Sometimes, It can be very difficult to decide whether to watch a serious drama or a fun comedy. Luckily, these days there are plenty of TV shows that offer a thoroughly entertaining mix of both genres. Of course, not every program that tries to find the right balance succeeds in doing so effectively. Some shows end up feeling like comedies with randomly forced moments of drama, and others feel like serious shows that are only interrupted by unwanted jokes. After all, combining the two distinct elements is no easy task.
Happily, certain talented teams of creators are able to strike the right balance. While some may lean more towards one or the other, these special TV shows find ways to appeal to both comedy and drama fans. From funny killers to serious comedians, mixing comedy and drama allows TV creators to explore their subjects in ways they normally wouldn't, ensuring an exciting experience for viewers.
10
Shrinking (2023 to present)
Harrison Ford in a rare comedy
When his overwhelming grief over the loss of his wife leaves therapist Jimmy Laird questioning his own life, he begins to drastically (and unethically) change the way he provides therapy to his patients. With a strong cast led by Jason Segel and Harrison Ford, Shrinking is an exciting comedy-drama series premiering on Apple TV+ in early 2023.
The series is currently in the middle of its second season, with new episodes releasing weekly until the end of 2024. Based on the subject matter alone, it seems Shrinking it would inherently work more naturally as a drama. After all, the idea of a therapist deciding to directly influence his patients' lives after his wife suddenly dies doesn't seem like a humorous concept in and of itself.
However, Shrinking manages to find the light in this dark idea, consistently offering well-executed humor amid its sad narrative. The smart writing and wide-ranging performances from the cast make the series work effectively as both a comedy and a drama.
9
Barry (2018-2023)
Bill Hader plays a cold killer
Created by and starring Bill Hader, Barry is a darkly comedic television series that tells the story of Barry Berkman, a veteran assassin assigned to a job in Los Angeles that ends up taking him to an acting class. As he becomes more interested in classes, he begins to question his life's path, but his past continues to haunt him despite his attempts to escape it. Hader stars alongside Stephen Root, Sarah Goldberg and Henry Winkler.
- Release date
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March 25, 2018
- Seasons
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4
- Directors
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Alex Berg
- Network
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HBO Max
Feeling disillusioned with the criminal life he has been leading, a depressed, depressed killer finds a new passion in acting. Bill Hader's HBO series, Barrymarked a major turning point in Saturday night live former student's career, demonstrating his ability to act both dramatically and comedicly.
The series, recently concluded, accumulated 44 Emmy nominations in various categories throughout its four seasonswith Hader, Stephen Root, Henry Winkler and Anthony Carrigan all being recognized individually for their performances. Barry not only does it include elements of comedy and drama, but it takes each genre to the extreme at various points in the series.
Just as the protagonist's life oscillates between his dark past and the fun new life he wants, the series seamlessly alternates between nail-biting tension and laugh-out-loud humor. Gender changes do not harm each other, but they can effectively complement each other. Drama makes comedy more surprising and therefore more humorous, just as comedy allows serious scenes to carry more weight.
8
Ted Lasso (2020-present)
Make your audience believe
Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis) is an American football coach who moves to England when he is hired to manage a struggling football team, despite having no experience. With cynical players and a dubious town, Ted will have to convince them he's fit for the job. Ted Lasso has become one of Apple TV Plus' most successful shows, winning more than 10 Primetime Emmys.
- Release date
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August 14, 2020
- Seasons
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3
- Streaming Services
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AppleTV+
With three seasons in the books and a fourth seeming inevitable, Ted Lasso is one of the most prominent comedy dramas currently on television. In the series, the titular character is a goofy college football coach who is hired out of the blue to become the manager of an English Premier League football team.
Although its eccentric concept and lovable, folksy protagonist seem to naturally pave the way for comedy, Ted Lasso consistently proves its ability to explore more dramatic situations as well.
Little does Ted know that his hiring was nothing more than a scheme by the new owner to deliberately sabotage the team. The series has received widespread critical acclaim, with each individual season earning at least twenty Emmy nominations. Although its eccentric concept and lovable, folksy protagonist seem to naturally pave the way for comedy, Ted Lasso consistently proves its ability to explore more dramatic situations as well.
While Ted himself may seem like a jerk, the audience is reminded that he is simply a good, kind-hearted man who has been thrown into a situation where he was meant to fall, and that most of the people around him are rooting against him. When portrayed in this light, while also exploring how change affects the lives of others, Ted Lasso it certainly holds up from a dramatic point of view.
7
Reserve Dogs (2021-2023)
More comedy from Taika Waititi
Reservation Dogs is a Hulu original series about Native American teenage friends who grow up together on a reservation in Oklahoma. The series stars D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Paulina Alexis, Lane Factor and Devery Jacobs as the four friends and was created by Sterlin Harjo and Thor: Love and Thunder director Taika Waititi.
