Entertainment
10 Modern Sitcoms That Are 10/10, No Notes
Sitcoms are the band of television — or sometimes, exactly what viewers are looking for when they want something easy to unwind to. They are easy to watch, relatively lighthearted, and most of the time don’t require much commitment. Most importantly, they know how to make people laugh.
However, in today’s world, it takes more than comedic chops to keep viewers engaged. In the current political and cultural climate, sitcoms must also reflect the modern changes of modern life, all while remaining funny. After all, no medicine is better than laughter. Without further ado, here are 10 modern sitcoms that are a 10/10, no notes.
10
‘Ted Lasso’ (2020–Present)
It’s an American invasion in Ted Lasso. Kansas City football coach Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis) is recruited by English soccer/football club A.F.C. Richmond as its new coach. The problem is, Ted has no clue about the sport. With his new team underestimating and Richmond’s fan base doubting his abilities, Ted proves otherwise with the power of kindness.
Ted Lasso is the ultimate culture clash. Nothing is more awkward and entertaining than watching Ted’s Southern hospitality collide with the British people’s brutally honest demeanor. On a bigger picture, the show also presents these football players at their most hilarious in their personal lives. Underneath the machismo of the sport, these players are big softies at heart. In a world where it’s easy to be cynical due to the devastating news, Ted Lasso‘s advocacy for utter kindness is wholeheartedly refreshing.
9
‘Kim’s Convenience’ (2016–2021)
Don’t forget to stop by Toronto’s favorite corner shop. Kim’s Convenience follows first-generation Korean immigrants, Mr. Sang-il Kim/Appa (Paul Sun-Hyung Lee) and Mrs. Yong-mi Kim/Umma (Jean Yoon), as they tend to their humble little store. From generational to cultural gaps, the two stumble into delightfully awkward moments with their customers, most notably the “gay discount” schtick.
Thankfully, they have their more culturally assimilated daughter, Janet (Andrea Bang), to rely on whenever they’re stuck in an awkward crisis. As a show about immigrants making it on the other side of the world, Kim’s Convenience may be full of misunderstandings, but these characters also embrace where they come from. Whether it’s Appa breaking into Hapkido in the middle of the store, or old-school superstitions, it’s unapologically Korean. As immigration becomes an increasingly crucial topic within today’s heated political climate, Kim’s Convenience shows how joy itself can be a form of resistance.
8
‘What We Do in the Shadows’ (2019–2024)
Based on the 2014 mockumentary of the same name, What We Do in the Shadows follows four centuries-old vampire roommates who spend their immortality bumbling through modern life on Staten Island. Although being undead has its perks, Nandor the Relentless (Kayvan Novak), Laszlo Cravensworth (Matt Berry), Nadja (Natasia Demetriou), and Colin Robinson (Mark Proksch) are stuck in their own silly little existential crises.
With all the time in their hands, these vampires sure know how to make use of it to fill their boredom. What We Do in the Shadows takes viewers from one misadventure to another, stripping away the traditional mysteriousness of these bloodthirsty creatures. Whether it’s doing very human errands like going to the supermarket or discovering Van Helsing blood, these vampires have the best (or worst) of both worlds. Beneath the fangs and centuries-old demons in What We Do in the Shadows, the joke is simply and utterly relatable: having terrible roommates. Whether it’s avoiding chores or refusing to pay the bills, these vampires need to — no pun intended — grow up.
7
‘One Day at a Time’ (2017–2020)
Based on the 1975 series of the same name, One Day at a Time follows the Cuban-American Alvarez family living in Echo Park, Los Angeles. Single mother Penélope Alvarez (Justina Machado) is a former United States Army Nurse Corps nurse trying to find her footing in civilian life. With three generations living in one apartment, Penélope is often dragged into family mishaps.
In between raising her outspoken children and clashing with her tradition-loving Cuban mother, there’s never a boring day in the Alvarez household. But when the show isn’t joking around, One Day at a Time knows how to get serious. The series doesn’t shy away from familiar realities — from Penelope’s PTSD to her ex-husband’s alcoholism — showing that life may be hard, but we can alway scope with a bit of laughter along the way. No parent is perfect. Beyond its immigrant story, One Day at a Time validates exhausted mothers who are often messy, overworked, and stretched thin — especially when the family is of little help. Yet no matter how much they nag at each other, they are the ones who stay with you, no matter how dark it gets.
6
‘The Good Place’ (2016–2020)
The Good Place follows Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell), a selfish and self-absorbed sales agent who dies and is mistakenly sent to a heaven-like afterlife called the Good Place. Created by the immortal architect Michael (Ted Danson), it’s meant for virtuous souls who’ve done good in their past lives. Eleanor quickly realizes that she’s not supposed to be here and secretly hides her wrongdoings.
