There are plenty of comedies such asCurb Your EnthusiasmandThe Office that have stood the test of time and continued beyond their initial year of premiere. With the former still airing and the latter being canonized as a pop culture staple, the power of a compelling comedy proves to be insurmountable. However, the same can not be said for all comedies. Unlike the titans of the genre, there have been several comedies that proved to be quite hilarious but were prematurely unplugged.
Whether it be due to the show’s unique strain of comedy, the lack of promotion, or the systemic issues that are much grander than the respective creative teams, said shows have been prematurely canceled, much to the ire of fans. Lately, huge companies can’t even guarantee that their shows will remain on said streaming services. Following the cancelation of series likeGenerationandWestworld,avid watchers were angered to learn that the shows were removed from the platform entirely. Amid confusing times, it would be best to highlight some of the many comedies that met their untimely fate earlier than expected.
10Chewing Gum
Michaela Coelhas enjoyed a great rise to stardom over the last few years. While many have fallen in love with the excellent seriesI May Destroy Youor the underratedBlack Earth Rising, most admirers of the British-Ghanian multi-hyphenate from her E4/Netflix comedyChewing Gum.At a glance, the series is a stark difference from the typical family sitcom however Tracey’s journey towards a greater understanding of life, sexuality, and confidence mirrors the many experiences of adolescents, especially those who have grown up in immigrant households.
The party within the estates is a ridiculous rager that captures the authentic moments of fun, a beautifully messy array of human joy with the bleakness of poverty in the backdrop. Throughout London, Tracey goes on bizarre yet hilarious adventures which find her high in the middle of a high-end launch event, inadvertently hooking up with a questionable stranger, to say the least, and being kicked out of the home. Despite the silliness that follows Tracey and her loved ones,Chewing Gumis a warm reminder that adulthood is far from easy, and while one might have a million voices judging them or pressuring them to remain one-dimensional,Chewing Gumpresents the beauty of adolescence and the journey towards self-actualization by focusing on bright and dynamic characters during their best and worst moments as well as every experience in between.
9South Side
South Sidewas an HBO Max series that gifted its audience,with three exceptionally hilarious seasons. Meeting our protagonists after their graduation, the sitcom sees best friends Simon James (Sultan Salahuddin) and Kareme Odom (Kareme Young) planning for the business that will propel them to the upper class. While working at a furniture store named “Rent-T-Own”, the audience is invited to their world, meeting both loved ones like their boss Q (Quincy Young) rivals such as Herbet (Chance The Rapper), both providing humorous lines and memorable actions that advance the plot from one point to another.
What makesSouth Sideparticularly special is its genuine display of love towards its diverse characters and the black community at large. While the hilarious moments easily provoke laughter and smiles, the lines delivered and the various escapades Simon, Kareme, and their friends go on capture the unique feelings of self-doubt and frustrations with the powers-that-be. Unlike dramas that equally succeed at depicting the black experience in the United States during the 2020s,South Sidemanages to provide audiences with that same level of intimacy with its comedic moments. When the Rent-T-Own workers are trapped in the store during a tornado, the audience stays with them, watching the chaos unfold as Sergeant Turner (Chandra Russell) attempts to take the reins. Much like the workers, it’s impossible to ignore Turner’s makeshift play. The creativity of the characters resonates with viewers who had their creativity beaten out of them by the adults around them and champions the adults who dare to imagine.
8We Are Lady Parts
Another series with different perspectives,We Are Lady Partswas a left-of-field, amusing sitcom for some, and the true stories of women across the world translated for television. Written and directed by Nida Manzoor (Polite Society),the series follows a group of Muslim women from various backgrounds and their decision to form a punk band. In most Western media, storylines surrounding Muslim women are quite predictable. While narratives about gender-based violence within the Muslim community are important to amplify, they are all not created with an equal amount of earnestness and knowledge. What makesWe Are Lady Partsan excellent comedy is its genuine depiction of modern Muslim women.
