Comedy is one of many ways that creatives hope to make sense of the world around them. Either through illustrating an escapist’s paradise or making the mundane more lively and fantastical, the best comedy projects undoubtedly analyzed reality and found the natural amusement of everyday life, even in the midst of discord and despair.
Capturing the attention of the viewers within minutes of their premiere, these select series have made a lasting impact on entertainment. Not only does the quality of their storytelling entice audiences, their unique grip on the audience’s attention span fosters a loyal, active community that enjoys returning to these series even years beyond their conclusion.
South Side may have been axed before it could display even more exciting and touching stories. However, the series managed to bring a unique light to the streaming ecosystem in under three seasons.
Based in Chicago’s titular neighborhood, the series focuses on Simon (Sultan Salahuddin) and Kareem, two recent graduates who attempt to make the most of their lives. Be it their current job working at a furniture store or planning for their entrepreneurial come-up, the duo create quite a storm in their community, inviting more charming faces into the beautiful chaos that is surviving adulthood.
The series effectively captures the pursuit of financial security that many viewers can relate to. The saying “necessity breeds invention” rings true in the stories of Simon and Kareem, who, for better or worse, come up with various schemes and gadgets in hopes of making the grand leap from confusion and financial insecurity to mass wealth and their perception of protection.
Despite their dreams, they and the community at large remain grounded, depending on one another through the best of times and the worst of times.
The Good Place is one of the few television series that manages to tackle complex philosophies and religious discussions with a smile. Following the cynical and crafty Eleanor (Kristen Bell) in her journey through the afterlife, the series focuses on the chosen family she builds with souls like Chidi (William Jackson Harper) and Jason (Manny Jacinto), as well as their collective understanding of themes such as death, anxiety, existentialism, and morality.
The stellar performances in the series juggle an impressive comedic delivery with strong, thought-provoking questions and conclusions about the motivations behind the actions one does in life, what makes them good, bad, or otherwise, and why they need earnest consideration. The Good Place offers a fun yet emotionally touching look at life, inspiring audiences to cherish their time on Earth and what an afterlife can look like.
Imagine working tirelessly for a sustainable career in the arts, only to have a younger relative live that very dream. In the case of siblings Cary (Drew Tarver) and Brooke (Helene Yorke) Dubek, they don’t have to.
The Other Two sees the siblings attempt to understand and make the most of their younger brother’s (Case Walker) Bieber-esque rise to fame. Diving into interpersonal relationships and broader pressures to conform and contort oneself for fame, The Other Two is a hilariously honest look at the price of fame and the pursuit of happiness.
The shocking humor that defines The Other Two is both brash and authentic, standing as one of the better shows to incorporate zeitgeist-y trends and online humor into the fabric of the series. Both Cary and Brooke are both disillusioned, messy, and complicated protagonists.
Nonetheless, the decision to capture them at their best, their worst, their ugliest and everything in between successfully crafts two relatable characters joined by a slew of similarly well-written companions that make the maze of fame a lot more enjoyable to navigate.
Many viewers are aware of and appreciate the tenacity that defines motherhood. Good Girls is a series that taps into said phenomenon and creates a wonderful crime-comedy centered around suburban mothers, their personal plights, and the shared camaraderie that inevitably helps them overcome the many obstacles of the criminal underground.
After financial pressures send Beth (Christina Hendricks), Ruby (Retta), and Annie (Mae Whitman) into a legitimate panic, the three band together to rob a local grocery store in hopes of alleviating their financial woes. However, they run into a greater problem when they realize the grocery store is not as ordinary as it is made out to be.
The life of a housewife, while being the subject of fascinating media, also has proliferated reductive and damaging stereotypes that both idealize and infantilize the women in these stories.
Good Girls illustrates an authentic look at the daily lives, struggles, and aspirations of these mothers and, even during their most unfathomable moments. Performances from the leads, their children and actors like Matthew Lillard and Manny Montana further enhance the story of disillusionment at hand.
Never Have I Ever chronicles the chaotic high school experience of one Devi Vishwakumar (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan). The Sherman Oaks teenager grapples with her desire for high school romance in her life, her relationship with her mother, and the passing of her father.
