Sometimes,it can be very difficult to decide whether to watch a serious drama, or a laugh-out-loud comedy. Fortunately, there areplenty of TV showsnowadays that provide a thoroughly entertaining blend of both of these genres. Of course, not every show that attempts to find the proper balance manages to do so effectively. Some programs end up just feeling like comedies with moments of drama randomly forced in, and others come off as serious shows that are merely being interrupted by unwanted jokes. After all, combining the two distinct elements is no easy feat.
Thankfully,certain gifted teams of creators are able to find just the right balance. While some may lean more toward the side of one or the other, these specialTV showssuccessfully find ways to appeal to bothfans of comedy and of drama. From murderers being funny to comedians being serious, blending comedy and drama allows TV creators to explore their subjects in ways that would not typically be done, guaranteeing an exciting experience for the viewers.
Shrinking
Cast
In this series, a therapist grappling with personal tragedy begins to employ a radically candid approach with his clients and in his personal life. As he navigates his roles as a father, friend, and professional, his newfound method leads to unexpected consequences and self-discovery.
When his overwhelming grief over the loss of his wife leaves therapist Jimmy Laird questioning his own life, he begins drastically (and unethically) changing the ways he offers therapy to his patients. Witha strong cast led by Jason Segel and Harrison Ford,Shrinkingis an exciting comedy-drama seriesthat debuted on Apple TV+ in early 2023.
The series is currently in the midst of its second season, with new episodes being released weekly for the remainder of 2024. Based on the subject matter alone, it sounds likeShrinkingwould inherently function more naturally as a drama. After all, the idea ofa therapist deciding to directly influence the lives of his patients after his wife suddenly diesdoes not sound like a humorous concept on its own.
15 Best Comedy TV Shows Of 2024
The best comedy shows are a combination of new gems and followup seasons of existing favorites, merging comedy with action, music, sport, and more.
However,Shrinkingsuccessfully manages to find the light in this dismal idea, consistently offering well-executed humor in the midst of its sad narrative. The clever writing and all-encompassing performances of the cast lead the series to work effectively as both a comedy and a drama.
Barry
A hitman becomes captivated by an acting class and seeks to abandon his criminal past for a life on stage. As he struggles to balance his new aspirations with his violent profession, the series delves into his internal conflict and unexpected encounters within the world of theatre.
Upon finding himself feeling disillusioned with the criminal life he has been leading,a depressed hitman finds a new passion in the form of acting. Bill Hader’s HBO series,Barry, marked a major turn in theSaturday Night Livealum’s career, demonstrating his ability to perform dramatically as well as comedically.
The series, which recently concluded, racked up44 Emmy nominations in various categories over the course of its four-season run, with Hader, Stephen Root, Henry Winkler, and Anthony Carrigan all being recognized individually for their performances.Barrynot only includes elements of comedy and drama, but successfully takes each genre to the extreme at various points throughout the series.
Just as the protagonist’s life bounces back and forth between his dark past and the amusing new life he desires, the series seamlessly rotates between nail-biting tension and laugh-out-loud humor. The switches in genre don’t detract from each other, but rather manage to effectively complement one another. The drama makes the comedy more surprising and thus more humorous, just as the comedy allows for the serious scenes to carry more weight.
Ted Lasso
Ted Lasso is an American football coach who moves to England, hired to manage a struggling soccer team, despite having no experience. With cynical players and a doubtful town, Ted will have to convince them that he’s fit for the job.
With three seasons in the books and a fourth seeming to be inevitable,Ted Lassois one of the most prominent comedy-dramas currently on television. In the series, the titular character is a goofy college football coach who is hired out of the blue to become the head coach of an English Premier League soccer team.
While its off-the-wall concept and lovably folksy leading man both seem to naturally pave the way for comedy,Ted Lassoconsistently proves its ability to explore more dramatic situations as well.
Little does Ted know that his hiring was nothing more than a scheme by the new owner to deliberately sabotage the team. The series has received massive critical acclaim, with each individual season earning at least twenty Emmy nominations. While its off-the-wall concept and lovably folksy leading man both seem to naturally pave the way for comedy,Ted Lassoconsistently proves its ability to explore more dramatic situations as well.