The leading cast is comprised of easily identifiable personalities that are both “disorderly and devotional” as Dalia Dawood of the Financial Times eloquently states and that makes for amazing television filled with riveting moments of truth that appear as tragic realizations or comically exquisite lines that roll off the tongue effortlessly. With only six episodes at their disposal,We Are Lady Partshas made an imperative dent in the world of comedy. Its brevity can be taken for granted but can also spark internal and external conversations about life for years to come.
7A League of Their Own
Inspired by the Tom Hanks-led film of the same name,A League of Their Ownfollows a group of young women in 1943. Reimagining the Rockford Peaches, the show followed several women, each with their own plights and amusing personalities, finding themselves and their community through baseball. Touching on everything from segregation to the postwar developments in the United States,A League of Their Ownhas amassed a loyal fanbase, especially appealing to sapphic viewers.
As professed by Cristina Escobar for RogertEbert.com, the series is “more fun than original”, standing out as one of the more admirable remakes in the sea of uninspired attempts to profit off of nostalgia. With actresses like D’Arcy Carden, Chanté Adams, and Roberta Colindrez involved, the series is a laugh-inducing exploration of American women experiencing freedoms that came with the end of the Second World War as well as the forever-looming oppressive powers that hope to smite their dreams. Their extraordinary journeys are mere reflections of the might contained by any human with a dream and a devotion to claim and protect their purpose in life, a feat that every person should experience and enjoy.
Premiering in 2020,Bettywas a hilarious deep dive into the world of skating from a female perspective. Focusing on five friends, the characterization in particular was heralded by critics for being an earnest depiction of modern girls: their varying interests, aspirations, and intimate details like their sexuality. Unlike other teen sitcoms,Bettydoes not make a spectacle out of the characters' lives but instead shines a line on their authentic transformations throughout the two seasons.
Despite the goodwill that the series received,Bettywould be canceled only a year later. While fans of the series can only imagine the next steps the girls would embark on, the showrunners have left more than enough amusing and fond moments for fans to reminisce on. Kirt (Nina Moran), for instance, is easily one of the more refreshing and hilarious characters. With her relaxed attitude towards life and her matter-of-fact delivery, it’s impossible to not chuckle. When paired with Janay (Dede Lovelace), the duo creates magic that instantly reminds audiences of their childhood friends and the silly moments they shared. The five friends will forever be missed butwill never be forgotten.
Best Limited Series on HBO Max to Watch Right Now
Specialsees Ryan O’Connellsuccessfully create a compelling comedywith intersectionality woven into its foundation. Following Ryan Hayes (O’Connell), a gay man in his 2020s living with cerebral palsy. The series takes the audience into every corner of his life: his job at “Eggwoke”, his romantic life, and his relationship with his parents. One of the few shows to directly address the pervasive ableism in the world,Specialincorporates comedy and sincerity into its plots, giving Ryan the voice to express himself, to fail, and to fall in love.
Its sincerity has paved the way for funny moments like Ryan’s friendships with his co-workers and their shared disillusionment with their boss Olivia (Marla Mindelle). Her lack of awareness is both alarming and amusing, producing some of the most memorable lines in the series and prompting equally hilarious reactions from Ryan and KIm (Punam Patel). Since its conclusion,Specialhas been fondly remembered for the way it finally platformed a protagonist with a disability without being disingenuous. The series excellently balanced serious moments like Ryan and his mother’s heartbreaking confrontation with his hilariously relatable musings about Sky Ferreira, his favorite pop queen.
Created and inspired by Rightor Doyle’s personal experience with BDSM,Bondingarrived at Netflix in 2019. Focusing on Tiffany (Zoe Levin) a college student by day/dominatrix by night and her best friend Pete (Brendan Scannell), the series is a comical journey following the two in their respective endeavors. Pete’s comedy career alone induces laughter among the audience, taking inspiration from his bizarre home life. However, when the two friends unite to help Tiffany maintain her career, their conversations about sex, class, and relationships bounce between earnest and hilarious.
