What Makes a Comedian's Wife Laugh?

by stephanieericsson | created - 24 Oct 2015 | updated - 01 Dec 2017 | Public

Living with a comedian requires a highly developed bull *beep* antenna. There are lots of reasons something is funny, but only one reason it's not -- if it's bull *beep* What defines bull *beep*? Ahhhh... THAT'S the secret. The only clue I can give you is that when something is funny, it's usually true.

[this list is in progress]

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1. Waking Ned Devine (1998)

PG | 91 min | Comedy

71 Metascore

When a lottery winner dies of shock, his fellow townsfolk attempt to claim the money.

Director: Kirk Jones | Stars: Ian Bannen, David Kelly, Fionnula Flanagan, Susan Lynch

Votes: 28,024 | Gross: $24.79M

2. Kathleen Madigan: Madigan Again (2013 TV Special)

Not Rated | 65 min | Comedy

Comic Kathleen Madigan delivers new material derived from time spent with her Irish Catholic Midwest family, eating random pills out of her mother's purse, touring Afghanistan, her unparalleled love of John Denver and more.

Director: Jay Chapman | Star: Kathleen Madigan

Votes: 441

3. The Intouchables (2011)

R | 112 min | Comedy, Drama

57 Metascore

After he becomes a quadriplegic from a paragliding accident, an aristocrat hires a young man from the projects to be his caregiver.

Directors: Olivier Nakache, Éric Toledano | Stars: François Cluzet, Omar Sy, Anne Le Ny, Audrey Fleurot

Votes: 927,927 | Gross: $13.18M

4. Louis C.K. Oh My God (2013 TV Special)

TV-MA | 58 min | Comedy

In February, 2013, Louis brings his impish nihilism to Phoenix, Arizona. He talks about an old lady and her pet, living in Manhattan, experiencing his body's aging (he's 45), men's ... See full summary »

Director: Louis C.K. | Star: Louis C.K.

Votes: 9,797

5. Louis C.K.: Shameless (2007 TV Special)

TV-MA | 56 min | Comedy

In his first one-hour special, comedy and television star Louis C.K. returns to HBO for an hour of no-holds-barred, adults-only stand-up comedy taped before a live audience at the Henry Fonda Theater in Los Angeles.

Director: Steven J. Santos | Star: Louis C.K.

Votes: 9,050

6. Johnny English (2003)

PG | 87 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy

51 Metascore

After a sudden attack on MI5, Johnny English, Britain's most confident, yet unintelligent spy, becomes Britain's only spy.

Director: Peter Howitt | Stars: Rowan Atkinson, John Malkovich, Natalie Imbruglia, Tasha de Vasconcelos

Votes: 174,045 | Gross: $28.08M

7. Fawlty Towers (1975–1979)

TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy

Hotel owner Basil Fawlty's incompetence, short fuse, and arrogance form a combination that ensures accidents and trouble are never far away.

Stars: John Cleese, Prunella Scales, Andrew Sachs, Connie Booth

Votes: 100,030

8. Bruce Almighty (2003)

PG-13 | 101 min | Comedy, Fantasy

46 Metascore

A whiny news reporter is given the chance to step into God's shoes.

Director: Tom Shadyac | Stars: Jim Carrey, Jennifer Aniston, Morgan Freeman, Philip Baker Hall

Votes: 433,042 | Gross: $242.83M

9. Airplane! (1980)

PG | 88 min | Comedy

78 Metascore

After the crew becomes sick with food poisoning, a neurotic ex-fighter pilot must safely land a commercial airplane full of passengers.

Directors: Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker | Stars: Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, Leslie Nielsen, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Votes: 260,666 | Gross: $83.40M

10. The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005)

R | 116 min | Comedy, Romance

73 Metascore

Goaded by his buddies, a nerdy guy who's never "done the deed" only finds the pressure mounting when he meets a single mother.

Director: Judd Apatow | Stars: Steve Carell, Catherine Keener, Paul Rudd, Romany Malco

Votes: 466,369 | Gross: $109.45M

11. Zoolander (2001)

PG-13 | 90 min | Comedy

61 Metascore

At the end of his career, a clueless fashion model is brainwashed to kill the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Director: Ben Stiller | Stars: Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Christine Taylor, Will Ferrell

Votes: 291,534 | Gross: $45.17M

12. Napoleon Dynamite (2004)

PG | 96 min | Comedy

64 Metascore

A listless and alienated teenager decides to help his new friend win the class presidency in their small western high school, while he must deal with his bizarre family life back home.

