1. The Office – Jim’s Pranks on Dwight
In “The Office,” Jim’s pranks on Dwight are legendary. One of the best moments is when Jim impersonates Dwight, saying, “Bears. Beets. Battlestar Galactica.” Dwight (Rainn Wilson) tries to keep a straight face, but you can see him struggling. They kept it in the show, and it’s now one of the most iconic scenes.
2. Friends – Ross’s Leather Pants
Remember that episode of “Friends” where Ross wears leather pants? While filming the scene where Ross struggles to get them back on, David Schwimmer’s antics made Jennifer Aniston (Rachel) laugh so hard she had to look away. The genuine laughter made the final cut, and we love it.
3. Parks and Recreation – Chris Pratt’s Improvised Line
Chris Pratt is known for his improvisation. In “Parks and Recreation,” there’s a scene where Andy (Pratt) tells Leslie (Amy Poehler), “Leslie, I typed your symptoms into the thing up here, and it says you could have network connectivity problems.” Poehler’s laugh was real, and they decided to keep it in the episode.
4. Brooklyn Nine-Nine – Jake’s Impressions
Andy Samberg, who plays Jake, often improvises. In one scene, he does impressions of other characters. Terry Crews (Terry) couldn’t stop laughing, and neither could we! The director loved the natural reactions and kept it in the show.
5. Superbad – McLovin ID Scene
In “Superbad,” when Fogell shows off his fake ID with the name McLovin, Jonah Hill (Seth) couldn’t keep a straight face. His laughter was so genuine that the director decided it was perfect for the scene.
6. The Avengers – Shawarma Scene
The post-credits shawarma scene in “The Avengers” was completely improvised. The actors were so exhausted and hungry that their reactions were 100% real. Director Joss Whedon loved it and kept it in the film.
7. The Good Place – Janet’s Impressions
In “The Good Place,” there’s a hilarious scene where Janet (D’Arcy Carden) mimics all the main characters. The cast couldn’t contain their laughter, and it’s clear they were genuinely amused. It made the final cut and became a fan favorite.
8. Harry Potter – Emma Watson’s Real Laugh
During the Yule Ball scene in “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,” Emma Watson’s laughter when dancing with Viktor Krum was real. She found the whole situation so funny that her giggles stayed in the movie.
9. Saturday Night Live – Debbie Downer
On “Saturday Night Live,” the Debbie Downer sketch is infamous. During one particular sketch at Disney World, the cast, including Rachel Dratch (Debbie), couldn’t keep it together. Their uncontrollable laughter was so infectious that it aired as is.
10. Seinfeld – The Puffy Shirt
In “Seinfeld,” the scene where Jerry reluctantly wears the puffy shirt had everyone in stitches. Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Elaine) struggled to keep a straight face, and her smirks were left in the episode.
11. Anchorman – The News Team’s Fight
In “Anchorman,” the news team fight scene is full of improv. Will Ferrell (Ron Burgundy) and the rest of the cast were cracking each other up so much that many of their genuine reactions stayed in the film.
12. New Girl – Schmidt’s Nicknames
Max Greenfield (Schmidt) comes up with endless nicknames for Jake Johnson’s character, Nick, on “New Girl.” Many of these were improvised, leaving Johnson genuinely laughing. These moments were often kept in because of their authenticity.
13. Friends – Pivot!
In “Friends,” Ross’s repeated shouts of “Pivot!” while moving a couch made David Schwimmer and the rest of the cast laugh so hard. Their reactions were so real that it became one of the most memorable scenes.
14. The Office – Kevin’s Chili
When Kevin spills his famous chili in “The Office,” Brian Baumgartner’s performance was so over-the-top that the cast couldn’t help but laugh. The scene was kept because it was just too funny.
15. The Princess Bride – Billy Crystal’s Improv
In “The Princess Bride,” Billy Crystal’s character Miracle Max was mostly improvised. His co-stars, including Mandy Patinkin, struggled to keep a straight face. Their genuine reactions added to the charm of the scene.
16. Scrubs – Dr. Cox’s Rants
John C. McGinley’s rants as Dr. Cox in “Scrubs” were often so funny that the cast burst into laughter. Zach Braff (JD) could barely hold it together, making the scenes even more enjoyable.
17. Ghostbusters – Bill Murray’s Ad-Libs
Bill Murray is known for his ad-libs, and “Ghostbusters” is no exception. His improvised lines often left the cast laughing, and many of these moments were kept in the film.
18. The Big Bang Theory – Sheldon’s Knock
Jim Parsons’ persistent knocking as Sheldon in “The Big Bang Theory” often led to genuine laughter from the cast. Kaley Cuoco (Penny) frequently broke character, and those takes were sometimes used in the final episodes.
19. Bridesmaids – Airplane Scene
In “Bridesmaids,” Kristen Wiig’s antics on the airplane had the entire cast laughing. Her improvisation was so hilarious that many of the genuine laughs were included in the final cut.
20. Modern Family – Fizbo the Clown
When Cameron dresses as Fizbo the Clown in “Modern Family,” Eric Stonestreet’s performance was so funny that the cast couldn’t stop laughing. Their real reactions made the scene even better.
21. Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back – “I Know”
Harrison Ford’s famous line “I know” in response to Leia’s “I love you” was improvised. Carrie Fisher’s reaction was genuine, making the moment iconic.
22. The 40-Year-Old Virgin – Chest Waxing
Steve Carell’s chest waxing scene in “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” was real, and so were the cast’s reactions. His genuine pain and their laughter made the scene unforgettable.
23. Guardians of the Galaxy – Groot’s Dancing
Groot’s little dance at the end of “Guardians of the Galaxy” had the cast and crew laughing so much that they decided to keep it in. It’s now one of the most beloved scenes.
24. How I Met Your Mother – Slap Bet
In “How I Met Your Mother,” the slap bet between Marshall and Barney led to some hilarious moments. Jason Segel’s (Marshall) genuine laughter made the scenes even funnier.
25. Thor: Ragnarok – “He’s a Friend From Work!”
Chris Hemsworth’s line “He’s a friend from work!” in “Thor: Ragnarok” was suggested by a young fan. The cast’s reactions were so genuine that it became one of the film’s standout moments.
26. The Simpsons – Homer’s “D’oh!”
Dan Castellaneta’s iconic “D’oh!” as Homer Simpson was originally an ad-lib. The cast and crew loved it so much that it became a staple of the show.
27. Deadpool – Ryan Reynolds’ Improvisation
Ryan Reynolds is known for his quick wit, and many of his lines in “Deadpool” were improvised. The cast’s genuine reactions made these moments even better, and they were often kept in the final cut.