15 Forgotten Sitcoms That Were Funnier Than Friends

1. NewsRadio (1995–1999)

Forget Anchorman—the newsroom has never been funnier than in NewsRadio. Dave Nelson, a fresh-faced news director, struggles to manage a quirky staff at a New York City radio station. You've got Bill, the egotistical anchor, and Matthew, the awkward reporter. Toss in a billionaire station owner who's obsessed with supervillains, and you've got comedic gold. Regular office antics? Nope, try hosting a funeral for a rat, or dealing with a disgruntled ex-employee who shows up in a superhero costume.

2. Better Off Ted (2009–2010)

Imagine working for a corporation that makes killer pumpkins. No, seriously. Ted Crisp is the head of a research and development team at Veridian Dynamics, a company that doesn't just push the envelope but sets it on fire. You've got Linda, a rebel who loves to "steal" creamer, and a pair of scientists named Phil and Lem who accidentally freeze one of their coworkers.

3. My Name Is Earl (2005–2009)

Karma's a you-know-what, but Earl Hickey aims to make it right. After winning $100,000 in the lottery and then promptly losing the ticket, Earl decides to correct all his past wrongs. We're talking about a laundry list of errors, like faking his own death to break up with a girlfriend or stealing a car from a one-legged girl. With his slow-witted brother Randy, Earl sets out to fix each mistake, one misadventure at a time.

4. Sports Night (1998–2000)

Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of a sports news show? Sports Night drops you right into the action. Centered around two co-anchors, Casey McCall and Dan Rydell, the show delves into their professional and personal lives. From grappling with network pressure to showcase "popular" sports to dealing with an office love triangle, the tension is always high, and the jokes come fast.

5. Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 (2012–2014)

When small-town girl June moves to New York, she becomes roommates with Chloe, a party-girl scam artist. Think your roommate's bad? Chloe tries to get June kicked out by scamming her for rent money, then stealing her furniture. But the plot thickens when James Van Der Beek, playing an exaggerated version of himself, becomes their neighbor. Cue bizarre double dates and hilariously awkward encounters, including an attempt to auction off James' used pants for rent money.

6. Raising Hope (2010–2014)

Who says child-rearing can't be a laugh riot? Enter Jimmy, a 23-year-old pool cleaner who becomes a dad after a one-night stand with a wanted felon. Yikes, right? Now he's left to raise his daughter, Hope, with the help of his quirky family. His mom once tried to sell him to a rich family, and his dad is, well, clueless about everything. From attempting to host a kiddie beauty pageant to accidentally kidnapping Hope's babysitter, the Chance family keeps the laughs coming.

7. Party Down (2009–2010)

It's about a catering team in Los Angeles with dreams bigger than their hors d'oeuvres trays. The ensemble includes Henry, a failed actor, and Roman, an aspiring hard sci-fi writer. These guys cater everything from a senior singles mixer to a funeral for a deceased pet. The beauty is in how their individual dreams clash with the grim reality of wearing pink bow ties and serving shrimp cocktails.

8. Happy Endings (2011–2013)

Friends make life better, especially when they're as dysfunctional as this Chicago-based group. The show kicks off with Alex leaving Dave at the altar. Yeah, you read that right. What happens next? They try to stay friends while navigating the world of dating other people. You've got Penny, who's perpetually unlucky in love, and Max, a laid-back gay guy who's more into sports than fashion. They tackle essential life questions like: Can you turn a racist parrot into a lovable pet?

9. Cougar Town (2009–2015)

Don't let the title fool you—this isn't just a show about older women dating younger men. Jules, a recently divorced mom, navigates life in her Florida town with the help of her neighbor and confidant, Ellie, her ex-husband, Bobby, who lives on a boat in a parking lot, and her best friend, Laurie, who's basically an Instagram filter come to life. Together, they face trials like surviving a hurricane while consuming a stockpile of wine.

10. Spaced (1999–2001)

Tim and Daisy are two Londoners who pretend to be a couple to secure an apartment. Tim's a comic book artist who just got dumped, while Daisy's an aspiring writer who spends more time procrastinating than actually writing. The two, along with their eccentric neighbors, get into all sorts of absurd situations, like participating in robot wars or reenacting scenes from Star Wars.

11. Scrubs (2001–2010)

Okay, sure, hospitals aren't generally funny, but Scrubs managed to make it work. We follow young intern J.D. and his best friend Turk as they navigate the wacky world of Sacred Heart Hospital. And when I say wacky, I mean it. There's Dr. Cox, a sarcastic mentor, and the Janitor, who seems to have it out for J.D. They deal with medical cases you won't find in any textbook, like diagnosing a man who turns orange because he consumes too many carrots.

12. The IT Crowd (2006–2013)

Meet Roy, Moss, and their manager Jen, who have the glamorous job of running the IT department in the basement of Reynholm Industries. These tech geeks are not only inept at social interactions but also hilariously bad at their jobs. Remember when Moss starts a fire and tries to put it out with a "fire extinguisher" that also catches fire?

13. Archer (2009–Present)

Who says animated shows can't hold their weight? Archer is a suave yet incredibly immature spy who works for his mom, Mallory, at the International Secret Intelligence Service (ISIS). Forget James Bond; Archer deals with issues like paternity tests while being locked in a vault, or trying to prevent a cyborg version of his arch-nemesis from causing international incidents.

14. Undeclared (2001–2002)

College can be the best or worst time of your life, and for Steven Karp, it's a rollercoaster. Freshman year, he's rooming with Lloyd, a British theater major, and Ron, a business major who really doesn't care about business. What happens when you mix raging hormones, unattended keg parties, and poorly thought-out schemes like trying to woo your crush by staging a fake protest? Well, you get Undeclared.

15. The League (2009–2015)

What's more American than Fantasy Football? The League dives into the lives of six friends so obsessed with their fantasy football league that they'll go to any lengths to win. We're talking about Kevin, a district attorney who's so bad at making choices he needs his wife to co-manage his team. Or Taco, who doesn't even watch football but joins the league for the social perks.