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10 Shows Like How I Met Your Mother For Romantic Comedy Fans

December 30, 2022
shows like how i met your mother

Known for its unique structure, humour, and incorporation of dramatic elements, How I Met Your Mother (HIMYM) was popular throughout its run. The show has marked its place as a well-loved series and was able to keep its popularity amongst audiences going till the very end. If you miss watching this memorable romantic comedy series, we have curated a list of incredible shows like How I Met Your Mother that you should check out. The structure of the show is unique and impressive –The intrigue to who will be the mother of Ted’s children. HIMYM became, for many, one of the best situation comedy series. The show is not only extremely entertaining and highly meme-able, but it has its moments of being so heartwarming and memorable that it really taught young generations a thing or two about love, friends, and life.

List of TV Shows Like How I Met Your Mother

  1. Friends
  2. How I Met Your Father
  3. Big Bang Theory
  4. Seinfield
  5. The Office
  6. Brooklyn Nine-Nine
  7. New Girl
  8. Modern Family
  9. Schitt’s Creek
  10. That 70s Show

1. Friends (1994)

There are few sitcoms as popular as Friends; not only is it amongst the most successful, most watched and talked about shows in the world but is regarded by fans as the greatest sitcom of all time. Friends doesn’t really need an introduction, as I’m sure you might have heard enough about it (that is if you haven’t seen it yet) but even still, the show follows 6 people in their early 20s, namely Joey, Chandler, Ross, Monica, Phoebe and Rachel in New York. 

Here’s the opening scene of Friends Season 1 Episode 1:

The show follows their journey as they try to make their way into the world. The 6 of them face challenges like any other would, here, their true bond of friendship remains a support system for each other. Friends is extremely funny, heartwarming and entertaining and a must-watch for shows similar to How I Met Your Mother.

2. How I Met Your Father (2022)

After HIMYM ended with 9 seasons, every fan wished they got to see more of the characters they loved for so many years. The OG show built its premise around the notion of telling children how ‘Ted Mosby’ met his wife- their mother. Fans could have only predicted a reboot show – How I Met Your Father was a high possibility. Which is exactly what happened. How I Met Your Father follows a girl in present-time NY called Sophie as she tells her son ( and us) the story of she met her husband (the father).

One of the most exciting things for fans is that the reboot is based in the same universe as HIMYM, so the possibilities of crossovers and callbacks are infinite! This reboot’s main cast is more diverse than its predecessor, with Latino, Indian, Asian and British members. The first season of How I Met Your Father has been released. Go watch it if you are a fan of a series like How I Met Your Mother; you’ll be pleasantly surprised!

Also Read: Shows like Trailer Park Boys

3. Big Bang Theory (2007)

Big Bang Theory brings into focus the lives of 4 young boys living in Pasadena, California, who are working at Caltech. Sheldon, a peculiar but extremely intelligent boy, lives with an experimental physicist, Leonard, and the show opens up with the time a pretty girl named Penny moves in next door. 

This is an extremely funny show, it uses the scientific world of the guys and the contrast of a regular girl penny in an extremely entertaining way. Jim Parson, who plays Sheldon, has become quite the icon for fans everywhere. Big Bang Theory is one the most watched sitcoms and should definitely be on your list if you enjoy hilarious shows like How I Met Your Mother.

4. Seinfield (1989)

For the 70s and 80s kids, the American sitcom Seinfield was what HIMYM, Friends, and Big Bang Theory were to us. The journey of young friends living together in a city like NY has become all too familiar to us but at the time, people saw more Family comedies, Seinfield was a show that stood out. The show followed 4 friends in NY just going about in their life, trying to answer trivial questions that bothered them. Jerry Seinfield, a real-life comedian, played an exaggerated version of himself. 

The show may feel a bit outdated and irrelevant at times but once you start watching Seinfield, it’s very addicting! Seasons 3- 9 are the highlight, with some of the best sitcom writings ever seen. If you’re a fan of comedy shows like How I Met Your Mother then Seinfield is a must-watch.

