Underappreciated Sitcoms
Less known; cancelled too soon; or just awesome. Rated for re-(re-re-re-)watchability.
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- CreatorRaphael Bob-WaksbergStarsWill ArnettAmy SedarisAlison BrieBoJack Horseman was the star of the hit television show "Horsin' Around" in the '80s and '90s, but now he's washed up, living in Hollywood, complaining about everything, and wearing colorful sweaters.Sitcom elements, incl. a great ensemble of main characters. But really it's the great 20th century american novel that never got written. It's a real journey, with severity, heart, psychological and moral truthfulness. IMO the towering achievement of the Netflix era.
- CreatorDan HarmonJustin RoilandStarsChris ParnellSpencer GrammerSarah ChalkeThe fractured domestic lives of a nihilistic mad scientist and his anxious grandson are further complicated by their inter-dimensional misadventures.Every ep. is a philosophical masterpiece. (If you have ever asked if the widespread currency of the simulation argument reframes how you think about life and death, morality etc.; then yes, and R+M is quietly rewiring people's brains.) Miracles of concision and exposition. Now in the 5th season, the new eps are as good as the old.
- CreatorTina FeyStarsTina FeyAlec BaldwinTracy MorganLiz Lemon, head writer of the sketch-comedy show "TGS with Tracy Jordan", must deal with an arrogant new boss and a crazy new star while trying to run a successful television show without losing her mind.From the twilight days of the networks, this may be the best sitcom ever, tho' never a viewer favorite. (Must have watched these 5 or 6 times before it dawned on me just HOW good the writing is. Still getting new laughs re-watching after 15 times.)
- CreatorDan HarmonStarsJoel McHaleDanny PudiDonald GloverA suspended lawyer is forced to enroll in a community college with an eccentric staff and student body.Introduced the idea of "meta". Heart, weirdness, lots of genre episodes. High point mid season 2 to mid season 3; 4 (without Dan Harmon) was reviled; 5 (w/ Harmon back) is patchy; s06, which both launched and broke YahooScreen, is different but also great.
- CreatorVictor FrescoStarsJay HarringtonPortia de RossiAndrea AndersIn an amoral science-based company, a manager tries to keep control of his scientists while being pressured by his shrewd boss.Corporate satire from Victor Fresco. 2 great seasons.
- CreatorNahnatchka KhanStarsKrysten RitterDreama WalkerMichael BlaiklockChloe is a New York party girl with the morals of a pirate. She causes trouble for her best friend James Van Der Beek and her naive small-town roommate June.Brilliant odd couple room-mate comedy. Apple pie June and Kristen Ritter's deliciously sociopathic Chloe. It was too naughty for ABC, who always intended to cancel it, but it was just too popular to axe. Only 2 seasons, though, sadly.
- CreatorJon PollackScott SilveriStarsKyle BornheimerChristine WoodsDavid WaltonThree couples have different ideas of what makes the perfect relationship.Cancelled out of the gate (maybe the pilot was too disorienting?). But it's a great half season.
- CreatorEmily KapnekStarsKaren GillanJohn ChoAllyn RachelAfter being the subject of an embarrassing viral video, a self-involved 20-something enlists the help of a marketing expert to revamp her image in the real world."My Fair Lady" w/ Karen Gillan as millennial social media-obsessed Eliza to John Cho's crusty mentor. Cancelled early, so never developed; but the early sketching out of the pair is exquisite. Emily Kapnek (mostly for chicks). Half season only.
- CreatorBob KushellBill PradyStarsDave GoelzEric JacobsonBill BarrettaJim Henson's lovable Muppets return to the small screen in this mockumentary-style series that follows their personal and professional lives.Never took off. Yet another show-about-a-show. But muppets.
- CreatorDavid CaspeStarsEliza CoupeElisha CuthbertZachary KnightonThis Chicago-set sitcom follows the intertwined lives of six young urbanites trying to learn the ropes of adulthood. Through breakups and whatever other curve-balls life throws them, the pals stick together.More than just a Friends clone. Mould-breaking, surreal, wordy dialogue, great ensemble. Russo bros touch visible (before Community). Great (full) 3 seasons.
