I Thought Ranking Matt Berry’s Best Characters By How Funny They Are Would Be Easy, But I Stand Corrected

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As a die-hard fan of Matt Berry’s comedic genius, I must say that his career is nothing short of a rollercoaster ride through the realm of absurdity and humor. From the quirky to the downright bizarre, Berry has mastered the art of making audiences laugh with an eclectic array of characters that are as diverse as they are hilarious.

In a moment-by-moment evaluation, it’s plausible that Matt Berry could be the funniest being in existence. His one-of-a-kind voice, impeccable sense of timing, and unyielding stoicism make him a beloved cult figure worldwide. With the sixth and final season of What We Do in the Shadows now scheduled for 2024, it’s an opportune time to laud the array of brilliant characters he has brought to life.

Initially, I assumed the task of ranking Berry’s funniest characters would be straightforward and enjoyable. However, it soon became apparent that this was an unachievable feat, much like deciding which brick is most essential for building a house when your house is made of extraordinary bricks. Consequently, I opted to adopt a different method for acknowledging his most humorous roles.

Matt Berry’s Funniest TV Boss Character Who Has A Big Ol’ Mustache: Dixon Bainbridge (The Mighty Boosh)

Initially appearing in just four episodes during Season 1 of The Mighty Boosh, the character Dixon Bainbridge, a bearded adventurer and owner of Zooniverse, was unfortunately short-lived. However, his performances, such as the a cappella rendition of “Total Eclipse of the Heart” with Rich Fulcher’s Bob Fossil, were so remarkable that he would have earned a spot on this list even if he had only one scene to his credit. This man truly deserves the Egg of Mantumbi.

Matt Berry’s Funniest TV Boss Character Who Doesn’t Have A Big Ol’ Mustache: Douglas Reynholm (The IT Crowd)

One of Matt Berry’s unique talents lies in convincingly portraying a figure of authority who appears clueless about his workplace or those under him. This skill is exemplified by the character Douglas Reynholm, who even coined a phrase from being surprised by trousers designed to prevent erections: “Good heavens, these electric chastity pants!” Reynholm is just one example of why The IT Crowd stands out as an exceptional sitcom.

Matt Berry’s Funniest Failing Actor: Steven Toast (Toast Of London / Toast Of Tinseltown)

In a surprising twist, Matt Berry manages to make the bombastic arrogance of Steven Toast endearing, even if it depends on who he’s feuding with at any given moment, be that rival Ray “Bloody” Purchase or sound engineer Clem Fandango. Despite using only simple words like “Yes” and “No,” Berry skillfully crafts hilarious dialogue for the character of Steven Toast.

Matt Berry’s Funniest Non-Failing Actor: Todd Rivers / Dr. Lucien Sanchez (Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace)

The endless brilliance of Matthew Holness’ genre-parodying series “Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace” is undeniable, and there’s not a second where Matt Berry isn’t hilarious. He delivers out-of-sync lines as the intellectually challenged medical professional Dr. Sanchez in the show-within-a-show’s haunted hospital, or provides pseudo-wise commentary as actor Todd Rivers. Berry and his co-stars masterfully transform poorly acted scenes into genuine works of art.

Matt Berry’s Funniest Homicidal Robots: Mister Handy & Snip Snip (Fallout)

In the first season of Fallout, he takes on three characters with limited screen time, and Sebastian Leslie is quite hilarious in his own right. However, Berry’s powerful vocal performance stands out so much that even one-episode appearances as the versatile robot Mister Handy and the task-specific bot Snip Snip earned fan-favorite status. Fans were even hoping that Berry would voice all the mystery handbots in the game series.

Matt Berry’s Funniest Royal Figure Who Gets Turned Into A Pig: Prince Merkimer (Disenchantment)

In a different phrasing: If not for the captivating voice of Berry, the character Prince Merkimer from Disenchantment might be one of the most unpleasant figures in all fantasy animation due to his pompous and dim-witted demeanor. His large and boastful nostrils only serve to make him more unappealing. Watching such a character more frequently would be almost agonizing, but Berry’s performance makes it enjoyable to do so. To not see them more often would be “unbearable.

Matt Berry’s Funniest Shitty Man And Shitty Copper: Detective Inspector Eli Rabbit (Year Of The Rabbit)

In the Victorian detective comedy “Year of the Rabbit,” Berry deviated slightly from convention by portraying Eli Rabbit, a character who balances his unwavering commitment to his job with an equally impressive amount of alcohol in his system. Given that the series is set over 140 years ago, it affords the actor the chance to transform outdated language and attitudes into hilarious gems – assuming, of course, that exclamations like “I’ve got 29 dog shits in my pockets!” were a part of everyday speech back then.

Matt Berry’s Funniest Ensemble Of Sketch Characters: High Executioner & Others (Snuff Box)

In an entertaining twist, Rich Fulcher from “The Mighty Boosh” teamed up with Matt Berry for the quirky and consistently surprising television series “Snuff Box.” This show features a unique setting – a gentleman’s club for executioners. While the hilarity never fades, I can assure you that I will never grow tired of Berry’s character who is a womanizer, whose humor lies in assisting a woman with a task until the unfortunate moment she discloses she’s in a relationship.

Matt Berry’s Funniest Personification Of Puberty: Butt Witch (Twelve Forever)

I’m significantly older than the intended audience for the animated series “Twelve Forever,” and I wouldn’t have discovered it if not for Matt Berry’s voice acting as the character Butt Witch. Butt Witch is one of Berry’s less dense comedic characters, serving as a precursor to chaos. Her villainous actions are even more absurd because she speaks with Berry’s soothing voice.

Matt Berry’s Funniest Undead Erudite: Laszlo Cravensworth (What We Do In The Shadows)

Considering TV audiences have been allowed more time with What We Do in the Shadows‘ Laszlo than any other character in Matt Berry’s character in Matt Berry’s career, that should automatically vault him to the top of the rankings. But beyond that, Laszlo really is funny enough to take the top prize here. He’s turned the word “Ba-a-at!” into a catchphrase (one that fans yell at him from all directions), and should be recognized for having the world record for funniest way to stretch a single syllable out. He’s my rotten solder, my sweet cheese, and that’s a fa-a-a-act, Jack.

To be honest, among all the diverse characters Matt Berry has brought to life throughout his career, from Shlub in Krapopolis to King Poseidon in that SpongeBob SquarePants film, I can’t help but yearn for more. Frankly, I’m even eager to include his Cat in the Hat persona in this list, despite being unfamiliar with its details, as well as his other upcoming projects slated for 2025. However, for now, these entries will have to make do.

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2024-12-17 02:37