The 15 Most Binge-Worthy TV Comedies of the 2010s, Ranked

The 2010s was the decade that television comedy truly grew up. It was a period of explosive creativity, a "Golden Age" where the traditional boundaries of the half-hour sitcom were not just pushed but completely shattered. Fueled by the rise of streaming platforms and a new era of creative freedom on cable, the genre blossomed into a breathtakingly diverse landscape of styles and tones. The decade gave us the perfection of the network "hangout" sitcom, the birth of the prestige, cinematic "sad-com," and a wave of groundbreaking shows centered on the brutally honest, beautifully messy lives of a new generation of female protagonists.

As we look back from 2025, the legacy of these shows is more potent than ever. They have become the cornerstone of modern "comfort show" culture, the series that a new generation on TikTok and Pinterest turns to for warmth, reassurance, and a sense of belonging. The heartfelt optimism of Parks and Recreation, the "found family" dynamic of New Girl, and the ultimate triumph of the Rose family in Schitt's Creek are more than just entertainment; they are emotional support systems. At the same time, the profound, gut-punching explorations of grief and mental health in shows like Fleabag and BoJack Horseman are the subject of countless video essays and fan edits, celebrated for their artistic bravery and emotional intelligence. This list is a celebration of that incredible decade. It's a definitive ranking of the fifteen most innovative, influential, and endlessly binge-worthy comedies that defined the 2010s and continue to shape the way we laugh, and cry, today.

We hope you find this article a joyful trip down memory lane! If you enjoy our content, please consider supporting our work with a small donation or by sharing our articles with your friends and family. Your support helps us continue to create insightful and entertaining content.

15. Girls (2012-2017)

The Vibe: Controversial, cringey, and brutally honest. Lena Dunham's Girls was a cultural lightning rod, a show that was as reviled as it was revered, but its influence is undeniable.

Detailed Description: Premiering on HBO, Girls followed a group of four deeply flawed, entitled, and often unlikable twenty-somethings navigating their messy lives in New York City. The show was a raw, unfiltered, and often uncomfortable look at a specific brand of millennial angst, ambition, and narcissism. It was a direct and intentional departure from the glossy, aspirational friendships of shows like Sex and the City, presenting a vision of female relationships that was often competitive, toxic, and painfully realistic.

Why It Defined the Decade: Girls was a pioneer of the modern "sad-com" and the "unlikable" female protagonist. It wasn't always laugh-out-loud funny; its humor was often found in the excruciating awkwardness of its situations and the brutal honesty of its dialogue. Lena Dunham's Hannah Horvath was a revolutionary character—a woman who was not a role model, but a deeply flawed, selfish, and insecure person who was still afforded the dignity of being the protagonist of her own story. While it can be a difficult show to rewatch, its impact on the television landscape is immense. It kicked open the door for a new generation of female creators to tell their own messy, authentic stories. It’s a show that feels like a time capsule, a snapshot of a very specific cultural moment.

14. Broad City (2014-2019)

The Vibe: Joyfully chaotic, surreal, and a celebration of female friendship. If Girls was about the toxicity of female relationships, Broad City was its joyful, weed-fueled antidote.

Detailed Description: Created by and starring the brilliant comedic duo Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer, Broad City followed the surreal, often disastrous, adventures of two best friends just trying to get by in New York City. The show was a celebration of the ride-or-die, us-against-the-world power of a truly great friendship. Abbi and Ilana's relationship was the core of the show—a supportive, non-judgmental, and deeply loving bond that felt aspirational in its authenticity.

Why It Defined the Decade: Broad City was a breath of fresh air. Its humor was a unique blend of slapstick, surrealism, and hilariously specific observations about millennial life. The show was a love letter to New York City, finding beauty and absurdity in its grimiest corners. But its most important legacy is its portrayal of female friendship. It was a show that understood that your best friend is often the most important romantic partner in your life, the person who will celebrate your triumphs and help you clean up your messes, literally and figuratively. It’s a joyful, hilarious, and deeply heartwarming series that is a true comfort watch. It is a show with a huge heart, a quality shared by some of our favorite TV comedies of 2025.