Director: Jared Hess | Stars: Jon Heder, Efren Ramirez, Jon Gries, Aaron Ruell

Votes: 237,511 | Gross: $44.54M

13. Young Frankenstein (1974)

PG | 106 min | Comedy

83 Metascore

An American grandson of the infamous scientist, struggling to prove that his grandfather was not as insane as people believe, is invited to Transylvania, where he discovers the process that reanimates a dead body.

Director: Mel Brooks | Stars: Gene Wilder, Madeline Kahn, Marty Feldman, Peter Boyle

Votes: 168,774 | Gross: $86.30M

14. The Jerk (1979)

R | 94 min | Comedy

61 Metascore

A simpleminded, sheltered country boy suddenly decides to leave his family home to experience life in the big city, where his naivete is both his best friend and his worst enemy.

Director: Carl Reiner | Stars: Steve Martin, Bernadette Peters, Catlin Adams, Mabel King

Votes: 64,125 | Gross: $73.69M

15. Miss Congeniality (2000)

PG-13 | 109 min | Action, Comedy, Crime

43 Metascore

An F.B.I. Agent must go undercover in the Miss United States beauty pageant to prevent a group from bombing the event.

Director: Donald Petrie | Stars: Sandra Bullock, Michael Caine, Benjamin Bratt, Candice Bergen

Votes: 229,967 | Gross: $106.81M

16. As Good as It Gets (1997)

PG-13 | 139 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

67 Metascore

A single mother and waitress, a misanthropic author, and a gay artist form an unlikely friendship after the artist is assaulted in a robbery.

Director: James L. Brooks | Stars: Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt, Greg Kinnear, Cuba Gooding Jr.

Votes: 318,107 | Gross: $148.48M

17. Tootsie (1982)

PG | 116 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

88 Metascore

Michael Dorsey, an unsuccessful actor, disguises himself as a woman in order to get a role on a trashy hospital soap.

Director: Sydney Pollack | Stars: Dustin Hoffman, Jessica Lange, Teri Garr, Dabney Coleman

Votes: 114,530 | Gross: $177.20M

18. Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)

PG-13 | 125 min | Comedy, Drama

54 Metascore

After a bitter divorce, an actor disguises himself as a female housekeeper to spend time with his children held in custody by his former wife.

Director: Chris Columbus | Stars: Robin Williams, Sally Field, Pierce Brosnan, Harvey Fierstein

Votes: 290,557 | Gross: $219.20M

19. Good Morning, Vietnam (1987)

R | 121 min | Biography, Comedy, Drama

67 Metascore

In 1965, an unorthodox and irreverent DJ named Adrian Cronauer begins to shake up things when he is assigned to the U.S. Armed Services radio station in Vietnam.

Director: Barry Levinson | Stars: Robin Williams, Forest Whitaker, Tom T. Tran, Chintara Sukapatana

Votes: 153,546 | Gross: $123.92M

20. Roxanne (1987)

PG | 107 min | Comedy, Romance

73 Metascore

The large-nosed C.D. Bales is in love with the beautiful Roxanne; she falls for his personality but another man's looks.

Director: Fred Schepisi | Stars: Steve Martin, Daryl Hannah, Rick Rossovich, Shelley Duvall

Votes: 47,645 | Gross: $40.05M

21. Being There (1979)

PG | 130 min | Comedy, Drama

83 Metascore

After the death of his employer forces him out of the only home he's ever known, a simpleminded, sheltered gardener becomes an unlikely trusted advisor to a powerful tycoon and an insider in Washington politics.

Director: Hal Ashby | Stars: Peter Sellers, Shirley MacLaine, Melvyn Douglas, Jack Warden

Votes: 77,580 | Gross: $30.18M

22. I Love Lucy (1951–1957)

TV-Y | 30 min | Comedy, Family

The wife of a band leader constantly tries to become a star - in spite of her having no talent, and gets herself (along with her best friend) into the funniest predicaments.

Stars: Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, William Frawley

Votes: 28,889

23. The Carol Burnett Show (1967–1978)

TV-G | 60 min | Comedy, Family

Television show featuring skits by Carol Burnett and her comedy troupe.

Stars: Carol Burnett, Vicki Lawrence, The Ernie Flatt Dancers, Harvey Korman

Votes: 7,285

24. The Gold Rush (1925)

Passed | 95 min | Adventure, Comedy, Drama

A prospector goes to the Klondike during the 1890s gold rush in hopes of making his fortune, and is smitten with a girl he sees in a dance hall.

