Ransom Riggs
8 Reasons Sketch Comedy Will Never Die
by Ransom Riggs - December 11, 2008 - 11:50 AM

Even if this blog was mainly an excuse to re-watch and talk about my favorite sketches from my eight favorite sketch comedy groups, I do have at least one serious reason that sketch comedy will never die: the internet. While content creators of all stripes are bending over backwards to adapt their videos to the demands of what can “go viral,” comedy sketches have had it right all along: they’re short, to the point, easy to forward to friends (and embed in blogs), and above all — funny. And here are eight great examples to back me up.

The State – “Taco Man”

One of my all-time favorite sketch groups, they were also one of the shortest-lived. Their show on MTV ran for just a year and change, from 1993-1995, but its members went on to write and star in movies like Wet Hot American Summer and the currently-in-theaters Role Models as well as other shows like Viva Variety and Reno: 911. But I will always love them for this sketch above all else. “Goodbye, mailbox!”

Kids in the Hall – “Girl Drink Drunk”

This legendary and long-lived Canadian sketch group took their name (according to Wikipedia) from Sid Caesar, who, if a joke didn’t go over, or played worse than expected, would attribute it to “the kids in the hall,” referring to a group of young writers hanging around the studio. Here’s a classic sketch about what happens about what happens when a man becomes addicted to “girl drinks.”

Mr. Show – “Supermarket Wars”

David Cross and Bob Odenkirk have gone on to fame in other projects after their much-celebrated HBO show was cancelled in 1998 — you may know David Cross best as the closeted psychiatrist Tobias Funke from Arrested Development. This sketch is a long one, and a slow burn, but the build is great — and in this era of Wal-Mart and crushing globalization, it’s never been more relevant.

Human Giant – “The Hardest Part of Rollerblading”

Human Giant is an MTV sketch show starring Aziz Ansari, Rob Huebel and Paul Scheer. Ansari you may recognize from a cameo on Flight of the Conchords as racist-against-Australians fruit seller, and next year you’ll see him starring in NBC’s The Office spinoff with Amy Pohler.

Saturday Night Live – “More Cowbell”

What “the best” SNL sketches are has been the subject of many a blogged top-ten list, and though the matter may never be definitively settled, suffice to say it was a tough choice that was made a lot easier by the fact that there’s no good version of Chris Farley’s “Down by the River” sketch on YouTube right now.

Monty Python – “Argument Clinic”

Another tough call. I had most if not all of the Monty Python albums as a kid, and had them just about memorized. These guys are obviously legends, and they wrote so many classic sketches that they certainly deserve a post all their own. And as brilliant as the “Argument Clinic” sketch itself is, make sure to watch it all the way through to catch its super-absurd ending in which policemen show up and arrest the actors — and then one another — for violating the “Getting-Out-of-Sketches-Without-Using-a-Proper-Punch-Line Act.”

Flight of the Conchords – “The Most Beautiful Girl in the Room”

The Conchords — New Zealanders Bret MacKenzie and Jemaine Clement — have been shouted-out on this site many times before, but I couldn’t leave out one of my favorite bits (dare I call their songs “sketches”?):

The Ben Stiller Show – “The Last Stand of Yakoff Smirnov

Ben Stiller. Talk about “where are they now” — anyone know what happened to this clown?

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Comments (24)

  1. Yaakov Smirnov opened a theater in Branson, MO. You can find him on Wikipedia.

    posted by JoshSamBob on 12-11-2008 at 11:59 am

  2. Very well written article Ransom!! Kids in the Hall has been one of my favorite shows for years. I’m glad someone finally gives it some props!I would have put in just one more thing…the SNL digital shorts…I love Lazy Sunday, and of course D*** in a box.

    posted by Jill...NOT Jillian on 12-11-2008 at 12:15 pm

  3. Support your Local sketch comedy!

    posted by Will Nunziata on 12-11-2008 at 12:48 pm

  4. Great article. Glad to see Mr. Show and The State mentioned, all the best comedians around right now are in some way connected to one of those shows.

    Would have liked to see Whitest Kids U Know, they’re pretty much the best current sketch group, and they’ve been made huge by youtube.

    Speaking of youtube, there are some really good exclusively youtube sketch groups, picnicface being my favorite.

    posted by Zach on 12-11-2008 at 1:07 pm

  5. Great post!

    And I have to agree with Will – support your local sketch and improv comedy! A lot of people mentioned here got their start performing on bad stages for no money, and were pleased when a crowd was over 15 people. There’s rarely any money in comedy.

    Often times (in Toronto) you can catch a fantastic sketch or improv show for as little as $5 (sometimes even for free!) and they’re happening every day of the week, all across the city. Check our your local comedy! Do it! It’s cheap! They need you!

    …please come see my show.

    posted by Jenny on 12-11-2008 at 1:21 pm

  6. Yakov Smirnoff is also writing an advice column for AARP magazine…

    posted by mama9cats on 12-11-2008 at 1:57 pm

  7. Where is Chapelle’s show? Best show EVER!!!

    posted by bmjv77 on 12-11-2008 at 2:10 pm

  8. @ bmjv77 –

    All the good Chappelle’s show clips on YouTube are Rickrolls.

