Top 10 Underrated Sitcoms of the Century (So Far)
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the best TV sitcoms released since 2000 thus far that desperately need more recognition. Beware of spoilers ahead! Which other hidden gem of a show has you wondering how it could have flown under the radar? Let us know in the comments down below!
#10: “Detroiters” (2017-18)
If you’re in the mood for a screwball comedy in the vein of “The Office,” pay attention here. “Detroiters” is about the misadventures of two friends in advertising, longing for their big break. What follows is twenty episodes of comic absurdity and antics. There’s a lot to love about this overlooked gem. It’s a warm paean to the great city of Detroit, bolstered by Tim Robinson and Sam Richardson’s great buddy chemistry. Unfortunately, it was canceled after just two seasons, leaving fans confused and enraged. Sure, it’s not the first or last sitcom to meet such a fate, but it’s certainly among the wackiest and most deserving of love.
#9: “United States of Tara” (2009-11)
Few television series portray mental illness as sensitively yet hilariously as this one. It follows suburban mom Tara, who becomes many different people — known as alters — when she is stressed. Yes, Tara’s dissociative identity disorder leads to classically quirky sitcom complications. And while the portrayal may always be perfect or totally realistic, it is handled carefully, without the crude exploitation you often find in the media. “United States of Tara” did win Emmys and a Golden Globe, but it was sadly axed after three seasons. If you ask us, that was premature. The dramedy has everything from heart to comic smarts, meaning you won’t go wrong if you choose to spend time with Tara and her alternatively hilarious alters.
#8: “You're the Worst” (2014-19)
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Despite its title and relative lack of widespread recognition, this show is far from the worst. Following the bad romance of Jimmy and Gretchen, “You’re the Worst” deconstructs romantic comedy tropes while exploring mental health, for a deliciously satirical take on love. Self-destructive and narcissistic, the pair don’t exactly scream Cinderella and Prince Charming. So we’re initially sure they’re hasty hook-up will go nowhere real – that ends up being the farthest thing from the truth. Toeing the line between cynical and sincere, “You’re the Worst” knows how to deliver a dark new twist on familiar stories. It’s a shame it’s not talked about more.
#7: “Superstore” (2015-21)
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Workplace comedies are a dime a dozen, but “Superstore” may just be as near perfect as you can get. It follows employees at a Walmart-style store, Cloud 9. It’s filled with a lovable group of diverse characters, and tackles themes like low wages and discrimination. Without ever making light of these issues, it finds a way to constantly make us laugh – and cry. There’s humor, joy, fear, sadness, and every emotion in between, with America Ferrera and the rest of the cast playing off each other perfectly. Though we got a fantastic 6 seasons – and Mexican adaptation – out of it, it often feels like “Superstore” is left in the lurch when workplace sitcoms are discussed. Plus, we’re still mad about the scrapped spin-off!
#6: “Better Off Ted” (2009-10)
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Wittily satirical and satirically witty, it’s a shame this critically-acclaimed series was canceled before its time. “Better Off Ted” follows the titular Ted, who works a soul-sucking job at a dystopian megacorporation while raising his daughter as a single parent. It delves into themes of complicity and resistance in extremely flawed systems. Ted’s effective fourth wall-breaking also conveys the difference between our outer and inner selves. Although the series received praise for its originality, it only lasted 2 seasons due to insufficient viewership. We have to imagine it just didn’t find its audience fast enough, because it still had a lot to give!
#5: “Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23” (2012-14)
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Don’t let its insouciant title fool you. This sitcom is a barrel of laughs, propelled by smart, sharp writing. It centers on the naïve June, who rooms with the titular Chloe, an adventurous free spirit with, as they put it, “the morals of a pirate.” Despite Chloe’s scammy attempts to scare her roommate away, she and June develop an unexpected bond. This engaging tale of personalities clashing in the big city seemingly proved too much for ABC, who canceled it roughly halfway through the second season, though the remaining episodes eventually became available. As a result, the sitcom has since kind of faded into obscurity. But trust us, it’s more than worth a watch.
#4: “Raising Hope” (2010-14)
In this woefully underappreciated sitcom about a single parent, we follow Jimmy as he raises his daughter, Hope, with the help of his quirky family. Jimmy eventually develops a sweet romance with co-worker Sabrina that’s impossible not to root for, too. Quirky, funny, and full of engaging storylines, the gem of a show received some Emmy nominations and critical acclaim, managing to deliver a fourth season before Fox ended its run. Even all these years later, it still lingers in our minds – we just wish more people would wake up and finally give it the level of attention it’s always deserved.
#3: “A.P. Bio” (2018-21)
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Does Walter White have some competition for worst teacher? After losing his Harvard position to his sworn rival, Jack Griffin becomes an A.P. biology teacher at a high school. Yet instead of teaching students, you know, biology, he teaches them the art of revenge. Hey, he was a philosophy professor after all! “A.P. Bio”’s eye-catching premise and darkly comedic antics make it a winner in our book. Once again, though, its four-season run was not only too short, it also isn’t one you hear about all that much anymore, which is a shame! Perhaps Jack should’ve joined Walter in another criminal enterprise?
#2: “Crashing” (2016)
If “Fleabag” creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s name is on something, you know it’s going to be good. Sure enough, she showed her comic chops early with “Crashing,” though we’re betting many folks have never heard of it. Rest assured, it does not disappoint, centering on six young adults living as the guardians of an unoccupied hospital. If you’re familiar with Waller-Bridge’s work, you won’t be surprised to hear this isn’t your stereotypical sitcom – she knows the formula, but she also knows how to subvert it. Though it may not reach the cringe-comedy heights of “Fleabag,” the comedy is nevertheless replete with deliciously messy love stories and conflicts. It’s different and never super squeaky-clean – this may be why it’s often forgotten, but it’s also why it’s fantastic.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
“The New Adventures of Old Christine” (2006-10)
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“The Middle” (2009-18)
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“Mythic Quest” (2020-)
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Its Video Game Studio Setting Makes It Stand Out Among All the Workplace Comedies
“Lovesick” (2014-18)
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Providing a Refreshingly Realistic Portrayal of Roommate Life
“Happy Endings” (2011-13)
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#1: “Party Down” (2009-10; 2023)
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It’s not all too often underrated and prematurely canceled shows get the chance to return from the grave. But we’re so glad “Party Down” did in 2023, despite being woefully overlooked during its original run. It follows the struggles of a group of aspiring artists working at a catering company. Their journeys are explored with wit, satire, and physical comedy. The talented cast’s great chemistry certainly doesn’t hurt, either. The fact that the show was revived for its third (and final) season over a decade after being axed by Starz gives us hope that its star is deservingly rising. Still, we’d say it deserves even more praise. In fact, we think it’s destined to one day be regarded as one of the greats.
