Last Updated: June 17th
There’s a reason comedy shows are a goldmine for streaming platforms.
They’re easy to watch, entertaining, often lighthearted fare that keeps us laughing episode after episode. And Hulu is making the case for why you should add even more funny shows to your watchlist. The streaming service has some of the best comedy series on TV, bringing new episodes of trending shows and housing gone-too-soon series that you’ll want to revisit again and again. Here are some of the best comedy series on Hulu right now.
Related: The Funniest Shows On Amazon Prime Right Now
Atlanta
2 seasons, 21 episodes | IMDb: 8.6/10
It’s not enough to praise Atlanta for being the most inventive show on TV — though plenty of critics have. To understand the genius of Donald Glover’s sometimes-comedy series, you simply have to watch it. The show follows Glover’s Earn, a young black man living in the titular city who’s down on his luck. He’s basically homeless when we meet him in the first episode, selling credit cards, making no money and trying to manage the rap career of his cousin, Paper Boi (Brian Tyree Henry). Over the course of the first and second season, Earn wrestles with issues of race, classism, and his own sense of self-worth. It’s a show that will probably feel familiar to some and strangely alien to others, but it should be required viewing for everyone.
South Park
22 seasons, 297 episodes | IMDb: 8.7/10
Any show that has lasted as long as South Park is bound to have its ups and downs. The irreverent antics by some forever-grade-school kids isn’t for everyone, but it’s impossible to discount its cultural impact. On top of repeatedly killing Kenny, South Park has time and time again taken on the absurd parts of modern life and turned a warped microscope on them. No one goes unscathed, from Kanye West to internet commenters, but to be skewered by the brilliant minds of Trey Parker and Matt Stone is an honor in itself. Spending 19 seasons in South Park, Colo., may seem like a daunting task, but it is an ultimately rewarding one. For the most ambitious of television binge watchers, South Park is their comedy Everest.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
6 seasons, 127 episodes | IMDb: 8.3/10
The antics of this New York police precinct are endlessly hilarious, with every character getting their moment to shine. Brooklyn Nine-Nine has one of the most wonderful casts currently on television, and it hasn’t slowed down a bit from its banner freshman season. While it is technically Jake Peralta’s (Andy Samberg) show, it’s one of the few true ensemble shows on television right now. It’s not that Samberg isn’t good, he is, but the same could also be said of Stephanie Beatriz’s Rosa or Terry Crews’ Terry or almost every other character. A workplace comedy at its core, Brooklyn Nine-Nine proves that showrunner Mike Schur is on a hot streak that won’t end soon.
Broad City
5 seasons, 50 episodes | IMDb: 8.4/10
There are few shows out there that are as consistently manic and hilarious as Broad City. The dream team of Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson living in New York seem like a screwed-up fairy tale, and yet it is still more realistic than almost every other depiction of twentysomething life in the Big Apple. Their apartments are terrible, their sex toys are plentiful, and they are there to expose the cult-like nature of the co-op. While the jokes fly fast, they still manage to work in some pathos, especially in season three, which examines the changeable nature of friendship and how some relationships aren’t made to last.
The Office (UK)
2 series, 12 episodes | IMDb: 8.5/10
The U.K. version was the original cringe comedy, starring Ricky Gervais as clueless boss David Brent, whose desperate attempts at connecting with his underlings are a painful exercise in futility. Martin Freeman is also a stand-out, playing a role that John Krasinski inhabited in the American remake, but it’s the British sarcasm that really elevates this series and makes it worthy of a watch.
Happy Endings
3 seasons, 57 episodes | IMDb: 7.7/10
When we talk about shows that were ended too soon, Happy Endings always ranks high on the list. A comedy about a group of friends doing the whole “adulting” thing while living in Chicago doesn’t sound too revolutionary, but it’s the performances that make this show as fantastic as it is. Eliza Coupe, Elisha Cuthbert, Damon Wayans Jr., Casey Wilson, and Adam Pally deliver some ridiculously funny turns as emotionally-stunted thirtysomethings just trying to get by.