5. The Office (US Version) (2005)

Based on the UK version of the same name, the American The Office is a mockumentary-style comedy show that looks at the life of a group of office workers that go through a series of hilarious misadventures at the Scranton- Pennsylvania branch of Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. 

Micheal Scott, the Regional Manager of the Branch, is an office clown, while Jim – a salesman, is bored working at the job and usually up to hilarious pranks on his gullible/teacher’s pet colleague – Dwight. All the while Jim is in love with the engaged receptionist Pam. The show is unapologetically funny, heart-warming, entertaining and surprisingly relatable even if you don’t work in an office! If you want to see more shows similar to How I Met Your Mother then The Office is a great choice for you. Check it out.

6. Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013)

Brooklyn-Nine-Nine is another very funny NY-based show on this list. The premise follows a bunch of New York City Police Department (NYPD)police detectives that are trying to adjust their lives around their new commanding officer, the serious and stern Captain Raymond Holt. The main focus of the show is on the immature yet excellent detective Jake Peralta.

This modern-day sitcom not only has all the elements necessary to tickle the funny bones but also deals with topical social issues like Racism, Homosexuality, and sexual assault in an honourable manner. If you want to see shows like How I Met Your Mother, which is pure entertainment, then look no further, Brooklyn-Nine-Nine is the perfect choice for you.

Also Read: Shows like Heartbreak High

7. New Girl (2011)

If you’re in the mood to watch a sitcom with a few offbeat characters, but with just as much humour and enjoyment, The New Girl might just end up becoming one of your favourites. The story revolves around Jess, a young quirky woman- a middle-school teacher as she moves into an apartment loft with 3 single men. Although they find her behaviour very unusual, all of them support her. 

As the episodes progress, much like HIMYM, we witness the friendships, love, careers, and highs, and lows that they face in their life. The way the characters grow and interact with each other is beautiful and hilarious. The plot of each episode is more or less the same but still manages to be immensely entertaining. Each of the characters has a specific niche in the group and perfectly matches each other in differences and similarities. The New Girl is a perfect weekend binge-watch option for shows like How I Met Your Mother. 

8. Modern Family (2009)

While much of this list contains shows about life between friends/colleagues/roommates and not so much Family, there are few family comedies truly worth a watch, and Modern Family is among them. Modern Family is American family mockumentary series that follows 3 different types of families (nuclear, blended, and same-gender) living in the Los Angeles area, all interrelated through Jay Pritchett and his children, daughter Claire and son Mitchell.

The show is quite an extraordinary, beautiful and memorable family comedy. An absolute crowd-pleaser, and the kind of show that will cheer you up when you’re having a bad day. The dark humour is written so well and some of these situations are very relatable. So, if you want to see a series like How I Met Your Mother, then you should surely consider Modern Family.  

9. Schitt’s Creek (2015)

We hear stories about people who go from rags to riches, this is a hilarious show about a family that goes from riches to rags. After being a victim of fraud, Johnny Rose and his family go from extremely wealthy- Aristocracy to penniless overnight. The only asset left to them is a small, unsophisticated town called Schitt’s Creek. They relocate there and consequently, culture shock ensues.

This cultural shock and adjustment to country life bring incredibly laughable situations, the family’s struggle to let go of their high-class mannerisms and habits is highly entertaining to see. Schitt’s Creek is quite the joyride if you want to see comedy TV shows like Now I Met Your Mother. 

10. That 70s Show (1998)

The series focuses on the lives of a group of six teenage friends living in the fictional town of Point Place, Wisconsin in the 1970s. Eric, a high school student, and his group of teenage friends struggle to lead purposeful lives whilst going through the tumultuous phase of adolescence.

This is a great show to watch when you’re bored and finding something to pass time. You will have a great laugh watching this one. It’s not only funny but also relatable to teenage times. That 70s Show is the perfect choice for shows like How I Met Your Mother ( Especially if you enjoy Barney’s silliness). 

Also, there is a That 90s Show- a sequel coming soon. 

