AlthoughNetflixhas big-name sitcoms, the streamer’s catalog also includes some incredible sitcoms that most people haven’t heard of. Although numerous genres exist, sitcoms are the bread and butter of TV, and viewers can find one in every direction they turn. These shows boast an established group of main characters who get into a variety of comedic situations.
Some of thebest sitcoms of all timehave garnered fan bases that last for years after they finish, thanks to their A+ casts and excellent writing. However, not all of them get the recognition that they deserve, especially when they blend genres together. The streaming giant Netflix is a perfect place to go for underrated sitcoms.
10Love
Created by Judd Apatow, Lesley Arfin, and Paul Rust, the TV showLoveflew under the radar despite running for three seasons on Netflix. The show blends together elements of rom-com and sitcom. The story follows Mickey (Gillian Jacobs) and Gus (Paul Rust), two extremely dysfunctional characters who are trying to build a relationship while navigating through their baggage.
While many sitcoms include characters who behave in terrible ways, they don’t often acknowledge how hurtful their actions are. Part of the brilliance ofLoveis the fact that the show recognizes that Mickey and Gus are insecure, mentally ill, and bad at relationships. The Netflix show reinforces the idea that everyone deserves friendship and love, no matter their baggage.
9Friends From College
Although it’s packed with well-known actors,Friends From Collegedidn’t get nearly as much attention as it deserved. The sitcom follows a group of Harvard alumni in their 40s who live in NYC. Audiences who watched the show were pretty divided based on one factor. Viewers who liked unlikable characters loved it, while viewers who needed likable characters hated it.
It’s well worth watching for people who enjoy insufferable main characters in hilarious scenarios. Keegan-Michael Key’s Ethan and Cobie Smulders’ Lisa are the absolute highlights of the show, and they’ll keep viewers laughing. However, viewers should be warned thatFriends from Collegewas canceled after two seasons, meaning the story doesn’t get any resolution.
8Boo, Bitch
Although Lana Condor has gained recognition for her role in theTo All The Boysmovies, her 2022 sitcom with a supernatural twist flew under the radar. The Netflix show follows senior best friends, Erika Vu (Condor) and Gia (Zoe Colletti), who decide to make their final year exciting. Unfortunately, they get an unexpected twist when Erika becomes a ghost.
The first episode ofBoo, Bitchis a bit underwhelming, but viewers who get past that will find themselves laughing nonstop at the ridiculous situations Erika and Gia get into. On top of that, it’s the perfect show to binge on a long weekend becauseBoo, Bitchwas a limited series.
7Everything Sucks!
Everything Sucks!is one of the best-written teen sitcoms on Netflix, and it garnered a small but extremely passionate fanbase. The show, set in 1996 in Boring, Oregon, follows the misfits in the Boring High School’s AV club and drama club who are trying to navigate life as teenagers. Unfortunately, the show was canceled because of extremely low viewership.
The fact thatEverything Sucks!didn’t get a second season is an absolute travesty. It had so much potential. That being said, the sitcom is still absolutely worth binge-watching. The characters are interesting, the Sapphic representation is moving, and the ’90s nostalgia is enjoyable.
6After Life
This section includes a mention of suicidal ideation.
Like many of the underrated sitcoms on this list,After Lifeblends together genres in a clever way.After Lifefollows a suicidal man named Tony (Ricky Gervais) who decides to punish the world with his unfiltered, devil-may-care attitude after his wife dies of cancer. Although Tony is the main character, the show really centers on him and his friends/coworkers.
After Lifeis just as much a drama as it is a sitcom. The episodes offer plenty of laughs that come from the situations Ricky and his friends are in. However, there’s also an exploration of grief that can bring viewers to tears. Whether it’s from laughing too hard or crying, make sure to bring tissues when watchingAfter Life.
5A.P. Bio
If viewers have heard of the sitcomA.P. Bio, it’s because the show earned the accolade no show would ever want: gettingcanceled not once but twice. The NBC-turned-Peacock show follows a philosophy professor from Harvard named Jack Griffin (Glenn Howerton) who gets fired and returns home to teach A.P. Biology at the local high school.
The first cancellation occurred because of terrible viewership, and the second cancellation was never explained. Despite that, all four seasons ofA.P. Biohave overwhelmingly positive reviews, thanks to the hilarious dialogue and the excellent performances from the cast members. Howerton is particularly notable as the charming and egotistical ex-Harvard teacher.
4The Curious Creations Of Christine McConnell
In real life, Christine McConnell is an actor, baker, and author who gained recognition for making gothic-esque, horror-inspired baked goods. In 2018, she created her own sitcom blended together with a DIY show. A fictionalized version of Christine, a resurrected raccoon named Rose, an ancient mummy cat named Rankle, and a werewolf named Edgar live together in a haunted house filled with monsters and ghosts.
They go through daily hijinks at the haunted house that will keep audiences entertained. Like everyone else, they have to deal with insufferable neighbors and family members. Plus, Christine bakes her morbid treats. It might not have gained much recognition or a second season, but it’s certainly a delight to watch.
3Bonding
Viewers who are uncomfortable with risque and raunchy content will want to skip the adult sitcomBonding. The show centers on a graduate student named Tiff who works as a dominatrix, and she hires an old friend named Pete, who is a gay comedian, to work as her assistant/bodyguard. It’s loosely based on the creator’s own experiences.
The Netflix show is nothing if not graphic and vulgar, so it won’t be for everyone. However,Bondingwill keep viewers laughing the whole way through for those who fall into its niche audience. What’s more, the creators listened to thecriticism of the BDSM audiencewhen makingBondingseason 2, improving the representation of the community’s values, like consent and negotiation.
2Crashing
ThePhoebe Waller-Bridge masterpiece TV showFleabagis widely known, but she also has a relatively unknown British sitcom on Netflix calledCrashing. The show centers on six friends in their 20s who live together at a defunct hospital, acting as the property manager. The group navigates relationship drama, job troubles, and adjusting to adulthood, which will keep audiences laughing.
The show includes a surprisingly A-list cast, including Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Jonathan Bailey, and Damian Moloney. The writing is snappy and hilarious, even working in a few emotional moments. Additionally, keeping in line with most British TV shows,Crashinghas an incredibly short but impactful run, at just six episodes.
1Kim’s Convenience
Even thoughKim’s Convenienceran for five seasons, many people still haven’t heard of the Canadian sitcom. The show follows the Kims, a Korean-Canadian family running a convenience store in Moss Park, Toronto. The storylines involve customers, family conflicts, and the surrounding culture.
It was challenging to choose betweenCrashingandKim’s Convenienceas the “masterpiece” underrated sitcom, as both are brilliantly written, perfectly cast, and hilarious. However,Kim’s Conveniencetriumphs because of the meaningful representation, highlighting immigrant life in an overwhelmingly white environment. Rather than leaning into stereotypes, it provides a heartfelt depiction that makes it worthy of the “masterpiece” label.
