What Are Your Favorite Under-the-Radar TV Shows?
A couple months ago, we wrote about under-the-radar movies, and you guys DELIVERED. (Plus One! Goodbye Lenin! The Place Beyond the Pines!) So, today, I’d love to ask: What are your favorite under-the-radar TV shows?
Somebody Somewhere, if you haven’t yet seen it, is a love story between two platonic friends (played by Bridget Everett and Jeff Hiller) in Manhattan, Kansas. I love how the Midwestern characters are smart, hilarious, and nuanced — not just folksy and wholesome.
This Way Up, written by Irish comedian Aisling Bea and co-starring our bff Sharon Horgan, portrays depression in a way that felt so true to me, personally. Highly recommend watching if you loved Catastrophe and Fleabag.
Have you seen PEN15? Anna Konkle (whose memoir just came out) and Maya Erskine play 13-year-old versions of themselves, and they are beyond hilarious. “We had a conversation about what’s the most reject-y, awkward, funny, sad, messed-up time, and it kept coming back to middle school,” Konkle said. Don’t miss the animated episode about going to Florida with Anna’s dad and developing crushes on two guys at the hotel. It felt JUST like the Florida road trips my family took when I was in middle school. So exciting! So humid! A 21-hour-drive from Michigan!
Finally, in The Afterparty, a man dies mysteriously during the afterparty of a high school reunion, and a detective comes to investigate. She asks each party guest to describe their “mind movie” of the evening, and every episode follows a single character’s answer. Depending on their perspectives, the episodes become different genres — one is a rom-com, another is an action movie, a third is a musical. I laughed so much; what a clever conceit.
What TV shows do you think are under-appreciated? I also really enjoyed Mo, starring Mo Amer as a Palestinian refugee in Houston who’s trying to figure out work and love, while seeking asylum with his mom and siblings. xoxo
P.S. Cup of Jo’s ultimate TV guide, and nine couples with the best on-screen chemistry.
Comments
123 commentsExtraordinary (Hulu/Disney) – a fun british show about a world where everyone gets a superpower around the time they turn 18 . . . except the protagonist. Over The Garden Wall (Prime) – Ten 10-minute episodes make this a perfect “snack” show – gorgeous at every level.
How To with John Wilson. So good! So quirky! So fascinating. I really can’t recommend it enough, and I think about it all the time! Patiently waiting to find another show like this.
Baskets Afterlife
Some (I think!) more under the radar shows I have enjoyed are: Envious, Young Royals, Love and Anarchy, Platonic, Forever.
Another +1 for Platonic. Love Rose Byrne 🩷
Shoresy! It’s on Hulu, it’s about hockey players in a small Canadian town, and it makes me feel joy in the same way that Ted Lasso does. And if that’s not praise, I don’t know what is.
For me, shows set on picturesque college campuses serve as light and escapist (because I don’t work there) ROOSTER (Hulu)- Steve Carrell teaches college and it is hilarious THE CHAIR- (Netflix)- Comedy about the inter-politics of a college English department VLADIMIR (Netflix)- College-town scandal- dark comedy
It may not be under the radar since it’s popular on HBO, but I recommend Hacks to everyone I can. Jean Smart is my hero and Hannah Einbinder is so good. Survival of the Thickest (Netflix). Michelle Buteau is one of the funniest people ever. Scratches a SatC/Emily in Paris itch. Dept Q (Netflix). Mystery/dark comedy series that I randomly started and really enjoyed. Tripled my FOMO about visiting Scotland by a million.
Two I haven’t seen mentioned yet are Kaos (Netflix) and School Spirits (Paramount Plus).
Yes, School Spirits! Love it.
The Split!! About three sisters and their mom who are divorce lawyers. If you liked the good wife or parenthood etc
The Split is so so so good!
Stumble (on NBC/Peacock) – super fast humor, heartwarming, great ensemble. It’s such a shame that NBC decided not to renew, but still absolutely worth watching.
I ADORE STUMBLE!
