15 Best TV Comedies of 2025: Abbott Elementary, Hacks, The Studio, and More

The world of television comedy had a little something for everyone in 2025. From returning network favorites like Abbott Elementary and Ghosts to new comedies like Adults and The Studio, these shows had brilliant writing, unique characters, and sometimes made us laugh so hard we cried.

Based on our critics’ individual choices for the best TV shows of the year, these were the top TV comedies, as chosen by Tell-Tale TV critics, in 2025.

1. Abbott Elementary

Abbott Elementary has been one of the few sitcoms to survive for several seasons in recent years. It truly feels like a love letter to the genre and delivers consistent laughs through unexpected storylines like love confessions at an aquarium.

Like sitcoms like Parks and Recreation, which have become comfort watches for many years after their runs, Abbott Elementary has already secured its iconic legacy. Especially since new episodes air on Wednesdays, it’s the perfect mid-week pick-me-up guaranteed to bring a little more joy to viewers’ lives. 

2. Hacks

With the news that Hacks will end after the upcoming season, Hacks Season 4 feels even more special. The ups and downs of the relationship between Ava and Deborah are what bring life to this series. However, they wouldn’t survive without all the characters who surround them.

The complicated relationship between these two women has kept fans entertained, emotional, and invested since 2021, making it one of the best duos of women we have seen onscreen.

Hannah Einbinder and Jean Smart’s chemistry is one we rarely get to enjoy on TV shows, because opportunities for two women to lead a show without being pitted against each other are rare.

The comedic timing of every actor on the show, the funny and heart-warming storylines, and the incredible script have made Hacks an award-winning comedy that has kept fans entertained and happy from the very beginning.

3. The Studio

The Studio will immediately draw in many cinephiles because it is a hilarious and sometimes painfully realistic look at Hollywood and the studio system.

4. Ghosts

Ghosts has it all: A pantless finance bro learning to be a father from beyond the grave, a Viking that watches Paw Patrol, and a Victorian perv with a kink for secret sex pacts.

This eclectic sitcom hasn’t aged a day in its five-year reign, choosing to embrace a weird and wacky existence that amplifies the humanity at the center of its timeless premise.

The comedy’s powerhouse ensemble keeps its foot on the gas and sharp rebuttals at the ready as each season delves into the divides that unexpectedly unite us.

It makes for a rapid-fire feast of banter and heartbreak that will haunt you long after the joke has landed.

5. Adults

It can be rare for a comedy series to hit home as hard as a drama-focused show with how deliciously and realistically it tackles everyday life.

In a time where twenty-something adults can barely get by because of the world, we’re often relying on each other to make the most out of it. In Adults, this is displayed through the challenges that the main cast faces, whether that’s babysitting a messed-up teenager or dealing with stress from an adult job.

The writing is as grounded and relatable as it can be for those going through similar circumstances, and the characters are a fun bunch to watch.

6. Mo

With its second and final season, Mo delivered a powerful message of the importance of resistance to oppression in the smallest of actions and in, of course, laughter. Despite Mo’s many flaws, he is a very easy character to root for, and the journey he makes with his family to Palestine and their ancestral homeland is one of the most moving and timely parts of the series.

This season also included an outstanding performance from Farah Bseiso as Yusra, the matriarch of the family, who stayed strong for all the people who relied on her and was the beating heart of the series. For its pitch-perfect combination of humor and heart, Mo is without a doubt one of the best shows of 2025.

7. The Paper

The Paper is the perfect example of how to do a spinoff series. Making a spinoff of a show like The Office, especially so many years later, was a risky move, but it paid off.

The premise works well, the connection to the original series is clever, and the tone of the show pays homage to The Office while also updating it for a modern audience. 

It doesn’t try to copy everything about The Office, but it certainly draws inspiration from its characters and themes. Domhnall Gleeson plays the role of Ned perfectly, and Oscar Nuñez’s reprisal of his character is spot on. 

8. Deli Boys

Deli Boys is a brilliant melting pot of genres that culminates in an explosive TV experience.

Part odd-couple comedy, part mob drama, the freshman comedy refreshes both genres it operates within while adding a Pakistani lens that’s gone largely ignored in the TV landscape.

Asif Ali and Saagar Shaikh finally take the lead as the titular Deli Boys, shining with comedic precision and unwavering confidence. At the same time, Poorna Jagannathan rounds out the main trio with her dry deliveries and towering presence. 

This is the kind of series that has a little bit for everyone to enjoy. 

9. Overcompensating

Overcompensating takes a deep dive into a fictionalized retelling of Benito Skinner’s queer becoming. In a time when LGBTQ+ stories are far and few in between on television, it’s refreshing to see a brutally honest exploration of coming out in college.

