Every HBO Comedy Ranked From Worst To Best

One of the most influential programmes HBO has ever produced, Mr Show affected the comedy landscape as much as any show since The Simpsons. Written by and starring Bob Odenkirk and David Cross (among others), Mr Show introduced many alternate comedians to the big time and reimagined what’s possible for a sketch show.

Gone were the catchphrases, repetitive characters, and safe punchlines. Mr Show seldom reused an idea, instead giving each episode a throughline, with skits running into each other, picking up where the previous one left off, and constantly switching formats and styles.

In sketches like “The Audition” and “The Story Of Everest”, they pushed the medium to its limits; the latter sees gangly performer Jay Johnston as a mountaineer fresh from an expedition but unable to recount the tale to his parents as he keeps knocking over shelves full of thimbles.

So many comics got their big break via Bob and David; so many more had their eyes opened by the sheer possibility on display here. Bob and David were given a blank canvas by HBO, and for four years, they painted it with sheer joyous nonsense.