The Reaident is quirky and fun. A few reality shows I love: Alone – the first 2 seasons – reality show that reminds you to be grateful for running water and electricity. Amazing to watch how resourceful these people are. Homestead Rescue – about a family from Alaska who travel around the country to help failing homesteaders.
I was late to Insecure and now it’s my fav comfort watch. Also for anyone missing Mad Men I highly recommend Your Friends and Neighbors. It’s similar vibes but for our modern times. For epic fantasy, I adore The Rings of Power. It’s stunning!!!! More LOTR plus the soundtracks are beautiful. Rufus Wainwright and Fiona Apple are featured. We also just finished Knight of the Seven Kingdoms for GOT fans — lovely!!!! Truly amazing. For laughs there’s the British shows Last One Laughing and Would I Lie to You? But the American version of Have I Got News for You? Is the only way to process the world right now. Amber Ruffin makes everything better. Also we just binged The Burbs with Keke Palmer which was a fun watch.
Some gems listed but haven’t seen anyone mention Rivals- 1980s England rivals television companies. It’s a ROMP and one of my current old faves is Letterkenny and Shorsy. Very clever writing, in a story you would think there would be. I find every character so charming. (P.s. Jacob Tierney from Heated Rivalry is on/worked on these shows)
Such Brave Girls on the BBC – dark comedy 👌
This show is insane, it’s a shade past dark comedy. I couldn’t tell if I like it but I did watch quite a bit of it.
The Durrells in Corfu! Love the perfectly imperfect family dynamics :) Also it makes me want to take a trip to Greece! Also loved All Creatures Great and Small
Big Boys on Hulu. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry. A beautiful story of coming of age. Cannot recommend it enough!
Chewing Gum is a really funny, cringey, sweet British show from Michaela Coel. Highly recommend!
Better Things! And the British show Motherland.
Motherland is SO good!!
Friends from College. It stars Fred Savage, Keegan-Michael Key and Cobie Smulders among others. I laughed out loud so many times!
Loved this when I watched it a few years back. And I think I just realised that my most recent favourite warch (not under the radar – Shrinking) has an actress in common with this show! I knew she looked familiar! Her name is Cobie Smulders
Surprised no one has mentioned W1A, a dry mockumentary about the BBC that I find hilarious.
It is so impossibly good. I think of it often when I am in work meetings.
Slings & Arrows is at least 20 years old, but really great! Unfortunately, I’m pretty sure you have to buy the DVDs to watch it.
I just loved the Spanish comedy series (on Netflix) ‘Old Dog, New Tricks’ about a grumpy farm veterinarian in Galicia, forced to work for a big brand pet store chain. It’s hilarious and has great characters (with a touch of Best in Show about it!) – definitely binge worthy (with short episodes)!
Yes, Emily! I second this show!
My faves are The Diplomat (with Keri Russell! she is amazing!) and Platonic (with Seth Rogen & Rose Bryne – hilarious!)
No need to publish Hi Jo and team. Just wanted to flag that I am getting a recurring issue trying to load the site recently across multiple browsers, I’m not sure if this is a me a problem or a wider issue. When I click into a post I can see the main image but nothing else load except a message at the bottom about the use of your content. Perhaps it is a blocker of some sort? This is happening in both firefox and chrome on my mac. I can access the site on safari if I reload a few times but no joy with the others. Just in case there has been a new plugin activated! I can send you a screenshot if you like?
Hi Marie! Thanks so much for flagging. Yes, if you’re able to send a screenshot that I can forward to our tech-support team with these details, that would be super helpful (you can send directly to me, at kelsey@cupofjo.com). And if anyone else reading this is having similar issues, feel free to reply here and let us know! Thank you again, Marie!
I live in the UK and well I’m not sure it counts as under the radar but just binged DTF St. Louis and it blends me away. Found it gripping and mesmerising and left me thinking about it for a long time after. Shame David Harbour is Is so good in it but there we are
Envious on Netflix! It follows a woman in Argentina and I thought it was so clever and funny. https://www.netflix.com/title/81687655
Love this show! Just started watching season 4.
