Top Ten Comedy Television or Streaming Series in 2022
Top Ten Comedy Television Series in 2022
Brilliant Comedy movies only comes along once every few years but brilliant comedy television is continuing to explode.
Our best in television winners over the years are classics, still watchable, still great. In 2014, it was Last Week Tonight. After that, the late night shows got their own category, and in 2015, The Jim Gaffigan Show won the award for best tv series. In 2016, you voted for Zach Galifianakis’ Baskets as your #1 show. In 2017, it was the genius of Better Things, and in 2018 two shows topped the polls with Crashing and Barry tie-ing for first place. In 2019 The Righteous Gemstones landed on top, in 2020 the top honor went to Schitt’s Creek and in 2021, you voted for The Ms. Pat Show.
All of our top ten shows are outstanding. If you’ve missed out on any of these shows, you’ve got a great binge ahead of you.
Don’t forget you can also vote now for Vote for Comedy Movie of the Year! And Vote for Comedy Special of the Year! Vote for Best Comedy Book of the Year!
Coming soon... Vote for the Best Comedy Album of the Year! And Comedian of the Year!
Created by Dan Perlman and Kevin Iso
Starring: Dan Perlman, Kevin Iso, Hassan Johnson, Kareem Green, Kristin Dodson, Kerry Coddett, Wil Sylvince, Yamaneika Saunders
FLATBUSH MISDEMEANORS, SEASON TWO. SHOWTIME: Last year, Flatbush Misdemeanors came out of left field and slayed. In season two, Dan and Kevin kept this party going AND upped their game. FM introduced us to Kevin and Dan in 2021 and so thoroughly defined their characters giving them the freedom to take big swings in the second season. Dan and Kevin go to some insane places with their stories this season. Dan is dealing (or not dealing depending on your perspective) with his addiction to pills, Kevin has been offered a grant to what seems to be a prestigious art program. Both storylines have their own absurdities that bring huge laughs, but remain grounded in authenticity. We can relate to everyone on the screen, the obstacles they have to contend with and the choices they are faced with, even if the details of their lives are dramatically different from our own. Season Two brought more great NYC stand up comedians to the screen to showcase their acting talents. More opportunities to showcase Kareem Green and Hassan Johnson. And more reasons to love Flatbush Brooklyn.
Created by Hannah Bos and Paul Thureen
Cast: Bridget Everett, Jeff Hillier, Mary Catherine Garrison, Danny McCarthy, Mike Hagerty, Murray Hill,
SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE. HBO. We’ve been fans of Bridget Everett for about a decade, and we’re always thrilled when someone we love lands a tv or movie gig, but we are the most thrilled when they land a tv gig, they knock it out of the park, with a project worthy of their true artistry. All of these elements are in full force with HBO’s Somebody Somewhere- a brilliant series full of under recognized talents. We love this show on every level. It’s beautiful to look at. These characters will break your heart and then minutes later build back your faith in humanity. Bridget and Jeff and Murray are a scream together, and each funny in different ways from each other, yet their chemistry is through the roof. Mike Hagerty who you know as the funny guy in so many comedic tv series and movie– finally got to shine in his own right– he was brilliant in season one before he passed away this past May. It’s a gift that we have these performances and just heartbreaking that he won’t be around to continue the role for season two. Please watch this show. It’s magic.
Status: Renewed
Created By Steve Levitan
Cast: Judy Greer, Rachel Bloom, Paul Reiser, Keegan Michael Key, Calum Worthy, Johnny Knoxville, Krista Yu
REBOOT, HULU. It seem like every year Hulu is dedicated to surprising us with a few new twists on the comedy series. This year, they crushed it again with Reboot, a show about the cast of an old school hit sitcom coming back together years later to reboot the series, but this time taking a more artistic angle. Unfortunately that angle is chucked out the door when the Network decides it wants to go a different route. The casting is fantastic, and the characters struggles with questions of integrity, artistry, success, bring a real sense of importance to the show on one level, while its just straight up funny on another.
Status: Not Yet Renewed
Created by Nathan Fielder
Cast: Nathan Fielder
THE REHEARSAL, HBO. One of the riskiest and most unique shows of the year or maybe decade, The Rehearsal features Nathan Fielder helping ordinary people rehearse difficult conversations or life events that they have to deal with. Through the use of sets and actors hired to recreate real situations, the premise is as preposterous as is is entertaining. This is “you can’t believe your eyes” television. It’s just crazy seeing the lengths Fielder goes to, to make us laugh. You have to see it to believe it.
