Colleen Hayes/HBO; ABC/Gilles Mingasson; John P. Johnson/HBO
Showrunners will tell you there's no one path to television success, and the comedies on this list all boast interesting backstories. From former hit podcasts and web series, to imports from Great Britain and New Zealand, to long-running network favorites and the cult classics that were taken from us too soon, the series here share one commonality: We can't stop laughing at and talking about them.
Get in on the joke. Here are the 30 best comedy shows to stream on HBO Max.
2 Dope Queens(2018–2019)
Based on the popular podcast hosted by comediansJessica Williamsand Phoebe Robinson, HBO's2 Dope Queensisn't so much a traditional television show as it is a series of comedy specials, each boasting a distinct theme. Consisting of four episodes in season 1 (centered around the topics of black nerdery, hook-ups, hair, and living in New York City), and four episodes in season 2 (exploring themes of luxury, music, fashion, and nostalgia),2 Dope Queensinvites comedians and celebrities alike to sit with its hysterical hosts and kibitz for each of the show's hour-long episodes.
Directed by comedianTig Notaro,2 Dope Queens— like the podcast on which the show is based — seeks to explore representation, while still exposing audiences to some of the best established and up-and-coming comics circa the late-2010s.
Where to watch2 Dope Queens: HBO Max
Cast:Jessica Williams, Phoebe Robinson
Abbott Elementary(2021–present)
Gilles Mingasson/ABC via Getty Images
If you're loving ourTed Lasso-era of feel-good comedies, then you need to hop aboard the school bus headed forAbbott Elementary. Created by and starringQuinta Brunson, the sitcom returns to the mockumentary format made famous by shows likeThe OfficeandParks and Recreation, but manages to distinguish itself through its impeccable writing, performances, and armory of adorable child actors.
Set in an underfunded Philadelphia elementary school,Abbott Elementarychronicles the lives of the school's young idealistic teachers, its established burnt-out educators, and the school's self-involved, TikTok-loving principal. A critical and commercial hit from the jump, the first season saw Brunson andSheryl Lee Ralphtaking home Emmys, and with education becoming an increasing subject of cultural and political discussion, the show's satirical possibilities are infinite.
Where to watchAbbott Elementary: HBO Max
EW grade:A–
Cast:Quinta Brunson, Tyler James Williams, Chris Perfetti, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Lisa Ann Walter
Barry(2018–2023)
Those who like a little action with their comedy need look no further than the 10-time Emmy-winning seriesBarry, created byBill Hader. The show follows Barry Berkman (Hader), a hitman from Cleveland who travels to Los Angeles on assignment to kill his next victim, but who ends up finding a new career path in the City of Angels: acting. As Barry tries to pursue his new passion onstage in Gene Cousineau's (Henry Winkler) acting class, he must figure out how to cut ties to his criminal past so he can take on more enticing roles.
The final season takes on a bleaker tone while still maintaining the show's brilliance, and continues to interrogate the thematic premise of redemption and whether or not people can really change.
Where to watchBarry: HBO Max
EW grade:B+
Cast:Bill Hader, Stephen Root, Sarah Goldberg, Glenn Fleshler, Anthony Carrigan
The Chair Company(2025–present)
Sarah Shatz/HBO
Looking for a low-stakes rabbit hole to venture down? Welcome to HBO'sThe Chair Company.Tim Robinson stars as Ron, a middle manager in middle America, who — after experiencing an embarrassing run-in with a chair at work — stumbles upon what he believes to be a criminal conspiracy.
The comedy thriller generated strong buzz when it premiered in the fall of 2025, with EW's critic impressed with what they saw in early episodes,assuring viewersthat "Fans ofI Think You Should Leave,Robinson and [collaborator Zach] Kanin's cheerfully bizarre sketch-comedy series, will findThe Chair Companysuitably weird."
Where to watchThe Chair Company: HBO Max
EW grade:B+
Cast:Tim Robinson, Lake Bell, Sophia Lillis, Will Price, Joseph Tudisco
Chewing Gum(2015–2017)
E4/Channel 4/Courtesy Everett Collection
British sitcoms don't get much better thanMichaela Coel'sChewing Gum.Based on her one-woman show,Chewing Gum Dreams, the TV version centers around Tracey Gordon (Coel), a sheltered and religious shop assistant who very much wants to lose her virginity. Unfortunately, her upbringing and similarly religious long-term boyfriend make doing the deed a little more complicated than Tracey might have hoped.
