Peacock is one of those streaming services that doesn’t get as much attention as others, but it’s worth considering with its wealth of content from the NBC library, including both new and legacy shows from the network. Plus, Peacock offers a healthy (and growing) slate of originals, with new shows coming to Peacock all the time. Whatever your taste, Peacock has something that will fit the bill.
From comedies to dramas, British thrillers to talk shows and more, peruse this list of the best shows on Peacock right now and you’re sure to find something worth adding to your watch list.
Can’t find anything you like on Peacock? Lucky for you, we’ve also curated guides to the best shows on Netflix, the best shows on Hulu, and the best shows on Amazon Prime Video.
Recently added to Peacock
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Night Court2023 - The Blacklist2013
1 Season
Genre Comedy
Cast Melissa Rauch, John Larroquette, India de Beaufort
Created by Reinhold Weege
A delightful revival of the original sitcom of the same name that aired from 1984 through 1992, Night Court became an instant hit when it premiered in mid-January 2023. The new version stars The Big Bang Theory’s Melissa Rauch as Abby Stone, daughter of the late Harry Stone (originally played by the late Harry Anderson), who has now taken over as late-night shift judge. Reprising his role from the original, John Larroquette appears among the cast as Dan Fielding, who is now former assistant district attorney. He has returned to court, however, to serve as public defender. Already renewed for a second season, Night Court offers plenty of nostalgia while bringing the humorous court show concept into the 21st Century.
10 Seasons
Genre Drama, Crime, Mystery
Cast James Spader, Diego Klattenhoff, Harry Lennix
Created by Jon Bokenkamp
This thrilling drama, now in its 10th and final season, centers around Raymond “Red” Reddington, brilliantly played by James Spader, a career criminal known as the concierge of crime. At the top of the FBI’s Most Wanted List, he puzzles authorities when he willingly turns himself in. But there’s a catch: He will help them take down the most notorious criminals around, including those they don’t even know exist, in exchange for his freedom. The offer is too good to resist, despite the many apparent ethical (not to mention legal) concerns. But Red proves his worth, even if the FBI must turn a blind eye to the fact that he’s selfishly profiting from eliminating his enemies. FBI agent Elizabeth Keen, meanwhile, is left in the dark as to why he is intent on protecting her. the show has a nail-biting intensity, with a different sinister villain featured in every episode, and twists and turns that keep coming all the way through.
2 Seasons
Genre Drama
Cast Jabari Banks, Adrian Holmes, Cassandra Freeman
Created by Andy Borowitz, Susan Borowitz
The Fresh Prince is back, except this is a new dramatic take on the beloved ’90s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. It’s set in the modern day and stars newcomer Jabari Banks as the title character, Will, who still makes that move from West Philadelphia, where he was born and raised, to move in with his auntie and uncle in Bel-Air. The challenges he faces in this new world, very different from the only one he has known, take their toll on the young man. The show is raw, dramatic, current, and full of danger, with a storyline only marginally similar to the original in terms of its base premise and character names. While Bel-Air carries the weight of the pop culture reputation of the original, it delivers a fresh look at a story about a life turned upside down.
8 Seasons
Genre Comedy, Family, Drama
Cast Mila Kunis, Danny Masterson, Laura Prepon
Created by Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, Mark Brazill
Before immersing yourself in the new sequel series That ‘90s Show, which streams on Netflix, check out the original that started it all. The Foremans’ basement was an iconic place where the teenagers of Point Place, including Eric, Donna, Jackie, Kelso, Steven, and Fez, all hung out after school and through the summers. The eclectic mix of friends, in many ways, couldn’t be different from one another. But it’s their differences that brought them all together — often amid a cloud of smoke that surrounded their iconic circles. Set in the 1970s but aired in the 1990s, That ‘70s Show made household names out of several of its actors, including Ashton Kutcher, and remains one of the defining sitcoms of its decade.
1 Season
Genre Mystery
Cast Natasha Lyonne
Created by Rian Johnson
Natasha Lyonne (Russian Doll, Orange is the New Black) stars in and executive produces this mystery comedy-drama that is delivered in the inverted detective story format, also known as howcatchem. The idea with this structure, first popularized by shows like Columbo, is that the crime is shown at the start of each episode, after which the story proceeds in a “whodunit” fashion. Each episode will feature its own compartmentalized story in a “mystery-of-the-week”-type format. Lyonne’s character, Charlie, a woman with an uncanny talent for telling when someone isn’t being truthful, however, is at the center of all of them. While traveling in her Plymouth Barracuda, Charlie encounters puzzling crimes she becomes drawn into trying to help solve.
