The 10 Funniest TV Shows of 2024

For SEO reasons I wanted to call this list “the best sitcoms of 2024.” The problem is that “sitcom” isn’t the most accurate word anymore to sum up TV comedy. It’s not just that some of the funniest shows on TV aren’t linear or story-focused enough to really fit (and I’m not just talking about sketch shows there, but something like this year’s Fantasmas, which does have a season-long arc but is more than happy to spend much of an episode on one-off characters and scenes that have nothing to do with it). “Sitcom,” short for situational comedy, is a specific artform created and refined for American TV, with a three-act structure that runs for 20-odd minutes with ads to fill out a half-hour programming block. Only three shows on this list hit that trifecta, with the rest using the freedom of streaming or premium cable to eliminate ad breaks and firm run-times. There’s also the exhaustingly well-documented “trend” (in quotes because it’s been going on since, like, Molly Dodd 35 years ago, at least, and thus isn’t a “trend” but just the way things are) of shows that are as dramatic as they are funny, leading to annual kvetching about what TV shows get nominated for the best comedy awards, and thus making the word “sitcom” feel outdated and inelegant. We aren’t going to deny that The Bear can be very funny, but calling it a “sitcom” doesn’t really capture what the show is aiming for, while also disrespecting all the amazing shows that are clearly, intentionally sitcoms working in the traditional mold of the term—many of which are better shows than The Bear. (Sorry, What We Do in the Shadows deserve whatever Emmys The Bear has won, and several more on top of that.) So yeah, we’re avoiding “sitcom” and just calling this thing “the funniest TV shows of 2024.” Good comedy can come from anywhere and arise from any situation, even ones that aren’t fabricated specifically for comedy, so let’s scrap the clumsy old word unless we’re talking about something that is purposefully aiming to be a sitcom.

Okay, speaking of clumsy, let’s just move on from that whole damn paragraph and get down to business. Here are the funniest TV shows of the year, based on some votes some critics cast a few weeks ago, and finagled a bit by me, the guy who edited Paste‘s comedy section for like a decade and was just put in charge of all our TV coverage a few months ago. Read on, friend.—Garrett Martin

10. The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy

funniest tv shows the second best hospital in the galaxy

Created by: Cirocco Dunlap
Network: Prime Video

The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy follows Dr. Sleech (Stephanie Hsu) and Dr. Klak (Keke Palmer), two surgeons who are pushing the envelope for what can (and should) be done in the medical profession. After a new anxiety-eating parasite arrives on the scene, the two must make a choice: destroy it entirely or use it as the foundation for a new mental health drug. The latter option sounds great. But at what cost? Despite the temporary mental respite the parasite provides, the experiments are going terribly wrong, and ultimately may result in much more harm than good. Like Rick and Morty, Second Best Hospital takes on significant themes alongside its attempts to make us laugh. Among the deep issues addressed (which include the passage of time and the ethics of medicine, for example), the one that is at the center of the series is something that is not unfamiliar to people on this planet (or others, it would seem): mental health. It’s a hilarious and heartfelt out-of-this-world-journey with a much larger message at heart. —Josh Sharpe

9. Only Murders in the Building

Created by: Steve Martin & John Hoffman
Network: Hulu

Picking up in the immediate aftermath of Season 3—quite literally, as Charles (Steve Martin), Oliver (Martin Short), and Mabel (Selena Gomez) put the finishing touches on the third season of their podcast, wrapping up the murder of Ben Glenroy (Paul Rudd)—Season 4 of Only Murders in the Building finds our favorite trio headed for Hollywood. Paramount (the Pictures!) is fast-tracking a movie based on the trio’s podcast, carting them out to L.A. to meet Eugene Levy, Eva Longoria, and Zach Galifianakis (playing themselves), who are preparing to play Charles, Mabel, and Oliver, respectively. But while in L.A., Charles worries about Sazz (Jane Lynch), whom he hasn’t seen since she disappeared from the wrap party in the Season 3 finale. Despite receiving texts from his stunt double with various excuses, the trio quickly realize that there’s much more to this mystery than a simple disappearing act. As they band together once more to solve this deeply personal murder, they find themselves questioning their role in the larger story, and how the promise of even further notoriety will change their lives forever. —Anna Govert

