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This is also true for another current HBO comedy Veep. While it may not be as close to reality as Silicon Valley, many political insiders note that it is much c

This is also true for another current HBO comedy Veep. While it may not be as close to reality as Silicon Valley, many political insiders note that it is much closer than dramatic shows like House of Cards. Maybe similarity to reality is a hallmark of excellent comedy. This is certainly true of one of my favorite comedy shows Louie, which is almost hyperrealistic.

khc 10y ago
"Jokes? There are no jokes. The truth is the funniest joke of all." - Muhammad Ali
kirrent 10y ago
Good comedy can be a mirror. It reflects reality, makes you laugh, and then makes you think. I think all of those shows you mentioned would lose something if they weren't uncomfortably close to what they're making fun of.
- pilsetnieks 10y ago
  Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn't. -- Mark Twain
  - surreal 10y ago
    See also "You couldn't make it up."[0] [0] http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/you-couldn't-make-it-up http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/you-cou...
sliverstorm 10y ago
Surely you've heard, "it's funny because it's true"
tjakab 10y ago
"Many police officers maintain that the most realistic police show in the history of television was the sitcom 'Barney Miller,' far more so than that father of reality TV, 'Cops.' The action was mostly off screen, the squad room the only set, and the guys were a motley bunch of character actors who were in no danger of being picked for the N.Y.P.D. pin-up calendar. But they worked hard, made jokes, got hurt and answered to their straight-man commander." http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/01/opinion/watching-the-detectives.html http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/01/opinion/watching-the-detec...
- imgabe 10y ago
  Likewise, all the doctors I know say Scrubs is the most realistic show about being a doctor.
  - semi-extrinsic 10y ago
    How can it not be? Every other program about being a doctor has so much personal drama and sex going on, they barely have time to look at patients. (Except House MD, but he's obviously unrealistic, even in the show itself.)
    - golergka 10y ago
      Episode about how unrealistic House is was one of the high points of the later Scrubs seasons.
- rglovejoy 10y ago
  In a similar vein, I believe that "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" is the most realistic portrayal of the dark ages that I know of.
  - ihaveajob 10y ago
    Funny, I had the same feeling about Christianity watching The Life of Brian.
sjs7007 10y ago
> Maybe similarity to reality is a hallmark of excellent comedy. This is certainly true of one of my favorite comedy shows Louie, which is almost hyperrealistic. Similarly medical professionals seem to agree Scrubs is much more closer to reality than the "dramatic" Grey's Anatomy. Another show that comes to mind is Malcolm in the Middle.
digi_owl 10y ago
Supposedly a court jester could state the facts with impunity...

khc 10y ago

"Jokes? There are no jokes. The truth is the funniest joke of all." - Muhammad Ali

kirrent 10y ago

Good comedy can be a mirror. It reflects reality, makes you laugh, and then makes you think. I think all of those shows you mentioned would lose something if they weren't uncomfortably close to what they're making fun of.

pilsetnieks 10y ago
Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn't. -- Mark Twain
- surreal 10y ago
  See also "You couldn't make it up."[0] [0] http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/you-couldn't-make-it-up http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/you-cou...

sliverstorm 10y ago

Surely you've heard, "it's funny because it's true"

tjakab 10y ago

"Many police officers maintain that the most realistic police show in the history of television was the sitcom 'Barney Miller,' far more so than that father of reality TV, 'Cops.' The action was mostly off screen, the squad room the only set, and the guys were a motley bunch of character actors who were in no danger of being picked for the N.Y.P.D. pin-up calendar. But they worked hard, made jokes, got hurt and answered to their straight-man commander." http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/01/opinion/watching-the-detectives.html http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/01/opinion/watching-the-detec...

imgabe 10y ago
Likewise, all the doctors I know say Scrubs is the most realistic show about being a doctor.
- semi-extrinsic 10y ago
  How can it not be? Every other program about being a doctor has so much personal drama and sex going on, they barely have time to look at patients. (Except House MD, but he's obviously unrealistic, even in the show itself.)
  - golergka 10y ago
    Episode about how unrealistic House is was one of the high points of the later Scrubs seasons.
rglovejoy 10y ago
In a similar vein, I believe that "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" is the most realistic portrayal of the dark ages that I know of.
- ihaveajob 10y ago
  Funny, I had the same feeling about Christianity watching The Life of Brian.

sjs7007 10y ago

> Maybe similarity to reality is a hallmark of excellent comedy. This is certainly true of one of my favorite comedy shows Louie, which is almost hyperrealistic. Similarly medical professionals seem to agree Scrubs is much more closer to reality than the "dramatic" Grey's Anatomy. Another show that comes to mind is Malcolm in the Middle.

digi_owl 10y ago

Supposedly a court jester could state the facts with impunity...