2 Seasons
Genre Crime, Drama
Cast Holliday Grainger, Callum Turner, Ron Perlman
Created by Ben Chanan
Originally airing on BBC One in 2019, this British mystery crime drama is set in present-day London, where detective inspector Rachel Carey (Holliday Grainger) has arrested a U.K. Special Forces corporal named Shaun (Callum Turner) for alleged kidnapping and murder. Mysteriously, while CCTV footage makes it impossible to dispute the charges against him, he is adamant that it’s all a conspiracy and that he didn’t do it. Somewhere amidst the drama lies the truth.
There are just six episodes in the first season of this series that have been credited with “revitalizing…a tired genre.” The second season follows another main character, a rising politician named Isaac (Paapa Essiedu) who finds himself in a similar deep fake situation that puts him at the center of another conspiracy. Rachel, once again, is tasked with uncovering the truth before it’s too late.
1 Season
Genre Comedy
Cast Adam DeVine, Flula Borg, Sarah Hyland, Jameela Jamil
Created by Megan Anram, Elizabeth Banks (based on characters by Kay Cannon)
Elizabeth Banks is behind this series, which serves as a spinoff of the Pitch Perfect movies. The story in Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin centers around the fan-favorite character of Bumper, played by Adam DeVine (who reprised the role). In the movies, Bumper ends up working as a security guard, singing with a group of acapella has-beens. Several years later, when one of his songs becomes popular there, he decides to make a move to Germany, confident he can revive his failed music career. There are only six episodes in the first season, but it’ll be a must-watch for fans of the Pitch Perfect movies or anyone looking for some uplifting, musical comedy in their lives.
1 Season
Genre Drama, Crime
Cast Jeff Wilbusch, Juliana Canfield, Karen Robinson
The Calling is an investigative drama from David E. Kelley that has been adapted from the series of novels by Dror Mishani. At the heart is Avraham (Jeff Wilbusch), a detective working in New York who relies a lot on his spirituality to guide him in his cases. But when Avraham encounters one particular case, he begins to question everything he has believed in. The first season consists of eight episodes.
1 Season
Genre Crime
Cast Colin Hanks, Anna Paquin, Jake Lacy
Created by Mary Ann Broberg
Fresh off his Emmy-nominated role in The White Lotus, Jack Lacy stars in this drama miniseries alongside Anna Paquin, Colin Hanks, and McKenna Grace. Based on true events, Robert Berchtold (Lacy) kidnaps a child, Jan Broberg (Grace), several times over a number of years. He’s a close friend of the family, and the Brobergs’ faith and sense of community create blinders to Berchtold’s true motivations and psychopathic tendencies. As Berchtold digs deeper and deeper into the fabric of the family, even trying to turn the young girl against them, father Bob (Hanks) finds it increasingly difficult to ignore the truth masked behind the charm. A Friend of the Family is a chilling, gripping drama that will be pleasing to any fan of the true-crime genre.
1 Season
Genre Documentary
Cast Maryam Henein, Christopher Key, Zach Vorhies, Megan Garber
Released as part of Peacock’s DocFest, which highlights a selection of documentaries and docuseries on popular topics, Shadowland, from Joe Berlinger, the filmmaker and producer behind such true-crime hits like Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes and Whitey: United States of America v. James J Bulger, features six episodes. Teams of documentarians travel throughout the U.S., visiting subjects who have rejected the reporting of mainstream media, with much of the content focused on those who aided the January 6 riots, anti-vaccine advocates who have spoken out against the COVID-19 vaccine, and various conspiracy theories. What drives people to believe what they do, what are the dangers of conspiracy thinking, and how has this contributed to tearing apart society? It’s an eye-opening watch, regardless of which sentiments you believe.
3 Seasons
Genre Comedy
Cast Dwayne Johnson, Joseph Lee Anderson, Stacey Leilua
Created by Nahnatchka Khan, Jeff Chiang
If you have ever wondered about the backstory of famous wrestler-turned-A-list-actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, this sitcom explores real stories from his childhood in a fun and unique way. Built around the premise that a present-day Johnson is running for president and being interviewed, he recalls pivotal, sometimes unbelievable moments in his life that he somehow tie to his relatability to average Americans. Young Rock flips among three different times — when he was a young boy, a teenager, and in college — and features real stories from the actor’s life, albeit sometimes told out of order. The actors playing younger versions of Johnson are superb, as is the supporting cast of characters, including Johnson’s parents (one playing wrestler Rocky Johnson), grandmother, and other famous wrestlers from that era such as Andre the Giant, The Iron Sheik, and “Macho Man” Randy Savage. Get ready to relive those glory days.