13. Silicon Valley (2014-2019)

The Vibe: A razor-sharp, painfully accurate, and brilliantly nerdy satire of the tech industry.

Detailed Description: From creator Mike Judge (King of the Hill, Office Space), Silicon Valley was a hilarious and often excruciatingly stressful look at the absurdity of the tech boom. The series followed a group of brilliant but socially inept coders who create a revolutionary data-compression algorithm and are subsequently thrown into the cutthroat, jargon-filled world of venture capital and tech billionaires. The show was a perfect send-up of the tech industry's self-important, "making the world a better place" ethos, while also being a compelling underdog story.

Why It Defined the Decade: No other show has ever captured the specific culture of Silicon Valley with such hilarious and brutal accuracy. The writing was incredibly smart, packed with intricate, high-stakes plotlines and some of the most creative and profane insults in television history. The ensemble cast, featuring Thomas Middleditch, T.J. Miller, Kumail Nanjiani, and Martin Starr, was a dream team of comedic talent. The show was a masterclass in building tension, with each season finale often culminating in a make-or-break presentation or a catastrophic failure that was both hilarious and incredibly stressful to watch. It's a show that will make you laugh until you cry, often from anxiety.

12. The Good Place (2016-2020)

The Vibe: A high-concept, philosophical, and deeply humane sitcom that asks the biggest questions of all: what does it mean to be a good person?

Detailed Description: The Good Place, from Parks and Rec co-creator Michael Schur, is a show that is almost impossible to describe without spoiling its brilliant, game-changing twists. It begins with Eleanor Shellstrop (a perfect Kristen Bell), a self-described "Arizona trash bag," who dies and wakes up in "The Good Place," a serene, utopian afterlife designed for the most righteous people in history. The only problem? She knows she has been sent there by mistake. With the help of her assigned soulmate, the indecisive ethics professor Chidi, she tries to learn how to be a good person to earn her spot.

Why It Defined the Decade: This show was a Trojan horse. It smuggled a full-blown university-level course on moral philosophy into a bright, funny, and incredibly accessible network sitcom. It was a show that was not afraid to be incredibly silly one moment (a giant shrimp cocktail in the sky) and profoundly moving the next. The Season 1 finale contains one of the greatest plot twists in television history, a reveal that completely redefines the entire premise of the show. It was a brave, ambitious, and deeply optimistic series that believed in our capacity for change and the power of human connection. It's a show that is both a hilarious binge-watch and a genuine force for good in the world. Its unique premise is a great example of a show that redefined its genre.

External Link: The official IMDb page for The Good Place is a great place to see the show's incredible cast and its consistently high episode ratings.

11. Bob's Burgers (2011-Present)

The Vibe: The ultimate quirky, heartwarming, and hilarious animated "hangout" show.

Detailed Description: In a landscape of adult animation often defined by cynicism and shock value, Bob's Burgers is a beacon of pure, unadulterated warmth. The series follows the everyday lives of the Belcher family, who run a struggling burger restaurant in a seaside town. There’s the perpetually stressed but loving patriarch, Bob; his exuberant, wine-loving wife, Linda; their awkward, boy-crazy eldest daughter, Tina; the chaotic, creative middle child, Gene; and the brilliant, slightly sociopathic youngest, Louise.

Why It Defined the Decade: Bob's Burgers is a masterclass in character-driven comedy. The humour comes not from pop culture references or cutaway gags, but from the beautifully defined, deeply weird, and incredibly loving dynamics of the Belcher family. It’s a show that genuinely loves its characters, and that love is infectious. The musical numbers are consistently brilliant, the pun-filled "Burger of the Day" board is a work of art, and the voice cast is one of the best in the business. It is the definition of a "comfort show," a series that feels like spending time with a family you wish were your own. Its enduring popularity is a testament to the timeless appeal of a show that is, at its core, just incredibly kind. The show's focus on a loving, quirky family is a theme that would make it a great fit on a list of cozy Disney+ movies.

10. Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013-2021)

The Vibe: A joke-a-minute, fast-paced, and incredibly lovable workplace sitcom.

