I may not be a comedian – heck, I may not even be the most knowledgeable comedy fan. But blogs and lists seem to go together these days the way bacon goes with, well, everything.
I therefore present you with my picks for the snarkiest of the snarky in television comedy through the years, separated into categories chosen arbitrarily…er…after thorough research into the roles that define the sitcom.
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The Sensei of Snark. (Image from anonymousfilmcritic.com.)
Family member:
Will Smith, Fresh Prince of Bel Air
I owe special thanks to Will. After all, he’s the one who taught me the invaluable lesson that we’re meant to relentlessly ridicule the ones we love most. Whether Will was intercepting Uncle Phil on his way to the kitchen or laying out observations on Carlton’s unique brand of nerdiness, his gift for finding just the right buttons to push remains unparalleled before or since. Note to 90s parents everywhere: Will Smith is the reason why your children learned to talk back.
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The smokin' hot master of the burn. (Image from flickr.com.)
Best Friend:
Steven Hyde, That 70s Show
From Chandler Bing to Burton Guster, the snarky best friend has become a trope of television comedy. They exist for the sole purpose of repeatedly knocking the other characters off their high pedastals with a well-placed repartee, thereby keeping our comics right where we want them: wallowing in an amusing (for us) state of perpetual self-doubt. While he may face some heavy competition, Hyde’s mix of laid-back wit and quick hooks to the arm, all delivered behind the authority of a really cool pair of shades, serve to make him best of the best friends.
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It takes a special kind of snarkiness to ruin Xmas. (Image from fanpop.com.)
Coworker:
Dennis Finch, Just Shoot Me
I’ll be honest: I was tempted to give extra-points-for-being-dead to Phil Hartman’s News Radio character. Yet I could not ignore my softspot for David Spade’s small but powerful package of behind-the-desk commentary. Maybe as a fellow nerd it’s simply that I identify with Finch’s Star Wars obsessiveness, but I like to think it comes down to admiration for his unabashed meanness. While he may have been a tad more mischevious than snarky, his selfish schemes and perverted plots proved again and again that even blondes can be smart – when they want to be.
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Two words: poor Fred! (Image from my.opera.com.)
Spouse:
Ethel Mertz, I Love Lucy
While Lucy and Ricky provided the centerpieces for what is perhaps the greatest sitcom of all time, Ethel’s constant snide remarks about her husband acted as the perfect counterpoint to Lucy’s goofiness. Ethel’s perfectly delivered asides not only demolished Fred at every turn, but have served as the model for cynical television housewives ever since.
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Robots haven't been this sexy since 1987. (Image from polldaddy.com.)
Cartoon Character:
Bender, Futurama
The 2D spot in lists across the interverse is usually reserved for Bart Simpson or any of several Family Guy favorites. It’s about time somebody recognized that Bender out-drinks, out-swears, and out-assholes all other contenders without even trying. If robots ever decided to take over the world Terminator-style, I’d vote Team Bender all the way!
Everybody’s favorite shiny, metal ass returns to TV on June 24th.
Slowly I Turn 