10 Underrated Sitcoms That Are Just as Rewatchable as the Big Hits

​​​​​For decades, sitcoms reigned supreme on television. They were easily digestible pieces of escapism, designed to entertain a wide audience who could quickly identify with the likable characters on screen. Casual viewers could tune in without a deep knowledge of the show, thanks to the self-contained plots, which lowered the barrier of entry.

The success of shows like All in the Family and Cheers convinced networks to pack their schedules with comedies that kept the jokes fast and ad revenue high. The downside of that was that, because there were so many sitcoms to choose from, numerous smart, engaging comedies were unable to find a steady audience. So, next time you’re looking for a great comedy, hold off on rewatching Seinfeld for the fourth time and check out one of these underrated but highly rewatchable sitcoms.

10

‘Happy Endings’ (2011–2013)

One of the most notoriously underrated sitcoms, Happy Endings, had the makings to become ABC’s next big hit. When Alex (Elisha Cuthbert) leaves Dave (Zackary Knighton) at the altar, the future of their relationship and the friend group they exist in is tested for comedic benefit. Although the process is gradual and frequently awkward, Alex, Dave, and their four friends repair the bonds and continue to rely on one another for support.

Happy Endings has become the go-to example of a sitcom that ended too soon, and it’s still puzzling that the charming comedy didn’t catch on. The episodes cover the typical subplots for a sitcom about young professionals, but the cast’s easy rapport alludes to a convincing shared history. With only three seasons before cancellation, Happy Endings is a quick binge that will find its way into the permanent rotation of sitcoms to revisit.

9

‘Grounded for Life’ (2001–2005)

The line between parents and children is thin in the likable family sitcom Grounded for Life. The sitcom followed the lives of the Finnerty family, an Irish-American household living in Staten Island, New York. Parents Sean (Donal Logue) and Claudia (Megyn Price) had their first child when they were still 18, and they’ve since added to the family with two more children to create a loving, if not chaotic, home.

If the show doesn’t sound familiar, it’s because Grounded for Life was first on Fox before hopping over to the WB midway through its third season. Logue and Price were excellent as the parents of the Finnerty clan, bringing in a different energy as parents who grew into their roles as a young and unprepared couple. Grounded for Life impressed its small but loyal audience by depicting a working-class family without making their station in life the butt of the joke.

8

‘The Carmichael Show’ (2015–2017)

Stand-up comedian Jerrod Carmichael used a classic sitcom format to explore modern subjects in The Carmichael Show. Taking place in Charlotte, North Carolina, The Carmichael Show gave audiences a peek inside the living room of a fictional version of Carmichael’s family. Episodes would see Jerrod and his family break down any and every issue, including frank discussions about gun control, police brutality, and religion.

The Carmichael Show found its comedy in the uncomfortable but realistic recreation of the conversations happening across America, or more accurately, the ongoing disputes between generations with starkly different perspectives. The sharp comedy could mine humor from any topic, especially with a cast that included Tiffany Haddish, David Alan Grier, and Lil Rel Howery to offer their talents. The Carmichael Show was met with critical praise that practically begged viewers to watch the sitcom, but the series would end after three seasons and 32 episodes.

7

‘Great News’ (2017–2018)

In Great News, Katie (Briga Heelan) is a beleaguered producer on the fictional news program The Breakdown, unhappy with her assignments and floundering career. Katie’s workday becomes a version of hell she didn’t think possible when her overbearing mother, Carol (Andrea Martin), manages to get an internship position at the show. As Katie adjusts to more one-on-one time with her mother, she’ll be faced with an endless string of fires to put out and the prospect of a potential romance with her boss, Greg (Adam Campbell).

30 Rock showrunners Tina Fey and Robert Carlock served as producers on Great News, and both series share a madcap comedic sensibility in a fast-paced workplace. However, like in the very best workplace sitcoms, Great News wasn’t afraid to take the stories outside the office to see how the characters behaved when off the clock. Heelan and Martin’s mother-daughter dynamic alongside outrageous characters like John Michael Higgins’ blowhard news anchor Chuck Pierce kept every episode lively, but sadly, Great News didn’t make it past a second season on NBC.

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6

‘Fresh Off the Boat’ (2015–2020)

Based on the autobiography of the same name by famed chef Eddie Huang, Fresh Off the Boat tells the story of the Huang family as they move from Washington, D.C., to the sunny city of Orlando, Florida. Taking place in the 1990s, Fresh Off the Boat chronicles Eddie’s early years as a troublemaking child under the supervision of his strict mother Jessica (Constance Wu) and his affable dad Louis (Randall Park). Over six seasons, viewers would see the Huang family adjust to their new surroundings while discovering and pursuing individual passions.

Using Eddie as the audience’s eyes, Fresh Off the Boat infused gentle nostalgia into character-based comedy to tell a coming-of-age story that also commented on the experiences of immigrant families. Fresh Off the Boat received positive attention for featuring an Asian American family as the stars of a sitcom, but even alongside critical goodwill and standout performances from Wu and Park, the series doesn’t get as much love as it deserves.

