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'Friends'
The theme song always said that they'd be there for us, but who knew that "Friends" would continue to be a massive hit on Netflix more than a decade after ending its run on NBC? While the clothing and hairstyles can seem dated, the show's themes continue to resonate with new generations, as does the timeless comedy.
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'Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt'
NBC has made some dopey decisions, but few bigger than passing on this Tina Fey co-created comedy that followed her success on "30 Rock". When the peacock passed, Netflix scooped it up, resulting in four seasons of screwball hilarity featuring the titular Kimmy (Ellie Kemper), who exits a weird religious cult, moves to NYC and starts living life with joyous gusto.
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'Toast Of London'
Chances are you've probably never even heard of this hilarious Britcom starring Matt Berry (one of the stars of FX's sitcom reboot of cult comedy film "What We Do in the Shadows"). Berry stars Steven Toast, a pompous, self-important, middle-aged actor whose failures are only outweighed by the ridiculously high opinion he has of himself.
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'Archer'
Spy spoofs don't get spoofier than "Archer", following the adventures of inept secret agent Sterling Archer (H. Jon Benjamin of "Bob's Burgers" fame) who suffers the unfortunate fate of working for his demanding mother (voiced by "Arrested Development" star Jessica Walter). The rare show that continually reinvents itself in weirdly creative ways season after season.
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'Schitt's Creek'
Any show that teams up two cast members of "SCTV" is worth watching, yet "Schitt's Creek" is not only knee-slappingly funny, it's also one of the most successful comedies ever to originate on Canadian television. Starring Eugene Levy as a millionaire who loses all his money and Catherine O'Hara as his overly dramatic actress wife, the show's secret weapon is series co-creator, writer and producer Daniel Levy (real-life son of Eugene), who manages the not-so-easy task of stealing scenes from his scene-stealing TV parents. A guaranteed good time.
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'One Day At A Time'
When Netflix first announced plans to remake Norman Lear's iconic 1970s sitcom, the collective response was, "Why?" But then it debuted, and viewers saw a show that rested on a somewhat similar framework yet took off in some decidedly new directions by telling the story of a single Latinx mom (Justina Machado) raising her teenage kids with the help of her opinionated grandmother, played by legendary EGOT winner Rita Moreno — who continues to be a comedic force of nature at age 87.
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'The Office' (U.K. version)
Ricky Gervais' masterpiece is short (just 12 episodes and a 2-part wrap-up special) and bittersweet, yet it's also fall-on-your-face funny. As the branch manager for a failing paper manufacturer, Gervais' David Brent combines a sense of desperate inadequacy with the utter conviction he's both beloved and hilarious (he's neither), "The Office" managed to walk the fine line between pathos and belly laughs like few shows have.
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'The Office' (U.S. version)
NBC's American remake of Gervais' show managed to soar far beyond the original to become something entirely all its own, with star Steve Carell's Michael Scott sharing some of David Brent's traits while evolving into a thoroughly unique comic creation. Backed by one of the all-time great sitcom ensembles (Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, Ed Helms, Mindy Kaling, tc.), Carell delivers the performance that will forever define him — plus, unlike the British version, there are LOTS of episodes to enjoy!
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'Master Of None'
Setting aside the controversy that sidelined the career of star Aziz Ansari, the two seasons of "Master of None" are sheer sitcom brilliance, the story of a New York City actor of Indian heritage as he struggles with racism and romance. Sweet sometimes silly and occasionally powerful, "Master of None" is a sitcom perfectly suited for streaming.
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'The Good Place'
While the third season just wrapped on Global, Netflix offers a fantastic opportunity to catch up on one of the most clever, creative sitcoms in recent memory. Kristen Bell stars as a recently deceased woman who finds herself in "The Good Place", where she's guided through her after-life by "architect" Michael — but quickly realizes she's far too awful a person to have avoided "The Bad Place", and believes she wound up there as a mistake. What happens next is a masterstroke of comedy.
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'The Kominsky Method'
Created by sitcom mastermind Chuck Lorre ("The Big Bang Theory", etc.), this wry sitcom focuses on long-in-the-tooth actor Sandy Kominsky (Michael Douglas), who has parlayed his former fame into a struggling Hollywood acting school. Alongside his agent/best friend (Alan Arkin), these two old dogs hilariously ruminate on the indignities of getting old and decrepit in a town that treasures youth and beauty above all.
Douglas won a Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy Golden Globe, while the show also won the Golden Globe for Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy.
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'How I Met Your Mother'
For those who haven't seen this beloved sitcom, a comedy adventures awaits, surrounding the antics of five friends in NYC (Alyson Hannigan, Jason Segel, Neil Patrick Harris, Cobie Smulders and Josh Radnor) and their romantic misadventures along the way.
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'Derry Girls'
Another under-the radar comedy you may not have heard of, "Derry Girls", as the title implies, comes from Northern Ireland, chronicling the exploits of a group of teenage girls during "the Troubles." While the dialects may be a bit thick, the humour is right on point.
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'Arrested Development'
While reviews of the show have been mixed since its Netflix revival, the earlier seasons — which originally aired on Fox — are undeniably some of the funniest, craziest and just plain bonkers television episodes you'll ever see, with a revolving cast of celebrity guest stars that will boggle the mind.
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'Bojack Horseman'
Fans of adult animation will find plenty to love in this utterly bizarre yet completely relatable tale of an equine actor (voiced by Will Arnett) who was once at the top of Hollywood thanks to the success of his sitcom "Horsin' Around". These days, faded TV star Bojack Horseman is jumping from one failed relationship to another while attempting comebacks that tend to result in more humiliation than glory. A TV tour de force.
Warner Bros. Television
Netflix
Lis Clucas/Channel 4
FXX
CBC
Netflix
BBC Two
NBC
Netflix
NBC
Netflix
20th Century Fox Television
Channel 4
Netflix
Netflix