This comedy series examines sex, relationships, identity, and religion with Coel's unique brand of observational humor and some physical comedy that takes sexual intimacy into farcical territory.Wickedfans will be thrilled to seeJonathan BaileyandCynthia Erivoshowing up in guest star roles at different points throughout the show's two seasons.
Where to watchChewing Gum: HBO Max
Cast:Michaela Coel, Robert Lonsdale
The Comeback(2005, 2014, 2026)
Almost exactly a year afterFriendswent off the air,Lisa Kudrowwas back on TV, starring in HBO'sThe Comeback.Created by Kudrow andSex and the CityshowrunnerMichael Patrick King,the show is a unique fusion of sitcom and reality show, chronicling the comeback of fictional sitcom star Valerie Cherish (Kudrow) as she returns to TV. Shot using found footage, the show was stylistically ahead of its time, which is maybe why — despite developing a cult following — it was initially canceled after one season.
Hindsight is everything, however, and in 2014, the show returned for a second season, this time following Cherish as she attempts to pitch a pilot to Bravo personality and producerAndy Cohen. A third (final) season was announced in June 2025, teasing a 2026 comeback.
Where to watchThe Comeback: HBO Max
Cast:Lisa Kudrow, Malin Åkerman, Robert Bagnell, Lance Barber, Robert Michael Morris
Common Side Effects(2025–present)
Warner Bros. Discovery
Common Side Effectsmight look like your standard adult cartoon series, but the show's thoughtful dialogue, ambitious themes, and exquisite visuals have established it as a critical and audience darling. Developed as part of Cartoon Network's Adult Swim block, which is available to stream on HBO Max, there's only one season ofCommon Side Effectsso far, but it's s a doozy.
A comedy mystery thriller concoction, the show follows two former high school friends and science lab partners as they discover the Blue Angel Mushroom, a fungus capable of healing all the world's diseases — and learn that Big Pharma and the government already know about it and will do anything to keep the public from finding out. A meditation on sickness, healing, corporate greed, and government overreach,Common Side Effectsis a special show.
Where to watchCommon Side Effects: HBO Max
Cast:Dave King, Emily Pendergast, Mike Judge, Martha Kelly, Joseph Lee Anderson
Curb Your Enthusiasm(2000–2024)
John P. Johnson/HBO
In the sitcomSeinfeld, George Costanza's character serves as a stand-in for show creatorLarry David, possessing the best and worst of David's neuroticisms, anxieties, and questionable belief systems. InCurb Your Enthusiasm, David ditches the character and goes straight to the source: himself.
Over the course of 12 seasons, David stacks the cast with friends and celebrities, most of whom play fictionalized versions of themselves. Poking fun at L.A. culture, the entertainment industry, and most of all, himself, David spends the series reminding us why he's one of the funniest, most prolific, and most self-aware comedy writers of all time.
Where to watchCurb Your Enthusiasm: HBO Max
Cast:Larry David, Cheryl Hines, Jeff Garlin, Susie Essman, J.B. Smoove
The Flight Attendant(2020–2022)
Lara Solanki/HBO Max
TV starKaley Cuocojumps from strength to strength, leaving her long-running gig on the sitcomThe Big Bang Theoryin 2019, only to star in the HBO Max Original comedy drama thrillerThe Flight Attendanta year later. Cassie Bowden (Cuoco) is a flight attendant whose reckless drinking and proclivity for casual sex with passengers lands her a spot as a person of interest in an FBI investigation into the Bangkok murder of one of her former passengers — and sexual partners.
Possessing no memory of what took place the night of the murder and haunted by hallucinations, Cassie attempts to clear her name and solve the crime, but finds her efforts compromised by her frequent drinking and self-destructive tendencies.
