The Top 10 Moments In Television That Make Me Laugh And/Or Smile

Big smiles fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

As we continue on with this month of happy, we move onto the world of television. I’ve watched at horde of TV over the decades, and as such I remember some of the oddest things from that time. It’s ironic I say that, as this was actually a pretty tough list to make. As with the list from January, I’m stretching the definition of what Television is on here. Maybe even more so in some cases, but enough about that! Time for me to show you the top 10 moments in television that make me laugh and/or smile......let’s begin!

10) Deadliest Warrior: Season 3 - Vampires vs Zombies Final Fight (Scene)
I think that even fans of this late 2000s/early 2010s series knew that this may have been it. The problems that were cropping up in seasons 1 & 2 became a bit too obvious, and the direction that season 3 went deviated from the more relaxed approach. However, one laid-back moment came when Vampires vs Zombies premiered in 2011. A bit controversial when it was initially announced, it ended up being one of the most popular episodes of the season. It used a surprising amount of real-world science, all the while being incredibly entertaining at the same time. The final fight that showed off all of the testing was nothing short of magical. It may have been the last time that Deadliest Warrior would appear on the TV screen, but it sure as hell was entertaining!

9) Queen - I’m Going Slightly Mad (Scene)
Back in January I talked about Queen and their emotional track, These Are The Days Of Our Lives. It’s a beautiful song, but also a tearjerker at the same time. This song has none of that sadness. I’m Going Slightly Mad is perhaps the band at their silliest, and is a great counterpart to the more serious tracks. It also shows that despite being on Death’s door, Freddy Mercury still knew how to laugh & enjoy life. The whole band joins in on the antics, and the resulting music video is nothing short of silly chaos. It can’t be further described, so you just have to see it for yourself.

8) Cowboy Bebop - Ein High (Scene)
A Corgi that gets high off of magic mushrooms.....do I need to say anything else!?

7) Outlaw Star - Aisha In The Restaurant (Scene)
If you were to point a gun at my head and ask me between Cowboy Bebop & Outlaw Star, almost always I will say Outlaw Star. Make no mistake: Cowboy Bebop is a classic, and rightfully deserves all of it’s praise. I just have certain issues with it, but onto this scene! What can be said about Outlaw Star’s resident cat girl? She’s cute. She’s muscular & strong. She’s got a hell of an appetite....and she can occasionally be slightly ditzy. Case in point: when Gene & Jim take her to a restaurant because they “felt” bad for her, she decides to try to still go after them. As usual, Gene & Jim escape her escapades, and find some way to make her pay (Comically, of course) for her idiocy. Win!

6) AVGN - Chex Quest Review (Scene)
I gotta thank the Angry Video Game Nerd for venturing into the realm of PC gaming. While handheld & consoles will always be his domain, it’s nice that he’s willing to come over to my side of the fence once in a while, and I was smiling from ear to ear when he took a look at a classic Doom WAD from back in the day. I played the crap out of this in 96, and to see him experience the same joy I did tugs at the heartstrings. Of course, there’s also the Nerd’s patented usage of the F word, not to mention perhaps one of the best sketches he’s ever made in his decade+ career. He’s sent the flemoids to the beyond (And hell), and he’s sent laughter into me at the same time. Nice job!

5) 7UP Christmas Commercial w/Spot 1988 (Scene)
We all have that one commercial that gets us ready for the holiday season. That one commercial that lights the Christmas fuze, and explodes on Christmas day. Though I still believe that the Sainsbury commercial from 2014 is essential to watch once December comes around, the one that unleashes a nostalgia tidal wave would be the 7UP Dots and their quick wintry adventure in 1988.  Santa is leaving a house, when the Dots notice a fire truck fall out of his back. The duo then proceed to drive said truck to it’s rightful owner, and while their journey is indeed quick, there is nothing short of Christmas magic taking place during the 31 seconds it plays. People who didn’t grow up with this commercial might see it as silly, but for individuals like me it’s very significant.

4) Mythbusters - Ask A Ninja! (Scene)
If you were to mention Ask A Ninja, people’s minds would be transported back to the early years of Youtube. Back when things were more rough & tumble, and content creators wouldn’t have to worry about getting canned. In the case of Ask A Ninja, you had a white dude in a sterotypical ninja outfit, being an absolute dork with questions people send him. So when Mythbusters did an episode dedicated to exploring various myths about Shinobi, the Ask A Ninja guy was a perfect comedic fit. Despite the wonderful scientific experiments & analysis, the meat of the episode (For some people) was easily the humor! There was a lot that happened that made me laugh, giggle, snort, and at the very least made me chuckle. If you can ever find the episode or catch it on repeat, then prepare to laugh. Hi yah!

