The Greatest Comedy Show From Every Year of the Past Decade

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TV comedy in the last 10 years has undergone major changes in tone, style, and content, shifting from gaffes and punchlines to darker, more confessional storytelling, with a major push for authenticity. The genre has grown from the mid-2010s through today; comedy shows are now more than just humor and satire, blending genres and redefining them for a new audience. Trends of embraced tragicomedy and cynical narratives emerged, where humor meets discomfort, vulnerability supersedes punchlines, and the three-act structure is further broken down.

Some of the best comedy shows and series of the mid-2010s through the mid-2020s have achieved great heights by leaning into the awkwardness of the human condition rather than simply lampooning it, providing endless laughs in the process. These shows, though vastly different and taking completely different approaches to storytelling, are all equally honest and intimate, which is the ultimate secret to their success. Without further ado, here's our selection of the greatest comedy show of every year of the past decade.

1 2016: 'Fleabag'

Phoebe Waller-Bridge's one-woman show that was turned into a BBC series is perhaps the most meta comedy of 2016, and it's now hailed as a comedy masterpiece of the decade. Starring Waller-Bridge as the titular protagonist, Fleabag follows a 30-something single woman and café owner in London who is grieving the death of her best friend and her mother, narrating her struggles with identity, sexuality, emotional intelligence, and social challenges. Other key cast members include Sian Clifford, Andrew Scott, Olivia Colman, Brett Gelman, and Bill Paterson.

For its time, Fleabag was uniquely self-referential, unpredictable yet very satisfying with its storytelling style. Funny, witty, and often moving, the multi-award-winning series explores loss, heartbreak, shame, and guilt through the lens of dark humor, which not only makes you laugh but also sticks with you beyond the show. The character's constant fourth-wall breaking -- especially in the most awkward, inopportune moments, powered by Waller-Bridge's pitch-perfect delivery -- is what truly makes Fleabag such a fantastic comedy show.

2 2017: 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel'

Amy Sherman-Palladino's follow-up to Gilmore Girls, which made Rachel Brosnahan a star and a household name, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel follows the titular housewife, Miriam "Midge" Maisel, whose seemingly perfect life in New York's Upper West Side comes crashing down after her marriage suddenly ends. After a rough night, Midge discovers her hidden talent for comedy and sets out to make a career in stand-up, charting her way through the comedy scene of 1950s and '60s New York. Alex Borstein, Michael Zegen, Marin Hinkle, Tony Shalhoub, and Jane Lynch also star in key roles.

Playful yet poignant, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel became the breakout comedy show of 2017 and went on to win several Emmys and Golden Globes, as well as many other prestigious awards. Brosnahan's charming and fashionable Midge is truly the winning star of the show, who brings the brilliant script and delightful set designs to life. The series is as empowering and comforting as it is absurdly funny, energetic, and utterly stylish.

3 2018: 'Derry Girls'

The Irish teen sitcom that became a cultural phenomenon, Lisa McGee's Derry Girls follows five teenagers and best friends in the titular city in Northern Ireland during the final years of The Troubles. As they navigate their Catholic school life under the watchful eyes of their strict headmistress, alongside family, friendships, and romance, the gang often finds themselves in absurd situations and silly shenanigans, all set against the backdrop of political and social unrest. The main characters, played by Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Louisa Harland, Nicola Coughlan, Jamie-Lee O'Donnell, Dylan Llewellyn, and Siobhán McSweeney, have since become pop culture sensations.

Derry Girls transcends genre conventions and the typical boundaries of comedy television and finds humor in the struggles of adolescence, the absurdity of its characters, and the chaos of its social and cultural landscape. Steeped in nostalgia, every episode of Derry Girls is a joyful throwback to '90s fashion, music, and culture, delivering endless laughter while also being thoroughly moving. The series sits at the intersection of witty humor, intelligent writing, surreal comedy, and heartfelt themes that satirize the lives of ordinary people in extraordinary historical times.

COLLIDER

Collider · Quiz

Collider Exclusive · The Sorting Hat Awaits Which Hogwarts House Are You? Gryffindor · Slytherin · Hufflepuff · Ravenclaw

Four houses. One destiny. The Sorting Hat has considered thousands of students -- now it's your turn. Answer honestly and discover where you truly belong at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

🦁Gryffindor

🐍Slytherin

🦡Hufflepuff

🦅Ravenclaw

PLACE THE HAT →

QUESTION 1 / 8VALUES

01

What quality do you value most in yourself? Answer as honestly as you can -- the Hat always knows.

