I want to laugh, dammit!

November 12, 2016 8:04 AM

I keep hearing we're in the golden age of TV. And yes, there's definitely too many acclaimed dramas to even keep up with, and new must-watch ones each year. But what are the great new sitcoms of today? What makes you laugh on a regular basis?
posted by smackfu to Media & Arts (41 answers total)

The Good Place, Brooklyn 99, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (I struggle with the grimmer/sadder moments of the show, and sometimes it's funny because it's true, but it's still funny and the characters are well-fleshed).
posted by Lyn Never at 8:12 AM on November 12, 2016 [6 favorites]

The Good Place is the rare show these days that actually makes me laugh out loud on a regular basis.
posted by lunasol at 8:16 AM on November 12, 2016 [3 favorites]

Seconding Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.
The Last Man on Earth.
Its run has ended, but every season of Community is available on Hulu.
posted by ejs at 8:18 AM on November 12, 2016 [2 favorites]

Blackish and Superstore.
posted by The Deej at 8:23 AM on November 12, 2016 [3 favorites]

We loved Galavant, and are currently watching and enjoying Brooklyn 99 as well.
posted by ipsative at 8:23 AM on November 12, 2016 [1 favorite]

The Ranch on Netflix is very good. I think it's one of the most emotionally honest sitcoms I've seen in a long time. Not that it's dramatic or emotional, just that it's very real in the writing. They're not just going for the cheap gag, the characterization is very strong.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 8:42 AM on November 12, 2016

Phoneshop was the sitcom that captured exactly what life in modern London feels like.
posted by Coda Tronca at 8:44 AM on November 12, 2016

Galavant
posted by zippy at 8:55 AM on November 12, 2016 [1 favorite]

For us "People of Earth" is the new Brooklyn 99.
posted by bleep at 9:08 AM on November 12, 2016

Speechless has been very funny so far, 7 episodes into its first season. And Fresh Off The Boat is still funny 3 seasons in. (Constance Wu is a national treasure.)
posted by oh yeah! at 9:23 AM on November 12, 2016 [1 favorite]

The Good Place is absolutely hilarious.
posted by kevinbelt at 10:02 AM on November 12, 2016 [1 favorite]

Oh, and Trophy Wife was very funny - only ran for the one season, but is up on the ABC Go app apparently, not sure where else one can stream it. It was child-actor Albert Tsai's first role as a series-regular, and I think he's got a great comedy career ahead of him.

Enlisted was another good one-season-wonder. And Cougar Town had a lot of funny laugh-out-loud moments once they got away from the initial title-premise and went for the wacky (the 'ha ha look at how much wine we drink' jokes got pretty tiresome by the end, but, the cast played off each other really well overall).
posted by oh yeah! at 10:26 AM on November 12, 2016 [2 favorites]

nthing Brooklyn 99 and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.

but my favourite comedy at the moment is Catastrophe. I am so, so excited for season 3!
posted by gursky at 10:37 AM on November 12, 2016 [2 favorites]

Veep is worth the HBO (or HBO Now) subscription.
posted by radioamy at 11:14 AM on November 12, 2016 [4 favorites]

It's got a dark streak running through it for sure, but I am 100& gaga in love with "You're The Worst" on FX. Also, it's been on for a while now, but "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" makes me laugh like a loon.

"People of Earth" is only a couple of episodes in, but is weird and funny and charming so far.
posted by ELind at 11:34 AM on November 12, 2016 [1 favorite]

Superstore, blackish, and The Goldbergs.
posted by JoeZydeco at 12:54 PM on November 12, 2016

You're The Worst
Catastrophe
Veep
Brooklyn 99

Not sure if you're interested in animated shows but by far the funniest shows on TV in the last couple years are Bojack Horseman and Rick and Morty.
posted by saul wright at 1:44 PM on November 12, 2016 [1 favorite]

Silicon Valley
Master of None
Lady Dynamite
Adventure Time
Previously
posted by Crystalinne at 2:24 PM on November 12, 2016 [2 favorites]

If you can find it in the US, Fleabag is the best new tv comedy I've seen in ages.
posted by metaBugs at 3:31 PM on November 12, 2016 [4 favorites]

Jane the Virgin on The CW. It's styled like a telenovela, and definitely has drama, but it's lots of fun. Really thoroughly enjoyable.
posted by merejane at 3:33 PM on November 12, 2016 [2 favorites]

I keep pimping it here, but Grace and Frankie (Netflix) is beautiful and funny and true and, yes, occasionally devastating. Ditto One Mississippi (Tig Notaro's Amazon sitcom about the events she talked about in her famed Live set).

