Dan's Favorite TV Comedies of the Past 25 Years - 1990 to 2015
by dgarling | created - 25 Sep 2015 | updated - 25 Sep 2015 | Public- Instant Watch Options
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1. Absolutely Fabulous (1992–2012)
TV-14 | 45 min | Comedy
The wild misadventures of Edina "Eddy" Monsoon and her best friend Patsy Stone, who live in a nearly constant haze of drugged, drunken selfishness.
Stars: Jennifer Saunders, Joanna Lumley, Julia Sawalha, June Whitfield
Votes: 21,447
Hilarious British comedy poking fun at socialites and the fashion world in such a smart way, and introducing US audiences to lots of great British slang, as well as "Sweetie, sweetie, sweetie..." and other seriously quotable catchphrases.
2. Friends (1994–2004)
TV-14 | 22 min | Comedy, Romance
Follows the personal and professional lives of six twenty to thirty year-old friends living in the Manhattan borough of New York City.
Stars: Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc
Votes: 1,083,317
I was in college when Friends came out, and didn't watch it live, but when I had a TV in my 20s and no cable, I came home every day to Friends reruns.
3. South Park (1997– )
TV-MA | 22 min | Animation, Comedy
Follows the misadventures of four irreverent grade-schoolers in the quiet, dysfunctional town of South Park, Colorado.
Stars: Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Isaac Hayes, Mona Marshall
Votes: 404,660
I remember seeing the first episode of South Park while staying on a friend's couch in LA, and realizing then it was revolutionary in it's brazen, anti-PC approach to animation.
4. Family Guy (1999–2024)
TV-MA | 22 min | Animation, Comedy
In a wacky Rhode Island town, a dysfunctional family strives to cope with everyday life as they are thrown from one crazy scenario to another.
Stars: Seth MacFarlane, Alex Borstein, Seth Green, Mila Kunis
Votes: 362,969
Terribly misogynistic, but I like to hope it's tongue in cheek, like the rest of this awkward show.
5. Freaks and Geeks (1999–2000)
TV-14 | 45 min | Comedy, Drama
A high school mathlete starts hanging out with a group of burnouts while her younger brother navigates his freshman year.
Stars: Linda Cardellini, John Francis Daley, James Franco, Samm Levine
Votes: 152,777
An amazing collection of actors (and writers and directors) capturing the awkward teen years so well. The Halloween episode is by far my favorite.
6. Strangers with Candy (1999–2000)
TV-14 | 22 min | Comedy
A 46-year-old ex-drug addict returns to high school as a freshman.
Stars: Amy Sedaris, Paul Dinello, Stephen Colbert, Greg Hollimon
Votes: 6,566
Already a fan of David Sedaris' writing, this show proved just how talented their family is, with Amy Sedaris transforming herself into an ugly, bizarre, creepy, but heartwarming and sympathetic character in the strangest high school ever. Also my introduction to Stephen Colbert.
7. Scrubs (2001–2010)
TV-14 | 22 min | Comedy, Drama
In the unreal world of Sacred Heart Hospital, intern John "J.D." Dorian learns the ways of medicine, friendship and life.
Stars: Zach Braff, Donald Faison, Sarah Chalke, John C. McGinley
Votes: 270,020
Such a great ensemble, this show seems so funny because the actors really seem to be having fun themselves. A wonderful counterpoint to all those medical dramas.
8. Arrested Development (2003–2019)
TV-14 | 22 min | Comedy
Level-headed son Michael Bluth takes over family affairs after his father is imprisoned. But the rest of his spoiled, dysfunctional family are making his job unbearable.
Stars: Jason Bateman, Michael Cera, Portia de Rossi, Will Arnett
Votes: 323,254
Another amazing cast come together to portray this family of misfits making terrible, selfish choices at every turn, with Jason Bateman trying to hold it all together.
9. How I Met Your Mother (2005–2014)
TV-14 | 4,576 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
A father recounts to his children - through a series of flashbacks - the journey he and his four best friends took leading up to him meeting their mother.