48 Seasons
Genre Comedy, News
Cast Various
Created by Lorne Michaels, Dick Ebersol
If you’ve been itching to check out your favorite sketches and skits from past episodes of this long-running variety comedy series, whether from the Gilda Radner, Eddie Murphy, Mike Myers, or Adam Sandler eras, you can catch every last one through this service. Peacock will offer episodes from all past 47 seasons of the show, as well as new season 48 episodes, making it easy to find and rewatch your favorite segments over and over again. More cowbell, anyone?
2 Seasons
Genre Mystery, Drama
Cast Marianly Tejada, Annalisa Cochrane, Chibuikem Uche
Created by Darío Madrona
Based on the young adult novel by Karen M. McManus, the story follows four young students who are all suspects in a supposed accidental death of another student. Each has secrets the departed student and creator of a gossip app was likely about to expose. The Bayview Four, as they become known, are scrutinized in the media and by their peers. As they process the drama by accusing one another, something strange happens: They start to grow closer to one another because of the shared trauma. The show has been praised not only for its story but also the important topics it raises about ethics, stereotypes, and the typical struggles of adolescence.
3 Seasons
Genre Talk, Comedy
Cast Amber Ruffin, Tarik Davis
Created by Amber Ruffin
Peacock’s own late-night talk show has been decently received by critics and viewers alike who love Ruffin’s silly but also smart approach to the weekly news. Each half-hour episode consists of a mixture of sketches and monologues covering current events and politics, all led by the multitalented Hollywood personality. Ruffin, who works as a writer for the Late Night with Seth Meyers talk show (which shares the same studio), co-writes this show as well.
1 Season
Genre Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast Matthew Fox, Joanne Froggatt, Alyth Ross
Matthew Fox makes his return to the small screen in the Peacock original Last Light. Based on the novel of the same name by Alex Scarrow, Fox plays a chemist named Andy Nielson who finds himself in a pre-apocalyptic scenario: The world’s supply of oil has been cut off from the Middle East, and society begins to fall into chaos. This thriller follows Andy on his search to be reunited with his family and discover who is behind the crisis and what their motives are. With just five episodes, Last Light is a quick watch filled with edge-of-your-seat tension the entire way through.
1 Season
Genre War & Politics, Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast Simon Pegg, Mark Rylance, Hannah Khalique-Brown
The Undeclared War follows a team of analysts at GCHQ who are fighting off cyber attacks in the U.K. just as a general election is about to take place. Set in the near future of 2024, Saara Parvan (Hannah Khalique-Brown) is an intern at GCHQ who finds herself thrust into a case of cyber warfare. It’s a race against the clock to beat the enemy as they attempt to attack, all the while keeping the public ignorant to threats unfolding behind the scenes. This cyber-thriller was written and directed by The State’s Peter Kosminksy.
1 Season
Genre Comedy, Mystery
Cast William Jackson Harper, Cristin Milioti, Nick Offerman
Created by Andy Siara
Dubbed a dark comedy, The Resort stars Cristin Milioti (Palm Springs, Made for Love) and William Jackson Harper (The Good Place) as a married couple who get sucked into a 15-year-old mystery while vacationing in the Mayan Riviera. Created by Mr. Robot’s Sam Esmail, the show sees the pair re-evaluate their marriage while working together to solve a complicated case.
17 Seasons
Genre Reality
Cast Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Sofia Vergara, Heidi Klum, Terry Crews, Nick Cannon,
Created by Simon Cowell, Jason Raff, Ken Warwick
While the judge’s panel has changed many times over, the auditioning talent has always been consistently quirky, fun, touching, sweet, and even a little bit weird. A perfect series to watch with the entire family, America’s Got Talent brings people together to root for their favorites among those who make it through. People of all ages from across America — and even the world — arrive to showcase their gifts on the big stage, fulfill their lifelong dream of sharing their talent with the world, and pursue the hope of winning the Las Vegas show and massive cash prize. It might be a dance troupe, maybe a sword swallower, often a singer. There are no limits to what the acts can do, which is precisely what makes the reality competition series so fun.
