way from CBS, BET, MTV, and Parmount as well as the live sports, news coverage, and entertainment. In a new year that has already seen the premiere of a new streaming service to join the fray already filled with major streamers, Paramount+ pulling out the stops to try and woo what is likely going to be a huge Super Bowl audience was undoubtedly a smart move.

See this commercial live on Super Bowl Sunday on CBS February 7, and check out Paramount+ when it launches on March 4.

Since its launch in October 2014, the CBS All Access online subscription service has been the place to go to catch up on all the latest and greatest programming from the broadcast network. The platform has only gotten better and more dynamic in six years following its release with the addition of exclusive original content as well as a number of fan-favorite shows from across the Viacom library of channels. Users can find non-CBS shows like MTV's The Challenge streaming on the service, as well as countless others.

Speaking of which, let's take a look at just a few of those shows that happen to call CBS All Access home.

The Challenge (MTV)

Originally starting out as Road Rules: All Stars and then Real World/Road Rules Challenge way back in late 1990s, The Challenge has remained one of the most popular shows on MTV. Each week, competitors from any number of the network's shows square off in a series of games and tasks to decide the winner of that season's grand prize. With CBS All Access, you'll be able to watch everything from Season 11 to Season 31, which should keep you busy for quite some time.

Stream It On CBS All Access Here.

Chappelle's Show (Comedy Central)

Back in the early 2000s, it was impossible to go anywhere without hearing someone butcher a quote from Chappelle's Show, and now you can join in on the fun more than 14 years after the final episode (of the delayed and abbreviated third and final season) aired back in 2006. This should be repeat viewing for anyone who enjoys Dave Chappelle's signature style or sketch comedy in general. And unlike watching it on television, you'll be able to enjoy all those infamous skits without the commercial breaks... assuming you have the no-commercial plan. 

Stream It On CBS All Access Here.

Avatar: The Last Airbender (Nickelodeon)

Fans who are still holding out for the Netflix live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender can catch up on the fan-favorite Nickelodeon animated series in all its glory on CBS All Access. Centered around a 12-year-old airbender by the name of Aang, the series follows the journey of the young Avatar as he sets out to find balance in the world. All three seasons are currently available to stream.

Stream It On CBS All Access Here.

The Legend Of Korra (Nickelodeon)

There are plenty of reasons to watch The Legend of Korra and another one is that it's available to stream on CBS All Access right now. The follow-up series to Avatar: The Last Airbender picks up with the story of Korra, the successor to Aang, as she comes to terms with a changing world. And all four seasons are available to watch, so get ready to binge this highly addictive animated series.

Stream It On CBS All Access Here.

The Real Husbands Of Hollywood (BET)

Created by and starring Kevin Hart, the BET satirical reality show The Real Husbands of Hollywood is an insanely entertaining spoof of all the Real Housewives shows that fill up all the programming space over at Bravo. With a cast that includes Nick Cannon, J.B. Smoove, Nelly, Robin Thicke, and countless others playing fictionalized and exaggerated versions of themselves in various situations, there's no reason not to watch all five seasons right now.

Stream It On CBS All Access Here.

RuPaul's Drag Race (VH1)

The VH1 series RuPaul's Drag Race has had its fair share of unpredictable and dramatic moments over the years, and now you can relieve them all. All the way from the beginning of the competition show back in 2009 through Season 10, there is plenty of over-the-top outfits, catty exchanges, and more wigs than you'll know what to do with.

Stream It On CBS All Access Here.

Reno 911! (Comedy Central)

The classic Cops spoof Reno 911! has returned with a new season on Quibi, so now's the perfect time to go back and catch up with all the misadventures and chaos at Reno Sheriff's Department. And with all six seasons of the show's original run on Comedy Central, you'll be picking out all those before-they-were-famous cameos like it's nobody's business.

Stream It On CBS All Access Here.

Beavis and Butt-Head (MTV)

Before King of the Hill and Office Space, Mike Judge became a major player in the world of television with his revolutionary and controversial MTV animated series Beavis and Butthead. Now you can relive the glory of your adolescence (or childhood) and watch the classic cartoon without having to hide it from your parents, as three volumes of the "Mike Judge Collection" are available on CBS All Access. Just don't expect to watch Beavis and Butt-Head make fun of terrible '90s videos as those aren't included here.

Stream It On CBS All Access Here.

