The "Comedians' Favorite Comedies" section has its first anniversary (nothing fancy, but nice), and there was also a recent anniversary! For the fifth edition, we decided to invite not only people who are directly on stage, but also someone closely connected to the comedy industry, yet often remains behind the scenes. And yes, due to longer breaks between materials and in honor of the pleasant occasion, there are again seven guests!

Valera Artyukhov — stand-up comedian, resident of the show "StandUp" on TNT, host of the show "Homies" on VK Video and "Listen Here" on YouTube

I'm afraid a couple of great comedies won't cut it, so I'll have a selection:

"Vacation" — a remake of a classic road movie with an incredible density of sketches and gags. In vibe, the film resembles the more widely known comedy "We're the Millers," but with many more jokes. The plot is less connected than in "Millers," but it's still a full-fledged single movie, not just a collection of sketches like "Movie 43." In atmosphere, the film even somewhat reminds of classic comedies by the Zucker brothers like "Airplane!" or "The Naked Gun." The scene "And what's your pet's name?" — is one of my absolute favorites.

"Game Night." A visually very bright comedy, sometimes even reminiscent of music videos. Comic characters (the character of Jesse Plemons is sheer chic), a couple of unexpected cameos, and just an interesting plot with quality jokes make the film worth watching. Some scenes in vibe resemble sketches from SNL. In short, it's a cool comedy that everyone I recommended it to liked.

Next, I'll recommend a film that was released in our distribution under the title "The Grand Seduction," with the always amazing Brendan Gleeson. Although, if you think about it, the literal translation "The Great Seduction" conveys the essence of the plot much better. A very kind, sweet, and non-vulgar comedy that you can safely watch with the whole family. It might even make you love cricket as much as Taylor Kitsch's character does.

"About Time." I adore all works by Richard Curtis. You can just open his filmography and watch everything in a row. I especially recommend doing this during the New Year holidays. His films are woven from kindness, light, and love. Plus, they have genuinely funny jokes and characters. And "About Time" captivates with its bright world and touching message, which is revealed in plain text in the film's finale.

From multi-episode projects, I recommend watching "Veep." It's a less known series to the domestic audience compared to, say, "Friends," "How I Met Your Mother," or "The Office," but I really like it. Moreover, in the first couple of seasons, both the characters and this whole world of big US politics, hyperbolized to even greater absurdity than it is in reality, really got me. And starting from the third or fourth season, each episode had at least one moment that made me laugh out loud. In America, this series has collected a billion various awards. Plus, there's the amazing Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who was first the main female face of the legendary "Seinfeld," and here she solos with full force.

Roman Kovalev

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And finally — "Fleabag." Unusual. Unified. Simultaneously very thick and very subtly presented irony and post-irony. Dirty. Funny. Brilliant.

If you are not familiar with Valera's work, we recommend watching his first solo concert (click here and watch).

Konstantin Malasaev — stand-up comedian, resident of the show "Comedy Club" on TNT

Since I watch more series than movies, I probably won't be original if I highlight "We're the Millers" and "Vacation." Both are road movies where, with very high density, funny, amusing, and absurd situations befall the main characters' path. This is that very type of "American comedy" familiar to almost everyone: somewhere vulgar, somewhere hilarious to tears. After the premiere of "We're the Millers," I got the impression that many viewers (including comedians) called it "the funniest comedy ever." So when "Vacation" came out two years later, it might not have hit as loudly, but the "Albanian Honda" definitely stuck in the heart.

Among series, I'll note "Police Squad!" where Leslie Nielsen first appeared as Frank Drebin. So to speak, the precursor to "The Naked Gun." The project came out in 1982 and perfectly parodied all the police films of that time, gathering on screen a cocktail of great absurd humor and the charisma of the great Leslie Nielsen. Among the many directors of the series are the Zucker brothers themselves, so fans of their work and style of humor will definitely enjoy the show. I recommend it.