1 Season
Genre Drama
Cast Devin Way, Steffan Argus, Jesse James Keitel
Created by Stephen Dunn
Watch the first eight episodes of this new Peacock original, a reboot of the popular show that aired for five seasons in the early aughts (which itself was based on the 1999 U.K. version). Peacock’s reboot takes an expanded look at the LGBTQ experience beyond just being gay, as was the focus in the previous show. Applauded for taking diversity to the next level in both LGBTQ and race, Queer as Folk follows a group of friends who band together to support the LGBTQ community after a tragedy affects all of them.
2 Seasons
Genre Comedy
Cast Ed Helms, Jana Schmieding, Michael Greyeyes
Created by Ed Helms, Michael Schur, Sierra Teller Ornelas
Ed Helms is Nathan Rutherford, a member of his town’s founding family, who works to keep traditions alive and memorialize ancestors through running the local museum. When he learns that authorities are looking to have a historical statue moved, Nathan must fight harder than ever to keep history intact. This series has been better received by critics than audiences, the former of whom say it takes a few episodes before you can truly appreciate the witty writing and great performances. While Rutherford Falls is a sitcom at heart designed to make you laugh, the show is also lauded for presenting the “complex issues facing Indigenous peoples in modern America.” Though the show has been canceled, you can watch both seasons.
2 Seasons
Genre Comedy
Cast Sara Bareilles, Busy Philipps, Paula Pell, Renee Elise Goldsberry
Created by Meredith Scardino
It’s no surprise that executive producers Tina Fey and Robert Carlock hit another one out of the park with this musical comedy, given their stellar track record that already includes series like 30 Rock and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Imagine what it would look like if a one-hit-wonder girl group from the 1990s reunited decades later with the opportunity for a comeback. All it took was a hot new rapper to sample their track, and all of a sudden, these ladies’ lives could change forever, at a time when most would say their heyday in the spotlight has long come and gone. The star-studded cast, witty dialogue, and hilarious premise make this series a winner for the streaming service.
1 Season
Genre Drama
Cast Emmy Rossum, Jefferson Hall, Brian Carpenter
Created by Nancy Oliver
Emmy Rossum stars as the famous singer, actor, media personality, and model from the ’80s who became a household name when she was featured in a series of suggestive billboards throughout Los Angeles. All it took was these pictures of the blonde bombshell, and Angelyne, real name Ronia Tamar Goldberg, found herself thrust into Hollywood with a variety of film roles, magazine interviews, and TV show appearances. Complete with her pink Corvette, Angelyne has become a pop culture icon, and this series tells the story of the now 71-year-old’s life.
Genre Comedy, Drama
Cast Milo Ventimiglia, Mandy Moore, Sterling K. Brown, Chrissy Metz, Justin Hartley, Susan Kelechi Watson, Chris Sullivan, Jon Huertas
Created by Dan Fogelman
While you can’t stream the entire romantic family-tragedy series, you can get the latest episodes in season 6, which was the show’s last. The multi-Emmy-winning show jumps throughout various decades, looking at the life of the Pearson family, including parents Jack and Rebecca, three children (Kate, Kevin, and Randall), and their respective families as adults. Every season and episode takes viewers on a deeply emotional ride as you experience the tragedy, touching moments, look-backs, and even flash-forwards that have shaped the family dynamic. You’ll feel like you’re part of the family, too. The wonderful cast, which includes several sets of actors playing the children at different ages, along with the age-progressing makeup and dated wardrobes for flashbacks, is fascinating to see. Just have a box of tissues nearby.
1 Season
Cast Craig Robinson, Claudia O'Doherty, Rell Battle
Created by Daniel J. Goor, Luke Del Tredici
Killing It stars Craig Robinson as Craig, a security guard desperate to achieve the American dream. And he’s willing to do just about anything to realize his dreams, even participate in a dangerous python hunt set up by the local government to help prevent an ecological disaster. The person who brings in the most dead snakes gets $20,000, an offer far too tempting to refuse. The premise might sound silly, but given Robinson’s comedic track record, along with the show hailing from the creators of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Dan Goor and Luke Del Tredici (who also serve as showrunners), it’s bound to bring the laughs. The logline says the show is a comedy about “class, capitalism, and one man’s quest to achieve the American dream. And also about hunting really big snakes.” That about says it all.