Frasier (NBC)

It's rare to find a spinoff series that ends up becoming just as popular as the original, but that was the case for the resident psychiatrist on Cheers Frasier Crane who was given his very own show (this time set it Seattle instead of Boston) on the '90s sitcom Frasier. Long gone was the darkened bar where everybody knows your name and instead everyone's favorite radio show host found himself shacked up with his dear old dad played by the late John Mahoney in a show that remains just as popular 16 years after its final episode. Speaking of episodes, all 264 can be watched here.

Stream It On CBS All Access Here.

Ren & Stimpy (Nickelodeon)

I still can't believe that I got away with watching the legendary Nicktoon Ren & Stimpy, but for some reason, my parents were cool with it. Full of dark humor, shocking stories, and some of the most grotesque close-up shots you'll see in a show made for the kids, it's amazing the show lasted five seasons, four of which can be streamed on CBS All Access

Stream It On CBS All Access Here.

Strangers With Candy (Comedy Central)

The oddball Comedy Central series Strangers With Candy is by far one of the most bizarre shows to ever air on the channel. Centered around a 46-year-old former prostitute (Amy Sedaris) who goes back to high school, the series featured a number of different actors in supporting roles (like Stephen Colbert as history teacher Chuck Noblet) and ridiculous situations. All three seasons of the show's original run can be streamed right now.

Stream It On CBS All Access Here.

Beverly Hills, 90210 (Fox)

The classic Beverly Hills, 90210 series on Fox had it all: a cast made up heartthrobs and teen idols, crazy storylines, and even an appearance by Dean Cain just because. Now you can relive all 10 seasons of pop-culture sensation on CBS All Access. Just don't blame me when you fall down a rabbit hole of teen drama and high society in one of television's most exclusive zip codes.

Stream It On CBS All Access Here.

Building Star Trek (Smithsonian)

If CBS All Access has an abundance of one thing it would be Star Trek. The streaming platform has just about anything a trekkie could want from the original to the latest crop of live-action and animated series showcasing Starfleet's biggest and most exciting adventures. That also includes the 2016 Smithsonian Channel documentary Building Star Trek honoring the landmark series and the futuristic technology that made it so memorable.

Stream It On CBS All Access Here.

Well, all of that should be more than enough help you decide if you want to sign up for CBS All Access or keep in your collection of streaming platforms. If there's something you think I missed make sure to sound off in the comments below.

Who would (uh, huh-huh, you said “wood”) have thought that MTV’s dumbass duo would be making yet another return to television, this time to Comedy Central? Probably the most popular cartoon from MTV, Beavis and Butt-Head is a welcome return to the small screen, and I can’t wait to see how their immature antics will parallel our current generation of Millennials and Gen-Z’ers.

But MTV had a lot of other great cartoons back in the ‘90s and 2000s, too. Some were comedic, while others were more adult. But all of them were distinctly MTV and fit the platform they appeared on. How many of these great cartoons do you remember?

Beavis and Butt-Head

It’s kind of crazy to think about how big Beavis and Butt-Head got in the ‘90s. They started out on Liquid Television (more on that in a few) with their segment of “Frog Baseball” and then got their own show in 1993. From there, they ran for seven seasons, got their own movie, and then had a revival in 2011 for Season 8.

That said, what is it about Beavis and Butt-Head that people love so much? They go on little stupid adventures together, constantly trying to score, and in-between these antics, they sit on the couch and riff on music videos. But it's hilarious every time. It’s always been a much smarter show than one would think given the subject matter, and this upcoming version has a lot of material to work with given today's generation, so that will be fun.

Liquid Television

Without Liquid Television, there would be no Beavis and Butt-Head. Or Aeon Flux for that matter (more on HER in a moment). Hell, there probably wouldn’t even be an Office Space without Liquid Television since Mike Judge first introduced Milton to the world on this segmented program.

In a nutshell, Liquid Television, which ran from 1991 to 1995, was basically a series of short cartoons from indie artists that were jam-packed into 30 minutes episodes. Unfortunately, because of the music videos in many of the episodes, you really can’t find reruns of the show due to copyright issues. So it’s one of those, you kind of had to be their shows. A pity, really. There was some great stuff on there.

Aeon Flux

Again, the world has Liquid Television to thank for Aeon Flux, which was a sexy, sci-fi action thriller starring a protagonist in revealing leather. The story, which began on Liquid Television in 1991 before she got her own show, which ended in 1995, takes place in the year of 7698 after an environmental disaster. There was a story nestled in there about a dystopian future, but the real draw was Aeon Flux herself, who was acrobatic and deadly.