Honourable Mentions

Here are a few awesome shows like How I Met Your Mother that didn’t make the list, but you can check them out nonetheless: 

  1. 2 Broke Girls
  2. Two and a Half Men
  3. The Good Place
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When Lost aired over a decade ago, its successful narrative created a pop culture impact and changed the landscape of television. If you are a fan and want to watch shows like Lost then you can have a look at this list we made just for you.

Lost

The hugely successful television series Lost aired in 2004. The premise, as we know, deals with a group of people surviving a commercial passenger plane crash on a remote island. The show masterfully explores supernatural and sci-fi elements on this mysterious south Pacific island. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTu8iDynwNc

The use of cliffhangers at the end of each episode of Lost kept the viewers on the edge of their seats, desperately craving for the next episode to come. Even though it's a large ensemble cast, most of the characters receive a justifiable personal arch. Lost was inspired by the movie Castaway and became one of the most expensive pilots to be shot at the time! Lost continues to be appreciated for its originality in storytelling and dynamic character arcs. 

List of TV Shows Like Lost

  1. The Leftovers
  2. Manifest
  3. Lost Room
  4. Twin Peaks
  5. The Prisoners
  6. Battlestar Galactica
  7. The New People
  8. Flight 29 Down
  9. Fringe
  10. Alcatraz
  11. Under the Dome
  12. Dark

1. The Leftovers (2014)

IMDB ratings: 8.3/10

Cast: Carrie Coon, Justin Theroux, Amy Brenneman and Margaret Qualley

Creator: Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta

The director of Lost, Damon Lindel also created a supernatural drama series called The Leftovers. The show begins 3 years after an unexplainable global event called ‘Sudden Departure’  where almost 2 per cent of the population, nearly 140 million people, disappear. The Leftovers isn't about WHY people are gone, it's about how the ones who remain dealt with their loss, people often try to comfort themselves with dreams, angels, gods, or even death.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLT3YUALJno&t=8s

The Leftovers will leave you with so many questions but beyond words, you have to feel it and savour its unanswered questions to find peace. The Leftovers is an incredible television series that starts incredibly well but loses its way by the series's end. I have to say though, Carrie Coon has brilliant moments in the end. The Leftovers is so weird, fragmented and nonsensical at times that it reminds me of Lost. If you are looking for shows like Lost, I recommend that you give The Leftovers a try.

2. Manifest  (2018) 

IMDB ratings: 7.1/10

Cast: Melissa Roxburgh, Josh Dallas and J.R. Ramirez 

Creator: Jeff Rake


The Manifest is a supernatural drama show about a bunch of people who discover that they lost 5 years of their lives when they landed in New York after their aeroplane faced severe turbulence. All the people on the plane were presumed to be dead. Now, these people have to find a way to adjust themselves to a new life around their loved ones. Mild spoiler! They learn their loved ones and the rest of society is not as they left it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1hNAIzkQWY

I found that the show’s premise was very intriguing and the actors give a very convincing performance. The narrative details of the show, however, in my opinion, are a bit sloppy and inconsistent. The writers surely have room for improvement but their concept is incredibly thrilling. Every episode of Manifest keeps you on your toes. Manifest has completed 3 seasons up until now and continues to be on air. Manifest is a pretty good choice if you want to watch TV shows like Lost.

3. Lost Room (2006)

IMDB ratings: 8.1/10

Cast: Peter Krause, Julianna Margulies and Peter Jacobson

Creator: Christopher Leone, Laura Harkcom

This lesser-known show The Lost Room is an American Sci-fi television miniseries which only had 3 episodes of 90 mins each and no follow-up seasons. The show was based on a very unique idea where the room in question (known as the ‘Lost Room’) and the objects in the said room had supernatural powers. This strange room is set in a 1960s motel along the iconic U.S. Route 66. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfWrECLnFYU

One day the protagonist (Peter Krause) Joe Miller’s daughter disappears inside the room. Joe, with the help of objects present in the room, tries to find his daughter Anna (Elle Fanning). The story of Lost Room was intensely engaging. I found the direction and the actor’s performances to be absolutely brilliant. It baffles me that the creators did not return to make another short season within the same concept. If you have been searching for TV series like Lost then I can assure you that Lost Room will be worth a watch.