(Also, Fleabag is on Amazon.)
posted by Etrigan at 3:39 PM on November 12, 2016 [1 favorite]

Angie Tribeca!
posted by Room 641-A at 3:58 PM on November 12, 2016 [2 favorites]

Broad City is the funniest show around right now, IMO.
posted by zokni at 4:07 PM on November 12, 2016 [2 favorites]

(It depends on your sense of humor I guess. A lot of the shows folks have listed I would probably describe as cute and diverting, but Broad City makes me full-on bellylaugh.)
posted by zokni at 4:09 PM on November 12, 2016 [1 favorite]

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
If you enjoy animation and/or profanity: Archer and Bojack Horseman
posted by gnutron at 5:01 PM on November 12, 2016 [2 favorites]

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt on Netflix.
posted by waving at 6:28 PM on November 12, 2016

Thirding Broad City, although some episodes can be hit or miss. It manages to nail the absurd humor that very few shows can. Peep Show is over, but it only ended last year so it is somewhat current. I would highly recommend it, as well.

Curb Your Enthusiasm is supposedly returning with a new season next year after ending five years ago, so that is something to be on the lookout for!

It's Always Sunny's next season comes out next year. Their last season was pretty disappointing but they kept me laughing for 10 straight seasons before then and even during parts of the not so good last season, so I still have faith in IASIP. Even if you don't plan on watching it, I highly recommend watching any of their older stuff. It is comedy gold and pretty absurb if that is your type of humor.
posted by atinna at 9:20 PM on November 12, 2016

The Grinder was good show that Fox cancelled because reasons. Streaming on Netflix now.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 10:42 PM on November 12, 2016

There's only like 13 episodes of Detectorists, but Netflix has it on streaming, and it's one of my favorite shows. It's that rare comedy that I dove into and watched all of, instead of (my usual pattern of late) watching one or two episodes and getting put off by something and then going back a month later to try again.

It's quiet and sweet and heartwarming and it gives me warmfuzzies along with making me laugh.
posted by Mister Moofoo at 10:51 PM on November 12, 2016 [1 favorite]

I also like Bojack Horseman and the sometimes disturbing bleak absurdism of Louie, but see above about being off-putting and my having to take a break and go back later.
posted by Mister Moofoo at 10:53 PM on November 12, 2016 [1 favorite]

I too love the particular humor of Archer and Bojack Horseman... but Bojack is, to me, an dramedy at best... it is brilliant, but it can get heavy, man.

Also animated, Rick and Morty is often surrealist scifi humor
posted by Jacen at 12:41 AM on November 13, 2016 [1 favorite]

Actually make me laugh:

Tier one:

Broad City

Tier two:

It's Always Sunny
Fleabag

Tier three:

Archer
Bojack
Rick & Morty
Vice Principals
posted by Joseph Gurl at 2:37 AM on November 13, 2016

You're the Worst rules, but it's not funny at all to me.
posted by Joseph Gurl at 2:38 AM on November 13, 2016

Nth-ing Archer and Rick & Morty for animated options. I would not recommend Bojack to you—it swings pretty wildly between hilarious and depressing, which doesn't seem like what you want.
posted by dondiego87 at 3:49 AM on November 13, 2016

Schitt's Creek
posted by H21 at 10:30 AM on November 13, 2016

Insecure [at the top of my list because it's new and deserves more attention] (HBO)
Catastrophe (Amazon)
Last Man On Earth (Hulu)
Silicon Valley (HBO)
High Maintenance (HBO)
Fleabag (Amazon)
Master of None (Netflix)
Bojack Horseman (Netflix)
Broad City (Hulu)
Louie (Netflix/Hulu)
Mississippi One (Amazon)
Veep (HBO)
Girls [I suppose this is semi-controversial but it still makes me laugh, and the most recent season was very strong] (HBO)
Laid (Netflix)
posted by nightrecordings at 11:16 AM on November 13, 2016

Life in Pieces - a huge ensemble comedy in its second season
Better Things - a single mom dramedy that is pretty groundbreaking
posted by soelo at 4:04 PM on November 13, 2016

Bob's Burgers! Funny and sort of charming and not usually mean. Hulu and Netflix both.
posted by fiercecupcake at 11:54 AM on November 14, 2016

Kim's Convenience! (On CBC)
posted by treadstone11 at 6:24 PM on November 14, 2016 [1 favorite]

I really really like The Middle. Sue Heck is delightful, and they struggle with poverty and class and family issues constantly. American Housewife has just started and reminds me a lot of Trophy Wife. Mom is by the same guy behind Big Bang Theory and yet is gritty and funny about women and addiction. The Mindy Project ricochets between awful or amazing. Another Period is insanely bizarrely brilliant. Sirens had a fun first season and is about to come back for a second season. Also Playing House - not loud laughs but big grins and giggles. Welcome to Sweden cracked me up and is coming back for more seasons (and hopefully more ABBA cameos). Oh yes - Episodes! I really liked this as a sort of grown-up UK-twist on Entourage. And from the UK, there's Man Down (SO GOOD!) and Moone Boy (OH YES) and the very silly Carry On-type hijinks of Plebs.

I also agree for Blackish, Grace and Frankie and Bob's Burgers.
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 5:07 AM on November 15, 2016

Response by poster: So far we have watched The Good Place (excellent) and finished up the first season of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (also excellent although a bit cringey).

But so many other options to try! Thanks!
posted by smackfu at 3:01 PM on November 27, 2016