There was a disappointing movie starring Charlize Theron made about the show, but it couldn’t match the distinct look and assuredness of the MTV original.

The Head

Appearing on MTV’s Oddities series from 1994 to 1996, The Head is a story about a man named Jim whose head becomes the new home for an alien named Roy (though, the alien’s actual name sounds like a record played backward). And yes, even though the show is several years old, that plot still sounds absolutely bonkers to me.

The Head was the kind of show that only MTV would pick up, and it was paired with my favorite cartoon series of all time, The Maxx. What a time to be alive.

The Maxx

As mentioned, The Maxx, which was originally a comic book series from Sam Kieth, was a part of the Oddities series alongside The Head, but it only lasted for one year in 1995. The story is about a homeless man wearing a costume who has these terrible headaches that send him to a strange world called the Outback where he protects a jungle queen (who happens to be a social worker in the real world).

Following the first 11 issues of the comic, The Maxx was destined to be a cult classic from its very first episode, and it’s still looked back upon fondly today.

Daria

A spin-off of Beavis and Butt-Head (though Mike Judge had nothing to do with the show), Daria was different in every way. Running from 1997 to 2002, rather than focusing on the dumbest kids in school, it focused on the smartest, most jaded kid at school instead. It was also much more high school-focused, often poking fun at the absurdity of teen spirit and high school in general.

Daria ran for five seasons, and Jodie, who was pretty much the only black girl at Lawndale High School, is also getting her own spin-off show, so that’s exciting (said in Daria’s sarcastic tone. But seriously, I can’t wait!)

Celebrity Deathmatch

Silly, irreverent, and completed dated now, Celebrity Deathmatch pitted then-famous celebrities against each other, such as Mike Tyson vs. Evander Holyfield. Or Mick Jagger vs. Steven Tyler. It was stop-motion Claymation, so really, anything went.

There would be multiple matches per episode, and the battles would sometimes be connected by names alone (like Mariah Carey vs. Jim Carrey? Uh… ok?). It had two runs, one from 1998 to 2002, and a second on MTV2 from 2006 to 2007. It lasted for 6 seasons and was fun while it lasted.

Clone High

A show so controversial that it ignited a hunger strike (because of its portrayal of Gandhi), Clone High has the distinction of being created by Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and The Lego Movie writers and directors, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, as well as Scrubs creator, Bill Lawrence.

Having only 13 episodes and running from 2002 to 2003, Clone High was weird. It’s about a high school populated by the clones for the purpose of using their strengths and abilities for the military… or for creating a theme park called Cloney Island. Abe Lincoln, JFK, Gandhi, Joan of Arc, and Cleopatra make up the main cast of clones. It was kind of shrugged off back when it aired, but it’s become a cult classic ever since. And who knows? It might come back. A reboot was announced just this month.

Wonder Showzen

Kids show, kids show, oh, my God, it’s a kid’s show. Actually, Wonder Showzen, which ran from 2005 to 2006 on MTV2, was the farthest thing from it. While it did have a few animated segments, it was more like a warped and disturbing version of Sesame Street, with rude puppets and everything.

With its super dark humor and political commentary, Wonder Showzen is probably my favorite MTV show ever. Patience! Patience. Patience! Patience.

MTV is often remembered for its music videos and reality TV, but its animation was second to none. Hopefully, Comedy Central can do Beavis and Butt-Head justice and continue its MTV legacy.

This poll is no longer available.

Two of the most purposefully immature TV characters of all time are set for a big return to the small screen. That's right, Mike Judge's modern classic animated series Beavis and Butt-Head are coming back to TV to teach a whole new generation about Megadeth, frog baseball and how much of a whiny dumbass Stewart is. But fans should expect some changes with this second B&B revival.

For one, the new Beavis and Butt-Head show isn't going to air on MTV, which the previous two iterations called home. Instead, the animated series is heading to fellow ViacomCBS network Comedy Central. Fans won't need to worry about the show biting the dust if the first season isn't a hit, either, because Comedy Central already ordered up two full seasons.

As well, this will be a reimagined take on Beavis and Butt-Head, who don't exactly have the most complicated canon. I doubt anyone would have expected a new iteration on the characters to have aged up accordingly, but the situation is largely different now that we're a full generation (or two) beyond the point when Beavis and Butt-Head first debuted in 1992. In any case, the undeniably Gen X characters will be confronted with the Gen Z uprising, which is probably going to inspire a lot of introspective comments from the duo that end in "sucks."