4. Twins Peaks (1990) 

IMDB ratings: 8.8/10

Cast: Kyle MacLachlan, Mädchen Amick, Sherilyn Fenn and David Lynch

Creator: David Lynch

David Lynch, the well-known director of weird and captivating films such as Eraserhead and Blue Velvet created an iconic show called Twin Peaks. It is a hauntingly eccentric show about the investigation of the mysterious murder of a small-town homecoming queen named Laura Palmer. Believe me, as odd as the show may seem at first, you will grow to love it, after all, it is considered to be one of the best mystery shows ever created. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zwn9ou_nf-I

With the mysteries, the supernatural elements and the list of bizarre characters, Twin Peaks has it all. In my opinion, the cinematography of the show was truly ahead of its time. Kyle’s Dale Cooper was especially entertaining. Twin Peaks’ experimental formula of the satirical soap opera is extremely unsettling yet rewarding to watch, I must warn you, it’s not for the faint-hearted!  If you are in search of TV shows like Lost then Twin Peaks won’t disappoint you.

The Prisoners (1967)

IMDB ratings: 8.5/10

Cast: Patrick McGoohan, Angelo Muscat and Geroge Markstien

Creator: Patrick McGoohan


The Prisoner centres around an unnamed British agent (Patrick McGoohan) who tries to flee his country after abruptly quitting his high-ranking government job. He is abducted and held captive in a strange ‘sea-side’ village that is isolated from the rest of the world. This village is a highly secure and monitored place filled with weird technology. There are only 17 episodes to this late 60s show but it manages to bring up such surreal surprises, it's sure to leave a great impact on the viewer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JrNr85fPms

The Prisoner’s unique concept influenced many popular shows including Lost. The creators of Lost even cited the show. I was very impressed by how ahead of its time The Prisoners proves to be. If you want to watch more shows similar to Lost the Prisoners should definitely be on your list.

6. Battlestar Galactica (2004)

IMDB ratings: 8.7/10

Cast: Katee Sackhoff, Edward James Olmos and Tricia Helfer 

Creator: Glen A. Larson

The 2004 Battlestar Galactica is a reboot of the original 1978 miniseries of the same name. Do not be mistaken by the title, the show is not related to Star Trek.  Battlestar Galactica is set in the 7th millennium AD and follows Cylons, the robot enemy of humanity that resurfaces to destroy the 12 colonies of Mankind. Only a few survive and are able to escape on ships led by a powerful warship called Battlestar Galactica. Mankind struggles to fight the Cylons and work their own political agendas and disputes while finding their long-lost 13th colony Earth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnYsf2Yv8i8

The show is a dark, intense and gritty socio-political commentary with EPIC cinematic value. The script is especially clever and as a huge fan of sci-fi shows, this show ticks the boxes in all the right categories. When the show was released, it blew the viewers and critics away. As far as an obsessive and gripping story goes, Battlestar Galactica is one of the most similar to shows like Lost. 

7. The New People (1969)

IMDB ratings: 7.3/10

Cast: David Moses, Zooey hall and Tiffany Boiling

Creator: Larry Gordon Aaron Spelling

The New People is an American Tv series that aired only for 1 season and is focused on a couple of college students who survive a plane crash. The incident takes place while they were returning from a trip to Southeast Asia, their plane crashes on an island in the south of the Pacific ocean. 

By now this show must already be sounding a lot like Lost to you, and it surely is. The remaining group of people discover an unusual truth about the island: there’s an above-ground unused nuclear test site filled with supplies for the survivors. If you want to see more plane survival stories like Lost then The New People should definitely be on your list.

