Ah, the 2010s. A simpler, more optimistic time. Also a time of great comedy. The decade brought a remarkable variety of comedic voices to the small screen, from the chaotic nihilism of vampires in Staten Island to the bittersweet musings of an emotionally wrecked talking horse.
Shows got weirder, bolder, more diverse, and smarter, too. Whether through biting political satire, surreal genre blends, or painfully relatable character studies, these series below redefined what television comedy could be, all while making us laugh out loud.
10 ‘What We Do in the Shadows’ (2019–present)
"Guillermo, stab this man." Based on the mockumentary by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi, What We Do in the Shadows takes the same absurd premise (vampires living together in Staten Island) and expands it into one of the most consistently funny and creatively written comedies on television. It's more accessible than the film, and even more hilarious. The show delivers punchline after punchline, charming the audiences with its dry tone, deadpan delivery, and endless supply of bizarre lore (energy vampires, werewolf turf wars, ancient vampire councils, you name it).
The cast is pitch-perfect, too, especially Matt Berry as the lusty Laszlo and Harvey Guillén as Guillermo, the familiar who slowly discovers he might be more dangerous than the vampires he serves. Every episode is both a parody and a celebration of horror tropes, but the real genius lies in how grounded the comedy feels, even as the characters are hundreds of years old and bursting into bats.
9 ‘Broad City’ (2014–2019)
"Yas Queen!" Created by and starring Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer, Broad City captures the chaos and grind of millennial life in New York City with anarchic energy and deep affection. What began as a low-budget web series evolved into one of Comedy Central's most beloved shows, blending absurdist sketches, physical humor, and social commentary with a deep female friendship at its core.
Most importantly, the chemistry between Abbi and Ilana is unmatched. They feel less like sitcom characters and more like real people you know. People who are hilarious, flawed, high, broke, and somehow managing to make it through another day. From failed job interviews and strange Tinder dates to dealing with dentists on acid, their escapades constantly surprise. Even more impressively, the show still feels emotionally real beneath all the stoner antics and wild hijinks. The creators chose to end it after five seasons, and its absence is still keenly felt.
8 ‘Atlanta’ (2016–2022)
"You can’t be broke and bougie, man." On paper, Atlanta is about Donald Glover's Earn trying to manage the rap career of his cousin Paper Boi (Brian Tyree Henry). In practice, it's one of the strangest, smartest, and funniest shows of the decade: equal parts comedy, social critique, and surrealism. From invisible cars to eerie mansions to off-brand cereal commercials, each episode defies expectations and genre conventions, often morphing into short films that explore the Black experience in America with wit and unease. Glover's real-life career as rapper Childish Gambino adds an interesting meta quality, too.
The humor is often dry, dark, or absurd, but it always lands with precision. LaKeith Stanfield and Zazie Beetz round out a phenomenal cast that can pivot from deadpan banter to philosophical reflection in seconds. In the end, Atlanta is a show that trusts its audience to keep up and never explains itself too much, which somehow makes it even funnier. There’s nothing else quite like it.
7 ‘The Good Place’ (2016–2020)
"I argue that we choose to be good because of our bonds with other people." When The Good Place premiered, no one expected a network sitcom about the afterlife to evolve into a metaphysical meditation on morality, identity, and redemption. Yet that's exactly what Michael Schur's high-concept comedy achieved, while still being a ton of fun. The show follows Kristen Bell's Eleanor Shellstrop, a selfish Arizona dirtbag who mistakenly ends up in paradise, only to discover things aren't what they seem.
Bell is joined by an ensemble including Ted Danson, William Jackson Harper, Jameela Jamil, and D'Arcy Carden. Through them, the show serves up one-liners, slapstick, and philosophical paradoxes in equal measure. Every season reinvents itself with dizzying plot twists and a surprisingly emotional core, all while poking fun at everything from frozen yogurt to Kantian ethics. Not many shows can make you laugh and make you ponder what it means to be a good person.
6 ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’ (2005–present)
"I'm playing both sides so that I always come out on top." No list of great 2010s comedies would be complete without the degenerates of Paddy's Pub. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia somehow managed to stay just as hilarious and depraved throughout the decade as it was when it first began back in 2005... and it's still going. Each episode sees the gang getting into increasingly absurd scenarios, all of elevated by the combustible talents of Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton, Kaitlin Olson, and Danny DeVito.
Their adventures range from fake baby funerals and identity theft to wrestling matches and musical productions of "The Nightman Cometh." The humor is pitch-black throughout, the characters are irredeemable, and the show never apologizes for how far it goes. And yet, it remains one of the most consistently inventive sitcoms on television. Beneath all the cruelty is a twisted kind of loyalty, and the writing is so sharp that you can't help but admire how boldly idiotic it all is.