Director: Charles Chaplin | Stars: Charles Chaplin, Mack Swain, Tom Murray, Henry Bergman

Votes: 118,523 | Gross: $5.45M

25. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)

R | 107 min | Action, Comedy, Crime

67 Metascore

Eddy persuades his three pals to pool money for a vital poker game against a powerful local mobster, Hatchet Harry. Eddy loses, after which Harry gives him a week to pay back 500,000 pounds.

Director: Guy Ritchie | Stars: Jason Flemyng, Dexter Fletcher, Nick Moran, Jason Statham

Votes: 615,711 | Gross: $3.90M

26. Snatch (2000)

R | 102 min | Comedy, Crime

55 Metascore

Unscrupulous boxing promoters, violent bookmakers, a Russian gangster, incompetent amateur robbers and supposedly Jewish jewelers fight to track down a priceless stolen diamond.

Director: Guy Ritchie | Stars: Jason Statham, Brad Pitt, Stephen Graham, Vinnie Jones

Votes: 909,754 | Gross: $30.33M

27. Robin Williams: Weapons of Self Destruction (2009 TV Special)

Not Rated | 90 min | Documentary, Comedy

The master comedian performs in Washington DC and gives his wry observations about life, politics and his health.

Director: Marty Callner | Star: Robin Williams

Votes: 3,503

28. Weeds (2005–2012)

TV-MA | 28 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama

When a suburban mother turns to dealing marijuana in order to maintain her privileged lifestyle after her husband dies, she finds out just how addicted her entire neighborhood already is.

Stars: Mary-Louise Parker, Hunter Parrish, Alexander Gould, Kevin Nealon

Votes: 117,270

29. Gone Madigan (2010 TV Special)

Not Rated | 64 min | Documentary, Comedy

Kathleen Madigan is just brilliantly funny and is still, after 20 years in the business, actually having fun.

Director: Shannon Hartman | Stars: Kathleen Madigan, Lewis Black

Votes: 317

30. Lewis Black: Red, White and Screwed (2006 TV Special)

TV-MA | 60 min | Documentary, Comedy

Lewis Black, 'America's foremost commentator on everything,' delivers his comical insights into everything from the State of the Union to Dick Cheney's aim in this stand-up special.

Director: Paul Miller | Stars: Lewis Black, Joe Grifasi

Votes: 1,408

31. Louis C.K.: Chewed Up (2008 TV Special)

TV-MA | 61 min | Documentary, Comedy

Louis C.K.'s second one-hour special filmed at the Berklee Performance Center in Boston, MA.

Directors: Louis C.K., Shannon Hartman | Star: Louis C.K.

Votes: 11,082

32. Wanda Sykes: Sick and Tired (2006 TV Special)

TV-MA | 70 min | Documentary, Comedy

Wanda Sykes has been called "one of the funniest stand up comics" by her peers and ranks among Entertainment Weekly's 25 Funniest People in America. She won an Emmy in 2003 for her work on ... See full summary »

Director: Michael Drumm | Star: Wanda Sykes

Votes: 361

33. Russell Peters: Red, White and Brown (2008 TV Special)

Not Rated | 80 min | Documentary, Comedy

Recorded live before a sold-out audience at the WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden, Russell Peters delivers material from his record-breaking "Homecoming Tour," with tales of his travels... See full summary »

Director: Jigar Talati | Stars: Melle Mel, Russell Peters

Votes: 1,567

34. Eddie Izzard: Dress to Kill (1998 Video)

Unrated | 115 min | Documentary, Comedy

Executive transvestite Eddie Izzard takes his show to San Francisco to give a brief history of pagan and Christian religions, the building of Stonehenge, the birth of the Church of England ... See full summary »

Director: Lawrence Jordan | Star: Eddie Izzard

Votes: 7,511

35. Eddie Izzard: Force Majeure Live (2013 TV Special)

85 min | Documentary, Comedy

Eddie Izzard returns to stage in 2013 with the biggest stand-up comedy world tour ever & his best live performance yet, Force Majeure Live. Filmed during his mammoth 2013/14 tour around 27 ... See full summary »

Director: Sarah Townsend | Star: Eddie Izzard

Votes: 484

36. Eddie Izzard: Live from Wembley (2009 Video)

Not Rated | 90 min | Documentary, Comedy

Eddie Izzard brings his wry wit and absurd observations in front of a sold-out crowd of 44,000 over 4 nights at the Wembley Arena in London. Eddie deals with important issues ranging from ... See full summary »

Director: Sarah Townsend | Star: Eddie Izzard

Votes: 534

37. The Men Who Stare at Goats (2009)

R | 94 min | Comedy, War

54 Metascore

A reporter in Iraq might just have the story of a lifetime when he meets Lyn Cassady, a guy who claims to be a former member of the U.S. Army's New Earth Army, a unit that employs paranormal powers in their missions.