Detailed Description: Another gem from the mind of Michael Schur (along with Dan Goor), Brooklyn Nine-Nine took the seemingly serious setting of a police precinct and turned it into one of the most joyful and joke-dense sitcoms of the decade. The series follows the brilliant but childish Detective Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg) and the hilarious, lovable ensemble of detectives in the 99th precinct as they solve crimes and get into all sorts of shenanigans under the watchful eye of their stoic, deadpan Captain, Raymond Holt (the late, great Andre Braugher).

Why It Defined the Decade: This show is a masterpiece of the ensemble comedy. There is not a single weak link in the cast, and the writers expertly paired up different characters to explore every possible comedic dynamic. The show is famous for its running gags (the Halloween Heists are legendary) and its incredibly high joke-per-minute ratio. But beneath the silliness is a show with a huge, beating heart. It’s a series that celebrates found family, positive masculinity, and genuine friendship. When the show was briefly cancelled by Fox, a massive, fan-led social media campaign led to it being saved by NBC, a testament to the deep love that viewers have for these characters and their world.

External Link: You can find thousands of clips, compilations, and "cold opens" on the official Brooklyn Nine-Nine YouTube channel.

9. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (2015-2019)

The Vibe: A surreal, joke-a-minute, and surprisingly dark comedy about trauma and resilience.

Detailed Description: From the brilliantly bizarre minds of Tina Fey and Robert Carlock, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is a sitcom with one of the darkest premises in history. The series follows Kimmy Schmidt (a radiant Ellie Kemper), a woman who is rescued after spending 15 years in an underground bunker as part of a doomsday cult. She moves to New York City and, with the wide-eyed innocence of a middle-schooler and an unwavering, almost pathological optimism, she attempts to navigate the modern world.

Why It Defined the Decade: This show is a masterclass in tonal whiplash. It is a bright, colourful, and relentlessly funny series, packed with some of the most absurd and clever jokes on television. The supporting characters, particularly Tituss Burgess's breakout role as the flamboyant and perpetually struggling actor, Titus Andromedon, are iconic. But underneath the candy-coloured shell is a surprisingly profound and empathetic exploration of trauma and survival. The show uses its surreal humour to tackle incredibly dark subjects, creating a truly unique and unforgettable viewing experience. It’s a show that believes in the power of optimism and the resilience of the human spirit, a message that feels both hilarious and deeply necessary. The show's ability to blend deep themes with comedy is a quality shared by the best of the MCU.

8. Veep (2012-2019)

The Vibe: A viciously funny, breathtakingly profane, and brilliantly cynical political satire.

Detailed Description: Armando Iannucci's Veep is, without a doubt, one of the most brilliantly written and performed comedies of all time. The series stars the legendary Julia Louis-Dreyfus in her greatest role as Selina Meyer, the vain, power-hungry, and perpetually frustrated Vice President of the United States. The show follows her and her staff of incompetent, sycophantic, and morally bankrupt political operatives as they navigate the absurd, soul-crushing world of American politics.

Why It Defined the Decade: Veep is famous for its creative, almost poetic, use of profanity and its breathtakingly hilarious and vicious insults. The dialogue is a masterclass in comedic writing, and the ensemble cast is one of the greatest ever assembled. The show is a relentless, cynical, and often terrifyingly accurate look at the emptiness of modern politics. But at its centre is the tour-de-force performance of Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who won a staggering six consecutive Emmy Awards for the role. She makes Selina Meyer a monstrous, fascinating, and somehow, occasionally sympathetic character. It is a show that is so funny it will leave you breathless, a true masterpiece of political satire.

7. Community (2009-2015)

The Vibe: A high-concept, deeply meta, and endlessly inventive sitcom that was a cult classic and a show perpetually ahead of its time.

Detailed Description: While it premiered in 2009, the bulk of Community's legendary run took place in the 2010s. The show, from creator Dan Harmon, is set in a community college and follows a dysfunctional study group of misfits, including a disbarred lawyer (Joel McHale), a pop-culture-obsessed student (Danny Pudi), and a former high school football star (Donald Glover). What starts as a relatively standard sitcom quickly evolves into one of the most ambitious and experimental comedies ever made.

