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Sitcoms are one of the best ways to unwind after a long day in the office. They're great in the background, they make viewers laugh and cry, and people can watch them over and over again. It's hard to find anything bad to say about sitcoms.
Thankfully, streaming platforms like HBO and Netflix have added more of these laugh-out-loud shows to their arsenal for people can enjoy. Some are classics that everyone knows, and some are either underrated gems or new series. Whichever the case, these shows will definitely uplift anyone's day, no matter what the situation is. What are the best sitcoms on HBO Max?
Updated December 6, 2022 by Mark Sammut: Sometimes, nothing hits the spot like a good laugh. HBO is responsible for some of the greatest dramas of the last two decades, but the network has its share of fantastic comedies as well. This article has been expanded to highlight a few more of the best comedy series on HBO Max, focusing specifically on sitcoms.
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Produced and broadcast by HBO since 2000, Curb Your Enthusiasm features a semi-fictionalized version of creator Larry David as a television writer and producer in Los Angeles. The plot revolves around his everyday interactions in the office and in his home life, and most of the show's humor lies in his unorthodox social manner.
The unspoken rules of social etiquette are hard to follow for many. More often than not, the unorthodox behavior of the main character is relatable, and of course, very humorous. Now in its 11th season, this will surely be more than a weekend binge.
Ghosts
Ghosts is a series about a group of ghosts from differing time periods who are haunting — and inhabiting (with its living occupants) — a country house. Since its release, it has become one of the best and most beloved UK sitcoms in years. Each season is great, and the plot doesn't stray or falter at all.
Apart from the humorous aspects of the premise, the series hits its emotional beats perfectly. And while it has some poignant and unsettling moments, it's still considered family-friendly. The premise and story are interesting, the writing is excellent, and its main selling point is as a chill and enjoyable sitcom.
Tacoma FD
Tacoma is known as the wettest city in America. So a show about the Tacoma Fire Department should be interesting due to the lack of fires to extinguish. While the firefighters are eager and ready to fight the ugliest of fires, they usually end up tackling more mundane tasks in their everyday lives.
It's a casual watch, its humor is edgy and light. While it's not a perfect show, it's still an underrated gem that deserves more attention. Each character is lovable, and because of the premise, its situational humor hits hard.
Miracle Workers
Miracle Workers is a fun and quirky show about a pair of angels who try to convince God to save humanity. They bet him that they can achieve the impossible miracle: helping two people fall in love. It's one of the best, most underrated comedy shows of recent years.
Its three seasons use the same cast, but as different characters, which isn't something people see every day. So far this has worked great for the show, and fans can't wait for upcoming seasons. It's an enjoyable, binge-worthy series with surprising and excellent humor.
Search Party
Search Party has a unique premise, but it works surprisingly well. It's the perfect light but exciting sitcom to watch on a rainy day. The story focuses on a missing young woman, and more importantly, the search party looking for her.
A group of friends joins the search party in New York City, and their involvement results in some weird events and twists. Its satirical, dark humor perfectly encapsulates the absurdity of millennial adulthood, but writers pull it off fantastically, making the show very enjoyable.
Young Sheldon
The Big Bang Theory is one of the best sitcoms of the decade. While there are people who think it's majorly overrated, the show has a new take on sitcoms and "technical humor." Young Sheldon is its prequel, focusing on Sheldon Cooper as a young child.
As seen in the original series, Sheldon as an adult struggles to fit in and doesn't understand the basic rules of etiquette and human behavior. This is highlighted in Young Sheldon, where viewers can see the environment the genius grew up in. While the show isn't perfect, especially compared to its predecessor, it's still worth a watch after finishing The Big Bang Theory.
The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory - as stated above - has a fresh take on technical humor. Similar has been seen in the I.T. Crowd, which was also a sitcom dedicated to a small group of people who truly understand its writing. The show focuses on gaming, physics, engineering, and some biology.
When Penny, a beautiful blonde with big L.A. dreams, moves into her new apartment, she finds herself adjacent to a pair of quirky physicists. Soon she becomes friendly with the whole group, getting to know each one of the socially awkward geniuses on a personal level. The contrast between simple "normal" people and geniuses is enjoyable, and because both types of people are represented, it can be enjoyed by everyone.
The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air
The French Prince of Bel-Air is one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time. Starring Will Smith and featuring his best-selling single, the show revolves around a teenager who moves to his wealthy relatives because his mother feared for his safety in their shady neighborhood.
The sitcom's humor is truly one-of-a-kind, and the representation of this community was (and is) much needed. Creators challenged black-on-black prejudice, and in a fun and light manner, inspired conversations on the matter. It's a show everyone should watch at least once in their lifetime.
Flight Of The Conchords
Lasting for two seasons, Flight of the Conchords is the brainchild of Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie, two creators from New Zealand. Portraying fictionalized versions of themselves, the characters travel to New York in the hope of making it as musicians; naturally, this dream proves to be anything but simple. While some shows might feature the occasional musical episode, Flight of the Conchords is a rare beast since Jemaine and Bret are prone to breaking into song at any moment of each episode.
Musicals can put off people who are not into the genre, but Flight of the Conchords uses this tool to complement its humor. At the end of the day, this series is still undoubtedly a comedy and a hilarious one at that. The leads are endearing and unforgettable, and the show's writing is consistently witty.
Veep
Political satires are difficult to execute well, and there are not all that many shows willing to take on the challenge. Lasting for seven seasons, Veep follows the ambitious Selina Meyer as she tries to survive the challenges of the White House while backed by generally incompetent staff.
Although funny right out of the gate, the HBO comedy picks up significant steam as it goes along. Veep not only becomes funnier with each passing season, but the show also sharpens its satire and political commentary. Featuring an all-star cast of comedy veterans led by the irreplaceable Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep is smart, cutting, and laugh-out-loud funny. This series is a must-watch for fans of The Thick of It​​​​​​.
Silicon Valley
As its title suggests, Silicon Valley is all about technology, and it follows a young programmer who is trying to establish his company in the eponymous location. Created by Mike Judge, John Altschuler, and Dave Krinsky, Silicon Valley's brilliance lies in its knowledge of its subject, as the sitcom presents a relatively grounded look into this world.
Obviously, a few things are exaggerated for comedic effect, but it is never at the expense of the show's legitimacy. More importantly, Silicon Valley is painfully hilarious and features a cast of talented comedians.
Eastbound & Down
HBO Max is a goldmine for Danny McBride fans. The service has Vice Principals and The Righteous Gemstones, which are both great comedies; however, McBride's crowning achievement is still Eastbound & Down. The sitcom follows a washed-up baseball player who is left with no choice but to return home and teach at the local middle school, a position that brings out the best and worst in him.
While initially coming across as an obnoxious idiot, Kenny Powers is a fantastic main character who reveals a surprising amount of depth through the show's four seasons.
Friends
A true epoch-maker, Friends was a part of every 90s kid's life. Now, thanks to HBO, it can continue to be a part of everyone's life. Rachel Green's haircut, Joey's catchphrases, and many more are now staples of a whole generation.
Chandler's sense of humor is now embedded into thousands of people, and the existence of Ross is a trauma we all have to bear. But alas, we love every one of them, including Monica's constant need to micromanage and all of Phoebe's quirks. Because if there's one thing Friends has taught us, it's "I'll be there for you."