One of the worst feelings as a TV fan is when you get invested in a series, only to learn later that it’s never coming back. It happens every year without fail to something someone’s watching and there’s been some big TV cancellations already this year. While sometimes the networks and streamers pull the plug at the right time for some shows, let’s talk about the ones people are still sour about, one of which I think is the indisputable bummer.

I'm Not Actually Talking About Pushing Daisies, Though Fans Are Still Sad

While perusing Reddit, I noticed a discussion on the TV shows that got away. Since this topic is near and dear to my own heart, I obviously clicked through and noticed one popular show fans got behind was an ABC comedy that was on for two seasons from 2007 to 2009. It was created by Bryan Fuller, who has since made other popular shows like Hannibal and Star Trek: Discovery.

Yes, fans are still upset about the loss of Pushing Daisies.

• “I got so mad when they cancelled Pushing Daisies. They were setting up so many interesting plot lines that just got dropped because the show got cancelled. I will forever be bitter about it.” - @chicken_lover
• “It was the writer strike that killed it it makes me so sad I just didn't rewatch of it from beginning to end and I still love it so very dearly I wish they could have completed the series.” - @mockturtle22

Pushing Daisies is a “forensic fairy tale” about a guy (Lee Pace) who can bring dead things back to life with his touch. It was critically acclaimed and won seven Emmys. Lucky for fans, Fuller recently said he’s actually working on a Season 3, so it might not always be on this list. At least a girl can hope.

There Are Lots Of Other Shows Fans Are Salty About, Including Happy Endings

Another one TV fans are passionate about is ABC’s sitcom, Happy Endings, which ran for three seasons from 2011 to 2013. Not unlike Friends or New Girl, it’s about six best friends in their late 20s/early thirties as they navigate life and relationships. Unlike Friends or New Girl, fans feel it was kicked off the air way too soon.

• "There's not many shows that have the talent involved and the chemistry that Happy Endings had. Everyone worked well with each other, even the odd pairings." @braumbles
• "That first season is so good everyone is perfect." - @whytypehour
• "They could have easily done 7-8 seasons. Very few sitcoms had chemistry like that. You're totally right about the odd pairings working. There was no Chandler-Phoebe's in that friend group." @Whackedjob

If you missed out on this sitcom, it’s streaming for those with a Hulu subscription.

Which Brings Me To Mindhunter

Netflix has earned a reputation of cancelling a lot of shows too soon, but one that fans stop talking about seven years later. David Fincher’s Mindhunter series was universally beloved when it came out and got two seasons, but a third season never happened reportedly because it was too expensive to produce and didn’t draw a big enough crowd for those with a Netflix subscription.

• “Mindhunter. Bring it back Netflix and Fincher you cowards” - @jayseagaming
• “If I ever win the PowerBall and become a billionaire overnight I'm gonna a) sit perfectly still for thirty six hours b) follow the exact instructions from that famous reddit comment and then c) call David Fincher and say "hey finish Mindhunter, I gotchu"” - @j8sadm632b

These are all great picks, but I think there’s one that’s especially frustrating. Let’s talk about it.

And The Winner Is… Freaks And Geeks

Freaks And Geeks got cancelled for a number of reasons, but looking back, it’s absolutely wild that we missed out on more than one season of a coming-of-age show from Judd Apatow starring Linda Cardellini, Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, James Franco and Busy Philipps. It's untimely end has left fans like @pantstoaknifefight2 with a lot of questions.

It only ran for 18 episodes from 1999 to 2000, and people aren’t happy… still. The comments section was, in fact, full of comments like this from @plane-tie6392 and more:

Can you imagine if we had seen these actors grow up together in these roles before becoming as big as they are now? It feels like a crime that never happened, and Rogen once rightfully called out the guy who pulled the plug. The short-lived show is currently on Amazon Prime, Paramount+ and Pluto TV.

Though television programming existed in various forms for more than a decade before the first situation comedies officially arrived in the late 1940s, the sitcom quickly became one of the most popular and duplicated genres for the next 80+ years. From stand-up comics to Hollywood icons, sitcoms are responsible for some of pop culture’s biggest stars, from Jerry Seinfeld to Jennifer Aniston to Dick Van Dyke to Lucille Ball, as well as some of the most memorable catchphrases.

Despite broadcast networks no longer championing sitcoms as much as in years past, with streaming services picking up the slack — Netflix is now more known for multi-camera sitcoms than any of the Big 4 — TV comedies will likely continue to keep audiences breathless with laughter for many more years to come. As such, CinemaBlend’s staff came together to celebrate and rank the 100 best sitcoms of all time, with the order stemming partially from our writers’ sharing scores for more than 200 different series, along with other contributing factors.

So sit back in your favorite recliner, grab an extra-large Squishee (or an ice-cold Duff, if you’re of age) and settle into the coziness, comfort, and occasional cringeworthiness of the best TV sitcoms of all time, according to CinemaBlend.

100. Bewitched

You know a show is a classic when even Marvel is drawing inspiration from it nearly 50 years after its end. The fantasy sitcom Bewitched worked its magic at CBS for eight seasons, partially due to the phenomenal comedic acting of Elizabeth Montgomery and Dick York, who was famously replaced by Dick Sargent due to York's worsening health issues. Add in an equally impressive ensemble cast including Agnes Moorehead, David White, and Paul Lynde (just to name a few), and it's no wonder Bewitched was a nose-twitching delight of a show that doesn't need supernatural abilities to be great.

99. Laverne and Shirley

Arguably the most successful Happy Days spinoff, as well as one of the best TV comedies of all time, Laverne & Shirley followed two best friends and bottle-cappers as they navigated life and everything it threw at them in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (later Burbank, California). Though similar in tone to its predecessor, this long-running sitcom relied more on the physical comedy talents masterfully pulled by stars Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams. And when it comes to iconic opening credits sequences, Laverne & Shirley was in a league of its own with all those shots of the fictional Shotz Brewery along with that classic theme.

98. Beavis And Butt-Head

No Beavis And Butt-Head fan will argue that the show isn’t dumb. Because it is. It really, really is, in each of its iterations. The two eponymous characters rank as two of the most unambiguously stupid protagonists to ever grace a TV screen, and every word they say is unadulterated idiocy. Ironically, though, that’s the genius of Mike Judge’s creation. The impossibly dumb leads allow for stories that no other sitcom can reasonably or responsibly touch with any degree of verisimilitude, while also permitting some outrageously weird takes on music videos (and social clips) across various eras.

97. Hogan's Heroes

War stories are often suited for prestige dramas, but Hogan's Heroes proved that a P.O.W. camp comedy could be just as awards-worthy. During its 168-episode run, Bob Crane's titular leader and his squad constantly thwarted Nazi enemies with fast-talking and constant hijinks (many of which were put into play by future game show legend Richard Dawson). Lasting as long as World War II did itself, Hogan's Heroes showcased how reflecting on past tragedies with humor can make for memorable art.

96. How I Met Your Mother

How I Met Your Mother may be higher on this list if not for fan opinions of the final season, but I would 100% say that it’s worth watching despite a lackluster ending. This show is about finding out how Josh Radnor’s Ted met his future wife, but it really thrives as a series about best friends. As Neil Patrick Harris’ Barney Stinson would say, this ensemble is legen–wait for it–dary, and those who check it out will definitely be invested in what the cast is doing now that the series is over.

95. Mork & Mindy

Today we all know what an immense talent Robin Williams was, and the absolutely wild places he could take comedy. Imagine not knowing any of that, and then turning on an early episode of Mork & Mindy, where he must have come across quite like somebody from another world, much like the character he played. Mork from Ork gave Williams the freedom to do almost anything on screen opposite Pam Dawber’s Mindy (and later Jonathan Winters), and it’s no surprise he took over Hollywood after four successful seasons.

94. The Adventures of Pete and Pete

Plenty of shows focus on the weirdness of suburbia, but Nickelodeon’s The Adventures of Pete & Pete still stands awkwardly as one of the best. As Older Pete (Michael Maronna) and Younger Pete (Danny Tamberelli) navigate the oddities of Wellsville, life lessons and warm memories are gifted to viewers by creators Will McRobb and Chris Viscardi. Pete & Pete delivers its homespun tales with a deep-seated love of ‘50s and ‘60s pop culture, and with one of the more impressive celebrity guest star rosters of kid-centric TV. Where else will you find REM’s Michael Stipe as a conspiratorial ice cream man?

93. black-ish

Watching Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross’ Andre and Rainbow Johnson raise their family amidst navigating various challenges in and around their largely white-populated neighborhood, all while still hanging onto their Black identities, makes for eight seasons of exceptional sitcom storytelling. While black-ish went on to launch two spinoffs, the original still stands as the cream of the crop, expertly balancing pointed social commentary and humor regarding a variety of topics, racial and otherwise. Plus, TV grandfather-dom looks great on Laurence Fishburne.

92. The Munsters

What happens when a family largely modeled after Universal’s Classic Monsters takes up residence in the middle of suburban America’s Mockingbird Heights? You get The Munsters, which slotted in nicely among other comedic offerings in the ‘60s while also satirizing sitcom tropes of the era. Although Fred Gwynne’s bumbling patriarch Herman was often the driving force behind the weekly shenanigans, Lily, Grandpa, Eddie and Marilyn (the only “normal” looking one) were all far more endearing than their monstrous counterparts, making The Munsters a great platform for chaotic, yet heartfelt entertainment.

91. Happy Endings

Best friends are always good sitcom fodder, as David Caspe’s Happy Endings proved for three seasons on ABC ahead of its fan-angering cancellation. Damon Wayans Jr.’s cucumber-cool Brad and Eliza Coupe’s A-type Jane are the group’s PDA-friendly couple, while her sister, Elisha Cuthbert’s confusion-prone Alex, is exes-ish with Zachary Knighton’s dorky-smooth Dave. The group is rounded out by Adam Pally’s schlubbo-sexual Max and Casey Wilson’s serial dater Penny. Perhaps the only sitcom whose leads share a fictional history as Real World vets, Happy Endings is as fun and fancy-free as romance-fueled sitcoms get.

90. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Less than two years after Ellie Kemper played Erin Hannon for the last time on The Office, she sunshine-smiled her way through a bonkers show of her own with Netflix’s original Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. The series, which centered on former cult member Kimmy’s surreal and gung-ho acclimation to life in a “real” world she hadn’t lived in for years. One of the more unique shows from creators Tina Fey and Robert Carlock, Kimmy could have made this list just for turning the multi-talent Tituss Burgess into a small-screen regular. Extra kudos for the follow-up movie Kimmy vs the Reverend.

89. That '70s Show

Starring Topher Grace and running for eight seasons from 1998-2006, That ‘70s Show transports any generational audience who watches back to the late 1970s for the horned-up (and oh-so-slightly drugged-up) exploits of high school besties and their respective parents. The teens were played by actors who would go on to become bona fide stars, including Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, Wilmer Valderrama, and Laura Prepon. The Circle in Eric’s basement was always reliable for big laughs, and though its final season suffered from cast exits, Netflix’s That ‘90s Show kept the good times going far more successfully than That ‘80s Show.

88. Extras

Ricky Gervais and Steven Merchant followed up on the smash success of The Office by crossing the ocean to HBO for the Hollywood-skewing riot Extras, which hinged on the fraught character trifecta of Gervais’ dispirited actor Andy, his god-awful agent Darren (Merchant) and his kind-hearted and oblivious actress BFF Maggie (Ashley Jensen). While only two seasons and a Christmas special, it’s a modern classic not only for its gloriously cornball faux sitcom When the Whistle Blows, but for bonkers celebrity cameos from Kate Winslet, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellan and more. Gervais also delivers an all-time Top 5 spit-take in one episode.

87. The Bernie Mac Show

The late Bernie Mac is still widely viewed as a comedy giant, and his eponymous family sitcom is a major reason for that. The Bernie Mac Show definitely isn’t the first comedy to be headlined by a stand-up, but it’s one of the few that so perfectly utilized the talents of its lead. Mac’s signature brand of no-nonsense humor is especially hilarious when he bounces off his A+ co-stars. But, overall, what makes this series one of the great modern Black sitcoms is its funny, warm and nuanced depiction of familial dynamics amongst African Americans.

86. Gilligan's Island

Before The Brady Bunch (but after The Red Skelton Show), screenwriter and producer Sherwood Schwartz launched 1964's smash-hit Gilligan's Island, and the fictional voyage was far more doomed than the show's. Starring Bob Denver and Alan Hale, the sitcom won over viewers with plots hinged on island inventions, unexpected visitors, dream sequences, and random items washing up ashore. While the show famously never hit one hundred episodes, its premise was beloved enough to spark several TV movies and the truly baffling Saturday morning cartoon spinoff Gilligan's Planet.

85. Mad About You

Chemistry is usually all it takes to keep a sitcom afloat, whether its shared by an ensemble (see: Friends) or tethered to a winning duo like Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt in Mad About You. It helps that both actors lent their movie-level wattage to the sitcom for eight seasons, exploring marriage and eventually parenthood in New York City. (Reiser previously co-starred in My Two Dads, to be sure.) But despite the parade of stellar comedic co-stars — Hank Azaria, Lisa Kudrow, Carol Burnett, and Mel Brooks? Come on! — it was Paul and Jamie keeping us invested. We were mad about them, and maybe a different kind of mad about Mabel.

84. Three's Company

Three’s Company is an interesting case-study in dated sitcom writing, as 90% of the jokes that prop up the show wouldn’t fly today. Almost every single line can be construed as sexual innuendo, and the plot twists of a given Three’s Company episode are so driven by silly miscommunications, the formula is basically cliche. However, John Ritter’s deep reservoir of charm, when combined with his incredible chemistry with the female roommates that came in and out of his orbit, made it an overall win, and one of the most memorable and breezy sitcoms of the 1970s and ‘80s.

83. Family Guy

What can be said about Family Guy that hasn’t already been said? While Seth MacFarlane’s first mega-hit doesn’t feel quite as crude as other late night animated fare these days, it quickly cemented itself as an envelope-pushing primetime entry thanks to its murderous baby, they hyper-perverse Quagmire, and the less said about Herbert, the better. The series made a meme-worthy artform out of cutaway gags, man vs. chicken fights and lowbrow pop culture spoofs. At this point, the Griffins are basically as widespread as the Simpsons, and Brian would certainly drink to that.

82. Malcolm In The Middle

Malcolm in the Middle was a key part of Fox’s Sunday comedy lineup for six of its seven seasons from 2000-2006. At the time, the Frankie Muniz-starring comedy was a rare example of a single-camera sitcom that eschewed a laugh track and had its lead regularly breaking the fourth wall. The family was known to deal with serious issues in the background of the shenanigans of the sibling trio, which helped the sitcom win seven Emmys. It was also Bryan Cranston’s breakout primetime TV role, proving he was a comedy legend years before dipping into drama for Breaking Bad.

81. The Facts Of Life

A spinoff of Diff’rent Strokes, The Facts of Life is one of the most successful TV offshoots that shares little with its predecessor, and for good reason. The coming-of-age sitcom explores adolescence in a way that neither its predecessor nor follow-up projects ever could, with a perfectly cast ensemble of young actresses led by the incomparable Charlotte Rae. This sitcom exists because of Rae’s previously stellar work, and her warmth and charm in the role of Mrs. Garrett helped make a family out of her girls, from Natalie to Tootie to Jo to Blair and the rest.

80. The Addams Family

Although The Addams Family started off as a single-panel New Yorker comic strip published from 1938 to 1964, it was the TV series premiering that same latter year which made the family a pop culture favorite. Watching Morticia, Gomez, Uncle Fester, Wednesday, Pugsley, Grandmama, Lurch and Thing freak people out with their macabre tastes and supernatural antics never got old, and without the popularity of this show, it’s doubtful these ghoulish characters would have returned in a variety of live-action and animated projects in later years.

79. My Name Is Earl

My Name Is Earl earned its way to sitcom greatness thanks to star Jason Lee’s all-in performance as Earl Hickey, as well as the great premise that sees Earl attempting to right the litany of past wrongs committed against seemingly everyone he’d ever met. (The concept also helps make it easy to drop in on any random episode without really needing to see what happened beforehand.) Ethan Suplee, Eddie Steeples and Jaime Pressley are equally brilliant in their respective roles, and we can still relate to Earl to this day anytime we struggle to keep our eyes open while taking a picture.

78. The Middle

Every once in awhile, a show sneaks it way into the zeitgeist and in our memories. The Middle, a show about a quirky middle-class family from the Midwest ran for nine years and hit home for a wide and nostalgic audience. It was a breath of fresh air and an honest take on class and what it was really like to grow up in, well, “the middle” of everything. Ironically, it was the ending of the show that stuck with most, but all good things must come to an end. 

77. Dave

This whole entry could be spent talking about how Dave is driven by the exceptional talent of David “Lil Dicky” Burd, who has a truly offbeat world perspective to go along with his legitimate gifts as a rapper. But that would be a disservice to Davionte "GaTa" Ganter, who proves over the course of the three seasons to be the NSFW series’ true heart. It gets funny and ridiculous, but it can also deliver a nice, solid gut punch courtesy of your investment in the characters’ plights for recognition.

76. Spin City

Arguably TV's least polarizing political sitcom, Spin City was a winning candidate for its six-season term in part due to co-creators Bill Lawrence and Gary David Goldberg. The latter also created Family Ties, and brought Michael J. Fox into the lead role here as well, with Charlie Sheen successfully taking over in Season 5 after Fox's medical-related exit Spin City is also a melting pot of TV excellence, boasting Connie Britton, Carla Gugino, Richard Kind, Alan Ruck and more greats filling out the NYC mayor’s office.

75. The Andy Griffith Show

One of the most iconic and wholesome sitcoms of the 20th century, The Andy Griffith Show gave audiences nearly 250 episodes with the residents of the fictional town of Mayberry, North Carolina, centering on local sheriff Andy Taylor, played with aw-shucks charm by Griffith. Characters like Barney Fife (Don Knotts), Gomer Pyle (Jim Nabors), Aunt Bee (Frances Bavier), and Opie (a young Ron Howard) made for plenty of the early highlights in sitcom history, both in black-and-white and color.

74. Family Matters

Airing for nine seasons from 1989-1997, Family Matters became a beloved sitcom for multiple generations regularly tuning into ABC’s TGIF lineup. The spinoff of Perfect Strangers followed the highs and lows of the Winslow family, with Die Hard vet Reginald VelJohnson becoming an iconic sitcom dad as Carl Winslow. Of course, Jaleel White’s Steve Urkel famously stole the spotlight as the nerd-tastic breakout star, sporting the signature “Did I do that?” catchphrase. Yes, he certainly did, if by “that” he meant annoying his unrequited love Laura or creating alternate versions of himself via sitcom science.

73. The Wonder Years

The Wonder Years aired from 1988-1993, but very fathfully recreated the late ‘60s and early ‘70s to invite audiences into the lives of the Arnold family. Starring Fred Savage in his breakout role (alongside fellow greats Dan Lauria, Alley Mills, and Danica McKellar), the coming-of-age comedy touched on Vietnam War politics, high school romance, deaths of loved ones, sibling rivalries and more, with Daniel Stern's narration a key source of its charm and emotional heft. From using Joe Cocker’s unforgettable “With a Little Help from My Friends” to its powerful-yet-unplanned finale, it’s no wonder that this classic eventually inspired a reboot.

72. The Flintstones

The Flintstones is arguably the first animated project to prove itself as much of a classic sitcom as anything in live-action. Premiering back in 1960 and running for six wildly successful seasons, the sitcom follows the titular family within a fictional and idealized version of the Stone Age. Its popularity kept it airing in syndication for decades,later inspiring spinoffs, live-action movies, TV specials, ice cream pops, and (of course) the most memorable vitamins down the medicine aisle.

71. The Proud Family

The Proud Family was one of the standout shows of ABC’s One Saturday Morning programming block, walking the line between cartoony kids show and legitimate family drama quite well. Disney+’s more recent Louder And Prouder revival is evidence of that popularity and storytelling skills. Kyla Pratt’s Penny Proud is as relatable a TV teen as can be, and Sugar Mama (voiced by Family Matters’ Jo Marie Payton) is the kind of grandmother anyone would appreciate, sans bodyslams.

70. The Drew Carey Show

Long before he became host of The Price is Right, Drew Carey jumped from standup comedy to sitcom stardom with The Drew Carey Show, which ran for nine increasingly zany seasons from 1995-2004. The comedian starred as a fictionalized version of himself living in Ohio, working at a mundane job surrounded by a core group of friends with hijinks to spare. (Particularly during the A+ April Fool’s Day episodes.) This was the first big scripted TV role for cast members like Christa Miller, Diedrich Baker, Ryan Stiles, Craig Ferguson, and John Carroll Lynch. Hopefully fans can agree with the show on one thing: Cleveland Rocks!

69. Designing Women

If watching four sassy, professional ladies flourish, flounder, and tell it like it is sounds like something you can get behind, then look no further than Designing Women. The comedy starred the all-time great cast of Dixie Carter, Young Sheldon’s Annie Potts, Delta Burke and Hacks star Jean Smart as co-workers sharing their personal and professional trials and triumphs to side-splitting effect over several seasons. Even better, the show managed to work in a lot of social commentary that’s still relevant today, and no one has ever taken down bullies and bigots like Carter’s Julia Sugarbaker.

68. Night Court

Many sitcoms can be vehicles for a single great comedian to shine, but the strength of the original Night Court was its ensemble. (And that sax-y theme.) Harry Anderson played de facto leader Judge Harry Stone alongside John Laroquette, Markie Post, Richard Moll and more, and the jury of TV audiences gave the verdict of Night Court being guilty of hilarity. Despite the fact that the show’s format could seem as formulaic as real-life courtroom dockets, silliness often ensued, and fans were happy to watch these talents play off each other for an enviable nine-season run. Its popularity endures with Melissa Rauch’s 2023 revival.

67. The Honeymooners

TV shows have a way of changing the pop culture landscape by being quotable, and The Honeymooners is one of the earliest sitcoms whose influence is definitely still felt in that category, with “One of these days Alice…” and “To the moon!” persisting so many decades later. The all-time classic follows two New York City couples and the various shenanigans they get into, with Ralph and Alice famously played by Jackie Gleason and Audrey Meadows, respectively. And while the empty threats of domestic violence might be jarring for newcomers, The Honeymooners significantly set the stage for so many sitcoms to follow.

66. Raising Hope

Wacky isn’t always a word that comes up when discussing family sitcoms, but Raising Hope fits that description to a T. The Chance family is filled with more lovable and well-meaning weirdos than you’d think could possibly fit into half-hour eps, but they all have their odd (and potentially relatable) quirks. From dad Burt (who picks his nose by using all 10 fingers), to matriarch Maw Maw (who can frequently be found shirtless and/or braless and giving off old people smells), you’d be hard-pressed to land on an episode that doesn’t make you choke on your big dill pickle.

65. Fresh Off The Boat

Everyone loves a good family sitcom, and while Fresh Off the Boat is technically about the young, hip-hop-obsessed son within a Taiwanese-American family in Orlando, the real comedic meat of the show is his mom, Jessica (Constance Wu). We’ve never seen a mom like Jessica Huang before. Yes, she’s loving, but it’s an absurdly tough, uncompromising love that pushes her nice, America-loving husband and three sons to excel. She’s also fiercely competitive and not someone to mess with, which diners-and-dashers can attest to, and is a big reason why Fresh Off the Boat will always be watchable.

64. Everybody Hates Chris

Abbott Elementary fans can attest to Tyler James Williams’ comedic chops, but he first honed them from his younger Hollywood days as the star of Everybody Hates Chris. Created by Chris Rock (who narrates) and Ali LeRoi, the show is based on the stand-up legend’s teenage years, and finds ways of making everyday occurrences the most hilarious things in the world, often landing a wide-eyed Chris in trouble. From James’ impressive performance as a teenager to the rest of the cast (including a stellar Terry Crews’ dad mode), Everybody Hates Chris is a must-watch for comedy lovers of all ages.

63. Get Smart

Secret agent movies were big in the 1960s, so how could one go wrong with a spoof comedy series created by Mel Brooks and Buck Henry? Get Smart stars Don Adams’ Maxwell Smart (aka the bumbling CONTROL Agent 86) often teaming up with Barbara Feldon’s more-than-capable sidekick, Agent 99, to thwart the evil, if not entirely professional, efforts of the cabal KAOS. From the series’ iconic opening credits to Max’s shoe phone, Get Smart stands the test of time, with some great catchphrases to boot, including “MIssed it by that much,” and, “Would you believe…?”

62. Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23

We sometimes wonder how well creator Nahnatchka Khan’s Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23 would have fared if it lasted beyond its celebrated two-season run. And we wish we were given the chance to actually see that hypothetical third season for ourselves, as the 26 episodes we did get were spot on. Pairing Dreama Walker’s naive June with Krysten Ritter’s scheming Chloe made for an odd couple who knew how to have exciting adventures. Frequent appearances by an early-career Eric André and an always charming James Van Der Beek only made this ABC series all the sweeter.

61. Good Times

A quality sitcom spinoff can be a challenge. Repeat what worked on the original, or try to do something totally different? Good Times spun off from Maude (which itself was an All In The Family offshoot), and succeeded through carving out its own authentic niche centering around the hard-working and cash-strapped characters of Florida (Esther Rolle) and James Evans (John Amos). The two leads were excellent throughout, though Good Times eventually shifted its primary focus to Jimmie Walker, the sitcom’s breakout star who coined the phrase “Dynomite!” and rode that marketing freight train to global superstardom. A series that lives up to its name, and then some.

60. The Nanny

The Nanny has long been synonymous with its star Fran Drescher, who played the titular Nanny Fine throughout the show’s six-season run on CBS. Despite being a quintessential ‘90s sitcom, the show’s comedy still feels super fresh and contemporary, even if the pop culture references are dated. Descher is truly unbelievable as Fran, and The Nanny has one of the best TV theme songs of all time. And it’s a show that younger generations absolutely NEED to binge-watch, amidst the ongoing hope for fans to see more.

59. Archer

If Archer were merely an expertly crafted James Bond parody, we’d still love it. However, this long-running FX staple’s greatness comes from the lore-heavy, spy-fi universe that creator Adam Reed’s built atop the back of loving send-ups to the espionage subgenre. H. Jon Benjamin anchored an all-timer voice cast that delivered dialogue and performances as sharp as Lana’s switchblade. The show veered from staleness by aping different genres for Danger Island and other “Coma Seasons,” further widening the comedic field of play, and I can’t imagine anyone wouldn’t finger Archer as the wildest workplace sitcom to date. Phrasing, BOOM!

58. Happy Days

When one thinks of Happy Days, the first image that likely comes to mind is Henry Winkler’s Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli giving a cool-as-hell thumb’s up. Though he was initially just a minor player, the leather-donning jukebox-smacking ladie’s man quickly became the show’s most popular character. But its picturesque version of the 1950s and 1960s is just as iconic, as is the entire Cunnhingham family (except maybe for the disappearing brother Chuck) and further ensemble, which spawned a whopping seven spinoffs. And if you don’t agree with all that, well, sit on it!

57. Martin

A couple of years before he became an action movie king in Bad Boys, Martin Lawrence created and starred in his own sitcom, which gave fans five seasons of over-the-top episodes. Lawrence’s Martin Payne is a loud, rambunctious, and highly opinionated Detroit disc jockey who constantly finds himself in all kinds of trouble both at work and at home with Tisha Campbell’s Gina. (A dynamic that shifted in the final season for BTS reasons.) Martin himself was fun, but his various other personas —Sheneneh Jenkins, Rosco, and Dragonfly Jones — gave the sitcom a fun and unique spin, foreshadowing Lawrence’s later career.

56. Living Single

Living Single is one of those sitcoms that thankfully managed to age well , premiering back in 1993 and following a group of friends residing together in a Brooklyn brownstone. With a killer cast including Queen Latifah (who also performed the outstanding theme song), Kim Coles, Kim Fields and Erika Alexander, Living Single’s formula succeeded ahead of Friends reaching more sensational heights, and the topic of influences there has made for many discussions. Regardless, the sitcom is a Black TV treasure, and boasts a trove of terrific musicians, athletes and comedians as guest stars, from Flip Wilson to Chaka Khan.

55. Will and Grace

Will & Grace might as well have also had Jack and Karen in the title as well, such was the strength of this foursome as they unsuccessfully dated and schmoozed their way to making LGBTQ+ history. The NBC Must See TV classic was an Emmy darling during its initial eight-season run, and its ongoing popularity beyond the “final” season inspired NBC to revive it for another two seasons. Which thankfully meant more from the bevy of guests and recurring stars that popped up over the years, from Matt Damon to Matt Bomer to Madonna.

54. Murphy Brown

Sure, Murphy Brown fulfilled the sitcom basics of starring a single, middle-aged working woman (whose eventual single-mom status shook up the status quo), being funny, and serving up great characters — Jim Dial, slugger — to support the Aretha Franklin-loving titular lead. Arguably most important, though, its its rare delivery of a flawed female main character (recovering alcoholic) who’s frequently irascible, dedicated to her job as a journalist, and unafraid to speak up in a male-heavy industry, giving audiences every reason to root for through every uproarious rant and unnecessary assistant change. There’s a reason Candice Bergen earned five Emmys from seven nominations for her work across ten seasons.

53. The Bob Newhart Show

Nobody can do deadpan humor quite like the eponymous star of The Bob Newhart Show. The beauty of this 1970s sitcom was that it allowed Bob Newhart to play off of those stand-up comedy strengths, acting as the straight man to his psychologist Bob Hartley’s many unique patients. Co-starring Suzanne Pleshette as Bob’s beloved wife Emily — the two made sitcom history together on his next sitcom as well — and Peter Bonerz and Bill Daily as his pals, The Bob Newhart Show remains exemplary for its character-driven laughs.

52. Sanford And Son

The laughs that Sanford and Son delivers from episode to episode are fairly unique compared to other sitcoms. Redd Foxx and Demond Wilson are perfectly cast as Fred and Lamont Sanford, respectively, playing off of each other in ways reminiscent of comedy duos in vaudeville and radio shows. The writers also deserve a lot of credit for effectively employing racial humor, considered edgy at that time, as well as for bringing in hilarious characters like “Aunt” Esther Anderson and Grady Wilson. But Foxx – who just oozes superior comedic timing – steals so many scenes with his energetic performances. “This is the big one!”

51. Superstore

All things consumerism considered, it’s almost surprising so few workplace comedies are anything like Superstore. For six seasons, viewers watched Amy (Oscar nominee America Ferrera), Jonah (Ben Feldman) and their wacky big box store co-workers readily getting into myriad insane scrapes and intriguingly complicated relationships, while trying to maintain order (or causing disorder) within the retail sphere. Superstore gives fans peak workplace sitcom, with innumerable sight gags for those watching closely, as well as a low-key, slow-burn mystery involving feet showing up all over the store. It’s a hilarious win-win that theoretically helps everyone see their jobs aren’t as bad as they could be.

50. The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air

Before the Men in Black and Bad Boys franchises and that Academy Award-winning role in King Richard, Will Smith veered away from his successful rap career to introduce viewers to…Will Smith…for The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Just saying its name instantly brings its classic theme song to mind.

Following a kid from West Philly sent off to live with his affluent uncle’s family in Bel-Air, this sitcom oozed ‘90s sitcom charm and hilarity, helping Will Smith expand his comedic talents opposite the great James Avery, Janet Hubert (for a spell) and more. From the Carlton dance to that classic “very special episode” where Will gets shot, Fresh Prince features plenty of justification for its continued success in syndication and streaming.

49. Family Ties

Eventually, Family Ties became known as “The Michael J. Fox Show,” and it was hard to avoid. Fox was a charismatic ball of energy who became a bona fide superstar during the run of the show, and even eclipsed famous guest stars such as Tom Hanks when they appeared.

But before Fox reached all-star status, Family Ties won over audiences as a warm, endearing, and relatable sitcom about liberal parents trying their best to raise their three kids – one of whom happened to be a briefcase-toting, card-carrying Republican. We all saw ourselves in at least one member of the Keaton family, and tuned in weekly to appreciate the ties that bound them all together.

48. Mr. Bean

Rowan Atkinson would have been amazing during the silent film era, but is thankfully a more modern talent, since we otherwise might never have known the childlike, frustration-spiked foibles of Mr. Bean. Co-created by the comedian’s Black Adder partners in hilarity, Ben Elton and Richard Curtis, Mr. Bean is an idiosyncratic sitcom in that its five-year stretch comprised 15 sporadically aired one-off episodes, as opposed to seasons, which inspired a pair of feature films, an animated series, and more pop culture greatness.

Atkinson brings his physical comedy mastery to a plethora of disaster-laden circumstances, from nonchalantly changing into a swimsuit to getting ready for the dentist while driving to being locked out of a hotel room and dozens of other awkward moments.

47. The Mick

Only two seasons of The Mick aired between January 2017 and April 2018, telling the story of a foul-mouthed dirtbag forced to be the guardian of her affluent niece and nephews, and all 37 episodes are send-you-doubled-over-off-your-couch hilarious. Which means a lot of people were sleeping on this brilliance when it aired, and we’re still sore about it.

Led by Kaitlin Olsen, the entire cast is spectacular (with a special hat tip to the brilliant Scott MacArthur as the oft-injured ne'er-do-well Jimmy), but what truly makes this show exceptional is its beyond-dark sensibilities and unwillingness to accept the idea of a “line” that can’t be crossed. The final scene of the series finale is actually a perfect ending in that sense, and we’re sure that more seasons would have pushed it higher up the rankings.

46. The Jeffersons

Norman Lear & Co.nailed it when they moved George, Louise and Lionel Jefferson from All in the Family to their own show. The Jeffersons is 30-minute comedy at its finest, offering an excellent premise, and an array of interesting stories built on it. Sherman Hemsley and Isabel Sanford are electric as George and Lousie, effortlessly conveying their on-screen marriage with warmth, humor and occasional contention, all while surrounded by a strong supporting cast.

There’s also the series’ impact on Black culture and the TV landscape as a whole. It’s one of the earliest shows to have depicted an upper class African American family – and the complexities of such a dynamic. We should all be grateful that these characters moved on up.

45. 30 Rock

If there were any doubts that Tina Fey could transport her magic touch from SNL to a scripted sitcom, 30 Rock proved them pointless. The show-within-a-show’s very first season won the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series, and scored nominations for Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin. (Both went on to win elsewhere in the NBC comedy’s seven-season run.)

The show is infinitely quotable, thanks in large part to Tracy Morgan and Jane Krakowski, and recruited standout part-time stars ranging from Matt Damon to David Schwrimmer to – of course – Steve “How do you do, fellow kids?” Buscemi. Plus, it imparted the following important lesson from Tracy Jordan: “Live every week like it’s Shark Week.” No SNL knowledge is needed to appreciate the sketch-skewing humor, but it’ll help.

44. Scrubs

Hospital dramas have become as commonplace as any TV offering, so having Scrubs around to follow its doctors, nurses and Sacred Heart staff through a comedic lens continues to be a welcome respite. Not to say Scrubs wasn’t without its emotional and poignant moments, since one could argue it functions nearly as well as a dramatic series when in that mode.

But the humor is where Scrubs’ gets surgical with it. Whether we were joining J.D. in his wild daydreams, or the crazy events unfolding between characters while treating patients, this show excelled at delivering the laughs. If only we could witness John C. McGinley’s Dr. Cox ranting at residents while a nameless Janitor pranks people within a real-life hospital. Additionally, J.D. and Turk are one of TV’s all-time best-buddy pairings.

43. Bob's Burgers

In all of sitcom family-dom, few clans are as relatable in their middle-class weirdness as the Belcher family that serves up the titular meals and good-time goofiness on Bob’s Burgers. The beloved series from creator Loren Bouchard has followed sitcom standards to a T while building up its hilarity-filled universe of Italian restaurateur rivals, handyman besties, and plenty of schoolchildren I’d much rather watch on TV than deal with at home. But it’s the Belchers that keep us coming back.

From H. Jon Benjamin’s expertly exasperated attempts to get by to Louise’s rebellious sadism to Tina’s butt fascination, Bob’s Burgers is as timeless as the hamburger itself, and isn’t afraid to mix sweetness into the juvenile hijinks. A must-watch for pun enthusiasts.

42. The Cosby Show

Decades after its debut on NBC, The Cosby Show remains a seminal piece of TV work. This sharp family comedy offers a warm look at a family (who just happened to be Black) and, while the Huxtables are quite pristine, they never feel unrelatable, except perhaps where sweaters are concerned. The impeccable ensemble boasts the likes of Phylicia Rashad, Malcolm-Jamal Warner and Keshia Knight Pulliam masterfully playing off the series’ titular star. Give the writing staff credit, too, for formulating some eternally classic episodes, like “Goodbye Mr. Fish” and “Happy Anniversary.”

Of course, the show’s legacy has been further evaluated due to Bill Cosby’s legal entanglements, and understandably so. That debate will surely continue, though what’s hard to deny is the sitcom’s game-changing position in the cultural lexicon.

41. Party Down

“Are we having fun yet?” The oft-used sarcastic throwback to Henry’s (Adam Scott) singular professional achievement is actually a pretty fitting way to sum up the careers of the motley crew of caterers on Party Down. The aspiring actors and writers who comprise the eponymous catering company would certainly rather be pursuing their passions than serving drinks and apps to their rich customers, but with each episode plunking them into a different bougie event, it was delightful to see the ridiculous and usually cringey situations they would get themselves into.

On top of a fabulous ensemble cast featuring the likes of Ken Marino, Jane Lynch, Lizzy Caplan and Martin Starr, Party Down featured A+ cameos at each catering function. That Steve Guttenberg episode? Chef’s kiss, or at least a caterer’s kiss.

40. The Boondocks

We may never get another animated series about American society as unabashedly insightful as The Boondocks, which was created by Aaron McGruder and based on his comic strip of the same name. Each episode provides a thoughtful examination of the Black experience, principally seen through the eyes of young intellectual Huey Freeman and his gangster-wannabe brother Riley (both voiced by Oscar/Emmy Award-winner Regina King), under the spotty guidance of their John Witherspoon-voiced Granddad.

Not only does McGruder's bold writing provide clever observations about everything from rap music to movie theater decorum, but the anime style continues to remain eye-popping and brilliantly utilized. Especially with the killer kung-fu sequences, which demonstrate a deep love for both the animation medium and the martial arts action genre.

39. Abbott Elementary

Arguably one of the best sitcoms currently airing, Abbott Elementary took the world by storm when it premiered in 2021, introducing the world to Quinta Brunson’s brilliance as Janine Teagues. The Black Lady Sketch Show vet created, writes, produces and stars in the show centering on a Philadelphia school’s staff, and her care and love for it is infectious.

Between Gregory and Janine’s will-they-won’t-they relationship, hilarious talking heads and well-established characters with silly interests (like Ava being a doomsday prepper), this show has all the hallmarks of classic mockumentaries. However, its setting at an elementary school and the unique chemistry the incredible cast has developed make this ABC comedy one that will undoubtedly stand the test of time. (And it won’t need a stool like Janine, amirite, Ava?)

38. The IT Crowd

As if Graham Linehan’s entertainment legacy wasn’t already assured by Father Ted, the man went and crafted another all-time Britcom with The IT Crowd. (Okay, Black Books, too.) The basic premise follows the lives of corporate climber Jen (Katherine Parkinson) and IT department slackers Roy (Chris O’Dowd) and Moss (Richard Ayoade). A classic workplace sitcom trio if there ever was one.

In execution, the 25-episode run was far more fun and unpredictable than the set-up. Skewering corporate culture and malfeasance, as well as all things personal and pop, The IT Crowd feels like a cheeky mix between Seinfeld and Spaced. Not to mention this being a great place to get a Matt Berry fix.

37. Community

It’s difficult to summarize what makes Community such an exceptional sitcom. Its meta awareness and deep love of pop culture is a key ingredient, executed principally through the genius character that is Danny Pudi’s Abed Nadir. But that’s an example of the phenomenal way the show balances the unique voices of its seven main characters – be it the confident idiocy of Donald Glover’s Troy Barnes, the extreme selfishness of Joel McHale’s Jeff Winger, or ridiculous uptightness of Alison Brie’s Annie Edison.

These characters planted in an environment of ever-growing weirdness that is Greendale Community College permits wild, creative, and clever single episode stories… but also not to be slept on are its effective emotional swings (Like I said, it’s really Dean-ficult to sum up!)

36. Modern Family

Modern Family was one of the first family sitcoms to eschew studio audience laughter for the single-camera format, and its massive success and influence was undeniable. Running for eleven seasons, the star-studded sitcom gave viewers a front seat to watching the blended Pritchett and Dunphy families grow up together.

But what makes Modern Family one of the best sitcoms ever is its relatability and ability to tap into all the emotions. There’s plenty to laugh at, thanks to hilarious deliveries from Ed O’Neill, Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell and others, and more episodes than can be poignant, whether it’s about love, sexuality, growing up, or plenty of other feelings to connect to.

35. Arrested Development

At the far end of the “wholesome sitcom family” spectrum is the Bluth clan responsible for the majority of the conning and downward spiraling on Arrested Development. (Ron Howard’s Narrator: “They really were.”) With too many A+ cast members to namecheck in one breath, the fourth wall-breaking comedy is technically about the legal troubles surrounding the family company following a major scandal, but it’s really about the family’s myriad other problems.

Let’s see, we have twin-fidelity, oedipal complexes galore, PTSD from both Army (Mother!) and loss of limb, rampant alcoholism, potentially incestuous foreplay, hair metal magic, and never-nudism, though that’s a corner of a snowflake atop the tallest mountain of comedic quirks. Come for the brilliant performances, stay for the smartest callback jokes on TV.

34. WKRP In Cincinnati

WKRP in Cincinnati is one of those shows that never seems to receive its flowers quite enough alongside others from the era. Airing for four seasons between 1978 and 1982, the comedy takes place at a struggling AM radio station in the heart of the Midwest, and boasts everything one would want in a sitcom: great jokes, iconic characters, and unforgettable TV moments.

Despite early schedule struggles, WKRP eventually found its footing on CBS, thanks to audiences loving the comedic stylings of Howard Hesseman’s Dr. Johnny Fever, Tim Reid’s Venus Flytrap, and Richard Sanders’ Les Nessman. It’s always been a hit with radio DJs, for good reason, and produced quite possibly the greatest Thanksgiving TV treat (that doesn’t have Charlie Brown in it) with “Turkeys Away.”

33. The Critic

In the wake of The Simpsons’ success, creators Al Jean and Mike Reiss shaped a cult classic with The Critic, focused on bitter film critic Jay Sherman, voiced with gusto by Jon Lovitz. The animated sitcom took after its spiritual cousin, offering up both heartfelt and cuttingly satirical gags, and bouncing from ABC to Fox only sharpened the show’s edge.

Keenly lampooning the world of show business, The Critic’s writers crafted A+ parodies of classic films, fake cinematic atrocities so bad they’re funny, and welcomed cameos from actual critics. Anyone wanting to see Siskel & Ebert in a fist fight need look no further. Two words aptly sum up how we feel about this series not lasting nearly as long as The Simpsons: “It stinks.”

32. Married...with Children

With Frank Sinatra’s “Love and Marriage” performance as its subversively optimistic theme song, Married with Children is the gleefully bawdy archetype for sitcoms about miserable people. Ed O’Neill’s misogyny-encrusted slopfest Al Bundy stiff-arms his way through life with affection-seeking wife Peg, blonde joke incarnate daughter Kelly, and lazy hornball son Bud. And Katey Sagal, Christina Applegate and David Faustino are the epitome of “the family you love to watch, but would hate to live with.”

As the live-action series that put Fox on the map, Married with Children has long been celebrated for its politically incorrect humor and cartoonishly offensive storylines, and it remains among the most offensive TV shows of all time. But it worked because the Bundy’s always came out worse than anyone else.

31. Gravity Falls

Gravity Falls’ offbeat sitcom greatness truly deserves recognition for a show that may be written off for being a Disney Channel original. Creator and cast member Alex Hirsch crafted a well-animated, off-kilter show that wins over younger viewers with its thrills, humor and heart, while also capturing older viewers with overarching mysteries, surprisingly deep lore, and barrages of callbacks, clues and pause-required animation details. (Long live Bill Cypher!)

At the center of all the madness is the perfectly realized Pines family — Grunkle Stan, Dipper and Mabel — and their friends and co-workers like Wendy, Soos and others. With two seasons and 40 episodes under its belt, Gravity Falls is a tight show that builds to a very satisfying conclusion, even if fans railed against its cancellation at the time.

30. Parks And Recreation

When Parks and Recreation premiered, SNL and UCB vet Amy Poehler was its biggest name, but the careers of co-stars such as Nick Offerman, Chris Pratt, Retta and Aubrey Plaza exploded in the years after. And it’s no surprise, since the NBC sitcom is where they were able to hone their characters distinct personalities for seven seasons.

Parks and Rec follows the misfit-lite group running Pawnee, Indiana’s parks department Indiana, and had little trouble getting into the wildest hijinks in each 30-minute runtime. The episode “Flu Season” delivers the goods in a nutshell, between Amy Poehler pretending she’s not sick, Chris Pratt’s physical comedy, and Nick Offerman perfectly portraying Ron Swanson’s disdain for government work. Parks and Rec is a quirky and lively show that deserves a spot in everyone’s lives.

29. Letterkenny

It's not often that a show can lean heavily on both the importance of morals and the notion of violence, but Letterkenny managed to strike an amazing balance between the two for twelve seasons. The Canadian sitcom is known for its amazingly paced banter and extensive wordplay and unique phrasings. As if the amazing comedic timing wasn't enough, one of the main themes continues to acknowledge the importance of standing up for what you believe in and striving to do good in the world. "If a friend asks for help, you help them."

Creator and star of the show, Jared Keeso, has also recently hit another comedic home run in the Letterkenny extended universe with the spinoff Shoresy.

28. The Mary Tyler Moore Show

Four years after winning TV audiences’ hearts for the last time on The Dick Van Dyke Show, Mary Tyler Moore struck further gold with her own titular sitcom, earning a spot high on the pyramid of inspirational female pop culture icons. For seven seasons, Moore’s Mary Richards worked diligently amidst other colorful characters in the MJM newsroom, such as Gavin McCleod’s snarky Murray, Ted Knight’s dimwitted Ted, and Ed Anser’s ever-stoic (and spinoff-bound) Lou Grant. Not to mention Betty White’s ego-puff Sue Ann.

Outside the office, some of the Emmy-amassing show’s best scenes featured Mary mixing it up with her neighbor buddies Rhoda and Phyllis, portrayed with respective pizazz by Valerie Harper and Cloris Leachman. “Chuckles Bites the Dust” and “The Last Show” are as good as sitcom TV gets.

27. Friends

“Best sitcom” conversations can’t happen without mentioning Friends once or a dozen times. As the epitome of Must-See TV in the 1990s and early aughts, the sitcom skyrocketed its six stars — Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox. Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer — to fame. Decades later, the reruns are ever-present on TV and streaming, and the gang’s catchphrases continue to resonate as new generations make their way through Central Perk’s doors..

You don’t even have to have been a regular viewer to have heard Ross’ infamous “Pivot!” shout, to have a favorite Chandler quote, or to take a side on the Ross and Rachel “we were on a break” debate. Such universal recognition is relatively rare for a show that’s been off the air for 20 years.

26. The Office (UK)

We never would’ve met Steve Carell’s Michael Scott if there hadn’t been David Brent. Ricky Gerais and Stephen Merchant brought The Office to UK small screens in 2001 and, through two brief seasons and a Christmas special, introduced audiences everywhere to a new level of cringe in the form of this hilarious mockumentary series (one which kept its documentation scenarios realistic).

This dry and occasionally super-awkward comedy follows one branch of a paper company and its workers — played by Gervais, Martin Freeman, Mackenzie Crook, Lucy Davis and several other talented actors — as they attempt to get through each and every workday, dignity optional. It’s the simplicity of the show and the way the characters played off one another that made The Office a true gem.

25. Roseanne

Whether viewers are from the working class midwest or other parts of the country, Roseanne found a way to be relatable to so many. Through the sea of picture-perfect television families came the tidal wave that is the Conner family, who bickered, joked and suffered through enduring hard times. At the core of it all was a family raised by two parents, portrayed by Roseanne Barr and John Goodman, whose love remained strong throughout.

The Conners were never the idealized family everyone strives to be, but still feels like a mirror of what blue class households are really like. And despite the baffling retconned lottery season, and Barr’s off-screen controversy, Roseanne’s comfort-TV legacy remains as timeless as the family’s living room furniture.

24. The Dick Van Dyke Show

There are great workplace comedies and there are great domestic family comedies, but The Dick Van Dyke Show somehow stands out among the best ever in both capacities. From the moment Van Dyke goes barreling over that ottoman, you know you’re in for something special, as the star’s gifts for physical and verbal comedy are nearly unparalleled. He’s often not even the one delivering the best jokes, because his reaction to his legendary co-stars is the true punchline.