I also recommend "Inside No. 9," where the main roles are played by Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith, who are part of the English comedy troupe called "The League of Gentlemen." Actually, besides playing the main roles, Pemberton and Shearsmith are among the directors, producers, and writers of this anthology series. Each episode here is not connected to the previous one, and they can even be in different genres (but there are plenty of comedy episodes), and the only thing that unites them is that the action always takes place inside number nine: a house, a hotel room, or another place associated with the number "9." The project has many extraordinary scenes with interesting endings, and it is filled with great subtle English humor. I especially recommend paying attention to the second episode of the first season — it's very unusual.

And for fans (and not only) of Mr. Bean, there is a relatively recent series "Man vs. Bee," where Rowan Atkinson, alone in a room, fights against, well, a bee. The series has fairly short episodes, most of which run 10-12 minutes, but even this time is enough for Atkinson to prove that he is still in good shape, albeit older. For everyone who loves Mr. Bean, a must-watch. An excellent situational comedy with great gags.

I also wouldn't want to bypass Russian series, so I'll say a few words about them. A very good example is "Comfort Zone" with Kharla. Denying that Garik Kharlamov is the funniest person in Russia is practically impossible for anyone (Editor's note — indisputable fact), and most of the series' success is his merit. Although the situation itself, that the main character, constantly in a Scandinavian prison, communicates with everyone exclusively via video link, is very funny. And in this slightly absurd atmosphere, seasoned with good humor, the viewer observes the gradual revelation of the character through calls. This is a cool, interesting, intimate (in every sense) online, one might say, little series. With the magnificent Zhargal Badmatsyrenov. And Katya Shkuro. And Garik Kharlamov!

The second example is "Difficult Teens." Here, for the most part, I want to note the acting. The images of the difficult teenagers themselves, created by young talented guys, are very funny and amusing: just one Drocher (Timofey Yeletsky) and all the situations associated with him are worth it. Otherwise, as in any comedy series, there are funny scenes and not so funny ones, but personally I am interested in the topic of football, so I love such projects. And overall, it's quite easy to watch, not stressful, and amusing.

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And finally, I'll recommend "Lada Gold" — a series that came out quite modestly last year. Many have probably not heard of it, but nevertheless, it achieved quite good ratings and even made it into the series top of last fall. It seems to me that the title is not very successful, so people just weren't particularly eager to watch, not understanding exactly what to expect. Plus, last year's hype around "The Boy's Word" probably left its mark on every series of that period. It's a pity it turned out that way, because "Lada Gold" is an incredibly dynamic and very addictive show. Here, literally every five minutes something happens, the plot is in constant motion, and the already rather hackneyed theme of the 90s is well packaged in an absurd and funny plot, seasoned with good acting.

Evgeny Belousov

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Konstantin actively runs a Telegram channel called "The Pot Boils," so follow the link and subscribe.

Yusif Yusifov — stand-up comedian, champion of the Higher League of KVN, actor of the team "Bortsy," participant in projects on channels Channel One, NTV, STS, TNT

Actually, I really love comedy as a film genre, because it was movies that introduced me to that very style of humor that I later used both in my professional activities and in everyday life. And in general, thanks to comedies, you can relax, lift your mood, and dispel a sad atmosphere. True, sometimes it happens that very popular films that many viewers liked do not appeal to me at all, while projects that I go crazy about turn out to be misunderstood by the majority.

For example, parody comedies of the 2000s really hit me. I love all parts of "Scary Movie." I watched them and constantly laughed, often stopping the film to catch my breath. I really liked how the creators mocked banal movie clichés, turning absurdity up to the maximum. It was always very fun and funny to watch what was happening on the screen. Yes, it's sometimes very simple, sometimes quite vulgar and dirty, but still humor that I sincerely like. I think there's nothing to be ashamed of here (Editor's note — that's undoubtedly true!).

But today, in answering the question, I would like to highlight another film that left a mark on me, probably for life. This is a comedy that we watched in childhood with our parents, with the whole family, and which I still enjoy rewatching. Naturally, this is a completely different kind of comedy than "Scary Movie," and I'm talking about the Soviet film "The Incredible Adventures of Italians in Russia."

