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

Seinfeld might be dark, but it's not depressing. It doesn't have the pathos that other sitcoms on this list have. It's more cheerfully nihilistic, and all the better for it, IMO. I put it in a trifecta with Arrested Development and It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia. All have main characters who are varying degrees of selfish / egotistical / flawed / oblivious - and yet you don't hate them, you kind of love them (although you probably wouldn't want them in your life).

When this is done well, it's comedy genius. And I'd put Archer in this category also.

[quote greatape]@midsomermurderess agree with him and her. That last series set on Laura's wedding day was pretty bleak. The dad and how he was constantly I appropriate with Shelly, the bullying that Laura did to everyone and her constant crass behaviour. The mum getting drunk and the dad constantly putting her down

But that bullying was then tempered by her devastation at finding out that he was having the affair with Graham and still going through with the ceremony. She was so insecure about being less pretty and loveable than Becky but it manifested in the worst way. And Becky understood and tolerated it because she loved her sister (and was too lazy to say no)

And the fact Paul was trapped by Laura - he hated her but he loved his kids.

Steve and Becky were cute and in love but they were so lazy. Steve's reaction to her pregnancy was so so lovely but at the end all I could think of was how would that baby be raised in the bed sit with parents who were so laid back they barely functioned.

I did love that Becky was the total slob though. Refreshing to see a young pretty female character as the one with the grim personal habits.[/quote]
I find this program very ‘real’- I’m not sure what that says about me!

@icelolly99

I loved Roger and Val have just got in. Beautifully written.

I thought I was the only person who watched this, was sublime. Yy Only fools it was very funny, also full of pathos especially Rodneys wedding episode. Anyone watched ‘Mum’ with Lesley Manville, was another with laugh out loud moments combined with real sadness.

Yy to Mum. I found the characters annoying and also pathetic. Very well-observed portuayal of the mum. Lesley Manville great actress.

What was the series where Rob Brydon is in a car and his wife his havi g an affair? Found that one too painful to watch.

Back to life was sublime!
Both series were fab

I found Not Going Out really funny till they got married
Black Books also hilarious

I do miss pure comedy with no sadness

I couldn't watch The Office, too realistic for me.

@absolutelynotfabulous I think that was called Marion & Geoff.

Derek, another Ricky Gervais show. You can be laughing, cringing and crying all in the same episode.

It's set in a care home, and I thought it was quite ambiguous as to whether Derek was a volunteer / member of staff / resident.

Ive just rewatched all of one foot in the grave and it has its pretty sad moments.

I also found myself agreeing with Victor Meldrew a lot.

@Andylion

Getting On, but it did make me laugh at times,

Loved Getting On. What worked for me was the underlying acceptance of the reality and how they all made the best of it. Jo Brand, and the female consultant were magnificent.

@helpadvicewhateverneeded

I don't think you can say that the Royle Family lived "in squalor". Many millions of people grew up in a similar vein - including myself - and there's no way I'd say I lived in squalor, we were working class, not paupers.

Agree. Me too.

League of gentlemen

Absolutely dark and depressing as hell

Agree about Him and Her, but found it too slobby and grotty to watch.
Sorry, with Ronny Corbett I did watch ( there wasn't a lot else to do back then) and I was completely crap and depressing. Mind my younger dd has a 3 syllable name and I do find myself saying 'Language Emily!' If she swears.

Black Books , I really enjoyed, never felt it was depressing. Ditto This Country.

And I loved Back to Life with Daisy Haggard , well worth a watch if you haven't seen it, it is genuinely uplifting.

Damned with Jo Brand and Alan Davis is v good. Again depressing subject matter but vv good.

Yes to Back to Life and Getting On. Loved both

I agree about This Country I saw a lot of where I live in that show and a bit too close to home. My city dwelling ex thought it was hilarious and I was like yeah it is but not when that is literally your teenage years your trying to move on from

Black adder Goes Fourth
Not Going Out was funny until they got married and moved out to the suburbs

Or the episode Victor Meldrew uncovers abuse at an old people's home, and a random unexpected suicide of an annoying friends was genuinely distressing.

But morbidity and alienation and ageism were part of the jokes. And he was an anti hero of sorts

I really struggled to watch the last series of Friday Night Dinner. There seemed (at least to me) to be a very bitter, unpleasant edge to almost every episode.

The family just seemed to be sniping at and belittling each other at every opportunity. Very depressing (and quite anxiety-inducing)

It's a shame, really, because I thoroughly enjoyed all the series' that preceded it.

Strange how someone said the Royle Family lived in Squalor. It was cluttered but not dirty. Just typical working class no?

I love the series. Although the amount of sexism body shaming and homophobia is quite shocking to see now.

I agree about the last series of Friday Night Dinner. The tone had entirely changed. It felt bitter and quite angry. The underlying kindness, affection, silliness was mostly missing.

@RevolvingPivot

Strange how someone said the Royle Family lived in Squalor. It was cluttered but not dirty. Just typical working class no?

I love the series. Although the amount of sexism body shaming and homophobia is quite shocking to see now.

What about Barbara scraping dog shit off Dave’s shoe into the sink though?

@RevolvingPivot And the episode where Denise showed Barbara a photo of baby David covered in cig ash as he’d emptied an ashtray over him. Barbara asked if Dave had been there at the same time and Denise said no, she’d waited until he came home. I stopped watching at that.

Steptoe & Son - it was grim to look at, all that junk and their scruffy clothes.

Both characters were creepy, particularly the father.

Ooh just remembered Dammed. That was brilliant. So sad only 2 series. Jo Brand was ace in it.

Oh don't remember those parts. I mean I wouldn't like to grow up as they did but the house isn't THAT bad as posted above.