10 Criminally Underrated TV Sitcoms You Need To Watch

Situational comedies are the absolute comfort food of TV. If you want a small screen experience akin to chowing down on a sleeve of Jaffa Cakes, or sipping on an iced latte, you'd better believe short-form comedy is the one for you.

There are countless sitcoms that made a stir on the airways, becoming household names. Some big examples include Seinfeld, Frasier, Friends, The Office, and Parks & Recreation, but the list goes on. However, while these shows gained critical acclaim and the hearts of audiences across the globe, a slew of other great titles flew under the radar.

Networks and streaming services are always looking for the next big thing, meaning sitcoms get pumped out at an impressive rate. As such, there are many shows that can be labelled underrated, as they didn't manage to find the right audience.

Some of these programmes ended prematurely, and others ran for a long time. Either way, they were slept on by viewers. So, if you fancy something fresh rather than watching Brooklyn Nine-Nine for the sixtieth time, check out some of these hidden gems.

The Middle (not to be confused with Malcolm in the Middle) was a goofy series that lasted for nine seasons. But weirdly, despite running for such a long time, it has close to no cultural footprint. If you ask any casual viewer about the show, the best you'll get is some passing interest, which is a real shame.

The series followed the misadventures of a dysfunctional family living in the remote town of Orson, Indiana. The Hecks were an odd assortment of weirdos with a mostly reasonable mother/father and three, let's say, unique kids.

Comparing this show to Malcolm in the Middle - something the title inevitably does - is somewhat fair, as they both rely on wacky comedy and accurate depictions of American families.

However, The Middle strikes out on its own as its comedy style tows the line between grounded and absurdist. It's also painfully relatable, with the strange family dynamics and social awkwardness of the kids leading to plenty of hilarious yet believable moments.

This series ended in 2018 at the request of the creators. It was a consistent and reliable programme for ABC, but never rose above its (ironically) middling position on the network.