Sitcoms You’re Sleeping On (But Shouldn’t)
There are more good sitcoms than any one person can keep up with, and plenty of them slipped past wide audiences for reasons that had little to do with quality—odd time slots, limited marketing, short runs, or being ahead of their time. This list rounds up several shows that delivered sharp premises, distinct voices, and memorable casts, but never became the default water-cooler picks.
Each entry below includes core facts—creators, networks, episode counts, and what the show actually does—with sources so you can verify details and decide what to sample next. No spoilers—just enough context to help you find your next comfort watch.
‘Better Off Ted’ (2009–2010)
A satire of corporate culture set inside the amoral conglomerate Veridian Dynamics, the series follows R&D executive Ted Crisp and his team as they navigate ethically dubious mandates and bizarre experiments, frequently breaking the fourth wall to narrate events. It ran for two seasons on ABC with 26 episodes, including two that initially went unaired in the U.S.
Created by Victor Fresco, the single-camera sitcom starred Jay Harrington, Portia de Rossi, Andrea Anders, Malcolm Barrett, and Jonathan Slavin, and filmed in Los Angeles. Episodes are roughly 21 minutes, and the show’s ensemble and workplace setup anchor its serialized and standalone plots.
‘Happy Endings’ (2011–2013)
This ensemble sitcom centers on six friends in Chicago whose lives and relationships keep intersecting after a wedding-day breakup. It aired on ABC for three seasons totaling 57 episodes and was produced by Sony Pictures Television and ABC Studios.
Created by David Caspe, the single-camera series features Eliza Coupe, Elisha Cuthbert, Damon Wayans Jr., Adam Pally, Casey Wilson, and Zachary Knighton, with episodes often released and later discussed in differing production orders. Cast members and producers have occasionally discussed revival efforts, and episodes have rotated among various platforms over time.
‘Party Down’ (2009–2010)
A comedy about Los Angeles cater-waiters chasing show-business dreams, this single-camera series originally ran on Starz for two seasons with an ensemble including Adam Scott, Ken Marino, Jane Lynch, Martin Starr, Ryan Hansen, and Lizzy Caplan. The show follows a different catered event each episode as the staff juggle gigs and auditions.
Created by John Enbom, Rob Thomas, Dan Etheridge, and Paul Rudd, the series was canceled after its initial run before later returning for an additional season following renewed interest. Critical notices and awards recognition have consistently cited its sharp writing and cast, and the revival drew widespread coverage.
‘Enlisted’ (2014)
Set on a stateside Army base, this single-season Fox sitcom follows three brothers assigned to the same Rear Detachment unit handling on-post duties while others are deployed. Fox ordered 13 episodes; scheduling changes and low ratings led to cancellation, with the remaining episodes airing later.
Created by Kevin Biegel, the show stars Geoff Stults, Chris Lowell, and Parker Young, with Keith David and Angelique Cabral in supporting roles. Production used a single-camera setup, and the series drew positive reviews despite its short run.
‘Andy Richter Controls the Universe’ (2002–2003)
This single-camera workplace comedy centers on a manual writer at Pickering Industries whose unreliable narration and fantasy cutaways shape each episode. It aired on Fox across two short seasons for 19 episodes.
Created by Victor Fresco and starring Andy Richter, Paget Brewster, Jonathan Slavin, Irene Molloy, and James Patrick Stuart, the show later received a complete-series DVD release with commentaries and featurettes.
‘Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23’ (2012–2013)
A New York City odd-couple setup pairs an idealistic newcomer with a mischievous scam-artist roommate, with several episodes featuring James Van Der Beek playing a satirized version of himself. ABC ran two seasons before cancellation.
Created by Nahnatchka Khan, the single-camera series stars Krysten Ritter, Dreama Walker, and James Van Der Beek, and it garnered strong aggregated critical scores across its run. Unaired episodes later found a home on cable, where they were broadcast in intended order.
‘Trial & Error’ (2017–2018)
A mockumentary legal comedy set in East Peck follows a New York defense attorney who takes on an eccentric murder case, with a new defendant in the second season. NBC aired two seasons totaling 23 episodes.