5 ‘Parks and Recreation’ (2009–2015)
"Treat yo' self." What began as a somewhat awkward Office knockoff soon blossomed into one of the most joyful, quotable, and feel-good comedies of the decade. Parks and Recreation introduced viewers to the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana, a place overflowing with eccentric characters, absurd local politics, and a surprisingly heartfelt spirit. At the center is Amy Poehler as the indefatigable Leslie Knope, whose unrelenting optimism is somehow both admirable and hilarious. The story of her and her team became the defining political comedy of Obama-era America.
Poheler is aided by a pitch-perfect supporting cast, including heavy hitters like Nick Offerman, Chris Pratt, Aubrey Plaza, Rashida Jones, and Aziz Ansari. A key part of why the show worked was because it balanced satire with genuine affection for its characters. Whether it's Ron Swanson's deadpan libertarianism, Andy Dwyer's childlike stupidity, or Tom Haverford's relentless pursuit of "treat yo' self," the jokes never miss.
4 ‘Veep’ (2012–2019)
"Did the president call me 'the C-word'?" Profane, petty, and politically savage, Veep is a masterclass in insult comedy. Created by Armando Iannucci and starring the phenomenal Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Selina Meyer, the show turns American politics into a fast-paced farce of backstabbing aides, doomed legislation, and ego-driven chaos. Every character is selfish and incompetent in their own uniquely hilarious way, from Tony Hale's obsequious Gary to Anna Chlumsky's perpetually furious Amy.
The dialogue crackles with venom, and the show's ability to escalate idiocy into crisis is unmatched. Yet what makes Veep so funny isn't just the political skewering but the relentless, often shocking one-liners and a total refusal to let anyone grow or redeem themselves. In a world where politics increasingly feels like satire, Veep somehow stayed ahead of reality. At times, it even vaguely predicted the future, like Joe Biden dropping out of the 2024 race to be replaced at the eleventh hour by Kamala Harris.
3 ‘BoJack Horseman’ (2014–2020)
"You are all the things that are wrong with you." Animated shows aren't usually known for existential despair, but BoJack Horseman was never just a comedy. In fact, it's more emotionally devastating than most live-action dramas. Set in a world where humans and anthropomorphic animals live side by side, it follows washed-up sitcom star BoJack (voiced by Will Arnett) as he stumbles through Hollywood, haunted by past mistakes. He's also a horse.
The show mixes absurd visual gags, pun-laden humor, and celebrity satire with searing commentary on addiction, trauma, and depression. Characters like the relentlessly upbeat Mr. Peanutbutter (Paul F. Tompkins), the deadpan Diane Nguyen (Allison Brie), and the lovable mess that is Todd Chavez (Aaron Paul) all contribute to the show's sui generis blend of humor and melancholy. Few series could follow a silent underwater episode with a monologue on death and still pull off a punchline, for example. Profound and unique.
2 ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’ (2013–2021)
"Cool cool cool cool cool. No doubt no doubt no doubt." In an era of grim prestige dramas, Brooklyn Nine-Nine kept things light, warm, and uproariously funny. Set in a New York police precinct, the show is essentially a workplace sitcom disguised as a cop show, with a joke-per-minute ratio that rivals the best in TV history. Andy Samberg leads the cast as Jake Peralta, a brilliant but immature detective whose antics are hilariously at odds with the ultra-stoic Captain Holt (played to perfection by Andre Braugher).
The ensemble cast (Terry Crews, Stephanie Beatriz, Joe Lo Truglio, Chelsea Peretti) is one of the best of the decade, and the writing consistently found ways to make even the most ridiculous premises (like a heist episode or an arsonist pigeon) feel emotionally grounded. The show's mix of heart, humor, and sheer goofiness made it widely beloved. It's still a great one to come back to when you need some comfort viewing.
1 ‘Fleabag’ (2016–2019)
"I want someone to tell me what to wear in the morning." Fleabag is a comedy so sharp it hurts. Created by and starring Phoebe Waller-Bridge, it begins as a sex-driven confessional full of fourth-wall breaks and sardonic asides, but slowly reveals itself as a devastating portrait of grief, guilt, and emotional yearning. Across two perfect seasons (why, oh why, just two, Phoebe?), Fleabag fuses raunchy humor and raw honesty with disarming ease. Its greatest magic trick is that the funniest moments often arrive in the middle of heartbreak.
Every scene is laced with tension, wit, and deep humanity, whether the (forever unnamed) protagonist is flirting with the "hot priest" (Andrew Scott) or exchanging barbed words with her uptight sister (Sian Clifford). Simply put, the show's structure, writing, and performances are peerless. In just twelve episodes, Fleabag did more than most series do in six seasons. More than a great comedy, it's a masterpiece of 2010s TV, period.
- Showrunner
- Phoebe Waller-Bridge
