7 Saddest Tear-Jerking Moments From Otherwise Hilarious Sitcoms
These felt like a punch in the gut.
When you're looking for some laughs and comfort in a TV show, chances are you're tuning in to one of the best sitcoms. However, what many people are not prepared for is that sitcoms can be just as heartbreaking and upsetting when they have to deal with a sad subject.
Here are 8 scenes from sitcoms that will forever move viewers to tears, no matter how funny these shows usually are.
Marshall’s Father (How I Met Your Mother )
How I Met Your Mother was by no means the first show to deal with death, but this particular episode hit viewers even harder than expected on a second viewing. The writers were crafty to include a countdown to Marshall's father's death, and the viewers, not knowing what was going to happen, missed all the clues the first time around.
Losing a parent is never easy, and this episode of the sitcom hit close to home for many people, leaving them sitting in silence until the credits rolled.
No Survivors (M*A*S*H)
Showing all the horrors of war through the eyes of the medical team, M*A*S*H never shied away from the most disturbing subjects, and that is exactly what made the brutally honest sitcom so beloved by viewers. Still, no one really expected the tragedy that struck in the final episode of season 3.
Many viewers were rooting for Blake to serve his time and return peacefully to his wife and children. However, the writers used his departure as an opportunity to remind viewers just how shocking war can be. His helicopter was shot down, and the most devastating words ended the arc: 'It spun in. There were no survivors.
Do It for Her (The Simpsons )
Though many people underestimate the power of animated series, The Simpson has done a great job of capturing the good, the bad, and the ugly in the lives of your average American family.
They may be chaotic at times, but their love for each other was always very real, and Homer's dedication to going back to work at the nuclear plant for Maggie is just one way of showing it. The 'Do it for her' frame has since become one of the most wholesome Internet memes, but the scene itself can easily bring tears to anyone's eyes.
How Come He Don’t Want Me? (Fresh Prince of Bel Air)
In contrast to The Simpsons' portrayal of loving parental sacrifice, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air showed a completely opposite side with an absent father figure and the confusion that can cause a child. Will Smith took the scene with Uncle Phil to another level, asking a question that many children keep to themselves.
What makes the moment even harder to watch are the sobs that could be heard off camera. Although viewers are still speculating whether it was Hillary crying or a member of the audience, it adds another layer of emotion to the scene.
He Was a Good Man (Golden Girls)
It's always heartbreaking to see your favorite characters deal with death, but there's something especially tragic about watching a mother bury her child. Even though Phil was all grown up and moved on with his life, Sophia breaking down in tears is the image that will haunt us forever.
Golden Girls somehow managed to make the moment bittersweet, showing both Phil's widow and eventually his mother accepting his true nature at last.
The Birthday Party (Scrubs)
There is probably no other show that can mess with your mind like Scrubs. The way the episode ‘My Screw Up’ was staged led viewers to believe a scenario far less morbid than the truth.
Even though there are scenes that are far more dramatic, the simple question "Where do you think we are?" followed by the revelation of a cemetery and funeral procession instead of the children's birthday party left many viewers in complete shock.
Have a Good Life (Cheers)
Throughout the seasons of Cheers, Diane threatened to leave and never return, but she always did. This time, however, she promised to come back and never did. Sam knew she never would and made his goodbye very final. No matter how much we wished it wasn't true, he was right.
The moment was doubly hard because so many people were in the same position they were in. While you can be optimistic and hope for a better outcome, the reality is that not all romances end happily, and it's the realist's job to cut the ties.