While attempting to make sense of the high school ecosystem and her role in it, Devi goes on wild adventures, usually stemming from her own mischievous plots. No matter how disastrous her life gets, Devi’s metamorphosis is one of the best journeys a viewer can take.
Never Have I Ever bleeds authenticity. Through Devi’s celebration of her Indian heritage in the largest and smallest of ways, her complicated yet relatable relationship with romance and sex, as well as her rollercoaster-like relationships with loved ones, the series successfully stands as a unique yet universal story of maturity.
Pushing Daisies may have been overlooked at the time, but today, it enjoys a strong cult following. Starring Lee Pace, Anna Friel, and Chi McBride, the series takes a look at the kind yet somewhat awkward Ned (Pace), an owner of a bakery with mysterious powers who soon aligns with a private investigator (McBride) who wishes to use Ned’s abilities to help solve cold cases.
Alongside the typical detective work, Ned and his loved ones also embark on a personal journey to help make sense of the confusing nature of life.
Pushing Daisies embraces eccentricity and its fluency with the obscure results in a spectacular story of loss, existentialism, and companionship. Be it through Ned’s relationship with his previously deceased crush Chuck (Anna Friel) or Cod’s relationship with his daughter, Pushing Daisies is a quintessential quirky comedy with a lot of heart in its stories and characters.
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt follows the titular character’s (Ellie Kemper) life after being freed from a cult run by Reverend Richard Wayne Gary Wayne (Jon Hamm). Now 29 years old, Kimmy struggles to adjust to the modern world. However, her optimism, paired with close friendships with Tituss (Tituss Burgess), and Lillian (Carol Kane), makes for an exciting series that critics have hailed as the first great sitcom of the streaming era.
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt sits as one of the many shows that highlights the beauty of the Big Apple. While delving into the nonsensical, the series excellently explores the lasting effects of trauma while also poking fun at many of the city’s functions and disparities that are treated as normal. With truly engaging performances from Kemper, Jane Krakowski, Burgess, and Kane, the star-studded cast and their many guests provide a hilarious series for the broader comedy canon.
Ted Lasso has fermented its themes of grace, optimism, and friendship into the hearts of millions. What initially began as an American football coach’s (Jason Sudeikis) accidental foray into soccer, or “football” as it is internationally recognized as, quickly transforms into an earnest and good faith deep dive into mental health, childhood trauma, and the toxicity of professional environments.
Acting as a remedy to the aforementioned venom, Ted’s optimism sparks a series of self-discovery journeys that are simply riveting to watch unfold.
Many shows have relied on using mundane yet passionate attributes of life to spell out a universal truth. Ted Lasso doesn’t simply use sports as a vessel for personal growth but marries the teamwork, sacrifice, and trust that makes a football team like AFC Richmond great with a deeper desire for self-improvement and self-love. Many consider Ted Lasso to be Apple TV+’s first gargantuan success and much of it is owed to its fruitful conversations about the human condition.
A surreal adventure, Atlanta follows the lives of Earnest “Earn” Marks (Glover) and his rapping cousin Alfred “Paper Boi” Miles (Brian Tyree Henry) as they attempt to navigate their respective journeys through adulthood as Black men. Hailed for its ingenuity, the series successfully treads unconventional waters, inventing new and exciting in-universe phenomena and frequently delving into bottle episodes to help broaden the scope of the perspectives presented.
Atlanta’s world is magical in more than one way. While the surreal nature of the episodes may beg one to look at the series as a form of escapism, Atlanta, at its core, is a painstakingly realistic depiction of the Black American experience.
The absurdity found in the series mirrors the very real gaslighting propagated by the anti-blackness that many Black Americans have to live with. In spite of such, the characters of Atlanta still sift through their mundane lives, even if their definition of mundane does not line up with the status quo.
Hacks sees the revitalized career of once-discarded comedian Deborah Vance (Jean Smart). However, she owes much of her newfound fame to her team, including the organized and responsible Marcus (Carl Clemons-Hopkins), the dependable Damien, and the focus of the series, Ava (Hannah Einbinder), a recently canceled comedian.