Where to watchThe Flight Attendant: HBO Max
Cast:Kayley Cuoco, Michiel Huisman, Zosia Mamet, T. R. Knight, Michelle Gomez
Flight of the Conchords(2007–2010)
Craig Blankenhorn/HBO/Courtesy Everett Collection
The New Zealand comedy duo Flight of the Conchords takes New York City in their self-titled, two season sitcom. The comedians play former shepherds now moonlighting as folk musicians and struggling to make it in America's biggest city. With frequent appearances from the band's manager, the band's only fan, and a pawn shop employee,Flight of the Conchordsis beloved for its musical comedy, with a song featured in every episode.
Where to watchFlight of the Conchords: HBO Max
Cast:Jemaine Clement, Bret McKenzie, Rhys Darby, Kristen Schaal, Arj Barker
Hacks(2021–present)
An odd couple comedy,Hacksis the story of two women — both on the outs in the entertainment industry — who are forced to work together, only to find that in spite of their generational and personality differences, they have more in common than either would care to admit. Ava (Hannah Einbinder) is a millennial comedy writer who has recently been "canceled," and Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) is a seasoned Las Vegas stand-up comedian entering the twilight phase of her career, but unwilling to accept it.
An excellent option for those looking to fill theBroad City-sized hole in their hearts,Hacksis a witty, relevant examination of the entertainment industry, the evolution of feminism, and the pros and cons of dating while working in comedy.
Where to watchHacks: HBO Max
EW grade:A–
Cast:Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Kaitlin Olson, Christopher McDonald
High Maintenance(2016–2020)
One of the most unique comedies on this list,High Maintenancehad an unconventional path to broadcast. A former Vimeo web series, the show follows a New York City-based weed dealer — known to his many customers as "the Guy" — as he bikes around the boroughs delivering weed and interacting with his eccentric clients. Debuting in 2012 as short episodes clocking in between five and 20 minutes, the show made the leap to HBO in 2016 where it expanded its content to a consistent half-hour format.
An intimate anthology series that feels specific to the 2010s, the show features different clients each week and uses their specific points of view and living situations as jumping-off points to explore and parody themes like loneliness, connection, politics, and so much more.
Where to watchHigh Maintenance: HBO Max
EW grade:A–
Cast:Ben Sinclair
Insecure(2016–2021)
Two years afterBroad Citywent from web series to Comedy Central, HBO responded with its own digital-to-broadcast success story. Partially based onIssa Rae's hit YouTube showThe Mis-Adventures of Awkward Black Girl,Insecurewas codeveloped by Rae and comedianLarry Wilmore, and stars Rae oppositeYvonne Orjias Issa and Molly, two college best friends trying to navigate the real world as adults living in South Los Angeles.
Simple in its premise but refined and hysterical in its execution, the show examines the relatable issues that plague every generation of twentysomethings: uninspired relationships, complicated friendships, career difficulties, and the journey to independence and self-acceptance. A show that created a cult-like fan base and launched Rae into stardom,Insecureis,as EW's critic writes, "smart, funny, and unfailingly real."
Where to watchInsecure: HBO Max
EW grade:A–
Cast:Issa Rae, Yvonne Orji, Jay Ellis, Lisa Joyce, Natasha Rothwell
Last Week Tonight(2014–present)
The Daily Showtook a hit when Senior British CorrespondentJohn Oliverdeparted after a seven-year run to host his own late-night series on HBO. A weekly, half-hour talk show that explores topical events through monologues, short satirical segments, and one targeted deep dive per episode, the series instantly charmed viewers and critics while simultaneously evoking ire from many politicians and big businesses who were on the receiving end of its coverage.
One of the few television series whose content has contributed to real legislative and cultural change, the show has no problem biting the hand that feeds it, inviting more than a few enemies and at least one defamation lawsuit (which ended poorly for the plaintiff).
Where to watchLast Week Tonight With John Oliver: HBO Max
EW grade:A–
Cast:John Oliver
Los Espookys(2019–2022)
A Spanish-language comedy series created by and starringJulio Torres,Ana Fabrega, andFred Armisen,Los Espookysfollows a group of friends — and one of their uncles, an esteemed parking attendant, played by Armisen — who form a business aimed at designing and executing fake horror experiences. From faux exorcisms for competitive priests to creating sea monsters and faking abductions, the staff at Los Espookys is happy to serve as the local purveyors of made-up terror. A perfect balance of scary and silly, the first season offers six bingeable episodes (the seventh was delayed by COVID-19), but asan EW critic warns, "If you're not comfortable laughing out loud to yourself at unpredictable intervals,Los Espookysmay not be the show for you."
