15 best TV shows with black humor

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

From The Addams Family to Fargo.

15. The Addams Family

• USA, 1964-1966.
• Comedy, horror.
• Duration: 2 seasons.
• IMDb: 7, 9.

The unusual Addams family lives in a creepy castle. Morticia's mother loves to grow poisonous plants, Wednesday's gloomy daughter conducts dangerous experiments. And then there is Uncle Fester, who generates electricity, and the butler Larch, who looks very much like Frankenstein's monster. Of course, amazing and even frightening events constantly take place in the house.

Artist Charles Addams created famous characters back in 1938 in the form of comics for The New Yorker magazine. The grotesque characters parodied the typical American family: they seem to have come from a horror movie, but at the same time they love and appreciate each other.

The ABC series became the first comic book adaptation. And after that "The Addams Family" was transferred to the screens many times: there were both full-length films and animated versions.

14. Dead like me

• Canada, USA, 2003-2004.
• Comedy, drama, fantasy.
• Duration: 2 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 1.

An eighteen-year-old girl named George found her life boring and monotonous. Until she was killed by a toilet seat that fell from the Mir space station. But after the death of the heroine, the most interesting thing begins: she becomes a reaper and collects the souls of dead people with her colleagues.

This project was created by Brian Fuller - the future author of "Hannibal" and "American Gods". And already in "Dead Like Me" the author showed his love for beautiful photography. But it is much more interesting that the series is filled with a mixture of black humor about death with reasoning about the meaning of life, the afterlife and other controversial topics.

13. Waste

• UK, 2009-2013.
• Science fiction, comedy, drama.
• Duration: 5 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 2.

Five hooligans are sent to correctional labor for minor offenses. Suddenly, they are caught in a violent storm and, after being struck by lightning, gain superpowers. At the same time, the heroes hardly control them, and one cannot understand at all what ability he got. But the main thing is that they all remain unsuccessful teenagers and do not plan to use their powers for good.

The British project clearly parodies typical stories where people with supernormal abilities immediately stand up for humanity. The characters are silly here and like to break the law. This leads to many funny and often obscene situations.

12. Barry

• USA, 2018 - present.
• Comedy, crime.
• Duration: 2 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 3.

Former Marine Barry became a hitman after his service. To complete the next task, he needs to pretend to be an amateur actor and join a small theater troupe. Barry soon realizes that playing on stage is his calling.

The series was invented by comedian Bill Hader, who himself played the main role. His Barry is a vivid character who combines the cynicism of a hired killer and a complete inability to communicate with people. Moreover, both in behavior and even in clothes, he clearly refers to the protagonist of the series "Dexter".

11. Damn service at the MES hospital

• USA, 1972-1983.
• Drama, comedy, military.
• Duration: 11 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 4.

The series is set during the Korean War. A group of field doctors are faced with the most terrible events on a daily basis. However, they manage to remain witty and optimistic even in such dark times.

The series was created against the backdrop of the success of the MES Military Field Hospital, although all the leading actors were changed in the television version. The project combines a realistic drama about the horrors of war and an eccentric comedy with flamboyant characters.

10. Louis

• USA, 2010-2015.
• Drama, comedy.
• Duration: 5 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 5.

Comedian Louis divorced his wife and single-handedly brings up two daughters. In parallel with performances in various clubs, he is trying to somehow establish his personal life: he meets girls and goes on dates. Most often unsuccessfully.

Louis C. Kay came up with this project as a reflection of his own life. The biography of his on-screen character partially coincides with the real facts from the author's life, but some details are very different. Moreover, this is not the first attempt of a comedian to create such a project: back in 2006, he launched the series "Lucky Louis", but he lasted only one season on the screens. But the new version became very successful and brought CK more than a dozen nominations and several Emmy awards.

9. Shameless

• USA, 2011–2021.
• Drama, comedy.
• Duration: 11 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 5.

Single father Frank, who heads the poor Gallagher family, is a thief, an alcoholic and just a mean man. Therefore, the eldest daughter Fiona, who is looking for any opportunities to earn money, has to keep an eye on her relatives. But she has five brothers and sisters, and each has its own problems.

The first season of Shameless is based on the British project of the same name. But then the two popular TV series diverged in plots further and further, delving into the life typical of each country. As a result, both lasted 11 seasons. But the Russian analogue, released in 2017, did not go further than the first.

8. What are we doing in the shadows

• USA, 2019 - present.
• Comedy, horror.
• Duration: 2 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 5.

