The era of the 2020s has genuinely been an incredible one for comedy television. Sitcoms, animated series and more have all been very well received thanks to their phenomenal writing. Comedy can generally be pretty hit or miss when it comes to overall reception, as it is one of the most subjective genres out there, for both kids and adults.
But, somehow, many of the shows that have been released since 2020 have found pretty much unanimous praise. Whether it be sci-fi, mockumentary, classic sitcom, or more, the shows have a ton of great variety. The world can only hope that this trend keeps up, as the first half of the 2020s has given them some great content. This is especially true for comedy, which has delivered some of the era's best series so far.
10
'Mythic Quest' (2020–)
Created by Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day, and Megan Ganz
Image via Apple TV+
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is one of the greatest comedy series of all time, so, when some of that team decided to take a bit of a "side quest" and create a new show, it was pretty much guaranteed to have the same charm and quality of humor. Created by Charlie Day, Rob McElhenney (both known for the iconic show), and Megan Ganz, Mythic Quest has been met with some awesome audience response.
Following the day-to-day adventures of the team behind one of the biggest videos in the entire world, Mythic Quest has consistently great viewership. Debuting on February 7th, 2020, it's only fitting that the decade begins with a project like this. It's hilarious and has people begging for more. It can also be binged in one weekend.
The Great is a satirical black comedy following the experiences of Catherine the Great. Not worrying about being 100% historically accurate and focusing on crafting great humor, The Great finds itself being astoundingly funny. Most of the time, period pieces tend to be more serious and dramatic, but this series bends the norm and goes full comedy.
With a titanic cast including the likes of Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult, the performances enhance the satire tenfold. The two main actors were actually nominated for Emmys due to their phenomenal work on the show. It's a three-season run that is more than rewarding to sit down and binge through.
Being an anthology series, the show follows the many guests of the illustrious White Lotus chain of resorts as they try to have the perfect vacation. The White Lotus sets itself apart by being an anthology comedy series, which feels unique compared to the other series airing this decade.
With the third season promising more wild storylines, people are practically shaking with excitement as they wait to see the series and its comedy unfold once more. They have an all-star cast and the ever-hilarious Jennifer Coolidge stands as the highlight of the show.
7
'Ghosts' (US) (2021–)
Created by Joe Port and Joe Wiseman
Image via CBS
When Samantha (Rose McIver) and Jay (Utkarsh Ambudkar) decide to move away from the big city and convert a run-down home that just so happens to be haunted, they come across the spirits that reside there. With each spirit coming from a different era in history, from the 1700s to the '80s, the comedy series has a plethora of opportunities for unique jokes.
The idea of making a comedy series about the lives of ghosts is one that has never really been done before, making it one of the most unique comedy series of the decade. So, of course, this means it's absurdly enjoyable to sit down and watch. Fun fact: Ghosts started as a BBC series and this is the American version, meaning there could be two series worth checking out.
6
'Poker Face' (2023–)
Created by Rian Johnson
Image via Peacock
Ever wonder what it could be like to be able to tell whenever someone is lying? This is the reality and everyday life of Charlie Cale (Natasha Lyonne), a woman who has hit the road, driving in her iconic Plymouth Barracuda. Every episode she stops somewhere new, where a crime/mystery is unfolding. With her extraordinary ability, she manages to get involved and help solve whatever mystery is at hand.
From the mind of Rian Johnson, with a "mystery-of-the-week" formatting, Poker Face is a very entertaining binge and weekly series, as it is always introducing something completely new and fresh. Not to mention, Charlie's uncanny lie-detector ability is something that's not being done at all in comedy television and makes this project stand out among the rest.
If there was a television series that absolutely exploded in 2021, it was Only Murders in the Building. Having an absolutely talent-filled cast, starring Selena Gomez, Steve Martin, and Martin Short. The two comedy titans meld perfectly with the legendary Gomez, making them one of the best comedy show trios of all time.
Created by the fabled comedy titan, Steve Martin, the series follows the three apartment building tenants as they investigate murders in their building, recording a podcast about them while doing so. This always gets them into sticky situations, thrilling cliffhangers, introduces iconic guest stars, and keeps viewers guessing until the very end.
4
'Hacks' (2021–)
Created by Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky
Image via Max
It's not every day that a series gets a whopping 99% in critics ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, but Hacks managed to get it. The series decides to follow the journey of the mentorship of a 25-year-old from Deborah Vance (Jean Smart), which has far more layers than anyone would ever expect.
Deborah and her mentee, Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder), have a very dynamic and hilarious relationship that magnifies any situation they get into. Actors Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder manage to take two characters that are objectively unlikable and, somehow, make the audience root for them through the connection they get from the characters due to the humor at play.
While Hacks may have 99% on Rotten Tomatoes, Smiling Friends has a perfect 100%. This cute animated series has gained the favor of pretty much everyone who's watched it. The show depicts the misadventures of the members of Smiling Friends Inc., a company dedicated to bringing smiles to the world. Their representatives, however, seem to get themselves into some absurdly wacky situations.
Unlike any show on the air right now, Smiling Friends was created by two animators mostly known for their YouTube work, Zach Hadel and Michael Cusack. The series serves as a huge step in the right direction for online creators breaking into traditional media, not only because they made a good show, but because they made one with such favorable reviews and ratings. The two YouTubers are beating some of the biggest names in the game and for very good reason.
2
'Abbott Elementary' (2021–)
Created by Quinta Brunson
Image via ABC
This sitcom, which shows the everyday lives of the staff of teachers at Abbott Elementary School, has gained pretty much nothing but positive reviews. Whether it be the stellar writing, a great and diverse cast or the mockumentary-style filmmaking, Abbott Elementary has everything that makes a great comedy and then some. It's part of the revival of network sitcom television.
The best part about Abbott Elementary is how real and down-to-earth it is. It's incredibly relatable, given most viewers have most likely have gone through the school system in one way or another. Pretty much everyone also knows how difficult kids can be, parenting them or not. This makes the humor of Abbott Elementary not only fun and innocent but also undeniable.
1
'Ted Lasso' (2020–2023)
Created by Brendan Hunt, Joe Kelly, and Bill Lawrence
Image via Apple TV+
Not only is Ted Lasso one of the best comedy series of the 2020s, it's commonly regarded as one of the best television series of all time. There's genuinely not much that can be said about this Apple TV+ project that hasn't been said already and sung to the heavens. It's adored worldwide and that's thanks to a plethora of reasons.
A huge highlight of the series is the astoundingly talented Jason Sudeikis. If there's one thing that's clear about Ted Lasso, it's that a huge load of the charm in the show is carried on the shoulders of Sudeikis' phenomenal performance. He clearly loves the project and puts his entire being into ensuring that it comes out with stellar quality.
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