Stars: Josh Radnor, Jason Segel, Cobie Smulders, Neil Patrick Harris
Votes: 726,330
Friends for my generation, and the rebirth of Neil Patrick Harris as a womanizing fashionista capitalist pig you absolutely love.
10. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005– )
TV-MA | 22 min | Comedy
Five friends with big egos and small brains are the proprietors of an Irish pub in Philadelphia.
Stars: Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton, Rob McElhenney, Kaitlin Olson
Votes: 250,685
Five of the most despicable people "running" a bar and coming up with schemes to make more money that always end in disaster thanks to their inability to communicate and their epic bad decision making.
11. The Office (2005–2013)
TV-14 | 22 min | Comedy
A mockumentary on a group of typical office workers, where the workday consists of ego clashes, inappropriate behavior, and tedium.
Stars: Steve Carell, Jenna Fischer, John Krasinski, Rainn Wilson
Votes: 705,684
I used to roll on the floor laughing at this show in it's first season, though broke up with it the season or two before Steve Carell left.
12. The Comeback (2005–2014)
TV-MA | 30 min | Comedy
An ex A-list celebrity attempts to rekindle the flame of her once prominent acting career with nothing but a camera crew and some determination.
Stars: Lisa Kudrow, Lance Barber, Robert Michael Morris, Laura Silverman
Votes: 7,784
My husband watched this end to end, and I caught the newest season, then had to go back and watch the original ones. Lisa Kudrow captures the desperation and earnestness of actors/actresses struggling in Hollywood.
13. 30 Rock (2006–2013)
TV-14 | 22 min | Comedy
Liz 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.
Stars: Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, Tracy Morgan, Jack McBrayer
Votes: 131,657
Who knew Alec Baldwin was so damn funny (when great writers like Tina Fey are controlling what he says. This very meta show taking place in the building where NBC is housed took the reality of many of the actors lives and twisted it. I especially love Tracy Morgan as the amped up & twisted caricature of himself, Tracy Jordan.
14. Greek (2007–2011)
TV-14 | 60 min | Comedy, Drama, Family
Freshman Rusty Cartwright arrives at college and decides he no longer wants to be the boring geek from high school. He decides to pledge a fraternity. He is offered 2 bids; one from his sister's boyfriend Evan's fraternity and one from Cappie, his sister's ex-boyfriend's fraternity. Rusty must learn to handle his new life, and his new relationship with his sister. His sister must decide if she ... See full summary »
Stars: Clark Duke, Scott Michael Foster, Spencer Grammer, Paul James
Votes: 25,109
A teen dramedy that flew under the radar on ABC Family, but made me laugh and cry, made wish there were more than 4 years in college so there could be more seasons, and made me think maybe I missed something not joining a fraternity (though mostly thanks to Cappie).
15. Glee (2009–2015)
TV-PG | 44 min | Comedy, Drama, Music
A group of ambitious misfits try to escape the harsh realities of high school by joining a glee club headed by a passionate Spanish teacher.
Stars: Lea Michele, Jane Lynch, Matthew Morrison, Cory Monteith
Votes: 155,161
I resisted liking Glee, watched a random episode from season 2 and wrote it off. Then we gave it another chance and got totally hooked. My husband is finishing up watching the entire series a 2nd time.
16. Parks and Recreation (2009–2015)
TV-14 | 22 min | Comedy
The absurd antics of an Indiana town's public officials as they pursue sundry projects to make their city a better place.
Stars: Amy Poehler, Jim O'Heir, Nick Offerman, Chris Pratt
Votes: 286,694
So well written and so funny, I just finished Poehler's autobiography and the stories she tells about her cast mates made me tear up, and realize just how much I loved this show.
17. Modern Family (2009–2020)
TV-PG | 22 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
Three different, but related, families face trials and tribulations in their own uniquely comedic ways.
Stars: Ed O'Neill, Sofía Vergara, Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell
Votes: 480,365
It's incredibly fun watching these families evolve and grow over time, and incredibly exciting to see a gay, married couple on a popular, award-winning TV series on network TV.
