The 25 Best Comedy Sci-Fi TV Shows, Ranked By Fans

Seth MacFarlane's love letter toStar Trekevolved from what many first dismissed as "Family Guytakes "in space" into one of television's most thoughtful science fiction shows.science fiction seriesIt debuted on Fox in 2017, then moved to Hulu asThe Orville: New HorizonsThe show follows Captain Ed Mercer (MacFarlane) and his crew aboard the USS Orville, including his ex-wife and first officer Kelly Grayson (Adrianne Palicki). Early episodes featured comedy.The OrvilleThe Orville gradually became a serious science fiction drama. It keeps its humor while tackling big issues like gender identity, religious extremism, and artificial intelligence with real depth. The show's production quality matches modern Star Trek series.Star TrekThe series uses stunning visual effects and a score by Bruce Broughton, MacFarlane's longtime collaborator. Many people mixed their feelings about its first run.The OrvilleThe Orville earns praise for its ambitious storytelling and world-building. Many fans appreciate this.TrekTrek fans see The Orville as a spiritual successor to The Next Generation. The show proves that honoring influences while making its own story works.The Next GenerationThe show uses an episodic, philosophical style for science fiction. Over three seasons, it shows that honoring influences and making original stories fit together.

Based onthe Dark Horse comics, Resident AlienAlan Tudyk transformed a basic cable curiosity into SYFY's biggest hit. As Harry Vanderspeigle, an alien who lands on Earth and acts as a small-town Colorado doctor, Tudyk shows off physical comedy and fish-out-of-water humor. His character arc gets more complex. Chris Sheridan (Family Guy) created the series. It mixes medical mysteries with Harry's secret mission and humanization. Relationships with nurse Asta Twelvetrees (Sara Tomko) and his nemesis Max (Judah Prehn) show this development. Since its 2021 start, Resident Alien gets praise for blending X-Files sci-fi, small-town charm, and character growth. Tudyk shows the genre-savvy acting that made him a fan favorite in shows likeFireflyandDoom Patrol.

This British sci-fi comedy started on BBC Two in 1988 and still produces specials. It follows Dave Lister (Craig Charles), the last human on a mining ship three million years from Earth. He is stuck with a hologram of his annoying dead bunkmate Rimmer (Chris Barrie), a humanoid from his cat (Danny John-Jules), and an android named Kryten (Robert Llewellyn). Rob Grant and Doug Naylor created Red Dwarf.Red DwarfRed Dwarf carved its own space in TV history. It mixed British working-class humor with high-concept science fiction. The show tackled time paradoxes and parallel universes. Its core theme involved space-age slackers trying to get home. Sharp writing, practical effects, and character comedy built a dedicated international audience. The show spawned novels, a failed American pilot, and many specials after its initial run. Multiple hiatuses and network shifts followed.Red Dwarf appears on the list 'The 25 Best Comedy Sci-Fi TV Shows, Ranked By Fans'.Twelve series and specials kept Red Dwarf popular. This proves its mix of philosophical sci-fi and British humor about curry, lager, and paperwork makes it endlessly fun.

This Fox/Sci-Fi Channel series (1995-2000) was mostly drama but added humor and wild ideas. Quinn Mallory (Jerry O'Connell) and his crew "slide" between Earths. The show mixed big sci-fi with fish-out-of-water humor and social critique. Tracy Tormé and Robert K. Weiss created Sliders. Sliders showed alternate histories with weight and satire. They explored worlds where the British won the Revolutionary War or antibiotics never existed. John Rhys-Davies and Cleavant Derricks gave charm and credibility to strange situations. Network interference and cast changes later seasons hurt the show.SlidersEarly Sliders episodes show a smart mix of fiction and fun. These episodes influenced later shows likeRick & Morty appears on the list 'The 25 Best Comedy Sci-Fi TV Shows, Ranked By Fans'.Rick & Morty explores multiple realities. The show uses parallel universes to examinecurrent social issuesSliders kept a sense of adventure while dealing with social issues, making it a unique sci-fi comedy-drama.

