The Frequency Few Tuned Into
Some comedies hum under the radar. You might’ve caught a rerun or heard a quote out of context, but never knew what you were missing. Time to fix that.
The Governor & JJ (1969–1970)
Balance power and parenting? That’s what Governor Drinkwater juggles daily, while his free-spirited daughter JJ keeps his uptight world delightfully unhinged. The generational clash isn’t just fun—it’s fearless. Political debates meet domestic tiffs in a show that outpaced its time without breaking a sweat.
CBS Television, Wikimedia Commons
The Mothers-In-Law (1967–1969)
Clashing matriarchs, anyone? You’ve got Eve and Kaye—two wildly different women bound together by their married children—waging sitcom warfare in suburban living rooms. Picture nosy parenting turned nuclear. And don’t forget the bickering husbands caught in the crossfire. It’s chaos wrapped in curlers and casseroles!
Classic TV Theme: The Mothers-In-Law by David Gideon
Occasional Wife (1966–1967)
Ever faked a marriage to get ahead at work? Peter Christopher did, and the results are as awkward as they are hilarious. He pays Greta to pose as his wife, but things spiral out of control quickly. Elevator gossip, nosy bosses, and emotional confusion; you’ll be hooked instantly.
♦TV Classics♦ 'OCCASIONAL TROUBLE' (Occasional Wife S01 E02) by Rob's Dream Theater
He & She (1967–1968)
Sharp writing. Even sharper chemistry. He & She follows a cartoonist and his modern-minded wife as they tackle city life and media madness. Paula (the wife) was a sidekick and also a scene-stealer. Think proto-Mad About You, but smarter and way snarkier.
CBS Television, Wikimedia Commons
The Tony Randall Show (1976–1978)
Ever seen a sitcom make courtroom life hilarious? Judge Walter Franklin’s your guy—brilliant, buttoned-up, but surrounded by absurdity. From his flaky secretary to his meddling daughter, Tony Randall keeps it classy while chaos reigns around him. Order in the court? Not a chance.
CBS Television, Wikimedia Commons
On The Rocks (1975–1976)
Prison life, but make it funny. Set in Alomesa's minimum security prison, this show flips your expectations. You meet quirky inmates like Hector and Lester, who dish out wisdom and laughs in equal measure. It’s like Cheers if Cheers had bars, metal ones.
On the rocks - intro theme by Henry Plantagenet
The Practice (1976–1977)
Doctor Jules Bedford treats patients with a charming demeanor and brutal honesty while his son attempts to modernize the clinic. Old school vs new rules, this comedy milks generational medical drama for all it’s worth. Who knew stethoscopes could be so funny?
Clip | The Practice | Warner Archive by Warner Bros. Classics
The Girl With Something Extra (1973–1974)
ESP and romance collide when newlywed Sally reveals she can read minds. Would you date someone who knows your every thought? Poor John can’t hide anything from birthdays to bribes. Hilarious and unnerving, this short-lived gem mixes domestic comedy with a dash of psychic mayhem.
It’s Your Move (1984–1985)
Meet Matthew Burton—a teen genius and full-time scam artist. He’s charming, smug, and impossible to pin down. But when his mom’s new boyfriend threatens his turf? All bets are off. Every episode is a clever chess match, with punchlines in place of pawns.
It's Your Move : Season 1 Episode 1 by Retro TV
Duet (1987–1989)
Love meets hustle in Duet, where romance novelist Ben and caterer Laura chase dreams in LA. But it’s their friends—the neurotic couple next door—who steal scenes. Think Friends before Friends, sprinkled with typewriters, tarts, and emotional detours you didn’t see coming.
Classic TV Theme: Duet (two variations • stereo) by David Gideon
Check It Out! (1985–1988)
Ever wondered what it’s like managing a supermarket full of misfits? Bannister sneaks naps in his office while his crew unleashes retail pandemonium. A Canadian import with quirky charm, this one tosses seriousness aside like yesterday’s produce. It’s a checkout counter-comedy that totally snuck under the radar.
Check It Out S01 E01 No Security in Security by John A
Square Pegs (1982–1983)
Cue braces, Valley Girl slang, and social disasters. Patty and Lauren just want to fit in at Weemawee High, but popularity is a battlefield. With early 80s edge and teen awkwardness dialed to eleven, Square Pegs gave adolescence its most authentic laugh track.
Square Pegs | Pilot | S1EP1 FULL EPISODE | Classic TV Rewind by Classic TV Rewind Clips
Boston Common (1996–1997)
The boy chases the girl, but he ends up tutoring his sister instead. That’s Boyd, a Southern guy who dropped into Boston’s elite academic jungle. Every encounter’s a culture clash, and each punchline lands with charm. You didn’t watch this show? Huge mistake, buddy. Huge. But you can redeem yourself.