Speaking of, the show was very much a group effort, despite its single-star title. Conceived and written by co-star Carl Reiner, and co-starring the incomparable Mary Tyler Moore, Rose Marie, and Maury Amsterdam, all the pieces come together perfectly to make one of the most consistently high-quality sitcoms of all time.

23. What We Do In The Shadows

What We Do in the Shadows is a bonkers TV show that shouldn’t work, just like the vampires yelling “Bat!” shouldn’t work as a catchphrase, but it all absolutely does. The mockumentary, spunoff from the co-creators’ film of the same name, follows a group of ridiculous, socially out-of-touch bloodsuckers — save for energy vamp Colin Robinson and human familiar Guillermo — trying to prove their worth in Staten Island.

Despite how silly and NSFW the show is, movie-level prosthetics and visual effects help to elevate and add shocks to the narrative. The cast is truly outstanding, as it goes for any Matt Berry-infused cast, and WWDITS has earned as much awards recognition as any TV horror comedy. With murder and duplicitousness afoot, the series still hits all the sitcom benchmarks, including a fun neighbor (the mind-sapped Sean), a great theme song, and a bunch of A+ celebrity cameos.

22. The Office (U.S.)

Following the success of Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant’s brilliant U.K. series of the same name, Greg Daniels’ adaptation of The Office took the mockumentary style of its predecessor – along with some of the more amusing traits and dynamics of its characters – and set out to tell new stories with office workers in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Whether it’s the hilarious standout ensemble of characters (led for most seasons by Steve Carell’s cringe-perfecting boss Michael Scott), the way it embraces the mundanity of office life, or how it follows years of these workers’ lives over years while squeezing every drop of humor along the way, The Office continues to be funny, relatable and — for many of us — a comfortable place to return to in the years since its fantastic 9-season run ended. Not to mention the timeless romances of Pam and Jim, Dwight and Angela, Phyllis and Bob Vance, Vance Refrigeration.

21. South Park

With more than 25 seasons and a growing number of one-off specials, South Park reigns supreme as a long-running pillar of TV satire. A look at the 20 best episodes from the series is an easy way to effectively understand just how relevant this series has been on so many levels, evolving from a Kenny-killing, catchphrase machine to a show with a lot more to say than T-shirt fodder.

What other TV series, much less animated comedy, has taken on major religious institutions, accused killers, wild dieting trends, controversial music superstars and world politics throughout its run? If others exist, they probably didn’t do it as well as South Park does, and there’s still no end in sight to the Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s pop culture phenomenon, even if the duo have understandably been less prolific animators in later years.

20. Brooklyn Nine-Nine

From some of the best TV cold opens – “I Want It That Way” sung by suspects, I mean, come on, it’s genius – to ongoing gags ike the annual heist, and “title of your sex tape” that make you laugh so hard your side hurts, Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a wild sitcom that is surprising in the best ways and absolutely irresistible as comfort comedy.

Led by Andy Samberg, Andre Braugher, Melissa Fumero, Stephanie Beatriz, Terry Crews and Joe Lo Truglio, this team of detectives quite literally never gets old, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine only got better in time as everyone grew comfortable in their roles and leaned into the silliness of their surroundings. Especially the all-time terrible cop duo of Hitchcock and Scully.

All around, what Dan Goor and Michael Schur created was so special, and as Jake Peralta would say “cool, cool, cool.”

19. Newhart

Bob Newhart struck TV gold a second time (not counting his stand-up appearances) with the endlessly cozy treasure Newhart, which centered on the comings and goings within the Stratford Inn in small-town Vermont. You know, the kind of small town where a man named Larry can have one brother named Darryl, and then also another brother named Darryl. It’s there where the star comedian and Mary Frann’s Dick and Joanna Loudon take over after a move from New York City, but their big-city know-how can’t quite compete with the quirkiness of their fellow residents.

Nothing ever gets old when it comes to watching the core cast — including Tom Poston, Julia Duffy and Peter Scolar — and the revolving door of recurring actors and guest stars bounce their energies off of Bob Newhart’s. And we’d be remiss not to give Newhart its flowers for shattering TV reality with its truly iconic finale twist.

18. All in the Family

All in the Family is arguably one of the most important TV series ever made, sitcom or otherwise, and shows don’t get the chance to change television if you’re not also good enough to stay on it in the first place. Not only was All in the Family successful enough to span eight seasons, but it also spawned five spinoffs. Despite the fact that the show’s primary character Archie Bunker was specifically designed to be the most bigoted person you know, it somehow all works so incredibly well. You love him even while you hate him, which is a testament to the abilities of creator Norman Lear and star Carroll O’Connor.

Dealing with, and poking fun at, topics that had been seen as taboo to even address previously, All in the Family courted its share of controversy and certainly ruffled some feathers. But that’s just further proof that it left an indelible and influential mark upon audiences everywhere.

17. Frasier

For a TV spinoff to be anywhere near as popular as its parent show is a huge accomplishment, and NBC’s Frasier pulled off just such a transition following Cheers’ conclusion. To be sure, it was plainly great to see Kelsey Grammer’s Frasier Crane taking center stage after all those stool-sat years as an ensemble character. However, it’s unlikely the sitcom would have been nearly as successful without the supporting cast of David Hyde Pierce’s Niles, Jane Leeves’ Daphne, Peri Gilpin’s Roz and John Mahoney’s Martin.

These five characters’ unique personalities and the dynamics they share with one another make them one of the best sitcom casts of all time, and we’ll throw Eddie a bone there as well. Let’s not gloss over the intelligent writing Frasier consistently delivered, which was part of the show’s 37 Emmy wins over its eleven years on the air. Its continued popularity even sparked the Parmaount+ revival of the same name.

16. Taxi

Speaking to Taxi’s greatness takes little beyond listing the murderer’s row of talent yukking it up for five seasons at the Sunshine Cab Company: Judd Hirsch, Danny DeVito, Marilu Henner, Andy Kaufman, Tony Danza, Jeff Conaway, Christopher Lloyd, and Carol Kane. Theoretically, these actors could have struck gold with any TV narrative, but the New York setting provided the comedically ideal edge and neuroses that earned the show 18 Emmys and millions of fans. (Not that Kaufman’s Latka Gravas was a local.) Not to mention the quartet of sitcom royalty in creators James L. Brooks, Stan Daniels, David Davis, and Ed Weinberger.

Despite such over-the-top personalities, Taxi excels at grounded and heartfelt storytelling as much as broader humor, never shying away from the characters’ relatable struggles or the hot-button issues of the time. Extra points for its appearances from future Cheers stars Ted Danson, Rhea Perlman and George Wendt.

15. The Golden Girls

The Golden Girls is excellent enough to convince audiences that spending your twilight years in a shared living space with your mother and two roommates is a blueprint for endless laughs, when that might not match up with reality. It’s a credit to the stellar cast comprising Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty. Queens, one and all. Amidst all the drama, the endless insults thrown around, and the cheesecake, the foursome’s friendship really shines through in this show.

It’s indeed that friendship that causes the gals to get into some absolutely wild adventures. Who can forget the time Rose nearly ended the Cold War with the Soviets with a letter? Not every narrative goes quite so big as that, even if Blanche plays up her romances as such, but it’s always a helluva fun ride.

14. Curb Your Enthusiasm

After Seinfeld concluded its historic run in the late ‘90s, series co-creator Larry David could have ridden off into the sunset atop a horse made from residual checks. Instead, the stickler for human behavior not only created true sitcom brilliance, but also broke new ground for HBO and self-deprecating celeb cameos.

Curb Your Enthusiasm — far more than a pretty, pretty, pretty good show — never failed to inspire laughs and shocks in equal order, following David’s over-the-top fictionalized version of himself (think George Costanza on shame-eliminating steroids), facing so many provocatively awkward situations with a vast array of friends, colleagues, contemporaries, and eventual enemies. (R.I.P. Richard Lewis and Bob Einstein.) The largely improvised show found new ways to be both relevant and funny across 24 years and 12 seasons, a task that’s easier said (and avoided) than done. And it also delivered an all-timer of a finale, poking fun at Seinfeld’s polarizing conclusion.

13. The Larry Sanders Show

As host of the fictional late night talk show The Larry Sanders Show, Garry Shandling implores his audience to stay tuned, ordering them, “No flipping!” It was an easy command to obey when it came to HBO’s The Larry Sanders Show, still one of the bravest, funniest, and most insightful programs that happily sinks its teeth into the Hollywood hand that feeds.

Larry is just an exaggerated caricature of Garry Shandling, who let all of his own neurosis and anxieties fly out of the mouth of his insecure comedic television personality who desperately wanted to be liked by his chosen industry. And the show got a lot of mileage out of real-life celebrities appearing and poking fun at their public personas. (David Duchovny for the win.) But it’s the supporting cast – led by the late Rip Torn and the wonderful Jeffrey Tambor – that elevates Larry Sanders to legendary status. There’ll never be another as biting and satirical as this.

12. Spaced

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost’s long history with director Edgar Wright includes the so-called Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and The World's End). Before that, though, they rocked the sitcom landscape with the UK gem Spaced. A relatable premise is vital to a good sitcom, and it was so easy to fall in love with pro slacker Tim (Pegg) and the uber-dramatic Daisy (Jessica Stevenson) while shrewdly securing their affordable apartment under the watchful eye of Julia Deaken’s landlady Marsha.

In addition to watching Tim and Daisy maintain their ruse of being a “professional couple” while figuring out the whole adulting thing, Spaced — one of Simon Pegg’s best projects — packed in endless horror movie references, video game easter eggs, and more pop culture love. (The pantomime gun fight is everything.) It also featured a supporting cast of hilariously exaggerated characters that will NOT have you wanting to “skip to the end.”

11. The Good Place

Sitcoms are, by design, often stagnant, with the same characters facing similar situations week after week. If the jokes land, everything works, but if not, well… Then along came The Good Place to throw those preconceptions out the window. If creator Michael Schur had just repeated Season 1’s twisty premise for five seasons, it would have still been good, but The Good Place achieved true greatness with its storytelling.

Fronted by Kristen Bell and Ted Danson in top-tier fashion, The Good Place takes massive risks with its afterlife-set narrative, changing elements from one season to the next. The house of (God) cards would have tumbled down had it not all worked as infallibly as the big man himself, but it never even wavered. Indeed, The Good Place is simply forking unbelievable from beginning to end, buttressed by fully realized characters portrayed by co-leads William Jackson Harper, Jameela Jamil, Manny Jacinto, and D’Arcy Carden. Stream the show for everyone now, Janet. Janet..?

10. Fawlty Towers

As part of Monty Python’s sextet of comedy masterminds, John Cleese had already conquered the world of sketch comedy and film, so the next obvious move was to craft a largely perfect sitcom with then-wife Connie Booth, and Fawlty Towers was just such perfection across twelve increasingly fraught.

Set within the non-existing titular hotel in Torquay, Cleese’s Basil Fawlty suffers the existence of everyone around him, especially Prunella Scales’ Sybil, his oft-demanding wife, and the language issues of Andrew Sachs’ Manuel, the establishment’s Spanish waiter. Booth’s chambermaid Polly gets slightly less irritation for being regularly competent. A hotel owner who hates his clientele is in the high-concept echelon, and the series offered up an eternally memorable selection of frequent and one-time guests, as well as builders, inspectors and others whose actions bring Basil’s blood pressure to a proper boil.

Similar to other classic ‘70s and ‘80s sitcoms, Fawlty Towers has been both celebrated and derided for its politically incorrect humor. It's perhaps exemplified best by the series’ marquee episode “The Germans,” and is something Cleese intends to replicate with the revival series he’s creating with daughter Camilla.

9. Cheers

Locations can mean everything to a sitcom. Memorable shows are set in places to which we want to return, from Mel’s Diner to the Dunder Mifflin offices to, of course, the bar from Cheers – where everybody knows your name. Audiences became such regulars to the comfortable sitcom, we practically expected to hear our own names shouted out, a la Norm, when we turned the program on.

The familiarity and welcomeness of Cheers kept us tuning in, even as some of the cast rotated. We all invested heavily in the “will they or won’t they” relationship of barkeep Sam Malone (Ted Danson) and waitress Diane Chambers (Shelley Long), but stuck around when Diane was replaced by Rebecca (Kirstie Alley); and Southern simpleton Woody (Woody Harrelson) was embraced after first filling in for the departed Coach (Nicholas Colasanto). Not that anyone could ever replace Cliff Clavin.

Television hasn’t been the same since Cheers closed its doors, with Frasier going a completely different spinoff route, and I’m not sure another show can be set in a bar, and reach the high bar set by this program.

8. The Simpsons

I think there’s an argument to be made that The Simpsons should have a place on any top 100 list when it comes to describing the best television, regardless of what additional parameters there may be. Part of the allure of this series, as it heads toward 800 episodes, is that there’s not really anything it hasn’t done at this point. There’s a Simpsons episode for whatever mood readers are feeling that day, though it may take a bit of research to figure out which one that is. 

What I love most about The Simpsons is how the series has evolved with time and how the show has modernized the characters with the times while still retaining the core elements that audiences loved about them. Sure, seeing Homer Simpson send memes to Lisa on a smartphone can feel a bit jarring sometimes, but it’s also 100% on-brand for the patriarch and definitely less weird in the modern day to younger audiences compared to if he was still using a rotary phone. Plus, if you prefer the old stuff, it’s all available to stream on Disney+

7. I Love Lucy

For the majority of TV’s existence as an entertainment platform, sitcoms have been synonymous with Lucille Ball, who achieved icon status several times over during her run as Lucy Ricardo in I Love Lucy (and other incarnations and later series). The series remains a blueprint reference for sitcom-crafting, and was revolutionary at the time for not only its star, but for her real-life husband Desi Arnaz portraying her faux hubby Ricky, and more.

While I Love Lucy could occasionally pull an emotional heartstring or two, its strength was comedy, and Ball maximized that concept throughout its run. Lucy and Ricky are as loud and wild a TV couple as can be, especially opposite their slightly more subdued neighbors Fred and Ethel Mertz. From Lucy’s efforts to get into Ricky’s shows to her attempts to hock Vitameatavegamin to her and Ethel’s conveyor belt struggles, the show regularly produced unforgettable sequences.

I Love Lucy is also revolutionary for women in television, with Ball helping pave the way for so many other amazing female actresses to lead their own successful shows, even if struggles are still real on that front. No need for further ‘splanation: I Love Lucy is TV gold.

6. Schitt's Creek

Schitt’s Creek didn’t truly hit the mainstream until its final season, but when people found it, its popularity exploded and its legacy was cemented. Created by father-son duo Dan and Eugene Levy, the comedy centers on a rich family who loses all their money, with the titular town as their silver lining. Annie Murphy and Catherine O’Hara co-star alongside the Levys in this most hilarious fish out of water story.

Seeing these four totally out of their element within the less-than-chic town is an easy way in for viewers. But the hooks that keep people watching are Catherine O’Hara’s ridiculous fake accent, Dan Levy’s sassy one-liners, Annie Murphy’s over-the-top everything as Alexis, Eugene Levy’s brilliant straight-man reactions, and the heartfelt growth this family goes through as they learn to love each other and the town they now call home.

Since the show became a sensation, lines like “Ew David!” have entered the everyday lexicon, and impersonations of Moira and Alexis can be seen frequently on social media. Schitt’s Creek shined bright when it was on — remember the network Pop? — and since then it’s cemented itself as a permanent part of the zeitgeist.

5. It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia

Rarely does a piece of pop culture offer up a character who constantly proves themself to be unendingly vile, self-consumed, aloof, destructive and terrible for society. But a combination of those words describes literally every single character who speaks in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Of course, the biggest and most hilarious offenders are the central Paddy’s Pub gang made up of possible serial killer Dennis (Glenn Howerton), his slightly less evil Bird…e… sister Dee, the sexually fluid approval-seeking Mac (Rob McElhenny), glue-eating connoisseur and janitor Charlie (Charlie Day) and the shockingly demented and depraved Frank (Danny DeVito).

No stone goes unturned when it comes to shocking viewers with how low these characters will go to achieve even the most meaningless iota of recognition or selfish pleasure. There’s racially charged (and socially questionable) takes on Lethal Weapon and The Wiz, exploiting all manner of substance and behavior addictions, satirical jabs at gun control, welfare, sexual assault, and much more. Its unsanitary hilarity is cherished among fans who have watched it live on longer than any other TV comedy in history, with no end in sight. (Except for Danny DeVito’s bare one, that is.)

4. King Of The Hill

Animation isn’t often a medium for classic sitcoms, but Mike Judge’s King of the Hill delivered on all fronts by settling audiences into the everyday life of the Hill family. Hank, Peggy, Bobby, and an assortment of other Arlen standouts kept viewers rolling and clamoring for more Southern-fried hilarity during its 13-season stretch. (And more is on the way thanks to Hulu’s revival.)

King of the Hill tackles issues while poking fun at them in ways that most viewers can probably relate to — from the stresses of the workplace to the terror of puberty to the awkwardness of family — adding a layer of realism to the two-dimensional characters’ world. To that end, Judge’s series is also atypical for adhering to realism throughout, as opposed to going off the cartoonish deep end for laughs (outside of dream sequences, that is).

Judge’s Hank and Kathy Najimy’s Peggy, along with Brittany Murphy’s Luanne and Pamela Adlon’s Bobby, provide a lot of the show’s heart and soul with their struggles and not-always-brilliant reactions to those struggles. But it always helps to have friends around like the hapless good’n Bill, the conspiracy-obsessed Dale and the mush-mouthed Boomhauer.

3. Seinfeld

It’s joked that Seinfeld is “a show about nothing,” and that’s a fair surface-only assessment. The NBC hit provides no lasting messages or morals, and it focuses the majority of its creative energy on eccentric minutiae of everyday life – be it waiting forever for a table at a restaurant or getting in disputes with cashiers over proper change. Characters don’t grow or change — save for temporary shrinkage and mustache-growing — and there’s no reach for deep themes. They’re not even nice people.

And yet, it’s utterly brilliant, timeless, and endlessly rewatchable.

Jerry, George, Kramer and Elaine each have their own unique and hilarious personalities strengthened by the actors’ performances, which in turn drives hilarious stories that unlock the real magic of the show: the way everything intertwines. Kramer golfing on the beach is its own weird gag, but also perfectly sets up George being called into action to rescue a beached whale after previously lying about being a marine biologist. Just about every sitcom since the early 1990s has tried to capture some of the magic of the nine-season series, but there is only one Seinfeld. (A notion that Newman would applaud.)

2. Veep

Veep was the [censored] creation of Armando Iannucci, the mastermind known for The Thick of It and Alan Partridge’s various incarnations, and HBO’s political workplace comedy is dripping with just as much satire and [censored] as anything graced by his Midas touch before or after. It’s one of the fastest and foulest sitcoms to date, with a jokes-per-minute rate that rivals other rapid-paced greats like The Simpsons and Arrested Development, and a [censored]-per-minute rate that is second to none.

As it goes with the best of the best, Veep boasts and expansive ensemble of uppermost geniuses, as led by Emmy magnet Julie Louis-Dreyfus’ Vice President (and then some) Selina Meyer, whose struggles to remain a boss in Washington D.C. means absolute hell for the masses of aides, pundits, strategists, etc. in her orbit. That applies most to her body man and extra appendage Gary, played with aplomb by Tony Hale.

Every Veep co-star brings something perfect to the table, from Anna Chlumsky’s rage suppression as Amy to Matt Walsh’s common sense suppression as Mike; from Reid Scott’s smarm-oozing Dan to Timothy Simons’ arbitrary naysayer Jonah. And we’d just as easily watch spinoffs centered on Kevin Dunn’s Ben and Gary Cole’s Kent, as well as Sam Richardson’s go-getter Richard Splett.

1. BoJack Horseman

One of the best animated TV shows of all time, Netflix’s BoJack Horseman took the adult-toon formula and evolved it into six seasons of one of TV history’s most unique offerings that — at least in CinemaBlend’s perspective — is the sitcom GOAT. Will Arnett is perfect voicing the tragic title character, a past-his-prime ‘90s sitcom star and substance abuser, and he’s bolstered by a who’s who of talented actors portrayed well-written characters, including fan-favorites Diane Nguyen (Alison Brie) and Mr. Peanutbutter (Paul F. Tompkins).

After establishing its sitcom formula in its earliest wordplay-embracing seasons, Bojack Horseman begins getting experimental with its format in phenomenal ways, such as with Season 3’s “Fish Out of Water,” a thought-provoking underwater story with no dialogue, or Season 5’s “Big Churro,” a full-length Bojack eulogy following a big character death.

There are certainly laughs to be had, for sure — big, hearty, consistent, gut-shredding, animalistic laughs throughout all six seasons — but don’t be surprised if you end up shedding a tear or suffering an existential crisis or two along the way as well. The show-within-a-show Horsin’ Around probably wouldn’t have made it onto this list, but BoJack Horseman itself is a Triple Crown winner of the highest order.

Sylvester Stallone and his wife, Jennifer Flavin, were very close to getting a divorce. It was said that trouble started between the two of them after the Rocky actor got himself a new puppy. While there was originally trouble in paradise because of his new dog, this story ends happily for everyone, as Stallone, his wife and their new dog have become a family all over again.

There was a rumor that Sylvester Stallone and Jennifer Flavin were heading for a divorce after he covered up a tattoo of his wife’s face with their new dog. Now we can just toss those rumors aside, because sources told TMZ that Flavin can’t get enough of their new pup, Dwight. It was reported that originally, Flavin didn’t want a dog, especially a big rottweiler. Stallone brought the dog home anyway which caused conflict between the two. Understandably, Flavin couldn’t look at Dwight's adorable face and just walk away. Now apparently, the two of them get along great. They really do call it puppy love.

While Jennifer Flavin originally filed for divorce from Stallone, their situation proves that divorce is never an easy process. When the Tulsa King actor covered up a tattoo of his wife that was on his arm, he stated that their divorce was not over the dog, adding that he and his wife were just going in different directions. And according to Page Six, it was said the Rambo actor removed the tattoo because he was trying to refresh it, but the results were unfixable. So, he decided to replace that image with his dog instead. Fans paying attention believed their divorce was a long time coming when they also saw Flavin was spotted without wearing her wedding ring.

Like all divorces, money being mixed into an already complicated situation can cause more trouble. Money negotiations between Stallone and Flavin occurred when it was reported the two did not get a prenup, which meant millions of dollars would be split between the two of them. Their filings were placed on hold so that way they can deal with these financial arrangements in private. They also agreed it was in their “best interests” to talk about what led to the dissolution of their marriage in a dignified and amicable way. When Stallone was accused of excessive spending, he responded to those claims by saying he did no such thing. This would probably mean a limit on spending during the divorce proceedings.

But luckily, this story has a happy ending, as Stallone and his wife are back together! Even though the divorce proceedings have stopped, sources have said that the couple still needs to work through their marriage differences. They knew divorce was not the answer considering they’d been together for two decades. Dividing up their assets would be too challenging for the two of them to do, so they decided that stayng together was the best solution for everyone. It looks like some reconnecting has been in the works, as this loving couple had a night out on the town by having a dinner date at Polo Bar and attending a Ralph Lauren show with their two daughters. It looks like everything is on the right track.

While Dwight the pup may have been one of the factors for Sylvester Stallone and Jennifer Flavin separating, he was also a factor in them getting back together. To all couples out there, get yourself a dog. Chances are they'll be great motivators to keep a family together. Keep up with CinemaBlend’s new movie release schedule so you’ll be the first to know when Sylvester Stallone will be on the big screen again. Be prepared to watch him in the crime series Tulsa King premiering November 13th with your Paramount+ subscription.

Who doesn’t love settling down on the couch to watch a light-hearted romantic comedy in 22-minute segments? Well, apparently, pretty much every major TV network boss. 

It’s nothing new for shows to be cancelled before their time, but some of the most egregious cancellations fall under the category of romantic comedies. 

I’m taking a walk down memory lane and reminiscing over some of the worst heartbreaks I’ve ever had (yes, between me and TV) with this list of the ten greatest romantic comedy TV shows that ended way too soon.

Pushing Daisies (2007-2009)

This early aughts show follows Ned (Lee Pace), a pie-maker with the ability to bring people back from the dead with only his touch. He can also bring fruit back to life, hence the successful pie business. There’s a caveat, though: once he brings someone back to life, he can never touch them again.

Sure, I guess you could call Pushing Daisies a dram-com (dramatic romantic comedy), thanks to the murder cases Ned often solves with his “gift,” but the heart of the story is the love between Ned and Chuck (Anna Friel), his childhood friend and crush whom he brings back to life after an unfortunate accident.