Saturday Night Live
21 seasons, 420 episodes | IMDb: 8.1/10
The iconic sketch comedy series has become an integral part of pop culture since it debuted in the ’70s. At times a conversation starter, at others, a dry, sardonic commentary on world events, the show features some of the biggest names in Hollywood pairing up with the funniest people in comedy to provide entertaining and interesting acts that often do more than just bring the laughs.
Rick and Morty
3 seasons, 31 episodes | IMDb: 9.3/10
Many wondered how Dan Harmon would follow up the perfection that was Community at its peak, and he certainly delivered with Rick and Morty. Like a demented version of Back to the Future, Rick and Morty follows a super scientist and his less-than-genius grandson on a variety of adventures. It’s part cartoon, part “cosmic horror.” Who knew that following a vomiting scientist and his dimwitted grandson could be so brilliant? Rick and Morty is a demented work of escapism for adults that’s not to be missed. It’s also a still-relatively underground show that’s waiting to burst forth into a broader audience. Get in on the goodness now.
Parks and Recreation
7 seasons, 123 episodes | IMDb: 8.6/10
There simply isn’t a better show to binge watch when you need a pick me up than Parks and Recreation. Hilarious, smart, and relentlessly sunny, Parks and Recreation is a balm to weary viewers. Amy Poehler’s Leslie Knope has joined the ranks of television icons, but the supporting cast is no less wonderful. If you’re looking for a show about good people trying to do good things while making good jokes, Parks and Recreation will be your new favorite show. While the first season feels a bit too much like a riff on The Office, it finds its feet in season two and never lets up. While so much of today’s comedy is mired in cynicism, Parks and Recreation will make you want to do better. It also gets better with each rewatch, so pour yourself some Snake Juice and enjoy.
PEN15
1 season, 10 episodes | IMDb: 7.9/10
Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle write, direct, and star in this coming-of-age comedy about two preteens entering the seventh grade. The twist here is that both Erskine and Konkle, actresses in their 30s, play their middle-school-aged characters alongside actual 13-year-olds, elevating their comedy about awkward firsts and embarrassing pubescent mishaps to new heights. The show is full of humor while also covering some relatable, real-life issues that normally don’t make it to the small screen.
Community
6 seasons, 110 episodes | IMDb: 8.5/10
Has there ever been a sitcom as downright clever as Community? Aside from the gas leak year, Community was quicker than nearly every other comedy out there, with jokes flying fast but also taking seasons to reach a punchline. After getting caught with a phony degree, former lawyer Jeff Winger (Joel McHale) heads to Greendale Community College to get a legitimate degree. He gets into increasingly hilarious hijinks with his Spanish study group. Between paintball wars, zombie outbreaks, and the increasingly ridiculous presence of Senor Chang (Ken Jeong), Community is never, ever boring. Quit living in the darkest timeline and get to watching.
Angie Tribeca
4 seasons, 40 episodes | IMDb: 7/10
Rashida Jones stars in this parody of classic procedurals like Law & Order and NCIS. Jones plays the titular Angie Tribeca, a veteran of the LAPD’s elite Really Heinous Crimes Unit who’s assigned a new partner in the show’s first season. There are gags galore — it’s produced by Steve Carell if that tells you anything — and Jones is perfect as the no-nonsense foil to some of the show’s more ridiculous characters.
Bob’s Burgers
9 seasons, 172 episodes | IMDb: 8.1/10
There are plenty of worthwhile animated comedies on TV right now (a few are already on this list), but it’d be a mistake to overlook Fox’s Bob’s Burgers. The show centers on the Belcher family — Bob, Linda, and their three children, Tina, Gene, and Louise — who own a hamburger joint in a nondescript seaside town. There are rivalries with fellow restaurant owners, running-gags involving inappropriate business names (Moist Yoga anyone?) and plenty of filthy family humor to keep you hooked.
