While today's television is dominated by action shows and teen dramas, the 2000s were filled with comedy. While a decade has gone by, many comedy series remain the go-to watch for their fans. These shows allow an audience to both laugh and cry, and their timeless scenes encourage edits, references, and memes.
Many of these shows remain prominent due to their relatable nature, and their unique take on day-to-day situations. The best part about comedy is that it comes in many forms, making it available to anyone who wants to laugh. Rather it comes in the form of a family-centered sitcom or a witty medical drama, the 2000s provides some of the best comedy series.
10 Laughter Is The Best Medicine In Scrubs
First premiering in 2001, Scrubs stands apart from other medical shows of its time due to the use of comedy. The series follows a group of medical students as they begin their time at Sacred Heart Hospital. While the show features a cast of quirky characters and humorous banter, there is also a personal twist to the show that endures fans of the character, JD.
One of the show's main features is the use of narration from JD's point of view. Fans can experience the show with his beliefs in mind. This unique touch adds an undeniable charm to the show that leaves fans smiling and laughing with the main character.
9 Arrested Development Embraces Its Unique Story
Arrested Development is unlike other comedy series of the time due to its unique premise. The show follows Michael Bluth as he takes over the family business for his father, who was just put into prison. Michael must balance this development with being a good role model for his son, and it isn't always easy.
The series won a Primetime Emmy Award for outstanding comedy series and received good reviews from critics. The fans keep the love for it going, as Netflix picked up the show in 2013 after its initial cancelation. The show remains one that fans return to for a quick laugh.
8 Psych's Full Of Suspense And Laughter
The exploits of Shawn and Gus from Psych have kept fans coming back for years. The show originally aired in 2006, and now has multiple spin-offs and three full-length films. The series mixed genres with great success, utilizing Shawn's uncanny observation skills to create a detective show that is full of comedy.
The longest-running joke in the show is the police force believing Shawn is a psychic. This belief leads the main characters into interesting and humorous situations, and many of them leave fans bursting into laughter by the end of each episode.
7 How I Met Your Mother Embraces Rom-Coms
How I Met Your Mother is a sitcom that keeps fans coming back. The show utilizes a unique format that hooks an audience, and fans binge the episodes to try and discern who the main character, Ted, ends up with. The story is told through flashbacks, and while everything in the show has happened in the past, fans can't help getting caught up in each episode's antics.
The show features a cast of exuberant characters, many of them encouraging Ted into outlandish situations in the name of love. The show is surrounded by an over-arching mystery, but each storyline proceeds with humor-rich scenes and dialogue.
6 Malcolm in The Middle Captures The Dysfunctional Family
One of the most well-known comedies from the 2000s is Malcolm in The Middle. The show centers around Malcolm as he navigates day-to-day life with his family. Not one of his family members exists without their share of problems, and that causes conflicts that play out in humorous ways.
While Malcolm in The Middle likes to play up the comedy, there is also a layer of vulnerability in the show that keeps fans coming back. There are many instances where the audience can see their own families within the characters and subplots, and that connection makes the show more enjoyable.
5 The Big Bang Theory Knew Its Audience
The nerd stereotype had always been used for laughs in media, but the Big Bang Theory takes the trope to a new level. The show centers around a pair of roommate geniuses as they pursue their goals in life. The show, while another sitcom and comedy, is unique in the way it tells jokes. With the characters mainly being scientists with a niche interest, their knowledge of science and comic books is played up for laughs.
The Big Bang Theory was a show that revolutionized comedy, allowing the walking laughing-stocks to become the main characters, in a very successful way. The support fans give to the show is reflected in its many award-nomination and its spinoff series Young Sheldon.
4 Gilmore Girls Balances Heartfelt and Humorous
The multigenerational drama Gilmore Girls encourages fans to return if they want to laugh and cry. The series follows a mother and daughter as they pursue their dreams and learn about growing up. While the show is known for its heartfelt moments and drama-filled subplots, there is no limit to the amount of laughter it provides.
Lorelei and Rory Gilmore are quick-witted women. Some of the best moments in the show happen amid snappy banter. The show was also full of pop-culture references that don't age, making it a fun rewatch no matter the time of year.
3 That '70s Show's Comedy is Timeless
That '70s show is meant to invoke a sense of nostalgia in the audience. The teen sitcom focuses on a group of teenagers as they near adulthood. Everyone knows that growing up isn't easy, but the show puts a comedic spin on what it means to be a young adult.
With the show being set in decades past, it encompasses timeless humor that a large audience can relate to. Fans return to the show because they enjoy the cast and because the jokes still land despite hearing them time and again. The episodes focus on the growing pains that the characters face, giving fans situations they can relate to and laugh about.
2 Friends exceed Reputation
Few shows are more important in pop culture than Friends. The show's use of a large cast creates plenty of opportunities for compelling situations, and many of them contain comedy. The show's story encourages fans to embrace complex situations with humor, and the method is successful in keeping loyal fans.
Outside media is flooded with references from the show, and catchphrases and characters can likely be recognized by someone who isn't a fan. Friends' sterling reputation is thanks to the fun character dynamics, the wacky situations they end up in, and the humorous conversations that they share.
1 The Office Defines Comedy
When someone mentions a comedy series, The Office will likely end up in the conversation. The documentary-style comedy features a star-studded cast that can't keep fans in their seats. The show focuses on what it means to have workplace friendships, romances, and rivalries. Part of the appeal is that the characters feel like one fans could meet in their own lives.
Scenes from the show have also been the cause of many online references and memes, giving the series a prevalence outside its regular audience. The combination of comedic camera shots and satire earns the series a place in comedy fans' hearts.