DC Douglas in Boston Common (1997) by D.C. Douglas
The John Larroquette Show (1993–1996)
Running a bus terminal graveyard shift while battling sobriety? That’s John Hemingway’s life, and it’s a darkly funny one. With razor-sharp dialogue and unexpected tenderness, this show walked a highwire between heart and hilarity. It was real before real was in.
Rewind TV - The John Larroquette Show Premiere September 2, 1993 by Rewind TV
Ned And Stacey (1995–1997)
Get married for convenience? Ned and Stacey do—he wants a promotion, she needs a place to live. However, they hate each other. Still, sparks fly, and arguments explode. And somehow, it works. Their sham marriage spawns some of the funniest non-romantic chemistry sitcoms ever served up.
Ned And Stacey | Model Husband | FULL EPISODE Season 1 Episode 5 | Throwback TV by Throwback TV
Brotherly Love (1995–1997)
Three real-life Lawrence brothers. One Philly garage. Loads of sibling drama and mechanical mishaps. Brotherly Love delivers heartfelt stories with genuine laughs, from teenage rebellion to business blunders. When you mix family ties with busted engines, magic happens, and it revs up quickly.
Brotherly Love - Skin Deep - 2x15 - Part 1 by finash6
Andy Richter Controls The Universe (2002–2003)
If daydreams wrote your life, you’d be Andy. In this wild, fourth-wall-breaking ride, office life gets surreal fast. One minute, it’s reality; the next, he’s narrating hypothetical disasters. Think corporate cubicle meets Inception, with way more awkward flirting and far fewer explosions.
Andy Richter Controls the Universe S1E01 Pilot Part 2 by sedef122003
Less Than Perfect (2002–2006)
From cubicle to newsroom chaos, Claude traverses TV exec egos, sabotage-happy coworkers, and donut politics. Her rise from assistant to heroine? Endlessly satisfying. With Zachary and Andy on tap, this workplace comedy served charm in every episode, being both underrated and overqualified.
Less Than Perfect 03x20 - Amicably Yours by Juana Kelly
Sons & Daughters (2006)
This semi-improvised comedy nails the messiness of extended families. Cousins argue over baby names, and everyone has an opinion. Every line feels organic. Every conflict? Relatable chaos. It’s like a holiday dinner that never ends, and you’ll want a seat.
Sons and Daughters - Episode 18 by PrisonerCellBlockH95
Enlisted (2014)
Three brothers, one military base, zero filter. Enlisted brings heart and humor to the barracks, with petty rivalries, surprise tenderness, and a side of slapstick. The Rear D unit may handle leftover tasks, but the show’s jokes were frontline-level funny. March straight into this one.
Benched (2014)
From polished power lawyer to chaotic public defender, Nina finds herself defending petty criminals with a side of identity crisis. Benched blends sharp wit with courtroom absurdity, showing how falling down the ladder sometimes lands you somewhere worth staying. Think suits, now with sarcasm.
Great News (2017–2018)
What’s worse than office micromanagement? Your mom becoming your intern. Welcome to Great News, where news producer Katie juggles segments and smothering. With hijinks and a newsroom that barely functions, this show channels pure comedic mayhem. Also, wigs. Lots of wigs.
GREAT NEWS 2018 OFFICIAL Trailers HD by Trailers HD
The Detour (2016–2019)
One family, zero normalcy. Nate’s simple vacation plan turns into FBI chases, border interrogations, and endless hotel disasters. The Detour is part comedy, part unraveling mystery. You’ll laugh, cringe, and double-check your next booking, just in case.
The Detour: Top Ten Parker Moments [EXCLUSIVE] | TBS by TBS
Flatbush Misdemeanors (2021–2022)
Two struggling creatives in Brooklyn live through depression, rent, and the occasional scooter theft. Flatbush Misdemeanors oozes realism and dry humor, balancing street-level storytelling with quiet punchlines. Every scene feels lived-in. It’s the kind of show that doesn’t yell—just raises an eyebrow and nails the moment.
'Happy Condom Week' Ep. 8 Official Clip | Flatbush Misdemeanors | Season 2 by SHOWTIME
The Duck Factory (1984)
Before Ace Ventura or The Mask, Carrey played Skip Tarkenton, an optimistic young animator hired at a struggling cartoon studio. The result? A meta-comedy blending office politics with Looney Tunes-level absurdity. Behind-the-scenes drama with the show’s fictional cartoon series gives the real sitcom a sketch-like unpredictability.
