5 Female-Centered TV Comedies We Loved in 2015

2015 was an amazing year for drama on television and streaming platforms. Superheroes emerged, battles were fought, and beloved characters met their untimely ends.

But even though this year was a great one for epic battles and amazing character development, 2015 was also the year of stand-out, groundbreaking comedies. It was a year that not only saw a surge in the number and quality of comedies on television and streaming platforms (such as Netflix), but also the increase of female-centered sitcoms.

And as we look back on some of the best sitcoms of this year, it’s interesting to note that five of the best and most well-rounded of them all were all driven by women, with female writers and/or showrunners at the helm. Not only was it the year for comedy, but it’s clear that 2015 was also the year for women on television as well.

5. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

This colorful, bright, impeccably-written comedy stars Ellie Kemper as the optimistic Kimmy Schmidt, a woman who does not let the fact that she was held captive in an underground cult for year taint her view of the world. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt introduced us to one of the best characters on television in 2015 – Titus Andromedon – and contained some of the funniest and most memorable jokes (as well as an immensely catchy opening theme song). Not only is this show funny, but it is also filled with heartwarming moments, and focuses on the importance of accepting your eccentricities and making sure other people love you because of, not in spite of, them. If any series on television excels at teaching us that it is okay to be weird and important to love the life you’ve been given, it is Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

4. Parks and Recreation

In 2015, we said farewell to Pawnee and to our favorite Parks department. After a flawlessly executed flash-forward, Parks and Recreation spent its final season tying up loose ends and allowed us to remember why we all fell in love with its characters in the first place. “Leslie and Ron” made viewers cry providing us with what was, essentially, a bottle episode jam-packed with humor and emotional revelations, while “Pie-Mary” addressed issues of feminism in hilarious and yet tactical and realistic ways. Parks and Recreation was always NBC’s most “feel-good” comedy, and at the end of its run, audiences laughed and loved right alongside the characters.

3. Jane the Virgin

One of the most unexpected hits to ever emerge from The CW, Jane the Virgin soared this year in comedy, catapulting its lead – Gina Rodriguez – into Golden Globe-winning status. The show has addressed all kinds of issues (most notably, immigration reform) and it has managed to maintain its humor and heart through every subject it tackles. The integration of hashtags and the Narrator’s voiceovers provide for big laughs, but it is the talent of the ensemble and character interactions therein that really make Jane the Virgin the delightfully addicting hit that it is.

2. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

The CW had numerous critical darlings in its line-up during 2015, and one of the most praised and promising of them all was the new series, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Now a Golden Globe-nominated sitcom, this series found its humor in the charismatic lead, Rebecca Bunch (played by Rachel Bloom). The show’s musical endeavor was a risk, but one that has paid off in spades. Its songs are smart and addictive (we dare you to try and not sing along to “The Sexy Getting Ready Song” or “I Have Friends”). This hit comedy is one that tackles mental illness in a believable, powerful way. And between the slapstick comedy, witty dialogue, and hilarious song lyrics, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend continues to prove that it is a television force to be reckoned with.

1. New Girl

After a bit of a third season slump, New Girl encountered a surge in quality and laughs in 2015, earning it praise from critics and fans alike. The decision for the show to refocus its attention on the core loft members (and Cece) proved to be the right call. The show managed to integrate additional cast members like Zoe Lister-Jones (the hilarious Fawn Moscato) and Nasim Pedrad flawlessly. The slapstick shenanigans were plentiful in 2015 for New Girl (“Par 5” and “Spiderhunt” were perfect examples of this), and though the comedic elements of this season were impeccable, what the series perfected was the balance of humor and heart. It’s hard to watch “Clean Break” and not get a bit misty-eyed at the end, as “Rivers and Roads” plays. New Girl constructed an excellent fourth season from start to finish and earns its spot in the best comedies of this year.

What were your favorite comedies this year? Share with us in the comments below!