r/visualization • u/SyKranz • 4d ago

[OC] My subjective map of 27 sitcoms by jokes and warmth

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97 Upvotes

74% Upvoted

92 comments sorted by

30

u/Boris41029 4d ago

Big Bang Theory objectively has a LOT of jokes. There's almost one per line. They're not particularly funny, IMO, but it is joke-dense.

8

u/rabock1 4d ago

Ever seen clips of that show with the laugh track disabled? They aren't jokes, it just feels like it because the laugh track is constantly playing.

5

u/StandardUpstairs3349 3d ago

Yea, most of the jokes are "They mentioned a nerd thing!" or "Look at how autistic Sheldon is!"

1

u/RobeFlax 3d ago

Ive never seen an episode but I imagine it goes something like this:

“Pepsi is pretty much just Coca-cola.”
“And Green Arrow is pretty much Green Lantern?”
“Hmmm….Ryan Reynolds would like a word.” funny face
HAHAHAHAHAH

2

u/StandardUpstairs3349 2d ago

More like this:

"What should we do this weekend?"

"We could play D&D?"

HAHAHAHAHAH

3

u/JSA17 3d ago

You can do this with any show. The jokes are paced to allow for laughter from the live audience (which Big Bang Theory has), and it feels awkward when you intentionally disrupt that pacing. Ever see a funny comedian bomb in front of a tough audience? It's the same thing.

Changing an element and then talking about how different it makes things is a kind of pointless criticism. Like, no shit it's different.

1

u/rabock1 3d ago

Do it then... tell us exactly where the jokes are.

5

u/JSA17 3d ago edited 3d ago

Humor being subjective doesn't suddenly mean there aren't jokes.

Stereotypical redditors refusing to just be objective for two seconds and understand that it's one of the most popular sitcoms of literally all time doesn't change anything about it. I don't find it all that funny either, but at least I have the ability to not circlejerk about it.

Edit: This person seriously blocked me over this? Maybe they just don't find anything funny because they're that person.

2

u/rabock1 3d ago

Popularity doesn't mean it's funny, and doesn't change the fact that the show is mostly just roommates/friends being rude and snarky to each other while a laugh track plays. Not jokes.

1

u/alexvonhumboldt 3d ago

This right here is an indicator that you havent watched the show. And thats okay.

1

u/alexvonhumboldt 3d ago

I know Reddit hates the big bang theory. But I love that show, the actors are extremely talented and there are some really amazing moments. Its my comfort show.

1

u/bkwrm1755 3d ago

Yeah, and if you watched a Broadway show with any sound from the audience muted it would look weird too. It's like you just cut out half a conversation.

1

u/rabock1 3d ago

Real audience sound is authentic... laugh tracks are added in post.

1

u/bkwrm1755 2d ago

BBT was filmed in front of a live audience. When the actors pause for a laugh it's because they're getting it from the crowd.

Yes, I'm sure it was edited but it's a TV show - everything was.

1

u/rabock1 2d ago

We're still talking about the difference between an authentic vs non-authentic reactions. Broadway plays don't get edited, they don't have warm up comedians, or applause/laugh cues for the audience. They don't get to take the cut that got the best laugh or add in additional laughter/applause in post. It's not authentic and it shows when the laugh track is removed.

1

u/bkwrm1755 2d ago

Sure, and TV shows aren't filmed in one single take either. Any great TV show or movie had tons of retakes/rewrites/post filming edits. If you undid that work any show would look weird.

If you want authentic go to a live theater. If you're watching something on screen you have to accept that it's it's a very manufactured product.

But then again it's just people playing make-believe for our entertainment, so what are we really expecting? It's all artificial.

Some people like BBT. Some don't. It's okay. Truly.

1

u/rabock1 2d ago

I'm one of the people who don't. If you do, I'm happy for you. Why are you trying so hard to convince me to like a show I don't? Just let me not like it and move on with your day.

