Some of the funniest TV scenes are because an actor couldn't keep a straight face. For this list, we’ll be looking at scenes in various TV series where an actor breaks character. We will not be including live sketch series however, as they deserve a list of their own.
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00:00Welcome to Miss Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the top 10 TV scenes where
00:08actors couldn't keep a straight face.
00:11What about if I tell you the things I don't want?
00:14For this list, we'll be looking at scenes in various TV series where an actor breaks
00:19character.
00:20We will not be including live sketch series like Saturday Night Live, however, as they
00:24deserve their own list.
00:26Did you notice any of these goofs?
00:28Let us know in the comments below!
00:31Number 10.
00:32Rosa Smiles – Brooklyn Nine-Nine On Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Rosa Diaz is the resident
00:39tough one, which is why it's so bizarre to see her laughing.
00:45In one of the show's most memorable cold opens, Amy is late for work, prompting her
00:49co-workers to theorize where she is.
00:52Captain Holt soon saunters up and asks why no one is working.
01:02When he adds that he'd like to join in their little game, actress Stephanie Beatriz totally
01:06breaks character.
01:11She smiles and covers her grinning mouth with her hand.
01:14It's quite amazing that Andre Brouwer can make someone laugh with so little effort.
01:21Number 9.
01:22Peanut Butter Rap – Community Okay, seeing Jim Rash dressed as a peanut
01:27candy bar is enough to make anyone break out laughing.
01:37To apologize for Payday being late, Dean Pelton dresses as a Payday bar and performs a rap
01:42for the students.
01:44Joel McHale and Gillian Jacobs clearly have a tough job, as they're forced into the
01:48same shot as the rapping Jim Rash.
01:58They do their best to keep it together, but Jacobs just barely holds on.
02:09When she turns back in shock after the Dean runs out of the room, it's very clear that
02:13she's holding in a laugh.
02:15Number 8.
02:17Yes, Prime Minister.
02:19This is a British political satire that ran on the BBC throughout the back half of the
02:24eighties.
02:25In a particular scene, Prime Minister Jim Hacker explains the demographics of certain
02:29newspapers to the character Humphrey Appleby.
02:39He lists off many popular papers and gives a quick yet hilarious explanation regarding
02:43their readership.
02:44It is all performed in one continuous shot.
03:02When the camera finally cuts back to Humphrey, actor Nigel Hawthorne is clearly stifling
03:07a laugh.
03:12His smile is hilariously evident, and he even touches his nose in a desperate attempt
03:16to stop the laughter from breaking out.
03:19Number 7.
03:20The Spider Song.
03:21It's always sunny in Philadelphia.
03:24There are many scenes throughout this beloved FX sitcom where actors break character by
03:29either smiling or giggling.
03:37In season 9's The Gang Tries Desperately to Win an Award, Charlie gets high on paint
03:42fumes and sings about spiders in his soul.
03:45The second he starts, the camera cuts to actor Rob McElhenney, who nearly breaks with a laugh.
03:56Instead, he hangs his head in shame so that his face cannot be seen.
04:03However, faint glimmers of a smile can still be seen around his mouth and cheeks, betraying
04:08the otherwise clever idea.
04:13Number 6.
04:14Spitting on the Baby.
04:16Third Rock from the Sun.
04:18Joseph Gordon-Levitt is a consummate professional, but even he is prone to breaking character
04:23from time to time.
04:24In a second season episode of Third Rock from the Sun, Harry and Tommy are reluctantly feeding
04:29Mrs. Dubcek's grandson.
04:40The scene is shot from the baby's point of view, and at one point, he spits his food
04:45back onto Tommy's face.
04:53In a great bit of improvisation, French Stewart puts some food into his mouth and spit it
04:57onto the camera in an act of retaliation.
05:05Joseph Gordon-Levitt wasn't expecting it, however, and he breaks out with some obvious
05:10laughter.
05:11Admittedly, it really works with the scene.