While Ted himself may come off as goofy, audiences are reminded that he is simply a good, kindhearted man who was thrown into a situation where he was meant to fall, and that most of the people around him are rooting against him. When portrayed in this light, while also exploring how the change affects the lives of others,Ted Lassocertainly holds its own from a dramatic standpoint.
Reservation Dogs
Reservation Dogs is a Hulu original series about teenage Native American friends who grow up together on a reservation in Oklahoma. The series stars D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Paulina Alexis, Lane Factor, and Devery Jacobs as the four friends and was created by Sterlin Harjo and Thor: Love and Thunder director Taika Waititi.
Created in part by Taika Waititi,Reservation Dogsis an FX comedy-drama series which concluded its third and final season in late 2023. The series, which has received universal acclaim from critics and audiences alike, starsa group of teenagers living as part of the Muscogee Nation in Oklahoma.
The four close friends spend their days committing small crimes as they struggle to make enough money to leave their community and move to California, all as a means of fulfilling the dream of their late friend. While the concept ofReservation Dogsis rooted in drama, the undeniable chemistry between the lead actors contributes plenty of comedy throughout the series.
The Reservation Dogs Movie: Will It Happen? Everything We Know
The Reservation Dogs movie could continue the story of the Rez Dogs after the season 3 finale on Hulu, at least according to co-creator Sterlin Harjo.
The insertion of comedy into the emotional story should come as no surprise, as Waititi is certainly no stranger to finding the humor in dismal situations (as emphasized by his films, such asHunt for the WilderpeopleandJojo Rabbit). Although the series only ran for three short seasons,Reservation Dogsconsistently makes the most of its unique concept, effectively portraying both comedy and drama as it brings some much-needed representation to the screen.
Following the sudden death of his brother, a prestigious young chef must return to his Chicago home in order totake control of his family’s humble restaurant, leaving him working tirelessly to balance the struggling sandwich shop with his own unprocessed grief. This is the foundation ofThe Bear, the award-winningFX series starring Jeremy Allen Whitealongside a talented ensemble cast including Ayo Edebiri and Ebon Moss-Bachrach.
The series recently wrapped up its third season, with a fourth already in the works.Despite being billed as a comedy,The Bearactually takes on a much more dramatic feel, although it does include moments of humor throughout. The fast-paced editing effectively mimics the frenetic nature of working in a restaurant, allowing the viewers to experience the same level of stress as the characters onscreen.
Of course, this is not to say that watchingThe Bearis an unpleasant experience; rather, it is simply an impressively accurate portrayal of working in the food service business, one which includes just enough comedy to perfectly balance the more tense moments.
Only Murders in the Building
Only Murders in the Building is a mystery-comedy series following three strangers, portrayed by Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez, who bond over their shared obsession with true crime. Set in a Manhattan apartment building, the trio becomes embroiled in a real murder mystery within their residence.
InOnly Murders in the Building, an acclaimed comedy-drama original series on Hulu, three true-crime-obsessed strangers are brought together when a mysterious death in their apartment building inspires them to do some sleuthing of their own.The strangers-turned-friends are played by the charming trio of Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez.
With a stellar cast of comedic actors setting off to investigate a murder, it is no wonder thatOnly Murders in the Buildingmanages to blend comedy and drama as effectively as it does.
The series also presents a star-studded roster of minor characters, at various times, including Meryl Streep, Paul Rudd, Tina Fey, and many more. With a stellar cast of comedic actors setting off to investigate a murder, it is no wonder thatOnly Murders in the Buildingmanages to blend comedy and drama as effectively as it does.
The interactions between the characters are consistently hilarious, withthe true friendship of the actors shining through their performances. However, the series never forgets the weight of the issues at the center of the show’s premise, not being afraid to discuss the grim realities of death.Only Murdersis a great option for a showthat discusses death without failing to also find the humor in it.
Beef
Beef, released in 2023, depicts a contentious conflict initiated by a road rage incident between a struggling contractor and a discontented entrepreneur. As their feud escalates, both individuals delve deeper into their most shadowy instincts, unraveling a complex narrative about societal tensions and personal grievances.
