Apple TV+ is my favourite streaming platform. While it may not have as many movies and TV shows as Netflix, Disney+ or Amazon Prime, the quality is far superior.
I watched every comedy on Apple TV. Here are the ones actually worth your time (and the ones I stopped watching).
For more recommendations, check out my best lists of comedy albums and specials, comedy podcasts and Sky TV comedies.
1. Platonic
Ted Lasso had been my number one comedy on Apple TV for a couple of years and I didn’t think anything would knock it off the top spot, but here we are.
Platonic follows two old friends who reconnect after falling out whilst trying to cope with their midlife crisis. They’re also chaotic when together. There are plenty of great insults between Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen, plus incredible scenes of silly, physical comedy from the pair too.
2. Ted Lasso
An American football coach (Jason Sudeikis) takes over a soccer team in London.
Don’t worry if you don’t like football. It’s more about the players and back room staff stories off the pitch as well as on. I’m calling it. Ted Lasso will be considered in the pantheon of best TV comedies along with Arrested Development, 30 Rock and Parks and Recreation (all of which I love).
3. Shrinking
The initial trailer was supremely underwhelming, with the cast jumping into the air one after another. I’m glad they’ve changed their trailer now and that I gave Shrinking a chance anyway.
Jason Segal plays therapist Jimmy, although he could use his own therapist as he struggles with grieving and mending a frosty relationship with his daughter.
Okay, that description hasn’t exactly screamed comedy, but the cast, character arcs and one liners provide multiple laugh out loud moments earning a place in the top two comedies on Apple TV+.
4. Trying
I didn’t expect to like Trying as much as I did, reading the description. It’s super underrated.
Esther Smith and Rafe Spall star as a couple going through the adoption process. Trying somehow finds a way to add humour to an eye opening tough process as it tests their relationship. If you like Catastrophe, you’ll like Trying.
5. Loot
I’ll admit, I wasn’t blown away by the pilot
Classic case of showing all the best bits in the trailer.
But I’m glad I stuck with it. The casting is superb and I’m loving the bromance between Joel Kim Booster and Ron Funches.
Maya Rudolph stars as a recently divorced billionaire trying to make a difference with her charity foundation.
6. Bad Sisters
Four sisters plan to kill their evil brother in law. Well, that’s the plan anyway. Should be easy, right? Aside from the laughs, Bad Sisters has a really great story as it’s told in flashbacks. By the last episode, I still haven’t solved it.
7. Mythic Quest
Created by Charlie Day, Megan Ganz and Rob McElhenney, Mythic Quest takes you inside a Fortnite type games company where McElhenney plays a creative and egomanic. It has similar comedic qualities to It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (unsurprisingly).
8. Slow Horses
A team made up of MI5 rejects (led by Gary Oldman) stumble upon a huge case. I can’t really say anything more without spoiling the plot, but the colleagues hate each other so there are a lot of funny, personal insults. In that sense, Slow Horses reminds me of The League (which doesn’t get talked about enough). Season two is scheduled for release on December 2nd.
9. Schmigadoon
A rom-com musical created by Lorne Michaels and stars Keegan-Michael Key and Cecily Strong, Schmigadoon centres around a town in which the couple need to work out how to escape.
Full of weird and wonderful supporting characters and great songs, Schmigadoon is a new take for people who aren’t into musicals.
10. The Big Prize Door
If a machine told you what your purpose in life was, would you believe it? The small town of Deerfield unexpectedly find one in a store and the population begin changing their whole life. But where did the machine come from?
11. Little America
Little America was a surprising wild card for best comedies on Apple TV. It isn’t all laughs.
Little America tugs on the heart strings while sprinkling in moments of humour about being an immigrant in the US. If you’re a fan of stories about personal triumphs against the odds, you’ll love Little America.
12. The After Party
The After Party boasts an all star cast which includes Zoe Chao, Sam Richardson, Ben Schwartz, Dave Franco, Ilana Glazer, Tiffany Haddish, Ike Barinholtz and Jamie Demetriou so it was a little surprising this was only okay.
Other comedy detective series like Only Murders In The Building do a better job of the genre.
13. Bonus – Severance
While Severance isn’t listed in Apple’s comedy section, I recommend watching this black comedy starring Adam Scott, Britt Lower, John Turturro and Zach Cherry.
People enter the office not remembering life outside work, they leave the building not remembering anything about office life.
Comedies that just weren’t for me
I watched parts of other Apple TV comedies Physical, Mr. Corman, Central Park, Dickenson, Acapulco and The Problem With Jon Stewart but couldn’t get to the end of any series so wouldn’t recommend watching them. But hey, just because they weren’t for me, doesn’t mean you won’t like them. Here are the trailers for the rest.