It pains me that we never got to see how this story played out. Chuck and Ned’s forbidden romance only got two seasons on ABC, although the series was nominated for seventeen Emmy Awards during its short run. The show is whimsical, colorful, and dreamy, and definitely worth a rewatch. 

Stream Pushing Daisies on HBO Max.
Rent Pushing Daisies on Apple TV+.

A To Z (2014-2015)

This show tells the story of Andrew and Zelda (Get it??? A to Z???) and the timeline of their relationship. NBC cancelled the series in the middle of its first season, however, so we only ever get to see their timeline from about A to M. 

While A to Z didn’t necessarily do anything groundbreaking, it was fun to watch and included great character work from Superstore actor Ben Feldman and co-star Cristin Milioti (of How I Met Your Mother fame).

Selfie (2014)

This sitcom starring John Cho and Karen Gillan was handed a similar fate when it was cancelled mid-season, despite fan support and overall positive reviews.

Selfie is loosely based on My Fair Lady, a reference that seems to have gone over the heads of the execs at ABC. The show was pulled off the air, and the remaining episodes premiered on Hulu.

This one may have been ahead of its time. The social-media crazed Eliza would make much more sense with a 2022 audience, but there’s no denying the chemistry and talent of John Cho and Karen Gillam, who’ve both seen huge success in the years since Selfie’s cancellation.

Happy Endings (2011-2013)

Here we go again, ABC. Happy Endings was canned after only three seasons, despite having all the makings of a buddy-rom-com hit like New Girl or Friends — in fact, the show even jokes about its similarities to Friends. The charismatic cast included Adam Pally, Damon Wayans Jr., Eliza Coupe, Elisha Cuthbert, Zachary Knighton, and Casey Wilson, portraying a group of best friends living in Chicago.

Happy Endings is the perfect example of a show that was written off before it had the chance to realize its full potential. The series was dragged all around to many of ABC’s time slots before meeting its untimely demise in 2013.

Watch Happy Endings on Hulu.

The Last Man On Earth (2015-2018)

Will Forte and Kristen Schaal led this post-apocalyptic rom-com about the aftermath of a deadly virus that wiped out most of the human population. Guys, I swear in 2015 that seemed like such a stretch.

Phil (Will Forte) is of course not the last man on earth, which he discovers thanks to the help of Carol (Kristen Schaal). The series devolves into absurdity as the remaining survivors try to rebuild a makeshift society.

The Last Man On Earth made it through four seasons (more than many of the shows on this list) but was cancelled before the show’s creators could carry out their full vision.

Watch The Last Man On Earth on Hulu.

Looking (2014-2016)

Depicting the lives of a group of gay friends living in San Francisco, Looking starred Johnathan Groff as Patrick, a 29-year old man dealing with the challenges of love, friendship, family, and self-identity.

Looking has been called the “gay version of Sex and the City,” which is a misleading introduction to the premise of the show and probably played a factor in it’s poor viewership. In reality, Looking was more similar to The L Word in the sense that it portrayed the everyday lives of queer people without the gimmicks and stereotypes a Sex and the City audience would expect.

Looking was cancelled after only two seasons, but Looking: The Movie was released on HBO in 2016 and served as the finale to the story.

Watch Looking on HBO Max.

Sirens (2014-2015)

Sirens was a match made in heaven: workplace comedy meets rom-com. This series followed three EMTs on their day-to-day adventures working in Chicago. 

Michael Mosley, Kevin Daniels, and Kevin Bigley starred as EMTs Johnny, Hank, and Brian, respectively, with supporting help from Jessica McNamee as Johnny’s police officer ex-girlfriend and Josh Segarra as her new partner.

The show perfectly blended workplace humor, relationships, and medical comedy in a way I’ve never seen before — with a name like Sirens, you’d half expect the show to be a procedural drama about 911 operators. But, Sirens is hilarious and heartfelt, and definitely did not deserve to be axed by USA after only two seasons.

Watch Sirens on Hulu.

Crashing (2017-2019)

Starring Pete Holmes as a fictional version of himself, Crashing tells the story of an aspiring stand-up comedian whose world is flipped upside down when his wife (Lauren Lapkus) cheats on him.

While Pete's progression as a comedian is a very important part of the story, his journey of self-discovery is even more meaningful. Pete stumbles through finding himself outside of his conservative Christian upbringing and re-entering the dating pool as a newly single man.

One of the best parts of the comedy is Pete's relationship with Ali (Jamie Lee), a fellow comedian, although their relationship hits a roadblock at the end of season two when they argue after competing in a roast battle.

Crashing was cancelled after only three seasons, unfortunately forcing the show's writers to bring Pete and Ali's relationship to a rushed conclusion. The two end up together, but, had the show gotten a fourth season, we could have seen this progress in a way that made more sense.

Watch Crashing on HBO Max.

Miss Guided (2008)

Miss Guided ran for less than a month in 2008 on — you guessed it — ABC. The show followed Becky, a high school guidance counselor working at the same school she graduated from.

Becky (Judy Greer) finds herself trapped again in high-school drama, including crushes, bullies, and teachers from her own days as a student. Greer is lovable and endearing in this show as the quirky and awkward Becky.

Miss Guided might have had a different fate if not for the 2007-2008 writers’ strike, but regardless, the show came to an end after only seven episodes. It’s truly painful that this laugh-out-loud comedy didn’t have the chance to prove itself. 

New Girl (2011-2018)

I know what you’re thinking—New Girl had a respectable run, right? I disagree.

Fox executives made the decision to cancel the show after six seasons, without giving the writers and actors the proper opportunity to bring the story to a meaningful conclusion. Thanks to pleas from the cast and fans—notably, Jake Johnson’s letter to Fox asking for a final season—the show returned for Season 7.

Here’s the thing: since the show’s cancellation, New Girl has arguably become one of the most popular sitcoms of all time. While this is likely thanks in part to the binge-watching that occurred around the world during the pandemic, New Girl has been resurrected as a show people can’t get enough of. 

While the final season of New Girl definitely served as a satisfying conclusion, I think there was still more story to tell here. After seven seasons of Nick and Jess’ will they/won’t they, we deserved more time to watch how their relationship could grow.

Watch New Girl on Netflix.

It can be hard to commit to TV shows knowing they might be stolen away from you at any moment. Find peace in knowing that when you rewatch these shows now, you'll at least know when the abrupt end is near.

The cancellation of Happy Endings after Season 3 led many fans and critics to question ABC’s decision. The Season 3 finale had left some storylines unfinished. It seemed clear that another season was planned, but unfortunately the show never got the chance to reveal what happens next. Over the years, the cast and producers have reunited a few times with ideas of a revival floating around. But those dreams may never be realized, according to Happy Endings alum Adam Pally. He revealed why Season 4 hasn’t come to fruition, and possibly never will.

Happy Endings was one of those shows that didn’t get its due during its original run. Since it ended, the ABC comedy has come a cult classic with a loyal fanbase. It found a second life on streamers like Netflix and Hulu, leading to fans asking about the proposed fourth season. Adam Pally may have crushed those dreams with some reality. The Sonic the Hedgehog star revealed to ScreenRant what’s holding back a possible Season 4.

Given all the logistics involved in making a revival possible, Adam Pally may be right about Happy Endings Season 4. At least he acknowledged how passionate the fanbase has been about the series. As Pally pointed out, most of the cast and crew are now busy with their respective projects. There are so many moving parts that need to come together for a fourth season to be a reality. The Mindy Project alum does seem open to reviving his role as the outlandish Max Blum once more.

But a reboot seemed like a possibility a few years ago. The cast reunited at one point to read a proposed script for the never-realized Season 4. After Happy Endings was cancelled, there were talks of another network picking it up, but eventually the plans fell through. So, Adam Pally’s words may sting hard for an avid fanbase who just want more of the cult classic.

With news of reboots popping up every day, let’s hope Adam Pally’s words are proven wrong. Hopefully, those Season 3 loose ends will be cleared up at some point. For those who love every moment and one-liner from the series, you can check out Happy Endings on Netflix, Hulu, and HBO Max.

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Ever since New Girl came to an end not that long ago, I’ve found myself missing the great moments that the show would offer me, whether that be the shenanigans that Winston would cause with his little (or big) pranks, or the best one-liners from Schmidt, or even watching Jess and Nick be an adorable yet complicated couple. I can re-watch the show all I want, but sometimes I just need to find something else that’s similar, but not the same.

But luckily, there are plenty of shows out there like New Girl with some similar themes and premises on streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu and more. This is where you can watch crazy and kooky friends try to live their lives, all while getting into the most ridiculous of situations, some of which might be showing up soon on our 2021 fall TV schedule. From Netflix shows like Emily in Paris, to older classics, here are some shows like New Girl that I think you would like.

Shrill (Hulu)

In this Hulu original series, Shrill follows Annie, a woman who wants to change her life and make it as a journalist while dealing with bad boyfriends, parents that are sick, and a boss that makes it almost impossible to work - all while the world seems to not think she is good enough because of her weight.

Starring Aidy Bryant of Saturday Night Live fame, Shrill offers fans of New Girl the same story of a young woman just trying to make it in the world. The combination of comedy with the themes of structured society and what it means to be yourself really make this show stand out above the rest. There’s no denying that this is definitely a great comedy series - but one that has heart as well.

Stream Shrill on Hulu.

Buy Shrill on Amazon.

Love Life (HBO Max)

HBO Max has been coming out with some interesting original shows since the launch of the streaming service, like the newly rebooted Gossip Girl, or the Kaley Cuoco-led The Flight Attendant. However, one of my favorites so far has been Love Life. In this anthology series, we follow a new lead character each season, from their first relationship to their very last.

If you loved the relationships in New Girl, this is a great show for you. The first season follows Anna Kendrick’s character, Darby, as she looks for love, and the mix of romance and comedy makes this one of HBO Max’s best shows so far. Also, the friendship between Darby and Sam (played by Zoe Chao) is to die for and I love them so much. Love Life Season 2 will star William Jackson Harper from The Good Place, according to Variety, so if you want to catch up on the series, check it out now before a new story starts!

Stream Love Life on HBO Max.

Friends (HBO Max)

I feel like everyone has heard of Friends at some point in their lives. Friends takes place in New York City, and stars six friends in their twenties - later in their thirties - as they try to navigate their adult lives through their friendships, romantic relationships, careers, and more - getting into shenanigans along the way.

In my opinion, I don’t think any other network TV program has ever become quite as big as Friends. While there were plenty of sitcoms beforehand that had friends living together, Friends became a worldwide hit and I personally believe it was the blueprint for shows like New Girl where people are living together. The chemistry between the Friends cast is great, the jokes hysterical, the storylines emotional - it’s truly iconic in every way. The only thing I don’t believe is that they somehow afforded that NYC apartment.

Stream Friends on HBO Max.

Buy Friends on Amazon.

Young And Hungry (Netflix)

In Young and Hungry, Josh, who is a young tech entrepreneur, hires Gabi, a young food blogger, to be his personal chef. While some people might doubt her skills, Gabi sets out to prove her worth to her boss so she can keep her job.

I know the premise sounds a bit typical at first, but Young and Hungry is anything but. For fans of New Girl, I feel that this show has a lot of the same comedy quirks and jokes that New Girl would have, mixed in with some great-looking food and cute romances that will make you smile. Emily Osment also shines in this series as the leading lady, making Gabi truly one of those characters that you just have to root for.

Stream Young and Hungry on Netflix.

Buy Young and Hungry on Amazon.

Community (Netflix)

In Community, when Jeff Winger is disbarred from his law firm after it was discovered he was faking having a bachelor’s degree from Columbia, he enrolls in Greendale Community College to earn a legitimate degree. However, when he enrolls there, he quickly becomes part of a group of students who all have their own quirky traits and characteristics.

Dan Harmon, the creator of the adult animation Rick and Morty, created Community. And let me say that if you love the comedy in New Girl, you’ll adore Community just as much. Not only is the Community cast awesome and have great chemistry together, the show has a lot of heart despite never taking itself too seriously. Plus, it launched the careers of several stars, like Donald Glover, Danny Pudi and many more. Remember Abed’s prediction - six seasons and a movie, so hopefully we’ll be getting that movie someday, so now you have to watch it.

Stream Community on Netflix.

Buy Community on Amazon.

Jane The Virgin (Netflix)

What I love about this show is that it’s based on Spanish telenovelas, so you know it’s going to be dramatic. When Jane in Jane the Virgin goes to visit her gynecologist, something crazy happens. See, Jane was raised in a religious household, and wants to save her virginity for marriage. But at her visit, she is accidentally inseminated, where she inevitably becomes pregnant.

I know, the premise sounds completely ridiculous, but this CW show is truly one of its best. Gina Rodriguez is a star and rocks it in her role as Jane, with an amazing Jane the Virgin cast beside her, creating heartfelt stories with several twists that will make you either laugh, cry, or both. For fans of New Girl, this show has just the right amount of ridiculousness to keep you watching, just like New Girl had.

Stream Jane the Virgin on Netflix.

Rent Jane the Virgin on Amazon.

Happy Endings (Netflix)

Happy Endings follows six best friends, who live in Chicago, all of whom have their own dysfunctional lives and adventures, and are trying to somehow navigate through their lives thus far.

I’ll get straight into it - Happy Endings almost feels a little bit like the Friends of Chicago, which makes it perfect for fans of New Girl. Honestly, it should have gone on for several more seasons besides just three. The chemistry between this cast is just amazing, especially between Damon Wayans Jr. and Eliza Coupe as a couple. Everyone plays so well off of each other and makes you laugh in the best ways. I’m still so upset that it ended after three seasons, but at the very least, you can watch it now.

Stream Happy Endings on Netflix.

Buy Happy Endings on Amazon.

The Mindy Project (Hulu)

In this series created by Mindy Kaling, The Mindy Project follows Mindy Lahiri, who works as an obstetrician/gynecologist in New York City. She tries to balance both her personal life and her professional life, all while surrounded by her co-workers in a small medical practice, who have their own fun traits and quirks as well.

I think what I love the most about this series for New Girl fans is that Mindy’s character reminds me a lot of Jess, except in a totally different job field, obviously. They’re both trying to do well in their careers and make the best out of bad situations while constantly trying to handle their personal issues as well. Mindy Kaling really brought her all to this series and showed off her comedy chops along with her story-writing skills.

Stream The Mindy Project on Hulu.

sRent The Mindy Project on Amazon.

Emily In Paris (Netflix)

This Netflix original series follows Emily, a girl from Chicago, who unexpectedly gets a job opportunity in Paris - hence the title, Emily in Paris. She is tasked with bringing an American perspective to a venerable French marketing firm.

Okay, controversies with this show aside - I actually do enjoy Emily in Paris and think it would be good for New Girl fans as well, because this is another situation where Emily reminds me a lot of Jess. It’s this young woman who is thrown into a situation out of nowhere and has to make the best of it to somehow succeed. While they are two very different stories, I believe fans of the show will enjoy Emily in Paris - if not for the drama it brings, but for the great scenic shots you get of Paris. With a Season 2 of Emily in Paris on the way, it's definitely worth a watch.

Stream Emily in Paris on Netflix.

Friends From College (Netflix)

As the last on this list, Friends from College is anything but the least. This Netflix show follows a group of close-knit friends from Harvard who are all in their 40s, and are trying to navigate their intertwined lives, through work, romance, and several other factors.

This series is another one of those Netflix shows that I think ended too soon, because the cast for this was just outstanding. With stars like Keegan-Michael Key, Fred Savage and more in the cast, I don’t know how it could get better. But what really makes this a great show for fans of New Girl are the messy romances. Yeah, you know the ones - where one person is secretly dating two people (cough, Schmidt cough) or any of the other ridiculous plotlines you could think of. I still think Friends from College could have had such a great story if it continued with more seasons, but we’ll have to just deal with the two seasons we got.

Stream Friends from College on Netflix.

I know that the loss of New Girl episodes is a shame and we will all miss our goofballs in that loft in California, but at least we can fill the void with plenty of other TV shows. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go watch the Friends reunion for the umpteenth time.

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It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia has to be hands down one of the best comedies that TV has ever seen in my opinion. With a renewal that was set for 18 seasons, the black comedy sitcom is now the longest-running comedy series ever. With ridiculous stories, characters that you just love to hate, and a great setting with plenty of quirks, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia has proven to be a hit.

However, with how long it has taken for Season 15 to arrive on FX, fans of the show might be looking for something else to fill their time with. While you could spend your time watching the best movies on Netflix or the best movies on Amazon Prime, there are plenty of other shows just like It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia to watch right now.

Mythic Quest (2020 – Present) (Apple TV)

Co-created by one of the very creators of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Rob McElhenney, Mythic Quest delivers hilarious jokes and is a great option if you're looking for a good Apple TV+ original series. The series follows a fictional game studio that produces a popular MMORPG, titled Mythic Quest, and the struggles they are going through trying to promote their new DLC for the game, “Raven’s Banquet.”

The series was also co-created by Charlie Day, another one of the creators of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, so you can almost bet that this series will be filled to the brim with dirty jokes, some inappropriate humor, and some ridiculously fun storylines. Even if video games aren’t your thing, you’ll love this show. I promise you. The second season just finished, so give it a watch if you haven’t already.

Stream Mythic Quest on Apple TV.

Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000 – Present) (HBO Max)

Another classic comedy, Curb Your Enthusiasm stars Larry David, and follows a fictional version of his character, living his life as a semi-retired television writer/producer in Los Angeles, and all the crazy adventures that he gets into.

Larry David has to -- hands down -- be one of the most known comedians out there, so it’s only natural for a show like his to have run for so long. Curb Your Enthusiasm has some awesome jokes, where you’ll most likely be looking them up on YouTube later to re-watch them. I mean, the episodes are written or co-written by Larry David, so you know it’s going to be hilarious. There are eleven seasons of it. If that's not good enough proof for how funny it is, I don't know what will be. For fans of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, you’ll definitely enjoy it.

Stream Curb Your Enthusiasm on HBO Max.

Rent Curb Your Enthusiasm on Amazon.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013 – Present) (Hulu, Peacock)

If you ever thought there should be a comedy about a police department, look no further than Brooklyn Nine-Nine. In this comedy, we follow the story of Jake Peralta, a young NYPD detective in Brooklyn's fictional 99th Precinct, who often comes into conflict with his commanding officers and co-workers, with hilarious hijinks often ensuing.

Let’s just say that the cast of this show is really what makes it, which is how I feel It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia works. Andy Samberg has amazing chemistry with his castmates, especially with Melissa Fumero as Amy Santiago and Terry Crews as Terry Jeffords. The show was so popular that it was picked up by NBC after Fox cancelled it. With Brooklyn Nine-Nine's last season going to premiere soon, it’s the best time to binge it. 

Stream Brooklyn Nine-Nine on Hulu

Stream Brooklyn Nine-Nine on Peacock.

Rent Brooklyn Nine-Nine on Amazon.

The Office (2005-2013) (Peacock)

I feel like if you’re a fan of comedies, you’ve most likely heard of The Office at some point or another, if not have seen every episode. Based on the British television show of the same name, The Office covers the daily lives of the employees at Dunder Mifflin Paper Company, with the presence of the camera acknowledged by the workers, as well as their insufferable boss, Michael Scott.

For fans of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, this is another case where some of these characters (led by the excellent Office cast) are truly ridiculous and they carry the show exceptionally, with some of the crazy storylines they add on. Michael Scott is this boss you love to hate, played brilliantly by Steve Carell. Dwight Schrute is this weird man with his own issues and lives on a farm, Jim and Pam are adorable – you’ll always find someone to root for in this comedy.

Stream The Office on Peacock.

Rent The Office on Amazon.

30 Rock (2006-2013) (Peacock)

Another all-time classic, 30 Rock is one of the best shows to watch for It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia fans. Starting off the series, we follow the story of the boss of a variety show, who has to somehow manage her relationships with the show’s crazy star, and the nice executive producer, all while this slowly evolves into chaos.

30 Rock, created by Tina Fey and starring her as well, is so freaking funny. There’s not a single other comedy out there that has made me laugh more than 30 Rock because you’re dealing with legit comedians writing these stories and intriguing scenarios. While I do have a place in my heart for dark comedy like It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, there’s just something about 30 Rock that makes it stand out above the rest. That, and the cast for this show was incredible. You need to see it just for how many stars were in it.

Stream 30 Rock on Peacock.

Rent 30 Rock on Amazon.

Arrested Development (2003 – 2019) (Netflix)

I think in terms of comedic jokes and sitcoms, Arrested Development comes the closest to matching It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’s comedic style. In this comedy, we follow the story of the Bluths, a formally wealthy yet extremely dysfunctional family, and their day-to-day lives once they start to realize that they can’t do what they used to do anymore.

Arrested Development makes good use of using running gags and catchphrases, but they fit so well within the context of the show. Besides the jokes that continuously land, all of the cast rocks it in their roles, led by the talented Jason Bateman, alongside plenty of familiar faces, like Tony Hale and Michael Cera. It’s not as dark as some of the other sitcoms out there, but it’s definitely one of the most clever comedies, in my opinion.

Stream Arrested Development on Netflix.

Rent Arrested Development on Amazon.

Archer (2009 – Present) (Hulu)

In the first of two animated series on this list, Archer is definitely one of the best shows to watch if you’re a fan of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. In this comedy series, we get to know the exploits of eight secret agents and supporting staff of the International Secret Intelligence Service, otherwise known as ISIS, and all their dysfunctional adventures.

The FX (later FXX) series is ridiculously silly. Anything you could expect to happen in a show like this will. Plus, it’s animated, so you know there will be plenty of other possibilities in terms of what stories they can tell. There’s also a good amount of emotion infused with the story, so it’s not just constant jokes and action scenes, something that I believe It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia fans will enjoy immensely.

Stream Archer on Hulu.

Rent Archer on Amazon.

You’re The Worst (2014 – 2015) (Hulu)

Another FX (later FXX) show, You’re the Worst follows the story of a self-involved writer named Jimmy, and a self-destructive PR executive named Gretchen, who are both trying to attempt a relationship alongside their friends, Edgar and Lindsey. Through this, it created a never-ending cycle of craziness and plenty of fun.

What really makes You’re the Worst stand out amongst other sitcoms out there is its willingness to tackle more complex issues, just as It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia has done in the past, albeit through a more comedic perspective. You’re the Worst has talked about issues such as clinical depression, PTSD, and so much more. While it’s not as dark or clever as some of the other comedies on this list, in my opinion, I still think it’s worth your time for sure.

Stream You’re the Worst on Hulu.

Rent You’re the Worst on Amazon.

South Park (1997 – Present) (HBO Max)

God, this is the comedy of all comedies, in my eyes. South Park is the classic animated series that has been running for more than twenty years now, chronicling the stories of Stan, Kenny, Kyle, and Eric, four young boys in Colorado in the fictional town of South Park.

You want to talk about dark comedy, literally look no further than South Park. This is the cartoon series to watch if you’re a fan of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. The creators of this show are not afraid to tackle some dark themes and make crazy jokes – some of which from their older episodes would probably not be okay today. Regardless, the series is iconic for a reason, and everyone should give it a shot for its hysterical jokes and interesting art style.

Stream South Park on HBO Max.

Rent South Park on Amazon.

Happy Endings (2011 – 2013) (Netflix)

You know, now that we’re at the end of this list, I’m beginning to see a trend with dysfunctional families appearing – but that’s just how we roll when we’re a fan of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. In Happy Endings, viewers get to know the story of, this time, a group of dysfunctional best friends, all of which live in Chicago.

I’m always going to be so unhappy that this show only received three seasons. It was so funny. For fans of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, I feel like this comedy would closely resemble the friendships we’ve come to love, showing how ridiculously far we would go for our friends in the case of something crazy. From crazy couples to business deals gone wrong to everything else, Happy Endings covers it all – and you’ll be laughing along to it.

Stream Happy Endings on Netflix.

Rent Happy Endings on Amazon.

While we do have more shows on the 2021 fall TV schedule to hopefully look forward to soon, I still miss It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Even so, you might now be able to find a nice replacement for the time it’s off the air. I’m going to go get a Philly cheesesteak to deal with the pain – maybe watch some Happy Endings in the meantime.

While our movies and television shows were once saturated with comedians such as Adam Sandler, or the legendary Robin Williams, newer talents have been taking the stage for some time now, one of those being Damon Wayans Jr.

