And we are back! And this time with our Sitcom recommendations! Now sitcom is short for situational comedy. It is also defined as a television series that involves a continuing cast of characters in a succession of comedic circumstances. So the shows here, they require complete dedication and absolute commitment.
So here’s our picks. And also what could be more perfect than starting a new show just before the semester starts?
This is the ideal comedy sitcom with a peculiar storyline, unconventional On Screen romances and the dream team cast. With no protagonist, each actor including Catherine O Hara, Annie Murphy, the father-son Levy duo has done justice to their characters. This masterpiece has outdone its original notion of the typical riches to rags story. While the USP of the series is its inclusivity of atypical themes like pansexuality, LGBTQ inlcusivity etc, it never fails to make you have a good hearty laugh. From Moira’s flamboyant vocabulary to Alexis’s riveting adventures and in the Middle East, this series has raised the bar for 21st century sitcoms.
Based on a 1975 series by the same name, this sitcom is one fit for the ages. The story revolves around a Cuban-American family and their experiences as they make their way through life in today’s world.
Penelope, a newly-divorced army Veteran, is mother to two teens and daughter to her very old school mother, Lydia. Their perspectives on life showcase a classic contrast between each generation and their values, and help us understand where some problematic notions come from.
You’ll meet Elena: a young, openly gay cisgender woman who might remind you of your own struggles with personal identity and beliefs.
This show is a very relatable depiction of quite literally, taking life one day at a time. Tackling issues like racism, homophobia and sexism while also allowing for silly jokes, mistakes and grey areas makes it a more humanized and real set-up.
The series set in stone the notions that Rome wasn’t built in a day, and life is not a journey with a single destination.
This is a lovely light-hearted watch. You can enjoy the shenanigans of Jake Peralta and Amy Santiago as they solve cases at the 99th Precinct. You’re also going to love Terry as a hands-on dad, Captain Holt as a gay person leading a New York detective team and Rosa Diaz being her authentic self. The show portrays friendship, camaraderie and bonds-beyond-family beautifully, and yet will leave you in splits. This show also touches upon various important aspects like adoption, LGBTQ+ representation and sexism. If you’re looking for something to make you laugh and also leave you feeling happy at the end, this is a perfect watch!
This Australian sitcom is inspired by the many true stories from Josh Thomas’ life that did not make the cut to his stand-up specials. The comedy drama deals with dreadfully real issues that one is confronted with when they come of age and these issues are not always magically solved by the end of the episodes. The characters of the show are generally low-spirited too–not ironically like in The Office, but in a painstakingly humdrum, unexciting way. This show will not make you hysterically laugh, but it will comfort you. The delight of this show lays in its reality. The show may not inspire you to go on an adventure with your friends but it will make you appreciate they exist.
Why should anyone in their sane minds watch sitcoms? They shouldn’t. Sitcoms were never made to be analysed. Regardless of that age old debate, here’s why you need to watch Modern Family. A light-hearted sitcom revolving around a family with their own sub-units provides for 30 minutes per episode of laughs and wholesome vibes. They have POCs, gay characters, nerds, homemakers and 60 year old golf playing men. The fictitious lives still leave a trail of relatability. Their jobs, interpersonal relationships and ordinary situations guarantee a laugh without logic. Spanned over 11 seasons, you’re bound to finish it within a short amount of time and get attached to the characters who seem like family, quite literally.
This eccentric drama-packed show on Amazon prime follows a young and ever-so-entitled jewish housewife on her unexpected path to becoming a standup comedian. It is an amalgamation of an exceptional period musical with a comical yet thought-provoking dialogue about women by women. All of the characters are complex and imperfect but it’s easy to find them endearing at the same time. The Midge and Susie duo is one for the books; crude, stubborn and humorous describes them best. Bold, hilarious and theatrical, addressing many daily topics, the series is equally vast in scope and profoundly intimate. With heaps of compassion and charm, it’s a delightfully unique take on a female-centric narrative. For all the people who think women aren’t funny, this show is a must watch.
Sex Education is a bold, heartfelt and surprisingly wise show which navigates the lives of a group of teenagers whose sexual misadventures for that matter; are so thoughtfully performed that even adults can learn a thing or two from it. A teenage boy; Otis, with his mother – who is a sex therapist, teams up with a high school classmate to set up an underground sex therapy clinic at school. You may stream this show on Netflix thinking that it is a hilarious irreverent teen sex comedy and nothing more; but as you gradually proceed watching the show, you will walk away with something far more insightful. The show grasps the universality of the confusion, discomfort, desire, thrill, and heartbreak that sex visits upon us all. And they throw in some cracking first-class jokes for good measure as well. The camaraderie between Maeve and Otis is heartfelt. The show will definitely have you chuckling and wincing in equal measure with its bold candour and profound screenwriting, acting and cast ensemble.
This is a funny comedy, a profound drama, a refreshing rom-com and a coming of age story, all bundled up in one delightful package. The show also deals with some heavy topics but does so with grace and a deft lightness of touch; a laugh is never too far away. There are exceptional moments sprinkled throughout. Moments that will make you laugh, moments that will tug at your heartstrings and moments that will outright make you weep. By the end of the show, it’s virtually inconceivable to not fall in love with this world and its characters.