3) Yan Can Cook - Any Episode (Scene)
I talked about this back in January, but I’ll briefly mention it here: the rediscovery of an old childhood favorite tugged at my heartstrings & can get me to cry. This time around, I want to talk about how surprisingly funny an episode of Yan Can Cook can be! Perhaps the humor’s biggest strength is that it’s used at just the right moment. Martin Yan may be gimmicky sometimes with a bit, but it never overstays it’s welcome. As he cooks the signature dish(es) of the episode, he inserts quick little comments that get the audience to chuckle at the least, or laugh out loud at the most. On top of that, his cooking skills and recipes are informative for anyone interested in Chinese cooking.  

2) Yu Yu Hakusho - Genkai vs Suzuka (Scene)
The only reason that this isn’t my number 1 is because it goes by rather quickly. At only a minute & 23 seconds, it’s sort of a “Blink And You’ll Miss It” kind of scene. However, in that brief amount of time you’re treated to perhaps the goofiest fight in Yu Yu Hakusho’s run. From the moment I saw her in Season 1, I have nothing but love & respect for the badass Grandma known as Genkai. She loves her students, but has little tolerance for bullshit. So when a clown annoys her to no end, she goes to town & proceed to maul him like a rabid grizzly bear. She jumps on his spine, unleashes a tornado of punches, and for good measure kicks him square in the face. If for whatever reason you’re not laughing as this plays out, then I don’t know what to say!

Before we get to my number 1, I just wanted to cover some honorable mentions. Now, these points make me feel warm & fuzzy just as much as everything else. The only reason that either of these aren’t on the main list is because I wasn’t sure where to put them. With that out of the way, here are the honorable TV moments that get me to laugh and/or smile.

HM1) Sabaton - When Kids Show Up On Stage (Scene)
As a dear friend of mine once said: Sabaton are badasses with a heart of gold. Nothing shows off this fact more when the bad decides to bring kids up onto the stage. It’s an absolute treat for the kids, who are probably never going to forget the experience, and Joakim & the rest of the band become like a second metallic family to them. There’s multiple instances of moments like this from over the years, so it’s hard to say which one’s the best. Regardless, as the front Swede often says: Heavy Metal is for everyone!

HM2) Monster Girl Doctor - Diagnosing Spider Girl (Scene)
The spiritual successor to Monster Musume, this surprisingly wholesome fantasy series is also quite charming with it’s cast of ladies. One could make some easy connections to Okayado’s flagship series, but that would also be doing it a disservice. There’s a little more maturity, a little less fan-service, and the main character can be a bit more professional that the one from MM (Even though he’s a good guy in his own right). One of the best scenes happens towards the end of the show: after catching a near-theft, the resident Lamia and Centaur are sitting the Arachne seamstress down so she can explain herself. The conversation that comes up is actually rather sweet & realistic, and what happens at the end is nothing short of smile inducing.  

1) Monster Musume - Kimihito Kurusu Hugs Centorea Shianus (Scene)
I wasn’t able to find the best hug scene from this series, but luckily I managed to find one that’s just about as good. For as fan-servicey as a show about having a harem of monster girls can be, Monster Musume also happens to have some surprisingly tender & serious moments. Case in point: the lovable Kimihito is getting chased down by a giant boar (Who decided to chase down a devil girl that was causing them issues earlier), when the valiant centaur comes in & gives it a beating. Our lead begins to thank his rescuer, when she lets out an emotional outburst. Stating that’s she’s only useful when she’s already caused trouble, she eventually begins to cry by the end. Kimihito jumps on her backside to ride due to his ankle getting hurt. She still doubts herself, when the lovable dork gives her a hug of confidence, and the warm & fuzzies come right out. MM isn’t truly a deep show, but it’s moments like these that give the series (And the franchise by extension) more depth than people realize.

And those were the 10 moments in television that make me laugh and/or smile. I’m still surprised at how challenging this one was, but I managed to complete it all the same! Well, I got 1 more list around the end of the month, so tune in on the 28th when I’ll talk about the songs that make me fell all warm & fuzzy. See you then!

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If you’re curious about Yan Can Cook, then check out the link below:

Yan Can Cook (KQED)