Fisk – on Netflix – it’s hilarious and a great relaxing show because it’s funny and clever but not stressful
Yesssss to Fisk! Absolutely my go to comfort comedy.
Loved Fisk!
The best!
Upper Middle Bogan! It’s a comedy from Australia and stars some of the same actors from Colin from Accounts, but it’s a more of an ensemble comedy. It has a similar humor and heart as Shameless.
Love that our Aussie comedies are amusing a global audience now :) Upper Middle Bogan is awesome, love Amber and Margaret especially!
I just finished watched the BBC show The Other Bennet Sister. It is about Mary Bennet as a young adult trying to make a life for herself (starting with some of the scenes from Pride and Prejudice from her point of view). Loved it! So cosy and heartwarming.
Second this! I could not get enough of this series.
Ooo thanks for the rec! Love BBC shows! Grabbing my cup of tea and going to look it up :)
Under the radar you say? Dirk gently’s holistic detective agency (2016 version with Elijah Wood) is completely weird and wonderful and I wish they made more seasons. The older BBC version is closer to Douglas Adams’ book and also worth a watch it very different (still so absurd, smart and hilarious). Bob’s Burgers had been running for so many seasons and yes, it’s a cartoon. Give the Belcher family a chance to steal your hearts, they are so weird and sweet and real, plus 20 minutes episodes are a warm and fuzzy way to tune out the world drama before bed. For those who recommended what we do in the shadows (loved it! Blunt end of the series but alas…) I would recommend other New Zealand humor: Wellington Paranormal (low key and hilarious!) and the now classic Flight of the Conchords.
Coming to second Halt and Catch Fire and Pushing Daisies (adore Lee Pace), The Great (Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult are both incredibly appealing) and The Diplomat (Keri Russell and Rufus Sewell forever!) I will always praise A French Village- French show that portrays the lives of a French village that is under Nazi occupation during WWII and the morally ambiguous choices and actions the residents have to make to survive during that time. There is a fantastic podcast as well. Kleo – great German dark comedy about a former East German Stasi agent seeking revenge after the fall of the wall Broadchurch- British crime drama starring Olivia Colman and David Tennant with an amazing supporting cast Spooks (aka MI-5) British counter-terrorism drama
Taskmaster is our new family favorite.
my kingdom for a way to sort these recommendations by streaming service, country of origin, vibes, etc. 😄
OMG yessss
I created a spreadsheet of all the recs and submitted it in the comments, but I now see that it was never posted. Curious! Happy to try again if the kind person who moderates the comments can tell me why the first attempt failed. Thanks :)
It should have been pushed live — maybe it’s behind the “load more comments”? Xo
I just started watching Storied Spaces – each episode has glimpses into several people’s unique and beautiful homes. It’s so relaxing and lovely.
Fisk!! Another Aussie comedy, so hilarious.
Me and My Husband discovered somebody somewhere last year and it is THE BEST thing I’ve watched in a very long time! I fell in love with the characters and it touched on so many deep things in the most beautiful of ways. (We enjoyed the after party too! That was a fun romp!)
-LOVE Somebody Somewhere (definitely an underrated gem of a show!). -Also LOVED This Way Up!! -I don’t feel like enough people watched Homecoming, and I thought it was brilliant -Pushing Daisies is an old favorite, and is SO underrated -Glow is another one I feel never got enough love as it deserved!
fisk on netflix about australian family law firm, super hillarious
Starstruck (HBO)! What We Do In The Shadows (Hulu)!
Funny and fun shows: – Colin From Accounts – Great News (Tina Fey!) – Girls 5 Eva (also from Tina Fey!)
Just started watching Colin From Accounts and really like it so far!
I love getting recs from COJ and the commenters on this site… what about a post on favorite youtube channels?!?! I love finding a new youtube channel to obsess about!
Ooooooh, this!!
…..slapping the forehead….OF COURSE ♥♥♥
JoAnna, your boys might already be watching this show but if not, go to YouTube and bring up The Chit Show. 3-5 minute episodes of absolute absurdity. My fourteen year old son thinks I’m the coolest mom for introducing him to this show. Season 2 Episode 18 “He Got Hacked” is the best four minute scripted episode ever! Added bonus that Alanis Morissette is in it. Whaaaat?!? Just watch it. You might recognize the characters from the brilliant “Black Purse” episode which is all over Instagram.
