Yahoo Lifestyle 21 TV Comedy Episodes That Are So Hysterical, They're Considered Absolutely Perfect From Start To Finish
I've talked about perfect TV episodes in the past. Whether it's an episode so heartbreaking that it sticks with you forever or one that is so shocking you cannot believe what just happened. But there is also something to be said about the perfect funny TV episode. A comedy episode that is executed so brilliantly you are cackling from start to finish.
So, below are just 21 TV comedy episodes that I consider perfect because of how funny there are:
The criteria for this list are hysterical episodes of a comedy series. So, we aren't including times when comedy shows got serious and were brilliant. This time around, we're sticking to side-splitting, perfectly executed comedy.
There are obviously some MASSIVE spoilers ahead!
1.First Modern Family: "Caught in the Act" (Season 2, Episode 13)
Written by: Steven Levitan and Jeffrey Richman
Directed by: Michael Spiller
To me, every Modern Family episode is hilarious. I genuinely believe it is one of the best comedy series from start to finish. But if I had to choose a singular episode that makes me laugh hysterically every time — as if I've never seen it before — it has to be this one. Haley, Alex, and Luke walking in on Claire and Phil having sex is one of the funniest moments of this show. Between the writing and impeccable physical comedy, it's no wonder this episode won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series. On top of that, Gloria and Jay racing to the Dunphy house to stop Claire from reading an email, and Mitch and Cam ruining a priceless white carpet are all so well done and hysterical.
2.Friends: "The One Where No One's Ready" (Season 3, Episode 2)
Written by: Ira Ungerleider
Directed by: Gail Mancuso
There are three episodes of Friends I consider god tier: this, "The One Where Everyone Finds Out," and "The One With the Embryos." Truthfully, all three can be interchangeable for THE best episode of Friends overall. In terms of the funniest, "The One Where No One's Ready" might be the best because the entire cast has incredible timing and physical comedy while they are all contained to Monica and Rachel's apartment. It's a tour-de-force ensemble performance, which is why I have it on this list. I love it from start to finish. If I could erase one episode from my brain and relive it for the first time, I think I'd choose this one.
3.The Big Bang Theory: "The Adhesive Ducks Deficiency" (Season 3, Episode 8)
Written by: Steven Molaro, Eric Kaplan, and Maria Ferrari
Directed by: Mark Cendrowski
Earlier seasons of The Big Bang Theory truthfully contain some of my go-to comfort comedy episodes. While there are a ton of favorites from these early seasons, I think the absolute best is "The Adhesive Ducks Deficiency." First, you've got Sheldon taking care of Penny, who has slipped and dislocated her shoulder. It's a storyline that further exemplifies how Jim Parsons and Kaley Cuoco were such an underrated duo together on screen in this show. Then, you've also got Leonard, Howard, and Raj accidentally getting high off of cookies and revealing some hilarious secrets. It's pure comedic gold from start to finish.
4.Brooklyn Nine-Nine: "The Box" (Season 5, Episode 14)
Written by: Luke Del Tredici
Directed by: Claire Scanlon
Another TV episode that perfectly executes the use of a single location, "The Box" is the best episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine — followed closely by "HalloVeen" — because it feels like a play. Andy Samberg, Andre Braugher, and Sterling K. Brown are so great, and their comedic timing bounces off of each other effortlessly. The episode has such a simple premise, but the way it's written and performed makes it one that you want to watch again and again because it's just that good.
5.The Office: "Dinner Party" (Season 4, Episode 13)
Written by: Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky
Directed by: Paul Feig
"Dinner Party" is The Office at its finest. A form of a "bottle episode," all of the action happens in one location and, my God, does it include some of the funniest moments in this show's history. From the "plasma TV" to Jan's candle-making business, the writing and the cast are at the top of their games as this chaotic evening unfolds. What also makes this episode brilliant is somehow the bloopers make it even better.
6.Abbott Elementary: "Desking" (Season 1, Episode 11)
Written by: Morgan Murphy
Directed by: Melissa Josar
Abbott Elementary came out of the gate swinging when it premiered in 2021. It's easily one of the most clever and sincere comedy shows currently airing. While it's hard to pick just one hilarious episode — there are moments from so many that make me laugh until my sides hurt — an early episode that I think is Abbott at its finest is "Desking." The teachers, in particular Sheryl Lee Ralph's Barbara, are all so funny as they try to combat the new online "desking" trend at school. I just love every aspect of this true ensemble episode.