Why It Defined the Decade: Community was famous for its high-concept, genre-parody episodes. There were episodes that were perfect homages to Goodfellas, Pulp Fiction, Ken Burns documentaries, and, most famously, the action movie genre in the legendary "Paintball" episodes. It was a show that was deeply in love with the language of film and television, constantly breaking the fourth wall and playing with the sitcom format. But beneath the meta-humor was a show with a huge, beating heart, a story about a found family of broken people who saved each other. Its influence on modern comedy is immense, and its "six seasons and a movie" fan campaign has become a legendary part of television history. Its complex world-building is a quality shared by some of our [suspicious link removed].

6. New Girl (2011-2018)

The Vibe: The ultimate "comfort show" and a perfect, quirky, "hangout" sitcom.

Detailed Description: New Girl is a show that feels like a warm, fuzzy blanket. The series follows the adorkable Jess (a perfectly cast Zooey Deschanel), a quirky teacher who, after a bad breakup, moves into a loft apartment with three single men: the grumpy but lovable Nick, the hilariously douchey but good-hearted Schmidt, and the intense but goofy Winston. What follows is a hilarious and heartwarming story of a found family navigating the messy worlds of love, friendship, and adulting.

Why It Defined the Decade: In the 2020s, New Girl has had a massive resurgence on TikTok and has been crowned by Gen Z as the ultimate "comfort show." Its appeal is timeless. The chemistry of the ensemble cast is simply magical, and the show's unique brand of quirky, character-driven humor is endlessly rewatchable. The central will-they-won't-they romance between Nick and Jess is one of the great slow burns in sitcom history. But the show is just as much about the hilarious and deeply supportive friendships between the loft-mates. It’s a show that is both incredibly funny and deeply kind, a series that believes in the power of the weirdos to find their people. For a deep dive into another iconic group of friends, check out our ranking of the Gilmore Girls characters.

External Link: The official IMDb page for New Girl is a great place to explore the show's incredible cast and its most iconic episodes.

5. Schitt's Creek (2015-2020)

The Vibe: A fish-out-of-water story that blossoms into one of the most heartwarming and life-affirming comedies of all time.

Detailed Description: Created by and starring the father-son duo Eugene and Dan Levy, Schitt's Creek is a show with a simple premise. The obscenely wealthy Rose family—patriarch Johnny, dramatic soap-star matriarch Moira (the legendary Catherine O'Hara), and their two spoiled adult children, David and Alexis—suddenly lose their entire fortune and are forced to relocate to their only remaining asset: a small, quirky town they once bought as a joke called Schitt's Creek.

Why It Defined the Decade: The journey of Schitt's Creek from a little-known Canadian sitcom to a global, Emmy-sweeping phenomenon is a beautiful story in itself. The show is a masterclass in character development. The Roses begin the series as selfish, out-of-touch caricatures, but over six seasons, they slowly and beautifully transform into a loving, supportive, and genuinely good family. The show is famous for its brilliant performances (Catherine O'Hara's Moira Rose is an all-time great comedic creation), its incredible fashion, and its heartfelt, aspirational depiction of a town completely free of homophobia. It is a show that is both hysterically funny and profoundly moving, a true beacon of warmth, kindness, and acceptance. It is, without a doubt, the little show that could, and it has become one of the most beloved comfort shows of the modern era.

External Link: The official Schitt's Creek YouTube channel is a great place to find iconic clips and compilations.

4. BoJack Horseman (2014-2020)

The Vibe: A surreal, hilarious, and often devastatingly sad animated series about a washed-up celebrity horse.

Detailed Description: Netflix's BoJack Horseman is, without a doubt, one of the most profound, challenging, and artistically ambitious shows of the decade. The series is set in a world where humans and anthropomorphic animals coexist. It follows BoJack Horseman, the star of a cheesy 90s sitcom, who is now a deeply depressed, alcoholic, and narcissistic has-been, living in Hollywood and struggling to find meaning in his life.

