Since its inception, Netflix has been the disruptive younger sibling of the broadcast and cable channels many of us grew up watching. With the help of its original programming, Netflix has managed to go from a small business to a booming streaming service that is constantly pushing the boundaries when it comes to original content.
Netflix may have started off devoted to sending DVDs to its subscribers, but there is no denying that they are now a television content powerhouse. Part of their success lays with the original series they produce year-round. Just as Netflix Original dramas constantly push the boundaries of drama, Netflix's comedies push the boundaries on what is allowed to be funny.
Dead To Me (2019) - 8.0
Dead To Me premiered on Netflix in May 2019 and quickly became a hit amongst fans and critics alike. The series centers on two women who meet at a counseling group for grieving people. Jen (Christina Applegate) is mourning the unexpected death of her husband, while Judy (Linda Cardellini) is mourning a tragic event of her own.
The dark comedy series currently has two seasons and was renewed for a third and final season in July 2020. Both seasons of Dead To Me have received critical acclaim, earning several nominates for the Primetime Emmy Awards.
On My Block (2018) - 8.1
Coming-of-age stories aren't traditionally thought of as comedies, but the talented team behind Netflix's teen series On My Block have managed to seamlessly blend the emotional arc that comes with these stories with hilarious situations and dialogue.
On My Block currently has three seasons on Netflix with a fourth up in the air. The series centers on four high school best friends whose lives are made difficult because of the South Central Los Angeles town they call home.
One Day At A Time (2017) - 8.2
Though One Day At A Time no longer airs on Netflix and was canceled after its third season, the series continues to be one of Netflix's highest-rated and highest-praised original comedies of all time. In fact, it was so popular that fans rallied behind the series, which helped bring the show back from cancelation and find it a new home at Pop.
A reboot of the 1975 Normal Lear series of the same name, One Day At A Time centers on Penelope Alvarez (Justina Machado), a Cuban-American divorced veteran mother who is trying to raise her two children with the help of her traditional and over-the-top Cuban mother (Rita Moreno).
The Kominsky Method (2018) - 8.2
Created by legendary television producer Chuck Lorre, The Kominsky Method follows an aging actor (Michael Douglas) and his agent (Alan Arkin) as they navigate the changing landscape of Hollywood during the "golden years" of their lives.
The Kominsky Method made its premiere on Netflix in November 2018 and since then has aired two seasons. In July 2020, the series was renewed for a third and final season though, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic there is no set date for its premiere.
Atypical (2017) - 8.3
Atypical blends comedy and genre together to tell the story of Sam, a teenager on the autism spectrum, who is ready to enter the ever-evolving world of dating. While Sam is the lead of the show, his family also plays a huge part in helping Sam achieve his goals while adding to the comedy of the show.
Atypical began airing in 2017 and is set to end in 2021, with a 10-episode fourth season. While the show was originally criticized for its stereotypical approach to representing autism, the series has since made great strides in representing it in a more well-rounded, realistic way on screen.
Grace And Frankie (2015) - 8.3
With the success of The Golden Girls decades ago, it seems odd that television had never tried to create a show that centered on the lives of older women. Netflix saw the gap in the market and this the comedy series Grace and Frankie was born.
The series follows Grace (Jane Fonda) and Frankie (Lily Tomlin), two acquaintances who discover that their husbands have been having a decades-long affair with one another and now want to divorce them. Together, Grace and Frankie find themselves leaning on each other for support, even though they once disliked each other.
Master Of None (2015) - 8.3
Fresh off the completion of one of the best workplace sitcoms of all time, Parks and Recreation, Aziz Ansari teamed up with Netflix to not only star in but also create the original comedy series Master of None, which is loosely based on Ansari's real life.
The series aired for two seasons on Netflix, where it became a fan favorite. In addition, it was met with favorable critical acclaim, earning three Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe during its initial run.
Sex Education (2019) - 8.3
Comedy doesn't always translate well from other countries, but the success of the teen comedy series Sex Education proves that British humor actually can be universal if it's done right. The series follows Otis, a high school student who runs an underground sex education clinic with the help of his sex therapist mother's therapy tools.
Sex Education became a massive hit for Netflix, with the streaming service reporting that the first season was watched by over 40 million subscribers. Since then, the series has aired a second season and has been renewed for a third season, as of January 2020.
Julie And The Phantoms (2020) - 8.4
Premiering in September 2020, Julie and the Phantoms has wasted no time becoming Netflix's most popular original comedies of all time. The musical teen comedy series centers on Julie Molina (Madison Reyes), a teenager who hasn't sung since the death of her mother. When Julie accidentally summons a trio of ghosts who were formerly in the 90s band Sunset Curve, she begins to remember why she was so passionate about music.
Executive produced by the great Kenny Ortega, Julie and the Phantoms not only mixes humor with drama, but it also has a killer soundtrack. There is currently only one season on Netflix, but fans have already started campaigning in the hopes that Netflix picks it up for a second season.
BoJack Horseman (2014) - 8.7
Animated shows have long since been a staple of comedy programming since The Simpsons won the hearts of millions all those years ago. Since then, a new breakout animated comedy series has made an impact on the world: BoJack Horseman.
BoJack Horseman centers on BoJack, a humanoid horse, who was once a successful 90s sitcom actor but has since faded into Hollywood obscurity. After spending 18 years out of the spotlight, BoJack is determined to return to determined to work again, but quickly learns that things in Hollywood have changed a lot.