I think it is narrowing. But I know most of the 'shock' humor is old hat now, so maybe I'm just disapointed with lack of originality, like you said.

The only show I like anymore is 30 rock.

Try the shows on USA. A touch of dry comedy combined with some action and mystery: Monk, Psych, Burn Notice. Give 'em a try.

You obviously haven't seen The Hangover.

You speak truly- good comedy is dying, and needs a good shot in the arm.

Where are our Marx Brothers and Stooges and Pythons (there, everyone UK and US should be happy lol- for the record, love all three, but it's Marxes. Pythons, then Stooges for me, but all great.)

Where are our Benny Hills?

Where are our Johnny Carsons and vintage David Lettermans (though I love Craig Ferguson, the only comedian left on televison who can still make me laugh.)

Where are our Everybody Loves Raymonds and vintage Simpsons (hell, I'd even take Friends, yes, even the over-hyped Friends over most of today's sitcoms, though Friends really did get the ball of trendy trash rolling...)

Why is the next Duck Soup or The Producers or Monty Python and the Holy Grail or Dr. Strangelove- or even Liar, Liar (back when Jim Carrey was still funny.)


Help! we need somebody! (See what I did there- Beatles Rock Band comes out 9/9/09, seriously cannot wait...)

Ag, maybe you are just old and crabby now?

As for humorous now, I really enjoy Entourage.

Benny Hill? Yes, a classic. But his humor was mainly around trying to look at breasts. For a young child growing up in the US, that was as close to seeing a real boob as I could get. They didn't show that much cleavage in American shows at the time, so Benny Hill was a godsend for a horny 15 year old. Nowadays, they show that much cleavage in a commercial for kitty litter. (On a side note, his theme song is my ring tone.)

All of the good comedy these days is on the Internet. I hardly ever watch TV or movies anymore.

Or maybe it's just that I hardly ever watch TV or movies anymore, so the only comedy that I see these days is on the Internet?

Burn Notice.

Even Family Guy is hitting a dry spell. Try House M.D. for some witty, clever comedy.

Have you got children ag7433? Mine make me laugh every other day. I remember one xmas when we had my in-laws for xmas dinner, I was stood behind my mother-in-law when she asked my son whose birthday it was today. (She is somewhat religious) I thought I'd help my offspring out by outstretching my arms, he thought for a moment and then asked....Is it stretch Armstrong?

@Maniac: rofl that's adorable. ^_^ I agree that children can endlessly entertain but sometimes other forms are required.

@StevenC: House is as witty as Scrubs :P I like both but neither are as amazing as most people who love them want them to be.

Already agreed with Pandarsenic when I listed it above, but Burn Notice is one of the best shows on TV (along with House, MD) and has some great comedy combined with it's action and spycraft. It just isn't sitcom or slapstic. Stooges, Monty Python, Marx Brothers, Benny Hill - it's all just slapstick and if you like that, great. But I like comedy with some intelligence to it. House, Burn Notice, Monk, Psych - these shows have intelligent comedy.

Oh, god. I hate Scrubs. I can't believe you compared House to Scrubs.

Scrubs is a sitdom and not a very funny one at that. If you want funny in a sitcom, only HIMYM and BBT qualify. 2.5Men used to, but it jumped the shark.

grrrrrr sitcom, not sitdom

Try Seinfeld or Everybody Loves Raymond. Those are real sitcoms as well.

Ag, I've played quite a few games with you, and getting back to your a question, I would agree with you. You have no sense of humor.

Where do i get one?

The Hangover was hilarious. So are most Judd Apatow movies. The Stooges ran around hitting each other, that to me isn't funny.

Office Space. Funniest. Movie. My lifetime.

Southpark, Famili Guy, Simpsons, American dad, such things have always been funny! ;D

Any of you guys aware of a British sitcom from a couple of years ago called 'Black Books?'. Try it, it's great.

@Draug: "Stooges, Monty Python, Marx Brothers, Benny Hill - it's all just slapstick and if you like that, great."

I wouldn't say Monthy Python is primarily based on slapstick. Most Monty Python sketches are based on surreal non-sequiturs, inverted cultural references (Hell's Grannies, etc) and generally taking the piss out of British culture as it was at the time.

Sacha Baron Cohen is current and funny.

Russel Brand "Doin LIfe, funny standup comedy DVD.

Sacha Baron Cohen is funny IF you like that type of humor. While I certainly don't mind interviewing the man on the street and laughing at his simplistic answers, I've never found the 'making the interviewee extremely uncomfortable' style of humor awkward, whether its radio DJs making prank phone calls or Ali G/Borat's style of humor.

Don't get me wrong, parts of Borat are extremely funny, the dry humor of "There are many job opportunities in the US and of A. For men, construction worker, taxi driver or accountant. For woman, prostitute." But much of it is trying to make regular people awkward and uncomfortable.

Wil Ferrel is a great comedian.

The guy who was with him in Blades of Glory is pretty funny too.

Sacha Baron Cohen is *wrong* in so many ways. But he still makes me laugh. I saw Bruno on the weekend and I am chucking right now thinking about it.

There's very little truly funny out there at the moment. I've given up on mainstream Hollywood comedy, as Sandler, Stiller, Wilson and especially Ferrell annoy me immensely.

There are still some gems on UK TV - Outnumbered is genius, and Mock the Week, QI and HIGNFY are must watches.

But Blackadder, Fawlty Towers, Red Dwarf, Dinnerladies, The Office, The Smoking Room, Early Doors, The Fast Show all stomp all over the rest of the sitcoms & sketch shows on today

Of course, this could be my age...

Blackadder was a classic, and of course the others you just mentioned (although there's a couple I haven't heard of).

I think Bill Hicks might be my all-time favourite standup comedian.

What about comedians? In Holland we've got a lot of stand-up-comedy. Great humor (differs per person though) and sometimes with a message.

@Jamie - You're right. I shouldn't have lumped Python in with the rest.

British SciFi also has some great dark comedy along the lines of Burn Notice in shows like Doctor Who and Torchwood. If you can't tell, I like intelligent and sometimes dark comedy.

try teachers or green wing both very very funny shows

I agree with all these USA Network mentions. Many of the shows there are really quite humorous.

Psych is great. Has anyone seen the recent promos for the new season where they compare themselves to the ripoff show The Mentalist? Great stuff.