Dark Side of Comedy backdrop
Dark Side of Comedy poster
Documentary

The Best Episodes of Dark Side of Comedy

Every episode of Dark Side of Comedy ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Dark Side of Comedy!

The Best Episodes of Dark Side of Comedy

Throughout the history of comedy, many comedians have lost themselves to the art’s darker side, through addiction, suicide, depression and self-destruction. Dark Side of Comedy...

Seasons2

  1. 7.9/10(56 votes)

    #1 - Robin Williams

    S2:E1

    Robin Williams’ suicide shocked the world. While he was one of the most successful comedians ever, he was struggling privately with crushing health and psychological issues.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  2. 7.8/10(50 votes)

    #2 - Phil Hartman

    S2:E5

    Phil Hartman was a beloved SNL and Simpsons cast member, but his squeaky clean image was at odds with a toxic marriage that descended into a tragic murder-suicide.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  3. 7.7/10(157 votes)

    #3 - Chris Farley

    S1:E1

    Struggling with addiction and a dangerously low self-image, Chris Farley’s old friends at Saturday Night Live conspired to help save the falling star.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  4. 7.7/10(79 votes)

    #4 - Greg Giraldo

    S1:E7

    How comedian Greg Giraldo's career, and life, is sabotaged by a toxic mix of addiction and self-loathing.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  5. 7.6/10(106 votes)

    #5 - Artie Lange

    S1:E4

    Artie Lange enjoyed mainstream success as a comedian on TV and radio, but his addiction to heroin, coupled with childhood traumas, threatened to thwart his ambition... and his life.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  6. 7.6/10(37 votes)

    #6 - Tracy Morgan

    S2:E6

    Tracy Morgan survived drug-dealing, hyper-competitive SNL, and substance abuse. But a brutal car accident and two-week coma made him finally confront his childhood demons.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 WORST Episodes of Dark Side of Comedy

    READ
  8. 7.6/10(31 votes)

    #7 - Gilda Radner

    S2:E10

    Gilda Radner was SNL's first female star. But her pioneering success was plagued by trauma, eating disorders, heartbreak and cancer, all of which she turned into comedy material.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  9. 7.5/10(95 votes)

    #8 - Richard Pryor

    S1:E5

    Richard Pryor confronted America with brutal honesty like no other comic. But while he fought for a voice on stage, he was losing his own battle to drugs and family trauma.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  10. 7.5/10(79 votes)

    #9 - Brett Butler

    S1:E8

    How Brett Butler gained everything, only to lose it all.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  11. 7.3/10(83 votes)

    #10 - Dustin Diamond

    S1:E6

    Dustin Diamond found fame as a lovable geek on Saved By The Bell. But when it ended, Dustin was lost, descending into one tragic chapter after another.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  12. 7.3/10(49 votes)

    #11 - Norm MacDonald

    S2:E9

    On SNL and beyond, Norm MacDonald was legendary for his fearless comedy. But his controversial persona concealed a serious gambling problem and a secret that he took to his grave.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  13. 7.2/10(51 votes)

    #12 - Joan Rivers

    S2:E3

    Joan Rivers' insults made her a comedy icon, but the pressures of a male-dominated industry led to eating disorders, self-loathing, and a deadly addiction to plastic surgery.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  14. 7.0/10(66 votes)

    #13 - Maria Bamford

    S1:E10

    How Maria Bamford channels her mental illness into comedy, and encourages others to do the same.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  15. 7.0/10(56 votes)

    #14 - Sam Kinison

    S2:E2

    Sam Kinison revolutionized comedy with a vulgar, sexist act, but his appetite for cocaine and chaos would lead to a dramatic downfall at the height of his massive success.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  16. 6.9/10(73 votes)

    #15 - Freddie Prinze

    S1:E9

    A working class Peurto Rican kid, Freddie Prinze exploded onto the comedy scene but his overnight fame came to an abrupt end.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  17. 6.7/10(103 votes)

    #16 - Roseanne Barr

    S1:E3

    Brash, bold, and hilariously funny, Roseanne Barr made a name speaking her mind. And that very same impulse may have cost her her career.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  18. 6.4/10(34 votes)

    #17 - Ellen DeGeneres

    S2:E8

    Ellen DeGeneres revolutionized TV with a unique brand of positive humor, but behind the scenes a massive controversy was brewing--one that would tarnish her image forever.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  19. 6.3/10(47 votes)

    #18 - Carlos Mencia

    S2:E4

    Carlos Mencia was one of the biggest comics in America until accusations of joke theft led to one of the most dramatic downfalls in comedy history.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  20. 6.1/10(157 votes)

    #19 - Andrew Dice Clay

    S1:E2

    In the late 80s Andrew Dice Clay was one of the biggest comedians on the planet. His controversial brand of comedy found a huge base with white men in America... but at what cost?

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  21. 5.8/10(45 votes)

    #20 - Family Matters

    S2:E7

    Family Matters was one of the most wholesome sitcoms of the 90s, but the success of the show led to issues for many cast members who are still dealing with trauma and addiction.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A

Best Episodes Summary

"Robin Williams" is the best rated episode of "Dark Side of Comedy". It scored 7.9/10 based on 56 votes. Directed by N/A and written by N/A, it aired on 10/17/2023. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "Phil Hartman".