ACourage -- I act even when I'm afraid, because what's right matters more than what's safe. BAmbition -- I know what I want and I have the drive and cunning to get there. CLoyalty -- I show up for the people I love, no matter what it costs me. DWisdom -- I think before I act and I'm always hungry to understand more.

NEXT QUESTION →

QUESTION 2 / 8CONFLICT

02

A friend is being treated unfairly. What do you do? How you protect others says everything about who you are.

AStep in immediately and confront whoever is responsible -- I won't stand by. BWork out the best strategy to address it -- a smart move beats a rash one. CBe by their side, support them, and help them through it however they need. DAnalyse what's actually happening and find the most reasoned, fair solution.

NEXT QUESTION →

QUESTION 3 / 8AMBITION

03

What does success look like to you? What you're working toward defines who you're becoming.

ABeing remembered as someone who fought for what was right, whatever the odds. BAchieving the goals I set for myself -- influence, status, and earned respect. CA life where the people I care about know I was there for them, always. DMastering my field, contributing something meaningful, and never stopping learning.

NEXT QUESTION →

QUESTION 4 / 8FEAR

04

What is your greatest fear? Fear is the most honest thing about a person.

ABeing a coward when it mattered -- looking back and knowing I did nothing. BMediocrity -- fading into obscurity without making my mark on the world. CLosing the people I love or letting them down when they needed me most. DIgnorance -- being wrong and not knowing it, or never reaching my potential.

NEXT QUESTION →

QUESTION 5 / 8MORALITY

05

The rules say no. Your gut says go. What do you do? Every institution has rules. What you do with them is a choice.

ABreak the rules -- if it's the right thing to do, no rule should stop me. BFind a way to get what I want without getting caught. Rules are guidelines. CProbably follow the rules -- but I'd find a way to help within them if I could. DThink it through carefully -- is the rule unjust, or is my gut just impatient?

NEXT QUESTION →

QUESTION 6 / 8FRIENDSHIP

06

What kind of friend are you? Who you are to the people you love is who you really are.

AThe protector -- I will go to the ends of the earth for the people I care about. BThe strategist -- I give sharp advice and I'm the one who figures out how to fix things. CThe constant -- I'm always there, always reliable, and I never make it about me. DThe guide -- I help people think things through and see perspectives they've missed.

NEXT QUESTION →

QUESTION 7 / 8THE MIRROR

07

You look into the Mirror of Erised. What do you see? The mirror shows the deepest desire of your heart.

AYourself standing victorious, having faced the greatest challenge and won. BYourself at the height of your power -- respected, successful, and in control. CYourself surrounded by everyone you love, whole and happy and together. DYourself with all the answers -- every book read, every mystery solved.

NEXT QUESTION →

QUESTION 8 / 8THE SORTING

08

The Sorting Hat pauses. It whispers: "You could do well in any house. But what matters most to you -- truly?" This is your tiebreaker. The Hat always listens.

ABravery. I want to be the kind of person who acts when others won't. BGreatness. I want to leave my mark and be more than ordinary. CBelonging. I want to be part of something good and never let my people down. DUnderstanding. I want to know the truth of things and keep growing forever.

REVEAL MY HOUSE →

The Sorting Hat Speaks Your House Has Been Chosen

After careful deliberation, the Sorting Hat has made its decision. This is the house your values, your instincts, and your particular way of being in the world were made for.

Gryffindor Tower · Scarlet & Gold

🦁 Gryffindor

You have nerve. Not the reckless kind, but the deep, quiet courage that shows up even when you're terrified -- especially then.

* Gryffindors don't act because they're fearless -- they act because they understand that some things are worth being afraid for.

* You stand up for people when it would be easier to look away.

* You charge toward what's right even when the odds are terrible.

* Harry, Hermione, Ron -- the heroes of Hogwarts's greatest chapter -- all called the tower with the scarlet and gold home. And now, so do you.

Slytherin Dungeon · Emerald & Silver

🐍 Slytherin

You are driven, sharp, and utterly clear-eyed about what you want and how to get there.

