13 Hilarious TV Shows That Are Worth Watching If You Just Need A Break From Reality Right Now
1.Ghosts
When Samantha and Jay unexpectedly inherit an enormous country home, they set out to start their own bed and breakfast there. Unfortunately, the ghosts who live in the estate aren't too thrilled and decide to take matters into their own hands. But, of course, things don’t go according to plan. After an accident, Samantha wakes from a coma to find that she can see and speak to the ghosts that are currently living in her brand-new home. Ghosts is SO much fun, and it genuinely makes me laugh out loud. It is so silly and charming, but has some of the smartest comedy I've seen on TV in years. This show is such an easy binge-watch that you'll just wonder why you never started it in the first place.
Starring: Rose McIver, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Brandon Scott Jones, Danielle Pinnock, Richie Moriarty, Asher Grodman, Sheila Carrasco, Devan Chandler Long, Rebecca Wisocky, Román Zaragoza, and more
2.What We Do in the Shadows
Based on Taika Waititi and Jermaine Clement's movie of the same name, What We Do in the Shadows is my favorite TV show about vampires who live in Staten Island. It is seriously one of the funniest, most underrated shows on TV right now, in my honest opinion. The series is set up in mockumentary style, so in each episode, we follow centuries-old vampires Nandor, Laszlo, Nadja, and Colin as they find themselves wrapped up in the wildest hijinks you could imagine. Along for the ride is Nandor's familiar Guillermo, who dreams of nothing but being turned into a vampire. Listen, sometimes you just *need* a TV show about vampires in your life, and that'll make everything feel semi-okay again. I get it. There is literally never a dull moment on this show, it's pure chaos in the best way.
Starring: Kayvan Novak, Matt Berry, Natasia Demetriou, Harvey Guillén, Mark Proksch, Kristen Schaal, and more
3.Shrinking
Jason Segel stars as Jimmy Laird, a therapist dealing with the grief after his wife's sudden death. Suddenly finding himself at a loss, he decides to break all ethics and tell his clients how he really feels about their problems and what they should do to fix them. Naturally, chaos ensues. This show had me hooked immediately — it's that good. I also just relish the way Harrison Ford plays a grumpy therapist who says, hands down, some of the funniest lines in the entire series.
Starring: Jason Segel, Jessica Williams, Luke Tennie, Michael Urie, Lukita Maxwell, Christa Miller, Harrison Ford, Ted McGinley, and more
4.Girls5Eva
From the same team that brought us Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt comes this series about a '90s girl group looking to make a comeback. When Girls5Eva's song gets sampled in an up-and-coming rapper's new single, they finally have their shot at making a comeback in the world of music. Now, they've gotta see if they really have what it takes to dominate the music scene. And I am not kidding when I tell you there's literally a new joke flying at you every second. Like, they're seriously coming to you at a blink-and-you'll-miss-it pace, and every time I rewatch this show, I find new things to laugh about. This show is such an easy binge that'll leave you with a slew of brand-new songs to get stuck in your head.
Starring: Sara Bareilles, Busy Philipps, Paula Pell, Renée Elise Goldsberry, and more
5.The Sex Lives of College Girls
Whenever I hear about a show produced by Mindy Kaling, I immediately know I'm going to love it, and TSLOCG is no different. The series follows four freshmen roommates who attend the fictional Essex College in Vermont, and if you couldn't tell from the title, it's all about how they navigate their new lives, relationships, and sex (obvi). And you heard it hear, folks. This one is such a winner. I absolutely wish I could watch it again for the first time.
Starring: Pauline Chalamet, Amrit Kaur, Reneé Rapp, Alyah Chanelle Scott, Gavin Leatherwood, Christopher Meyer, Ilia Isorelys Paulino, Renika Williams, Lauren "Lolo" Spencer, Midori Francis, Mekki Leeper, Mitchell Slaggert, and more
6.Loot
Newly divorced Molly Novak just earned herself an $87 billion settlement from her husband of 20 years, and now, she's gotta figure out how to spend it. After deciding to reengage with her charity and the world she's strayed from, she takes on a new journey of self-discovery, all while trying not to spiral out of control. Maya Rudolph steals the show in this series. If I could watch it every minute of every day, please believe that I would. It's seriously so funny, and it just gets better by the episode. Also, whenever Tom Tom Club's "Genius of Love" plays during the episode transitions, I get an immediate serotonin boost.
