Cassie Hamilton: the 10 funniest things I have ever seen (on the internet)

My acting coach once told me to “stop laughing” while he scolded me in front of my class for being a “lazy actor”. He said my laughter was covering up the fact I was freaking out and that I’ll never be a good actor if I can’t be honest about my feelings. Little did he know that I’m actually just a very happy person and I laugh at lots of things! The internet has kept me laughing at the same feverous pitch for my entire life, from my ex’s suddenly viral TikTok account she made a week after our break-up to a video of a cat falling 10 storeys that I excitedly showed my friends one afternoon, thinking it would land on its feet, and it instead went squishy on the floor … hilarious!

That video is not in my top 10 funniest things on the internet, nor is my ex’s TikTok, but my silly little sense of humour has helped curate this collection of deeply online comedy that would make even the most emotionally unstable person chuckle. Some of it anyone would find funny. Some of it is very specific to the trauma of growing up a theatre kid. Some of it maybe only I find funny.

1. Saturday Night Live – I Broke My Arm

Whenever someone asks me what my favourite SNL skit is, I show them this one where Oscar winner Emma Stone plays the cool girl at school who broke her arm after slipping on grape jelly, and invites everyone to sign her cast. While the gag of this skit makes itself apparent pretty immediately, it really pushes further than I thought would be possible (spoilers: the jelly raps).

2. The TikTok phenomenon of pop stars pretending to be spontaneous

I am a basic pop/dance music girly and, as a result, my FYP is intermittently saturated with videos with this format – and I freaking froth them. It’s the way that these two people are sitting in a car like they are old friends and haven’t just been introduced to each other by their label. It’s the spontaneous singing of a very basic pop song that the other person seems to think might have cured cancer. Cringey intros, faux earnestness and brain-scratching pop makes me grateful that we have at least something small to fill the hole left in the zeitgeist by Glee ending.

3. Hobama

I recently found myself explaining the concept of Hobama to my hairdresser. For those not in the know: Hobama is the ship name of the very real relationship between One Direction’s Harry Styles and the former president of the United States, Barack Obama. At various points in their relationship they both got pregnant. I don’t think I need to explain why this is funny.

4. Cole Escola’s front porch scene

This one is long … but that’s kinda the point. This excruciatingly accurate parody of basically any Tennessee Williams play tickles me so deeply it makes me sick. What I love about Cole’s comedy is their deep commitment to being serious. It’s parody delivered completely straight, to the point where you begin invest in these ill-fated lovers (both played by Escola). The aspirations of being the one-legged tuba girl, the constant hypothesising about the sun and moon’s seemingly sexual relationship to each other … simply put, it is detailed and nuanced comedy by an exquisite performer.

5. A compilation of girls screaming Christopher Columbus

Why is it that, when someone is singing Astonishing – the only song of note from Broadway’s Little Women – it is universally agreed that “Columbus” must be yelled as if someone suddenly jumped out of an alley way to tickle your arm pits? I can tell you why – it’s because when you’re in character, in the moment, immersed in Jo’s newfound independence, it just feels right! But you know when it doesn’t feel right? When watched in a series of back to back people yelling “COLUMBUS!!!”

6. “Drink ice coffe – Panik atak”

This one just gets 10/10 for relatability. I often find myself having seven to eight iced coffees a week (because I’m gay) and roughly three to four panic attacks a week (also because I’m gay). This silly little meme might as well be the new pride flag as it articulates the modern day complexities of queer adulthood with more nuance than Judith Butler ever could.

7. Musicals, if they contained more bees

It’s a commonly held belief in the musical theatre world that there are not enough bees in leading roles. This montage succinctly encapsulates all of the ways we, the people, would like to see bees represented in our musicals. I, for one, will not be content until I see bees represented all across our industry in roles on and off the stage. #beerights #Istandwithbees #Loveisloveisbeesislove

8. The Wiggles have a song called Bouncing Balls

When I first heard about this I thought it must have been some kind of joke. Then I realised NO THE WIGGLES ACTUALLY HAVE A SONG CALLED BOUNCING BALLS. Maybe I am a child (I am), but they knew exactly what they were doing … and I bloody respect it.

9. Natural Habitat Shorts

Growing up I was always obsessed with quirky animal facts: turtles breathe from their butts, wombats poop in cubes, etc. So when I discovered these animated shorts combining little-known facts about animals with situational comedy, I was smitten. All charmingly short and well voice-acted, these somehow always make me laugh – even if the fact is a darker one.

10. News bloopers

The news these days is often its own kind of a joke but anything filmed live has the potential for comedy gold, whether it is the radio, sports or the morning news. But there is something tirelessly satisfying about seeing these tired, shiny people, that tell us about the weather and what the homicide of the day is, being a bit of a mess. News is meant to only be relevant the day it comes out but blooper reels ensure that these moments will be relevant for as long as the internet finds stupid people funny.