Over the last decade, comedies monumental in both numbers and impact have debuted on screens everywhere. The 2010s, largely defined by the seamless integration of the internet and ordinary life, saw creatives rely on viral news stories, meme culture, and uniquely online phenomenon to court viewers and galvanize a loyal fanbase, regardless of size. In doing so, several comedies gave visibility to otherwise overlooked experiences, providing the audience with comedic moments that felt both amusing and realistic.
The best comedies make the mundane magical, highlight the joys in life, and acknowledge worrisome and traumatic incidents, seemingly making light of them but ultimately providing audiences with earnest depictions of the ridiculousness that comes with everyday life. Series such as Abbott Elementary, The Office, and Parks And Recreation indulge audiences with hilarious scenes while also commenting on the dysfunction found in the American education system, the workplace environment, and the world of city management. Comedies like A Black Lady Sketch Show reimagines the sketch format, producing relatable yet engaging pieces for a wide audience.
These comedies have made audiences grin from ear to ear, laugh until they cry, and at their best, shed a couple of tears. Coupled with a litany of topics explored and remarkable story arcs for beloved characters, these amusing projects have forever fermented themselves in the hearts of viewers across the globe.
9 Chewing Gum (HBO Max)
While the equally amazing I May Destroy You or Black Panther: Wakanda Forever sees Michaela Coel using her talents in creative and captivating roles, the phenomenal actor was first discovered for her role as the quirky Tracey on the British comedy series Chewing Gum. Rather than transforming the London estates into a fantastical world, Coel and her peers have effectively discovered the fantasy in the real-life estates found across the United Kingdom.
Tracey, alongside her sheltered sister Cynthia (Susan Wokoma), her best friend Candice (Danielle Isaie), and Candice's boyfriend Aaron (Kadir Kirwan), has the most hilarious conversations about mensuration, poverty, intimacy, and religion to name a few. Characters such as Ola, Connor, and Joy also provide amusing portrayals of stereotypes subverted, not only to entertain the audience but to offer realistic portrayals of everyday folks, made up of multiple facets rather than a single, identifiable trait.
As one might have picked up, characterization sets the series apart from other comedies. Nevertheless, both seasons come with overarching plots that complement each character's journey, no matter how ridiculously amusing they come across.
8 The Good Place (NBC/Netflix)
Death and the afterlife are the centers of some of the most contentious debates about the purpose of life. The Good Place, starring Kristen Bell, William Jackson Harper, and Ted Danson, harmoniously blends philosophy and comedy in its exploration of life and death, but also morality and community with an optimistic perspective.
The series follows Eleanor (Bell), Chidi (Harper), Jason (Manny Jacinto), and Tahani (Jameela Jamil) and their hilarious adventures in pursuit of self-improvement and genuine happiness. With the assistance of Michael (Danson) and Janet (D'Arcy Carden), the group consistently evaluated religion, utilitarianism, and nihilism. For instance, the show famously dissected the trolley problem with such a comedic approach.
Due to the show's tackling of complex concepts, The Good Place remains one of the most ambitious comedies to premiere on television. The ensemble cast and quality storytelling have made the series an enjoyable yet informative watch.
7 The Other Two (HBO Max)
The Other Two has been commended as one of streaming's most nonsensical comedies. Drew Tarver and Helene Yorke star as brother-and-sister duo Carey and Brooke, two struggling creatives that have to deal with the sudden successes of their thirteen-year-old brother Chase (Case Walker). The series pokes a jab at industry practices, prioritizing viral sensations over performance ability regardless of the former's quality. Nevertheless, the show carries a particularly heartfelt message about enjoying the easy-to-overlook nuances in life, revitalizing the age-old tale of chasing dreams for a wide set of eyes.
Despite the millennial humor baked into the series, The Other Two undoubtedly has wide appeal, being lauded as one of TV's renowned comedies. After two strong seasons, the third installment is expected to premiere on HBO Max on May 4, 2023.
6 Ted Lasso (Apple TV)
The charming face behind Ted Lasso has become one of the most recognizable characters in the streaming era. The sports comedy follows the titular Ted Lasso, an American football coach who is hired as a coach for AFC Richmond, the English Premier League soccer, or football, team. Despite his charming and compassionate demeanor being seen as a weakness, AFC Richmond responds very well to Lasso's coaching, going on to improve as a collective.
The series finds Jason Sudeikis, Hannah Waddington, Brett Goldstein, and Jeremy Swift provide remarkable portrayals alongside an ensemble cast and crew of compelling creatives crafting stories about mental health, infidelity, and the politics behind premier football. As a result, the series is currently the most consumed program on Apple TV+, often credited for propelling the service into the mainstream.
