Our favorite comedies in 2006

Our favorite comedies in 2006

1 Scrubs (NBC, Tues., 9 p.m.)
Zach Braff’s bouncy energy infects the entire hospital comedy (pictured) with a distinct hopefulness.

2 The Office (NBC, Thurs., 9:30 p.m.)
In season 2, it’s on a par with the brilliant BBC original — Steve Carell’s painful manager, born without the self-awareness gene, spearheads the awkwardness.

3 South Park (Comedy Central, Wed., 10 p.m.)
Taking on everything from the Terri Schiavo brouhaha to Scientology, creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone chide, mock, satirize, and salute with humor and cleverness.

4 The Simpsons (Fox, Sun., 8 p.m.)
After 17 seasons, the series still guarantees at least one out-loud laugh an episode.

5 The Colbert Report (Comedy Central, Mon.-Thurs., 11:30 p.m.)
Stephen Colbert’s ”truthiness” gets us, well, not every time, but pretty regularly.