In 2023, Netflix releasedBeef, a dark comedy-drama miniseries from A24. The initial concept ofBeefis quite straightforward;a simple road rage incident sparks a feud between two strangers. Where the series really gets interesting, though, is through the drastic ways the feud continues to escalate, growing into a violent war between the two individuals.
The inventive miniseries was very successful with critics and audiences alike, with immense praise given to the lead performances by Steven Yeun and Ally Maki.Beefis remarkably unhindered by the simplicity of its concept. Over the ten episodes of the series,Beefquickly evolves from a humorous, petty rivalry, into a dark, win-at-any-costs battle.
As the stakes of the feud rise, so does the level of drama in the overall tone of the series. While elements of both comedy and drama can be found throughoutBeef,the series definitely leans more heavily into the darker side of its storytelling as the narrative progresses. The tonal transition is incredibly smooth, though, easing viewers into the cautionary tale it comes to present.
Fargo
Fargo is a Black Comedy Crime Drama television series that is based on the film of the same name, which was originally created by the Coen Brothers. The TV adaptation was developed by Noah Hawley and follows an anthology format for each of its seasons, taking place in a different time period or location within the “Fargo” universe. So far, the series has seen big-name stars like Billy Bob Thornton, Ewan McGregor, Chris Rock, and Kirsten Dunst.
Based on the Coen Brothers' 1996 film of the same name,Fargois a crime series that features comedy and drama alike as it presents a unique narrative and cast for each season. Set in various parts of the American Midwest, each season follows a series of interwoven crimes, exploring how the deadly events impact the various members of the community.
The series has been widely praised during each of its five seasons, with extra attention given to its rotating cast of established actors. Similar toOnly Murders in the Building,Fargomanages to find the humor in the grizzly events at its core, without detracting from the magnitude of the events themselves.
Fargodoes not shy away from showing the dark side of humanity, frequently highlighting individuals who perform actions unimaginable to most. Even after showing the darkest acts a human can perform, though,Fargonever fails to include lovable characters getting into unusual scenarios, providing some much-appreciated moments of humor in the midst of the tense narratives.
The Peacock original seriesPoker Faceprovides a clever modern spin on the idea of the mystery-of-the-week series, highlightinga different murder case with each episode.The only consistent character throughout the series is Charlie Cale, a woman with the unusual gift of always being able to immediately recognize when people are lying.
Each episode features Charlie traveling through a new part of the country, getting wrapped up in the lives of locals, and ultimately getting to the bottom of the seedy events occurring wherever she happens to be. Because each episode ofPoker Faceis largely self-contained, the murders that occur at the start of the episodes aren’t typically overly dramatic, as there has not been much time for the audience to become attached to the characters.
However, the series also includes the overarching narrative of Charlie being followed across the country by a man who clearly has ill intentions for her. This contributes a persistent tension to the series, which satisfyingly complements theinfectiously humorous lead performance by Natasha Lyonne.
Hacks
Hacks, released in 2021, is a dark comedy series that explores the evolving relationship between Deborah Vance, a legendary comedian in Las Vegas, and an ambitious, outcast young writer. The show delves into the complexities of mentorship and creativity in the entertainment industry.
Hackstakes the idea of the comedy-drama rather literally, offeringa well-constructed dramatic series about comedy itself. With a strong cast led by Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder, the series explores the captivating dynamic between an aging Las Vegas comedian and her new, young head writer.
Hackstakes the idea of the comedy-drama rather literally, offering a well-constructed dramatic series about comedy itself.
The acclaimed series wasrecently renewed for a fourth season, guaranteed to dive further into the increasingly complicated relationship between the two women determined to have their names known in the world of comedy. While the series certainly shows off plenty of sidesplitting comedy, the dramatic side of the show should not be understated.
15 Best Hacks Episodes, Ranked
Over the course of its first three seasons, Hacks has delivered some truly great episodes, from the original pilot to the season 3 finale.
After all, making sure your name becomes/stays relevant in the entertainment industry is far from a walk in the park.Hacksalso dives deep in the personal lives of the two main characters, showing how significantly they both manage to influence each other’s lives. The popular HBO series proves to audiences that even the world of comedy isn’t always just about the laughs.
