15 Underrated TV Comedies That Deserve Your Attention

No matter the decade, comedy has been a popular genre for television shows. From Seinfeld to Friends to The Office, there’s a comedy out there for everyone.

While these classic shows deserve the popularity they’ve received, there are tons of undiscovered and underappreciated comedies that many people would enjoy.

It can be hard to find fresh, undiscovered hilarious comedies, especially when there are so many options across different streaming services and channels.

However, this list will detail a variety of comedy shows that deserve the recognition that classic comedies typically get. From confused vampires to exhausted waiters to snarky politicians, this list will have a comedy for everyone.

In no particular order, here are 15 underrated TV comedies that deserve your attention:

1. What We Do in the Shadows

If you love mockumentaries like The Office, What We Do in the Shadows is the perfect show to binge-watch. This series, available to watch on Hulu, puts a supernatural spin on typical office-style sitcoms by following a group of vampires living in Staten Island with their vampire-loving human familiar, Guillermo De La Cruz (Harvey Guillen).

Most of the humor from the show comes from how absurdly the vampires act in human situations and what they assume humans do. While Guillermo always manages to swoop in and cover up the vampires’ slip-ups and messy meals (read: corpses), they always have close calls to reveal their vampiric secrets to their friendly but confused neighbors.

It’s a great mix of action, comedy, and drama. Recently, FX announced that the next season, season six, will be the last, so now’s the perfect time to catch up on the show before the series finale!

2. Mo

In recent years, dramedies have become an increasingly popular genre for television shows, and Mo is one of those shows testing the boundaries of this drama.

Created by comedian Mohammed Amer, this Netflix show follows the journey of the main character, Mo, and his journey to attaining American citizenship for himself and his Palestinian immigrant family. Mo aptly addresses social issues prevalent in society today, such as drug addiction and undocumented immigration, all while still maintaining an overall comedic tone.

Mo is a semi-autobiographical series inspired by the creator’s own experiences growing up in Texas, so it’s somewhat similar to shows like Insecure and Ramy.

Though the first season is rather short, Mo is a super engaging show that’s both hilarious and thought-provoking, a perfect combination for TV watchers who love realistic comedies.

3. Sort Of

In an era of increased diversity in television, Sort Of stands out as a show that celebrates queer and trans people of color representation.

The premise of the show centers around Sabi (Bilal Baig), a queer and genderfluid Pakistani-Canadian, and their journey through adulthood, including figuring out how their gender is perceived by their religious family members and navigating babysitting two kids whose mother is in a coma.

Sort Of addresses the complexities of coming out and intersectionality of identities, all while telling a charming story highlighting a beautiful friendship between the main character Sabi, and their best friend, 7even (Amanda Cordner), and the kids they’re babysitting.

Though this show originated in Canada, all three seasons of the show are available to stream on Max.

4. I Think You Should Leave

I Think You Should Leave truly celebrates the sketch comedy format.

This Netflix show, created by Tim Robinson, who used to write for Saturday Night Live, features episodes with short sketches, ranging from three to five minutes, that usually feature Robinson alongside celebrity appearances, like Sam Richardson.

Although sketch comedy is often a hit-or-miss for people, as evidenced by mixed reviews about Saturday Night Live in recent years, I Think You Should Leave is one of the most hysterically funny sketch shows with absurd sketches that subvert expectations and keep viewers on their toes.

5. Shelved

If you’ve ever wanted to watch a workplace comedy set in a library, Shelved is the perfect show.

It has the heartwarming soul of Abbott Elementary in that the show explores the benefits of public services and how they benefit the local community while also containing Parks and Recreation-like ridiculous situations.

This wholesome show currently only has one season but deserves a second season to continue spreading appreciation for libraries, all while providing a good laugh.

6. Party Down

Most people know Adam Scott from his role as Ben Wyatt from Parks and Recreation or his starring role as Mark in Severance.

But before he got those roles, he started off starring in the sitcom Party Down, a workplace comedy about waiters working in the service industry at parties.

The show’s tone is more sardonic, like The Office, as it recognizes how many waiters are often mistreated, but how the show’s characters can show up for each other and keep the business running is really sweet.

Starz revived Party Down for a third season in 2023, despite originally airing its first season in 2009 and its second season in 2010, and while many fans were skeptical about the revival, the new season managed to capture all the charm of the original series while introducing new characters.

7. Loot

Loot is an Apple TV+ show starring comedian Maya Rudolph as Molly Novack, a rich lady going through a divorce and mid-life crisis that inspires her to attempt to use her money for a charitable cause.