Eureka ran from 2006 to 2012 on Syfy (then Sci-Fi Channel)Eureka appears on the list 'The 25 Best Comedy Sci-Fi TV Shows, Ranked By Fans'.Eureka mixed small-town charm and sharp science fiction, defining the network's early shows. U.S. Marshal Jack Carter (Colin Ferguson) becomes sheriff of Eureka, a secret town where genius scientists work on government tech. Andrew Cosby and Jaime Paglia created the show, balancing humor with tough science, pleasing both casual viewers and sci-fi fans. The show used "something goes wrong with the experiment of the week" as a setup for comedy and drama. Long storylines about time travel kept viewers hooked across five seasons. Eureka's ensemble cast, including Salli Richardson-Whitfield and Joe Morton, and its tone—light and optimistic—set it apart from darker sci-fi.Eureka is in 'The 25 Best Comedy Sci-Fi TV Shows, Ranked By Fans'.Eureka's success built Syfy's brand for quirky, science-based shows. This set the stage for similar programs.Eureka is like Warehouse 13.proved smart science fiction could be fun and family-friendly.

Futurama is Matt Groening's follow-up toThe Simpsons.Futurama defied expectations. It made a sci-fi comedy that balanced sharp social satire with real emotion. Launching in 1999, the show did this.Futurama follows Philip J. Fry (Billy West), a pizza delivery boy who gets cryogenically frozen and revived in the year 3000. Fry joins the Planet Express delivery crew. This crew includes one-eyed alien Leela (Katey Sagal) and the rude robot Bender (John DiMaggio). The show's writing staff, holding advanced degrees in math and science, built complex plots. These plots respected real science while offering clever wordplay and slapstick comedy. Fox canceled the show first. Comedy Central canceled it later.Futurama follows Philip J. Fry (Billy West), a pizza delivery boy who gets cryogenically frozen and revived in the year 3000. Fry joins the Planet Express delivery crew. This crew includes one-eyed alien Leela (Katey Sagal) and the rude robot Bender (John DiMaggio). The show's writing staff, holding advanced degrees in math and science, built complex plots. These plots respected real science while offering clever wordplay and slapstick comedy. Fox canceled the show first. Comedy Central canceled it later.Futurama'sFuturama's dedicated fans kept it alive. Hulu brought back the show in 2023. This revival kept the show's mix of pop culture jokes, emotional stories, and future tech concepts. The series won many Annie Awards and Emmys. Episodes like "Jurassic Bark" and "The Luck of the Fryrish" show how sci-fi comedy delivers both laughs and deep human drama.

This weird German-Canadian co-production (1996-2002) tracks the crew of theLexx, a living spaceship shaped like a dragonfly that can destroy planets. Stanley Tweedle (Brian Downey), a scared security guard, becomes captain by accident. The crew includes a love-struck robot head, a possibly insane assassin, and a half-lizard love slave. Paul Donovan created Lexx.LexxLexx pushes sci-fi rules with dark humor, sexual themes, and a nihilistic view. Its visual style, mixing practical effects and early CGI, built a look matching its strange story choices.Lexx developed a devoted cult following, especially in Europe, for mixing horror, comedy, and sexuality. The series shows the creative freedom of late '90s cable television, when shows could test formats and content unlike today.Lexx built a devoted cult following, especially in Europe. Fans loved its fearless mix of horror, comedy, and sexuality. The series shows the creative freedom of late '90s cable television. Shows then experimented with format and content in ways unlikely now.

This NBC sitcom (1996-2001) took the fish-out-of-water idea to space. Four aliens pretend to be the Solomon family while studying human behavior in small-town Ohio. John Lithgow's career-defining performance as the goofy Dick Solomon earned him three Emmy Awards. The cast included Jane Curtin, Kristen Johnston, French Stewart, and young Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Bonnie and Terry Turner, who also worked on Saturday Night Live, created the show. The series used its sci-fi setup to look at daily human stuff through new eyes, turning simple things like finding ice cream or understanding love into comedy gold. It was less scientific than other genre shows.3rd Rock3rd Rock mixed smart humor with slapstick physical comedy, especially from Lithgow and Stewart. The series ran six seasons, gathering 139 episodes, eight Emmy Awards, and two Golden Globes. It launched Gordon-Levitt's career and proved network TV could mix sitcoms with sci-fi. Viewers still watch reruns, liking the clever writing, great acting, and the show's look at being human.