The actor/comedian has appared in several movies and shows, showing off not only his comedic skills but his dramatic chops as well. And, his time on Happy Endings and some of his funniest moments as Coach in New Girl aren't the only things Damon Wayans Jr. has done in Hollywood. Here’s where you can watch some of the best Damon Wayans Jr. movies and TV shows.

Happy Endings (Hulu, Netflix)

When I think of the typical sitcom, some of my thoughts are always directly related to three characteristics – love, comedy, and dysfunction of the characters. Luckily, Happy Endings has all three. In this popular sitcom, we get to follow the adventures of six best friends living in Chicago, all of which have their own quirks and adventures that take you for a ride.

While Damon Wayans Jr. had done some television and films prior to his role in Happy Endings, this is arguably what made him famous for how slick the comedy was, and how fun the story became. It’s almost like the Chicago version of Friends to me, but with some even crazier stories. If you’re looking for a fun time, Happy Endings is the way to go for you.

Stream Happy Endings on Hulu.

Stream Happy Endings on Netflix.

Rent Happy Endings on Amazon.

How To Be Single (HBO Max)

For a funny romantic comedy, we take a look at How To Be Single. In this film, we see four women who are friends, all with very different ideas on what love should be, while they navigate their single lives in New York City and have struggles of their own as they make new friends along the way.

If you’re looking for a star cast list besides Damon Wayans Jr., this whole entire film is stacked with stars, from Pitch Perfect cast member Rebel Wilson to Community cast memberAlison Brie. Alongside that, the chemistry between all the stars is enjoyable and really sets the tone for the film, creating a great romantic comedy that anyone could enjoy, whether you’re living life in a relationship or single. Damon Wayans Jr. rocks it in his role and shows off his great comedy chops in a romantic setting.

Stream How To Be Single on HBO Max.

Rent How To Be Single on Amazon.

Someone Marry Barry (Hulu)

I always feel like this is the one film that a lot of people don’t know about when it comes to Damon Wayans Jr., and honestly, that is a crime. In Someone Marry Barry, a group of childhood friends band together to try and get their socially inappropriate friend a wife – but, when he ends up finding his female equal, it only causes more and more problems for them.

As one of Damon Wayans Jr.’s first films, it doesn’t pull any punches in the comedy department. Some of the jokes will have you laughing so hard that you’ll be holding your side. What makes it even better is how much the lives of the group of friends do change when they meet this girl – showing that even when you want to try and help, sometimes it only ends in disaster. It’s a shame the film didn’t get more publicity than it did, which means you should go and watch it right now.

Stream Someone Marry Barry on Hulu.

Big Hero 6 (Disney+)

As someone who grew up loving Disney, this was actually where I first heard of Damon Wayans Jr., in a voice role that fits him perfectly. In Big Hero 6, we get to learn the story of a young boy, named Hiro Hamada, who utilizes Baymax, his late brother’s work, and healthcare robot, to form a superhero team to combat a villain who is responsible for the death of his brother.

So, why is this the perfect role for Damon Wayans Jr.? There’s just something about Wasabi in Big Hero 6, how every single one of his jokes keep hitting, including his preciseness about where he keeps his tools. He’s just a great time overall – and honestly, so is the film. Animation tells some awesome stories, and you shouldn’t miss out on this one. The movie became so popular, it even got a TV series.

Stream Big Hero 6 on Disney+.

Rent Big Hero 6 on Amazon.

Love, Guaranteed (Netflix)

In one of his most recent films, Damon Wayans Jr. tackled the classic romantic comedy once more. In the Netflix original film Love, Guaranteed, a small-town lawyer must try and save her law firm, so she teams up with Nick, a new client who wants to sue a dating site that supposedly “guarantees love.” However, as the case begins to grow, so do the feelings between the two of them.

While How To Be Single offered a different take on the rom-com, I feel like Love, Guaranteed is the perfect film for someone who just wants the easiest romantic comedy storyline there could be – and there’s literally nothing wrong with that, because I’m like that, too. The chemistry between Rachael Leigh Cook and Damon Wayans Jr. is great, and really drives the film, while also delivering that typical comedic romance you would expect from a film like this. It’s definitely a great pick among some of the rest.

Stream Love, Guaranteed on Netflix.

New Girl (Netflix)

After Happy Endings, Damon Wayans Jr. went on to another big role in TV – well, one that started out big and then turned into an even bigger one later on. In New Girl, we get to see the story of Jess, a teacher who was just cheated on by her boyfriend and decides to move into an apartment with three strangers named Coach, Schmidt, and Nick. And, from there, they go on to have some absolutely wild times together.

While Coach, played by Damon Wayans Jr., only appeared in the pilot of Season 1, his character replaced by Winston, he came back during Season 3, and would continue to make appearances in the show afterward, adding more ridiculous stories and fun times to the group of Californians. What makes Coach even more enjoyable is while he is super cocky and extremely talented at sports, he’s also adorkably awkward sometimes, which makes you want to root for him even if he is a bit of a jerk sometimes.

The New Girl cast in general is so great – you really should watch the show if you haven’t yet.

Stream New Girl on Netflix.

Rent New Girl on Amazon.

Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar (Amazon Rental)

Let me just say that this movie is one of the best comedies to come out in the last couple of years, in my opinion, and it deserves the praise that it’s gotten. This film, starring Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo as leads of the Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar cast, follows two best friends from Nebraska who go on vacation together, heading to Florida, only to end up trapped in some sort of evil plot.

There are so many things to praise this movie for. Not only is Damon Wayans Jr. super funny as Darlie Bunkle, but the rest of the cast has such great chemistry that everything, from comedy to story to wacky moments, flows together perfectly. The movie is bright and colorful, with plenty of great silly moments that make you snort with laughter. Also, the comedic pairing between Wiig and Mumolo is top-notch – you can’t convince me otherwise.

Rent Barn and Star Go To Vista Del Mar on Amazon.

Super Troopers 2 (Amazon Rental)

Super Troopers is a comedy that quickly became a cult favorite, whether that was for good reasons or bad, so it was only a matter of time before it got a sequel. Super Troopers 2 follows the original gang from the first film as they are called upon to set up a Highway Patrol station, when a border dispute suddenly comes up between the United States and Canada, creating a whirlwind of problems.

The sequel is about the same sort of quality for a Super Troopers film, creating interesting shenanigans and quirky moments that will have you laughing. The plot is ridiculously out there and silly, but it’s still funny enough to keep your attention. While Damon Wayans Jr.’s character isn’t featured heavily in this film, he's very funny for the time that he’s in it.

Rent Super Troopers 2 on Amazon.

Let’s Be Cops (Amazon Rental)

Let’s Be Cops is one of my guilty pleasure movies, and I am not afraid to admit it. In this buddy cop action-comedy film, we see Damon Wayans Jr. team up with Jake Johnson, his former co-star on New Girl, and tell the story of two friends who decide to pretend to be police officers in the Los Angeles Police Department.

The first aspect that drives Let’s Be Cops is the chemistry between Wayans Jr. and Johnson. From their time already working together, the two perform exceptionally well in their roles, and play off the other nicely with their comedic timing. It almost feels like I’m watching Coach and Nick from New Girl on their own separate adventure. Other than that, the plot is hysterical and wacky and ridiculous, but to me, that’s what makes it such a guilty pleasure.

Rent Let’s Be Cops on Amazon.

Bonus: Cherry (Apple TV+)

Damon Wayans Jr. also recently had a minor role in the Apple TV+ original film, Cherry, starring Tom Holland, but his role was very brief as Drill Sgt. Masters. However Cherry is still a great film with plenty of stars attached to it, so be sure to check it out if you haven't yet.

Stream Cherry on Apple TV+.

While Damon Wayans Jr. may not be in the best movies on Netflix or the best movies on Amazon Prime, there’s no denying that the man is funny and has plenty of talent. I can’t wait to see what he does next, and the new films he has coming up.

Fans of Happy Endings got some very unhappy news back in 2013 when ABC cancelled the sitcom after only three seasons. Adam Pally, who played Max on Happy Endings, was back on the small screen not too long after the cancellation thanks to a role on The Mindy Project. Now, Pally is slated to star in a new series that will reunite him with Happy Endings creator David Caspe. Here's what we know so far.

Adam Pally has signed on to star in a currently-untitled comedy that centers on a rapper and his crew of close friends. The comedy will air on YouTube Red with episodes running for a half-hour each. YouTube Red has foregone a pilot process and given an order for ten episodes right out of the gate. No details are currently available about the character Pally will play on the series, but I'd put my money on him as a member of the rapper's crew rather than the rapper himself. We'll have to wait and see on that front.

That said, TVLine reports that other actors have already landed roles as well. Sam Richardson of Veep also stars. Jay Pharoah will appear as a guest star that recurs throughout the season. The first episode of the sitcom was written by Happy Endings creator David Caspe along with Daniel Libman, Jordan Cahan, and Matthew Libman. These four will additionally contribute to the series as executive producers.

It should be fun to see how this latest teaming between Adam Pally and David Caspe compares to their work together on Happy Endings. Based on their premises alone, the two shows should be quite different. The YouTube Red series also marks a return to regular sitcom work for Pally, who previously starred in the short-lived Fox series Making History. That show got the axe after one abbreviated season on Fox, and there was every chance that Pally would want to return to indie movies rather than keep on keepin' on in TV. Clearly he wasn't traumatized by the cancellation of Making History to the point that he'd want to stay away from the small screen.

The only bad news is that there's no saying at this point how long we'll be waiting until the YouTube Red show hits the web. No date has been released for the beginning of production, let alone when the first episode will be released. Only time will tell. We'll have to just be patient. Given that we seem to be as far from a Happy Endings revival as ever, perhaps this YouTube Red series will be a fun fix for fans who miss the kind of comedy that came with episodes of Happy Endings.

If you're now in the mood for a throwback to Adam Pally and Co. on Happy Endings, you can find the full series streaming on Hulu. If you've already watched beginning to end, check out what we know of what would have happened to the characters if the show hadn't been cancelled! For some alternate viewing options, swing by our Netflix premiere guide and our summer TV premiere schedule. Be sure to stay tuned to CinemaBlend for the latest in TV and movie news.

Zach Knighton was one of the funniest actors in primetime for a few years thanks to his role as Dave on Happy Endings. That show came to a premature end back in 2013, and he's mostly been limited to guest appearances on the small screen since. Now, Knighton has landed a role that should bring him back in a big way. He'll appear in the second season of Netflix's zombie comedy Santa Clarita Diet.

Netflix has yet to reveal details about Zach Knighton's character, although Deadline reports that he'll have a key role in a major arc of Santa Clarita Diet Season 2. We can't say at this point if the Santa Clarita Diet arc will result in an ongoing role in the series. Still, the odds are pretty good that the show won't be cancelled any time soon. Sure, the Netflix CEO recently revealed that he thinks they need to cancel more of its original series, but Santa Clarita Diet has a winning formula.

The dark comedy is unlike anything else at Netflix, and Drew Barrymore is the leading lady. It only took Netflix a couple of months after the Season 1 premiere to renew the series for a Season 2. Few shows are necessarily safe on Netflix, but I'm guessing that Santa Clarita Diet will probably last for as long as Drew Barrymore is willing to continue making it. Santa Clarita Diet could be a winning gig for Zach Knighton.

Santa Clarita Diet tells the story of married couple Sheila (Drew Barrymore) and Joel (Timothy Olyphant). Both realtors, they weren't entirely satisfied with their lives in Santa Clarita, California. When Sheila goes through an unexpected and significant change -- becoming a zombie -- their lives are turned upside down in a way that isn't altogether terrible, aside from the blood and gore. We obviously don't know if Zach Knighton will play a normal human or another zombie with a taste for human flesh, but we can be confident that he'll bring the laughs. Knighton was a highlight on Happy Endings, and while that show's cancellation still amounts to a television tragedy, at least we can rest easy knowing that he's on his way back to TV.

Netflix hasn't released an exact premiere date for the second season of Santa Clarita Diet, but the renewal video revealed that the next batch of episodes will air at some point in 2018. You can catch the full first season of Santa Clarita Diet streaming on Netflix now. Check out our 2017 Netflix premiere guide for your other streaming options, and take a gander at our summer TV schedule. If you're not up to date on what shows are still around, swing by our our rundowns of renewals and cancellations for cable/streaming and network TV. Our breakdown of all the greatest reboots and revivals that are currently in the works for the small screen is worth a look as well.

The Mindy Project faced some ups and downs during its early years on the airwaves, including a cancellation from Fox and a move to Hulu. One of the best changes to the original formula came when Adam Pally joined the cast in Season 2 as the absurdly bro-tastic gynecologist Peter Prentice. Against all odds, Peter and Mindy became very close friends, and the dynamic of the show changed entirely when Pally left the series in Season 3. Now, Pally has come out and explained why he moved on from The Mindy Project, sayng this:

Adam Pally was a pretty familiar face on the sitcom circuit by the time he left The Mindy Project. He spent three years on ABC as Max on Happy Endings, then moved right to Fox for The Mindy Project. Pally brought the laughs on a regular basis in both roles, but the five years of sitcom work evidently took a lot out of the actor. His reveal to The A.V. Club that he departed The Mindy Project to focus on indie movies makes a lot of sense, all things considered. I know I can't blame the guy for wanting a break from TV. Kudos to Mindy Kaling for giving him the leeway to pursue his interests rather than locking him into The Mindy Project.

Of course, Adam Pally did return to The Mindy Project a handful of times after leaving as a regular in 2015, and his guest spots were always fun for folks who were missing the antics of Peter Prentice. Unfortunately for any who were hoping that he'd be back on a more regular basis in any potential future seasons, Pally may be too busy on another show to drop by Hulu for Mindy in the near future. He is currently starring with Leighton Meester in the new Fox sitcom Making History, which will make its primetime debut on March 5.

In Making History, Pally plays a guy named Dan, who discovers a duffel bag that is actually a time machine. Dan uses the duffel time machine to travel back to the late 18th century, where he falls in love with Paul Revere's daughter. The series was originally ordered for a first season of 13 episodes, but scheduling issues forced Fox to cut the order down to nine. We'll have to wait and see how Pally fares with his nine-episode first season back on the small screen.

Tune in to Fox at 8:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 5 to catch the series premiere of Making History, and don't forget to take a look at our midseason TV premiere schedule.

Despite only airing on ABC for three seasons, Happy Endings had an avid fanbase that really wanted the show to make a comeback on another network. So far, that hasn't happened. However, this weekend the cast did reunite for EW PopFest and were able to give fans an update on what the characters have supposedly been up to since the Season 3 finale, which aired in 2013. Some of these life updates will doubtless make you happier than others.

According to the fest panel, the group pretty much imploded in the aftermath of the series. When last we left off with our ragtag team of friends, they were dancing to Stevie Wonder at a wedding, but reports indicate that ended fast. In fact, Brad and Jane had a major argument just a few minutes later and ended breaking up. This in turn, led to the group completely falling apart, with each member going his or her separate way.

In the future, Max has lost a bunch of weight thanks to "aides"---as in a bunch of helpful interns who do work for him so he has time to hit the gym. He's also living in D.C. in the present day. His former beard, Penny, has been married more than once, per EW. After Jane and Brad's break-up, Jane moved to Japan and works for Toyota's sex doll branch of the company. Brad also moved, to Wisconsin of all places---Hello Wisconsin---and now looks like Leonardo DiCaprio in The Revenant.

But that's not the end of the formerly merry band. Alex has shockingly become successful, running a Fortune 500 company called Xela, of course. Dave later took Steak Me Home Tonight on the road after the group's implosion, but unlike Alex, his work endeavor was reportedly not so successful.

For fans of the group of friends, all of this is funny but a little bit stressful. We'd like to think that Happy Endings would get a happy ending, and despite all of the strife, it turns out that Alex ordered Scotty to fake his death, which allowed the group to come back together (although things did not end up so fortunately for Scotty). After 939 days the gang did officially reunite, and Jane and Brad got back together. Although we may not be getting a Netflix version of Happy Endings, this update is enough to remind us how much we loved the little ABC series that could.

Intriguingly, this fun update is coming a few months after show creator David Caspe said this is the direction he would like to see a reunion go in:

That's a little different than what we got with this panel episode, but it still leaves a lot for us to think about. While the cast and creative team have mostly moved on to new projects, at least we'll always have this reunion to look back on. In addition, here's where you can catch Happy Endings reruns, now.

Happy Endings was a sitcom with a stellar cast, creative plot, and a willingness to delve into the truly absurd for laughs. All in all, the show could have had a long and funny future ahead of it. Unfortunately, Happy Endings got a premature ending when it was cancelled in 2013 after only three seasons. The season finale didn’t really have the closure of a series finale, and we had no idea what would have come next for the crazy characters. Now, show creator David Caspe has an answer for what could be ahead if Happy Endings were to get new episodes. Here's what he had to say:

David Caspe's reveal at Vulture Festival (via Vulture) paints an intriguing picture of what could be to come for Dave, Alex, and Penny. The on-again/off-again relationship of Dave and Alex was a major plot point from the very first scene of the very first episode, and the show never went too long without reminding us that Alex left Dave at the altar. Still, for a while, it really seemed like the show was permanently moving Alex and Dave back into the friend zone all while setting the stage for a romance between Dave and Penny.

The romantic beats between Dave and Penny weren’t present in every single episode, but they were directly paralleled with a cheesy couple in a romantic comedy in a way that wasn’t exactly subtle. The reunion of Dave/Alex and Penny’s engagement put any possible relationship on hold, but Season 3 did leave the characters in a place where love could be in the air.

It’s fun to wonder just how Happy Endings might have pulled off getting Dave/Penny together and then breaking them up in time to bring the show full circle with a Dave/Alex wedding. Dave and Penny did develop a sibling dynamic that came to the forefront whenever their parents showed up to flirt in front of them, so it’s not inconceivable that they could recover from a failed romance without taking too much of a toll on the group as a whole.

The heartbreaking cancellation of Happy Endings proved permanent when other networks declined to pick up the show after its cancellation, but there has been chatter about a possible revival over the years since. David Caspe has said that a continuation would be possible for fans if the team could get the right budget and the whole cast back together. The fanbase for the show may have even increased in recent months thanks to Hulu bringing the entire series to its streaming platform for binge-watchers everywhere.

The fact that creator David Caspe has given away some plot details for a potential Season 4 and 5 doesn’t necessarily mean that we should count on more Happy Endings anytime soon, so we’ll have to use our imaginations in the meantime to decide for ourselves how the relationship between Dave and Penny could unfold. To see which shows you will be able to watch in the near future, check out our summer TV premiere schedule. 

Though there are several shows out there currently living a second life on a different network or streaming service, the list unfortunately doesn’t include Happy Endings, a show that fans would watch rabidly even if it was released through a series of View-Master reels. We presumably still won’t get that return anytime soon, but take comfort in knowing that creator David Caspe has another new project in the works called Manhunt that has reportedly just received a production commitment from Showtime. Caspe and cable could be an amazing combination.

Unfortunately, just next to nothing was unveiled when it comes to the plotline behind Manhunt. All we know about it at this point is that it’s not just a comedy, but an action comedy. Did your interest just pique again?

For all the lack of narrative details, there are some other notable names involved that will hopefully counter your curiosity while we’re waiting to hear more about this intriguing comedy. The concept for Manhunt came from producer Aaron Kaplan, who has worked behind the scenes on a slew of shows over the past five years, including The Neighbors, Chasing Life, Secrets and Lies and NBC’s The Mysteries of Laura. According to Deadline, Kaplan brought the pitch to filmmaker Seth Gordon, who helmed Horrible Bosses, the upcoming Baywatch feature and a bunch of TV episodes, most notably for The Goldbergs.

Gordon then took the project to Caspe and My Best Friend’s Girl scribe Jordan Cahan, who are lifelong friends (with Cahan even serving as a supervising producer on Caspe’s other short-lived show Marry Me), and the duo took on writing duties together. We can probably presume that Gordon will be behind the camera if Showtime officially orders anything.

Though Happy Endings’ audience wasn’t as big as some of TV’s other hits, the fanbase was definitely as fervent as anything else out there, and everyone immediately got loud after NBC canceled the show. It took little time to get people campaigning for other outlets to pick it up, even though a reunion in any form would require the ensemble cast to go through some contractual troubles in order to work around their busy schedules. It could definitely still happen one day, and there’s a good chance one or more of the show’s stars will find their way to Manhunt in some capacity.

Manhunt comes from Sony TV, where Caspe and Gordon have overall deals, as well as Caspe’s own production company Shark vs. Bear. There’s no telling when Showtime might make an additional decision where this action comedy is concerned, but we’re hoping our wait has quite the happy ending.

In an era of reboots and continuations, “cancelled” doesn’t necessarily mean the same thing for a TV show that it did a couple of decades ago. Fox pulled off a killer primetime continuation with the limited run of The X-Files earlier this year, and streaming services have repeatedly been taking over where networks gave up. There’s really no shortage of series deserving a second go, and one such show is definitely ABC’s crazy sitcom Happy Endings, which was axed after three seasons in 2013. According to creator David Caspe, the circumstances would have to be just right for Happy Endings to return to the screen.

Happy Endings really could be the perfect show to come back after a years-long hiatus without missing a beat. The six main characters had already known each other for a very long time back when the series premiered, so there’s no reason why we couldn’t believe that they’d kept getting up to their crazy shenanigans during the years off screen. Still, as appealing as the prospect of a return to Happy Endings is, it’s hard to blame David Caspe for turning down offers that don’t fit his creative dream for his show. If Happy Endings is going to be done again, it should be done right, as he told a href=http://www.pajiba.com/interview/five-years-after-happy-endings-first-aired-we-talk-to-show-creator-david-caspe.php>Pajiba.

One of the problems in reuniting casts for continuations is that great actors tend to be very busy. Given that David Capse is actually married to one of the performers, and everybody behind the scenes seems to have stayed friendly, perhaps another run of ten episodes could be possible if Caspe gets the creative support he needs. Former executive producers Joe and Anthony Russo have moved on to big things in the Marvel universe, but they’ve also said that they’d come back if the circumstances were right.

As of now, there’s no saying if the stars will ever truly align to bring the Happy Endings crew back together for some new antics, adventures, and pile-ons. Luckily, the entire series is available streaming on Hulu, so at least a quick binge fix of Happy isn’t impossible.

For a look at what shows haven’t been cancelled and are set to hit the airwaves in the near future, check out our list of summer TV premiere dates. 

The word cancellation nowadays doesn’t mean what it used to mean when it comes to TV. While it’s never exactly good news to hear that a favorite show has been axed by a network, hope is not lost so long as Netflix and other streaming services are out there as possible saviors. Netflix in particular has become a refuge for programs that just don’t deserve to be done forever. The streaming service has saved a variety of series, ranging from The Killing being brought back from the grave right away to Arrested Development being resurrected after years to Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp revamping an original premise.

Some shows that have been nixed by network television are definitely best left unrevived, but there are some that could use a little more closure. Whether they ended on crazy cliffhangers or just had tons more story to tell, the finales came all too soon. Here is a look at eleven TV shows that would be perfect for Netflix to bring back.

Pushing Daisies

Pushing Daisies was a fantasy/musical/dramedy that ran for two seasons from 2007 – 2009. It followed the story of Ned, a pie-maker able to bring people back from the dead… with a catch. If he revived a dead person for more than one minute, somebody else would die. If he touched a revived person for a second time, that person would die. The talent enabled Ned to help solve crimes, but it also prevented him from ever touching his true love. There was talk of a revival via big screen or Broadway, but nothing even came of either possibility for Pushing Daisies. Netflix would be the ideal place for such a charmingly bizarre series. The right mood was required for an episode of Pushing Daisies, and new installments would be perfect.

Better Off Ted

Better Off Ted was a half-hour satire sitcom that ran for two seasons on ABC from 2009 - 2010. Protagonist Ted was a good man with an important position within a soulless conglomerate corporation. He regularly broke the fourth wall by directly addressing the camera. The premise as well as stellar cast--that included Jay Harrington as Ted, Portia de Rossi as Ted’s boss, and Andrea Anders as Ted’s love interest--made Better Off Ted a particularly promising series. Sadly, the ratings weren’t there to support the comedy, and the final episodes never even aired on ABC. Critics loved the series, and the premise hasn’t exactly gotten less relevant in the years since cancellation. Netflix could nail a revival of Better Off Ted.

Party Down

Party Down was a half-hour comedy that ran for two seasons on Starz from 2009 – 2010. It followed the misadventures of a group of caterers in Los Angeles as they tried to make their break into showbiz. The premise was interesting enough, but the unfailingly hilarious cast was what made Party Down so unforgettable. Adam Scott, Ken Marino, Lizzy Caplan, Ryan Hansen, Martin Star, Jane Lynch, and Megan Mullally made up an ensemble that deserved to stay on screen together for much longer than they did. Although the stars did go on to find hits elsewhere, a reunion for a Party Down continuation would be fabulous. Everybody involved seemed eager to do more, but the stars have not 100% aligned just yet.

