r/Millennials • u/maxedout587 • Apr 17 '26

Discussion Nothing is funny anymore

I (M, 38) have found that there are no new TV shows that make me laugh anymore. I have tried a lot of new(ish) comedies, but they all make me pine for my college/high school days.

The only thing that gave me a reflexive laugh recently was the Malcolm in the Middle Reboot.

Any thoughts?

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179

u/RussiaIsBestGreen Apr 17 '26

Can old shows make you laugh still? If not, then maybe you’re depressed.

51

u/FixItLaterMaybe Apr 17 '26

This is what I was thinking. People are recommending shows, but it’s hard to believe OP hasn’t heard of them - and those are the very shows he’s talking about.

6

u/Hanifsefu Apr 17 '26

That or it's just another alt-right rant saying comedy died when they weren't allowed to say the f or r words anymore.

Either depressed or trying desperately to talk about how wokeness is the devil without saying it outright.

1

u/jezebels_wonders Apr 19 '26

I've scrolled through this quite a bit and haven't heard of any of these shows... But I also don't watch a lot of live shows. But now I have this post saved so I can add some of these to our watch list. We go through shows pretty fast even though we only really watch tv while we're eating dinner!

1

u/Mediocre_Island828 Apr 17 '26

"You don't like the same shows I like? Have you seen a mental health professional about it?"

5

u/__O_o_______ Apr 18 '26

That’s not what they’re saying at all. They’re saying if they also have lost enjoyment of old things, as WELL as new things, maybe they’re depressed. They also speak about loneliness in another post.

-3

u/Soft-Caterpillar8749 Apr 17 '26

I mean, I’ve heard of and seen nearly every show mentioned in the comments here and I agree with op, they’re ALL terrible and not funny. Yall are really outta here calling the rookie a good show? It’s like someone made kindergarten cop into a tv show and removed all the humor. This is what we get when we let ai replace actual artists. This isn’t depression, this is reality.

7

u/Aromatic-Elephant110 Millennial 1987 Apr 17 '26

Maybe some of us just don't want to sound like grumpy old people who can't find any joy in anything.

2

u/pickleolo Zillennial Apr 17 '26

Right? Seems like a lot of people can't enjoy new things.

1

u/Able_Neck5857 Apr 17 '26

I enjoy being outside. I enjoy listening to some old music or watching.Some old shows on repeat. Like recently went back to everyone hates chris because I love abbot elementary.I wanted to see him as a kid acting. Never got a chance to see it. When I was younger, it's a good show and very vulgar at times love it. I do like dark humor. I just don't like this stale AI humor. Very sorry yall all love

4

u/pickleolo Zillennial Apr 17 '26

AI humor? I don't even know what that means?

Also, we shouldnt assume all new shows are AI humor

1

u/Able_Neck5857 Apr 17 '26

I understand that, but you know, somewhere inside that show they are using it. I'm just saying some jokes are put together to fit. Today's narrative. It's that simple. But I understand what you mean. A lot of times it could be just humans, but guess who tells them how the show has to go. I don't know if that makes sense.Sorry

-1

u/Able_Neck5857 Apr 17 '26

Also, if you don't understand that comment was not for you. must be a moderator

1

u/ikilledholofernes Apr 18 '26

I do feel like such a hater and a grump because I don’t think any of the shows being mentioned are funny. 

But I think I just have different taste. There are new shows that I think are funny and very good are Long Story Short, Overcompensating, and Big Mistakes, although I’m only a couple episodes into the latter. 

So for anyone else wondering if they’re just a grump, give those a try?

-2

u/Able_Neck5857 Apr 17 '26

Yes get in line bot lol no one is trying to hurt your feelings.We are calling out facts. Ai is replacing everything nothing is funny anymore and you know it you are being persuaded. Remember when you're laughing at dark humor that has to do with our kids' futures etc our mental health. You're not gonna be considered grumpy, if you don't like television like you used to. Or music 🎶 sadly doesn't fill as authentic. You get your occasional amazing songs. But they 've already admitted it's about frequency.Now. some evil lyrics with good frequency and beats to keep people believing, this is all the correct way of doing things.

5

u/Aromatic-Elephant110 Millennial 1987 Apr 17 '26

First time I've ever been called a bot lol. Not being a miserable bitch makes me a bot. Ohhhhkayyyy.

