27 TV Comedies We Loved in 2018
27 TV Comedies We Loved in 2018 (continued):
11. Speechless
One of the most innovative comedies on network TV, Speechless navigates the world of JJ DiMeo, who has cerebral palsy. JJ’s family is crazy, his aide even crazier, and JJ himself is constantly looking for ways to be independent.
Speechless has everything you want in a good comedy. Laughs, emotion, and a crazy family doing crazy things because they love each other. This one is just slightly different than the others because JJ is a little different. In 2018, Speechless has successfully maintained a warm, heartfelt, funny show around the crazy DiMeos, and we’re here for it.
12. Superstore
Superstore has been quietly navigating the sitcom world for the last four years, but it has only gotten more relevant. If you’ve ever worked in retail or a customer facing job, you can relate to the downright wackiness that takes place on Superstore.
In 2018, Superstore continued to be an excellent and hilarious social commentary. It also finally ended the will-they-won’t-they of the two main characters, Amy and Jonah. (They did. In front of everyone). If 2018 is any indication, 2019 is going to be wild for the folks at Cloud 9.
Have a heavenly day!
13. The Good Place
The world is finally beginning to catch on that The Good Place has now cemented itself among the best comedies on television. It’s smartly written, funny, and each episode is filled with something new and interesting for the characters to explore. Led by Kristen Bell and Ted Danson, the ensemble creates a rich, cohesive source of laughter.
The true brilliance of The Good Place is not the concept, the cast, or the writing, but rather the bold new directions the show ventures in almost weekly. Where other shows ask for permission, The Good Place asks for forgiveness later and goes full force in the next direction.
Bortles!!
14. The Goldbergs
Few comedies satisfy both the need for family-friendly laughs and full-on 80’s nostalgia, but The Goldbergs fills both categories easily. It’s never short on laughs, antics, or episode-long references to various 80’s pop culture icons.
Though we have been in 2018, The Goldbergs stayed in 1980-something where Big Tasty and Lainey Lewis got engaged, Erica dropped out of college, and even a William Penn Academy focused spin-off was born.
The Goldbergs made us laugh in 2018, and should continue to do so. JTP!
15. Trial and Error
In 2018, Trial and Error returned for a second season. This time, instead of defending an innocent man accused of murder, Josh Segal and Associates accidentally defends the guilty party…at first. But the guilt over helping a guilty Lavinia Peck-Foster (Kristin Chenoweth) takes over and eventually, the case reaches the proper resolution.
Trial and Error is wildly silly but manages to address serious topics at the same time. Even though NBC slept on a renewal and caused it to lapse, we’re just grateful for the two seasons we’ve gotten. Just thinking about it makes us want to chant “Murder Board! Murder Board! Murder Board!”
16. The Tick
Though not untouched, many channels and streaming services have shied away from the superhero comedy in recent years. That changed when Amazon Prime created a full, live-action revival of The Tick.
The Tick combines action and comedy in a way that uniquely balances both elements. On top of that, Griffin Newman (Arthur) and Peter Serafinowicz (The Tick) are perfectly cast in the two main roles and have an excellent rapport. When The Terror comes back to get me, I know which superhero team I want to save me!
17. One Day at a Time
One Day at a Time provides a unique voice in today’s crowded television landscape. Hispanic, single parent families are not all that common on TV today. But One Day at a Time displays full mastery of both comedy and drama.
Justina Machado and the legendary Rita Moreno lead a talented group of actors, and One Day at a Time is deserving of every accolade it receives.
18. Schitt’s Creek
A “little show that could” out of Canada, Schitt’s Creek first presented us with characters that may have felt more at home in a Saturday Night Live skit than as the main characters of a sitcom. Yet through four seasons, Johnny, Moira, David, and Alexis, as well as all the citizens of the lovable little town have grown into the kind of rounded and passionate people you just can’t help rooting for.
Besides the general hilarity, there are many poignant moments and, through David and Patrick, Alexis and Ted, and Johnny and Moira themselves, some of the most romantic scenes you’ll see on any TV show.
19. Saturday Night Live
It’s been on the air 43 years, but somehow Saturday Night Live has managed to stay relevant. Lately, it’s been easier thanks to the current political climate, but their ability to keep things fresh and interesting continues to shape the TV landscape.
One of the best things about SNL is not only how sustainable it has been, but how well its stars go on to do after they leave the show. We’re always excited to hear “Live, from New York…” every Saturday night.
20. black-ish
The only way for shows to survive in Peak TV is to bring something new to the table, and black-ish does so by exploring a well-to-do black family trying to navigate the world without losing their identity. They navigate the problems of normal families, too, like marriage separation and raising a family in today’s world.
The awards that black-ish has been nominated for and won illustrate a strong need for programming like this on television, and they’ve stepped up to the plate in every way.
Nick Hogan
Nick Hogan is an experienced podcaster and writer (particularly on media topics), who loves discussion and analysis of TV and is always looking for new shows to watch. He is also a parent who loves buffalo wings, blowing raspberries, and his beloved Cincinnati Reds.