Every year, it feels like dramas get darker and the real world around us grows more bleak, making it harder and harder to sometimes watch things that are too heavy. Amy Poehler asks this question to all her guests in her podcast, Good Hang With Amy Poehler, where she wonders what they're doing to make themselves laugh.
For me, it's always comedies—but specifically, the wholesome comedies that are both laugh-out-loud funny and simultaneously go the extra mile to stitch something broken inside of us. We have a lot more returning gems than newer shows, but they're still the perfect ones to turn to for every type of viewer.
From the Golden Globes-nominated series, The Studio (2025) to underrated, The Residence (2025), here are the best comedy TV shows of the year, as well as where you can watch them on platforms such as Apple TV+, Hulu, and more.
Ghosts (2021-present)
Every year, I get on my soapbox and scream about how Ghosts is the best show on TV that not enough people are watching. It's the single greatest sitcom we've had in decades, and in the same way that the US The Office (2005) essentially improves on the UK version while still honoring its legacy, Ghosts does the same with its BBC predecessor. And five seasons in, we get so much development that it's astounding how brilliantly the writers use the ensemble cast with a near-perfect balance.
Ensemble shows are generally more challenging to navigate because how do you fairly tell stories that'll satisfy the audience when their favorite characters aren't on screen? Yet, the excellence of Ghosts lies entirely in the detail that the characters are all so captivating, you can't help but love them all. I've watched a lot of sitcoms in my career, and I've never seen anything like Ghosts. If you want something that'll make you laugh while also making you cry with significant conversations about human connections and legacy, look no further.
The Studio (2025-present)
The Studio is likely on its way to sweep the Golden Globes, and it's still the biggest surprise of 2025. I'll be totally honest in admitting that I had no plans to watch it when I first heard about its development. As someone who generally prefers dramas as opposed to comedies centered around the art of filmmaking, I didn't think I'd appreciate The Studio. Yet, from beginning to end, the humor and meta-storytelling make it an absolute doozy.
It's exactly the type of show we need in this day and age, when it feels like all we're getting are reboots and remakes. And, in more ways than one, it is coming in at the right time, where so much of the industry is in a strange place these days with AI, the lack of original storytelling, and questionable decisions from big properties that focus on subverting expectations rather than honoring the characters. In short, if you love movies, The Studio feels like a must-watch on all fronts.
Only Murders in the Building (2021-present)
For five seasons now, and like Ghosts, no show delivers wholesome and bleak narratives wrapped up so neatly in humor the way that Only Murders in the Building does. As Season 5 takes us through the murder of The Arconia's longest resident, Teddy Coluca's Lester; it deep dives into showcasing the heart of the show and how it's all a brilliant homage to unexpected friendships. It's a love letter to the idea that every person who stepped through those doors has become part of a found family.
And when it came to protecting everything from the construction of a casino that would change The Arconia forever, the podcast trio proved that they'd stop at nothing. Wholesome shows like Only Murders come once in a lifetime to give us levity with tragedies in a manner that effectively displays the ongoing vicious cycle of life. It's a continuous testament to humanity in a way that feels integral to murder mysteries as a genre. If you've yet to start watching and are a fan of sharp humor and whodunnits, what are you waiting for?
The Paper (2025-present)
It's safe to assume that when production of The Paper was announced, many of us were guilty of assuming that it'd be some sort of lackluster spin-off capitalizing on the success of The Office. Instead, it's a fresh, deeply relevant, and clever mockumentary that focuses on journalism and the state of the craft in the world today. Domhnall Gleeson and the whole cast bring something unique and nuanced to their roles, proving with the show's debut season that it's about to become something special.
It's genuinely hilarious and thoroughly compelling from start to finish in its means of highlighting a profession that doesn't get nearly as much attention as it should while still maintaining the charm of a small city. In its way of also focusing on the dynamics of office employees who are each vastly different from one another, it delivers unique bonds and fun friendships that can stay with viewers for a while. If you loved The Office and were hesitant about giving The Paper a try, know that there's a very good chance you'll appreciate everything it's trying to do.
Abbott Elementary (2021-present)
Like Ghosts and Only Murders, Abbott Elementaryproves that five seasons in, and it's only capable of improving itself. Quinta Brunson and the whole team continue to deliver some of the most wholesome narrative beats that touch on the found family trope while also healing the inner child in me who used to hate elementary school (please tell me I'm not alone in this specific thing.) Everything about the show is special, but it's extra hilarious in Season 5 as so much of it changed with school budgets, further challenges, and character dynamics.
As it happens in Parks and Recreation (2009), the inclusion of romance with Janine and Gregory makes the show ten times lovelier and sweeter. How they continue crossing milestones in and out of the school while Ava also finds love, and the teachers all find ways to grow, makes the season incredible. There's plenty to appreciate with every episode, but more than anything, it's how each narrative angle feels nuanced and relatable. If you want a good, classic sitcom, Abbott Elementary is the show for you.
A Man on the Inside (2024-present)
One thing is for certain: we can safely deem 2025 as the year of excellent mystery comedies with amateur sleuth detectives delivering heart and humor in spades. While A Man on the Inside Season 2 loses a tiny bit of its charm from its debut, it's still an incredible sophomore run that provides plenty of joy. Ted Danson is so particularly delightful in the role that I'd happily watch seasons of him taking on the next big case, even when the location changes.
A large part of the reason some people don't latch onto comedies the same way they do with dramas is that they prefer a heavy plot that can provide shocking twists and turns. Some comedies land in the space that allows them to be both, and that's the case with A Man on the Inside, as Season 2 does an even more gripping job of strengthening dynamics and making us worry for the characters. It provides nuanced entertainment and a plethora of joy, perfect for anyone who loves Only Murders.
The Residence (2025)
Uzo Aduba leads The Residence so expertly that it's an absolute travesty the show was canceled during its first season. It could've done so well with fans of Only Murders and A Man on the Inside discovering it later on, and it's also so perfect for those who loved the humor in The Thursday Murder Club (2025). It's clever, funny, and the whole cast brings something deliciously sharp in every frame they're in.
Shows like The Residence aren't rare or overtly unique, but it's still shocking that it wasn't given the leg room to grow because it has all the markings of a solid comedy. From the writing to the directing and every performance, it's got something for every type of audience who generally appreciates the genre to some capacity.