4 Seasons
Genre Western, Drama
Cast Kevin Costner, Kelly Reilly, Luke Grimes
Created by John Linson, Taylor Sheridan
Conflict arising between the owners of a large cattle ranch and individuals at its borders, including an Indian reservation and land developers, is at the crux of this Paramount Network series. The show touches on political issues, including the billions of dollars earned by land grabs and politicians being bought and sold, as well as violence that can sometimes get really ugly as various groups fight for power and influence. The idea is that the Dutton family, which owns and controls the largest contiguous ranch in the U.S., represents both the best and the worst of America. The series, which stars Kevin Costner in the lead role, got off to a rough start, but reviews got dramatically better.
1 Season
Genre Comedy
Cast Nicole Byer, Justin Cunningham, Aaron Jennings
Created by Phil Augusta Jackson
A much-needed sitcom centered around an all-Black cast, the main characters are close friends who deal with the everyday challenges and drama that life brings, leaning on one another for support to help them through. From the hopeless romantic to the strict vegan, the journeyman and the divorcee, like any sitcom about a group of friends, there’s a unique mix. Of course, there’s also the usual hangout spot where much of the hijinks occur over music and wine. It’s Friends and Living Single for a new generation with 21st-century twists that include everything from Tinder dating to Netflix bingeing. Grand Crew has been praised for its humor and cast chemistry.
15 Seasons
Genre Animation, Family, Kids
Cast Frank Welker, Jeff Bennett (narrated by William H. Macy, Rina Romano)
Created by Margret Rey, H.A. Rey, Alan J. Shalleck (books), Joe Fallon (series)
The curious and mischievous little monkey has been a part of childhoods since 1941, and now the character reappears on-screen to get up to more antics. The newer seasons, which debuted in 2018 on Family Jr. in Canada, are aimed at preschool-aged children and amps up the focus on education. While George is still his playful, funny, and troublemaking primate self, the series integrates concepts of STEM learning to help teach kids valuable skills and knowledge at a young age. As one would expect from this cheeky monkey, it will keep kids heartily giggling, too.
1 Season
Genre Drama, Comedy, & Fantasy
Cast Isla Fisher, Josh Gad, Emma Lung
Created by Abe Forsythe
Josh Gadd and Isla Fisher star as two people trying to navigate a new relationship when both are carrying deep personal baggage. While Gary (Gadd) is dealing with the death of his wife and raising his daughter as a single widowed father, Mary (Fisher) is harboring a deep secret. Despite the dire circumstances of their meeting, they believe there’s a reason they were brought together. But figuring out why and if they can make it through the secrets and imperfections is the ultimate question. Marking a dramatic turn for both actors who have traditionally appeared in comedic roles, both are lauded for their performances.
Genre Action & Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast David Hasselhoff, Edward Mulhare, William Daniels
Created by Glen A. Larson
Relive David Hasselhoff in his heyday as Michael Knight, a high-tech (at the time) crime fighter who was accompanied by his artificially intelligent assistant, his car KITT. Way ahead of its time when the show aired on NBC back in the early ’80s, it made Hasselhoff a household name and had fans marveling at the concept of a car that could not only talk to you and perform incredible feats but was also self-aware. Enjoy all four seasons of the show, which made its mark on television history, streaming now.
Genre Crime, Drama
Cast Don Johnson, Philip Michael Thomas, Saundra Santiago
Created by Anthony Yerkovich
No one could pull off a white suit like Don Johnson as James “Sonny” Crockett, working as an undercover detective in Miami alongside his partner Ricardo “Rico” Tubbs, played by Philip Michael Thomas. One of the first police procedural crime dramas to make its mark, the series aired for six seasons from 1984 to 1990, all of which are now available for streaming. The pop and rock music, style, visuals, and fashion from the time period alone make it a worthwhile watch.
Genre Comedy
Cast Redd Foxx, Demond Wilson
Created by Bud Yorkin, Ray Galton, Norman Lear, Alan K. Simpson
All six seasons of this ’70s sitcom are now streaming, bringing fans back to a show that was edgy at the time for its racial humor. Adapted by TV hitmaker Norman Lear from the British sitcom Steptoe and Son, Sanford and Son opened the door for the many other Black-led sitcoms that came after it. It tells the story of Fred G. Sanford, an older, stuck-in-his antiquated-ways man and his interactions with his son Lamont, who constantly tried to get his father to see things from a different perspective. Usually, the pair would get up to schemes to try and pay off debts, leading to hilarious outcomes.
