The era of the 2020s has genuinely been an incredible one for comedy television. Sitcoms, animated series and more have all been very well received thanks to their phenomenal writing. Comedy can generally be pretty hit or miss when it comes to overall reception, as it is one of the most subjective genres out there, for both kids and adults.
But, somehow, many of the shows that have been released since 2020 have found pretty much unanimous praise. Whether it be sci-fi, mockumentary, classic sitcom, or more, the shows have a ton of great variety. The world can only hope that this trend keeps up, as the first half of the 2020s has given them some great content.This is especially true for comedy, which has delivered some of the era’s best series so far.
10’Mythic Quest' (2020–)
Created by Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day, and Megan Ganz
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiais one of the greatest comedy series of all time, so, when some of that team decided to take a bit of a “side quest” and create a new show, it was pretty much guaranteed to have the same charm and quality of humor. Created byCharlie Day,Rob McElhenney(both known for the iconic show), andMegan Ganz,Mythic Questhas been met with some awesome audience response.
Following the day-to-day adventures of the team behind one of the biggest videos in the entire world,Mythic Questhas consistently great viewership. Debuting on February 7th, 2020, it’s only fitting that the decade begins with a project like this.It’s hilarious and has people begging for more. Itcan also be binged in one weekend.
Mythic Quest
9’The Great' (2020–2023)
Created by Tony McNamara
The Greatis a satirical black comedy following the experiences of Catherine the Great.Not worrying about being 100% historically accurate and focusing on crafting great humor,The Greatfinds itself being astoundingly funny. Most of the time, period pieces tend to be more serious and dramatic, but this series bends the norm and goes full comedy.
With a titanic cast including the likes ofElle FanningandNicholas Hoult, the performances enhance the satire tenfold. The two main actors were actually nominated for Emmys due to their phenomenal work on the show. It’s a three-season run that is more than rewarding to sit down and binge through.
8’The White Lotus' (2021–)
Created by Mike White
Being an anthology series, the show follows the many guests of the illustrious White Lotus chain of resorts as they attempt to have the perfect vacation.The White Lotussets itself apart by beingan anthology comedy series, which feels unique compared to the other series airing this decade.
With the third season promising more wild storylines, people are practically shaking with excitement as they wait to see the series and its comedy unfold once more.They have an all-star cast and the ever-hilarious Jennifer Coolidge stands as the highlightof the show.
The White Lotus
7’Ghosts' (US) (2021–)
Created by Joe Port and Joe Wiseman
When Samantha (Rose McIver) and Jay (Utkarsh Ambudkar) decide to move away from the big city and convert a run-down home that just so happens to be haunted, they come across the spirits that reside there. With each spirit coming from a different era in history, from the 1700s to the ’80s,the comedy series has a plethora of opportunities for unique jokes.
The idea of making a comedy series about the lives of ghosts is one that has never really been done before, making it one of the most unique comedy series of the decade. So, of course, this means it’s absurdly enjoyable to sit down and watch. Fun fact:Ghostsstarted as a BBC series and this is the American version, meaning there could be two series worth checking out.
Ghosts (US)
6’Poker Face' (2023–)
Created by Rian Johnson
Ever wonder what it could be like to be able to tell whenever someone is lying? This is the reality and everyday life of Charlie Cale (Natasha Lyonne), a woman who has hit the road, driving in her iconic Plymouth Barracuda. Every episode she stops somewhere new, where a crime/mystery is unfolding. With her extraordinary ability, she manages to get involved and help solve whatever mystery is at hand.
From the mind of Rian Johnson, with a “mystery-of-the-week” formatting,Poker Faceis a very entertaining binge and weekly series, as it is always introducing something completely newand fresh. Not to mention, Charlie’s uncanny lie-detector ability is something that’s not being done at all in comedy television and makes this project stand out among the rest.
Poker Face
5’Only Murders in the Building' (2021–)
Created by Steve Martin and John Hoffman
If there was a television series that absolutely exploded in 2021, it wasOnly Murders in the Building. Having an absolutely talent-filled cast, starringSelena Gomez,Steve Martin, andMartin Short. The two comedy titans meld perfectly with the legendary Gomez, making them one of the best comedy show trios of all time.
Created by the fabled comedy titan, Steve Martin, the series follows the three apartment building tenants as they investigate murders in their building, recording a podcast about them while doing so.This always gets them into sticky situations, thrilling cliffhangers, introduces iconic guest stars, and keeps viewers guessing until the very end.
Only Murders in the Building
4’Hacks' (2021–)
Created by Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky
It’s not every day that a series gets a whopping99% in critics ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, butHacksmanaged to get it. The series decides to follow the journey of the mentorship of a 25-year-old from Deborah Vance (Jean Smart), which has far more layers than anyone would ever expect.
Deborah and her mentee, Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder), have a very dynamic and hilarious relationship that magnifies any situation they get into. Actors Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder manage to take two characters that are objectively unlikable and, somehow,make the audience root for them through the connection they get from the characters due to the humorat play.
3’Smiling Friends' (2020–)
Created by Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel
WhileHacksmay have 99% on Rotten Tomatoes,Smiling Friendshasa perfect 100%.This cute animated series has gained the favor of pretty much everyone who’s watched it. The show depicts the misadventures of the members of Smiling Friends Inc., a company dedicated to bringing smiles to the world. Their representatives, however, seem to get themselves into some absurdly wacky situations.
Unlike any show on the air right now,Smiling Friendswas created by two animators mostly known for their YouTube work,Zach HadelandMichael Cusack. The series serves as a huge step in the right direction for online creators breaking into traditional media, not only because they made a good show, but because they made one with such favorable reviews and ratings. The two YouTubers are beating some of the biggest names in the game and for very good reason.
Smiling Friends
2’Abbott Elementary' (2021–)
Created by Quinta Brunson
This sitcom, which shows the everyday lives of the staff of teachers at Abbott Elementary School, has gained pretty much nothing but positive reviews. Whether it be the stellar writing, a great and diverse cast or the mockumentary-style filmmaking,Abbott Elementaryhas everything that makes a great comedy and then some. It’s part of therevival of network sitcom television.
The best part aboutAbbott Elementaryis how real and down-to-earth it is. It’s incredibly relatable, given most viewers have most likely have gone through the school system in one way or another.Pretty much everyone also knows how difficult kids can be, parenting them or not. This makes the humor ofAbbott Elementarynot only fun and innocent but also undeniable.
Abbott Elementary
1’Ted Lasso' (2020–2023)
Created by Brendan Hunt, Joe Kelly, and Bill Lawrence
Not only isTed Lassoone of the best comedy series of the 2020s, it’s commonly regarded as one of the best television series of all time. There’s genuinely not much that can be said aboutthis Apple TV+ projectthat hasn’t been said already and sung to the heavens. It’s adored worldwide and that’s thanks to a plethora of reasons.
A huge highlight of the series is the astoundingly talentedJason Sudeikis. If there’s one thing that’s clear aboutTed Lasso, it’s thata huge load of the charm in the show is carried on the shoulders of Sudeikis' phenomenal performance. He clearly loves the project and puts his entire being into ensuring that it comes out with stellar quality.
NEXT:The Best Comedy Shows of All Time, Ranked According to IMDb
