Why did TV comedy get so dark?
And, of course, there are plenty of exceptions to comedy’s shift toward darkness in the 21st Century. 30 Rock had a cynical, satirical edge, but was still, at heart, a traditional workplace sitcom – and one packed with more jokes per second than perhaps any show in history. Parks and Recreation offered a downright sunny view of local politics for the Obama Era. And Schitt’s Creek at first struck a sneering pose – look at these obnoxious formerly rich people forced to live in the middle of nowhere – then defied that image at every turn to create a utopic vision of small-town life that accepted everyone.
The real question isn’t whether the darkness or the light will win in comedy as the 21st Century goes on. BoJack Horseman serves as a prime example among many of how real, pure comedy – silly, punny, zany, animated comedy – can morph into a delicate meditation on the meaning of life… and come closer to answering that biggest of questions than any prestige drama has in its much-more-hyped finale. In the show’s final scene (spoilers ahead), BoJack, out of prison for the day on a pass to attend a wedding, sits on a roof with his friend Diane, the closest he’s come to finding a soulmate. He tells her a bit about life in prison, then he shrugs. “Well, what are you going to do?” he says. “Life’s a bitch and then you die, right?”
“Sometimes,” she says. “Sometimes life’s a bitch and then you keep living.” Pause. “But it’s a nice night, huh?”
“Yeah,” he says. “This is nice.” The episode title is Nice While It Lasted.
It begs the overdue question: when will the distinction between comedy and drama become moot? When will we be ready to admit that life is funny and sad, beautiful and tragic, and that the best of any art form reflects it all? Even, and perhaps especially, television.
The 100 greatest TV series of the 21st Century:
– The 100 greatest TV series of the 21st Century
– Who voted?
– How the way we watch TV has changed
– What makes The Wire such a great a number one
– Twenty-five series that define the 21st Century
How many of these series have you seen? Let us know using the hashtag #TVOfTheCentury on our Facebook page or message us on Twitter.
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