Almost three decades after its release, the sitcom Friends is still one of the most beloved series of all time. The comedy is still being discovered by younger audiences and is enjoyed across decades of different generations. It follows the lives of six friends as they go about their day-to-day lives in New York City. While Monica is known as the host and the caregiver, her brother Ross has his own antics, Rachel is the runaway bride turned waitress, Joey is the struggling actor, Chandler is the comedian of the group, and Phoebe is, well, herself. The show has remained relatable thanks to their traits, goals and personalities.
Shows with a similar concept and humour have also been loved by fans of Friends. Though no show can come close to the iconic status of the hit sitcom, there are a few that managed to come close in their own eras. If you are tired of the re-runs, here are some other series that will get you giddy in the same way Friends did.
How I Met Your Mother (9 Seasons)
While the series had one of the most controversial endings of all time, How I Met Your Mother had a great run from the get-go. The series also follows a group of close friends who chose a bar under their building instead of a coffee shop to hang out. It has the usual every-friend’s group combination, from a Casanova to the couple who would die for each other. The show also focuses on the romantic pairing of Ted and Robin, which is one of the longest-running plotlines of the show.
Their experiences together, exploring love, life and work, bring in a lots of laughs, joy, and many tender moments which brings them closer to each other and the audience. The show follows Ted Mosby describing to his children how he met their mother. He also talks about many side quests along the way which include many of his love affairs as well as adventures with Barney, Robin, Marshal and Lily. Despite the focus on Ted finding the love of his life, the series also explores platonic relationships very well.
The Big Bang Theory (12 Seasons)
The Big Bang Theory is another show with friends who live in close proximity and often spend most of the time together. The thing that set this one apart was that they almost worked in the same environment. While they all worked in different departments, all geniuses had their work and homes to keep the story rolling. Released in 2007, the show became a hit quickly and also inspired spinoffs like Young Sheldon and Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage. The OG revolves around four scientists and their nerdy shenanigans, including an obsession with fictional characters. Instead of a coffee shop or a bar, they hung out at their home or a comic book shop.
Their routine is majorly affected when they meet their new next-door neighbour, Penny, an aspiring actress. Penny often feels out of place with the nerds, but never threatened enough to leave them behind. Throughout the show, their unique traits force each other out of their comfort zone, building new friendships and better lives for themselves. The series came with good humour, exploring some scientific comedy while also staying relatable. However, their season-long development arcs make the show an even better experience. With 12 seasons, the show has plenty of binge-worthy material with lots of good cameos, too.
New Girl (7 Seasons)
New Girl has also found a new audience among the new generations. Led by Jess, who moves into a loft with three other guys, the show would be expected to explore her romantic relationships with her housemates, but this series is more focused on their platonic relationships. It also explores how the three guys have to adapt to a female presence in their home. Their personal, professional and romantic highs and lows become part of the series’ comedy gags and high jinks. They are quite the bunch as exes eventually become part of their lives, making their emotional blows bittersweet and funny for the most part.
Jess, a teacher played by Zooey Deschanel, moves into a loft with three guys she meets on the internet, aka Jake Johnson’s Nick, Max Greenfield’s Schmidt, and Lamorne Morris’ Winston, after a horrible breakup. Her quirky personality soon transforms the whole group into a lovably wacky ensemble filled with emotional and comedic moments. It also has an excellent list of guest stars, including Taylor Swift.
Schitt’s Creek (6 Seasons)
Schitt’s Creek follows the lives of a rich family that has to move to a small town after they lose all their money. The plot is funny on paper, but the performances make it even better. The Ross family’s memorable personalities and a great redemption arc for each one of them have turned this into a timeless piece like any other show on this list. As New Yorkers forced to move into a small town, the family of four find it hard to acquire new skills to survive. The skills that they have don’t exactly help them in the situation with no means to earn and keep up with their previous lifestyle.
However, as the Rose family begins to interact with the people of Schitt’s Creek, they slowly create long-lasting relationships and build a supportive community of their own. Making changes not only to the people there but also within themselves. The situational humour lasts throughout the series’ six seasons as the Rose family has new matters to deal with every other day. Their organic growth does not take away from the humour but builds on their trauma and experiences.
Modern Family (11 Seasons)
A mockumentary-style show that took over our lives not long ago was Modern Family. The show has been successful thanks to its storylines, iconic characters and the realism in the plots. It focuses on three branches of the Pritchett family. Jay Pritchett has his own new family after marrying a much younger Colombian woman with a son of her own. Meanwhile, Jay’s son Mitchell is married to Cameron Tucker and the two adopt a young baby girl. Jay’s daughter Claire is a mother of three children with husband Phill Dunphy. The large and eccentric family is filled with strong-minded individuals who are always going at it about something or the other.
Their everyday lives, work, kids’ school lives, as well as misunderstandings within the families are enough to keep the series captivating and entertaining. The characters and performances are hilarious and the show often sets up for long running gags, which are more fun to watch as the younger actors grow up through the runtime of the series.