* Slytherin has long been misunderstood -- painted as the house of villains when it is, at its best, the house of those who refuse to accept limits placed on them by others.

* You are resourceful, strategic, and you play the long game.

* You know your worth. You protect your own fiercely.

* The dungeon common room with its view of the Black Lake is yours -- and the ambitions that will take you further than anyone expects are yours too.

Hufflepuff Basement · Yellow & Black

🦡 Hufflepuff

You are the kind of person that makes the world genuinely better just by being in it.

* Hufflepuff is not the "safe" house or the "leftover" house -- it is the house of those with the greatest heart and the most unwavering integrity.

* You show up. You work hard. You don't need glory or recognition -- you do what's right because it's right.

* Your loyalty never wavers, even when tested.

* Nymphadora Tonks, Cedric Diggory, Newt Scamander -- some of the wizarding world's finest. And now you join them.

Ravenclaw Tower · Blue & Bronze

🦅 Ravenclaw

Your mind is your greatest gift, and you've always known it.

* Ravenclaws are the thinkers, the questioners, the ones who find a puzzle irresistible and a good book better company than most people.

* Ravenclaw is not merely about intelligence -- it's about the love of learning, the pursuit of truth, and the rare courage to admit you don't know something yet.

* You see the world with unusual clarity and depth.

* Luna Lovegood, Filius Flitwick, Rowena Ravenclaw herself -- all extraordinary, all original. And so are you.

↻ RETAKE THE QUIZ

4 2019: 'What We Do in the Shadows'

A horror comedy mockumentary created by Jemaine Clement that's based on the 2014 film by Clement and Taika Waititi, What We Do in the Shadows revolves around a group of vampire roommates who share a Staten Island residence. The series focuses on their daily clashes with the modern world, other supernatural entities, and each other. Kayvan Novak, Matt Berry, Natasia Demetriou, Harvey Guillén, Mark Proksch, and Kristen Schaal star in main roles, with Clement and Waititi's characters from the film also appearing.

On its premiere in 2019, What We Do in the Shadows was the most uniquely creative mockumentary of that year with its offbeat characters and concept. By merging the mundane and daily suburban chaos with dark humor, deadpan dialogue, and absurd fantasy elements, the series brings fresh perspectives to the genre and is also ridiculously funny. Despite its critical acclaim and 35 Emmy nominations, What We Do in the Shadows has remained heavily underrated as a comedy show of the decade, and it's a must-watch for genre fans.

5 2020: 'Ted Lasso'

Apple TV's hit sports comedy drama starring Jason Sudeikis, which he developed with Bill Lawrence, Brendan Hunt, and Joe Kelly from a character he portrayed on NBC Sports in 2012, Ted Lasso follows the titular football coach, who is hired to train an English Premier League soccer team in London. With no experience in soccer and armed only with his folksy, optimistic attitude, Ted navigates the challenges of the game and English cynicism. Hannah Waddingham, Jeremy Swift, Brett Goldstein, Brendan Hunt, Nick Mohammed, and Juno Temple star in other main roles.

Released during the COVID-19 pandemic, Ted Lasso became a massive cultural phenomenon with its uplifting themes and ranks among the most defining comedy shows of 2020. The series trades laugh-out-loud, fish-out-of-water comedy tropes for more heartfelt themes and feel-good humor with emotional depth. Ted Lasso has earned critical acclaim for its writing, tone, and style of humor, not to mention the terrific performances, earning Waddingham, Sudeikis, and Goldstein an Emmy each, as well as garnering 13 other Primetime Emmy Awards.

6 2021: 'Abbott Elementary'

A widely popular, critically acclaimed, and award-winning mockumentary sitcom created by and starring Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary revolves around the staff at the underfunded titular public school in West Philadelphia. Despite their tone-deaf principal and resource limitations, a passionate and perpetually optimistic second-grade teacher, Janine Teagues (Brunson), strives to help the students succeed. The key cast stars Tyler James Williams, Janelle James, Lisa Ann Walter, Chris Perfetti, William Stanford Davis, and Sheryl Lee Ralph.