Deadwood

Deadwood was a western that aired on HBO for three seasons from 2004 – 2006. Three seasons is a respectable enough run, and the show served up plenty of action during its time on the air, but there was never a sense of closure to give the impression that it was time to say goodbye to Seth Bullock and Al Swearengen. There were still so many people to kill and anachronistic F-bombs to drop. There’s been hope for a film return to Deadwood, South Dakota since HBO cancelled the series, but we’ve been sadly without any new material for far too long now. Surely Deadwood is worthy of a second go, and Netflix would be a great platform.

Caprica

Caprica was an hour-long sci fi drama that sadly ran for only one season on Syfy. The show barely had time to get off its feet before Syfy cited low ratings and gave the cancellation order, but given that Caprica was a a prequel to Syfy’s phenomenal Battlestar Galactica remake with the same production team, Caprica had the potential to become a series to stand the test of time. Of course, BSG had woes of its own during its time on Syfy, but at least the parent show came to a conclusive ending. Caprica could have continued. We saw how the Cylons took over in BSG; we could have seen their rise in Caprica. Perhaps it’s not too late for Netflix to step in and give it another shot.

Jericho

Jericho was an hour-long post-apocalyptic drama that aired for two seasons from 2006 – 2008 on CBS. The show followed the citizens of a small town trying to adapt to life after a huge nuclear attack. Despite a stellar cast, including Lennie James who is now surviving in a different kind of post-apocalyptic world on The Walking Dead, Jericho was enough of a ratings flop at CBS that it was cancelled after the first season. It was only thanks to the enthusiastic fans who sent nuts to the network in a reference to a line from the first season finale that earned them a second season. Netflix and CBS were apparently flirting with a deal to bring new episodes of the series to streaming video, but a deal was clearly not struck.

Happy Endings

Happy Endings was a half-hour sitcom that ran for three seasons from 2011 – 2013 on ABC. The sitcom wasn’t really about anything in particular, but it never failed to bring the laughs thanks to the ensemble of crazy characters. The six friends were all delightfully dysfunctional in everything from their careers to their love lives to their escalating pile-ons of insults. Happy Endings never relied on only certain pairings within the group to carry the show, and mixing up the dynamics on a weekly basis kept it fresh from premiere to finale. The creative team has expressed regret at the cancellation and a willingness to come on board if the opportunity should arise, so perhaps a few strokes of luck and an invitation from Netflix could give a new beginning to Happy Endings.

Constantine

Constantine was an hour-long supernatural drama that ran for only one season of thirteen episodes from 2014 – 2015 on NBC. The series was based on the DC Comics character John Constantine and his work as an occult detective/exorcist. Constantine was the NBC contribution to the Fall 2014 DC blitzkrieg, and it was unfortunately the only one to be cancelled. The producer has said he believes that the show failed to take off because NBC was ultimately the wrong network. Attempts to shop the series around for a new home failed, but there’s no reason why Netflix could not decide to give it another shot. Comic series are all the rage right now, and Constantine is a popular character.

Freaks And Geeks

Freaks and Geeks was an hour-long comedy/drama that aired for one season from 1999 – 2000. Set in the early 1980s, the show followed the lives of high school students designated as either freaks or geeks. It’s gained a cult following in the years since, but most of the cast – including James Franco, Seth Rogen, and Jason Segal – have moved on to illustrious careers in showbiz. Fans have been wanting a reunion for years, and producer Judd Apatow has never ruled out the possibility. Franco has raised the point that they’re all much older now, but if Wet Hot American Summer could find a way to make the chronology work, surely Freaks and Geeks could pull it off for a Netflix series.

Veronica Mars

Veronica Mars was a teen noir detective series that ran for three seasons from 2004 – 2007, first on UPN and then on The CW. The show was a critical hit during its original run, but scheduling switcheroos on minor networks kept it from ever gaining as big an audience as it deserved. Teen detective Veronica did make a comeback as an adult in the big screen Veronica Mars movie funded by fans, and the feature worked so well with so much of the original cast back that a Netflix revival could be fantastic. Star Kristen Bell is certainly busy these days, but she’s been vocal about her love for Mars. Of all of the shows that would be perfect for Netflix to bring back, Veronica Mars might have the bests odds of getting to gang back together.

Firefly

What would a list of shows deserving to come back be without Firefly? Firefly was an hour-long space cowboy adventure that is now infamous for being cancelled by Fox after only a single season in 2002. The Joss Whedon series attracted a cult following even during its original run, but it suffered from scheduling difficulties. Even the efforts of fans to find a new home for Firefly fell through. The final episodes didn’t even air on Fox, which is kind of hilarious in hindsight considering how huge a following Firefly has amassed. The crew did come back for another go with the Serenity feature film, but rumors of a further revival haven’t produced anything. An awful lot of time has passed, but if there was any platform that could do justice to a revival, it would be--you guessed it--Netflix.

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There’s no TV tragedy greater than a fantastic show being cancelled before its time. ABC’s Happy Endings did get a solid three seasons on the air, but there could have been plenty of additional laughs to be had from the antics of the most dysfunctional set of friends on primetime. Even the executive producers on the series, the talented Russo brothers, felt the show's loss keenly. While the brothers are now famous for their contributions to the Marvel franchise, Joe Russo has made it clear that their big screen success hasn’t made them forget the unhappy ending to Happy Endings.

Knowing that the Russo brothers have as much lingering love for the show as fans helps with the loss a bit, all things considered. Not all producers would necessarily have room in their hearts for a sitcom when they’ve become big names in one of the biggest film franchises of all time. Joe Russo’s admission to Forbes certainly shows that it wasn’t a lack of creative dedication that led to the show’s cancellation in 2013.

A lack of talented performers wasn’t a problem, either. The regular six cast members were hysterical in their own right, and Happy Endings always mixed up the pairings so that interactions between the crazy characters were never stale. The ensemble made up a group of friends that was definitely fun to watch, even if most of us wouldn’t necessarily want to join in. Those “pile-ons” tended to escalate quickly. Sadly, poor ratings and an airtime in the Friday night death slot killed the sitcom.

Of course, now that we’re in an age of television in which it feels like there are more revivals and reboots than original series, there is the question of whether or not there’s the possibility for Happy Ending to get another go. Happy Endings continuing on a streaming service could serve. Endings star Adam Pally even has some experience with shows moving from network to streaming thanks to his role on The Mindy Project, which hopped to Hulu after cancellation by Fox. According to Joe Russo, however, new streaming material is not likely to be in our future.

Anthony Russo was quick to chime in and say that he and his brother would be first in line of the fate of Happy Endings changed, but too much time may have passed for the cast and executive producers to find a way to all gather together for another season or two. On the plus side, Hulu has landed the rights to all three seasons of Happy Endings, so we can binge-watch to our hearts’ delight with only the click of a mouse.

Few things are as guaranteed as death and taxes are, but you can be damned sure that TV networks are going to cancel some pretty amazing shows, usually on a yearly basis. Some are new dramas that are ended before they have a chance to build an audience, while others are comedies seemingly destined for cult status. Whatever the reason is from the network, the viewer’s anger is all the same when a great show is taken off the air.

Here are 12 shows from ABC’s broadcast history that were downright great, but didn’t last nearly as long as they should have, and so the network should always be criticized for canceling them. Let’s get our logs whittled down to a nice and pointy spear as we dive into the surreal world of David Lynch.

Twin Peaks

Am I saying that the second half of Twin Peaks Season 2 was so damned amazing that there is no other rational choice for ABC to have made than renew it for Season 3? No, although I found the final batch of episodes far more enjoyably ridiculous than many others have. But it was ABC that forced the hands of co-creators David Lynch and Mark Frost to reveal Laura Palmer’s killer, something that they’d intended to keep a mystery throughout the series’ run. And although the network wanted the resolution at the end of Season 1, Lynch and Frost held off until the middle of the next season, and viewers just stopped giving a shit after that. A good lesson for the network that didn’t stick. Thankfully, Showtime is behind the upcoming revival series, so we don’t have to worry about ABC giving us a lukewarm cup of coffee again.

Police Squad!

David Zucker, Jim Abrahams and Jerry Zucker are beloved by comedy fanatics for their many fabulous entries in the genre. Back in 1982, they were only known for Airplane! and for writing The Kentucky Fried Movie, both pillars of excellence, but not exactly calling cards at the time. So their first small screen effort, Police Squad!, didn’t have the credential legs to carry it through ABC’s boneheaded decision to trash the well-received show after just four of six episodes aired, all because it required too much attention to appreciate the humor. That definitely wasn’t the norm for TV at the time, but it wasn’t a fault. It was a plus, just like Leslie Nielsen was, and the fanbase for the shortlived comedy grew enough to warrant an eventual three feature films that people paid attention to with ease.

Forever

The most recent entry on this list, Forever’s cancellation is still fresh, so this is like ripping off a Band-Aid that’s been there for 200 years. Though some gimmick-based shows implode under their own premises, Forever’s lone season rose above thanks to solid performances from Ioan Gruffudd as the immortal medical examiner Henry Morgan and Alana de la Garza as the straightforward Detective Jo Martinez, as well as an often intriguing look at life and death all tied together with procedural elements. Though the ratings took a nosedive in the episodes immediately following the premiere, the audience quickly leveled off and stayed within the 4-5 million range for the remainder of the season. And even though the network suits were reportedly pleased with creator Mark Miller’s vision for Season 2, those execs were the ones who actually killed Henry Morgan for good.

Better Off Ted

It’s bizarre to think that of the multiple series created by TV vet Victor Fresco – including Sean Saves the World, Life on a Stick and Andy Richter Controls the Universe – somehow Better Off Ted lasted the longest, with 26 hilariously satirical episodes. A comedy with its finger on the pulsing forehead vein of corporations and the people who work in them, Better Off Ted is one that packed in jokes of all flavors and sizes – the unwittingly racist light sensors plot was executed almost too perfectly – and boasted a pitch-perfect cast that included Jay Harrington, Portia de Rossi, and Adrea Anders, with Jonathan Slavin and Malcolm Barrett as the bumblingly brilliant spinoff-ready lab scientists. It wasn’t the most promotion-accessible premise, so maybe that’s why ABC didn’t know how to advertise it and thus couldn’t build up an audience properly. Or maybe it took the corporation jabs personally.

The Wonder Years

Is there any other series that captures a time and place, as well as a state of mind, as beautifully and effectively as The Wonder Years? The sharply realized dramedy got six seasons, and it’s impossible to complain about that, but the show’s cancellation was in part due to network execs not wanting to get into mature subject matter as Kevin got older, combined with not wanting to pony up the rising costs that would come with following a teenage boy with a car around. And while I’m not that into seeing a modern day Wonder Years reunion special, I would have liked – like-liked, even – to have seen Kevin Arnold finish high school before the show got shitcanned and we found out that Kevin and Winnie didn’t stay together. So much wasted potential there.

The Addams Family

They’re creepy and they’re kooky, mysterious and canceled well before they should have been. I’m talking, of course, about The Addams Family, arguably the only black-and-white macabre comedy with a talking ball of hair that is based on New Yorker cartoons. Inexplicably airing in the same fall season as that other horror-driven comedy The Munsters, The Addams Family was less goofy and drew its humor from more absurd and off-putting places. (Though it’s obviously child’s play by today’s standards.) The comedy lasted just two seasons, though the 64-episode span therein is commendable, and the show’s cancellation came largely without a lot of reasoning. It’s possible ABC didn’t want to justify making the transition to color, which was becoming the norm, but few shows in TV history are better suited for an all black-and-white look than The Addams Family. The movies were fine, but the TV show is where my heart lies, Cara Mia.

My So-Called Life

In the halls of “Best Possible ‘90s Teen: Television Edition – Female,” the Daria statue is neighbored by that of My So-Called Life’s Angela Chase, because duh. One has to assume no one at ABC knew the decades-long effect My So-Called Life would have on youngsters hitting that angst-ridden and issue-splattered time of adolescence. The adult world has tons of “canceled too soon” shows, but this remains a personal shot to the heart for love-stricken teens who were far from finished understanding just how deep Jordan Catalano could get, and how many Real World seasons Rickie would end up on. By today’s standards, the ratings would be just fine, but they weren’t back then, and ABC chose not to move on. Star Claire Danes reportedly didn’t want to continue anyway, so who knows where it would have gone? No one. Because it was canceled.

Happy Endings

One of the few worthy successors to Friends as far as “comedies about friends hanging out together with mild consequences” goes, Happy Endings housed a ton of comedic talent in both its central cast as well as the recurring and guest stars, and it seemed destined for a long shelf life on the network. Unfortunately, ABC had no fucking clue how to air this like a normal show over its three seasons, and Happy Endings went through a series of changes both in timeslots and nights which it aired, eventually ending its run on Friday nights. Just insult to injury to insult, really. Creator David Caspe had even less luck with Marry Me on NBC, which featured several actors from this ensemble, and though reunion and comeback talks have continued, there still aren’t any happy re-beginnings on the horizon.

Pushing Daisies

Drink every time you see Bryan Fuller’s name on a list about canceled shows, and you’ll spend your life in a liquor-infused haze. But at least you’d have good tunes if you were watching the 22 episodes that Pushing Daisies was able to get on the air. Pushing Daises was about a guy who could bring the dead back to life (and then the alive back to death) just by touching them, and how he falls in love with a childhood friend he reanimated but can’t ever touch, and also about him running a pie company and helping a private detective solve crimes. Oh, and Kristin Chenoweth’s voice. Few shows on television have ever been as precious and shirtsleeve-hearted as Pushing Daisies, and its fanbase has let its pie-hole give ABC the business over the years. Hope remains that more will come, but Fuller is a busy guy, maybe even with shows that air for too many years rather than too few.

Batman

For all of Batman’s dark and brooding adventures over the years – in universes Burton-ish, Nolan-ary, and Miller-esque – it’s impossible to think about the cowled vigilante without mentally landing on Adam West’s earnestly iconic take on the character during the campy TV series of the 1960s. You won’t find me bitching about ABC’s decision to give Batman 120 often multi-part episodes in just three seasons, but my tone stiffens when it comes to the show getting booted from the air after its ratings drooped in Season 3. Considering this was the era of Yvonne Craig’s Batgirl and Eartha Kitt’s Catwoman, it is shameworthy. This show still has some of the best villains in live-action superhero media, from the core squad of rogues played by Burgess Meredith, Cesar Romero, Julie Newmar and Frank Gorshin to the slew of lesser-seen baddies, with standouts including Vincent Price, Milton Berle and even Liberace.

Kolchak: The Night Stalker

Every Christmas, TV viewers get tons of chances to see Darren McGavin as the father in A Christmas Story, but I’d much rather see networks annually embracing the actor’s earlier work on the horrorish crime drama Kolchak: The Night Stalker. First entering the world through a pair of TV movies, Carl Kolchak fronted the ultra-rare genre-based procedural as he solved crimes caused by vampires, werewolves, Satan, and a ton of other evil entities. And not in a corny way, but in the way that continues to make the show a cult classic and the inspiration for all kinds of TV shows and movies in the past 40 years, most notably The X-Files. ABC canceled it before its first season had even finished, and one could only laugh heartily when they ate crow unsuccessfully trying to reboot the series in 2005.

Sports Night

Aaron Sorkin’s career is often summed up in a series of hallway-traversing conversations and Jack Nicholson denying someone the truth, and it’s inarguable that the two-season brilliance of Sports Night showcases all the hallmarks of the writer’s bag of tricks, minus the Jack. The rare half-hour series to tip the balance to drama over comedy, this behind-the-scenes look at a cable sports show was far more about intra-personal relationships than athletes, and the talent-oozing cast did a stellar job in reminding viewers that these jobs are filled by people with all kinds of problems. (Maybe not the show’s intention.) Despite enormous critical acclaim, ABC canceled the show because its average ratings of over 10 million people just weren’t cutting it in 1998-2000. Monsters.

Check out our other lists about canceled Fox shows, shows that NBC should have kept on and shows that CBS screwed.

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Halloween is just around the corner. Each year, some of our favorite programs bring us Halloween-themed episodes. Luckily enough, a good chunk of these episodes come with clever costumes. This year we’ve culled some of our favorite Halloween episodes of our favorite TV programs to bring you a quiz highlighting our favorite referential costumes.

Here’s how the quiz works. We’ll give you a still image, a show title, a character name, and a short hint. Figure out who each TV character is dressed as in your brain and click over to the next page to see if you’re right. There are 13 total characters to name, so keep an eye out, because some of them are listed in the same picture. While you are answering, keep track of your score and let us know how you did in the poll at the end.

Good luck. If you end up crushing the quiz, we totally advocate sneaking some candy out of the Halloween bowl to celebrate.

START ROUND 1

TV Show: How I Met Your Mother

Character: Barney Stinson

Brief Hint About The Costume: The poor character Barney is dressed up as meets a pretty terrible fate. Also, he’s black.

ROUND 1 ANSWER

Apollo Creed, Rocky IV

START ROUND 2 AND 3

TV Show: Parks and Recreation

Characters: Leslie Knope and Ben Wyatt

Brief Hint About The Costumes: The costumes match, and they also prove that Ben and Leslie are in True Love.

ROUND 2 AND 3 ANSWER

Westley and Buttercup, The Princess Bride

START ROUND 4

TV Show: Castle

Character: Richard Castle

Brief Hint About The Costume: In this scene, two shows collide.

ROUND 4 ANSWER

Space Cowboy, obviously Mal Reynolds, Firefly

START ROUND 5

TV Show: Freaks and Geeks

Character: Bill Haverchuck

Brief Hint About The Costume: He’s supposed to be a famous TV character. Also, no one got the costume during the episode. We wish you better luck.

ROUND 5 ANSWER

Bionic Woman Jaime Sommer, The Bionic Woman

START ROUND 6

TV Show: Modern Family

Character: Haley Dunphy

Brief Hint About The Costume: This is a real-life cultural icon, who once famously met with Princess Diana.

ROUND 6 ANSWER

Mother Teresa

START ROUND 7

TV Show: Happy Endings

Character: Dave Rose

Brief Hint About The Costume: In Happy Endings, she’s part of a marionette group, but in real-life this woman is a member of a famous family, although she did not have a wardrobe malfunction during a Super Bowl show.

ROUND 7 ANSWER

LaToya Jackson

START ROUND 8

TV Show: It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia

Character: Mac McDonald

Brief Hint About The Costume: This movie character doesn't fear death and is handy with multiple weapons. However, you can get the actor or the movie character, here. That’s sort of the joke. Also, Dennis’ Luigi is unrelated but awesome.

ROUND 8 ANSWER

Viggo Mortensen, otherwise known as Aragorn, The Lord of the Rings

START ROUND 9 And 10

TV Show: The Office

Characters: Kelly Kapoor and Kevin Malone

Brief Hints About The Costumes: She’s a famous sci fi character that people get excited about dressing up as at Comic-Con. He’s a famous movie character that is more recognizable with a Segway.

ROUND 9 AND 10 ANSWER

Paul Blart, Paul Blart: Mall Cop and Leeloo, The Fifth Element

START ROUND 11 AND 12

TV Show: Beverly Hills, 90210

Characters: Dylan McKay and Brenda Walsh

Brief Hints About The Costumes: These looks would be more efficient if they were riddled with bullet holes. Still better than Jay-Z and Beyonce, though.

ROUND 11 AND 12 ANSWER

Bank Robbers Bonnie & Clyde

START ROUND 13

TV Show: Community

Characters: Abed Nadir

Brief Hints About The Costumes: Probably one of the most on point costumes on this list, Abed is dressed like a famous movie monster.

ROUND 13 ANSWER

The Alien, Aliens

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When Happy Endings was officially cancelled by ABC, the show’s small but avid fanbase went through a rollercoaster of emotions. There was hope that the show might move forward on another network, but once those hopes were quashed, it was time for the cast to shop around for new projects. We’re pleased as punch to let you know that Eliza Coupe will be returning to television as a lead in a brand new comedy picked up by USA Network. It’s called Benched, and it sounds like the perfect project for the actress.

Coupe has played neurotic characters in the past, and in Benched she’ll play a character named Nina who spends her days as a high-end corporate lawyer. However, one day she has a nervous breakdown after getting passed over for a promotion, which reminds us a little bit of Laura Dern’s Enlightened’s trajectory. In Nina’s case, her breakdown will push her out of the corporate world and into the world of public service. Her new job as a public defender will put her in the path of Phil (Jay Harrington), a handsome man with an unattractive gambling problem. Like Nina, he’s also a public defender.

USA Network isn’t exactly known for comedy (sorry Psych), but the cable station is working really hard to change that. The network is also looking at the comedy pilots Divide & Conquer and Love Is Dead, as well as new programs Sirens and Playing House. It’s the first series coming from ABC’s Signature label, and it’s the first project USA Network has ordered to series in 2014. It’s not the first foray into television for its executive producers, however. Trophy Wife’s Michaela Watkins, Halfway Home’s Damon Jones, Party Down’s John Enbom, Criminal Minds’ Mark Gordon and Family Tools’ Andrea Shay are all executive producing the new comedy.

It’s actually not a huge shock that Coupe is hopping over to USA Network. The channel has been looking to diversify and build more of a comedy brand for some time, and the cable channel initially really seemed to want Happy Endings in its lineup. Although that move didn’t really work out, I don’t really blame USA for wanting to create its own content rather than purchase a show that may have already put together its best episodes. However, if the network was interested in Coupe before, it makes sense that the network might be interested Coupe post-Happy Endings.

There’s no word on when the single-camera comedy is headed to USA, but we do know that 12 episodes are slated to be produced for Season 1. Regardless of how long it takes to make it onto television, we’re happy to see Coupe land a new role. And if you’re wondering what some other members of the Happy Endings crew is up to, Damon Wayans, Jr. can be seen on New Girl, Adam Pally’s on The Mindy Project and Casey Wilson’s headed to The Hot Wives of Orlando.

It might be a little while before Benched gets an official airdate, but we’ll keep you posted along the way.

In this day and age, cancellation for a TV series might not mean "gone forever." In some cases a series will get dropped by a network but picked up over at cable. See Cougar Town and Southland for examples of that. And on occasion, a series will get cancelled and then un-cancelled by its own network. Drop Dead Diva is a recent example of that occurring. See also Jericho and Family Guy. And then there's the even rarer but still amazing occurrence when an old show is brought back years after its cancellation. Netflix did that for Arrested Development, and maybe someday, years from now, some network will try to pull that off for Happy Endings. The friends-centric comedy series was cancelled by ABC at the end of its third season, and there was hope that another channel might rescue it, but time has run out and it's time to accept that the series is officially done.

Happy Endings aired for three seasons on ABC, benefiting from a Modern Family lead-in in its first two season airing on Wednesday nights. The move to Tuesday night hit the series harder than it could afford and its ratings slipped noticeably. An awkward shift to Tuesdays and then eventually Fridays didn't exactly help give the show the kind of ratings comeback it needed. Since ABC opted not to renew it at the end of Season 3, Happy Endings' studio Sony Pictures TV has been trying to find a new home for the comedy. THR reports that - in anticipation of the cast's options expiring this weekend - Sony is calling off the search for a new network.

Of the potential channels, USA was looking like Happy Endings best bet. The network is looking to get into the half-hour comedy business, and there was hope that they'd do what TBS did for Cougar Town in adopting the comedy and making it their own. Alas, it's not to be.

Happy Endings began with a wedding disaster as Alex (Elisha Cuthbert) left her Dave (Zachary Knighton) at the altar, drastically altering the group dynamic of their shared friendship with Penny (Casey Wilson), Max (Adam Pally), Alex's sister Jane (Eliza Coupe), Jane's husband Brad (Damon Wayans, Jr.). The wedding that didn't happen was just a jumping off point as the series moved forward and the focus zoomed out to center on the hilarious ensemble of characters. I was always especially partial to this sequence of events, which involve Alex making a mess of herself eating ribs and getting sloppy with Penny over mimosas.

