Hangout sitcoms are popular because they create a comfortable, familiar feeling, like catching up with close friends. These comedies usually focus on a group of friends enjoying each other’s company, without needing complicated storylines. This type of show has been around for a long time, with early examples including shows set in bars, about roommates, or simply following friend groups, like Cheers and Three’s Company.
1990s sitcoms became incredibly popular by establishing a now-familiar formula: shows centered around groups of friends. Friends popularized this format, becoming a worldwide model for ensemble comedies, and Seinfeld took it a step further with a more observant and ironic style, focusing on the everyday lives and conversations of its characters.
They essentially created the style of sitcom we know today – shows where the connection between characters is more important than a complicated plot. These shows often feature the same settings, like apartments or coffee shops, that become instantly recognizable. What makes them so appealing is that watching these friend groups feels comforting and familiar, like they’ll always be there.
Sitcoms evolved in the modern television landscape by building on the classic hangout format and focusing more on ongoing stories and character development. How I Met Your Mother is a prime example, skillfully blending familiar group scenes with complex, long-term narratives and heartfelt moments that resonated with viewers.
The most memorable episodes of The Big Bang Theory focused on the group’s lives within their apartments, relying on established habits and the relationships they built in those familiar settings. New Girl, on the other hand, really emphasized the feeling of just hanging out, using a shared loft as the main backdrop for a constantly changing circle of friends.
Popular sitcoms from the 2010s continue to be beloved by fans. But because so much focus is on these well-known shows, many other clever and enjoyable ‘hangout’ comedies often get overlooked. While they might not be as famous or long-running, these hidden gems are definitely worth watching for anyone looking for something a little different.
Friends From College
2017-2019, 2 Seasons
“Friends from College” feels like Netflix trying to make a more realistic and complex version of a classic sitcom about a group of friends. But instead of focusing on people in their twenties figuring out life, this show follows a close-knit group in their forties who are dealing with the challenges of marriage, work, envy, and old feelings for each other.
Like classic comedies about close-knit groups, Friends from College explores complex relationships and group dynamics, but it does so with a more realistic and often awkward honesty. The show boasts a talented comedic cast, including Keegan-Michael Key and Cobie Smulders, and their believable chemistry makes both the funny and troubled parts of the story work.
Even so, the show didn’t become a major hit, likely because its awkward and uncomfortable moments didn’t create the same warm feeling as earlier shows. However, Friends from College deserves more recognition for its realistic portrayal of messy friendships and the unpredictable dynamics of a friend group – it’s a surprisingly good example of the classic ‘hanging out with friends’ sitcom.
Don’t Trust The B—- In Apartment 23
2012-2014, 2 Seasons
The TV show Don’t Trust the B in Apartment 23 started mid-season on ABC, but its unique and unusual style quickly gained a following and led to a second season. The comedy focuses on the funny relationship between June (Dreama Walker), a sweet and innocent woman from the Midwest, and her roommate Chloe (Krysten Ritter), who is wild, selfish, and doesn’t apologize for it.
The show doesn’t shy away from being strange and funny, especially with James Van Der Beek hilariously playing an exaggerated version of himself. Kristen Ritter’s bold performance as the main character really drives the show’s embrace of its quirky side.
Even though the show was genuinely funny and had a unique style, it didn’t attract many viewers. It was a quirky and hilarious comedy about friends, but it’s largely been forgotten now.
The Last Man On Earth
2015-2018, 4 Seasons
Instead of a typical story about surviving a global apocalypse, The Last Man on Earth is a surprisingly personal and heartwarming show. It focuses on the relationships between a small group of people who become like a family after everyone else is gone, feeling more like a cozy sitcom than a disaster story.
Will Forte created and stars in this show, which focuses on realistically portrayed awkward situations, evolving relationships, and everyday conflicts. It also benefited from the creative talents of Phil Lord and Christopher Miller – the directors known for Project Hail Mary – who served as executive producers.
This funny show, like a lot of hidden gems, started mid-season on Fox and slowly gained popularity. Sadly, even with a strong cast and interesting character relationships, The Last Man on Earth finished with a disappointing cliffhanger at the end of its fourth season.
Workaholics
2011-2017, 7 Seasons
Despite its name, Workaholics isn’t really about work. It’s a comedy about three college buddies who still act like kids, even though they’re adults sharing an office and a house. Their job selling things over the phone is just a backdrop for their crazy plans, wild parties, and total refusal to act responsibly.
Workaholics was a hilarious show that lasted for seven seasons on Comedy Central, largely thanks to the incredible chemistry between its creators and stars: Blake Anderson, Adam DeVine, and Anders Holm. The show’s willingness to go for outrageous and sometimes uncomfortable humor is what makes it so unique. If you enjoy Broad City, you’ll definitely want to check out this funny and laid-back comedy about a group of friends.
