100 Funniest Sketches of All Time (30 – 21)
The list of the funniest sketches of all time continues today with forgotten favourites and time-honoured classic.Here are the sketches from 30 to 21…
In case you missed it:
- 100 Funniest Sketches of All Time: #100 – #91
- 100 Funniest Sketches of All Time: #90 – #81
- 100 Funniest Sketches of All Time: #80 – #71
- 100 Funniest Sketches of All Time: #70 – #61
- 100 Funniest Sketches of All Time: #60 – #51
- 100 Funniest Sketches of All Time: #50 – #41
- 100 Funniest Sketches of All Time: #40 – #31
30. Germans Who Say Nice Things – Dana Carvey Show
The short-lived Dana Carvey Show was so short-lived that I completely missed it when it was first shown. What I’ve seen of it is pretty hit and miss but there’s a few gems, including this bit of foolishness with future star of The US Office, Steve Carell. It trades on cliches but it is still so silly that it clicks with me.
29. Singin' In The Rain - Morecambe & Wise
Morecambe & Wise hark back to my days watching tv on my grandmother’s little black and white tv. She was a fan of Morecambe & Wise, so I was too naturally. Eric Morecambe had a sweet childlike spirit to him and it was never bettered than this parody of the classic musical sequence from Singin’ In the Rain.
28. F.U.N.E.X - The Two Ronnies
The writer and the linguist in me loves this sketch. It is so cool to see a whole scene from The Two Ronnies played out using only letters to communicate. The sheer quality of their writing is where they always X.L. for me.
27. Amsterdam Police - Harry Enfield & Chums
Harry Enfield and Chums was the first place I encountered the fantastic Paul Whitehouse, and I this sketch was one that stood out immediately when I saw it. Whitehouse’s accent and performance are perfectly on the money, and the premise is great and doesnt outstay its welcome.
26. Sinn Fein Interview - The Day Today
The Day Today is such razor sharp satire and this sketch was a terrific piss take of the broadcasting laws at the time which prevented members of Sinn Fein from being allowed speak on camera due to their paramilitary links, so they were dubbed by an actor (this sounds made up but it is actually true). Steve Coogan’s character takes that baseline reality and kicks it up a level in absurdity with a very light helium-based approach.
25. One Leg Too Few - Peter Cook & Dudley Moore
Peter Cook and Dudley Moore were firm favourites of my dad. This was always my favourite sketch that we listened to. Simple, smart and super funny.
24. Ted and Ralph - The Fast Show
Ted & Ralph were the greatest running gag on The Fast Show. As well as being hilariously funny, there was real drama and melancholy to the unrequited love story of Ted the aristocrat and his Irish tradesman. Brilliant writing and top drawer acting.
23. Too Long Johnny - A Bit of Fry and Laurie
Hugh Laurie is a fantastic musician and has woven a brilliant gag out of a classic bluesy number. It shouldn’t work but it does thanks to Hugh Laurie’s gifted performance.
22. Booking a Flight - Absolutely
Years ago I remember getting a free cassette with some English magazine I bought, and the tape featured a compilation of great sketches that worked well in audio format. This one stopped me in my tracks. I adored the blind stupidity of the Calum character, and the spelling sequence at the end is a thing of utter genius. Genius with a G, as in G for Gnome.
21. Zoolander Sketch - Ben Stiller
The original sketch that launched the highly underrated comedy movie about vapid models. The film itself was a true high tide mark for Stiller comedies and the sketch has real flashes of that brilliance. Ben Stiller has always impressed me as an actor, director and writer, and in these early days he was also more than willing to drop Blue Steel on us.