Trial & Error is the best show you’ve never heard of, comedy perfection! Everyone I’ve shown it to loves it, from teens to grandmothers to my tv-hating FIL. If you liked Jury Duty, Parks & Rec, or Better Off Ted, find your way here! I dream of someone buying the rights and bringing it back. The number of laughs per minute, the pitch perfect cast, the Easter eggs, Duane Reade…please Joanna, if you watch nothing else, try the first episode of this, because you’ll wind up watching all of it.
Yes!!! Lady driver, lady driver!
So many great recs! Definitely bookmarking this page. I thought of a few more to add. If you like off-beat comedy that makes you feel a bit (or sometimes a lot) uncomfortable, I’d highly recommend I Think You Should Leave and The Chair Company by Tim Robinson and Nathan For You and The Rehearsal by Nathan Fielder. So creative and strange and hilarious.
Seconding!! I Think You Should Leave and Tim Robinson’s episode of The Characters have been the source of most of our family’s inside jokes for years now! If you love Tim Robinson, The Detroiters is also a must-see.
Escape to the Country: It’s Great British Baking Show + House Hunters, find it on BritBox or YouTube. The Wonder Years: Bummer Fred Savage turned out to be very uncool, and a well known show, but so many episodes make me physically ache with nostalgia for my own youth and also the ideals of the youth of the late 1960s.
I am off to try Escape to the Country after this rec! Great British Baking Show + House Hunters is the center of the Venn diagram I never knew existed!
The Wonder Years reboot that came out a handful of years ago is really good!! Definitely underrated!
You’ll find me logging into Surfshark so I can cast channel 4’s Great Pottery Throwdown in the wee hours of morning with my morning coffee. HBO has the first five seasons and after rewatching them three times I discovered new ones. Pottery, art, friendship, laughter, tears, Kiln Gods, hand coiling, tile relief work, the reasons to watch are endless. It’s seriously the happiest place on earth.
There are more seasons?!? [runs to computer]
One of the judges, Keith Brymer Jones and his wife Marj Hogarth have another small series on Channel4: Our Welsh Chapel Dream (UK, channel4): 2 creative people buy an old chapel in Wales and restore it with the aim to house a pottery studio and a community hall for everybody to enjoy, thereby reviving the town. Every time I watch it, makes my heart lighter and better.
No way! More Keith Brymer Jones? His passion literally makes the show, especially when he tears up over the weight or finish or shoulder of a pot. He just loves the art form and watching a grown man cry on television is really fantastic. I cry along, too. New episodes are only available streaming on channel 4. I had to set up a VPN to watch it. Derry Girls fans, the host is beloved Siobhan McSweeney and I def butchered the spelling there. Forgot to mention the BBC version of Ghosts for nonstop laughs Also Call my Agent a French series about the talent industry, so sharp and well written. Also Big Boys a heartfelt and beautiful series about a closeted college student who lives with a straight man who casually accepts him exactly how he is and is the perfect shoe ever.
This is pretty niche, but there is a really great comedy series called I Have Nothing created by Canadian comedian Carolyn Taylor where she attempts to choreograph a professional pairs figure skating routine and actually have it performed. It is whacky, absurd, and hilarious — especially if you grew up as a major figure skating fan like me!! It’s available on Crave in Canada or on Peacock in the US.
The Afterparty is so great. Here’s my list: Resident Alien, Primo, This Fool, Safe Space (starring Kev On Stage), Long Story Short, Forever, North of North, Rutherford Falls, and How to Die Alone.
My “escape” show viewing includes Somebody Feed Phil, Phil Rosenthal brings per joy to the pleasures of food and meeting people around the world which has been on Netflix for now but I believe new seasons will be on You Tube TV. Storied Spaces on Magnolia, I love seeing what people do with houses/buildings that they turn into their living spaces. The Chair on Netflix, I grew up in a college town and watching Sandra Oh, play the chair of an English Dept dealing with both personal and professional issues reminded me of my friends parents who taught at the college and how they talked about other professors/staff that they worked with, a true gem.