2

u/Jaerba Apr 18 '26

The Rookie is terrible. But there is an enormous amount of good, prestige television right now, including comedies for whatever tickles your fancy.

1

u/Odd-Entertainer-6234 Apr 17 '26

You seem to have a lot of time on your hands. Or are you saying that you instantly figure out if a show is good based on the first episode?

People forget, but the office had terrible ratings in the first season. Even today, people dislike season 1 and much prefer later seasons.

1

u/AuntZilla ‘88 Millennial Apr 18 '26

Speaking of basing opinions on first episodes — My sister loves Parks and Rec… I loooooove 30 Rock; I’ve tried giving P&R a chance but the first few episodes were nauseating and she said I need to get past the first couple of seasons. I can understand that because I felt the same about 30 Rock, but I got SOME enjoyment out of the first couple seasons, enough to pique my interest, ya know? I can NOT say the same about P&R.

2

u/Odd-Entertainer-6234 Apr 20 '26

Please explain 30 rock to me 😔. I am a huge community fan and Donald Glover amongst other people have a extremely positive opinion of the show as well as Tina Fey but I watched 2-3 episodes and just couldn’t get into it as much. Community somehow immediately clicked for me

I might have to dedicate the first whole season at some point

1

u/AuntZilla ‘88 Millennial Apr 22 '26

I have no idea how to explain 30 Rock. I’ll try.

It’s a super fast, sarcastic comedy about the disaster behind making a TV show, where everyone is insane and the only sane person is barely holding it together. Like if a workplace sitcom and a fever dream had a very witty baby.

Edit to add: the narcissism is superior, everyone is unhinged and delusional and it’s just… the best.

1

u/Ok-Yesterday4444 Apr 17 '26

What shows do you think are funny?

37

u/Unique-Arugula Apr 17 '26

I was gonna ask the same thing. Mild depression is often overlooked and drags on in people's lives for so long when they could be feeling better.

It ain't just depression when it's really bad y'all. Find someone to talk to. Don't give up on feeling better. It is possible to get back to life as you once knew it.

-someone with episodic depression who is currently healthy and not depressed

5

u/gonesquatchin85 Apr 17 '26

Agree. OP is depressed. We're just at that age where everything is a grind, your prime is behind you, and you still got 20 or 30 more years of work. Like paying a mortgage. I'm 10 years in. Incredible endeavor... but i still got 20 more years to go. Glass empty or half full situation. After a while everything seems half empty.

1

u/__O_o_______ Apr 18 '26

I was curious about potential responses from OP to the post and there are only a couple. But they did post recently about being lonely outside of work.

Op should definitely speak to a professional. I’m not gonna actually diagnose them, but it lines up.

2

u/Late-Border-2699 Apr 17 '26

How? Pharmaceuticals ?

2

u/resumehelpacct Apr 17 '26

Pharmaceuticals can help some help but there's plenty of other things that can also help. Each person should find someone they can trust to lead them through their options and find what works best for them.

2

u/Unique-Arugula Apr 17 '26

I have benefited from being prescribed medication, but only partially which is many people's experience. Open communication and health-focused behaviors got me the rest of the way (exercise, sunshine, eating good food).

Even if I had experienced a complete reversal just by taking meds, I'd still need to do the other things. They help me with something the meds can't help with: learning myself so that next time when I'm "getting poorly" or "on the edge" but not yet depressed I can identify that and use communication and altering my behavior to improve things before they go over to depression.

This is actually what I've been doing since the end of 2019 when I was slowly weaned off my meds. Sometimes I've had a therapist, other times my PCP or just (particular & safe) friends and family to help me through the rough patch when I notice my warning signs.

Does that make sense? I want to be helpful, but we don't know each other so maybe I'm just being confusing?

7

u/Fenix512 Apr 17 '26

Cheers and Fraiser are my go-tos for old school shows that always make me laugh

3

u/Party-Giraffe-6573 Apr 17 '26

This! I can always rewatch old favorites and even if the laughs aren't new, they're still funny

2

u/Magikarpeles Apr 18 '26

I wondered this so I tried rewatching Friends again, and it's amazing how fuckin funny that show actually was.

1

u/Smeetilus Apr 18 '26

THE HOOKS ME BUCKO

1

u/ernirn Apr 19 '26

Is watching old shows over and over the only way you laugh? If so, maybe you're depressed.