Summary
Warning: This article discusses topics of incest and terrorism.
Over the years, sitcoms have aired some of the most illogical, ridiculous, and over-the-top schemes on TV screens, but some stood out more than others. The title of situational comedy was often applied by shows rather literally and highlighted the creativity and sneakiness of some ofthe best TV characters of all time. The types of plans, however, were often varied.
Some were so harsh or impacted others so heavily that they turned intoawful sitcom betrayals, for example. Others came from pure intentions, however, and resulted in several ofthe best sitcom romances of all time. Whether they were good, bad, or simply baffling, the best sitcom schemes were always ridiculous, without fail.
10Sophia Tries To Sell Bottled Water From Her Garden Hose
The Golden Girls - Season 3, Episode 2 “One For The Money”
InThe Golden Girlsepisode “One for the Money,” Sophia devised a bizarre plan to make some quick money. While competing with her friends in an odd competition,Sophia decided to sell bottles of water filled from her gardenhose purely because the girls agreed it tasted good. Throughout the episode,Sophia reminded the girls of their own get-rich-quick schemes, although none of theirs were as far-fetched as hers.Although little culminated from Sophia’s idea, it was still baffling she believed it’d be a success in the first place.
There were so many legalities and red tape issues behind Sophia’s planthat it was simply impossible. In no normal world would anybody be able to use a tap to sell bottled water. However,The Golden Girlswasn’t the first to try this storyline, as one ofthe best sitcoms of all time,Only Fools and Horses, also aired a similar episode. What was a bit out of character, however, was that Sophia did this at all. Sophia loved to point out the stupidity in her friends, so it made no sense that she thought this concept was clever.
The Golden Girls
Cast
The Golden Girls follows Dorothy Zbornak (Bea Arthur), Rose Nylund (Betty White), Blanche Devereaux (Rue McClanahan), and Sophia Petrillo (Estelle Getty) as they live together in Miami. Throughout its seven seasons, the beloved series created by Susan Harris won 11 Primetime Emmys and continues to be one of the most beloved sitcoms of the ‘80s and ‘90s.
All 7 Seasons Of The Golden Girls, Ranked Worst To Best
The Golden Girls is one of TV’s greatest achievements, delivering seven seasons of comedy — and while they’re all great, some are better than others.
9Maeby Making Out With George Michael
Arrested Development - Season 1, Episode 1 “Pilot”
A running joke aboutthe Bluth family inArrested Developmentwas that incest seemed acceptable, and this started from its pilot. Although cousins Maeby and George Michael hadn’t seen one another in years, barely recognizing the other at first,Maeby immediately started plotting ways to get attention from her parents as soon as she arrived back in Orange County.Hilariously, her first thought was that she and George Michael should make out to make the rest of the family freak out, as opposed to taking a moment to think through the endless other options that were more logical.
While Maeby’s idea was ridiculous, it highlighted just how naive she was.It was wild that Maeby saw no issue in kissing her own cousin,especially right in front of the entire family and on a boat in the middle of the sea. What was also brilliantly funny, although it made Maeby look even more foolish, was that the Bluths offered no reaction. Maeby swung big with her revenge against Lindsay and Tobias, but she also missed just as significantly.
Arrested Development
Arrested Development, a television series premiered in 2003, follows the dysfunctional Bluth family who are coping with the loss of their fortune. Central to the narrative is Michael Bluth, the diligent son attempting to stabilize the family amidst their eccentricities and financial turmoil.
8Lois' Cancer Scare
Malcolm In The Middle - Season 7, Episode 22 “Graduation”
In one ofMalcolm in the Middle’s best episodes, “Graduation,” the boys revealed the very worst thing they had ever done to Lois.As Malcolm and Reese prepared to finish high school and to fly the nest, the two of them and Dewey reflected on the various hijinks and escapades they’d constructedthroughout the show’s 7-season run. The boys’ biggest tool against their mother, or the “nuclear option,” as they called it, was an X-ray. Years previously, they’d astonishingly convinced Lois she had cancer with the fake image, simply to avoid backlash over their bad grades.
Although Malcolm and his brothers got away with this, it was still wild that they were able to achieve it in the first place. Malcolm was a genius, granted, but it was illogical that three kids somehow managed to create a false X-ray. The plan was also overly extreme, regardless of how hard Lois was on her sons. While it was funny that a ludicrous scheme was even thought of, let alone executed,it was very cruel that Malcolm, Reese, and Dewey were so negative about their mother that they tricked herinto thinking she had a life-threatening condition.
Malcolm in the Middle
Malcolm in the Middle tells the story of an average dysfunctional American family. When Malcolm, one of four children, learns that he possesses a genius-level intellect, his whole young world is turned upside down. Still desperately trying to fit in with his friends and family despite his extraordinary gifts, Malcolm finds that though his life might have changed, it’s still just as chaotic as ever.