I adore Phil. I think his show got me through the pandemic. He’s pure joy. ❤️
Coming back to recommend the Devil’s Plan on Netflix. It’s a Korean reality show with strategy games. All the contestants are super smart and immediately figure out the game theory behind each game and it’s fun to watch them try to outsmart each other. And there are shocking twists!
– Veronica Mars (Netflix) – Halt and Catch Fire – Togetherness (HBO) – Beforeignors (HBO)
I just started Veronica Mars for the first time! So much nostalgia!
Yes! Halt & Catch Fire and Togetherness are terrific. I’ll add my fave re-watch shows: Platonic, Better Off Ted, Glow, Justified, Homicide, Bored to Death, Men of a Certain Age, Looking (incl the movie), Shrill, Dying for Sex, Sorry for Your Loss, Man on the Inside, Starstruck, Loudermilk, Dead to Me, So Help Me Todd, Barry, Girls 5Eva, Call My Agent, Trying, Sex Education, Stumptown, The Kominsky Method
Also Stick! Drops of God too.
Deadloch, Younger, A League of Their Own (series), Minx, The Time Traveller’s Wife (series), Man on the Inside!
Deadloch is the best :)
I loved Deadloch. Sad & happy at the same time only a few episodes are out because it makes the show extra special. I found that One Mississippi by and with the wonderful Tig Notaro was similar somehow.
Drops of God — “ following a competition between an estranged daughter, Camille, and her father’s protégé, Issei, to inherit his massive wine collection after his death” Ponies — “ set in 1977 Moscow, about two CIA wives who become undercover agents after their husbands die in a suspicious plane crash” (with Haley Lu Richardson and Emilia Clarke!) Widow’s Bay — “cursed New England island trying to boost tourism, despite strange, supernatural events that occur” (spooky, but also funny) Margo’s Got Money Troubles — “a college dropout with a new baby who faces financial hardship, forcing her to navigate life with her ex-pro wrestler father and ex-Hooters waitress mother” (excellent cast and book!)
Oh! Also, All Creatures Great and Small on PBS. So warm and happy!
Drops of God was so good! I heard there’s a season 2 now?
Oh! And All Creatures Great and Small is a show my family enjoys watching together. It’s been so fun seeing my older kids become invested in the story and characters!
I wholeheartedly second This Way Up and Afterparty! Other favorites: – Schmigadoon (Apple) – Shrinking (Apple) – Little Voice (Apple) – Victoria (PBS) – Mrs. Wilson (PBS) – Beecham House (PBS) – Escape to the Chateau (Peacock- non fiction) – Lords & Ladles (used to be on Netflix, now on Youtube- non fiction) – Playing House (Prime) – Rutherford Falls (Peacock) Classics that deserve to be watched: – The Mary Tyler Moore Show – M*A*S*H – The Nanny – Freaks & Geeks – The Wild Thornberrys :) –
Mrs. Wilson is perfect TV, and based on a true family story from Ruth Wilson, the actress who stars!!
Yall – The Great on Hulu is absolutely delightful. Elle Fanning is Catherine the Great and it’s raunchy and beautiful and effed up and wonderful. Seriously. The Great…. it’s GREAT
100% agree!
Yes, I loved The Great too! A similarly wonderful and underrated show is Dickinson about Emily Dickinson, it is a little dark and funny (3 seasons on Apple TV).
The Other Two– about the two adult siblings of a 13-year old pop-star. Molly Shannon plays their mom and the whole show is well casted and hilarious. I wish they made more seasons!
“Hi, I’m looking to get jacked fast”
Love The Other Two – it was a gem of a show. I was really sad when they canceled it. My husband and I quote it regularly.
I love Somebody, Somewhere so much – as someone who lost a sister as an adult, it really spoke to me.
Workin’ Moms on Netflix. There isn’t a funnier show out there!
Loved this show! So real and funny.
