20 under-the-radar TV comedies totally worth binging

Shrill was Aidy Bryant’s first major project after leaving Saturday Night Live, and it was outstanding. Biting, honest, and well-written, Shrill confronted topics like relationships and body positivity in an authentic way, and it ended way too early. 

Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson killed their roles in Broad City. The series found a way to be relevant without sacrificing timelessness, and it’s as hilarious today as it was when it aired. 

Nathan Fielder has expanded his range a bit in the past few years, but Nathan For You will always be his most shining, bizarre achievement. The premise alone — a comedian giving business owners poor business advice — should warrant more viewers. 

HBO is in the business of making seriously good comedies. One of its best in the past decade is, unfortunately, one that didn’t get enough eyeballs while it was running. The Other Two , a parody of Justin Bieber’s fame told through the lens of the teenage star’s two older siblings, is an easy and satisfying binge. 

Another incredible HBO comedy that deserves more praise, Somebody Somewhere is funny and heartfelt. It gives perhaps the most honest depiction of life in the Midwest of any modern series set there. It’ll crack you up and make you cry in a span of 10 minutes. 

Judd Apatow’s cult classic Freaks and Geeks is the perfect series to binge because it’s only one season. Unlike most TV comedies, episodes are 45 minutes long, which could’ve contributed to its cancellation, but it’s still an easy watch and totally worth your time. 

Portlandia isn’t for everyone. It's an incredibly niche sketch comedy that doesn’t have the commercial appeal of a more traditional option from the genre. However, more audiences would like it if they gave it a shot. 

Despite its name, Ghosts is not the least bit scary. It’s actually very funny. A woman gains the ability to see the ghosts living at her home, all of which hail from a variety of periods, and it shows that humans have always been the same in a clever way. 

What We Do in the Shadows is arguably the best mockumentary on television. Its writing is superb, its characters are hysterical, and it’s constantly evolving into something even quirkier. It has a fervent following, but even more audiences need to be turned on to its magic. 

Despite several successful years on network television, Superstore still doesn’t quite get its due for how good it really was. The series had quirky, well-developed characters, a balance of good sitcom tropes and original storylines, and truly funny jokes. 

Of all the underrated comedy series, Arrested Development is the most highly rated. But that doesn’t change the fact that not enough people have seen it. And that is a shame because it’s absolutely brilliant. The cast, the running gags, the epic jokes that can be missed if you’re not paying attention — all so good. 

Rachel Bloom is a genius. She almost gave up on her dream of creating Crazy Ex-Girlfriend after struggling to find someone to buy it. But she persisted, and because of it, we should all binge the series. 

Issa Rae is also a genius. She created, wrote, produced, and starred in her iconic HBO comedy Insecure, and she did an outstanding job. The series is available to stream on multiple platforms, and people need to see the hilarious work that Rae did on the show.

Seriously, has HBO ever made a misstep? Silicon Valley was critically acclaimed and lasted for quite a few seasons, but in the conversation of best comedies, it’s too often left out. It was (and still is) topical, original, and well-written. It’s time the series stops flying under the radar. 

Schmigadoon! got canceled way too soon. The series, which follows Cecile Strong and Keegan-Michael Key into a parallel universe where the characters live inside a musical, was delightful, and it deserved another season to take the city of Schmigadoon! into another era of musicals. 

An Australian original, Fisk is a comedy about a woman whose life isn’t quite going as she’d like. The series has a basic premise, but the execution is fantastic. It finds humor in the ordinary, and it’s a quick, hilarious binge.

Bupkis could’ve had a second season, but despite having streamer backing and an all-star cast, Pete Davidson opted to end the series after just eight episodes. Even still, the show didn’t quite get the recognition it merited, and it’s an easy way to become more familiar with Davidson’s comedy post- SNL. 

Another fantastic HBO series, The Righteous Gemstones follows a family who lead a Southern megachurch and all their unholy extracurricular activities. With a fantastic cast led by Danny McBride and John Goodman, this series is painfully underrated.  

Mindy Kaling knows good TV. Anyone who likes the office should at least give her projects, like The Sex Lives of College Girls, a chance. They’re vastly different in tone, but they’re sharp and very, very funny. 

Another Mindy Kaling project worth checking out, Never Have I Ever is lots of fun and entertaining, even for those past the ages of the main characters. It’s also one of the rare teen shows that ends when the high schoolers finish high school, and that alone makes it worth watching.