There is no shortage of qualitysitcomsout there, fromclassics likeI Love Lucyto Danny McBride’s hilariously unhingedThe Righteous Gemstones. Throughout its history, television has provided audiences with plenty of top-notch comedy series, bringing laughter and joy into the homes of viewers everywhere. Many of these shows have had great cultural impact, influencing pop trends and inspiring future shows.
Some notable examples includeThe Simpsons,Friends,The Office,Parks and Recreation,Modern Family, andIt’s Always in Philadelphia. Others have been greatly subversive, like Donald Glover’sAtlanta,What We Do in the Shadows, andKevin Can F**K Himself. While these shows are among the crème de la crème, they’re not without their share of mid episodes. Broken down below are situational comedies in the same league as the aforementioned series, with the unique distinction of carrying seasons without a single bad episode.
10’Daria' (1997 - 2002)
Dariais a grown-up animated sitcom based on a recurring character that appeared onBeavis and Butthead— one that surpassed its predecessor and ended up beingone of MTV’s greatest shows. Tracy Grandstaff voices the anti-conformist titular character, who moves to the town of Lawndale with her family in the first episode. Her fashion-obsessed sister Quinn (Wendy Hoopes) quickly becomes part of the popular crowd, while Daria develops a deep friendship with fellow misanthrope Jane (also voiced by Hoopes).
One of the Best Coming-of-Age Series Ever Created
The intellectual, cynical Daria is a 90s icon — the voice of her generation, and one that resonates to this day.Dariafollows her as she navigates the trials and tribulations of high school and living with a family who misunderstands her, with supporting characters that serve as classic teen archetypes: the cheerleader, the goth, the overachiever, the stoner, and the dumb athlete. Every episode of the show’s five seasons is incredibly entertaining, and so is its TV movie,Is It College Yet?The coming-of-age time capsule is flawless from beginning to end, and it definitely should have run for more seasons.
9’Freaks and Geeks' (1999)
Freaks and Geeks
Created by Paul Feig and produced by Judd Apatow,Freaks and Geekshas an ensemble cast that would go on to become big stars, including Linda Cardellini, Jason Segel, Seth Rogen, John Francis Daley, and Busy Phillips. Set in 1980 in a fictional suburb of Detroit, the series is centered around a group of high school outcasts and follows their quirky growing pains.
Gone Way Too Soon
Freaks and Geeksis the ultimate example of a promising series gone way too soon. Despite only running for one season on NBC, it widely captured audiences, leaving a lasting impression and a huge void behind. There isn’t a single bad entry in all of its 18 episodes, which seamlessly combine oddball humor, drama, and heart. Although there aren’t more seasons of the show to enjoy, it’scompletely worth a watchfor its refreshingly authentic writing. Don’t miss out on this one!
8’Community' (2009 - 2015)
Created by Dan Harmon,Communityhad a run of 110 episodes over its six seasons, and each and every single one did not know how to disappoint. The sitcom is centered around a community college study group, which is formed by disbarred and disgraced lawyer Jeff Winger (Joel McHale), when he goes back to school after it’s revealed that he lied about having a bachelor’s degree. It follows the loony Glendale Community College bunch, all who have experienced failure or defeat of some sort, as they get into a wide variety of unusual misadventures.
A Boundary-Pushing Series
Communityis aself-aware sitcom that employs meta-humorto poke fun at traditional TV tropes and clichés. Experimenting with art and form, it parodies everything from comedy to courtroom dramas to sci-fi to documentary filmmaking to heist films. A decade after ending, the subversive series remains as beloved as ever, and even has a long-awaited movie on the way.
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7’Archer' (2009 - 2023)
Archeris an animated spy adventure sitcom created by Adam Reed for FX thatran for 14 seasons, with a whopping total of 145 episodes. H. Jon Benjamin voices the titular character, Sterling Archer, a secret agent who works for the International Secret Intelligence Service, helmed by his mother, CEO Malory Archer (Jessic Walkter). The ISIS agency “employs some of the world’s foremost intelligence analysts, covert operatives, and scientists.” The show follows him and his colleagues as they run missions for questionable clients.
A Witty, Hilarious Parody of Espionage
Throughout its run,Archercontinually got better with each season, paying homage to various styles and eras of spy films, while parodying the genre’s tropes and clichés. With increasingly surreal missions, the inventive comedy took viewers to some bizarre, hysterical destinations. It has cemented itself as one of the greatest bone-dry humor TV shows to have ever aired.
6’Bob’s Burgers' (2011 - Present)
Bob’s Burgers
This animated sitcom follows the quirky, often chaotic Belcher family, who own and operate a burger restaurant beneath their apartment in the shore town of Seymour’s Bay, New Jersey. The close-knit, relatable Belchers include father Bob (H. Jon. Benjamin), his wife Linda (John Roberts), and their three kids, Tina (Dan Mintz), Gene (Eugene Mirman), and Louise (Kristen Schaal). Following their daily lives, each Belcher gets into all kinds of wacky predicaments and misadventures.
