Quarantine got you down? We may live in a serious time in history, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy a good laugh. Netflix is home to countless comedy shows that will get your mind off the troubled state of affairs in the world. Whether you’re a fan of classic comedy, mockumentaries, or just irreverent TV shows with larger than life characters, Netflix has something for everyone. In this article, we’ll give you our list of the top 6 binge-worthy comedies on Netflix that will surely tickle your funny bone.
The Office
Both a mockumentary and workplace sitcom, The Office has set the standard for comedic heights among modern audiences. The show follows the day to day life of workers at Dunder Mifflin, a paper supply company in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The show’s cast is led by Steve Carell as Michael Scott, the self-proclaimed “World’s Best Boss.” The Office pokes fun at workplace bureaucracy set against a backdrop recognizable to most audiences. Like all good stories, The Office might have attracted viewers with its satirizing of a major institution, but it kept people coming back week after week for its strong characters that, in the end, became our very own work buddies.
Source: ShutterstockSchitt’s Creek
Schitt’s Creek follows the wealthy Rose family as they are forced to scale down their extravagant lifestyle. When Johnny, the family patriarch, learns that his business manager defrauded the IRS of millions of dollars, he, his wife Moira, and their two adult children are forced to relocate to the rustic community of Schitt’s Creek. Living out of a motel, the Rose family must learn to live with their simple neighbors as they try to rebuild their fortune. Filmed in Canada, the series has been the recipient of 37 awards.
Cheers
A classic of 80s television, Cheers has a feel-good vibe to it that makes any viewer understand its simple catchphrase of “Where Everybody Knows Your Name.” The series centers around a group of lovable barflies in Boston. While the humor is often biting, in the end, the characters are not simply people who drink together, they are a family. The series is also famous for the will they/won’t they between the womanizing bartender Sam Malone, played by Ted Danson, and the feminist waitress Diane Chambers, who is portrayed by Shelley Long. Running at 275 episodes, Cheers won 28 Emmy Awards during its 11-season run.
Parks and Recreation
Like The Office, Parks and Recreation is a workplace mockumentary. Parks and Recreation distinguishes itself, however, by taking place in the city hall of the small town of Pawnee, Indiana. Here Leslie Knope and her friends at the Parks Department work to make the city of Pawnee better for children and adults alike. The humor of Parks and Recreation is driven by the optimism of Leslie, who is played to perfection by Saturday Night Live veteran Amy Poehler. Leslie truly believes in the good of the government and that they can improve the lives of citizens. In Leslie’s quest to do good for the people of Pawnee, she is constantly hampered by government red tape and the apathy of her co-workers. The series also made a name for itself for its absurd storylines, which include Pawnee’s loving devotion to the miniature horse Li’l Sebastian and obsession with rival town Eagleton.
Source: ShutterstockThe Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, a Netflix original series, follows the eponymous character as she heads to New York City. Before arriving in New York, Kimmy, who is played by The Office’s Ellie Kemper, was held captive in a bunker for 15 years by a doomsday cult. Throughout all of her years of captivity, Kimmy never lost her faith in herself, being declared “unbreakable” by her captors. Once in New York, Kimmy moves in with a struggling actor and gets a job as a nanny for a well-to-do socialite. Viewers will be drawn to The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt for the show’s exchanges between the overly naïve Kimmy and her cynical new city friends. The series is truly a new take on the “fish out of water” storytelling mode mixed with the wit and irreverence of a New York that only exists in a child’s dream. Co-created by the legendary Tina Fey, The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt introduces the world to a heroine that viewers will want to see succeed as, for the first time, she gets to live her life for herself.
New Girl
Rounding out our list is New Girl. Set in Los Angeles, New Girl is the story of Zooey Deschanel’s Jess, an “adorkable” teacher who moves into an apartment with three men after finding out that her boyfriend cheated on her. Most episodes focus on the offbeat Jess navigating her love life as she makes important career decisions. Reviewers note that people in their 30s will be particularly drawn to New Girl for the way Jess and her friends address life changes as they get older.
All in all, Netflix comedy offerings have something for everyone. Whether you’re a fan of classic sitcoms or more modern mockumentary-style comedies, you’ll be able to easily find a TV show that you can’t stop watching.
