The Best TV Comedies of 2015

Parks and Recreation - Best TV Comedies

2015 ushered in the most television series to ever hit the airwaves, with over 409 scripted programs being produced on the broadcast networks, basic cable, premium cable, and streaming services. Among those 400-plus shows were the farewell seasons of some of our longtime favorites, such as Parks and Recreation and Community, and the arrivals of new, critically-acclaimed comedies like Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Master of None, and Fresh Off the Boat. It is “Peak TV” in the United States right now, with more viewing options than ever before, and that is reflected in our list of the best TV comedies of 2015, as our writers chose a plethora of different comedy series as the most impressive ones from this terrific year in television.

Below, you’ll find individual lists from each of our participating writers with their picks for the best TV comedies of 2015 and a paragraph or two about why a certain show made their list. Then at the very bottom of the page is the official list of TVOvermind’s Best TV Comedies of 2015, as all of our writers’ votes were tallied to create a combined and fair selection of ten of this year’s greatest comedies.

Check out the lists below and be on the look out for our picks for the best new shows of the year either tomorrow. Also, if you haven’t already, take a look at our full list of the best TV dramas of 2015, along with the best TV shows (comedy and drama) of the year as well.

Blaise Hopkins

10. Rick and Morty/Peep Show

9. W/ Bob and David

8. You’re the Worst

7. Review

6. BoJack Horseman

5. Silicon Valley

4. Parks and Recreation

3. Comedy Bang Bang

2. Master of None

1. South Park

Why Comedy Bang Bang: I’ve been extremely happy with the consistency of TV comedies in 2015, but to me, Comedy Bang Bang stood out more than anything else. In what I believe to be one of the most cleverly crafted sketch comedy shows, Comedy Bang Bang never misses a beat. Even with the departure of long time co-host Reggie Watts, the show continued to succeed this year with with his replacement, Scot “Kid Cudi” Mescudi. Scott Aukerman is a phenomenal host who is extremely clever and has one of the most underrated comedy shows out there right now. P.S. – I’m really going to miss Peep Show. This final season was amazing, and Mitchell and Webb are masters of comedy.

Chris King

10. The Mindy Project/South Park

9. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

8. Silicon Valley

7. New Girl

6. Brooklyn Nine-Nine

5. BoJack Horseman

4. Jane the Virgin

3. Master of None

2. You’re the Worst

1. Parks and Recreation

Why Brooklyn Nine-Nine: I could write many words about how impressive The Mindy Project has been since its move to Hulu, or how Parks and Rec‘s final season was a perfect sendoff, or how You’re the Worst tackled depression in a thoughtful, beautiful way while still making my sides hurt with laughter every week. Instead, though, I’m going to talk about TV’s most consistent comedy, and therefore, one of its most forgotten ones: Brooklyn Nine-Nine. As I just mentioned, it’s the consistency of Brooklyn Nine-Nine that makes viewers undervalue just how great of a series it truly is. It’s not a show that tries to do “big episodes” or push boundaries; Brooklyn Nine-Nine is about its characters and the bonds of friendship, romance, and family formed between them, all perfectly illustrated through the show’s strong writing and even better performances from Andre Braugher, Andy Samberg, Melissa Fumero, and the rest of its all-star cast. When a comedy is constantly this good, it’s easy to take it for granted; however, I recognize just how lucky I am to be able to tune in every week for a half an hour and enjoy a sitcom as smart, clever, funny, and heartfelt as Brooklyn Nine-Nine. It’s one of TV’s very best comedies, and people should say that more often.

Jasef Wisener

10. W/ Bob and David

9. The Goldbergs

8. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

7. Ash vs. Evil Dead

6. Veep

5. Rick and Morty

4. Silicon Valley

3. Parks and Recreation

2. Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp

1. Master of None

Nick Hogan

10. Whose Line Is It Anyway?

9. The Big Bang Theory

8. Galavant

7. Silicon Valley

6. New Girl

5. Sirens

4. Undateable

3. Community

2. Parks and Recreation

1. Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Why Undatebale: Undateable belongs on this list because it’s done literally nothing new. It’s a comedy about friends set primarily in a bar. On paper, it’s the most redundant comedy of our age. However, what the Undateable writers have created is something so much more. The ensemble dynamic is perfect. The jokes are terrifically timed and well-written. The cast has insane chemistry. The third season’s addition of the live element has created something that’s almost indescribable. Just watch it for yourself, and see if you can catch your breath long enough to set your DVR.

Randy Dankievitch

10. Ground Floor

9. Louie

8. Fresh Off the Boat

7. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

6. Rick and Morty

5. Brooklyn Nine-Nine

4. Mom

3. Inside Amy Schumer

2. Broad City

1. You’re the Worst

Why Fresh Off the Boat: What began as a cheeky adaptation of Eddie Huang’s hip memoir of the same name has turned into arguably the best family comedy on television. Led by Constance Wu’s powerhouse performance as Jessica, the matriarch of the Huang family, Fresh Off the Boat has shifted from being a simple assimilation comedy to something funnier, more nuanced, and infinitely more drenched in ’90s nostalgia. In a world where comedies have gotten a little darker and meaner, Fresh Off the Boat‘s approach to storytelling is a much-welcome throwback to the lighter, more emotionally rewarding days of network comedy.

Sean Colletti

10. Rick and Morty

9. Review

8. Fresh Off the Boat

7. Broad City

6. Louie

5. You’re the Worst

4. Mom

3. Parks and Recreation

2. BoJack Horseman

1. Transparent

Why BoJack Horseman: Ironically, comedy is sometimes the best form to examine character drama, and 2015 saw a host of comedies tackle dramatic story arcs dealing with alcoholism and depression. Mom and You’re the Worst excelled at these, but it was BoJack Horseman‘s second season that was pitch perfect at examining the deterioration of its main character. Rather than revel in BoJack’s misery, though, the season ends in a place of optimism, giving hope to BoJack and other characters that there’s a way to dig out of their respective holes. Season 2 doesn’t make it easy for them, but the lessons they learn (and the detours they take, including BoJack’s trip to New Mexico–one of the best episodes of the year) strike home and stick. No one really expected BoJack Horseman to be this good when it first came out, I think, and that might be why it’s still so powerful. Television already operates on one level of detachment, since so many series are works of fiction. BoJack adds two other levels of detachment–being animated and having so many non-human main characters–and still manages to say more about the difficulties that come with being alive than nearly all other series.

Virginia Podesta

8. The Jim Gaffigan Show

7. The Mindy Project

6. Master of None

5. Shameless

4. Casual

3. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

2. Inside Amy Schumer

1. Veep

Why Inside Amy Schumer: This was, without a doubt, the year of Amy Schumer. Her show, though always a joy to watch, is a rare gem that is plugged in with the “here and now,” which it dissects in honest, funny, and even awkward fashion. Few comedians have mastered the art of making the audience feel so inadequate week after week and yet still have them coming back for more.

You're the Worst - Best TV Comedies

Overall Top 10 Best Comedies of 2015

10. South Park

9. Rick and Morty and Broad City (tied)

8. Mom

7. Veep

6. Inside Amy Schumer and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (tied)