Genre Action & Adventure, Comedy
Cast Will Forte, Kristen Wiig, Ryan Phillippe
As long as you go into this show with the right expectations, it might be a fun watch for fans of the recurring Saturday Night Live character. A parody of MacGyver, the title character, played by Will Forte, comes up with ridiculous ways to get himself out of life-or-death situations, finding random objects to fashion useful tools and gear. However, unlike the real MacGyver, MacGruber’s missions are often unsuccessful. The character spawned a 2010 movie of the same name that was a flop, but the series promises a refreshed sequel story and a new cast of supporting characters that includes Sam Elliott, Laurence Fishburne, and Billy Zane, along with Kristen Wiig and Ryan Philippe reprising their roles from the movie.
Digital Trends streaming roundup
23 Seasons
Genre Crime, Drama
Cast Christopher Meloni, Mariska Hargitay, Richard Belzer, Dann Florek, Michelle Hurd, Stephanie March, Ice-T, BD Wong, Diane Neal, Tamara Tunie
Created by Dick Wolf
The most successful of the Law & Order spin-off series and the longest-running live-action U.S. series ever, Law & Order: SVU cuts to the core of what fans love about formulaic police procedurals, looking at cases from the time a perpetrator is investigated and arrested to the court proceedings. Unlike the original, however, the Special Victims Unit (SVU) tackles particularly troubling cases dealing with rape, pedophilia, and domestic violence. If some of the stories look familiar, they are, as the show draws inspiration from real-life news headlines, new and from the past, albeit with dramatic effect to create a compelling though disturbing look at cases that seem too outlandish to be real.
8 Seasons
Genre Drama, Comedy, Crime
Cast Mary-Louise Parker, Justin Kirk, Alexander Gould
Created by Jenji Kohan
What happens when a mother suddenly finds herself a widower left to care for her two children with no job or prospects? In the case of this popular Jenji Kohan (Orange Is the New Black) series that originally aired on Showtime back in the early-to-mid-00s, desperate times call for desperate measures. Nancy starts by selling marijuana to support her family, but she soon becomes embroiled in the dark, illicit criminal underworld of drug dealing. While Nancy is no Walter White, the Emmy-winning show with a star-studded cast is a brilliant tale of the lengths a mother will go to support her family and find strength in ways she might never know she had.
1 Season
Genre Drama, Crime
Cast Joshua Jackson, Alec Baldwin, Christian Slater, Grace Gummer, Molly Griggs, AnnaSophia Robb, Dominic Burgess
Created by Patrick Macmanus
Dr. Death features a star-studded cast that includes Joshua Jackson, Alec Baldwin, Christian Slater, Grace Gummer, and AnnaSophia Robb. That, along with the fact that the crime drama is based on the popular Wondery podcast of the same name, points to the series being the perfect match for any fan of the true-crime genre. Based on the story of Dr. Christopher Duntsch, who was accused of injuring dozens of patients and killing two before his medical license was revoked (and he was eventually convicted), it’s a gripping tale about an evil doctor who makes his own rules and manages to get away with it. That is until he meets his match in a young and determined assistant district attorney.
9 Seasons
Genre Comedy
Cast Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer
Peacock knows what you want: You want to watch The Office. This series was the most-streamed program on Netflix last year, and only the first five seasons are free to watch on Peacock, with the remaining seasons 6 to 9 on the premium tiers. Regardless, this adaptation of the British series far surpassed the original’s run with a cast full of established players and rising stars. Steve Carell’s Michael Scott gets the majority of the laughs as the clueless boss in this workplace mockumentary. But the real heart of this series was the unfolding romance between Jim Halpert (John Krasinski) and Pam Beesly (Jenna Fischer). This is a sitcom for the ages, and it is still gathering new fans every year.
