Craving for the best comedy TV shows? Comedy is one of the most common genres of entertainment which can mean a lot of various things to a lot of different people. For some, it’s the best genre while for others it’s a form that brings a laugh.
Whatever may be the reason, all of us just enjoy watching comedy TV shows. Here are 10 comedy TV shows to explore, from classic sitcoms to darker, character-driven series.
Best Comedy TV Shows
1. All in the Family
Network: CBS
Stars: Carroll O’Connor, Jean Stapleton, Rob Reiner, Sally Struthers, Danielle Brisebois.
Air Dates: January 12, 1971–April 8, 1979
“All in the Family” is praised as the series that brought reality to prime-time TV entertainment. The story follows Archie Bunker(lead character), his wife – Edith, daughter – Gloria, and her husband – Mike.
Archie is a loudmouthed, ignorant bigot who believes in every stereotype he has ever heard. Archie calls his son-in-law “Meathead” who is an unemployed student and of Polish descent.
2. The Big Bang Theory
Network: CBS
Stars: Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco, Jim Parsons, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Sara Gilbert, Melissa Rauch, Mayim Bialik
Air Dates: September 24, 2007–May 16, 2019
The Big Bang Theory follows a group of scientists and their friends as work, relationships and everyday misunderstandings collide. Sheldon Cooper’s rigid routines and the group’s shared interests give the sitcom much of its comic structure.
3. Extras
Network: HBO
Stars: Ricky Gervais, Ashley Jensen, Stephen Merchant, Shaun Williamson, Shaun Pye
Air Dates: July 21, 2005– December 27, 2007
Gervais partnered with HBO to create Extras. He won a 2007 Emmy for his acting on the show. Ricky Gervais lives to prod and provoke, to build awkward situations and leave the viewer there to squirm. Certainly, it’s all jokes. Extras follows actor Andy Millman and his efforts to find work beyond background roles. Celebrity guests play fictionalized versions of themselves.
4. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Network: FX
Stars: Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton, Rob McElhenney, Danny DeVito, Kaitlin Olson
Air Dates: August 4, 2005–present
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia shows a group of five immoral underachievers who are ignorant, egotistical, selfish, and unethical. The group has no unity among them as they keep plotting against each other. Whether they’re sleeping with each other’s moms, blowing coke, ironically dating disabled people, or spicing things up with LSD, the Sunny gang’s business is moral corruption.
5. Friends
Network: NBC
Stars: Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Perry
Air Dates: September 22, 1994–May 6, 2004
Friends was a sensation, it follows the lives of six reckless adults living in Manhattan. Despite a slow start, the NBC sitcom gained a large audience that’d carry it for ten whole seasons. For fans, it shows six adults indulging in adventures that make their lives both troublesome and happening.
6. Eastbound & Down
Network: HBO
Stars: Danny McBride, Steve Little, Katy Mixon, John Hawkes, Andrew Daly, Jennifer Irwin, Ana de la Reguera, Michael Pena, Marco Rodriguez, Efren Ramirez, Don Johnson
Air Dates: 2009–2013
Eastbound & Down shows a baseball player, Kenny Powers, who returns to his hometown after going through various ups and downs in his professional life. He’s selfish to a crazy degree, and it is hilarious. Additionally, he’s got great catchphrases.
7. Workaholics
Network: Comedy Central
Stars: Anders Holm, Blake Anderson, Adam DeVine, Kyle Newacheck
Air Dates: April 6, 2011–March 15, 2017
Workaholics shows three best friends Blake, Adam, and Anders. They all work in the same company where they face problems with their boss and co-workers. There’s a space for shamelessly dumbass-friendly comedy, and on TV screens that period is being controlled by three corporate slackers.
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8. Louie
Network: FX
Stars: Louis C.K.
Air Dates: 2010–2015
Louis C. K. has to adjust to his life as a stand-up comedian after he divorces his wife. He has taken the responsibility to raise his two daughters in New York City. Taking a candid look at his own life, Louie produces laughs out of some hugely awkward situations, like asking a disinterested woman to explain exactly why she’s not into you. With Louie, its comedy at its best.
9. Modern Family
Network: ABC
Stars: Ed O’Neill, Sofia Vergara, Ty Burrell, Julie Bowen, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Eric Stonestreet, Sarah Hyland, Ariel Winter, Nolan Gould, Rico Rodriguez
Air Dates: September 23, 2009–April 8, 2020
As progressive as it is hilarious, Modern Family follows the hijinks of the three related families. These families from California try to deal with their kids, quirky spouses and jobs in their own individual ways, often resulting in stupid jokes.
10. Young Sheldon
Network: CBS
Stars: Iain Armitage, Zoe Perry, Lance Barber
Air Dates: September 25, 2017–May 16, 2024
Young Sheldon is a prequel to The Big Bang Theory, following Sheldon Cooper’s childhood in Texas. Its humor comes from the contrast between his academic ability and the everyday experiences of growing up.
The story also follows his parents and siblings, giving the family’s different perspectives room alongside Sheldon’s. Check the rating and episode guidance when choosing what to watch with children.
Sources for corrected series end dates
- CBS: The Big Bang Theory finale, May 16, 2019
- ABC: Modern Family finale recap, April 8, 2020
- CBS: Young Sheldon series finale announcement
Additional run-date references: Paramount’s Workaholics episode guide, TV Guide’s Eastbound & Down listing and TVmaze’s Louie listing. For the premise of Extras, see Ricky Gervais’s series page.