Max Landis adapted Douglas Adams's cult novels, creating its own chaos theory. The show follows the linked adventures of 'holistic detective' Dirk Gently (Samuel Barnett) and his reluctant assistant Todd (Elijah Wood). Running two seasons on BBC America (2016-2017), it takes Adams's idea of everything being connected and turns it into mysteries involving time travel, body-swapping, parallel universes, and a corgi who might be a princess. The series sticks to its own logic, no matter how odd, while building an emotional core around relationships, like between Dirk and Todd, and Todd and his sister Amanda (Hannah Marks). The show ended early.Dirk GentlyDirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency built a passionate following. Fans love its mix of sci-fi ideas, detective stories, and character comedy. The show uses a distinct, quirky visual style and intricate plotting that rewards close watching.

Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland created Rick & Morty.Rick & Morty appears in 'The 25 Best Comedy Sci-Fi TV Shows, Ranked By Fans'.Rick & Morty evolved from an Adult Swim experiment into a major sci-fi comedy. The series shows alcoholic super-scientist Rick Sanchez and his anxious teenage grandson Morty (voiced by Roiland, now Ian Cardoni and Harry Belden) moving through infinite dimensions and parallel universes. It mixes high-concept science fiction with dark family issues and nihilistic humor. Since its 2013 start, the show has gained major praise and a huge cult following. People know it for sharp writing that joins crude humor with big ideas and deep emotion. The show influences more than just TV; it created merchandise empires, cultural events (like the famous McDonald's Szechuan sauce incident), and many imitators trying to copy its smart-and-stupid comedy blend. Team changes and some tough moments did not stop it.Rick & Morty appears in 'The 25 Best Comedy Sci-Fi TV Shows, Ranked By Fans'.Rick & Morty stays a core part of adult animation across seven seasons. Viewers enjoy quantum physics jokes and fart humor. The show won multiple Annie Awards and an Emmy for Outstanding Animated Program.

This ABC sitcom (2009-2010) mocked corporate culture using the R&D department at the morally bankrupt Veridian Dynamics. Jay Harrington plays Ted Crisp, the charming middle manager trying to keep his ethics while managing weird science experiments and dealing with his crush on Linda (Andrea Anders), all while facing his boss Veronica (Portia de Rossi in a career-best role) and genius scientists Phil and Lem (Jonathan Slavin and Malcolm Barrett). Victor Fresco (Andy Richter Controls the Universe) created the show, mixing sharp office comedy with absurd sci-fi elements like weaponized pumpkins and motion sensors that miss black people. Despite only running 26 episodes, Better Off Ted's show appears in 'The 25 Best Comedy Sci-Fi TV Shows, Ranked By Fans'.The show's intelligent writing, perfect cast chemistry, and accurate comments on corporate ethics and tech overreach earned it a loyal audience. Its unique style, including mock Veridian Dynamics commercials and direct-to-camera narration, shaped later shows like Corporate and Silicon Valley, making it an early influence for modern workplace satires.

Eric Kripke developed The Boys from Garth Ennis's controversial comic series.The Boys appears in 'The 25 Best Comedy Sci-Fi TV Shows, Ranked By Fans'.The Boys exploded onto Amazon Prime in 2019. It functions as a razor-sharp satire targeting superhero culture and corporate America. Billy Butcher (Karl Urban) and Hughie Campbell (Jack Quaid) lead vigilantes against corrupt superheroes, especially the sociopathic Homelander (Antony Starr), who delivers one of television's chilling performances. It is a sci-fi comedy, though.The Boys appears in 'The 25 Best Comedy Sci-Fi TV Shows, Ranked By Fans'.The show pushes boundaries with dark humor, graphic violence, and sharp political commentary. Its success started a new wave of subversive superhero content, spawning spin-offs likeGen V is in 'The 25 Best Comedy Sci-Fi TV Shows, Ranked By Fans'.Gen V establishes itself as Amazon's flagship series. Each season raises the stakes while keeping its satire. Critics praised its fearless approach to controversial topics and Emmy nominations for its bold storytelling. Despite the over-the-top violence and crude humor,The Boys appears in 'The 25 Best Comedy Sci-Fi TV Shows, Ranked By Fans'.The Boys appeals to viewers tired of standard superhero stories. The show proves a series can be outrageous and smart, offering pointed commentary on celebrity culture, capitalism, and political extremism.