11 Seasons
Genre Comedy
Cast Ed O'Neill, Sofia Vergara, Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Eric Stonestreet, Sarah Hyland, Ariel Winter, Nolan Gould, Rico Rodriguez
Created by Christopher Lloyd, Steven Levitan
In a sea of reboots, revivals, and recycled concepts, Modern Family was a refreshing addition to the prime-time sitcom lineup when it premiered in 2009. Not surprisingly, the sitcom earned Outstanding Comedy Series Emmy Awards for its first five seasons. Filmed mockumentary style, the story follows the Pritchetts and their respective “modern” families, which include the older Pritchett patriarch, Jay, and his much younger Columbian wife; Jay’s son, Mitchell, his husband, and their adopted daughter; and Jay’s high-strung daughter, Claire, her goofy husband, Phil, and their three children. Every episode is filled with double entendres, clever misunderstandings, hilarious dialogue, and wonderful acting as the family members go about their daily lives. Segments are broken up with seated interview bits as the characters reveal their true thoughts and motivations to an unidentified cameraperson. This same mysterious cameraperson is also often the subject of characters breaking the fourth wall. It’s rare these days that a sitcom can literally make you laugh out loud, but it’s almost a guarantee that will happen with each episode of this clever and witty show. Watch every episode of every season with Peacock.
2 Seasons
Genre Comedy, Drama
Cast Jane Levy, Skylar Astin, Alex Newell
Created by Austin Winsberg
There aren’t many shows that can seamlessly blend comedy, drama, and musical spectacles. But Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist exists in a world all its own. Jane Levy stars as Zoey Clarke, a programmer who gains the ability to hear and see the secret thoughts and desires of almost everyone around her as expressed through music and dance. Zoey uses her new gift to communicate with her father, Mitch Clarke (Peter Gallagher), as he faces a startling physical decline. She also helps other people deal with their problems while struggling with her romantic feelings for her co-workers Max (Skylar Astin) and Simon (John Clarence Stewart).
9 Seasons
Genre Documentary, Mystery
Cast Rick Lagina, Marty Lagina, Dan Blankenship, Dave Blankenship
Created by Kevin Burns
Originally from the History network, this reality show follows brothers Marty and Rick Lagina, a treasure-hunting duo that has dedicated their lives to traveling through Oak Island, located on the Atlantic shore in Nova Scotia, Canada, in search of legendary treasures. The educational series also teaches about the history of the island and stories of those in the past who have searched for the supposed treasure, ending in everything from bitter rivalries to bad luck and even death. As the brothers head out on their journeys in each episode, they discuss recent discoveries, theories, and other stories. What makes the show so engaging is that the Lagina brothers have long been passionate about the hunt, since Rick read fascinating stories about Oak Island in a 1965 issue of Reader’s Digest magazine when he was just 11 years old. The pair now reportedly owns most of the island and embark on their journeys, accompanied by a father-and-son team of permanent residents of the island.
Genre Mystery, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama
Cast Brendan Gleeson, Harry Treadway, Kelly Lynch, Jharrel Jerome, Scott Lawrence, Robert Stanton
Created by David E. Kelley (based on Stephen King novel trilogy)
This highly-rated crime drama is based on the Stephen King novel trilogy and the character of Bill Hodges. (The character of Holly Gibney from these same books inspired the HBO miniseries The Outsider.) Hodges, a retired detective, remains haunted by the one case he could never solve: A serial killer known as Mr. Mercedes murdered 16 people after driving a stolen car (a Mercedes, of course) through a line at a local job fair. While tormented by this unsolved case, Hodges also becomes further tortured by a young and fiercely smart psychopath named Brady Hartsfield. Then, the cat-and-mouse game begins. A fourth season hasn’t been confirmed yet since the network Audience on which the show aired has been discontinued. But the series hasn’t officially been cancelled, either.
7 Seasons
Genre Comedy
Cast Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan, Jane Krakowski, Jack McBrayer, Scott Adsit, Judah Friedlander, Alec Baldwin, Katrina Bowden, Keith Powell, Lonny Ross
Created by Tina Fey
Relive all seven hilarious seasons of this sitcom, created by Tina Fey and starring the funny woman along with Alec Baldwin, Jane Krakowski, and Tracy Morgan. The series is loosely based on Fey’s real-life experiences as head writer on Saturday Night Live. It pulls back the curtain to show behind the scenes of a fictional live sketch comedy show called 30 Rock while also poking fun at the inner workings and unique personalities involved with such a fast-paced, quirky show. The series earned tons of awards and accolades throughout its run and is often included on best sitcoms lists.
11 Seasons
Genre Comedy
Cast Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Nicholas Colasanto, Rhea Perlman, George Wendt, John Ratzenberger, Kelsey Grammer, Woody Harrelson, Kirstie Alley, Bebe Neuwirth
Created by Glen Charles, Les Charles, James Burrows
Cheers is widely considered to be one of the best sitcoms ever to air on television. You can relive this ’80s and ’90s classic and all of its 11 seasons on the new streaming service. Every episode took place in the bar where everyone knows your name and followed the interactions of those who worked at the bar and those who patronized it. This series has gone down in the history books, and while some references are seriously dated, the stories and relationships among the characters are timeless.
