Arts, Comedy, Music & Film: what Hacker News watches
12 topics, 1305 videos. Pick a topic for a focused list, or scan the 100 best-scored across the whole area below.
- Stand-up & sketch comedy 244
- Satire & parody 362
- Music performance & songs 239
- Music theory, synthesis & production 103
- Film & TV clips 310
- Film analysis & criticism 39
- Documentaries & storytelling 202
- Literature & writing craft 43
- Visual arts, photography & architecture 42
- Sports & athletics 38
- Magic, puzzles & curiosities 34
- Arts & entertainment (other) 75
- 12 HN recommenders 9 months 2022–2025HN treats it as a favorite example of silly but educational computer science, recommended often when threads touch odd storage hacks.
- 9 HN recommenders 8 months 2015–2022HN repeatedly recommends it as the clearest explanation of why Chan's fight scenes beat fast-cut Hollywood action.
- 7 HN recommenders 7 months 2010–2026C CappyNJ · comedy videoHN keeps linking it in threads on clutter, storage units, real estate and consumerism as a perfectly apt comic take.
- 4 HN recommenders 5 months 2019–2022HN recommends it as an entertaining and inspiring Blender talk, and often links it in threads about learning Blender.
- 5 HN recommenders 6 months 2016–2023HN uses it as a counterintuitive data point in debates on welfare states, social mobility and entrepreneurship.
- 5 HN recommenders 5 months 2012–2022HN recommends it in hair-loss threads as a funny, inspiring example of accepting baldness.
- 4 HN recommenders 4 months 2018–2024E eroosters · commentaryShared in heated-discussion threads as a short, witty take on why extremism is appealing.
- 5 HN recommenders 4 months 2014–2026J Jason Headley · comedy videoHN commenters link it as the quickest memorable illustration of listening versus problem-solving, and as shorthand in threads on empathy and support.
- 3 HN recommenders 4 months 2014–2022K Ken Jones · documentaryHN points to it as a rare look at how top comedians think about craft, motivation and process.
- 4 HN recommenders 4 months 2014–2025P poyani · comedy videoHN commenters reach for it whenever a thread involves corporate or political euphemism, using it mostly as a reference.
- 5 HN recommenders 4 months 2013–2021Commenters bring it up in threads on phones, boredom, attention and children's screen use as a funny but resonant take.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2016–2024D DocShadow660 · comedy videoHN commenters recommend it as a surreal, perfectly observed parody of old educational films, and quote it in jokes.
- 9 HN recommenders 3 months 2017–2026S Super Eyepatch Wolf · commentaryHN treats it as the definitive explanation of the Simpsons decline, recommended in every thread asking when the golden age ended.
- 5 HN recommenders 4 months 2018–2026L Lisa Zielinski · comedy videoHN invokes it whenever people grumble about convenience, technology or AI that would have seemed miraculous not long ago.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2016–2022J Jim Jefferies · comedy videoRecommended as a funny but surprisingly persuasive outsider take on gun control, mainly in gun-related threads.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2015–2024Recommended as a short, eye-opening piece of film analysis whenever physical or visual comedy is discussed.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2018–2025T tablet reader · talkHN recommends it as a hilarious talk by a beloved speaker, and also uses it to jab at JavaScript's quirks.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2016–2025B Bill Hicks · comedy videoOffered as a pick-me-up and calming perspective when people feel lost or stressed.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2014–2022M MrSenseisnotcommon · comedy videoHN commenters offer it as a sharp, funny answer to 'PC gone mad' and anti-woke arguments in discussions of language policy.
- 2 HN recommenders 3 months 2022–2025R Ryan George · comedy videoHN recommends it as a funny sketch that lays bare the crazy things people have gotten used to on Amazon.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2022–2024R RobPRocks · comedy videoRecommended in threads on music copyright and chord progressions as a funny, accurate demonstration that a few chords are fundamental to music.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2014–2026M Monke96ify · comedy videoHN users share it in threads on drinking and addiction as an honest account of alcoholism and sobriety.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2012–2023R RobPRocks · comedy videoBrought up in threads about chord progressions and musical copyright as the funny canonical version of the idea.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2019–2025Recommended as a short, excellent analysis of Keaton and visual comedy.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2009–2023Y Yoram Bauman · comedy videoHN points to it as a short, funny and genuinely informative take on economic principles such as trade and opportunity cost.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2012–2025T The Axis of Awesome · comedy videoHN commenters use it as the canonical demonstration that popular songs reuse one chord progression, especially in threads on music analysis and AI-generated music.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2014–2023HN recommends it as an inspiring interview about passion, minimalism and deliberately imposing restrictions on creative work.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2013–2022HN points to it as a memorable performance that doubles as a parody of TED talks and a showcase of live vocal looping.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2021–2022P Paul Taylor · comedy videoRecommended as hilarious for anyone familiar with both French and British or American culture, and relevant to expats.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2020–2025T Tom Lehrer · music videoPosted whenever Lehrer comes up, as the best way to see him perform, and treated as a complete stand-up-style set.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2011–2025B Bromista5 · talkHN finds the story inspiring beyond comedy: getting good by throwing out your old work and starting over.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2016–2026HN posts it as a favorite comic summary of debt avoidance and spending discipline, and as a joke in buy-now-pay-later threads.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2023–2026S Stephen O'Regan · videoHN points to it as the best filmed version of the story whenever aliens or the nature of intelligence come up.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2018–2022G Geen Naam · comedy videoHN brings it up as comic relief and as a funny take when immunity, dirt and germs come up.