- Release date
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August 9, 2021
- Seasons
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2
Created in part by Taika Waititi, Reserve dogs is an FX comedy-drama series that concluded its third and final season in late 2023. The series, which has received universal acclaim from critics and audiences, stars a group of teenagers living as part of the Muscogee Nation in Oklahoma.
The four close friends spend their days committing petty crimes as they struggle to earn enough money to leave their community and move to California, all as a way to fulfill their late friend's dream. While the concept of Reserve dogs is rooted in drama, the undeniable chemistry between the lead actors contributes plenty of comedy throughout the series.
The insertion of comedy into the emotional story should come as no surprise, as Waititi is certainly no stranger to finding humor in dark situations (as emphasized by his films such as Hunt for the Wild and Jojo Coelho). Although the series only lasted three short seasons Reserve dogs It consistently makes the most of its unique concept, effectively portraying comedy and drama while bringing much-needed representation to the screen.
6
The Bear (2022-present)
An acting masterclass that won multiple awards
Set in a Chicago diner, The Bear follows Carmy Berzatto, a young, professionally trained chef who returns to take over his family's business after the unexpected death of his brother. At odds with many of the store's employees due to her culinary background, Carmy struggles to maintain order and prevent the store from completely ranting. Jeremy Allen White stars as Carmy alongside Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Ayo Edebiri.
- Release date
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June 23, 2022
- Seasons
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2
- Directors
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Christopher Storer
After his brother's sudden death, a prestigious young chef must return to his home in Chicago to take control of his family's humble restaurant, leaving him to work tirelessly to balance the struggling diner with his own unprocessed grief. This is the basis The Bearthe awardee FX series starring Jeremy Allen White alongside a talented cast including Ayo Edebiri and Ebon Moss-Bachrach.
The series recently concluded its third season, with a fourth already underway. Despite being considered a comedy The Bear actually takes on a much more dramatic feelalthough it includes moments of humor throughout. The fast-paced editing effectively mimics the frenetic nature of working in a restaurant, allowing viewers to experience the same level of stress as the characters on screen.
Of course, this does not mean that watching The Bear it is an unpleasant experience; instead, it's simply a stunningly accurate portrayal of working in the food service business that includes enough comedy to perfectly balance the more tense moments.
5
Only murders in the building (2021 to present)
An unlikely and charming comedy trio
Only Murders in the Building follows three strangers, each with a common interest in true crime, who team up to investigate a death in their building, uncovering secrets and uncovering unexpected twists.
- Release date
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August 31, 2021
- Seasons
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4
- Directors
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Cherien Dabis
In Only murders in the buildingAn acclaimed original comedy-drama series on Hulu, three strangers obsessed with true crime are brought together when a mysterious death in their apartment building inspires them to do their own investigations. The strangers-turned-friends are played by the charming trio of Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez..
With a stellar cast of comedic actors setting out to investigate a murder, it's no wonder that Only murders in the building manages to mix comedy and drama with equal effectiveness.
The series also features a star-studded roster of supporting characters at various times, including Meryl Streep, Paul Rudd, Tina Fey and many more. With a stellar cast of comedic actors setting out to investigate a murder, it's no wonder that Only murders in the building manages to mix comedy and drama with equal effectiveness.
The interactions between the characters are consistently hilarious, with the true friendship of the actors shining through in their performances. However, the series never forgets the weight of the issues at the heart of the show's premise, not being afraid to discuss the grim reality of death. Just Murders is a great option for a program that discusses death while also finding humor in it.
4
Meat (2023–present)
An A24 masterpiece that deserves more recognition
Beef is a Netflix series starring Steven Yeun and Ali Wong that follows two strangers whose lives become intertwined after a road rage incident. The show explores themes of anger, revenge and the complexity of human emotions as their rivalry intensifies, leading to unexpected consequences. Created by Lee Sung Jin, Beef offers a multi-layered narrative that examines the fragility of personal identities and social pressures.
In 2023, Netflix launched Beefa dark comedy-drama miniseries from A24. The initial concept of Beef It's quite simple; a simple incident of road rage triggers a rivalry between two strangers. However, where the series really gets interesting is through the drastic ways in which the rivalry continues to escalate, turning into a violent war between the two individuals.
The inventive miniseries was a huge hit with both critics and audiences, with immense praise for the lead performances of Steven Yeun and Ally Maki. Beef is remarkably unhindered by the simplicity of its concept. Over the ten episodes of the series Beef It quickly evolves from a petty, good-natured rivalry into a dark, win-at-any-cost battle.