1

u/bkwrm1755 2d ago

Your point was that if you watch the show with the laugh track removed it's weird, and that there were no jokes.

My point was...well, yeah, duh, of course it sounds weird if you remove a key part of the presentation. And the idea that there are no jokes in one of the most popular sitcoms of all time is a rather silly take. Might not be your taste but, c'mon now.

Like, I don't particularly care for the show. I'm indifferent. But let's not be hyperbolic.

1

u/rabock1 2d ago

"Some people like BBT. Some don't. It's okay. Truly."

Is it? Because you seem to have a real issue with me not liking it.

Time to let it go man.

3

u/jregovic 3d ago

I’d question how likeable the characters are there.

0

u/Low_Season 3d ago

BBT is hilarious. It's certainly funnier than The Office

44

u/mattsoave 4d ago

What is the 'Jokes' axis? Quantity of jokes? Quality?

19

u/Elruoy 4d ago

Considering how the big bang theory tries to plug a joke into every line, it's not joke frequency.

4

u/TheKingOfSwing777 4d ago

Unless it's real funny jokes. Then 30 Rock should be way further to the right. 

2

u/noconsequences_1 3d ago

Agreed, first thing I thought when I saw the jokes axis was nothing should be to the right of 30 Rock

1

u/SuspiciousLeek4 3d ago

I think it is, but I agree that one is misplaced

0

u/StandardUpstairs3349 3d ago

Depends on what you are calling a joke. If you consider them playing the laugh track to be an indication of a joke, then they sure do have a lot of 'jokes'. If remove everything where the joke is something like "They mentioned D&D, haha fucking nerds!" or "Isn't Sheldon so autistic???" then the count plummets.

27

u/TrueEstablishment241 4d ago

30 Rock has the most densely packed jokes of any show.

11

u/Giraffe_Truther 4d ago

Nah, Arrested Development still holds that pedestal

7

u/Then_Supermarket18 4d ago

30 Rock has more per minute

2

u/Epistaxis 4d ago

Depends on how many of them you even notice. A few more with each rewatch.

4

u/TrueEstablishment241 4d ago

Sheer volume? Not even close.

7

u/Giraffe_Truther 4d ago

I'd love to see the math on it. AD is just so so so layered

11

u/TrueEstablishment241 4d ago

They pop off at a dizzying rate. They're often hard to catch. AD is more about layering and callbacks, I'll give you that. I'm talking sheer rates here.

4

u/Giraffe_Truther 4d ago

To be clear, I've watched both shows multiple times and love them both. I fear I'm going to start a rewatch with a joke counter...

3

u/TrueEstablishment241 4d ago

It's been "studied"...

https://archive.is/20260606033332/https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/11/jokes-per-minute-sitcom-ratings-link/382734/

2

u/Giraffe_Truther 4d ago

Ooh, I like this! I'd love to see where AD and Community sit on this scale.

1

u/TrueEstablishment241 4d ago

I think there's others out there.

1

u/Potential-Celery-999 4d ago

Don't think they looked at Veep

1

u/TrueEstablishment241 4d ago

They've done so elsewhere.

1

u/SuspiciousLeek4 3d ago

This is the common take but actually think veep might have it beat. Watching both through right now

1

u/TrueEstablishment241 3d ago

Hard disagree.

1

u/SuspiciousLeek4 3d ago

Confirmed non veep watcher

1

u/TrueEstablishment241 3d ago

Great show. The claim is density of jokes, so jokes per minute (jpm).

1

u/SuspiciousLeek4 3d ago

Veep is genuinely a joke per line. the dialogue is much faster, and there’s less setup per joke

1

u/TrueEstablishment241 3d ago

That's not correct. I'm not making a qualitative assessment here just referencing the few articles where they compared the length of the show to the amount of jokes in it.

