Comedies

Do you wish that Larry David from "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and Liz Lemon from "30 Rock" were your real-life best friends? If you're always in the mood for a good old-fashioned belly laugh, click through this slideshow for a list of comedies that will have you in stitches all season long. Wednesday, August, 26, 2009, 11:26 PM

Host Tom Bergeron rings in the 20th season of "America's Funniest Home Videos," the longest-running primetime show in ABC history. Do you have an amazing or hilarious personal video? The winner of this year's best video will receive the opportunity to enjoy a choice of vacations from more than 500 destinations around the world every year for 50 years. Get your video camera out and start filming! Sundays at 7pm ET on ABCABC/Bob D'Amico - Thursday, August, 20, 2009, 9:20 PM

Twenty years ago, an animated series called "The Simpsons" -- a segment spinoff of "The Tracey Ullman Show" -- debuted in primetime on a relatively new network called FOX. The rest is history. Now entering its 21st season, this satirical series has aired more than 440 episodes, won countless awards, and grossed hundreds of millions of dollars. The animated series depicts the ups and downs of the Simpsons, a strangely typical American family living in Springfield. The family includes Homer, a father whose head is often ruled by his stomach and who works at the local nuclear power plant; Marge, a loving, nurturing mother and wife who tries to keep peace in the family; son Bart, a smart-mouthed hell-raiser; Lisa, an intelligent and philosophical middle child who plays jazz saxophone; and baby Maggie, who communicates her thoughts via various sounds on her pacifier. Sundays at 8pm ET on FOXFOX - Thursday, August, 20, 2009, 9:20 PM

From the demented minds that deliver the painfully funny "Family Guy" comes FOX's latest animated laughter, "The Cleveland Show." Unattached after his wife Loretta cheats on him with his BFF ("Family Guy’s" Quagmire), Cleveland Brown and his overweight 14-year-old son, Cleveland Jr., ditch Rhode Island and head to Virginia. Once there, everyone's favorite soft-spoken neighbor claims the heart of Donna, the woman he loved back in his high school days. As the lovebirds reunite and get married, their families are forced to merge. Needless to say, silliness ensues when Donna's sassy teenage daughter Roberta and vicious son, 5-year-old ladies man Rallo, have to share a house with the dopey Cleveland and his happy-go-lucky dork of a child. Also in on the hijinks are Cleveland's loudmouth redneck friend, Lester, and the family's European talking bear neighbors: Tim and Arianna. Sundays at 8:30pm ET on FOXFOX - Thursday, August, 20, 2009, 9:20 PM

Led by tactless and clueless dad Peter Griffin, FOX's highest-rated sitcom, "Family Guy," returns for its 8th season after having just scored an unprecedented Emmy nomination for Best Comedy Series. Impressive! Along for this go-round of guffaws is Peter’s trusty brood, including his harried wife Lois (who constantly struggles to maintain normality at home), his angst-ridden and oft forgotten teen daughter Meg, his chubby underachiever of a son Chris, family dog/martini aficionado Brian, and TV’s most diabolical villain, baby Stewie. Quahog, Rhode Island, is definitely in store for some more shenanigans! Sundays at 9pm ET on FOXFOX - Thursday, August, 20, 2009, 9:20 PM

"American Dad!" is another animated sitcom from "Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane. This series lampoons politics and current events through a cast comprised of conservative CIA agent Stan Smith, his doting wife, their son and liberal daughter, an effeminate housebound alien, and a German-speaking goldfish. Where does MacFarlane come up with this stuff? Who cares? As long as it’s funny, we’re watching! Sundays at 9:30pm ET on FOXFOX - Thursday, August, 20, 2009, 9:20 PM

Larry David is a lovable loser who tries hard to better himself but always seems to get it wrong in "Curb Your Enthusiasm." Due to his inept social skills, he usually ends up in the most painful and awkward scenarios imaginable. This arrogant multimillionaire can never admit fault or accept blame; he'll hold grudges and argue until the bitter end. But we love to watch his squirm-inducing misadventures because we can't help but recognize that there's a little bit of Larry David in all of us. Sundays at 9pm on HBO HBO/Doug Hyun - Thursday, August, 20, 2009, 9:20 PM

On "Bored to Death," Jonathan (Jason Schwartzman) is a writer who has just been dumped by his girlfriend, who thought he spent too much time getting drunk and high. His reaction? He keeps drinking and smoking, of course, and he places a Craigslist ad offering his unlicensed detective skills. Zach Galifianakis ("The Hangover") co-stars as his comic-book-artist friend, Ray. Sundays at 9:30pm on HBOHBO/Paul Schrialdi - Thursday, August, 20, 2009, 9:20 PM