Why It Defined the Decade: This show is the absolute pinnacle of the "sad-com." It is a series that is packed with brilliant visual gags, hilarious animal puns, and some of the cleverest writing on television. But underneath the surreal, animated surface is one of the most honest and devastating explorations of depression, addiction, trauma, and the desperate search for redemption ever put on screen. It is a show that is not afraid to go to incredibly dark places, and its willingness to sit with its character's pain is what makes it so powerful. It’s a show that will make you laugh until you cry, and then make you cry for real. It is a complex, beautiful, and essential piece of television art.

3. Parks and Recreation (2009-2015)

The Vibe: A warm, hilarious, and deeply optimistic workplace sitcom that is the television equivalent of a warm hug.

Detailed Description: While it premiered in 2009, Parks and Recreation truly found its voice in the 2010s and became one of the most beloved comedies of all time. The series is a mockumentary that follows the absurdly passionate and optimistic Leslie Knope (a perfect Amy Poehler), the deputy director of the Parks Department in the small, quirky town of Pawnee, Indiana. The show follows her and her hilarious ensemble of colleagues and friends as they try to make their small town a better place, one park at a time.

Why It Defined the Decade: Parks and Rec is a masterclass in ensemble comedy and the ultimate "hangout" show. After a shaky first season, the show transformed into a beacon of warmth and positivity. The cast is one of the greatest ever assembled, with every single character being a perfectly defined, lovable, and hilarious comedic creation. It’s a show that believes in the power of public service, the importance of female friendship, and the fundamental goodness of people. In an era of television that was often defined by cynicism and anti-heroes, Parks and Recreation was a radical act of kindness. It is a show that is both hysterically funny and deeply inspiring, a series that will restore your faith in humanity. It is one of the most cherished comfort shows of all time for a reason.

2. Atlanta (2016-2022)

The Vibe: A surreal, cinematic, and genre-defying masterpiece that is one of the most artistically ambitious shows ever made.

Detailed Description: Created by and starring the multi-talented Donald Glover, Atlanta is a show that is almost impossible to define. On the surface, it follows Earn (Glover), a smart but aimless Princeton dropout who decides to manage his cousin Alfred, a rapper on the verge of stardom who goes by the name "Paper Boi." But the show uses this premise as a launchpad to create a series of surreal, funny, and often terrifying vignettes about race, class, and the absurdity of modern American life.

Why It Defined the Decade: Atlanta is a work of pure, auteur-driven genius. It completely threw out the traditional sitcom rulebook. Some of its most acclaimed episodes barely feature the main cast at all. It is a show that can be a laugh-out-loud comedy one minute, a tense horror film the next, and a profound piece of social commentary the minute after that. The direction is stunningly cinematic, and the writing is brilliant and unpredictable. It is a show that operates on its own unique frequency, a true work of art that consistently challenged and surprised its audience. For its sheer artistic bravery and its singular, brilliant vision, it is one of the most important and acclaimed comedies of the decade.

1. Fleabag (2016-2019)

The Vibe: A hilarious, heartbreaking, and formally inventive masterpiece about a grieving, messy, and brilliant woman.

Detailed Description: Taking the top spot on our list is Phoebe Waller-Bridge's perfect, two-season wonder, Fleabag. Based on her one-woman play, the series stars Waller-Bridge as the titular character, a witty, grieving, and "sexually voracious" woman trying to navigate her life in London after a personal tragedy. The show's most famous feature is its constant breaking of the fourth wall, with Fleabag talking directly to the audience, sharing her unfiltered thoughts, and using us as her secret confidants.

Why It Defined the Decade: Fleabag is, without exaggeration, a perfect piece of television. It is a show that is both hysterically funny and so deeply, profoundly sad it will take your breath away. The first season is a brilliant and messy exploration of grief and self-destruction. The second season, with the introduction of Andrew Scott's now-legendary "Hot Priest," transforms into one of the most beautiful, intelligent, and heartbreaking love stories ever told. The show is a masterclass in writing, performance, and formal invention. It is the absolute pinnacle of the "sad-com" and the "relatable messy female protagonist" trends. It is a short, flawless, and life-changing series that is, without a doubt, the single greatest television comedy of the 2010s.

Stream Fleabag now on Amazon Prime Video.