In order of most underrated-ness Welcome to Flatch I’m Sorry Sprung Minx (Nick Miller, Nick Miller) Starstruck Colin from Accounts (as many have mentioned) How to With John Wilson The Rehearsal Cunk on Life The Paper All funny shows worth watching — but please also watch the Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins because I really, really want more seasons! Tracy Morgan is hilarious in this!! Megan thee Stallion is a sexy mail carrier!! There are so many tri-state jokes! I love it!
Divorce on HBO is one of the most underrated! I’ve watched it over and over – a Sharon Horgan show with SJP, Molly Shannon, and Thomas Haden Church – so good!
Freaks and Geeks will forever be my favorite show, even though we only got one perfect season. If you’ve never seen it you’re missing out on one of life’s great pleasures. Watching The Audacity right now and need everyone to check it out so it gets a second season! It’s kind of a darker toned Silicon Valley. Stream it on Amazon with a free trial of AMC+
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt!! It has been the show I fall asleep to for years and I worry about the day Netflix removes it. 4 brilliant, light, hilarious and clever seasons. An absolute must watch
Not under the radar but it just came out a while ago and there’s so many shows now- Poldark. Poldark Poldark Poldark. Had me in a chokehold for weeks as we worked our way through all the seasons on Netflix. Also just liked Victoria a lot on Netflix. I like period pieces a lot. Also me the whole time googling things like “how many french revolutions were there????”
The TV adaptation of Emily St. John Mandel’s novel Station Eleven is absolutely brilliant TV. Yes, it’s about the “end of the world” (a disease kills about 99% of Earth’s population), but it’s also wildly hopeful and beautifully shot and acted (Mackenzie Davis and Himesh Patel should be in *everything*) and made me cry happy tears. Watch if you like: gonzo costume design, Shakespeare references, and Michigan landscapes!
And Lori Petty!!
I absolutely second this rec – this is by far one of my favorite shows of all time. When I finished it on my own, I immediately re-watched it with my husband. I also read the book and a few others of hers. The author’s take on end of the world living is so interesting.
This TV adaptation was perfection !!!
This is THE ONLY show I’ve ever watched that is better than the book. The show is superb!
So much to watch, so little time! Amy Poehler’s interview with Jon Hamm made me remember how much I loved “Mad Men.” Don Draper is one of the most despicable characters I know.
1000% agree with this! Mad Men is still one of my faves of all time (and arguably underrated) and it was a treat to hear Jon Hamm talk about his time as Don Draper.
As a bonus to Mad Men, Tom and Lorenzo blog did a post for each episode about the costumes. They were so insightful and Tom and Lorenzo are so funny and knowledgeable.
I watched Mad Men by myself several years ago. I loved it so much. I was actually a little in mourning when I finished it. I found myself crying even the next day.
So true re: Don, THE most dysfunctional character ever. I second the Tom and Lorenzo rec below. I am a writer and T&L’s costume breakdowns taught me the importance of how costuming tells such an important part of the story.
Colin from Accounts! An adorable Aussie rom-com starring a (real-life) couple that includes the actor currently playing Anne Hathaway’s love interest in Devil Wears Prada 2. It’s cheeky, sweet, and funny all in one (like Aussies themselves!).
Colin from Accounts. Hands down. It’s Aussie and Patrick Brammal (yes, the love interest in The Devil Wears Prada 2) and his wife star in it. Very clever name and concept of a couple coming together due to a dog that’s get hit by a car and is the linchpin of their relationship. So funny. So fresh.
Little Lunch! It’s a kid’s show on Netflix, but I watched it with my 7 year old and we both laughed out loud a ton. Follows a group of Australian 5th graders during their daily lunch break and it is hilarious and heartwarming. Filmed in fake documentary style – its basically The Office for kids.
Not new, but an underrated show that still makes my husband and I crack up 10+ years later is The League. It is incredibly raunchy and not PC in any way, so be warned, but DAMN is it hilarious! I am not a football fan at all but loved it all the same. Highly recommend.
Yes! The League is hilarious and no one seems to know it! No football knowledge require :)