Through the generations sketch comedy has been a staple on television. TV shows that are made up of quick bits of comedy that only last a few minutes and are full of laughs and funny jokes. Some of these shows have been memorable over the years and made people laugh even after the show is no longer making new content. We sit back and laugh as we remember these Top 5 Sketch Comedy TV Shows.
Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-in
Debuting in January of 1968 on NBC, this show took many of its cues from the flower power and the counterculture movement and focused on the younger generation. Hosted by comedians Dan Rowan and Dick Martin and featuring a cast that created characters and sketches often taken from current headlines. Often the show was hosted by a celebrity who would join in on the high energy hijinks and some even joined in on the vaudeville-style singing and song numbers. The show had a recurring gag of having a cast member of the show fall through a trap door on the stage. Taking a cue from one of the reoccurring characters it was “very interesting.”
Hee Haw
Originally created in 1969 it aired until 1971 on the CBS network before moving to first-run syndication where it aired from 1971 until 1993. It was picked up for one more run in 1996 to air new shows on The Nashville Network which lasted until 1997. This show was for rural audiences with sketches aimed for people who live in the country and small towns. The show was inspired by ‘Laugh In’ in its creation. Typically the shows were hosted by a country music star and there was a musical guest. The shows were hosted by country music stars Buck Owens and Roy Clark for most of the years the show was on the air. Often the two would play “Pickin’ and a Grinnin'” with the entire cast seated around them as they traded jokes and strummed on a guitar.
In Living Color
Airing from 1990 until 1994 on the Fox Network this was aimed at African Americans and Latino audiences that other shows were not marketed to. The show was mostly presented by the Wayans family both behind and in front of the cameras. The show has strong ratings for its first two years and even won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding variety, music, or comedy series in 1990. The show fell out of favor with the Fox Network for it’s two later seasons after disagreements with the Waynes Brothers over issues like rights and control over their content.
Kids In The Hall
A sketch comedy show from Canada that aired on CBC Television in Canada and HBO and CBS in the United States from 1988 until 1995. The show featured a small group of comedians playing various characters, both men and women. Many of the characters they were reoccurring and some of them became really popular with the audiences. The show also aired in Comedy Cental in repeats and it is rumored the show may be coming back with all-new sketches to make people laugh out loud as long is it doesn’t cause the “crushing of heads” as one reoccurring sketch liked to say.
Saturday Night Live
First starting in 1975 on the NBC Network and still airing today. This show has had many comedians as cast members over the years. It tends to hold it’s audience with sketches and material that is current with the headlines at the time and many times with sketches featuring repeat characters that have become popular with the audiences both at home and in the studio. It also features a musical guest on each show. Through the years some of the characters they’ve creates in sketches got really popular and were spun off into featured movies like the Coneheads, The Blues Brothers, and Wayne and Garth. Whether it is doing good in the ratings or in a slump, the show has become a television institution on Saturday night for NBC.