Where to watchLos Espookys: HBO Max
EW grade:A–
Cast:Bernardo Velasco, Cassandra Ciangherotti, Ana Fabrega, Julio Torres, Fred Armisen
Mr. Show With Bob and David(1995–1998)
The best sketch series from the late '90s that nobody knew about wasMr. Show With Bob and David.Broadcast on HBO between 1995 and 1998, the show amassed a cult-like following of writers, comedians, and in-the-know comedy fans who saw it as the heir apparent to smart, absurdist variety series likeMonty Python, SCTV,andKids in the Hall. Boasting a slew of celebrity admirers — among themConan O'Brien,Janeane Garofalo,Jordan Peele, andKeegan-Michael Key—Mr. Showwas created, written, and executive produced by David Cross and Bob Odenkirk, who somehow also found time to star in the series.
Although it never received the network support it needed or found the following it deserved during its four-season cable run,Mr. Showremains must-see TV for comedy lovers and fans of irreverent, satirical humor.
Where to watchMr. Show With Bob and David: HBO Max
Cast:Bob Odenkirk, David Cross
The Other Two(2019–2023)
For every prepubescent YouTube singer that makes it big, there are two adult siblings failing at life. Or at least that's the case inThe Other Two,a comedy following the less successful older brother and sister of 13-year-old Chase Dubeck (Case Walker) as the family deals with his overnight success. Chase's viral acclaim comes as something of a shock to Cary Dubeck (Drew Tarver), a gay actor looking to make it big by any means necessary, and his sister, Brooke (Heléne Yorke), a former professional dancer who is now working as a real estate agent, and squatting in the beautiful New York City apartments she shows. While Brooke and Cary struggle to find their way out of Chase's shadow, their mother Pat Dubeck (Molly Shannon) discovers she was made for Hollywood.
Where to watchThe Other Two: HBO Max
EW grade:A–
Cast:Heléne Yorke, Drew Tarver, Case Walker, Ken Marino, Molly Shannon
Our Flag Means Death(2022–2023)
Travel back in time to the 1700s withOur Flag Means Death,HBO Max's pirate rom-com that captured viewers' attention thanks to its hilarious characters and significant LGBTQ+ representation. The energetic comedy is loosely based on the real life of Stede Bonnet (Rhys Darby) who left his lavish home in Barbados to prove himself as a pirate aboard a ship namedRevenge.
A cheeky farce featuringTaika Waititias Blackbeard andJoel Fryas Frenchie,Our Flag Means Deathalso offers a softer side, and doesn't shy away from creating heartfelt queer romantic arcs for its leading characters. The series has also received praise for including a nonbinary pirate, played by Vico Ortiz.
Where to watchOur Flag Means Death: HBO Max
Cast:Rhys Darby, Ewen Bremner, Joel Fry, Samson Kayo, Con O'Neill
PAUSE With Sam Jay(2021–2022)
Stand-up comedian andSNLwriterSam Jaybrings a unique talk show experience to the network with her seriesPAUSE With Sam Jay.The show, co-created by the comedian, turns late night into a party — literally. Every week, Sam cohosts a soiree at her apartment and invites her guests to delve into cultural issues ranging from race relations and politics to sexual identity and celebrity. Also featuring interviews, sketches, and animation,PAUSEtakes late night out of the studio and into the real world, creating an authenticity and ease that is not generally associated with the genre. With party guests that include some of comedy's most established and up-and-coming talents,PAUSEis a talk show for comedy fans, cultural critics, and anyone who is down for some good conversation.
Where to watchPAUSE With Sam Jay: HBO Max
Cast:Sam Jay
Pushing Daisies(2007–2009)
Adam Taylor/ABC
The facts were these: The 2007/2008 Writers Guild strike was responsible for many television deaths, but one of the saddest was the cancellation ofPushing Daisies, an hour-long comedy-drama that aired on ABC for only two seasons, in spite of its seven Emmy wins. The show follows professional pie maker Ned (Lee Pace), who possesses a supernatural, albeit slightly inconvenient, gift: He can bring anyone back to life with just one touch, but if he touches the person more than once, they'll die again. This proves to be something of a catch-22 when Ned brings his childhood crush, Chuck (Anna Friel), back to life, only to realize that a physical relationship with her is now out of the question.
