18 Terrific TV Comedies from 2017
13. The Goldbergs
SEAN GIAMBRONE, WENDI MCLENDON-COVEY, TROY GENTILE
The Goldbergs have their formula down pat—80s nostalgia and jokes, some outrageous reactions to normal situations, and a sweet conclusion about family.
Every time Patton Oswalt’s narration concludes the tender moment of the episode, it’s hard not to get a little misty-eyed.
The Goldbergs have no need to change their formula. It works. Even though the show takes place in “1980-something,” the themes of family, friends, and finding your way through adolescence is always timeless.
14. New Girl
In what could have been New Girl’s final season, big changes came to the characters we’ve known and loved for six seasons. Nick became a published author, Winston and Aly got engaged, Cece and Schmidt were expecting, and Jess realized she still loved Nick.
Oh, and we FINALLY learned Schmidt’s name.
Although it was a somewhat uneven season, the last few episodes of Season 6 reminded us why we love these oddball characters so much. There are so many running jokes and a whole lot of heart.
Thankfully, we don’t have to say goodbye to New Girl until 2018.
15. The Big Bang Theory
Even in its eleventh season, The Big Bang Theory still knows how to make us laugh out loud.
The quirky sitcom centered around a group of scientists with less than perfect social skills continues to allow its characters to grow and evolve — namely Sheldon Cooper, played by Jim Parsons — and often balances the funniest moments some of the most heartfelt.
16. The Good Place
The Good Place certainly caught us by surprise — in a great way. While the first season was funny and refreshing, the second has turned everything upside down and continues to keep us on our toes.
The cast and their performances are incredible, the writing is smart, and we feel pretty certain it wouldn’t be *so* bad to end up in the same place as Eleanor Shellstrop.
17. Grace and Frankie
If you haven’t been watching Grace and Frankie on Netflix, now is the time to start. Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin are hilarious in their roles as Grace and Frankie — an unlikely pair who become close friends when their husbands both leave them late in life — for each other. The comedy series is as funny as it is inspiring.
18. Will & Grace
Will & Grace returned this year, and it feels as though it never left. The actors all portray their roles as if they never stopped. The only difference now is that they’re all older and facing new challenges.
The revival of the NBC comedy series is just as smart, funny, and relevant as it was years ago — if not more so. How could we not be excited to see Will, Grace, Jack, and Karen back on our screens this year? Will & Grace also makes our list of noteworthy new shows from 2017.
—
What TV shows made you laugh in 2017? Let us know in the comments below!
*Additional contributions by Hillary Esquina, Christina Cerutti, Allison Nichols, Janelle McCammack, and Ashley Bissette Sumerel
Follow us on Twitter @telltaleTV_
Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!
Nora Williamson
Nora is pop-culture obsessed and has been since she was six years old-- writing stories about going to Hollywood premieres and dating Christian Slater. Her current favorite shows include House of Cards, Orange is the New Black, The Walking Dead and black-ish. She is a sucker for TV shows with forbidden love, bad boys and of course, a Big Bad. Nora may also be the only person on the planet who loves Fear the Walking Dead.