Conclusion

The 2010s was a decade of comedic brilliance, a period that gifted us with an incredible array of shows that made us laugh, think, and feel in profound new ways. The fifteen comedies on this list are a testament to the incredible diversity, creativity, and artistic ambition of the era. They are the shows that have become our modern comfort classics, the stories and characters we return to again and again for their warmth, their wit, and their deep, abiding humanity. They are a reminder that the best comedies are not just about the jokes; they are about the truth, and in a complicated world, there is nothing more essential than that.

We hope you found this article a joyful trip down memory lane! If you enjoy our content, please consider supporting our work with a small donation or by sharing our articles with your friends and family. Your support helps us continue to create insightful and entertaining content.

External Links

1. IMDb - Top Rated TV Shows of the 2010s: Explore user ratings for the most popular shows of the decade.

2. Rotten Tomatoes - Best TV of the 2010s: See the critical consensus on the best television of the decade.

3. The Ringer's "The 100 Best TV Shows of the 2010s": A deep dive and critical ranking from one of the best pop culture sites.

4. The A.V. Club - TV Reviews: Find insightful contemporary and retrospective reviews of all the shows on this list.

5. The official YouTube Channel for Comedy Central (for Broad City): Find clips and full episodes from the iconic comedy.

6. The official YouTube Channel for SNL (for alumni connections): Explore clips from the shows that launched many of these stars.

7. Wikipedia's List of Primetime Emmy Award winners for Outstanding Comedy Series: See the incredible critical acclaim these shows received.

8. Vulture's TV Section: Read in-depth reviews, recaps, and think pieces on modern television comedy.

FAQs

1. Where can I watch these shows? The shows are spread across multiple platforms: Fleabag and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel are on Amazon Prime Video; The Bear, What We Do in the Shadows, and Atlanta are on FX/Hulu (and Disney+ internationally); Veep and Girls are on Max; BoJack Horseman and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt are on Netflix; Parks and Rec and Brooklyn Nine-Nine are on Peacock; and Schitt's Creek is on Hulu.

2. What is a "sad-com"? A "sad-com" is a popular term for a type of television show, also known as a dramedy, that blends serious, often tragic or melancholic themes like grief and mental health, with traditional comedic elements. Fleabag and BoJack Horseman are prime examples.

   
   

3. Which of these shows are best for a lighthearted "comfort watch"? Parks and Recreation, New Girl, and Schitt's Creek are the ultimate comfort shows on this list. They are known for their warmth, optimism, and lovable "found family" dynamics. Bob's Burgers is also a fantastic choice.

4. Are any of these shows animated? Yes, BoJack Horseman and Bob's Burgers are two of the most critically acclaimed animated comedies of all time. Harley Quinn is also on the list as a brilliant adult animated series.

   
   

5. I love a good workplace comedy. Which show should I start with? Parks and Recreation is the gold standard of the heartwarming workplace sitcom. Brooklyn Nine-Nine is perfect if you want something a bit faster-paced and joke-heavy. Silicon Valley is ideal for those who enjoy a more cynical, satirical take on the workplace.

   
   

6. What does "binge-worthy" mean? A "binge-worthy" show is a series that is so compelling and easy to watch that it is difficult to stop watching after just one episode, often leading viewers to watch multiple episodes or even entire seasons in a single sitting.

7. Why isn't a show like The Big Bang Theory on this list? While it was incredibly popular, The Big Bang Theory was a very traditional, multi-camera, laugh-track sitcom. This list prioritizes shows that were more innovative, critically acclaimed, and influential in pushing the boundaries of the comedy genre in the 2010s.

   
   

8. Which of these shows have the best series finale? The Good Place and Fleabag are widely regarded as having two of the most perfect, emotionally satisfying, and thematically resonant series finales in modern television history.

   
   

9. What does "meta" comedy mean? "Meta" comedy is a style of humor that is self-referential and aware of its own status as a piece of fiction. Community is a prime example, with characters who are constantly referencing TV tropes, story structures, and the fact that they are in a show.

   
   

10. If I could only watch one show from this list, which one should it be? This is an impossible choice! For a perfect blend of heart and humor that defines the "comfort show," watch Parks and Recreation. For a brilliant, challenging, and artistically ambitious masterpiece that will change the way you think about television, watch Fleabag.