Firstly, it has a very interesting plot, tied to the absurd situation of Italians searching for jewels on the territory of the then Soviet Union. And secondly, the film has very funny jokes and well-thought-out characters, played excellently by great (and not only) actors. In particular, the lion played very well, brilliantly getting into the role. The combination of these factors won me over. On first viewing, the film seemed something incredible to me, although I think not only to me, but also to several generations of people.

Lately, few comedy films have come out that I could highlight, and if you think about it, "The Incredible Adventures of Italians in Russia" is the first that comes to mind when the conversation turns to an excellent comedy that left me greatly impressed. Perhaps there are actually more such films, but with this film, I, so to speak, cover in general the old Soviet comedies that I have rewatched many times. It is especially pleasant to watch them when the pre-New Year broadcasts begin. I happily sit down and get glued to the TV at this time, because the comedy films of that period are very kind, pleasant, not vulgar, but most importantly, they can be watched in a close family circle and it will be funny for any generation.

Yusif has a community on VK (click here), where you can watch clips with excerpts from his performances.

Alexander Turov — comedian, screenwriter, actor of the team "Bortsy," participant in projects on channels Channel One, NTV, STS, TNT

In recent years, the comedy film genre has been crying in the shower, hugging its knees, so there will be nothing fresh in my recommendations. And I'll start, perhaps, with series.

In my series universe, all creatures are divided into two types: those who consider "Friends" the best sitcom, and those who are delighted by "How I Met Your Mother" (no matter what happens, never watch the Russian adaptation). And although I love "Friends," I belong to the second type. "How I Met Your Mother" is a very soulful and cozy sitcom with moments of unconventional humor. Once I recommended this series to a friend, and he said: "Thank you! We watched it with my girlfriend, and it helped improve our relationship." By the way, they broke up.

The next series is "The Office." A very solid comedy in the mockumentary genre with a star cast. The actors' work on camera makes me laugh A LOT. Disclaimer! After watching, you may suddenly find yourself feeling sympathy for idiots.

Moving on. I don't know if it belongs here, but it definitely has a place in my heart. "Key & Peele." This comedy sketch show is not for a wide audience (at least in Russia), but for connoisseurs of unconventional humor, I definitely recommend it!

The final series, although not entirely comedic, I'll note for its excellent sense of humor — "House M.D." Definitely in the top of my favorites!

As for films, I can first of all highlight the classics, but I won't explain anything. I'm sure the other guys have already talked a lot about them: "Hot Shots!" and "The Naked Gun" (I can't single out a specific part, but watching all of them won't hurt). Then more recent ones — "Idiocracy" and "Onion News."

I can also note a film that is not distinguished by the quality of humor, but if you want to see how famous actors appear before you with genitals, for example, on their chin, then welcome — "Movie 43."

And the final film I want to admire is "A Million Ways to Die in the West." The screenwriter and director of this film is the creator of the animated sitcom "Family Guy" — Seth MacFarlane. Now you can look this man in the eyes, because he plays the main role in the film. I'll praise this movie for the number of gags, absurdity, and the cast of actors. That's it, guys!

As they say, who seeks will always find. If you want to follow Alexander, you can enter the nickname @pohodu_sasha somewhere and find his page.

Amin Minatullaev — comedian, actor of the team "Bortsy," participant in projects on channels Channel One, NTV, STS, TNT

When asked: "Which film left a strong impression?" you can't name it quickly, and you have to strain. I, actually, did just that: strained and remembered an old American comedy — "Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood." For some reason, this particular film came to mind first. Probably because it was memorable for its lightness of humor, stupid jokes, and absurdity — in short, everything that is to my liking.

In my teenage years, when I first watched the film, I laughed at the gags, at the characters' images; they were all very textured and vividly expressed for American culture. Back then, in the 2000s, our idea of America was formed from films we watched on cassettes, and yet it allowed us to understand some jokes that are relevant to Americans themselves.

If I recall domestic cinema, then, of course, I would highlight almost all the cult comedies of Leonid Gaidai. They can be watched at any age and at any time. But I would especially focus on the film "Kidnapping, Caucasian Style, or Shurik's New Adventures," in which the director was able to clearly convey the characters' personalities, thanks to which the humor that fills the film is read without problems and is absolutely understandable to the majority.