Comedy Central says the show will tackle meta-themes that are relatable to both Gen X parents and their Gen Z kids. Will we get to see the duo's signature bad dancing via Tik Tok videos? Will they watch and comment on Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road" music video? Will they play Cards Against Humanity with Daria's mom? The list of currently unanswerable questions goes on.

Comedy Central's take on Beavis and Butt-Head is also being geared to expand beyond the central concept and duo. While the original series eventually inspired the surprisingly different and beloved 1997 spinoff Daria (which is itself getting a decades-later spinoff in Jodie, with Tracee Ellis Ross starring), the updated animated show already has "spinoffs" in mind from the jump. No specific ideas were presented in the announcement, but it's entirely possible that a Daria revival could also come out of this.

Beyond spinoffs, Comedy Central is apparently planning on producing Beavis and Butt-Head-related TV specials. No specifics were offered up for what kind of specials might happen, either, but it can be assumed that whatever gets produced on that front would be geared to release in the offseason gap between new episodes.

One key aspect of Beavis and Butt-Head that isn't changing at all is creator Mike Judge's involvement, so no fears about Comedy Central bringing in a rising-star comedian to take over in Judge's place. Rather, the Office Space and Silicon Valley mastermind will return to his creation as a writer, producer and as the voice of both Beavis and Butt-Head. One can only assume his satirical bent will be all the more prominent in this version. Bring on the Cornholio, who probably would have had trouble finding TP for his bunghole whenever the COVID pandemic started.

As of a couple of years ago, Mike Judge still holds Beavis and Butt-Head up as his favorite creation, and here is his simple-yet-perfect comment on the new revival:

Considering everything was just announced, there are obviously no concrete plans for when the new Beavis and Butt-Head will hit Comedy Central. But considering several animated series have been able to keep production going while much of Hollywood remains shut down, the project could well indeed start breaking ground sooner rather than later. Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more news as it becomes available to us.

It’s been a long (uh huh huh) time since 10-year-old Nick Venable first watched Beavis and Butthead on MTV. If it’s shocking that 19 years have passed since it first attacked airwaves, consider that a block of music videos probably played before or after it. 1997 came along and began an extreme dearth of shirt-hooded sugar-rushers asking for T.P. for their bunghole. Then King of the Hill soon Texas drawl-fucked us out of hard (uh huh huh) rock inanity for the next 13 years. If one can say anything about Mike Judge, as one can if one has a mouth, it’s that he allows too long a gestation period between his more genius projects. And I’m including Extract and The Goode Family in there. But then, cue the angelic “ahhh” sounds, Beavis and Butthead was resurrected for 12 new episodes. I hold this Blu-ray in my hand, and while it doesn’t make me feel like God, it makes me feel like I could kick God’s ass. As it were.

It is not an effortless task explaining the appeal of this self-aware celebration of stupidity. Their first segment in 14 years, “Werewolves of Highland” features the duo of Beavis and Butt-head allowing a rabid homeless man to bite them repeatedly, because they think it will turn them into a werewolf, which will attract girls. A satire of American youths obsessed with romanticizing formerly horrific monsters? Possibly. A hilariously gory way to bring back this particular brand of counter-counter culture? Absolutely. And viewers who don’t like the cartoon should take pleasure in watching their failure, as they lay slumped over on the couch, infected and pus-ridden. Everyone wins!

Enough about new viewers, though, because this set is for hardcore (uh huh huh) fans. It’s akin to a greatest-hits album comprised of new renditions as done by the artist, only without the cringe-worthy awfulness. The Great Cornholio returns in full force, held up as the Messiah after he drills an action figure through his hand and a cultish group mistakes it for stigmata. The duo try to get girls, though I’m certain sex would be alien to them. (They ask a girl’s father for her “hand” in marriage, assuming it means something more than its metaphor. Also, they assume an abortion clinic is a brothel. Connect the dots.) They fuck around at Burger World a few times, once involving a pet rat. They try out a few other accidental jobs, including tech support and military drone operators. Situations are misconstrued, as when a Highland evacuation due to toxic gas leaks invites them to assume they are survivors of an apocalypse, leaving them free to ransack all the houses in the neighborhood. Van Driessen, Stuart, and Coach Buzzkill show up. And of course, there’s some major ass-kicking performed by Todd. Go Todd!

