We’ve all been there — checking the clock, then the screen, then the clock again, debating whether there’s time to watch something substantial, something other than TikToks or Reels. A movie feels like a commitment, and by the end, you’d be doom-scrolling anyway. A 45-minute TV show? Too much effort; you’d have to keep track of characters, untangle plot lines and actually pay attention. But 20-minute sitcoms? Perfect. As attention spans decrease and schedules get more packed, the 20-minute sitcom is a refreshing combination of efficiency and entertainment. Big things come in small packages; these shows end up being some of the funniest, most memorable watches. They’re quick, easy to binge, incredibly rewatchable and they remind us that sometimes, less really is more. Here’s a ranking of my top five must-watch 20-minute sitcoms, from least to most favorite, that define this perfect genre.
Full of fast-paced action, bellyaching laughs, and “cool cool cool cool” characters, Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013) is not your average cop show. The series is centered around Detective Jake Peralta, one of “Brooklyn’s finest,” as he takes down bad guys in unconventional ways. With many episode-contained plot lines, you could jump into this show at practically any point and have a comfortable grasp on the characters, the story, and especially the jokes. The stupid and light humor that graces this show — full of nonsensical pranks and bets — encourages audiences to lighten up for 20 minutes and really bask in all of its silliness.
Although not officially recognized as a sitcom, Sex and the City (1998) follows the same structural formula as our beloved 20-minute doom-scrolling solutions. If you’ve been living under a rock and don’t know this show, it follows a group of four fabulous women in their 20s, navigating love and friendship in New York City. Similar to Brooklyn Nine-Nine, a newcomer can pick up the show on any season or episode and still feel familiar. If you are not just watching for the sole purpose of determining if you are a Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda, the show also offers hilarious newspaper column-style insights on questions of love. While the series isn’t a constant stream of laughter, those few serious moments scattered throughout Carrie’s search for love are what make the funny ones even better.
While Carrie Bradshaw shares her romantic escapades through her columns, Ted Mosby uses storytelling as a means to reflect on love. In light of Josh Radnor visiting Cornell just a couple of weeks ago, how could I recommend must-watch sitcoms without including How I Met Your Mother (2005)? The show is a masterpiece — with a series-long cliffhanger lasting until the very last episode of the ninth season. So yes, maybe this show is more of an investment, but not all 20-minute shows should be easy, random watches. Instead, the series offers binge-worthy, time-efficient laughs with a build to the finale that keeps the audience hooked — finding out who Ted will end up marrying. And while the ending may spark debate among fans, what truly matters is the hilarious journey that makes the show unforgettable.
A series about a community college’s quirky Spanish study group, Community (2009), is the quintessential meta-sitcom, both in its comedy and its structure. Each joke in the series builds upon the next, creating a network of humor that only true fans can fully appreciate. It’s the type of 20-minute sitcom you can rewatch multiple times and still discover jokes that you missed the first time around. Known for its brilliant parodies of other shows, movies and media, Community has developed a cult following since its release sixteen years ago. Fans are especially excited now, as the series’ prophetic tagline, ‘6 seasons and a movie’, is finally coming to life; Peacock announced in 2022 that a movie was on the horizon, though updates remain slow and uncertain.
Coming in at first, Arrested Development (2003) is by far the funniest show I’ve ever watched. As I've rewatched it seven times and still haven’t gotten bored, that is high praise. The show follows a formerly rich family, the Bluths, as they lose their real estate fortune to the family patriarch’s less-than-legal activities. This series is perfect in that it never takes itself too seriously with its frequent running bits. As a self-proclaimed Arrested Development connoisseur, I still find hidden jokes — “neither seen nor heard” — on previous watches. Though not as meta as those in Community, they remain utterly hilarious.
The next time you catch yourself mindlessly scrolling, consider swapping it for an episode of one of these shows. Who knows? One episode might turn into a season. That season might turn into five. And before you know it, you’ve watched the entire series seven times over. Not like I know from experience… But hey, it’s still a better use of time than doom-scrolling. Happy watching!
Hazel Tjaden is a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences. She can be reached at hlt43@cornell.edu.