With the framework of The Office and the heart of Parks and Recreation, Abbott Elementary is unarguably the best workplace sitcom released since those two comedy behemoths. It looks at the broken system and academic dysfunctions through a riotous lens and is widely considered the best new sitcom released in 2021. With nearly 100 episodes and counting to its name, Abbott Elementary has become a major success and earned sweeping accolades, making Brunson the first Black woman to win the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy in over 40 years.

7 2022: 'Uncoupled'

A romantic comedy series created by Sex and the City's Darren Star and Modern Family's Jeffrey Richman, Uncoupled follows the romantic misadventures of Michael Lawson, a real-estate agent in New York City whose long-term partner abruptly leaves him. As a newly single gay man in his forties, Michael must learn to navigate the dating scene for the first time in 17 years, which has changed profoundly. Neil Patrick Harris stars as Michael, with Tuc Watkins, Tisha Campbell, Marcia Gay Harden, Emerson Brooks, and Brooks Ashmanskas as main characters.

Uncoupled is unlike average gay rom-coms and dives deeper into its characters and their self-exploration than just revolving around the comedy and drama of heartbreaks. It presents its serious themes in a comedic language that resonates universally, even if it doesn't add something remarkably new to the genre. Witty and funny, Uncoupled is a cozy comedy that easily ranks among Neil Patrick Harris's best comedy roles of recent years.

8 2023: 'Jury Duty'

Created by Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky, Jury Duty is a reality hoax sitcom featuring a fake trial. A solar contractor from San Diego, Ronald Gladden, responds to a jury duty summons with no knowledge that it is a planned prank and that every single entity in the courtroom is an actor or part of the production crew, except for himself. The cast features Alan Barinholtz, Susan Berger, Cassandra Blair, David Brown, Kirk Fox, and James Marsden playing a fictional version of himself.

Jury Duty is both a well-made workplace comedy and a fantastic social experiment. The comedy comes from the contrast between Gladden's sincere personality and his performative counterparts among the seasoned actors. Intelligent, honest, and funny, Jury Duty is one of the most unique comedies released in 2023 that makes you laugh while serving as an eye-opening observation of community spirit.

9 2024: 'St. Denis Medical'

A medical mockumentary sitcom created by Justin Spitzer and Eric Ledgin, St. Denis Medical follows the hilarious daily work of the medical staff at the titular Oregon hospital. Overworked and underfunded, the doctors and nurses dedicatedly try to treat patients and do their best to maintain their own sanity while at it, which often becomes a challenge. Wendi McLendon-Covey, Allison Tolman, Josh Lawson, Mekki Leeper, Kahyun Kim, Kaliko Kauahi, and David Alan Grier star as main characters.

St. Denis Medical somehow works with its familiar formula and succeeds as a warm and cozy comedy series that can often be de-stressing. Though not very experimental in its style or themes, the NBC sitcom manages to merge the best of blue-collar exasperated workplace humor like Superstore and the fast-paced medical comedy à la Scrubs. Since its 2024 premiere, St. Denis Medical has been well-acclaimed for its cast and high-energy humor, and ranks among the year's best comedy shows.

10 2025: 'The Studio'

Created, written, directed, and produced by Seth Rogen with Evan Goldberg, Peter Huyck, Alex Gregory, and Frida Perez, The Studio is a satirical cringe comedy series starring Rogen as Matt Remick, the newly appointed studio head of a struggling film production company. An ardent lover of cinema, Matt constantly faces challenges while balancing corporate goals and his desire to make creative films. Other main cast members include Ike Barinholtz, Chase Sui Wonders, Kathryn Hahn, and Catherine O'Hara in her final TV role before her death.

At its premiere, The Studio exceeded all expectations and became a surprise hit, sweeping 13 Emmys from 23 nominations and breaking the record for most wins for a comedy series in a single season. While it began as a niche industry comedy, the series quickly garnered a wide audience and rave reviews for its sharp satire, direction, performances, and cinematography featuring several long takes. Star-studded and a highly self-referential comedy in Rogen's style, The Studio is unarguably the best comedy show of 2025.

8 10

The Studio

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TV-MA

Comedy

Release Date March 25, 2025

Network Apple TV+

Showrunner Evan Goldberg, Alex Gregory, Peter Huyck, Seth Rogen

Writers Peter Huck

Cast

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Creator(s) Evan Goldberg, Alex Gregory, Peter Huyck, Seth Rogen, Frida Perez

Seasons 1

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