The 25 Best Comedy TV Shows Streaming On Netflix Right Now
From raunchy animated programs to underrated sitcoms, these laugh-fests should make any otherwise dull evening enjoyable.
Image via Getty/NBC
These days, it can be hard to keep up with television these days. For example, there are a lot of great dramas out there right now, but much of it tends to be too long (who has time for 70-minute episodes?) or way, way too serious (there’s only so much Handmaid’s Tale one can stomach in one sitting). Sometimes, you just need a break and a couple of laughs.
Thankfully, there’s still plenty of (relatively) light comedy television out there. With Netflix giving every other stand up comedian a special these days, comedians have more exposure, leading to their inevitable chances to make their own series. It’s been five years since The Office ended and three years since 30 Rock ended; television’s only gotten funnier, and a good amount of this quality comedy is available on Netflix. A lot of it is satisfyingly short, too, only running a tight 22 minutes without commercials.
Netflix, not usually known for having older titles, surprisingly has also added older comedies, possibly to keep up with Hulu’s own impressive backlog, including their recent addition of TGIF ABC sitcoms. This competition is all the better for us viewers, as it gives us a chance to enjoy the classic sitcoms our parents loved and enjoyed (even if modern audiences are a bit allergic to that dreaded studio laughter). Here are the best comedy TV shows streaming on Netflix.
American Vandal
Stars: Tyler Alvarez, Griffin Gluck, Jimmy Tatro
A pitch perfect parody of Making A Murderer, American Vandal combines a true crime documentary style with a plethora of immature jokes. “Created” by high school students Peter Maldonado (Tyler Alvarez) and Sam Ecklund (Griffin Gluck), the mockumentary follows their attempts to investigate teenagers whom they believe have been wrongly accused of crimes, season one concerning the spray painting of penises on several cars belonging to teachers, season two following a series of poop-related crimes. American Vandal is a funny enough parody with juvenile humor galore, but it also becomes a deep dive into what it means to be a teenager in 2017 with the omnipresence of social media. The first season examines social hierarchies in high schools, while the second similarly explores deeper social issues like privilege and social media bullying. This mixture of low-brow humor and high-brow drama gives American Vandal its idiosyncratic brilliance.
Arrested Development
Stars: Jason Bateman, Portia de Rossi, Will Arnett, Tony Hale, David Cross, Jeffrey Tambor, Jessica Walters, Michael Cera, Alia Shawkat
Eventually, before we all buy the proverbial farm, there will be an Arrested Development movie in a theater near you (or at least new episodes on Netflix). To some, that’s glorious news; to everyone else, though, and this faction is certainly the majority, talk of Arrested Development inspires blank stares and all-around indifference. Those sleepers, of course, are slacking off, big time.
Still one of the funniest sitcoms of the last decade, the Jason Bateman-led ensemble comedy presents a motley crew of bumbling eccentrics routinely engaging in loathsome acts, all for the sake of fully earned laughter. Since it's available on Netflix instant streaming, there’s no reason why anyone should still give a fuck less whenever the inevitable feature film makes its splashy debut.
Ash Vs. Evil Dead
Stars: Bruce Campbell, Ray Santiago, Dana DeLorenzo
A spinoff of the popular horror comedy Evil Dead film series, Ash Vs. Evil Dead finds our titular hero once again fighting those evil demons from hell known as “Deadites.” Set 30 years after the events of Army of Darkness, Ash Vs. Evil Dead finds Ash (Bruce Campbell) working at a value shop when, of course, the evil dead return, and he and his coworkers must team up to save the world from demonic doom. The show combines the typical off-kilter humor of the films, and updates the humor of those late ‘80s movies by making Ash the butt of the joke more often, and contrasting his casual sexism with the more progressive attitudes of Pablo and Kelly. The show, like the movies, is also remarkably gory, showing a deep reverence for inventive carnage by regularly showering the main cast in blood. Ash Vs. Evil Dead is a must for horror movie fans.
Big Mouth
Stars: Nick Kroll, John Mulaney, Jessi Klein
A show about the terrors (both real and imagined) of puberty, Big Mouth could only ever be on Netflix. The animated series follows Nick (Nick Kroll) and Andrew (John Mulaney), as well as their friend Jessi (Jessi Klein), as they go through puberty and begin seeing imaginary “puberty monsters,” voiced by Nick Kroll and Maya Rudolph. The surreal, often hilarious show uses bizarre metaphors to perfectly capture what it’s like to experience all of the changes associated with puberty. There isn’t a single episode that doesn’t show pubic hair, penises, vaginas, boobs, or some mixture of those things, which makes the show both wildly NSFW and weirdly appropriate for teenagers thanks to its blunt yet empathetic discussion of sexuality. It’s only become better in its second season, the highlight being an episode dedicated to praising Planned Parenthood and discussing contraception options.