This animated series, made by Olan Rogers, mixes serialized storytelling with real emotional depth in ways few sci-fi comedies do. It debuted on TBS in 2018 before moving to Adult Swim.Final Space is in 'The 25 Best Comedy Sci-Fi TV Shows, Ranked By Fans'.Final Space follows Gary Goodspeed (voiced by Rogers), an astronaut locked in prison. He befriends a strange alien named Mooncake while serving time on a prison spacecraft. The show's look and score set it apart. It balances silly humor with serious drama and character growth, earning critical praise despite its comedy.Final Space is in 'The 25 Best Comedy Sci-Fi TV Shows, Ranked By Fans'.Final Space took big narrative risks across three seasons. It tackled themes of loss, sacrifice, and redemption while building a complex mythology. The voice cast, including David Tennant, Ron Perlman, and Conan O'Brien, lifted the material above standard animation. The show ended early in 2021.Final Space is in 'The 25 Best Comedy Sci-Fi TV Shows, Ranked By Fans'.Final Space's mix of humor, heart, and high-stakes adventure built a passionate fanbase. It showed adult animation can tell complex, emotional stories within a sci-fi comedy structure.

Armando IannucciVeep is in 'The 25 Best Comedy Sci-Fi TV Shows, Ranked By Fans'.This HBO sci-fi comedy takes place on a luxury space cruise ship. A catastrophic accident throws the ship off course. Hugh Laurie plays Ryan Clark, the charming but phony captain trying to control panicked passengers and an inept crew while dealing with the ship's eccentric billionaire owner, Herman Judd (Josh Gad). It debuted in 2020.Avenue 5 is in 'The 25 Best Comedy Sci-Fi TV Shows, Ranked By Fans'.Avenue 5 applies Iannucci's sharp political satire to space tourism. It explores class warfare, corporate failure, and human nature under pressure. The show uses impressive production design and visual effects to build a believable near-future setting for its dark comedy. Zach Woods and Rebecca Front deliver the sharp dialogue with perfect timing. The show ran for two seasons.Avenue 5'sAvenue 5 mixes disaster epic and cringe comedy. It offers a fresh look at space stories and social satire. The show suggests human foolishness follows us even into space.

Avenue 5 began in 1988 on Minneapolis UHF station KTMA. It later became a Comedy Central staple.Mystery Science Theater 3000Mystery Science Theater 3000 changed comedy by improving movie mockery. The setup is simple: a human host (first Joel Hodgson, then Mike Nelson, now Jonah Ray) gets stuck on a satellite with mad scientists. He must watch bad B-movies with his robot pals, Tom Servo and Crow T. Robot. It appeared on many networks, including Sci-Fi Channel and Netflix.MST3KMST3K keeps its rapid-fire wit, obscure pop culture references, and homemade look. The show created a whole genre of commentary comedy and shaped everything fromYouTube reaction videosto Twitch streaming culture. Its DIY charm and intricate puppetry work set it apart from slicker productions. Its writing room launched numerous comedy careers and spin-off projects like RiffTrax. Beyond its cult status, MST3KMST3K won a Peabody Award. TV Guide cites it as a top cult show. Cleverly tearing apart bad movies with robot friends celebrates them.

NBC's hit about a furry alien life form (voiced by Paul Fusco) hiding with a suburban family became a distinct 1980s sitcom.A.L.F.(Gordon Shumway) crashed into the Tanner family's garage from his dying planet Melmac. He brought cat-eating appetites and a wiseguy attitude to middle-class America. The show mixed puppet work, practical effects, and family sitcom tropes. A.L.F.'s sardonic personality and pop culture quips drew in kids and adults. Running 1986 to 1990, the series faced production issues. Technical challenges and Fusco's puppet work demanded raised sets and exact timing from the human cast, including Max Wright and Anne Schedeen. Behind-the-scenes tension existed.A.L.F.became a merchandising success. It spawned toys and a Saturday morning cartoon. The show's sudden ending left fans waiting for years until a 1996 TV movie offered closure. The show's effect appears in later series like ALF is the 3rd rock on the Sun.ALF and Resident Alien.ALF is Resident Alien.These shows use alien viewpoints to comment on human nature through comedy.

