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10 Shows Like Community to Watch For More Smartly Written Comedies

January 13, 2023
shows like community

Community is one of the most unique shows to ever have been created. If you miss all the cool shenanigans, then we have created a list of fun shows like Community that you will have a great time watching! Community is a super creative show with stop-motion animated episodes, cartoon episodes, paintball wars, pillow forts, dungeons and dragons, multiple realities, open-bottle episodes, and endless references to TV and pop culture. Despite its ups and downs, the show fought to keep running for 6 seasons. As a fan of impeccable comedy sitcoms, the following recommendations is perfect for you.

List of TV Shows Like Community

  1. Parks and Recreation 
  2. Schitt’s Creek
  3. 30 Rock
  4. Scrubs
  5. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt 
  6. Brooklyn Nine-Nine 
  7. New Girl
  8. Rick and Morty
  9. Superstore
  10. The IT Crowd

1. Parks and Recreation (2009)

Mike Schur’s Parks and Recreation continued in the loose mockumentary-style framework made popular by America’s version of The Office. Instead of a classroom setting, the show was set in a local government office. Leslie Knope, played by Amy Poehler, is the always optimistic head of the Pawnee Parks Department, who is devoted to seeing her neighbourhood reach its full potential. 

All of the characters of this show are a part of a larger series cast that, as we follow through their professional and personal highs and lows, not only grows to be Leslie’s (Amy Pohler) surrogate family but also our on-screen family. What perhaps best links Parks and Recreation with Community is its writers’ ability to make you genuinely care for its characters, flaws, and all! 

2. Schitt’s Creek (2015)

The narrative revolves around the Roses, who go from riches to rags and are forced to live in a rundown and unkempt town, Schitt’s Creek. Simplicity is what drives the entire series, peppered with some top-notch performances. Eugene Levy is a worrying and doting husband and father. Catherine O’Hara- aloud, egoistic and self-centred yesteryear actress Moira. As for their grown-up children, Annie Murphy is a spoiled brat with multiple flings, while Daniel Levy is the highly witty and sarcastic pansexual son David. 

The casting is perfect, as is the writing. You get to know each character and feel like they are old friends. The show takes you through the ups and downs of daily life. You will just have to stay for one more episode once you start to watch. The show is guaranteed to make you laugh and cry. Fans of shows like Community should definitely try watching Schitt’s Creek.

3. 30 Rock (2006)

The head writer of TGS, Liz Lemon (Tina Fey), is overworked and undervalued. Liz’s closest friend is the conceited original star of “The Girlie Show,” Jenna Maroney (Jane Krakowski). The show is run by the self-assured businessman Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin). He brings on Tracy Jordan, played by Tracy Morgan, as the show’s new lead.

In essence, this is a crazy parody of Tina Fey’s tenure as head writer at Saturday Night Live. It is one of the most intriguing comedies of the time. Tracy Morgan comes out as the crazy TV personality he has fully embraced. The writing is excellent. 30 Rock is a series that gets its sense of comedy from the most ridiculous and far-off left field. However, similar to shows like Community, at the heart of this insanity is a group of people that are more like family.

4. Scrubs (2001)

Bill Lawrence came up with a humorous sitcom that combines the greatest elements of both genres- medical and comedy sitcom. Set in a hospital, the show stands out in a sea of hospital (melo)dramas that take themselves too seriously despite their dubious quality.

The show Scrubs revolves around a medical intern John and his everyday wacky experiences and his everyday medical job along with his college buddy, Chris. Slapstick, irony, sarcasm, comedy of the situation, and even some morbid black humour, the show has it all. Scrubs, in my opinion, is a must-see for fans of TV shows like Community.

Also Read: Shows like House MD

5. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (2015)

The protagonist of the show, Kimmy Schmidt (Ellie Kemper) was abducted by Reverend Richard Wayne while she was in the 8th grade. She stayed in an underground bunker in Indiana for the following 15 years. Now out and free, she is living her life in New York. You would think that sounds really dark but Kimmy’s unerringly optimistic personality gives the entire show a positive spin.