7Sheldon’s Fake Cousin, Leopold
The Big Bang Theory - Season 1, Episode 10 “The Loobenfeld Decay”
Sheldon Cooper was prone to crafting some absurd plots inThe Big Bang Theory, but his most peculiar happened in the episode “The Loobenfeld Decay.” to avoid attending Penny’s terrible and poorly performed play, Leonard made an excuse. But in typical Sheldon style, the socially inept genius began overthinking and felt that a better lie was needed. Therefore, Sheldon created a fake cousin called Leopold and told Penny that they were taking part in his intervention. However,Sheldon’s need to constantly improve upon his plot triggered a domino effect.
As Sheldon’s lie became more convoluted, the weirder it was that Penny believed it. Even though she wasn’tthe smartest character inThe Big Bang Theory,it was still bizarre that Sheldon’s overly detailed explanation never made Penny question anything.This episode was one of many times that Sheldon drove himself to insanity, but this time, it truly was his own fault. His ridiculous scheme was hilarious initially, but the longer it carried on, the more frustrating it became.
The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory: This sitcom follows a group of socially awkward scientists and their interactions with each other and the people around them. Centered on physicists Sheldon and Leonard, the series humorously explores friendship, romance, and the quirks of life among an eclectic group of academics.
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Mayim Bialik and Jim Parsons’s friendship may have started on The Big Bang Theory set, but it actually goes much deeper.
6The Lorenzo Von Matterhorn
How I Met Your Mother - Season 5, Episode 8 “The Playbook”
Barney Stinson’s Playbook inHow I Met Your Motherwas jam-packed with outrageous plots that fooled all manner of women in New York into sleeping with him, but the most over-the-top was the “Lorenzo Von Matterhorn.”The show’s famous womanizer spent the entirety of the season 5 episode “The Playbook” sitting in McClarens in a scuba suit,which drew a significant amount of attention to him. Hilariously, the gang recounted a story to Barney’s latest target during this, which ended up being his plan in the first place. The lengths Barney went to in establishing Matthehorn’s backstory were wild.
Barney quickly got the ball rolling on his latest play by using fake websites, an exotic name, and a well-timed comment to Lily. It wasn’t unusual for his setups to be overly complex or intricate, butBarney’s plan for sex heavily relied on coincidences and his knowledge of his friends.Sadly, he also used his breakup with Robin to fuel the fire. After the gang’s newest acquaintance spent all evening hearing about Barney’s sleazy ways, an emotional speech about him and Robin convinced the woman to give him a chance, which was the most ridiculous thing about this scheme.
How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother is a television series that follows a father telling his children about his past. Released in 2005, it explores his experiences and adventures with four close friends, leading up to meeting their mother, as depicted through a series of flashbacks.
How I Met Your Mother: Every Season, Ranked From Worst To Best
How I Met Your Mother was a consistently great sitcom in its early days. Though later seasons didn’t match up, it always had memorable moments.
5The Study Group’s Chicken Finger Empire
Community - Season 1, Episode 21 “Contemporary American Poultry”
The study group’s domination over Greendale by controlling the school’s chicken finger supply in theCommunityseason 1 episode “Contemporary American Poultry" was one of their most intelligent plots.As they conducted themselves like mob bosses of a crime family, the study group manipulated and melded their fellow students at their whim,using the benefits of Abed being the cafeteria’s cook to their advantage. While clever, it was still ridiculous. The study group’s authority resulted in higher grades, attention from love interests, and even a pet monkey, which was rather extreme.
Exchanging food for total control was quite unrealistic,although the lack of logic was what made this story so funny and enjoyable. The power struggle between Jeff and Abed, who both were determined to lord over the others as the leader of the scheme, created even more chaos. Although it was obvious that the group’s dominance was brilliantly devised, it was odd that each oftheCommunitycharacterswas so committed to the idea, especially as it required a lot of time and effort to execute, so much that it wasn’t realistically possible to attend classes alongside.
Community
Community is a comedic television series that chronicles the lives of diverse students at Greendale Community College, a fictional and notoriously underperforming educational institution in Colorado. Released in 2009, the show explores the quirky interactions and relationships among the eclectic group navigating their academic and personal challenges.
4Dwight Schrute’s Fire Drill
The Office - Season 5, Episode 14 “Stress Relief Part 1”
Thecold opening inThe Officeepisode “Stress Relief Part 1" saw Dwight Schrute execute one of the most ludicrous and extreme fire drills ever, both on TV and in real life. Dwight set off a sparkler in a trash can and used a blow torch on a door handle to send his colleagues into a panic, purely as none of them had listened to his safety demonstration.Dwight’s survival skills and need to protect others were prominent character traits of hisinevery season ofThe Office,but making his coworkers listen this way was another level for him.