This BBC Two comedy, 2006-2007, stars Nick Frost as Space Commander Henderson. Henderson leads the HMS Camden Lock, an incompetent but enthusiastic leader whose mission promotes British interests in the 22nd century. Kevin Cecil and Andy Riley created it.Hyperdrive is Hyperdrive.Hyperdrive offers a British look at space exploration comedy. It focuses on the boring bureaucracy of space diplomacy instead of technical problems. The show translates current British worries about falling global influence into a future setting, using Frost's lovable buffoonery. The show had a small budget.Hyperdrive is Hyperdrive.Hyperdrive uses its limits smartly. It focuses on character dynamics and situational comedy, not special effects. The show ran for two series. Later space comedies blend workplace humor with sci-fi elements, showing Hyperdrive's effect. Its deadpan diplomacy offers a unique contrast to action space shows.

Genndy Tartakovsky created Dexter's Laboratory.Dexter's Laboratory is a Cartoon Network series.(1996-2003) follows boy genius Dexter. Dexter runs a huge secret lab in his home while fighting his meddling sister Dee Dee and rival scientist Mandark. Aimed at kids, the show used clever writing and visuals. It mixed sci-fi concepts with family sitcoms and silent film-style physical comedy. The series changed animation. It used bold shapes and limited animation to make a look that influenced many shows later.Dexter's Laboratory is Dexter's Laboratory.Dexter's Laboratory built Cartoon Network's reputation for smart kids' shows. It paved the way for series likeDexter's Laboratory is Powerpuff Girls.Dexter's Laboratory and Samurai Jack.Samurai Jack is Samurai Jack.Samurai Jack blends mad science, sibling rivalry, and pop culture references. It includes nods to classic sci-fi films and anime. This created a model for smart, layered animation that stays influential.

Hulu's underappreciated sci-fi comedy (2017-2020) mixes time travel with crude humor and surprising heart. Josh Hutcherson plays Josh Futturman, a janitor and gamer. Two post-apocalyptic warriors, Tiger and Wolf (Eliza Coupe and Derek Wilson, who steal every scene), recruit him after he beats an "unbeatable" video game. Kyle Hunter and Ariel Shaffir created it, and Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg produced it.Future Man is Future Man.Future Man gleefully subverts sci-fi conventions while paying homage to classics like.Future Man is The Last Starfighter.Future Man and The Terminator.Future Man and The Terminator.The show follows bizarre premises to their logical ends. This means James Cameron appears as a door expert or Josh saves the world with herpes. Across three seasons, Future Man appears in 'The 25 Best Comedy Sci-Fi TV Shows, Ranked By Fans'.It keeps crude humor and real character growth. Its clever handling of time travel paradoxes and alternate timelines often beats more serious genre shows.

Paul Feig's Yahoo! Screen original series (2015) is one of streaming's early misses. It delivers a well-made space comedy that landed on a failing platform. Set in 2105, the show tracks the UMP Cruiser crew. They travel through a wormhole into an unknown universe. Captain Stewart Lipinski (Karan Soni), overenthusiastic but underqualified, leads them. His sister Karen (Bess Rous) is resentful. The series mixes workplace comedy with sci-fi action, setting a tone for shows likeAvenue 5 is listed in 'The 25 Best Comedy Sci-Fi TV Shows, Ranked By Fans'.The cast includes Mystery Science Theater 3000's is listed in 'The 25 Best Comedy Sci-Fi TV Shows, Ranked By Fans'.Joel Hodgson and Trace Beaulieu bring comedy skill and genre knowledge to their parts. Though it made eight episodes, Other Space earned praise. Its clever writing, character dynamics, and ability to make engaging stories overcome budget limits proved strong ideas and execution work.

David Jenkins created this show. It centers on an alien abductee support group in small-town Beacon, New York. Wyatt Cenac plays Ozzie Graham, a skeptical journalist. He joins the group after realizing his own repressed alien encounters. The show's genius lies in parallel storytelling. It splits time between the damaged support group members and the aliens watching them. This includes a bickering trio of extraterrestrials played by Ken Hall, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, and Michael Cassidy.People of Earth is listed in 'The 25 Best Comedy Sci-Fi TV Shows, Ranked By Fans'.The series treats human trauma and alien workplace comedy with equal sincerity. It builds a rich mythology while showing real empathy for characters' struggles. Though it ran two seasons, critics praised its subtle humor, stellar cast (including Ana Gasteyer and Oscar Nuñez), and fresh angles on old alien invasion tropes.

