# Best Sitcoms of the 21st Century **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted\ **Created:** [October 13, 2025, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcoms-of-the-21st-century/1023932 "2025-10-13T15:26:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2025, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcoms-of-the-21st-century/1023932/61 "2025-10-14T01:12:21Z")
Right, it’s funny, but comedy isn’t central. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2025, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcoms-of-the-21st-century/1023932/62 "2025-10-14T02:09:49Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Right, it’s funny, but comedy isn’t central. The comedy is pretty central to TL. So is the drama. It doesn’t have to be dark to be drama. That’s why it’s often labeled as a comedy-drama. I’m not making that up. It’s labeled as a comedy-drama on wiki (yes I know). It’s tagged as both comedy and workplace drama on IMDB (and not tagged as a sitcom). There are enough debates on places like Reddit to show that opinions vary and there isn’t one right answer. The other example I keep going back to is _Shrinking,_ also by Bill Lawrence and partly written by Bret Goldstein. IMHO it is much funnier than _Ted Lasso._ It is also much more dramatic. Is that a sitcom? The comedy is pretty important. But so is the drama. I consider them both comedy-dramas. I love both shows but to be honest I would have to give the edge to _Shrinking._ ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2025, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcoms-of-the-21st-century/1023932/63 "2025-10-14T03:08:30Z")
_Better Off Ted_ was great for the two seasons it was on. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2025, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcoms-of-the-21st-century/1023932/64 "2025-10-14T04:01:35Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > > [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > > > Right, it’s funny, but comedy isn’t central. > > The comedy is pretty central to TL Remind me; what is TL? ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2025, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcoms-of-the-21st-century/1023932/65 "2025-10-14T05:06:53Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Remind me; what is TL?  I’m assuming Ted Lasso. Wait, was that a whoosh? ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2025, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcoms-of-the-21st-century/1023932/66 "2025-10-14T05:19:58Z")
> [@iamatractorboy](#): > > _Peep Show_, by some distance. > > I also love _Bojack Horseman,_ which another poster has mentioned, but I can’t call that a sitcom. It’s more of a drama with some (usually dark) comedy in it. > > Just thought of another, but again I’m not sure it’s strictly a sitcom: _Detectorists_ Another that makes me laugh a hell of a lot but again I’m not sure it qualifies as a sitcom: _Futurama_ ---
**Author:** ![zbuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2025, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcoms-of-the-21st-century/1023932/67 "2025-10-14T05:23:18Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Political parties were never specified In the last episode, I guess they felt they could stop being coy about it and reveal what everyone already knew — the DNC asks Leslie to run for governor of Indiana. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2025, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcoms-of-the-21st-century/1023932/68 "2025-10-14T12:45:09Z")
Actually the presence of the security people wearing earpieces (suggesting Secret Service) implied that either Leslie or Ben was POTUS. ---
**Author:** ![colinfred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colinfred/32/21338_2.png) [@colinfred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colinfred)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2025, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcoms-of-the-21st-century/1023932/69 "2025-10-14T12:51:49Z")
She definitely becomes Governor. The next step is deliberately left vague but is implied to be President. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2025, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcoms-of-the-21st-century/1023932/70 "2025-10-14T13:04:52Z")
Another vote for **It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.** ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2025, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcoms-of-the-21st-century/1023932/71 "2025-10-14T14:16:44Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > How I Met Your Mother I loved this show. Unfortunately, the finale ruined the whole show for me. I understand they had to show the kids’ scenes in the second season while they were still younger looking, but I wish they had shot several versions of it. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2025, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcoms-of-the-21st-century/1023932/72 "2025-10-14T15:02:07Z")
I think that the show was fun until the ending and that’s okay. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2025, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcoms-of-the-21st-century/1023932/73 "2025-10-14T15:05:06Z")
You shouldn’t have stopped because you left out, “Married With Children” and “The Cosby Show”. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2025, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcoms-of-the-21st-century/1023932/74 "2025-10-14T16:26:55Z")
“Corner Gas” is all that needs to be listed. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2025, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcoms-of-the-21st-century/1023932/75 "2025-10-14T16:45:51Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > You shouldn’t have stopped because you left out, “Married With Children” and “The Cosby Show”. Wrong century. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2025, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcoms-of-the-21st-century/1023932/76 "2025-10-14T17:25:37Z")
AH!! LOL Name: Jasmine Category: Reads with Understanding Grade: D (needs improvement) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2025, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcoms-of-the-21st-century/1023932/77 "2025-10-14T17:44:56Z")
Extras - a Ricky Gervais series about, well, movie extras, with guest stars acting totally out of character. Seeing Ian McKellen explaining how “acting” works, and seeing Kate Winslet having fun are worth the price of admission. I agree with “Fleabag”. ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2025, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcoms-of-the-21st-century/1023932/78 "2025-10-14T18:44:13Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > “Corner Gas” is all that needs to be listed. I’m on my second time through for Corner Gas. I put it 2nd for best of the century. And I will add the Animated Corner Gas. I’m in the middle of it. I don’t usually watch animated shows but I made an exception for this one. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2025, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcoms-of-the-21st-century/1023932/79 "2025-10-14T19:17:33Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > I would argue that it was actually an incisive commentary on the delicacy and dysfunctionality of democratic governance which is nonetheless sustained by a cadre of dedicated civil servants even in the face of [indifferent leadership](https://youtu.be/NiQ1qSonHYI?si=9glH5OMpx5BZk-zj), [limited resources](https://youtu.be/u2MoY0isxS0?si=CnEJJwjdU9_1MVnZ), an [unappreciative public](https://youtu.be/areUGfOHkMA?si=G7R6WmCzqS2TGn26), and of course a [brutal history of decidedly non-democratic repression of natives and various communities](https://youtu.be/WzrJW0OsOQE?si=n4gqR9FcmW453LkX), all in the guise of a workplace comedy. And also [why you should stay away from the library](https://youtu.be/d64HP9rdaKg?si=xJXRAgN5gIKNma-7). _Parks and Rec_ is also the closest I’ve ever seen a show get to showing my actual job. I don’t work for the government, I work for a nonprofit, but at that level of government there’s a very similar dynamic, and Leslie Knope’s color-tabbed 3-ring grant binders and irrational idealism seem pretty spot-on for my profession. I lack her social skills, but a lot of my colleagues are just as savvy at dealing with “the community.” +1 for _Crazy Ex-Girlfriend._ I was raised by a mother with untreated Borderline Personality Disorder. It didn’t go well. The show was (in my view) accurate in its depiction of mental illness, nuanced, hilarious, thoughtful, musically innovative, fully committed to deep characterization, and in the end it was kind of healing for me to see the way it all worked out. Compassion isn’t all you need to recover from a serious mental illness, but it’s at least the starting point. https://www.youtube.com/embed/uic_3vlI5BE?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=RDuic_3vlI5BE ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2025, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcoms-of-the-21st-century/1023932/80 "2025-10-14T20:06:02Z")
I loved Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, but it feels like sui generis, one of a kind, an hour-long musical dramedy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcoms-of-the-21st-century/1023932.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sitcoms-of-the-21st-century/1023932.md?page=5)