Director: Grant Heslov | Stars: Ewan McGregor, George Clooney, Kevin Spacey, Jeff Bridges

Votes: 137,503 | Gross: $32.43M

38. Lucifer (2016–2021)

TV-14 | 4,393 min | Crime, Drama, Fantasy

Lucifer Morningstar has decided he's had enough of being the dutiful servant in Hell and decides to spend some time on Earth to better understand humanity. He settles in Los Angeles - the City of Angels.

Stars: Tom Ellis, Lauren German, Kevin Alejandro, D.B. Woodside

Votes: 355,375

39. Gran Torino (2008)

R | 116 min | Drama

72 Metascore

After a Hmong teenager tries to steal his prized 1972 Gran Torino, a disgruntled, prejudiced Korean War veteran seeks to redeem both the boy and himself.

Director: Clint Eastwood | Stars: Clint Eastwood, Bee Vang, Christopher Carley, Ahney Her

Votes: 814,267 | Gross: $148.10M

40. The Singing Detective (1986)

70 min | Drama, Musical, Mystery

Tormented and bedridden by a debilitating disease, a mystery writer relives his detective stories through his imagination and hallucinations.

Stars: Michael Gambon, Patrick Malahide, Joanne Whalley, David Ryall

Votes: 4,804

41. The Dressmaker (I) (2015)

R | 119 min | Comedy, Drama, Western

47 Metascore

A glamorous woman returns to her small town in rural Australia. With her sewing machine and haute couture style, she transforms the women and exacts sweet revenge on those who did her wrong.

Director: Jocelyn Moorhouse | Stars: Kate Winslet, Judy Davis, Liam Hemsworth, Hugo Weaving

Votes: 65,265 | Gross: $2.02M

Kate Winslet nails it again with a fantastic, all-star Aussie cast including Hugo Weaving as the cross-dressing policeman. Jocelyn Moorhouse (Proof) directing. Lots of folks say they didn't get it, but pay no attention to those morons-- if you have a wicked sense of humor and an appreciation for sweet revenge, this film will make you laugh and cry and laugh again.

42. Slap Shot (1977)

R | 123 min | Comedy, Drama, Sport

61 Metascore

A failing ice hockey team finds success with outrageously violent hockey goonery.

Director: George Roy Hill | Stars: Paul Newman, Michael Ontkean, Strother Martin, Jennifer Warren

Votes: 41,196 | Gross: $28.00M

43. Preacher (2016–2019)

TV-MA | 60 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy

After a supernatural event at his church, a preacher enlists the help of a vampire and his ex to find God.

Stars: Dominic Cooper, Joe Gilgun, Ruth Negga, Ian Colletti

Votes: 80,772

44. DC's Legends of Tomorrow (2016–2022)

TV-14 | 42 min | Action, Adventure, Drama

Time-traveling rogue Rip Hunter must recruit a ragtag team of heroes and villains to help prevent an apocalypse that could impact not only Earth, but all of time.

Stars: Caity Lotz, Amy Louise Pemberton, Dominic Purcell, Nick Zano

Votes: 109,976

45. Training Day (2017)

TV-14 | 42 min | Action, Crime, Drama

TV follow-up to the 2001 film 'Training Day' about a rookie cop partnered with a corrupt officer.

Stars: Bill Paxton, Justin Cornwell, Katrina Law, Drew Van Acker

Votes: 3,607

46. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017–2023)

TV-MA | 60 min | Comedy, Drama

After her husband leaves her, young mother of two Miriam "Midge" Maisel discovers that she has a talent for stand-up comedy. Could this be her calling?

Stars: Rachel Brosnahan, Alex Borstein, Michael Zegen, Marin Hinkle

Votes: 142,697

Genius. This series has it all. Brilliant writing, intelligence, *beep* PERFECT comedic timing, style, class and Rachel Brosnahan as the marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Do not miss it.

10 stars.

47. The End of the F***ing World (2017–2019)

TV-MA | 25 min | Adventure, Comedy, Crime

James is 17 and is pretty sure he is a psychopath. Alyssa, also 17, is the cool and moody new girl at school. The pair make a connection and she persuades him to embark on a road trip in search of her real father.

Stars: Jessica Barden, Alex Lawther, Steve Oram, Christine Bottomley

Votes: 219,459

Genius.

9 stars.



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