Status: Renewed for a Second Season
Created by Quinta Brunson
Cast: Quinta Brunson, Janelle James, Tyler James Williams, Lisa Ann Walter, Chris Perfetti
ABBOTT ELEMENTARY. ABC. The only big network comedy on our list, Abbott Elementary is enjoying tremendous success with critics, audiences, and awards shows. The premise is a build on the genre first defined by “It’s Garry Shandling Show” and later by “The Office.” A documentary crew is recording the lives of teachers working in underfunded, mismanaged schools. One of the places they have decided to document is Philadelphia’s Willard R. Abbott Elementary School, a predominantly Black public school. With shades of favorite shows like Vice Principles and Those Who Can’t, and the web series Teachers, Abbott Elementary is a broader comedy, with less edge than those shows, but that smoothing out allows appeal to a larger network audience. Shout out to great performances from stand up comedian Janelle James who has become a star thanks to the series.
Status: Renewed
Created by: Ben Stiller, Dan Erickson
Cast: Adam Scott, Britt Lower, Patricia Arquette, Dichen Lachman, Zach Cherry, John Turturro, Tramell Tillman, Christopher Walken
SEVERANCE. APPLE TV +. Apple TV brings us one of the most brilliant, surprising, and fascinating shows of the year. Part drama, part, thriller, part sci-fi series, the comedic elements are undeniable and flow throughout every episode. Employees of Lumon, Mark, Dylan, Helly, and Irving have undergone a procedure called Severance which separates their outties from their innies. When they are at work, they don’t remember anything about their outside lives, and when they are home, they have no idea what they do at work. The series is so brilliantly funny, that its a fool’s errand to try to explain, but every performance is stellar, direction rivals some of your favorite movies, and the set styling is next level. Thanks to Ben Stiller for bringing in some favorite performers, and introducing us to the outstanding talent of Tramell Tillman.
Status: Renewed for Season 2
Created by: Pamela Adlon
Cast: Pamela Adlon, Hannah Alligood, Mikey Madison, Oliva Edward, Celia Imrie
BETTER THINGS, SEASON 5, FX. When we were first introduced to Better Things back in 2016 we were blown away by Pamela Adlon’s sweet, and sticky portrayal this wonderful family. Now we feel like they’re part of our own extended families, as we’ve watched Sam deal with all the insanities of raising three tween to teenaged daughters in Los Angeles. Season five brought closure to our years with the Fox family, and did an outstanding job of it. We’ve watched Max, Frankie and Duke and their performer counterparts grow up before our eyes, and we’ll miss them more than we can say.
Status: Series Concluded
Created by: Vanessa Bayer, Jeremy Beiler
Cast: Vanessa Bayer, Molly Shannon, Paul James, Punam Patel, Jennifer Lewis
i LOVE THAT FOR YOU, SHOWTIME. Joanna Gold, an aspiring host for shopping channel SVN, lies that her childhood cancer has returned in order to keep her job, and craziness ensues. It’s a weird premise for a show, but it works, and Vanessa Bayer and Molly Shannon, both SNL alums, along with boss Jennifer Lewis, are funny throughout every episode. Utterly original, and thoroughly loveable, the series is just pure fun.
Status: Unknown
Created by: Amy Schumer
Cast: Amy Schumer, Michael Cera, Murray Hill, Kevin Kane, Susana Flood, yamaneika, Jon Glaser, Michael Rapaport, Rosebud Baker, Gary Gulman
LIFE AND BETH. HULU. Amy Schumer plays Beth, a thirty something whose seemingly ideal life is upended when her mothers sudden death forces her to confront her past. The series is chock full of great comedic personalities, like Yamaneika, Rosebud Baker, Gary Gulman, and Murry Hill, but none funnier than Michael Cera as Beth’s client and odd romantic counterpart. Amy Schumer is at her Amy Schumerest, making this a thoroughly fun and watchable straight comedy.
Status: Renewed for Season Two
Created by Lucia Aniello, Paul Downs, Jen Statsky
Cast: Jean Smart, Hannah Einbeinder, Paul Downs
HACKS SEASON TWO. HBO. In season one, Debra, legendary Las Vegas stand-up comedy diva, who needs to re-invent her aging act to avoid losing her residency at the Palmetto Casino, meets Ava, a young comedy writer who is unable to find work due to her reputation for being self-centered and arrogant. Season two puts these two perfectly counter-personalities on the road together to work on Debra’s act. Hacks remains fresh and funny, and has revived Jean Smart’s career, while making Hanna Einbeinder a rising star.
Status: Renewed for Season Three.