Three ancient bloodsuckers live in modern New York on Staten Island, and an unusual energy vampire lives with them. The heroes are learning to survive in the society of the XXI century and still dream of taking over the world or at least the neighborhood.

The series is based on the film of the same name by Taiki Waititi (translated into Russian as "Real Ghouls"). He also shows the life of vampires in a pseudo-documentary manner, parodying all kinds of horror films. Moreover, the television version does not copy the moves of the original, but develops the comedic world. The characters in the film even briefly peek into the spin-offs.

7. Trash

• UK, 2016-2019.
• Drama, comedy.
• Duration: 2 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 7.

The heroine, nicknamed Fleabag (that is, Rubbish), constantly quarrels with her relatives, indiscriminately sleeps with men and even loses her beloved girlfriend. But he stubbornly continues to struggle with loneliness and searches for himself in the modern world. This is what he tells the viewer directly from the screen.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge created this series based on her one-man show, and she herself starred in the film adaptation. The project combines a rough comedy with jokes about sex and death and a dark drama about loneliness. After the first season on the BBC, "Rubbish" became a hit: the project bought the Amazon Prime service, and the authors collected literally all the serial awards.

6. Delay in development

• USA, 2003-2018.
• Comedy, drama.
• Duration: 5 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 7.

Michael Bluth from a very wealthy family lived in peace for many years. But then it turned out that his father had not paid taxes for a long time, for which he went to jail. Now it is Michael who must keep the family business afloat and try to reconcile his relatives.

The Russo brothers, the future directors of the final parts of Marvel's Avengers, worked on this series. Moreover, at first the project did not show too high ratings, and it was closed after the third season. But over time, "Delayed Development" became a cult classic, and the show was brought back.

5. The client is always dead

• USA, 2001-2005.
• Drama, comedy.
• Duration: 5 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 7.

After the death of his father, Nate Fisher becomes the owner of his business - a funeral agency. But the hero will have to manage an already difficult task together with strange relatives.

Initially, it is clear that most of the humor of the series is built on jokes about death: almost all episodes begin with the death of a minor character. And then the heroes allegedly talk with the deceased, discussing all sorts of controversial topics: from religion to relationships.

4. Curb Your Enthusiasm

• USA, 2000 - present.
• Comedy.
• Duration: 10 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 7.

Already middle-aged Larry David comes up with scripts for serials. However, he is hampered by laziness and constant neurosis. Therefore, Larry often plays golf, trying to get out of business. But the hero has a wife who will always make him take up his mind.

As in the case of "Louis", the hero of this series is a grotesque portrait of its author. The real Larry David - the creator of the legendary Seinfeld - plays himself. And at the same time talks about the dark sides of show business and age-related problems.

3. Guys

• USA, 2019 - present.
• Drama, action.
• Duration: 2 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 7.

Superheroes, united in the "Seven", fight crime, and at the same time star in films and commercials. It seems that they protect the world, but in fact, these stars with superpowers have long been mired in vices. One of the members of the "Seven" accidentally kills the girl of the protagonist Huey. Then he joins the team of Billy Butcher - a former special agent who wants to put superheroes in their place.

The most popular series from Amazon is based on the comics of the same name by Garth Ennis, but the authors modernized the action, showing more pressing problems. "Boys" combine a parody of superhero series with grotesque cruelty and black humor, which captivated the audience.

2. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

• USA, 2005 - present.
• Comedy.
• Duration: 14 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 8.

Four friends open an Irish bar in a poor neighborhood in Philadelphia. The heroes can hardly be called a model of piety: they constantly lie and rude to each other and use every opportunity to frame their comrades. This regularly leads to ridiculous situations.

The sitcom, filled with rude jokes, has been published since 2005. It has already been renewed for a 15th season, making It Always Sunny in Philadelphia the longest running project in the genre. Previously, "The Adventures of Ozzy and Harriet", published from 1952 to 1966, held the palm.

1. Fargo

• USA, 2014 - present.
• Comedy, crime, drama.
• Duration: 4 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 9.

Each season of the anthology tells a new story related to crime and ridiculous criminals. A loser meets a killer and tries to hide the murder of his wife, a simple girl accidentally knocks down the son of a mafioso, the idiot wants to rob her twin brother, and the clans of blacks and Italians enter the war because of an accident.

Formally, the series is based on the film of the same name by the Coen brothers. But even the first season of "Fargo" does not follow the original in the plot. The authors only take the atmosphere of the works of famous directors: ridiculous criminals get into the stupidest troubles through their own fault.