Television has portrayed death in a variety of poignant, dramatic, and intensely emotional ways, with many of our most popular TV dramas involving murder, doctors, and, on occasion, even funeral directors. But situation comedies have also played an important role in shaping our cultural view of death and dying through painfully funny and irreverent episodes that poke fun at death and remind us all not to take our mortality too seriously. These five sitcom episodes address death with humor, grace, and, sometimes, surprising sensitivity.
“The Saga of Cousin Oscar” – All in the Family
Groundbreaking in myriad ways, All in the Family pushed the envelope with much of its content. In “The Saga of Cousin Oscar,” Archie’s freeloading cousin dies while visiting the Bunkers, prompting a debate about how to dispose of the body. Curmudgeonly Archie isn’t happy about having to foot the bill for a funeral, and considers burying Oscar in a potter’s field. But when he realizes that funerals are really for the living, and that his family needs the closure of a traditional funeral, he begrudgingly hosts a funeral, even delivering the eulogy.
“Farewell, Mr. Hooper” – Sesame Street
Sesame Street is known for tackling some pretty tough subjects for a kids’ show populated by puppets. In their first brush with death, the show had to address the death of Will Lee, the actor who played Mr. Hooper, who died of a heart attack in 1982. Sesame Street decides to face the reality of the death head on. After consulting with psychologists, head writer Norman Stiles and his team wrote a script that sought to address death directly while assuaging the fears of their young viewers.
When Big Bird asks about his missing friend, he is told that Mr. Hooper has died, that he won’t be coming back, and that Big Bird will continue to have loving caretakers in his life. The episode also acknowledges the helplessness of adults in the face of death. “Why does it have to be this way?” asks Big Bird. No one has any answer except “just because.”
“I Don’t Want to Wait…” – King of the Hill
It’s no surprise that Mike Judge satirizes death as well as he does everything else. In this shockingly sensitive “death-positive” TV moment, Hank Hill, the loveable Texan family man at the heart of the show, decides to build caskets for himself and his wife as their teenage son grapples with becoming an adult. In one scene, we find the couple lounging in their matching caskets in Hank’s garage workshop, sipping champagne and enjoying a night away from their family. “If you bury Peggy Hill in an inferior casket, she will come back to haunt you,” Peggy quips. Later, when noises from outside raise Peggy’s mom alarm, she asks Hank, “Should I get out of my coffin and see what’s going on?”
“Over my dead body,” laughs Hank, as they settle back into their cozy, death-aware date night.
“Grief Counseling” – The Office
When Michael Scott’s former boss dies tragically—decapitated while riding his motorcycle—Michael ineptly tries to help his employees process the grief he assumes they should all feel. In classic Michael Scott style, his obnoxious behavior throughout the episode belies his fear that no one will care when he dies. Later in the episode, a bird flies into the office window and dies. Sensing Michael’s concern, Pam, as always, finds a way to reassure him by planning a funeral for the unfortunate bird. Michael’s fear, however absurdly portrayed, is nothing less than a painfully funny illustration of Ernest Becker’s philosophy that fear of death drives all human actions.
“Beloved Aunt” – Curb Your Enthusiasm
Leave it to Larry David to give us a death episode that manages to make us cringe while suppressing a laugh. When Larry is tasked with writing the newspaper obituary for Cheryl’s aunt, he makes a predictable typo, and hilarity ensues as the family thinks he did it on purpose. Larry’s ineptitude continues landing him in hot water as he gets ejected from his house, his best friend Jeff’s house, and a hotel after a series of awkward misunderstandings. This episode reminds us that death is tragic, but living can be mortifying.