Cheers
Stars: Ted Danson, Shelley Long, George Wendt
The place where everybody knows your name, Cheers is one of the best television comedies of all time. The show follows the titular bar and its various employees including Sam (Ted Danson), an ex-baseball player turned bartender, and newcomer Diane (Shelley Long), a grad student turned waitress. Running for 275 episodes and earning 28 Emmys, Cheers is the perfect classic sitcom, combining memorable characters with wacky situations and maintaining its charm and quality for it’s more than ten-year run. Cheers is so good, its spinoff is even a classic comedy in its own right.
Chewing Gum
Stars: Michaela Coel, Susan Wokoma, Robert Lonsdale
Created, written by, and starring playwright Michaela Coel, Chewing Gum follows the misadventures of naive, virginal 24-year-old shop assistant Tracey, who longs to learn more about sex, love, and the world. It’s a riotous sex comedy that manages to be both charming and exceedingly cringy. Michaela Coel is impressive in the lead role, willing to put her character in incredibly awkward and uncomfortable situations all for a laugh. The show is unapologetically progressive as well, showing a fearless disregard for the taboos surrounding discussions of female sexuality.
Comedy Bang! Bang!
Stars: Scott Aukerman, Reggie Watts, Kid Cudi
Based on the popular podcast of the same name, Comedy Bang! Bang! finds comedian and podcast host Scott Aukerman bringing his singular brand of comedy to television. Essentially a parody of late night talk shows, Aukerman brings a new guest on the show every episode and then things typically devolve in surreal and cartoonish ways, with Aukerman responding to everything in a deadpan manner and musical host Reggie Watts (with Kid Cudi and “Weird Al” Yankovic taking over after Watts left) scoring the chaos. Over its five season run, Comedy Bang! Bang! had an astounding variety of guests, from those more inclined to comedy (Andy Samberg, Zach Galifianakis, Amy Poehler) to those less so, but still strangely hilarious when on the show (Tony Hawk, Jessica Alba, Schoolboy Q). Comedy Bang! Bang! is an underrated comedy classic that deserves more love.
Crashing
Stars: Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Jonathan Bailey, Julie Dray
Created by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Crashing is a charming low-stakes sitcom that aired in the UK but is now available on Netflix. Not to be confused with the HBO comedy of the same name, the show follows a group of twenty-somethings living in London who become property guardians of a disused hospital, essentially keeping the building safe in exchange for cheap rent and a strict set of rules. The various romantic trials and tribulations of these adults inform the humor of the series, often trading in cringe humor as secrets are revealed and characters act out as a result of their less-than-desirable circumstances. Crashing is a good primer for Waller-Bridges’ acerbic sense of humor, which would later go on to define her current shows Fleabag and Killing Eve.
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Stars: Rachel Bloom, Vincent Rodriguez III, Donna Lynne Champlin
A fearless deconstruction of the “crazy ex-girlfriend” stereotype, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is a musical comedy series that follows unhappy lawyer Rebecca Bunch (Rachel Bloom) as she moves from New York City to California to stalk her high school ex-boyfriend Josh Chan (Vincent Rodriguez III). What follows is an often funny, often dark exploration of sexism and mental illness, as Bunch tries and fails to get back together with Josh and makes increasingly bad life decisions. The show has one of the best depictions of mental illness on television, and is also notable for Rebecca Bunch’s rare female antihero, among a television history full of male antiheroes.
Documentary Now!
Stars: Fred Armisen, Bill Hader
Probably the most niche comedy show on this list (and creators Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, Seth Meyers, and Rhys Thomas would probably agree), Documentary Now! Is an episodic anthology that parodies popular documentaries ranging from Grey Gardens to Stop Making Sense. Hader and Armisen play roles in every episode, alongside other comedic actors in guest appearances. Documentary Now!’s humor is bizarre and distinct, often hinging on the viewer having seen the documentary each episode is parodying. Not many shows can teach you film history and make you laugh, but Documentary Now! is great at it.
The End of the F*cking World
Stars: Alex Lawther, Jessica Barden, Gemma Whelan
Definitely the darkest comedy on this list (and arguably more of a drama at times), The End of the F*cking World (based on the graphic novel of the same name) follows 17-year-old James (Alex Lawther), who believes he’s a psychopath and decides to kill fellow teenager Alyssa (Jessica Barden), who has some issues of her own. Together, they set off on a road trip and eventually form their own strange relationship. The show’s been praised for its impressive portrayals of the teenage characters, as well as its balancing of incredibly dark subject matter and comedy.
