Why Humor Matters
Humor is essential to the human experience—it reduces stress, builds connections, and helps us see the world from fresh perspectives. Whether it's stand-up comedy, satirical writing, or clever wordplay, great humor combines intelligence with timing and observation.
Comedians I Admire
Stand-Up & Observational
- George Carlin - Social commentary and language
- Jerry Seinfeld - Observational comedy master
- Dave Chappelle - Cultural insight and storytelling
- John Mulaney - Clever narratives and timing
- Maria Bamford - Unique perspective and vulnerability
Satirical & Political
- Jon Stewart - Political satire and commentary
- John Oliver - Deep-dive investigative comedy
- Mark Twain - Classic American satire
- Douglas Adams - Absurdist sci-fi humor
Comedy Shows & Specials
- Seinfeld - "A show about nothing" that changed sitcoms
- The Office (UK & US) - Cringe comedy perfection
- Arrested Development - Layered, referential humor
- Brooklyn Nine-Nine - Ensemble comedy with heart
- Bo Burnham: Inside - Meta-comedy for the internet age
- Hannah Gadsby: Nanette - Deconstructing comedy itself
Humor in Writing
Books
- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
- Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
- Good Omens by Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman
- Bossypants by Tina Fey
- Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
Comics & Webcomics
- The Far Side by Gary Larson
- xkcd - Smart humor for nerds
- Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson
- SMBC (Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal)
Classic Cartoons
Golden Age
- Looney Tunes - Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Wile E. Coyote
- Tom and Jerry - Silent slapstick perfection
- The Pink Panther - Cool, wordless comedy
- Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! - Mystery comedy formula
Saturday Morning Classics
- The Flintstones - Stone Age sitcom
- The Jetsons - Space Age comedy
- Chip 'n Dale's Rescue Rangers - Adventure comedy team
- Animaniacs - Zany, satirical humor
- Rocky and Bullwinkle - Clever wordplay and parody
Animated Comedy
Movies
- The Incredibles - Superhero family comedy
- Shrek - Fairy tale subversion
- Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse - Meta superhero comedy
- The Lego Movie - Surprisingly clever
TV Series
- The Simpsons (Seasons 3-8) - Peak satire
- Futurama - Sci-fi comedy brilliance
- Bob's Burgers - Heartfelt family comedy
- BoJack Horseman - Dark comedy about depression
Comedy Movies
Classic Comedies
- Airplane! - Absurdist parody perfection
- The Princess Bride - Fairy tale satire
- Monty Python and the Holy Grail - British absurdism
- Groundhog Day - Existential comedy
- When Harry Met Sally - Rom-com gold
Modern Favorites
- The Grand Budapest Hotel - Whimsical Wes Anderson
- Knives Out - Murder mystery comedy
- Game Night - Clever ensemble comedy
- Everything Everywhere All at Once - Absurdist sci-fi comedy
- Thor: Ragnarok - Taika Waititi's superhero comedy
Podcasts & YouTube
- Comedy Bang! Bang! - Improvised comedy interviews
- WTF with Marc Maron - Deep conversations with comedians
- Key & Peele - Sketch comedy brilliance
- Nerdwriter1 - Essays on comedy and culture
What Makes Great Humor
- Timing - The pause, the beat, the delivery
- Surprise - Subverting expectations
- Truth - Finding the absurdity in real life
- Vulnerability - Laughing at ourselves
- Intelligence - Wordplay, references, connections
- Empathy - Punching up, not down