    @ everybody else –

    re: “where is he now,” I meant Ben Stiller … it’s a joke, people!

    posted by Ransom Riggs on 12-11-2008 at 2:25 pm

  9. Ben Stiller’s version of Cape Fear starring Eddie Munster was a classic!!

    posted by Mike on 12-11-2008 at 5:15 pm

  10. Nicely put together list.

    Only thing missing is Upright Citizens Brigade. One of the best things comedy central has ever done.

    posted by Christian on 12-11-2008 at 5:45 pm

  11. Hmmm…I think I might have a possible Friday Happy Hour question for you guys in the form of favorite comedy sketch. While I do really like a lot of your picks, I would’ve gone with the Fish-Slapping Dance for sheer absurdity and since the sketch in which Harry Caray interviewed Jeff Goldblum (can’t remember his character’s name off the top of my head) is a family favorite, I’d have to go with those two :)

    posted by Fruppi on 12-11-2008 at 6:13 pm

  12. good selection! I’ve just been recently obsessed with one from England called “That Mitchell and Webb Look” featuring British comedians David Mitchell and Robert Webb. It’s very absurd and always amusing.

    posted by cari on 12-11-2008 at 6:27 pm

  13. I’m thrilled at all of the shows represented here but am just a little concerned that neither Upright Citizens Brigade nor A Bit of Fry and Laurie are represented.

    posted by Andy on 12-11-2008 at 7:21 pm

  14. A lot of the posers don’t deserve to mentioned in the same post as Monty Python.

    posted by PartiallyDeflected on 12-11-2008 at 7:29 pm

  15. NIce post. wished u would have put up whitest kids u’ know though. Admittedly, they are pretty similar to kids in the hall, but when has that ever been a bad thing. Either way, they are certainly better than human giant or ben stiller, but maybe you could have just made the list 9 reasons instead. Also, I know it’s not a sketch comedy show, but Stella is hilarious and michael, michael, and david were all in some way related to hilarious comedy sketch groups and Wet Hot American Summer. Once again, good list and great clips.

    posted by FAUX_R33L on 12-12-2008 at 7:10 am

  16. Anyone from Chapel Hill area in the earlier 1990s might remember these guys…

    By the way, my personal favorite among the video links is ‘Tech Support’. A (nearly) one man tour de force

    posted by Anon Emous on 12-12-2008 at 7:24 am

  17. Great Post Ransom. If you ever get to The Houston\Galveston area you have to catch any of the Tuna Shows by Jaston Williams and Joe Sears. Also, Radio Music Theater is the best sketch comedy in Houston. These two shows in the area are masters of Texas satire and just plain hilarious.
    I echo everyone’s sentiment, support your local sketch comedy.

    posted by Don on 12-12-2008 at 9:33 am

  18. Thanks for starting out with The State. I could do a whole list of amazing sketches of theirs, but I think one of the most impressive was Porcupine Racetrack… actually catchy songs, and wonderfully absurd. Another great one is when they are auctioning off orphans…

    The only problem is that MTV’s been holding on to the completed series DVDs for years. I would buy it on the first day it came out, and not leave my house for days.

    Doug
    Louie
    Barry and Levon

    And then, a few of the guys did Viva Variety on Comedy Central, which was fun too.

    Thanks for letting me reminisce…
    Josh

    posted by Josh on 12-12-2008 at 9:46 am

  19. Flight of the Conchords is certainly not Sketch Comedy (even if it is AWESOME).

    All great mentions (‘cept maybe SNL, meh), but where is the love for the latest, GREATEST sketch comedy around today, Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! It’s kid tested and Mr. Show approved! Not to mention, John C. Reilly and FRED “effing” WILLARD!

    posted by Justin on 12-12-2008 at 10:21 am

  20. Most beautiful girl in the room. A classic.

    posted by Chellis on 12-12-2008 at 1:19 pm

  21. I was actually thinking about the State earlier today. Their sketch in the restaurant featuring “international hand signals for…” is a texbook example of a solid sketch. It starts with a simple premise, moves on to absurdity, and ends with a logical punchline. It also features a wheelbarrow full of bacon.

    “We have a arrest warrant for Jesus of Nazareth. Are you Jesus of Nazareth?”

    “…..he just went that way, he’s wearing a short sleeved shirt and a tie. Keeps yelling about his balls.”

    posted by Mudi-B on 12-12-2008 at 9:11 pm

  22. A small vote for “The Vacant Lot” which I think lasted 6 episodes or something, and featured Mark McKinney’s brother… the decapitated head skit still makes me laugh.

    posted by josch on 12-15-2008 at 2:14 pm

  23. Great picks. Although Girl Drink Drunk is an area of sketch contention between my friends and I. They think it is comic genius. I think it is one of the worst sketches ever. What about the Sausages sketch? What about the Open Letter to the Guy who Stole the Front Wheel of my Bike?

    Also, some friends of mine, one of whom I use to do sketch with made a great video for a youtube contest. They’re my friends, but it is still one of the funniest sketches I’ve seen. Check out Geena Davis: Heaven on Wheels

    posted by scott on 12-15-2008 at 8:31 pm

  24. I find the Big Gay Sketch Show to be hilarious – esp the sketch about Pilates! You can find it on You Tube.

    posted by Dawn on 12-30-2008 at 2:56 am

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