That's just one example of the charming and goofy humor that's going to waste. On the brighter side, the series' cancellation means the cast will be available to move on to other projects. For Damon Wayans Jr., that's reportedly a return to New Girl. The actor co-starred in New Girl's pilot but was written out of the show when Happy Endings was renewed for Season 2. With Happy Endings fully cancelled, and assuming TVLine's intel is still accurate, Wayans will return to New Girl "in some capacity." So we have that to hope for, at the very least. Any chance New Girl could adopt five more characters to join Wayans? It's a big loft…

The move to Tuesday nights definitely didn't help Happy Endings in the ratings. Then again, for an ABC series, a move away from the choice post-Modern Family Wednesday night spot would probably always be a bad thing, given the high ratings of the family-focused comedy. For Happy Endings that move caused the show's numbers to suffer, and the shift to Fridays only made the matter worse. While Happy Endings hasn't been officially cancelled, those of us who appreciate the friends-centered comedy are bracing ourselves for the worst. But there may be hope on the horizon.

From what Deadline says, there's a chance the series might see new life over at USA, much in the way ABC's Cougar Town was rescued by TBS. While ABC hasn't made any final decision on the fate of Happy Endings, which is currently on its third season, Deadline says Sony TV, the studio behind the series, has "quietly reached out" to some networks, USA included, to see if they'd be interested in picking up the show if ABC decides not to renew it for Season 4. USA has reportedly expressed interest.

In terms of original programming, USA's better known for their hour-long dramas and dramedies (Burn Notice, Pysch, Royal Pains among their current slate), but apparently the network is toying with the idea of getting into scripted comedies. If that's the case, finding a pre-established series to lure in sitcom fans might be a great way to get the ball rolling as they branch out.

While it's not good news to know that Happy Endings' fate is in jeopardy, that's hardly new-news. What is good news is that it sounds like Sony's working hard to give the show a fighting chance. At the very least, if things don't work out for Happy Endings, it won't be for lack of trying on the studio's part.

You can catch new episodes of the current season of Happy Endings on Friday nights at 8:00 p.m. on ABC. Watch it and show ABC and Sony the show is worth keeping around!

It’s always tough for a show to move into a new timeslot. When Golden Boy moved into its one lone Friday night airing, ratings were way down. Partially, ratings on Friday are tough because people—young people especially—are out and about, spending time with friends and family without workplace or school responsibilities to deal with the next morning. Additionally, a Friday schedule can be difficult to break into because there are plenty of veteran series running on the same night, including the likes of Shark Tank and Blue Bloods, and since people are often watching less TV, they choose the shows they know, first. For Happy Endings both of these issues and more were a huge problem in the show’s first foray into Friday’s schedule, and the numbers aren’t spelling good things for the series.

Happy Endings only pulled in 2.4 million total viewers and a lousy .7 rating. According to TV Line, that’s a huge drop in the 18-49 demographic from a couple of months ago, when the show was averaging roughly 3 million viewers and a 1.2 rating. Happy Endings’ numbers were never that impressive on ABC, but dropping below a 1.0 rating is going to be pretty hard for the network to explain to advertisers. For comparison’s sake, Happy Endings pulled in worse numbers than Fashion Star over at NBC, a show whose Wikipedia page wasn’t updated for days after the first episode aired. You know it’s a sign of disaster when there’s no one willing to update a Wiki page for days.

Luckily, Happy Endings doesn’t have to directly compete with Shark Tank since the two shows run on the same network, but in the first week out, I’d say Happy Endings has a bigger problem. Viewers don’t know that the show has moved nights, or there’s not a loyal enough fanbase to care. This could go either way. The series has moved around a lot in this year’s schedule. However, since ABC has been running a pretty slick “Save this Show” marketing campaign, it’s also possible fans have given up, assuming ABC has also already given up.

I’d love to be wrong. If all of those Happy Endings fans that have brought the show back from the brink of cancellation time and time again show up in droves next week (and the week after, because who are we kidding, ABC will need to look at a longer trajectory), perhaps Happy Endings can earn the good ‘ol 1.whatever rating the show used to earn and stop being excess baggage for the network. Let’s face it, with Adam Pally and Damon Wayans, Jr. on board, Happy Endings is one of the zaniest shows on television, and there has to be room somewhere for the program’s own brand of weird.

Today is Sunday, which means there are five days for fans to coordinate Friday plans to include Happy Endings; otherwise it seems the wicked cancellation witch may get her hands on the series at the end of this season.

The clip above is mostly a normal preview, honing in on the super strange characters that make Happy Endings a watchable and even enjoyable comedy. However, the angle that ABC is taking in the clip is extremely bizarre and it seems highly likely to backfire. Next week’s Happy Endings preview is asking fans to save the show.

Oftentimes when a program is potentially up to get axed, fans will come out of the woodwork to try to get the network to keep a show around. Sometimes outlets will write editorials, or Facebook groups will be created, and I’ve even seen petitions put together to keep people or shows on the air. However, what weirds me out about this “save this show” thing for Happy Endings is that it is network-generated. It’s almost like ABC is taunting its loyal viewers, telling them that if they don’t show up on Fridays, it’s all over for the series. Hey ABC, if it is likely to be over, what’s the point in showing up to watch, anymore?

Happy Endings has kind of been shunted around this season, with the network moving the show around on its schedule, as well as airing it in double episodes for part of the season, which will force the show to end Season 3 early in spring schedule. To me, that says ABC has already made up its mind, but apparently, the network is wanting to give the show one more shot on Friday nights. Happy Endings has been on the bubble for cancellation for years, so we’ll see if this year actually turns out to be the end.

Happy Endings will air double episodes on Friday nights on ABC beginning on March 29. The episodes will air from 8-9 p.m. ET for the remainder of the season.

ABC’s Don’t Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 has basically been cancelled by the network, as well as pulled from the Tuesday night lineup until further notice. The slow but steady death of the series has been a long time coming due to underwhelming ratings, but it’s a little surprising ABC is pulling the remaining episodes of the series, rather than letting them play out.

On Tuesday—the night the show normally airs—the program has been pulled from the schedule, effective immediately. THR confirmed the news, noting that this week ABC’s new show, The Taste, will have a two-hour premiere that will cover the transition. In the future, ABC’s other program in the comedy block, Happy Endings will get back-to-back episodes to cover Don’t Trust the B----’s timeslot.

As noted prior, the last eight episodes of Don’t Trust the B---- are not currently set to air as part of ABC's schedule. Which means Don’t Trust the B---- is only a tiny step away from official cancellation. At least, that’s what show co-star James Van Der Beek seems to think. He took to Twitter today to state his thoughts.

Show star Ritter also spoke out via the outlet to state the show has been cancelled, and while ABC hasn’t officially used the term “cancelled,” things are not looking good. The last time Don’t Trust the B---- aired on a Tuesday, the show failed to even bring in even 3 million total viewers. As always, we’ll let you know when ABC makes a decision on whether or not to even air the final episodes.

Remember that plan ABC had to air two episodes of Happy Endings and Don't Trust The B---- In Apt 23 a week throughout January? The half-hour comedies were set to air new episodes on Sundays, filling the gap left by 666 Park Avenue, and then air new episodes again during their usual time slot on Tuesday nights. After giving it a shot with poor ratings results, it looks like ABC's scrapping that plan.

According to THR, both comedies, which were performing modestly in the ratings on Tuesday nights, slipped to series lows this weekend in their Sunday night airings, falling below a 1.0 rating among adults 18-49. Of course, they had the Golden Globes to compete with on Sunday nights, but even so, Sundays are a busy night for television in general and maybe not the best night to place two modestly-rated comedies. ABC apparently sees that now as they're reverting back to the usual routine for Happy Endings and Don't Trust the B in sticking to Tuesday nights at 9:00 and 9:30 p.m.

While those fans who were excited to have two episodes of both shows a week might be disappointed, those of us with full DVRs on Sundays are likely relieved that ABC's decided to drop this plan. Don't Trust the B and Happy Endings will occupy their usual spots on Tuesday nights until Dancing with the Stars returns, and a rerun of Shark Tank will air on Sunday nights for the rest of the month.

Those looking for the next new episode of what's left of 666 Park Avenue early next month might be surprised to find two back-to-back comedies in place of the supernatural drama that usually airs after Revenge. ABC's plan was to air what was left of the produced episodes of 666 Park Avenue, after which the series would not be returning with future episodes, however it looks like the drama will be pulled from the schedule until the summer.

ABC announced today that they're planning to air new episodes of Happy Endings and Don't Trust The B---- In Apartment 23 on Sunday, January 6. That's a shift for both shows, which normally air on Tuesday nights. Here's the description for Happy Endings' "Fowl Play/Date," which airs two weeks from Sunday at 10:00 p.m..

Immediately afterward, Don't Trust the B's "Paris…" airs. The episode title actually references a person, rather than a place, and involves June's new job at Harken Financial.

According to THR, both comedies will air on Sunday nights again on January 13 and January 20. Interestingly enough, ABC's not actually moving Happy Endings or Don't Trust the B off of their usual Tuesday night spots, which means both series will be airing twice a week for at least a few weeks in January. Perhaps the Revenge lead-in on Sunday nights will help bring some attention to the comedies, and hopefully fans will catch wind of this schedule change/addition between now and the shows' returns next month so they aren't missing every other new episode.

As for 666 Park Avenue, ABC is planning to burn off the remaining episodes of the series next summer, by which point I'm thinking most of its remaining loyal viewers will have already mourned its loss. Then again, perhaps those who are hoping for whatever closure those final few episodes offer will keep an eye out for them when they eventually air.

RuPaul is mostly notable for hosting the hit shows RuPaul’s Drag Race and RuPaul’s Drag U. However, the popular celebrity personality has also delved into modeling, singing, and most predominantly, acting. His most recent guest spot will have him jumping into a plotline with the close-knit Happy Endings crew for a Season 3 episode.

RuPaul is set to join the ABC comedy in a guest-starring role. According to TV Line, the drag queen will be popping into Happy Endings as a hairdresser who normally does Alex and Jane’s hair. In the episode, however, RuPaul’s character will be taking on Max as a brand new client, which sort of makes sense, since Max is the male cast member with the most finicky hair and would obviously be the dude to pay for the more expensive haircut. I really like this sort of guest starring role, because if RuPaul’s the hairdressor for the girls, there is always the potential to pop up on the show, again.

RuPaul has joined shows for similar guest starring roles in the past, although these special TV stints are few and far between and include an appearance in Ugly Betty in 2010 and Port Charles at the beginning of the 2000s. If you are interested in catching RuPaul in action in the Happy Endings episode, it will pop up in early 2013 (and I’m sure the Happy Endings crew would appreciate the extra ratings).

ABC’s Happy Endings airs on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET.

There’s no genre easier to jump into than the lighthearted comedy. Not only do comedies often rely a little more on laughs than complicated plot outlines or family dynamics, but a half-hour comedy is only a 30-minute investment, and closer to 22, if you have a DVR. Usually, all it takes is one episode to get a viewer hooked on a good comedy, but unfortunately, comedy is largely dependent on taste, and finding one in a viewer’s wheelhouse is generally a little bit of work.

While there are shows that are easier to invest in if they are watched from Day 1, luckily there are plenty of shows with the ease of plot or the writing finesse to help people to jump into any episode and get involved with a new series. To determine whether a show falls in to the former or latter camp, TV Blend writer Jessica Rawden has vowed to watch episodes of shows she’s never seen before and analyze those shows in different areas to let you, the reader, know how quickly you could become a fan. This week Jessica is tackling Happy Endings’’s Season 3 Episode 5 comedy “P&P Romance Factory.”

1. Quality Of Story

Happy Endings thrives more on situational comedy, so if that’s your cup of tea, it may be a show to jump into. This week’s three storylines were funny, charming, and a little wacky. There’s no better way to get the wacky description across than to toss out a few plot tidbits, so here goes. One couple switched gender roles but ultimately learned what it took to make a team, their buddies were occupied with fist pumping, and one of the characters had to wear a helmet for a month due to a concussion.

The story is mostly about a group of pretty normal friends living in Chicago who happen to get into absurd life situations. If every week is as strange as “P&P Romance Factory,” I highly doubt this show gets repetitive. However, if you are the type of viewer who prefers quick verbal retorts or slightly twisted humor, Happy Endings probably isn’t the right formula for you.

2. Quality Of Characters

It’s hard to tell whether Happy Endings is a true ensemble comedy after one viewing, or if it’s structured more heavily on Damon Wayans Jr. and Eliza Coupe’s characters, which is how “P&P Romance Factory” played out. While the other plotlines this week were funny in a don’t-think-too-hard kind of way, Coupe’s Jane and Wayans Jr.’s Brad actually capably worked out some issues in their relationship, which hit both funny and poignant notes. If I had to guess, I would say this show likely sticks to a couple of characters’ important stories each week and writes the other characters silly sideplots. However, I can only go by what I’ve seen and what I’ve seen is more of Jane and Brad.

That being said, of all the characters and their various attributes, I enjoyed the idea of Elisha Cuthbert’s Alex the best. I’ve seen unfunny characters play small roles in comedies before, but I’ve never seen a main female character in a comedy notoriously lack humor. Alex can’t join in with the verbal banter of her friends and she often cuts awkwardly into the conversations. She certainly has the most caricature to her, but as a gimmick, it works.

3. Likelihood Of Staying On Air

Happy Endings airs on Tuesdays on ABC and, quite frankly, it doesn’t crush. In Season 2, ratings were up from Season 1, but Season 3 has not enjoyed the same amount of success, only pulling in a little over four million viewers an episode. While the numbers don’t look great, jumping in now may not be as silly as you might think.

Happy Endings should get a fourth season at ABC, thanks to the magical prowess of syndication rights. There’s a good chance the network will choose to pull through and air one more season of the series instead of throwing all of the network’s hopes on a brand new show in the timeslot. Additionally, Don’t Trust the B***** in Apartment 23 airs directly after Happy Endings, and that show does even worse in the ratings. It’s doubtful the network will cancel both. If you jumped in now, you at worst still have plenty of Season 3 and a potential Season 4 to work with.

4. Necessary Investment Level

While the characters are designed to feel like they could be your friends, it’s not a huge deal if you only check in on the crew once or twice a month. Having never seen Happy Endings before, I obviously had no problem understanding who was dating whom and what each character’s general personality was like.

That being said, Happy Endings does seem to really like recurring gags and inside jokes. I could tell a few times that characters were referencing themes or jokes that had come up in the past, but that I didn’t have a frame of reference for. Regardless, these moments didn’t really detract from my viewing and they didn’t seem to pop up as often as they do, say, in Arrested Development.

The Good, The Bad, And Whether You Should Watch

Happy Endings will not be a comedy for everyone. Its jokes are tame, and often reference cultural stereotypes or nearly forgotten colloquialisms (“down low, too slow). It’s also about a group of twenty somethings, so while the situational comedy speaks to my generation and those around mine, I’m not certain an older audience would find it endearing or fully understand the humor, which could potentially be a frustrating problem for new viewers of different ages.

The good news is, there’s no laugh track, the writing is not punchline, punchline, punchline, and the characters really do seem like some weirdos many of us would love to hang out with. My suggestion is to give an episode a shot. If Happy Endings isn’t up your alley, you only wasted one half hour, and it’s not really the sort of show that will keep you up at night regretting having delved in.

To see more Jessica Jumps In, click here.

These days, Mark-Paul Gosselaar can be found playing the Bash-end of TNT's legal dramedy Franklin & Bash, but with the show on hiatus and poised to return for a third season, Gosselaar appears to have room in his schedule for a guest appearance or two. That includes a spot in tonight's season premiere of Don't Trust the B---- In Apt. 23, as well as a guest appearance in another one of ABC's Tuesday night comedies.

As EW previously reported, the former Saved by the Bell star is set to appear in tonight's premiere episode of Don't Trust the B---- in Apt 23, playing himself, much in the way James van der Beek regularly does in the comedy. Malcolm in the Middle's Frankie Muniz will also appear in the comedy when it makes its second season debut on ABC this evening. But Gosselaar's not done with ABC's Tuesday night line-up. This week, EW reports that the actor is set to appear in Happy Endings, playing Max's new roommate Chase in Episode 10 of the third season.

Gosselaar is suited up for his regular gig on Franklin & Bash these days, as he stars alongside Breckin Meyer as two friends and streetwise attorneys working at a prestigious law firm. Prior to F&B, Gosselaar starred in the short-lived Raising the Bar. And between legal dramas, he managed to squeeze in a guest spot on Weeds that had him showing Nancy a good time (to put it mildly). While F&B has its humorous elements, Gosselaar's ABC guest spots should give him the opportunity to really show off his sense of humor once again. I'm particularly excited to see how he represents himself in tonight's Don't Trust the B, but the Happy Endings spot also has a lot of potential to be legendary! He follows in the footsteps of Fred Savage as a beloved celeb from the 80s/90s who made an appearance on the ABC comedy.

In anticipation of tonight's Season 3 premiere, the cast of Happy Endings, not to mention a few staff members and special guests, did a live comedy show at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater on the weekend. And the L.A. improv venue didn't just play host to the event promoting ABC's sitcom but also streamed it for viewers at home via their YouTube channel.

No Zachary Knighton (Dave) or Elisha Cuthbert (Alex), but the other four major players were present with Adam Pally (Max) and Casey Wilson (Penny) as co-emcees as well as participating in the sketches alongside Damon Wayons Jr. (Brad), Eliza Coupe (Jane) and the aforementioned guests. If you missed it on Saturday night, watch the full show here...

Overall it was a pretty funny show but I kind of felt bad for the guy in the audience who never got his chair back. Not really. Pally steals every scene he's in, just like he does on Happy Endings, and I couldn't but think how great he'd be hosting SNL. Think about it NBC. Coupe playing Claire Danes playing Temple Grandin playing Carrie Mathison was also hilarious as were Jackie Clarke and Gil Ozeri as the weird old couple who 'won' a chance to hang out with the cast. Happy Endings airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.

Ever since Friends became required viewing for a nation obsessed with the titular buddies' intermingling romances, hair cuts and catchy theme song, television has been flooded with plenty of variants on the buddy-centered sitcom, for better or worse. And with a cringe-inducingly lame title, Happy Endings was not a show that initially seemed like it would break the mold. However, because of creator David Caspe's subversive sense of humor (that flaunts then flips this subgenre's clichés), along with a deeply funny cast that shares a kinetic chemistry, Happy Endings proves to be one of the most satisfying sitcoms on television.

Set in Chicago, the show focuses on six friends and their misadventures while searching for their own happy endings. As you might expect, much of the group is made up of lovers past and present, but thankfully some concrete relationships keep things from getting too far into that creepy realm of cross-pollination that's frustratingly frequent in this TV subgenre. First off there's the Kerkovich sisters, Alex and Jane, played respectively by Elisha Cuthbert and Eliza Coupe, who share a deep sisterly devotion and classical good looks but little else. Alex is a happy-go-lucky but bubbleheaded boutique owner who is often the last to get the rapid-fire zingers that are freely bandied about among her circle of friends, while Jane is a whip-smart control freak whose quick on the uptake, but lacks her sister's easy affability.

The series began—literally, its first scene—with Alex going all Runaway Bride on her longtime boyfriend Dave (Zachary Knighton) and since then the V-neck tee-addicted food truck proprietor has been dating a steady string of busty brunettes, but occasionally backsliding with his plucky ex. Jane's husband Brad (Damon Wayans Jr.) is a charming businessman who looks fabulous in his tailored suits, and can magically drop trou with the snap of his fingers. Brad's involved in a serious bromance with Max (Adam Pally), the group's schlubby, chubby and unemployed smart-ass who is shockingly confident about his appeal. And that leaves Penny (Casey Wilson) childhood friend to the Kerkoviches and Max's college girlfriend, she’s a successful single woman who is clueless and often frantic when it comes to romantic relationships.

Key to Happy Endings scintillating comedy is how each of these stereotypes (ditzy blonde, control freak, ladies man, token black friend, slacker, and husband hunter) are subverted, giving each a funny and fresh new angle. Most notably, Max defies TV expectations by being both a slob and gay, adding a new layer to the landscape of LGBT characters on television. By extension Brad, who has a passion for fashion and loves honeysuckle-scented candles and romantic comedies, broadens the representation of both straight men and black men that TV typically offers. Plus, whether Brad and Jane are engaged in an argument of the value of a night crawler-based cologne that attracts birds or are being chucked out of another restaurant for hooking up in its bathroom, they carefully dodge the TV trope of being boring just because they're married. Then, Alex's doe-eyed naivety enables the show to get away with some scandalous humor, while Dave and Penny's lives of promiscuity allow for comedy that plays on the foibles of single-life from both gender's perspectives.

The first season of the show was fun, with a couple of memorable episodes. But in Season Two Happy Endings really comes into its own, abandoning the focus on how the group dynamic is impacted by Alex and Dave's breakup in favor of a more evenly shared storytelling. This opens up the premise to a great range of comedic possibilities, from movie-themed scavenger hunts to the tricky terrain of work spouses and even how well-intentioned white lies can so easily spin out of control. The fast and furious dialogue is peppered with callback gags, shrewd pop culture references and the occasional dud joke—that is roundly scorned by the others—making for a conversational style that is familiar and inviting. You feel like one of the gang, whether they are poking a Pooh bear-like Max out of hibernation, supporting Dave in his latest food truck innovation by downing turpentine-tainted cocktails or playing mediator between a warring Brad and Jane with the help of some flowy pants designed by Waiting to Exhale star Angela Bassett.

Basically, the writing of the series is incredible, reveling in a wacky sensibility that embraces both snarky barbs and slapstick, yet avoids the treacle trap even when its character's reach their arc epiphany. But what makes this show a must-see that must be revisited again and again is the cast. There's really not a weak link among them. Cuthbert is adorable; Knighton is a solid straight man to Pally's mugging and madcap Max. Wayans proves a master comedian in his own right, nailing not only the quick-witted back and forth with the fiercely funny Coupe, but also the physical comedy that punctuates the two's often sexually charged interactions. But MVP goes to Casey Wilson, who makes Penny panicked, manic and yet lovable through all her tantrums and aggressive use of abbreviations—or "abrevs" as she calls them. In fact, it's a deleted scene of Penny imagining her spinsterhood that makes for the best element of the DVD extras, which include a spattering of deleted scenes and outtakes. While these supplementary materials add little background, the real reason to buy a TV series on DVD is its rewatch value, and with writing that's rich and layered, jokes that are plentiful and punchy and a cast of colorful characters performed by some fearless comedic performers, Happy Endings fits the bill. As Penny would put it, "It's ah-mahzing."

Length: 450 min.

Distributor: ABC

Release Date: October 23, 2012

Starring: Zachary Knighton, Elisha Cuthbert, Damon Wayans Jr., Eliza Coupe, Casey Wilson, Adam Pally

Directed by:Anthony Russo

Written by: David Caspe

ABC has posted their 2012-2013 Primetime schedule, and as you'll notice, a few returning shows have been shifted around to make room for some of the promising looking newcomers. From what we can tell, it looks like the network has made some good calls with regards to the scheduling adjustments. This includes moving Revenge to Sunday nights, and shifting a couple of returning comedies to Tuesdays.

ABC has shifted Happy Endings and Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 to Tuesdays, sticking the hour-long comedy block between Dancing with the Stars and Private Practice. As both comedies likely appeal to the same audience, I think the network is doing the right thing in pairing them, though I also think Cougar Town would've benefited well from their company. We'll have to look to TBS for that comedy.

Also moved away from Wednesday night is Revenge, which has shifted to Sundays, set between returning fantasty-drama Once Upon a Time and new supernatural-themed drama 666 Park Avenue. I would've thought ABC would prefer to put 666 Park back-to-back with Once Upon a Time, especially as a 9:00 p.m. spot might give the series the boost of the Once lead-in and a slightly more favorable earlier time slot. Perhaps the darker tone makes it a better fit for 10:00 p.m.? We'll have to see what ABC shows us from this new show.

Taking over Revenge's time-slot is Nashville, which will cap off the two-hour family-focused comedy block set up on Wednesday nights. This includes the new comedy The Neighbors. Shawn Ryan's new drama Last Resort landed a solid but competitive spot at 8:00 p.m. on Thursdays. Not mentioned on the schedule is Mistresses, a drama that stars Alyssa Milano and Lost's Yunjin Kim. It's looking like we'll have to wait for midseason for that one, though perhaps ABC hasn't picked a specific day of the week for it.

Also coming to ABC at some point...

Red Widow

Mistresses

Zero Hour

The final episode of the second season of ABC’s underrated comedy series Happy Endings is set to air this Monday night. Graced with a title that is both long and sort of an equation, “Four Weddings and a Funeral (Minus Three Weddings and One Funeral)” will have the gang of friends attending a wedding.

TV Guide shared the first four minutes (and change) of Wednesday night’s finale (April 4 at 9:30 p.m. ET on ABC). As you’ll see, there’s a wedding in the works, which brings the gang together for a formal and likely drama-filled occasion.

