It was a good year for scripted comedy, with many different genres, from mystery to supernatural, bringing the funny. It’s also been a year of change, with comedy fixtures like HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm heading to the exit, making room for the next great comedy to take its place.
With the year almost over, it’s time to look back and review which comedies made the biggest impressions, earned the biggest laughs, and caused the biggest sighs of disappointment when the season was over too soon. From supernatural documentaries to school-based shenanigans, these are the best comedies of 2024.
10 'Bad Monkey' (2024-)
Created by Bill Lawrence
Image via Apple TV+
Based on the novel of the same name by Carl Hiaasen, Bad Monkey stars Vince Vaughn as charming and self-destructive detective Andrew Yancy. Yancy is on suspended leave for attacking the husband of the woman he’s sleeping with and now languishes in a job inspecting restaurants for health code violations. Things are looking bleak for Yancy, but the appearance of a severed appendage pulls the former detective into a complicated case of murder and fraud.
Scrubs creator Bill Lawrence did an admirable job of mixing comedy with an intriguing narrative full of double-crosses and colorful characters to make it one of the stronger comedies of the year. Vaughn does well as the detective who’s consistently his own worst enemy but intelligent enough to crack the case anyway. A strong supporting cast, including Rob Delaneyand a wonderful Natalie Martinez, flesh out the world audiences will hopefully see again soon.
Release Date August 13, 2024
Main Genre Crime
Seasons 1
9 'Only Murders in the Building' (2021-)
Created by John Hoffman & Steve Martin
Image via Hulu
It may not be safe to live in or visit the Arconia apartment building, but for Charles (Steve Martin), Oliver (Martin Short), and Mabel (Selena Gomez), it’s a great way to make a podcast. Following the lives of three strangers who bond over their love of a true-crime podcast, the Only Murders in the Building has seen the unlikely trio solve or be accused of multiple murders in their Upper West Side home. Now in its fourth season, the mystery/comedy hybrid is still finding ways for the amateur sleuths to solve crimes while they document their findings for a podcast of their own.
The show has had a wide variety of high-profile guest stars, including Meryl Streep and Tina Fey, and the fourth season was no different. Kumail Nanjiani and Jane Lynch are among a few of the stars that stop by while the murder of a stunt double (Lynch) becomes the focus of Charles, Oliver, and Mabel's newest investigation. Full of the twists, shocking reveals, and red herrings the series is known for,Only Murders in the Building continues to entertain as both a compelling mystery and an entertaining comedy.
Release Date August 31, 2021
Creator
Seasons 4
Story By steve martin
Streaming Service(s) Hulu , Disney+
Directors Cherien Dabis
Where To Watch Hulu
8 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' (2000-2024)
Created by Larry David
Image via HBO
The final season of Curb Your Enthusiasm marks an end to an era of lowered expectations via the musings of comedy curmudgeon Larry David. The 12th and final season would see Larry facing a possible year in prison for breaking a Georgia voting law. Referencing the end to Seinfeld’s run while also adding a meta twist, the finale to Larry’s time with HBO was very on brand, expectations curbed or not.
It’s strange to think that even though the time between seasons was increasingly longer, viewers' time with Larry David's fictional exploits is over. First appearing during the boom of HBO’s relevance as prestige entertainment, David brought the same sensibilities from the sitcom hit Seinfeld to Curb Your Enthusiasm, managing to double down on comedic cynicism. Each episode reveled in the cringe, the petty, and the comedy that came from both.
Release Date October 15, 2000
Seasons 12
Network HBO Max
Streaming Service(s) M
Showrunner Jeff Schaffer
7 'Young Sheldon' (2017-2024)
Created by Chuck Lorre & Steven Molaro
Image via CBS
The Big Bang Theoryprequel spinoff Young Sheldon proved to be an excellent comedy that stood on its own feet by telling surprisingly emotional stories in a half-hour format. For seven seasons, Young Sheldon watched Sheldon Cooper (Iain Armitage) grow up in the small fictional town of Medford, Texas. The final season gracefully closed out storylines with a healthy dose of fan service and looked to the future with the Young Sheldon spinoff, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage.
Fans of The Big Bang Theory knew certain events would be happening in the final season of Young Sheldon, most notably the death of Sheldon’s dad, George Sr. (Lance Barber), but that didn’t mean anyone was prepared for the emotions that would come with it. The series ended as strongly as it started, and by focusing on character growth over fast and easy jokes,Young Sheldon will be remembered as one of the most well-rounded sitcom spin-offs of its time.