8. Abbott Elementary

Created by: Quinta Brunson
Network: ABC

Now in its fourth season, Abbott Elementary’s writing remains as sharp as ever, seamlessly blending laugh-out-loud moments with earnest and heartfelt interactions. With a season-long arc focused on gentrification, the series promises to deliver fresh narratives while preserving its charm. Fans can look forward to memorable storylines and new dynamics, including a highly anticipated crossover with FXX’s It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. (Which Paste successfully predicted last year!) Abbott Elementary remains funny and feel-good, cementing its place at the top of sitcoms, and indeed, all currently airing shows, regardless of genre. As the characters continue to evolve and navigate new experiences and dynamics, Abbott becomes an increasingly rewarding viewing experience for viewers who have followed its journey over the past three years, making it a joy to attend class each week.—Joshua Harris

7. Girls5Eva

Created by: Meredith Scardino
Network: Netflix

The Girls5eva bubblegum pop theme song is a straight-up serotonin rush (no, Netflix, I will not be skipping the credits), and so is the sitcom’s third season. Season 3 kicks off with pop group Girls5eva—Dawn (Sara Bareilles), Summer (Busy Philipps), Gloria (Paula Pell), and Wickie (Renée Elise Goldsberry)—wowing crowds in Fort Worth as they attempt to make a comeback. Each of the six episodes follows the friends as they hit different stops on their tour, with the final show at the legendary Radio City Music Hall. On the way, Gloria is slutting it up with every woman she can to see if her kinda-sorta-ex Caroline is the one, and Summer is trying to discover who she is without a significant other to base her personality on. Meanwhile, Wickie and Dawn are preoccupied with how to sell out Radio City Music Hall. The writing is as sharp, bonkers, and laugh-out-loud funny as ever. Girls5eva possesses a comic rhythm that definitely shares its DNA with 30 Rock and The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (read: fast), but that still feels distinct. Let’s hope Netflix listens to viewers and gives us plenty more of this joyously zany sitcom, rather than another paltry renewal of half-a-dozen episodes. —Clare Martin

6. Hacks

Created by: Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, Jen Statsky
Network: Max

We’ve waited two long years for Hacks Season 3, but thankfully this new run of episodes more than makes up for lost time. At the end of the last season, Deborah (Jean Smart) fired Ava (Hannah Einbinder) on the heels of the special’s success, urging her to be a “shark” and pursue her own work. Fast forward a year later, and Deborah’s on top of the world. She’s cut off Ava in the meantime, not answering any of her texts until the pair unwittingly bump into each other at Just For Laughs Montreal. Ava is, ostensibly, doing well without Deborah. But the moment the two cross paths again, it’s clear that they miss each other. Ava finds her way back on Deborah’s payroll as they push for the latter to achieve her dream of hosting a late-night talk show, and we’re off to the races. Smart and Einbinder’s chemistry, and the writers’ keen plotting, make Deborah and Ava the most compelling pairing on television. Meticulously plotted and boasting some of the show’s best jokes, Season 3 of Hacks will have you panting for the next series as the final credits roll. —Clare Martin

5. Curb Your Enthusiasm

Photo by John Johnson / HBO

Created by: Larry David
Network: HBO (streaming on Max)

Much like Seinfeld, the show that gave David his success, Curb Your Enthusiasm borrows from the absurdist school of thought; the philosophical approach and David are inextricably linked. Absurdism lent itself to the comedic genius of both series, in that life and all its trivialities mean nothing in the face of genuine moral reasoning and common decency. As a mensch and social critic, David holds humanity to a higher standard, and I suspect, in its final episode, Curb Your Enthusiasm will acutely secure its position as one of the finest pieces of contemporary commentary ever made. Although the final season follows plot lines, includes anecdotes, and infuses a sense of nuance that could only take place in the year 2024, it’ll remain timeless. Effortless, affecting, and urgent, the final season of Curb leaves us to ponder just how humankind will fare in the future, considering how David spent his entire career shining a light on the asinine rules society demands we adhere to. Without David challenging them, kvetching, and calling the manager, I’m not sure we’ll survive.—Felicia Reich