Where to watchPushing Daisies: HBO Max
EW grade:A–
Cast:Lee Pace, Anna Friel, Chi McBride, Field Cate, Kristin Chenoweth
Rap Sh!t(2022–2023)
When Mia Knight (KaMillion) reaches out to her old high school friend Shawna (Aida Osman), all she's looking for is a babysitter. What she gets instead is a rap group and a viral single. Based on the real-life rap duo City Girls (both of whom are co-executive producers on this series),Rap Sh!tisn't just a show about music — it's a show about friendship, motherhood, and chasing a dream. Mia and Shawna are both musicians, but they have different artistic sensibilities and priorities. Shawna, a college dropout, wants to use her music to advocate for social issues, while Mia believes true female empowerment in music is being able to rap about whatever you want (with an emphasis on sex and partying).
Where to watchRap Sh!t: HBO Max
Cast:Aida Osman, KaMillion, Jonica Booth, Devon Terrell, RJ Cyler
The Rehearsal(2022–present)
ComedianNathan Fielderhas elevated cringe comedy to an art form, and nowhere is this illustrated more clearly than onThe Rehearsal, a docu-comedy series created, written, directed by, and starring Fielder. The show's premise is simple: What if you could make all of life's difficult moments easier by rehearsing for them first? The show's execution (and budget), however, are out of this world, taking each rehearsal and heightening it to the extreme through the use of sets, costuming, casting, and — in a few cases — questionable ethics.
The production value is impressive, but it's Fielder's singular logic, deadpan style of delivery, and willingness to turn the camera on himself and examine his own life that takes the series from high-concept sketch comedy to emotionally investing performance art.
Where to watchThe Rehearsal: HBO Max
Cast:Nathan Fielder
Rick and Morty(2013–present)
There's no relationship quite like the one between a grandfather and his grandson — especially when it exists across multiple dimensions. At 14, Morty is an anxious kid whose attempts to lay low and survive puberty are frequently upended by the erratic experiments of his grandfather Rick, a mad scientist whose drunken misanthropy and hijinks find the two embarking on travels across time and space.
An Adult Swim original animated sci-fi comedy from the minds of voice actorJustin Roilandand writerDan Harmon(Community),Rick and Mortytakes the concept of the traditional sitcom family and blows it up — sometimes literally, much to the delight of one of the most devoted fanbases on television. The show has been renewed through season 12, and the first eight are available to stream.
Where to watchRick and Morty: HBO Max
Cast:Justin Roiland, Chris Parnell, Spencer Grammer, Sarah Chalke
The Righteous Gemstones(2019–2025)
Connie Chornuk/HBO
Mega-churches get a comedic makeover inThe Righteous Gemstones. The series follows the Gemstones, a wealthy family of televangelists from South Carolina, including patriarch Eli Gemstone (John Goodman) and his three spoiled adult children as they sell Jesus to the masses and keep the profits for themselves.
The series was created byDanny McBride, who also stars as Jesse Gemstone,and he tells EWthat the show is not intended as a takedown of anyone's religious beliefs. "For us it's about lampooning a hypocrite, lampooning somebody who presents themselves one way and is not that way," he explains. With a phenomenal cast, some unforgettable musical numbers, and a never-ending fountain of material to parody,The Righteous Gemstonesis one of HBO's most praiseworthy shows.
Where to watchThe Righteous Gemstones: HBO Max
Cast:Danny McBride, John Goodman, Adam DeVine, Edi Patterson, Tim Baltz
Silicon Valley(2014–2019)
In the 2010s, startup culture demanded to be made fun of — and HBO'sSilicon Valleyobliged. The six-season comedy series chronicles the story of coder Richard Hendricks (Thomas Middleditch) as he attempts to launch his startup Pied Piper and keep the company relevant in the face of competitors, investors with ill intentions, and the general chaos that governs the tech industry. A show written by nerds, for nerds, and about nerds,Silicon Valleyoffers some of the best satire of Bay Area geek culture that exists today, parodying the cycle of success and failure that powers the startup community, and humanizing the people who keep it running.
