Asian-American TV series have seen something of a resurgence especially since the Eddie Huang-narrated Fresh off the Boat. We’ve recently been blessed with another comedy but one of a darker kind in Netflix’s Beef. Reviews have been overwhelmingly positive, and the show has since been certified fresh by Rotten Tomatoes. There’s a chance you love Beef if you’ve seen it, and that’s why we’ve created this list of 12 TV shows like Beef.
Beef, created by Lee Sung Jin, follows the story of Steven Yeun’s Danny Cho, a struggling contractor, and Ali Wong’s Amy Lau, a lady who owns and runs a small plant-selling business. Both of them get involved in a road rage incident, one that soon consumes their emotions and lives completely.
This show has a very eclectic mix of genres, from comedy-drama to psychological drama to thriller. The first season just released a little while back but fans are already craving for its second season. If you’re one of them, then here are 12 shows like Beef.
List of Shows like Beef
1. Eagleheart (2011)
Eagleheart is an action-comedy series similar to Beef. Created by Michael Koman and Andrew Weinberg, Eagleheart follows the story of U.S Marshal Chris Monsanto as he fights crime with his partners Brett and Susie. Together they help to stop a wide range of criminals, from thieves, kidnappers and fraudsters.
This show parodies a lot of the classic cop shows, especially Walker, Texas Ranger. If you want to have a laugh, and a good deal of high octane action to keep you excited alongside it, then Eagleheart is the perfect show for you to watch with your friends.
2. Kevin Can F**k Himself (2021)
Kevin Can F**k Himself follows the story of Allison McRoberts, a woman who is trying to revitalize her marriage and her life too. She is married to Kevin, who from our perspective we see as unambitious and childish. This show is a dark comedy series that explores the human psyche in a hilarious way, quite similar to shows like Beef.
Kevin Can F**k Himself like the previous recommendation on this list, parodies a well-known genre of TV. In this case, it’s the TV sitcom, and this is achieved by making use of the same camera setups and canned audience laughter utilized in shows like Friends and Seinfeld. This show has also been praised for its nice blend of genres. KCFH concluded in late 2022, so make sure to catch up on it if you get the chance.
3. Louie (2010)
In Louie we are presented with the titular character, Louis C.K, a comedian who plays a fictionalized version of himself, in a premise reminiscent of Seinfeld. And like shows similar to Beef, Louie makes use of surrealistic humor and satire to push forward its themes and ideas.
This show follows the newly divorced Louie who has to raise two daughters all on his own in the rumbling and bustling city of New York. It was a critically acclaimed show during its time on air, and was praised for its indie-film style as well as a likeness to Woody Allen productions. Louis C.K gives a stellar performance… as himself. And you won’t want to miss out.
4. Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000)
A bonafide classic show which garnered over 50 Daytime Emmy Award nominations while it was on air, Curb Your Enthusiasm is an American dark comedy sitcom similar in tone to shows like Beef. Curb Your Enthusiasm also features an actor playing a fictionalized version of himself in Larry David, who also created and wrote the show. If you’ve already seen this great comedy, check out our list of shows like Curb Your Enthusiasm.
This show has a hilarious ensemble cast and from time to time welcomes some celebrity guest stars who also play versions of themselves. Including Ted Danson, Wanda Sykes, Richarf Lewis and Jon Hamm. It’s been compared to Seinfeld, and its dialogue is mostly improvised off of a loose structure written by Larry David. If you enjoy off the cuff humor then you should definitely check out this series.
5. Peep Show (2003)
Peep Show is a British black comedy, written by Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain. The show follows the story of Mark Corrigan, a loan manager, and Jeremy Usbourne, an unemployed musician and career slacker. Together they are two dysfunctional friends who share an apartment in an area of South London known as Croydon. Well, Jeremy actually squats in the apartment.
A regular nominee at the British Academy Television Awards, Peep Show never really took off commercially, in terms of ratings. It has however since grown into something of a cult classic, even being called “comedy of the decade” by UK newspaper The Guardian. But if shows like Breaking Bad and The Wire have shown us anything, it’s that streaming can breathe life into old shows such as these. If you enjoy series like Beef, make sure to check this out.
