Top 5 Comedy Shows to Binge Watch

Binge watching is not a difficult thing to do these days, believe me, so why not make a list of the shows that are particularly easy to binge on? I think it’s very easy to binge watch anything now, but picking your next endeavour can be difficult. I think that there are certain things to look for before making that decision; storylines that don’t get boring, a cast that you can fall in love with, and characters that take you on a journey with them. Because there are so many different shows, and many different genres to delve into, I settled on just choosing the comedies I thought would be perfect for binge watching. It was a struggle to narrow it down, but these shows are the comedies that I think are easy to get swept up in, easy to watch and incredibly easy binge on (and, as always, some of my favourite gifs to go along with them). 

5. The IT Crowd 

Set in the offices of Reynholm Industries, The IT Crowd revolves around the three members of the IT department; lovable geek Maurice Moss, easy-going slacker Roy Trenneman, and klutzy, excitable Jen Barber. Moss and Roy are two of the funniest characters I’ve ever seen; Moss’ lack of social skills and Roy’s lack of interest in dealing with work or people make it easy to associate with the show and more than make up for Jen’s squawking. Set in the unkempt basement that serves as their office, the group struggle with being the lowest on the totem pole as well as often being socially inept. Characters like Douglas Reynholm and Richmond Avenal only add to the hilarity with their peculiar traits that make you laugh until your stomach hurts. The day-to-day mishaps within the department and the crazy personal lives of the staff make for a hysterical, entertaining show. “Hello IT, have you tried turning it off and on again?” will never stop being funny.

Notable episodes: Calendar Geeks, The Red Door, The Work Outing, The Return of the Golden Child, Bad Boys, Calamity Jen

4. The Office (US)

Adapted from Ricky Gervais’ UK series of the same name, the series follows of the employees of Dunder Mifflin Paper Company and their everyday lives. From the well-intentioned but often offensive and hilarious manager Michael Scott, and the oddball with a lack of social skills sales representative Dwight K. Schrute, to the intelligent, mild mannered Jim Halpert who loves to prank and his love interest, shy, artistically inclined Pam Beesly. These characters seem to worm their way into your heart, probably due to the mockumentary style, and by the end of it you’re crying with laughter. The office becomes the location of some of the strangest, funniest and emotional occurrences and I love the show all the more for it.   

Notable episodes: Stress Relief, Niagara, The Duel, Goodbye Michael, The Injury, The Dundies

3. Modern Family

Revolving around three families who are all interconnected through Jay Pritchett and his grown children, Claire and Mitchell. Jay’s relationship with his new wife Gloria and her son Manny is full of ups and downs and hilarious screaming matches, while Claire and Phil deal with the crazy antics that come with Phil being a self-proclaimed “cool dad” to their three very different children, and Mitchell and Cameron deal with being new parents to their adopted daughter Lily, often in a dramatic hysterical ways. The incidents these families find themselves caught up in are truly laughable and make it easy to become engrossed; before you know it you’re caught up on seven seasons and anxiously awaiting the next episode. Filled with comical stereotypes and based on situations modern-day families deal with, Modern Family is a witty and hilarious take on day-to-day life.

Notable episodes: The Old Wagon, Caught in the Act, See You Next Fall, Moon Landing, Under Pressure, Tableau Vivant

2.  It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

Are there even any words to describe the hilarity that is this show? The series follows “The Gang”, a group of self-centred, unethical and hysterical friends who run an Irish bar called Paddy’s Pub in Philadelphia.  Dennis, Dee, Mac, Charlie and Frank; all dishonest, egotistical, lazy and absolutely hysterical. Each episode finds them developing new schemes and often turning against one another, and others, for personal gain and entertainment. Some of the things these guys come up with are cringe worthy and some even flat out harsh but they always make you cry with laughter. They escalate everything within seconds of forming a plan and have no shame or limits when it comes to getting what they want. What more could you ask for?

Notable episodes: The D.E.N.N.I.S system, Sweet Dee’s Dating a Retarded Person, The Gang Solves the Gas Crisis, Mac & Charlie Die, Charlie Work, Chardee MacDennis: The Game of Games, The Nightman Cometh

1. Parks and Recreation

One of my favourite shows in the entire world. Set in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana, the Parks and Recreation Department of their local government is followed on their journey make their city a better place; all starting with the plan to establish a new park in the place of an abandoned pit. The series develops further, as do the characters, who become a close-knit family that experience the oddest of times together. The absurd antics of this town make it all the more lovable and when a cast become the characters in your eyes, I don’t think there’s any turning back. Amy Poehler is Leslie Knope, a crazy, energetic woman with the strongest will known to man, Chris Pratt is Andy Dwyer, the goofy, lovable oaf, and Nick Offerman is Ron Swanson, the deadpan, woodwork fanatic with a perfect moustache. The show has a bit of everything and when you factor in the absolutely perfect ending; it’s definitely not to be missed.

Notable episodes: Li’l Sebastian, Harvest Festival, Flu Season, Hunting Trip, Ron and Tammy: Part 2, Leslie and Ron, One Last Ride