Because we all need a laugh right now...

I can’t promise anything – after all comedy is subjective but I thought I’d do my own version of “Ten Funniest Things on the Internet” as seen in The Guardian (they’ve never asked me, because I have no media profile to speak of – it’s their loss). I’ll call it 10 Funny Things from the Internet because who needs the pressure of being definitive. What one person finds funny might have another person say “how is that funny?”. The response is, of course, it is funny if you have a sense of humour. Anyway, it may not be to your taste, which is fine, I’m sure you have other great qualities.

First to Twitter. Because I am in no way a public figure, and have carefully chosen who I follow I find it a lot of fun. It is unfairly maligned as a sewer or cesspool and bringing about the downfall of human civilisation – I’ve already addressed this here. Besides if anything is going to end civilisation it is climate change (not a joke, unfortunately).

And every now and then, it serves up comedy gold. Like this…

Or some subtle satire on Google searches, family life, being a child and just the uncertainty of life, all in one screen grab...

Then there is this – probably one of the finest threads on Twitter, by Irish writer Seamus O’Reilly (that he is a professional writer probably explains the quality storytelling). I imagine when Twitter was invented, this is the sort of sparkling content they thought would eventuate. It will take a few minutes of your time but really, it is worth it. 

It is available elsewhere, but I first found this on Twitter – a song about the finest minds in the world, working at NASA not doing anything to dispel stereotypes about science geeks and women. 

The other thing the socials are good for is that it is a place you can share those funny little things kids say and do…

Bad times are good for creativity. One person who knows this is Randy Rainbow, a New York-based comedian, whose oeuvre is parody songs. I imagine he would have mixed feelings about hitting gold during the Trump years. Of all the songs he did, he saved the best 'til last with this ode to the orange one losing the election. "Don't Tell Donald He's Not Re-elected" is based on Sondheim’s “I’m Not Getting Married Today” (also known as one of the most difficult songs in the musical repertoire). It's is quite brilliant.

The pandemic also produced comedy gold but one of the best was this sketch by The Chaser. After watching it, I challenge you to not say “contact tracies” under your breath every time someone says “contract tracers”. Also after watching this, hopefully friends will understand the comedy reference “That’s a Daiso aesthetic”.

Strictly speaking, this is not exclusive to the internet but this clip was my introduction to Brooklyn 99. Still the funniest scene in the whole series. 

Then there is the best “you had one job” of all time… 

If there is one thing guaranteed to make me laugh, it is other people cracking up laughing. Newsreaders laughing when they are trying to remain poker-faced during the news is never not funny. Something funny happening at a funeral is extra funny because it is a funeral. There are many examples on the interwebs but in honour of his too-early passing this week, here is one such clip of the late, great Sean Lock losing it. Go to 1.11 minutes…

So hope that has given you a laugh. Oh, and probably should mention now the clips may contain coarse language...