Lest anyone thinks the music videos are gone, you’ll be only half-disappointed. Many “artists of the half-decade” are skewered, such as MGMT, Lil Wayne, Battles, and Cage the Elephant, among others. (I don’t know why, but it amuses me that they’re familiar with deadmau5.) But the majority of the interstitials come from other original MTV programming, although there is a fake movie review and a UFC fight involved. These shows include 16 and Pregnant, True Life, Teen Mom, and, most notably, they deservedly berate the fuck out of Jersey Shore, especially Deena. I would pay good money to see them go MSTK3K over entire episodes of the Shore. But I suppose I’ll let their resurgence be the one dream realized this past year.

The episodes themselves are bright rainbows over golden showers. When it comes to the actual Blu-ray disc itself, though, things come up short (uh huh huh). The intended crude animation looks as crisp as it possibly can in high-def, but the 3:4 aspect wastes the format. It’s also intentional, but doesn’t justify paying extra money to get it on Blu-ray in the first place. If any show would welcome the return of VHS, it would be this one.

The extras are equally disappointing. “2011: San Diego Comic Con Panel” is a 20-minute Q&A with Mike Judge, joined by fanboy Johnny Knoxville, as he discusses the show history, characters and their voices, and Judge’s past in general. Well worth a watch, it begs for Mike Judge to showcase himself more often in public appearances. However, the “Interruptions” features are ridiculously slight, offering minute-long phone conversations between B&B and cast members from Jersey Shore. I assume they played as promotional material on MTV. It’s not even worth mentioning “Silence Your Cell Phone,” where they tell theater-goers to shut up, but I just mentioned it. I guess it was worth only that.

Honestly, I don’t give a pet rat’s ass about extras and aspect ratios. My nostalgia and immaturity rarely form such a cohesive bond, and this disc allowed it to happen. Just as honestly, I didn’t watch the initial airings, as my remote control tries to pour water over itself and electrocute me anytime MTV is considered. I watched them on Hulu. I’m not ashamed. Thank you for bringing these guys back into our lives, Mike Judge. Many happy and horny returns.

Length: 264 min.

Rated: Not rated

Distributor: MTV Productions

Release Date: 2/14/12

Starring: Mike Judge

Directed by: Yvette Kaplan, Tony Kluck, John Rice, Roy Smith, Ted Stearn

Produced by: John Altschuler, Mike Judge, Yvette Kaplan, Dave Krinsky, Tom Lassally, Michael Rotenberg

Written by: John Altschuler, Dave Krinsky, DJ Javerbaum, Brad Pope, Jeff Goldstone, Kristofor Brown, Sivert Glarum, Michael Jamin, Greg Grabianski, Boyce Bugliari, Jamie McLaughlin, Bo Weinberg

Visit the Beavis & Butt-head Official Website

Beavis and Butt-Head return to MTV tonight, and the reasons to be excited should be fairly obvious, however if you aren’t already counting down the minutes, we put our heads together and came up with thirty-six reasons why we’re excited about Beavis and Butt-head’s return.

We could be looking at the comeback of the year as Beavis and Butt-Head return to their couch to spread their moronic thoughts across MTV like a virus (or perhaps the cure). Start practicing your Butt-Head laugh. Brush up on your ability to find perverted sounding words in otherwise innocent phrases. And while you wait for Beavis and Butt-Head to make its grand return to MTV tonight (Thursday, 10/9c), here's the list we came up with of reasons to look forward to the series' return.

1. We may have gotten older, but that doesn’t mean we grew up.

2. Jersey Shore has gone unchecked by these guys for too long.

3. Obvious but... Mike Judge back on TV!

4. TP for my bunghole.

5. Because we need to return to a time where everything is either cool or sucks.

6. It’s a way to watch music videos on MTV even if it’s in brief clips and interrupted by sarcastic commentary

7. Because work still sucks:

8. Van Driessen

9. The inevitable YouTube commentary.

10. Because nobody cares about AC DC or Metallica anymore, but the t-shirts never got old.

11. Because Mike Judge’s entire movie career hasn’t been as brilliant at these guys.

12. Our kids will actually get our references and possibly think we are cool.

13. Saying, “Uh-huh-huh... You said...” (followed by some semi-perverted remark) won’t seem so dated anymore.

14. Boi-oi-oi-oing!

15. 15 years since the movie! Bruce and Demi were still together and in it! Time for a sequel!