In "Californication," David Duchovny is Hank Moody, a sex-crazed, hard-drinking novelist whose biggest regret in life is not marrying his ex-girlfriend, Karen, with whom he has a daughter, Becca. Season 2 saw Hank palling around with a fast-living record producer, who then overdosed on heroin. It ended with Karen taking a job in New York, and Hank deciding to stay behind in Venice, California, with Becca. Perhaps it'll be easy to forget all about her when Hank, who finds work as a college professor, is surrounded by co-eds in Season 3. Sundays at 10pm on Showtime Showtime/Art Streiber - Thursday, August, 20, 2009, 9:20 PM

Right when critics were ready to declare the half-hour sitcom officially dead, "How I Met Your Mother" emerged to breathe new life into the format. An older, wiser narrator named Ted (voiced by Bob Saget) guides his children — and viewers — through a series of comical flashbacks to his youth, ostensibly leading to the day he meets the woman he eventually marries. Many thought the identity of Ted's wife — and future baby mama — was finally revealed last season, when he proposed to girlfriend Stella. But it became clear that it wasn't the case when Stella left poor Ted at the altar. Season Five finds Ted teaching architecture classes, where he'll surely meet plenty of new — and single — women. Could he finally stumble upon "the one"? Mondays at 8pm ET on CBSCBS/Cliff Lipson - Thursday, August, 20, 2009, 9:20 PM

Based on a real-life memoir, "Accidentally on Purpose" stars Jenna Elfman as a thirtysomething movie critic who, thanks to a one-night stand, finds herself "accidentally" pregnant with the baby of her much younger fling, Zack. Ready to give motherhood a try, she enters into an unconventional platonic live-in relationship with Zack — and things get chaotic when Zack’s deadbeat friends begin turning her place into a frat house. Throw her ex-boyfriend/boss James (Grant Show), her party-girl BFF Olivia, and her old-fashioned sister Abby into the mix, and it’s clear this baby is going to have an interesting home life. Mondays at 8:30pm ET on CBSCBS/Art Streiber - Thursday, August, 20, 2009, 9:20 PM

Charlie Sheen is at his charming, boyish best in "Two and a Half Men," a tale of two incompatible adult brothers forced to share living quarters. When wealthy womanizer Charlie Harper agreed to let his uptight brother, Alan, and Alan’s son, Jake, live with him (despite his swinging bachelor lifestyle), his life changed forever. The three created a very unconventional family unit. Adding to the craziness: obsessive neighbor Rose, acid-tongued housekeeper Berta, and, of course, the men's manipulative, cold-hearted mother, Evelyn. After six seasons, the trio may have gotten used the unusual arrangement, but the shenanigans — and laughs — continue. Mondays at 9pm ET on CBSCBS - Thursday, August, 20, 2009, 9:20 PM

Brilliant young physicists Leonard and Sheldon have been charming viewers for two seasons with their naïve brainiac ways. But their genius is no help when it comes to socially interacting with women. Thankfully the lovable geeks get much-needed lessons in life and love from their beautiful waitress-neighbor, Penny. In the second-season finale of "The Bing Bang Theory," Leonard, Sheldon, and friends Raj and Howard all took off on a North Pole expedition, and viewers got a glimpse at Penny’s true feelings for Leonard. Will she confess those feelings this season, and turn his unlucky-in-love life around? Mondays at 9:30pm ET on CBS CBS/Warner Bros. - Thursday, August, 20, 2009, 9:20 PM

Jay Leno is gearing up for a new adventure in television with "The Jay Leno Show." The new comedy series will be the first entertainment program stripped across primetime on broadcast network television, and will showcase many of the features that have made Leno a late-night leader for more than 12 years. Now that the late-night king has ditched his desk and moved to primetime, will you follow him there? Monday-Friday at 10pm ET on NBCNBC/Mitchell Haaseth - Thursday, August, 20, 2009, 9:20 PM

Julia Louis-Dreyfus won an Emmy (and was recently nominated again) for her portrayal of Christine on "The New Adventures of Old Christine." In the show, Louis-Dreyfus plays a single mom dealing with the challenges of everyday life after her husband leaves her for a younger woman also named Christine (forcing Dreyfus' character to become known as "old Christine"). Raising a son, running a gym, finding time to see friends, and even squeezing in a little romance aren't always easy, but Christine does it all with a heavy dose of humor. Wednesdays at 8pm ET on CBSCBS - Thursday, August, 20, 2009, 9:20 PM

When Wall Street legend "Hank" Pryor (Kelsey Grammer) is forced out of his job as CEO of the company he built from the ground up, he moves his family back to his small hometown to figure out how to start over. It may take a while for an industrial giant to learn to mingle with the little people (like his family) but Hank's up for the challenge. Wednesdays at 8pm ET on ABCABC/Kevin Foley - Thursday, August, 20, 2009, 9:20 PM

