Looking for a Laugh? Top 10 Underappreciated Sitcoms on Netflix

1. Better Off Ted (2009-2010)

Let's kick things off with the tragically short-lived but hilarious Better Off Ted. The show revolves around Ted Crisp (Jay Harrington), the head of a research and development department at a morally questionable corporation, Veridian Dynamics. Portia de Rossi of Arrested Development fame brilliantly portrays Ted's ruthless, robotic boss, Veronica. The series perfectly blends workplace comedy with a dash of sci-fi, often bordering on absurdity. It's a shame that this witty satire only ran for two seasons.

2. Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 (2012-2013)

Up next, we have a two-season wonder that deserves all the attention. Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 is a wonderfully eccentric sitcom about June (Dreama Walker), a Midwestern girl who moves to New York City only to find her job and apartment vanish overnight.

She ends up rooming with Chloe (Krysten Ritter), an amoral party girl who thrives on chaos. What makes this sitcom stand out is the wild card: James Van Der Beek playing an exaggerated version of himself. It's a wild ride that ended way too soon and deserved more spotlight.

3. Great News (2017-2018)

Created by Tracey Wigfield and executive produced by Tina Fey, Great News never received the attention it deserved despite its pedigree. It centers around Katie Wendelson (Briga Heelan), a news producer whose professional life takes a hit when her overbearing mother, Carol (Andrea Martin), decides to intern at her news station.

The dynamic between an intrusive parent and an adult child trying to navigate the professional world makes for plenty of comedic situations. Interesting trivia: Nicole Richie showcases her comedy chops in this show, playing the role of eccentric news anchor Portia Scott-Griffith.

4. Traffic Light (2011)

Originally an Israeli sitcom, Traffic Light tells the story of three longtime friends and their attempts to balance their relationships with their need for freedom. The dynamic between the married, engaged, and perpetually single friends is something we can all relate to, making it a sitcom that hits closer to home than most. The dialogues are clever, the characters are endearing, and the awkward situations are laugh-out-loud funny. Tragically, it only ran for one season, but it's really worth your time.

5. Happy Endings (2011-2013)

Despite having only three seasons, Happy Endings left a considerable mark in the realm of sitcoms. It begins with a wedding that goes south and follows the fallout amongst a group of friends. What sets this show apart is its clever, fast-paced dialogue, and the chemistry among the ensemble cast. One can't help but see it as the 21st-century's answer to Friends, but with more wit, quirk, and a hefty dose of absurdity. This show has been axed way too soon.

6. The IT Crowd (2006-2013)

Coming from across the pond, The IT Crowd is a British sitcom that, despite its cult following, remains relatively undiscovered by a broader audience. Set in the dingy basement of a high-rise corporation, it follows the misadventures of its socially inept IT department. There's Roy (Chris O'Dowd) and Moss (Richard Ayoade) – the tech geeks – and Jen (Katherine Parkinson), their technologically clueless manager.

Despite being filled with tech jargon, the real humor of the show lies in the characters' social interactions, or rather their lack thereof. Despite its office setting, the show rarely features scenes of actual work. It's more about comic misunderstandings and their frankly hysterical consequences.

7. Sports Night (1998-2000)

Before The West Wing, Aaron Sorkin blessed us with Sports Night, a comedy-drama set behind the scenes of a sports news show. Although it was a departure from Sorkin's later, more serious work, it still featured his trademark rapid-fire dialogue and witty humor. The show stars Josh Charles and Peter Krause as two anchors juggling their professional and personal lives, with Felicity Huffman as their sharp-witted executive producer.

Interestingly, the show had a laugh track in its first season, but Sorkin fought to have it removed in the second season, making it one of the first sitcoms to ditch the laugh track completely, a decision we frankly support.

8. Slings and Arrows (2003-2006)

Slings and Arrows is a Canadian sitcom about a struggling Shakespearean theatre festival. It stars Paul Gross as Geoffrey Tennant, a once-renowned actor now suffering a breakdown, who reluctantly takes over as artistic director after the sudden death of his predecessor – who appears to him as a ghost!

The show is a charming blend of theatrical farce, drama, and romance. Shakespeare enthusiasts will love the cleverly interwoven plot lines inspired by the Bard's works. Each of the show's three seasons parodies a different Shakespeare play, starting with Hamlet, then Macbeth, and finally King Lear.

9. Hello Ladies (2013-2014)

Created by and starring Stephen Merchant (co-creator of The Office and Extras), Hello Ladies is a sitcom about a gawky, 6'7” Englishman searching for love in Los Angeles. Merchant's character, Stuart, is a web designer who's more interested in living a lavish lifestyle and wooing out-of-his-league women than finding genuine connection.

Despite its comedic take on dating disasters and social faux pas, the show surprisingly touches on deeper themes of loneliness and genuine human connection. If you've ever felt awkward or out of place in a social setting, this show will definitely resonate with you.

10. Detroiters (2017-2018)

Detroiters is an underrated treasure about two best friends, Sam (Sam Richardson of Veep) and Tim (Tim Robinson), running a small advertising agency in Detroit. The show is a love letter to the city, complete with a local cast and authentic locations. Sam and Tim's often misguided attempts at making big-time commercials are hilarious, but the real heart of the show lies in their enduring friendship. Jason Sudeikis serves as an executive producer and occasionally guest stars as a successful automotive executive who's also Sam's love interest's ex-husband.