Release Date September 25, 2017
Cast Iain Armitage , Zoe Perry , Lance Barber , Montana Jordan , Raegan Revord , Annie Potts , Jim Parsons , Wallace Shawn , Craig T. Nelson , Matt Hobby , Wyatt McClure , Emily Osment , Doc Farrow , Ed Begley Jr. , Melissa Peterman , Ryan Phuong , Rex Linn , Brian Stepanek , Wendie Malick , Nancy Linehan Charles , Danielle Pinnock , Valerie Mahaffey , Sarah Baker , Rachel Bay Jones , Will Sasso , Mckenna Grace , Ava Allan , Isabel May , Grady Lee Richmond , Dan Byrd , Katherine Von Till , Reba McEntire , Andrea Anders , Mary Grill , Jason Alexander , Billy Gardell , Nick Alvarez , London Cheshire , Julia Pace Mitchell , Bill Fagerbakke , Taylor Spreitler , Steve Burns , Pam Cook , Chris Wylde , Richard Kind , Caleigh Kilpatrick , Dave Foley , John Hartman
Main Genre Comedy
Seasons 7
Story By chuck lorre
Network CBS
6 'The Bear' (2022-)
Created by Christopher Storer
Image via Hulu
The third season of The Bear saw stress levels rise (if that was possible) as the fledgling restaurant’s quest for a Michelin Star drives Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) to a dangerous emotional state. The events of season three leave a questionable future for the restaurant, but as long as staff members like Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) and Sydney (Ayo Edebiri) continue to show up for work, so will viewers.
The Bear has a unique way of making viewers feel connected to the world of the show. As orders are called out and the chaotic sounds of the kitchen rise to an echoing crescendo, Carmy's stress becomes the audience’s stress. Although the pressure he feels is generated from within, it’s no less damaging to him or the staff he demands more from. Fast dialogue laced with darkly comic barbs punctuates a series that, much like the restaurant itself, continues to outdo its own success.
Release Date June 23, 2022
Main Genre Drama
Seasons 3
Story By Christopher Storer
Writers Christopher Storer
Streaming Service(s) Hulu , Disney+
Directors Christopher Storer
Showrunner Christopher Storer
5 'Shrinking' (2023-)
Created by Brett Goldstein, Bill Lawrence & Jason Segal
Image via Apple TV+
A grieving therapist looks for a way to recover from his wife’s death while helping his clients using unorthodox methods in the Apple TV+ comedy, Shrinking.Jason Segel stars as Jimmy, the father of a teenage daughter who’s putting the pieces of his life back together after the unexpected loss of his wife. His community of friends and co-workers are there to pick him up, call him out when he’s wrong, but most of all, make viewers laugh on the journey that is life after loss.
The second season of Shrinking saw the characters begin to gel more naturally after a somewhat shaky start in season one. Segal has been a consistent presence on television for a reason, with a likable everyman quality that makes him a pleasure to watch and relate to. Add to that a supporting cast of a hugely entertaining Harrison Ford as the grumpy but brilliant Paul and a star-making performance by Jessica Williams as Gaby and a binge-ably wonderful comedy is born.
Release Date January 26, 2023
CastJason Segel , Luke Tennie , Michael Urie , Lukita Maxwell , Harrison Ford , Jessica Williams , Christa Miller , Ted McGinley , Heidi Gardner , Devin Kawaoka , Lilan Bowden , Kimberly Condict , Lily Rabe , Tilky Jones , Rachel Stubington , Wendie Malick , Sawyer Jones , Mike C. Nelson , Matt Knudsen , Kenajuan Bentley , Adam Foster Ballard
Main Genre Comedy
Seasons 2
Story By bret goldstein
4 'Abbott Elementary' (2021-)
Created by Quinta Brunson
Image via ABC
The lives of the faculty at Abbot Elementary continue to resonate with viewers in its fourth season on ABC. A long-teased romance threatens to upend previously established dynamics within the group, while budget constraints continue to exist just as they always did. With strong performances from Quinta Brunson as Janine and scene-stealer Janelle James as principal Ava, Abbott Elementary shows that it excels at writing to its characters' strengths.
One of the challenges for a sitcom is to grow the characters so they don’t stagnate in roles that become hollow tropes while also not disrupting the flow of a show that’s working, but Abbott Elementary nicely balances the two needs. An upcoming crossover withIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiademonstrates that Abbott Elementary is not afraid to take chances and is more than capable of finding ways to ensure the sitcom stays fresh.
