It’s winter, so it’s cold & rainy & dark & people wanna be at home. With the atmosphere being so bleak,I feel like everyone could use a little “pick-me-up. Well, what better way to lift one’s spirits and comfort the soul than the warm embrace of a light-hearted, easy-to-watch sitcom.
I can think of few activities more soothing than getting cosy on a wintery evening and watching something that will lift your spirits and take your mind off the stresses of everyday life for 20 minutes at a time.
Here’s a master list of sitcoms that you can checkout this winter to keep your spirits up!
Classic sitcoms are like a little time machine back when you were a kid, before streaming, comforting in their simplicity and nostalgia. May have heard of them/seen a few eps, but the suggestion here is to watch 'em front to back.
My Wife & kids
light-hearted & Laugh-out-loud funny, wholesome family vibes balanced with hilarious adult humour.
5 glorious seasons to binge (However, it ends on kind of a cliff-hanger because the show was unfortunately cancelled before it got to wrap things up).
Unapologetically black!
Highly rewatchable.
Seinfeld
One of the most successful and iconic sitcoms from the 90’s
Highly regarded by critics (8.9 on IMDB, 89% on Rotten Tomatoes)
The show is famously about nothing, so it’s very light & easy to watch
The entire main cast are all pretty hilarious (Seinfeld might actually be the least funny of them)
There are a whole 9 seasons to binge, so it should occupy you for quite some time
Still classic but slightly more modern, more likely to have seen a lot more of these shows, widely regarded as some of the best recent sitcoms, you’ve likely seen some of them but typically not in their entirety, all worth finishing and earned their reputations for a reason (HIMYM wraps things up very poorly)
The Office
One of the most iconic, influential sitcoms of the last 2 decades.
Genuinely laugh-out loud hilarious from start to finish.
A whole office-full of hilarious, memorable & lovably odd/unique characters.
9 easy to watch seasons are all available to be watched right now.
Highly rewatchable.
how i met your mother
light-hearted, easy-to-watch & laugh-out-loud funny.
incredibly quotable with lots of highly memorable moments
a host of hilarious & likable (& some unlikable) characters that you won't forget.
It's one of the worst endings of all time (but so bad it must bee seen to be believed), but only the last couple episodes are bad.
Modern Family
funny, but also incredibly heart-warming because the show goes on for so long you really see the entire cast grow so much, it makes you feel like part of the family.
There are so many different characters that are all hilarious in their own right which adds to the show's light-hearted positive vibe (making it a good pick-me-up for when you're in a bad mood).
Some really strong representation of a more modern, non-traditional family (hence the name).
there are 250 glorious episodes to get through, so it's the kind of show you can really get into & invest in.
it's always sunny in Philadelphia
One of the funniest shows I've ever seen in my life, featuring some of the funniest characters ever conceived in the history of tv.
it's still going, so as you binge you'll be able to watch the show evolve & grow over the years
it's easier to overlook in shows like this, but the actors (also the creators of the show) are actually incredibly talented and you can tell by their performances in this show.
it's the only show in this section that's still going, which is a sign of the audience's continued interest in the show, which is a pretty strong indicator that a lot of people really enjoy it (or at least that the small group that enjoys it really enjoys it), and that you might too!
there are some hilarious memes that come from this show and uncovering them as you watch the show is so overwhelmingly satisfying, I want that for you.
Arrested Development
The show's writing is already hilarious, but when you factor in how the cast is stacked front to back with comedic heavyweights, you'll begin to understand how hilarious this show is.
like with many sitcoms, family is a key theme, but, in a hilariously dysfunctional way that marks a refreshing change of pace from the more traditional sitcom family dynamic (largely because most of the "children" in this show are adults).
There are so many recognisable faces in tis show from start to finish, the guest appearances & cameos are always highly entertaining.
there was a long break after season 3 (7 yrs) so the jump from s3 to s4 is slightly jarring, but its hilariously acknowledged within the show, and because the whole original team returns to continue the story it's still extremely entertaining.
Schitt’s Creek
Lough-out-loud funny thanks to multiple hilarious and eccentric characters/performances.
Light & easy-breezy, but there are actually several really sweet, heart-warming moments throughout the show.
Created by father-son duo Eugene & Daniel Levy who play father & son in the show which is definitely a fun dynamic to watch. Sarah Levy (Eugene’s daughter/Daniel’s sis is also in the show, and it’s a lot of fun watching them all act together).
There are no weak points in the whole show and none of the main characters leave before it finishes so the quality stays consistent from start to finish.
Historically speaking, women & their contributions to comedy have been overlooked, but it only takes a little bit of looking to see that there are a whole host of laugh-out-loud series with women behind & in front of the camera! here are 5 of my favourite women-led sitcoms that you should check out this winter!
Broad City
One of my top 5 favourite shows ever
Laugh out loud funny & modern
Extremely relatable for young adults finding their way
The 2 main characters are such a lovable duo, you’ll genuinely start caring about their friendship
only 5 seasons with 10 eps per, so a there's a solid amount to get through, but not an overwhelming amount for those who don't like committing to shows with lots of episodes.
Parks & Rec
Similar to the office, feels like an unofficial sister-series
Several hilarious characters portrayed by equally hilarious actors (very recognisable cast)
It’s light-hearted & comedic but also offers a little political commentary
Source of many memes that you've probably seen before
Well regarded by critics (8.6 on IMDB)
7 seasons, so lots to binge if you’re looking for a long-term watch.
Abbott Elementary
Laugh-out-loud funny
Also has a similar feel to the office (mockumentary workplace comedy)
Lots of talented black actors & black characters in a wholesome, family-friendly setting
Still ongoing and airing weekly so you can hop on the hype train before it stops
BUT, also airing quite quickly (2 of 4 seasons have 22 eps like a classic sitcom as opposed to modern streaming sitcoms which tend to be shorter) so there’s still a good amount to binge.
New Girl
Basically, a well-done modern version of friends (to boil it down).
Hilarious characters/actors & performances
Romantic relationships you actually care about
A whole 6 seasons to binge with 22-24 episodes per, so lots to binge
Solid critical reception (7.8 on IMDB, 95% on RT)
Superstore
Light-hearted workplace comedy
Classic sitcom feel (episode count, classic sitcom tropes)
diverse cast and characters
Lots of hilarious, unique, and memorable characters
6 seasons, 11-22 eps per, so it’s a mid-term binge (depending on your pace)
British:
For a long time I thought I didn’t find British humour funny, but over time I realised that I just wasn’t watching the right shows. Classic British humour may not be for me, but more modern shows like the ones included below? Laugh out loud hilarious.
Inbetweeners
Fresh Meat
Peep Show
Friday Night Dinner
Chewing Gum
Animation
A lot of people miss out on high-quality shows and watching experiences because they automatically dismiss animated series. That’s a mistake you cannot afford to make! The following list is a mix of wholesome and adult animated shows to give you a taste of the wide variety of animated series that are just waiting to be binged!
American dad
Bobs’ Burgers
Solar Opposites
Regular Show
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