Depressing comedies

[Floogal]

As the title suggests, can anyone think of any programs that were supposed to be funny, but we're actually sombre?

I remember in the 90s, there was the Brittas Empire. Couldn't enjoy it as there was an abusive gay relationship, woman who kept her kids locked up in cupboards and scruffy Colin. Also Gordon meant well but most people seemed to dislike him.

Also loved men behaving badly and game on. But depressing to think of Mathew's acrophobia, Mandy's husband dying and poor Martin having his heart broken. Also Dorothy was pretty abusive to Gary

Butterflies is number one for me. Ria was seriously depressed.

Lots of sitcoms are a bit aren't they. I think often the characters are trapped together somehow.
Father Ted although very funny, was quite depressing too.

Blackadder goes Forth. Absolutely heartbreaking.

This Country too. Love it, but oh god so glad I don't live in a place like that anymore.

I liked Blackadder Goes Forth and didn’t find it depressing. The final episode was sad and poignant but that was the intention. It was very funny up until that bit.

Sorry with Ronnie Corbett - a narcissistic mother very like my MiL Hated it with a passion.
Also the 'comedy' with Zoe Wannamaker where every poisonous barb from her mouth was directed at her husband. Awful.

@OhMyCrump

This Country too. Love it, but oh god so glad I don't live in a place like that anymore.

Yeah used to live in a rural area and the show was spot on. Boredom and big fishes in small ponds. Was depressing when Kieran gave up chance of college and career to keep Kerry happy

@Sparklingbrook

I liked Blackadder Goes Forth and didn’t find it depressing. The final episode was sad and poignant but that was the intention. It was very funny up until that bit.

I agree, sad rather than depressing.

Alma's Not Normal.

I thought it was brilliant but actually pretty grim rather than funny. Her mum's storyline is heartbreaking (with Siobhan Finneran great as usual).

There's humour in conflict OP. I'm struggling to think of a comedy where there isn't a bit of it to be honest. The Royale Family was ace but Barbara was badly treated by the whole family. Only Fools and Horses was quite depressing really-people living in a tiny flat and struggling to make ends meet while dreaming of better times....

@CrossPurposes

Alma's Not Normal.

I thought it was brilliant but actually pretty grim rather than funny. Her mum's storyline is heartbreaking (with Siobhan Finneran great as usual).

It’s semi biographical too. The main actor spent a lot of her life in care and this is basically her story.

I agree about Sorry all he wants to do it get away from his mother. Same with Steptoe and Son, he just wants to get out there and experience the life but he can’t.

I love Royle Family but my husband finds it a bit depressing. He says it's too close to home.

Not Going Out?
Reginald Perrin?

The office is depressing at times.
It's one of my favorites, but it's sad more than laugh out loud funny!

The Good Life. Tom was so selfish and Barbara gave it her all. I can’t bear the way he treats her in it.

Bread - everyone loved it in the 80s it’s terrible - no money, no prospects, the women are portrayed as either battlesaxes, thick or tarts

Not a comedy, but I find programmes such as “DIY-SOS” depressing. It’s great that someone’s life has been turned around by a home improvement. However, those tradesmen would not have done all the work (for free) if the Th cameras weren’t there. I don’t know if they donate the bricks, garden equipment, etc or whether the the BBC pays for these.

Afterlife with Ricky Gervais

One Foot in the Grave.

Possibly the most complex and black mainstream sitcom.

I haven't actually watched Motherland but I keep seeing clips of it on the internet.

It looks about as funny as a pile of sick. Stressed, snappy woman, arguing with everyone, sighing heavily down her nose, default mode sarcastic. I just can't see the appeal in it at all, it makes me feel on edge just looking at the clips.

Another vote for The Royle Family
I used to feel sorry for Barbara as she was such a victim

I find Woking Moms depressing tbh! It's set in Canada but it's all supposed to be funny, there's feminist working mums. In reality it's just really sexist and the woman have to be incredibly selfish and break their backs just to keep their jobs and sanity. They can't just be decent people. And the supposedly decent men in it don't like them earning more than them either. I found Motherland much better (apart from one really depressing serious episode in the first season).

@A580Hojas

I haven't actually watched Motherland but I keep seeing clips of it on the internet.

It looks about as funny as a pile of sick. Stressed, snappy woman, arguing with everyone, sighing heavily down her nose, default mode sarcastic. I just can't see the appeal in it at all, it makes me feel on edge just looking at the clips.

Yep!

Surely the best comedies have truth in them, which means they will have a thread of sadness. Who wants to watch something relentlessly cheerful?

I suppose if you are watching a comedy because you want cheering up, being a bit depressed yourself you may well want something relentlessly cheerful?