There are also many jokes and gags here, but in comparison with foreign cinema, they reflect our mentality, and this greatly affects the perception of humor. And, perhaps, due to this, the film is perceived much closer than foreign comedies. Moreover, it's not for nothing that many jokes have gone to the people and spread as quotes. I think this makes the film interesting to watch not only for adults but also for the younger generation.

As a result, I dare to assume that such films left an indelible impression on me and helped shape the style and direction of humor in which I work.

In Amin's Telegram channel "In Short, I'm Amin" (here's the link), you can watch funny sketches and have a laugh.

Kristina Ganina — stand-up comedian, participant of the show "Women's Standup" on TNT

Adam Sandler is my favorite among comedy actors. In my teenage years, I couldn't understand his appeal, but after his solo stand-up concert "Adam Sandler: 100% Fresh," he opened up to me much better (if you didn't already know that Sandler is a stand-up comedian, then this is my first recommendation for you).

As for Sandler's film career, "You Don't Mess with the Zohan" is the film that made me laugh out loud while watching. In it, Adam walks the comedic line. Vulgar humor? Yes. Stupid humor? Well, yes. Harsh jokes — also yes. And amazing memes that only those who have watched "Zohan" understand.

I like that the film does not pretend to intellectual exclusivity, does not fawn over the viewer. From the beginning, everything is clear — there will be absurdity! How else could it be, if this is a story about a former special forces soldier who faked his death and decided to move to New York to become a hairdresser?

In general, a good option to quickly relax, turn off your brain, and let a small dose of borderline humor into your life. I recommend to all sweet bubalehas both "Zohan" and a marathon of Adam Sandler's work in general.

You can follow Kristina's work in her eponymous Telegram channel (magic button) and VK community (magic button).

Anton Istomin — creative producer at Medium Quality Production, one of the creators of shows such as "The Big Show," "Abramov's Podcast," "Native Speech," "The Big Roast"

One of the top comedy films of the last 5 years is "Good Boys." A film about three elementary school boys who are determined to grow up and steer their lives in the right direction, and for this they need to immediately touch girls in various places, kiss, and learn to drink beer. One day, the guys are invited to a party, which gives them a good chance to immediately achieve their desired goal, but they have a serious problem: lack of experience with girls. This problem needs to be solved urgently. And how exactly — watch the film. To put it simply, it's very funny to watch little boys brag about made-up sex, try to act drunk, and show off to each other. In general, everything is really like adults.

Next, I strongly recommend our Russian series "Two Hills." After a biological war, the world is divided into female and male. Girls live in an ideal eco-town, and primate men in a post-apocalyptic half-destroyed Moscow. And then one day they somehow start interacting with each other. I'll go straight to the pros: 1) it's a real comedy series, not a shitty dramedy. There's a really funny and strong plot; 2) gorgeous actors like Andrey Skorokhod (you probably remember him from "Comedy"), Vladimir Epifantsev, and Nikita Kologrivy (even before the era of "The Boy's Word"); 3) it's a rare comedy series in Russia whose action takes place in a fictional world. The only ones that come to mind are "Cyber Village" and "The Magic Precinct" (by the way, I also recommend watching it, if only for Ilya Sobolev as a swearing gnome).

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And what I really like is "People Just Do Nothing." A British mockumentary series that tells the story of MC Grindah, DJ Beats, and their friends who run Kurupt FM — a pirate radio station broadcasting garage and drum and bass music from Brentford in West London. To put it briefly, it's prime-time "Real Boys," but about guys from the outskirts of the UK capital.

It's hard to describe in words what exactly is funny there, you just need to watch and enjoy their originality. All five seasons, for example, can be watched right now with subtitles in the VK group "subs from uyusov". And as soon as you do that, I immediately recommend checking out the feature film about the same guys conquering the Land of the Rising Sun, titled "People Just Do Nothing: Big in Japan." It's a blast.

Anton is a behind-the-scenes person, but occasionally shares projects on one social network that is recognized as extremist in the Russian Federation. It's a shame we can't(gram) say which one, but we know the nickname — @istomin_on_tour.