16. The possibility of other Judge character cameos? This was first, now he’s got a universe!

17. Fire! Fire! Fire!

18. Whackin’ it in Anderson’s toolshed.

19. Daria downer.

20. Trips to the Maxi-Mart.

21. “Uh.... hey baby.”

22. Seeing how technological advancements might impact the show. Will B&B tweet, use facebook, Siri?

23. Headbanging:

24. Anything that reminds us of the bliss that is the 90’s is amazing.

25. It opens the doors for more animated shows on MTV, which is really the only thing the network is good for (B&B, Daria, Clone High, Undergrads, Celebrity Deathmatch, etc.).

26. It’s not a show that involves rich, snobby assholes like the rest of MTV’s programming.

27.Tom Anderson’s yard/house has not yet been destroyed enough times

28. Stewart Stevenson has not yet been abused enough.

29. Younger generations will understand why this mugshot is so damn funny.

30. More holiday specials!

31. Potential return of this warning before every episode:

32. The world always needs more adult-oriented cartoons.

33. Parental guidance is overrated.

34. It reminds us why it’s awesome to do the devil horns symbol while rocking out.

35. “Come to Butt-head”

36. Because we want to see what these idiots do next...

Fans and non-fans of Jersey Shore alike will appreciate this, especially if you love Beavis and Butt-Head. Want more proof that MTV is willing to laugh at itself? Watch this video featuring Beavis and Butt-Head as they have a phone conversation with The Jersey Shore’s Vinny.

This is why I’m most excited to see Beavis and Butt-Head return to MTV. From everything we’ve seen from the new B&B so far, the guys are exactly the same as they were back in the ’90’s. It’s pop-culture that’s changed and it seems Beavis and Butt-head are ready for it. This might be a promo or an actual clip from an upcoming episode of B&B, which is set to return October 27th at 10/9c on MTV.

In this video, Beavis and Butt-head mash themselves into a clip featuring Pauly and Vinny from Jersey Shore’s current Italy season.

Get More: Beavis and Butt-Head, MTV Shows, Full Episodes

And here’s another trailer you may not have seen...

Get More: Beavis and Butt-Head, MTV Shows, Full Episodes

Last last week we heard rumors that Mike Judge might be bringing Beavis & Butt-head back to television. Now they’re more than rumors, it’s confirmed. Beavis & Butthead are back!

MTV says new episodes are in the works, and it’ll stick to the traditional Beavis & Butthead format. Creator Mike Judge had hinted in the past that if he brought them back he might age them, but word is that this will be the same teenage Beavis & Butt-head as always. They’ll keep the same minimalist animation style and, somewhat surprisingly given MTV’s recent disinterest in airing them, they’ll still spend the bulk of their time on a couch commenting on music videos. It’ll be modern artists in their crosshairs this time, MTV plans to launch them at the likes of Lady Gaga. I can’t wait to hear what Beavis thinks of Poker Face.

Beavis & Butt-head first aired in 1992 and the Mike Judge created series ran until 1997 on MTV. In 1996 they got a full-length feature film called Beavis & Butt-head Do America and they’ve made a couple of cameos since leaving the airwaves in 1997. Most recently they resurfaced to review Mike Judge’s new movie, Extract:

While hanging out at the panel for his new movie Extract, director and all around genius Mike Judge was of course, pelted with questions about some of his past projects. When asked about the possibility of more Beavis and Butt-Head, he shocked everyone by revealing that it’s not only possible, but they’ve actually put together a few ideas for a sequel to the 1996 Beavis and Butt-Head Do America film.

Says Judge, “That keeps coming back. We have a couple of treatment, and if people really wanted it, it’s not out of the question. We're doing the usual every 3 or 4 year talk about it.” I think it’s safe to say folks, that was a tease. I’m envisioning a closet somewhere in Mike Judge’s house full of brilliant Beavis and Butt-Head ideas just waiting to be unleashed, if only we all shout loud enough for them. Grab your blogging megaphones and start yelling. Bring on Beavis and Butt-Head 2.

UPDATE: Katey caught up with Judge after the panel, and while she couldn't get much in with other journalists asking weird questions, he did give us a little more information on how they judge fan interest. "I guess they do tracking. They did something 4 or 5 years ago, they did some tracking on that. And Beavis and Butthead awareness in general."

He also revealed that his favorite part of the show was Beavis and Butthead's commentary over silly music videos-- commentary that can be the most difficult part of the show to see.

Want more from Comic Con? This is just the tip of the lightsaber. Get it all right here.