MovieChat Forums > MADtv (1995) Discussion > Where Did the Funny Go?

Where Did the Funny Go?

posted 14 years ago by Petronius Arbiter II
2 replies | jump to latest

In its first few seasons, MADtv outdid SNL almost every weekend. Edgier, to be sure, but most importantly, funnier, all in all.

By sometime around 2004 or 2005, I just couldn't stand to watch it any more. I remember more than one MADtv episode where I sat through the whole show and didn't laugh even once.

Now, mind you, I do already have my own pet theories about how and why this happened. But I'd like to hear some other people's opinions before I write about it-- if I ever do.

"I don't deduce, I observe."

[–] pwrof3willsetufree 14 years ago

Well, the last couple seasons they changed the format of the show and no longer had sketches acted out in front of an audience. The last two seasons were terrible with the new "lounge" like atmosphere.
I started watching MadTV back in the third or fourth season and watched it all the way through seaaon 11 or so. I caught an episode here and there the last few seasons, but that's about it.
I think it stoppped being funny because as the actors got replaced they kept getting less and less talented.

[–] CarrieCrazed 14 years ago

MAD TV was just like SNL, it went through periods of being 'on' and periods of being dicey. The first 5 seasons were an on period, then I would say the next 3 or 4 were iffy, then there were a few years where it was really getting good again, but then in the last two years they destroyed it with the format change.

The format change killed the show, but as for other unfunny periods, its just a matter of the cast and writing staff at the time.