5 Hacks (HBO Max)
Hacks, starring Jean Smart and Hannah Einbender, follows the career of two women in comedy. Comedy legend Deborah Vance is introduced as struggling with her latest Las Vegas residency. With her and her management deciding to retreat and reinvent her shtick, the team comes across Ava (Einbinder), a rising talent that recently found herself in a career-ending controversy. The two slowly but surely form a strong bond, initially treading antagonistic and even abusive lines. However, an insightful tour across the country leads to both personal and professional growth for the main crew of creatives.
Having a quality series centering around comedy for viewing pleasure is fulfilling enough, however, Hacks takes it a step further. The dynamic between Ava and Deborah alone is filled with hilariously shocking yet earnest moments. The episode "New Eyes" in particular finds the two dissecting their apprehension towards one another, delving deeper in search of the person behind the personality. The trip offers solace to the two leads. With the help of edibles, the two experience a wide range of emotions that make for one of the most humorous moments on television.
Recently renewed for a third season, the series leaves audiences with a new set of questions for their favorite comedy while opening the gate for newcomers to hop into the world of Hacks.
4 Derry Girls (Channel 4/Netflix)
Created and written by Irish playwright Lisa McGee, Derry Girls finds her experiences living in the titular town during the 1990s brought onto the small screen. The series follows Erin, Michelle, Orla, Clare, and James, five teenagers attending Our Lady Immaculate College. The series finds the five characters navigating puberty, sexuality, self-image, and the importance of community during the Troubles.
Considered to be Channel 4's most recent success story, the series immaculately, no pun intended, dives into dark humor. Finding amusement in one of the darkest periods in the history of the British Isles. The series does not shy away from the political turmoil around them but instead juxtaposes the violence of the Troubles with the teenager's normal exploration of their desires, fears, and sense of unity.
3 Insecure (HBO)
Adapted from her influential web series, The Misadventures of an Awkward Black Girl, Issa Rae's Insecure has been cemented as a hallmark for black comedies in the 2010s. The series follows Issa Dee, an LA-based millennial struggling to figure out exactly what she wants to do in life. Sounds familiar? It comes as no surprise that a show that covers the millennial plight would resonate with audiences. However, the appeal of Insecure comes in its ability to highlight the surrealism that exists in everyday life, especially in a Black American context.
The series includes a meta-commentary on representation in television with spoofs of popular Black American television series, in-person conversations resonating with existing social media discourse, and interrogation of contemporary relationships. Insecure not only calls attention to multiple facets of life but does so in a successfully profound yet hysterically funny manner.
2 Ramy (FX/Hulu)
Often considered one-third of the FX dramedy trinity alongside Atlanta and Dave, Ramy Youssef stars in the aptly titled Ramy. The FX series introduces audiences to Ramy Hassan, an Egyptian-American, Muslim millennial living in New Jersey. The premise of the series is quite universal given the pervasiveness of religion in everyday life.
Millennials and Gen Z Muslims however, have a unique experience with the world around them. An amalgamation of Western influences and an Islamic upbringing, the Muslim youth find themselves at a crossroads: either conforming to existing practices, leaving the religion altogether, or existing in this vast, sometimes exciting, but ultimately confusing alternative world. Ramy, both the series and the character, captures the beautiful ridiculousness that comes with living between the margins. Not only do Ramy and his community come face-to-face with the contention derived from marginalization, but these confrontations are often poignant, hysterically funny, and most importantly, authentic.
Many of the series' strengths have been echoed throughout the world of media criticism, writer Nandini Balial sums up the series in a few words. The "emotional cosmopolitanism" baked into the series narrative and "interconnectedness" between characters makes Ramy "unlike anything else on television."
Whether potential viewers are on the lookout for family dramedies with an ensemble cast, surreal storylines, or narratives that capture the nonsensical nature of seemingly mundane lives, Ramy contains the aforementioned traits and more.
1 Veep (HBO Max)
- Warner Bros. Television Distribution
Armando Iannucci's Veep finds Julia Lous-Dreyfus as the seminal Selina Meyer. Both amoral and uniquely competent compared to her peers, Meyer vies for the seat at the Oval Office through various forms of manipulation, compromise, and extraneous labor. Alongside Selina's journey, audiences are given an exclusive look inside the relationship or lack thereof, she maintains with her daughter. Her daughter, the liberal film major Catherine (Sarah Sutherland), is a perfect addition to the overall narrative. Sutherland seamlessly fits into the ensemble of politicians her mother comes into contact with while Catherine acts as a stand-in for the audience of sorts, seemingly being the voice of reason amidst her mother's chaos.
Frequently ignored by the president, Selina's experience often mirrors that of the "girl bosses" idolized in the late 2010s and detested in the early 2020s. Meyers, much like other fictional women in power, has a common experience of being slighted, overlooked, and taken advantage of due to the rampant misogyny in elite spaces. While the series satirizes misogyny, internalized or otherwise, the showrunners never make light of it. Due to the realistic nature of the series's trajectory, as well as a masterful use of satire, Veep will forever be remembered as an amusing, fantastic exploration of American politics.