The past year has been pretty crummy and while it's always great to get lost in a new movie or show, sometimes there's nothing better than going back to an old reliable.
It's good to have something to laugh about, and with plenty of time on our hands, rewatchable TV sitcoms have pretty much been a lifesaver.
Here are the shows we think are guaranteed to make you laugh out loud, and fill you up with that feel-good factor, no matter how many times you’ve watched them.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Since season 7 was added to Netflix, 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine' has been at the top of the most watched series on Ireland & UK Netflix, so beloved is the show.
It stars Andy Samberg, Andre Braugher, Terry Crews, Melissa Fumero, Stephanie Beatriz, Joe Lo Truglio, Dirk Blocker and Joel McKinnon Miller. They play the employees of the NYPD's 99th Precinct as they fight crime and get into all sorts of nonsense.
Jake Peralta, Captain Holt and the rest of the gang are something of TV icons and they’ve delivered some iconic one liners.
Schitt's Creek
'Schitt's Creek' has become something of a modern classic of sitcom television. Its sixth and final season swept all the major prizes this awards season, including at the Emmys and Golden Globes.
For those unfamiliar with it (and if you haven't watched the show, get on it!), it follows the Rose family. After losing their fortune, they relocate to a motel in a small town called Schitt's Creek. There, they make friends, find love, and tackle various trials, tribulations and ridiculous scenarios.
Again, this show is just so quotable – especially from Moira with her bébés and other surreal pronunciations – and all the characters are just so lovable and really grow across the series. Real-life father son Eugene and Dan Levy wrote it and the script is just phenomenal.
Parks and Recreation
From the concept of Galentine’s Day to “treat yo’self”, some may be unfamiliar with just how integrated 'Parks & Rec' has become in our modern day culture.
The next pick on our rewatchable sitcoms picks, which stars Amy Poehler, Chris Pratt and Rashida Jones, follows the employees of the Parks Department in City Hall in a town called Pawnee, Indiana (whose town slogan is "First in Friendship, Ninth in Obesity").
It was co-created by 'The US Office' team of Greg Daniels and Michael Schur so expect a similar tone and mockumentary style of filmmaking, even if it doesn’t always totally make sense. It’s a life affirming, feel good show that has a smart but light-hearted take on contemporary politics.
The Office
What more can be said about 'The Office', aka 'The US Office', aka 'The Office: An American Workplace', that hasn’t already been said? There’s absolutely zero point in comparing it the UK version, so different did it end up being.
The depiction of the relationship between Pam and Jim is one of the greatest love stories on TV ever. Michael Scott – and ditto Dwight Schrute – went from being some of the most irritating, unlikable characters on TV, to two you couldn’t root more for.
Of course, one can all readily agree though that the series was never the same after Michael Scott left it. With his social faux pas and epic quotes, Steve Carell's performance as the Regional Manager of the Scranton branch of a paper company was note-perfect. Still, they made up for his absence with an impressive final season.
The Good Place
Four seasons and 53 episodes in length, 'The Good Place' is just one of those perfectly rewatchable series in terms of having the perfect beginning, middle and end.
It follows a number of characters in the afterlife – Eleanor, Chidi, Tahani, Jason, Michael and Janet – as they struggle to lead good lives.
It delivers some pretty profound messages on the nature of ethics and what it means to be human. It’s also hilarious and heart-warming, though one doubts there is a soul who didn’t cry at that finale. We won’t give it away. But it will break you.
New Girl
It was the show that made “adorkable” popular as a phrase for a time, and reminded everyone – in case they didn’t already gather if from her roles in 'Elf' and 'Almost Famous' – just what a treasure Zooey Deschanel is.
In it, the actress slash singer plays a teacher who moves into a flat in Los Angeles with three guys.
Jess and Nick (played by Jake Johnson) shared unreal chemistry and their first kiss is one of the best great ones of TV history. Interestingly, as the series progressed, the characters of Schmidt (Max Greenfield) and Winston (Lamorne Morris) really came to the fore and proved especially popular.
Arrested Development
Since we only recently lost Jessica Walter, who played the iconic Lucille Bluth on 'Arrested Development', it only seems right we give a shout-out to her performance as the devilish matriarch with savage one liners, and the series overall.
She wasn’t the only lovable character on the show either, as Jason Bateman’s put upon Michael, Michael Cera’s hilariously named George Michael, Will Armett as Job, who can’t do anything right to catch a break, and David Cross as Tobias, had some brilliant, laugh-out-loud moments on the show too.
The rewatchable series follows a spoiled and dysfunctional family. They try to continue to lead extravagant lifestyles while the father is imprisoned and the eldest son tries to run their affairs. It got a big reception critically and earned numerous awards including 6 Emmys and a Golden Globe. It has even popped up on a number of greatest sitcoms of all time lists. Admittedly, 'Arrested Development' takes a few episodes to warm up, and the final season isn’t great. But when it’s at its peak, you will be laughing your head off. Honestly, for Lucille alone, it’s worth it.