The two create magic together and while their working relationship implies a close relationship between kindred spirits, a series of complications threaten to spoil said connection.
While much of its appeal lies in its highlighting of the rampant misogyny and ageism found in the entertainment industry, Hacks also excels at holding intimate conversations about the very messy characters that brighten up the screen with their appearances. From Deborah’s callous approach to maintaining her fame and Ava’s self-destructive decision-making, the two are anything but flawless.
However, it is their flaws, combined with the varied personalities of their peers that make Hacks a truly fascinating look into the lives of comedians and the surrounding infrastructure.
Parks And Recreation pokes fun at the bureaucracy at the local level. Focusing on a fictional parks and recreations management team in a typical Indiana town, the series covers the personal lives of the various employees and their interpersonal conflicts.
Boasting engaging performances from the likes of Amy Poehler (SNL), Adam Scott (Severance), and Aubrey Plaza (The White Lotus) to name a few, the series has been celebrated for its generally amusing tone and realistic approach to discussing workplace connections.
Initially deemed to be too similar to The Office, many critics were cool on Parks and Recreations until the premiere of the second season. However, it retains one sensational quality that The Office also carries. The charming and ridiculous nature of the many events in Parks and Recreations makes for a particularly compelling comedy that continues to satisfy fans, old and new, just the same.
With recent headlines continuing to shock Americans, it is not a surprise that Veep has been reassessed as an omen of sorts rather than just existing as the well-written, snarky satire that many loved in the 2010s. Starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Selina Meyer, the series chronicles her ambition as well as her conniving approach to getting as she pleases, at the expense of all of those around her and even herself.
Louis-Dreyfus portrays a charismatic, cunning yet cutthroat protagonist in Veep, mirroring the many politicians that dominate the news cycle. Satire’s true power is its ability to illustrate the truth under a veneer of amusement and entertainment. In each episode, Veep carefully interrogates American politics with a clever smirk that will undoubtedly impress anyone looking for biting commentary on 2010s politics in the United States.
Derry Girls has no qualms with being in one’s face with its brash yet endearing comedy, and it’s one of the many reasons why the Netflix series has gone on to be a staple in late 2010s comedy. The series, set during The Troubles, follows five teenagers and their journey through adolescence, both apart and with one another.
Derry Girls understand the complexity of maturity, even during unpredictable eras in time. Showrunner Lisa McGee crafts the storylines of the leads with such care and intention that viewers simply do not have to worry about the violence that defined the Troubles being transformed into a gaudy spectacle, or worse, completely removed from the narrative altogether. The authenticity of the series sets a firm foundation for uniquely amusing adventures.
Insecure stands as one of the most defining projects of the 2010s. Starring and created by Issa Rae, she uses her viral web series Misadventures Of Awkward Black Girl as a sturdy launching pad for creating an insightful splice of comedy and drama, with its focus on disillusioned Black millennials from multiple walks of life.
Boasting a talented cast including Rae herself, Yvonne Orji, Jay Ellis, and Natasha Rothwell, Insecure remains entertaining with a slew of rewatchable moments for anyone with a remote in hand.
As much as the show offers hilariously ridiculous moments to reference and frequently engages with Black Twitter discourse de jour, the series also delves deeper into the messiness of close relationships.
While Issa and Molly’s (Orji) respective romances offer much to discuss, the heart of the series lies in their sincere yet complicated friendship and their respective aspirations in life. Throughout the show’s five seasons, they inspire much-needed discussion and reflection upon the modern Black American experience.
Ever existed in a space where adults are acting like anything but adults? Arrested Development tackles that very experience with particularly enthralling performances from the likes of Jason Bateman, Jeffrey Tambor, and Portia de Rossi. Introducing audiences to the colorful personalities that make up the Bluth family, much of the series follows Michael (Bateman) and his various attempts to steer his manipulative and mischievous family members towards self-improvement.
Initially, the nonsensical and often crass demeanor of the many Bluth family members can be written off as simply funny. However, Arrested Development also provides the necessary context behind the character’s discretion, crafting humane depictions out of seemingly one-note characters. As the series progresses, the Bluth family becomes more relatable, turning into mundane champions that viewers not only identify with but root for.