Where to watchSilicon Valley: HBO Max
EW grade:A–
Cast:Thomas Middleditch, T.J. Miller, Josh Brener, Martin Starr, Kumail Nanjiani
Somebody Somewhere(2022–2024)
This little-known but much beloved dramedy feels like hanging out with a group of friends or crawling under a warm blanket.Somebody Somewheretells the story of Sam (Bridget Everett), who returns to her hometown of Manhattan, Kan., after the death of her sister.
A Midwestern comfort show about family and finding community in a familiar environment at an unfamiliar point in life,Somebody Somewhereunfolds over three seasons, all of which are available to stream on HBO Max. The show leans heavily on Everett's real life for inspiration, and even though the series is small in scope, it's big in heart, with an ensemble full of charming and eccentric characters. If you've ever wondered what a MidwesternGilmore Girlsmight look like, consider checking outSomebody Somewhere.
Where to watchSomebody Somewhere: HBO Max
Cast:Bridget Everett, Jeff Hiller, Mary Catherine Garrison, Danny McCarthy, Mike Hagerty
South Side(2019–2021)
Chicago is one of America's most beloved metropolises, as evidenced by the number of recent TV projects set within its city limits (we're looking at you,Chicago Fire,Chicago P.D.,Chicago Med,Shameless,Empire, andThe Bear).South Side, which aired for one season on Comedy Central before being scooped up by HBO Max, tells the story of two furniture repo men — Simon (Sultan Salahuddin) and K (Kareme Young) — who live and grind in the city's Englewood neighborhood.
Intended to serve as a showcase for the area's racial diversity and variety of experiences,the creators once told EWthat they saw the show as a "BlackGame of Thrones," explaining, "We have so many different characters that start off in the background and they come to the foreground."
Where to watchSouth Side: HBO Max
Cast:Sultan Salahuddin, Kareme Young, Quincy Young, Chandra Russell, Bashir Salahuddin
Tuca & Bertie(2019–2022)
Netflix may have canceledTuca & Bertiein 2019 after the show's first go-round, but the beloved animated comedy found a new home on Adult Swim (and HBO Max) for the next two seasons — before being canceled again in November 2022. From the mind ofBoJack Horsemanproducer and production designer Lisa Hanawalt, this resilient three-season series presents in a similar animated and comedic style, only now the protagonists take on the form of human-sized birds and anthropomorphic plants.
Hanawalttells EWthat she wanted to create a show for adults that reflects the honest, yet comedic lives of women, and interrogates the nuances of substance abuse and assault.
Where to watchTuca & Bertie: HBO Max
Cast:Tiffany Haddish, Ali Wong, Steven Yeun, John Early, Richard E. Grant
Veep(2012–2019)
Julia Louis-Dreyfuswon nine Emmys for her acting and producing work on the political comedyVeep, and if the show hadn't ended in the spring of 2019, she would probably still be racking up the trophies. Created by Scottish writer Armando Iannucci, the show offers a satirical look at America's political system through the eyes of Vice President Selina Meyer, whose political ambitions far exceed her moral capacities.
Surrounded by a team of equally cutthroat D.C. staffers and featuring seven years of some of the best cameo casting comedy has to offer, the show benefited deeply from good timing, airing during the steady polarization of America's political system. (Although, towards the end of the series, it becomes difficult to determine where real-life politics end and the show's heightened, satirical version of them begins.)
Where to watchVeep: HBO Max
EW grade:B+
Cast:Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Tony Hale, Anna Chlumsky, Matt Walsh, Reid Scott
The White Lotus(2021–present)
With three seasons under its belt, creatorMike White'sThe White Lotusis a black comedy with a murder problem — but not one severe enough to keep you from daydreaming about booking your own vacation. Set at a fictional chain of luxury resorts called the White Lotus (so far, characters have been in Hawaii, Italy, and Thailand), the series follows the management that keeps the hotels running and the wealthy guests who are lucky enough to score a room there. An anthology with a mostly rotating cast (a few folks have popped up over multiple seasons),The White Lotusis a fascinating and laugh-out-loud funny look at privilege, class, family, and so much more.
Where to watchThe White Lotus: HBO Max
EW grade:B+
Cast:Jennifer Coolidge, Jon Gries, Natasha Rothwell
Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly
