With the sitcom sphere currently dominated by returning titans like The Simpsons, It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, and Curb Your Enthusiasm, all with over ten seasons under their belt, it can seem like there isn't as much variety in the genre as there used to be. However, as always, there are some incredible sitcoms slipping under the radar that deserve to be a lot more talked about than they are.
This caused discussion among Reddit users about which sitcoms are the most underrated of recent years, and which deserved to be a lot more known than they are. Though they might be less known, all of these shows have the Reddit stamp of approval.
Cougar Town (Disney+, Hulu)
Rather than being an obscure title, Cougar Town is underrated by a lot of sitcom fans for a different reason, as Redditor joshthor outlines, "Cougar Town is more known as a meme than as a sitcom, but it's incredible, and everyone should give it a chance." Due to its raunchy humor and a crossover with another sitcom, Community, Cougar Town came to be more known as a joke than a great show in its own right.
However, after a slightly rough start, the show managed to hit its stride and surprise a lot of people. Its bold honesty is still refreshing and Courteney Cox is great in the central role. Even as the show matured, so did the romance and it became exponentially more watchable which is a part of why many supported it as a show that deserves a second look.
You're The Worst (Hulu)
What seems like a simple, standard sitcom premise of a dysfunctional couple and their hilarious supporting cast of characters, You're the Worst becomes something a lot more interesting in this show that was originally broadcast on FX. Redditor _Krebstar2000 describes the show as an "Amazing show that touches some dark, dark areas".
Its willingness to explore darker themes, especially surrounding mental health and how it affects You're the Worst's main characters, may well be a part of why it didn't obtain a broad mainstream audience. Despite that, the show went on for five amazing seasons that are all available to stream online making it well worth a try for sitcom fans who don't mind some heavy topics.
Trial And Error (Amazon Prime)
After two critically acclaimed seasons, Trial and Error, a show that parodied true-crime legal shows with a hilariously absurd murder trial, may have come to a premature end in 2019 but that doesn't mean the show isn't worth checking out. Many Redditors agreed that the show deserved a lot better with one user, Geekqueen15, saying ", the first season was so good"
Many also pointed to the performance of John Lithgow as a murder suspect doing an extremely poor job of making himself look innocent as one of the best parts of a show full of distinctive characters. Serious environments often make the best setting for more outlandish comedies and, for its loyal fans, Trial and Error is one of the best examples.
Party Down (Amazon Prime Video, Hulu)
Created in 2009 for the Starz network, Party Down is a show that came to an end before its time likely due to low ratings and its stars Glee's Jane Lynch and Parks and Recreation's Adam Scott being drawn away by their bigger commitments. Despite that, it left an impression on a lot of fans, including Redditor hooch, who commented that it's a "Hilarious show and it does actually manage to surprise you at times."
Centered on an LA catering team full of aspiring artists, the show manages to fit in some moments of real emotion though it also contains plenty of jokes. There may yet be a chance for Party Down to get more of the recognition it deserves with a third season on the way over a decade after season Two aired.
Raising Hope (Hulu)
A fan-favorite sitcom from Fox about a man left with sole custody of a child after an ill-advised one-night stand, Raising Hope was only getting better when it was canceled due to declining ratings. Although a lot of fans were upset that a very funny show ended quite so soon, Redditor kshelley31 had another perspective.
They instead consider it a show that "went off the air before it got stale" making it perfect for newcomers to the show's charms to binge. With four seasons that they called "hilarious" and "heartwarming", now wouldn't be a bad time to see how the show manages to retain its fans even years after its cancelation.
Go On (NBC)
For fans of Friends interested in seeing its cast in a slightly different kind of comedy, this NBC sitcom from the early 2010s starred Matthew Perry as a sports talk radio host who joins a support group in an effort to move on after the death of his wife. Funny, charming, and more grounded than most sitcoms, Go On hit a lot of the right notes but sadly only lasted a single season.
One Reddit user, PiFlavoredPie, put forward a theory as to why, calling it "a show that just existed at the wrong time" and suggesting that "This kind of niche premise seems like it would be much better appreciated now as an original on a streaming service". Indeed, it's a show that would have felt at home amongst some of the more unique sitcoms being made today.
Superstore (Hulu, Peacock)
Considered by some to be the best workplace sitcom ever made, Superstore stars America Ferrera and Ben Feldman as employees at a branch of a large supermarket chain called Cloud 9. Redditor Colorado_odaroloC describes how it hooks the viewer saying that, despite some initial doubts, "I fell in love with it once I started watching it"
Though it managed to collect some awards and critical acclaim in its lifetime, it's not a show that's often discussed even in sitcom spheres which have contributed to the perception of Superstore as an underrated show. As the sixth and final season aired only last year, now is a great time to binge it.
Better Off Ted (Hulu)
A satirical sitcom about the R&D team of evil megacorporation Veridian Dynamics, many were won over by Better Off Ted's offbeat sense of humor when it first aired from 2009-2010. With a squeaky-clean corporate air and central characters that pay hilariously little regard to ethics at times, the show is a lot of Redditor's go-to suggestion for an obscure but great comedy.
Redditor breakupbydefault pointed out that the show holds up well despite being over a decade old, saying it's "still so good and relevant". The fact the show has a satirical nature might lead plenty to steer clear, in case its jokes no longer hit home, but it's definitely still as sharp as ever.
Don't Trust The B---- In Apartment 23 (Disney+, Hulu)
Perhaps partly due to the title, marketing, and poor scheduling, Don't Trust the B---- In Apartment 23 undeservedly slipped under the radar for a lot of people who felt it might not have been for them. One of these people was Redditor Wazula42, who calls the show "wayyyyy better than it looked" and went on to say "I'm not the target demo at all and I found it hilarious."
For those who felt it wasn't for them, now is a great time to give it another look as both seasons of the hilarious show about oddball housemates who form an unlikely friendship are available to stream. Running jokes including James Van Der Beek playing a fictionalized version of himself also help make the show great.
The Middle (HBO Max)
Though some pointed to its 9 season run, award nominations, and widespread critical praise as evidence that the show wasn't that underrated, most agreed that The Middle is a TV show that isn't watched enough according to Reddit users. Redditor BitterBubblegum pointed to the show's straightforward appeal, highlighting the show's great "characters and plots."
Regardless of whether the show can truly be called underrated, it's definitely a show that deserves all the praise thrown at it. Its simple concept follows a realistic Indiana family as they navigate their everyday struggles and it has a timeless quality that still resonates with a lot of fans today.