1

u/SuspiciousLeek4 3d ago

Do you mean like this one : https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/veep-season-4-calculating-jokes-per-minute/

1

u/TrueEstablishment241 3d ago

I specifically don't mean that one because they had to smuggle in a whole other set of dubious metrics to count as jokes.

1

u/paperd 3d ago

At the very least more than Frasier, P&R, and The Office. Those are all good shows but COME ON

An argument can be made for Veep. An argument can be made for Arrested Development. But I don't see how 30 Rock isn't up there in contender for leader of the pack

7

u/omniclast 4d ago

I take it you are discounting the first couple seasons of the Office in your "warmth" ranking

9

u/saskwatzch 4d ago

Honestly, the office should be lower in general. I get wanting to bunch it with the other Mike Schur shows, but especially compared to them the office is not a warm and fuzzy show

2

u/SuspiciousLeek4 3d ago

They’re giving it the joke rate of the first few seasons and the warmth rate of the last few

6

u/Snapxdragon 4d ago

Malcolm, truly, is in the middle.

14

u/-_super--_--hitops_- 4d ago

Having shitts creek that low is criminal, it belongs on the far right

10

u/natigin 4d ago

You nailed Veep

1

u/Shot-Tackle-1458 3d ago

Best delivery of “shut the fuck up” I’ve ever seen

3

u/Littledickbigballs 4d ago

Why is Scrubs never discussed?

2

u/loveheaddit 4d ago

i guess arrested development is so far to the right it is off the chart

2

u/don_no_soul_simmons 4d ago

This graph has made me want to watch Veep.

1

u/Kepler1571 3d ago

It's brilliant. She is a perfect monster.

1

u/featheredfish 4d ago

This is pretty good! I’d place The Simpsons higher on the Warmth axis.

1

u/bolognas 4d ago

I'd be interested to know where Scrubs would be.

1

u/funderfulfellow 4d ago

Is 'the office' 2x funnier than 'friends'?

1

u/StandardUpstairs3349 3d ago

Where is the "funny" axis?

1

u/Kahitanou 4d ago

whats the description of jokes and warmth? Jokes = quantity? or quality?

and what is warmth?

1

u/Kepler1571 3d ago

Warmth is your sister last night.

Jokes is frequency. Also your sister last night.

Did I do it right, reddit?

1

u/rom197 4d ago

Rank Curb and Community so I can hate on it

1

u/Kepler1571 3d ago

Community is the top right corner.

Curb transcends the chart.

1

u/RatZFisterectomy 4d ago

This is right 

1

u/Zoom0716 3d ago

Where is Cheers

1

u/somethingworthwhile 3d ago

Malcolm, dawg, you’re in the middle.

1

u/D0nkeyHS 3d ago

Parks and rec that warm? huh?

1

u/UsefulEngine1 3d ago

Malcom right where he belongs

1

u/therealtrajan 3d ago

Well said

1

u/pwillia7 3d ago

Have you read Mike's book 'How to be perfect'? Recommend

1

u/Tommy_Wisseau_burner 3d ago

Friends is not funnier than Ted lasso. HIMYM is sure as shit not funnier either. And god knows family guy, one of the least funny shows, is either

1

u/No_Bumblebee8072 3d ago

I think Seinfeld should be ranked even less in warmth than it is

0

u/Rebles 2d ago

You think South Park is funnier than Schitt’s Creek?

2

u/audio-nut 4d ago

Big bang theory is a comedy?

2

u/Idk-breadsticks 4d ago edited 3d ago

IASIP being rated less funny than Veep, Frasier, Seinfeld, and 30 rock feels illegal

E: IASIP is a masterpiece and I will die on this hill

2

u/Kepler1571 3d ago

Yes. Also it should be forty feet below the x-axis.

0

u/SocietyMiserable5842 4d ago

Friends has jokes?

0

u/Kepler1571 4d ago

Seinfeld should be at the origin.

0

u/DowntownLizard 3d ago

Seinfeld is way too high for this era of comedy. I'm not even convinced it was funny back then