What exactly are underrated 2000s sitcoms?
The 2000s ushered in a new era for sitcoms — post-Friends, post-laugh track, and full of experimentation. While shows like The Office, How I Met Your Mother, and 30 Rock defined the decade, plenty of others quietly broke new ground or offered a fresh take before fading into obscurity.
Here are 10 underrated 2000s sitcoms you probably forgot about — and why each one deserves a second look.
1. Sons & Daughters (2006)
Why it’s underrated: One of the most naturalistic sitcoms ever aired on network TV.
Shot in a semi-improvised style and produced by Lorne Michaels, this ABC show followed a modern blended family and felt more like a documentary than a sitcom. Its tone was dry, awkward, and ahead of its time — closer to Modern Family before that was even a thing. Canceled too quickly, but beloved by fans.
Where to stream: Sadly, it’s not currently available on any platform or physically.
2. Andy Richter Controls the Universe (2002–2003)
Why it’s underrated: Surreal, smart, and wildly inventive.
This cult favorite starred Andy Richter as a corporate paper-pusher with an overactive imagination. Each episode played with form — dream sequences, unreliable narration, and fourth-wall breaks. It was clever, funny, and a little too weird for primetime Fox.
Where to stream: Available on DVD.
3. The Knights of Prosperity (2007)
Why it’s underrated: A working-class heist comedy that went all-in on its concept.
This ABC sitcom followed a ragtag group of New Yorkers who try to rob Mick Jagger. Yes, really. It was sharp, offbeat, and filled with lovable losers. Despite a great cast (including Donal Logue and Sofia Vergara), it never found a stable time slot.
Where to stream: Available for digital purchase.
4. Better Off Ted (2009–2010)
Why it’s underrated: A workplace satire that blended The Office with Brazil.
Set in a soulless tech corporation, this sitcom starred Jay Harrington, Portia de Rossi, and Andrea Anders. It featured absurd policies, killer inventions, and sharp dialogue. Critics loved it, but ratings doomed it. Now it’s a cult classic for fans of dry, biting workplace humor.
Where to stream: Available for digital purchase.
5. Life on a Stick (2005)
Why it’s underrated: An absurdist take on teen and mall culture that fizzled before it found its voice.
Fox aired this show about teens working at a mall food court and navigating young adulthood with surreal energy. It was chaotic and quirky, maybe too much so for the time. But fans of shows like Clone High or Scrubs may find something to love here.
Where to stream: Sadly, it’s not currently available on any platform or physically.
6. Out of Practice (2005–2006)
Why it’s underrated: A classic-style family sitcom with a medical twist — and an A-list cast.
Christopher Gorham starred as a therapist stuck between his overachieving family of doctors. The cast included Stockard Channing, Henry Winkler, and Ty Burrell (pre-Modern Family). Despite the talent, it only lasted one season on CBS.
Where to stream: Available on DVD and for digital purchase.
7. Cracking Up (2004)
Why it’s underrated: Early Jason Schwartzman and a pre-fame Molly Shannon in a bonkers suburban satire.
Created by Mike White (White Lotus), this show followed a psychology student who moves in with a wealthy Beverly Hills family that’s completely off the rails. Think Arrested Development with even more dysfunction and less stability. Too strange for network TV at the time.
Where to stream: Sadly, it’s not currently available on any platform or physically.
8. The Class (2006–2007)
Why it’s underrated: Ensemble sitcom done right — but with terrible timing.
This show centered on eight former classmates reuniting years later and reconnecting in unexpected ways. It had a great cast (including Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Lizzy Caplan, and Jason Ritter) and solid writing. It got lost in the fall season shuffle despite its potential.
Where to stream: Available on DVD and for digital purchase.
9. My Boys (2006–2010)
Why it’s underrated: One of the most realistic portrayals of modern female friendships and sports fandom.
P.J., a sportswriter in Chicago, navigates love and friendship with her mostly male friend group. Jordana Spiro’s lead performance was effortlessly likable, and the show blended romantic and platonic comedy better than most. A low-key gem that flew under the radar on TBS.
Where to stream: Available on DVD.
10. Miss Guided (2008)
Why it’s underrated: Judy Greer finally got to lead a sitcom — and she crushed it.
Greer played a guidance counselor returning to the high school she once attended, now trying to prove she’s cool and competent. The show was breezy, weird, and packed with charm — plus Ashton Kutcher produced it. It only ran for seven episodes, which still feels like a mistake.
Where to stream: Sadly, it’s not currently available on any platform or physically.
Final Thoughts
The 2000s were an era of transition — from multi-cam studio comedies to single-cam, character-driven humor. Along the way, a lot of inventive, off-kilter, or quietly brilliant sitcoms got lost in the shuffle.
If you missed these shows the first time around, now’s your chance to revisit them. They weren’t just underrated — they were ahead of the curve.
Be sure to check out the entries in our Underrated Series:
Underrated Cartoons
- Underrated 60s Cartoons – 10 Shows You Totally Forgot About
- Underrated 70s Cartoons – 10 Shows You Totally Forgot About
- Underrated 80s Cartoons – 10 Shows You Totally Forgot About
- Underrated 90s Cartoons – 10 Shows You Totally Forgot About
- Underrated 2000s Cartoons – 10 Shows You Totally Forgot About
Underrated Sitcoms
- Underrated 60s Sitcoms – 10 Shows You Totally Forgot About
- Underrated 70s Sitcoms – 10 Shows You Totally Forgot About
- Underrated 80s Sitcoms – 10 Shows You Totally Forgot About
- Underrated 90s Sitcoms – 10 Shows You Totally Forgot About
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