Frasier
Stars: Kelsey Grammar, David Hyde Pierce, John Mahoney
The aforementioned Cheers spinoff, Frasier took its titular character played by Kelsey Grammar away from Boston and the beloved Cheers to a swanky (and way too big) Seattle apartment. Frasier united the titular psychologist and popular radio show host with his retired father (the late, great John Mahoney) and his neurotic brother Niles Crane (David Hyde Pierce). All together, these high class characters regularly got into faux pas and various farces, thanks to their collective fastidiousness, making audiences laugh for a decade and earning 37 Emmys (more than Cheers!), which was the record for a scripted series at the time.
Gilmore Girls
Stars: Alexis Bledel, Lauren Graham, Keiko Agena
Running for seven years, Gilmore Girls is the definitive mother/daughter television series of our time. The Gilmores—Lorelei (Lauren Graham) and Rory (Alexis Bledel)—live in the fictional Stars Hallow, Connecticut, along with an eclectic supporting cast, and together they experience romance, disappointment, and navigate the complicated generational divide between both themselves and their high society relatives. They also speak very fast and use way more pop culture references than the average person. Gilmore Girls was Amy Sherman-Palladino’s first show before she created current megahit The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and she situated herself as a great writer of funny women with this charming classic.
GLOW
Stars: Alison Brie, Betty Gilpin, Marc Maron
Produced by Weeds creator Jenji Kohan, GLOW follows struggling actress Ruth Wilder (Alison Brie) as she joins the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (the titular GLOW), a syndicated all-women professional wrestling show run by a cantankerous director (Marc Maron) in 1985 Los Angeles. The show not only explores Ruth’s life, but the lives of the entire cast, charting how a group of diverse women navigate their professional and personal lives in the ‘80s in both dramatic and comedic ways. The show boasts an ensemble cast of talented actresses; in addition to Alison Brie, who’s never been better, Betty Gilpin gives an impressive performance as Ruth’s best friend and similarly struggling soap opera actress Debbie, and Sydelle Noel is fantastic as a world-weary stunt actor. GLOW boasts irreverent comedy thanks to its wrestling shenanigans, but also does impressive character work; it just may have the best written women on television.
Great News
Stars: Briga Heelan, Andrea Martin, Nicole Richie
It’s been three years since one of the greatest TV comedies ever, 30 Rock, ended. Thankfully, former writer Tracey Wigfield gave us Great News in 2017, which feels like 30 Rock calibrated for the post-30 Rock era. The show follows Katie Wendelson (Briga Heelan), an up-and-coming news producer who deals with not only the stressful day to day life of producing a news show in 2017, but also her clingy mother (Andrea Martin), who suddenly becomes her newest intern. Great News is very similar to 30 Rock in style and comedy, except it’s centered around a contentious mother-daughter relationship, rendered perfectly in both comedic and dramatic terms thanks to the performances of Martin and Heelan. Nicole Richie is a surprisingly strong part of the cast as well, as the millennial, woke co-anchor of the central news show, who regularly and hilariously butts heads with her older, less woke co-anchor (John Michael Higgins).
Lady Dynamite
Stars: Maria Bamford, Fred Melamed, Mary Kay Place
Loosely autobiographical, Lady Dynamite stars Maria Bamford as herself, as she moves back to Los Angeles to restart her career after spending six months in recovery for bipolar disorder. Serious depiction of mental illness is interspersed with surreal humor in dizzying fashion, often jumping between timelines and breaking the fourth wall. Lady Dynamite is an acquired taste, but it’s a treat for Bamford fans.
Monty Python’s Flying Circus
Stars: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam
One of the most influential and beloved sketch comedy series of all time, Monty Python’s Flying Circus informed every comedy that came after it from Chapelle’s Show to Inside Amy Schumer. Some sketches from Flying Circus have snowballed into such mega popularity that people forget the show they originated from, like the one involving the Spanish Inquisition and the one where that pet shop owner convinces a customer that a dead parrot is asleep. We have all the members of Monty Python to thank for some of the best comedy of all time, and it’s all on display in this series.
New Girl
Stars: Zooey Deschanel, Jake Johnson, Max Greenfield
Quirky schoolteacher Jess (Zooey Deschanel), fresh off a break-up, moves into a new apartment, with three new roommates: lovable douchebag Schmidt (Max Greenfield), former basketball player Winston (Lamorne Morris), and law school dropout Nick (Jake Johnson). That’s how one of the most reliable comedies of the past decade, New Girl, starts; thankfully, the show’s writers took potentially one note characters and deepened them into comedic gold, helped greatly by hilarious performances from the entire main cast. Now that it’s ended, consider taking the time to rewatch this perfect comedy from the beginning.