7.Parks and Rec: "The Fight" (Season 3, Episode 13)
Written by: Amy Poehler
Directed by: Randall Einhorn
Parks and Rec is a show that just continues to get better the more you watch it. Out of the many, many hilarious and perfect episodes of this very funny and wholesome show, the one I consistently always come back to is "The Fight," written by Amy Poehler. Watching all of the parks department employees get increasingly more drunk as their night out goes on, and it all culminating in Leslie and Ann's big fight, is just so perfectly executed. It helps that the show just let their extremely talented cast just be funny and clearly have so much fun while filming.
8.Schitt's Creek: "Finding David" (Season 2, Episode 1)
Written by: Dan Levy
Directed by: Jerry Ciccoritti
Schitt's Creek is so wholesome that there are many episodes from the show's six-season run that I consider "perfect." There are also so many funny moments throughout the whole season — "Fold in the Cheese," and Moira's wine commercial come to mind immediately — but in terms of a perfect funny episode from beginning to end, I have to give it to "Finding David." While Season 1 of Schitt's Creek is good, I think the show really started to find its footing with Season 2, and it starts with this episode. David going missing and staying with an Amish family while the rest of the Roses track him down is just golden.
9.Derry Girls: "Across the Barricade" (Season 2, Episode 1)
Written by: Lisa McGee
Directed by: Michael Lennox
As a whole, I think Derry Girls is one of the most perfect TV shows. It's hilarious but also incredibly heartfelt, which is what makes it so impeccable. While it's hard to narrow down just one hysterical episode of Derry Girls, I'm going with "Across the Barricade" because I think each character gets their shining moment of comedy when the students from Our Lady Immaculate attending a long weekend away with students from the Protestant boys' school. Also, any episode where Sister Michael is front and center is automatically god tier in my book.
10.New Girl: "Background Check" (Season 4, Episode 6)
Written by: Rebecca Addelman
Directed by: Lorene Scafaria
To this day, Winston Bishop is one of the best TV comedy characters ever created. What Lamore Morris was able to bring to this character was so impeccable, from physical comedy to just the way he delivers lines. I wholeheartedly believe no one could've played Winston but Lamore. That being said, "Background Check" is not only a great Wnston episode, but what transpires with Jess, Nick, Coach, and Schmidt trying to dispose of the meth in the apartment is so funny. This is hands down my favorite New Girl episode of all time.
11.Fleabag: Season 2, Episode 1
Written by: Phoebe Waller-Bridge
Directed by: Harry Bradbeer
To me, Fleabag is one of the best TV shows about grief and loss. While I loved the show prior to my mom's death, I have really connected with it in the months after. That being said, while Fleabag has some truly sob-inducing moments, there are episodes that are truly hysterical, and to me, the Season 2 opener, when the Hot Priest is first introduced and joins Fleabag and her family for dinner, is one of the funniest. Yes, it does include very poignant moments between Claire and Fleabag, but at its core, it's a funny episode that hinges on the comedic timing of its extraordinary cast.
12.Veep: "Election Night" (Season 4, Episode 10)
Written by: Simon Blackwell and Tony Roche
Directed by: Chris Addison
Like many shows on this list, Veep has so many hilarious moments it's hard to narrow down the absolute best. However, when looking at all-around perfect and funny episodes from start to finish, "Election Night" is my pick. Julia Louis-Dreyfus brings her Emmy Award-winning game to this Emmy Award-winning episode as Selina and her team wait to see if she's been re-elected. The jokes fly at a rapid pace in this ensemble-driven episode, which is also when Veep is at its very best.
13.Living Single: "A Kiss Before Lying" (Season 1, Episode 4)
Written by: Daniel Margosis and Robert Horn
Directed by: Ellen Falcon
I binge-watched Living Single for the first time in 2024 and it's easily one of the best sitcoms I have ever watched. It's phenomenal from literally the pilot and only continues to get better. One of the funniest and best episodes happens early in the series — Episode 4, to be exact — and puts front and center something that will be one of the best parts of the show overall: Max and Kyle. Erika Alexander's is easily one of the funniest actors of all time as Max and it's a shame she never won (or was even nominated) for an Emmy. Add in her chemistry with T.C. Carson as Kyle and you have a hilarious episode on your hands, which is proven with "A Kiss Before Lying."
14.The Good Place: "Dance Dance Resolution" (Season 2, Episode 2)
Written by: Megan Amram
Directed by: Drew Goddard
The Good Place is one of the smartest and best comedies of the last 10 years, so it should be no surprise that when compiling both funny and perfect TV episodes, it's on this list. While the Season 1 finale and the series finale are two of the all-time greats in terms of episodes, this Season 2 episode is easily one of the funniest Michael desperately tries to keep his plan in motion by rebooting everything hundreds of times. Each reboot is more chaotic than the last and it's some of the best comedy on the show.
