The S1E1 Podcast

“My Two Dads” is a sitcom that aired on NBC from 1987-1990 about two friends turned rivals who need to reunite to raise a 12-year-old girl after her mother passes away. The series explored an unconventional family dynamic years before non-traditional households became a common television theme. What could have been a gimmicky setup instead became a surprisingly warm sitcom about friendship and the idea that family is ab...

"Emeril" is an NBC sitcom that premiered in 2001 and starred celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse as a fictionalized version of himself. Set behind the scenes of a successful television cooking show, the series was a workplace and family comedy rolled into one, attempting to cash in on Emeril's massive Food Network appeal at the time.

Despite boasting a talented cast and the popularity of Emeril Lagasse at the height of his fame, the seri...

The Bob Newhart Show was a sitcom that aired on CBS from 1972-1978. The series stars Bob Newhart as Dr. Robert Hartley, a Chicago psychologist balancing the eccentric personalities of his patients with the equally colorful characters in his personal life. Unlike many sitcoms of its era, The Bob Newhart Show relied less on broad slapstick and more on sharp writing and dry wit.

Many fans consider The Bob Newhart Show to be Bob's fine...

“Hank” was a sitcom that premiered in 2009 on ABC. The show starred Kelsey Grammer as Hank Pryor, a CEO whose lavish lifestyle comes crashing down after he loses his job and is forced to leave Manhattan behind for the small town of River Bend, Virginia. There he attempts to reconnect with his wife, kids, and a more grounded way of life. The series leaned heavily into the classic fish-out-of-water sitcom formula, mixing ...

The Goldbergs was an ABC sitcom that aired from 2013-2023. The show was based on the childhood of show creator, Adam F. Goldberg. Equal parts family comedy and time capsule, The Goldbergs packed nearly every episode with references to ’80s movies, music, trends, and the kind of parenting style that probably wouldn’t survive today.

Critics and audiences embraced the series for its mix of heart and nostalgia, helping it b...

"Where I Live" is a sitcom that aired on ABC's TGIF block in 1993. The series follows Doug (Doug E. Doug), a Trinidadian-American teenager navigating life in Harlem alongside his best friends Reggie (Flex Alexander) and Malcolm (Shaun Baker). Inspired by Doug E. Doug’s own upbringing, the show navigates school, family expectations, and the everyday chaos of city life, with laid-back humor that gave the show a distinctly authe...

"Significant Mother" is a comedy that premiered on The CW in 2015. Starring Josh Zuckerman as Portland restaurateur Nate Marlowe, the series kicks off when Nate returns home from a trip to discover that his recently divorced mother Lydia is now dating his longtime best friend and roommate Jimmy. Now Nate has to come to terms with the horrifying realization that his best friend may become his stepfather.

Critical reception to Signif...

Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair is Hulu's 2026 revival of the iconic sitcom. The series finds an adult Malcolm (Frankie Muniz) still navigating through his life's struggles, only now from the perspective of a parent and overworked professional. The show brings back the beloved original cast, including Bryan Cranston as the ever-eccentric Hal and Jane Kaczmarek as the formidable Lois. In this 4 episode mini-series Malcolm...

Animal Control is a workplace sitcom that premiered on FOX in 2023. The series follows a specialized squad of Seattle-based officers whose jobs are complicated by the fact that the animals they rescue are often less erratic than the humans they assist. Starring Joel McHale as Frank Shaw, a sarcastic former cop. The show uses his encyclopedic knowledge of wildlife as a comedic foil to his social friction. The tone is a blend of shar...

The Adventures of Pete & Pete is a surrealist masterpiece of 90s television that aired on Nickelodeon from 1993 to 1996. The series follows the lives of two brothers both named Pete. The show transformed mundane childhood struggles into epic, cinematic battles against the "International Adult Conspiracy". The world of their hometown of Wellsville was populated by characters like Artie, the Strongest Man in the World.

The show i...

"Raising Hope" is a sitcom that aired on FOX from 2010 to 2014. Created by Greg Garcia of My Name Is Earl fame, the series follows 23-year-old Jimmy Chance, a well-meaning but aimless pool cleaner living with his parents. His life is turned upside down after a one-night stand with a wanted felon results in a baby girl named Hope. When the mother is sent to the electric chair, Jimmy decides to raise the child, relying on the relucta...

"Stumble" is a mockumentary-style workplace comedy that premiered on NBC in November 2025. The series follows Courteney Potter (Jenn Lyon), a high-octane, fourteen-time national champion cheerleading coach whose career at a prestigious college ends abruptly after a viral scandal involving a team party. To salvage her reputation and chase a record-breaking fifteenth title, Courteney takes the only job she can find: a dual role as a ...

Buddies is a short-lived sitcom that aired on ABC in 1996, serving as a direct spin-off of the massive hit Home Improvement. The series followed Dave (Dave Chappelle) and John (Christopher Gartin), two best friends and business partners trying to get their video production company off the ground in Chicago. The series is often remembered more for its behind-the-scenes drama than its on-air run, specifically the controversial castin...

Quick Draw is a Western comedy that premiered on Hulu in 2013. The show follows Sheriff John Henry Hoyle (John Lehr), a recent Harvard graduate who attempts to bring the "cutting-edge" science of forensics to the Wild West. The show’s most distinctive feature was its largely improvised dialogue, which gave the historical setting a fast-paced, modern, and often absurdist comedic energy.

Critics and viewers praised Quick Draw f...

The Sinbad Show is a sitcom that aired on FOX from 1993 to 1994, during the height of the titular comedian’s stand-up fame. The series centers on David Bryan (Sinbad), a carefree bachelor who must trade his lifestyle for the responsibilities of fatherhood after he adopts two orphaned siblings. The show’s DNA was built on Sinbad’s high-energy storytelling to navigate the hurdles of modern parenting and urban single...

The Beverly Hillbillies is a landmark television sitcom that aired on CBS from 1962 to 1971. The series follows the Clampett family who find themselves overnight millionaires after oil is discovered on their property. With their newfound wealth the family decides to uproot themselves and head to Beverly Hills. The humor stems from the constant cultural clash between the Clampetts' backwoods simplicity and the superficiality of thei...

Going Dutch is a comedy that premiered on FOX in January 2025. Starring Denis Leary as the loudmouthed and arrogant U.S. Army Colonel Patrick Quinn, who finds himself reassigned to a remote base in the Netherlands after his General hears an unfiltered rant at his expense. Far from the war zones of his past, Quinn is punished with a command position at the "least important Army base in the world", which happens to be led by his estr...

D.C. Follies was a syndicated comedy series that ran from 1987 to 1989 that was created by Sid and Marty Krofft. The show featured puppet caricatures of real-life celebrities and politicians, spending their free time hanging out at a bar. Unlike traditional sitcoms, the series relied on things like topical humor and musical numbers, with human celebrity guests occasionally interacting with the puppet cast. The series was one of the...

Toast of London is a British comedy series that originally aired on Channel 4 in 2012. Created by and starring Matt Berry who plays the eccentric Steven Toast, a pompous and perpetually frustrated voice actor navigating the peculiarities of show business. The series is known for its theatrical tone, and almost dreamlike reality.

Critically, Toast of London was widely praised for its originality and deadpan absurdity. While it never...