The Office
Stars: Ricky Gervais, Martin Freeman, Mackenzie Crook, Lucy Davis, Oliver Chris, Patrick Baladi, Stacey Roca, Ralph Ineson, Stirling Gallacher
If you’re anything like us, you’re feeling a bit underwhelmed by NBC’s The Office post-Steve Carell. And, furthermore, you’ve watched every Dundler Mifflin rerun about six or seven times apiece. So what is there to do? How about acquainting yourself with the original, British version of The Office, starring a pre-crossover Ricky Gervais as a narcissistic and aloof boss who’s not quite as airheaded as Michael Scott, but who’s just as funny.
One Day At A Time
Stars: Justina Machado, Rita Moreno, Isabella Gomez
A remake of the Norman Lear sitcom from the 1970s, Netflix’s One Day At A Time relocates the story to California and focuses on a Cuban-American family, led by a single mother (Justina Machado) who is also a veteran. This show is hilarious, with brilliant performances by the entire family, but none more than screen legend Rita Moreno. One Day At A Time explores sensitive issues like including racism, post-traumatic stress disorder, and homophobia in both heartwarming and heartbreaking ways. This is a show that will make you cry both happy and sad tears, thanks to its moving exploration of social issues and its funny sitcom situations.
Parks and Recreation
Stars: Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, Aziz Ansari, Nick Offerman, Chris Pratt, Aubrey Plaza, Rob Lowe, Adam Scott, Paul Schneider, Jim O’Heir
Back when it premiered, in April 2009, NBC’s Parks and Recreation, which was shot in the same cinema verite style as The Office, met lofty expectations with an unevenly funny debut season. The cast, including Amy Poehler and Rashida Jones, promised greatness, and several of the early episodes are indeed hilarious. But it wasn’t until Parks and Rec’s knockout second season that the intelligently subversive sitcom came into its own. And today, currently in the swing of its so-far-triumphant fourth stretch, it’s arguably the best comedy on television.
Pee Wee’s Playhouse
Stars: Paul Reubens, S. Epatha Merkerson, Laurence Fishburne
Ostensibly a children’s show, Pee Wee’s Playhouse has enjoyed an equal child and adult audience since its original run during the late ‘80s. The show follows manchild Pee Wee (Paul Reubens), who hangs out in his playhouse with a bevy of puppet characters, including a baby Pteranodon named Pterri and a genie named Jambi. Human characters also visit Pee Wee, including Cowboy Curtis, played by Laurence Fishburne(!). The show combines animated sequences, surreal humor, and fun running gags, such as Pee Wee urging the viewers to scream whenever someone says the “secret word.” Pee Wee’s Playhouse is a strange show that appeals to both kids and adults, thanks to its inventive production design, as well as Paul Reubens’ charming performance, which has rightfully made Pee Wee a pop culture icon.
Portlandia
Stars: Fred Armisen, Carrie Brownstein
It’s no small feat that IFC’s off-center sketch comedy show Portlandia never feels repetitive; after all, the central cast is only made up of two heads, Saturday Night Live cast member Fred Armisen and Sleater Kinney guitarist/vocalist Carrie Brownstein. The show’s overall mood, that of silliness played completely straight, helps to keep the energy vibrant from skit to skit, as Armisen and Brownstein lovingly lampoon the citizens of Portland, OR. Both absurdist and satirical, Portlandia strikes a chord all its own.
Santa Clarita Diet
Stars: Drew Barrymore, Timothy Olyphant, Liv Hewson
An odd mix of The Walking Dead and Weeds, Santa Clarita Diet finds average realtor and mother Sheila Hammond (Drew Barrymore) turning into a zombie, and explores the drastic lengths her family will go to protect her. Timothy Olyphant is especially great as Sheila’s husband, Joel, mixing solid comedic timing with believable affection for his wife who’s going through the unbelievable. Santa Clarita Diet is ostensibly a family comedy, but don’t watch it if you have a weak stomach: there’s a ludicrous amount of blood and gore, used to both comedic and unsettling effect. Santa Clarita Diet is a singular comedy/horror mashup that is definitely worth a watch.
Schitt’s Creek
Stars: Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Dan Levy
Created by and starring father-son duo Eugene and Dan Levy, the irreverently titled Schitt’s Creek follows the wealthy Rose family as they’re forced to move to the titular small town after losing their fortune. The critically acclaimed but little seen show originally aired on Canadian television but is now available on Netflix. The show has been regularly praised for the hysterical performances of long-time comedic duo Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara as the Rose parents and for Dan Levy as their spoiled son, David. What originally started out as a reliably funny fish out of water story about spoiled people in a humble town has since turned into an impressive ensemble comedy about said spoiled people learning to settle down and open up while still being their ridiculous and mean selves.