A Charming, Feel-Good Comedy Series
With 14 seasons and a 15th on the way, there is not a single dull episode ofBob’s Burgers. This is mostly due to their lovable, hilarious, well-written characters and the writer’s ability to consistently come up with funny scenarios.If you’re looking for something lighthearted to watchthat will provide plenty of laughs, you can count on the Belcher clan.
5’BoJack Horseman' (2014 - 2020)
BoJack Horseman
The subversiveBoJack Horsemanis an animated dramedy-sitcom hybrid set in a world in which anthropomorphic animals exist alongside humans. It revolves around BoJack Horseman (Will Arnett), the washed-up former star of an old sitcom series living in a mansion in the Hollywood Hills. It follows him as he tries to regain his success by hiring a ghostwriter to pen his memoir.The series tackles relevant social issues, depression, addiction, and romance. The incredible voice cast also includes Alison Brie, Aaron Paul, and Amy Sedaris.
You’ll Laugh, and You’ll Cry
Although it isn’t always easy viewing, with the show delving into dark themes, every episode is stellar and written with such stark honesty and creativity.BoJack Horsemanwill entertain you, keep you glued to the TV, make you laugh, and utterly devastate you. Hands down, it’s one of the greatest sitcoms of modern television.
4’Schitt’s Creek' (2015 - 2020)
Schitt’s Creek
The eccentric, affluent family of video store magnate Johnny Rose (Eugene Levy) loses their fortune and is forced to move to the small town of Schitt’s Creek, their only remaining asset, which the patriarch bought as a joke for his pampered son David (Dan Levy) years earlier. The series follows both men, matriarch Moira (Catherine O’Hara), and high-maintenance daughter Alexis (Annie Murphy), as they struggle to say goodbye to their high-end lifestyle and adapt to living in a motel in Nowheresville.
Award-Winning Comedic Gold
The Canadian sitcom sees the characters undergo significant personal growth as they develop incredible friendships and have humbling experiences, becoming more likable people along the way. Throughout its six seasons and 80 episodes, there was never a single momentSchitt’s Creekdidn’t entertain. It made history as being one of only four live action series where all the leads won at least one Emmy Award, which hardly comes as a surprise for one ofthe greatest sitcoms of the 2010s.
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3’Fleabag' (2016 - 2019)
Fleabagis a genre-breaking British series which functions as a drama and sitcom, making it difficult to categorize strictly one way or another. Phoebe Waller-Bridge, its creator, stars as the unnamed flawed protagonist, a snarky, dry-witted woman in her 30s living in London and nicknamed Fleabag.Frequently breaking the fourth wall, she takes viewers on her journey as she navigates life, grief, love, and the relationships she struggles to maintain.
A Unique, Genre-Bending Sitcom
It’s precisely the breaking of the fourth wall that makes her so endearing to audiences and makes the show feel uniquely intimate.Fleabagseamlessly bounces back and forth from resonating situational comedy to extremely dark, intense material. Each of its episodes is phenomenal, but sadly the show only lasted a short two seasons. It does a great job of wrapping up the main character’s arc, so definitely add it to your list if you’ve yet to watch.
2’The Good Place' (2016 - 2020)
The Good Place
The Good Placeis another banger from Michael Schur, the creator ofParks and RecreationandBrooklyn Nine-Nine. The show is a blend of fantasy, ludicrous comedy, and heartbreaking drama that revolves aroundthe existence of an afterlife. Kristen Bell stars as Eleanor Shellstrop, a recently deceased woman who arrives in a Utopia-esque heaven, referred to as the Good Place, when she actually belongs in the Bad Place. The less you know going in, the better, for this sitcom is filled with unexpected twists and surprises.
A Thought-Provoking, Philosophical Sitcom
The show is a profound piece of art that explores what it means to be human, employing philosophical ideas and delving into issues of life, death, and identity. Each episode leaves viewers' eyes glued to the screen, with not a single bad or average one throughout its four seasons.
1’Derry Girls' (2018 - 2022)
Derry Girls
The Irish sitcomDerry Girlsis a criminally underrated masterpiece set in 1990s Northern Ireland, near the end of the Troubles. It follows the misadventures of the titular group of teenagers — the spirited ringleader Erin Quinn (Saoirse-Monica Jackson), her dazed cousin Orla McCool (Louisa Harland), their buddies, the ambitious, goody-two-shoes Clare Devlin (Nicola Coughling), and the rebellious, wild Michelle Mallon (Jamie-Lee O’Donell), whose English male cousin, James Maguire (Dylan Llewellyn), is also one of the girls.
The Greatest Sitcom on Netflix
Derry Girlsis among the finest comedy series of our time, and unrivaled on its streaming platform, Netflix. Throughout its immaculately scripted episodes, the Catholic school girls take audiences on wild ride after wild ride. This is one of those shows where you uncontrollably laugh scene after scene, and a highly bingeable one at that.It doesn’t get more hilarious than this!
