The 6 Best Comedy Shows of 2026 So Far, Ranked
The article ranks the six best comedy shows of 2026 so far, praising series that find humour in flawed characters, awkward situations and everyday discomfort rather than relying solely on broad jokes. The selections span dark relationship dramas, entertainment-industry satire and unconventional stories about family, work and parenthood, often balancing comedy with grief or personal struggle.
The excerpt highlights DTF St. Louis, about two lonely married men whose extramarital experiment leads to deceit and murder; Hacks, in its fifth and final season, as Deborah Vance pursues a career-defining Madison Square Garden performance amid professional setbacks; and Margo’s Got Money Troubles, which follows a pregnant college dropout navigating single parenthood and sex work. The supplied text ends partway through a reference to four Netflix characters, so it does not include the article’s complete ranking or all six entries.
- 2026 has produced unusually varied, character-driven comedy.
- DTF St. Louis blends murder, adultery and middle-aged desperation.
- Hacks and Margo’s Got Money Troubles are also praised.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
These selections represent comedy at its most artistically ambitious, demonstrating the form's capacity for emotional resonance and intellectual engagement. By grounding humour in complex, flawed characters navigating genuine struggles—infidelity, career precarity, economic hardship—these shows achieve something more meaningful than mere entertainment. They prove that comedy can be simultaneously funny and emotionally affecting, elevating the medium's artistic credibility.
The case against
This ranking privileges a narrow conception of quality that mistakes darkness and discomfort for depth. The finest comedy should prioritise delivering authentic laughter and entertainment, values at which accessible, broadly appealing shows excel. By overlooking shows that provide genuine joy and enjoyment without heavy thematic baggage, the list suggests comedy is worthwhile only when it doubles as serious drama, undervaluing the distinct artistic merit of pure, unironic entertainment.