Created by Jeff Astrof and Matt Miller, the series employed a single-camera format and featured Nicholas D’Agosto, Jayma Mays, Sherri Shepherd, Steven Boyer, and, in different seasons, John Lithgow and Kristin Chenoweth. Review aggregators recorded consistently favorable notices.
‘Man Seeking Woman’ (2015–2017)
Based on Simon Rich’s short-story collection, this surreal dating comedy follows a young man whose romantic misadventures are portrayed with extravagant fantasy elements. It aired on FXX for three seasons and 30 episodes.
Produced by Broadway Video and FX Productions, the single-camera series stars Jay Baruchel, Eric André, and Britt Lower, among others, and films largely in Toronto while being set in Chicago.
‘Wrecked’ (2016–2018)
A deserted-island ensemble comedy, this series begins with survivors of a plane crash adapting to an unfamiliar environment. TBS ordered a pilot, then a 10-episode first season; the show ultimately ran three seasons before cancellation.
Created by Jordan and Justin Shipley, the production filmed in Puerto Rico for the pilot and later in Fiji, with renewals announced between seasons before TBS ended the series after its third run.
‘Great News’ (2017–2018)
Set at a cable newsroom, the show follows a rising producer whose mother unexpectedly becomes an intern on the same program. NBC ran two seasons totaling 23 episodes.
Created by Tracey Wigfield and executive-produced with Tina Fey and Robert Carlock, the single-camera series features Briga Heelan, Andrea Martin, John Michael Higgins, Nicole Richie, and others, and received a Gracie Award for Outstanding Comedy.
‘Trophy Wife’ (2013–2014)
A family sitcom about a newlywed adjusting to life with a husband’s two ex-wives and three children, this ABC series ran one season for 22 episodes before cancellation.
Co-created by Emily Halpern and Sarah Haskins, the single-camera show starred Malin Åkerman, Bradley Whitford, and Marcia Gay Harden, among others, and drew positive contemporary critical notices during its original broadcast.
‘Suburgatory’ (2011–2014)
A satire about a city teenager relocating to the suburbs with her single father, this ABC series ran three seasons for 57 episodes. The show title combines “suburban” and “purgatory,” reflecting its fish-out-of-water premise.
Created by Emily Kapnek and adapted from Linda Keenan’s book, it used a single-camera format and maintained strong aggregated reviews across its seasons before ABC canceled it following its third run.
‘Black Books’ (2000–2004)
Set in a chaotic London bookshop, this Channel 4 sitcom stars Dylan Moran, Bill Bailey, and Tamsin Greig and spans three series totaling 18 episodes. Episodes typically run about 25 minutes and were produced by Big Talk.
Co-created by Dylan Moran and Graham Linehan, the show’s pilot originated from a Channel 4 sitcom festival before the full series was commissioned, with later episodes written by a team including Kevin Cecil and Andy Riley.
‘Spaced’ (1999–2001)
Created by and starring Simon Pegg and Jessica Stevenson (now Jessica Hynes), with Edgar Wright directing, this Channel 4 series follows two twenty-somethings who pose as a couple to rent a flat and end up navigating an eccentric social circle. It ran for two series with 14 episodes.
Known for its dense film and pop-culture references and rapid visual style, the single-camera sitcom was BAFTA-nominated for Best Situation Comedy for each series and has been noted for its cinematic approach to half-hour comedy.
‘Detectorists’ (2014–2022)
This gentle comedy follows members of a metal-detecting club in the fictional town of Danebury, focusing on their friendships and small discoveries. It first aired on BBC Four before later specials, including a Christmas return.
Created, written, and directed by Mackenzie Crook—who also stars alongside Toby Jones—the series won a BAFTA for Scripted Comedy and was primarily filmed in Suffolk locations.
‘W1A’ (2014–2017)
A mockumentary set inside the BBC, this series follows corporate managers grappling with strategy, branding, and public scrutiny. It aired on BBC Two across three series with specials.