8. Flight 29 Down (2005)

IMDB ratings: 7.2/10

Cast: Allen Alvarado, Halle Hirsh and Corbin Bleu

Creator:  Stan Rowgow D. J. MacHale

The show Flight 29 Down is a drama series about a group of pre-teens/teens who are stranded on a South Pacific island after their plane crashes in a tropical storm while they were flying from an eco-adventure camping trip in Palau. The show is in many ways a younger version of the Adult-centred show Lost but sans the supernatural elements. I’d say that the show draws inspiration from the show The New People.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLeG0w3kL8k

Flight 29 Down uses the technique of a video diary as a plot device for the viewers to keep up with the story of these children. It was very engaging to watch young intelligent characters finding their way on the island. The first two seasons of the show are quite engaging but I seemed to lose interest in its 3rd and final season. Regardless, Flight 29 Down is a really good series to watch if you want to see TV shows like Lost.

9. Fringe (2008)

IMDB ratings: 8.4/10

Cast: Anna Torv, John Noble and Joshua Jackson

Creator: J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman, and Roberto Orci

Fringe is a popular Sci-fi crime drama television series. It may seem like a standard procedural drama at first, but the show actually explores the parallel universe, alternate versions of people filled with crazy scientific experiments. I personally had a great time watching this show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29bSzbqZ3xE

Fringe is actually inspired by shows like Lost, The X-files and The Twilight Zone. The 3 main characters of the show work with a special division called Fringe. There are so many brilliant twists and turns in Fringe that in my opinion, the show is at the top of its category. If you are searching for TV series like Lost, I strongly recommend you watch Fringe. 

10. Alcatraz (2012)

IMDB ratings: 6.9/10

Cast: Sarah Jones, George Garcia and Jonny Coyne 

Creator: Elizabeth Sarnoff, Steven Lilien, Bryan Wynbrandt

This American fiction show is based on the infamous Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary built on Alcatraz island in San Francisco Bay. The prison is now closed but once kept some of the most dangerous criminals of America. The show takes the liberty to make a show around the conspiracies of the place.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V514ACIGp_k

In the interesting premise we see that under unknown circumstances, 256 inmates and 46 guards of the prison disappear without a trace. Later the disappeared ones start to appear one by one without ageing a day and resume their criminal activities with no realisation of disappearance. A special government unit is dedicated to finding and putting those criminals back in prison. If you are looking for mystery shows similar to Lost, try watching Alcatraz. 

11. Under the Dome (2013)

IMDB ratings: 6.5/10

Cast: Alexander Koch and Rachelle Lefevre

Creator: Stephen King

Based on a novel written by the sci-fi legend Stephen King, Under the Dome tells the story of the residents of the fictional small town called Chester's Mill, when a huge, transparent and indestructible dome suddenly cuts them off from the rest of the world. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Y5YeYrqUk

Now the trapped residents try to find a way to discover the truth, origin and purpose of these domes. This journey forces them into situations where they learn more about each other than they ever knew. Under the Dome may not be on the top of this list but it’s quite a decent watch if you’re looking for mystery shows similar to Lost. 

12. Dark (2017)

IMDB ratings: 8.7/10

Cast: Louis Hofmann, Lisa Vicari and Gina Stiebitz

Creator: Baran bo Odar, Jantje Friese

The German-language Netflix series Dark is an interesting blend of Science fiction and Mystery. Truly a compelling and mind-bending story to watch. At the beginning of Dark, many children suspiciously start disappearing in the German town of Winden. The dark past of generational mysteries of 4 families living in the town namely, Kahnwald, Nielsen, Doppler, and Tiedemann is brought to light.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrwycJ08PSA

After the discovery of a wormhole, the lives of the families intertwine more than one can imagine. I believe every element of the show is top-notch, especially Dark’s cinematography, which is a TRUE masterpiece. If you are looking for TV series similar to Lost then the intense and gripping story of Dark is sure to keep you engrossed.

Honourable Mentions

Here are a few TV shows like Lost that didn’t make the list, but you can check them out nonetheless: 

  1. Carnivale
  2. Yellowjackets
  3. Game of Thrones
  4. Black Mirror
  5. Flashforward
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