Seinfeld
9 seasons, 171 episodes | IMDb: 8.9/10
For a show about nothing, Seinfeld has left a cultural imprint that few shows can boast of achieving. Back before shows about neurotic people were the latest trend, Jerry Seinfeld blended his own neuroses with his stand up act, creating a New York landscape that many could relate to. With stories based on the minutiae of relationships and everyday living, Seinfeld embedded itself in the cultural zeitgeist like few shows have done. Even if you’ve never seen an episode, you still know about the Soup Nazi and Newman. Plus, Veep fans will enjoy seeing a pre-presidential Julia Louis-Dreyfus as the hilariously frazzled Elaine Benes. If you’ve been meaning to watch the show that has made people laugh for decades, Hulu has you covered.
30 Rock
7 seasons, 138 episodes | IMDb: 8.2/10
Few shows have as many jokes per minute as 30 Rock. The brainchild of Tina Fey, 30 Rock shows the daily madness of an SNL-like variety show, which Fey’s Liz Lemon at the helm. As she tries (sometimes failing) to wrangle her writers and her actors (Tracy Morgan and Jane Krakowski), Lemon also attempts the ever elusive dream of “having it all.” Her quest will feel very, very familiar to viewers, particularly women, as they try and balance, work, life, love, and even a small bit of success. With Alec Baldwin turning in his best performance to date (come at me, Glengarry Glen Ross fans) as Jack Donaghy, Lemon’s boss, mentor, and eventual friend, 30 Rock has the perfect blend of weirdness, sharp writing, and genuine laughs that will make it a favorite for years to come.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
13 seasons, 143 episodes | IMDb: 8.8/10
There’s no denying that the protagonists of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia are amoral psychopaths. (Looking at you especially, Dennis.) But there are few shows out there that will elicit the same belly laughs. As these raging narcissists hang around Paddy’s Irish Pub, you will be struck by the lack of self-awareness while at the same time hoping things never change. Glenn Howerton and Charlie Day shine especially bright, sucking into a vortex of kitten mittens and Nightman. Whether or not you believe in a higher power, you will thank your gods that you are better adjusted than these assholes. Still, even after 10 seasons, we wouldn’t have them any other way.
Futurama
10 seasons, 118 episodes | IMDb: 8.5/10
If the animation of Futurama looks familiar, it’s because Simpson’s creator Matt Groening helped craft the show. His signature brand of humor’s part of its make-up too, but the plot strays from the relatively normal world of Springfield and takes into the future when a pizza guy is accidentally frozen in 1999 and thawed out in 2999.
Malcolm in the Middle
7 seasons, 151 episodes | IMDb: 8/10
Before Bryan Cranston became the man who knocks, he was just a lovable, hopeless dad of three on this beloved family sitcom. Cranston plays Hal, a decidedly less mature father figure opposite Jane Kaczmarek as Malcolm’s overbearing, authoritarian mother, Lois. Frankie Muniz plays Malcolm, a fairly normal kid who tests at genius levels and has to undergo a life change at home and at school because of it.
Party Down
2 seasons, 20 episodes | IMDb: 8.3/10
There is always a little twinge of sadness when you finish a Party Down binge. With only two short seasons, there is always a feeling of “what could have been.” A show about people who can really only be classified as “losers,” Party Down masks a sharp emotional pain beneath hilarious guest stars and “Are we having fun yet?!” If you have ever been disappointed by how your life has turned out, be it by circumstance or your own bad choices, you will painfully relate with someone on the titular catering crew. Adam Scott and Lizzy Caplan have killer chemistry as two self-destructive people who see themselves as better than their circumstances but refuse to make the kind of decisions that will help them get what they want. It’s easier to coast along and mock the absurd customers than to actually try.
Nathan For You
4 seasons, 32 episodes | IMDb: 8.7/10
Nathan Fielder creates and stars in this half-hour comedy series that’s part documentary, part surrealist sketch show. Fielder uses his business degree to real small businesses turn a profit but his unorthodox methods provide most of the laughs here, as do the reactions of real-life people roped into his earnest schemes.
