10 Underrated 2010s Sitcoms You Need To Revisit

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The 1990s and early 2000s were a fantastic time for sitcoms, but the 2010s didn’t produce as many shows that really captured the public’s attention. Looking back, though, some of those shows deserve another chance. The 2010s saw a lot of different kinds of sitcoms – from traditional shows with laugh tracks to more modern, documentary-style comedies – but many of them didn’t find an audience right away, and networks ended up cancelling them before they could really take off.

Some TV shows consistently drew large audiences and became annual events, while others survived with smaller viewership but didn’t necessarily thrive long-term. Following the popularity of sitcoms in the 90s and 2000s, shows in the 2010s often had to be highly innovative, which was difficult to accomplish in the time allotted.

The 2010s brought big changes to television. Streaming services like Netflix and Hulu stopped simply supporting existing shows and started creating their own original content, fundamentally altering how TV worked. While people were watching more video overall, they were tuning into traditional network television a little less often.

It’s become more challenging for sitcoms to find viewers compared to the past, impacting how quickly shows gain popularity. Many good shows didn’t get the attention they deserved when they first aired, but are worth watching now after being off the air for a while.

10. Friends With Benefits

NBC

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The 2011 NBC sitcom Friends With Benefits didn’t last long – it only ran for 13 episodes. However, the show had a promising premise. It centered around a group of friends living in Los Angeles, navigating the ups and downs of love and life with a hopeful outlook. The main character, Ben Lewis (played by Ryan Hansen), wasn’t interested in a serious relationship, but his friend Sara Maxwell (Danneel Ackles) was eager to find love.

Sara and Ben try a casual, friends-with-benefits relationship, but it ends up being more awkward than enjoyable. Despite this, they continue the arrangement, and their friend group’s lives become increasingly comical. Though the show didn’t run for many seasons, it successfully blended romantic comedy elements with a traditional sitcom format, influencing other shows that followed. ‘Friends With Benefits’ is a lighthearted, playful, and occasionally embarrassing series.

9. Selfie

ABC

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Inspired by My Fair Lady, the ABC series Selfie had the potential to be a big success. It starred Karen Gillan as Eliza Dooley, who worked with John Cho’s character, Henry Higgins, to improve her image and gain followers on social media. Unfortunately, this charming 2014 romantic comedy was canceled before it could really find its audience.

I remember when Selfie first came out, everyone understood the idea of presenting a certain image online. But the show really dove deep into that world, maybe a little too much for some people at the time, and that might have been why it didn’t stick around. Honestly though, I still think it’s worth checking out! The connection between Karen Gillan and John Cho was fantastic, and it’s surprisingly relatable even now – it really captured what dating was like back then, and in some ways, still is!

8. Raising Hope

Fox

Running for four seasons, Raising Hope was a quietly funny sitcom on Fox. The show centers on Jimmy Chance (Lucas Neff) and his journey into fatherhood after a surprising and complicated situation. He raises his daughter, Hope, with the help of his quirky and lovable family. Standout performances include Martha Plimpton as Jimmy’s mother, Virginia, and Cloris Leachman as his hilarious great-grandmother, Maw Maw.

As a sitcom fan, I always thought Raising Hope was hilarious, but what really set it apart was how genuinely real the Chance family felt, even with all their craziness. Their antics were consistently the funniest part of the show, and even when things got totally absurd, the series still managed to be incredibly heartwarming and optimistic – it was one of the most feel-good sitcoms of the 2010s, in my opinion.

7. Life In Pieces

CBS

From 2015 to 2018, CBS’s Life In Pieces was a comedy that followed the Short family for three generations. Instead of a typical sitcom format, each episode presented four separate, self-contained stories, each focusing on a different branch of the family. This unique approach allowed viewers to see the characters develop consistently throughout the series.

Featuring James Brolin and Dianne Wiest as the parents, the show Life In Pieces aimed to portray a relatable, modern family. By exploring universal family challenges throughout different life stages, it offered a realistic and often funny look at everyday life, with touches of drama woven throughout its four seasons.

