Top 10 Funniest Fourth Wall Breaks in Sitcoms

Liz Lemon might not be the kind to go for product placement, but hey, everyone has bills to pay! It seems the “30 Rock” writers feel the same way, which is why they go for a more blatant approach to these marketing tricks. One classic moment has Liz and Jack chatting about Verizon. After promoting the brand, Tina Fey breaks character and jokes about the obvious cash grab. Another hilarious example happens when the “30 Rock” crew heads to Boston. Liz notices Jack’s office looks just like his New York one. Almost identical, that is. The audience is then invited to play a fun game of “Spot the Difference.”

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen played the adorable Michelle Tanner in the original “Full House.” About a decade after the show ended, they quit acting to focus on fashion. When “Fuller House” was announced, everyone wondered if they would come back. Spoiler alert: they didn’t. The show had to find a creative way to explain why she was missing. They mention Michelle here and there because she is still part of the family. The funniest moment is in the pilot when Stephanie asks where her little sister is, and their dad responds. If that isn’t enough of a giveaway, the cast’s look to the camera makes sure we all get it.

TV shows tend to get rather inventive when they need to hide an actor’s pregnancy—some methods are more effective than others. When Lauren Lane, who played C.C. Babcock, became pregnant, “The Nanny” used all the usual tricks to hide her bump. Yet, instead of ignoring the pregnancy, they drew attention to it by mocking some of the more laughable attempts often seen on TV. Seeing her hold oversized props is already hilarious, but pointing out how obvious these tricks are makes it even better. And if you missed all the hints, there’s one moment so in your face that the only thing more obvious would be if the baby announced itself.

Season four of “Seinfeld” gets very meta when Jerry and George start writing a sitcom about nothing for NBC. The guys talk about how hard it is to write a funny sitcom with real, believable characters. George takes their pilot script to his therapist, but she’s not a fan. He doesn’t take the criticism well and lashes out. After the therapist tells him he needs to handle negative feedback better, he blames Jerry instead. Reportedly, this was a dig at series co-creator Larry David, who reportedly hated his time on the series and wasn’t keen on feedback from NBC execs. Sure, George doesn’t threaten to quit, but he’s still responsible for getting their pilot canceled in this episode.

In season 11, Frasier reunites with his ex-wife— no, not Lilith. His other ex-wife, Nanette, played by Laurie Metcalf. Nanette’s a children’s entertainer who is tired of the same old routine. When Frasier rebuffs her attempt to rekindle their romance after learning she’s married, all her frustrations spill out. Now, by this point, Kelsey Grammer had been playing the role of Dr. Frasier Crane for basically that long on “Cheers” and his eponymous series combined. So, yeah, we’re thinking he has some idea of what it’s like. Imagine if someone had told him he’d be playing the character again 20 years after his final “Goodnight, Seattle” in the original series.

In 1989, a woman searching for an age-appropriate TV show to watch with her children stumbled upon “Married… with Children” just as Al and Steve head into a… get ready to clutch your pearls… lingerie salesroom. This prompted her to start a one-woman crusade to get the series canceled. After losing sponsorships, the network responded by pushing episodes to a later time slot and reigning in its more explicit humor. However, they also couldn’t resist making a dig at it all. The Bundys gather to watch a sitcom based on their lives, only to discover it’s been axed. Fortunately, that’s not how it actually ended for them. The increased attention only put the show on more people’s radar.

As a kid, didn’t you hate it when your favorite TV shows got moved to a later timeslot, past your bedtime? That’s exactly what the kid Topanga babysits complains about in this episode. Only it’s actually a not-so-subtle jab at ABC, which had recently pushed the show from its prime slot to an hour later to accommodate its new content. Anyway, as Cory is about to head home, Billy relays the content of the episode, and you know what? We’d totally watch that! Quite a witty way to poke back at the network, don’t you think? Speaking of fourth wall breaks, how about this hilarious exchange between Cory and Eric?

Throughout this sitcom, Abed masters breaking the fourth wall, often pointing out when the gang resorts to classic sitcom tropes. In Jeff’s subconscious, he’s even cast as a character named “Fourth Wall.” Yet, going back to the pilot, the cast does the most to knock through the fourth wall’s foundations. During their first study session, they lay everything out on the table. While they don’t directly address the audience, their analysis of what’s happening around them feels like they’re commenting on the show itself. The series would continue to brilliantly blur the line between the fictional world of the series and the reality of television throughout its run.

Fewer series love smashing through the fourth wall harder than “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” Like the time, Will casually mentions the theme song while chatting with his Philly friends. It also uses this device to explain Nicky’s rapid growth and acknowledge casting changes. Yeah, motherhood may change a person, but not that drastically! A standout moment involves Carlton actor Alfonso Ribeiro—yes, that one. After falling for Will’s retaliation prank, Carlton reacts in horror, fleeing the kitchen and improvising a mad dash through the set and across the studio. It’s hilariously over the top and one of the series’ funniest moments. The resulting laughter in the studio and likely in countless homes proved it was a comedic success!

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Who’d Watch a TV Show About Teen Psychics?, “That’s So Raven” (2003-07)
Yeah, Who’d Watch That? It Would Never Even Get a Spinoff, Right?

This Is Real Life, “Phineas and Ferb” (2007-15)
If Only Life Were a Sitcom…

Loose Cannonball, “Family Matters” (1989-98)
A More Literal Take On Breaking the Fourth Wall

“Tell Your Friends”, “Arrested Development” (2003-06; 2013-19)
No Beating Around the Bush Here

Rachel’s Haircut, “Friends” (1994-2004)
Everyone Else Was Getting “The Rachel,” Why Shouldn’t Rachel’s Mom Jump on That Bandwagon, Too?

Does anyone do a fourth wall break quite like “The Simpsons”? We especially love it when the thing they’re slyly poking fun at is the very network on which they air? Their confidence in pushing boundaries is unmatched, with seemingly nothing off-limits. In recent years, they’ve especially enjoyed targetting Fox News with plenty of gusto. They know they’re one of the network’s most lucrative assets, making them nearly untouchable. Heck, they’ve even joked about their secure position. According to creator Matt Groening, a gag about then-chairman Rupert Murdoch almost led to legal action until Fox realized suing “The Simpsons” would be as futile as Moe suing Duff Beer.

What’s your favorite fourth wall-breaking sitcom moment? Let us know in the comments!