Which really means there’s no better time to sink your teeth into streaming services, with Amazon Prime Video offering hundreds of comedies to binge this weekend.
If you’re already caught up on Jeremy Clarkson’s antics on Clarkson’s Farm, and need time to recover before watching This Is Us again, we’ve got you covered.
We’ve brought together some of the best comedies to add to your watchlists, some of which are already firm fan-favourites, and others you may not even have considered before – but we promise, they’ll be worth it.
The Office
Of course, we couldn’t kick this list off without mentioning The Office.
All nine seasons of Michael Scott’s antics (Steve Carell’s version of Ricky Gervais’ David Brent) are available to watch.
The sitcom ran for 201 episodes between 2005 and 2013, and although there have been rumours of a reboot since, Anchorman star Steve admitted he thinks it’d be a bad idea.
He told Esquire in 2018: ‘There’s been a resurgence in interest in the show, and talk about bringing it back. But apart from the fact that I just don’t think that’s a good idea, it might be impossible to do that show today and have people accept it the way it was accepted ten years ago.
‘The climate’s different. I mean, the whole idea of that character, Michael Scott, so much of it was predicated on inappropriate behaviour. I mean, he’s certainly not a model boss. A lot of what is depicted on that show is completely wrong-minded.’
Jane The Virgin
Another nostalgia-filled comedy series available to watch on Amazon Prime Video is Jane The Virgin.
The beloved show, starring Gina Rodriguez and It Ends With Us actor Justin Baldoni, ran from 2014 to 2019.
The romcom telenovela follows Jane Villanueva’s world turned upside down when she falls pregnant as a virgin by a doctor accidentally artificially inseminating her during a checkup.
As if that wasn’t shocking enough, Jane discovers the sperm donor is her boss, Rafael, causing an awkward love triangle between her employer and her fiancé.
The series has a perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes score, and had fans hooked for five seasons.
Upload
Sci-fi comedy Upload hit Amazon Prime Video in 2020, and has since aired three seasons, with a fourth and final one still to come.
Created by The Office and Parks and Recreation producer Greg Daniels, the show is set in 2033, during a time when humans are able to ‘upload’ themselves into a virtual afterlife.
When Nathan (Robbie Amell) dies at the age of 27, he is sent to the luxurious land of Lakeview, but finds himself living under the demands of his still-alive girlfriend Ingrid (Allegra Edwards).
Trying to find solace, he bonds with Nora (Andy Allo), a living woman who is Nathan’s handler in his afterlife, who, in turn, has growing feelings for him and begins to suspect that he may have been murdered.
Mr and Mrs Smith
Released last year, Mr and Mrs Smith instantly became a hit, scoring an impressive 91% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Based on the Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie-starring 2005 film of the same name, the eight-episode spy series sees Donald Glover and Maya Erskine as two strangers who must live undercover as a married couple as they undertake missions.
Following its release, Mr and Mrs Smith was nominated for 16 Primetime Emmy awards including outstanding drama series, and has been renewed for a second season.
Reflecting on how they balanced the comedy and action in the show, Donald, known as Childish Gambino, said: ‘We tried really hard to make all the jokes really just stuff that actually would happen in a relationship.
‘And then all the action… the mix of the extraordinary and the ordinary, that was most of the time with us, we were just trying to make it something that was relatable.’
Good Omens
Amazon Prime Video viewers were left devastated when it was announced Good Omens wasn’t returning for a third series.
The good news, though, is that the first two seasons are available to watch on the streaming service.
Starring Michael Sheen and David Tennant, Good Omens also features an ensemble cast including Jon Hamm, Brian Cox and Benedict Cumberbatch.
Based on the novel of the same name, it sees Michael’s character, a benevolent angel called Aziraphale, and David’s character, a demon called Crowley, coming to terms with an imminent apocalypse.
As well as attempting to prevent Armageddon in their secret mission, the two are still battling between Heaven and Hell.
Reviews branded the series ‘quirky’, ‘endearing’ and ‘charming’, with Metro’s own calling it a show ‘where distinctly British wit collides with barking fantasy’.
Mammals
For those wanting a slightly more serious watch, black comedy Mammals, starring James Corden, Melia Kreiling, Colin Morgan and Sally Hawkins, premiered in 2022.
It saw Gavin and Stacey star James take on the role of a ‘complicated’ chefin Jez Butterworth’s six-part drama, exploring the bizarre ups and downs of marriage.
‘He’s complex. He’s complicated. He’s flawed. He’s like all of us really. I really care deeply for him,’ James said of his role, Jamie.
Jamie finds his world thrown upside down when a perfect holiday results in a tragic loss that exposes secrets about his wife Amandine, the synopsis reads.
Fleabag
Finishing off our list is a firm fan-favourite from nearly a decade ago.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Fleabag hit screens in 2016, with a second and final season airing in 2019.
It received huge praise, and won a Bafta for best female performance in a comedy programme as well as six Primetime Emmy awards for the second season.
Based on the actress’ Edinburgh Fringe show, Fleabag follows a single woman navigating life and relationships in her 30s in London.
The cast also included Olivia Colman, Hugh Skinner, Andrew Scott and guest appearances from the likes of Jamie Demetriou and Fiona Shaw.
All of these shows are available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.
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