There are no cruel jokes to be found anywhere in this show, which is filled with a gorgeously joyous charm. The entire thing is just continually joyful and may instantly lift your spirits. Additionally, it is a really intelligent satire. Ellie Kemper is such a sweet soul, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is a great feel-good TV series like Community.

6. Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013)

This story follows NYPD Detective Jake Peralta. Who is a careless yet brilliant member of the detective squad of the 99th precinct. Captain Raymond Holt, a no-nonsense and serious type of person is determined to teach Jake to be mature. Similar to shows like Community, Brooklyn Nine-Nine fought its way to stay on the air, all possible because of the support from their fans.

The rest of the detective team includes Rosa- tough and scary, Amy – the teacher’s pet/ nerd, Terry- a family man, Charles- clumsy but hard working, the Oldies- Scully and Hitchcock who basically do nothing. And Gina is the one-of-a-kind persona and secretary for Captain Holt. Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a complete 24-karat television gold comedy, action and adventure all wrapped into one.

7. New Girl (2011)

New Girl’s main character, Jessica Day (Zooey Deschanel) finds her boyfriend cheating on her, and she is forced to find another place to live. She moves in with 3 guys- Nick Miller (Jake Johnson), Schmidt (Max Greenfield), and Coach. In the second episode, Winston Bishop (Lamorne Morris) replaces Coach as their roommate. At the same time, Cece Parikh (Hannah Simone) is Jessica’s lifelong friend.

This is a standard single-gal sitcom with the doll-eyed, adorably quirky stylings of Zooey. The quirky and awkward humour of Jessica perfectly compliments that of a series like Community. New Girl should surely make a nice weekend binge-watch.

8. Rick and Morty (2013)

A dirty old scientist, Rick, grabs his 14-year-old cowardly and not-so-bright grandson Morty to go the insane adventures across the universe. The trippy animated show explores bizarre doctor-who-like situations packed with popular culture references.

Between series like Community and Rick and Morty, there have been multiple common guest stars, in Community- Abed and Rachel both watch Rick and Morty. Community regulars like Jim Rash and Gillian also guest-starred on the show. Perhaps the most obvious cross-over of the 2takes place in the S 2 Ep called “Auto Erotic Assimilation,” where the show lands itself in a Community-like place. Needless to say, there is a lot of mutual love, which is why you should definitely give this one a try. 

Also Read: Shows like Adventure Time

9. Superstore (2015)

Superstore is an incredibly underrated comedy about a bunch of odd employees and their everyday work and private lives at a megastore called Cloud 9. Amy Sosa (America Ferrera) is a single mom struggling to work and advance. Jonah Simms (Ben Feldman) is an associate who feels superior to his position. They and the other people who work in the store form bonds and friendships.

There is a fun and sweet feel to this show. Many shows are as silly and hilarious but this one of those rare shows that share a familiar dynamic between the characters we saw and loved for 6 seasons in Community. So, If you are looking for sitcoms shows like Community, then Superstore is a nice option for you. 

10. The IT Crowd (2006)

It’s a ton of fun to be around people one can relate to and a series like COmmunity does just that but what if a person enters a world she knows nothing about? The IT Crowd explores just that. Jen Barber is promoted to head the IT department of a large corporation. The problem is: she knows nothing about IT. Her staff, Roy and Moss, have no social skills. As you may have figured out, they make a perfect team… of misfits.

The boys take every opportunity to prank Jen over her curiosity to understand the most obvious answers to the tech while the geeky computer nerds provide support to folks who mostly couldn’t care less about them. The IT Crowd is one of the most fun mindless shows on this list and completely worth a watch if you are looking for shows like Community.

Honourable Mentions

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

  1. The Good Place 
  2. Psych 
  3. Silicon Valley 
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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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