As the stakes of the rivalry rise, so does the level of drama in the overall tone of the series. Although elements of comedy and drama can be found throughout Beef, the series definitely leans more towards the darker side of its narrative as the narrative progresses. The tonal transition is incredibly smooth, however, easing viewers into the cautionary tale it presents.
3
Fargo (2014-2024)
A gripping crime anthology like no other
Fargo is a Black Comedy Crime Drama television series based on the film of the same name, originally created by the Coen brothers. The TV adaptation was developed by Noah Hawley and follows an anthology format for each of its seasons, taking place in a different time period or location within the “Fargo” universe. So far, the series has seen big stars like Billy Bob Thornton, Ewan McGregor, Chris Rock and Kirsten Dunst.
- Cast
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Billy Bob Thornton, Allison Tolman, Martin Freeman, Kirsten Dunst, Patrick Wilson, Jesse Plemons, Ewan McGregor, Carrie Coon, Chris Rock, Jessie Buckley, Jason Schwartzman, Juno Temple, Jon Hamm
- Release date
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April 15, 2014
- Seasons
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5
Based on the 1996 film of the same name by the Coen brothers, Fargo is a crime series that features comedy and drama, as it features a unique narrative and cast for each season. Set across various parts of the American Midwest, each season follows a series of intertwining crimes, exploring how the deadly events impact various members of the community.
The series was widely praised during each of its five seasons, with extra attention paid to its rotating cast of established actors. Similar to Only murders in the building, Fargo can find the humor in dark events at their corewithout diminishing the magnitude of the events themselves.
Fargo is not afraid to show the dark side of humanity, often highlighting individuals who perform actions unimaginable to most. Even after showing the darkest acts a human can perform, Fargo never fails to include lovable characters dropping into unusual settings, providing some much-appreciated moments of humor amidst the tense narratives.
2
Poker Face (2023 to present)
Natasha Lyonne and Rian Johnson team up
Poker Face is a comedy-drama mystery series from writer/creator Rian Johnson (Knives Out), starring Natasha Lyonne as Charlie, a woman with the uncanny ability to easily tell if someone is lying. A drifter who lives by the wind, Charlie Cale (Lyonne) travels across the USA and comes across strange cases, from robbery to murder, that she wants to solve at every stop she makes. The show was conceived as a crime drama of the week, with special guests appearing throughout the season.
- Release date
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January 26, 2023
- Seasons
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1
- Directors
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Lilla Zuckerman
The original Peacock series poker face provides a smart, modern take on the mystery-of-the-week series idea, highlighting a different murder case in each episode. The only consistent character throughout the series is Charlie Cale, a woman with the unusual gift of always being able to immediately recognize when people are lying.
Each episode finds Charlie traveling through a new part of the country, becoming involved in the lives of the locals, and ultimately discovering the dark events taking place wherever she is. Because every episode of poker face is largely self-contained, the murders that occur at the beginning of the episodes are not usually overly dramatic, as there hasn't been much time for the audience to become attached to the characters.
However, the series also includes the overarching narrative of Charlie being followed across the country by a man who clearly has ill intentions towards her. This contributes to a lingering tension in the series, which satisfyingly complements the Natasha Lyonne's infectiously humorous performance.
1
Hacks (2021 to present)
A nine-time Emmy winner who deserves all the praise
Hacks is a comedy-drama series created by HBO that follows two women, Deborah Vance and Ava Daniels, a comedian and a writer, who team up to revitalize their careers. When Deborah Vance realizes she is about to lose her Las Vegas residency for her comedy act, she is assigned a new writer named Ava, who has essentially been blacklisted from career opportunities due to a tweet she sent in poor taste. Both desperate to make things work, the two come together, filling the gaps in each other's lives, professionally and personally.
- Cast
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Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder, Carl Clemons-Hopkins
- Release date
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May 13, 2021
- Seasons
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2
- Directors
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Lucia Aniello
- Network
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HBO Max
Hacks takes the idea of comedy-drama literally, offering a drama series well built on the comedy itself. With a strong cast led by Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder, the series explores the captivating dynamic between an aging Las Vegas comedian and her new, young head writer.
Hacks takes the idea of comedy-drama literally, offering a dramatic series well built on the comedy itself.
The acclaimed series was recently renewed for a fourth seasonguaranteed to dive even deeper into the increasingly complicated relationship between the two women determined to make their names known in the world of comedy. While the series certainly features plenty of sweeping comedy, the dramatic side of the series shouldn't be underestimated.
After all, ensuring your name becomes/remains relevant in the entertainment industry is far from a walk in the park. Hacks it also delves into the personal lives of the two main characters, showing how significantly they can influence each other's lives. The popular HBO series proves to audiences that even the world of comedy isn't always all about laughs.