Steve Carell and Space Force are listed in 'The 25 Best Comedy Sci-Fi TV Shows, Ranked By Fans'.The Office is listed in 'The 25 Best Comedy Sci-Fi TV Shows, Ranked By Fans'.Creator Greg Daniels reunited for this 2020 Netflix series. It satirizes creating America's newest military branch. Carell plays General Mark Naird, a decorated Air Force officer. He leads the new United States Space Force with his skeptical chief scientist, Dr. Adrian Mallory (John Malkovich). The series has a great cast, including Lisa Kudrow, Ben Schwartz, and Jimmy O. Yang, and a timely premise based on real events.Space Force appears in 'The 25 Best Comedy Sci-Fi TV Shows, Ranked By Fans'.The show struggled to balance sharp political satire and workplace comedy. Its impressive production values and cinematic style, unusual for a comedy, showed Netflix's big investment; some episodes cost more than most feature films. It only ran for two seasons.Space Force stands out because it blends current political commentary with sci-fi elements and sitcom structure. It offers a unique view on militarizing space and bureaucratic silliness. Carell and Malkovich's chemistry gave the show its best moments; this proved rocket science can create character comedy.Space Force mixes modern political commentary with sci-fi and sitcom styles. It gives a fresh look at militarizing space and office absurdity. Carell and Malkovich's chemistry created the show's strongest moments, showing even rocket science works for character comedy.

This NBC show (1977-1978), made by comedy legend Buck Henry, follows Adam Quark (Richard Benjamin), commander of a United Galaxy Sanitation Patrol ship collecting space trash. The show mixes workplace comedy and sci-fi parody. The crew includes a plant-based science officer, clone navigators with different personalities, and a transmale first officer (long before gender identity was common). It lasted eight episodes.Quark's influence appears in later shows likeQuark's influence shows up in later series likeRed Dwarf.andFuturama.Quark shows up here, focusing on space blue-collar workers and tackling serious sci-fi ideas with humor. The show mixed big science fiction concepts with lowbrow office humor, setting a pattern for later shows. Its progressive views on gender and identity were ahead of its time for late-1970s network TV. Despite its short run,Quark remains a great example of how sci-fi comedy can address social issues while keeping its humor.Quark shows how science fiction comedy can handle social issues while keeping its humor.

ABC Family's 2008 series, adapted by Javier Grillo-Marxuach from his comic, is one of television's clever genre mixes. Natalie Morales plays Wendy Watson, an artist the mysterious Middleman (Matt Keeslar) hires to fight comic book threats while keeping a secret identity and trying to live a normal twenty-something life. The show uses fast dialogue, full of pop culture references and exaggerated comic book phrases ("Sweet Jupiter Jazz!"), creating a tone that both mocks and celebrates superhero and sci-fi tropes. It ran for only 12 episodes.The Middleman earned a devoted following for its sharp wit, lead chemistry, and ability to handle everything from evil Mexican wrestlers to zombie trout while keeping its own logic. The series acts as a lead-in to newer genre shows likeThe Middleman earned a devoted following for its sharp wit, lead chemistry, and ability to handle everything from evil Mexican wrestlers to zombie trout while keeping its own logic. The series sets the stage for newer genre shows likeDoom Patrol.proving smart, self-referential sci-fi comedy works even on a small cable budget.

Thisadult animated series.(2004-2007) 'Tripping the Rift' pushed computer animation and sci-fi satire. It began as an internet short before Sci-Fi Channel picked it up. The show tracks the adventures of the Jupiter 42 crew. Chode McBlob, the morally flexible purple alien, leads the crew. His android Six, voiced by Carmen Electra in season one and Gina Gershon later, joins them. Chris Moeller and Chuck Austen created the show.Tripping the Rift.Tripping the Rift used a hard-R approach to sci-fi parody. It tackled many subjects.Star Trek.toStar Wars.The show mixed adult humor with sharp social commentary. The CGI animation, though old now, moved television animation forward then. The series included crude humor and explicit content. Still, it offered clever critiques of religion, politics, and social issues. This made it a precursor to shows likeRick & Morty.Tripping the Rift blended high-concept sci-fi with deliberately provocative comedy.