15.Broad City: "The Last Supper" (Season 1, Episode 10)
Written by: Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer
Directed by: Amy Poehler
Broad City is a top-tier comedy show that I feel hovered just enough in the underrated category while it was airing that so many people have still yet to experience its greatness. Again, while every episode has hysterical moments, one of the earliest perfect comedy episodes is the Season 1 finale, which features Ilana and Abbi going to a fancy restaurant for Abbi's birthday. It's written by Abbi and Illana and directed by Amy Poehler, so it's just firing on all cylinders both in front and behind the camera. In the show's five-season run, it's honestly hard to top this masterpiece of an episode.
16.How I Met Your Mother: "Slap Bet" (Season 2, Episode 9)
Written by: Kourtney Kang
Directed by: Pamela Fryman
How I Met Your Mother is personally my favorite comedy series of all time. It has been a comfort show for me for so many years, and while certain aspects have not aged well, I can't help but love it. "Slap Bet" is How I Met Your Mother at its best. So many iconic things come from this one episode where Barney tries to guess what's on a mysterious tape that Robin is hiding. We get the first Slap Bet between Marshall and Barney and the iconic performance of "Let's Go To the Mall." And as a bonus, it's all wrapped in a Thanksgiving episode, too.
17.Community: "Remedial Chaos Theory" (Season 3, Episode 4)
Written by: Chris McKenna
Directed by: Jeff Melman
I've only seen maybe two or three Community episodes in total, but this one is one of them, solely because everyone tells me it's one of the best TV episodes ever. And they aren't wrong. The different timelines unfolding showing what happens when each of them leaves the room is so perfectly executed and proves how an out-there concept, when done correctly, has such incredible results. Yes, I know I need to watch this whole series at some point, but for now, only really knowing this show based on this one episode — and countless memes — is pretty epic.
18.Hacks: "New Eyes" (Season 1, Episode 6)
Written by: Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky
Directed by: Lucia Aniello
Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder truly have some of the best chemistry on television right now. The way they bounce off each other in comedic and heartbreaking moments is a testament to their friendship, and it's a joy to watch. While Hacks has only gotten better with age, one of the earliest hysterical episodes has to be this one, where Ava and Deborah work on new stand-up material at a spa while Deborah recovers from an eye lift. They hang out, they take edibles together, and while it's intertwined with heartfelt moments, the comedy is just stellar, too, which is the hallmark of a great Hacks episode.
19.Happy Endings: "The Marry Prankster" (Season 3, Episode 12)
Written by: Jackie Clarke and Gil Ozeri
Directed by: Rebecca Asher
To this day, I am still sad that Happy Endings was canceled. It was a phenomenal comedy series that has stood the test of time as one of the best. While there are several episodes I adore from this show, one of the funniest and best is "The Marry Prankster," which centers on the gang pranking Max into thinking he won a lottery jackpot, and now he's vowed to get revenge on them. Happy Endings is a great ensemble show at its core, and this is one episode that exemplifies the cast at its very best. God, I miss this show so much.
20.The Golden Girls: "The Case of the Libertine Bell" (Season 7, Episode 2)
Written by: Tom Whedon
Directed by: Lex Passaris
Until the end of time, Golden Girls will be one of the greatest comedy series ever made. And it's an honor that we have the performances of these acting icons preserved forever in this show. It's really hard to pick just one perfectly funny episode of Golden Girls, but the one I consistently come back to is "The Case of the Libertine Bell." A parody of Murder, She Wrote, the episode centers on the girls participating in a murder-mystery weekend when a real murder takes place. It's just Golden Girls comedy at its very best with so many stunning guest stars it's hard not to talk about this episode as one of the funniest in the show's history.
21.And finally, Seinfeld: "The Contest" (Season 4, Episode 11)
Written by: Larry David
Directed by: Tom Cherones
Everyone has strong opinions about their favorite Seinfeld episode, and I feel like everyone finds different episodes extremely funny. I mean, one of my favorites is "The Pick" simply because Julia Louis-Dreyfus is so funny when Elaine finds out she accidentally sent out a risqué Christmas card. But if we're talking about THE best and funniest episode of Seinfeld of all time, I think "The Contest" is that one episode. It's an absolute classic centered on the gang trying not to masturbate so they can win "the contest." It's so clever because the word "masturbate" is never used in the episode, but the euphemisms are so smart, and the comedy is so on-point that the episode just works. Plus, it coined the phrase "master of my domain." A god-tier comedy episode that I think will be one of the best forever.
Okay, you've read some of my favorites — this list could go on forever, I swear — but now I want to hear yours. Tell me, which other comedy episodes do you consider PERFECT? Are there any underrated ones you wish more people knew about? Tell us everything in the comments below!
