So... about that top ten. I have a write-up on my #10 show (which I wrote a couple weeks ago), but have run out of time to do proper write-ups for my other nine shows. It sucks, but oh well. The #10 show also happens to be the least well-known, so that is good at least, and will hopefully convince you to check it out. I could tell you what makes all of these shows great, so if you want to ask me personally, I would be more than happy to. But for right now, i'll have to do it barebones, since I have my albums list to do as well.
Thanks for all the comments! I am sorry that I couldn't get this up sooner.
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10. The Birthday Boys
Network: IFC
To some people, what's notable about The Birthday Boys is that it's Bob Odenkirk's return to sketch comedy. One of the greatest sketch writer/performers of all-time* returning to the form in which he started out in. And as a comedy nerd, that was obviously a very appealing part of this series. That said, the most notable and exciting thing about The Birthday Boys are The Birthday Boys themselves, and the birth of a brand new and original comedic sensibility on television.
The first time I became aware of The Birthday Boys was through their May 2010 guest appearance on the Comedy Bang Bang (then the Comedy Death-Ray Radio) podcast, where they were in character as a group of ridiculous group of people known as The Wacky Ding Dongs. What struck me about their appearance (which was made funnier by them being guests on the same show as Marc Maron, who is the complete polar opposite of The Birthday Boys' comedic sensibility) is how the joke was always on themselves and what idiots they are. Another example of this was their contribution to the Comedy Bang Bang Christmas album, called "Christopher Bell Rock," which was a parody of "Jingle Bell Rock," with the the premise of the song being entirely about Chris Rock ("CHRISTOPHER, CHRISTOPHER, CHRISTOPHER ROCK"). Not making fun of Chris Rock, mind you. Just a song about how funny they think Chris Rock is, but done in the guise of a really silly and stupid Jingle Bell Rock parody. That's the kind of comedy that The Birthday Boys do.
Another example of this comes from The Birthday Boys TV show, where they play a group of roofers who end up getting their own multi-camera sitcom called Goofy Roofers. Now for most comedians the joke would be to do a multi-cam/laugh track comedy parody. Odenkirk previously mentored Tim and Eric, and they did their own version of that joke on an episode of Tim and Eric Awesome Show Great Job! With The Birthday Boys, however, the joke was again on themselves, about what would happen if a bunch of silly and idiotic roofers had their own sitcom. The actual sitcom itself was reverent to the multi-cam style, which made the idiotic antics of the Goofy Roofers even funnier. There are many wonderful sketches throughout the first season, which follow this same kind of style: seven brothers who run a craft beer company. You see where this joke is coming right? A Portlandia-style parody of hipsters who have their own craft beer companies? No, instead the sketch involved the seven brothers swimming in their own beer. That was the sketch. Seven brothers swimming in their own craft beer which they brew. There was also a prank show, called Christian Mischief, that involves the group doing pranks, such as leaving birthday cakes by the front door as they ring the doorbell and run away (Odenkirk's character in the sketch yells back at them "THANK YOU, TELL ME YOUR SHIRT SIZES!").
There are many more wonderful sketches I could highlight, but this write-up is long enough as it is. I just love their sensibility. Just stupid/silly comedy done in a brilliant way, which is maybe my favourite kind of comedy. Odenkirk said in an interview that what attracted him to them was that they didn't have a chip on their shoulders (unlike Mr. Show), and that they were amused by everything. They weren't attempting to take anything down. It's good-hearted, silly fun, and with the exception of them saying "****" and other curse words, could almost be watched by any age group.
The first season of The Birthday Boys is my favourite first season to a sketch show in recent memory, which is impressive as there have been many great first seasons to sketch shows lately (some listed in this year-end). I have watched all ten episodes multiple times, and I expect to watch them even more in the future. It is uncertain if a season two will be ordered, but I really hope it happens. With Bob Odenkirk's Saul Goodman spin-off getting ordered to series, I feel IFC should give it a second season just for that, as Odenkirk's profile will only grow bigger. That, and IFC and AMC are both owned by AMC Networks, so Saul Goodman could come over to crossover on The Birthday Boys! Make it happen, IFC! Give it a second season!
*Besides HBO's Mr. Show with Bob and David, Odenkirk also wrote on SNL for a few years (often writing with Conan O'Brien and Robert Smigel). which included him writing the Matt Foley: Motiviational Speaker sketches (which he originated with Chris Farley at Second City). And in between SNL and Mr. Show, he was one of the cast members on the short-lived Emmy-winning sketch series The Ben Stiller Show on FOX, which was run by Stiller and Judd Apatow.
09. Bob’s Burgers
Network: FOX
08. Comedy Bang Bang
Network: IFC
07. Boardwalk Empire
Network: HBO
06. Mad Men
Network: AMC
05. Veep
Network: HBO
04. Nathan For You
Network: Comedy Central
03. Breaking Bad
Network: AMC
02. Enlightened
Network: HBO
01. Eastbound and Down
Network: HBO