- 3 HN recommenders 2 months 2013–2016F FEAR OF A BROWN PLANET · comedy videoPointed to as a comedic but clear explanation of power dynamics in discussions of race and diversity in tech.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2021–2025R Ray “PODAN” Dorschner · comedy videoHN shares it as one of the greatest stand-up bits ever, and pulls it out whenever Germany, war or trade come up.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2012–2025R random804 · comedy videoThe go-to reference in threads on chord progressions, pop music similarity and music copyright.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2020–2024Used as a funny, accessible reference for coincidences, spurious patterns and maths errors.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2014–2024D Dadniel · comedy videoHN quotes it in environmental threads as a famous, darkly funny take that the planet will outlast humanity.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2021–2025A anc6368 · interviewHN commenters cite it as an insightful short explanation of why US and UK comedy differ.
- 3 HN recommenders 2 months 2010–2012C checkoutmytrip · comedy videoPosted constantly in threads about tech complaints as a reminder to appreciate how remarkable modern technology is.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2014–2017D David Mitchell's Soapbox · comedy videoHN people share it as a funny and apt take whenever job postings or recruiters demand passion.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2012–2026HN links it in piracy and copyright-lawsuit threads as a funny short demonstration of how inflated industry damage figures are.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2020–2026Shared in Excel threads as a funny parody that treats spreadsheets like an e-sport.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2021–2025HN commenters cite it as the canonical joke about administrators multiplying regardless of the work, whenever threads turn to institutional or corporate bloat.
- 1 HN recommenders 2 months 2015–2026T Tim Minchin · music videoHN cites it in arguments about the force of words, including the long debates over the GIMP name and username filtering.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2018–2025HN recommends it as a funny piece on Excel used in ways it shouldn't be.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2020–2024N notsyort · music videoHN brings it up whenever thermodynamics or entropy comes up, as the classic comic explanation of the laws.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2013–2024C CappyNJ · comedy videoCited whenever euphemisms appear in corporate, product or news language, as the classic comedic critique.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2020–2026P Patrick Reed · comedy videoHN commenters bring it up as a reminder to appreciate technology instead of complaining, from Waymo to AI art to flight delays.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2015–2026R Rob Logan · comedy videoHN reaches for this clip whenever a thread involves euphemism or corporate and sanitized phrasing.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2018–2023T Tyrell Edwards · comedy videoA near-meme reference dropped in threads about advertising, tracking and adtech, often as shorthand for disdain of marketing.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2010–2026HN mentions it mainly for Conan's roasting of the interviewer and Google's leadership, not for any informational content.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2017–2025P Political News · comedy videoCited as a witty, clear take on the avoidance versus evasion distinction.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2019–2022A aaron pryor · comedy videoCited in threads about renaming and sanitized language as a classic comedic statement of the case against euphemism.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2023–2026S SkyEcho7 · comedy videoQuoted whenever threads touch on elites, exclusivity and education, with 'it's a big club' as shorthand.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2011–2021Mostly cited as a joke in threads on three-wheeled cars, and occasionally as a demonstration of the stability problem of a high center of gravity on three wheels.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2019–2023W Weidmann · comedy videoUsed as a joke or satire reference in moderation, free-speech and police threads.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2015–2018V VideoFunStation · comedy videoPosted as the obligatory joke in any thread about speech recognition, and recommended in a thread on what makes people laugh.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2015–2016D Davison · comedy videoHN links it as a quotable rant to illustrate points about bias and outsiders in unrelated threads.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2023–2026F Fun English Lessons · comedy videoHN quotes it jokingly when talk turns to nonsense language, and one commenter points out its underlying linguistics.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2020–2024N niznj · comedy videoMostly a joke reference in threads about layoffs, idleness and wealth, with one commenter sincerely recommending the clip for its contrast of work attitudes.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2019–2025M Matt Phillips Education · comedy videoInvoked in threads about ads, tracking and marketing as the go-to comedic indictment of advertising, often as a joke or a parallel.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2023–2024Cited as a fun, unconventional example of neural networks built from floating point error.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2015–2025K killtheweak · comedy videoBrought up as a comic touchstone in discussions of advertising, usually with a joke or a quick reference.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2019–2023HN people link it as a joke about blindly trusting navigation or automated systems.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2022–2026J Josh Darnit · comedy videoHN uses it as shorthand for how hard it is to write unambiguous instructions, in discussions of programming, tutorials and LLM prompting.