4. Shrinking

Created by: Bill Lawrence & Jason Segel & Brett Goldstein
Network: Apple TV+

It is a truth universally acknowledged that Apple TV+ has some of the best shows you’re probably not watching. While the streamer has had several breakout hits like Ted Lasso, Severance, and Slow Horses, the average viewer is likely unaware of just how vast the streamer’s library of genuinely excellent originals has become in recent years. So, it’s probably even odds whether you’ve even heard of Shrinking, the streamer’s other hilariously heartfelt comedy about hope, healing, and the family you make along the way. Therefore, allow me to fill you in: Shrinking is one part delicate, emotionally honest exploration of grief, one part surprisingly realistic family drama, and one part love letter to the mental health industry. Its humor is often uncomfortably honest, its characters can sometimes be embarrassingly cringe-y, and its dialogue is peppered with every flavor of therapy speak. But it also has an absolutely enormous heart, walking a delicate balance between hard truths and twee platitudes. If there is such a thing as “feel-good” television anymore, well, this is probably it. The lessons of Shrinking are simple: Choose each other, especially when it’s hard. Listen always. Apologize when you know you’ve done something wrong. Be present for the people who matter to you. Genuinely hilarious but also deeply affirming, Shrinking isn’t a show for cynics, despite what its biting banter might seem to want you to believe. And maybe we’ve never needed it and its transcendent power of faith in ourselves, writ large, more than we do right now. —Lacy Baugher Milas

3. English Teacher

Created by: Brian Jordan Alvarez
Network: FX (streaming on Hulu)

Set in the decidedly blue city of Austin, which is itself in the decidedly red state of Texas, creator Brian Jordan Alvarez’s titular English teacher Evan Marquez tries to navigate the murky waters of being an out, gay educator in a post-”woke” world in FX’s latest comedy series English Teacher. Unsurprisingly, he often finds himself trapped between 2024’s highly specific rock (students who try to goad you into saying something problematic so they can secretly record you and go viral on Tik Tok) and hard place (their Republican parents who fear their kids will catch “gay” like one could catch Coronavirus). But even though English Teacher’s conflicts are taken straight from the headlines, it rarely looks for resolution in the directions one expects. English Teacher has charmed me enough to hope that, if the series is granted the time and space it needs, it can begin to quench today’s TV comedy drought. —Casey Epstein-Gross

2. Fantasmas

Created by: Julio Torres
Network: HBO (streaming on Max)

HBO’s Fantasmas is a sketch comedy show that went to art school, a quirky romp that’s not always laugh-out-loud funny but consistently imaginative and beautifully cinematic. The series wraps around and connects most of its disparate sketches through a loose ongoing narrative. Creator/writer/director Julio Torres stars as Julio, who works as a “Julio.” What does a “Julio” do? Basically, he utilizes the gifts of free-association synesthesia granted to him as a child after being struck by lightning on the toilet (he never had to go to gym class after that). He says he sees the world differently from everyone else, though who knows what counts as “normal” in this semi-dystopian alternate reality; even when Julio’s absent, the other characters operate in a similar register of German expressionism by way of Pee-Wee’s Playhouse by way of The People’s Joker. Sketch comedies by their nature tend towards inconsistency, and Fantasmas is no exception, but its strong style and vision provide a high baseline of entertainment even when the jokes are hit-or-miss and the connecting narrative doesn’t come together as satisfyingly as it could. It’s like nothing else currently on television, and it’s fun to live in Torres’ mind for these six half-hours. —Reuben Baron

1. What We Do in the Shadows

Created by: Jemaine Clement
Network: FX (streaming on Hulu)

There’s no reality in which I’ll ever be ok with not checking in on the latest stupid misadventures of Staten Island’s most ineffectual vampires in FX’s What We Do in the Shadows. For six seasons, this mockumentary series spin-off of Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement’s 2014 cinematic comedy of the same name has consistently earned its place as the go-to comedy antidote from everything serious that plagues us whiney humans. It remains impossible to not laugh at Laszlo’s (Matt Berry) outlandish undulating elocution; Nadja’s (Natasia Demetriou) perpetual exasperation with her roomies; Nandor’s (Kayvan Novak) eternal fussiness; and Colin Robinson’s (Mark Proksch) gleefully beige existence. However, I also can’t fault showrunner Paul Simms and the show’s incredibly talented cast for wanting to go out on top. Based on the three episodes provided for review, this sixth and final season seems to be structured as an opportunity for the vamps to address their lack of forward momentum at conquering the New World, while also helping their former Familiar/current human pal Guillermo (Harvey Guillén) with his next steps in life.

Of course, the writers continue to throw quality jokes at the audience at a breakneck speed, with plenty being situational. But even more of the comedy now comes from our learned history of these vampires with their quirks and triggers fully established and exploitable by new characters and the show’s expanded ensemble of recurring characters. Plus, Matt Berry remains a national treasure for how he continues to wring maximum sexual innuendo and comedic flare from even the most mundane word pairings. Jack Shack, anyone? —Tara Bennett

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