05:14Number 5.
05:15Dean's Outburst – Supernatural.
05:18This fantasy show worked in large part due to the chemistry of Jensen Ackles and Jared
05:24Padalecki.
05:25It's obvious that the two legitimately got along and enjoyed each other's company.
05:33One only needs to watch this scene to see that.
05:35In the third season episode, Bad Day at Black Rock, Bella steals Dean's winning lottery
05:40tickets.
05:41Upon this realization, Dean utters a loud curse, which causes Jared Padalecki to break.
05:47He is clearly smiling and trying to contain himself before the words are even uttered,
05:51but when they are, he turns away from the camera so that his laugh cannot be seen.
05:55Luckily, this laugh also works for the scene, so the editors decided to keep it in.
06:02Number 4.
06:03The Answering Machine Message – Curb Your Enthusiasm.
06:07Actors containing their laughter on Curb Your Enthusiasm should probably be worth an Emmy.
06:13Unfortunately, neither Larry David nor Richard Lewis could keep it composed in this scene.
06:22The two are viciously arguing over an answering machine message.
06:27The mere concept of the two grown men nearly coming to blows over a stolen answering machine
06:32message is hilarious, and it quickly gets to the actors.
06:47The argument begins well enough, but it's not long before they are both smiling and
06:52desperately trying to contain their laughter.
06:54David has a particularly hard time, and at one point, he audibly breaks into a giggle.
07:12He tried.
07:13He really did.
07:14Number 3.
07:15Kramer's Busted Car – Seinfeld.
07:18If anyone has ever seen Seinfeld, they'll know that Jerry often has trouble keeping
07:23himself from smirking.
07:25Meanwhile, if you've ever seen bloopers from the show, you'll know that Julia Louis-Dreyfus
07:30had a hard time staying in character.
07:32However, in this instance, the giggles come from Jason Alexander.
07:36The script for The Parking Garage had the gang driving away at the very end, but when
07:47it came time to shoot the scene, the car wouldn't start.
07:56This made for an even funnier ending.
07:59It also resulted in natural reactions from the actors.
08:02Jason Alexander can be seen in the backseat smiling and turning away from the camera.
08:07This wasn't the only time Alexander broke, however.
08:09He can also be seen laughing after Kramer's burp in the Merv Griffin Show episode.
08:21Number 2.
08:22Ross Plays the Bagpipes – Friends.
08:25If there's one thing that Jennifer Aniston finds hilarious, it's instruments being
08:30played badly.
08:35In season 4, she openly laughs while David Schwimmer plays the keyboard.
08:39Three seasons later, Ross decides to play the bagpipes at Monica's wedding, despite
08:44having no prior experience.
08:46Schwimmer actually played the bagpipes for the scene, which made things even better.
08:58Lisa Kudrow somehow manages to keep it together and begins singing along to Ross' horrible
09:03noise.
09:04Of course, that's what finally breaks Jennifer Aniston.
09:20The actress can be seen smiling and covering her mouth.
09:22She eventually fully breaks and buries her face in her hand.
09:26It still manages to work with the scene, and we are so happy they left it in.
09:47Number 1.
09:48Prison Mike – The Office.
09:51Steve Carell has a natural ability to make everyone laugh.
10:03In the episode, Secret Santa, Ed Helms had to actually abandon a shot because he was
10:08laughing so hard.
10:09However, the most memorable reactions can be seen when Carell plays Prison Mike.
10:14On the Office Ladies podcast, Angela Kinsey revealed that the cast had a really tough
10:19time getting through this scene.
10:31She points to John Krasinski and Phyllis Smith in particular, as both can be seen breaking
10:35character and laughing.
10:37For example, Krasinski is legitimately laughing after Michael mentions the Dementors.
10:51Luckily, Rashida Jones keeps it together long enough to ask if he just stole a supernatural
10:57creature from a fantasy novel, which he totally didn't.