8 Seasons
Genre Comedy, Crime
Cast Andy Samberg, Stephanie Beatriz, Terry Crews, Melissa Fumero, Joe Lo Truglio, Chelsea Peretti, Andre Braugher, Dirk Blocker, Joel McKinnon Miller
Created by Michael Schur, Daniel J. Goor
Just a day after Fox abruptly decided to cancel this sitcom after five seasons, NBC swept in and saved the single-camera comedy for a sixth season. In late 2019, the show was renewed for season eight. The show stars former Saturday Night Live cast member Andy Samberg as Jake Peralta, an immature NYPD detective in the fictional 99th Precinct who butts heads with his new and very serious captain. But it’s the entire talented cast and the clever writing that makes this series one worth adding to your watch list.
4 Seasons
Genre Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Drama
Cast Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Jamie Bamber
Created by Ronald D. Moore, Glen A. Larson
This 2002 military sci-fi series was a reimagining of the 1978 series of the same name about humans who live in a distant star system and are at war with an android race called the Cylons — that they, ironically, created. After a massive attack, only 50,000 of billions of people in the human race survive, thanks to civilian ships, and they must now try and escape to a colony known as Earth. It aired for four seasons back in 2004, and Peacock is also poised to offer a reboot of this series, headed by Mr. Robot‘s Sam Esmail, that will address the modern climate.
6 Seasons
Genre Drama
Cast Hugh Bonneville, Jessica Brown Findlay, Maggie Smith, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter, Brendan Coyle, Michelle Dockery, Siobhan Finneran, and others
Created by Julian Fellowes
Relive this British historical drama in its entirety, including all six seasons (no word on the movie). Set in the early 20th century in the fictional Yorkshire country estate, the series, which first aired in the U.S. on PBS, followed the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants. While fictional, the series covers real-life events and how they impact the British social hierarchy, from the sinking of the Titanic to the Spanish influenza pandemic. The series was well received and praised, earning tons of Emmy nominations and wins.
7 Seasons
Genre Comedy
Cast Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, Paul Schneider, Aziz Ansari, Nick Offerman, Aubrey Plaza, Chris Pratt, Adam Scott, Rob Lowe, Jim O'Heir, Retta, Billy Eichner
Created by Greg Daniels, Michael Schur
Park and Recreation is one of those hilarious series that, if you haven’t watched yet, you should — and those who already watched might very well be game for watching it all over again. Following the story of employees in the Parks Department of a fictional town called Pawnee, Indiana, the show aired for seven seasons. At the center of the plot were the small-town politics and red tape that made accomplishing things so difficult, though fans were able to get emotionally invested in every character.
30 Seasons
Genre Talk
Cast Johnny Carson, Ed McMahon
Created by Steve Allen, William O. Harbach, Dwight Hemion, Sylvester L. Weaver, Jr.
While The Tonight Show continues its successful run as the most popular late-night talk show, nothing beats Johnny Carson’s version of the series, which he hosted for 30 years from 1962 to 1992. Harken back to the old days by watching his interviews with celebrities of all kinds, marveling at his ever-quick wit and impeccable comedic timing. Recall how some of the biggest names in comedy performed sets on the show when they were just up-and-comers. And enjoy Carson’s casual conversational approach and entertainment segments that late-night talk show hosts continue to try and emulate today.
9 Seasons
Genre Drama
Cast Gabriel Macht, Patrick J. Adams, Rick Hoffman, Meghan Markle, Sarah Rafferty, Gina Torres, Amanda Schull, Dule Hill, Katherine Heigl
Created by Aaron Korsh
The series centers around a bunch of wealthy, arrogant, and successful corporate lawyers in New York running a firm and winning cases by doing whatever necessary to make their clients happy. When they happen upon a brilliant, young, aspiring lawyer named Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams), the firm’s top lawyer, Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht), hires him on the spot. Except there’s one small but meaningful issue: Mike never graduated from Harvard and doesn’t actually have a degree or license to practice law. While the series first focuses on Mike and Harvey becoming the perfect team while also trying to hide the truth, it evolves into much more through its nine seasons. Keep an eye out for Duchess Meghan Markle, who had a starring role in the first eight seasons.