As Dwight was the safety advisor, he should have known better than actually to start a fire. Safety was hugely important to Dwight, so this sequence was quite out of character for him. It was baffling that he thought his idea would work, but even more so whenThe Officecasttook too long to notice the smoke filling the room. Dwight allowed things to get increasingly worse, to the point that everyone was trapped inside and feared for their lives.Dwight’s plot was petty but also dangerous,as Stanley suffered a heart attack in the midst of it.
The Office
This mockumentary comedy series observes the mundane and humorous daily lives of employees at the Scranton branch of the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. It offers insights into office dynamics, personalities, and the eccentric behavior of both management and staff, depicting an ordinary workplace with extraordinary characters.
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3The Janitor Trains A Crow To Steal A Pen From J.D.
Scrubs - Season 5, Episode 12 “My Cabbage”
The Janitor’s pranks inScrubswere nothing short of masterpieces, and while many were complex, one of his simplest schemes was also his most ridiculous. After deciding to keep a crow that wandered into Sacred Heart as a pet,the Janitor named the bird Sanchez and realized that his newest accomplice was useful in his ongoing, often one-sided, feud with J.D.The Janitor used Sanchez to irritate everyone, but J.D. especially. J.D. left his wallet at home, so Carla gave him a 100-dollar bill, which Sanchez swiftly stole.
The bird returned later in the episode to cause more trouble and took Dr. Cox’s only pen immediately after he begrudgingly loaned it to J.D. However,what was so great about this concept was how silly it was.Usually, the Janitor made himself known when torturing J.D., but this time, he stayed on the sidelines. The sheer stupidity of J.D. announcing a crow burgled him was incredibly funny, let alone the fact that the Janitor took the time to train Sanchez just to make everyone’s day a little more frustrating and confusing.
Scrubs
Scrubs is a Sitcom and Medical Comedy/Drama created by Bill Lawrence that follows a group of medical students throughout their daily lives at the Sacred Heart Teaching Hospital. The series stars Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke, and Donald Faison, as they work their way up from Medical Interns while juggling all sorts of hospital shenanigans.
2Smuggling Marijuana In A Toy Train
Trailer Park Boys - Season 7, Episode 9 “Going Off The Rails On A Swayzie Train”
Allthe best episodes ofTrailer Park Boysfeatured some intriguing yet comical schemes, many of which caused Ricky, Julian, and Bubbles to land back in jail again. However, the funniest and most intricately complicated was when they tried to smuggle marijuana across the Canadian border in a toy train. Rather than using people or cargo transit,the guys decide to use a model train named the “Swayzie Express” to harbor the drugs.Despite its incorrectly spelled name, the late actor Patrick Swayze had no connection to the toy.
After a series of crazy events,the boys faced off against several groups of law enforcement bodies at the border, which highlighted just how unbelievable the plan was.The idea was so wild and nonsensical that it worked, but it was still an unusual practice. TheTrailer Park Boysboys knew drug dealing better than anyone, so it was refreshing to see them get creative when their normal methods weren’t possible. Hilariously, they were caught, but it was still brilliant to see them at least try to make their most ridiculous scheme work.
Trailer Park Boys
Trailer Park Boys is a Canadian television sitcom that follows the misadventures of a group of trailer park residents in Nova Scotia. The show focuses on Julian, Ricky, and Bubbles, three lovable but troubled friends who constantly scheme to make a quick buck and evade the law, often resulting in hilarious consequences.
1The Gang Does Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia - Season 4, Episode 12 “The Gang Gets Extreme: Home Makeover Edition”
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiafamously saw the gang enact several wacky plans regularly, and many were often stupid, heinous, or even cruel. While there were several extravagant schemes the gang created throughout the show,none ever met the same standards as their interpretation of the TV showExtreme Makeover: Home Editionin the season 4 episode “The Gang Gets Extreme: Home Makeover Edition.” This was one of theworst things the gang ever did inIt’s Always Sunnybecause they not only destroyed the home of the innocent Jaurez family but also held them hostage.
Between Dee’s terrible Spanish translation, which made the Jaurez’s think they were terrorists, Mac’s cultural makeover, and Dennis and Charlie’s forced credit card debt, the gang completely ruined the lives of the recently immigrated family. What was both concerning and hilarious, however, was that the gang thought they were capable of renovating an entire house by themselves. After they watched one episode,the gang believed they could replicate what a team of hundreds normally did, which was baffling.Thankfully, the Juarez’s left unharmed physically, but they were likely traumatized by the endeavor.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is a television series that premiered in 2005, chronicling the chaotic lives of four self-involved friends running an Irish pub in Philadelphia. Their misguided decisions and skewed perspectives often result in amusing and uncomfortable situations, complicating their professional and personal relationships.
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It’s Always Sunny has arguably been one of the most hilarious shows on television for 17 years, but which episodes are the funniest?
