3 Great One-Season Comedy Shows You Can Binge In 1 Day

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Although these hilarious TV comedies unfortunately lasted only one season each, it means you can watch them all in a single day if you wish. Many iconic comedy series have extended runs with multiple seasons, like Friends, Seinfeld, The Office, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Parks and Recreation, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and others, which are frequently ranked among the greatest comedies ever produced. However, not every comedy series has had that kind of success or longevity, but their humor remains just as entertaining.

Several remarkable comedy series concluded after only one season, such as “How to Die Alone,” “Freaks and Geeks,” “Reboot,” and “The Honeymooners” among others. If you’re looking for a laugh, these shows are definitely worth your time. Interestingly enough, some of them can be finished in just a day or even within one sitting. Unfortunately, they didn’t get the chance to air multiple seasons, but their one season still secured significant spots in comedy television history.

3) Police Squad! (1982)

Prior to the release of the popular “The Naked Gun” movie franchise, Leslie Nielsen first appeared as detective lieutenant Frank Drebin in the 1982 comedy series “Police Squad!”. Known for its rapid-fire humor, visual gags, verbal wit, recurring jokes, and parody of police dramas, the show served as a mockery of conventional police procedurals. Nielsen, who is often referred to as the “Olivier of Spoofs,” brought his comedic talent to every scene in “Police Squad!”. The series spoofed shows like “Dragnet” and “M Squad”, with its dramatic opening, serious tone, and dry delivery making its jokes even more hilarious.

In March 1982, after airing just four of its six episodes, ABC decided to cancel Police Squad!. The studio claimed that the need for viewers to pay close attention to every scene to get all the jokes was the reason behind the cancellation, a claim that seems rather absurd when considering reasons for terminating a TV show. However, in 1988, 1991, and 1994, Leslie Nielsen returned in three highly successful The Naked Gun films, and the 2025 film rekindled interest in the movie series and original TV show. This led to a surge of retrospective acclaim for the program.

2) Selfie (2014)

2014’s comedy series, “Selfie,” which featured Karen Gillan and John Cho, was abruptly cut short, much like “Police Squad!”. This contemporary adaptation of the 1912 play “Pygmalion” and the 1956 musical “My Fair Lady” followed Eliza Dooley (played by Gillan), a social media-obsessed sales representative. In search of fame, she sought advice from marketing guru Henry Higgs (Cho). Their relationship evolved, leading to a deeper understanding of friendship. Despite the heartbreaking cancellation of “Selfie”, network officials didn’t anticipate the immense affection the series garnered from its devoted fanbase.

In November 2014, ABC decided to cancel the show “Selfie,” but its devoted fan base didn’t take this lying down. They launched a large-scale #SaveSelfie campaign, collected over 65,000 signatures on a petition for renewal, and organized fundraisers, contests, merchandise sales, and fan-created media. All these efforts convinced the show’s creators to make the remaining episodes available on Hulu. “Selfie” turned out to be one of Hulu’s most-watched shows, so if you haven’t seen it yet, it’s definitely worth a watch!

1) Maniac (2018)

Unusual for a comedy, the series titled “Maniac” premiered on Netflix on September 21, 2018, offering an unconventional blend of psychological drama, dark humor, and black comedy. This innovative production brought together the unexpected duo of Jonah Hill and Emma Stone as they portrayed strangers who bond amidst a challenging and disorienting pharmaceutical experiment.

The characters, Owen Milgrim (Hill) and Annie Landsberg (Stone), venture on an extraordinary journey that combines unexpected humor with surreal experiences as they explore different hallucinatory realms under the guidance of the unorthodox and controversial Dr. James K. Mantleray (Justin Theroux). The show’s witty comedy, stunning visuals, and inventive narrative structure make it a captivating watch, leaving viewers eager for more and reluctant to pause their viewing.

Patrick Somerville, the brain behind “Maniac,” initially planned it as a limited series, meaning there will be just one season of this smart and unconventional show. The original inspiration for “Maniac” came from a Norwegian series that aired in 2015 and also consisted of only one season, leaving no additional source material for further seasons. Although the idea of hallucinatory clinical trials offered potential for numerous tales in an anthology style, “Maniac’s” solitary season stands as a self-contained masterpiece on its own.

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2025-09-01 18:16