6. Pushing Daisies (2007)
Pushing Daisies follows the life and times of Ned, a talented pie maker, who has one other hidden talent, which is the ability to bring the dead back to life by touching them. But there is one catch, if he revives them for more than a minute, a “similar life value” dies, and he can also never touch the revived person again or they die.
Pushing Daisies is an oddball comedy similar to shows like Beef. The show has been praised for these interesting quirks and its very unique premise. It’s an utterly entertaining show with a great cast and particularly sublime set design. If the show’s wacky premise didn’t catch your fantasy then maybe that will.
7. The Boys (2019)
Amazon Prime’s The Boys has been a hit in terms of viewership and pop culture relevance in the past two years. Making use of parody and satire to mock the storylines of DC and Marvel comic book superheroes, The Boys is a fantastically written dark action-comedy series similar to Beef.
The Boys is set in a universe where superheroes are known as heroes by the general public, and as expected in a capitalistic world of today, a huge corporation known as Vought International, which plays on companies like Disney, monetizes their power through marketing and the power of the media and propaganda. If you haven’t seen this show then where have you been?
8. Wayne (2019)
Wayne is an action comedy series similar to Beef, thatcenters around the 16 year old known as Wayne McCullough Jnr., a highschooler who tries to retrieve his late father’s stolen 1979 Pontiac Trans Am automobile. To do exactly that Wayne goes on a wacky road trip from Brockton, Massachusetts to Ocala, Florida.
This show feels like a throwback to some of the mid to late 2000s road trip movies we used to see, and has been praised for stellar performances from its cast, and the frantic action that is thrown into the mix. Its high octane action is sure to keep you entertained for a good while.
9. The Increasingly Poor Choices of Todd Margaret (2010)
The Increasingly Poor Choices of Todd Margaretis a British black comedy in a similar vein to shows like Beef. It follows the story of a US executive who is promoted and transferred to the United Kingdom by Will Arnett’s Brent Wilts to manage the company’s branch and their latest energy drink brand known as Thunder Muscle.
TIPCOTM is a strikingly original piece of comedy that actually somewhat flew under the radar, and has been underrated as a result. David Cross’ Todd Margaret has consistently been singled out for praise, although this is a show with a thoroughly entertaining and talented ensemble cast, that I can’t wait for you to watch.
10. Wolf like Me (2022)
Wolf like Me follows the story of a single father, Gary, played by Josh Gad and his 11 year old daughter, Emma, played by Ariel Donoghue. Together they come to terms with the death of Emma’s mother, who passed away due to cancer. Set in Australia, Gary tries to connect with his daughter, but it seems that it is all to no avail.
A comedy series with some dark elements, similar to shows like Beef, Wolf like Me has some really intense and impressive performances from the two leading characters. Its mix of genres is as entertaining as ever when expertly executed like it is here. Check this one out in your spare time, you won’t regret it.
11. Wedding Season (2022)
A mix of romance, action, thriller and comedy series, similar to Beef, Wedding Season is a show centered on a man named Stefan who barged into the wedding of a certain Katie McConnell to object to her union with another man. Stefan is arrested but soon finds out that Katie’s in-laws have been poisoned and killed. He runs away with Katie to find out the truth.
Wedding Season is yet another show on this list with a truly absurd premise, and it is elevated further by some hilarious performances by Rosa Salazar’s Katie and Gavin Drea’s Stefan. Its mishmash of genres as well as the great chemistry between the lead actors makes it one to tack onto your watch list.
12. Barry (2018)
Bill Hader is Barry in the American dark comedy series of the same name. Barry follows a hitman from Cleveland who moves to Los Angeles with the intention of carrying out a hit, but soon has a change in perspective when he meets an actress named Sally Reed, played by Sarah Goldberg. But getting out of life is not as easy as it initially seems.
Barry makes great use of its wacky premise just as in shows like Beef, and has been a huge success during its time on air, earning over 40 nominations at the Primetime Emmy Awards, including two Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series nods for Bill Hader. The final season is set to premiere on April 16, so this is the perfect time for you to catch up from the very beginning.
Honorable Mentions
Here are other shows like Beef which didn’t make the list that you can also watch:
- The End of the F****ng World (2017)
- Utopia (2020)
- Insatiable (2018)