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2015–2022I iStateOfMind3 · comedy videoHN links it as a pointed comedic statement of why education is seen as broken and unlikely to be fixed.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2016–2025T TheDamnWreckless · comedy videoHN commenters link it as a funny, quotable takedown of alternative medicine and cite its lines (such as 'alternative medicine that works is called medicine') in threads on homeopathy.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2012–2020I Ignite Talks - Smart Ideas From Around the World · talkRecommended as an excellent short Ignite talk from a geek comedian.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2014–2026C CrystalRoseCreations · comedy videoCited constantly as a quip when a person or organization seems to be doing something morally dubious.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2013–2017B Brian and Karl · comedy videoHN cites it as the best-known example of gibberish that mimics the sound of a language, in threads about fake languages and nonsense imitations.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2007–2023L Lizzie Steven · comedy videoHN mostly posts it as a joke whenever someone says things were harder in the old days.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2017–2022HN brings it up as a joke and as design inspiration for voice assistants for seniors.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2017–2024C Captain Soul · commentaryCited in threads on wrongful convictions and executions as a pithy rebuttal of the deterrence argument.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2012–2019T TheVoxRox · comedy videoCited in free speech and moderation threads as the famous comedic rant on being offended.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2014–2022J Jimmy Kimmel Live · comedy videoUsed as an illustration of the confident-idiot effect and of people pretending to know things.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2013–2023HN posts it as a joke or light recommendation in threads where dongles, Apple or trademark confusion come up.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2022–2026R RTÉ - IRELAND’S NATIONAL PUBLIC SERVICE MEDIA · music videoShared as a delightful example of Irish humor and as a joke reference.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2015–2024HN brings it up in threads about tone getting lost in text-based communication.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2019–2025P palestne · comedy videoMostly posted as a joke reply in arguments, with one commenter recommending it as a lovely skit about how to argue.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2018–2026D Diego Cumplido · comedy videoMostly posted as a joke in toilet-related threads, especially for the line about German hermeneutic stool inspection.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2020–2021Q QI · comedy videoLinked in threads about fuzzy categories, such as fish, trees and fruit, as the origin of the phrase and a fun illustration.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2020–2025J Jimmy Lee · comedy videoHN quotes and links it as a witty take on political correctness in culture-war and language threads.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2013–2022A arkmaii · comedy videoHN commenters link it as the origin of a LEGO quote and as a delightful monologue about how the toy has changed.
- cited 7× 0 months 2017–2024T t91 · comedy videoHN uses it as a joke reference when discussing coercion, implied threats and consent in power imbalances.
- cited 8× 0 months 2018–2024M memoriewhisperer · comedy videoHN uses it as a joke reference whenever software or algorithms rigidly deny people with no recourse.
- cited 4× 0 months 2021–2025S Seinfeld · comedy videoHN mostly references it for the origin of Festivus or as a seasonal joke.
- cited 4× 0 months 2021–2024Used as shorthand for the arrogant, dismissive tech support person in jokes and comparisons.
- cited 3× 0 months 2018–2023W Weidmoo · comedy videoUsed as a joke reference when someone claims to have had it harder than others.
- cited 3× 0 months 2022–2025P Phuck Yiu · comedy videoHN commenters link it as a joke in threads about tracing, IMSI catchers and surveillance, not as a serious recommendation.
- cited 4× 0 months 2024–2026I IronFistDigitalMedia · comedy videoPosted as a joke or pop-culture reference in threads complaining about Microsoft software behavior.
- cited 20× 0 months 2017–2026C ClarkeAndDawe · comedy videoUsed almost entirely as a joke reference when HN threads involve accidents, failures or evasive official statements.
- cited 3× 0 months 2018–2021P ProZD · comedy videoUsed as a joke when HN threads show enthusiasts arguing over niche details.
- cited 3× 0 months 2016–2023M mrmagoo312 · comedy videoBrought up in censorship threads as a joke and as a canonical example of censorship that changes the meaning of the original.
- cited 4× 0 months 2015–2023J Jack Govier · comedy videoInvoked as a joke when discussing ad creep, second screens and overbearing commercial or online experiences.
- cited 3× 0 months 2020–2023K Kenny Teeology · comedy videoHN commenters quote it jokingly whenever someone lists the unacknowledged benefits of an entity people love to complain about.
- cited 4× 0 months 2015–2023S Studio C · comedy videoOnly brought up as a joke, usually when someone uses the word literally or the thread is about auto-antonyms.
- cited 3× 0 months 2018–2020D Don Blackmore · comedy videoUsed as a joke whenever automated systems deny people without explanation or recourse.
- cited 5× 0 months 2022–2026B Brazilian Body Art · comedy videoCommenters drop it as a joke when a thread touches on religion or sects.
Showing the 100 best-scored of 1305. Use search to find the rest.
Video list and Hacker News comment labels from HackerTube (prompted by @karpathy), released under ODC-By 1.0, built on the open-index/hacker-news archive. Hacker News data is provided by Y Combinator; comments remain the work of their authors. Video titles, channel names and thumbnails belong to their creators and are shown via YouTube. HackerTube Watch is an unofficial edition. Data export of 2026-10-31.