The afterlife can be a touchy subject, but The Good Place knows how to have fun with it without getting too personal. Trying to hide her true identity, Eleanor often causes chaos in this “heaven-like” realm, from setting off a fire alarm to disrupting a neighborhood potluck. But if heaven’s willing, maybe Eleanor can learn a thing or two about redemption in this “life.” The Good Place shows what it actually means to shed your ego in exchange for accountability. There are missteps along the way, yet the most meaningful moral growth comes from making and learning from your mistakes.
5
‘Adults’ (2025–Present)
When you put five reluctant twenty-somethings in one building, you get Adults. Issa (Amita Rao), Billie (Lucy Freyer), Samir (Malik Elassal), Anton (Owen Thiele), and Paul Baker (Jack Innanen) are roomies and de facto best friends crammed into a New York City house. Fumbling their way through adulthood, their co-dependent friendship brings out the best and worst in each other.
From now knowing how social security works, to blowing a one-shot job promotion, Adults is just as amusing as it is accurate. Nobody truly gets the anxiety of collapsing into unemployment, or having your boiler break down in cold weather. No matter how outrageous the situation, what’s most important is having people who show up through the highs and lows. Most audiences understand the pains of adulting. While becoming a full-fledged adult is often difficult, Adults shows that the best remedy is the people who help you survive your quarter-life crisis — with a little laughter along the way.
4
‘St. Denis Medical’ (2024–Present)
No better and more inappropriate place to joke around the job than a hospital. St. Denis Medical follows the overworked healthcare workers of a poorly financed hospital as they provide the best care possible to patients. Overseen by oncology surgeon Joyce (McLendon-Covey), she’s in charge of making sure hospital operations run smoothly — without staff sacrificing their own sanity.
Hospitals can be some of the scariest places for people. In a high-stakes environment like this, it’s easy for health workers to lose their cool. But just like patients, the staff are human too. In a place where death could be around any corner, St. Denis Medical shows how difficult it is to remain empathetic without being consumed by the grim reality of a hospital. The staff may not always come across as the heroes they imagine themselves to be. However, given the amount of care and compassion they’re expected to show every single day, the show gives these employees their flowers.
3
‘Shrinking’ (2023–Present)
The world’s worst therapist is ready to psychoanalyze you in Shrinking. Jimmy Laird (Jason Segel) has spent the past year grieving the death of his wife, and work hasn’t been easy. With patients rambling about their problems without making progress, Jimmy finally snaps and gives them the cold, hard truth — which, in a surprising turn of events, actually works.
Part workplace comedy, part family sitcom, Jimmy’s scientifically and ethically questionable methods often land him in hilarious situations with his patients. From getting his patient beat up to forcing another to talk to his barista, these small, chaotic interactions are pieces of the bigger picture: figuring out how to find meaning in life after mourning. Grief isn’t a one-way street, and it’s definitely not linear. There will be peaks worth celebrating and dips worth crying over, much like the ones in Shrinking. There’s no simple step-by-step guide to mourning; it’s about getting through each day with whatever capacity we can conjure up.
2
‘Ghosts’ (2021–Present)
Ghosts follows cheerful journalist Samantha (Rose McIver) and her partner Jay (Utkarsh Ambudkar), an aspiring city chef, who inherit a rundown country mansion and decide to turn it into a bed-and-breakfast. Little do they know, their charming, humble abode is a hotbed for a lively, eclectic group of ghosts. But with all their money spent on renovations, it’ll be a waste to throw the entire project away.
These ghosts are nothing like the vengeful demons often seen in horror. They’re more like your annoying neighbors. From a sassy Prohibition-era lounge singer to a 1700s militiaman and a 1960s hallucinogen-loving hippie, these housemates are more hilarious than horrifying. When Samantha actually starts seeing these spirits, things get a lot more comedically complicated. Just like the spirits in Ghosts, human audiences can learn a thing or two about moving on. Sometimes our problems freeze us in a state of “purgatory” — much like the mansion. It’s easy to feel trapped in our worst habits. The only way forward is by confronting these demons head-on.
1
‘Abbott Elementary’ (2021–Present)
These teachers have no time for a break. Abbott Elementary follows a group of dedicated, passionate teachers, and their slightly tone-deaf principal in a Philadelphia public school. Despite being underfunded and outnumbered, they are determined to help their students succeed and make a positive impact on their lives. Of course, that is if the difficult school district doesn’t breathe down their necks.
No teacher is perfect at Abbott, but at least they’re trying their best. Second-grade teacher Janine (Quinta Brunson) is eagerly enthusiastic about making positive changes at the school, which often throws the staff into unwanted situations. Still, they see the good intentions in Janine, and together, they band together to ensure their students receive the best learning experience possible despite the limitations. All too often, students take for granted the effort teachers put in. No blame to them — it’s because these teachers make it look so easy. Abbott Elementary highlights the real work involved in teaching kids not just their ABCs, but also how to grow into good human beings.