Thanks to the recognition bestowed upon them by last year’s inaugural Comedy Awards, our nation’s humorists did not commit mass suicide, and thus it falls to Viacom to keep up the tradition, else we find ourselves in a world without laughter. This year’s group of people and things that were pointed to while saying, “Look at this thing, it’s funny” includes a few repeat performers—30 Rock, Modern Family, Louis C.K., etc.—but it also brings in new nominees from the world of film who will lose inevitably to Bridesmaids. Most notably there's the plenty-honored-already The Artist, which counts as a comedy now, apparently more so than The Muppets. WHERE’S WAR HORSE?
Anyway, while the selections continue to not deviate all that much from those chosen by voting bodies without a board of directors comprised of people like Jon Stewart, Conan O’Brien, Joan Rivers, and Chris Rock, fortunately these people also chose some things that don’t always get mainstream attention—such as Archer, Happy Endings, and The Life And Times Of Tim. They also gave one of the very few recognitions Community has received since its debut, albeit only tangentially through Donald Glover’s “Breakout Performer” nomination. But it’s something! Here is the list of other things that have been deemed funny by committee.
COMEDY SERIES
30 Rock
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Happy Endings
Modern Family
Parks And Recreation
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR—TV
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Ty Burrell, Modern Family
Louis C.K., Louie
Steve Carell, The Office
Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS—TV
Zooey Deschanel, New Girl
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Amy Poehler, Parks And Recreation
Kristen Wiig, Saturday Night Live
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family
COMEDY DIRECTING—TV
30 Rock
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Louie
Modern Family
The Office
COMEDY WRITING—TV
30 Rock
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Louie
Modern Family
Parks And Recreation
Saturday Night Live
ANIMATED COMEDY SERIES
Archer
Family Guy
The Life & Times Of Tim
The Simpsons
South Park
LATE NIGHT COMEDY SERIES
The Colbert Report
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
Late Night With Jimmy Fallon
Late Show With David Letterman
Real Time With Bill Maher
SKETCH / ALTERNATIVE COMEDY SERIES
Childrens Hospital
Louie
Portlandia
Saturday Night Live
Tosh.0
COMEDY FILM
The Artist
Bridesmaids
Crazy, Stupid, Love
Horrible Bosses
Midnight In Paris
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR—FILM
Jason Bateman, Horrible Bosses
Steve Carell, Crazy, Stupid, Love
Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Zach Galifianakis, The Hangover Part II
Owen Wilson, Midnight In Paris
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS—FILM
Jennifer Aniston, Horrible Bosses
Cameron Diaz, Bad Teacher
Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids
Emma Stone, Crazy, Stupid, Love
Kristen Wiig, Bridesmaids
COMEDY DIRECTOR—FILM
Woody Allen, Midnight In Paris
James Bobin, The Muppets
Paul Feig, Bridesmaids
Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, Crazy, Stupid, Love
Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
COMEDY SCREENPLAY
50/50
Bridesmaids
Crazy, Stupid, Love
Horrible Bosses
Midnight In Paris
ANIMATED COMEDY FILM
Cars 2
Kung Fu Panda 2
Puss In Boots
Rango
Rio
BREAKOUT PERFORMER OF THE YEAR
Zooey Deschanel
Josh Gad
Donald Glover
Melissa McCarthy
Jason Sudeikis
CLUB COMIC
Ted Alexandro
Hannibal Buress
Pete Holmes
Anthony Jeselnik
Moshe Kasher
John Mulaney
Kumail Nanjiani
Chelsea Peretti
Amy Schumer
Rory Scovel
COMEDY SPECIAL OF THE YEAR
Louis C.K.: Live at the Beacon Theater
Norm Macdonald: Me Doing Standup
Patton Oswalt: Finest Hour
Colin Quinn: Long Story Short
Daniel Tosh: Happy Thoughts
STAND-UP TOUR
Dave Attell
Lewis Black
Louis C.K.
Kevin Hart
Jerry Seinfeld