The series drew controversy for its depiction of BDSM, to which Doyle course-corrected with a consultant, and it shows in the second season. Taking the amusing moments that made season one spectacular, the refined narrative helped makeBondinga compelling seriesabout how BDSM, and sexuality at large, are normal components of life. Documenting a universal search for fulfillment,Bondingdoes an exceptional job at entertaining its audiences while capturing their yearning for consummation.
The Mick,both starring and produced by Kaitlin Olson, followed Mackenzie “Mickey” Molng and her experience as a caretaker for her wealthy older sister and her children. With a tough exterior and an extensively explicit vocabulary, Mickey initially struggles to care for the children but like other sitcoms, the family grows to love and appreciate each other. Developed by brothers Dave and John Chernin (It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia), the series harbors a similar comedic yet pessimistic feeling. Following the traditional fish-out-of-water story, Mickey stumbles during her first few conversations with the children. Whether it be her throwing a belated birthday party or lecturing the children about sex, Mickey leads the discussion without sacrificing her personality, much to the dismay of her nephews and nieces.
After two seasons,The Mickwas removed from Fox’s line-up. Mickey’s personality produces humorous moments like her chaoticmission to preventSabrina (Sofia Black D’Elia) from getting pregnant and her attempts to thwart a failed home invasion. Despite having some formulaic moments,The Mickwas a bright difference from the cable sitcoms within a similar ecosystem and its premature cancelation prevented the show from growing into something greater.
2Scream Queens
In between the brightness ofGleeand the alluring darkness ofAmerican Horror Story,Scream Queenslies in between the margins of Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk’s more successful creations. With a reputation as a cult classic, the series mirrored the anthology format of the beloved horror series while retaining the main cast of colorful characters. Opening with the unofficial holiday weekend that is Move-In day, the initial season takes place at the fictional Wallace University and follows the infamous Kappa Kappa Tau sorority, the center of a series of murders at the hand of the Red Devil, who just so happens to be the school mascot. Incorporating major stars such as Ariana Grande, Nick Jonas, andKeke Palmerinto the narrative alongside the mainstays of the Murphyverse (Emma Roberts and Lea Michele), the first season set Scream Queens to be everyone’s obsession come fall 2015.
The cracks within the series were evident in season one and were exposed in season two, however, the show was compelling for its parodying of pop culture. The Chanel-o-ween montage alone was a hilarious collection of scenes and the deadpan delivery of Chanel #3 (Billie Lourd) is the comedic choice that aged the best out of the rest. In recent times, the show has been tainted with a slew of controversies that prompt former fans to look back on the artistic choices made with a bit more disdain. Nonetheless,Scream Queenshas always been seen as the underdog and the absurdist touch made it a refreshing comedy at the time of its premiere.
One of the more recent losses,Rebootwas one of Hulu’s more exciting originals. Following the scenes process of creating a reboot, the series starred comic legends like Keegan Michael Key, beloved actresses like Rachel Bloom (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), and exciting newcomers like Alyah Chanelle Scott (Sex Lives of College Girls). While attempting to revitalize interest and subsequently film the reboot, the returning cast and new additions a series of interesting dynamics that made for an enjoyable premiere season.
The meta-comedy opens with Hannah Korman (Bloom) receiving the green light from none other than Hulu to reboot the series and while the cast’s initial reunion was somewhat smooth, nothing compared to the chaos of Gordon’s (Paul Reiser) arrival as a co-showrunner. After he attempts to revert to the progress that Hannah set, the cast successfully begs for her to return and the group begins preparation.Despite only having one season, the series had loads of potential, touching on the chaos that is the entertainment industry but also telling the story of collaborative souls who reunite, invite new people, and attempt to move past their issues in hopes of recreating something that meant a lot to millions.