"Gary Unmarried" stars Jay Mohr as Gary Barnes, a newly single house painter. The comedy focuses on Gary and his controlling ex-wife, Allison, as they face post-divorce mayhem and embark on new relationships. He's the fun parent and she's the strict one, but together, they manage to share parenting duties and custody of their two children: Louise, a politically correct 11-year-old, and Tom, their socially-awkward 14-year-old who is nervous around girls. Allison and Gary found themselves back in the bedroom at the end of last season. Will the show have to change its title if things go well? Wednesdays at 8:30pm ET on CBSCBS/Cliff Lipson - Thursday, August, 20, 2009, 9:20 PM

Orson, Indiana is somewhere in "The Middle" of the U.S. --that place where airline travelers fly over but never bother to look down at. Frankie Heck (Patricia Heaton) is a sleep-deprived wife and mother of three who is coming to terms with the fact that this might be all there is. And with the help of her quirky, talentless family, she just might be OK with it. Wednesdays at 8:30pm ET on ABCABC/Craig Sjodin - Thursday, August, 20, 2009, 9:20 PM

Today's "Modern Family" has more intricate and complicated layers than traditional families of the past, and when the Pritchett, Delgado, and Dunphy families agree to be interviewed by a documentary crew, they reveal just how hilarious it can be when those layers are peeled away. Newlyweds Jay Pritchett and his much-much younger wife, Gloria, are raising her overtly passionate son, Manny; Claire Delgado and her husband Phil have been married for 16 years with kids of their own, but Phil is more interested in being "cool" than he is in being the parent; Mitchell Dunphy and his enthusiastic partner Cameron have just entered parenthood by adopting Lily, a precious baby girl from Vietnam. The kicker? They are all part of one big modern family. Wednesdays at 9pm ET on ABCABC/Bob D'Amico - Thursday, August, 20, 2009, 9:20 PM

McKinley High School's Glee Club used to be at the top of the show choir world, but years later, it has turned into a haven for misfits and social outcasts. But the Glee Club's luck is about to change. From Ryan Murphy, the creator of "Nip/Tuck," comes "GLEE," an uplifting comedy musical series with biting humor that features a soundtrack of hit music from past to present. Starring Matthew Morrison as Will Schuster, the young optimistic teacher tasked with restoring McKinley's Glee Club to its former glory, Jane Lynch as Sue Sylvester, the school’s scheming cheerleading coach, and an incredibly talented cast of kids with comedic chops, "GLEE’s" rise to stardom is about to prove that jazz hands are fashionable, dorks are adorable, and that FOX is once again capable of programming something edgy. Wednesdays at 9pm ET on FOXFOX/Matthias Clamer - Thursday, August, 20, 2009, 9:20 PM

Should a woman of a certain age still be on the prowl? Jules Cobb (Courteney Cox) is gonna give it a try. In this small Florida town (aka, "Cougar Town"), the Cougars are the high school mascot, which is appropriate considering it is the natural habitat for over-tanned, under-dressed divorcées prowling for younger men. Jules desperately doesn't want to be one of them, but with her recent divorce and 40th birthday behind her, she's longing for a little more action in her life. From the goofy geniuses behind "Scrubs," "Cougar Town" offers that rare treat of smart slapstick comedy. Wednesdays at 9:30pm ET on ABC ABC/Kevin Folley - Thursday, August, 20, 2009, 9:20 PM

Everyone's favorite crass-talking, crudely animated kids are back for the second half of Season 13 of "South Park," which promises to deliver more of its patented mix of up-to-the-minute topical humor and controversy. The last time we saw the boys in April, Cartman was convincing his classmates to become Somalian pirates. What’s next? Depends on what’s in the news when the show airs. Wednesdays at 10pm on Comedy Central Comedy Central - Thursday, August, 20, 2009, 9:20 PM

It's been said that community college is a "halfway school" for losers, a self-esteem workshop for newly divorced housewives, and a place where old people go to keep their minds active. Well, at Greendale Community College that's all true. NBC’s new comedy, "Community," focuses on a band of misfits led by a fast-talkin' lawyer whose degree has been revoked (Joel McHale). The students form a study group in "Breakfast Club" fashion, and they end up learning a lot more about themselves than they do about their coursework. Emmy Award-winning directors Joe and Anthony Russo ("Arrested Development") are behind this smart comedy about higher education... and low expectations. Premieres Thursdays at 8pm ET on NBCNBC/Paul Drinkwater - Thursday, August, 20, 2009, 9:20 PM

Go inside the world of local government in Pawnee, Indiana, with the mockumentary comedy series "Parks and Recreation." Amy Poehler stars as Leslie Knope, a mid-level employee in the town's parks and recreation department. The cameras follow Leslie as she tries to advance her career by teaming up with a local nurse ("The Office" alum Rashida Jones) to beautify the town. But it's not all that easy as the two must take on defensive bureaucrats, selfish neighbors, real estate developers, and lawsuit-happy citizens. Despite the series' rocky premiere back in the spring, fans are sure that the show will hit its stride this season. Thursdays at 8:30pm ET on NBCNBC/Mitchell Haaseth - Thursday, August, 20, 2009, 9:20 PM