Shameless is an unabashed mess in the best way possible. Based on the British series of the same name, the Showtime series follows the dysfunctional Gallagher family as they attempt to survive the discriminatory maze of poverty. The many jaw-dropping scenes complement strong examples of character development and worthwhile commentary about toxic family environments and the systems of exploitation and neglect that actively harm low-income families.
Shameless boasts a bey of talented thespians and their respective performances provide a greater depth to the stories involved. From Fiona’s (Emmy Ross) parentification, Frank’s substance abuse, and Ian’s understanding of sexuality as it pertains to his self-discovery journey, the show never overstays its welcome as it addresses serious and often overlooked issues that haunt many Americans.
Praised for its wholesome yet earnest approach to discussing issues about the current state of education, Abbott Elementary is a refreshing sitcom from the mind of Quinta Brunson (A Black Lady Sketch Show).
The series takes place in the titular inner-city elementary school where an eager Janine Teagues (Brunson) hopes to improve the day-to-day experiences of her students and fellow staff. Met with resistance from the irresponsible Principal Ava Coleman (Janelle James), Janine and her cohort of admirable peers make the most of what they have, and it is truly heartwarming to witness.
Abbott Elementary seemingly fits into the growing cluster of satirical sitcoms like The Office and Community. Nevertheless, the series successfully stands on its own as a radiant example of what championing education can look like.
Brightening the audience’s day with clever humor that engages with the zeitgeist, Abbott Elementary also compels audiences to look at staff and students in their own lives as human beings striving to do their best while also trying to lighten the load on their personal package.
30 Rock follows the daily responsibilities of (Tina Fey), a writer for the fictional comedy sketch series “TGS”. Between her arguments with the conservative Jack Donghy (Alec Baldwin) and frequent collaborations with the likes of her best friend Jenna Maronney (Jane Krakowski) make for generally amusing television while also remaining in conversation with real-world trends in entertainment.
Inspired by Tina Fey’s experience as a writer for SNL, it makes a lot of sense as to why 30 Rock’s comedy meets, and at times exceeds, expectations for a comedy series. Fey, along with actors like Tracy Morgan and Jane Krakowski, balances a surreal humor with a cartoon-esque approach to depicting life as a comedy writer.
Along with the series’ funniest moments, 30 Rock also illustrates just how disorienting it can be as a writer under a corporate structure, giving more insight into the lives behind the shows that many audiences enjoy.
The Office is probably one of the most referenced series in recent memory. With the majority of its cast benefiting from the show’s ubiquitous success, it always feels like a nice drive down memory lane to revisit the many scenes and storylines that continue to have a hold over multiple generations of viewers.
Based around a fictional office in Scranton, Pennsylvania, the series captures the everyday tasks and the varying personalities that make up a typical office job, reveling in its most extreme and often hilarious moments.
The Office is emblematic of a comedy series that ridicules the monotony of the working environment, hitting audiences with amusing lines that echo the various sentiments of employees. From dealing with inflated egos, workplace romances, and adapting to better conflict management skills, The Office brings a brightness to the stereotypically dreary cubicles that symbolize the corporate experience.
Curb Your Enthusiasm is one of the longest-running comedies on television and, unlike most of its peers, the decades-long series made great use of its time. Chronicling the life of a fictionalized version of the show’s creator, Larry David, the series reflects David’s real-life perception of a “false enthusiasm” that people employ for a sense of superiority.
Alongside his wife Cheryl Hines, friend/manager Jeff Greene, among others, Curb Your Enthusiasm‘s dry humor and improvisation paints a vivid look at life from the perspective of someone who constantly brushes up against the status quo.
Successfully blurring the line between reality and fiction, much of Curb Your Enthusiasm’s appeal lies in its blunt approach to discussing the many discrepancies about life. Prominent influences such as David’s Jewish heritage and current career not only inform the series’ trajectory but also enhance the many relatable stories it had to share. With over ten seasons to its name and a slew of worthy accolades, Curb Your Enthusiasm is the perfect series to lose oneself in.
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