6. One Day At A Time

Netflix

The show One Day At A Time is a fresh take on the classic 1970s sitcom. This version centers around Penelope Alvarez (Justina Machado), an army nurse and single mother raising her two children with the help of her mother, Lydia Riera (Rita Moreno), after a divorce from her husband, who is also a veteran.

One Day At A Time is a funny and heartfelt show that realistically explores important topics like immigration, PTSD, mental health, and finding your identity, all through the experiences of a family. The show offers authentic representation of Cuban-American culture, and while it uses classic sitcom humor, it also handles serious issues with sensitivity and realism, making it a show worth revisiting.

5. You’re The Worst

FX

FX’s show You’re The Worst isn’t your typical sitcom. It’s a surprisingly deep and funny series that blends comedy and drama. The show follows Jimmy Shive-Overly (Chris Geere), a self-focused writer, and Gretchen Cutler (Aya Cash), a carefree PR executive, as they navigate their relationship through all its ups and downs.

Jimmy and Gretchen navigate awkward social moments, work problems, and big life changes with the help – and often, the added chaos – of their friends Edgar and Lindsay. The show, You’re The Worst, doesn’t shy away from difficult feelings, which allows viewers to really connect with the characters and their struggles.

4. A.P. Bio

NBC

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The NBC comedy A.P. Bio centers around Jack Griffin (Glenn Howerton), a former Harvard professor who loses his status and ends up teaching AP Biology at a high school in Toledo, Ohio. However, instead of focusing on education, Jack cleverly uses his students to get back at Miles Leonard (Tom Bennett), a professional rival. The show ran for four seasons, starting in 2018 on NBC.

Although A.P. Bio starts with a quirky and unique idea, what really makes the show good is its emotional core. We’ve seen a lot of shows about schools lately, like Abbott Elementary, but A.P. Bio proves that this familiar setting can still be fresh and creatively surprising.

3. Baby Daddy

Freeform

Despite airing for years on ABC Family and Freeform, Baby Daddy is a show that many viewers might have overlooked – and that’s a shame. The series centers on Ben Wheeler (Jean-Luc Bilodeau), a carefree guy living in New York City whose life changes when he discovers he has a baby. With the support of his friends and mother, Bonnie (Melissa Peterman), Ben learns to navigate the ups and downs of fatherhood.

I really enjoy Baby Daddy because even though it’s a pretty simple, lighthearted show, it manages to appeal to so many different kinds of viewers. What I especially love is that it’s genuinely funny and clever, but still something my whole family can watch together – which was a little rarer for sitcoms back in the 2010s. It’s just consistently fun, making it a show I always enjoy revisiting!

2. 2 Broke Girls

CBS

CBS’s 2 Broke Girls is a somewhat edgy comedy that follows the unlikely friendship of Max Black (Kat Dennings) and Caroline Channing (Beth Behrs). The show is set in a Brooklyn diner and centers around their contrasting backgrounds: Max comes from a poor upbringing, while Caroline grew up rich. This difference in experiences leads to humorous culture clashes throughout the series as they deal with life in their lively neighborhood and quirky workplace.

2 Broke Girls is often a sharp and funny show, tackling stereotypes and current issues with its signature sitcom style. The strong connection between Kat Dennings and Beth Behrs is a highlight, and their characters’ enduring friendship provides a solid foundation for increasingly complex storylines.

1. Happy Endings

ABC

Many sitcom fans consider Happy Endings a must-watch, but it only lasted three seasons – leaving viewers wanting more. The show, set in Chicago, centers around six friends whose lives are turned upside down when a wedding is called off, causing friendships to shift and alliances to form.

While the characters navigate life after big changes, the show offers glimpses into their romantic histories, giving viewers a deeper connection to this hilarious group. Packed with quirky humor and references to popular culture, Happy Endings is incredibly rewatchable. With a fantastic cast, clever writing, and jokes that remain funny even today, it’s a shame the show only lasted three seasons.

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2025-10-27 01:11