5

‘Raising Hope’ (2010–2014)

A one-night stand with a serial killer leaves 23-year-old Jimmy Chance (Lucas Neff) with a new baby named Hope and the responsibilities that go with it in Raising Hope. Although inexperienced, Jimmy does his best to be a good father while receiving support from his young parents, Virginia (Martha Plimpton), and father Burt (Garret Dillahunt). In the process of getting a job to support Hope, he meets a love interest, Sabrina (Shannon Woodward), who has presumably not murdered anyone.

Raising Hope creator Greg Garcia is also responsible for another beloved, underrated sitcom, My Name Is Earl, which featured a similar broad but sweet comedic tone. The characters in Raising Hope have a larger-than-life presence, such as the always funny Cloris Leachman as Jimmy’s grandmother, “Maw Maw,” but it was balanced by a strong family dynamic that allowed for unexpected moments of sincerity and heart. Unlike many underrated sitcoms, Raising Hope was able to offer closure for its characters in its fourth and final season.

4

‘A.P. Bio’ (2018–2021)

A disgraced academic hits rock bottom when he returns home to Toledo, Ohio, and takes a job as a high school teacher in A.P. Bio. Glenn Howerton stars as Jack Griffin, a bitter and broken man who lives out of his dead mother’s house as he plots revenge on the people he blames for losing his position as a Harvard professor. In the process of using his gifted students as a revenge think tank, Jack slowly begins to bond with the class and his new co-workers.

Similar to his performance as Dennis in the long-running FX sitcom It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Howerton uses a mixture of apathy and charm to make Jack a surprisingly sympathetic protagonist. A.P. Bio hit the ground running with a clear idea of its revenge-based premise, but as the series developed the characters into more three-dimensional humans, the opportunities for new stories expanded with it. The series began to embrace weirder plotlines that leaned into the absurd, and although it was cancelled after its third season, A.P. Bio is a must-watch modern comedy.

3

‘The Drew Carey Show’ (1995–2004)

Drew Carey was able to convert his success as a stand-up comedian into a lengthy television career with the ABC sitcom The Drew Carey Show. The slice of life sitcom followed a fictionalized version of Drew as he spent his days working an office job at the Cleveland department store, Winfred-Louder. In the evenings, Drew relaxes with his close friends Kate (Christa Miller), Oswald (Diedrick Bader), and Lewis (Ryan Stiles).

The early seasons of The Drew Carey Show found humor in Drew’s pursuit of love, his ongoing feud with colorful coworker Mimi (Kathy Kinney), and the banter with his friends. As the series carried on, the creative impulse to color outside the lines manifested in The Drew Carey Show, including musical numbers and having an improv-themed episode as a nod to his other work as host of Whose Line Is It Anyway? Although the series ran for nine seasons, the absence of the sitcom on streaming sites until recently hurt its visibility with new viewers who are sure to enjoy the underrated gem.

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2

‘NewsRadio’ (1995–1999)

In terms of talent in front of the camera at any given moment, few sitcoms match the quality of NewsRadio. The NBC sitcom follows the busy staff of WNYX, the second-rated news radio station in New York City. Led by newly hired news director Dave Nelson (Dave Foley), the eclectic crew juggles breaking stories, out-of-control egos, and office romances while entertaining unexpected visits from station owner Jimmy James (Stephen Root).

A workplace sitcom in its purest form, NewsRadio moved at an impressively fast pace, consisting of rapid-fire punch lines peppered into overlapping conversations. Whether it was arrogant but insecure co-anchor Bill McNeal (Phil Hartman) making demands for attention, or the competitive but intelligent Lisa Miller (Maura Tierney) challenging Dave for his job despite their romance, NewsRadio never took a breath that didn’t serve to make a joke funnier. NewsRadio had all the makings of an all-time great comedy, but an unending change to its timeslot and the tragic murder of Hartman led to the series ending after five seasons.

1

‘Superstore’ (2015–2021)

Even though Superstore was on NBC for six seasons and received a healthy marketing push from the network, it still feels like not enough people have the sitcom on their radar. Predominantly taking place within the walls of a regional Cloud 9 retail location, Superstore follows the day-to-day interactions of the employees who clock in and then check out. The setting may seem mundane, but romances, union strikes, and the chaotic demands of the customers make every day at Cloud 9 one to remember.

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Although slightly shaky in the first few episodes, Superstore quickly became a witty, intelligent comedy, featuring a strong ensemble cast, each member providing equally important contributions to every scene. It’s one of the rare shows that can shift gears from absurd to grounded seamlessly, and some of the best episodes of Superstore were a mixture of both in storylines that were disarmingly funny and thoughtful at the same time. Despite that, Superstore never won any Emmys and lingered in the middle of the pack in ratings every year it was on, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s one of the best sitcoms people have likely not watched.