18. Raising Hope (2010–2014)
TV-PG | 22 min | Comedy, Family
Jimmy becomes a single parent to an infant after her mother, with whom he had a one-night stand, ends up on Death Row.
Stars: Lucas Neff, Martha Plimpton, Garret Dillahunt, Shannon Woodward
Votes: 40,546
I'm so sad this didn't get renewed for more seasons. The silly premise and awesome themed episodes have me cracking up every episode. Martha Plimpton, Garret Dillahunt and Cloris Leachman as Maw Maw steal the show.
19. Bob's Burgers (2011–2024)
TV-14 | 22 min | Animation, Comedy
Bob Belcher runs a struggling burger shop with his wife and three children.
Stars: H. Jon Benjamin, Dan Mintz, Eugene Mirman, John Roberts
Votes: 91,720
A friend mentioned this off-hand while we were bowling, and I finally gave it a try. So funny and smart, and I can't get enough of Kristen Schaal's Louise Belcher. I also can't wrap my head around Bob Belcher and Archer being the same person.
20. New Girl (2011–2018)
TV-14 | 22 min | Comedy, Romance
After a bad break-up, Jess, an offbeat young woman, moves into an apartment loft with three single men. Although they find her behavior very unusual, the men support her - most of the time.
Stars: Zooey Deschanel, Jake Johnson, Max Greenfield, Hannah Simone
Votes: 244,633
I didn't want to like this show, but that quirky, doe-eyed Zooey Deschanel won me over... though the dynamic between her roommates really is the source of the hilarity, notably douchebag extraordinaire, Schmidt.
21. Portlandia (2011–2018)
TV-14 | 22 min | Comedy
A sketch-comedy series that parodies life in Portland, Oregon.
Stars: Fred Armisen, Carrie Brownstein, Kyle MacLachlan, Sam Adams
Votes: 23,005
Being from Seattle (a city that likes to think Portland is a cut rate version of it) and spending plenty of time in Portland (a city that likes to think it's super quirky), Portlandia captures the bizarre, affected archetypes of the city so well.
22. The Mindy Project (2012–2017)
TV-14 | 30 min | Comedy
A young Ob/Gyn doctor balances her personal and professional life, surrounded by quirky co-workers in a small office.
Stars: Mindy Kaling, Ike Barinholtz, Ed Weeks, Chris Messina
Votes: 34,866
It may be my crush on Chris Messina, but I love watching each week to see how Dr. Lahiri will stumble in and out of trouble and love and shoes.
23. Orange Is the New Black (2013–2019)
TV-MA | 59 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama
Convicted of a decade-old crime of transporting drug money, ordinarily law-abiding Piper Chapman is sentenced to 18 months behind bars and quickly discovers the realities of life-changing prison time.
Stars: Taylor Schilling, Danielle Brooks, Taryn Manning, Emma Myles
Votes: 319,391
Reclassified as a Drama by the Emmys people, OitNB still keeps me in stiches, evolving every season so far, and redefining binge watching thanks to Netflix' policy of dropping an entire season at a time.
24. Inside Amy Schumer (2013–2022)
TV-14 | 22 min | Comedy
Amy Schumer switches from sketches to doing stand-up to interviewing people on the street and people of interest, usually following a certain theme.
Stars: Amy Schumer, Kevin Kane, Kyle Dunnigan, Kim Caramele
Votes: 13,781
Dark and sleazy and unafraid to put female sexuality in your face, Amy Schumer is the new, less stoned, Sarah Silverman and every episode I can't believe she went THERE.
25. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (2015–2019)
TV-14 | 30 min | Comedy
A woman is rescued from a doomsday cult and starts life over again in New York City.
Stars: Ellie Kemper, Jane Krakowski, Tituss Burgess, Carol Kane
Votes: 78,465
The wide-eyed innocence of Kimmie, the over-the-top Titus, and their mischievously sketchy landlady Lillian (portrayed by Carol Kane, channeling a street-smart version of her Taxi character, Simka Dahblitz-Gravas) take a weird concept (girl from doomsday cult saved and thrust into NYC life) and make it absurdly funny.
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