Additionally, the friendship between Benny and Carmen is so wholesome, as Overcompensating really emphasizes how deeply they care for each other. Particularly for young adults who may be on their own journeys of self-discovery, this show is a wonderful watch about being unapologetically messy. 

10. Animal Control

Animal Control remains one of the most underrated workplace comedies on TV. The third season feels like the show coming into its own. After two seasons, the show’s confidence has grown to deliver its best season yet.

The comedy is quicker, reflecting the ensemble’s more established rhythm. The animal-related cases range from zoo breaks to Super Bowl parties featuring Rob “Gronk” Gronkowski. There’s also a serialized story involving a penguin that escaped from the zoo, which speaks to Animal Control Season 3’s strengths.

The animal-friendly storylines get to the hearts of the characters more than ever, making it all the more exciting that Animal Control Season 4 premieres in 2026.

11. St. Denis Medical

Like an infection, this sitcom needs time to grow on you, but once you fall for St. Denis Medical, there’s no cure.

Considering NBC killed its thriving comedy slate mid-pandemic, it is joyous to see this charming ensemble-led show fight with a vengeance for its fallen brethren.

The upbeat mockumentary takes shots at the medical drama format while drumming up awareness for the abuse healthcare workers endure.

It strikes a balance between endearing and enduring as the lovable staff are pushed to their limits by each other.

12. Only Murders in the Building

Would a show like Only Murders in the Building truly be plausible? It’s hard to imagine a world in which a building that sees this much death truly inspires a celebrated podcast and not immediate closure and the evacuation of residents to safer housing. And yet we keep coming back for more.

The chemistry between Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez still sparks through every scene, whether shocking, absurd, or both. This is about as funny as murder gets, and yet, with most victims being those we care for, we’re also always genuinely invested in seeing our heroes get them justice.

13. Peacemaker

James Gunn rarely misses with his unique blend of comic book humor and heart. Over three years after its inaugural release, Peacemaker returns for a darker, more character-driven sophomore season. The DC action-comedy features a tour-de-force performance from John Cena as the titular hero, bolstered by beautiful work from the rest of the cast (honorable mentions to Danielle Brooks and Jennifer Holland). 

Peacemaker Season 2 cracks the DCU wide open as Gunn digs deeper into Chris’s complex trauma, using the exploration of the infamous Earth-X as the template. With an iconic cameo from Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, the season also ties into Superman and sets the stage for its sequel. 

Even if we don’t get a third season, here’s hoping this crew returns in the DCU for more world-altering shenanigans (maybe as a Checkmate series?). 

14. The Righteous Gemstones

It’s hard to say goodbye to the Gemstone family, but The Righteous Gemstones Season 4 is a great send-off for those crazy kids. As Eli took his retirement seriously, the trio had to step up as leaders while also dealing with another wacky plot involving their complicated family history.

The show took big swings in its final season, including an entire Civil War flashback episode about ancestor Elijah Gemstone, played by Bradley Cooper. The Gemstones may love money, but there’s something authentic and endearing about their faith and love of family that makes them likable despite their many, many flaws.

Don’t worry, there are still plenty of musical performances and antics by Uncle Baby Billy (Walton Goggins) too this season, including the debut of Teen Jesus aka Teenjus. Megan Mullally joins as old family friend, Lori Milsap, and adds a fun new character for the Gemstone children to torment.

15. Murderbot

If you’ve ever said to yourself, “I wonder what Alexander Skarsgård would be like as a TV-loving bot-human construct,” look no further than Apple TV’s Murderbot for the answer. Skarsgård leads the charge in this genre-bending sci-fi comedy as SecUnit, aka Murderbot, a Security Unit that despises humans. 

There’s something incredibly believable about Skarsgård’s performance. He never goes over the top or plays up a line for laughs. Murderbot’s cynicism and misanthropy are profoundly relatable, especially in today’s climate. 

Season 1 plants the seeds for SecUnit’s organic evolution, from the premiere to the finale. The series is bolstered by an excellent cast, and while Skarsgård gets top billing, it’s Noma Dumezweni’s Mensah that’s its beating heart. Praise be to Sanctuary Moon that we’re getting a second season. 

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What were your favorite TV comedies of 2025? Let us know in the comments below!

Contributions by: Maryam Ahmad, Shelby Elpers, Christopher Gallardo, Alicia Gilstorf, Sam Huang, Melody McCune, Adam Patla, Breeze Riley, Lara Rosales, Ashley Bissette Sumerel, Jerrica Tisdale, and Caitlin Wyneken

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