Have a budding Jon Stewart or Tina Fey on your hands? We don’t know what TV they watched as kids, but after the jump are the shows we recommend to cultivate your offspring’s own funny bone.

The Upside-Down Show
Australian comedy-duo David Collins and Shane Dundas welcome kids into their fantastical home, “handing over” a TV remote which allows kids to pretend to control the action. (Just don’t accidentally push the Itchy Button.) The humor is silly and inventive — and challenges kids to step up to the plate with some sophisticated wordplay. We especially dig the endless array of rooms in the house, all Alice in Wonderland style: the Sticky Room, the Unfunny Room, the Very Hairy Room, the No-Room Room…you get the idea. We’re now pushing the “Please Watch” button on our remote.
(3-6 years)
Recommended by The Parents’ Choice Foundation

Check out a clip of the show at Noggin.

The Fairly Oddparents
Zaniness? Check. Occasional gross but always clever humor? Um, yes. Physical slapstick? Got it, too. This fast-paced animated show follows the adventures of 10-year-old Timmy and his not always efficient fairy godparents, Wanda and Cosmo. As might be expected, Timmy’s wishes regularly go awry. Case in point: Timmy wishes he could switch places with his cranky babysitter’s dog, since the pooch gets treated so much better. No problem…except it’s time for the dog to go to the vet to get fixed. And Timmy can. um, only bark, not wish. See? You totally want to know what happens next.
(6-9 years)
Recommended by Kids FIRST!

Wish you could watch the show intro? Lucky you. Click here.

Total Drama Island
This animated satire of reality shows comes with a TV-PG rating, so watch an ep first and make sure you’re comfortable with the content. The plot: Twenty-two teens arrive at rundown Camp Wawanakwa to compete for a wad of cash by participating in ridiculous or embarrassing challenges, like building a hot tub from scratch or participating in an “Awake-A-Thon.” (Moms, we know you can relate.) Each of the contestants is intentionally stereotypical – the tough guy, the vapid “hot girl,” etc., and each time someone is voted off, they must walk down the Dock of Shame to the Boat of Losers. Ah, Jonathan Swift would be proud.
(9-11 years)
Recommended by Common Sense Media

Here’s your glimpse.

Not amused? We won’t take it personally. Post below about what humor-inducing programs we missed.

Filed under General, Remote Control

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