- CreatorBen QueenStarsVanessa HudgensDanny PudiChristina KirkFollow the staff of an insurance company, specialising in products to protect defenseless bystanders from the collateral damage of superheroes and supervillains.Office comedy of the little people in a city w/ superheroes. Original concept from Ben Queen (then retooled by network, shown out of order, cancelled.) Still works though.
- CreatorNancy CarellSteve CarellStarsRashida JonesJere BurnsAndree VermeulenLone-wolf detective Angie Tribeca and a squad of committed LAPD detectives investigate the most serious cases, from the murder of a ventriloquist to a rash of baker suicides."Naked Gun"-style gag-driven send-up of police procedural from Steve Carell w/ Rashida Jones. Seasons 1 and 2, skip 4.
- CreatorJohn EnbomDan EtheridgePaul RuddStarsAdam ScottKen MarinoRyan HansenA group of actors move to Los Angeles to make it big, but end up working as caterers.From the creator of Veronica Mars. It missed its wave through no fault of its own and was barely seen, sadly. An events catering company in LA, all wannabe actors and writers; every ep. is a different function. 2 strong seasons.
- CreatorJessica GoldsteinRobert HarlingChrissy PietroshStarsEva LongoriaJencarlos CanelaDiana Maria RivaComedy that goes behind the scenes of a telenovela and its star, whose off-camera life rivals the drama of her onscreen story lines.Light, sweet.
- CreatorArmando IannucciStarsJulia Louis-DreyfusTony HaleAnna ChlumskyFormer Senator Selina Meyer finds that being Vice President of the United States is nothing like she hoped and everything that everyone ever warned her about.Started as a spin-off by Armando Iannucci of his UK political satire The Thick of It. (Namely, politics = toxic culture, cynical, competitive and very creatively sweary.) But this evolved into so much more - a a brilliant and encyclopaedic satiric analysis of all aspects of the US political system. Great ensemble, esp. JLD and Tony Hale who have a genius physical chemistry. Watch from the start: Every season is better than the last.
- CreatorTracey WigfieldStarsBriga HeelanAndrea MartinAdam CampbellA New Jersey mom puts her relationship with her daughter to the test when she lands an internship at her new job, which comes with many challenges.Mother/daughter workplace comedy from 30 Rock alum Tracey Wigfield. It doesn't always hit, but it's a decent 2 seasons.
- CreatorRobert CarlockTina FeyStarsEllie KemperJane KrakowskiTituss BurgessA woman is rescued from a doomsday cult and starts life over again in New York City.Like a lot of Tina Fey's work, at first I thought it was just OK; but I enjoy it every time I rewatch it.
- CreatorChris KellySarah SchneiderStarsHeléne YorkeDrew TarverKen MarinoAn aspiring actor and his sister Brooke, a former professional dancer, try to find their places in the world while wrestling with their feelings about their 13-year-old brother Chase's sudden rise to internet fame.
- StarsMatt BerryRobert BathurstDoon MackichanSteven Toast, an eccentric middle-aged actor with a chequered past, spends more time dealing with his problems off stage than performing on stage.Surreal. Silly. Matt Berry.
- CreatorSamantha BeeJason JonesStarsJason JonesNatalie ZeaAshley GerasimovichA contemporary father takes his family on a road trip across America, but a set of crazy, unforeseen circumstances causes them to end up on the run from the FBI.Preposterous parents/kids shaggy dog story. Best seasons: 1 and 2.
- CreatorJesse ArmstrongSam BainAndrew O'ConnorStarsDavid MitchellRobert WebbMatt KingMark and Jez are a couple of twenty-something roommates who have nothing in common - except for the fact that their lives are anything but normal. Mayhem ensues as the pair strive to cope with day-to-day life.US sitcom tends to be escapist; UK sitcom is about failure and unendurable social discomfort. I avoid watching this often as it kind of makes me want to commit suicide - too close to home. Painful, but it is genius.