Grand Crew
2021-2023, 2 Seasons
Grand Crew is a sitcom that feels like a mix of Friends and Insecure. It follows a close group of friends in Los Angeles who regularly meet at a wine bar to relax, talk about their relationships, and figure out adult life. The show has a laid-back, chatty feel, and focuses more on how the friends interact with each other than on a complicated storyline.
The NBC comedy Grand Crew was enjoyable, but it didn’t attract a large audience. It only lasted two seasons of ten episodes each, which is less time than most group-based comedies need to really hit their stride.
The show initially used Garrett Morris as a narrator, but this idea didn’t last long. Had they kept it, it could have given the series a unique structure, similar to How I Met Your Mother, which might have helped it gain more attention and build a stronger following in a competitive TV environment.
Single Parents
2018-2020, 2 Seasons
Single Parents is a funny and heartwarming show that doesn’t get enough attention. It follows a group of single parents who meet through their kids’ elementary school and become friends as they juggle work, dating, and the challenges of parenthood. The show features a talented cast, including Taran Killam, Leighton Meester, and Brad Garrett, who all deliver strong comedic performances.
It’s particularly impressive how well the young actors perform, with the twins playing Garrett’s daughters consistently delivering some of the show’s biggest laughs. While the title might suggest otherwise, the series is truly about the power of friendship and rediscovering joy when life gets tough. Single Parents is a sweet, funny, and character-focused show that deserves a much larger audience.
Coupling
2000-2004, 4 Seasons
Before becoming famous for shows like Doctor Who and Sherlock, Steven Moffat created Coupling. It was his take on a *Friendsstyle sitcom for the BBC, drawing on his own experiences with relationships and focusing on the complicated dating lives of six friends.
While the show found an audience in the UK, it didn’t become a massive success, and it didn’t really catch on with viewers in the U.S. It stood out for its fast-paced, clever writing, turning awkward dates, relationship struggles, and embarrassing moments into hilariously chaotic comedy – a style that was unusually daring for sitcoms at the time.
Moffat’s writing style is quick-paced, well-organized, and meticulously crafted. He often uses interwoven storylines and revisits scenes from multiple viewpoints. This technique makes Coupling feel less like a typical sitcom and more like a cleverly designed comedic mystery.
Workin’ Moms
2017-2023, 7 Seasons
Workin’ Moms follows the lives of five mothers who become friends in a unique ‘Mommy and Me’ class. The show hilariously and honestly portrays the ups and downs of being a mom in the city, and its relatable themes appeal to a wide audience – not just parents!
The Canadian comedy Workin’ Moms ran for seven seasons on CBC and gained a dedicated following in the U.S. through streaming. Despite strong writing and acting, and its focus on women’s lives, the show never achieved mainstream popularity as a relatable, character-driven sitcom.
Crashing
2016, 1 Season
Before her work on Fleabag, Phoebe Waller-Bridge created and starred in Crashing, a comedy about six friends in their twenties. They live together as property guardians in an abandoned hospital – essentially looking after the building in exchange for affordable rent, but they have to follow a lot of rules. As they all live in close quarters, their relationships become complicated, and the lines between friendship and romance start to get blurred.
Okay, so this isn’t the Pete Holmes show – this is a completely different beast. Honestly, it feels like a really strange, slightly unsettling version of Friends. It takes all those familiar sitcom ideas and turns them on their head, making things much more awkward and emotionally honest. It didn’t become a massive hit, more of a critically acclaimed, cult favorite. And get this – a young Jonathan Bailey (yes, the Jonathan Bailey from Bridgerton and the upcoming Wicked movie!) is in it, before he was famous.
Living Single
1993-1998, 5 Seasons
Premiering around the same time as Friends, Living Single offered a different vibe – it was more realistic, energetic, and focused on Black culture. Instead of being set in Manhattan, the show took place in Brooklyn and followed a close group of friends as they tackled work, relationships, and building their own lives, all with a lot of humor and self-assurance.
The actors in Living Single, like Queen Latifah and Erika Alexander, had incredible chemistry and felt very real, making their relationships on screen believable and engaging. The show stood out because it centered on the strong bonds of friendship and support between the characters, rather than focusing primarily on romance, which gave it a uniquely warm and modern feel.
While it didn’t become as widely popular around the world as Friends, likely because of where it aired on Fox and when it premiered, Living Single is still considered one of the best examples of a sitcom focused on a group of friends simply hanging out together.
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2026-04-22 19:14