10 Side-Splitting TV Show Memes & the Episodes that Birthed Them

Summary

Memes from TV shows like

Community

and

Futurama

continue to be popular and widely used even years after the shows aired.

Shows like

Star Trek: The Next Generation

and

The Simpsons

have provided iconic memes that have become widely recognized and used in various contexts.

Memes from

The Office

and

Key & Peele

have also gained popularity, often being used to express relatable situations or humorous responses to mistakes.

TV episodes serve as a rich source of hilarity for internet memes, playing a significant role in online communication. Memes allow individuals to express their ideas and thoughts through the use of visuals, videos, and quotes. However, due to their rapid and widespread dissemination, the originality of memes often becomes obscured.

TV shows stand as a primary wellspring for memes, boasting sitcoms and cartoons that have given birth to timeless and memorable memes long after the shows concluded. Although comedy serves as the typical catalyst, sci-fi and drama series also provide inspiration for these humorous digital expressions. While the backstory of a meme is not essential for its intended impact, frequently the source material is just as intriguing as the meme itself.

10. The Darkest Timeline From Community

NBC and Yahoo's show Community gave birth to one of the most hilarious memes circulating on social media. Known as the "darkest timeline meme," it has become a frequent choice for expressing situations where everything descends into chaos while a person is momentarily away from a conversation or post. The episode of Community titled "Remedial Chaos Theory" serves as the inspiration behind this meme, as it revolves around a housewarming party for Troy and Abed. A decision as simple as rolling a die to determine who answers the door results in the creation of multiple timelines.

In Community's darkest timeline,

9. Fry “Not Sure If…” From Futurama

takes a turn for the worse when Troy leaves to pick up the pizza. Chaos ensues as a chain of events unfolds, leading to Pierce being shot, Britta accidentally setting the apartment on fire, and Jeff sustaining a burn on his arm. Upon returning to the apartment, Troy is shocked to find the study group in complete disarray and lets out a scream. This particular episode of Community has become iconic, featuring a recurring bit that is referenced multiple times throughout the show.

Futurama has made a significant impact on meme culture, with one of the most popular memes being the "not sure if" meme. This meme showcases Fry squinting while accompanied by the text, "Not sure if [X] or just [Y]." This memorable moment originates from the episode "The Lesser of Two Evils" where Flexo, a deceitful robot nearly indistinguishable from Bender, pilfers an atom of Jubonium. To blend in, Flexo disguises himself as Bender, leading to a search for the impostor. In a humorous turn of events, while searching for Flexo, Fry finds himself going through Leela's underwear drawer, only to be caught by Leela and Bender. The image of Fry squinting in the episode perfectly aligns with the meme's online usage as it represents indecision between Bender and Flexo.

8. Face Palm Picard From Star Trek: The Next Generation

While comedy TV shows are often the source of many memes, one standout and humorous meme originates from Star Trek: The Next Generation. This particular meme showcases Captain Jean-Luc Picard burying his face in his hand. People widely employ this meme in various scenarios, particularly when someone makes a misjudgment or suffers from a memory lapse. The meme stems from the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode called "Deja Q." In this episode, Picard's rival Q transforms into a human and seeks refuge aboard the USS Enterprise. Captured in a moment of stress and contemplation, the Captain briefly rests his head in his hand while grappling with the decision of whether to accept Q onto the ship.

7. Old Man Yells At Cloud From The Simpsons

Countless comical memes have been spawned by The Simpsons, such as the renowned "Old man yells at cloud." This particular image and phrase perfectly capture the essence of an individual grumbling over minor and trivial matters. While the original image centers around an elderly person, the meme has evolved to encompass anyone who is out of sync with contemporary values and technological advancements.

The meme originates from the episode "The Old Man and the Key" of the popular television show The Simpsons. In this particular episode, the main character's family, including his father Abraham Simpson II (known as Grampa), pay a visit to Grampa at his retirement home. Grampa wishes to obtain a driver's license in order to impress another resident residing there. While at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Grampa approaches the lady responsible for taking his picture and inquires whether she can use the recent photo of him published in the newspaper. He retrieves a newspaper clipping displaying the phrase "Old man yells at cloud" alongside an image of him angrily shaking his fist towards the sky. Grampa Simpson perfectly embodies the type of individual who would be the focus of this meme.