There’s a fantastic supporting cast that features Joel Kim Booster and Michaele Jaé Rodriguez, and the plotlines evoke empathy for Molly and her heartbreaking divorce and how she’s supported and treated by the people in her life.

In a time where shows about wealth, like The White Lotus and Succession, are mostly dramas, Loot is a fresh breath of air in that it addresses issues related to wealth disparity while maintaining a comedic tone that makes the show fun to watch.

8. We Are Lady Parts

We Are Lady Parts is a sitcom that answers the question: what would a show about an all-female Muslim punk band look like?

The show centers around Amina (Anjana Vasan) and her friends starting a punk band despite each individual’s various barriers to achieving their musical dreams. Amina finds herself struggling to focus on being in the band and completing her microbiology PhD.

Witty and touching, We Are Lady Parts, available to watch on Peacock, explores the balance between chasing one’s dreams and balancing expectations in a hilarious and sincere way.

9. Doom Patrol

Doom Patrol toes the line between comedy and action. As a DC series, there’s the usual entourage of quirky heroes and supervillains, but Doom Patrol manages to establish a found family bond between a group of misfits that go on wacky adventures that are just so absurd that it’s impossible to watch without laughing.

From zombie butts to a genderfluid sentient street that teleports, this show is a delightful watch that perfectly tugs at heartstrings when necessary and provides a good chuckle throughout the episodes.

All four seasons of Doom Patrol are available to watch on Max, and there’s no doubt that you’ll find yourself watching episode after episode, wondering what’ll happen next to this endearing but flawed group of begrudging superheroes.

10. The Afterparty

The Afterparty ingeniously blends the comedy and murder mystery genres.

This Apple TV+ show stars Tiffany Haddish and Sam Richardson as investigators at a party where someone has been murdered. It’s a classic murder mystery, but the twist is that each episode is filmed in a different style. For example, in the second season, there’s an episode filmed in the style of a Wes Anderson movie.

While the show is cinematically impressive, it’s equally hilarious, especially with Haddish’s trademark wit and an incredible supporting cast that changed between seasons.

11. Crashing

Though Phoebe Waller-Bridge is best known for creating her iconic show Fleabag, she previously created Crashing, a one-season sitcom about a group of people living as property guardians in an abandoned hospital.

Waller-Bridge stars in the show as Lulu, and relationships and rivalries develop between the characters living together throughout the series, making for hilarious, dramatic moments.

What makes the series so appealing is that despite how messy and imperfect the characters can be, they’re mostly young adults trying to figure their lives out, and making mistakes only helps them empathize with each other and forge stronger bonds.

12. Blockbuster

Blockbuster is a workplace comedy about a diverse group of people working at the last Blockbuster around.

While the show’s main focus is around Eliza Walker (Melissa Fumero) and Timmy’s (Randall Park) developing relationship, the supporting cast also contributes a ton of fun to the plot.

It’s similar to Superstore in terms of how it addresses conflicts between co-workers and struggling businesses while balancing an overall comedic feel.

Unfortunately, this Netflix sitcom was canceled and left on a cliffhanger, but it’s still a fantastic series despite its untimely ending.

13. Los Espookys

Los Espookys is a unique comedy in that the show is mostly in Spanish with English captions. It was created by Latino-American comedian Julio Torres.

This abstract show follows a group of friends offering their services to people who want a good spook, for example, scaring people off a party by faking a haunting. The premise sounds ridiculous, but the friendship between the main characters and their passion for helping bring a bit of mysticality to others’ lives is endearing.

Though this show only has two seasons on Max, it’s a fantastic watch, especially if you’re looking for something spooky yet funny.

14. Veep

Although most people might think of Seinfeld when thinking of Julia Louis-Dreyfus, one of her most iconic roles is Vice President Selina Meyers in the HBO show Veep.

This comedy has a writing style that’s cutting and comical, and the situations that Selina and her team have to deal with are often absurd and laugh-worthy.

Part of Veep’s appeal is the way it approaches American politics with a cynical tone. Especially when politics can be stressful to think about, Veep serves as an outlet for relief and comedy to help cope.

15. Avenue 5

So many movies have addressed what would happen if people were stranded in space, but HBO’s Avenue 5 is the first comedy show to ask that question about what would happen if tourists were trapped in space.

Much of the humor from the show is derived from how Captain Ryan Clark (Hugh Laurie) and his crew struggle to keep a ship of hundreds of rich tourists calm in the face of almost certain doom.

Avenue 5 has a style that’s similar to Veep in that it’s a comedy that veers towards the darker side of the genre, but there are still moments of connection between crew members that reinforce their humanity.

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What other TV comedies do you think deserve more recognition? Let us know in the comments below!

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