Thanks to community member “ILikeGrammer17” and “Rabbity” for the list suggestion! Over the history of television, various forms of tv have come out. From serious dramas, compelling fantasy stories, and funny cartoons, TV has been there to entertain us for almost a century. Some of the most commonly popular shows are situation comedies, or sitcoms, as well as other comedy-based shows as well. They range a wide array of settings, from past to future, medical, cops, and more – people just like a laugh! But these shows can also hit you with a solid thud as they have impactful scenes, whether it’s a character’s death or another sudden issue. Sometimes it’s commentary on the type of event, and other times it’s just a way to impact characters and encourage growth. But this list is full of moments in comedies that really got you in your soul!
Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Well you may be tired of seeing Will Smith and his wife in the news, especially because it’s usually about some thing with their marriage that we just really didn’t need to know about, you can’t deny that this scene is gut wrenching. The character Will plays, which is a version of himself, finally gets to see his father after years. After his father once again leaves, breaking a promise he made to Will, Will breaks down and cries into the arms of his uncle – the primary father figure in his life. While it’s believed by many that it was improvised – it wasn’t. But Will said he was really inspired by James Avery’s acting (who played Uncle Phil) and aspired to be a strong actor like him. It worked, and as the episode faded to black, the gut-punch of what we just witnessed really felt real.
M.A.S.H.
M*A*S*H*, an incredibly popular sitcom throughout the 70s, followed a team of people in the United States Army Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) through the Korean War. While the show did tackle serious subjects due to its setting, it also provided lots of funny and lighthearted moments that made it as popular as it was. But one of the biggest gut-punches in the series was Colonel Blake. The Colonel got his discharge and was leaving Korea, free of the fighting, only for his plane to be shot down. Radar delivered the message to his peers and the audience, leaving a sinking feeling inside all.
Brooklyn 99
Brooklyn 99 is a hilarious show centered around a group of cops working in NYC, with a great cast and great writing. Naturally, a cop show deals with a lot of potential for serious topics both in-show and out-of-show, whether it’s police brutality, copaganda, or many of the other potential issues. In one episode, Terry, played by Terry Crews, finds himself racially profiled by a fellow cop while off-patrol. He deals with the struggle of reporting a fellow cop as well as the internal fright that happened to him, and how he was reduced to nothing in someone’s eyes just because of his skin color.
Family Ties
Family Ties is a show based around a family with varying views and struggles around liberal parents and conservative children. The show was a hit in the 80s, and delivered lots of memorable laughs while dealing with the subject matter of having family that disagrees with you on politics. But one impactful episode comes in season 5, where Alex loses a longtime friend in a car crash. To make the matter even more deep, Alex was originally supposed to be in the car with Greg but missed it, and we see him struggle with grief and anger, as well as guilt.
Mom
Mom is a show that already starts off with some serious matter: the show follows Christy and her family, joined with her recovering-alcoholic mother, and a bunch of different relationship and dynamic issues too. Christy ends up becoming a sponsor for a teenage addict after getting introduced to her shortly after she’s gotten clean. But all of this flips on its head when Christy gets a phone call that Jodi overdosed – and died. After the final scene in the episode, two cast members and an actual doctor come up to talk about addiction and its severity.
Futurama
Chances are that if you’ve seen Futurama, you knew that it may come up on this list. Futurama is a silly comedy cartoon made by Matt Groening, who is also known for creating The Simpsons as well. It follows Fry, a human who travelled thousands of years in the future, and a cast of misfits working at an interplanetary delivery service. While we get glimpses of the past through various episodes, even learning that Fry’s nephew was named after him and became the first man on Mars, there’s one specifically heart-wrenching scene that gets everyone who watches it in the feels: the dog scene. Fry and Bender visit a museum, where Fry recognizes a fossilized dog as his own from thousands of years before: Seymour. After a lot of antics surrounding the fossil, Fry suggests that Seymour probably found a new owner and forgot about him. But then we get this sad flashback as we see Seymour obediently waiting outside Fry’s workplace, faithfully listening to his command for years, eventually closing his eyes for the last time.
Archie Bunker’s Place
This show was a continuation of All in the Family, a successful sitcom before it. While this show wasn’t as popular as its predecessor, that doesn’t mean it didn’t get the chance to give some feels. While the show mostly took place in the neighborhood bar (Archie Bunker’s Place), it varied in its stories and settings as need-be. But one story was particularly rough: Edith’s death. Edith is the wife of Archie Bunker, and was written as passing away as the actress (Jean Stapleton) felt like her character had run her course. This led to a sad scene where Archie comes home and talks to her slipper with the above words, reminding the audience that we really don’t know when our loved ones will go: so cherish them while they’re here.
Golden Girls
Golden Girls is an iconic sitcom loved by multiple generations. Following the tales of several sassy old ladies and their antics and lives, the show has some absolutely hilarious lines and fantastic moments. But one fantastic moment can stick out amongst the rest, surrounding Blanche and her husband. In this moment, we see Blanche reunited with her husband, embracing him and sharing a moment with him – only to wake up from her dream and remember that he was dead, with space beside her empty in the bed.
Modern Family
Modern Family is a funny comedy show with a wide range of characters making a patchwork family of hilarity and joy. It’s really cool, too, since you can see the children of these characters age as well, and are given age-appropriate stories as they grow. One of these stories is for one of the older characters, though, Phil. Phil is a goofball dad of his kids and is generally a silly and ignorant character, but he has a heart of gold and tries his best. We get to see him interact with his dad as normal, even saying it was one of the best days he had with him – but it was the last. In his speech later, he says “Don’t miss a chance to let the people you appreciate know that,” and that goes for the audience, too!
How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother is a well-known sitcom that follows a fun cast of various people as they navigate there way in life, finding life partners, and getting up to fun antics in the meantime. But one incredibly-well-done scene stands in the memories of those who watched it, and for good reason: Marshall’s father’s death. In the scene, Lily, Marshall’s partner, comes up to him with a sad and teary face, breaking the news to him that his father died suddenly with a heart attack. The two embrace as he begins to realize the words, and utters “I’m not ready for this,” which hits really, really hard.
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