Release Date December 7, 2021
CastQuinta Brunson , Tyler James Williams , Sheryl Lee Ralph , Lisa Ann Walter , Chris Perfetti , Janelle James , William Stanford Davis , Zack Fox , Courtney Taylor , Nikea Gamby-Turner , Josh Segarra , Mason Renfro , Jerry Minor , Larry Owens , Nate' Jones , Lela Hoffmeister , Vince Staples , Kimia Behpoornia , Dillion Blake Allen , Reggie Conquest , Kate Peterman , Keyla Monterroso Mejia , Benjamin Norris , Aayden William , Ben Onyx Dowdy
A spinoff of the movies starring Mark Wahlberg, Ted takes viewers back to John's (Max Burkholder) high school years when Ted (Seth MacFarlane), his stuffed bear come to life, returns home after a brief stint in Hollywood. Ted’s reckless behavior forces the toy against his will to join John at school, where he will back up his thunder buddy in the face of bullies, crushes, and the eternal love of marijuana.
While conventional wisdom would say two Ted movies were sufficient to tell the story of a man and his bear, the Peacock comedy was a sweet coming-of-age story told in only the way Family Guy creator MacFarlane could. Burkholder does a great job of acting against an imaginary best friend, with the dialogue between John and Ted funny enough that viewers will be forced to rewind and see what they missed while laughing. A second season was greenlit after the overwhelmingly positive reaction to the series debut, and it can’t arrive fast enough.
Release Date January 11, 2024
Creator Seth MacFarlane
Main Genre Comedy
Number of Episodes 7
2 'What We Do In The Shadows' (2019-2024)
Created by Jemaine Clement
Image via FX
Normally, the disappearance of a vampire would be a good thing, but in the case of What We Do In The Shadows, the world would be a sadder place without the bloodthirsty housemates. The adventures of the Staten Island-bound vampires may be coming to a close, but viewers will have fond memories of Nandor (Kayvan Novak), Nadja (Natasia Demetriou), Laszlo (Matt Berry), Colin Robinson (Mark Proksch), and lone human Guillermo (Harvey Guillén).
Over six seasons, What We Do In The Shadows continued to develop ongoing storylines, such as Guillermo’s desire to be a vampire, while introducing new concepts, such as Nadja opening a nightclub, that built on the established lore provided by the movie on which the show was based. It was the rare comedy only constrained by the creativity of the writers and performers because, in their little darkened corner of Staten Island, anything was possible. The quality of the last season may divide fans, but it won’t undo all the brilliant work that preceded it.
Release Date March 27, 2019
Seasons 6
Story By Jermaine Clement, Taika Waititi
Streaming Service(s) Hulu
Showrunner Paul Simms
1 'English Teacher' (2024-)
Created by Brian Jordan Alvarez
Image via FX
Witty, irreverent, and original, English Teacherwas a comedy that immediately separated itself from the pack when it debuted on FX this year. Show creator Brian Jordan Alvarez stars as Evan Marquez, a young gay teacher working at an Austin high school where he teaches English. Each day is a new level of fresh hell as he fends off angry parents, outraged students, and faculty who consistently drive him crazy.
While English Teacher has an extremely likable and sympathetic protagonist, the show is also unafraid to have Evan make mistakes that would threaten the goodwill he had built with the audience. But by being honest to the character and how his shifting attitudes impact the relationships around him, Evan’s character development feels earned when he makes steps in a healthy direction. English Teacher frequently explores the highs and lows of social progress and the quickness with which one can age out of being the young and optimistic voice of righteous change. The eight episodes of season one will go by fast, but that just means you can start from the beginning and watch again.
Release Date September 2, 2024
Cast Brian Jordan Alvarez , Savanna Gann , Sarah Kopkin , Ben Bondurant , Treylan Newton , Matthew Smitley , Mason Douglas , Ralphael Lester
Main Genre Comedy
Seasons 1
Character(s) Evan , Becca , Tina , Jeff , Tray , Hartman , Frank , Bartender
Original Image Created by Zanda Rice
Image via Apple TV+ 
Image via Hulu 
Image via HBO 
Image via CBS 
Image via Hulu 
Image via Apple TV+ 
Image via ABC 
Image via Peacock 
Image via FX 
Image via FX 
English (US) ·