Murderville recently released its full season (6 episodes) to Netflix and is quickly becoming a fan favorite due to the refreshing premise and, of course, its cast of comedy characters. But who among them is "the funniest"?
Comedy is a truly subjective artform. What may come off as hilarious to one, may not be the case to another. Though that sentiment doesn't stand as true when it comes to improv comedy. Watching an actor try not to laugh, and fail, is always entertaining to watch. Each episode gives the cast a chance to outdo or one-up each other, leading to characters breaking (laughing) or the bit completely falling flat.
10 Ken Jeong
Comedic actors should be some of the funniest inclusions to a show like Murderville. Seeing an actor break can be the punchline of an already funny scene, but it can also be overdone and completely lose the momentum setup in that moment.
Jeong laughs at everything throughout his appearance, to the point that it derails the episode. In one scene, in particular, Arnett appears to break character and say "get it together, man" while he and Jeong are on a stakeout. A line from Arnett to Jeong to pull himself together, really causes the comedy to lose steam.
9 Detective Darren 'Daz' Phillips (Phillip Smithey)
Detective Darren 'Daz' Phillips isn't given enough time to shine throughout the series. What makes his character funny is his approach to fostering a friendship with Terry Seattle, the ex-husband of his girlfriend Chief Rhonda Jenkins-Seattle (Haneefah Wood).
It's not that he was the least funny, but there is never enough time with the character to let those comedic moments shine. A handful of awkward exchanges throughout the series can deliver some funny moments, but there is never a moment where Daz makes another character laugh. When a show is based on ridiculous improv, there needs to be those moments to make a character stand out.
8 Amber Kang (Lilan Bowden)
Every procedural crime drama needs a forensics expert. Amber Kang's inclusion in each episode of Murderville is to offer insight into Terry and his rotating partner's case.
What makes her stand out is her dry delivery and bang on comedy timing. Likely something that she gained from her time as Sara on the hilarious It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Kang is a character that leaves the viewer wanting more at the end of each episode. While she did manage to make her costars crack a smirk in a handful of episodes, there is never a truly stand-out moment that leaves everyone in the room incapable of maintaining composure.
7 Conan O'Brien
While some characters burst out laughing too much, Conan O'Brien managed to keep his composure - for the most part - much better. Conan isn't the strongest actor in the series, but his ability to roll with a joke or "yes, and..." with Arnett made for some truly funny moments.
It is little moments like the diner scene, where they are both are barely managing to keep it together, that not only made it a strong contender for "best episode", but also sets up the right tone for the series as a whole.
6 Rhonda Jenkins-Seattle (Haneefah Wood)
Chief Jenkins' (Wood) character plays more of a support role in the Netflix series. While her role is smaller, Rhonda brings some of the best comedy the show has to offer with the subplot of a relationship triangle between her, Seattle, and Daz.
Chief Jenkins isn't given much in the way of screen time, but her inclusion is a welcome structure in a show that seems completely off the rails. Jenkins acts as an anchor for the show's cast and it's hard to say if she's sticking to a script or improving with Arnett.
5 Marshawn Lynch
This isn't Marshawn's first role in a police comedy. He appeared in an episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine and clearly left an impression because he's back and - surprisingly - funnier than ever.
It's always difficult terrain when sports stars and other non-actors try their hand at acting. It can be comedy gold or funny for the wrong reasons, in this case, it was all the right reasons. Whether that comes down to creative editing or Marshawn's excellent timing remains unclear. But the interaction he has with Seattle, Kang, and Tommy Tuxedo was one of the standout moments from the series.
4 Kumail Nanjiani
This is what happens when a comedy actor gets paired with a comedy actor. Nanjiani (Silicon Valley) has the comedy chops to keep up with Seattle (Arnett) and manages to do so, beautifully.
One of the best interactions of the series is when Nanjiani asks Seattle (Arnett) to "impersonate a person from Pakistan, but don't be racist". There's nothing funnier than an actor almost losing their composure. Nanjiani brilliantly teetered on the line of breaking in this scene, but manages to pull himself back from the brink. Which was just one moment in an episode riddled with stellar comedy moments.
3 Sharon Stone
Oscar-nominated actress Sharon Stone doesn't normally gravitate towards comedic roles. This is why her ability to outshine Arnett in certain scenes is so commendable. With almost 30 years as a dramatic actress under her belt, it was strange to see her appear in episode 5.
The way she managed to navigate a ridiculous morgue scene, covered in corn syrup, while keeping a straight face is just as funny as if she were to have burst out laughing. Possibly even funnier when partnered with the fact that Will Arnett was barely able to keep it together.
2 Terry Seattle (Will Arnett)
Will Arnett has been honing his improv abilities since Will & Grace and is the perfect choice to lead a show like Murderville. He balances the line of laughter and deadpan delivery throughout all 6 episodes of the series.
Some of the best moments of the show came from Arnett's character. The way he coached partners through an earpiece with ridiculous names, berated them for breaking character, or buries his face into a napkin to block his laughter is why he stands out in this series. His narration between scenes, while scripted, was always a perfect setup and his ability to improv should be taught in a masterclass.
1 Annie Murphy
Canadian actor Annie Murphy may not be a household name to anyone that hasn't seen Schitt's Creek, but her addition to Murderville gave fans some of the funniest improv of the entire season.
"Johnny Maplecock. 'The Pancake King' of the Tristate Area" is, without a doubt, the funniest moment in the entire series. The anticipation of watching to see the entire scene go off the rails, but somehow never does is ripe throughout the episode. Murphy has moments where she barely manages to keep it together, moments where she doesn't and moments where she brings Arnett out of character. This is what makes Annie Murphy Murderville's funniest character.
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