7 Obscure Sitcoms You Haven't Watched Yet – But Should if You're Tired of Friends

Sometimes we all need the comfort of a fictional universe to escape our daily grind.

So if you find yourself in a similar situation and Friends isn't working for you for some reason, here are seven lesser-known sitcoms that might just do the trick.

Cougar Town (2009–2015, 6 seasons, rated 82%)

All Friends fans are sure to appreciate Cougar Town, starring Courteney Cox as Jules Cobb, a recently divorced, energetic real estate agent in her forties. Jules has some similarities to Monica but reads like a whole new, hilarious character. As a bonus, the ABC show features several heartwarming cameos from Cox's Friends co-stars.

The Neighbors (2012–2014, 2 seasons, rated 83%)

Many people claim The Neighbors is an underrated sitcom with unparalleled humor. Created by Dan Fogelman, who wrote everyone's favorite This Is Us, this ABC show follows a human family who moves in with an alien community that has been stuck on Earth for many years and is thriving to return to their home planets.

A.P. Bio (2018–2021, 4 seasons, rated 86%)

If you like a good workplace sitcom, Peacock's A.P. Bio is for you. Glenn Howerton stars in it as a teacher who comes to Whitlock High School for a fresh start and meets many hilarious characters, both colleagues and students. The humor is absurd and will have you laughing out loud.

Community (2009–2015, 6 seasons, rated 88%)

For many fans, Community is one of the best sitcoms out there. Created by Rick and Morty's Dan Harmon and starring Joel McHale as a chatty lawyer who loses his law license and has to go back to school to get it reinstated, the NBC show has tons of jokes, brilliant acting, and meaningful storylines.

Ghosts (2019–present, 4 seasons, rated 90%)

The BBC One sitcom could have been a standard family comedy if it wasn't for the show's main characters — the ghosts of people who died centuries ago and have to coexist with each other in a cottage, while a living family moves in there as the new owners. For those who can't say goodbye to the story after four seasons, there's also a highly acclaimed US remake with the same name and a similar premise.

Abbott Elementary (2021–present, 2 seasons, rated 90%)

ABC's relatively new show, Abbott Elementary follows in the footsteps of The Office, giving us a glimpse into the lives of school teachers and students in a mockumentary style. The cast is simply brilliant, and the jokes will keep you laughing.

What We Do in the Shadows (2019–present, 4 seasons, rated 92%)

Another mockumentary sitcom, What We Do in the Shadows is based on Taika Waititi's 2014 film of the same name, following a group of friends who are vampires. The cozy atmosphere, absurdist humor, and the vampires' hilarious interactions with the modern world are sure to leave you in awe. The good news is that the show has been renewed for at least two more seasons, with Season 5 premiering on July 13, 2023.