6. No! God, Please, No! From The Office

via GIPHY

One of the most iconic memes from The Office is manager Michael Scott's infamous quote, "No! God, please, no!" This meme is commonly shared online as a reaction to undesirable situations that people have to deal with. The origin of this meme can be traced back to The Office's episode titled "Frame Toby," where Michael Scott finds out that Toby has been reinstated by the corporate to his previous position. Caught off guard, the manager's outbursts lend themselves to the memorable meme. This quote perfectly captures the feeling of dread when having to interact with someone one dislikes.

5. Pointing Spider-Men From Spider-Man (1967)

The pointing Spider-Men meme is not only one of the most popular, but also one of the funniest memes online. It has been widely embraced to highlight two things that appear to be identical. With their own entertaining and quirky twists, three Spider-Man movies have recreated this meme. The origins of the Spider-Man pointing meme can be traced back to the "Double Identity" episode of the 1967 animated Spider-Man series. In this episode, a villain named Charles Cameo impersonates Spider-Man, even mimicking his abilities like web swinging and wall climbing. When the real Spider-Man confronts him, both characters point at each other and emphatically exclaim, "He's the impostor!"

4. Pepe Silvia Conspiracy From It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia

The Pepe Silvia memes from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia are known for their comedic and eccentric nature. These memes feature a screenshot of Charlie's famous rant, paired with humorous statements about conspiracy theorists and individuals who become overly engrossed in a particular topic. The origin of this meme can be traced back to the episode "Sweet Dee Has a Heart Attack," where Mac and Charlie secure office jobs in order to benefit from the health insurance.

While Mac faces challenges in his new role upstairs, Charlie finds himself spiraling while working in the mailroom. This reaches its peak when Charlie passionately rants to Mac about imaginary employees, with Pepe Silvia being one of them. What adds to the humor is when Mac confirms that all these individuals actually exist and have been inquiring about their mail.

3. Ya Done Messed Up A-Aron From Key & Peele

The funny “Ya done messed up A-Aron” meme, popularly used to mock people after their mistakes, was inspired by comedians Key & Peele. This meme originated from the episode "I'm Retired," one of the standout episodes of Key & Peele. In this episode, during a skit titled "Substitute Teacher," Mr. Garvey attempts to do roll call with a biology class but struggles to pronounce the students' names, resulting in comedic exchanges. After correcting a few students on their name pronunciations, Mr. Garvey then calls out the name "A-Aron." When the student attempts to correct him, Mr. Garvey delivers the now iconic meme line.

2. Surprise Motherf*cker From Dexter

The character Sgt. James Doakes from Dexter has sparked a popular and humorous online meme. His iconic catchphrase, "surprise motherf*ucker," has gained widespread recognition in pop culture. The meme involves replacing the first word of the phrase with rhyming or similar sounding words. Alternatively, the meme is used in its original form as a jovial way to greet someone after a long absence.

This meme originates from a scene in the Dexter episode "Born Free." In this episode, Doakes first confronts Dexter with his now famous catchphrase at a shipyard murder site. The confrontation escalates into a physical altercation between the two characters, which is eventually broken up by the dock manager. This exemplifies how memes can modify the tone of their source material. While Doakes delivers the line menacingly in the show, the memes take on a comical and quirky tone.

1. True Story From How I Met Your Mother

There are numerous amusing How I Met Your Mother memes, particularly revolving around the character Barney Stinson. One meme that stands out is the popular “True Story” meme, which features Barney transformed into a comic character and is often used to depict relatable experiences.

This meme cleverly combines Barney’s famous catchphrase with a still image of him from the episode “Do I Know You?” In this particular episode, Lily assists Barney in winning Robin over. During their dinner outing, Barney makes an effort to behave like a gentleman, although it is noteworthy that he does not utilize his catchphrase in this particular scene. Therefore, the meme takes creative liberties by diverging from the original source material.