?Points to Jane for putting her couch up on cinderblocks in the open. One-liners really do come off better when you can make a fast exit and what better way to pop in and out of a conversation than by sliding under the couch. Penny’s date situation is one of many things discussed in the episode. Based on the episode description (spoiler alert!), she’ll end up at the wedding solo. But it sounds like that might be fore the best, as she meets a guy named Chris, played by guest star Brian Austin Green.

ABC had a good night last night in the ratings, though given the lack of much competition, that’s not all that surprising. Wednesday night saw the return of ABC’s two-hour comedy block, followed by an hour of delicious, soapy drama with Revenge, and viewers tuned in.

The Hollywood Reporter posted the news, stating that ABC took the win last night, with their series returns showing ratings boosts, pretty much across the board. Modern Family, in particular, was up 10% from its last original episode nearly a month ago. The comedy earned itself a 5.6 rating among adults 18-49. Afterward, Happy Endings earned a 3.3 in the same demo. Meanwhile, occupying the 8:00 p.m. hour as usual were The Middle and Suburgatory, both of which saw increases as well, with 3.0 and 2.9, respectively.

As for Revenge, the ratings increase wasn’t huge, but it was there. The drama series was up 4% from “Loyalty,” which aired last month, taking in a 2.5 among adults for “Duress.” I expect the promos featuring Tyler pointing a gun at Emily’s head may have done the trick there in getting people to tune in last night. Hopefully as many, if not more viewers tune in next week for Episode 12, which looks to be full of drama and icy stares.

Meanwhile, CBS came in second last night, earning a 2.0 rating among the 19-49 demo (8.2 million viewers) for the special I Get That A Lot, and reruns of Criminal Minds and CSI. NBC and Fox tied for third among adults 18-49 with a 1.0, though it looks like NBC was up slightly above Fox in total viewers with 3.8 million, ahead of Fox’s 2.7 million. Both networks aired reruns, with the exception of Fox’s airing of the Howie Mandel flashmob special Mobbed. The series dropped 20% in viewers from the November 23rd episode that aired just before Thanksgiving. Maybe people are already over watching people be surprised by flash mobs.

As the year draws to a close, we’re rounding off the last of our “Best of 2011” lists. In looking over our list of the best female TV characters from this year, it’s evident that TV delivered some excellent women to the screen. Some were as fierce as warriors, while others made us laugh. One birthed a baby while another birthed dragons. One attempted to protect the country from terrorism, while another sipped champagne and glared a lot. These are our picks for the best female characters on TV in 2011.

Spoiler alert - This list contains references to TV shows that have aired over the course of 2011. Tread lightly if you're not caught up on your favorite shows!

Rest assured, we have a list of our favorite male characters of 2011 coming up. And you can view our picks for the Top 10 TV shows of 2011 here.

Daenerys Targaryen - Game of Thrones

Daenerys Targaryen, or Daenerys Stormborn (Emilia Clarke), is one of the last surviving members of House Targaryen, previous rulers of the Seven Kingdoms. Now political refugees on the run, Danerys and her brother Viserys are forced to make a wedding arrangement with a warrior horsetribe (Dothrakis) in an attempt to return and recapture their rightful throne by force. However, during the first season of Game of Thrones Daenerys narrative arch is perhaps more compelling than any other character as she rises from little more than a slave into the strong and powerful Khalessi, mother of dragons. The frightened child (and newlywed) soon becomes the confident Queen willing to walk into a burning pyre because "fire cannot kill the dragon." Of course she emerges not only unscathed but reborn. As powerful as she is kind, I'd watch out for her come Season 2.

Victoria Grayson - Revenge

There are a number of reasons to watch ABC’s Revenge, among which is Victoria Grayson, excellently portrayed by Madeleine Stowe. The Queen of the Hamptons, Victoria is graceful, beautiful and cunning. She isn’t easily intimidated, nor is she one to let anyone get the best of her. While she’s being set up to be Emily’s biggest opposition in this story of revenge, we’ve glimpsed the softer side of Victoria, particularly in flashbacks that indicate that she wasn’t entirely on board with what was done to Daniel. It’s largely due to Stowe’s deliciously soapy performance that Victoria has become a character you can’t take your eyes from when she’s on screen. She’s scary and mesmerizing all at once.

Penny Hartz - Happy Endings

It’s the year of Penny! 2011 introduced us to Happy Endings, and with it, Casey Wilson as Penny Hartz, a single woman who, despite her good looks and fashion sense, is kind of a mess sometimes. Among the group of friends, Penny represents the single, determined, not entirely unsuccessful woman who isn’t unwilling to take chances, try new things and pursue hew own happiness. She does a mean Samantha impersonation and when she gets drunk, she speaks Italian. While those are all great qualities, she makes the list because, thanks in large part to Wilson, Penny is one of the funniest things about Happy Endings.

Carrie Mathison - Homeland

Showtime's new series Homeland succeeds because of the compelling and fresh characters they have created. Obviously, the devastating performance Claire Danes delivers as CIA Analyst Carrie Mathison makes her so incredibly watchable but credit must also go to the writers for crafting such an engaging and unorthodox female lead. Carrie is an excellent analyst. She also suffers from Bipolar disorder and OCD, meaning that once something gets on her radar, like a tip that an American POW has been turned, there is nothing else on her radar until the case is closed. That is, unless her illness ends up getting the better of her and all those perceptions are tossed aside as merely symptoms. Her choice at season's end is heartbreaking and provides one of the best closing shots (first season or any) in 2011.

Lucretia - Spartacus: Gods of the Arena

Lucretia is cunning and feline, but those qualities are ultimately overshadowed by the ambition that rules her waking life. When first introduced to her, she was cold-hearted and willing to do anything to maintain her social status and importance in society. In Spartacus: Gods of the Arena she is only on her way to becoming this woman. We see this in the kindness she extends to her handmaids and her willingness to allow her slaves to love. Yet, in a scene where she forces her most prized handmaid to be raped by a noble, we see her first resolve to put ambition first. Lucretia is a woman who is forever and rapidly changing, and she wouldn’t be so engrossing to watch without Gods of the Arena involvement in explaining her roots.

Cathy Jamison - The Big C

Cathy is a woman living with and fighting cancer. The best demonstration of her greatness in Season 2 came at the end, when she insisted on running the marathon Lee planned to run before he died. Much in the way she wasn’t prepared for her disease, Cathy wasn't exactly prepared to run the marathon, but she did it anyway, forcing her body to get her to the finish line no matter what. And she did it. The run was a mark of her strength as a woman and as a human being who has only just begun to fight. It’s impossible not to feel hopeful for and inspired by her.

Margaret Schroeder - Boardwalk Empire

On a show that often likes its women to be half-naked sex demons or complete monsters, Margaret Schroeder is constantly full of surprises, helping Nucky run his criminal empire while remaining pious and religious, having an affair with her employee while still making sure Nucky walks her down the aisle. Played by Kelly MacDonald, who's incredibly gifted at saying one thing when you know she means something else, Margaret is the most constantly evolving but also steadfast character on the show, someone whose moves you can't predict but who you'd still want on your side in any fight.

Sabrina - Raising Hope

Sabrina may be the love of Jimmy Chance’s life, but she’s more than the average love interest, able to stimulate a plot or swiftly throw in a raucous joke. She’s also the only chick I’ve ever seen to loudly explain why using multiple question marks at the end of sentences comes across as yelling. She might be a smart girl with a little nerd at her core, but she’s also grown up in Season 2, reconciling with the difficulties of dealing with her family and growing a little softer as an individual, rather than fighting at every opportunity to turn lines into jokes. This balance has made her a better person, but also a more fun character to watch on already likable show.

Olivia Dunham - Fringe

Agent Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv) is one of the strongest and perhaps most overlooked female characters on television. An incredible investigator, she's always the pillar of moral and emotional strength, whether facing her past filled with experiments or soldiering on in Season 4 without her main man (and squeeze) Peter Bishop. The 2011 year found our heroine in more than her fare share of unfavorable positions - across different universes, and yet, stoically, sternly and not without sentiment, handling every situation you could possible imagine (including being possessed by and having to deliver a Leonard Nemoy impression). Olivia continues the fight to save the universe(s) from impending Fringe events as well as keeping hope alive that her migraines might signal something more, some kind of communication with Peter trying to make his way home.

Kristina Braverman - Parenthood

In three seasons of Parenthood, Kristina Braverman has been a good mother, a good companion to her children, and a good wife to her husband. It wasn’t until her husband lost his job coupled with bringing an unexpected baby into the world that we saw the depths of Kristina’s capabilities and emotions as an individual. With her husband working out of town, she’s having a tough time managing her own ambitions, her challenged son, and two daughters in very different places in life. Within this world, her claws have come out and we have seen her fight to make the best of her life. I always thought of Kristina as fragile and beautiful, but as it turns out, she’s more like steel than glass.

It’s a bad night for ABC when ratings are down for the network’s juggernaut comedy, Modern Family. As this week’s ratings will show, a loss for ABC is apparently a win for CBS. In the face of X Factor and other stiff competition, CBS sneaking through with the Wednesday ratings win just proves how dominant CBS can be if another network slips up even a little.

ABC still did decently well Wednesday night, bringing decent 18-49 ratings for its lead-in programs The Middle (2.8) and Suburgatory (2.8). Modern Family still garnered a whopping 5.0 rating for the evening, but, according to THR, with Happy Endings and Revenge ratings also below average, ABC did not win the night. CBS pulled in plenty of overall viewers, but its 18-49 ratings for Survivor: South Pacific (3.3) and Criminal Minds (3.4) just barely allowed them to pull through with the win for the evening. I can image the tenuous victory would have been better if it had come at a bit more of a landslide.

Really, the real loser here is Fox. No one expected NBC and Up All Night (1.4) to just randomly generate three to four time’s its number of viewers. However, Fox’s Wednesday night is dominated by The X Factor, which does well in the 18-49 demographic and really could have shone in the ratings this week. Maybe people are angry because Drew was sent home last week, maybe people are sick of the judge’s infighting, and maybe people have given up on host Steve Jones. There’s a whole list of things that could have gone wrong for The X Factor last night, including random chance, but the numbers were down, faltering 11% in the 18-49 demographic. If the show had managed to maintain its 18-49 demographic base for the week, it could have been a good week for Fox, who could use a ratings win to prove The X Factor has the chops to really compete.

Overall, it was a fairly rotten Wednesday. Let's hope ratings are looking up for Thursday night.

It wasn't that long ago that ABC was playing pretty close to the chest when it came to their sophomore sitcom, Happy Endings. It took quite some time to hear whether or not the show would be getting year two (hence, Damon Wayans Jr.'s brief stint on The New Girl). Then ABC decided to show almost no confidence by ordering only few more scripts - six to be exact - before finally granting the funny series its full second season. And now that Happy Endings has been given a full order, the network is lining up some great guest stars.

Less than a week ago, ABC announced that Casey Wilson's Penny would be getting a new love interest later this year to be played by the former Party Down-er Ryan Hansen. Hansen was amazing on the cancelled Starz comedy, so it does indeed look like it's the Year of Penny. But what about the Year of Max! Which, frankly, is all that anyone cares about anyway. Okay, that's unfair, but to suggest that Adam Pally isn't the series best and most liked character is ridiculous. Unless, I'm just out of the loop and have a thing for gay dudes who are basically straight (and hilarious). Well, I can't be the only one because, it seems, that there is a 'old-new' lover for Max coming later this year. No, that's not a typo, you oxymoron (yes, that was a lame joke, me actual moron).

According to TVLine, one of the former flames of our man Max is going to be rekindled, and who is the lucky uh, rekindler? None other than the Lone Star himself, James Wolk. No offense to Adam Pally, but Wolk kind of seems out of Max's league and completely not his style BUT that's purely based on what I've seen the actor do before. The writers at Happy Endings could have just about anything in store for us (both in plot and character) when it comes to a(n) (ex)boyfriend of Max. It's reported that he'll be around for a few episodes, so they must have something special in store for his character.

The article also mentions that the casting news was made over Twitter thanks to the show's writers having an awesome Twitter account: @happywrites. It's not only funny ("So yeah, we're on tv tonight. Watch us. Let's be a thing! #things") but also informative since it not only broke the casting news but also announced that another ABC sitcom star would be making an appearance on this evenings show. East Coasters, you already know who it is. West Coasters, have an eye! By the way, the same twitter feed spoils the cameo, like one tweet later but my lips are sealed.

Happy Endings airs Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m. on ABC. It stars Zachary Knighton, Elisha Cuthbert, Damon Wayans Jr., Eliza Coupe, Casey Wilson and Adam Pally.

After one of the quietest debut seasons, Happy Endings still somehow ended up with a second season and good thing too, because now the sitcom is on quite a roll. ABC made the right choice staying with the young and promising show, even it was initially with a limited episode order to keep testing the waters. However, just last week, that got extended into a full sophomore season, which means plenty of time to hang out in Chicago with the funny six-some. The good news continues as ABC has also lined up an awesome guest star to play a love interest for one member of the group.

So, which member of the group will be getting lucky - or more likely unlucky - in love with a special guest star later this season? According to TVLine Party Down's Ryan Hansen (they called him Dick Casablancas but since I was not a Veronica Mars man, I had to google it to figure out what the hell they were talking about) is stepping into the show as a new love interest for Casey Wilson's Penny. The article says that he'll play a successful guy in desperate need of a make-over, which Penny feels obligated to give before finding him date-worthy. I'm sure it will all work out for Penny, just like it always does, and I'm excited to see Hansen (who I loved as Kyle) and her mix it up.

It's a little odd how ABC has been handling the show. It took a whole season for me to even hear of it and I am very thankful that I finally found it. On top of the lack of promotion, the network also took its sweet time deciding whether or not to renew it before going ahead with a measly half-season order before granting it another six episode extension. Finally, they stepped up and gave it the full season it deserves and maybe now they'll actually throw their full weight behind it and I hope so because it's one of the better traditional sitcoms on television. I love hanging out with the entire crew, even if Max is by far the best. Speaking of Max, here's Adam Pally doing Brett Ratner after the whole Oscar snafu...

Tune into Happy Endings, Wednesday nights at 9:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

Last night’s episode of Happy Endings featured a mention of the excellent classic film The Princess Bride, which, thanks to Alex’s over-the-top date, came complete with an appearance of Fred Savage. Check it out ahead!

During last night’s episode of Happy Endings, Penny and Alex found themselves having dating issues. While Penny’s dates were a bit on the bland side, watching movies and eating burgers, Alex’s date kept making grand gestures, one of which was inviting Fred Savage to join them while they curled up and watched The Princess Bride. Savage not only offered a bit of free commentary on the making of the movie, but he also expressed an interest to raid the fridge.

Below is the full episode. If you want to skip to the Savage scene, jump to about the 13-minute mark.

“The director was on my ass in this scene. I told him, you want someone to phone it in, you get Kirk Cameron. You want someone to be a savage you get Fred... Savage.”

It’s possible Damon Wayans Jr. won’t be the only member of the Wayans family bringing funny to ABC. Word is, Marlon Wayans has a TV project in the works for the network that would put him both behind and in front of the camera.

Like some of the other Wayans brothers, Marlon Wayans has been making people laugh since the early ’90’s. The actor has appeared in In Living Color and The Wayans Bros, as well as White Chicks, Mo Money and The Scary Movie films. He may be headed back to the small screen as Deadline reports that he’s set to write, executive produce and star in a comedy pilot being developed for ABC. The comedy, which is described as a “single/multi-camera” comedy with an “odd couple/ buddy cop” feel, follows two brothers, both of whom are cops. When one of the brothers falls on hard times, he moves in with the other’s family. Wayans will play the married brother.

The Wayans brothers have often worked together in film and television, so it would be unsurprising if whoever is cast as the other brother turns out to be a Wayans. In fact, if things don’t turn out well for Happy Endings, that might actually leave Marlon’s nephew Damon Wayans Jr free for the part, if they were were looking to cast a man in his late twenties. Of course, that would have to mean ABC gave up on Happy Endings, which would certainly be bad news.

ABC has made the wise decision to give full-season orders to two of their most promising shows this fall. Comedy series Suburgatory has been given a full season order, as has drama series Revenge, which has become the ultimate guilty-pleasure obsession for yours truly this fall.

Suburgatory airs on Wednesday nights and stars Jane Levy and Jeremy Sisto as a father and daughter who move from the city to the suburbs and are trying to adjust to their new life. Revenge is a drama that stars Emily VanCamp as Emily Thorne, a woman who moves to the luxurious Hamptons for the summer and is secretly plotting to ruin the lives of the wealthy residents who were involved in conspiring against her father years ago. You can read our recap of last night's episode here.

Deadline posted the news, adding that in addition to full seasons for Revenge and Suburgatory, ABC has given a six-script order to Happy Endings. That’s not as good as a full-season pick-up but, at the very least, it shows ABC is considering moving forward with the comedy series, which is currently in its second season and slowly but surely getting into a (very funny) groove on the network. Hopefully ABC sticks it out with that one as Happy Endings only seems to be getting better with each episode.

Image ©ABC

Among the series that survived beyond its first season is Happy Endings, an ABC comedy set to return next week for Season 2. In anticipation of the show’s return, we have some clips from the season premiere, which has Penny moving into her new condo.

Happy Endings is a half-hour comedy about a group of friends, two of which nearly got married but are now broken up, though they continue to share friends. The cast includes 24’s Elisha Cuthbert, Eliza Coupe, Zahary Knighton, Adam Pally, and Casey Wilson. Damon Wayans Jr. is also a part of the cast, which is why you won’t be seeing him in among Jess’ roommates going forward in Fox’s New Girl.

If you didn’t get to see the first season of Happy Endings, or you did and loved it so much that you want to buy it, the DVD hit stores this week and is now available for purchase. The two-disc set includes all 13 episodes from Season 1, as well as some bonus features, including deleted scenes and outtakes.

When Season 2 premieres next Wednesday, Penny gets a new condo. As you’ll see in the clips below, she’s in love with the situation at first, but soon discovers things might not be as ideal as she’d hoped.

Happy Endings premieres Wednesday, September 28th at 9:30 p.m. on ABC.

Today ABC announced their primetime schedule for the 2011-2012 season, bolstering their Wednesday night comedy bloc with two new shows, pairing their new Charlie's Angels reboots with Grey's Anatomy on Thursday night, and added two male-led sitcoms to Tuesdays, with Last Man Standing and Man Up. To accommodate the two new Wednesday night shows, Suburgatory and Revenge, they bumped Cougar Town to a midseason premiere, a move that may frustrate the show's fans but often winds up leading to a stronger comedy lineup by the time midseason rolls around.

There are a few other changes, including the shift of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition to Fridays (now competing against KItchen Nightmares) and Happy Endings getting Cougar Town's current prime spot after Modern Family. Check out the full fall lineup here, and come back throughout the day as we update the list with full descriptions of each new show, including your first looks at the cast. The biggest TV news week of the year rolls on!

Apartment 23

The River

Work It

Missing

Scandal

Good Christian Belles

While there’s good news for ABC’s Body of Proof, fans of some of ABC’s other dramas and comedies will be disappointed with the latest list of cancellations. There’s also bad news for NBC’s Thursday night comedy Outsourced.

I still maintain that Body of Proof is a terrible name for a series, but apparently people like the drama. I haven’t seen it but I do think Dana Delany’s pretty great, so that could explain the new series early success. ABC’s bringing it back for a second season. ABC also renewed new relationship comedy Happy Endings for Season 2. That’s about the only bit of good news we have to share with you here. The rest is one giant obituary for some of ABC’s other series, and we’re throwing in NBC’s Outsourced into the mix as part of our attempt to rip the bandage off quickly.

Per Deadline the jungle medical drama series Off the Map has been cancelled, as has No Ordinary Family. I gave OTM a few episodes but it lost me after that. I did stick with No Ordinary Family all the way through to the end of Season 1 and I’m truly disappointed that the drama, which starred Michael Chiklis and Julie Benz, has been cancelled. If the series had a fault, it was that it took a little too long to get going after the promising season premiere. Things didn’t really start to develop until around the halfway point in the season, which may have been too late to build any real ratings momentum.

As far as comedies go, ABC cancelled Better With You. The most I can say about that is that I hope ABC puts The Middle back next to Modern Family where it belongs. BWY was a cute comedy but I thought it interrupted the comedic flow wedged between The Middle and Modern Family. Perhaps the series would’ve done better on some other night (or channel).

ABC’s Mr. Sunshine and NBC’s Outsourced were also cancelled. The former, I thought was already cancelled so I’d be lying if I feigned surprise or disappointment. The latter, I wasn’t able to get into, despite watching more than a few episodes and hoping to be charmed by the group of Indian customer service/sales representatives and the American manager attempting to fit in among them. It never happened.

If you caught last night's episode of Happy Endings, you may have noticed a line that was muted out during the broadcast. I missed it due to an options issue on one of my Seasons Passes on TiVo and will be relying on Hulu to catch the episode. You can too as we have the episode and the explanation on the bin Laden punch line that was seen but not heard.

According to Deadline, the joke itself was left in the episode but the punch line was muted out because bin Laden’s death rendered it outdated. The joke followed a conversation about trying to catch a mouse. Zachary Knighton’s character Dave referred to the mouse as his “bin Laden.” And then went on to explain that he dated a super hot Arab girl named Jessica bin Laden. The line that was removed was, “The one that got away.”

I haven’t seen the episode so I can’t tell if the joke was funnier in the delivery. Regardless, muting it out the punch-line but leaving in the rest of the reference seems a bit odd to me. You can watch the full episode below and judge for yourself. In the meantime, Happy Endings isn’t the first show with a dated bin Laden joke in it. this week’s Chuck featured a scene that included a photo of Osama bin Laden, which Casey liked to use for target practice at the shooting range.

In what appears to be another attempt at a sitcom about a group of friends dealing with adulthood, ABC delivers Happy Endings.

Happy Endings stars Elisha Cuthbert as Alex, a woman who, at the very beginning of the series premiere, leaves her fiancé Dave (Zachary Knighton) at the alter to run off with some random guy on rollerblades. Following this fiasco, we’re introduced to Dave and Alex’s circle of friends. Penny (Casey Wilson) is the confident, opinionated single-and-looking woman. Max (Adam Pally) is Dave’s friend and roommate. He also happens to be gay, which we’re reminded of repeatedly not by how he acts but by him or someone else pointing it out. Scrubs’ Eliza Coupe plays Jane, Alex’s older sister and the more mature one of the group. She’s married to Brad (Damon Wayans, Jr.), another male perspective in the story and the married-guy of the group.

If I weren’t screening this series for review, I might have turned the pilot episode off after the first few minutes. Seeing a guy burst into a church and rollerblade his way down the aisle, professing his love for the bride was silly. Watching lead character Alex run off with him was even sillier and made it difficult to latch on to her from the start. Maybe a ridiculous opening scene is what they were going for but it doesn't really match the tone of the rest of the show. That's sort of a good thing, considering the series gets much better from there.

The cancelled wedding makes sense as a start to the series as we’re given the opportunity to meet the characters as they adjust to the new dynamic of their friendship and living situations, but Happy Endings doesn’t really start to hit its stride until the second and third episode, when the focus shifts to everyday life as Alex and Dave move forward with their new lives apart, and their friends adjust to them not only not being married, but broken up.

There’s a decidedly sit-com feel to the series, with plenty of unrealistically witty banter, exceptionally pretty characters with exaggerated personalities, and some unlikely scenarios. In one episode, Penny finds herself dating a man whose last name turns out to be Hitler. In another, Max and Dave discover there’s someone squatting in the crawl space above their loft. It’s typical sitcom fodder and it works for the most part in that respect thanks to the writing and the characters’ reactions to their situations.

Considering how great some of the dialogue is, it’s no surprise that most of the executive producers come from some of TV’s best comedies in recent years. On board is Jamie Tarses (My Boys), Jonathan Groff (How I Met Your Mother), Anthony & Joe Russo (Community, Arrested Development) and co-executive producer David Caspe, who wrote the pilot.

Happy Endings gets off to a clunky start, but once it finds its rhythm, there are definitely laughs to be had with fresh jokes and characters worth getting to know. This is a series that finds the lighter side to relationships, friendship and adulthood. There doesn’t seem to be any deeper level to the characters beyond having clever things to input into whatever conversations they’re having, which may make it harder for us to become invested in their stories, but there’s still something to be said for keeping it simple.

Happy Endings premieres Wednesday, April 13th at 9:30 p.m. ET on ABC

Regularly airs Wednesdays at 10:00 p.m. after that.