Created by John Morton and narrated by David Tennant, the show stars Hugh Bonneville, Jessica Hynes, Monica Dolan, and others, and filmed at Broadcasting House and MediaCityUK.
‘Toast of London’ (2013–2015)
Starring Matt Berry as actor Steven Toast, this industry-skewering sitcom tracks auditions, voice-over gigs, and personal mishaps. It originally aired on Channel 4, later spawning a follow-on series titled ‘Toast of Tinseltown.’
Co-created by Berry and Arthur Mathews, the series used a half-hour format and ultimately totaled 25 episodes across its iterations, with Berry later winning a BAFTA for his performance.
‘Stath Lets Flats’ (2018–2021)
Set at a family-run London letting agency, this sitcom stars creator Jamie Demetriou as an inept agent employed by his father. Channel 4 aired three series.
The show is produced by Roughcut TV and features Natasia Demetriou, Christos Stergioglou, Katy Wix, and Kiell Smith-Bynoe, among others, with episodes running roughly 22–25 minutes.
‘Kim’s Convenience’ (2016–2021)
A family sitcom about Korean Canadian shop owners and their adult children, this CBC series ran for five seasons totaling 65 episodes. It stars Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Jean Yoon, Andrea Bang, Simu Liu, and Andrew Phung.
Developed by Ins Choi and Kevin White from Choi’s stage play, the production filmed in Toronto using sets modeled after a real convenience store, and it earned multiple Canadian Screen Awards over its run.
‘Please Like Me’ (2013–2016)
Created by and starring Josh Thomas, this Australian half-hour blends comedy and drama while following a young man and his circle of friends and family. It premiered on ABC2 and later aired on Pivot in the United States.
The series ran for four seasons, with Thomas credited as writer for every episode; it drew critical praise and various nominations and awards for its honest, character-focused storytelling.
‘Wellington Paranormal’ (2018–2022)
A spin-off from ‘What We Do in the Shadows,’ this mockumentary follows two Wellington police officers investigating supernatural incidents. It aired on TVNZ 2 and produced multiple seasons plus specials and web content in collaboration with New Zealand Police.
Created by Taika Waititi, Jemaine Clement, and Paul Yates, the series stars Mike Minogue and Karen O’Leary and includes episodes directed by Clement and others, expanding the franchise’s universe on television.
‘People of Earth’ (2016–2017)
This TBS comedy centers on a support group for people who believe they’ve been abducted by aliens, intercut with scenes of the extraterrestrials themselves. It ran two seasons for 20 episodes.
Created by David Jenkins and executive-produced by Greg Daniels and Conan O’Brien, the show used a single-camera setup and featured Wyatt Cenac, Ana Gasteyer, Oscar Nuñez, and Alice Wetterlund among its ensemble.
‘The Goode Family’ (2009)
An animated sitcom from Mike Judge with John Altschuler and Dave Krinsky, this ABC series follows a well-meaning, environmentally focused family whose efforts often backfire. It ran one season for 13 episodes.
Produced by Media Rights Capital and Film Roman among others, the show features voice work by Mike Judge, Nancy Carell, Linda Cardellini, and David Herman, with episodes running roughly 22 minutes.
‘Clone High’ (2002–2003)
Set in a high school populated by clones of historical figures, this animated sitcom originally aired on MTV and later returned with new episodes on Max years after its original run. The original series used a half-hour format and parody framing devices.
Created by Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, and Bill Lawrence, the show’s cast includes Will Forte and others, and the franchise’s modern continuation updated characters and themes while retaining its satire.
‘Detroiters’ (2017–2018)
A workplace comedy about two best friends making local TV commercials at a small Detroit ad agency, this Comedy Central series ran two seasons totaling 20 episodes before cancellation.
Created by and starring Sam Richardson and Tim Robinson, with executive producers including Lorne Michaels and Jason Sudeikis, the production filmed on location in Detroit and drew coverage for its distribution shifts after its initial run.
If you’ve watched any of these and think they deserve more love—or you’ve got your own under-the-radar picks—drop your recommendations in the comments so everyone can discover more hidden sitcom gems!
