Some sitcoms become huge hits with audiences in the tens of millions, while others come and go almost unnoticed or fade into obscurity. If you have watched your favorite sitcoms so many times that you know all of the lines, there are dozens of great and underappreciated shows that you should think about adding to your playlist.
Here are some great American sitcoms that you may have missed but deserve your time.
1.The Honeymooners
Director: Frank Satenstein
Cast: Jackie Gleason, Art Carney, Audrey Meadows and Joyce Randolph
Streaming on: Roku, Amazon Prime and Pluto TV
This is the show that inspired “The Flintstones” and earned Jackie Gleason the nickname “The Great One.” The show was made in the 1950s and shot in black and white, but don’t let that put you off.
This is one of the funniest shows of all time, and you should be able to binge-watch all 39 “Honeymooners” episodes in a single weekend. It tells the story of a grumpy bus driver, his eccentric sewer worker best friend and their long-suffering wives, and it should not be missed.
2.Miracle Workers
Directors: Ryan Case, Dan Schimpf, Steve Buscemi, Tamra Davis and many others
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Geraldine Viswanathan, Karan Soni, Jon Bass and Steve Buscemi
Streaming on: Hulu, Vudu, Amazon Prime, Apple TV and YouTube TV
It is surprising that a show boasting the star power of Daniel Radcliffe, Steve Buscemi and Geraldine Viswanathan and the creative genius of Simon Rich only ran for four seasons.
Rich is one of the youngest writers ever to pen sketches for “Saturday Night Live,” and “Miracle Workers” features some of his best material. This is an anthology show, so every season tells a different story. If your taste in comedy leans toward the madcap and zany, this is the show for you.
Radcliffe’s drag scene in season three has become iconic, and Buscemi’s portrayal of God in season one is hilarious.
3.Cougar Town
Directors: John Putch, Michael McDonald, Courtney Cox, Bill Lawrence and many others
Cast: Courteney Cox, Christa Miller, Busy Philipps, Dan Byrd, Josh Hopkins and Ian Gomez
Streaming on: Disney+, Apple TV, YouTube TV, Hulu, Vudu and Amazon Prime
Courtney Cox is best known for portraying Monica Geller in the NBC hit “Friends,” but she is just as funny if not funnier in “Cougar Town.”
If you never missed an episode of “Sex and the City,” this show about a divorced woman coming to grips with the modern dating scene will be right up your alley. The show’s 102 episodes are spread over six seasons, so there is plenty to enjoy. Only the first three seasons are available on DVD, but you can stream them all.
4.Happy Endings
Directors: Rob Greenberg, Jay Chandrasekhar, Jeff Melman, Joe Russo, Anthony Russo and many others
Cast: Elisha Cuthbert, Eliza Coupe, Zachary Knighton, Adam Pally, Damon Wayans Jr. and Casey Wilson
Streaming on: HBO Max, Roku, Hulu, Apple TV and Amazon Prime
A wedding being called off at the altar does not sound like a great jumping-off point for a sitcom, but “Happy Endings” is all about subverting expectations. The show follows six dysfunctional friends as they struggle to manage their professional, social and love lives in Chicago, and it will leave you in stitches if comedy tropes are your thing.
There is a slacker, a party girl and an obsessive entrepreneur, and all of them get plenty of screen time. The show aired on ABC between 2011 and 2013, and there are 57 episodes to enjoy.
5.Atlanta
Directors: Hiro Murai, Donald Glover, Amy Seimetz, Janicza Bravo, Ibra Ake, Angela Barnes, and Adamma Ebo
Cast: Donald Glover, Brian Tyree Henry, LaKeith Stanfield and Zazie Beetz
Streaming on: Hulu, Vudu, Apple TV, YouTube TV and Amazon Prime
If you like surreal comedies with clever writing and jokes that hit hard, “Atlanta” could be just the show you are looking for. Created by Donald Glover, who you may also know as the Childish Gambino, the show tells the story of an underdog who just can’t catch a break.
In one of the show’s funniest scenes, a character fends off police officers with an alligator. The show lost some of its charm when it moved from Atlanta to Europe in season three, but the first two seasons are outstanding.
6.Coach
Directors: Alan Rafkin, Craig T. Nelson, Jeff Meyer, Tony Dow, Michael Lembeck, John Whitesell and many others
Cast: Craig T. Nelson, Jerry Van Dyke, Bill Fagerbakke, Shelley Fabares, Clare Carey and Kenneth Kimmins
Streaming on: Roku, Vudu and Amazon Prime
The 1990s were a golden age for comedy, and “Coach” was one of the decade’s most popular sitcoms. The show tells the story of a college football coach who has to overcome setback after setback as he claws his way to the top. Craig T. Nelson is the star of the show, but Jerry Van Dyke and Bill Fagerbakke steal every scene they are in.
The focus of the show switches to the National Football League (NFL) in season eight when Nelson is hired to coach the fictional Orlando Breakers, and several pro players including Troy Aikman, Keyshawn Johnson and Eddie George make cameo appearances.
My Two Cents
If you believe that laughter is the best medicine and you like binge-watching TV shows, there is a wealth of great sitcoms that deserve a chance. Whether you like slapstick humor, physical comedy, absurdity or surrealism, there are shows on all of the major streaming platforms that are just waiting to be discovered.
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