Starring: Maya Rudolph, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Joel Kim Booster, Ron Funches, Nat Faxon, and more
7.Our Flag Means Death
Created by David Jenkins and Taika Waititi comes this series about Stede Bonnet, an aristocrat who abandons his life to become a pirate. Understandably, it's not so easy for him to earn the respect of his crew. After coming face to face with the infamous Blackbeard and a gaggle of real pirates, Stede realizes he might be a little in over his head. In classic Taika Waititi fashion, this show is absolutely hysterical with jokes flying so fast you'll be laughing so hard you're crying. It's a delightful show about pirates who learn from their toxic masculinity, with a poignant queer love story at its center. What's better than a gay pirate show, amiright?
Starring: Rhys Darby, Ewen Bremner, Joel Fry, Samson Kayo, Con O'Neill, Nathan Foad, Vico Ortiz, Kristian Nairn, Matthew Maher, Guz Khan, David Fane, Samba Schutte, Rory Kinnear, Nat Faxon, Taika Waititi, and more
8.Minx
I fell in love with Minx a couple of years ago, and I really do consider it one of my favorite shows. The series takes place in LA during the 1970s and follows Joyce Prigger, a woman trying to publish the country's first feminist magazine. When she can't find a company to make her magazine as is, she joins forces with a low-rent publisher, and together they create the first women's erotic (and still feminist) magazine instead. The vibes in this show are so immaculate, from the costumes to the jokes to the overall aesthetic, Minx deserves an A+. And truthfully, as a woman who's oftentimes not listened to and frequently underestimated, this show makes me feel unstoppable.
Starring: Ophelia Lovibond, Michael Angarano, Jessica Lowe, Oscar Montoya, Lennon Parham, Idara Victor, Jake Johnson, Taylor Zakhar Perez, and more
9.Hacks
Jean Smart stars as Deborah Vance, a legendary stand-up comedian who's in danger of losing her Las Vegas residency after being told she's lost her relevancy. Begrudgingly, she hires a new writer to help her freshen up her material, though they don't meet eye-to-eye, like ever. It's such a blast to see these two go at it with each other, and you can't help but love the diva that is Deborah. Jean Smart gives the performance of a lifetime in Hacks, and it's such a privilege to get to watch it onscreen.
Starring: Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Kaitlin Olsen, and more
10.Pen15
Thirteen-year-olds Maya and Anna, played by their actual 31-year-old selves, embark on the biggest challenge ever faced: middle school. Set in the early '00s, the series follows the two through the epic highs and lows of tween life. I swear, this show might just be the funniest thing I've ever seen in my life. There's just something so magical in the way Maya and Anna can perfectly transform into their awkward 13-year-old selves and then give the performances of a lifetime. Pen15 is cringe comedy at its finest, and it's a show that I still quote with my friends to this day.
Starring: Maya Erskine, Anna Konkle, Mutsuko Erskine, Richard Karn, Taylor Nichols, Melora Walters, Taj Cross, Dallas Liu, and more
11.The Other Two
When 13-year-old Chase Dubek suddenly goes viral and becomes the most famous person in the world, his two older siblings use it as an opportunity to boost their own nonexistent careers. This show is truly a product of its time. And as a person who spends most of their days on the internet, I mean that in the best way possible. The thing about The Other Two is that it perfectly understands the internet better than any other TV show has, and it knows exactly how to poke fun at it. Also, Molly Shannon is absolutely phenomenal in her role as Pat Dubek.
Starring: Heléne Yorke, Drew Tarver, Case Walker, Ken Marino, Molly Shannon, Brandon Scott Jones, Josh Segarra, and more
12.Nathan for You
If you're familiar at all with Nathan Fielder or his humor, then you know how awkward and cringey it is. And that's exactly why it's so fun to watch. Nathan For You revolves around Nathan coming up with wildly outlandish marketing proposals to help struggling small businesses, and spoiler alert: they don't end well. One of the things I enjoy the most about this show is how it's able to find humor in the seemingly mundane.
Starring: Nathan Fielder, and more
13.Finally, Jury Duty
This series had such a chokehold on the world last year, and I think it's about time we revisit it. Jury Duty follows a fake trial in which every single person involved is an actor, except for one man who thinks he's actually serving as a real juror in a real trial. It's basically a master class in improv done by some of the most hysterical actors, who deserve to be a gazillion times more famous than they are. This show is a masterpiece, and I don't think the magic of it could ever be replicated. It's a must-see.
Starring: James Marsden, Alan Barinholtz, Susan Berger, Cassandra Blair, David Brown, Kirk Fox, Ross Kimball, Pramode Kumar, Trisha LaFache, Mekki Leeper, Edy Modica, Kerry O'Neill, Rashida Olayiwola, Whitney Rice, Maria Russell, Ishmel Sahid, Ben Seaward, Ron Song, Evan Williams, and more
These are just a few of my personal favorite comedy series, but I want to hear yours. Which other funny TV shows do you love? Tell us in the comments below!
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